Nike's ad has taken on new meaning for me of late; "Just do it!"
runs through my mind like a mantra. Although my dreams have
nothing to do with athletic shoes and little to do with
athletics (unless you count the long list of ideas I have
developed which revolve around my sons and their activities), I
have spent a long time avoiding the one thing I've always wanted
to do - write.
Writing has actually been a part of my work life for a very long
time. I've written and edited in the business world. I've taught
writing to high school students. I've written countless lesson
plans, activities, etc. I have never tried to get any of my work
published, until now.
Making the decision to write for a living was actually one of
the most difficult obstacles I needed to overcome. ("Overcome"
is probably too strong. I am still scared to death that I won't
be able to pay my mortgage.) I never doubted my ability to
write, but I did doubt my ability to write for a living. My
former employer helped me make the decision by firing me. (They
actually called it a reduction in force, or RIF for short.)
After avoiding the application process for weeks, then staring
at an online application for close to an hour, I finally had to
come to terms with myself and my goals for the future.
While I love teaching, I am tired of the politics that accompany
teaching. I can't face it any more. I need to pay my bills and
be financially responsible, but part of raising my children
involves being a role model. I don't want them to be afraid to
take a risk that could help them realize their dreams because
they watched their mother play it safe.
Having said that, I must admit that my new found bravery
faltered when I wrote two checks totaling $1100.00 for two
children to play travel soccer next year. Nevertheless, I
developed a game face and hid my fears from everyone. I even
fooled myself for a while. As the school year ended, my
colleagues began asking me about my plans for the fall. I
answered - with confidence that I only partially felt - that I
planned to write. After repeating this statement to the tenth
person, I began to feel somewhat guilty. After all, I was making
it sound as if it were a done deal, when I really had barely
started. I had a bunch of "how to" articles stacked in my home
office that were conflicting and sometimes confusing. I had not
even read some of the articles yet.
Many of my well wishers countered with questions that
unintentionally poked holes in my game face. "Write what?" they
asked. "For whom?" they asked. The answers to their questions
involved explaining the vast quantities of research through
which I had only recently begun to sift. I felt my courage
failing because I could not adequately explain the process I was
only beginning to understand myself. That insidious self-doubt
began to erode my courage.
But I persevered. As I plodded through articles about query
letters, marketing skills, and copyright I began to see
opportunity in the mountains of material.
That opportunity belongs to the writer who can stick it out. As
I delve into some of the markets listed online and read about
their requirements, I now think: "I can do that!" A torrent of
ideas spouts out of me as I work, as I sleep, as I drive car
pool. I have several pieces started, a myriad of sticky notes
hanging from shelves in my office, and a legal pad with several
pages of notes. My game face is back and for the first time it
is supported with real confidence.
Looking back on the those first weeks and months, I realize what
I have accomplished. I have taken the first step - I made the
decision to write for a living. I have learned that writing
query letters is the standard and expected practice for pitching
ideas to potential markets. I have learned what information
should be included in a query letter. I have learned that
Writer's Market is the best place to find those markets.
I am now taking the next step: I'm looking for appropriate
markets and writing query letters to pitch my ideas. We'll see...
If you like this article, read Starting a Writing Career (or How I Sifted Through the Muck and
Found My Way)
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