Keep Your Dreams and Hopes Alive

 

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

As writers and communicators, each of us are on a journey. Numerous times in these articles on The Writing Life, I’ve pointed out there is no one-two-three step formula for success. At least I’ve been looking, studying and reading for years and have yet to find it. If you know the secret, reach out to me or let us know in the comments. 

Instead as writers, we have hopes for what will happen in our writing life. Besides hope, we have dreams about our future. Finally we are storytellers and want to tell others the story. In this article I want to give encouragement and remind you know the discovery process happens or stops. 

Persist in Taking Continued Action

As the author, you have the greatest passion for your writing. Dip into this passion to be consistently taking action and telling others about your book. Stress the benefits of others reading your work. Use their reviews and endorsements. There many different tools and ways to promote. It's important to accept the responsibility for your own success and take continued action. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time but must be consistent.

If you need ideas, pick up a copy of John Kremer’s 1001 Ways to Market Your Book or Raleigh Pinskey’s 101 Ways to Promote Yourself. Each of these books are filled with tested and tried ideas.

Make and Foster New Connections

Last week I had coffee with a local author who is a podcaster that turned down my pitch to be on his program. We met and exchanged some ideas. Will it lead to something? I don’t know but I’m happy to have made the relationship. Look for local writer’s groups where you can participate, exchange busienss cards and make new connections. Again the consistency will pay off and open doors you can’t imagine.

Be Open to Different Possibilities

Are you looking for a traditional book deal and a literary agent? To be realistic, at the moment that path may be a difficult one for you. Can you find another way to get your book into the marketplace with a company like Morgan James Publishing? You can’t know about the details if you don’t pitch (submit) then consider the details. 

If you are writing books, that’s great. Are you writing for magazines? You can reach more people with a magazine article than most books and promote your book in the process. Magazine editors tell you what they want from writers in their guidelines (use google to find it). Pitch them what they are asking for and you will be more likely to get their acceptance. Yes, it is that simple. 

Get Feedback Before You Submit

One of the most difficult things for any writer (including me) to see in their writing: something that is not there. Maybe you are missing a critical component. Possibly you need a different title. Maybe you are missing a key factor in your book proposal. The list of possibilities can be endless. Get help from somone before you submit. It can be an outside editor. It can be your critique group or another writer where you have an accountable relationship. 

A key part of the way to keep your hopes and dreams alive is to consistently take action. Continue learning but use that knowledge to reach more people. There is an endless list of things that needs to be accomplished. Yes, I have one too and stop every day with more to do than I can get done. Yet I keep chipping away at accpmplishing the work. There is only one person that I can handle--me. 

As Mark Twain said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and starting on the first one.”

No matter what you are writing I encourage you to perservere and continue. If you stop, then the dreams stop and hope stops. As long as you continue, it continues.

Get to a live event (follow this link to see my speaking schedule), invest in yourself and don’t just go to the meetings and then to your room. Throughout the event, meet as many people as you can. Ask questions, learn about their dreams and hopes and get ideas for your own writing. 

What actions are you consistently taking to stoke your own dreams and hopes? Let me know in the comments below.

New Podcasts:

In these articles, I’ve encouraged you to use PodMatch or some similar tool to book and record podcasts. Last week another podcast recording launched.

Paul Nelhart and I had a great conversation about: Secrets to Getting Your Book Published Successfully on The Intrinsic Mindset Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/3YdAjzO 

Caroline Biesalski (@inspiredcast) and I talked about Demystifying Publishing: Terry Whalin’s Insights and Strategies for Success on The Inspired Choice Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/4clmVzI   

My Articles in Other Places:

In these articles, I encourage you to guest blog and write for other places. Here’s a recent published article:

On the Kill Zone Blog I wrote about Why Self-published Books Are Rarely in bookstores at: https://bit.ly/3R0BT4d Be sure and read the comments as well as the article for additional information.

Tweetable:

As writers, we need to keep our hopes and dreams alive. This prolific author and editor tells some stories and gives specific action steps for your writing life. Read the details here.  (ClickToTweet)

For many years, I have spoken with individuals who want to publish a book. I’ve listened to their plans and found many of them have an unrealistic idea about the details of publishing. To sell books and succeed, these details are important. 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS is a practical easy reading book to help you. Get my decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of

bonuses. 

Get these articles on your email: 

Since 2004, I have blogged about The Writing Life over 1,700 entries and one of the top 27 content writers. With this simple form, each week you can get my new articles, encouragement and insights at: https://t.co/W6uU64u6aA

Writing for An Audience of One

     

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Have you ever been the only person in a large room with a speaker in the front? I recall speaking at a large writers conference with multiple sessions at the same time. I was teaching over several days and when one of my classes began, I had a single person listening to me. It was strange but I knew the conference was recording my session so I went ahead and spoke to the entire room (including the one person) and taught my session.

Some of my workshops have been completely full with every seat filled and people sitting on the floor in the back. Yet I have taught a few workshops with only one or two people. The experience is awkward but I’m glad to have someone in the room rather than just speaking an empty room (and the tape recording).

When you speak, you can look at your audience and interact with them. When you write, it is a different experience yet you still have an audience. How do you focus on the reader? It’s what I want to examine in this article.

Who is the audience for your writing? Why are you telling your story or article or novel? One of the key basics for every writer is to have a clear picture of your audience as you write words. For example, for these blog articles, I’m focused on anyone interested in publishing. I’m using the word in a broad sense whether you are writing online, in print, for magazines or books. There are a broad sweep of people who are interested in the various aspects of publishing. 

From my years of writing, I have found it hard to write for a nameless crowd of people. Instead in my mind, I need to focus on an audience of one. Who is that person that is listening to you as you write? Can you visualize them sitting there reading your work or listening to you speak? Who is this person and what do they look like? What are they wearing and how are they reacting to your words? Are they leaning into the words and eager to see the next one or do they look distracted? What feelings is that person in your audience experiencing? Are they joyful or in some sort of pain or somewhere in between those extremes? Can you image their reaction to your words and your story? Keeping the audience in mind is a key element for every writer. 

For example, a children’s book will have different words and a different tone depending on the age of that child in your audience. A fiction story will have a different audience than a nonfiction book. After I get the article written, I will read through it and make sure it will also work for a broader target audience. 

One of the easiest places to learn this aspect of writing for a particular skill of writing for an audience is when you write magazine articles. When I worked at Decision magazine (circulation 1.8 million at the time), I was amazed that people would submit articles that were way off track of our audience and anything that we would possibly publish. With a glance, these types of submissions were rejected. It’s the same with your book pitches. If you are pitching a fantasy novel to an agent who has zero interest or experience in fantasy, then your pitch will be immediately rejected. 

Do you set aside your writing for a bit then return to it and re-read it and make adjustments? Or maybe you have a critique partner who reads your work and gives you honest feedback? Or maybe you are a part of a small critique group in person or online that gives you feedback about the audience and your writing? 

Writing is something that most of us do in isolation but each of us need feedback from others about our words--and we need to have that audience firmly in mind as we write. How do you determine your audience? Let me know in the comments below and I look forward to it.

Tweetable:

When you write, what audience do you have in mind? This prolific writer and editor tells about writing for an audience of one. Get the details in this article. (ClickToTweet)

Much of the publishing process is outside of the writer’s control. 10 Publishing Myths helps writers have a realistic perspective and take action. Get 10 Publishing Myths for only $10 +FREE shipping + over $200 of free bonuses.

Preserve and Expand Your Relationships

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Admittedly at times, it is frustrating to be a writer. I’ve been rejected and had books cancelled. Internally I moan and groan but I never burn my relationship bridge. To outsiders, the publishing world looks daunting and huge. After decades in this business, instead of huge, I find this world often interconnected and small. Many of us know each other from going to conferences, working on different projects and maintaining our connections. 

For example, I’ve been acquiring books at Morgan James Publishing for over ten years. Even earlier, I acquired fiction at Howard Books (an imprint of Simon and Schuster) and before that experience I acquired books at David C. Cook. With each of those positions, I worked with editors and literary agents. Some of those agents I’ve not spoken with in years but we maintain our relationships and connections. If I reached out to them via phone or email, I would likely get a response. 

In addition to my publishing work, I’ve also interviewed more than 150 bestselling authors and written their stories for over 50 publications.  If you don’t have this type of experience, don’t be concerned. I didn’t begin with these connections but they were built over time and one relationship at a time. Each of these relationships is important. You need to design your own system to keep track of the various emails, phone numbers and other critical information. You never know when you might need to revive one of these relationships.

Several years ago I was working on the audiobook version of my biography of Billy Graham. From listening to audiobooks, I was looking for a way to make my audiobook to be “different.” One of the most iconic songs related to Billy Graham is the hymn Just As I Am sung at the end of his crusades. I did a simple Google search and found a YouTube version with the Gaithers singing along with Cliff Barrows and George Beverly Shea. Using an audio program, I clipped out a few seconds but then I needed permission to use it in my audiobook. 

Years before I met and exchanged business cards with Gloria Gaither who was an author with Howard Books. In a few minutes, I crafted an email to Gloria Gaither and told her about my audiobook project. I sent along the YouTube clips and asked for royalty-free permission to use them. Within a few hours, I received the official permission. Each chapter in my audiobook begins with a brief clip from the hymn. If you follow this link, you can hear a sample. From this story, I hope you can see the value in preserving and maintaining relationships. 

One of the ways I have preserved my relationships with bestselling authors was through my unusual practice of pre-publication review. Years ago I learned that I could not control the editing process at magazines but what I can control is what I turn into the publication. Before I submit my articles, I returned to the subject and showed them my article asking them to check the facts. I was careful how I reapproached them because I didn’t want them to rewrite my piece but I wanted to make sure it was accurate. When I told Chuck Swindoll about my practice, he affirmed something I knew saying, “The media never checks.”

Journalists are taught they control the story and never to let your subjects see the article before it is printed (pre-publication review). Yet I have done it for the simple reason that it preserves and maintains my relationship with these authors. 

Here’s some additional action steps everyone can take with their relationships:

--answer your emails

--return phone calls

--follow-up with authors and leads

--check in with others to see how they are doing and how you can help them

This week on social media, I noticed a new book from one of my friends. I reached out to that friend and ask for a review copy of the book so I could read it and write a review. I did not hear from my friend but someone in publicity later that day emailed to say they were mailing the book. The bottom-line is be known as someone who wants to help other people succeed. Look for creative and simple ways you can help them. 

Another wise place to expand and continue your connections is on LinkedIN. For years I ignored the email invitations to connect. Yet today I have over 19,400 LinkedIN connections. If I’ve not reached out to someone in a long-time, LinkedIN is my first place to check on their email and sometimes their phone number. Editors, literary agents and writers will often change positions. When they change, they often will take their LinkedIN accounts with them. Recently I needed to connect with an agency for my work. I selected a couple of leaders in this organization and sent them personalized invitations to connect. A few hours later I was connected to one of those two leaders and sent them a personalized email. You can do the same thing on LinkedIN to expand your network. 

Are we connected on LinkedIN? If not, follow this link and send me a personalized invitation (even mentioning this article). What methods do you use to preserve and expand your relationships? Let me know in the comments below.

Tweetable:

Who you know as a writer can be as important as what you know, according to this prolific author and editor. Get insights about how to preserve and expand your relationships in this article. (ClickToTweet)

Much of the publishing process is outside of the writer’s control. 10 Publishing Myths helps writers have a realistic perspective and take action. Get 10 Publishing Myths for only $10 +FREE shipping + over $200 of free bonuses.

The Important Search Tool

     

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Several times a week, writers will ask a question about something related to writing and I turn to an important search tool. It’s right in plain sight but I suspect few people know about it or use it. In this article, I want to call attention to this important search tool which is on my blog.

To locate this too, you have to go to my blog on The Writing Life then scroll down to find the tool. Here's what you are looking for:

After you find it, change the search button from web to my blog. Then type in your specific word or phrase to locate entries which have this information.

Since 2008, I’ve been writing each week about publishing and the writing life. I’ve covered many different topics from my perspective as a working writer and an acquisitions editor at three different publishers.  Often throughout my week, I will be talking with writers about publishing. I will use this search tool to find specific articles which I email to them.

Over the years, I’ve written about different attributes of writers like consistency and persistence. Also I’ve covered writing for magazines, devotional writing, book publishing, proposals, query letters, work made for hire, contracts, marketing, social media and much more. You can use this search tool to look for these articles and learn for your own writing life. 

No single person has all of the answers to your various questions but I believe we can learn (and continue to learn) from each other. Through the years, I have written about my various editorial and publishing experiences in these entries. I encourage you to tap into this search tool as another consistent source and tool to gain publishing insights and wisdom.

Do you have a search tool on your blog? Why or why not? I encourage you to add it and make it easy for others to search your blog. It is simple HTML which I added to my blog years ago and continue to use often. Let me know what you think about this search tool and how you can use it on your website or blog in the comments below.

Now that you know about this hidden gem, you can use it too.

 

Tweetable:

If you need writing and publishing information, use this important search tool. This prolific writer and editor has created a blog with over 1600 entries and often uses it himself. Get the details in this article. (ClickToTweet)

Much of the publishing process is outside of the writer’s control. 10 Publishing Myths helps writers have a realistic perspective and take action. Get 10 Publishing Myths for only $10 +FREE shipping + over $200 of free bonuses.

Change Can Mean Opportunity

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

When it comes to change, I’m as guilty as the next person. I love my routines and doing things with a system and pattern. At times, I complain about the constant changes around me in technology, in my personal life and in my work in publishing. It is not easy to make these constant adjustments yet they are a part of our publishing world.

 

In the articles, I write about what I’m learning about the publishing world and here’s a simple truth: if you lean into those changes and watch for them, they can mean opportunity for your writing life.  I want to give you several examples of how you can seize the opportunities from change.

 

New Publications

The magazine world is in constant change. Because I’ve worked as a magazine editor, I understand the business side of producing these publications. Each publication must have subscribers but the bulk of the publication is normally paid through advertising. This fact explains the costly nature of such these ads. When you find a new publication, I encourage you to read it, study their guidelines then make a strong pitch to the editor. That editor is looking for regular contributors to the magazine and you have the opportunity to become one of those writers.

 

New Editor

At the magazines and book publishing houses, new editors enter the marketplace. Some editors who have been there for years are retiring and are replaced with younger editors. These new editors are looking for writers and the change is your opportunity to become one of them.

 

New Literary Agent

The agencies are often adding new agents or changing agents. To catch attention, you have to have the right pitch or proposal. These new agents are looking for a list of clients who they can sell into the market. Through your research and excellent writing, you can stand out and be someone they want to sign to their agency.

 

New Publisher

On a constant basis new publishers are entering the marketplace. A key action step for every writer is to ask good questions before signing with the publishing house. One of my Morgan James authors who just signed with us was exploring different publishers. One of the innovative steps he took was to order a book from each of these places. Then with a book in hand, he could check the quality of the product, see how quickly they delivered it and much more.

 

How To Find These Changes

The trade magazines like Publishers Weekly and Rush to Press from the Evangelical Christian Publishers are places to begin to notice shifts and changes in the market. With each contact, you have to make a good and appropriate pitch.

 

Continue to Build Relationships

I encourage you to continue to build relationships in the publishing community. As I’ve often said in these articles, who you know is as important as what you know. As you attend writer's conferences, you should exchange cards and information with everyone you meet—not just the faculty. When you get home from an event, input the information into your phone or computer so you have easy and continual access to it. Are you and I connected on LinkedIN? If not, follow this link and send me a connection invitation.

 

As editors and publishing people, we are actively looking for authors who can be a good fit for our company. You can seize these opportunities if you are aware of it and make the right pitch. How are you taking advantage of these changes and turning them into opportunities? Let me know in the comments below.

 

Tweetable:

Change is not easy for anyone. If you are aware of it, change can mean opportunity for your writing. This prolific editor and author gives the details here.  (ClickToTweet)

Many writers have unrealistic ideas and expectations about publishing. Get 10 Publishing Myths for only $10 +FREE shipping + over $200 of free bonuses.

Writing About Holidays

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

It's rarely discussed in the writing community but one of the most difficult type of writing for editors to find is tied to holiday themes. The good news is everyone has unique personal experiences during the holidays. Your opportunity as a writer is to capture the raw dialogue and unique elements, weave them into a story then submit them to print magazines. Print publications have a higher standard for their work than online (in general).

 

For example, when I was a magazine editor at Decision and our circulation was 1.8 million copies, we decided to do a February issue with a love theme (Valentine's Day). Personal experience stories which related to love combined with other crieria for our publication didn't naturally come unsolicited from authors. Instead, I had to create a list of authors and ask them to write what we needed. That experience and others at the magazine showed me the on-going need for holiday writing.

 

Your personal experience stories from holidays can be evergreen or an article which you can sell to many different magazines. Typically with a magazine article, you sell “first rights” which means after the article is published, the rights return to you. Then you can sell “reprint rights” to other publications. Depending on the publication, you can be paid more for a reprint right than the first rights. Each publication is different with different expectations. Make sure you read their submission guidelines before sending your article. In these guidelines the editor tells you exactly what they need. Many writers skip this important step in the submission process and then when their submission is rejected, they wonder why it didn't get accepted and published.

 

As you experience different holidays, make some notes into your computer or journal so you capture the essence of the experience and the raw dialogue. Then use these experiences to write personal experience articles and even how-to articles. After writing your article, send it out into the marketplace. I encourage you to keep track of your submissions and if you don't hear from the editor in a period of weeks, send them a gentle follow-up note to make sure they got it. I use the word gentle because if you push these gatekeeper/ editors, then you will likely get the response you don't want—a “no, thank you” or “this isn't a fit for us.” 

 

Are you using your holiday experiences in your writing? Let me know in the comments below. 

 

Tweetable:

Writing about holidays can be a great source for your magazine articles according to this prolific editor and author. Get ideas and the details here. (ClickToTweet)

Does your fiction or nonfiction book have a business plan? Every type of book needs a proposal—even if you self-publish. Get this resource.

The Value of Reading Plus Action

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Writers are readers and reading is a wonderful way to get ideas and find opportunities for your writing. Years ago I read about Disney Dollars in my local newspaper.  Since my childhood, I've been interested in coins and at that time I subscribed to a publication called The Numismatist. The Numismatist is the monthly publication of the American Numismatic Association I crafted a short query letter pitch to the editor and got an assignment to write an article about Disney Dollars. With my magazine assignment in hand, I approached the media office at Disneyland and scheduled an interview with a vice-president on the backlot of Disneyland. As you can see from this story, I turned reading a short newspaper article into a published magazine article. I did more than read the article. I used the article as a springboard to approach a magazine, get an assignment, then publish a magazine article. The process began with reading my local newspaper.

 

I found my idea through regular reading of my newspaper. Your ideas may come from an experience or reading a magazine or a book. I encourage you to read broadly—different genres and types of books and blogs and publications. You never know where the idea will come so be open. While reading is the foundation, it takes more than reading. You have to take action on what you have read.

 

While I've been blogging regularly since 2008, it's only in the last few years that I've included a ClickToTweet link toward the bottom of each entry. On a regular basis, I read Edie Melson's The Write Conversation blog. Over four years ago, she wrote a detailed entry with a Screencast about ClickToTweet. I carefully read that article and applied it to my own blogging. I began using ClickToTweet. As I monitor my social media feeds, I've seen many others use my ClickToTweets as an easy tool to pass on my article to others. Reading was my path to learn about this tool but I did more than simply read it, I took action.

 

Almost daily, authors and publishers mail books that they want me to read and review. I receive more material than anyone could possibly read—even if they read all the time. My own time to read is limited and something I do for fun and to support other writers and good books. If I read a book, then I write a short book review which I post on Goodreads (where I've written over 700 reviews and have 5,000 friends) and Amazon (where I've written over 1,100 reviews). I also post about my review on social media and tell the author or publicist about my actions. For example, last week I read Dr. Scott James children's book, GOD CARES FOR ME, HELPING CHILDREN TRUST GOD WHEN THEY'RE SICK. Here's my post about it.

 

In other articles, I've written about using Hootsuite to post 12–14 times a day on various social media platforms. You may wonder if people read these posts. Recently I spoke at the

Faith Writers Writing Conference (virtual). One of the participants was in Nigeria—because he read one of my tweets about the upcoming event. This coming week, I'm speaking at the Carolina Christian Writers Conference (virtual). There is still time for you to come to this event so just follow the link or click on the image.

 

How are you applying your reading into your writing life? For example, you can read about list building and the importance for every author but it does you little good if you don't apply this information into your writing life and work.  Let me know how your reading brings value to your writing in the comments below.

 

Tweetable:

Often ideas come from reading but the real value of reading is when combined with action. Get the details here from this prolific writer and editor. (ClickToTweet)

Get 10 Publishing Myths for only $10 +FREE shipping + over $200 of free bonuses.

Productive Writers Are Organized

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

During my years in publishing, I have been through many different changes. At times, I've been a pack rat saving all sorts of things gathered in piles in my office. I've interviewed more than 150 authors and saved interview tapes. I've written many books and saved various versions of the manuscript and all sorts of things—many of them unnecessary. There is a basic principle that I've learned: the more chaotic my working space—the less productive I become. The chaos weighs on my writing.

When we move, this situation often helps me. Especially when you use a moving van and pay for the weight, it makes you review everything to see if it comes with you or you give it away or toss it. Especially when we moved from eight years in Arizona a while back, I tossed a lot of things I was keeping. Over the years I kept complete magazines of the different articles I had written. That amounted to boxes of magazines. In some ways, I wish I had taken the time to scan those articles (which I didn't) so they got tossed. But to be honest, I don't need those articles.

These days I'm much better organized in my office space and also electronically. I've discovered the increased organization has a number of benefits:

1. You are in touch with your priorities and meeting deadlines (large and small one). The majority of writers miss their deadlines. I've been the editor they call for extensions with their excuses. In book publishing when you set a deadline for a contract, it sets off a chain of events inside the publishing house that writers never see—but are critical to the success of the book and its release. When you ask for additional time, you disrupt that schedule—and unknowingly affect the sales of your book (which you will not know or experience until months later). It's not a wise step to extend your deadline and instead set realistic ones you can achieve from the beginning. Again it harkens back to organization—the theme of this article.

2. You can easily find projects and pieces of paper and bits of information. As an editor and writer, you would be surprised at the random emails and phone calls I get from my colleagues asking about some book or author. If I am organized, then I can often give a quick answer. If I am not organized, then I have to take time to dig for it (which could consume a lot of time).

3. You take a few minutes here and there to keep things organized and you will be much more productive and accomplish more in a single day than in the disorganization.

It is not easy to be organized in my view and takes continual effort and work—but the payoff is worth it. I have much more work to be done in this area but my encouragement to you with your writing life is to continue to this organizational effort. Once everything gets organized an in place, it takes continued vigilance and maintenance to keep it that way. If you ignore it, the piles of paper and disorganization tends to grow and get out of control again—or so has been my experience.

How does organization play into your writing life? What tips can you give us? Let me know in the comments below. 

Tweetable:

Productive writers are organized says this prolific editor and author. Get the details here. (ClickToTweet)

Where To Begin Publishing

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Recently I got a direct message from someone working on a Master's degree with an interesting topic. She wanted to know where to start the process of publishing. I'm fairly certain when she asked this question, she was thinking about how to get her thesis published as a book. I'm going to answer this question in this article but first let me say sending a direct message is often not the best way to reach me. I have my email address in my twitter profile and prefer email to direct messages. I may miss a direct message but do not miss my emails.

I understand the confusion about where to begin the publishing process. There are many options. My go-to option is to suggest you begin with a magazine article. Anyone can publish anything online like in a blog and the standard of excellence is higher for a print publication. Magazine writing is a great place to learn the skill of publishing. You learn to choose an intriguing title. Also you have to have an interesting first sentence to pull the reader into your article. Magazine articles have a structure and form and expected length. In the process of writing a magazine article, you craft a beginning, solid middle and an ending with a single point for the reader. This point is often called “a takeaway” because it is what you as the author want the reader to take away from reading your piece.See all the various writing skills you gain writing for magazines? And in this process, you are working with a 1000 to 1500 word piece of writing instead of a 60,000 to 100,000 word document (a typical book manuscript).

In general, the print magazine community has a high standard for publication. Online has a lesser standard. Anyone can write a blog or a piece online but it takes work and effort to craft a magazine article. Those of us in the publishing community understand this effort and respect the work involved in getting published in magazines.

There are many possible magazines. Like any submission, I recommend you google their submission guidelines, read the publications online or write for the guidelines and a sample of the publication. Then write a query letter or complete manuscript and send it to the appropriate editor for consideration.

Here's several other action steps besides selecting a few magazines to pitch.

1. Persistence and consistency counts. If you get rejected (and everyone including me gets rejected), try again. The people who only try once or twice typically don't get published. Persistence will pay off for you with magazine editors.

2. Be learning about book publishing and one of the best places I recommend for you to have a realistic expectation is in my most recent book, 10 Publishing Myths. Visit my website and get it from one of the several different options I give on my website. Beyond getting the book, read it and study it and apply the lessons to your own writing goals. I have a number of books on my shelf that I've purchased and never read. 10 Publishing Myths will help you more if you read it and apply the lessons.

Where do you suggest people begin the publishing journey? Where did you begin? Are there other tips you would suggest? Let me know in the comments below.

Tweetable:

Where do you begin publishing? It's probably not where people typically answer. Get the details here from this prolific editor and writer. (ClickToTweet)

What Is Your Writer's Legacy

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

This week I learned one of my long-time writer friends, Mark Littleton, died. Mark has written over 98 books that have collectively sold over a million copies. It's just one of the many contributions Mark made to our world. As I look through the listing of his books on Amazon, I noticed the diversity in Mark's books: nonfiction for adults, nonfiction for children, Bible related books, novels and much more. Some of the books are Christian while others are general market books. He also wrote for a wide range of magazines including Reader's Digest and many others.

For over 30 years, Mark and his wife, Jeanette, were the early leaders of the Heart of America Christian Writers Network, a community of writers in and near Kansas City. Also this group has held an annual writers conference. I have been honored to teach at this event several times over the years. It's another part of Mark's legacy: training other writers in the craft of writing. Mark had been ill for months and I had been a part of the multitude praying for him and his family. He was only a few years older than me.

This experience got me thinking about our legacy as writers. It's a truth most of us don't want to think about: every one of us will eventually die. It's a part of our humanity. After we are gone, what are we leaving for others?

Books.  Since 1992, I've written over 60 books with many different publishers. A number of these titles are out of print but still in libraries and sold on the used market around the world. They are a part of the legacy you are creating as an author and will continue after you are no longer on the planet.

Magazine Articles. While not as permanent as books, magazines are not just for that particular issue in print. Many magazines are online and these articles continue to be available and read—long after printed.

Blogs and other Website Information. My blog on The Writing Life has over 1500 searchable entries. It amounts to pages and pages of information which will be available online forever. From the beginning I've been aware of this aspect. Also I have a number of products and domains. Some of these are depend on the renewal of the domain (by hand and not automated) so if not handled they will eventually disappear but are another part of our legacy as writers. 

Social Media Feeds. Some of my author friends have no social media presence. Others (like me) have a large and growing social media presence. I have tweeted 51.8 thousand times since 2008 (as of today). Now that is a lot of information. Don't forget (as some people do), these posts are around forever and never disappear. They show up on search engines. People read them and respond to them—often long after you have posted them. If you are active on social media (and I hope you are), then this is also part of a writer's legacy. 

Personal Teaching at Workshops. For many years, I've been teaching at conferences. While not always, often these workshops are recorded. People purchase the CDs or cassette tapes and listen to them later. Some people listen to these recordings over and over to glean information and insights. I'll be teaching at several conferences this year. I maintain my speaking schedule at this link. For example, I learned this week that I will be teaching a continuing class at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in May (the largest Christian writers Conference in the US) and also
doing a single workshop tied to my new book, 10 Publishing Myths and a workshop with the same name. Each of these workshops is a part of a writer's legacy and will be around for many years. When I teach at these workshops, I work hard at having excellent handouts which contain online resources and links. This information lasts for years.

Each of us have the same amount of time in a day but different times on the planet. I encourage you to live with intention and be taking consistent action in your writing life. Whether you are aware of it or not, you are building a writer's legacy.

Am I missing something which will last longer than your lifetime? Or maybe you have other feedback? Let me know in the comments below.



Tweetable:

Are you creating a writer's legacy? Get ideas from this prolific writer and editor. (ClickToTweet)