I hate writing, but I love the idea of it.
There are two types of writers: those who like the idea of writing and those who turn their ideas into marketable words. I spent many years as the first type of writer. But I didn’t get to be the publisher of a magazine (www.shenandoahmagazine.com) by following my early ideas of writing as a romantic calling.
It’s not romantic.
I would like to believe our magazine has a certain romance about it. Now I can write, edit and publish stories about people, places and things I enjoy writing and reading about. But my first published article was far from romantic.
On my first writing assignment I was sent to cover a council meeting in a podunk town where nothing ever happened. But the editor wanted to give coverage to every town in the three-county area just outside Philly, so I was hired out of desperation. I wasn’t hired, actually. I didn’t have any published clips, so he sent me to the meeting on spec. If I could produce a decent story he would use me as a freelance writer.
I showed up at the meeting and there was nothing going on, so there was no agenda. The meeting was literally over in 15 minutes, including the reading of the treasurer’s report. I approached the town manager in desperation. He was a nice man. Look, I said, if I don’t bring back a story I don’t have a job.
The council was hanging out after the meeting, he said, to look over some plans for a new development. I stayed and turned in an article about a new shopping center that was just in the planning stages. I didn’t even know what a zoning ordinance was, but I wrote about the developer’s application for a zoning change and how the shopping center would be located on a deserted piece of ground that was once an amusement park, just inside the town limits.
To my great surprise, the editor was thrilled. No one knew about this plan, and apparently it was a big deal. He placed the article on the front page and I received $30 instead of the $25 I had been promised. Today that baren piece of land holds several acres of shopping and is bringing in a hefty amount of tax dollars to the once podunk town.
I spent another year writing about small-town meetings before they would let me write a feature article.
I’ve written stories because I was passionate about the topic. I’ve written to get a paycheck. And I’ve written just because it would get me to that next step in my writing career. I became the kind of writer who takes an idea and turns it into marketable words.
My point is not to boast about my accomplishments. I've done nothing extraordinary in my own strength. (I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.) While I'm satisfied and pleased with where I am today, I want to stress that my early attempts at publication were humble. (Did I mention that RedBook magazine didn't even use an entire piece of paper to send my rejection notice? It came on a 1-inch strip of paper.)
If you really want to write and get published, lose the romantic idea of writing and get to work. Writing is hard work. And sometimes it is not glamorous or even enjoyable. One of my favorite quotes about writing is: I hate writing. I love having written. (Dorothy Parker)
Write about topics that will get you published, whether you enjoy them, or not; and start with small publications that need you as much as you need them.
If you really want to write with a byline, you will find pleasure even in the most unromantic writing. I was so excited about seeing my article about the shopping center on the front page. I would have been thrilled if they had buried it in the back of the newspaper.
There’s nothing wrong with being the type of writer who loves the idea of writing. You could get lucky.
Toni M.
It’s not romantic.
I would like to believe our magazine has a certain romance about it. Now I can write, edit and publish stories about people, places and things I enjoy writing and reading about. But my first published article was far from romantic.
On my first writing assignment I was sent to cover a council meeting in a podunk town where nothing ever happened. But the editor wanted to give coverage to every town in the three-county area just outside Philly, so I was hired out of desperation. I wasn’t hired, actually. I didn’t have any published clips, so he sent me to the meeting on spec. If I could produce a decent story he would use me as a freelance writer.
I showed up at the meeting and there was nothing going on, so there was no agenda. The meeting was literally over in 15 minutes, including the reading of the treasurer’s report. I approached the town manager in desperation. He was a nice man. Look, I said, if I don’t bring back a story I don’t have a job.
The council was hanging out after the meeting, he said, to look over some plans for a new development. I stayed and turned in an article about a new shopping center that was just in the planning stages. I didn’t even know what a zoning ordinance was, but I wrote about the developer’s application for a zoning change and how the shopping center would be located on a deserted piece of ground that was once an amusement park, just inside the town limits.
To my great surprise, the editor was thrilled. No one knew about this plan, and apparently it was a big deal. He placed the article on the front page and I received $30 instead of the $25 I had been promised. Today that baren piece of land holds several acres of shopping and is bringing in a hefty amount of tax dollars to the once podunk town.
I spent another year writing about small-town meetings before they would let me write a feature article.
I’ve written stories because I was passionate about the topic. I’ve written to get a paycheck. And I’ve written just because it would get me to that next step in my writing career. I became the kind of writer who takes an idea and turns it into marketable words.
My point is not to boast about my accomplishments. I've done nothing extraordinary in my own strength. (I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.) While I'm satisfied and pleased with where I am today, I want to stress that my early attempts at publication were humble. (Did I mention that RedBook magazine didn't even use an entire piece of paper to send my rejection notice? It came on a 1-inch strip of paper.)
If you really want to write and get published, lose the romantic idea of writing and get to work. Writing is hard work. And sometimes it is not glamorous or even enjoyable. One of my favorite quotes about writing is: I hate writing. I love having written. (Dorothy Parker)
Write about topics that will get you published, whether you enjoy them, or not; and start with small publications that need you as much as you need them.
If you really want to write with a byline, you will find pleasure even in the most unromantic writing. I was so excited about seeing my article about the shopping center on the front page. I would have been thrilled if they had buried it in the back of the newspaper.
There’s nothing wrong with being the type of writer who loves the idea of writing. You could get lucky.
Toni M.
posted by Shenandoah Christian Writers | 10:51 PM
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