By Elaine Klonicki

Triangle Association of Freelancers, Inc. (TAF) is proud to announce Write Now! 2024, TAF’s 14th freelance writers conference on April 27. The annual spring writing symposium will be held at the McKimmon Conference & Training Center at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. This year’s offerings include something for everyone, and not one but two keynotes!

AMY JONES is the editor-in-chief for Writer’s Digest. Prior to that, she was the managing content director for WD Books. She is the editor of the Novel and Short Story Writer’s Market and Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market. Her keynote address is entitled “Plot Twist: How Not to Land Your Dream Job.” Amy will also present a session on how to catch and keep an editor’s attention.

NICOLE GIVENS KURTZ is an award-winning science fiction author who has been called “a genre polymath who does crime, horror, and SFF” by Book Riot, which named her one of the 6 Black SFF Indie Writers You Should be Reading. Her keynote, “When Everything Feels Terrible, Create,” covers the importance of creativity in today’s writing environment. Nicole will also present a session on the art of short story writing.

Additional conference presenters include:

• DON VAUGHAN, veteran freelancer and TAF founder, who will explore how writers can turn life experience into article ideas.

• KYLE MARIE MCMAHON, editor and writing instructor, on how to use your personal memories to create a memoir.

• REESE RYAN, award-winning romance author, on crafting supporting characters.

• SEAN FLYNN, longtime GQ correspondent, on the elements of a successful interview.

• KARIN WIBERG, editor and publisher, will present a technical session on the ins and outs of self-publishing.

• LAURA POOLE, editor, will explain how to get the most out of a style manual.

The McKimmon Center is located at 1101 Gorman Street, in Raleigh, NC. Doors open at 8 a.m. and the conference begins with Nicole Givens Kurtz’ opening address at 9 a.m. The event concludes at 4 p.m.

Write Now! is one of the most affordable writing conferences around. The fee is just $109 from February 1 thru March 31 (includes special gift); $119 from April 1 thru 26; and $119 at the door. Registration includes all conference activities, coffee during morning registration, a catered box lunch and door prizes.

For more information or to register online, visit https://TAFNC.com/WriteNow.

Write Now! provides a great opportunity to meet other writers and learn more about your craft. Writers of all levels of experience are welcome. Listen to what some previous attendees have to say:

“Write Now! impressed me so much I became a member of TAF before I even left for home!” Arlene S. Bice, South Hill, VA

“TAF is composed of conscientious folks who genuinely want their fellow scribblers to succeed.” Erika Hoffman, Chapel Hill, NC

“Great opportunities for networking. I gained a greater understanding of how to approach editors.” Lisa Tomey, Raleigh, NC

We look forward to having you join us!

Triangle Association of Freelancers, Inc. is a nonprofit organization serving independent nonfiction and fiction writers throughout North Carolina. Founded in 2003, TAF is committed to educating, mentoring, and promoting both aspiring and established writers by connecting them with fellow writers and the vital resources and services available to them. TAF advocates for fair compensation of writers and content creators, as well as the ongoing professional development of those in the writing profession. To those ends, TAF hosts monthly meetings featuring guest speakers presenting on a diverse array of topics and presents an annual writers conference each spring.

Photo by Nina Strehl on Unsplash

By Elaine Klonicki, www.TheAuthenticLane.com

Happy Freelance Writers Appreciation Week!

Recently we had an interesting thread going on in our TAF Google group about some of the benefits of freelancing. In particular, the ways in which it allows us to do meaningful work, often by highlighting the good others are doing in our communities. Whether it’s a straight nonfiction article or blog, or a profile of a person or organization, we are writing about topics we care about. By and large, writers are a sensitive bunch, and it makes us feel good to know we’re contributing by shining a light on the positive news stories that might otherwise get missed. We thought you’d enjoy being a fly on the wall for some of our discussion.

Many thanks to Elizabeth Brignac for starting this fascinating and insightful thread:

“I write for Midtown and Cary Living magazines, which focus on culture in Wake County. This standard-seeming writing work has turned into an amazing opportunity to profile the powerful work people are doing in our community. During the pandemic and the elections, all we have heard about is misery and negative interactions between people. It has meant a lot to me to be able to write about some of the incredible work people are doing — work you never hear much about, somehow. I have gotten chances to write about how farmers and organizations help get fresh produce to hungry people, about how Oak City Cares has created a whole network of people who help the homeless, about how different organizations are networking to do things like prevent child abuse and help teenagers at risk. This is just by writing about what people are doing in Raleigh and Cary. 

I found a gig writing online classes for an Episcopal online education company. This, again, seems like pretty standard stuff (writing education materials for online courses). But it’s given me a chance to work on courses that do some powerful work that (I hope) really helps people. For example, we did an extensive course on resisting systemic racism from an Episcopal viewpoint (I didn’t teach it, but I produced it down to the last slide, image, and comma) that has reached a lot of people in ways that might actually help on this issue. A little, at least.  

The right kinds of jobs offer flexibility that allow me to pursue topics I care about. I thought y’all might relate. :)”

–Elizabeth Brignac

—

“My freelancing career gives me time and flexibility to write for NAMI, National Alliance for Mental Illness. I write about what I have learned through surviving my previous mental health challenges. I volunteer these posts, where my goal is that others know there is hope and some type of information and guidance out there on how to move forward after severe, acute mental illness. Writing these blog posts is so therapeutic and cathartic for me, where I feel that everything I went through can have meaning if it can be used for the benefit of other people. After all the support I received from friends and family during my time of need, writing is how I feel that I am truly giving back to others and expressing myself.”

–Sarah Ryan

—

“I write a positive psychology and personal growth blog to encourage healthy communication and peaceful relationships. I remind my readers to treat others with respect and kindness and to set appropriate personal boundaries in order to protect themselves. My readers tell me my posts are their biweekly dose of calm, which makes me feel so happy. I’ve also written an article for Wake Living magazine on postpartum depression, and one for Military Officer magazine on a non-profit organization that helps veterans with PTSD heal through the creation of art.”

–Elaine Klonicki
www.TheAuthenticLane.com

—

“For the last three years, I’ve written a blog for a psychiatric practice. I love writing for this audience. Site visitors grappling with difficult mental health issues need information and hope, and I try to provide a soft landing for individuals and families. 

During the pandemic, I wrote resource guides for school-age kids and their educators to accompany a YouTube series on traditional music from around the world. I’ve had teachers tell me they love the guides and use them with their students. Nice to feel like I facilitate understanding of other cultures — plus, the gig was a blast! (Who wouldn’t want to write about the nyckelharpa — the national instrument of Sweden — or Mongolian throat singing?)

I’ve also edited some wonderful books for authors trying to make a difference in the world. And I’ve gotten back into grant writing for nonprofits doing great work in communities — I love supporting them. Mission is a great motivator and reward, all in one.”

–Rita Lewis
ritalewiswriter.com

—

“For me, it’s writing about cancer and caregiving for Cure Magazine, and advancing animal health through my writing for Veterinary Practice News. The former allows me to interview cancer researchers regarding the latest developments in diagnosis and treatment, and share that information with cancer patients and their families — information that can give them hope. On the animal front, I’ve profiled numerous veterinarians who are approaching veterinary care from unique perspectives with the goal of extending lives and providing the best quality of life possible. This works always makes me feel good at the end of the day.”

–Don Vaughan
www.donaldvaughan.com

—

“I’ve been writing a column for Wilmington NC Magazine that has allowed me to profile local nonprofits. I’m constantly amazed at the selflessness of the staff and volunteers at these organizations and the ambitious goals they set for themselves.

I’ve written about a museum that features provocative art like their United States Colored Troops sculpture, a foundation dedicated to preserving historic homes in less affluent neighborhoods, and an organization committed to improving students’ physical and mental health. 

The best part about writing these articles is spreading the word about the incredible work these organizations are doing. Nonprofits tend to have little or no marketing budget, so the extra attention can lead to increased donations and volunteers.”

-Vera Wilson

—

As you can see from this sampling, freelancing often gives us the chance to do good in the world, and we should take advantage of these opportunities whenever we can.

What important stories are you writing about? We’d love to hear about them. Please use the comment section below to share.

Elaine Klonicki is a freelance writer and certified copy editor. She has been published in The News & Observer, Military Officer magazine, Boys’ Life, Midtown magazine, and WAKE Living magazine. The author of All on Account of You: A True WWII Love Story, Elaine blogs about positive psychology and personal growth at www.TheAuthenticLane.com

“So good you’ll be tempted to leave everything and jump into writing fulltime.”
~Ana Shapkaliska, Cary

“The energy in a room full of writers and book people is exhilarating!”
~Arlene S. Bice, South Hill, Virginia

“Every year I come away inspired and more knowledgeable about my craft.”
~Mandy Howard, Raleigh

These are some of the comments from previous Write Now! attendees. If you’ve ever thought about attending a conference to meet other writers and learn more about your craft, why not make this the year you actually do it?

Triangle Association of Freelancers (TAF) is proud to announce Write Now! 2022, TAF’s 13th Annual Freelance Writers Conference. This year’s offerings include something for everyone, and not one but two keynotes!

Philip Gerard teaches in the BFA and MFA programs of the Department of Creative Writing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. In addition to his keynote, “Reporting the Civil War: Making History Into News,” Gerard will conduct a session titled “The Full Story: Developing a Deeper Narrative.”

Kelly Starling Lyons is the 2021 Piedmont Laureate and the author of 22 books for young readers. In addition to her keynote, “Write the Story Only You Can Tell,” Lyons will conduct a session titled “Feeling Stories: Creating Picture Books that Pack an Emotional Punch.”

Additional conference presenters include:

• Journalist Scott Mason from WRAL-TV on “The Art of the Interview”
• Science fiction/fantasy authors A.G. Riddle, Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon on “Future Visions: Writing and Selling Science Fiction/Fantasy”
• National food writers Sandra Gutierrez, Brian Adornetto and Deanna Martinez-Bey on “Food Writing: A Recipe for Publishing Success”
• Playwright/screenwriter and Director of the UNC Writing for Screen and Stage program Dana Coen on “Dramatic Writing for the Screen and Stage: Exploring the Fundamentals”
• NCSU journalism professor Cat Warren on “Nonfiction Book Proposals That Compel and Sell”
• Audible-approved book narrators Becket Royce and Lucinda Gainey on “Book Narration 101”

Write Now! 2022 is one of the most affordable conferences around at just $89 ($75 for students with valid ID, seniors 65+ and retired/active military personnel). The fee includes all conference activities, coffee during morning registration, a catered box lunch and door prizes. Several presenters will be offering their books for sale during lunch.

(Please note that this year there will be advance registration only, and proof of full vaccination will be required to attend. Masks will be required in all meeting rooms and public spaces.)

The conference will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2022, at The McKimmon Conference & Training Center at North Carolina State University, 1101 Gorman Street, in Raleigh. For more details and to register online, visit the conference page on our website.

We look forward to having you join us!

Elaine Klonicki is the author of All on Account of You: A True WWII Love Story. A freelance writer and copy editor, she has been published in Military Officer, Boys’ Life, Writer’s Digest, Midtown, and Wake Living magazines, as well as in The News & Observer. Elaine writes a positive psychology blog at www.TheAuthenticLane.com. 

The Case for Being a Plotter
by Deanna Martinez-Bey

I went back and forth with what I wanted to title this blog post. Unfortunately, Plotter vs. Pantser has been used to oblivion. But, in reality, that is what we will discuss.

Let’s start this subject off with a bang and look at the difference between a plotter and a pantser.

Plotter: A writer who plans out their story before they begin writing.

Pantser: A writer who prefers writing by the seat of their pants without any planning.

Which one are you?

I was going to try to write this article with a neutral voice. However, if I am honest with myself, I’m not sure I can.

Typically, a writer is one or the other. And whichever a writer chooses to be, they stand firm on their decision.

In comes me. I am here to lure you towards being a plotter. Maybe, just maybe, I can swing you in my direction.

Let’s compare the two options.

Reasons to outline your plot:

1. It gives us direction
2. It helps us glide through writing the chapters
3. It provides us with a goal
4. It helps us remember character names and details (we can refer back to our written outline)
5. It keeps us on track

Reasons not to outline your plot:

1. I can’t think of any
2. I don’t know
3. Oh, here is one: It can be fun not to have a clear direction?

Let me give you an example of what your outline can consist of:

Basic details of the book: What it is about, the character details, specific points you want to be sure to touch upon, each chapter name (this will guide you on what to write in each chapter), and any other details you wish to include.

Details you may not want to include in the outline:

Every detail as to what the character says, does, and feels.

Creating a basic outline still allows you the freedom to be a pantser. You can still create your story as you go. The outline will simply keep you on track.

At the end of the day, the system you use to complete your writing project is your decision. And no matter which route you choose, as long as you are writing and completing your projects, that is all that truly matters. 

Please share your thoughts on outlining, plotting, and pantsing in the comments.

The Case for Being a Pantser
by Elisa Lorello

Early in my novel-writing career, I identified and labeled myself as a “pantser”—the type of novelist who writes “by the seat of their pants” without a pre-planned outline.

But I have three confessions to make, and here they are.

One: I immensely dislike the term pantser.

Maybe I’m getting cranky as I age, but it’s an undignified way to describe an approach that, although organic, is not as flighty as you think. Which brings me to…

Two: If we are going to stick with the nomenclature, then I would refer to a specific style: parachute pants.

I’m not saying you have to actually wear them while writing—I don’t subscribe to the suffer-for-your-art mentality—but the metaphor is apt, because when it comes to revision, plotting is the parachute. In other words, outlining happens after the first draft is complete. After I’ve taken flight with my ideas and characters and dialogue, after I’ve allowed myself to freely and gloriously soar with creativity, I come in for a landing by paying close attention to story structure—the beats, the key scenes, the character and story arcs. In my earlier days as a writer, I was doing this on instinct. In subsequent years, I’ve applied different organizational techniques depending on the nature and complexity of the story.

Additionally, revision is where I begin considering an audience other than me, as well as elements such as rhythm and pace, intention and obstacle(s), and what the South Park writers call the “but/therefore” approach to storytelling. (Google it. You’re welcome.)

I’ve repeatedly tried to outline my story before drafting. And every time the result is a sapping of the creative process—I instantly lose interest in telling the story. I lose the joy and the fun of discovery. I lose the ability to fly.

Which leads me to my third confession:

There should be no “versus” between the terms “plotter” and “pantser.” The process isn’t an either/or. It’s not a right/wrong. Your process is yours. Do what works for you. Don’t let anyone shame you either way. I know writers who scribble every beat on a post-it note and stick each one to the wall before they draft a single word. I also know writers who type two thousand words in one session, and they only know where they’re going based on where they went in the previous two thousand words.

My husband, also a bestselling novelist, uses the golf swing analogy. “If you find a swing method that allows you to hit the ball straight and true, then don’t try to change it, however unconventional it may be,” he says.

Swing away.

Deanna Martinez-Bey is an author, freelance writer, baking class instructor, content creator, copy editor, and social media manager for authors. With twelve published books under her belt, a column in Pastry Arts magazine, and a certified cottage bakery, everything she does revolves around food and writing in one way, shape, or form. Deanna enjoys food and writing because she believes people bond over good food and books.

Elisa Lorello is a worldwide bestselling author of twelve novels, including her Faking It series, and a memoir, Friends of Mine: Thirty Years in the Life of a Duran Duran Fan. She is also a two-time International Book Awards Finalist and a Best Book Awards finalist. To date she has sold over a half-million books in multiple languages and formats. She currently lives in Montana with her husband and fellow author, Craig Lancaster.

By Don Vaughan and Maya Spikes

A message from TAF Founder Don Vaughan:

Every year, the President reports on the State of the Union. With 2021 in the rear-view mirror, we wanted to do the same regarding Triangle Association of Freelancers.

Despite the pandemic, 2021 was a very good year for TAF. Our membership continued to grow, and we now have nearly 170 registered members. Pivoting to Zoom for our monthly meetings and TAF Talks allowed members from throughout North Carolina and surrounding states to join us, and enabled us to reach out to guests from across the country.

Our accomplishments were numerous, and include 10 TAF meetings (on Zoom) with guests, five TAF Talks (standup comic Gary Gulman; award-winning science fiction author Nancy Kress; National Magazine Award-winning journalist Sean Flynn; screenwriter, novelist and SNL alum Alan Zweibel; and award-winning fantasy writer Ursula Vernon) and a well-received Book Promo Party. We also published our third anthology, The TAF Reader, themed on the books on our shelves.

This year TAF members were especially productive. Some have completed, or nearly completed books. Others found great success with a number of national magazines, most notably Writer’s Digest, which published features and columns by Kristy Stevenson, Alison Hill, Frank Hyman and Elaine Klonicki. I also sold a few features to Writer’s Digest, including a collaborative effort with Jenni Hart that was published in the January/February 2022 issue. We have some regular bloggers, and several started new blogs this year.

The pandemic prevented us from hosting an in-person conference in 2021, but the Conference Planning Committee has been hard at work for months finalizing Write Now! 2022, which will be held on Saturday, April 30. Registration is now open!

As our membership grew this year, more and more TAF members came forward to offer aspiring writers information, advice and insight into writing, editing and freelancing. Our “brain trust” is one of TAF’s greatest assets, and I encourage everyone to take advantage of it.

As the TAF family continues to grow and flourish, I would like to encourage new members to introduce yourselves via the TAF Google group and tell us what TAF can do to help you achieve your publishing dreams. If you’ve got questions, we have answers.

All the best,
Don

And now, a few words from Executive Director Maya Spikes:

 2021 was another crazy, unpredictable year. 

Many of us continued spending at least some time working from home, due to the ongoing pandemic.

Writing sometimes feels like a lonely journey. Even if we have our family and/or visiting friends around us, most writers go to a home office or any spare room, close the door, and write.

Fortunately, our members stay connected with each other while inviting new members to join us. This included publishing TAF’s third anthology about the influential books on our shelves, along with hosting very active email threads in TAF’s Google group, our monthly Zoom meetings, and TAF Talks (moderated online conversations with prominent writers, editors and other industry professionals).

I also really enjoyed TAF’s Book Promo Party in early December. Writers (with the exceptions of marketing writers and copywriters) are often uncomfortable promoting their own work. I’m glad TAF is creating opportunities for writers to share their books in a supportive community and I hope the book promo party becomes a regular TAF event.

Hopefully, we will be able to connect in person in the new year, particularly at the Write Now! 2022 conference in April.

I’ve enjoyed being a part of TAF for another year. I’m inspired by so many of our members who work hard on their own writing projects while making time to support other TAF members and the general writing community.

Happy writing!
Maya

Don Vaughan has been a full-time freelance writer since 1991. During that time he has published more than 2,500 articles and columns in an eclectic array of publications, including Writer’s Digest, Encyclopedia Britannica and MAD Magazine. Don is the founder of Triangle Association of Freelancers.

Maya Spikes has written articles and blog posts for websites, magazines and newspapers for more than 10 years. She won a North Carolina Press Association Award for her work at The Independent Tribune. Maya provides copywriting services and also mentors other writers via her Facebook group The Write Plan. You can read her blog at www.mayaspikes.com/blog.

By Maya Spikes, http://mayaspikes.com/

So, this year has been … different.

There probably aren’t many people rushing to take a look back at this crazy year.

I get that.

But our group, Triangle Association of Freelancers (TAF), had some great moments in 2020 despite dealing with a global pandemic, a crazy election, and drastic changes to our daily routines.

I wanted to share with you some of TAF’s highlights for 2020, as we approach the end of the year.

In May, TAF hosted Write Now!, our annual writers conference, as a virtual conference via Zoom for the first time. We had a great group of conference organizers, presenters, as well as a very engaged group of about 40 attendees who made this conference a success.

We were able to keep our monthly meeting schedule by having digital meetings featuring guest speakers sharing their experiences and expertise with us.

This year, TAF added TAF Talks, a series of great conversations with author Donna Gephart, award-winning journalist Mark Bowden, and award-winning novelist David Morrell.

We also added an average of about 3 or 4 new TAF members every month during 2020.

Some of our members also shared news about their content (books, blog posts, magazine articles, etc.) being published during the year. Others have started new writing-related projects.

During the summer, 29 TAF members shared their experiences living with this year’s global COVID-19 pandemic in “TAF Stays Home,” an anthology of essays, poems, and stories. The anthology has received great reviews and it brought in more than $200 to TAF. Special thanks to all the contributing authors, and especially the anthology’s editors, Arlene Bice and Marilyn Iturri. Arlene also designed the front and back covers for “TAF Stays Home.”

As for me, I was happy to become TAF’s newest president in July. I joined TAF in 2011, wondering if I could be a freelance writer. I’ve found great writing and blogging opportunities with the help of other TAF members.

So, who here feels brave enough to make any 2021 predictions?

2020 has been a clear reminder that the future is always uncertain.

That said, we are making plans for next year.

We’re looking forward to another great set of monthly meetings. We’re taking a holiday break this month and the next monthly TAF meeting will be during late January 2021.

We also hope to bring in more writers for next year’s TAF Talks and welcome more new TAF members.

TAF’s executive members are currently evaluating options for the Write Now! 2021 conference. We’ll keep you posted.

I hope this helps you feel a little bit better about 2020.

Feel free to share any of your wins, challenges, lessons learned, and/or other observations about this year.

Thanks for being a part of TAF!

Wishing you a happy holiday season and a happier new year in 2021.

Maya Spikes is a freelance writer, blogger, and content marketer. She began her career as a journalist and won a North Carolina Press Association Award for general news reporting. Maya is the president of Triangle Association of Freelancers. She shares writing advice and tips on her own blog at mayaspikes.com.

MAKE MONEY OFF SPECIAL EVENTS

By Don Vaughan, http://www.donaldvaughan.com/

Over the years, I have received numerous assignments from magazines large and small pegged on special anniversaries. They’re fun to research and write, and can be quite lucrative. The key is to uncover events that other writers may not be privy to, and have something fresh to say about them. Here are additional tips to help you cash in on your calendar:

Know what’s going on when. Most writers pitch ideas pegged on traditional holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Instead, ask yourself: what unique anniversaries will be occurring this year and, even more importantly, next year? That’s the kind of advance planning that can pay off big time. Think nationally, but don’t ignore important anniversaries in your city or state, which may be of interest to regional publications. An online search of “anniversaries+(specific year)” can also reveal potential article pegs. 

Explore your personal interests. We all have things in our lives that we’re passionate about. These interests help make us who we are, and they can help us make money, too, in the form of marketable ideas–especially pitch-worthy anniversaries. 

Example: I’m a big fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs, so I knew early on that 2012 was the centennial anniversary of the first appearance of Tarzan in All-Story Magazine. I pitched various ideas pegged on this seminal pop culture event to an eclectic array of national magazines and received three assignments: a 12,500-word oral appreciation for Filmfax, in which I interviewed artists and others with a Burroughs connection; a profile of ERB for Famous Monsters of Filmland; and a feature on Tarzan movies for Videoscope, a national publication that covers genre films and television.

I’m also a big military history buff, an interest that has resulted in numerous assignments from Military Officer Magazine. In early 2011 I pitched several ideas pegged on the 70^th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The idea my editor selected was an “I Was There” piece in which I profiled three Pearl Harbor survivors.

More recently, the 75^th anniversary of the end of World War II resulted in still more assignments from Military Officer Magazine, including a fun article about the history of M&M’s – a candy that was created during the war as a convenient snack for soldiers.

Cast a wide net. I pitched aspects of the centennial anniversary of Tarzan to everyone from Boys’ Life to Romantic Times. I knew I wouldn’t get an assignment from everyone, but I dramatically increased my chances by pitching broadly and appropriately. And even if I got rejected, it opened the door to future proposals. 

Avoid low-hanging fruit. By that, I mean the easy ideas that every hack will be pitching related to a specific holiday or anniversary. Instead, find something new and exciting. Rather than pitch a standard profile of ERB to Filmfax, for example, I decided to take a different approach: interviews with famous artists and writers regarding their appreciation of Burroughs’ works. The resulting article was a heart-warming tribute that also provided me with the opportunity to talk to creators I’ve long admired.   

Pitch early. Because of lengthy editorial lead times, most magazines want anniversary-related queries at least four to six months in advance. If you’re unsure when to pitch, consult submission guidelines or ask the editor how far out they work. Also, ask to see the magazine’s editorial calendar for the coming year. It could give you some ideas regarding appropriate anniversary pitches.

(This article originally appeared in Writer’s Digest, July/August 2012)   

Don Vaughan has made his living with words for more than 40 years. During that time he has published more than 2,500 articles and columns in an eclectic array of publications, and has written or contributed to more than 30 books. Don is the founder of Triangle Association of Freelancers.

By Elaine Klonicki, www.TheAuthenticLane.com

I don’t know a single writer who doesn’t have a lot of ideas. It’s one of the reasons I love hanging out with people in Triangle Association of Freelancers—there’s never any shortage of topics to discuss. Having such diverse interests, we learn all kinds of weird and kooky facts from each other.

Although each of us has a particular focus or two for our own writing, we’re generally curious people, open to learning about our writing buddies’ fascinations. We understand our own need to go down the rabbit hole until our curiosities have been satisfied, so we support each other’s compulsion to do so. We like to think of ourselves as friendly nerds.

At our meetings we’ve talked about how creative ideas hit us at the most inopportune times: while we’re in the shower or out walking, driving, or especially, while we’re trying to fall asleep at night. Each of us has our own method for capturing our ideas, whether it’s keeping a notepad on our nightstands, recording a message to ourselves on our phones, or running to the computer as quick as we can, even if it’s with a towel draped around us.

(I got the idea for this post today while washing dishes, and had to quickly dry my hands and jump on it before it left me.)

In her book on creativity Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert shares her belief that ideas are out there floating in the ether, and they choose us to land on. They nudge us for a period of time, but if we don’t respond, they get tired, and move on to someone else. I don’t know how true the latter part is—although it’s kind of fun to think about—but I definitely know about the nudges.

Sometimes we’re in a mental space where we act right away when creativity strikes, and we write, submit, and get an acceptance within a short period of time. Don’t we love when those high-action periods hit us and we’re producing and submitting one article (or in some cases, one book) after another? But then life happens, and there are times when we’re either too stressed or demoralized or unfocused to work on our writing.

For me, even when I’m in a temporary state of pause, the ideas still come, so I have a practice of opening a Word file, giving it a quick title, and writing just enough so that I don’t lose the concept. I store it in a folder called “Article Ideas for Submission.”

On occasion, usually when I’m searching for something else on my computer, I’ll come across that folder, and I’ll feel badly that I haven’t acted on the article stubs. I can’t figure out why I have left so many pieces in that unfinished state, and get mad at myself for wasting my talent.

A few years ago, I decided to start a personal growth blog, but then life got in the way. Still, post ideas kept coming to me, so I filed them away, one by one, in a blog folder. Eventually I developed my own blog site using Squarespace (with the help of a friend in TAF). After writing a few introductory posts, I turned to my idea folder, and found nearly 50 topics stored there. It was like Christmas!

A friend from book club, who’s not a writer, asked me what would happen if I couldn’t come up with a topic for a given week. I think she was surprised at my confused look, followed by my firm assertion that there’s no way that would happen. She probably doesn’t know that writers don’t have a shut-off valve for our ideas. If we did, we’d use it at night so we could get some sleep, right?

When I’m asked about the update to my psychotherapy book, or my screenplay adaptation of my self-published WWII love story, I cringe inwardly. Every writer knows the guilt and shame related to having unfinished projects. But today after an energetic day where I wrote several posts, I decided there’s another way to look at them.

Freelancers are familiar with the “feast or famine” concept as it applies to income, but I think it also aptly describes our relationship to our own productivity. There are times of near-manic-level writing and times of dormancy. Few can sustain the energy and focus it takes to complete each idea as it comes to us. Today I’m choosing to see all those unfinished pieces and projects as “potentials” rather than “failures.” Each file in my ideas folder is like a long-lost present, waiting to be re-opened when I’m ready.

I know many of you have your own starter ideas and drafts in random folders on your computers, so I’m sure you can relate. Trying to finish them all reminds me of this hilarious clip of Lucy and Ethel working on the line in the chocolate factory. The candies just keep coming, so they start stuffing them in their pockets, down their dresses, in their hats, and in their mouths.

As writers, it’s an impossible task to be able to flesh out every idea that comes to us right away, given how many we have per day. But if we take a few minutes to capture a stub of them at the time they land on us (before they move on to someone else?), they will be there for the opening whenever we’re ready to revisit them. Even if someone else writes something similar in the meantime, our take will always be unique.

What’s in your unfinished folder that’s nagging at you today?

Elaine Klonicki is a freelance writer and certified copy editor. She has been published in The News & Observer, Military Officer magazine, Boys’ Life, Midtown magazine, and WAKE Living magazine. The author of All on Account of You: A True WWII Love Story, Elaine blogs about positive psychology and personal growth at www.TheAuthenticLane.com

By Edward Wills, https://www.clippings.me/wordmonarch

Rebooting myself as a writer has been an adventure. After a career in journalism in the 1970s and 1980s, I questioned whether I still had the skills? Was my voice still relevant? Would anyone buy what I wrote?

It has been nearly 40 years—and several careers—since I earned my last regular paycheck as a reporter (The South Bend Tribune, The Toledo Blade and The Indianapolis Star) or assistant editor at Kiwanis Magazine. Jobs as CEO of an Indiana nonprofit, a public relations staffer, and an executive at United Way took me from my 30s through my 60s.

Then, forced by a crippling stroke, I retired. One day I was a leader in the business world. The next, I was struggling to walk. Today, I type only with my left hand because my right arm hangs limply at my side. I walk slowly with a cane, but at least I can still walk. My speech—which I’m told is 95 percent understandable—is slurred, making it a little tough to do phone interviews.

Because of my desire to be productive and earn a little extra income, I decided to return to my first love: writing. I knew that a full-time, out-of-the-house job no longer worked for me. Writing was perfect. It could be part-time. My office was in my home.

At first, I tried writing for the mills advertised on the internet that say they pay writers for stories. It was easy to get assignments and they offered a wide choice of topics, but the pay was abysmal: $5 or $10 for 500 words. I refused to diminish the profession for long at those wages, but articles on investment banking, aging, and financial planning provided me with new clips. My anachronistic writing samples from the ’70s and ’80s were old and brown in an age of electronic, online clips.

Fortunately, I was already a member of a Wilmington networking group where I meet weekly with an assortment of leaders and business owners. The goal of the group is to serve as a “sales force” for each other’s business by providing referrals. The publisher of a local magazine is a member of the group. She started giving me regular assignments. Then, the owner of a local roofing company joined my chapter. They had a blog, but no blogger. She hired me for posts and other writing tasks. Other chapter members provided lots of other leads. Some referrals led to business. Others did not. However, the support and confidence of the members have been invaluable.

The networking group (Business Network International) is organized so there can be only one member per profession in a chapter. Writers are rare. This organization has more than 9,500 chapters worldwide. I think more writers should explore membership.

The Triangle Association of Freelancers (TAF) also played a big role. I was surfing the internet more than a year ago and stumbled upon TAF. After looking a little further, I saw that membership was $15. For about the price of three cups of coffee at Starbucks, I could be a member of a professional writers’ group. I knew that I’d probably not attend a meeting in person because I live near the ocean—two hours away. But membership wasn’t expensive, so I decided to give it a chance.

Through TAF, I was hired as an occasional freelance proofreader from a job post and received tons of valuable ideas and support through membership emails. It was encouraging to hear about the books and articles members had published. Of course, I did not predict this pandemic, but as a result, I attended the annual Write Now! 2020 spring conference and the May and June meetings through Zoom.

Another key to my writing success has been the Topsail Writers’ Community made up of scribes living near Topsail Island. Though much smaller and less organized than TAF, I learned a lot through them. I’m most grateful for the close association with my peers. It is a fun group made up of novelists, tech writers, editors, and Christian writers. Because it’s local, I’ve made stronger connections. We meet regularly to talk about the craft of writing, current projects, and ways we can support each other.

I found the answers I was seeking, the keys to my adventure.  I still have the skills to be a successful writer. My voice remains relevant. And there is a market for my work. It has been through the support of friends and peers that I have made this journey, thanks to groups like TAF.

Edward Wills is a freelance writer living near Wilmington, NC, where he specializes in penning blogs and web content. A native of Indiana, he is a former journalist. Samples of his work can be found at www.clippings.me/wordmonarch.

By Don Vaughan, http://www.donaldvaughan.com/
 
I have written professionally for 43 years, almost all of it nonfiction. Though I love fiction and dreamed of trying my hand at it, I learned early in my career that nonfiction was easier to sell and more lucrative than fiction, so that became my path. And I loved every minute of it.

Through it all, though, the desire to write fiction continued to nag at my soul. In 2012, I was inspired to write a horror novel. The title and general premise came to me immediately, and over the ensuing months, aspects of the story continued to develop in my mind. I talked about it with friends and colleagues, but was too busy with my nonfiction work to attempt anything more.

That was the excuse I told myself, but the real reason was that I was afraid. After decades of writing nonfiction, I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to make the mental pivot to fiction, afraid I didn’t have the discipline to sit down every day and put words on paper. Most significantly, I was afraid that I simply wouldn’t be any good at it.

After eight years of procrastination, I made the decision to go for it. With my wife’s encouragement and support, I began declining assignments in an effort to free up time to write fiction. It was extremely difficult saying no to paying assignments, but I knew that if I didn’t, I would never write my novel. Finally, the day came when I had no nonfiction work on my schedule. I was free to pursue a new beginning.

Writing fiction is decidedly different from nonfiction, so to reset my brain I wrote a short story first. It’s not great, and I don’t know if I’ll ever do anything with it, but I enjoyed the process immensely and realized I was actually developing an individual writing style. Maybe I could do this after all.

I started my novel on March 12. My intent is to write the beginning part, which has been gestating in my brain for months, then stop to develop my characters, establish my story beats, and make sure all the miscellaneous parts were coming together properly.

There are two different kinds of writers: pantsers and outliners. Pantsers write by the seat of their pants, meaning they rarely outline, preferring instead to see where the story and characters take them. Outliners typically create a very detailed outline that tells them exactly where the story is going, with little deviation. It is essentially a road map.

I’m an outliner. I commonly outlined my more complicated nonfiction articles, and I believe outlining will help me with my first novel. I know how it starts, how it ends, and I have a general idea of everything in between. I believe that having an outline will keep me on the right path, though I’m not averse to any changes in story or character that might occur along the way.

At this point I have just dipped my toe into the fiction waters, but I’m not afraid anymore. I’m confident in my story, confident in my ability to tell it well, and eager to make it a reality. I wake up in the morning genuinely excited at the prospect of writing.

There are, of course, still issues of concern. Will I be able to sell the book after I write it? Should I self-publish it? What if it is not as well received as I hope? But these are concerns for another day. Right now, I’m having great fun trying my hand at something I’ve wanted to do since the beginning of my writing career.

Will I succeed? Stay tuned to find out. I’ll be updating you on my process on a regular basis. In the meantime, I encourage you to take up that special project you’ve been longing to do. A book delayed is a book unwritten. I’ve taken the plunge, and I encourage you to do so too. Believe me, it’s not as scary as it may seem.

Don Vaughan has made his living with words for more than 40 years. During that time he has published more than 2,500 articles and columns in an eclectic array of publications, and has written or contributed to more than 30 books. Don is the founder of Triangle Association of Freelancers.