The Fabulist Flash

Issue 71

Fabulist Flash Mug

In This Issue:

1. This Week
2. 7 Tips for Busy Writers
3. About The Fabulist Flash

1. This Week

My local paper finally ran a story about me and my book. I say finally because it's taken quite a bit of prodding to get an editorial spot. Both I and my publicist have contacted the local daily on several occasions through press kits, media releases, and emails. I guess we finally wore them down. This is another example of persistence winning the day. The press coverage is always welcomed, but it's also been lovely to be contacted by local friends congratulating me on my accomplishments.

Another fun development this week is that I've been invited to attend St. Petersburg's gay pride festival in June as their Parade Grand Marshall. It's great to be chosen as their annual celebrity and I'm looking forward to my time there. I'll share the dates and particulars once they're worked out.

Something else to look for is my new, monthly column, "Turning Your Writing Hobby in a Writing Career," in Writers on the Rise (www.WritersOnTheRise.com).

I continue to spend much of my time on book publicity and promotion. As I grow more comfortable with the process of contacting members of the press and other groups who might be interested in me and my book, I'm starting to have more fun with the process and experience. One of the current challenges though is balancing my time between promoting my current publications and working on new ideas, not to mention spending time writing. The other fun but challenging aspect of my life right now is that the more projects I begin and get involved with, the more ideas I discover for additional products. So, I'm adding "Learn how to prioritize" to my list of New Year resolutions.

This week's article, Freelance Feast Time: Tips for Surviving the Busy Times by Janel C. Atlas, looks at prioritizing and six other tips that busy writers will find helpful.

Are you in the Pacific Northwest? I'll be signing 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live in Olympia, WA, on Friday, January 20th from 7-9 PM at Barnes & Nobles (1530 Black Lake Blvd SW) and in Seattle, WA, on Saturday, January 21st from 1-3 PM at Barnes & Nobles (600 Pine Street). Also on the 21st, I'll be speaking on Being An Everyday Gay Activist(TM) at the Seattle LGBT Community Center (1115 E. Pike St.) at 6:30 PM. These events are no charge and open to the public. Hope to meet you there!

Until next week,

Gregory
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Gregory A. Kompes (www.kompes.com) is a writer, photographer, professional speaker and author of the bestseller 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live and The Endorsement Quest.

2. 7 Tips for Busy Writers

Freelance Feast Time: Tips for Surviving the Busy Times
by Janel C. Atlas

Freelance writing is a world of extremes. There are times when you wonder if you'll ever be busy with work again. After all, it's no fun to send out query after query without getting assignments. We've all had weeks so dry we wonder if it will ever rain again! But what about the opposite problem freelancers face? The feast in the proverbial feast or famine?

As if on cue, all the editors start calling, e-mails barrage your inbox with assignments, and clients are beating down your door, begging you to let them hire you. And let's not even mention that half-finished book manuscript gathering dust on the corner of your desk. Just like that, you've gone from boredom to busyness.

Don't panic. When this happens, take a deep breath and see this busy time for what it is—a sign that you're a successful and sought-after freelancer! So that you can handle the stress, settle in to read this article to the end. These simple tips from successful freelancers can help you accomplish the tasks ahead of you.

1. Get organized.

In the movies, writers' desks are always messy, with stacks of papers, dirty dishes, and unidentifiable objects taking up every square inch of space. Some freelancers work well in those conditions, but I've found that a quick clearing of my desk never fails to help me feel fresh. Clutter on the desk equals clutter in my mind.

But don't stop at straightening your desk. Organize your information, as well. Work out some kind of filing and record-keeping system that enables you to get your hands on what you need—fast! Many freelancers start a new file for each client or publication; that way, when you can't recall what you named a document, you can at least search by the magazine title.

At the top of each page, I also organize the details of what each project entails, so that I can focus on the writing instead of on remembering things like word count, contact names, and due dates. Just remember that whatever you write down frees up space in your brain for the writing process.

2. Nurture your spirit.

Your most valuable asset is your mind, and it has many facets. To care for yourself (and simultaneously improve your output and the quality of your work), set aside some time each day for meditation, prayer, or other form of spiritual exercise.

Anne Wayman, owner and writing guru at www.aboutfreelancewriting.com, starts the day with a spiritual reading. "Then I use my mala beads to count out 108 things I'm grateful for," which is actually very easy, Anne confides. "Then I spend anywhere from a few minutes to twenty or thirty with silence or some affirmation or mantra I'm working with." When she skips this quiet time, she feels the difference personally and professionally.

Other writers take nature walks, practice yoga, or maintain a personal journal.

Another method is visualization. Not just for actors or athletes anymore, visualization is the process of picturing yourself overcoming a challenge successfully. In a quiet place, close your eyes and relax your muscles. Then, draw a mental image of yourself successfully completing your work on time. For more guidance about how you can incorporate this valuable technique into your life, see Shakti Gawain's Creative Visualization.

3. Do it now.

I work best in the evening, after ideas have been simmering all day as I care for my baby. Then, when she goes to bed, I settle in for a good chunk of work time. Each writer must find out what time of day is his or her most productive, and then carve out that time.

Lori Widmer suggests breaking your workload into morning and afternoon sessions. "I'm freshest in the morning, so I'll often work on the most pressing thing for a few hours in the morning," she shares. Then, "in the afternoon, I'll return phone calls or work on smaller projects, just to get them going."

Figure out what time you work best, and then avoid procrastinating (reading emails, surfing the Internet, or reading market listings) during that time. Push everything else aside and face down your "to do" list. Procrastination only breeds more stress.

4. Prioritize.

If you've got good ideas and are ready to start, how do you prioritize your work? Often, this is a psychological question. For me, I prefer to complete a short, simple assignment before tackling a large, complex one. That way, I get something accomplished, can check it off my list of projects, and feel good about myself.

Other writers prefer pounding away at a larger project first to get a chunk completed before moving on to the littler ones. Whatever your preference, when you're feeling overwhelmed, it's wise to make a complete list of all of the projects ahead of you.

"I work from a list of projects, and prioritize them," confides Anne. "I assign the approximate amount of time I'm going to spend on each one each day; having a plan keeps me from going crazy!"

Lori agrees that making lists is big help in prioritizing work: "I look first at the deadlines. I organize most of my work by deadlines. The next step is to look at things that need expert input—interviews are a high priority. I usually try to schedule those before I meet other deadlines as people are often on tight schedules and unavailable," she says.

5. Ask for an extension.

I hesitated to include this possibility, simply because it may be viewed as a cop-out. But even the most successful freelancers sometimes have to ask an editor or client for an extension. Lori says, "I would say one of the only times a writer should ask for an extension is when a key source is unavailable until a later date. I've had that happen, and I've pushed back on the editor, who has been more than willing to wait until that source was available."

Another valid reason to ask for extra time, suggests Lori, is when family or work emergencies arise. "In fact, I just today asked for two extensions due to a family medical emergency. While I try to be there for my clients, I have to put my family first. And good clients understand and respect that."

So while it's certainly not the first step you should take, know that if you're completely overwhelmed and can't possibly get everything completed on time, asking for an extension may buy you just the time you need to get things done.

6. Pick up a good read.

When you're supposed to be writing but you're encountering a frustrating block, lose yourself in a good book, fascinating article, or favorite poem. Devon Ellington says that she "reads as much and as widely as possible." This helps keep her ideas and style fresh.

Someone once asked fiction writer Barbara Kingsolver whether she wasn't worried that reading other books while she was writing would influence her. Kingsolver retorted, "When I'm writing, I read Dickens and Shakespeare and George Eliot and pray like crazy that they will rub off on me!"

Even during the busy times, make it a priority to keep reading, preferably something similar to what you're working on. Stuck on a narrative resolution? Read your favorite short stories. Can't get web content to sparkle? Visit a dozen high-traffic sites to get some ideas. Want to get a strong start on your investigative article, pick up the best magazine you know and read two or three articles. Chances are, you'll come back to your work with some fresh ideas and inspiration to spare!

7. Leave your desk.

There's no doubt that there's something to be said for sitting at your desk for hours, pounding away at the keyboard, working like a maniac to get everything done. But while it may seem counter-intuitive, many freelancers share that a few minutes (or even longer) away from the desk can be just the thing they need to push through a busy time.

Lori goes to a nearby park each day for a run on the "steepest climb" she can find. "It's great to get out into the woods and just leave behind people and stress."

But you might decide to take your work with you. Devon has found that changing venue can sometimes help her find new words and perspective. "If I usually write at home, I'll write on the beach or in a coffee shop or in the park or at the library."

There's no doubt that the busy times in your freelancing career may seem intimidating. However, as many others have found, there are many ways to push through the flood times and come out on the other side having learned a lot about what makes you tick. Learn about yourself--what pushes your buttons, when you work best, and what helps you accomplish the task ahead--and construct a plan. "Without a game plan that works for your specific personality type, it's going to be frustrating for you as a writer to get your work accomplished," says Lori.

And whatever you do, remember that these times are the good times, the times of plenty of work and good income. They show that you are a successful writer, and inevitably, the frenzied time will pass and you'll be left hoping that business picks up again soon.

About the Author
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Janel C. Atlas is a freelance writer and editor living in northern Delaware with her husband and daughter. In her first year of freelancing, Janel has had more than two dozen articles published in regional and national magazines. Her stories have appeared on Babyzone.com, Reading Today, Delaware Parent, Byline Magazine, and CollegeBound Teen Magazine. To see some of her work, visit her website at www.thewriteatlas.com.

3. About The Fabulist Flash

ISSN: 1554-0804

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Make plans now to attend the 2006 Las Vegas Writer's Conference March 30-April 2, 2006, in Las Vegas, Nevada.