When did you begin your writing career and what inspires you to
write?
Writing runs in my family. My mother writes college textbooks and I
began working for her when I was in high school. I also was the
editor of my high school paper and co-editor of the school literary
magazine. I majored in English in college and then went on to law
school. After practicing law, I decided I wanted to be able to stay
home with my children. In a serendipitous twist of fate, I got a
phone call from an editor who asked me to write a book about how to
file for divorce in NY. This was how my writing career began.
I am inspired to write by many things. My self-help law books are
inspired by the obvious need I see to make the law more
understandable and accessible to the people it is for. My children,
my hobbies and my desire to reach out to other writers inspire my
other writing.
What was the first market you queried and why did you choose that
market?
The first market I queried was a national parenting magazine. I
wrote an essay about how I wanted to leave my law practice and stay
home with my children. At first, I was writing simply to try to
understand my own feelings. Then I realized I could sell the essay.
I got an acceptance from At Home Mother, which was my first sale.
When did you decide to start writing for parenting publications?
Writing for parenting publications seemed a no-brainer for me, since
I was committed to being an at home parent and my children were (and
are) an important part of my life. I had (and have!) lots to say
about families, parenting, children and family life. I wrote for
parenting publications from the get go. I became a regular writer
for my local regional parenting publication and soon had a column
there. I began exploring how to reach other regional parenting
publications.
What have you found the most difficult about writing for parenting
publications?
I think it is difficult to break into national parenting
publications. I found that it was more efficient for me to focus on
regional magazines, where I could re-sell a piece to many magazines,
than to spend all my time querying nationals.
In your experience, what are the best articles to submit to these
publications and how far in advance should you query them?
There is no reason to query regional parenting publications. The
editors prefer to receive written pieces so they can toss it or add
it to their file for a specific month. They don't really have the
time or interest to deal with queries. It is best to send a piece to
regional magazines three months before it would need to run - for
example, articles about Christmas should be sent no later than
September to appear in the December issue. Pieces that are not tied
to an event, holiday or season can be sent as soon as you write them.
Regional parenting publications are always looking for articles that
tie into seasons or holidays. Craft articles, family activity
articles and parenting advice pieces are well received. There is
also a growing emphasis on articles that deal with pre-teens and
teens. Magazines are finding that their readers want information and
suggestions about parenting these age groups.
What do you find the hardest about writing with children underfoot
and how do you compensate?
The hardest thing is always feeling as if I should be doing something
else. When I am working, I feel as if I should be spending time with
my kids or doing some household task. When I am with my kids, a part
of my mind is always worrying about the work I need to get done.
Most writers want that steady income level that says, "I made it."
What would be your income level that says, "You made it?"
I think for me, success is measured more in terms of satisfaction
with my work and achieving my goals. I feel that in that sense, I
have 'made it'. Of course, the problem with this is that I always
have more ideas and more goals to pursue, so in that sense I am
forever working towards bigger and better things!
Let's say you were a new writer and you decided that was your figure,
what would you do to reach that level of "success?"
I don't think it is helpful for a new writer to set a monetary goal.
I think that new writers are often unrealistic about their monetary
goals. To create a decent income as a writer, it is very important
to be versatile. Write about a lot of different things and write for
print as well as online magazines. Write book proposals as well as
articles. Try a lot of things. You will find some things that
simply are not a good fit for you, but you will also find some things
you are quite good at that you never would have imagined. It is also
important to be able to find a niche for yourself. I was able to do
a lot of legal writing since I was an attorney. Being able to use a
specialized skill or knowledge you have that will set you apart from
other writers will give you the opportunity to find work.
When the writer's life is such a competitive market, why did you
decide to share your parenting list with others?
I felt it was an important tool that many people could benefit from.
I'm not afraid of other writers infringing on my territory, if that's
what you mean. There's room for other writers in this market and
magazines will buy those pieces that are good. I enjoy writing about
writing. Being able to help other writers find success gives me
great satisfaction.
You mention in your e-book, the possibility of using a pen name, do
you ever use one and why or why not?
Yes, I do use a pen name. There a few magazines that I do extensive
work for and the editors feel uncomfortable having a lot of pieces in
the same issue appear with the same byline. So, some of the pieces
appear under my pen name and others appear under my real name.
Although you are not a tax advisor, hypothetically speaking, what
kinds of things have you been able to write-off at tax time?
Writers should always consult with their own tax advisors about their
own expenses and deductions. I deduct office supplies, postage, long
distance calls, books and magazines that are related to my writing,
mileage to the library, bookstore or my book signings, professional
organization memberships, home office square footage and purchases of
computer equipment or office furniture.
What brings you the greatest satisfaction in your writing career?
When I get positive feedback from readers, I truly feel as if I have
touched someone or made a difference in their lives.
Book Review By Alyice Edrich
As a parent, you no doubt have tons of wisdom to offer other
parents. Have you ever thought of sharing that wisdom in the form of
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About The Author
Alyice Edrich is the author of several work-from-home e-books,
including
target="_blank">Tid-Bits For Making Money With E-books—where parents
earn hundreds of dollars selling information they already possess.
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