Writing (General)

It is with great pride that I announce the release of my next book project. Titled The Lost Tweets of Jesus: Uncovering the World’s Greatest Ancient Digital Mystery, this work of carefully researched contextual theology explores the teachings of Jesus in brief, 140-character tweets.

Never before has one book composed such a culturally bound exploration of the words and deeds of Jesus of Nazareth, or @NazarethJesus.

Though Jesus never wrote a book, he certainly communicated much to his disciples. If he had Twitter, there is no doubt that he would have used it. This book is committed to a fresh exploration of Jesus through 140-character tweets, uncovering the digital legacy in this work of ancient digital linguistic social media archeology.

Based loosely on a few events in the Gospel of Mark, The Lost Tweets of Jesus encounters the life of Jesus through a series of tweets that incarnate the Messiah into today’s technology.

This book is a free download that is perfect for study or meditation during Holy Week. If you’re interested in interviewing me regarding this stunning new release, please consult my publicity kit.

Incidentally, I have also released a free ebook of meditations on the Gospel of Mark titled: Prepare the Way of the Lord.

Today I’m wrapping up my series on writing for magazines with some final thoughts on writing a query letter to an editor…

Whether searching online or checking a version of Writer’s Market, find examples of query letters and study the art of writing a solid query. While you may think that brainstorming a good idea or writing a great article make a query letter an afterthought, think again.

You need to impress an editor, who receives hundreds of these things, with both your idea and your ability to write about it effectively for his/her audience. The competition is fierce, so make sure you stack the deck in your favor.

Don’t send the query until you’ve check it for errors or vague points. I have run through my queries with a fine-tooth comb and still find mistakes and oversights that may have hurt my chances at acceptance. In fact, wait

Having sent out my fair share of queries that evaporate into inbox oblivion, I’ve learned that shooting for the stars at the start often leads to poor results. While publishing hopefuls shouldn’t rule out pitching major stories or feature articles, there is an order to the magazine world that should be taken into account.

When aiming for print or online magazines that pay, you’ll be pleased to learn that many of them have established simple ways for writers to break in. So provided you give up on landing your first query on the front page, many magazine guidelines will tell you which departments are most open to new writers.

These may range from a series of quotes, to a short 100-200 page anecdote, to a 500-word “how-to” piece on a specific topic. By writing these short break-in pieces you’ll minimize the amount of time you have to invest in writing queries that may not sell.

Once you’ve established your reputation with an editor, showing that you can write relevant pieces for his/her audience, improves the chances of your future queries. In addition, the process of writing a short piece for a specific magazine will make it easier to write targeted pitches in the future.

After you’ve read the magazines you’re hoping to query, make a careful study of their guidelines. These are usually listed on the magazine’s web site.

This is a no-brainer in one sense, but as I write for more magazines, I’ve learned to pay attention to particular clues. Clues that I had been missing when I first started sending queries to the poor editors…

You should already have a familiarity with the magazine’s sections, but while reading the guidelines pay particular attention to how the magazine is organized. There typically will be longer feature articles and then a series of recurring, shorter articles.

Take note of which topics are typically handled by the magazine’s staff, what their current interests are, and whether or not they have a separate theme list. Stay on-topic, give the editors exactly what they want, and follow their guidelines with paranoid precision.

In addition, pay attention to any tips or clues they may provide for new writers. They just may provide you with an easy way to break in—which is what we’ll address tomorrow.

While a great idea may be picked up, chances are that a new, unproven writer will have a hard time pitching an acceptable story idea to a top magazine that pays well. Instead, start with an online publication that doesn’t pay, or at least doesn’t pay well.

This will enable you to read the magazine and to get to know the readers. In addition, the comments at the end of each article, if comments are allowed, will give you clues about the readers.

In addition, many online magazines are not dealing with limited space, so the competition isn’t quite as fierce. You should be able to accumulate a bunch of writing credits in a short period of time which will make your queries to larger magazines stronger. Make sure your pieces are on-topic and written to address the needs of the web site’s audience.

If you stick to web sites that don’t pay, you’ll still get your name out there and begin to draw an audience of readers to your work. They will at least be able to click on a link to your web site and start reading your blog. You do have a web site, right?

UPDATE: Based on the comments of one reader who has “expunged” me from a bookmark list (Boo-Hoo!), I thought I should add some qualifiers and a little clarity here:

• I’m talking about someone’s first few queries here, not a whole career. I think new writers have a lot to gain by developing their craft on some low-stakes sites before taking a crack at the big boys. Besides, an editor at a web site that pays little or no money may even write back and offer feedback on a rejected article. Most editors at magazines will delete queries they don’t like.
• And speaking of these sites, the commenter referred to them as “bottom-feeders,” but I think that’s a sweeping generalization. There are LOTS of bottom-feeder web sites that don’t pay out there. And I agree, they should be avoided. I only contribute to sites that connect me with readers, develop my skill at writing for my audience, and build my resume. I also only send articles to the non-paying sites that line up with my values.
• Lots of serious, professional writers, who know their worth and their craft, post content on sites that don’t pay. That isn’t all they do, and they often recycle previous pieces, but the occasional, carefully chosen free site can be an asset.
• Lastly, the key word in this post if “start.” Having faced a room of wide-eyed writers who fear rejection more than a nuclear holocaust, I can assure you that just getting something published anywhere regardless of pay is a huge first step. I also encourage them to quickly begin querying other magazines that do pay, but even so, these magazines will encourage them to break in with short fillers rather than long features. I mean, that’s what most editors say in Writer’s Digest, right? Just because someone starts small does not mean he/she has given up on the craft of writing or one day writing a feature piece.

All writers have made rookies mistakes when writing magazine queries and magazine articles. In fact, I still make my fair share of mistakes from missing an error in my query after reading it over 30 times or misunderstanding the niche of a magazine I queried.

It can be embarrassing to make mistakes when writing for magazines and deflating to see your hard won idea tossed into the rubbish bin. I confess I still am on a bit of a learning curve when it comes to writing for certain magazines.

However, after a few years in the world of writing and querying magazines, I’ll share a few lessons next week that should help anyone improve his/her chances of being published in a magazine. Some may seem obvious but hard to put into practice, and others may open up a world of possibilities for you.

Stay tuned for the start of this series on Monday, March 22nd.

If you have your priorities straight and have identified the things you need to avoid in order to stay on track, your next step is to identify your best times for writing. This means that you have your priority list with you during your optimal writing times and avoid distractions if possible.

First thing in the morning: Most writers prefer to jump into their projects first thing in the morning. This means that even before you check e-mail, you’re aiming to start a project. Perhaps checking e-mail or taking a shower could provide a nice break in between projects.

Late morning or lunch break: The late morning is another great time for writing if you have the luxury of not working a day job. However, if you can’t swing that, take a notebook or lap top with you for your lunch break to brain storm ideas and to write up a few drafts.

Afternoon: I don’t know anyone who likes to write in the afternoon. Most academics save grading for the afternoon, and therefore as a writer, your afternoon could be used to catch up on e-mail, social media, business loose ends, and projects that don’t require your best creativity or concentration.

Late at night: Though writing late at night can be difficult to balance with other responsibilities or a day job, there are many writers who swear by late night writing times. There are minimal distractions, no one is online, and all is generally quiet. Don’t rule out this possibility, but don’t forget that sleep deprivation can hinder your creativity.

Weekends: I aim for one day completely free from writing, and that’s usually Sunday. However, on Saturdays I try to work on brainstorming blog post series for the week, touching up web sites, and following up on busy-work that won’t require too much concentration. I also write fiction on Saturdays since I see that as a fun exercise that may one day pay off.

When you know what you need to do and you have your priorities straight, your next step is to identify distractions. Take note of what keeps your from writing, and in particular if there are lower priorities on your list that obstruct you from the higher priorities and more time-sensitive tasks.

Distractions are not necessary bad things and a distraction in one context may become your highest priority in another. So these aren’t black and white matters. However, when you’ve staked out a time to write, take note of how the following impact your ability to stay in the zone:

Reading blogs and articles: Stay current with your field, but avoid irrelevant articles. Also choose your worst writing time to read and comments on blogs and articles such as the afternoon.

E-mail: Checking e-mail can be gratifying and addicting. Don’t check your e-mail more than four times a day unless there is something potentially life-changing you’re waiting for. Most experts on technology say that two checks in a day is the absolute maximum we need. I’m still working on that one!

Social Media: use your afternoons and possibly evenings to keep in touch on social media and to post updates. Limit your time on social media to no more than three or four 10-15-minute checks per day. If you can’t keep it to a 45 minute chunk of your day, then you may have a problem. Allow more time for special promotions or important comment threads.

Chores: We all have responsibilities in our homes and with our family. Take care of chores in the afternoon, evening, or during the weekend rather than during your best writing times.

People: If you know that people at certain writing locations will interrupt you, then plan your best writing times around locations that will give you the maximum privacy. This may be a home office or a crowded café. I personally enjoy running into people at the local cafe, but I know that some writers crave solitude and freedom from interruptions.

Once you have your projects categorized, end each day by making a list of your priorities for the next day. Don’t go to bed without your list. Make sure you know which projects you’ll do first, where you’ll work on them, and when.

Your list of priorities should have a mix of your various task categories so that you’re building community, publishing widely, and sending queries to magazines that will pay what you need to make. As you list each item by sure to note which need immediate attention and which can wait if necessary.

I typically prioritize my list of tasks according to the following categories:

• Time-Sensitive: These are projects that have a set deadline and require immediate attention in order to organize, write, and edit them. Depending on where I’m at in the process, I may have time-sensitive articles, blog posts for others, and book proposals.
• Important, but No Rush: These are projects that may be very important for a variety of reasons (from pay to building community), but can be delayed if necessary. If I’m planning on future articles, posts for others, or proposals, they should not throw time-sensitive projects off schedule. In addition, posts for my personal blogs and my own e-mail newsletter can afford to be a day or two late.
• Good and Helpful, but Not Critical: I don’t want to say that social media, e-mail, or reading books, blogs, and articles isn’t important, because each has an important place for writers. However, they are generally not critical in the daily grind of writing and submitting work. They can be put off until the evening, weekend, or a slow afternoon rather than times of peak productivity.