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A monthly online zine for emerging writers offering the freshest inspiration, insight & ideas Published & edited By Christina Katz |
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Writers On The Rise Inspiration, Insight and Ideas For Emerging Writers
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Dear Fellow Writers... Nurturing Your Writing Career (All Summer Long) Summer is the time for writers to kick back, chill out and catch some zzz’s, right? No way! Especially not if you want to place your feature-length articles in national publications in 2007. If you want to see your byline in the coming year, you should be drafting your pitches, polishing them to perfection and sending them out before summer’s end. Why? Because editors of national publications are thinking about next year throughout the summer and we should be too. In a special report on editorial calendar planning, Meg Weaver from Wooden Horse Publishing says, “It’s uncanny how many freelancers get calls from editors about assignments in late August and September. And you might be one of them if you suggested a subject approved for the [editorial] calendar.” Don’t we all want to be one of those freelancers with assignments for 2007 lined up before the busy fall and holiday season? Whether you write full-time or part-time, and even if you’ve never been published in a national magazine before, so much of getting into print is pitching the right idea at the right time. So request editorial calendars along with writer’s guidelines or look for 2007 calendars in media kits sent out or posted by the advertising department to get a better idea what editors are envisioning on their glossy pages for 2007. And though long walks, sleeping in, trips to the seashore and Fourth of July picnics will nurture your health and family (important prioirities!) this summer, you can’t nurture your career if you abandon your work when the temperature starts soaring. What keeps us from success, according to our featured author this month, Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, is "that notion that you don’t want to write but want to have written.” And ain't that the truth? But never fear, WOTR is going to help you keep on pitching all summer long. Introducing the first annual WOTR Summer Freelance Races! Don't worry, I'm not just raining on your soon-to-be summer parade. I want to get you psyched to make more pitches this summer than ever before. And in that spirit, I'm happy to announce our first annual Writers On The Rise Summer Freelance Races. Here’s how it works:
First Place: $75 worth of WOTR gear from our Café Press Store and a one-time, one-hour writing-career coaching session with Kelly James-Enger (a hundred dollar value) Second Place: $50 worth of WOTR gear from our Café Press Store and a one-time, one-hour writing-career coaching session with Sharon Cindrich (a hundred dollar value) Third Place: $25 worth of WOTR gear from our Café Press Store and a one-time, one-hour writing-career coaching session with Christina Katz (a hundred dollar value) Does this sound cool or what? Just think of how much more motivated you will be when you sit down to write knowing you are not the only one working hard this summer! Or better yet, play all day and work in the wee hours and evenings; you’ll still reap the benefits come ‘assignment time.’ And best of all, you’ll help Writers On The Rise cover our operating costs and pay our professional-writer columnists. And hurry! The sooner you start (or keep) pitching, the better. Click on the PayPal button, above, to register for the WOTR Summer Freelance Races. All registrants will submit a writer bio and headshot (in gif format) by June 1st and we'll kick off the races with our June issue! Share with WOTR readers in THE BACK PAGES Our goal is to make Writers On The Rise the number one online source of writing information, inspiration and motivation for freelance writers. And to that end, we’d like your help. We have a whole new section of the zine called THE BACK PAGES where we’ll continue our longer feature articles and still have plenty of room for reader participation. We'd like to hear from you! CLICK HERE to go straight to THE BACK PAGES. And let's not forget this month's issue! Did I mention that we’ve got a great issue for you this month? And, don’t forget, you can always print us out and take us with you, in case you’re getting away for a long weekend or attending an out-of-twon graduation. We’ve got our usual lineup of professional-writer columnists, a feature article from C. Hope Clark on writing for the slang-loving teen market and an interview with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, author of Pen On Fire, A Busy Woman’s Guide to Igniting the Fire Within. Before I wrap this up and head back down into my almost-done-with-my-first-book-deadline tunnel, I want to say Happy Mother’s Day to all the writer mamas! Next year, you ’ll be able to request my book Writer Mama for a mom’s day gift! Yes! That is so exciting that I’d better get back to work. In the writing spirit, Christina Katz
Your Publishing Questions, Answered By Wendy Burt Q: I want to look like a professional writer when I submit to magazines. Do you think it’s worth it to get business cards? A: Nowadays you can get business cards for next to nothing so there’s really no excuse NOT to have them. (I love http://www.vistaprint.com and recommend you pay the little extra for “glossy” to make the cards look more professional.) Many editors who choose not to buy your piece may hang onto your card and contact you later when they have an assignment. I still get emails from editors to whom I submitted manuscripts three and four years ago! If you specialize in a particular subject, like parenting or health, you might want to mention that as a bullet-point on your card. I also opt to list only my phone number and email. This does two things: 1) It allows for more room on my card to list credentials; and 2) It doesn’t limit me geographically. (Though technically, the editor could look up my area code.) You don’t need a fancy company name for your card either. I just say “Full-time freelance writer and editor,” to let them know that writing and editing is all I do. * * * Q: I write short stories. What should I be reading to improve my craft? A: First, pick up copies of The Writer and Writer’s Digest for great articles on the craft of writing, interviews with writers, market information and contests. You can probably sift through some back issues for free at your library. Depending on your genre, you may also want to skim through Cemetery Dance (horror), Ellery Queens Magazine (mystery), Realms of Fantasy (fantasy) or True Romance (which I consider “fictionalized truth”) to see examples of the type of work that’s being published . As for books, find the absolute best – and WORST – in your genre so you know what works and what NOT to write. Read as much as you can – especially of the good stuff – but be careful not to imitate it. And finally, read some collections of short stories. Some of the best in the world include: Glimmer Train, a quarterly collection of literary fiction, Zeotrope Magazine (general short fiction) and the annual anthology of Best American Short Stories.
Wendy Burt is a full-time freelance writer and editor in Colorado Springs, Colo. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Writer, Writer’s Digest, Byline and Family Circle. Autographed copies of her two books, Oh, Solo Mia! The Hip Chick’s Guide to Fun for One (April 2001, McGraw-Hill) and Work It, Girl! 101 Tips for the Hip Working Chick (June 2003, McGraw-Hill) are available through http://BurtCreations.com. PITCHING PRACTICE STARTS MAY 24TH: REGISTER TO WRITE SIX QUERIES IN SIX WEEKS Featured Writer On The RiseBling For Teen Magazines — Fo' Shizzle * by C. Hope Clark Teenagers. Why write for them? They are considered fickle, anti-adult in nature, and suspicious of your motives to prepare them for adulthood. According to Mitch McCasland, a Fortune 500 branding guru, teens have an average of $90/week in disposable income. That fact leads to tons of advertising targeting teens; and that advertising primarily appears in magazines. And magazines need articles. Your articles. Problem is…do you have what it takes to communicate with them? Sure you do. Your own teenagers may not think you understand them, but spending time with them and observing what they do and how they do it can give you a different perspective on life and some good ideas for teen publications. The key to writing for teens – just like raising them – is to not talk down to them and not talk over their heads. My teen publishing credits include NextStep Magazine, College Bound Teen and American Careers Magazine. All three publications are distributed to high schools, libraries and colleges. My topics came from…where else…my own kids. Three ideas dropped into my lap in one week when all I did was listen with my writer’s ear to my offspring. Paying attention to their views, their frustrations, their interests and their social ups and downs suddenly enlightens you to stories you’d never imagine otherwise. One son and various friends suffered adjustment issues in their freshman year of college. They could not get up in the morning, resist the temptation to party or play electronic games until dawn, or adjust to teachers who didn’t hold their hand or tell them when to drop a course before it did damage to a grade point average. I listened, advised and stole all their scenarios and created an article entitled “Freshmen Speed Bumps.” Another son had a roommate who invited his girlfriend over every night. He also knew a girl who was being stalked by a man she had been out with on one date. Another friend experienced depression when she could not juggle the responsibility of being on her own and dealing with the pressures of college classes. Inspired by these real-life experiences, my article “Beware Your Freshmen Freedoms” was born. So you don’t have teens. If you want to write for them, borrow some. You need to spend time around them to fully understand how they think. You cannot fake it, because they have finely tuned radar for teen impersonators. Spend a little time at teen blogs or in teen forums and you’ll sense their disgust at adults trying to be like teens. Don’t try to emulate them. You will not get it right. Write like an adult speaking to teens. They seek your guidance, but they want to be spoken to without condescension. Consider these suggestions to learn the lingo:
Teens are a fun group of people. Don’t forget that many adult magazines love articles about and for teens, too. Especially sports, outdoors, hunting, gaming, religious and devotional publications. Once you focus on teens, an entire world of topics open up for you – topics you take for granted as an adult. Looking through the eyes of a young adult can make the adult mundane fresh, new and prime for freelance material.
See Hope's List of Teen Markets Continued in THE BACK PAGES... (Jump There) * To better understand the title of this article you may wish to visit the Urban Dictionary at http://www.urbandictionary.com. But beware — and don’t forget to come back when you’re done — looking up slang may become habit-forming. C. Hope Clark is editor of FundsForWriters and author of The Shy Writer: An Introvert’s Guide to Writing Success. One of the FundsforWriters newsletters is WritingKid, markets and contests for kids who love to write. She is also co-founder of Little Owl Mentoring, a program that pairs published writers with teen writers seeking to improve their craft. She and her teen partner Elisabeth Wilhelm are always seeking mentors, especially in fiction and poetry. Learn more at http://mentoring.absynthemuse.com/. Adventures In Writing! How I Make More Money on Local Assignments Contributed by Lauren Fritzen
Photos © 2005 Lauren Fritzen Cheers and Applause Writing and Publishing Success Stories JOANNA NESBIT published “North Cascades Institute Celebrates Twentieth Birthday” in the May issue of Entertainment News Northwest. She also had a parenting essay titled “Language Acquisition” accepted by Imperfct Parent, an on-line magazine, which will be posted May 3 at http://www.imperfectparent.com/. Last but not least, she has an article, “Dreading Water,” appearing in the May issue of Wondertime. This is a new parenting magazine, sibling of FamilyFun, and Joanna’s first national print publication (huge). SUSAN CLARK published "Supported Agriculture Revolution" and "A View Beyond the Peak" in the May/June 2006 issue of In Good Tilth; "Saving the Land That Feeds Us" in the April 2006 Cedar Mill News; and "CSAs, Cooperation and Connecting People with Local Farmers" in the May/June 2006 Touch The Soil. She also submitted a short story to the Wordstock Writing Contest held recently in Portland, Oregon. SAGE COHEN won first prize of $500 for her poem "Algorithm" in the Ghost Road Press poetry contest. CATHY BELBEN’s article "Our Lady of Crash and Burn" appeared in the April issue of Bicycle Paper. KRISTIN O’KEEFFE recently launched a website and blog called “Shanghai Adventures of a Trailing Spouse.” Over the next two years, she will chronicle her adventures as she explores her new home: Shanghai, China. Visit http://web.mac.com/kristinokeeffe. LAURAL RINGLER published "The Farm in My Garage" in the April issue of Organic Press, and "Building Annie: Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth's Musical" in the May issue of Entertainment News Northwest. JENNIFER KEENE has big news: Here is the announcement that will appear in Publishers Marketplace: Professional dog trainer and “single-again” pet parent Jennifer Keene's We Can't Stay Together For The Dogs, a guide to doing what's in the best interest of the canine when you and your co-dog-parent split up, from joint custody to sharing costs and information with an ex to moving on with your dog at your side, to Heather Russell-Revesz at T.F.H. Publications, by Kate Epstein of the Epstein Literary Agency. HEATHER SHARFEDDIN, author of Blackbelly, blogs about storytelling in all its forms, as well as a writer's observations on life. Authors, both published and aspiring, will find useful information, as well as an opportunity to ask Robert Brown of Wylie-Merrick Literary Agency questions about the business. You can find it at: http://sharfeddin.blogspot.com/. Success happens in clusters, writers! Keep the anouncements coming and keep inspiring us. Keep us posted.
An Interview with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett By Christina Katz Barbara DeMarco-Barrett took time out from her busy life as a mom, author and active ASJA member to give us a glimpse of some of the wisdom in her last book, Pen On Fire, A Busy Woman’s Guide to Igniting the Writer Within. You dedicate Pen On Fire to your husband and son, saying "without you both, there would be no book." Can you tell us more about what you meant by that? They were so involved in the process, right from the start. I began the book when my son was two (it was published when he was ten). My husband is a jazz and blues musician and is around during the day, so on many days he’d be with Travis while I wrote. There were many gorgeous Sunday afternoons when the two of them went off to the beach and I stayed behind to write. I had to learn to write using snippets of time — primarily because I had a young son and wanted to write. So, without them, it would have been a much different book — or an entirely different one. Because this is zine primarily for nonfiction writers striving to advance their careers, I wonder if you could tell the story of how you came up with and pitched the idea for Pen On Fire? I was teaching a private workshop and I had one student who was always motivated when she came to class but would go home and lose her motivation. This happened week in, week out. One day she said, “Will you just come home with me?” She said it in jest, but there was an element of truth there. I said I couldn’t do that, but I would write a book for her. And that’s how the book really began. I loved inspirational writing books—Writing Down the Bones was the first I’d read and loved—and others as well. The book took eight years from when I started writing it and tried to sell it to when it was published. During that time, I had two agents prior to my current one who sold the book. I also received a few dozen rejections. It was initially rejected because it was too similar to other writing books out there. So I dwelled and pondered the rejections. I realized there were no other writing books with the slant of using minimal time to get writing done, combined with quotes from published authors and agents and exercises. When it finally sunk in where there was a hole in the writing bookshelf, I reslanted my book, found a new agent, worked with her to refine it and she sent it out. It sold two weeks later at auction, with five publishers bidding. At the time the book was published, you were a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors and edited their monthly newsletter. Could you share how both of these impacted your writing career? I’m still a member and still and editor of The ASJA Monthly. The group was instrumental in me taking myself more seriously. For one, I needed to collect more national clips before I could join. I had to work for membership and when I was accepted into the fold, I felt that I had achieved something wonderful. Editing the newsletter is also mostly a delight. I like the meticulous nature of editing and putting together a publication that others learn from and enjoy. There is so much networking that goes in among members. It’s a wonderful group, one that I feel lucky to be a part of. Which aspect of the process have you enjoyed more, the book-writing phase or the book-promoting phase? Definitely the book-writing phase. But I must say, it’s fun getting out there and meeting readers. I’m gratified when someone writes to me and tells me how my book got them writing again, or re-inspired them. That’s why I wrote it and I’m delighted it’s found an audience. And the book-promoting phase never really ends. According to Robert Gray, who used to be a bookseller with Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, VT and now is a consultant to authors on how to hand-sell their books, if someone hasn’t heard of your book, it’s still promotable to them. My book came out at the end of 2004 and I’m still doing promotion. It never ends—or never should end, if you want it to continue to sell. You have dedicated a lot of energy over the years to encouraging and inspiring writers to get their pens moving, what would you say is the number one stumbling block to success for writers and what is the best way to remove that block? It’s that notion that you don’t want to write but want to have written. Writing can be a lonely enterprise. But we write because we must, because no other medium does for us what writing does. The stumbling block to success is common: We don’t want to sit and write. We’d rather read or talk about what we want to write. You’ve got to put in time writing, no matter whether the time you have is miniscule. If you write every day, even for 15 minutes, the pages mount and so does your confidence level. Everyone who is published was once unpublished. You really do have to believe in yourself and build yourself up instead of worrying that you’re just not good enough. You’ve got to take yourself seriously, take your work seriously and prove it to yourself by writing – if not every day, most days. You have radio show called “Writers On Writing” that is broadcast on KUCI FM in Orange County, so I'm guessing you are a voracious reader. How do you keep up with one author interview a week with everything else you do? And do you recommend that other writers read more than they write or as much as they write or not more than they write or...? More and more, I can’t give reading that much time (though I do listen to books on tape and CD — when I walk, when I knit, when I wash the dishes). But I will research a writer and his or her work so that I can have an intelligent conversation with him or her. And actually, my show doesn’t focus so much on a particular work of the author’s as it does on the writing process. Some book shows focus so much on the book that if you haven’t read it, you have no idea what they’re talking about. I don’t want that for my show or my listeners. I’ve been told that listening to my show is like eavesdropping on two writers who are seated on a big comfy couch discussing writing. I like that.
Christina Katz is an author, speaker and writing instructor from Wilsonville, Oregon. She is currently working on Writer Mama (Writer's Digest, 2007) to help moms launch a successful and productive writing career while taking care of the kids. She has published over 200 articles in national, regional and online publications. For more about Christina, please visit: http://www.christinakatz.com. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College and earned an MFA in writing from Columbia College Chicago.
Turn Your Writing Hobby into a Writing Career Join A Writing GroupBy Gregory A. Kompes As you develop your writing career, you'll spend more and more time alone at your computer. Sadly, your regular support system probably won't comprehend your excitement at writing the perfect sentence, the disparity you feel when rejection slips fill your mailbox, or the thrill of selling an article or short story for a whopping $14.57. (That's how much my first article sold for and I still dance for joy at the accomplishment.)
Don't despair. These events signal that your writing hobby is turning into a career. Accept your loved ones for not understanding. It's time to find a group you can commune with, people who will thrill at your success and comfort you during moments of rejection. What kind of group will do that? A writer's group will.
Writers' groups come in different shapes and sizes and they are everywhere: at your local library or bookstore, at the local college or university, in the little coffee shop around the corner and even online as group forums. Some groups are large and social; others are small writing critique groups of only four or five writers. Keep in mind that every group may not be a good fit for you, so try out several until you find one that offers the support you need with people you like.
If you can't find a group in your own neck of the woods, start your own with a few local or online writer friends. Don't know any other writers? Pick a time and public place and announce your new writer's group in a small ad in your daily paper or weekly penny saver. You may be surprised at how many others are interested in the benefits of a new local writer's group.
Gregory A. Kompes (Kompes.com) is a writer, photographer, and professional speaker. He is the author of the bestseller 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live (fabcities.com) and The Endorsement Quest (endorsementquest.com), founder of The GLBT Authors' Project (glbtauthors.com) and Fabulist Flash Publishing (FabulistFlashPublishing.com), editor of The Fabulist Flash (FabulistFlash.com), an informative newsletter for writers, and produces a line of art cards and gifts. Gregory is a graduate of Columbia University, NY. LAST CHANCE IN 2006! WRITING AND PUBLISHING NONFICTION ARTICLES BEGINS SEPTEMBER 6TH Want to learn how to write for publications on topics that engage you? In this e-mail course, you will develop confidence by writing and submitting an article at the end of our six weeks together. You can try your pen at the three most marketable types of nonfiction articles—personal essays, how-to articles and interviews—and polish and submit one of your drafts by the end of the class. The class workbook is 60-pages long and includes weekly questionnaires, check-ins, resources, inspiration and assignments to advance your writing career. Two detailed reviews of your draft-in-progress are included at weeks three and six. Visit http://www.writersontherise.com/classes.html for more information.
Go Paperless (At Least For Your Bills) By Susan W. Clark As a professional writer who cares about the earth, you can take your commitment to the next level with a simple change in your bill paying. Go paperless.
This is an option that allows your bill to arrive like an e-mail rather than an envelope. Some people aren’t comfortable with paying bills or banking online, but this choice brings the bill to you paperless, so maybe it's time to reconsider. You still control how you pay, whether you online, in person or by mail. Here in Oregon, a Northwest Natural Gas flyer says that if all their customers signed up for paperless bills:
Your electric bill can probably be converted as well. My electric company, Pacific Gas and Electric, says that customers who enrolled in e-bills helped save 73 tons of paper in 2005. Smaller towns may not provide the paperless options for water, sewer and waste hauling services, but check the websites of all your service providers to see if you can jump on this energy-saving movement. Susan W. Clark is a freelance writer and photographer. Her work regularly appears in publications such as Capital Press, In Good Tilth, Permaculture Activist, the Canby Herald, and Small Farmer’s Journal. She was recently recognized as Author of the Year by the editor of In Good Tilth. She co-founded Oregon Sustainable Agriculture Land Trust (OSALT) and is editor of the quarterly journal SALT of the Earth. She lives with her husband near Canby, Oregon.
Three Places To Meet and Greet Industry InsidersBy Kelly HuffmanBookExpo America May 19-21This gargantuan event is one of the premier writers’ conferences in the country. With participation by all major (and many smaller) U.S. publishers, it offers an insider’s perspective on the business and art of authorship. The expo features over 2000 exhibitors. The conference showcases over 60 presenters, with topics ranging from mystery writing to self-promotion. In one workshop, seasoned editors will perform triage on actual query letters — not for the faint of heart.
Port Townsend Writers’ Conference July 16-23Tranquil Fort Worden State Park (filming location for the movie An Officer and a Gentleman) is the setting for this 33rd annual literary conference. Writers spend the week immersed in rigorous workshops — critiqued or open — in poetry, fiction and nonfiction. Prestigious authors from the U.S. and abroad will guide writers in their work. The week includes a full selection of readings, gatherings and dinners, plus strolls into the charming Victorian downtown of Port Townsend.
Book Passage Travel Writers & Photographers Conference August 17-20Just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco lies a very special bookstore: Book Passage, host to this respected annual travel writers’ conference. Travel editors from major west coast newspapers regularly discover new freelance talent here. Editors from the L.A. Times and the San Francisco Chronicle, plus big names like Tim Cahill (founder of Outside magazine) and Pauline Frommer (of the Frommer travel empire) will lead workshops on all genres of travel writing.
Kelly Huffman is a freelance writer and independent events planner based in Seattle. She contributes reviews and arts news to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and the website Theatermania.com, and writes for the local lifestyle publication Destination Issaquah.
Two Books That Build ConnectionsReviewed By Cathy BelbenIn Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point, he explains and then illustrates how key people can make the difference between an idea remaining isolated or spreading widely. He calls people responsible for diseminating ideas “connectors.” Connectors are individuals who form numerous relationships and contacts with people with diverse occupations, interests, lifestyles and talents. By maintaining at least casual contact with these connections, they are able to unite their friends and acquaintances, provide valuable information and tap the resources of those they know for ideas, help and data.
While Gladwell’s study of how connectors spread ideas through their relationships is a fascinating read, it’s best accompanied by Seattle author Marvin Thomas’s book, Personal Village: How to Have People in Your Life by Choice, Not Chance, in which he explores and teaches strategies to help people choose with whom they form significant, casual and limited relationships. His strategies and stories are practical and poignant and offer writers an excellent method for building connections with neighbors and community leaders, business people and local talents in ways that can expand and enhance not only their crafts, but also their lives. Cathy Belben is a Bellingham, Washington native whose writing has appeared in numerous publications, including Bookmarks magazine, School Library Journal, Bicycle Paper, and Writers on the Rise. A high school English teacher and librarian for the past fifteen years, she recently took a year’s leave from her job to write for television. For information about Veronica Mars, go to http://www.upn.com/shows/veronica_mars/.
Got Tech? A Backup Plan for Your Data and Your Sanity By Sharon Miller Cindrich
CRASH! It’s the virtual sound of disaster as a computer system bugs out, burns out or goes kablooey. Whether you use your computer for all your writing needs or just to store your research and contact information, losing digital data can be devastating to a writer. The good news? A regular computer backup plan can give you the extra insurance you need to recover when disaster strikes. Utilize one of these digital backup techniques at least once a week to save your writing, your research and give you a piece of mind. A CD or DVD: If you want to do a backup on the same disc each week, you’ll need a CD-RW or DVD-RW (a rewritable disc). Once you’ve done it, store your disc in a safe place, such as a fire safe. A USB flash drive: Flash storage drives, like a Memory stick, plug directly into your USB port. While they are generally much more expensive than a CD, they offer more storage space on an even smaller device. Find out more here: http://www.usbflashdrive.org/usbfd_faq.html. An online server: An online server allows you to save your backup files securely online. These services often require a monthly fee; however you can retrieve your data from any Internet access point. Check out www.Xdrive.com and www.DataDepositBox.com. Web-mail: Just modified an important document, but don’t want to do an entire system back up? If you have a web e-mail account, such as hotmail, send yourself an e-mail with the new document attached – in essence turning your e-mail into a mini-online backup. Sign up for a free e-mail account at www.Hotmail.com, www.Google.com, or www.Yahoo.com. Your iPod? You bet. If you’re a Mac user, your iPod (which is actually a flash drive) can store your documents. For instructions, check out details at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61131.
Sharon Miller Cindrich is a freelance writer whose work has been published nationally in magazines and newspapers around the country including The Chicago Tribune, Parents Magazine, and The Writer. She is a Contributing Editor at FamilyFun Magazine and writes a bimonthly humor column for West Suburban Living Magazine in the Chicago Suburbs. She is a regular contributor to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Lifestyle section and Metroparent Magazine. Her book E-Parenting: Get Plugged In to Raise Safe, Smart Kids is due out from Random House at the end of the year. Read more about Sharon at http://www.mediabistro.com/sharoncindrich. Sneak Peek into an Author’s Workspace Lane Browing, Writer and Editor
Lane Browning writes, edits and teaches in Portland, Oregon and offers critiques for writers and job seekers. Her fiction and nonfiction have appeared in the LA Times, Miami Herald, Reader’s Digest, Portland magazine, The Oregonian, Willamette Week, Cosmopolitan and many others. She is working on an essay collection titled Triage, Triangles, and Training Wheels: Alphabetical Essays for the Mentally Regarded. Lane can be reached at rainmad@att.net.
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I took these photos to accompany a nursery guide I wrote for a regional weekly publication last spring. I had pitched two lengthy article ideas at once and they liked them both, so it was a busy time. I was a little hesitant when they asked me to provide photos too, but my digital camera made it easy and I really had fun with it. I ended up making more money off the photos than the writing! I continued to publish articles (and photos) with them before moving on to a local monthly glossy. My current editor is a photographer so I don't get to shoot for them, but now I know that I can provide photos if needed and can use my photos to pitch story ideas to other publications.
The ‘View: Burning Up the Page and the Shelves
Sustainable Office
The Conference Confab
Good Reads For Writers
Polish Your Prose: Eliminate the Passive Voice 
