Post by goddessoflight on Jul 7, 2007 11:56:05 GMT -5
TURN HERE
By Cheryl Pickett
If you can’t seem to get on the right path to success, maybe you need to turn left once in a while.
After freelancing for newspapers part-time for five years, I was on the look out for other opportunities, hoping to adapt my skills to something new and different. Early in 2004, I happened to see a blurb about a new TV show for kids in production nearby (an extreme rarity in my area). A short time later, I discovered one of our friends had great contact information for the studio.
I figured since they were new and unique, they might be a good candidate for press releases, brochure content and the like. Even though cold calling isn’t my favorite, I figured there was no other choice. I picked up the phone, steeled to be turned away by a receptionist. Luckily, the owner happened to answer and ended up setting an appointment to talk to me. It seemed things were heading in the right direction.
Caution Turn Ahead
By the time we met however, he’d changed his mind. Oh well. Then, unexpectedly, he asked if I wrote scripts. Huh? How'd we go from copywriting to scripts? I'd occasionally thought about writing for kids, but that was about it. He said I was welcome to give it a shot. Left turn.
I’m happy to say I tried it, enjoyed it, and actually ended up selling them not one, but two scripts. Several months later, they even hired me full time. I started out working on scripts and then moved into public relations. Easy curve.
The position worked out well because I was able to improve both my writing and media relations skills. Unfortunately, the whole thing was short-lived as the company started to fall apart in 2006. Left turn. Bumpy road. New adventure ahead.
Changing Directions
If you're stuck in a rut, or would otherwise like to try a new adventure in your writing career, there are several ways to plot a new course.
1. Listen to Your Heart: Have you ever said "I like to write a…or I'm kind of bored with…" but then stopped yourself short? Were you afraid to change direction because it might not be profitable, or because you didn't know if you'd be any good? It's okay, give yourself permission to take a chance and at least consider another
path.
2. Get A Map: Several writing sites offer classes on everything from food writing to memoirs, and how-to books are just as easy to find. Most are relatively inexpensive so if you find you don't like the topic after all, you haven't broken the bank.
For classes try www.absolutewrite.com and www.writerscollege.com
If you aren't sure what to choose, consider the skills you have and how they might apply to other areas of writing. For example:
Do you like presenting facts and figures or do you enjoy being persuasive? Consider learning to write grants.
Have you written for newspapers? Consider writing press releases for businesses. Visit www.PublicityHound.com for a great tutorial.
Are you great with sensory descriptions and detail? Try travel or children's writing.
3. Give it a Try and Start Slowly: Once you have an idea as to where you'd like to go, there's no need to go careening full tilt into your turns if you don’t have to. Instead, glide into a curve, ease into a fork in the road. If it starts getting comfortable, keep going then step it up. If not, try another day, another road or another direction.
And please, don't forget your turn signal.
===
BIO
Cheryl Pickett has been freelancing for over seven years and has turned left and right innumerable times. Sometimes it’s a good thing, sometimes it’s not. However, the important thing is she's still moving. Her first e- book for writers will be out shortly. She also offers editing and copywriting services. You can visit her at Brighter Day Publishing.com as long as her webmaster continues to put up with left turns.
By Cheryl Pickett
If you can’t seem to get on the right path to success, maybe you need to turn left once in a while.
After freelancing for newspapers part-time for five years, I was on the look out for other opportunities, hoping to adapt my skills to something new and different. Early in 2004, I happened to see a blurb about a new TV show for kids in production nearby (an extreme rarity in my area). A short time later, I discovered one of our friends had great contact information for the studio.
I figured since they were new and unique, they might be a good candidate for press releases, brochure content and the like. Even though cold calling isn’t my favorite, I figured there was no other choice. I picked up the phone, steeled to be turned away by a receptionist. Luckily, the owner happened to answer and ended up setting an appointment to talk to me. It seemed things were heading in the right direction.
Caution Turn Ahead
By the time we met however, he’d changed his mind. Oh well. Then, unexpectedly, he asked if I wrote scripts. Huh? How'd we go from copywriting to scripts? I'd occasionally thought about writing for kids, but that was about it. He said I was welcome to give it a shot. Left turn.
I’m happy to say I tried it, enjoyed it, and actually ended up selling them not one, but two scripts. Several months later, they even hired me full time. I started out working on scripts and then moved into public relations. Easy curve.
The position worked out well because I was able to improve both my writing and media relations skills. Unfortunately, the whole thing was short-lived as the company started to fall apart in 2006. Left turn. Bumpy road. New adventure ahead.
Changing Directions
If you're stuck in a rut, or would otherwise like to try a new adventure in your writing career, there are several ways to plot a new course.
1. Listen to Your Heart: Have you ever said "I like to write a…or I'm kind of bored with…" but then stopped yourself short? Were you afraid to change direction because it might not be profitable, or because you didn't know if you'd be any good? It's okay, give yourself permission to take a chance and at least consider another
path.
2. Get A Map: Several writing sites offer classes on everything from food writing to memoirs, and how-to books are just as easy to find. Most are relatively inexpensive so if you find you don't like the topic after all, you haven't broken the bank.
For classes try www.absolutewrite.com and www.writerscollege.com
If you aren't sure what to choose, consider the skills you have and how they might apply to other areas of writing. For example:
Do you like presenting facts and figures or do you enjoy being persuasive? Consider learning to write grants.
Have you written for newspapers? Consider writing press releases for businesses. Visit www.PublicityHound.com for a great tutorial.
Are you great with sensory descriptions and detail? Try travel or children's writing.
3. Give it a Try and Start Slowly: Once you have an idea as to where you'd like to go, there's no need to go careening full tilt into your turns if you don’t have to. Instead, glide into a curve, ease into a fork in the road. If it starts getting comfortable, keep going then step it up. If not, try another day, another road or another direction.
And please, don't forget your turn signal.
===
BIO
Cheryl Pickett has been freelancing for over seven years and has turned left and right innumerable times. Sometimes it’s a good thing, sometimes it’s not. However, the important thing is she's still moving. Her first e- book for writers will be out shortly. She also offers editing and copywriting services. You can visit her at Brighter Day Publishing.com as long as her webmaster continues to put up with left turns.