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What to Do When
the Assignments Stop Coming
Cal Orey, Guest
Author
Imagine: The
phone doesn't ring, you find yourself amid a pile of rejection letters, and
money's tight. It's been more weeks than you care to count since you've
gotten an assignment or book contract, you've got serious reservations about
your writer's status, and last but not least, the fear of never getting a new
gig haunts you like a spooky Stephen King sci-fi tale.
If you're like
me and most writers, at some time you'll probably hit a plateau - the point
when it seems you just can't pull out of a big, unfortunate S-L-U-M-P. What
gives?
Blame it on your
fave book publisher downsizing, your pet editor(s) going AWOL, or karma. But
the good news is, you can reprise your role as a prolific writer. So if
you're down, on the verge of suffering through a sales lull or trying to find
a way out, get prepared to write yourself out of a slump. It can be done. I'm
living proof.
Whether you need
a jump-start or want to make a comeback, the following slump-busters suggest
some strategies for boosting your number of assignments, revamping your
rebound strategies and coping while trying to end a bad streak.
1. Market,
Market, Market -
Yeah, it's frustrating to send stuff into what seems like a black hole. But
note: The key is to market more, not less. Just ask Patricia Fry of Ojai,
Calif., a seasoned journalist and author of 15 books. "When I feel like
I'll never get another assignment, I contact all of the editors and
publishers I've worked with before and offer my assistance," she says.
"I let them know that I'm available and I suggest a couple of new
article ideas." Play the number game: The more queries you send out, the
better your odds of success.
2. Recycle
Reprints -
While marketing can give you hope of ending a slump, actually selling your
published work is, of course, the faster moneymaker. During one holiday
season, I had a pile of relationship quizzes published in Complete Woman
magazine. I faxed a bunch of them as potential reprints to a large magazine
publisher, Australian Consolidated Press (www.ACP.com.au), and prayed
for a Christmas miracle. Two weeks later, both Australian Women's Weekly and
Cleo purchased reprint rights to several of my articles, with a payment of
nearly $1,000.
3. Spread Your Wings -
Now is the time to break out of your comfort zone and go to Plan B. "As
I watched several of the mags I was writing for go under, I noticed that the
tech mags were growing and even multiplying," Fry says. "I studied
technology magazines, came up with some ideas, began sending out query
letters and landed quite a few assignments I was comfortable writing
about." Translation: Teens, couples and women in tech businesses kept
this writer working. P.S. I confess. I also migrated toward this money trail.
4. Get Local Business -
In Lake Tahoe, where I live, real estate is hot stuff. I boldly called the
owner of a luxury real estate firm and offered my copywriting services. And I
was home free. First, I rewrote nine newspaper ads (less than 200 words each
for a total of $1,800). And that's not all. I revamped the company Web site's
agent bios ($35 to $65 each) and developed articles on 15 Tahoe-area
communities ($1,200). Then, I created fun articles on Tahoe's favorite
beaches and golf courses ($400 each) and restaurants ($800).
5. Go Global -
My writer pal, Larry Tritten of San Francisco, has taken a different path,
too. "If the road you're on is muddy, take a detour," says Tritten,
a veteran writer who has experienced the ups and downs of the market. His
gift for sensory detail has been his ticket to faraway lands like Rio de
Janeiro, Malta and the Caribbean. Tritten gives kudos to the Travelwriter
Marketletter (at www.TravelWriterML.com)
for giving him a ticket to see the world. "For seven days, I recently
had designer rooms in two resorts, slept with sliding doors wide open to warm
nights, the sight of coconut palms and sound of surf from sea only 50 yards
away. Very strange to live like a millionaire for a week, then back to a more
conventional lifestyle. I'm living in high style and getting paid to write
about it," he says.
7. Consult on a Book Proposal -
For example, in Reno, Nev., a woman came up to my book signing table and
asked me how she could get her personal health story published. One week
later I presented to her a book outline and details of a number of options
appropriate to her situation, including having her book ghostwritten or done
as an "as told to," as well as the benefits of self-publishing. I
charged a flat rate of $400 for three hours.
8. Cook up an Idea -
While that first consultation did not lead to a book, it did prepare me for
my next book signing - and hitting a jackpot in Las Vegas. A cooking expert,
Roe Valenti, approached my table at a bookstore there and told me she had
written a cookbook, sort of. I offered to take a look and we connected: I was
hired for $4,500 to rewrite and coauthor an innovative, self-published
cookbook I titled Just Cook It! How to Get Culinary Fit 1-2-3 (iUniverse).
9. Sell Your Books on the Side -
I realized that peddling comp copies of 202 Pets' Peeves to Canada geese on
the beach during off-season at the lake wasn't going to pay my bills. I took
advantage of the fact that a book contract with a traditional publisher or
self-publisher will often allow a writer to buy books in bulk at a discount
rate, though they cannot be sold in bulk. In my case, I discovered that it
doesn't hurt to sell signed books one-on-one to acquaintances who will spread
the word about an animal-lovers' book. That way, you can make extra money
selling your stuff and pay off your book advance, too. It's a win-win situation.
10. Hang in There and Live Life -
No matter how bleak things look, don't fall victim to the
"out-of-work" blues. Keep a move on and embrace what moves you.
Before John Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath,
he observed firsthand the real life of migrant workers. Jack London's two
classics, The Call of the Wild and White Fang, were drawn from the
author's northland adventures. Both authors learned how to adapt and survive
in the best and the worst of times. Famous writers like these experienced
life and wrote about their experiences. Go ahead - open up your heart, and
take a risk, too. (Refer to Slump Buster #5.)
11. Be a Pro -
The fact remains, a writer's slump can hit anyone, anytime. But hey, if you
practice being a professional during the up times, it might help you sail
through the down times. "Meet your deadlines, follow guidelines, be
reliable and easy to work with," Fry suggests. And it's these tips and
tricks that have paid off for her. She had written for one magazine for years
on a regular basis. "One day the editor asked me if I'd like to bid on a
major job for their international organization," she says. "I'm
happy to say that my good track record paid off and I landed this lucrative
job."
12. Network with a Capital N -
Ever think you're too busy for the writing world? Think again. Fry is also
the president of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network), which
offers links to research sources, publishers, printers and the media. Get
up-to-date market information at www.spawn.org. Organizations like
this can help you get and stay connected. Another good online networking
source is www.MediaBistro.com,
where I've landed some nice assignments.
13. Hug Your Agent (or get one!) -
Literary agents can help you as well, even on gloomy days. Ah, trust me, it's
bliss to have your agent send you an e-mail saying, "Hang in
there." And think how good it must feel to know you've got someone in
your corner marketing your words of wisdom. To find a perfect fit, check
out www.Writers.net.
14. Pamper Yourself -
As you go through a dry spell, chill out. It helps me to look at
inspirational articles and books I have written or that are due to be
published. As a health and fitness writer, I also know too well that pigging
out on a carton of ice cream and playing couch potato doesn't make for a comeback.
Instead, try nourishing your spirit by walking or reading. Healthy activities
like these help me fire up the creative juices, and they can get you through
a rough patch.
15. Keep a Can-Do Attitude -
You'll recover faster. That means, return messages ASAP when that Type-A
editor calls with an assignment due yesterday. Yesterday, I accepted a
magazine assignment via e-mail, interviewed two Realtors® for agent bios,
quickly dished out a new pet-related idea on command to a book editor, slated
another book signingwhen the PR person
called me, and did edits for Just Cook It! Whoo! Jump on opportunity when it
strikes.
And stay geared up for action. Take care of your computer,
supplies and contacts during signs of a rebound. Among the welcome signals
that you're back in business, I can attest, are an editor's e-mail requesting
fresh ideas, call-waiting beeps, or a satisfied client wanting you to expand
a project. (Read: more money.)
As you pick yourself up, and you will, think of Paul
Newman in The Color of Money. Just repeat
his character Fast Eddie's confident words, "Hey, I'm
back!" And take a bow. You survived a writer's slump. Congrats!
• • •
Copyright © 2016 - Cal Orey. -
Reprinted with permission. This article originally appeared in the June 2004
issue of The
Writer .
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