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Tips to Jumpstart Your Writing

Suzan L. Wiener

More Rules To Write By

Do you want to succeed in writing as a published author? It's helpful if you follow certain rules. To reach your goal, or to be even more successful in your career as an author, here are eight more rules (further to my previous "Rules To Write By" article, which appeared in The Writer’s E-Zine, February ’05 issue).

l. If you mail a large number of envelopes, it pays to buy a good postage scale. This way, you'll know the exact amount of postage and won't have to bother the postal clerk. A few cents here and there add up, and you could apply the savings towards stamps to send your work out to publishers.

2. Always keep a list of new markets you want to try. Write for guidelines once a week. Use a form letter if you have a computer and just change the addresses on it. It saves a lot of time and effort.

3. Always update and revise old manuscripts that have been rejected. Send them out to different publications again and again. Of course, wait until you hear from one before sending out to another. If your work is good, it will be accepted eventually.

4. Perseverance is an important asset to have when you are a writer. Never giving up on your submission that you think is promising will help you to see your work in a publication. Try, try again really applies to writing. Don’t be discouraged if you get a rejection; simply mail the piece out to the next market on your list. Make sure, though, that your work is neat and not dog-eared.

5. If you find old Writer's Markets on sale in bookstores, buy them. They have excellent articles about writing and will be useful to you, even though they may be years old.

6. Always make sure to keep a lot of manuscripts circulating. If one or two are rejected, you won't feel bad because you will have plenty of other chances of having one accepted. It works, and you won't ever get discouraged as easily.

7. Don't be too eager to check on your manuscripts by writing a letter to the editor asking about the status. It can take quite a while for a busy editor to make decision. Of course, if two months have passed, then you can write a polite note. Never be rude and demand to know why it's taking so long. That will be a sure way to get a rejection.

8. While waiting to hear from one editor, work on another piece so you will always be writing and your mind will be occupied on the work in front of you.

If you follow the above rules, you should have an easier time of seeing your work in print. Try it; you’ll see what I mean.


About the Author
Suzan L. Wiener has had numerous articles, poems, stories, and fillers published in a variety of publications such as Canadian Writer's Journal, Verses, Impetus, Poetry Press, MetroSeven (Australia) and The Writer's E-Zine. She is in the process of submitting her love poetry collection for publication.