Tips I’ve Gained from the CWCC
July 1, 2011 by admin
Filed under Writing for Children
When I first joined The Children’s Writers Coaching Club, I didn’t know what to expect and was apprehensive. I had been writing for years, with no publishing success. I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. I knew how to write, but I didn’t know that there were key differences between writing and writing for children. There are such subtle differences, unless someone points them out to you, you’ll never be published. It’s taken me a year to start putting different techniques together. The CWCC has made a world of difference in my writing career.
I used to jump from one project to another. I had so many stories; I couldn’t get them down fast enough. However, I’ve learned how unproductive this is. I’m finally learning to work on one project at a time. That’s not easy for me. However, I am managing to change my writing ways by using the strategies of the club.
Even though I had meant to try it for a long time, making a calendar seemed silly. I had read in several articles that this was a useful way to manage one’s writing time. However, I never knew how to go about it. Because of Suzanne’s monthly teleclass (which includes a lesson and assingment) and her explanations on how to use these methods to better my writing, I have begun to master the calendar. I am now listing one children’s writing project for each week, I can make strides in my writing. Taking a week, gives me time for writing a first draft, editing it, writing my second draft, and then sending it into Suzanne for her critique.
If you can, call into the teleclasses, there’s nothing like being on the phone with the other writers. I can’t always make the teleclasses because of work. However, Suzanne sends a link for the replay. Even if you don’t participate, being there and listening to other humans is helpful.
Suzanne and the other CWCC instructors had encouraged me to write for non paying and low paying markets. I did as they suggested and received acceptances. These writing projects didn’t pay me cash, but they are publishing credits on my resume. By writing for these markets, I have also gotten over my fear of sending my writing off to publishers. I also don’t wait for the mail carrier to come back with my illusive check. Once I send an assignment off, I get working on another. I won’t say that I don’t check my email constantly for acceptances, but the difference is that now I keep writing.
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Visit Marge Gower online at www.margegower.com and find out more about her recent publishing credits in our Member Spotlight.
