Writing Lessons from Angry Birds

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Angry Birds Image

I’ve heard about Angry Birds for years, but I had no interest in it until my four year old came home from preschool sharing stories about the game from his friends. In the name of good parenting, I had to download it. Who am I to deprive my preschooler of an apparent rite of passage, right?

As I feared, I’ve spent more time playing it than I should. In the game, you use a slingshot to fire birds at pigs that are either on or inside structures. The goal is to destroy all of the pigs, and I’m addicted. Getting bumped up to the next level is as gratifying as getting my Master’s degree.

I’ve been knocking off the levels like gangbusters, and that kind of success requires a strategy: If I’ve tried to destroy the pigs a few times and failed, I switch gears and try a completely new way of doing things. If aiming the bird low doesn’t work, I aim high. If I’ve been aiming high with no success, I aim low, even when it doesn’t seem like the most logical approach. But you know what? It works. As I’ve been thinking about it, I realize I apply the same tactic to my writing.

If I’m stuck on a story, I often will save the file under a new name and begin experimenting until I find my stride. I’ll strip the piece down to its bones. I’ll rewrite the lead with a whole new angle and completely reorganize the story. I cut out large chunks of info and save them in a file labeled cuts. More often than not, trying something completely new is exactly what the story needed.

In writing, you can’t be afraid to kill your darlings. You also have to be willing to change your strategy when you find your approach isn’t working. Sometimes a slightly different approach can yield big results.  

The same applies to life. Experimenting with Angry Birds or a Word document is far easier than switching gears within your career or family life, but it can sometimes be just as necessary. Although the new year is officially underway, I’m still thinking over my goals for 2012 and I’m especially pondering the small changes that will allow me to work smarter and find more time for more projects.

I’m curious. Have you ever made a change that seemed small that ended up making a big difference? 

Goings On

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Kids opening Christmas gifts
 

— We’ve spent the past week or so Christmasing with family in Utah. It has been a wonderful time (even though everyone in my little family got hit hard with the flu) and I hate to see it come to an end.

— During my trip, writer and solopreneur Alexis Grant featured me in a Q&A about freelancing on her blog, which is a valuable resource about writing and striking out on your own. It was great to be a part of her site. Thanks, Alexis!

— Also while in Utah, an editor reached out to me and asked if I’d be interested in providing regular support for a few sections within his magazine. I am so excited to take on the project and I’ve already been plotting how I’m going to re-organize my desk to create room for my new responsibilities.

— As part of my Christmas gifts, my husband gave me a Kindle, and I’m becoming an e-reader convert. It is super easy to buy a new book at any hour of the day. I think it was 2 a.m. when I downloaded Christina Katz’s The Writer’s Workout. This quote by Stephen King within the book resonated with me: “If you wrote something for which someone sent you a check, if you cashed the check and it didn’t bounce, and if you then paid the light bill with the money, I consider you talented.” I love little reminders that I am finding success as a writer. 

— We still have a few more days before the kids start school again and life returns to normal. I'm hoping to soak in a little more of the Christmas spirit before we start packing away all the decorations and find places to put all of the wonderful gifts we received. I hope you're enjoying the holidays as much as we are. 

Writing for a Living

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Writing for a Living

Often times when I tell people I’m a freelance writer, they comment on how great it is that I get to right about whatever I choose. But the truth is, being a writer and writing for a living are two different things.

Whether you’re writing a feature story or a novel, you have to get those pieces published before you can get paid, and publishing on any level is a business. In business, you have to produce a product you can sell or you’ll end up having to close your doors.

When I first became a full-time freelancer, I wrote down every realistic market I planned to pursue. For me realistic meant those publications where I already had a contact. I had been covering transportation issues for a number of years, so it made sense to continue on that path and rely on the expertise I had gained. Given that my freelance income has now surpassed my full-time income, it was a wise choice.

One of the biggest benefits of pursuing an area of expertise is that I don’t spend a lot of time pitching articles that may or may not get picked up. Since a well-crafted pitch letter can sometimes take as long to write as an article, skipping that step is a huge plus. At this point in my career my assignments usually come via a phone call or an email from an editor saying he needs a feature on a certain topic. We’ll email a bit about potential sources and the angle, and then I get right to work.

On a personal level, I would love to spend more time writing essays and pitching parenting magazines, but I know that I will likely spend more time on those projects and see less money. As someone who writes for a living, I choose to focus on getting the most bang for buck. My goal is to create products I can sell, and I think that is the key difference between those who write and those who write professionally. 

Channeling Christmas Excitement in My Kids

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Are your kids abuzz with anticipation over the holidays? Mine are. Even Madelyn seems to know something special is going on. All this excitement can make it hard for busy mommas to get anything done. Luckily I’ve been able to channel my little ones’ creativity. I don’t know about you, but I have a to-do list that is a mile long, so I need all the help I can get over the next few weeks.

Our top go-to activities right now:

Santa’s Workshop

All it takes is some in lumber from Home Depot, wood glue and craft

s from the craft store to turn my son’s tool bench into Santa’s Workshop.

Evan has spent hours creating Star Wars ships, necklaces and other creations. He dons his Santa hat each time he gets to work.

Felt Christmas Tree

Miss Madelyn loves rearranging the ornaments on this felt Christmas tree. I just cut a triangle out of green and multi-colored circles. I taped the tree to the wall and the felt sticks to itself, so she can move the ornaments anywhere she pleases.

I also made a felt nativity using patterns from the blog Under my Polkadot Umbrella.

Cooking

Admittedly, adding my kids’ help to kitchen activities means we spend more time accomplishing our tasks, but they enjoy the one-on-one time that can buy me time to myself a little later in the day. A great acitivity is making cereal treats, as I can have Evan measure and re-measure the cereal at least five times. This treat made with Chex cereal was fun to whip up with the kids. 

 

 

 

Why Journalism Matters

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Even as a journalist, there are times I get frustrated with the media. Let’s be honest. Twenty-four hour news coverage means non-newsworthy stories can get beaten to death and even those that are newsworthy can get blown out of proportion. But then there are days when I pick up the paper and read a story that leaves me saying, “There. That is why journalism matters. That is why the press is and should be the fourth estate.”

Last week, the front page of the Washington Post detailed the story of the Air Force secretly dumping the incinerated partial remains of at least 274 American troops in a landfill without the families’ knowledge or consent. The Post first revealed the practice last month and is continuing its push for information.

Read the story here. It is appalling, and this is exactly the type of story the media should grab onto and fight tooth and nail to uncover. It is the reason the first amendment exists. It is why I am grateful "Congress shall make no law…" 

I’m sure we’re all guilty of cursing police officers when we’re caught speeding yet we want them to be at the ready when we need help. The same goes for the press.

There may be times when we roll our eyes or change the channel because we’re tired of seeing the same story over and over again or we just can't take any more of a particular anchor. But even so, let’s be glad the press is there. It really does serve a greater good. Plus, you never know when you may need the media to come to your aid. It can happen, and I bet that while the families who are just now learning their loved ones’ remains were dumped in a landfill are devastated, they’re glad to know the practice was uncovered and the military will be held responsible for its actions.  

How Many Shopping Days are Left?

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The Christmas countdown is on and there are just over two weeks to finish whittling away at your gift list. If you're like me and need to mail your gifts or if you're heading out of town for the holidays, time is even shorter. Here are a few of my favorite gift ideas this year. 

For the writers on your list:  

Every writer needs a subscription to Writer's Digest. It is a little dose of inspiration that is delivered right to your mailbox every other month. Even if your writer friend has one, I'm sure she'd be happy to have you extend her subscription. 

My two favorite books about writing are Stephen King’s On Writing and Anne Lamotte's Bird by Bird. These books have been out for years, but that doesn't mean the writers in your life have read them.  

For the writer who has everything, give notepad-themed dishware. There is also a line of crossword puzzle dishware that is perfect for any word lover.

For little ones that need to be entertained while mommy proofs a final draft, or does the dishes or sends a quick email:

Magformer Building Block Sets are colorful little magnetic blocks that have been a lifesaver in our house. Both kiddos love them and Bryan and I don't mind playing with them either. Madelyn and Evan fought over them so much, my mom sent us another set. 

Bob Books are perfect for novice readers that are learning to sound out words. My little guy was able to read the first few without any help from me, which he thought was great. 

For your mom or daughter: 

The children's book Someday is a sweet book about the love between mothers and daughters. I adore it and wrote a blog post about it months ago. 

For the readers on your list: 
 
An Amazon Kindle or Amazon gift cards are sure to please. 
 
The Book of Awesome is an awesome gift that you can make even better by adding personal notes. See my blog post about it here. 
 
I am going to be spending a good part of the day today trying to wrap up my shopping. I'm still searching for ideas for a few people on my list. What are your favorite go-to gift items this year? 
 

The Power of a Thank You Note

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Sometimes a thank you note is more than a thank you note, such as when it results in a steady freelance contract that brings in $500 a month.

I don’t make time to do it enough, but I always like to send thank you notes to sources that have been particularly helpful. For the most part, my sources don’t get any personal gain from talking with me, so thanking them for taking time out of their busy days is the least I can do.

A few years ago I sent a source a thank you and was surprised when he called me the day he received it. He told me it was the first time he’d ever been thanked for his time and we spent the next 30 minutes getting to know each other outside of our initial interview. That little thank you note opened the door to a deeper relationship with my source.

Since then, we’ve talked a few times a year for stories. Earlier this year he called to let me know his colleagues in a different division of the company were looking for a writer to work on their internal monthly newsletter. He recommended me and took care of the initial introductions. After a few interviews and written proposal, I secured the project and now write a monthly newsletter for his company.

Obviously I had to prove I was qualified to do the job and my pricing had to be right, but I am certain that my thank you note helped build the relationship that led to the contract. When I wrote the thank you, my only goal was to show my appreciation, but you can never underestimate the power of saying thank you. 

*Photo by Anna Mailie Design via Flickr

 

Navigating Creative Delays

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November is NaNoWriMo or, for you non-writers out there, National Novel Writing Month. The idea is that you write fast and furious for 30 days and at the end of the month you have a novel ready for all of the edits and re-writes that take a first draft to a final one. For the past two years, I’ve had the best of intentions to take part. I’ve created a profile and done lots of pre-NaNoWriMo inspirational reading.

Then we get into November and life somehow takes over. There are paying work projects, a loving family (pictured above) and a sweet toddler that needs twice-daily doses of pink amoxicillin that all demand attention. Then toss in Thanksgiving, Christmas cards and kids’ activities and before I know it, it is November 28. Unfortunately, I still haven’t put any words on paper.

While writing an entire novel in a month is a challenge, writing one in three days is impossible. So, I concede defeat and stick NaNoWriMo back into my someday file. But I don’t beat myself up too much. Deferred dreams can still come true.

Anna Quindlen, one of my favorite writers, said, “You probably can have it all. Just not at the same time. And, you might have to make certain compromises when your children are small. But you children are going to be small for a very short period of time.”

Life brings creative delays, but in the end, those delays may make us even better at what we do. Novelist Anne Tyler said, “It seems to me that since I’ve had children, I’ve grown richer and deeper. They may have slowed down my writing for a while, but when I did write, I had more of a self to speak from.”

We all have commitments and learning how to pursue our dreams while meeting our obligations is a fine art. Fortunately, no matter what our passions are, we can all work at our own pace. For me, it is a marathon and not a sprint. 

Uncommon Women

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Do you know any uncommon women? I am fortunate because my life is full of them. I’m sure yours is, too.

Uncommon women are all around us yet they manage to stand out from the crowd. They launch businesses, raise families and take risks others dream of. I see them every morning when I drop my kids off for school, I get to work with them each day and just this weekend I got to reconnect with an amazing group of them that I don’t get to see nearly enough.

Uncommon women inspire us to try something new. Whether it is dancing to Funky Cold Medina or launching a freelance writing business, uncommon women guide us out of our comfort zones. They offer their support and they cheer us on. They become our role models and our friends.

Most of the uncommon women I know make everything they do look easy, but the ones I love the most admit how hard it actually is. The best share their tricks of the trade and they’re brave enough to share their not-so-stellar moments too. Whether it is on a blog post, over a drink or while waiting in the preschool pick-up line, uncommon women offer up their insights to help the rest of us do what we do better.

The uncommon women I am lucky enough to know make me a better mom, writer and friend. I’ve met them through school, work, my husband and my kids. I’ve found them online, at my dentist office and connected through a friend of a friend. No matter how I’ve met them, I’m happy to have them in my life.

Thank you to all the ladies who encourage and inspire me every day and a special thanks to the uncommon women I got to hang out with this weekend.

I know how hard it is to spend time connecting with those around us, but every time I do, I know I am better off because of it. Now I just need to try to do it far more often. 

*Photo by Ahmed Rabea via Flickr

Creating a Preventative Maintenance Plan

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A few years ago I wrote a story about how preventative maintenance on equipment helps trucking fleets avoid costly breakdowns that usually come at inopportune times. The same can be true for people, only it is far less likely we actually draft out a preventative maintenance plan for ourselves.

I’ve spent the past week battling what seems like a never-ending cold and recovering from a root canal. I’ve also got several major deadlines this week, so the timing isn’t ideal. Over the weekend I wanted nothing more than to simply curl up in bed and watch Law & Order reruns all day.

Of course, life goes on. There were soccer games, a fabulous house guest and several writing assignments that also demanded my attention this week. Not to mention a toddler that has a deep desire to snuggle at 2 a.m. and a preschooler that likes to wake for the day at 5 a.m. It is no wonder I can’t shake these sniffles and that I put off my dentist appointment longer than I should have. Real life is a tremendous blessing, but it also takes all we’ve got to keep up with it.

I don’t know about life at your house, but I know life at ours is only going to get busier as we approach the holidays. As I continue on my road to recovery this week, I’m going to let my runny nose and aching jaw remind me to build in some preventative maintenance time of my own during my busy days, particularly during all the merry making (and relentless to-do list) that is sure to ensue over the next few months. That maintenance doesn’t have to be well-checks and doctor visits. It can also be a enjoying hot cup of tea, making time for a personal project or simply indulging in a favorite t.v. show for an hour or two.

I’m also going to remember to be more grateful for good health. Rabbi Harold Kushner in Who Needs God said, “One of the most sublime experiences we can ever have is to wake up feeling healthy after we have been sick. Even if it is only relief from a headache or toothache, the health we take for granted most of the time is suddenly seen to be an incredible blessing.”

Here’s hoping that tomorrow is that day for me! 

*Photo by Rohsyn via Stock Exchange