change of direction

Viv

Viv

After years of writing womens fiction and romantic/funny poetry I have had a go at non-fiction, and my first proper attempt has just been accepted within 2 days of submission! I just picked a subject I know a lot about through work (getting books into the homes of young children from ethnic minority backgrounds)and researched suitable magazines, then pitched the idea to one of them,listened to exactly what they wanted, worked really hard at getting it right...and bingo. My new career beckons. I think that once you are a professional writer in any discipline who can self-edit and work to guidelines, then you can write just about anything. The same rules apply to articles as to fiction - having a good opening paragraph, knowing the readership, following house style etc. And facts are easier to write than fiction with no tricky dialogue or twist endings to work out. I should have tried it years ago. Now I am already planning the next article.

Carol

Congratulations Viv. May it be the first of many.

SilentTony

Congratulations Viv. I guess it only shows that there are many different roads on the journey to success.

Jay Mandal

Well done! Let us know where/when it's published.

dorothyd

congratulations! You're right, non fiction is easier to write than fiction, when it comes to articles, and much easier to sell, too. There is an endless need for articles whereas the short story market is diminishing fast.
On the other hand, the Earl's biography is much harder work than the fictionalised book I did for the duke ...

Writeability

I used to write fiction at school and loved it but since becoming a journalist I seem to have lost any skills I had in that area! I have tried to write short stories but gave up when I started boring myself...

I write non-fiction for magazines (my latest will be in the June issue of NZ Trucking!) and love it. I get to write on a range of subjects, some commissioned, some as a result of my own interests in a particular area. So far I've written about breast reconstruction surgery; car rallying; wedding stalkers and motorcycling (a few of my own ideas); supermarkets; call centres; trucks; the IT industry and prisons (all commissioned articles). And I'm just about to write something on hair care - a new topic for me as I'm not a girly girl! I used to fear new challenges but now I embrace them because each new topic brings me not only new knowledge but satisfaction at being able to impart that knowledge to others. I attended a freelancers conference recently and picked up lots of great ideas. Check out things like the Writers and Artists Yearbook and the Writers Market as they both have publications and what they are looking for from writers.

Writeability

I used to write fiction at school and loved it but since becoming a journalist I seem to have lost any skills I had in that area! I have tried to write short stories but gave up when I started boring myself...

I write non-fiction for magazines (my latest will be in the June issue of NZ Trucking!) and love it. I get to write on a range of subjects, some commissioned, some as a result of my own interests in a particular area. So far I've written about breast reconstruction surgery; car rallying; wedding stalkers and motorcycling (a few of my own ideas); supermarkets; call centres; trucks; the IT industry and prisons (all commissioned articles). And I'm just about to write something on hair care - a new topic for me as I'm not a girly girl! I used to fear new challenges but now I embrace them because each new topic brings me not only new knowledge but satisfaction at being able to impart that knowledge to others. I attended a freelancers conference recently and picked up lots of great ideas. Check out things like the Writers and Artists Yearbook and the Writers Market as they both have lists of publications and what they are looking for from writers.

Writeability

Excuse the double post - I hit the submit button but realised I'd missed a few words out so hit the back button immediately. Not fast enough, obviously - sorry!

Tessa Tangent

Thank you, Viv.  Your post made me realise that I had some marvellous editors who always accepted my work.  Even if I want to go in a different direction now, someone like those editors will accept in the end.  Good for you and thanks again :O)

Writeability

Hi Claudia, the conference website is still up and running - http://www.freelance2007.co.nz/ so take a look. I am sure they would be happy to accept overseas registrations (bona fide ones - they did have a few enquiries from countries where people are likely to enter NZ and never leave...!) This was the second year it has been held and is likely to be run again next year, although it may not necessarily be in Auckland again. It was well worth the small fee of $75 and that included drinks the night before, morning and afternoon tea, lunch and drinks/finger food following the conference - and some goodie bags with bits and pieces in them.

Betsie

Well done - great news

Kangaroo

Well done Viv!

Writeability

Claudia, they usually tie it in with the Magazine Publishers Association conference (they are one of the sponsors) but the date is advertised well in advance. I can thoroughly recommend it and not just because I was on the organising committee!

Katy

That's great news Viv, excellent - well done you! Like others who've replied, I was brilliant at writing fiction at school, always got straight As - but seem to have lost the ability to tell 'stories' in the 20 years that have passed since. So whilst I'd love to picture myself winning the Booker Prize, I know it ain't never going to be! I'm going to stick with writing non-fiction - like you, based on experience and the work I do / have done. Good luck Viv in your new found career!

Viv

Thanks for all the congrats. I have already offered the same magazine another idea- strike while the iron is hot -  but I won't be giving up the fiction as that's what I really love writing. But we all know there are times when the ideas just don't come, so then I can turn to the non-fiction for a while. And, strangely enough the payment for the article was almost exactly the same as I usually get for a Womans Weekly story, so I don't have to take a pay cut either!

Aegean

Well done Viv non fiction can bring a good income.

All the best

Viv

Just to let you all know that the same mag has commissioned and accepted my second article about sharing books with the under-fours already. The first article -based on a multicultural angle - comes out this Thursday (Nursery World mag 31 May ) and will get front page coverage with a photo of one of the Asian families I have worked with. Can't wait to see it in print. And another mag (OneUp) has agreed to take an article from a slightly different angle - the role of books in the one-parent family. I'm on a roll now - three articles written and accepted in three weeks. Trouble is that even a specialist subject can  only be stretched and re-angled so far. Sooner or later the ideas will run out.

dorothyd

brilliant stuff, keep it going!

Carol

Well done Viv.