Have I ever mentioned that I write all my blog posts on the weekend? I got the idea from my friend Elana, who is the most organized writer I’ve ever met. Well, at least, the most organized writer who has been willing to tell me her secret.
So yeah. I schedule all my posts in advance. This is a handy-dandy thing, because it frees up the rest of my week—whatever writing time is available, anyway—to working on manuscripts or queries.
Sending out query letters takes a LOT of time. Oodles. Tons. If it doesn’t, you aren’t doing it right.
First, you have to perfect your pitch. Then you have to research all the agents you believe might be a good fit for you and your manuscript. This is a fairly long process, since it requires reading blogs, websites, social networking profiles, and anything else you can find about each and every agent.
After you’ve done your homework, you then use the information to personalize each letter, include the required amount of manuscript pages, and either click send or seal the envelope. (I don’t do snail mail very often. Too expensive.)
Times that by eight to ten every week, and you’re talking ten hours. Just for query letters.
*shrugs* I’m a glutton.
So. I write blogs on the weekends. I send queries during the week, and somehow manage to find time to write. Not much lately, but I do write. Because if I don’t, I won’t have anything else to query next year.
And also, there’s that writer thing. You know the one. That part of life where you know you don’t really need a therapist to deal with the voices in your head. You just need a notebook or computer, and after you give them their say they’ll leave you alone. For a while. And if they don’t, you just hurry and tell their story and THEN they leave you alone. Theoretically.
But I digress. The point is I like writing my blogs on the weekend, sending my queries during the week, and writing the rest of the time. I think I’ll stick with this system for now.
Do you have a time-saving trick? Some kind of social networking/blogging system that works well for you? Tell me about it.
3 comments:
Good plan. How does it work with scheduling the posts? I haven't figured it out. Not that it matters. My system is to write blog posts when the mood strikes, read blogs on Mon. and Fri. (or other days, if it's a blog I really love), and write late at night or whenever else I have time.
I blog when my brain is really tired and needs a break from writing. =)
This is my time-saving trick too! Been operating like this for the past few weeks (maybe a month or two?) and it's most excellent. Great minds Nichole! ;)
Post a Comment