How Do I Get Started? Part One

A few months ago, I was in the chair at a favorite hair salon when the stylist asked me what I do for a living. When I told her that I was a full-time writer, she lamented that she always wished she could find something to write about, but could never think of a thing. So, I suggested that she look around her. She had been working in haircare for several years - the room seemed stocked with article ideas to me. From products, to great new styles, to anecdotes about clients and the daily environment of a salon, it seemed to me that the stylist had any number of rich topics or subjects from which to pull. We talked about it at some length, and by the time we were done I like to fancy that the wheels were turning for her regarding a few article ideas.

Now, I know nothing about the stylist's actual ability to write; that's the fodder for an entirely different post. However, one of the best ways to get started in nonfiction freelance article writing is simply to write what you know. Take a hobby (wine, cooking, flea market shopping, sports), a profession (teaching, truck driving, playing an instrument, accounting) or any interest, and I would put money down that you have at least one interesting view on the subject to provide to an audience that will read it.

Try this exercise. Grab paper and pen (or a laptop), set an egg timer for one minute and jot down as quickly as possible everything about which you have some knowledge. When the timer rings, you will probably have filled a page or two with ideas without stretching your limits. Then take a look at the list and think of all the ways your ideas might be turned into article headlines. If you're a penny pincher, for example, you could probably generate a dozen quick headlines on the best times to shop, the best coupon sites on the Web, or other ways to stretch a dollar. The amateur wine connoisseur can probably come up with a dozen quick headlines for selecting, tasting and celebrating a good pour. Reflect on your life and your interests; you'll be surprised at what you develop.

So, then, how do you develop the idea and get it published? We will take it all one step at a time. I'll give you some clues in advance:

• First, remember the rule of "beginning, middle and end" for the article Editors demand it, good articles live by it.
• Secondly, learn the editor's submission guidelines, and stick to them. Editors demand it, and good articles get published by it.
• Finally, do not let rejection surprise and discourage you. I have a friend who lives by what she calls the "rule of 13." For every 13 queries she submits, she might get one hit.

For me, the "rule of 13" has often felt like the "rule of 100," but I have had some successes that keep me at it. In part two we'll discuss additional fundamentals to get your writing up and going.