More Fantastic Advice From Query Challenge Participant Sheila Scarborough

Kristen King

www.inkthinkerblog.com — Back in February, Sheila Scarborough offered some wonderful advice for handling unexpected opportunities. Here’s what she has to say about deadlines, buckling down, and blogging:

I was hired for another blogging job, plus I’m finding that a couple of relationships with editors are paying off with assignment work. They’re starting to ask me to send in ideas, which is a strange feeling, let me tell you.

Here’s this month’s tip for Inkthinker readers — do really great work on a tight deadline, without whining, and you’ll be rewarded. I had one story that I turned in to a magazine in November, was told it would run in March, saw nothing when that month came and so followed up, was told, “whoops, editor wants some changes,” and those changes had to be done in only a few days, during a time when I was already really busy. Believe me, I was SO ANNOYED that they’d had this thing since November and now I had to run around killing myself, but I cheerfully responded.

A big thank you to the folks on the Mediabistro.com forum, who came through with some great ideas when I was stuck for sources. Got it all done, magazine was happy, and next thing I knew they asked me to do another piece. The deadline they gave for the new item was just impossible, given my workload, so I took a deep breath and (very politely) turned down work (!!) Here’s the thing — they came back and asked when I thought I could do the piece, I gave them a workable date and they said OK. Wow, I can negotiate with editors now!

I also want to put in a plug for blogging. I’m working on 4 different blogs right now, 3 of them pay, and the unpaid one most definitely led to the paid ones. I also have a blog post that may be turned into a print magazine article, a complete surprise to me since I’d never even considered pitching it to anyone. Blogging can be a very valuable part of a writer’s portfolio.

Sheila, I couldn’t have said it better myself. Congrats on your ongoing success! You’re positively inspirational — and your advice is dead on. :]

Do you have advice to share with Inkthinker readers? E-mail me!

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www.kristenkingfreelancing.com
Finalist in 2006 Writer’s Digest Best Writer’s Website Contest