Life of A Writer

A couple days ago, I sat down at my computer to write a query letter for an article idea I had just thought of. The words flowed from my fingers and onto the computer screen… I was happy. Once I finished the query letter, I closed Microsoft Word to let it sit for two days; I treat my query letters as I do my articles: I let them sit for a couple days and go back to edit them with a fresh set of eyes.

As my query letter was sitting, I logged into my account with Writers Market and began my search for potential markets. When I found a market, I opened the query letter back up to add the market's name and information at the bottom of the query letter. I did this with each potential market I came across for that article.

Two days had passed so I opened up the query letter to begin the editing process. I made a few changes here and there, then I just sat for a moment and stared at it. I pondered on whether to send it to the first highest paying market on my list but soon decided not to. Yes, this is where the procrastinating over the query letter officially begun. I kept telling myself, "Maybe you could do better. It just doesn't sound convincing enough. Okay, just close it and let it sit one more day then decide." And that's just what I did… I closed it to sit another day. I hope that tomorrow I'll be more satisfied and ready to submit it to Writer's Digest. I know one thing, though, I have to stop procrastinating or the darn thing will never go anywhere.

Have you ever found yourself procrastinating over a query letter? If so, what did you do about it? Did you make one last edit, send it and hope it was convincing enough to make the sell?

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Boy, did my plans for a nights work go down the tubes! Earlier this evening (or should I now say yesterday evening) I sent my cover letter and credentials out to several writing jobs that I qualified for. Once I completed that task, I began my nightly ritual of reading other writers' blogs. Yes, that has become an everyday task that I pen into my to-do list. In fact, it's the second task on the list.

Anyway, after I read the blogs by other writers, I didn't get anything else writing-related done. Why? Because I followed a link to read Michelle's short story at Common Ties, and from there I read other short stories. Then, before I knew it, I was so lost in the stories that I knew my work was not going to get finished.

I started off on the right foot, but I was sidetracked when I got lost in the stories I was reading at Common Ties. Oh well, I suppose we all need a night off every now and then, right? The problem, however, with taking a night off, was knowing I would have to make up for it (in this case) later on tonight, and it just makes my to-do list longer, because the entire to-do list from the night before made its way onto my new list. I'll just have to force myself to stay away from the stories tonight so I can get back to work.

Note to Michelle: I enjoyed Moses or Man? You wrote the story well and it held my attention to the very end. You keep writing and never give up on your dreams! I've always believed in angels, and you just may have met yours.

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