Renegade Writer Q&A: Karen Lynch
Karen Lynch freelanced for newspapers in the 1990s, and she recently landed her first magazine assignment using a letter of intro instead of a query. (She also learned the importance of asking for the assignment.)
Why did you decide to send an introductory letter to this particular magazine instead of a formal query?
I was tired of having my queries rejected! No seriously, I realized that I wasn’t able to read the editors’ minds yet and anticipate what they might want at this stage of my career, and I was feeling frustrated. I knew I had nothing to lose by introducing myself to some targeted publications as a freelance writer. I wanted to write for this particular publication because I enjoy reading it so I started with them.
What kind of response did you get?
The editor emailed me back almost immediately. She visited my website (I included the link in my email) and saw on my home page that I was a breast cancer survivor. Because their October/November issue would focus on breast cancer awareness, she suggested I write a story for her ‘on spec’ about my own experience with the disease.
How did you make the decision to do that first assignment on spec?
It was a no-brainer. For one, I wanted to get published. In addition, the editor asked me to write about a topic that mattered a great deal to me. Every breast cancer survivor has a story to tell and I had the opportunity to tell my story to a very large audience. It had to be done.
You mentioned that you got a second assignment from this editor. What’s the article about? Did you query the idea, or did the editor assign it to you?
The article I’m working on now is a profile piece on a child who has also survived cancer. The editor assigned this one to me because after we’d closed our conversations about the first article I’d written for her I asked her if there was anything else I could do for her. And there was. (You never know unless you ask.)
What’s your most difficult writing challenge, and how do you overcome it?
Finding time to write when I don’t feel tired or rushed. I have three kids between the ages of 2 and 7. They require a lot of time and attention and I want to give them that time and attention. But I also want to focus on my writing career. During the day when they are home it isn’t quiet enough and at night after they go to sleep I’m tired myself. I can’t seem to wake up before them so really, except for the few hours a week that I have all three of them out of the house, it’s tough to find quality time to work.
Most writers have aspects of the business that they find hard and those that they find easy. Is there any part of the writing business that comes easily to you?
Coming up with ideas! I’ve a stockpile of them. Someday when I have time I’ll have no excuses — my backlog of things I want to write about keeps growing.
What writing tool do you find essential?
A journal. I must have dozens of them. Some are filled, some are completely empty. I can’t resist them when I see them in a store and people give them to me as gifts … I don’t always ‘journal’ in them but I use the blank pages to capture ideas as they come, or write story fragments, writing ‘to do’ lists, random thoughts. I just love a book with blank pages!
Do you have any advice for writers who are trying to break into magazines?
Not to make stupid mistakes e-mailing editors like I have. I’ve sent too many e-mails too quickly without proofreading them carefully and I know it has made a difference with the editors on the other side of the Internet. E-mail is a wonderful communication tool, saving all of us lots of time and energy, but a little more time and energy spent on email correspondences wouldn’t hurt.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Yeah … what your book taught me in a more global way was to be myself. I needed to stop trying to conform to rules or do things the way the powers that be said I should. I had to be an individual, be myself, and do things the way I felt most comfortable. Most likely I’ll land more assignments that are suitable for me if I do. At least I’d like to think so. [lf]
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Sep 28, 2006 Writer Q&A, Writing
Hi Karen,
I watched you on the news today this has inspiered me to contact you. I have often thought about writing a book, but did not know where to get the resources. I have the idea of the book but what legal rights would I have to go through. I hope to hear from you then I will go into further detail with you.
regards
Susy