Would you like to be published in print and online magazines…in just 90 days?
That’s what happened to my new friend Brooke, who generously agreed to answer some questions about how she got published so quickly.
Blogger Brooke Miller
Here’s our Q&A:
Q: Hi Brooke. I get asked by aspiring writers all the time: “How do I get published?” — Can you talk about how you went from a blog to getting a articles published in commercial magazines?
Absolutely. I can sum up how that happened, as well as the advice I would give to others around that topic in four words: Stop typing, start talking.
Being the extrovert I am it was natural for me to focus on my skills that had little to do with writing, but rather direct communication and relationship building.
What I write about is a topic deeply close to my heart and I do spend a lot of time at my computer, but getting it out there takes more than a great column.
Connect with your friends and tell them about your blog. Pick up the phone!! Reach out to your old boss, your yoga teacher, your co-workers.
Create a focus group either in your living room or via email- ask your friends specific questions about your blog, your writing, and what they want to see more of.
Literally start talking (over email definitely counts), socializing, and connecting.
In my case, the specific social vehicle that supported my blog being picked up in print the first time was…wait for it…Facebook.
I shamelessly and proudly told Facebook friends about my blog, checked out what old friends were up to, re-connected with them around our passion for writing and expression, and thought of creative ways to work together.
And when I wrote about a topic I thought a friend would like or be interested in, I linked it to their pages with a short message.
For example: When I partnered with Primer Magazine for a new men’s advice column, I put the link on my ex-boyfriends page (who I’m friends with) and wrote, “For all those times you thought I was wrong…” and believe me, that got comments and attention.
For one of the publications, my blog was linked to my mom’s Facebook page (yes, really) and seen by the publisher of a commercial magazine. I got a call, and so it began…
Q: What are some top tips you can provide on how to be a writer?
I think if you’re a writer you just know…not because you’re great, but because you love it. Love. Love. Love it.
I’ve never taken a writing class, nor received an award for a high school essay or short story, but I love to write. When I write something I’m proud of, I have energy in my heart and bones for days (cheesy, yes. but also true).
If you want to be a writer, write. Make time to write. Make space to write. Don’t only write the things you hope to publish on your blog or elsewhere.
Write in a journal, write letters and cards to friends, write morning pages (from the book, The Artists Way).
Build your voice. Try new things. Write. Read. Talk. Get inspired.
One of my closest friends Gabi Moskowitz, of the fabulous blog Brokeass Gourmet said to me one day when writers block was consuming me…
“Instead of working so hard to write, start working hard on being inspired.”
That pretty much sums it up.
Q: What are some tips for writing your first blog posting?
Just write it. Really, just write it. Be careful about hinging on the fantasy that your first post will be published and make you famous and and and…that’s a flavor of pressure that you just don’t need to taste.
Just remember…it’s called your first post for a reason.
The best advice I’ve ever gotten when it comes to starting something is “The only difference between those with an idea and those with a successful idea is doing something with it.”
Your blog will never be successful if you don’t start it!
Find a friend who knows about blogging and ask them to help you set it up and give you a little 101 about how to post, edit, and manage your new blog.
Take them to dinner as a thank you…and then take a breath, and go for it…
Q: I know you’ve also got a book in you — would you talk about the approach you’re considering to go from blog to book?
I definitely have a book in me. Right now though, I’m practicing what I preach and not attaching myself to any particular route, or destination for that matter.
There are different options for writing a book including writing a proposal in print, writing the entire book and sending it in to an agent, self publishing, or writing an e-book and self-promoting.
I’m in the stage right now where I’m working on the foundation and intention of my book, meeting new people in the writing world, proudly accepting new opportunities to build my audience and my writing voice…and trying to breathe along the way.
But don’t let that grounded energy be confused with passiveness… My book will be out there one day soon.
Q: Thanks, Brooke. If someone wanted to get in touch with you, what’s the best way for them to do that?
You’re welcome!
The best way to reach me is through my blog Soapbox Therapy or email me at brooke@soapboxtherapy.com.
My psychotherapy office, where I see individuals, couples, and families in San Francisco can be reached at 415.294.4044
Thanks!
Brooke.
My friend Drew Sanders is one of the best networkers I know. He recently presented his Action Plan for using the networking tool LinkedIn to insurance giant Chubb…and was kind enough to let me share it with you.
If you want to know why you should be linked in, check out my You Must Be LinkedIn article.
Here’s the 8-step plan for setting up and managing LinkedIn:
Step 1: Complete your Linked in Profile (1 Hour)
- Have a coherent narrative of your history from college graduation
- Print out several examples that you like and model yours after theirs
- Brevity is appreciated by all
- Be factual, but humility is a good tack
Step 2: Email accumulation (1 Hour)
- Export your outlook contacts to a (CSV file)
- Do the same for your hotmail, yahoo, or Gmail accounts
- Extra Credit
- if you have emailing lists from when people have accidentally not bcc’d people and you saw some cool email contacts and saved the emails.
- Export those as well.
- Any email from anyone you have ever met now has more value than just a way to get a hold of that person.
Step 3: Contact Invitation Process (1 to 3 hours depending on number of emails)
- Load all the emails into the LinkedIn Platform
- THIS WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY INVITE THEM
- LinkedIn will now tell you if the email correlates to a profile that is already on LinkedIn.
- Review the people WHO ARE ALREADY USING LinkedIn, and where appropriate, extend an invitation to connect.
- A good rule of thumb would be if you saw them at a party would you both feel the social responsibility to say hello.
- Be patient with the people that you have only met a little bit and who you really don’t have any rapport built up with yet, over inviting can backfire and cheapen your brand.
- The people who are not on LinkedIn right now are still valuable to have on the site.
- When they do join, LinkedIn alerts you to that fact and then you can determine if you would like to extend them an invitation at that time
Step 4: Join Groups (1 Hour)
- Groups you should join
- Schools you attended
- Service Organizations you are a member of
- Industry Groups that you service
- Causes you care about
Step 5: Publishing Content (Ongoing)
- Answers
- Offering up your point of view on a question in an industry can be a way that you can build up an online presence as an expert in your field
- Discussions in Groups
- Participate in the dialog in the groups you join and follow
- Material about your specialty and your firm
- Post your marketing materials
- Post other documents that you typically distribute
- LinkedIn tells you when someone has downloaded one of your item
- A good place to learn about a book you are considering
- A better place to see if people that are reading the same book as you might have a similar reason to read it and be someone to reach out to
- Write Many for others you have worked with
- Post only a few that are written about you, but have a few that speak to your expertise and your character
- An advanced stage that should be approached with a plan.
- Over communicating to your network is just like spamming on email to too many about random things that are off topic.
- When executed well, it can really enhance your brand
Step 6: Book Reviews (Ongoing)
- A good place to learn about a book you are considering
- A better place to see if people reading the same book as you might have a similar reason to read it and become someone to reach out to
Step 7: Recommendations (Ongoing)
- Write many for others you have worked with
- Post only a few that are written about you, but have a few that speak to your expertise and your character
Step 8: Status Updates (Ongoing)
- An advanced stage that should be approached with a plan
- Over-communicating to your network is like spamming on email to too many about random things that are off-topic
- When executed well, it can really enhance your brand
Let me start off by saying that I am NOT disappointed in Tiger Woods for reportedly cheating on his wife.
I imagine life as a famous person, on the road the majority of the time with people throwing themselves at you, would tempt even the most pious of people.
I AM disappointed in the way he seems to be dealing with his affairs.
A leader is measured by how they handle a crisis.
What Would Obama Do In Tiger's Shoes?
The 6-Step Tiger Woods Leadership Action Plan
If I Were Tiger Woods right now, I would:
1) Hold a press conference with my top endorsers and me in a room (this would be one of the most watched events of the year!).
2) Admit to my wife, the rest of my family, my close friends, my fans and my endorsers that I made a big mistake.
3) Take the equivalent of all the endorsement money I’ve made in the last year — $50 to $100 million sounds like a good round number — and donate it all to a charity whose values support the improvement of family.
4) Announce that the next golf tournament I play at will be called the “Family Open” or “Family Invitational” and that all tickets will be free (with an emphasis on families); and that all players will bring along a family member as a teammate or caddy and will forgoe their prize money.
5) Ask the Press to be as hard on me as they’d like, but to be gentle with my wife and family.
6) Admit that all the above isn’t enough…but that it’s a start.
Tiger has an opportunity that all leaders have: to turn a negative situation into a positive one.
He may also benefit from reading It’s Not About The Bike by Lance Armstrong, who faced a low point with some sponsors and fans when he had cancer — talk about turning a negative into a postive!
While Lance faced a different situation, he wouldn’t be a bad guy to listen to during these times.
Tiger has showed leadership on the golf course. Let’s see what he can do off the course.
I know you can do it, Tiger!
Click Leadership Articles to see more of what I’ve written on the subject.
