Building a Writing Practice From Scratch

Plus: How to pitch ideas that editors will publish

Dear I Have Notes,

I’m new to writing in the creative sense. I’ve given myself goals, such as writing creatively a couple of times a month, and reading novels, since I’m interested in writing a novel. Does this seem like a decent way to start writing? Do you have any other suggestions? Is it ridiculous and presumptuous to try to write with a completely unrelated full-time job?

— Looking for Guidance

Dear Looking,

Reading and writing on a schedule that makes sense for you is exactly what you should be doing. If writing a couple of times a month is what works for you now, that’s great—it’s important to set goals that feel achievable, because that is how you will begin to establish a routine.

When I am in the beginning stages of a project, sometimes it helps me to focus on developing specific elements. I might draw a map of an important place in the story, filling in as many physical or historical details as I can about that setting, or list every major character and consider everything I know about them. (For more recommendations and exercises, I recommend these recent craft books.) It will be helpful, as you read the novels you’re assigning yourself, to pay attention to the choices other writers make—you can learn so much by reading work you admire and trying to figure out how the author grabbed and held your attention, brought a setting or character to life, structured their story, etc. Understanding what you appreciate or are drawn to as a reader can help you think about your own writing goals.

I also encourage you to spend some time thinking about other things you may want to do for your writing. You’re already doing the most important thing: setting aside dedicated time for reading and writing. But sometimes, making even a small change in your writing process can make a big difference.

You could start an idea notebook or some other list where you keep track of all the things you might want to write about. You could give yourself occasional assignments or deadlines, or ask a friend to do it for you. You could practice reading your work aloud—it will help you consider your word choices, the rhythm of your sentences, how your own writer’s voice sounds. You could attend some local literary events and try to connect with other readers and writers. If you are hungry for more community or feel that you would benefit from more structure or accountability in your work, you could consider taking a writing class in person or online.

What you are doing is not ridiculous or presumptuous at all. So many people I know work on writing projects in the narrow margins of their lives—for years, that’s what I did, too. You don’t need to write every day or hit a certain word count each week in order to maintain a writing habit that feeds you. Be patient. Be kind to yourself. Trust that you will keep improving.

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Dear I Have Notes,

I am an academic who has published articles and a book in my field. I want to do more writing for the general public but feel very uncertain about the process of pitching to editors, because this is so different from how I’ve previously worked. I’ve pitched a couple of pieces to editors and have either been told, “No, thank you” or received no response. It feels very discouraging.  Do you have any suggestions for those new to this? I want to believe that my work will find a home, but how to go from idea to publication feels like a process shrouded in mystery.

— Trying to Keep Trying

Dear Trying,

Some practical things to consider: Do you maintain a list of publications you read and enjoy and could easily see yourself writing for? Are you choosing editors to pitch based on what they and their outlets regularly publish and share? How long are your pitches? When you read them, do you feel they are good examples of your writing style and skills? An effective pitch is clear and concise; it should explain why the piece is timely and/or meaningful, why you’re the person to write it, and why you’re pitching it to this particular editor or publication. When I was an editor, I always appreciated it when a pitch gave me a taste of the writer’s voice.

Do you have a writing network or community you can lean on as you learn? Are there people you know—perhaps fellow academics—who’ve successfully pitched and written for more mainstream publications, and who might be willing to take a look at your pitches or drafts and share their thoughts? Have you tried running specific ideas by writer friends who could help you brainstorm editors or publications to try? Have any editors ever given you useful feedback that you might be able to incorporate into a revised pitch, which you could then send elsewhere?

When I interviewed Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein earlier this year, I asked a version of the question you posed in your letter: What advice did she have for academics interested in writing for a general audience? Her response: “You can’t be precious about your writing. You should get a range of readers and give them permission to tell you what they think and tell you what’s not working. You should also include people who know you well enough to make suggestions.” No doubt you’ve long been accustomed to having your work read and reviewed by academic peers. But since you’re new to writing for non-academic audiences, it’s worth intentionally seeking out feedback from others who might read your writing in a different way and for different reasons, and who might notice different things about it. What, if anything, trips them up when they read your work? What ideas do they respond to with genuine curiosity or enthusiasm? What questions do they have for you? (Other people’s questions can be great writing prompts!)

It’s also worth thinking about your specific goals for general-audience writing, with the understanding that these goals could change over time. Do you want to write about your area of academic expertise for non-academic audiences? Or do you want to experiment and try to write in another area entirely, perhaps employing different structures or exploring different genres? Who are you hoping to reach or connect with? What sort of conversation do you want to have or instigate? Thinking through and being clear about why you’re trying to pursue this type of writing, and what you hope to get out of it, might help you better focus and pitch your ideas.

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