Questions

Everything But Writing—June 2008

Can you answer these questions?

With conference season coming up, you're bound to be asked the following questions. Instead of stammering out the first thing that comes to mind, be ready with answers that can boost your career and help you make new friends.

What do you write?

It would be nice to say, "I write X" and be done with it, but if you're a multi-genre writer like me, consider your audience and what they might find most impressive. For example, my general answer is "I write mostly nonfiction articles and books, but I also do a little poetry and fiction," but if I'm at a Portuguese festival, I'll say that I've written three books about Portuguese Americans and used to be a correspondent for Portuguese Heritage Journal." At a writer's conference, I'll be sure to mention my Freelancing for Newspapers book and the blog that goes with it.

Have you been published?

I hate this question because it shows that the person has no knowledge of my nearly 40 years of writing and publishing. But rather than bristle and bark, the polite answer is, "Why yes, I have." Then they're going to ask what and where you've published. If you list your publications on your website, you can mention a few credits, then hand them a business card, brochure or bookmark listing your URL. Take advantage of every opportunity to publicize your work. Everyone's a potential customer.

If you have not published anything yet, that's okay. We all have to start at the beginning. A good answer might be, "No, but I'm working hard at it and expect it to happen any day now."

What are you working on?

This is a great question. You never know when someone might be able to help you by linking you to great sources or recommending you to an editor, agent or publisher. So have a couple sentences ready to describe what's on your desk at the moment. For example, I'm working on a book about childless women, and I'm not shy about sharing interesting tidbits from the chapter I'm working on. "Did you know that mother rats have been shown to be more intelligent than rats that have not given birth?" That usually gets a conversation going.

Could you tell me how to . . . ?

And then there are the seeking-free-advice questions that come to those of us who have been published. I can't tell you how many people have said, "You know, I've been thinking about doing some writing. How do you get started?" Or "I always wondered how you submit an article (or book)?" I get e-mails on this, but I also get queried at the doctor's office, at church potlucks, even during concerts—while I'm performing. Recently at McDonald's, where all I wanted was a quick and quiet lunch, a guy who recognized me from church invited himself to sit down with me to find out how to be a writer.

I believe those of us who have had some success have a duty to help others who are just starting out, but there's a limit. I do give free advice, but if people keep coming back for more information, I warn them that as a professional teacher, I'll have to start charging them a fee. Most go away; some become clients.

Just because I'm a writer doesn't mean I know everything. So when people ask about types of writing that I don't do, such as children's books, I might answer, "Gee, I don't know much about that, but if you Google the Society of Children's Book Writers, I'm sure you can find the answers you're seeking." You can always refer people to the lists of specialized writing groups in the back of Writer's Market and other books for writers.

Are you still writing?

This question comes from people who are obviously not writers. It's like asking if I still have brown eyes. The correct answer is yes. Real writers never quit.

The most important question of all

Whenever you're bombarded by questions, especially questions you don't want to answer (This applies in real life as well as writing), turn the conversation around as quickly as possible and ask, "What do YOU write?"

Networking is a two-way street.

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