Good Stuff for Writers, 4/27
Pitch opps with Axios, Mic, Parenting, and more!
Hi writer friends,
Yesterday my day turned around because of a pen. I was low on energy for the research phase of an article I’m working on, so instead of trying to read the same line of a study for the seventeenth time, I went to Target to get a few things I needed, one of them being pens.
I use Pilot G2 pens. No other pens will do. My handwriting is completely different when I use another pen, and if the ink doesn’t flow smoothly then my hand cramps up which causes the thoughts flowing from my brain to my hand to cramp up, too. Last time I bought new pens, I accidentally grabbed the Extra Fine version of the G2, and it turns out, they are no good. The ink is too light and the point is too sharp against the page.
So I was delighted when I saw the pen aisle, packed with all those very different writing utensils, and grabbed a pack of my trusty BOLD Pilot G2 pens with those gloriously fat, inky tips.
I got home and sat on the couch and wrote down a bunch of ideas for pitches with my new pens and my old notebook. The feel of ink and ideas on paper was just what my day needed.
Anyhoo, that got me thinking about all of the little things that can impact our days as creatives and as writers. On the one hand, we can’t let the wrong pen be an excuse for not doing the work that needs to get done. On the other, when you work by your own schedule with minimal structure on what should be done and when—it helps to have little go-to’s that can lead you toward your flow.
Sometimes, for me, it’s a new pack of pens. Or a fresh notebook. Or taking a walk. Or buying flowers to put on my desk.
I’d love to hear what those things are for you in the comments.
Maybe today, something in this newsletter will be that thing that gets the words flowing.
So. Let’s get to it…
Education, Funding, Inspiration, Etc.
Applications for a reporting grant to cover marine issues in Brazil are due May 31.
You only have a couple more weeks to apply for the Science-Health-Environment reporting fellowships through the Association of Health Care Journalists. Fellows receive customized education and a $2,000 stipend.
Grist’s Environmental Justice Fellowship is open to applications until May 18. The fellowship is 6 months and paid.
The Writer’s Co-op recently announced their May event: How to Make Your Freelance Business More Efficient. Tickets are $20.
National Geographic recently published new pitch guidelines for freelancers.
Epicurious has announced they will no longer be publishing content related to meat (after quietly not publishing content about beef for over a year.)
And an important reminder:
Editors Who Want Your Pitches
That’s all for today, friends.
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Stay inspired,
Britany
Lately, and this might not work for everyone, but really diving into cartoonist and writer Lynda Barry's philosophy and work. She helps when I am overwhelmed with material. Without getting into the weeds, one of her "lessons" or exercises to get writing and creating is to get out paper and a pen, and a timer. Take your subject, a noun if you have it. Me, I used "kidney transplant." Then list all the images that come to mind related to my specific subject. Try getting to 10. Take 3 min. Then, pick one image and answer who, what, where, why, how, what's the mood, context, etc. 3 more min for that. Next, tell us what's around that specific image. So for me, it's an actual operating room in 1999 during a kidney transplant that involved my mother and grandmother. I do my best to describe what's around from what I have read and interviewed and know, and guess (can always find the facts later). 3 min on that. Lastly, for 7 min, I have to write in paragraph form, and not stop. Barry instructs to doodle if I get stuck, but to keep going, keep then pen moving. At a minimum, this creates more lively scenes and sections of a story come more naturally for me. It may not work for every type of writing, but it does help me when I feel like a slug pit. The timers are the biggest key. Instead of feeling the overwhelming endless crush of time, or a distant deadline and time to overthink my writing, I have 7 min to make something, write words. Here's more on Barry, if you want to know more about her: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmT4wLWksOw
A walk and a fresh, bright bouquet of flowers also does wonders for me. Also, if something is bothering/worrying me, just sitting down and writing it out so it's out of my mind and down on the page! And a gorgeous notebook really does attract me to write more.