So, I'm doing something I haven't done in quite some time today—writing straight to the Black Sheep Baptist Blog. Think of it as a straight-to-video release.
The reason I'm doing this is because of the recent Faithonomics podcast I appeared on, hosted by Rayce Lamb. We delved into my black sheep moniker, faith journey, and how my long-form writing is getting published in several different places.
As always, after our conversation, I thought of a dozen other things I wanted to say, so I'm doing that now. Some of it expands on what I touched on in the segment; others are just hot takes from my experience.
So, keep reading if you're thinking about dipping your toes into writing, getting published, and receiving compensation.
Let your writings have a dual purpose—I mentioned this during the interview. One of the most valuable lessons I received about my writing came from my time in seminary. A professor shared with me that he tried to make anything he writes have a dual purpose, meaning if he was writing an academic piece, he could use portions of it in a sermon or vice versa. I can't tell you the times I've used self-reflections as sermon illustrations and biblical scholarship in broad essays. My point is this: make your time and efforts worth it. Make your writing strong so it can be built on and repurposed elsewhere.
Write like no one knows who you are—I received this gem from an editor I was getting to know. I was writing a personal piece and wasn't giving enough detail about how I came to live in New England. I remember telling him, "I've written about my family's move before." He quipped, "Not for me, you haven't. Not for this audience." There's a famous line from the movie Glengarry Glen Ross, "Always be closing." As a writer/storyteller, I've adapted this to "always be introducing yourself." Tell people who you are, tell them what you mean, and, in most cases, leave little room for assumptions.
How to get something published: I submitted something at the urging of a colleague. They were kind enough to suggest that my experiences should be shared, and because they knew an editor of an online publication, they offered to do an email introduction for me.
That's it.
I wrote something, sent it in, and voila, I had my first published piece.
Connections and relationships are essential in every vocation. Writing is no different. If you know someone who can help you get a foot in the door, ask. This same sort of scenario led to my first paid piece. A peer messaged me and said, "You know ____________ publication is looking for monthly contributors. You should do it!" I checked out the publisher to make sure my voice worked there. After another introductory email, I was getting paid.
How to have the awkward compensation talk—Actually, this one was a lot easier than I imagined. I didn't need to have this conversation for my first paid gig, but I struggled to figure out the best way to broach the subject with other potential publishers. During a phone call with an editor-turned-friend, I said, "What's the best way to do this?" He answered back, "Be straightforward. Say you really enjoy writing for them, but at some point, you'd like to get paid. Is that a possibility?" A version of that pitch landed me two other contracts.
Kill Your Darlings—Here is the quintessential writing rule number one. Yes, you're submitting work that bares your soul, but a good editor will ask you to take it to another level. I've had pieces I'm pleased with go through an editing process, and nine times out of ten, because of an editor's suggestions, they come out better. For example, an editor told me, "You're circling something in this paragraph; give me another sentence or two and try and land it." This advice is priceless, and if you can check your artistic ego, it will do nothing but help you. In summary, be open to words of critique as much as affirmations.
Know your numbers—Analytics. I'm not a numbers person. At all. However, one of the benefits of having the Blacksheepbaptist website is the ability to track the number of people reading my writings. This information helps me determine how well my writing is received. When my pieces started getting published, I began requesting data from the editors every so often. They let me know which pieces got the most clicks and shares. I've used that information to approach potential future publishers. Not only do I share my previous work that I think might fit their audience, but I also include statistics. Doing this, I let an editor know what range my "writing voice" has and how I potentially bring a following of readers with me to their publication.
Lastly, prepare for rejection—Look, it's gonna happen. In my case, I'm happy to say the 'yeses' have far outweighed the 'nos.' But I've received my fair share. Some have been generic,
Thanks for you for your submission. Unfortunately, at this time...
Others were personal but in a good way.
Thanks for sharing your work. We've actually been discussing the possibility of a column addressing precisely what your piece deals with, but we aren't there yet. But please check back with us soon!
I know it's hard, especially because many publishers want completed submissions. If you're anything like me, you pour yourself into your writing. Putting that energy out there for rejection by a publisher is tough. I've navigated this by crafting pieces that might work at 2-3 different publications and sending them to each one (remember, make your writing dual purpose!). Getting a no sucks, but getting a no with feedback is valuable.
Alright, that's it. What I'm sharing is by no means an exhaustive list. Here's hoping you found a nugget or two to add to your writing toolbox.
Here's to discovering, honing, and owning your voice.
Justin