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Summertime Writing

© Kim Applegate

Warm, sunny weather is fast approaching. Soon the birds will nap in the afternoon heat and humans will seek out waters holes and water parks to cool our hides.

What are you going to do this summer?
It would be easy to put off writing for a couple of months. The kids are out of school and demanding entertainment. Vacation plans need finalizing and executing. And besides, there will be some darn sweltering days ahead. Who can think of witty prose while the sweat is pirouetting off your nose?
All fine excuses but they won't get you far in reaching your writing goals.
For inspiration and a gentle prod, here are some suggestions to keep on writing this summer!

Plan ahead

• Work your idea book. Spend a couple of days every week for the next month brainstorming ideas for articles. Flesh out the best ideas and create an action plan. List people you will interview, areas to be covered, an outline for the finished article, photographs to be taken.

Create a flurry of queries

• Start now and send out a query a day (or a week). With so many queries going out you are bound to receive a couple of go-aheads for articles. Deadlines are great motivators even when the pool is beckoning!

Write about your summer

• As you are enjoying the hot season, think about articles you would enjoy reading. Check out the current issues of the magazines you like. Create article ideas from what you are experiencing. Queries for summertime article ideas can be sent out in about two to three months as editors will be starting to plan Summer 2002 articles at that time.

Work your vacation

• If you are traveling this summer, set a goal of creating five articles from your trip. Whether you are traveling a great distance or spending time at a nearby lake, there are countless travel articles to be created.
• Create a list article: 10 best places to tan in San Fran
• Dig into history: White Rock, BC - Vancouver's 1900s Seaside Resort
• Pursue the personality: The creator of the safe tan and how he did it.
• Travelogue: How I Woo Airport Security

Don't take off the summer. Slow and steady effort will get you closer to your goals. Remember, write throughout the summer but there is nothing to say you can't sip a Long Island Ice Tea while you're at it!

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