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A Few Choice Words

© Roxianne Moore

Review of Write Well & Sell: A Few Choice Words
: Short "Do-Able" Writing That Sells
by Sandra M. Louden
Jam-Packed Press, 2000
ISBN 892356-04-X
$11.95

Time. Succeeding as a writer is often a matter of timing and being in the right place at the right time. But all too often, would-be writers use lack of time as an excuse to put their writing careers on hold.

If time is the only thing that prevents you from succeeding as a writer, or if you're hoping for some quick writing income while you work on your book, A Few Choice Words may be just the resource you need.

The emphasis here is "short, ‘do-able' writing that sells," and author Sandra M. Louden packs plenty of tips and information into this well-written volume.

Louden started out reviewing books, and learning how to re-sell her book reviews. Then, she writes,

I started looking around for other writing "mini-genres" I could try, I analyzed what attracted me first in a magazine; what caught my eye, what had me "involved" as a reader. The answers were obvious: I always looked at easy-to-read lists, I always read the "fillers" at the bottom of the page and there wasn't a quiz I didn't take.

This book is a result of Louden's search for mini-genres that would allow her to write the kinds of things she enjoyed reading. And she found that these short pieces are often easier to sell, so that in time, she'd broken into a number of newspapers and Sunday magazines, as well as more prestigious markets.

Louden details the kinds of writing she pursued, with a chapter devoted to each type. Some of these may not seem like glamourous assignments, but they're a good start and a source of what most writers seek: a steady income.

• Greeting Card Writing
• Eulogies
• Quizzes
• Step-by-Steps/ Lists
• Book Reviews
• Personal Reminiscences
• Short Fiction

Sure, eulogy writing may not be high on your list of "fun" topics, but Louden makes it clear that this is a much-needed service. "Often, in today's funeral services, there is a time reserved for anyone who wants to talk about the deceased. While many people are encouraged to speak ‘in their own words,' many are reticent to do so." That's where the eulogy writer comes in. Louden explains how to get started, the skills needed for writing eulogies, and the nuts and bolts of the writing process.

Each chapter is delineated in this same manner, with clear instructions for getting started, a questionnaire to determine if you're suited to a particular field, and the basics of writing in each "mini-genre."