Center Yourself to Center Your Writing

Being full of affection for one’s goofy, self-centered, cranky, annoying self is home. It’s where world peace begins. ~Anne Lamott


You’re wandering around in life, trying to decide who or what you are. Then you decide you want to become a writer. Sounds like a decent enough career, especially if you can work remotely. Trouble is, what is it you want to write about?


Many of these people will write an editor, including me with FundsforWriters, and say: Hello. I am a writer/blogger/novelist. I have written here and here in case you want to see how well I write. Tell me what topics you’d like me to write about, and I’ll write them. 



That may sound a tad outlandish, but the average query isn’t far off from that right there. And an editor wants nothing to do with them.


Freelance editors want to see a taste of personality and voice in a writer. Someone coming across mundane, offering to write anything, is someone who has no idea who they are as a writer. Their whole personality is: “I CAN WRITE WORDS.” Well, guess what? So can the editor, and if the editor has to come up with the idea, she can usually write it herself.


Your piece has to be as unique as you are, and the editor has to read a query or an article on spec and enjoy not only the information but the style of the writer. The piece has to read like the writer enjoyed writing it. Personality has to come through.


Writers have fussed back at me when I’ve rejected their routine work. . . work that sounded like a hundred other articles. They’ve said, “But I read your guidelines and followed them to the letter. Tell me why you’re rejecting me.”


Yeah, makes me laugh, too. First, they argue with an editor. . . like that’s going to change an editor’s mind. Second, they haven’t bothered to read the existing articles on the site to realize that there’s flavor in those pieces that is missing in theirs.


Practice enough and let loose of your creativity enough such that the editor enjoys your writing. If they love your style, they’ll invite you back, regardless the topic.