The Short Piece - Janice Thompson, Author

In this post I want to focus on short pieces. You’ve read them all of your life. Short stories. Devotions. Personal experience pieces. Tiny “blips” in perpetual calendars. They’re everywhere, and they’re all the rage.

So, how do you go about selling them? Is there money to be made? As one who’s earned her way freelancing, I will respond with a resounding “Yes!” And trust me when I say, “If I can do it, you can too!”

Let me start by giving you an assignment.

Go to your local grocery story. Most have a carousel of inspirational books tucked away near an end-cap. Take a good look at what’s selling. Some of those projects (devotionals, for instance) are compilation projects. Others (perpetual calendars, small gift books, etc.) were written by one author.

Next, think about the themes in your novels. What are you already writing about? Love? Marriage? Raising teens? Grief? Relationship woes? Health problems? Empty Nest issues? Great! These all make great non-fiction topics, as well. Make a list of topics that fit your brand. Trust me…this will come in handy when you get ready to sell that next novel!

Spend some time thinking about your writer’s voice.

Are you comedic? Light-hearted? Seriously? Literary? Whatever voice you’re using in the fiction realm will fit here, too! I’m known for my light-hearted novels, so I’ve been taking on projects that make sense to my career. (I’ll share more about this later.)

Let’s assume you’re writing about health related issues. Your latest novel—the one you’re pitching—is about a woman struggling with a chronic fatigue syndrome. You’ve already poured heart and soul into this novel, so you know the issue pretty well. Why not put together several devotions on the subject and pitch them to an editor? You could compile them into a book, or offer to sell them off, one-by-one. You might even give thought to starting a blog on the subject and writing a few short pieces there, as well. That way you’re building your platform and becoming known as an expert on the subject.

And speaking of becoming an expert:

Here’s a little trick of the trade. If you’re interested in selling short pieces, scour the writer’s market guide, looking for non-fiction editors (perhaps honing in on those at the house where you’ve already published fiction). Instead of pitching a particular devotion or idea, simply let the editor know who you are and what you like to write about.

A few years ago, I wrote to a non-fiction editor at a house where I’d already been published. The fiction editors knew me well, but the non-fiction editor did not. I took the time to get to know her, sharing my heart. I’m sure she noticed the tagline at the bottom of my emails: “Love, Laughter, and Happily Ever Afters.” I told her that I would love to work on assignment, would do a fast/clean job, and was open to thinking outside the box. Beyond all of that, I told her a little about myself: author of comedic wedding-themed books, upbeat, cheerful, fun, mother-of-the-bride, (all four daughters got married within four years of each other).

She got it! And, as a result, she began to give me work based on the areas I already knew. My first assignment was a devotional book titled Everyday Joy. I was asked to come up with 200 mini-devotions (about seventy-five words each, plus a scripture and header). What fun I had writing it!

I was then given a bride-to-be project, which I co-authored with my oldest daughter. I was given the task of writing a perpetual calendar titled 365 Views From the Sunny Side. Why? Because it matched my light-hearted novels! I was also asked to write 365 Creative Ways to Beat Stress because I do a pretty good job juggling many projects at once.

Beyond all of this. . .

I contributed to several light-hearted compilation projects: Heavenly Humor for the Dog Lover’s Soul, Heavenly Humor for the Teacher’s Soul, and Heavenly Humor for the Dieter’s Soul. You get the idea. Some of these pieces were 100 words. Some were seventy-five. Some were fifty. Some were even less!

One reason I love short non-fiction pieces so much is because they allow me to rest my brain while I’m working on my novel. (Yes, I bounce back and forth between the novel and the non-fiction projects.) I consider it a privilege to dabble in both worlds. Best of all, the Lord always manages to coordinate things so that I’m learning from my non-fiction work. I’m being energized for the task of writing my novel! (See?! Another perk!)

Closing thoughts:

Think outside the box.

Ask God to open new doors.

Learn to write tight. Practice writing seventy-five word devotions. Kill off superfluous words (i.e. adjectives, adverbs, purple prose). Just say what you need to say.

Write what you know. If you’re struggling with chronic illness, offer to write about it. If you’re homeschooling, write some devotions about the experience. If you’re infatuated with nature, pitch some devotions on the subject.

Before you pitch any devotions, short stories or personal experience, take the time to get to you know yourself and a couple of non-fiction editors. Ask your writing friends which publishers/editors they recommend. Chances are pretty good you’ll enter into a lengthy relationship with this editor, so be prepared to take on some fun, unexpected short pieces! I was recently asked to write 365 Great Things About Getting Older. Ha!

That’s it for this lesson, friends! Go forth…and write short pieces.