Writers Must Look in Two Directions

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin



When I was a child, my parents sternly warned me, “Look both
ways before you cross the street.” It was wise counsel then and is also relevant
today. As writers, we have immediate deadlines and long-range plans. Are you
working on both? These actions are important for every writer and it is
something that I do every day—work on both types of deadlines.



Immediate Plans



As an acquisitions editor at Morgan James, I am
processing submissions and talking with authors about the details of Morgan
James to see if it is a fit for their book. If so, then I need to champion the
book to my colleagues with relevant details to see if they will agree—and then
send an official publishing contract. When the contract comes, I need to send it
to the author (or their literary
agent) and then answer questions and negotiate and finalize the contract.
There are numerous steps in this process yet it is important to keep moving on
these submissions and contracts. It is a continual part of my immediate
work.



Also as an editor, I make follow-up calls and send follow-up
emails to authors about their contract to see if they have questions and
encourage them to move forward. Authors have many choices about their books and
sometimes it takes many of these follow-up calls before they sign and move
forward. It is a continual process and often with many twists and
turns.



As a writer, I'm sending magazine editors and online editors
requested articles on their deadlines. I have a number of these deadlines and
use reminders on my phone to make sure I meet their needs. As my friend New York Times bestselling author Jerry B. Jenkins says only one in a hundred writers will hit their deadline. As you meet
deadlines, it is one of the simple ways you can distinguish yourself from
others.



Another immediate deadline is to prepare for upcoming
conferences. For example, next month I will be teaching a continuing class on
Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams at the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers. The conference
gives the faculty deadlines for their handouts. I have taught this class other
places so I have a prepared handou—yet I need to check this handout and make
sure everything is working on it (all the resources, etc.). My class will be
teaching related but distinct material from my book, Jumpstart Your Publishing
Dreams .

Another immediate deadline is working on growing and feeding my
own social media connections as well as my own network and platform. The growth
process is continual for every author. These immediate deadlines are just
examples of immediate deadlines—and not a comprehensive list.



Long-range Plans



Besides these immediate plans, I am constantly initiating
long-range plans as well. I'm in discussion with some authors and publishers
about writing projects. I'm blocking time and regularly writing on my current
book project. I'm initiating and making marketing plans for the launch of my
next book. I'm pitching myself as a speaker at forthcoming conferences and
events. Some of these plans are for events in a few months and some of them
extend into next year. Long-range plans are also mixed into my
schedule.



As you think about your own writing life, are you looking in
both directions? How are you mixing short term plans and long-term plans into
your day? Let me know in the comments below.



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