The Writer’s Rule of 12
I’m not sure who first said it, but “Every challenge we face can be solved by our imagination,” is spot-on. I’ve been thinking about different ways that I can take my writing to the next level and so far I’ve come up with a list of 27 different ways; I’m sure there are more. As suggested in, You already know enough to become a Freelance Writer, I’ve written down my ideas in my 30-day experiment notebook and will put each idea into practice as time permits.
Also, this is why Earl Nightingale recommends that we write Matthew 7:7-8 on the back of our goal card and review it each time we review our goal. Matthew says:
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened.
There’s no doubt in my mind, these 27 different ideas for taking my writing to the next level are a result of my asking, seeking, and knocking.
One of the first ideas appearing on my list is The Writer’s Rule of 12. Some call it the Rule of 13, others the Rule of 14, and still others the Rule of 9 – the number is not important. The level of income and success you want to enjoy as a freelance writer determines the number used in this rule. It can even be the Rule of 1, if that’s the level of success you want.
Basically stated, The Writer’s Rule of 12 says, that you will have 12 queries in circulation at all times. Period. And, it doesn’t have to be 12 different article or story ideas; in its simplest form, it can be one idea submitted to 12 different editors – talk about simultaneous submission …
Personally, my goal is to have 12 ideas circulating at any given time. With the time lag between sending out a query letter and an editor responding, up to 6-months in some cases, this will spread out writing assignments and not only keep me busy writing, but more importantly, give me a steady income – eliminating the feast or famine cycle that many writers experience. If I find that I’m too busy, or not busy enough, I can easily adjust the number of queries I have circulating.
The power in the Writer’s Rule of 12 is hidden in the fact that the more you do something, the better and faster you get at doing it. Believe me, by implementing the Writer’s Rule of 12 you will get good at writing query letters. And, that’s a good thing, because the query letter is your main tool for selling your writing to editors.
I’m curious, do you have another take on the Writer’s Rule of 12? Do you know of a better way of submitting your articles to editors? Please share your thoughts with us.
Until next time …
Never a day without a line.
Bill
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