March | 2008 | Cathy C. Hall Writes

When I was perusing the March Premium Green market guide (more info here) I came across an interview of freelancer Kristin, um, gee, well, I ‘ll check on that later. Anyway, the point is that Kristin had tons of great ideas. And great ideas are pretty darn important if you’re working towards Fame and Fortune in the publishing biz.

Smack dab in the middle of my perusing, it hit me. A classic What Not To Do was staring me in the face. Unfortunately, I was the one guilty of it. To wit: I hadn’t been effectively using the old “hook” in my query letters. Kristin made an excellent point about grabbing an editor’s attention. To wit: “If you haven’t got a lot of clips, you have to come up with an idea that an editor doesn’t dare pass up.” And that idea better be the very first thing in your query letter.

So listen, grasshopper. Don’t blah, blah, blah away in your query letter talking about anything and everything under the sun. Slap that editor with an idea so awesome, he or she won’t know what hit ’em. And you better get right to work on that. Because I’m telling you. Kristin had tons of great ideas.

I don’t always spend my writing budget wisely. Or any of my budget, for that matter. But that’s a somewhat unpleasant story, best left to Mr. Hall to tell. Today, my story is about a time I did spend the green well. And for that, I’m tooting my horn.

It’s been three months now since I joined Premium Green, an on-line writer’s guide developed by those hard-working folks over at WOW! Women-on-writing. Every month I receive an e-book stuffed with markets, writing articles, tips and advice…all for just two bucks a month.

I know what you’re thinking. I could get any market guide with similar information, for about the same price. That’s nothing to toot about. But hold on. There’s more to PG than just a great marketing tool for freelancers. It’s a wonderful writing community, too.

In my PG group, I can pick the brain of fiction writers or non-fiction writers…women who successfully run their own freelance businesses…or women just starting to call themselves writers. You can’t really put a price on that kind of generous support and knowledge.

Check out PG here to find out more. C’mon, you know two bucks a month for all that writerly brilliance is a bargain. And for that kind of bargain, I’ll toot my horn any day!