- Joined
- Jan 27, 2007
- Messages
- 471
- Reaction score
- 110
- Location
- Oregon Coast
- Website
- www.catherinebusinelle.com
Have you ever seriously broken the "write what you know" rule and been successful? Or do you know a fun story about someone who has? I know this is a dangerous question because you generally do better (and find writing much easier) with familiar subjects. So please understand that I'm not arguing with the rule, just curious about some fun exceptions.
Mine was writing for the "How to" section of a motorcycle magazine when I had literally never touched a motorcycle. I had already submitted queries to every magazine covering topics I knew, it was too early to send them anything else, and I needed to meet my 3-query-a-day quota. I flipped through Writer's Market in search of inspiration and saw the magazine in question.
"Hm," I thought, "my uncle has a Harley and takes his kids with him on long road-trips. Maybe I could..." So I queried about rules and tips for taking kids on the road and happened to get an editor who had been wondering about taking his young daughter on a trip for the first time. Dumb luck at its sheerest! I interviewed my uncle, submitted pics of him and his kids on the bike, and achieved a truly amazing feat: getting my grandmother to buy a motorcycle magazine at the supermarket.
Lest you think I'm bragging, I'll throw in the fact that I mis-labeled a photo of my uncle and little cousin meeting the director of a region of the HOG club. Ahem. The photo appeared, claiming to be a shot of the VP of Harley Davidson my uncle had mentioned during his interview. Sheeeeeeesh. Luckily both of the men involved thought it was funny, and so the editor accepted my apology instead of mailing me a letter bomb.
I'd love to hear your stories--please share!
Mine was writing for the "How to" section of a motorcycle magazine when I had literally never touched a motorcycle. I had already submitted queries to every magazine covering topics I knew, it was too early to send them anything else, and I needed to meet my 3-query-a-day quota. I flipped through Writer's Market in search of inspiration and saw the magazine in question.
"Hm," I thought, "my uncle has a Harley and takes his kids with him on long road-trips. Maybe I could..." So I queried about rules and tips for taking kids on the road and happened to get an editor who had been wondering about taking his young daughter on a trip for the first time. Dumb luck at its sheerest! I interviewed my uncle, submitted pics of him and his kids on the bike, and achieved a truly amazing feat: getting my grandmother to buy a motorcycle magazine at the supermarket.
Lest you think I'm bragging, I'll throw in the fact that I mis-labeled a photo of my uncle and little cousin meeting the director of a region of the HOG club. Ahem. The photo appeared, claiming to be a shot of the VP of Harley Davidson my uncle had mentioned during his interview. Sheeeeeeesh. Luckily both of the men involved thought it was funny, and so the editor accepted my apology instead of mailing me a letter bomb.
I'd love to hear your stories--please share!
