Scrabble: Pick a Letter any Letter

I keep two scrabble boards. One is for the general game the other is minus some of its alphabet. Every morning I pick a letter out of the bag in which I have placed a Scrabble token for each letter of the alphabet. Today's letter for instance, was A. I start by going through all the documents starting with A that I have already completed. I check on their progress and then, send them out to markets if they are free.

If everything is out, I move onto A words: what could I write about the following things? Apples, Aardvark, Animals in motion, Arms in history? I jot down notes and plan on researching them, usually aimed at two markets ( one for the juvenile world, one for the adult world). Double duty? Or just making the most of my time? Either way, I have had success in both worlds, with over 300 publications to my credit.

Monopoly

Look into the BIG markets. Don't be shy. Pick two and think of things you could query them on for possible articles. Pick one and do it. Send it out to Boardwalk, ( in other words- take a chance card), cause you won't pass go or get your 200 dollars if you are too shy to try.

Another Monopoly option: What things are happening in your street? In your railroads or industries? Scour your newspapers for current events and see what you can write about. Try to see if you can angle them towards a juvenile market and an adult market with a different twist.

Poker

Okay, I'll admit it. I know how to bluff. Sometimes I give myself more credit than what is due, but I always do it with a straight face(though its easier over the internet.) Sometimes if I make a query, the subject will get rejected but the editor will wonder if I can do something else for them instead. Do I choke or hold my cards close to my chest? Someone may ask me to say, write about moon travel. I don't go dumb and admit that science was not my best subject and that my knowledge is limited to the man in the moon and something about green cheese. I smile, and say, "Sure, I can do that. How many words do you want? What do you want the focus to be?" Then I go to my favorite casino, the library, and so armed I make myself an expert.

Mind you, in any game of chance you have to know your betting limit. I may be able to research the moon but astral physics and the projection of populations on lunar surfaces is a bit beyond me. Like the Kenny Rogers song says, "You gotta know when to hold them, know when to fold them. Know when to walk away and know when to run!"

I Spy with my Little Eye

The focus on this game is to see through the eyes of a child. What do you see that is blue? Is it the sky? And why is the sky blue?

Ask questions and look around. Here in your room and out in nature. What ideas can you see which may quirt a child's and an editor’s interest? How is that birds nest made? Why do some trees shed their leaves and others don't? What makes an answering machine work and where does dust come from(and why is it attracted to feathers?) Don't just concentrate on big articles. Do a bit piece on 5 questions on a certain science( such as weather, wind or hibernation.) Fillers sell well, even though the pay is not always great, (I average between 25 to 200 dollars for a 200 word filler), I firmly believe that "little fish taste sweet" especially when you "catch" 4 or 5 a week!

Pin the tail on the Donkey

If you grew up watching Rex Harrison do Dr. Dolittle you may remember the scene where they decide to start a search for the Giant Pink sea snail by putting a dart in a map in an atlas. You can do the same. Get an atlas, a dart and close your eyes. Open a page at random and stick it in. Now for the next week find out everything you can about that place. If it is a country, what are its people like, the myths and legends, how do they dress, what do they eat etc. If it is a state find out the state bird, the history, the fun holidays they have and what its neatest things are( landmarks, people, places.) One step further would be to look and see if there are any local newspapers or magazines that have children's pages. Now, quit braying and get down to writing.

Children have fun playing games, why shouldn't we? It just takes thinking outside the game box to discover new ways that play can work for the writer in you.