18Q Jenna Glatzer

Jenna Glatzer

1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you?

I chose it.

2. What is your background? (education, work, etc.)

I was a professional stage actress fresh out of college (Boston University) when I was hit with a terrible panic disorder and had to figure out a new career path-- something I could do from home. I decided on screenwriting, but had no idea how difficult it would be to sell a script. So I widened my focus and learned all I could about writing for magazines, then nonfiction books, picture books, greeting cards, and so on.

3. When did you ‘know’ you were a writer?

I don’t think I ever had a hang-up about calling myself a writer, even before I was published. Once I had completed a screenplay, I felt like a writer. Took me about two years of working at it full-time to earn a (meager) living from my writing, and that was an important milestone for me. I think I felt like I had arrived once I started writing for magazines people had heard of. Before that, I always hated when people asked me “Who do you write for?” or “Anything I would have read?” and I’d have to rattle off the names of obscure little publications I knew darn well they’d never heard of. I could feel the “Ohhh, so you’re nobody” in their eyes.

4. How would you describe your style of writing?

Straightforward and friendly. I really hate fluff, so I try not to write any. When I write fiction, that means I skimp on the flowery descriptions. When I write nonfiction, I try to write just as much as I need to make my point.

5. What is your writing process?

I have a hard time writing during the day, when there are other tasks hanging over me. I tend to check my e-mails and go through the forums on Absolute Write for several hours, and start my writing work at night. I outline, but not extensively. I research more than is necessary. With some projects, I’ve been able to work in a pretty unscheduled way, and with others, I’ve needed to keep myself on track with daily word count goals. I always have several projects going at once, and I alternate between them depending on my mood and the deadline.

6. What was your path to publication?

I wrote for magazines first. Then I answered an ad from a book packager seeking a writer for a children’s nonfiction book series. I wrote two books for them on assignment, then began working on my own book ideas. I’ve sold most of my books myself, through book proposals that I’ve sent to editors. As time went on and I proved myself, editors and agents began contacting me with bigger assignments. Now I focus on ghostwriting.

7. What is your favorite self-marketing idea?

I like giving readers presents. Whenever possible, I come up with a “bonus” to give away to my readers-- usually a free e-book they can download when they buy my books. For instance, I give away an “Editors’ E-mail Cheat Sheet” to people who buy Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer (visit http://www.jennaglatzer.com/freelance_writer.htm).

8. What are the biggest surprises you’ve encountered as a writer?

A good surprise: Fan mail! I did hope I would get fan letters every now and then, but it was an awesome surprise to find out just how often readers will write to let you know that your book has helped them. One of the coolest parts of my job is that I get letters pretty much every day that say things like, “I was able to collect from a deadbeat publisher because I followed your advice in The Street-Smart Writer,” or “I just got my first magazine contract because I learned how to write a query letter in your book Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer.” And the Celine Dion fans have been amazing; they gave me input all throughout the time I was working on Celine’s biography, and sent me such beautiful cards and presents. Made me feel like a superstar!

A bad surprise: I really thought the trade magazines would review just about any decent book. I was quite surprised early on to have several of my books overlooked entirely, or get reviewed in just one trade magazine. It was an eye-opener for me to find out just how many books are published commercially each year, and how few of them each trade mag can cover.

9. How do you inspire yourself? What are your sources of creativity?

Because it’s my full-time income, I can’t afford “inspiration.” I have to write no matter how I feel. But I am choosy about the kinds of projects I take on; I won’t accept an assignment if I think I’m going to be bored to tears writing it.

If I’m really stuck, I try to take breaks and do “pampering” things-- I get my nails done, or I go for a 10-minute massage. Or I sit at the lake and feed ducks. If I’m still feeling stuck when I come back, I read research materials until something new jumps out at me.

10. What is your proudest writer moment?

Probably when Rene Angelil left me a message on my answering machine telling me that he’d read the manuscript for Celine Dion: For Keeps and that he was so proud of me for capturing her so well. That felt terrific.

11. What’s the best advice you were given about writing?

Not to take rejection personally. Editors don’t reject writers; they reject words on a page. If those words were wrong for that editor at that time, it doesn’t mean you’re a talentless hack or a worthless human being. It just means those words were wrong for that editor at that time.

12. What is your most embarrassing writer moment?

We’ve probably all had those stupid screw-ups where you put the wrong editor’s name on a query letter. (Amusingly, I’ve also been the recipient of query letters addressed to “competing” editors.) I don’t recall anything worse than that offhand, though.

13. What business challenges have you faced as a writer?

I had hit a plateau for a while where I was able to get frequent article assignments, but they were all low paying. It was a challenge for me to get over that hump, and to do it, I found out that I had to throw away my “rule books” and write queries and introductory letters differently than what I had been taught.

A freelancer’s main challenge is to have a steady flow of income, so once I achieved that, I had the luxury of better problems. I don’t want to get too cocky about it-- I have steady income because I work my butt off to earn it. If I get sloppy and start missing deadlines, I won’t have it anymore. But the point is that now my bigger stressors are deadlines, my own interests in each project, and reviews, not, “Where is my next meal coming from?”

14. What is your writer life philosophy?

Honor yourself, your reader, and your publisher every time you write.

15. When you’re not writing what do you do for fun?

What is this “fun” of which you speak?

Okay, I watch movies with my husband. We like to travel, but don’t get to do much of it because I’m always on deadline and he’s always working, too. So we try for 3-day getaways in neighboring states, which means we’ve done a lot of gambling at Foxwoods and Atlantic City! (We consistently lose. We were blissful idiots when we broke even once.)

16. Who do you like to read?

My favorite two authors are Maya Angelou and T.C. Boyle, but I read more nonfiction than fiction. I like memoirs and humor books.

17. What’s your advice for new writers?

For the most part, stay far away from those who advertise for new writers. The kind of agent you want is one you won’t find advertising all over the Internet; the kind of publisher you want is not a POD company that brags about giving new writers a chance to break in. It is difficult to sell your work to established publishers, but it’s worth the wait and the hard work it’s going to take to get there. Never stop learning and improving. Hold out for the right opportunity like you would hold out for the right spouse instead of marrying the first toothless lunatic who asks.

18. What are you currently working on?

I’m ghostwriting a book, co-writing another, and am in the editing stage of a third. I’ll take a nap when I finish.

Jenna’s 18Q