Wendy Hobday Haugh, freelance writer
A bit of backstory . . . .
I decided to become a writer at age four after my dreams of being a typerope (sic) walker and ballerina fizzled. My early mispronunciation of that first dream job may have been telling because the typing class I took in high school definitely paved the way for my writing career to unfold. Still, many years would pass before I made my first sale. My big break came in 1979 when Hallmark purchased one of my greeting cards: roughly a dozen words for $55. After that, I began writing short stories and articles for children. A number of sales ensued, all of which earned me pennies per word versus the dollars I’d received from Hallmark. But that was fine with me because, despite the monetary letdown, I was hooked. Nothing beats the adrenalin rush of an acceptance letter. The pay is nice, sure, but it’s the initial correspondence—whether by letter, email, or phone—that rocks this writer’s world. Acceptance letters give writers courage and confidence: the courage to continue being hopeful, despite daunting rejection, and the confidence to keep writing and sending out.
In the early 1980s, an intriguing piece of junk mail arrived in my mailbox: a promo mini-gazette wrapped in clear plastic, heralding the soon-to-be-released premiere issue of an all-new women’s magazine, Woman’s World Weekly. What caught my attention immediately was the euphoric presence of fiction. Each issue promised to carry a love story and a mini-mystery. Fifty-two issues per year! One-hundred-four opportunities for freelance fiction writers! Then and there, I resolved to be one of those writers. Of course, many other writers had the same idea, and it took me several years—and countless awful stories—to make that first sale. But since September 1983, when my first Woman’s World story was published, my work has appeared in the magazine nearly forty times.
Over breakfast one morning in 1982, Brigid Casey—a friend and highly-successful published author—suggested we collaborate on a children’s nonfiction project. The resulting book, Sled Dogs—published in ’83 by Dodd, Mead & Co., Inc.—had a successful but all-too-brief run before the company was sold, and its children’s division, lamentably, warehoused. Afterwards, as I continued pitching stories to national magazines, I also began writing for a half-dozen regionals. Over the ensuing years, my list of published credits grew to include parenting articles, household tips, profiles of fascinating people, profiles of stellar felines, romances, mysteries, poetry, fiction and nonfiction for children, a church history, articles about writing, and many personal stories. My work has been published in Highlights for Children, Hopscotch, Boys’ Quest, American Profile, Grit, WritersWeekly.com, Saratoga Living, Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies, and dozens more periodicals. I’ve written three novels, none of them published, but that’s okay, too. Every project I undertake teaches me more about the craft of writing, stretches my imagination, hones my style, and makes me eager to learn more and try again. Rejection, in itself, is a tremendous motivator, so don’t let rejection letters get you down—not for long, anyway. Keep writing, thinking, analyzing, and learning. And if you receive a written comment on a rejection slip, carefully consider the advice rendered. Overwhelmed with submissions, editors have no obligation to give feedback. If they offer a comment or suggestion, take it as a positive sign that they see something promising in your work.
In 2009, I was asked to write a monthly Reflection column for my church newsletter. At first I felt totally unqualified, self-conscious, and clumsy. After years of writing about other people, the idea of sharing some of my personal thoughts was unsettling. Initially, I passed along ideas and insights gleaned from inspiring works written by other people. But over time, as I became more at ease, I began passing along some of my own discoveries as well. I came to see that I’d devalued myself, in a way, by thinking that nothing in my life was worth writing about or that my insights didn’t amount to much. That seminal moment led me to start reading the story call-outs listed on Chicken Soup for the Soul’s website. Whenever an experience from my own life seemed like a good fit for one of Chicken Soup's upcoming anthologies, I gave it a go, wrote it up, and submitted. Each call-out for 101 stories can net 5,000 or more submissions, and I racked up more than 15 rejections before receiving my first acceptance—but it was so worth the wait! Since 2013, I’ve had 19 stories and poems appear in 17 different books, and the thrill of acceptance never wanes. Writing about my own life has helped me to better understand events that I was often too busy or preoccupied to process fully at the time. By looking back and reflecting more objectively on past events, I think I’ve shored up my foundation and created a stronger base going forward.
The beauty of writing is that there's always something new and fresh to write about, and with every finished piece comes the exhilarating possibility of publication. That tantalizing possibility keeps me digging in and digging deep, and I’m happiest when immersed in a writing project. Apart from a few grief-stricken years when I lost heart, writing has always been something I could turn to for inspiration and a deeply-satisfying sense of accomplishment. Writing keeps me grounded. It has withstood the test of time, ranking right up there with family, pets, and nature as one of my greatest joys in life. It’s a calling I first felt in childhood and, God willing, one I will happily follow for the rest of my days.
If you're passionate about writing, go for it. Trust your instincts and keep at it. Your thoughts, ideas, words and creations are precious things. Pursue them doggedly, and savor the satisfaction of knowing that you are already—at this very moment—an integral part of the writing community. Your dream has begun.
Best wishes and happy writing,
Wendy
(April 2023)
A bit of backstory . . . .
I decided to become a writer at age four after my dreams of being a typerope (sic) walker and ballerina fizzled. My early mispronunciation of that first dream job may have been telling because the typing class I took in high school definitely paved the way for my writing career to unfold. Still, many years would pass before I made my first sale. My big break came in 1979 when Hallmark purchased one of my greeting cards: roughly a dozen words for $55. After that, I began writing short stories and articles for children. A number of sales ensued, all of which earned me pennies per word versus the dollars I’d received from Hallmark. But that was fine with me because, despite the monetary letdown, I was hooked. Nothing beats the adrenalin rush of an acceptance letter. The pay is nice, sure, but it’s the initial correspondence—whether by letter, email, or phone—that rocks this writer’s world. Acceptance letters give writers courage and confidence: the courage to continue being hopeful, despite daunting rejection, and the confidence to keep writing and sending out.
In the early 1980s, an intriguing piece of junk mail arrived in my mailbox: a promo mini-gazette wrapped in clear plastic, heralding the soon-to-be-released premiere issue of an all-new women’s magazine, Woman’s World Weekly. What caught my attention immediately was the euphoric presence of fiction. Each issue promised to carry a love story and a mini-mystery. Fifty-two issues per year! One-hundred-four opportunities for freelance fiction writers! Then and there, I resolved to be one of those writers. Of course, many other writers had the same idea, and it took me several years—and countless awful stories—to make that first sale. But since September 1983, when my first Woman’s World story was published, my work has appeared in the magazine nearly forty times.
Over breakfast one morning in 1982, Brigid Casey—a friend and highly-successful published author—suggested we collaborate on a children’s nonfiction project. The resulting book, Sled Dogs—published in ’83 by Dodd, Mead & Co., Inc.—had a successful but all-too-brief run before the company was sold, and its children’s division, lamentably, warehoused. Afterwards, as I continued pitching stories to national magazines, I also began writing for a half-dozen regionals. Over the ensuing years, my list of published credits grew to include parenting articles, household tips, profiles of fascinating people, profiles of stellar felines, romances, mysteries, poetry, fiction and nonfiction for children, a church history, articles about writing, and many personal stories. My work has been published in Highlights for Children, Hopscotch, Boys’ Quest, American Profile, Grit, WritersWeekly.com, Saratoga Living, Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies, and dozens more periodicals. I’ve written three novels, none of them published, but that’s okay, too. Every project I undertake teaches me more about the craft of writing, stretches my imagination, hones my style, and makes me eager to learn more and try again. Rejection, in itself, is a tremendous motivator, so don’t let rejection letters get you down—not for long, anyway. Keep writing, thinking, analyzing, and learning. And if you receive a written comment on a rejection slip, carefully consider the advice rendered. Overwhelmed with submissions, editors have no obligation to give feedback. If they offer a comment or suggestion, take it as a positive sign that they see something promising in your work.
In 2009, I was asked to write a monthly Reflection column for my church newsletter. At first I felt totally unqualified, self-conscious, and clumsy. After years of writing about other people, the idea of sharing some of my personal thoughts was unsettling. Initially, I passed along ideas and insights gleaned from inspiring works written by other people. But over time, as I became more at ease, I began passing along some of my own discoveries as well. I came to see that I’d devalued myself, in a way, by thinking that nothing in my life was worth writing about or that my insights didn’t amount to much. That seminal moment led me to start reading the story call-outs listed on Chicken Soup for the Soul’s website. Whenever an experience from my own life seemed like a good fit for one of Chicken Soup's upcoming anthologies, I gave it a go, wrote it up, and submitted. Each call-out for 101 stories can net 5,000 or more submissions, and I racked up more than 15 rejections before receiving my first acceptance—but it was so worth the wait! Since 2013, I’ve had 19 stories and poems appear in 17 different books, and the thrill of acceptance never wanes. Writing about my own life has helped me to better understand events that I was often too busy or preoccupied to process fully at the time. By looking back and reflecting more objectively on past events, I think I’ve shored up my foundation and created a stronger base going forward.
The beauty of writing is that there's always something new and fresh to write about, and with every finished piece comes the exhilarating possibility of publication. That tantalizing possibility keeps me digging in and digging deep, and I’m happiest when immersed in a writing project. Apart from a few grief-stricken years when I lost heart, writing has always been something I could turn to for inspiration and a deeply-satisfying sense of accomplishment. Writing keeps me grounded. It has withstood the test of time, ranking right up there with family, pets, and nature as one of my greatest joys in life. It’s a calling I first felt in childhood and, God willing, one I will happily follow for the rest of my days.
If you're passionate about writing, go for it. Trust your instincts and keep at it. Your thoughts, ideas, words and creations are precious things. Pursue them doggedly, and savor the satisfaction of knowing that you are already—at this very moment—an integral part of the writing community. Your dream has begun.
Best wishes and happy writing,
Wendy
(April 2023)