My Story of “Overnight” Success By Kerrie Flanagan

My road to getting a traditional book deal was an overnight success—that took 20 years. When I look back, it seems like yesterday I got a call from an editor interested in publishing my first ever magazine piece and now two decades later, my book, Writer’s Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing is being released into the world. As I reflect back, it is clear that I have made it to this point because I was willing to step through open doors, knock on those that seemed locked and make new doors where there weren’t any before.

Was there risk and disappointment? Sure. Did editors and others along the way tell me, no? You bet. But I didn’t let any of that stop me. I kept going, forging my own path and staying open to new opportunities.

I never wanted to be a writer. My dream was to be an elementary school teacher and that is exactly what I became. The writing door cracked open when I was teaching a group of 2nd graders. I wrote a picture book for my students about using commas in a list and decided I wanted to publish it.

I read all I could on the topic before sending out queries to every educational publisher I could find. Rejections came in, followed by my disappointment. I exhausted all my options and soon that door was closed and locked. Not one to give up, I decided to self-publish. In 1998, there was no print-on-demand, Amazon, or Facebook. I found an illustrator and a printer and set out to publish the book on my own.  

A local self-published author I met while researching this path gave me the name of a woman who ran a weekly writing critique group and suggested I reach out to her. I was a teacher, not a writer, but I stepped through this new, unfamiliar door and reluctantly made the call. The group welcomed me with open arms and joined me in celebrating my book release. Over the course of a couple years, I sold around 1,000 copies of the book, which wasn’t too bad considering mainstream Internet was in its infancy.

This first foray into the world of writing was pivotal to getting me where I am today. Every connection I made, every unexpected step I took, built on the one before. Because of my new critique group, I learned about magazine writing. This led to my first published piece, a small craft idea in Better, Homes & Gardens, which then led to me writing and publishing more articles, and teaching classes about magazine writing.

I crossed the threshold of another new door when I resigned from teaching to focus more on my writing and my family. Getting used to this new life of being a stay-at-home mom and a freelance writer took some adjusting. Wrapping my head around the idea that my writing was now more than something I did on the side and more of a “real job” created internal conflict for me. If people asked the question, “what do you do?” I replied with, “I used to be a teacher.” I didn’t feel worthy of claiming the title of, writer.

I forged ahead anyway, met new people and continued writing. But the teacher in me wanted to connect with others and share my knowledge and resources with them. In 2005, I created my own door and formed Northern Colorado Writers (NCW), a writing organization to support and encourage writers or all levels and genres.

Fueled by my passion to help other writers, I built up NCW to over 200 members through monthly meetings, classes, social events, an annual retreat and conference. I met amazing writers, connected with agents and editors, and learned about all aspects of the publishing business. When 2014 rolled around, I started my own small publishing company, Hot Chocolate Press, in order to publish books from a handful of writers I knew and some of my books (including one on magazine writing I’d been thinking about).

After ten years of running NCW, starting a small publishing company, freelancing, writing books and consulting, I felt my life being pulled in many different directions and I was overwhelmed. I knew I couldn’t keep going at this pace, but was unsure of what to do next. Unless something really big crossed my path, I couldn’t imagine letting go of any of these pieces of my life.

In 2015, a huge opportunity did fall onto my path. Writer’s Digest offered me a job as an event coordinator to be part of the team organizing their conferences and events and still work from home. Every nerve in my body surged from excitement. At the same time, I had a tough decision to make. I knew I would have to let go of NCW. After serious consideration, I offered it to a dear, writer friend who was thrilled with the idea. I drew up the contract, and with one swish of the pen, my organization was gone. With a mixture of sadness and relief, I handed over the reins. Confident it was in good hands, I walked through this new door, eager to find what waited on the other side.

I received the contract for my new job at Writer’s Digest, and to my shock, it said I couldn’t write any books that competed with their company. I had already given up one big part of my life to take this job, I wasn’t prepared to give up more. I reached out to the team, telling them about the magazine book I wanted to write and pushed them to rework that part of the contract. They responded by asking if I’d consider having Writer’s Digest publish it.

Oprah once said, “I believe luck is preparation meeting opportunity. If you hadn’t been prepared when the opportunity came along, you wouldn’t have been ‘lucky.'” This felt like one of those moments. If I had not made the choices I did, put all that time into my writing and followed the down the path I did, I would not have been ready for this amazing chance to be invited to pitch my book to Writer’s Digest. With my experience self-publishing I knew I could publish my own book, but to have the name and platform of Writer’s Digest behind me, would be a dream come true. I put together a proposal and they said yes!

Life was great. I had a wonderful job with Writer’s Digest, and my first traditional book deal. I was able to cut back on freelancing and clients and focus my energies on this new venture. I had finally made it.

Six months later one of those doors slammed in my face. Without any warning, my position at WD was eliminated, leaving me without a job, without NCW. I went from being elated to feeling as if I were all in the middle of a vast open prairie; dirt and sand pelting my face. Numbness and shock consumed me as I felt my world crumble around me. NCW, my new job, everything I loved, was gone.

After a few weeks of grieving this loss, it was time to dust myself off. Although my dream job was gone, the brief opportunity did get me my book deal, along with some amazing connections which resulted in the chance to present at Writer’s Digest conferences.

With a clean slate, I jumped back into freelancing and found more writing clients. I continued writing the magazine book and through tears of joy trepidation, I sent it off to my editor. I held fast through two additional book editors and my release date being bumped back a year.  New opportunities continued to roll in including ghostwriting a self-help business book for a wonderful client.

Now, here I am, at the dawn of my book release date, filled with gratitude at all that has happened to me over the past two decades. The good, the bad, the challenges, all played into my journey and brought me to this place and I couldn’t be happier. If one of those pieces was missing, I am not sure I would be where I am today.

Everyone has their own path to follow. Continue to study the craft, meet other writers, and of course write. When you find those doors along the way, be brave and walk through them—then you too can become an overnight success.

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Kerrie Flanagan is a freelance writer from Colorado, writing consultant and presenter. She is the author of the Writer’s Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing, along with eight books under her label, Hot Chocolate Press. KerrieFlanagan.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

About WRITER’S DIGEST GUIDE TO MAGAZINE ARTICLE WRITING

Your Essential Reference for Writing for Magazines!

In The Writer’s Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing, accomplished freelance writer, author, and instructor Kerrie Flanagan demystifies the idea that writing for magazines is a difficult process meant only for those with journalism degrees.
Drawing from her 20 years as a freelance writer and instructor, Flanagan takes you step-by-step through the entire process, sharing her knowledge and experiences in a friendly, conversational way.

With more than a dozen sample articles, expert advice from magazine editors and successful freelance writers, practical tips on researching potential publications and instructions on crafting compelling query letters, you’ll find the tools needed to write and publish magazine articles.

In this book you’ll learn how to

• Find and target ideas for the right magazine.
• Develop effective query letters to catch the attention of editors and land more assignments.
• Organize your writing life using the checklists and tools throughout the book.
• Understand and negotiate contracts.
• Write and sell personal essays to consumer, niche and trade magazines.

Whether your goal is to get your first byline or make the switch from part-time freelancer to full-time writer, The Writer’s Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing is your go-to resource for writing success.

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