 From Spark to Flame Fanning Your Passion & Ideas into Moneymaking Magazine Articles that Make a Difference  by W. Bradford Swift W. Bradford Swift From Spark to Flame 2 W. Bradford Swift From Spark to Flame Quote "Words do not label things already there. Words are like the knife of the carver: They free the idea, the thing, from the general formlessness of the outside. As a man speaks, not only is his language in a state of birth, but also the very thing about which he is talking." -- Old Eskimo saying 3 W. Bradford Swift From Spark to Flame Dedication I dedicate this book to Mrs. Crabtree. The children’s librarian that lived next door to my family when I was growing up. She took pity on my mom as she struggled to raise two rambunctious boys on her own. One day Mrs. Crabtree dropped a stack of books hand picked for a boy my age. They sat on the table next to my bed for several days like a loaded trap. Finally, from utter boredom I picked one up and started reading. The rest is history. Thanks Mrs. Crabtree for caring. 4 W. Bradford Swift From Spark to Flame Acknowledgments I want to acknowledge the dozens of editors and their assistants who helped me learn the craft of writing, as well as the members of the Visionary Writers On Purpose Team who proved to me that the Writers Taffy Machine approach outlined in this book could work for other writers as well as it’s worked for me. I am also eternally grateful to the two lovely ladies of my life – my wife and soulmate, Ann, and my talented daughter, Amber. Without you, all the efforts of writing a book would hardly be worth it. And thanks to Marilyn Noble for editing the book, Joe Benjamin for the “sparkling” cover photo and B. J. Condrey for her photo of Little Bit and me. 5 W. Bradford Swift From Spark to Flame Table of Contents Table of Contents 6 Introduction 8 The Writers Taffy Machine 15 Writing on Purpose with Passion and Play 19 The Spark of Passion-Filled Ideas 30 The Market: The Common Ground Between Passion and Ideas 39 Fanning the Spark: Developing Ideas 63 How to Sell Every Article You Write 82 Yes, No, and Handling the Big R (Rejection) 99 6 W. Bradford Swift From Spark to Flame Delivering the Goods 105 Counting the Cash 116 The Power of Words to Create a Life On Purpose 124 Appendix A 126 Porpoise Publishing 145 7 W. Bradford Swift From Spark to Flame Introduction Have you ever read a magazine article and thought to yourself, “Why, I could have written that article!” or, “I could have written a better article than that!” You’re probably right. I know I’ve read many articles that elicited similar thoughts. You might be like a lot of aspiring writers I’ve talked to through the years who know they have the talent to be writers. Perhaps people have read something you wrote and told you how well it was written. Or maybe you simply have a deep yearning to see your thoughts, feelings, and ideas in print, along with your name. Or perhaps you’ve a deep desire to contribute to others through the written word, believing that indeed “the pen is mightier than the sword.” But, like many aspiring writers, you may not know how to turn your ideas into articles— especially articles that magazines will buy. This book, like my workshop with the same name, is purely and simply about how to turn your ideas into moneymaking magazine articles, but with an added twist – magazine articles that make a difference in the world and allow you, the author, to express your purpose and passion. If you’re someone who would like to see your name as a byline for some of the thousands of articles that are 8 W. Bradford Swift From Spark to Flame written each year, this book is for you. You may want to do it as a paying hobby, you may just want to give it a shot to see if you can get one article published (although I’ll warn you, seeing your name in print can be addictive), or you may want to develop a career as a part-time or full-time freelance writer. Wherever you fit along that gradient, this book will detail how to go from being an aspiring writer to a published and profitable writer. I’ve taught these concepts in a workshop setting to hundreds of aspiring writers through the years. At this point, if we were in my workshop, I would ask you to close your eyes for a brief guided visualization. So take a moment to read the following instructions, and then allow yourself to get into the experience. The Magic of the Mail Imagine you’ve already learned everything possible from this book, and you’ve applied the principles and followed the advice for the past six months. Over this half-year, you’ve become a “mail-watcher,” a sure sign you’re heading down the path of being a writer. The arrival of the mail has become a cherished moment, one filled with anticipation, but usually followed by disappointment. Today, you take the mail from your box and rummage through the mound of circulars and bills, looking for that special envelope. But today is different from all of those other days because at the bottom of the pile is a letter you don’t recognize. 9 W. Bradford Swift From Spark to Flame You stare at it for a moment, unsure whether or not you’re seeing things or if that envelope you’ve been waiting for is really in your hands. Finally, with fingers trembling, you tear it open. Take a few moments to imagine opening your mail and finding that special envelope addressed to you from one of the magazines you’ve contacted over the past six months. Then turn the page to see what’s inside… In the twenty-plus years I’ve been writing and getting paid for my work, the thrill of receiving a check hasn’t diminished. Does that mean I write only for the money? Hardly! You’ll find that there are many, much easier ways to make a living—like practicing veterinary medicine, my first profession for more than fifteen years. I sold my practice to pursue my second dream career as a writer, speaker, and personal coach. I know of few occupations that are more fulfilling, satisfying, or fun than being a published writer. But I’m going to 10