Writing Hacker Tip #1: Researching the Market

I’m a big fan of learning tips for making jobs easier. I like reading through cool tips on LifeHacker or this packing post by Michael Hyatt. I’m a “behind the scenes” junkie. I want to know what works for people and why. While I may not do things exactly the same way, I often find that I learn something I can use. So I’m going to share a few of my own writing hacker tips, and I hope  you’ll share some with me.

Researching the Market

I love getting magazines about writing. I subscribe to many newsletter and magazines. The problem is: when to catch up on reading them and mine them for their great information?

I’m busy with my full-time job, kids, and actually writing. When do I have time to read craft magazines?

Take Your Research on the Road

I’m really not a Thirty-One consultant, but I find this product works well for me. I also have seen metal and plastic products similar to this at Staples (or any other office supply store).

As I get newsletters and magazines, I print them (if I get them digitally) or put my latest copies in this mobile file organizer. It fits in my car or in my trunk. It hasn’t turned over—yet. If I have a few minutes before yoga class starts, or I’m waiting for a kid to get out of practice or activities, I read an article or two. If it’s something I want to keep, I mark it or write in the margins. I tear it out of the magazine and stick it in a file folder in the organizer.

I find it helpful if my notes to myself give me a *hint* as to why I marked it. Sometimes it’s several weeks before I process them (more on this in a minute). For example, I read about a publisher that I thought would be perfect for my friend, Bekah. So I wrote in the margin: “Bekah.” When I went through the file, I knew I needed to e-mail Bekah about the publisher. If it’s an editor or agent that mentions something about a particular topic they want to see, I write the title of my pertinent manuscript in the margin, so I can submit it after doing some more research. It saves me from staring at it and looking at it wondering why I saved it.

I’m also not too worried if I rip apart my magazines. I’ve always torn out what I wanted to keep and recycled the rest. If you like to keep your magazines together, then you can use sticky notes for this part.

Processing the Notes

Every few weeks, or once a month, I take the folder of “keepers” out of my car. Then I go through each one. Often, it’s a magazine, publisher, or an agent I want to research. Sometimes it’s a contest I want to enter. I take the time to go through each one and put it on a to-do list, write a deadline on the calendar, enter publisher or agent information on a spreadsheet, or send an e-mail to a friend.

Each task takes a short amount of time. I spend my big chunks of time writing. I spend the little chunks of time working on things like researching the market.

How do YOU fit in market research? Do you have  cool tip about your process? Leave me a comment. I love “behind the scenes” information.