During 2006 I’ve been carefully watching the dozens of email newsletters I subscribe to (80% of them related to writing, and the rest to travel). Some tell me nothing, some give nice hints and useful links. A couple are really excellent. And since one of my favourites landed in my in-box this morning, I thought I’d share it.

Each week I get two free newsletters from Funds for Writers, run by Hope Clark. Each starts with an editorial from Hope. I usually skip the editorials in other newsletters I get, because they talk too much about the writer’s kids or mother-in-law or the weather. Hope’s do, too, but always with a twist or moral that teaches me something about the writing life. She writes in such an infectiously conversational style that I have to read it, and on top of that has the bonus of admitting she’s a “shy writer”: talking to people isn’t her forte, but when she has to, she can.

The most important idea I’ve got from Hope is her “10 in Play” system. She always makes sure that she has 10 (or some other random number, in the double-digits: I can’t remember exactly!) articles or queries “out there”. When she gets an acceptance, a rejection, or too much time has passed, then she makes sure a priority is to get another story out to an editor. Just before leaving Germany I started this system, but migration stress has let it lapse – but I think it’s a perfect idea for 2007. I just have to pick my own magic number … how about 11, since Jan and I were married on the 11th. Stay tuned for “11 in Play” progress reports!