| Writer's Crossing.com Fall, 2004 Interview with author, Kathleen Gibson By Mridu Khullar, former editor of writerscrossing.com (new site: www.mridukhullar.com) Kathleen Gibson is every writer's inspiration. She started writing for the love of it, rather than as a career choice, and ended up selling her first piece to Reader's Digest. She continues to write for RD once a year, while also penning a faith-based newspaper column-- Sunny Side Up. Even today, Kathleen's motivation remains her love for writing. The money just seems to follow. I e-mailed Kathleen only after she had left for India, and caught up with her on her return. Tell me, Kathleen, how'd you become a writer? Was it your initial career choice? I've always gravitated towards anything that gave me permission to be creative. When I had babies (how much more creative can you get than that?) I chose to stay at home to raise them. We didn't have a television. So when other moms were using their evenings and kids' naptimes to watch the soaps and saps, I painted, wrote, played the piano, or crafted. I credit to those years the blessing of being able to fully develop my creativity - for the love of it, without considering a paycheck. Later I ended up teaching many of those very arts, but writing has fulfilled me more than any other medium. Truly, I seldom see it as a career! I'd write for free, just because I love it and I can't stop. I've always written some, but it wasn't after our children were raised, that I sensed strongly that the time had come to focus on writing. I stopped most of my other activities (at the time I was doing floristry, teaching piano at home, and creative arts all over the place) and took a freelance writing diploma by correspondence. That course, through ICS, http://www.icslearn.ca/freelance/index.html taught me exactly what I needed to know about the business of writing, and I put it into practice. That's why you're interviewing me today. Most beginning writers can't even dream of submitting to Reader's Digest. Yet, you went ahead and got published in it numerous times right in the beginning of your career. How did that happen? Reader's Digest has always been my favorite magazine. As a child, there were stacks of them in our downstairs washroom. My sister and I spent hours down there (timing it perfectly at chore-time) and eventually read them all from cover to cover. The articles that have always most strongly influenced my life are first person articles. When I began writing, I jumped into that type of article immediately - I wanted my writing make that kind of difference in others' lives. Guess where I sent them first? Right, to the magazine I knew and loved best. RD accepted the first personal experience article I had the courage to send anywhere. I continue to write one or two a year for them. I keep querying and occasionally they're interested. (It's been rather embarrassing, really, starting at the top and having to work my way to the bottom!) I have since, and still do write for other publications, but I'm not a market shopper. (I guess I'm a product of the 'if it's not broke, don't fix it' mentality!) And like most writers, I'd just rather write, thanks. Plus, I'm nearly fifty - I want to be a good grandmother one day. That takes time! So I'm not pushing to make a name and reputation that pride wouldn't let me lay down easily. By the way�. I've been rejected by RD often - earlier this week in fact - but just like the ball on the end of the string, I keep coming back. It's a love thing, not a business decision. Do you think writers should target big magazines like RD or Family Circle right from the start, or should they work their way up by writing for lesser-known publications? Too many writers ask the wrong questions when sending out writing: particularly these two: How 'prestigious' is this publication, and how much does it pay? The correct questions, in my opinion, are: Does this magazine publish the type of articles I enjoy writing or am able to write? Does it reach the kind of audience I'd like to write for? (Of course, to know the answers, you must have done your homework and read the magazines!) When a writer leans into her strengths, really considers her audience, and moves past the fixation with the name on the magazine cover, good things happen. Never pass over a magazine simply because of their low pay rate, and never be afraid to target any publication, no matter how prestigious, if you genuinely believe your words fit well there. If you have a firm understanding of why you write, it becomes easier to choose your market. I write to make a difference in this crusty old world, so I target publications I feel will give my words an opportunity to do that. RD, with its worldwide audience, likely does that best. While we're talking about markets, I always encourage new freelancers to try to obtain at least one regular local market; a column, a volunteer newsletter, for example. Local (especially column) writing builds discipline. It helps us stay authentic, connected, and accountable. It reminds us that readers aren't just people 'out there' - they're real, they have opinions, and (depending on your type of writing!) they'll be the accepting audience who'll still love us when the big rejections come in. go to pg.2. |