| COOL MOVES AND WRITING | | | | else'sdefinition of making it big. |
| I have an 8-year old friend. She's a lively | | | | We could follow someone else's map to success. |
| third-grader who has astrong sense of self. One | | | | Or we can look at where we are and what we |
| evening I was babysitting her and sheshared a list | | | | are interested in, andbuild our own "cool moves" |
| of odd-sounding names. "Back Stand," | | | | as food writers. My best friends flipthrough Bon |
| "Over-Under | | | | Appetit for inspiration to create their own |
| Flip," "The Round About-er," "Twist, Un-twist, | | | | magnificent dishes. I look through farmer's |
| Upside-down Split." | | | | markets and my pantry to uncover exciting, |
| "Gymnastics," she explained. "I made up some | | | | fresh recipes. Good news! We're all correct in our |
| cool moves." | | | | approach. |
| I was already curious so I was happy when she | | | | Early on in my food writing, I ran into someone |
| offered todemonstrate. The "Over-Under Flip" | | | | who told me thatthere were only five food |
| turned out to be more of whatmost people would | | | | magazines available for food writers, and nothing |
| consider a flop. | | | | else mattered. On the other hand, I've seen food |
| The "Upside-down Split" had her jumping up and | | | | writers start with a free newsletter and turn their |
| down, twirling around and making a run for the | | | | weekly recipe offerings into a cookbook. Others |
| couch. She plopped on the couch, on her back, | | | | write for sites, weekly newspapers, online |
| and lifted her legs in the air, splitting them apart, | | | | syndicators and ezines to build up both a following |
| and waving them around. (Then she fell off the | | | | and published clips. Still others write articles about |
| couch, but she assured me that was not part of | | | | food for camping, leisure, parenting, regional, and |
| the move.) | | | | travel magazines. |
| Cool moves, indeed. | | | | My 8-year old friend's philosophy helped me |
| My grown-up mind recognized that each of her | | | | refocus for the new year. Instead of focusing on |
| moves was merely afailed attempt at some | | | | a few markets for food writers and comparing |
| other real gymnastic move. | | | | my work with others' successes, I plan to return |
| My creative mind jumped for joy at her way of | | | | to writing culinary mystery shorts, personal |
| turning a challengeinto a personal, unique success. | | | | essays (always about food) and working on my |
| She could not perform a cartwheel, flip, head | | | | cookbook. These are the "Over-Under Flippers" |
| stand, or split so she adapted them to suit her | | | | that fill me with joy. |
| abilities. Suddenly, she was a success. In fact, it's | | | | Now it's your turn. |
| safe to say that she is the best Over-Under | | | | What would you do if you didn't feel you had to |
| Flipper around! | | | | compare yourperformance with anyone |
| When we put our writing dreams into motion, we | | | | else's?copyright 2006 Pamela White |
| are often givenspecific rules to follow, steps to | | | | May be used freely in no-fee publications and |
| take and books to read in orderto make it big. In | | | | websites. |
| fact, we are also often handed someone | | | | |