Writers' Calendar

Hello again, June already, halfway through the year, so a timely reminder for all writers .Here is an article I wrote several years ago. It is as relevant now as it was then and could stand you in good stead in your writing life. If your ms lands on an editors desk at the right time, is well written and well presented, then you are more than halfway to a sale.
JUNE IN JANUARY
Like the old song, every writer should look to the months ahead.
Any month, any week, any day, is a time for writing, but certain themes recur every year and the professional writer is prepared for them. Pin a writers' calendar or year planner over your desk and include some of these reminders...
JANUARY - Summer holiday stories and articles should be sent off
FEBRUARY - Whitsun and May Day pieces in the post
MARCH - Your writing hand should be penning late summer and autumn articles and stories
APRIL -Preparing and cooking summer food is often done by staff writers as we know, but isn't there a special story, tip, or recipe that only you could write? Try it and see, which would of course make a good title for a short piece about your own unusual family favourite and how it came about.
MAY - The sun may be shining, the blossom delighting you every time you walk down the road, but your thoughts should be on the colours of autumn. While you gaze from the window at pink and white your fingers ought to be typing russet and gold.
JUNE -This is the time to write and send your Halloween pieces
JULY - Have you a childhood memory of November 5th. Prepare your Guy Fawkes stories. Humorous or harrowing - get them written now
AUGUST -It may be August outside but it should be Christmas in your heart. Often magazines are twice the size for Christmas issues and they need your offerings. Make August 1st your last posting date for Christmas.
SEPTEMBER - Would you like to begin your year with a published article/story/poem? Write about the New Year now and perhaps you will.
OCTOBER - In an editor's calendar Valentines Day is not so far away.
NOVEMBER - In the dark days before Christmas it is pleasant to think and write about the spring.
DECEMBER - There may be holly outside but in your mind's eye surely there are primroses and April Fool stories?
As a rough guide - 3 months for weeklies, 6 months for monthlies, and the cycle of a pregnancy and birth for quarterlies. When your baby bursts into print you'll be glad you prepared the layette early enough. copyright Joan. M. Moules
Happy writing to everyone who reads this.