Beginnings of an Article: Research, Sources, Mind Maps and Self-Constructed Obstacles?

After a couple of wobbly days, when I haven't been able to settle to writing anything, or doing much of anything at all really, the week has ended on a slightly more positive note.

Although I haven't really written much, I have been doing things that don't need as much concentration or creativity, but are important things to do to keep me moving towards my goal of becoming a freelance writer.

I've been through my collection of newspaper/magazine articles and sorted them into helpful categories. I've collected examples of publications where I might be able to submit an article. I've cleaned the house and cleared the decks. I've avoided looking at my detailed To Do list and in preference have used only my calender, which has only the essentials on it : Bills to Pay, Meetings to Go To and Writing Deadlines.

Making those my only priorities for a few days has helped. And today I feel much more motivated to be creative. I written a post about Twitter for Write Here! and will write a post on here to catch up a bit. Then I'll do some more work on my article, perhaps write a first draft. Although I think it might be better if I spent some time organising the references and facts and figures I have collected before I start writing a proper draft.

This is what I've done this week:

Mind Map to Outline

From my original mind map, broadly taking into consideration the research I've done, I have drafted a brief outline of my article. I have organised headings (usually questions) plus the odd note under an introdustion and five main 'paragraphs' although each of these will be more than one paragraph when finished. The word 'paragraph' will eventually be replaced by a sub-heading, as they occur to me.

Article One: Going Green With a Blue Bin!

Introduction:

Why Go Green?
Preserving the Earth as habitable for future generations - conservation

Why Recycle?
Landfill sites
Non-sustainable resources
Energy usage

Facts and Figures
Global/Europe/UK/County/Borough
How much waste is produced every day/week/month/year - per individual/country?
How much waste is recycled every day/week/month/year - per individual/country?
EU targets for recycling?

Paragraph One:

The Blue Bin Scheme - 6 months - figures?
Began last October - progress?
Mr B - "a success" - figures? (how many people recycling, how much waste recycled)

Problems?
Mr B - "people abusing the scheme"? (dog waste/bicycle/televisions?)

What can go in blue bins? / What can't go in blue bins?
Different types of paper and card?
Margerine tubs! (why can't plastic be recycled?)

Proposed/possible future changes?
Addition of other materials to the list of recyclables?
Mini sites? (special collections for the disabled, etc.?)
Bigger bins?

Tips for getting the most out of blue bin recycling?
Wash out tins and bottles to prevent contamination of paper.

Paragraph Two:

Where and how is the rubbish (waste?) separated?
Process - hand sorting

Where is it recycled?

What is it recycled into?

Paragraph Three:

Where can other things be recycled?
White goods -
Electrical equipment (television/stereo) -
Mobile Phones -
Computers -
Batteries -
Glass - never decomposes but can be endlessly recycled
Plastics -
Clothes - recycling helps other people too
Furniture - recycling helps other people too

Contacts?
Quotation from council and/or green party?

Where/how are these recycled?

Paragraph Four:

Recycling in the home?
Meals -
Compost -
Water -
Paper -
Garden (bird-feeders from tins, scarers from cds, etc.) -

Paragraph Five: Ways to avoid recycling?

Avoiding waste?
Going paperless -
Consumer choice - packaging. bags, etc.
Buying in bulk - less packaging (also less transport miles)
Rechargeable batteries - save money as well as preventing toxic leakage into environment

Re-use or Repair?

Conclusion:

Blue Bin Scheme - how is it defined as successful?
Quotes - Council and consumers?

How does it make a difference?

Why it's such a great idea!
Easy, takes no money or effort or time to do something important.

Mr B is a real person, but I didn't think it fair to include his real name here without asking his permission! But that's something else I did this week ...

Researching Possible Sources

I began this whole thing by looking online to try and discover a little more about blue bins, having got one myself, and really wanting to make the best use of it. So I looked at the local newspaper website and the local government recycling site first, then I looked at the wider issue of recycling.

While doing this general research, I found five names of people I thought might be able to provide some interesting information, a personal comment, some more specific details, some facts and figures or some further possible contacts.

Contacting Possible Sources

I decided to send an email rather than call them on the phone, because I'm a coward! No, seriously, I'd rather turn up in person than talk to someone on the phone if I don't know them, but realise that's probably not the most convenient (or welcomed) way to approach people.

So I sent a copy of the following email to each of the five people, but I decided to send it separately, so I could address each person individually, rather than address it to one person (or 'Dear Sir/Madam') and then include the others in the Cc: list.

But I realised it might be helpful if they all knew the email had been delivered to the other people as well, so I included a list at the bottom:

Dear Mr B,

I am writing an article on 'Recycling and the local Blue Bin Scheme' (to submit, in the first instance, to the local Evening News.) I began researching the subject recently, from a personal perspective as I was unsure how to best make use of my own blue bin, but think other people might find the information I found useful, and it will also hopefully support the blue bin scheme.

It seems a good time, as the scheme has now been running for 6 months. I would like to include a comprehensive list of items that can/can't be recycled in the bins, to suggest alternatives where applicable, and to explain the process of recycling the waste after it has been collected from the blue bins. I would also like to include any prospects of future development.

I would appreciate any information (or other sources of information) you could give me regarding this. I also wondered if you would like to make a comment on the success of the blue bin scheme?

I have sent this email to Mr S, Mr D, Mr G, and Mr. B.

Regards,

I received two auto-response replies to say that the recipient was away from the office. I also received a very helpful reply from Mr B (thank you, Mr B!) who suggested I call him to discuss my requirements. I did but he wasn't in, so I left a message, then sent another email to thank him for his reply and include a brief outline of my article to give him an idea of what I was doing, with my phone number.

'Talking' to Sources

He very kindly called me and we talked for a while about recycling and the blue bin scheme generally. He was lovely, he gave me lots to think about, invited me to an Open Day for the press, and suggested I contact him again for any further information.

So the following day I sent him a list of more specific questions:

Mr B, (although I used his first name as that is how he addressed himself both by email and on the phone)

Thank you for calling. Sorry I was a little lost for words at first, youcaught me off guard as I hadn't expected you to reply so soon! And thank youfor all the great information. I didn't have my notes to hand, so missed acouple of questions:

1. What happens to the waste after it has been sorted? Where does it go tobe recycled (assuming it is sorted and then taken elsewhere)and what is it recycled into?
2. Do you have figures to support the scheme being a general success,perhaps the amount of waste (combined or individually) now recycled,compared to when the scheme started?
3. Do commercial/industrial properties have blue bins (or similar)?
4. Are there plans to include other materials in the future (like margerine tubs ... I feel really guilty, now!)?
5. I recently had a replacement bin, which seems larger than most. Is thisbecause you have increased bin size generally?

OK, so there's a few more than a couple! But if you can help with any ofthem, it would be much appreciated.I really appreciate your time, Mr B. I should point out, to be fair, that Ihave yet to have anything published in print. In fact this will be the firstarticle ever submitted by me, so it might well not be accepted (but we allhave to start somewhere!) I'm just starting out on the road to freelancewriting, by writing various blogs and I've published a few articles onHelium. I'll include links at the bottom of this, so you can see the sort ofwriting I've done. The blogs are more personal and the Helium articles moreprofessional, but both are very different to my article on blue bins andrecycling.

I'll send you a draft before I submit it, probably towards the end of thismonth. Can I quote you on the success of the scheme, perhaps with referenceto some figures? Do you want me to mention the problems and any action youmight take to resolve them ... I forgot to ask, what will you do if people refuse to use the scheme sensibly? Is the ultimate penalty a fine?

I can't believe people are so silly ... well, I can, but you know what Imean! I have found the blue bin a great way to do my bit for recycling(thank you!) and such an easy way too, it doesn't cost anything in money ortime or effort.

Wishing you and the scheme continued success!

I look forward to hearing from you and finishing the article. If it isn'taccepted for publication by the Evening News, perhaps it will be of some use elsewhere. You would be welcome to use anything I write on your recyclingwebsite.

Regards

Now, there may be a lesson coming up here as I haven't had a reply from him. I'm hoping he's just very busy, but a little worried that I have made a mistake on two possible counts:

1. The email from me leans towards the friendly rather than the professional.

It's fine line and having thought about it, it's easier toed on the phone (easier still in person) because we have immediate, continuous feedback. But I always get so flustered on the phone! And even when I do have notes in front of me, I find it difficult to concentrate on reading, writing and listening at the same time, so usually miss lots of important stuff. So I tried to write the email in the same tone as our conversation, but may have missed the mark a little.

2. I have admitted that I am not a published writer.

Now, I know this is the wrong thing to do when submitting a query letter to an editor, having read lots of advice about queries in the Dabbling Mum's excellent ebook. But in this case, I felt it was only fair to fess up, as he is obviously a busy man, with a press Open Day coming up. The bin scheme is 6 months old and will likely mean lots of articles are submitted on this very subject, from lots of much more experienced writers.

I didn't think it fair to ask for his time, without being honest about the fact that (although always much appreciated by me) it might not have a positive result. I imagine a positive result for him would be more promotion for the scheme.

Finding Obstacles

So, we will see what happens ... a self-constructed obstacle on the path to freelance writing, perhaps? That's ok, I knew there would be obstacles and although it's a bit silly to build them myself (I'm sure there are enough already), as long as I learn something from them (and hopefully help others not to make the same daft mistake) obstacles are a good thing.

I've also drafted a query, but will post about that next time. Because I've done some writing today, I feel in the creative flow again and will try and post over the weekend to catch up a bit!

Have a great weekend!

:o)