Non Fiction

Freelance Writing Opportunities – Make Money As Freelance Writer

By: Rick Lee

According to the Netcraft Web Server Survey done in April, 2009, there are over 231,510,169 websites. Also the Netcraft explains that this figure corresponds to an increase of over 6 million websites, if compared to the last month results.

Quite obviously, we all know it very well that almost all websites need content. With this increasing demand for content, the scope of freelance writing opportunities is also increasing.

There are different types of freelance writing opportunities. If you want to make a career in freelance writing, surely you have a wide array of options available. So you can choose whatever fits you the best.

However, if you opt for ghostwriting projects, you will get more freelance writing opportunities than if you are strict to put your name on your articles.

General article writing for different websites can be one of best freelance writing opportunities. All you need to study different websites and follow the style and trend to prepare yourself as a freelance writer, before you apply for such opportunities.

Review writing is on quite popular demand these days and if you feel comfortable about writing reviews on different products or services, you can surely go for this option.

If you are from journalism background, you can choose press release writing as a lucrative option for freelance writing opportunities. You can offer independent service or join in any writing portal as one of their freelance writers.

If your writing style is very lucid and you know how to maintain an engaging writing style throughout your content, you can also try for blog post writer. Well, in all these cases, you mostly need to appear as a ghostwriter.

However, if you are not comfortable about writing as a ghost writer, you can still have the opportunity to make money online by writing. In such case, you can try different magazines and e-zines and write for them and they will give you the freelance writing opportunities under your chosen name or pen-name.

Learn where to find the best freelance writing opportunities online. I highly recommend you check out my 6 figure freelancer review if you want to learn how to make money online as a freelance writer.

http://www.6figurefreelancerreview.info/freelance-writing-opportunities/

Writing your Way to the Top

by Annette Young

Writing provides flexible hours and a variety of contracts, but sometimes, a select few writers appear to be able to cherry- pick the most lucrative writing work available, and whilst this may be frustrating for those who systematically lose out on contracts, it would be useful to consider why rather than to feel deflated by a lack of success. If you wish to increase your own potential in securing writing jobs, understand that you have to be meeting or exceeding a client’s expectations:

Writers need to have:

An ability to be intuitive to the client’s needs
An ability to be able to match project duration with a competitive price
An ability to produce a well-written query letter
An ability to be able to write with passion and authority
An ability to be able to work to tight deadlines
An ability to produce well-written copy to the client’s specifications

Writing realms are fiercely competitive and the standard is high, so it is an ideal environment for the client in that they can pick the writer who literally ticks all the boxes. As they are paying for a service, they expect the writer to be highly professional, enthusiastic and produce exceptional work and if the writer completes the remit to a satisfactory standard, then that client will continue to request the writer who has a great, proven skill set.

If you wish to join that elite band of successful writing individuals, it is important that you really consider what the client needs and whether your own existing skills and experiences will enable the job to be completed to a satisfactory standard. Canvassing for work that is not suitable on a personal level is merely wasting your own time and that of the client’s.

Build up some good writing credits slowly and surely by only pursuing those contracts which are more than achievable and this will pay dividends; similarly, canvassing for work in areas that you are passionate about will raise your standard higher, because your passion and enthusiasm for the subject will show.

It is hugely important that you master time management skills especially if you start obtaining several writing contracts. Being disciplined, setting aside set time for each project and sticking to a strict writing agenda is important if you are going to be able to deliver on time. Successful freelance writing means understanding that writing is a business and that the contracts take precedence over personal issues or family demands, it is also about being honest with the client and keeping them informed if there are exceptional circumstances.

Reliability and performance are the key words for freelance writers and if these rules are adhered to, it will not be long before you enjoying the lofty heights of success and securing some exceptional writing contracts as well.

Annette Young is Editor of the Creative Competitor and a successful freelance writer.

www.annette-young.com

www.write-fiction.com

Writing – Maximise your Earning Potential

by Annette Young

Writing careers can take off in the same way as the careers of those in the media, such as presenters, actors and sports celebrities, it is simply a case of being prepared to stay the course, work hard, learn the relevant skills, and have an innate belief that success is imminent and of course, to make sure you get noticed by the right people.

Writing is a funny business, it isn’t all about writing profusely, churning out articles and stories, it isn’t necessarily about having the best technical skills, but it is about making opportunities and grabbing them with both hands, marketing yourself and being brave enough to take risks.

Stepping out of your comfort zone may not be the easiest thing in the world but it is important that you develop a sense of belief in your creative skills so that opportunities do not pass you by. A writer may have to take on different roles to be successful, think in terms of an actor learning a new role and living and breathing it, until it becomes second nature. In turn, a writer needs to have proficient writing skills, an enthusiasm and a passion that shows and a writer inevitably has to learn self-marketing and to develop an ability to become an expert in many writing fields and to not just specialise in one.

Copywriting and blogging require totally different writing styles for example, yet both can be lucrative fields for the writer and it is simply a matter of adopting a different mentality and style. Why sit back and wait for a job in your own area of expertise to appear, when you can literally double your opportunities and payday by specialising in two fields. It is as simple as that.

Many writers do not keep an eye on the changing trends, and they stick determinedly to their chosen field. Whilst it is good to carve out a strong writing niche, it can be even better to be flexible and to take advantage of writing opportunities as they arise. New writing experiences result in a proven history and this can only be a positive for the serious writer. Forget the term ‘Jack of all Trades’, whilst this may apply to some jobs, in writing, the more areas you can write about as an expert, the more work you will get.

Ghost writing work abounds and this is steady paid work if you do not mind giving up creative rights. Writing for the Internet provides huge opportunities and having the ability to switch genres at a moments notice can make you become a sought after writer.

In writing realms, a dogged determination to succeed is a must and embracing writing opportunities across the spectrum is definitely the way forward.

Annette Young is Editor of the Creative Competitior and a succesful freelance writer.

www.annette-young.com

www.write-fiction.com

What is Blogging all About?

by Andy Beveridge

I am often asked the question, what is the difference between a blog and a website. The answer is very little. A website is normally a static page that changes rarely and when new content is added it comes in the shape of a new page.

A blog however is constantly changing. Each time you write a new post it replaces the last one at the top of the page. In effect you have a single page that just scrolls down. With the Wordpress platform you do have the ability to create static pages as well, so in truth, Wordpress is the most impressive of all blogging platforms and have covered all bases.

A blog is very much like a diary and it suits that kind of application. You have the ability to let the world know about your life or business on a daily basis. This kind of fresh content makes an active blog very search engine friendly.

I think one of the huge advantages of blogging is that people get to see the real you. They learn your story. Also a blog becomes a very interactive area as your readers can leave comments as well. This helps to build a loyal following. As traffic builds to your blog, more and more people will leave comments and you can feed off this information. Just like a story unfolds, so a blog evolves.

The reasons for having a blog are endless, and many people own blogs in various different niches. Some just promote their goods or business, others blog about their interests. I have read some really interesting blogs on travel and lifestyle.

The main thing to remember when setting up your very own blog is to be yourself and tell the story about how you came to be doing what you are now doing. People love this kind of interaction and will come back to read your latest post time after time.

Setting up a blog is a very simple process if you use wordpress.com, but do be careful of this choice because you never actually own the blog. There have been many cases when a popular blog has disappeared overnight because wordpress did not agree with its use. This can be as simple as placing adverts on the site.

There is a way round this however, buy your own hosting. This can be as cheap as just a few dollars a month. Buy a domain name of your choice and set it up through wordpress.org. This then will be a blog that you own and can do what you want with.
There are so many plugins and widgets that can be added to a wordpress blog that help search engines to find your site. They are all free.

The same with themes, there are thousands of different free themes to use.

At 'blog-designs' we offer an outstanding service, hosting and design with all the plugins installed to make blogging a satisying and easy experience..

Happy blogging.

Andy Beveridge

www.blog-designs.com

Authors and Writers:

Do You Know What Your Hook Is When It Comes To Getting Publicity

by Cheryl Antier

Ssshhh! Did you hear that?

That... Right there... Just listen...

Still can't hear anything?

Neither can I. And that's exactly what I'm talking about. It's called silence.

And it's what happens when you don't know what your hook is if you're trying to drum up some publicity for you, your book or your business.

What's a hook?

It's the brass ring... the prize in the bottom of the CrackerJacks box... It's the cherry on top of the cake.

Your hook is what makes you interesting... fascinating... or simply irresistible to someone in the media and the general public.

So...

If you're getting ready to start a book tour - in person or on the internet...

Or you want to promote your latest products or services...

Or you want to become known as an expert in your field or industry...

Publicity is one of the best, fastest and longest lasting routes to get you where you want to go.

It's like being able to use one of the secret passages in the board game Clue to go from one room to another in just one move.

Or getting a lucky "Chance" card and moving right past "Go" and collecting an extra $200 dollars in Monopoly.

The problem is, when it comes to getting publicity, it's next to impossible to do if you don't understand the rules, or how to play the game.

Rule - 1 in getting publicity is that you've gotta have a hook.

So what's yours?

(Hint: It's NOT about you or your business or your latest product and its NOT about your book. At least, not really.)

A hook should be either: entertaining, informative, current, emotional or controversial.

And - here's a "secret" most authors and writers don't seem to get...

A hook should always be presented as what we call a "blind" or open question.

In other words, a hook is a question that can't be answered with a "yes" or "no."

Good hooks are questions that start out with "Why" or "How" or "How to"...

Sometimes you can use a "What" in your hook...

Such as... "What To Do If You're All Alone and Someone Breaks Into Your Home"

But a better hook might be... "What You Absolutely Have to Do First If You're All Alone and Someone Breaks Into Your Home"

And you could add a little extra bait to your hook by adding a sub-headline... "Not knowing this simple little thing could cost you or your loved ones their lives..."

In order to be effective, and practically guarantee you'll get the publicity you're looking for, your hook needs to touch on a dominant emotion...

Such as Fear, Excitement, Greed, Joy, Lust...

These are all dominant emotions - and we all have them. (Even if we're not proud of having them or don't want to own up to the fact that we've got them - they're still there.)

So when you're planning a particular publicity campaign, or you're getting ready to sit down at your computer, stop and think for a few minutes about what underlying emotion you want - or can -use as a hook.

And here's the next thing you need to remember - I mentioned it up above. This isn't about you.

I know, I know. That can seem a little weird, especially if you're about to write a media release about your latest book.

But the sad truth is... Nobody - except maybe your mother, your best friend or the people who want to be able to say they know a "famous" author - cares about your book. Or that you're about to go on a virtual book tour.

The media doesn't care about it.

And the general public doesn't care about it.

Yet.

That's why you need a hook. A hook is what grabs them... Stops them in their tracks... And makes them wonder about what else you have to say.

Why? Because your hook has given them just a hint of something they REALLY care about...

Themselves.

And what's in it for them. (This is commonly known as the WII-FM channel - the "What's In It For Me?)

We're always more interested in something if we feel like we might be missing out on something... or that something's being kept from us, or that we might benefit from something - and we just almost HAVE to know what it is.

That's a hook.

For the media, your hook needs to be something they think will be of interest to their audience.

And for the audience, your hook needs to be something that appeals to their self-interest.

That might be protecting themselves from something, learning something that will benefit them, discovering something that almost no one else knows or learning how to do something.

And that's what leads back to you, your products or services or your book.

Suddenly people are interested.

That's all there is to it. Now that you know what a hook is, get back to your keyboard, and create yours.

And I'll be seeing you in the news.

Cheryl Antier is a copywriter, ghostwriter and travel writer who helps her clients stop being invisible to the search engines, their prospects, customers and clients and creates marketing materials that turn more lookie-lous and tire kickers into buyers. To find out more, check out her Website at http://www.cherylantier.com

Beginner's Guide To Article Writing

By: Shaheen Mohiuddin

Article writing is in vogue. Be it for optimizing websites or blogs, sharing information or building product awareness, articles are written by the dozen every minute of the day. There are professional writers who do it, there are also bloggers who do it; sometimes people who've hardly any experience at article writing put pen to paper and produce hugely popular stuff. And then, there are also some of us who want to write but aren't quite able to decide what to write on.

For the first few articles you write, follow a set pattern, a guideline system. Doing this, you won't have to start from the scratch each time since you'll have an outline or framework to build your article upon. Treat your article like an essay. As with essays, have a skeletal structure of 4-5 paragraphs, each with at least five sentences. Introduce the idea in the first paragraph and keep the conclusion to the last one. The largest portion, the body of your essay, must contain the main argument and supporting sentences.

Select a topic that could be of potential use to a large section of your audience. Take care to choose one that you're good at yourself. There's hardly any point in writing an article on English grammar if you're a computer programmer.

Topic decided, brainstorm and come up with a headline for your article. Don't spend hours trying to come up with a super-duper headline. If you really cannot think of one that you think is awesome, keep one of the trial headlines as makeshift. Have a headline that is simple and clear. Your reader must get a reasonably good idea about the article just by reading the headline. Include bait, something that is going to entice the reader to read more than just the headline. 5 Unique Ways to Free Link Building is sure to get you more readers than a simple Link Building Ideas or plain Link Building.

Introduce your article to your audience with a general statement. Consider you are writing an article on How To Write Blogs. Begin with a very general statement about blogs; perhaps something along the lines of how popular blogging is, or how bloggers have redefined the idea of self-expression. Next, associate blogging with writing and how important it is for a blogger to write well. With this, you've not just introduced your topic to the reader, but have also created a sense of anticipation.

A big chunk of your article falls under the body of the essay. Back your introductory statement with specific examples and sound reasoning. Mention why it is imperative for a blogger to write engaging posts. Elaborate and explain how he can do so. Include, if possible, what he must avoid. These 'steps' ensure better reader-understandability.

In the next paragraph, list all that he stands to gain by writing well. Make it as clear and simple as possible. Present your idea as being entirely easy-to-implement. Never resort to assuming or exaggerating facts just to drive your point home. People who read your articles are likely to be just as intelligent, and at times, more gifted than you are. Adopting the wrong methods will only pull you down the credibility scale.

Conclude your essay with a paragraph that reiterates the statement you made in the first. It may not always be necessary to conclude each time you write. Sometimes open ended essays fare much better than tightly packed ones.
P.S.: Note that there is no formal conclusion to this one. It isn't required; and so, it isn't there.

A step by step approach for everyone who is new to article writing. Discover how you can write articles quick and fast.
Beginner's Guide To Article Writing by Shaheen Mohiuddin of WriteYup.

About WriteYup: An online resource for readers and writers alike, WriteYup features articles focusing on a variety of topics including online advertising and marketing, business fundas, SEO, copywriting, book reviews and much more!

How to Write a Book in 3 Easy Steps

By Marsha Rozalski

Have you always wondered how to write a book? Before you sit down and write a book you've got to figure out what you're going to write about. The worst thing you can do is sit there and stare at a blank sheet of paper or computer screen. So, before you even pick up that pencil you need to so some thinking. Here are some steps to get you going in the right direction.

Step 1 Find your niche

You need to find some people that are all asking the same questions and all need the same information. It can be anything. It can be a how to book, a diet book, a weight loss book, just anything that will solve someone's problems. You'll find that your options and ideas are endless. Just go out and find a niche that is seeking information and write a book for them. You can even do one on how to write a book.

Step 2

Find the problem and solve it

Selling books is just as much about solving a problem and providing a benefit as it is about the writing. Your book as to provide a benefit to the reader. It has to solve their problem or why would they even buy it? What problems or concerns are people having in your niche? What questions do they all seem to ask? Go to forums and ask yahoo on the Internet and find out what they are asking.
Now that you know what they are asking, you will use your book to solve their problems. So, are you still wondering how to write a book? Easy, just solve someone's problem!

Step 3

Title and Sales Page

Now that you have chosen your topic and niche you need to write your books title and sales page. Why? Because once you've taken this step and you really know what your book is about then writing it will come easy.
Your title should be attractive to your readers and it should tell them what benefit they will get out of reading it. Make your sales page go into detail about exactly what your readers will find inside your book and how it will improve their lives. Write it all out and then take the steps immediately to make it the truth.

No need to make how to write a book difficult. Just get out there and find something that really interests you and that your passionate about. It's always more fun writing about something you have a big interest in.

http://www.howtowriteagoodbook.org/

Can We Write? Do It the 'Instant Article' Way!

By: Barbara Adams

Have you always wanted to write for newspapers, magazines, or books?

There are many factors to consider in order to be successful. In many ways the actual writing is one of the easiest parts. You often don't need to be especially talented if you have a good idea.

It is advisable to write out a rough draft of all work, and keep changing it until you are completely satisfied. If you have personal knowledge of a subject, you might be able to write up a saleable instant article version the first time. If you don't, then research is of the most importance.

Once you have decided on a subject to write about, do not write the work and then try to sell it. This is called unsolicited writing, and rarely results in the work being published. You can easily spend days writing a perfect piece, and never be able to sell it. Without a doubt the only way to make your effort successful is to query the publisher in advance before you submit it. Purchase a copy of the WRITER'S MARKET which is well worth the price, and send your query to the appropriate editor if it is a magazine. You can also purchase this in small monthly payments on the internet.

Next, write to the publisher and introduce yourself, giving a detailed proposal of your idea, a query. If the publisher likes your idea for his publication, and he thinks he can make money with it, there is a good chance he will interested in either buying your work, or giving you the assignment to write it. Have patience in waiting to hear back. Be prepared to try each idea eight to ten times with different publishers. Only one needs to be interested for you to be published, and to make money. If what you write will sell, a publisher will be eager to accept it. You will soon learn the 'knack' of how to satisfy a publisher. All publishers want good quality information, even if your writing is not perfect!

All good pieces of writing start with a plan. Really take some time to determine how your writing will evolve. This allows you to split the work down into smaller, manageable parcels. Do not deviate from this plan unless you find it seriously flawed. With most good pieces of writing, careful reading and research is necessary.

If you are writing about a subject of which you have personal knowledge, things are much easier. If you are not familiar with the subject, and are not bogged down by research you can also concentrate mainly on the writing, All of a sudden the blank page will not be daunting, and your writing will be easy and effortless. And when one work is finished you will look forward to working on the next manuscript. Sound interesting?

About the Author:

Barbara is a freelance writer for newspapers and magazines, and has written jokes for Phyllis Diller which she told on tv

Printed From: http://www.articlesbase.com/writing-articles/can-we-write-do-it-the-instant-article-way-940392.html

Creative Writing Is Easy With Mind Maps

The BookWright

I use Mind Mapping daily to organise, store and expand my thought processes. My current novel exists as a wall sized mind map which I add to as new research and knowledge comes my way.

So when I started mentoring authors, it was only natural I used them - both over the Internet using desktop sharing and in the workshop using good old paper and coloured pencils.

It got me thinking though as to why they were so good as tools in the creative process & here’s what came to me.

Mind Maps are about more than just getting your thoughts down on paper in an organic fashion.

The left hemisphere is known as the logical controlling part of the brain - it has its uses but can suppress the creative right hemisphere. Perhaps it does this like the devil on the shoulder whispering internally things like, “Don’t be stupid, no-one will want to read your book.” or “When are you going to find time".

When presented with a Mind Map, the left brain can be tricked into thinking that there’s a logical problem to tackle and may say, “I like structure, let me deal with that.”

The right brain can then seize its moment and while the left brain is busy analysing the size, shape and detail of the map, it can unleash it’s full creativity - sort of under the radar.

What actually happens is slightly less subversive. The map encourages the two hemispheres to operate in harmony - in ‘whole brain thinking’. When the map is complete, you get even more benefits.

The map itself becomes not only committed to memory but is actually stored in the brain as a neural pathway.

This pathway radiates out to the cosmic mind with its full intention and then the coincidences and enlightenments start to happen ….. and where it gets really funky is when you embed your timeline into the map.

I use Mind Mapping daily to organise, store and expand my thought processes. My current novel exists as a wall sized mind map which I add to as new research and knowledge comes my way.

Tom Evans is an Author and Business Mentor who specialises in helping aspiring authors to write and publish their own books. Tom offers a range of services including writer's workshops, home study courses, 1:1 mentoring and epublishing support.

Sign up for your free writer's hint & tips here http://www.thebookwright.co.uk/friends-registration.htm or for more information about the BookWright http://www.thebookwright.com

The Art Of Creative Writing

The BookWright

There are two really common reasons why authors get writer’s block. The first is a lack of inner confidence about their writing ability. The second is a belief that they simply don’t have the time to write.

The blocks caused by lack of confidence can be caused by an innocent criticism of something written earlier - like an essay that got a black mark at school perhaps and has created a deep and lasting belief in their ability to write well.

The solution is to identify the old behaviours and beliefs and replace them with new beliefs and patterns that are much more resourceful. This can be done at either a conscious or unconscious level and can sometimes be as simple as turning a belief around from ‘I can’t write creatively’ to something like ‘the more I write, the more creative my writing becomes’.

To deal with the second type of block, there are many excellent books on how to improve your time management. Books like this are brilliant at pointing out where you can claw back time by better managing your day. Additionally, I would like to propose a more lateral and fundamental approach to time management - and that’s to change the perceived speed of time itself.

Now this might seem far fetched, or in the realms of Doctor Who or Back to the Future, but scientists are coming to the conclusion that our reality - our space and time - are linked to our consciousness. In fact, it’s more accurate to say that it’s our very consciousness that actually creates our reality. So all you need to do to change time is to make a change in your consciousness.

I am sure you have heard about athletes who have been “in the zone” - a sort of timeless place - or perhaps you have had a light bulb moment where in less than a second, you get a flash of inspiration - a whole picture for a new idea. If you were able to MRI scan your brain at this moment, you would see both the right and left hemispheres light up in synchronism. For that split second you were Whole Brain (or even Whole Mind) Thinking. A brain scan would show that your brain was generating alpha and probably even theta waves.

Now you can access this state while meditating. When I mention this to authors, their first reaction is that they don’t have time to meditate. I know it sounds counter-intuitive but I can testify that 20-30 minutes meditation before a writing session will deliver not only the time back by a factor of 3 or 4 but also much better quality writing.

“But I can’t make my mind go quiet,” is normally the next protest swiftly followed by, “I’d like to meditate but I don’t have time to learn how.” Well, if you hear yourself saying this, help is now at hand. You don’t need necessarily to enter an ashram for two months. Although, if you did, it might well be time well spent …

Meditation machines are now available that help get you into both alpha and theta states. I have been using one for over a year now and even though I am reasonably adept at meditation, I can testify that they really do work.
I’ve written a free companion guide for users of meditation machines to specifically help authors through writer’s block and to tap into their creative muse.

After a few weeks of use, you will even find it easier to enter the meditative state without a machine and while you are in what is normally thought of as the waking state.

For a writer, this becomes significant as time seems to stretch out so that in a single hour you write what would normally take a whole morning or afternoon.

The benefits to your productivity are therefore immense and you will be amazed at your output in all areas of your life. People who have used machines even get comments of how well they look.
There are two really common reasons why authors get writer’s block. The first is a lack of inner confidence about their writing ability. The second is a belief that they simply don’t have the time to write.

Sign up for your free writer's hint & tips here http://www.thebookwright.co.uk/friends-registration.htm or for more information about the BookWright http://www.thebookwright.com

7 Tips on How to Write a Book

By Carol Denbow

1. Write your book. Whether it's non-fiction or fiction, Fantasy, Autobiography, Crime or Mystery, just write what you feel. Never worry about editing as you go; as that will bury your creativity.

2. Find a quiet place to write. An extra bedroom, office, or even a garage (preferably heated), are all good places "away from it all." Never look for your muse where friends or family are always interrupting you.

3. Set time aside to write. It takes time to find your inspiration to write. It's not likely you will write well or accomplish much in a ten minute session. Allow yourself at least two hours to work on your writing project.

4. Choose you books topic according to demand. Are there a million books already written which follow the path of your story or subject? Is there even an audience out there who will buy your book? With nearly 30 books being released in the U.S. every hour of every day, the competition is fierce. If you plan to sell your book to the reading public, make sure you will have a customer base before you put your time and money into publishing a book.

5. Draw an outline for your book before you begin. A well drawn out outline will keep you focused on your total project. Outline your story or information. For fiction book writing, an outline of your plot, when to introduce your characters, and path of the story, that is, the beginning, middle, and ending placed into chronological order. For non-fiction book writing, the same applies. Organize your information into a logical and useful order.

6. Choose your title carefully. Not only is a catchy title a must, but for non-fiction and some fiction books, your title words will most likely be used as "key words" when a potential book buyer searches the Internet for a book similar to yours.

7. Once your book is complete, find a professional editor to fix your mistakes. Spell Check in your writing software is not enough to handle the job.

These and other book writing and publishing tips can be found at A Book Inside Blog at http://abookinside.blogspot.com

Author's URL: http://www.booksbydenbow.weebly.com
Carol Denbow is a retired business owner and the author of three books, including, "Are You Ready to Be Your Own Boss?" (2006). Read more about business start-up and this author at http://www.BooksByDenbow.Weebly.com

The Desire To Not Write by Wendy Keller

A new client made an off-handed comment today. She wondered why almost every writer gets strong urges not to write. "Suddenly, the plants need watering, the dog needs petting, the laundry needs folding at that very moment." She laughed sheepishly. "I find in the moments that fall into my lap and announce they could be used for writing, I am suddenly possessed by an irresistible urge desire to clean closets, skim the internet for some obscure fact, or finally finish reading that book I started last month. It's worse than craving chocolate, and just as narcotic!"

Writers have it tough. The very thing we most want to do, we don't do. My ex-husband, who was a journalist at the time, dragged home a snippet of a quote. "No one likes writing, but everyone likes having written." I am not sure to whom attribution belongs, but I'd wager it's a professional writer. I am disinclined to write unless there's a deadline looming. Perhaps this is why so few authors actually get published. Finishing a proposal or the first draft of a fiction work is usually a self-imposed deadline.

I used to think it was the fear of criticism or rejection that kept most writers from writing. But now having been a writer all my life, and working with thousands of them as an agent, I think that is just the tip of the, well, the tip of the pool cue, to avoid a cliché. My dad, an old pool shark legendary only in his own mind, remembers people who were nervous about taking the shot who endlessly chalked their cue stick. It's the same with us, isn't it? We fuss and distract and whine that we don't have time or the right circumstances to write. As for me, if I'm not alone in a cabin in Big Bear with a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies (or in a pinch, oatmeal raisin), in front of the fieldstone fireplace with snow falling outside, in my favorite faux leopard skin slippers, how could I possibly be expected to turn out prose of any value? Quite simply, I cannot write unless conditions are perfect. That's what I tell myself. That's what my writers tell me.

The question in my mind is always "Why don't writers just force themselves to do it?" I gave a seminar some years ago, when I was naïve. I taught a class to eight professional speakers. I charged exorbitant rates to force them through a proposal creation process in just three days. They were limp when we finished. I sent them home edited and complete, with only one sample chapter to finish. Six of them had had sample chapters coming into the event - we'd edited them on site. All they had to do was incorporate those edits! Five years later, I have yet to get a completed proposal from any of them. What's worse is that I happen to know that no other agent or publisher has seen their work either in all this time!

Upon deep introspection and a cup of peppermint tea, I have determined once and for all that the reason writers don't write is because we simply know that language cannot begin to convey accurately the words in our hearts, minds and spirits. Like the Inuit who allegedly have hundreds of words to describe snow, or the ancient Greeks who had six words for love, we are immediately restrained by our limited language skills. The first words we type will instantly disappoint us, because they cannot perfectly convey straight into the heart and mind of another the precise message we wish to send.

And this is utter failure. And complete success. It is failure in all the obvious ways, but the way it is success is valuable to consider. For in our failure to direct our message perfectly, we leave it flayed open, exposed to any reader's interpretation. Each reader sees in the work precisely what he or she needs to take from it. They get what they wanted to get, nothing more or less. The critic who dices a book gets another paycheck next month for being pithy and curt. The reader who skims only the first few chapters and carries away a wholly different message from that intended needs that skewed message to verify his or her own opinion, pro or con. If fifty people read our work, there will be fifty interpretations of the same work.

We should have learned this in college English classes, for therein is the beauty of the craft and the release from the "Writer's Procrastination" malaise. Each person sees something different in the book, even the author upon rereading it later. We are perfectly met by words, because the words mean something different to each of us. Themselves, they are merely symbols for meanings, and meanings are wholly subjective. In California, the yellow stoplight means "hurry up!" In Chicago, it means, "slow down!" The words we see come to us in their own stark beauty, they adhere to our own vision of what we want and need from the text we are consuming.

When you next set fingertips to keyboard, or quill to parchment, remember that your efforts to convey a distinct message are only and sublimely your efforts. A whole world of possible interpretations exists behind each phrase you turn, each word picture you sketch. Resolve to allow all who choose to indulge in your writing take what they prefer, like a bountiful banquet table. Then you are liberated to write what is true and has meaning for you, what is real, in the best language you are capable of using. With clarity, logic and precision, you are freed to let the words flow onto the page. Those who take them up will see your work only from their own myopia. Your job is complete when the words have been spent and they lie there, self-satisfied and heaving on the page.

Wendy Keller is Senior Agent at Keller Media, Inc. She's been selling books for other writers since 1989 and meanwhile has had 29 of her own books published under 8 pseudonyms. To get her and her staff on your side, go to http://www.KellerMedia.com.

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Write a Book Without Writers Block
By Angela Booth

Got writer's block? If you're writing a book, you're almost guaranteed to get writer's block at some stage. This shouldn't slow you down, it's a good thing, believe it or not.

There are many reasons you could be suffering from writer's block, but knowing why you are isn't as important as moving forward with your book.

The five-step process I've described for you below will help you to get over writer's block. On the other hand, if you're planning a book, it will get you started without procrastinating.

1. Write a Blurb First, It Keeps You on Track

Your first step is to write a blurb (a short, enticing description) of your book. Keep it under 75 words. Visit the bookstore or library to read the blurbs of books which are similar to yours. You'll find the blurb on the back cover of a book.

2. Write Down Everything You Know About Your Topic

Your next step is to write down everything you know about your book's topic. If you're writing a novel, write down the story.

Write as quickly as you can, without taking your fingers from the keyboard.

This may take you many hours. Keep going. This engages both your conscious and subconscious mind in the project, so that your subconscious mind keeps "working" on the book for you.

3. Have Fun! Get Engaged and Excited

Are you having fun? If you're not, your lack of enthusiasm will come through in your words. Get in touch with your original enthusiasm for the book, and remember why you want to write a book. See your book on bookstore shelves.

4. Blog Your Book -- Build a Readership (Platform)

Every writer needs to market his book. A publisher will not do it for you -- you're responsible for sales of your book. In fact, the publisher will want to know what your plans are for marketing the book before you're offered a contract.

The easiest way to market your book is a blog, so create a blog as soon as possible.

5. Get a Mentor

Your final step is to get a mentor for your book. Writing and publishing a book is a long process. You need instruction, guidance and inspiration from someone who's done it, and who can guide you through it.

So there you have it -- five steps to help you to write your book without writer's block.

Want to become a successful writer? Angela Booth's writing class, "Write More And Make More Money From Your Writing: Develop A Fast, Fun Productive Writing Process" at http://www.angelaswritingclasses.com/Class/writemore.html is based on lessons she developed for her private coaching students to help them to write more, improve their writing, and to make more money writing. The course trains you to become an expert writer.

Her ebook "Top 70 Writing Tips To Help You To Write More" at http://www.abmagic.com/Write-More/write-more.html shows you how to end procrastination for good.

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Writing Classes – How they can accelerate your Writing Progress

By Annette Young

Writing classes provide a wonderful opportunity to be able to meet other like-minded creative people who wish to develop their own writing skills. Within any writing classes, there will be people attending from a variety of backgrounds and also with a multitude of experience. In addition to learning from a qualified and experienced teacher, the opportunities to forge strong bonds with others who attend the writing classes are an added benefit.

Some writing classes specialise in niche subjects such as article writing or writing fiction for example, whilst other writing classes are more generic and cover an introduction to creative writing in general. If you are seriously considering joining a local class then think about the following:

If you have limited writing experience, it would be worth joining a generic class so that you receive an introduction to the main writing types. If you have a strong leaning towards a certain style of writing such as fiction, then it may be worth focussing all of your learning in that one area. There are often smaller specialist classes available.
Go with an open mind. Even if you have some experience in your chosen field, there will often be much that can be learned or improved.
Writing classes can help reduce any pre-imposed limitations that we may have set upon ourselves. Quite often we feel that we are not good enough or experienced enough to try certain writing topics or we are going to feel inadequate in comparison with others, but a good writing teacher can help to overcome these self –doubts.
Writing classes also provide the opportunity to work closely with other students and because writing can be very lonely and isolating at times, if rapport is built with other writers then this can make it not only more enjoyable but more productive.
Be prepared to receive homework on a regular basis. Classes are likely to be only for a few hours a week so it is important to continue your development whilst at home and in your own time. Having homework provided will promote a greater discipline to your writing in general.

If there are no classes locally to you, then it is worth considering taking an online course, although you do lose having the face to face connection and support with others, the guidance is continuous and the knowledge received is immense and as such, it is a much more positive option to not attending any writing classes at all.