Ink Journey

The Best Piece of Writing Advice...Ever

2011-02-18T16:00:00.000-08:00

As a writer, I've received a lot of writing advice over the years. And, one piece of advice stands out as the all time most valuable advice I've ever received. This piece of advice has come in different forms from a variety of sources, repeatedly for the many years I've been writing. And, they all say the same basic thing; Write a shitty first draft!

Write a shitty first draft. The single best piece of writing advice I've ever received. And this valuable piece of advice has taken years to penetrate my sometimes thick skull. But, several months ago I finally let it sink in and the results have been incredible. Since then "Write a shitty first draft" has become my mantra. I have it posted on a "sticky note" on my desktop so it's the first thing I see when I sit down to write.

Why is this one phrase, among all the other incredible writing advice I've received, the most valuable? Because without it my internal editor is the tyrant who keeps my creativity chained in the basement. Every time that creativity tries to sneak out, my internal editor tightens the chains.

Without giving myself complete permission - I had to go a step further and make it a demand - to write a shitty first draft, my inner critic and editor thinks it's his job to make sure that every sentence, every word I punch out on my keyboard, or scribble down in my notebook makes perfect sense. And that, my friend, limits the likelihood that I will unearth some absolute gems in my writing.

Like me, you may be a bit scared to write a shitty first draft. After all, if you write a shitty first draft there will be parts that are, well, shitty. But that's okay! Because there are also going to be those parts that are buried deep in your creative self that can only surface after and while the shitty stuff is flowing.

When you write a shitty first draft, the object is to get words down on paper as quickly as you can without thinking too much about it. I'm not talking about free writing here, you should be following your subject matter somewhat. And, I'm not saying you shouldn't have an outline. Outlines are great! And they work well with the shitty first draft. But then let your creativity flow wherever it will take you while you're writing. Don't sensor yourself. Put it all down on paper. Remember, you will clean it up later and no one ever has to see it before then.

When you give yourself the freedom to write a shitty first draft you release the shackles from your creativity. Then, you really find out what your inner writer is made of.

Now, go on and try it. Write a shitty first draft! Then come back and tell me what you think.

Dealing with Writer's Block: Back in the Saddle Again

2011-01-18T13:32:00.000-08:00

Hi there, fellow writers!

It's been a long time since I posted. Way too long. And I have no legitimate reason. Oh, I have lots of excuses; had a full time writing job for a couple of years that kept me way too busy to write anything else, my family needed me, my pets needed me, the laundry needed my attention... you know the routine.

But, here's the truth. I neglected any writing that my boss didn't need me to do for the entire time I was working in the "corporate world". Then, after I lost my job last May, due to company lay-offs, I decided to take a break from writing for the summer to "catch my breath". Well...it's January and this is literally the first thing I've written (except FaceBook posts and comments, of course).

You see, what happens when you take an extended time off from writing is that when you want to get back to it you're met with all kinds of internal resistance. You might refer to it as writer's block to the extreme. Think of getting bucked off a horse. Everyone knows you should get right back in the saddle again, otherwise fear will set in and it may take a long time to overcome that fear before you can get back on the horse.

In an attempt to ease back into the proverbial saddle, I started the new year with writing resolutions. I resolved to set aside 5 hours a day to do nothing but write. And I've stuck to my schedule, for the most part. Every day at 10:00 a.m. sharp, I sit my hiney in the chair in front of my computer and I stay there for the duration (with a half hour off for lunch). But, in that time I've been doing everything except writing. I've read through the partially finished middle grade novel I've been working on. I've worked on the outline for it, spent many hours doing more research on various aspects of it, read articles on how I can write faster, write better and write with more voice. I've done everything except write.

So, what am I going to do about it? A very good question and I'm glad you asked. I have a "sticky note" on my computer screen that says, Write a shitty first draft! So that, my friend, is what I vow to do. With everything I write this year, I will start by writing a shitty first draft. Why not? No one will see it but me. And if I give myself permission to write a shitty first draft, I can vomit everything onto the paper without worrying about whether or not it's good enough. I've then given myself the priceless gift of freedom; freedom to create, freedom to write. Freedom from my paralyzing inner critic and editor.

So, there you have it. That's my prescription for combating writer's block this year; Write a shitty first draft! You can spend all the time you need to make it shine later, but get it all down on paper (or your computer screen) first.

That's my plan of attack against my severe case of writer's block.

In the comments section, please share what you do when faced with writer's block.

Feng Shui E-books

2008-08-11T16:16:00.000-07:00

I am proud to announce, on behalf of my husband Gordon Sproul, two new Feng Shui E-books!

Gordon has converted his book, On Higher Ground, into an e-book that is available for instant download on his Feng Shui website, Harmony by Design. This book has previously been available only through his Feng Shui seminars and workshops.

On Higher Ground is a compilation of twenty-one short stories, documenting his struggles and the lessons he learned from them while living in a Feng Shui challenged home. Gordon shares with his readers his personal journey through some very difficult times in his life and how he was able to overcome and grow through the principles of Feng Shui.

Gordon's second e-book, Feng Shui Faux, deals with faux painting with the use of Feng Shui principles. He discusses the different elemental colors and the influences and bearing they have on your home and life. He teaches how to group colors together that provide positive energy, nourishment, and support and how to avoid combining colors that create negative energy and personal strain.

Feng Shui Faux is also available en español.

Both e-books are available on Gordon's website, Harmony by Design.

What's on My Night Stand

2008-07-26T16:33:00.000-07:00

As a writer I'm often asked what I'm currently reading. So, I decided to join the ranks of bloggers who publish an up-to-date list of their current reads.

Here's what's on my night stand, and various other places around the house and office:

How to Get Your Point Across in 30 Seconds or Less by Milo O. Frank

This is an oldie but a goodie. Published in 1986, it's still chocked full of good instruction for making your point, quickly yet unmistakeably, in 30 seconds or less. His advice is good whether you're writing, speaking, or lecturing your teen. Definitely recommended!

Go Put Your Strengths to Work by Marcus Buckingham

Written by the coauthor of the international bestsellers, First, Break All The Rules and Now, Discover Your Strengths, this book offers 6 powerful steps to achieving outstanding work performance.

I've not started reading this one yet, but from what I have read about it, it promises to be a valuable read.

9 Lies That Are Holding Your Business Back . . . and the Truth That Will Set It Free by Steve Chandler & Sam Beckford

Tauted as the "little bible for business people" this book dispels the 9 common beliefs that can make the difference between whether your business is a booming success, or one that disappears into the night. Between Chandler's unparalleled ability to motivate and Beckford's insights into how he became a "small business millionaire," this book will set your brain to perking and motivate you to get out there and do what it takes to make your business a success. Highly recommended for all small business owners!

That's it for the moment folks (at least until my next trip to the book store or local library).

Check out these books and let me know your thoughts.

No Time to Write?

2008-06-03T12:30:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest obstacles writers face is lack of time. Writing takes time and in order to be the writer you dream of, you have to have time to write.

So, with everything else that goes along with a hectic life, where does this time come from? Writers are given the same twenty-four hours in every day that the most successful person on earth is given. The difference lies in what you choose to do with those twenty-four hours. And, yes, it is a choice. No matter how busy your life is, no matter whether you work ten hours each day, six days each week for a demanding boss, or whether you have five kids and a husband who demand every waking moment of your time and energy, if you want to make it as a writer, you HAVE to make time to write. Here's how.

Carving writing time out of an insane schedule

Most writing advice experts try to prod you out of bed an hour earlier each morning, but I'm going to go against the grain and say, "Don’t do it."

I know, it's near sacrilege, but bear with me. If you're like most of the population, you aren't getting enough sleep as it is. So not only will getting up an hour earlier last one or two days - a week at most - but you'll most likely find you don't get much of anything accomplished, save for yawning and prying your chin off your chest every once in a while. Not very productive if you ask me.

My suggestion is to carve writing time out of your daily schedule. Impossible? Let's take a look.

Do you have a J-O-B working for someone else? Are you allowed coffee breaks? A lunch break?

Most businesses allow their employees two fifteen minute "coffee" breaks and at least one half hour lunch break. If you use these times to write (please don't skip lunch, eat while you write), you've just carved an entire hour of writing time out of your schedule.

Now, let's take a look at your after work schedule: How many hours do you spend watching television in the evenings? But . . . you argue, I need to unwind after a hard day. Fine, but by substituting one half hour of television for writing time, you've carved more time into your schedule to reach your writing goals.

How much time do you spend waiting each day? Waiting for an appointment, waiting for your kid to come out of the school, waiting for the takeout pizza, waiting in traffic, waiting, waiting, waiting. Get in the habit of carrying a notebook with you at all times. Whenever you find yourself waiting, start writing. You'll find that you are able to carve another 15, 20, 30 minutes, or more, out of your hectic schedule.

Okay, so you're a stay-at-home mom. Do your kids take naps? Do they have play dates? Do you ever find yourself playing the waiting game?

I know firsthand how hectic a stay-at-home mom's life is. But, truth be told, there are opportunities to carve out time for writing, if you're creative enough and dedicated enough to do it.

While little Junior is napping, grab that much needed cup of chamomile tea and start writing.

Block out a portion of the time little Emily is away for a play date and write.

Mothers wait as much, or more, than anyone, so use the above advice on waiting to carve even more writing time out of your hectic schedule.

Finding time to write is rarely easy. But, if you begin actively searching for opportunities to carve out a little writing time here and there, you'll find that you don't need to give up any of your precious zzzzz's in order to meet your writing goals.

Writers' Groups Part 2: The Dangers of Joining a Writers' Group

2008-05-23T15:14:00.000-07:00

In the first part of this series we looked at the benefits of joining a writers' group. Now, let's look at a few of the dangers.

While the benefits of joining a writers' group far outweigh the dangers, by knowing what those dangers are you will be able to avoid involving yourself in a group that's wrong for you.

Here are some dangers of joining a writers' group that you need to be aware of as you search for a group in your area.

Joining the wrong writers' group

All writers' groups are not created equal. And, joining the wrong one can prove very frustrating, especially for a beginning or struggling writer.

What do I mean by the "wrong" writers' group?

Simply this; if you are writing a novel, find a group for novel writers. If you are a copywriter, join a copywriters' group. If you are a journalist, join a group of other journalists. A poet, join a poets' group.

While joining the wrong writers' group may not be disastrous, you'll get far more out of the experience if you're in a group that shares the same writing trials and triumphs as you do.

Joining a group whose members are too critical

Writing has been described as "opening a vein," and I couldn't agree more. When a writer shares her work with a writers' group, she shares a part of her soul as well.

If the group is vicious (they are out there) and the members seem to get no greater joy than in tearing apart one another’s work, the results can be disastrous.

When a writers' group reads the work of one of the members, the intention should be to give encouragement to that member. Gentle, constructive advice (notice I did not say criticism here) is important and often the very reason you may wish to join a writers' group.

When you find a group, attend a few times before joining and watch how they handle each other's writings. If they are vicious and nitpicky, find another writers' group - and fast.

When looking for the right writers' group for you, do your homework. If you do, I know you'll have many years of enjoyment and support with your writers' group and make some new friends in the process. And, who couldn't do with a few more friends?

Writers’ Groups Part 1: The Benefits of Joining a Writers’ Group

2008-05-22T15:45:00.000-07:00

There are many benefits and a few dangers in joining a writers’ group. In this first part of the series on writers’ groups we'll be taking a look at the benefits. In Writers’ Groups Part 2 we’ll look at a few of the dangers.

Benefits of Joining a Writers’ Group

Most writers, at one time or another, consider joining a writers’ group. To help you with your decision, let’s take a look at some of the benefits.

Interaction with other writers

A writer's life is a lonely one. We sit in solitude day after day, pounding away at the old keyboard and the only interaction we have with a warm blooded creature is when our cats (or dogs for those of you dog people out there) come in to make sure we’re still alive.

Joining a local writers’ group can be a good way to interact with other people. With other writers! These are people who enjoy the same successes and undergo the same challenges that are a writer’s life.

Once you locate a writers’ group you'll want to try it out first to make certain it is a good fit for you. I joined the only local writers’ group in my area a couple of years ago and ended up leaving, discouraged and more than a bit upset.

You can join online writers’ groups, but they lack the personal interaction of belonging to a group of real, breathing human beings with whom you can share a cup of coffee.

Support and encouragement

The second benefit to joining a writers’ group is support and encouragement. Writers need to have a good support network from people who know the difference between monologue and dialogue. People who have “been there and done that” and can give you encouragement when you're going through a challenge.

Although your family may be supportive of what you do and give you all kinds of encouragement, there's just nothing like getting support and encouragement from someone with whom you can identify.

Sounding board for writing ideas

The final benefit (there are many more but this is where I will stop) is being able to pick the group's brains when you get stuck on something. Often, there are many answers but you’re too close to the problem to see them. Tossing your writing problems out to the writers’ group can give you some great ideas to run with when you get home and in front of your computer once again.

A writers’ group provides you with a sounding board for ideas as well. As a writer I’m sure you have many ideas rambling around in your brain and sometimes it's difficult to know whether or not they sound good to anyone other than you. By throwing them out for your writers’ group to mull over, you can get tons of valuable feedback and perhaps seeds for expanding your ideas as well.

It's important for writers to get the support, encouragement and interaction every human being needs. Why not check out writers’ groups in your area?

Writers’ groups; if you don't have one - get one!

Announcing Garden Beautiful!

2008-05-21T14:25:00.000-07:00

I love to write. I love to blog. And, I love to garden. So, it's only fitting that I create a gardening blog, right? Right!

So, without further ado . . . I'm proud to announce the birth of Garden Beautiful!

This is a blog dedicated to everything beautiful in gardening (and the not-so-beautiful things that must be done for beautiful results).

Please take some time to visit and subscribe to Garden Beautiful. You'll be glad you did!

And, please, leave your comments! As with all my blogs, I highly welcome comments with suggestions for future posts, as well as your own similar gardening experiences.

The Decline of Writing Skills in Corporate America: How does it affect copywriters?

2008-05-20T11:29:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Peter Bowerman's newest post on The Well Fed Writer's Blog.

What a great post! If you haven't read it, it's worth taking a moment to check it out.

In my daily reading and research on the internet, and to a lesser degree in print, I come across a staggering amount of, shall I say, downright "crappy" writing. This is not only true of small or mediocre websites and businesses, but of many high profile, corporate businesses as well.

So, what's with all the "crappy" writing?

As reported in Bowerman's post, in a December 2004 New York Times article, “What Corporate America Can’t Build: A Sentence,” Dr. R. Craig Hogan, former teacher of composition at Illinois State University and founder of an online Business Writing Center, blames this decline of writing abilities on e-mail, stating, “E-mail is a party to which English teachers have not been invited. It has companies tearing their hair out."

Dr. Hogan goes on to say at the end of the article, "E-mail has just erupted like a weed, and instead of considering what to say when they write, people now just let thoughts drool out onto the screen. It has companies at their wits' end."

But e-mail is not the only culprit; the current texting craze has only served to exacerbate the problem. America's teens use "text-talk" as they communicate non-stop with their peers via cell phone. Educators just can't compete with this constant bombardment of bad writing habits.

The teenagers of today are the people who will represent tomorrow's Corporate America.

So, what does this mean to copywriters who not only know how to write competently, but who do so on a regular, professional basis?

Peter Bowerman has this to say, “. . . when a company that wants to stay competitive knows that its people can’t write to the required level to maintain that competitiveness, chances are good they’ll turn to those who can. I’ve said this forever: writing skills suck in the business world, and that can only bode well for those of us who have the skills. "

While the future of writing skills in America appears bleak, it seems this is a prime opportunity for skilled writers to make themselves invaluable to Corporate America.

Instant Inspiration!

2008-05-19T13:42:00.000-07:00

Inspiration is what we creative types thrive on. When we're inspired, all is right with our world. When we're inspired, we can sit at the computer or with a notebook in our laps and write for hours. When we're inspired, we're one with our creative sides and everything flows effortlessly.

So, how do you call on that precious inspiration whenever you need it? By recognizing what it is that inspires you the most and learning to recall the feelings associated with it. There may be many things that inspire you, or one single thing.

When you recognizing what inspires you, you can learn to call on that inspiration whenever you need to.

Vehicles of inspiration

Everyone has something that inspires them. Some are inspired by poetry. Others by music. And still others by books. Here's a list of some of the things that have been known to lend inspiration to writers:

· Poetry
· Music
· Books
· Movies
· Writings similar to that of their own
· Work of a competitor
· Books about writing
· Long walks
· Exercise

These are only a few examples, it's entirely possible that the thing that inspires you most isn't even on this list, and that's perfectly okay.

Maybe you're uncertain of exactly what inspires you. If you don't know what inspires you, how can you possibly learn to call on it whenever you need inspiration? So, let's take a moment to discover what inspires you.

Finding your inspiration

If you've been alive for very long -- and I'm assuming since you're reading this, you've been alive long enough -- you've felt what it is to be inspired.

Have you ever read a novel and thought as you were reading, I could write like this? And, when you finished, you couldn't wait to sit down and start pounding away on the keyboard? That's inspiration.

Have you ever watched a movie and found yourself fantasizing about writing a movie script of your own that was just as good, or most likely, even better? And, you got so excited about your fantasy that you could practically see the finished script in your hands? That's inspiration.

As you go about your daily activities, begin to pay attention to these types of feelings. Notice the things you see, or hear, or do that leave you feeling like you could write your masterpiece. Whenever you notice something that gives you this feeling, write it down. Write down exactly what you were reading, or watching, or hearing, or doing. Write down the way it made you feel. Write down any specific details regarding visualizations you had while you were inspired.

Try to get these things down on paper as soon as you possibly can, while they are fresh in your mind and you are still highly inspired.

Inspiration when you need it

Now that you've written down the details of your inspiration and your feelings associated with it, you have a powerful tool at your disposal.

You can, of course, simply repeat the activity you were doing when you were inspired; re-watch the movie, re-read the book, listen to the music. But, this is not always convenient and sometimes downright impossible to do when you need it most. So, instead, you turn to your notes.

Take few moments to sit quietly and read through the notes you made when you were deeply inspired. Let your mind recall your thoughts and your feelings. Re-visualize the daydreams and fantasies you had while you were inspired. Allow yourself to feel the inspiration, let it flow through your body with the same power it had when you first felt it.

Now, you're inspired. And, now, you can write with passion and conviction.

Use this method whenever you need inspiration and soon you'll find that no matter what the circumstances, you can draw from a well of inspiration that will give you more creativity than you ever dreamed possible.

A Course Review for Angela Booth's, Sell Your Writing Online Now, Writing Course

2008-05-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

Five weeks ago, I started a yearlong web writing course that I just have to tell you about. It's Angela Booth's Sell Your Writing Online Now (SYWON) course.

Angela Booth is a veteran writer with more than twenty years experience. Through her course she offers advice, detailed how-to information, and inspiration. Plus, Angela makes herself available for personal guidance the entire time you're taking the course. I've taken other courses of hers and any time I have a question or concern, I never have to wait long for a response from Angela, often not even waiting as long as an hour.

Here are a few valuable tidbits I've already gleaned from the SYWON course.

Fast, easy ways to write articles and how to use those articles

I've focused on article writing many times before, even participating in article marketing challenges, but Angela's tips on how to create your own article templates and write articles fast has given me the most benefit of anything I've tried so far.

Since beginning the SYWON course, I'm now well on my way to a lucrative income from PLR article packages, something that I've thought about doing in the past but never quite got started. Angela makes it easy by giving detailed instructions, encouragement, and even bonus information.

How to never run out of article ideas

Angela has provided many ways, in these first few weeks, to ensure that I never run out of article ideas. I've read tips and tricks for generating article ideas before, but they just never seemed to work for me. These do, or at least they have so far. I'll let you know if that changes. : - )

Blogs, how to generate lots and lots of content

As you can tell by glancing at my previous posting records, I've had a difficult time consistently posting to my blogs. There are a few reasons for this, but the most dominating one is that I’ve had a hard time justifying the time it takes to post to my blogs when I need to be making money with my writing time. Not anymore. Oh, I still need to make money writing, but not only has Angela's SYWON course shown me how to write faster, it’s also taught me the many values of my own blogs, including monetary ones, as well as how to generate lots and lots of content for them. And, maybe even attract a new blogging client or two.

So, would I recommend Angela Booth's course, Sell Your Writing Online Now (SYWON)?

Absolutely!

Get Blog Traffic: 5 Easy Ways To Promote Your Blog

2008-05-09T17:01:00.000-07:00

by Angela Booth

Every blogger wants one thing: to be read. My hunch is that of all the millions of bloggers who try blogging, and give it up, most give up because they can’t find readers. They feel that if they can’t get traffic to their blog, what’s the point?

If you’re in this position, DON’T give up. Keep blogging. It’s easy to get traffic and loyal readers.

Here are five ways to get traffic. All the methods work together, but Method 5 is the most important. The more of these methods you use, the more traffic you will get.

=> Method 1: Maximize the built-in RSS features of your blog

Your blog comes with built-in RSS (Really Simple Syndication). This means that it’s easy for others not only to subscribe to your blog, but also to syndicate links to your latest blog postings on their own sites.

You can make your RSS feeds (news feeds) a lot more effective by adding additional functionality to them, for free, at the FeedBurner Web site. FeebBurner will burn your feeds with components which make it easier for other blogs and sites to link to you.

=> Method 2: Get a link from another Web site

The search engine spiders (indexers) navigate around the Web using links. This means that the more links to your site, the easier you make their job. Get at least one link from another site to your new blog. Our next three methods make getting links easy.

=> Method 3: Write a couple of articles

Every Web site and every blog is hungry for content. If you set out to deliver content, you can’t go wrong. You’ll get lots of traffic every day, and the traffic flood will start as soon as you post your first article.

There are many sites which accept articles. Webmasters search these sites looking for content for their sites. Aim to write at least an article a week to build the links to your blog.

=> Method 4: Leave comments on others’ blogs

A blog is a conversation. If you agree with an item on someone’s blog, or have an additional insight, leave a comment. Since commenters are asked to leave a Web URL, and their email address, this gives you a link back to your site.

Note: this doesn’t always work to get you a link, for various reasons, BUT it’s still a way for other bloggers to realize that you exist, and perhaps to link to you.

When you leave a comment, make the comment count — don’t just write: “I agree”. Write “I agree, because the same thing happened to me when (tell the story here).” All bloggers need content, and when you provide them with content, they will repay you — usually with a link.

=> Method 5: Blog! The more content, the more visitors

A couple of months ago, I started an experiment to see whether a new blog that I developed could get some traffic, completely on its own. I did nothing to promote the blog, I just wrote content, posting to the blog two times a week.

Would the blog get traffic, I wondered? How much traffic? Amazingly, this little blog that I’ve done nothing to promote — other than create content for it — gets 50 unique visitors a day after a few weeks.

Content is the most vital aspect of blogging — without regular posting to your blog, there’s nothing for your visitors to see or to read. Of course, you don’t have to WRITE content. You can create a photo blog, or a podcast (an audio) blog, or even a vlog (a video blog). The more content you create, the more traffic you will get.

Good luck. Try these five methods — you’ll get traffic beyond your dreams before you know it.

Would you like to republish this article? You can, just add the following, and ensure that the hyperlink is clickable. Thank you!

(c) 2006, Angela Booth. All Rights Reserved.Angela Booth is a copywriter and veteran career blogger. Her new ebook, Blogging for Dollars, helps you develop a lucrative blogging career, and gets you started as a blogging entrepreneur. The ebook will be available from August 2006. Read the book’s blog at http://www.dollars2blog.com/blog/

Are You a Writer?

2008-05-07T13:01:00.000-07:00

Writers are notorious for struggling with the question of whether or not they are truly writers. Most feel that in order to be deemed a writer they must first be published. So, when someone asks this poor soul what he does, he feels unable to say with confidence, "I'm a writer."

Let’s look at what it means to be a "real" writer. There really are only two requirements to being a writer.

#1: A passion for writing.

In order to be a writer, you must have a passion for writing. Oh, I'm sure this could be an arguing point, and there is undoubtedly someone out there who would say, "I know so-and-so writes for a living, and he hates it." But, here's the catch, if so-and-so isn't passionate about writing, he's not a "real" writer. I know some individuals who can sketch a pretty good drawing, but they don't enjoy art, therefore, they are not true artists. A true artist's passion shows in his work, just as a true writer's passion shows in the writing he does.

Writing is creating, and anything that is created must be created with passion in order to be superb. Without passion, writing is nothing more than words on paper; words without feeling, without life, flat, dull and uninspiring. A true writer, one who's passionate about writing, can make his words leap from the page, filling them with feeling and bringing them to life for the reader.

If you have a passion for writing, you are a writer.

#2: A burning desire to write.

"Real" writers also have a burning desire to write. This desire is more than just feeling that they should write, it's a deep, nagging ache in their very souls, which is only soothed when they are writing.

Now, don't get me wrong, there are times when every "real" writer wants nothing more than to take a hiatus from writing, and the mere thought of sitting in front of the computer, or with a notebook in his lap, makes him cringe. But that's true of every profession. There are days when you just don't feel like working, days when you just don't think you can pound out a single word and don't know if you will ever be able to again. But, for the "real" writer, this is a temporary feeling.

When I go for more than a single day without writing, I get a knot in the pit of my stomach and a gnawing in my soul. It feels similar to the mother of all anxiety attacks. Often times, when I've gone too long without writing, my burning desire to write wakes me in the middle of the night, demanding that I get out of bed and write.

If you have a burning desire to write, you are a writer.

Being a real writer doesn't necessarily mean you've had a single word published (though these days getting published on the web can be as simple as writing a blog of your own). Being a real writer means you have passion and a burning desire to write. And, of course, that you succumb to that desire and write.

If this describes you, then the next time someone asks what you do, stand proud and say with confidence, "I'm a writer."

A Place to Write

2008-05-05T17:51:00.000-07:00

As a full time freelance writer, I have a home office where I do the majority of my writing. The same can be said of many other freelance writers. However, you don't have to have an office in order to write. In truth, being a writer only requires one thing; to write.

Many writing instructors insist it's imperative that in order to be a "real" writer you must find a place in your home where you can write comfortably and designate it as your "writing area". This area can be any spot in your house that is dedicated solely to your writing and does not have to be an office, but must be used for no other purpose than as your writing area. And on some points I agree.

When you have a designated place in which to call your writing area, every time you sit in that area you program your mind to get into writing mode. This is a very good thing. By programming your mind in this way, you make it easier to get to work whenever you sit down to write.

Not only that but having a place that's designated as your writing area means you don't have to gather your materials together every time you get ready to write. A big time waster. Instead, you simply sit down and get started.

However, having a writing area is not critical to being a writer. And, your writing area does not have to be in your home. Many writers have penned their stories while sitting in a local café, or their neighborhood Starbucks and many more have written novels while commuting to and from their day jobs (not while doing the driving themselves of course). And many an article, or news story, has been written while flying from one destination to another.

Sure, having a designated writing area in your home is a tremendous benefit, but not everyone does and not everyone can. Don't let the lack of a writing area stop you from writing. Writing can be done anywhere, at any time, with anything.

Top 10 Writing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them: Mistake # 1

2008-02-25T15:29:00.000-08:00

Warming up.

Writing isn't a sport. There's no need, and actually, no tolerance for a warm up. Your readers do not need to be prepared to read; they're there, they have your words in hand, or on screen, and they're ready to read.

If you try to ease a reader into your writing by warming him up to it, you will losing that reader.

Instead, don't waste time -- jump right into the middle of the action. Drop your reader smack-dab into the middle of the fire.

Don't bore him with the hows and the whys, not yet. Grab him by the eyeballs and don't let go, not until he's hooked. Then, when you've got his attention you can slow down the pace -- slightly . . . only slightly, and give him the juicy details.

So, to recap: attention grabbing action first, followed by juicy details.

Begin your writing in this way and your readers will be captivated -- no matter what you're writing about.

Don't Think About It; Just Do It!

2008-02-21T10:33:00.000-08:00

Have you ever read the book, Women Who Think Too Much: How to Break Free of Overthinking and Reclaim Your Life by Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, Ph.D.?

I have to admit, I checked it out from the library once. I thought about reading it for the entire 6 weeks I had it (I renewed it once). Thought about it but never quite got around to it. I think someday soon I'll check it out again, maybe read it this time.

It's a book about, you guessed it, women who think too much and the crippling effects it can have on their lives. I'm one of those women.

I overthink everything and as a result, know first hand how dangerous overthinking can be to yourself, your family, your career, your life.

All my overthinking had nearly paralyzed me, as far as my writing career goes anyway, until a couple of days ago. A fellow writer gave me a virtual slap (from across the world no less) followed by some of the best advice of my writing life: "Don't think about it; just do it!" she said.

This priceless phrase has become my mantra. It has gotten me past the paralysis that comes from overthinking. In the past few days I've not only learned to walk again, but I've hit the ground running.

Don't think about it; just DO it!

Giving Thanks to the Big Bad Wolf

2008-02-15T12:26:00.000-08:00

We’ve taken a look at the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, now let’s look at the Big Bad Wolf.

The Big Bad Wolf, though frightening, is not nearly as dangerous as the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. He’s open and honest about his intentions of being a bad guy. He says over and over in the story, “Little pig, little pig, let me come in.” And when the little pigs each respond with, “No, no, not by the hair of my chinny chin chin”, he tells them exactly what he intends to do in order to eat them, “Then I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house in.”

The little pigs know he’s dangerous from the get go and therefore they have a choice; they can find a way to protect themselves or they can run away.

In the world of writing, the Big Bad Wolf is the business who is upfront about wanting a writer who will work for free or for peanuts. These offers usually come with such enticing phrases as, “build your reputation as a writer”, “add to your writing credits”, “become a published writer”, or my personal favorite, “we’re a start-up company and don’t have the money to pay writers yet, but we plan to in the near future”.

To his credit, Mr. Big Bad is honest about what he’s after and he offers a choice; either let him in and take your chances or run away and build a better defense for the next time he comes knocking.

Having dealt with both Mr. Big Bad and Mr. Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, I want to say, “Thank you, Mr. Big Bad Wolf for being the open, honest guy you are and giving all of us the opportunity to run away.”

Click here to read a version of the three little pigs http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0124.html#halliwell

Beware of the Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

2008-02-15T11:38:00.000-08:00

Most of us are familiar with the story of the Big Bad Wolf. We grew up knowing that he’s dangerous and we’re on the lookout for him. But, there’s a wolf out there that’s far more dangerous and as writers we need to be on the alert.

I’m talking about the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. In Aesop’s famous fable, this wolf disguises himself as a harmless sheep, but worse yet, he disguises himself as someone to be trusted; a mother sheep. Then, he lures a trusting lamb to her death.

His intentions are hidden and only when the lamb follows him does he strike, taking her completely off guard. At that point it’s too late for the lamb to mount a defense or to run away. She’s been had; she’s dinner for the hungry wolf.

As in every area of life, the writing world has its share of wolves. The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing is the person or company who offers writers (usually writers at the beginning of their careers) an opportunity that’s too good to pass up, promising them the world and great success. This wolf leads an unsuspecting writer along, trusting and unaware of the imminent dangers, often ignoring the warning bells going off in the far corners of her mind.

Then one day, when Mr. Wolf has gained enough trust to have gotten something of value from the unsuspecting writer, he strikes. And though the writer gets away (I’ve never heard of a client eating a writer), it’s not without being wounded, sometimes fatally.

So bear in mind, when something appears too good to be true, you just might be being enticed by the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing.

Click here to read Aesop’s fable, The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
http://www.literatureclassics.com/etexts/285/1043/

Letter Writing – A thing of the past?

2008-01-25T21:16:00.000-08:00

Remember when checking the mail was fun? You never knew what might be waiting inside that little box; there was probably a sweepstakes entry or two, there could be a card from Aunt Mildred, and there just might be a nice, long, handwritten letter from a dear friend.

Remember how it felt to see the familiar handwriting scrawled across the envelope, addressing its contents to you? Did you rush inside, spill the rest of the mail onto the counter and bludgeon yourself with the letter opener in your hurry to read it? Or, did you rip it open on the spot, devouring every word as you stood in front of the mailbox, the rest of the mail momentarily forgotten?

Perhaps, if you’re young, you’ve never experienced the excitement of receiving a letter from a dear friend or loved one. You don’t realize then, the difference a handwritten letter, mixed in amongst the bills, can make in someone’s day.

You’ve never experienced the personal sentiment attached to that envelope; the warmth, the love, the feeling that someone cares enough to take time out of his life to sit and write a letter to you.

What if we could reintroduce our nation to the pleasure of a simple trip to the mailbox? Think of how wonderful it would be to extend those warm feelings to the people you care about.

There is an organization in Minneapolis, MN, who’s doing exactly that. They’re called Elphos.org.

Elphos, a Not for Profit Organization, is working to rekindle the lost art of letter writing.

Their website, http://www.elphos.org, is dedicated to encouraging the distribution of hope, appreciation and happiness through handwritten letters.

Letter writers are encouraged to download Elphos’ letterhead – free of charge – to write their letters on. This will help circulate the word about Elphos and their mission to spread hope, one letter at a time.

Don’t know what to write about? The Elphos.org website contains a list of possible letter writing topics to get you started.

Don’t know who to write to? You’ll also find a list of people who would love to receive a letter of hope from someone – why not make it you?
(And, if you’d like to see a handwritten letter amongst your bills the next time you check your mailbox, feel free to add your name to the list.)

I’m not going to unveil all the surprises tucked away at the Elphos.org website, so you’ll have to check it out for yourself.

Help keep the tradition of letter writing alive. Stop by the Elphos website today and write a letter of hope to someone special. You’ll be glad you did.

http://www.elphos.org

Overcoming Writer's Block: The Secret to Beating Writer's Block for Good

2008-01-24T11:32:00.000-08:00

“I’m writing a book!”

My family has heard this line numerous times before. Oh, but this one’s going to be a masterpiece.

Full of excitement and enthusiasm, I sit down to write my book. Words appear on the page as if by magic. This will be the book I actually finish. This will be the book that lands me a spot on Oprah!

There’s a funny thing that happens to writers. By funny, I don’t mean gut-busting, ha-ha funny. I mean, tear your hair out by the roots, rip your clothes from your body and run naked down the street, screaming hysterically, funny.

No, this “funny” thing that happens to writers isn’t really funny at all. In fact it can be downright horrible. And every writer who’s ever been there knows exactly what it’s like; it’s the Titanic on her maiden voyage, hitting an iceberg and sinking to the bottom of the ocean.

Everything is going along smoothly, the writing is flowing unhindered onto the page, the ideas are flooding your mind, fighting for their turn to surface. When, one day you sit down to work on your beloved book and. . . Nothing. You sit there, staring at the blank page and all you can see is a gigantic, icy wall.

You’ve hit a major road block, known to most as “writer’s block.”

So, what do you do about it?

You avoid writing. You put it off. You procrastinate.

I believe that procrastination is a prerequisite to being a writer. When we’re created, the universe looks upon us and says, “Yes, this one will be a writer. Give her an abundance of procrastination and only a dash of self discipline.”

Every writer I know and the majority of those I don’t know suffer from such dealings from the universe.

We write when we feel inspired and the words flow effortlessly onto the page. But, when inspiration leaves and we require a surgical instrument to extract the words from our brains, our lives suddenly become much too busy to find time to write.

So, how do you keep your masterpiece from sinking into the abyss, while remaining sanely clothed with a full head of hair (that’s assuming you started with hair in the first place)?

The answer is simple.

WRITE.

Okay, so it only sounds simple. The fact is, when a writer gets to that hair rending, clothes shredding, Titanic sinking point, writing can be akin to having a root canal – you know you need to do it but the mere thought of sitting in the chair and facing it causes panic to rise like bile in your throat.

Sit in the chair anyway. Do it.

Sit in the chair and write. Write crap. Write dribble. Write earth shaking prose. What you write isn’t important. What is important is that you write your way through the road block and come out on the other side.

And, just as with a root canal, if you force yourself to sit in that chair, before you know it, it’s finished. You’re past the pain. You’re on the other side looking back and thinking – now that wasn’t so bad!

Replace Your New Year's Resolutions

2008-01-02T14:50:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Yes, it's that time of year again. Time to sharpen your pencil, do some soul searching and write your New Year's resolutions.

Or, is it?

It seems that more and more people are ditching the age old tradition of making another year's worth of unattainable resolutions. And for good reason; more often than not those resolutions only amount to yet another reason to really tie one on next New Year's eve, as you reflect on the list of goals you didn't reach.

So, here's my solution to unattainable New Year's resolutions; replace them with Positive Life Affirmations.

What's the difference, you ask? The key to an affirmation is to say it as though it has already happened, rather than as something you're reaching for. This subtle but significant change is powerpacked.

Repeating daily affirmations as though you have already achieved them switches your mind's energy from wishing it were true to accepting that it is true. And your mind, being mysterious and powerful as it is, accommodates it in ways you may fail to comprehend.

Sounds mystical and maybe it is, but my challenge to you for 2008 is this; replace your New Year's resolutions with Positive Life Affirmations. Be diligent in repeating your affirmations every day and New Year's eve 2008 you'll raise a glass and toast all your accomplishments.

Try it!

For more information on affirmations visit http://www.bodymindspirithealth.blogspot.com/

What’s Missing in Your Writing? The Answer: FUN!

2007-12-13T14:26:00.000-08:00

5 tips to help you rediscover the fun of writing.

I spend a lot of time in my career focusing on the fundamental elements of writing, but it was recently brought to my attention that I spend hardly any time focusing on the most important one – writing is fun.

As a professional writer this is one element I often struggle with, as do many writers. You know how it goes... you head into a writing project filled with enthusiasm and the words flow unhindered – you’re having fun and all is right with the world. Then, after oh, say, the first paragraph your writing begins to slow, doubts start creeping around the edge of your thoughts, throwing little darts in here and there, chipping away at your joy, demanding to be heard. Or, somewhere part way into the piece, you just plain, out-and-out become bored.

Writing shouldn’t be such a struggle. And it should never, ever have to be equated to – I don’t know – a root canal. Though that seems to be precisely what happens for many writers, and by writers I’m talking about anyone who writes, for whatever reason.

Writing is a form of communication, much like talking, and thinking of it as talking on paper can help make writing fun. The best writing is conversational and the best conversation is both informational and fun.

No one likes boring conversation and likewise, no one likes to read boring material. So, take heed; if you’re bored with what you’re writing, your readers will be bored with it as well. But not only that, if you’re bored with your writing, you may be well on your way to experiencing burn out, if you’re not there already.

If you write as a career, or even as a hobby, chances are writing was once fun for you. Take steps now to rediscover that fun side of writing. In fact, consider it nothing less than crucial.

How can you rediscover the fun of writing? You can start by practicing the following hints.

5 helpful hints for rediscovering the fun in writing:

· Make a list of all the things you enjoy writing about and write about them whenever you can, even if it’s only for a few minutes at a time.
· Start every writing session with five minutes of timed free-writing. By which I mean; write everything that comes to mind without stopping for the entire five minutes.
· Find which writing tools you’re most comfortable with and use them. Some writers are more comfortable writing with pen and paper, others write best by plunking away at the keyboard. Whatever method you prefer, use it; you can type it up later.
· Make your writing environment as comfortable as possible. I understand that some of you must do your writing in a cubicle, but even a cubicle can be made somewhat more comfortable; meaningful pictures, cheery plants, wrist rests for you keyboard and mouse, comfortable dress (as comfortable as company policy allows anyway), etc.
· Write without editing. Turn off that infernal know-it-all editor in your head, the one who likes nothing more than to stifle your creativity and fun by nitpicking and criticizing, and just write. Write with abandon... and have fun doing it! Push your internal editor into the deepest, darkest closet in your brain and don’t let her out until it’s time – after you’ve had fun writing your first draft.

Put these tips into practice and before you know it, you’ll be having so much fun writing you’ll begin to wonder if it’s legal...or moral...or right. And what’s more; your writing will shine and your readers will thank you.

Keeping the Pace

2007-12-03T14:22:00.000-08:00

As a writer and prolific reader, I’ve noticed that one of the downfalls of many great novels, or other pieces of writing, is pace.

Pace can be a difficult aspect for any writer to master. I am witness to a prime example of this in a novel I’m currently reading. While the writer sets a relatively quick pace throughout the book – similar to speeding along a highway at 60mph – he occasionally slams on the brakes, causing his readers need to recover from many an unexpected sideways skid before they can resume their forward momentum.

He accomplishes this in two ways: 1) by adding too much description, in the wrong places, 2) by describing unimportant elements.

Once upon a time, readers enjoyed having every nuance of setting laid out in detail for them to painstakingly read. In today’s world where everything is done at a brake-neck pace, most readers have neither the time nor the tolerance for this.

Keep in mind that while details are essential to great writing, too many can ruin a masterpiece. As with a savory recipe, sprinkling in just the right amounts will bring out the mouthwatering flavor and leave the reader with feelings of fulfillment and awe.

So while you, the writer, may enjoy revealing pieces of trivia, history and all the minute details about the passing scenery as your character drives from one point to another, the majority of readers won’t appreciate the mental whiplash from repeatedly slamming on the brakes throughout your novel (granted there will be the occasional reader who will find these tidbits interesting). Not only are you wasting the time of the majority of your readers, but your own time as well, as these are the parts of your writing that those dear readers will skip over, seeking out the place where you regain your speed, and the pace continues.

Not all writing needs a break neck pace, nor would all readers tolerate it. The key is to establish the appropriate pace in the beginning and keep it consistent throughout. With that being said, sending your readers careening through your novel at constant top speeds can be dangerous. Be kind and slow down a bit every once in a while to let them catch their breath. But slow down gently, pushing lightly on the brakes for a bit rather than stomping on them all of a sudden. The slight variance of pace will be a welcome reprieve and will keep your readers from arriving at the end white knuckled, grey haired and panting, happy to be finished.

Take the time to become a master of keeping the pace and your readers will not only thank you but will look forward to joining you on your next adventure.

NaNoWriMo Anyone?

2007-10-26T11:55:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow writers, and aspiring writers!

It's that time of year again. Rev up your pencils, or your keyboard as the case may be, and get ready to write because National Novel Writing Month is almost upon us. Yippie! Hooray! Woohoo!

For those of you who don't know what National Novel Writing Month is (or NaNoWriMo as it's commonly known) it's, well, national -- novel -- writing -- month. But seriously, it's an entire month set aside to inspire writers, and wanna be writers, to buckle down and *gasp* write.

The goal is to write 50,000 words between November 1st and midnight on November 30th. And the best part; word count is all that's required in order to win. So who's a winner? Anyone who reaches the 50,000 word goal by the deadline. But that means, you got it, everything written on your novel counts; dribble, rambling, crap, and literary brilliance alike. Just throw it all together in what's known as a rough draft and as long as you reach the required word count by the deadline, you're a winner!

Sound easy? Don't count on it. One of the nasty demons possessing us writers is procrastination (among others). We all know there's a least a zillion things that have to be done before we can sit down to write. I mean, just look at that pile of laundry waiting to be folded, the rug that needs vacuuming, and the bathroom that needs cleaning, oh, and I can't write without a cup of fresh coffee, a dust free keyboard, checking my email, perusing the forums, and good golly is that a smudge on my monitor?

So, if you're among those of us who just might benefit from the support, (and pressure) of having tens of thousands of other writers striving for the same goal, at the same time, then NaNoWriMo might be exactly what you need. But hurry, although you can join at any time during November, every day you don't sign up is a day lost. You can find out more about the creative insanity by clicking here http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/whatisnano.

And if this is not something that you deem as your idea of a fun time but want to keep tabs on how your favorite writer is doing, you can visit the NaNoWriMo website at http://www.nanowrimo.org/.

If you want to check out how my novel is progressing please visit my author's page at http://www.nanowrimo.org/user/118355.

I would love to hear from those of you who will be joining me in this year's NaNoWriMo, so please leave a comment with your info and let's support each other.

Happy writing!

What's new?

2007-10-11T15:48:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to take a moment to let you know about the new page I've added to The Creative Quill. I'm very excited to add article writing to the list of writing services I currently offer.

Please take a moment to check it out. Even if you don't need my services, please pass my name or link to anyone you know who does.

Click here to view The Creative Quill's new addition.

Abstract or Specific?

2007-08-07T14:59:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while when I'm reading I will come across an author whose writing is weak as a result of using too many abstracts. I'll give you an example.

I watched as the kid picked up a rock and threw it at the dog. Satisfied she sat in the shade of a nearby tree.

This passage may seem extreme, but many beginning writers have such a fear of being specific that they border on the extreme.

Here is the same passage, now much more vivid through the use of concrete, specific words rather than abstract.

I watched as the girl picked up a pebble and flung it at the yapping poodle. Satisfied, she flopped down in the shade of a nearby oak.

See how the use of specific words help paint a mental picture? But, why is this so? When a writer uses abstract words in his writing he is not abiding by the rule; "don't tell them, show them."

The simple sentence, The tree fell, tells us what happened but fails to show us. The redwood crashed to the ground, however, creates a vivid mental image and shows your readers what you want them to see.

One simple way to practice vivid writing is to write to the senses. What does it look like? Taste like? Smell like? Sound like? Feel like? Remember, sight is not the only sense we can use when trying to paint vivid mental images for our readers. Smell is a very powerful sense in writing as well as in life. A large number of our memories are based on smell. When you remember being hugged by a grandparent, it's usually his or her smell that is dominant in your memory. Use this to your advantage when writing.

Another arguement for the use of specific over abstract is to the point of clarity. Using specific words defines your writing and leaves little room for misinterpretation. The use of abstract language has long been a tool of politicians as a way of obscuring their true meaning.

So, as you look over your writing, look for areas that are abstract and rewrite them, using concrete, specific words that create a vivid mental image in the mind of your reader.

Freelance Writers - Three Simple Writing Mistakes To Avoid

2007-06-04T11:24:00.000-07:00

by Suzanne Lieurance

A few simple writing mistakes can often make the difference between a very good manuscript and a not-so-good one that is rejected by publishers.

Below are just three of the most common mistakes I see day after day as a writing instructor and writing coach:

1) Overuse of participle phrases to begin a sentence. A participle phrase usually begins with a word that ends in the letters "ing." There is nothing wrong with beginning a sentence with a participle phrase. But when you do it too often, it begins to draw attention to itself and distract the reader from the action of the story.

Like this:

Reaching behind her, Mary grabbed her backpack and ran straight for the woods. Pushing branches and tangled vines out of her way, she was able to find the foot path. But a snake was stretched out across it. Turning around quickly and searching for another way through the forest, she suddenly heard someone call out her name.

Notice how clunky that sounds.

When you finish writing a story, go back over it and circle all the sentences that begin with a participle phrase. If you have several of these phrases on each and every page, change most of them.

Like this:

Mary reached behind her and grabbed her backpack, then she ran straight for the woods. She pushed branches and tangled vines out of her way until she was able to find the foot path. But a snake was stretched out across it, so she turned quickly and searched for another way through the forest. Suddenly, she heard someone call out her name.

2) Dislocating or projecting body parts. Yes, many writers actually do this in their stories. The most common example of this is when characters' eyes leave their bodies.

Here’s what I mean:

I was angry at my brother. I shot my eyes across the room at him and gave him a dirty look.

Yikes! Was the poor brother left holding those eyeballs, or were they just stuck on the front of his shirt or something?

3) Dialogue that is punctuated incorrectly. The most common example is when characters laugh words. They simply can’t do this.

Try it yourself. Can you laugh and speak at the same time? Not really. Yet, when you use a comma to separate the dialogue tag from the dialogue itself, you are indicating the words were laughed.

Here’s an example:

"I'd never try that in a million years," laughed Denise.

To avoid this mistake, simply use a period after the dialogue, creating two separate sentences.

Like this:

"I'd never try that in a million years." Denise laughed.

As you can see, these common mistakes are easy to correct, but now that you're aware of them, try to avoid making them in the first place and you'll be a much stronger writer immediately.

For more writing tips visit http://www.workingwriterscoach.com/ or http://www.the-working-writers-coach.blogspot.com/ and also sign up to get Suzanne Lieurance's two free ebooks for writers. If you'd like to learn more about writing for children, visit the National Writing for Children Center at http://www.writingforchildrencenter.com/ and find out how to join the Children's Writers Coaching Club.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suzanne_Lieurance http://EzineArticles.com/?Freelance-Writers---Three-Simple-Writing-Mistakes-To-Avoid&id=512657

Create a Strong Internet Identity with an E-Zine

2007-05-31T16:26:00.000-07:00

With today's world being more competitive than ever and nearly every business being promoted on the Internet, it's all the more difficult to stand out and get noticed. What's a business owner to do?

Have you thought about publishing an E-Zine for your business? If not, maybe you should. An ezine can be a great benefit to your company, helping position you right where you want to be in today's computerized world of business. Here are some points for you to consider:

Customer Service -- When you provide your current or potential customers with an ezine full of useful information, delivered directly into their inbox, you are providing them with customer service that is above and beyond the call of duty. This will stick in your customers minds and they will think even more of your company than they initially did. This leads to my next point.
Customer Relationships -- As your ezine arrives in their inbox week after week, month after month your customers will begin to feel they know your company more intimately. This builds strong customer relationships and customer loyalty. And as we all know, these two items are what repeat business is built from.
Visibility -- A lot of business, repeat or not, is obtained by being in the right place at the right time. Or, if you will, being the first one to pop into your customer's mind when he needs one of whatever it is you sell. The chances of this happening are increased dramatically when that customer is receiving an ezine from you on a regular basis.
Name Recognition -- An ezine is a wonderful tool for building name recognition. Picture this: Mrs. Smith is sitting at the local cafe with a friend when that friend brings up the name of your company. "Oh, I've heard of them!" she exclaims, "My cousin, Joan, forwarded an issue of their ezine to me last week. I liked it so much I decided to subscribe. Is that who you're going with for your ___?"

I've listed only a few of the benefits to publishing an ezine. I'm sure when you decide to do it for your company you'll discover many more. One word of caution however, when you do decide to publish an ezine make sure it is professionally written and handled. As much as a good ezine can benefit your company, a bad one can surely damage it.

Whether you're a multinational conglomerate or a mom and pop operation, publishing a professional ezine for your business can help you create the strong Internet identity you need in order to stand out from the competition.

Check out these links for articles I've written on the subject of ezines.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Starting-an-E-Zine---5-Questions-to-Ask-when-Deciding-Whether-Publishing-an-E-Zine-is-Right-for-You&id=578371

http://ezinearticles.com/?Start-Your-E-Zine-Right---5-Questions-to-Ask-Yourself-before-You-Begin&id=578447

http://ezinearticles.com/?Choosing-Your-E-Zine-Topic---3-Hints-for-Making-Your-Decision&id=578484

2007-05-24T07:46:00.000-07:00

Make Creative Thinking a Priority: Here's THE TRICK to Slipping Into Your "Creative-Mind"

By Sylvia C. Hall

Like many people, I believe we all have the power and the ability to be creative. I also believe it is important to flex our creative muscles as often as possible.

Too often, we allow life to get in the way of our creative time. Daily responsibilities refuse to go away and we feel we must do the things required of us before we get too far behind.
If you feel too busy to flex your creative muscles, you are in luck. I am here to help you see the creative in the everyday. Or, more accurately, to get you thinking creatively when your everyday activities refuse to go away!

Now, if you’re ready, here’s THE TRICK: creative brain-cells love the mundane, everyday activities. Do your creative brainstorming when you are "busy" with the mundane! Here’s why: your brain isn’t really required to be present when you do these activities. In turn, you are free to think creatively.

Here are some creative-opportunities: doing the dishes, sweeping, folding laundry, making the bed, and taking out the trash: these are all things you have done again and again. So, they allow your mind to subside. When your mind is free of actual thinking it can easily slip into “creative mode.” Creative ideas flow more easily and there is no pressure, because you know you are “busy” doing your household responsibilities.

There’s just one other trick that goes along with your mind’s “creative mode:” if you want to actually create, you’ll have to make time to utilize those creative thoughts, because art can’t make itself.

Use your mind’s “creative mode” to let your mind relax. And then, just when your mind thinks it’s safe, jump into the art of creating! It’s a wild ride, and it makes ordinary activities, extraordinary creative opportunities!

Sylvia C. Hall is a freelance writer and children's writer. Sylvia loves the creative process and considers writing and photography her creative careers. Sylvia just received a BA degree, with an Emphasis in English and double minors in Education and Psychology. Visit her Etsy store to see her photos: http://www.sylviac.etsy.com. And visit her two blogs to learn more about Sylvia C. the writer: Sylvia's Insight & Soaring With Sylvia C.

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Who Needs a Press Release Anyway?

2007-05-17T15:31:00.000-07:00

Well, my friend, chances are you do.

It used to be that only big businesses felt they were "newsworthy" enough to use a press release to alert the public of their company and its happenings. But, like everything else in today's world, things have changed.

Today, even businesses that are literally a one-man-show are benefiting from press releases. But how do you know if a press release is right for you? Here are a few things to consider:

Are you doing something newsworthy? Even if it's just you and you alone, are you doing something that the public would want to know about? Are you putting up a website to sell crafts that you hand make in your spare time? If it's a bigger company we're talking about, is there a new product or service your company is launching?
Is your organization doing something that the public needs to be aware of -- a food drive, a charity car wash, etc.?
Are you or your company investing in other advertising and marketing campaigns to introduce yourself, a new product or service? If so then you should definitely include a press release package in your marketing plans.

But why a press release?

First, press releases are a quick and effective way to reach a large percentage of the public in one fell swoop. Second, a press release package is cost effective since you can target not only print newspapers and magazines but online news sources and magazines as well.

So, even if you're not a Fortune 500 company, I think after a little consideration you'll find that a press release just might be what you need after all.

Misused and Abused

2007-03-16T14:11:00.000-07:00

As a freelance writer and editor, the more I read, the greater my awareness of the confusion most of us experience over the correct use of English. And understandably so. You don't have to be uneducated to make mistakes that might make you seem less than the literate person you are.

In an attempt to clear up a small portion of this confusion, I have made a list of commonly abused words. Don't be ashamed if you see words on this list that you often misuse yourself, the abuse of these words can be commonly found in the correspondence of even the most prestigious offices in our country.

Learn their correct uses and you will hold your head high the next time you are asked to write a report or letter, knowing that no words will be abused in the process.

accept/except

accept:to receive willingly.
except: to exclude or leave out.
I accepted payment from everyone there, except Ryan.

affect/effect

affect: when used as a noun it means to influence or stir the emotions of. It can only be applied to subjects that have emotions and can be influenced.
effect: to bring about by a cause; result (hence the phrase; cause and effect).
What we say as parents, greatly affects our children. The effect can be disastrous.

aggravate/irritate

aggravate: to make worse; to annoy.
irritate: to provoke to anger; to make inflamed or sore.
Brian tried to irritate his little sister. The situation was aggravated by the barking dog.

anxious/eager

anxious: worried or uneasy.
eager: keenly desiring or impatient.
I was eager to go, but anxious about the slick roads.

continually/continuously

continually: repeated often.
continuously: without interruption, unbroken.
Ted has to put fuel in the generator continually to keep it running continuously.

i.e./e.g.

i.e.: short for the Latin, id est, meaning, "that is."
e.g.: short for the Latin, exempli gratia, meaning, "for example."
I prefer neutral colors; i.e. beige, sand, brown, etc.
The twins have several differences; e.g. Ellen is taller than Susan.

imply/infer

imply: to indicate indirectly; to suggest.
infer: to conclude by reasoning; to draw meaning from something known or assumed.
"Wow, that's some hair color," she said, implying that my hair looked unnatural. "Your hair is Red!" he said, inferring to the color.

into/in to

into: to enter (Go into the kitchen.); to change form (He turned into a frog.); continue in the midst of (We danced into the night.); to make contact with or strike (She ran into the door. or, I ran into an old friend.).
in to: used in most other instances.
Patricia T. O'Conner simplifies things in her book, Woe is I, where she advises; If you can drop the in without losing the meaning, the term you want is in to. Bring the guests (in) to me, then we'll all go (in) to dinner.

it's/its

it's: the contraction of "it is."
its: the possessive form of "it."
These two are commonly confused but not interchangeable.
It’s so warm outside that the yard is beginning to lose its winter look.

lay/lie

lay: always applies to an object; to place an object somewhere.
lie: to rest in a horizontal or reclined position.
First, I will lay my book on the shelf, then I will lie down on the bed.

nauseated/nauseous

nauseated: caused to feel nausea; to be make sick.
nauseous: an adjective referring to something causing nausea; something sickening.
I’m nauseated by that nauseous odor.
Got it? Good! Far too many of us go through life mistakenly (or not) admitting that we are sickening (nauseous).

sit/set

sit: to rest oneself upon the buttocks; to be seated.
set: always applies to an object; something is being placed.
Set your cup on the counter, then sit in the chair.

than/then

than: use when comparing elements.
One is bigger than the other.
then: use when signifying a sequence of events or regarding time.
We will go for a walk, then have lunch. I was younger then.

This is only a portion of my list of commonly misused words. But, by spreading the knowledge of their proper use, there just may be fewer cases of word abuse in the world.

Focus, Focus, Focus

2007-02-20T09:05:00.000-08:00

As writers, most of us have heard that we should determine one or two areas in which to specialize, or focus, our writing. But exactly how do we accomplish this?

The quickest and easiest way to begin is by listing the things you have an interest in; hobbies or activities that you already enjoy or have a strong desire to learn about. This list can include anything from fun activities to serious subjects.

From the time you were a kid, have you spent your leisure time fishing, skiing, or hiking nature trails? Add that to your list. Are you an avid gardener? Do you spend your free time rummaging through antique stores and going to shows? Do you have a collection of some sort? Add these things to your list.

Think about the types of work you've done in your lifetime. Do you have a degree? Maybe you are a nurse or a physical therapist or a teacher. Maybe you are a psychologist, a counselor, or an animal behaviorist. These things can all go on your list. But you don't have to have a degree in order to be an expert. Maybe you are a real estate agent or a sales representative. Are you a travel agent? Put that on your list. Maybe you are known amongst your friends and family as an exceptional cook. Write that down as well.

You can take anything that you have enough interest in to want to study and learn everything you possibly can about that subject and become known as an expert. But the key here is you need to have a true passion about the subject if you aren't already very knowledgeable about it. This passion will show through in your writing and increase your credibility with editors and readers.

Now, take your list and narrow it down to one or two things you have the most knowledge or passion about. If you have two things, are they in similar fields? If so, that's wonderful; that strengthens your focus even more. But what if the two things are completely different? That's still okay. You can specialize in both, if you have enough interest to continually study and learn everything you possibly can about both of them.

Next, begin to think of ways in which you can write about your focus areas. Submitting articles pertaining to those areas to article directories is a good way to get your name out there and become known as an expert, as is having a website or blog dedicated to each. And don't be afraid to query magazines or trade publications with article ideas in these areas as well, you never know when you may just land a piece with one of them.

Some writers have the idea that we limit ourselves by narrowing our focus in this way, but exactly the opposite is true. By focusing your writing in one or two areas you can make a name for yourself as a specialist; the one to turn to for an expert writer in that area, which increases the value of your writing and will make you sought after instead of always being the one doing the seeking.

Set yourself up as an expert in one or two areas of interest and you'll be well on your way to having the writing career of your dreams. So what are you waiting for? Get started.

Setting Goals in Writing

2007-02-14T13:28:00.000-08:00

We are encouraged to set goals in many areas of our lives; financial, fitness, personal growth, retirement, etc. As a freelance writer, setting goals is imperative to success. But what types of goals should you set? How do you stay focused on them? And how do you keep from burning out?

These are very good questions that often stump beginning writers and sometimes even those who are not so new to the writing profession. But setting goals doesn't have to be so overwhelming. First of all, keep it simple.

Long term goal setting can seem very intimidating and is often counterproductive. If you set your goals too far into the future you have a greater chance of losing sight of the things that are so important to you right now. That is not to say that you should avoid long term goal setting all together, only that it should take a back burner to short term goals that are designed to keep you focused on the big picture.

First, set a yearly goal. Where would you like to see your writing career a year from now? Would you like to be a fulltime writer? Make it your 1 year goal. Would you like to write a novel? Make that your 1 year goal. Would you like to be a newspaper columnist? You get the idea.

Now, at the beginning of each month decide what you need to do that month to move you toward your yearly goal. Do you need to build a clip file? Then you need to write X amount of articles or queries. Is a novel your goal? Then you need to write X number of pages or chapters. A newspaper columnist? Again, you get the idea. Decide what you need to do for each and every month as it arrives and keep those monthly goals in sight.

Let's break it down even more. Each Sunday evening set your goals for the week ahead. These goals are what you need to focus on for the week in order to reach that month's goals. If you need to write 12 articles or queries for the month, then you need to make writing 4 articles, or queries, your weekly goal. If you need to write 80 pages of your novel for the month then you need to make writing 20 pages your weekly goal.

Just remember, it really is pretty simple. Your weekly goals should propel you toward your monthly goals and your monthly goals toward your 1 year goal. Keep your goals where you can see them every day and review them often to keep yourself focused. In no time you'll be well on your way to turning your dreams into a reality.

Horoscope

2006-11-15T10:16:00.000-08:00

As I read my horoscope this morning I was brought back to my last post, the one on spirituality through writing. Here's what my horoscope for today says. . .

Aries
March 20 - April 18
Spiritual experiences could lead to a very powerful healing experience for you, dear Aries. Old repressed traumas from the past could be brought to the surface, processed out and released. This might leave you feeling rather dazed, as this purging has left a gap in your psyche. Don't worry - eventually it'll be filled with new knowledge and insights instead of psychic garbage! For now, however, take a walk. It'll clear your head and help you to deal with it all.

We process our traumas as we write them out and through putting them down on paper, and physically being able to see, feel, smell, and taste (if one is so inclined) them, we are then able to release those traumas. So, writing is a purging of the psyche.

How's that for spiritual/universal connection? I would say it's right on target with my life at this present time. Amazing how the universe works.

Now, I'm off for that walk. . . Not really, it's so windy I might blow away. In reality, I'm off to my writers group. See you next time.

Kendy

Writing for Spiritual Awareness

2006-11-13T09:13:00.000-08:00

I am currently reading Writing as a Way of Healing by Louise DeSalvo, Ph.D. Although it isn't a spiritual book, per se, I have found through intense study of the book that it has a definite spiritual side.

As true spirituality comes from within, when we confront our demons through writing about past traumas we connect with our deepest feelings, thoughts, and emotions. This, in turn, puts us in touch with our spirituality at some level.

What is spirituality if it is not looking inside one's self and and searching for continual growth? Through writing about past traumas -- psychic, or physical, or both -- we are forced to deal with the most intimate parts of ourselves. This presents us with a choice; we can either look at what is before us and go on with our lives as we always have, or we can make a conscious choice to change, to grow, to use what we see to better ourselves, to become the person each of us was created to be.

Writing has the potential to be a strong spiritual tool; it deals with issues we each have inside us, personally, and if we listen to our inner selves through the process, we can learn what we need to do to change, to live happier, more fulfilling lives, thus attaining a deeper spirituality.

My challenge to you: Write your way to greater spirituality and a better you. Let me know how it goes!

Kendy

Getting on Track

2006-11-07T10:20:00.000-08:00

Hi there! I'm probably the only writer in the world who didn't have a blog site, until now. Now I have joined the ranks of writers who not only have to complete assignments but have to worry about updating their blogs. Oh well, I guess I can't keep my head buried in the sand forever, letting the rest of the world leave me in the dust to go the way of the dinosaurs, now can I? (How's that for a cliche sentence?)

Actually, I have let myself lose sight of my dreams and goals as a writer, but no more. This blog is an attempt to keep me focused on where I am and where I'm going in my writing career.

Thanks to my wonderful husband I am not only allowed to pursue my writing dream but also encouraged and supported in every way. As slow as it's been in getting this far, I sure couldn't do it without him. I don't think he knows just how appreciated he is. My heartfelt thanks goes out to him and when I'm a world famous writer (you know, a novelist to rival J.K. Rowling) I know he'll be my biggest fan, just as he is now, when not even our cats (we have 4) know I'm a writer.

Enough with my babbling, I do actually have an article I need to get started or it'll never get it done. Wish me luck.