Articles archived for January 2010

Writing is like weaving
– from the beginning
to the end!

Our words glide across the page and then we hit enter and move down. We scroll back up and take note of what we’ve written; we scroll back down and finish our thoughts. We move all across the page: up, down, back and forth – all the while we are weaving a story. The pieces, colors, and vibrant picture are moving vividly through our mind, body, and soul.

As we gaze intensely at the computer screen – or our notebook – we are filling the blank page with words, ideas, wisdom, information; we are filling the blank page with our heart and soul.

Some of you weave with dark yarns (aka words), smearing mystical creatures, blood-spilled mysteries, and murderous intent on to the blank page. Others splash colorful hues of passion-filled romance, wild and dangerous affairs, and tug at the hearts of those craving love (or lust!) – leaving them satisfied, yet yearning for more. And there are those of us who choose to share inspiration, motivation, encouragement, and non-fiction information that will leave the reader a little wiser – and more optimistic- than they came.

We writers purge not only our creative minds with our readers, but our hearts as well. We ultimately give the world a piece of ourselves in every page, every word, every article, story, or book. With every word we type (or write), we are weaving…

Weaving When Words Won’t Wake

1. Begin at the end and weave your way back. If the first words won’t come to you for the beginning of your story, think about how you want the piece to end.
2. Start with the title. Take a few minutes to find a working title. Think about what you want to say in your piece and create a title from those ideas.
3. Jump in to the middle. Who says you have to start at the beginning – or even the end? Throw yourself in to the middle of the story and weave your way up and back down (or vice-versa)!
4. Go easy on yourself and weave an outline. Sometimes you need an outline. I find them especially helpful on most of my work.
5. Take a break and create a Wordle. They’re fun, and they’re sure to help you get your weave on!

There aren’t any rules set in stone of how you should weave your stories. Words usually come naturally if you nurture your creativity and treat your body well. Yes, there are dry spells in every writer’s life at some point, but if you follow the tips above, it will help you find inspiration once again.

Your work will be much richer, much more beautiful, if you allow yourself to be vulnerable enough that your heart and soul bleeds in to each and every word you weave.

Did you enjoy this article? Feel free to visit the other articles Michele has written for Writer’s Round-About–or contact her to write for you.

How do you weave your words? Similar to me, or different? Do you apply any of these techniques to your own writing? Do you have any weaving tips to share with us? We’d love to hear from you; please join in – or start – the conversation!

Reference: Wordle.net

So many writers find themselves pushing too hard and getting nowhere. After all, many of us began freelancing to escape office politics and spend more time with our families. So why work yourself harder than any employer would?

After beating my head against the proverbial wall for a long time, I finally realized that I couldn’t force myself to write, even if I kept a strict schedule and eliminated all distractions. So I began to treat myself better, with writing rituals that are fun and encourage productivity instead of demanding it.

Tracking My Writing With Stickers

Yes, stickers. Usually found on third grade spelling papers, the simple gold star or thumbs up sticker is a major motivator for me. I reward myself after I’ve completed each writing task of the day, which for me is a list of articles and blog posts.

Here’s my sticker tracking process:

• Ditch the to-do list. Anything time related is scheduled in as an appointment. For my other projects, I check my email and other online “inboxes” to determine what needs to be written that day.
• Grab a notebook. For me, it’s an inexpensive red journal. I write in today’s date and quick abbreviations of the titles I’m working on. I also jot down any notes about my day, whether I’ve woken up with a headache or I have an appointment to remember.
• Turn on the tunes. My MP3 player is the best gift I’ve given myself! Having a stream of my favorite music playing blocks out the rest of the world and gives me additional focus. (One earphone is out if the kids are awake!)
• Light a candle. This provides my visual focus, along with a quick break from staring at the computer screen all day. You could easily substitute a family photo or vision board to inspire you as well.
• Set a timer. A timer provides instant motivation as I race to see how fast I can complete my articles. I use a free program, but a kitchen timer works just as well. I set mine to one hour, and I’m off!
• Track the results. After each article, I check my timer, write down my time, and choose a sticker. I have made progress, even if it’s just one article, and I deserve a mini-reward! (Plus stickers are terribly cute!)

This is my ideal way to progress through my writing day. I can flip through my notebook, and instantly see how productive I was by how many stickers I’ve collected. If a day didn’t go so well, I can read my notes and see what happened.

Benefits of Creating Your Own Writing Rituals

Obviously, my writing ritual may not be right for you. So I encourage you to create your own rituals, to ease into your writing day. You will reap many rewards by treating yourself right, and encouraging the muse to visit from time to time.

• Increased productivity. If you do the same things daily, you will develop good writing habits, and naturally speed up as you write. Your mind will know when it’s time to work, and when you put your accouterments away, your mind will know when to rest.
• Peace of mind. You don’t have a boss standing over your shoulder, expecting you to be productive. You certainly don’t want to become that kind of boss either! You can rest easy knowing that you are still getting things done, in a manner that is customized to your working style and is not stress-inducing in itself.
• Enjoy your writing. Although we all love writing, there are days where the act of writing is not fun. Even when it seems that pulling teeth would be easier than pulling words out of your brain, you can give yourself small rewards to keep yourself going.
• Embrace your competitive nature. Without co-workers, many of us have no measuring stick to compare ourselves to. If you track your progress, you can compete with yourself to get “just one more” article done, or cut down your time by “just five minutes”.

Do you already have writing rituals? Share them here. Planning to make your own rituals? Bring your ideas to the table.

Photo Credit: Love Janine

I’ve been in danger lately of getting overwhelmed with blogging work. I have all my ideas on my editorial calendar, but with so many topics in so many niches, I often sit down to write and still don’t know where to start.

Which blog? They’re all priority. Which idea? Each one tugs at my attention, begging to be released onto the page. Which client? They all pay well and on time — no favoritism here.

I decided to take a unique approach last evening, almost like freewriting with purpose. I couldn’t find paper or pen so I grabbed my calendar and a blue, fine point Sharpie. (So blame any grammatical errors on the fumes please… and the fact that I often have trouble reading my handwriting the next day.)

I started writing. I had no topics or even a particular blog in mind. I let the words come, in the messy, haphazard way I write hand-written first drafts on the rare occasions I choose to.

First,  I wrote a post about types of blog posts for business owners. One Long Island Exchange column done.

Then I decided to blog about the entire experience here at WRA. In an odd way, the juxtaposition of the Sharpie, the calendar, sitting in my daughter’s room as she played for a bit before bed, took all pressure off me as a “professional writer with too much work.” (Is there such a thing as too much work?)

I completed my first post in record time. It is only now that I stop to think about what I’m writing, and, at this point the magic, the flurry, begins to vanish. The moment is gone.

Now I’m wondering about word count, graphics, linkback opportunities. (I know Rebecca and some of WRA’s other contributors have written about freewriting in the past.) I’m no longer writing. I’m “working” again.

And that’s not a bad thing. After all, those of us who love what we do everyday hesitate to even call it work. I am grateful every day to be blessed with this career path.

But for a brief time, it was nice to immerse myself in that “zone” — a writer, a pen (of sorts), paper… it’s cozy. It reminded me of a time when I thought of all writing as a hobby, not a vocation.

Writers, what do you do when you want to get back to basics — either to beat writer’s block, jumpstart a project or to simply begin enjoying the act of writing again and forget that you do it for a living?

“A bad review is like baking a cake with all the best ingredients and having someone sit on it.” — Danielle Steele

So, you want to be a reviewer. You see bloggers and writers reviewing your favorite books, products you’re drooling over, and expensive stuff you only dream of holding in your hands. But you don’t know where to begin. You can’t figure out how to attract the attention of the sponsoring companies, right?

I’ve been in your shoes. I used to dream of receiving products in the mail like the bloggers I read all over the Web. I used to fantasize about reviewing food, books, and other products on my blog. I had no idea how those bloggers attracted the attention of companies. I couldn’t imagine myself being able to achieve my dream of being a reviewer.

Honestly, I finally got tired of waiting around and reading reviews – I was itching to write them myself!

Packages started arriving so fast, I couldn’t even review ‘em quickly enough.

What did I do, you ask?

Tips to Begin Reviewing

1. Decide what it is you want to review: books, food, health products, office products, a variety of products.
2. Once you’ve honed in on what it is that you want to review, consider where you’re going to write about it: your own blog, magazines, newspapers.
3. If you have a blog already, this is a great place to start. Of course, if you’re already working for a magazine or newspaper office, see if you can be their go-to reviewer.
4. If you don’t have a blog, start one. Keep in mind the type of products (or books) you want to review and name your blog and URL accordingly. Also choose a theme that is either neutral, or reflects your interests. For example, my raw food health blog has a fruit and veggie theme.
5. Start blogging about products/books you already own, that are similar to what you want to review. If the product is in nice condition, take a photo of it to upload in your review post. If it’s showing wear and tear, simply find one online somewhere (be sure to read the copyright agreement) and then write your post based on what you like (and dislike) about it. Go ahead and name the company or brand and give credit where credit is due.

Of course, we’d all love to start out as a reviewer for The New York Times but since that normally doesn’t happen, we need to begin somewhere. I hope my tips help you do just that.

Stay tuned for tips on how to approach potential sponsors…

Did you enjoy this article? Feel free to visit the other articles Michele has written for Writer’s Round-About–or contact her to write for you.

Are you a reviewer? Did you start out blogging? Do you write reviews for newspapers or magazines? If so, do you have any tips to share with us? Don’t be shy, share your thoughts!

Photo Credit: xaila

Reference: Think Exist

In the first part of our two-part interview with Maine-based author Jennifer Greenleaf, we talked about her Virtual Book Signing Tour, taking place this entire weekend.

A master marketer, prolific author, mixed media artist, and mother, Jenny Greenleaf doesn’t believe in getting locked into one niche in her writing – or in her life. Her current titles include:

• 101 Mixed-Media Art Projects, How-To’s & Ideas: A Beginner’s Guide to Messy Art With No Rules
• Maine Living: One Writer’s Perspective
• While We’re Apart: A Fill in the Blank Book
• While We’re Still Apart: A Fill in the Blank Book

Her goal for 2010 is 12 publications in 12 months. In the second part of this interview, Jenny shares her extensive knowledge of the publishing industry.

You have five books already published, and three coming out soon … how long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing professionally since 1999, but my book writing experience started in 2006 (with The WonderDads Handbook for Raising a Girl Ages 0-10: A Month-by-Month Look at What to Expect, Developmental Tips, & Ideas for Activities: releasing spring 2010).  Prior to that, you could say I’ve been a writer ever since I could hold a crayon – it’s been an active part of my life for as long as I can remember.

Do you have an agent?
I don’t have an agent, though I did have an agent interested in my work in 2002.  I found him when I was researching how to sell some gift books I had drawn, then life got in the way and the project was put on hold.  The process of writing the book proposal and querying the agent was far more difficult than working on the books, which I found quite interesting.  I sent out 40 queries, and received one positive response out of all that work.

Who is publishing your titles?
WonderDads is currently publishing The WonderDads Handbook For Raising a Girl Ages 0-10, and I believe I found them through freelancewritinggigs.com. I sent them a query with clips, we did a phone interview, and then we sealed the deal with a contract.  It was a very simple process, and one I wish would repeat itself over and over!  I didn’t have to shop around the idea because they were looking for authors to write specific titles.  The rest of my titles are published through CreateSpace.com.

Why did you opt to go the self-publishing route?
I ran into a lot of “issues” with traditional publishers.  I’m the type of person who needs control over the book’s content, as well as how it is presented on the page… I found myself butting heads a lot over these issues and desires, so I decided to forego it all and self-publish.

I’ve noticed that, while publishing houses do offer support in many ways there’s still a lot the authors have to do. So, there’s a lot of marketing and promotional efforts put on to the author’s shoulders that mirrors the efforts made by the self-published author.

Do you feel there’s still a stigma attached to self-publishing, or is that gone/nearly gone?
For some there is, but I’ve seen a greater acceptance for self-publishing compared to when I first heard of it in 2002.  Back then, those who self-published were often referred to as “slush pile writers” who couldn’t make the grade.  Now, self-publishing is viewed more as a business model is better understood.  When I learned that many authors, like Julia Cameron, started out as self-published authors I realized that those who turn their nose up at it might not know the true history of the matter and how beneficial it could be.

Would you recommend this route to most writers?
If you have the background, why not?  I’ve been writing professionally for ten years, so I feel like I have a lot under my belt in terms of quality and proven ability.  I wouldn’t recommend it to a novice writer because, after all, learning the ropes about the craft and business of writing is daunting for many without throwing in how to successfully market and publicize the book(s).

Is it your ultimate goal to have these titles picked up by a publisher, or is that not a consideration with your business model?
My goal, really, is to get the work into people’s hands.  I would love to see these books enjoyed and used by many.  If that means the work will be noticed and picked up by a publisher, that would be something to consider.

Thank you for being so generous with your time Jennifer. We want to wish you the greatest success with your writing goals and hope your books reach the many people whose lives you want to touch.

If you’d like to experience one or more of Jennifer’s books these four are available from Amazon right now and remember, this weekend Jennifer is also doing a virtual book signing, if you email her a copy of your receipt she’ll ship you out a custom bookplate designed and signed by Jennifer Greenleaf.

Jennifer Greenleaf visits WRA!

You might have known her before as Jenn Hollowell, a talented a Maine-based freelance writer and author who married in 2009 and became Jennifer Greenleaf. This weekend she’s promoting four titles through a virtual book-tour and signing.

Writer’s Roundabout contributor, Dawn Allcot, had the pleasure of speaking with Jennifer who has been writing for 10 years, and has much to share with both aspiring writers and professionals about organization, discipline, marketing and more. You can read more about her books on her blog, 12 Publications in 12 Months.

You’ve got a virtual book-signing going on this weekend. Can you tell us what that is and how you got the idea to do it?

I’ve decided to create a virtual book signing for a couple of reasons… Touring around to do face-to-face book signings just isn’t in the cards right now.  The next reason is because I wanted to open this opportunity to those who are living in other states, and even foreign countries.  For those who purchase any one of my books before or during the designated dates, they will receive a custom-made signed bookplate.

I heard of another author doing this years ago, but their name escapes me.  I remember participating in the signing, which was coupled with a message board discussion, and thinking it was a great idea.  Not only was this author able to reach their audience in real time, but they were also able to do it from the comfort of their own home.  This is a win-win situation for everyone, as far as I’m concerned.

Any other unique marketing ideas to promote the sales of your newest titles?

For the “While we’re Apart: A Fill in the Blank Book” series, I plan to send messages to Head Start and Advocates for Parents (and other related groups and organizations) about these titles. I used to serve on the policy council for the Head Start program when my children were pre-school aged, so I’m able to tap into that marketing avenue with a “familiar name.”

For all the titles as a whole, I’m going to schedule once per month virtual book signings (because several more titles are releasing throughout 2010). That way, each title can have its own custom bookplate and customers who missed out on previous signings will have the opportunity to participate again.

What are some of your most effective marketing strategies?

Social networking has been playing a huge roll in my marketing strategies. I’ve been able to use the “fan pages” on Facebook.com quite effectively in terms of creating events, sharing photos, sharing information about book progress, as well as links.  I’ve also found benefit in using Twitter.com to get the word out about my books, and book related events.  There are dozens more networks I plan to tap into as the year progresses.

Many experts tell writers they need a niche to build a platform, etc. Each of your books is in a different niche. Was that a conscious decision?

It was because I don’t want to lock myself into one particular topic. I enjoy flexibility, and I want to continue having the opportunity to write about whatever interests me.  I agree building a platform is important, and I’ll do that by building my name, rather than just one book.  I’m hoping that, when people hear the name Jennifer Greenleaf they’ll correlate that with “life” topics, rather than just one niche.

Has it been easier to market four very diverse titles at once, or has that been a challenge?

At first I felt challenged because I didn’t know which direction to take first.  It wasn’t until I was invited on to the 92 Moose Morning Show, and then Elemental Musings BlogTalk Radio Show that I decided to keep the titles in a group for the time being.  Then, I’ll branch out into segmented marketing efforts geared specifically to art, parenting, and travel.

Your goal is 12 publications in 12 months, and you’re well on your way. How do you stay so prolific?

I don’t believe in locking myself into one specific niche because I feel I’m missing out on opportunities for expanded success.  If the topic interests me, you can be sure I’ll be writing about it in the form of articles, blog posts, or books.  I’m an avid learner, and I’m also looking for more ways to educate my children; so writing has helped me achieve that in a very gratifying way.

When you’re not writing, what do you like to do?

I’m a mixed-media artist, and am frequently looking for opportunities to add creativity to my daily routine.  I love painting, using photographs in art, and working on collages.  This is another aspect of my life my children also enjoy doing with me, again further inspiring me!

Jennifer Greenleaf is visiting us this weekend and is happy to answer your questions. If you’d like to know more about Jennifer’s books, her experiences in publishing, or her years as a writer leave your comments below. Dawn continues with Jennifer tomorrow but in the meantime, check out her books:

• While We’re Apart: A Fill in the Blank Book (Volume 1)
• While We’re Still Apart: A Fill in the Blank Book (Volume 2)
• Maine Living: One Writer’s Perspective (Volume 1)
• 101 Mixed-Media Art Projects, How-To’s and Ideas: A Beginner’s Guide

“Each book has its own custom bookplate designed and signed by Jennifer Greenleaf. All customers have to do is forward their receipt to Jennifer once the purchase has been made, and then they will receive their signed bookplate. The email you need to use in order to receive your custom bookplate is jgbooksigning@aol.com“. So get yourself the book or books of your choice and get in touch with Jennifer.

Touring the Blogosphere, Jennifer Greenleaf takes a few moments to share her success secrets with Writer’s Round-About. This weekend she’s doing a special promotion.

How can you take part? “Each book has its own custom bookplate designed and signed by Jennifer Greenleaf. All customers have to do is forward their receipt to Jennifer once the purchase has been made, and then they will receive their signed bookplate. The email you need to use in order to receive your custom bookplate is jgbooksigning@aol.com“. So get yourself the book or books of your choice and get in touch with Jennifer. Meanwhile, enjoy a few words from Jennifer about making success happen.

Even though I’ve been writing professionally since 1999, I still feel I’m very wet behind the ears when it comes to career building. When I first started out, I felt I needed to depend on others in order to find success and make things happen. Here are a couple of areas where I went wrong:

• I thought if my target market approached me for work, I was successful. WRONG.
• I thought if I got my name “out there,” that would be all I had to do to obtain writing gigs and clients. WRONG.

Not only was I depending on people to contact me, but I was also depending on other people (like the places where I was published, for example) to get my name out there. Despite being a motivated self-starter, I wasn’t “making it happen.” It took me about three years to realize these mistakes, and I’ve been working on “in your face” type promotions for my freelance writing and books.

There are a number of ways YOU can make it happen. Here are a few:

1. Query often: querying has to be part of your regular routine if you want your freelance writing career to really work. This is, of course, unless you have already created a good stable of steady work. For those who are novice in the field, it’s essential to make this a fixture in your work schedule.
2. Blog regularly: Google is a tool your prospective gigs, clients, and editors will use to find out more about you. This is true even if you’ve already landed the job. If you’re blogging regularly about a topic your passionate about or your career, they’re able to see a consistent stream of writing samples regularly. They’ll also learn a bit about your style, maybe learn about some of your goals, and probably figure out what your favorite kind of ice cream is…wait…never mind….
3. Be reliable: if for some reason you’re unable to make a deadline, be known for good communication. Don’t be unreliable; otherwise you’ll quickly earn yourself a bad reputation. You’d be surprised who knows whom in which circles and, before you know it, you’ve earned yourself a bad name. I learned a trick when I was first starting out to write “dummy” deadlines on my calendar that was a few days prior to the real one. That way, I’m always early or right on time!

This is a New Year and good opportunity to dream big, and make your career exactly what you envision it to be. Follow other writers who are making it happen, learn the ropes of the business from writing websites (like this one, for example), and be realistic about what you can accomplish and when. You can make it happen!

I’m taking a page from one of my favorite Tina Turner’s songs, “I’ll be your private dancer, dancer for money!” as the incentive to set fire to my creative endeavors and get the ball rolling, the juices of creativity flowing, and the networking on full blast. I’m dedicating 2010 to reach my goal of garnering profit from my Freelance Writing Business.

There are things I’m still learning on this solo journey into freelance, but, I’m already set in motion by landing my first major client just before the Christmas Holidays (can you say, “oh, happy day?!”) and I’m gearing up for my first at home telephone interview from another possible client. I’m not a great dancer and I’m a bit too settled to do it for money, but I am confident in my ability to create other people vision into their reality. Over the last three years, through trial & error, submissions and rejections , encouragements and online classes, I’ve gained a bit of know-how in learning/incorporating steps to build up my Freelance Writing Business. The stuff I’ve learned from seasoned pros is meant to be shared, I think, as a preamble to accomplishing ones dream. 

I’m also writing this post from a position of needing to explore my own passion. Put myself and my vision out there freely for an oftentimes discriminate world to examine. I ask that you be kind in your critiques, but, if not, it’s all good! The five steps to promotion that I’ve found works best in bringing  my own personal vision to the forefront and that I offer up to all creatives with dreams, are:

1. Define your niche

Initially, I fought against this because I felt I’d dipped my pen into too many inkwells to be selective; no more! You must find that one thing that drives you and explore the possibilities. When you answer the questions people are sure to ask as in “What makes your product different?” you know you’re on the right track.

2.  Stay positive and focused

It’s hard when your thoughts are like jumping jacks. Your dreams are many and your vision ever changing, but, you must find a way to manipulate your creativity. Have it do your bidding in a purposeful, concise manner. Organize your thought patterns.

3. Seek counsel

I’ve been blessed to have an older woman/adviser who acts as my writing mentor. She has encouraged and soothed away my writing insecurities  over the years and for this I remain truly grateful… I also have a firm belief in “spirit”. I “know” that I am never alone in this often lonely freelance writer business. It matters very little who/where you turn for comfort. It matters most that you do.

4. Network

I’m finding myself opening up to the possibility of making new friends on this journey in freelancing. Recently, I came across a blog whose writer impressed me. I invited her, along with several writer friends, to meet and greet at my home. The events of the evening included good conversation, poetry recitals, tales of life lived  in foreign countries, business cards, plugs, and plentiful helpings of good food & wine . Also, the blogosphere & Twitter have allowed me to network with people as far as New Zealand and as close as the Southside of Chicago, Illinois and the hits just keep on coming!

5. Enjoy what you do

I think this last bit of advice when embarking upon growing your freelance writing business is a given. If you don’t like the long hours, hard, and sometimes tedious work… if you’d rather be out and about having fun with your friends, instead of sitting in front of a computer screen 99% of the time or just abhor waiting for a response to a query… if rejection causes you to go into a eternal funk; Maybe you’d better get out now while the getting is good!

Have you considered how you’re going to do 2010 differently? What do you think are the most important habits you need to develop for success in the year ahead?

My Writing Career, Take One

I have been a professional freelance writer since August 2008. I’ve learned a lot about the craft and business of writing, especially writing for the web and connecting with others via social media. My freelance writing career took off in fits and starts, and I was elated. Everything was turning out great.

Then real life hit me, full force. A lot of unexpected occurrences piled up at once, and were not conducive to nurturing a fledgling writing business. I was juggling too many balls in the air, and when life knocked me over, they all came crashing down around me.

In Spring 2009, I lost my internet connection for six months. Obviously this was devastating to my freelancing. All of my clients, assignments, and contacts were web based! There was no way for me to continue until I corrected this issue, and many other issues that led up to this point.

What Would You Do?

So, I gathered up all the pride I could muster, and went out and got a real world job. Minimum wage at a retail store, it certainly couldn’t do more for me but keep my head above water until I could deal with everything going on. It was a slow, painful process. The job even took time away from my writing, which I was continuing to do on the side as practice until I could get back online.

I had a lot of interior work to do as well. This could easily be considered a “failure” by most people, and all the emotions surrounding this unintended break were affecting me deeply as well. I had to take time out for me, to evaluate my position in life, and whether I wanted to give freelance writing another try.

So I carefully made a plan, based on what I knew worked and what didn’t. I explored all my options, and decided to be more selective in the kind of freelance writing projects I took on. I knew I needed reliable, consistent writing gigs, and I needed to trust my clients, and not work with “fly-by-night” gigs that held absolutely no security, or even no guarantee that I’d get paid.

My Writing Career, Take Two

I’ve been back online for a few months now, and have slowly been rebuilding my client base. I am taking the time to find out what works for me, and not being tossed about by every gig that comes to call. I am rebuilding my social networks, as time allows. I’m reuniting with old friends, who never left my side, at least in spirit.

I have been doing what’s right for me, and not letting one setback (no matter how large it appears in my eyes) get me down. I got up, and I am trying again. I am a success, simply because I refuse to stay down, refuse to wallow in the pain of a “failure”. I will continue to press on, no matter what life tosses my way.

New Beginnings

One thing you should remember, if you find yourself in a similar situation: it is never easy to get back up. There is so much wounded pride, so many “what ifs” floating around in your mind. It is much easier to let it go and find a different path.

But I’m a writer. I always have been. Writing is my life blood, and I cannot turn away from it. I suspect it is the same for many of you. If writing is your calling, you will find a way to make it work. I encourage you, dare you to fulfill every one of your writing dreams, and then make new ones!

Have you overcome adversity, in your freelance writing or in other aspects of your life? Share your story, so we may all learn from your shining example!

Photo Credit: SpecialKRB

Words, words, and more words…. They float around in our heads – until our brains feel like mush. At least, mind does (sometimes).

But there are also times that our brains look like a vast, white space. And no matter how hard we try to tap into our inner muse; no matter how many different techniques we use, we can’t seem to find those perfect first words. Sometimes, it seems, the only words that come to mind are: contract, deadline, SEO, or even bills.

I mentioned my lack of words on a social media media site a while back and got the following response:

“Start out writing your name, address and a description of the room in which you’re writing. I wrote a newspaper column for nearly 20 years. I’m very practiced in breaking up log-jams in the writerly brain. Just remember, there’s a torrent just behind that dam!” – K. C. Compton (Editor, at Ogden Publications)

Excellent advice, K.C.! (Of course, I guess that’s why she is one of the Editor’s-In-Chief for Ogden Publications, huh?)

It’s during the times that we’re grasping desperately for words – any word – that we can apply the following tips, as well as K.C.’s advice.

7 Surefire Ways to Find New Words

1. Grab a notebook and start writing a list. This list can be about anything: your dreams,  pros and cons of something you’ve been considering, maintenance or other projects for your house – even a grocery list.
2. Take a break and play Scrabble. What better way to enjoy some time – and company – than being hands-on with letters and words?!
3. Write a thank you note or friendly letter to someone. Think warm thoughts and share your heart with the recipient.
4. Email or IM a friend. If that friend is a writer, that’s even better. They can help lift your spirits and jog your memory about past times you’ve had abundant writing inspiration.
5. Read your favorite blog or a few pages from a book that’s nearby. Words from one of your favorite authors/bloggers will help get your creative juices flowing.
6. Get up from your computer and go in to another room or outside. It’s amazing how much difference a view makes. By simply stepping in to the next room or popping outside for a few minutes, you can refuel your mind. Look at old photos or sit on your porch or deck for a spell – absorb your surroundings and soak up the inspiration life brings!
7. Pamper yourself. Something like a cup of hot tea and your favorite magazine, a 20-minute soak in a warm bath sprinkled with lavender essential oil or bath salts, or a short nap can provide just the amount of rejuvenation your body needs to crank up your muse once again.

What do you do to find new words when your writing well has run dry? Do you stand beneath the idea waterfall? Or use any of the tips I shared above? Do you have a fabulous technique to share with us? Chime in!

Did you enjoy this article? Feel free to visit the other articles Michele has written for Writer’s Round-About–or contact her to write for you.

Photo Credit: Wordle, created by Michele Tune