Angela Booth's Writing Blog

Get motivated: Do It Now and you can't fail

My favourite acronymn is DDT (Do, Don't Think) because I have a tendency to analyze everything to death. This is not a good trait for a writer. We need to write, then rewrite. Thinking during the time you should be writing is just laziness.

Here's an excellent Do It Now article by Steve Pavlina. He has the best concept of the non-existence of failure I've ever heard:

If you're excited about achieving a particular goal, but you're afraid you might not be able to pull it off, jump on it and do it anyway. Even if you fail in your attempt, you'll learn something valuable and can make a better attempt next time.

So true. This applies especially to writing -- the only way to fail is not to write.

Technorati Tags: Motivation

Writing Tip: Yes, you need a Web site -- a blog IS a Web site

I get at least one question a week along the lines of: "I'm not a techy person. Do I REALLY need a Web site?"

Yes, you do. Because:

* Even print editors are getting more Web-aware all the time; they like to look you up on the Web. Your Web site is proof that you're a real person and that you care about readers;

* Your Web site is a focus group. Test your query/ proposal ideas on your blog's readers. If no one comments, the idea is (probably) a dud. Tinker with it some more;

* If you're a new writer, your blog/ site forces you to write, even when you don't want to. Professional writers don't want to write some of the time either, but we do it anyway, just like bricklayers lay bricks when they're not inspired;

* The world is changing. Have you noticed sites like Gather.com? And Writerly? You might as well make peace with technology because it's here to stay. :-)

* Web sites/ blogs FREE you as a writer. You can reach all the readers you want -- you can bypass gatekeepers like editors completely; and

* Web sites are fun.

Technorati Tags: Writing Tip

Naked Conversations: required reading for business bloggers

Apropos of my previous post, I'm currently reading Naked Conversations: How Blogs are Changing the Way Businesses Talk to Customers. It's an advance copy, the book will be released in January.

I'll be posting a full review later. The biggest compliment I can pay this book is to say that I'm reading it slowly; I'm finding something to think about on every page.

To learn more about the book, visit the blog that the authors kept while they wrote the book; and still maintain.

Technorati Tags: blogs

Blogger for hire

Gotta blog?

If you're writing a blog, and know what blogs can do for business, consider hiring yourself out as a blogger.

I'm writing blogs for a couple of businesses, and am looking to build my blogging practice.

Over the past year, more businesses have started blogging, and more copywriters are developing and writing blogs for companies.

It's an interesting trend -- stay tuned. I love blogs and blogging, and I'll be posting additional info for other writers who want to get into blogging for business.

Technorati Tags: blogger for hire

Beyond copywriting -- it's writing!

The primary aim of learning to write copy isn't to write copy. It's to learn to write. When you learn how to write, you can write copy or anything else you please.

Excellent points in Think Beyond Your Copywriting Niche:

How is it that copywriters, we folks who are supposed to know so much about direct marketing, can come up with such a bunch of lame-assed ads? (And I'm not just pointing fingers here, as I've put some real dog ads up on Google myself. But I was testing, of course... ;-)

We copywriters need to take look at other niches and learn from them, just like any marketer should.

The beauty of copywriting as a profession is that pretty much everything in business and entertainment involves writing.

What do you want to write? Learn to write copy, and you can write (almost) anything else.

Technorati Tags: copywriting

Early Christmas gift -- ebook special: two for one until December 2

Want to boost your writing career into overdrive?

Do your Christmas shopping for the writer in your life now. We're offering a super bonus for the buyers of Writing For Online Cash: Turn Your Words Into Instant Gold.

Buy Writing For Online Cash before December 2, and forward me a copy of your receipt. You'll receive Tell, Yell And Sell: Marketing Skills For Writers as a special bonus -- free.

Just send the receipt to angela.booth@gmail.com and I'll send you a special download URL for Tell, Yell And Sell.

If you've ever wanted to build a successful career as a writer, these two writing manuals will give you all the help you need.

Enjoy! :-)

Technorati Tags: books

The author blog: if you're writing a book, should you blog?

Writing 100,000 or more words without losing your mind is hard enough -- who has time to blog?

It's an individual decision. I enjoy blogging, no matter what other kinds of writing I'm doing as well, because it keeps my energy level up -- instant gratification. :-)

The Author's Dilemma: To Blog or Not to Blog goes into the pros and cons.

Technorati Tags: blogs, books

New ebook: interested in copywriting as a part-time or fulltime career?

I've had lots of enquiries about how to get started as a copywriter. Here you go -- First Steps in Your Copywriting Career: cash in on the demand for business writers gets you off on the right track.

Yes, you CAN get clients and get paid, almost instantly (copywriters are paid a retainer). If you're serious about writing for business, you've now got a set of tools to get you started. Enjoy. :-)

Technorati Tags: get started copywriting

Happy Thanksgiving to writers everywhere

Spare a few minutes today to give thanks for your writing talent, and write a few paragraphs about what your talent means to you. Have a wonderful day.

If you live in a country where Thanksgiving isn't celebrated, have your own thanksgiving: write to express your gratitude.

Technorati Tags: creativity

Who's afraid of a writing contract?

Contracts are part and parcel of a writing career. A publishers' contract shouldn't intimidate you. You have nothing to fear until you sign -- so sort out anything you're concerned about before you sign.

I cross out any clauses I'm not happy with, and initial the alteration.

Read Cheryl Wright's excellent article on contracts here.

Her top tips:

* Check over your contract at least three times.
* Highlight anything you don’t understand or are unhappy about.
* Discuss them with your publisher.
* Keep all correspondence to and from your publisher for future use.
* Always keep a ‘paper trail’ that can be followed. (Even if it’s on the computer!)
* If you don’t feel comfortable with something, there’s probably a reason.

Technorati Tags: Business

Today's Writing Tip: Compendium of Idea Generation Methods -- use them to create your own passive income

Check out this great page of idea generators. You may be using several of these methods already, but chances are that most will be new to you.

However, don't just read them. Use them. I'll be using these idea generation methods to create more writing income as I've described in my book Writing for Online Cash.

Technorati Tags: creativity

Today's Writing Tip: Accept your gifts of the imagination and write

In "Just write: make mud" I wrote that creative anxiety never quite disappears. However, if you pay attention and write/ use the that gifts your imagination brings you you may find that anxiety troubles you less.

What gifts?

Your imagination is always giving you gifts. For example, a mental image may come to you of a woman dancing on top of a table. This is pure imagination, and it's a gift. Stay with the image for a while. Close your eyes. When the image starts to shift to something else (say a beach, or a mountain top), this is your clue to write.

Now write, using all your senses (touch, taste, sound, sight etc) the scene of the woman on the tabletop. What clothes was she wearing? Young, old? Anyone else in the scene? Don't worry about who or why she is, just write what you imagine and feel.

These images are very like dreams -- if you don't write them down, they will fade. Then they're GONE. So write them down when they happen. If you're driving, pull over. :-)

Accept your gifts.

Technorati Tags: creativity

Giggle of the Day: Romance novel summary says it all

Read this review on Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Novels.

Sassy American heiress meets high-in-the-instep English earl.

Sassy American heiress immediately rubs high-in-the-instep English earl the wrong way.

Priceless. :-)

Technorati Tags: books

Contest: What's your greatest writing challenge?

I'm working on a new ebook for writers about coping with writing challenges.

My own biggest challenge is finding time for all my writing projects.

What's YOUR greatest challenge? Please leave a note in the comments, with an email address for me to contact you. If you'd rather contact me directly, send a message to angela.booth(AT)gmail.com

The challenges that I'm covering include common problems that writers face in writing fiction, nonfiction, copywriting, and in selling and marketing their work.

The prize: a copy of the ebook. :-)

Technorati Tags: writing

Mac: Latest version of RapidWeaver out of beta

If you're looking for a super-easy and fast way to create a Web site you'll love RapidWeaver. RW makes creating a site so simple that anyone can do it -- you don't need to know a word of HTML. Perfect for writers, who just want to write. :-)

Yes, I know I'm gushing, but this program is a perfect exmple of why Mac software outshines Windows -- you spend your time creating, rather than tinkering with the software.

I used the latest version of RW to create my new site while the program was still in beta, and it performed without a hiccup. Visit the Showcase to check out hundreds of sites created with RW.

Disclaimer: I have no connection with the developers. I'm just a thrilled user of the program.

Technorati Tags: Mac Tiger, software