Angela Booth's Writing Blog

Fab Freelance Writing Ezine: Write articles, build your Web presence

I've got an exciting year planned for Fab Freelance Writing Ezine.

Upcoming articles include:

* Top Five Tips for Writing Articles for the Web (this week)

* Creating a Presence Online: Build a Platform, Get Readers, Make Sales (next week)

If you're a freelance writer and want to make 2008 your best writing year ever, Fab Freelance Writing Ezine will give you the tools you need.

The next issue is out on Wednesday.

If you have suggestions for information you'd like to see in the ezine, please let me know in the comments.

Technorati Tags: write for the Web

Holiday Gift Pack For Writers - make 2008 your best writing year ever

Grabbed the Holiday Gift Pack For Writers yet? It will make 2008 your best writing year ever.

Discover writing for magazines, copywriting, the Easy-Write process and much more.

This holiday special is now in its final days.

Enjoy. :-)

The only way to write is to write: demolish writer's block forever

The only way to write is to write. Sounds obvious, doesn't it? Unfortunately, if you're a new writer, or an experienced writer who's suffering from writer's block, it may not be obvious.

The only way to write, is to write, but sometimes you get in your own way.

Here are three ways in which you block yourself:

1. You demand of yourself that you write in a certain way, to achieve a specific goal

Let's see how this works. You're writing a mystery novel. You want to write a mystery in the style of ___________, who happens to be your favorite writer.

This can work, but often it doesn't, for the simple reason that you are you, you're not your favorite writer.

When you set out to write a specific project, be yourself. Write it your way - just start writing. If you make demands of your creative muse, you're likely to become blocked. Accept yourself and the way you write.

That's not to say that you can't write in the style of someone else. When I read some writers, like Charles Dickens and PG Wodehouse for example, I tend to write in their style, and need to journal for a while to get out of it - this comes naturally for me.

Do what's natural for you: write your way. If your writing is flowing easily, that's great; something's working. It's a mind state, and since it is, after you become aware that it is, you can tap into this mind state on demand.

2. You don't journal about your writing as you write

Journaling is a great way to break blocks. Journal right in the middle of your current project.

I just write: [THOUGHTS] and journal. When I've finished thinking on the computer screen, I end it with [/THOUGHTS].

I leave my thoughts in the project until it's complete, then I save the file as Version 2, and delete the thoughts in the new file. I always leave the original "thoughts" with the previous version of the file, because then I can  return to a previous version and discover what I was thinking at that time.

Writing about your current project while you're in the middle of it stops you blocking - you're writing, aren't you? :-)

3. You don't schedule your writing

I love schedules. My mantra is: "If it's not written down, I don't do it" - so I schedule everything.

I have a daily schedule, a list of writing tasks that I must get done, plus long lists of tasks for each project I'm writing. I work through those additional tasks after I've done all the tasks I MUST complete on a certain day: the ones I've specifically scheduled.

If you're not a full-time writer, you nevertheless must schedule your writing. If you don't schedule it, it won't get done, and you'll convince yourself that you have writer's block when the reality is that you're just procrastinating.

Create a schedule, even if you're fitting writing in between working two jobs and raising a family. You can build a writing career even if you're busy with other things, but only if you write, so schedule ten minutes, 20 minutes or an hour for your writing. Every day.

At the time you've chosen, write.

So there you have it: the only way to write is to write. All you need to do is get out of your own way.

Technorati Tags: 100 ways to be more creative

Write more in 2008

Will 2008 be the year that you achieve your dreams? Here's a tip: the more you write, the more you can write. If 2007 has been a disappointing year for your writing, decide now that 2008 will be different.

Stop procrastinating, and go for your writing dreams in 2008.

What if you could WRITE MORE – effortlessly? What if you could stop procrastination for good?

It's possible to write more – to write at least a thousand words an hour, easily and effortlessly.

It's possible to enjoy writing, and to look forward to writing as the best part of your day.

It's possible to plan your writing career, or if you're a hobbyist, to get real joy out of your hobby.

What if the words flowed from your fingertips as soon as you sat down to write? What would your life be like then? What could you achieve? The "Top 70 Writing Tips To Help You To Write More" helps you to write more, guaranteed.

Technorati Tags: be more productive

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas dear writer. Have a wonderful day. :-)

ITZ SANTA

moar funny pictures

Five writer/ blogger's New Year's resolutions to keep

Gotta blog? Good. Creating and maintaining a blog shows commitment to your writing, and if there's ONE thing which will guarantee writing success, it's commitment.

Because I love writers and bloggers, here are five points I wish writer/ bloggers would keep in mind when creating New Year's resolutions:

1. Stop the whining already

What is it with writers who blog? All writers. Bestselling writers whine on their blogs, aspiring writers whine... Blogger dearest, if I want whining, I can get it any day of the week in daily life. I don't need to read a blog to get whining.

Your readers read you for inspiration and a little light in their lives, not to become depressed.

So stop it.

If you need a cathartic outlet for your spleen, use a personal journal. I'm a big fan of Life Writing - that is, writing through the challenges of your life. However, that stuff belongs in a personal journal, not on a public blog.

(BTW - I've included lots of Life Writing exercises in Your EveryDay Write - Life Writing is good for you: you'll work through many challenges and blocks.)

2. Write what you want to write, and what you think

It's your blog. Write what you like. You don't need anyone's approval, and you're as entitled to your beliefs and opinions as anyone else.

And following on from that...

3. Delete vicious comments fast - set your comments to "require approval"

You're under no obligation to allow mean-spirited people to post comments. Indeed, you're under no obligation to allow anyone to post comments. See #2.

4. Give your readers a takeaway with each post

When you blog, your aim is to get readers, and you'll attract readers when you come up with nuggets of information and entertainment. You're not writing War and Peace. (Although you could be, of course, if you're blooking... :-)

Share your writing life. Share what works for you - and what doesn't. (But watch #1.)

5. Focus your blog - one subject per blog

Your blog needs to be about something. Pick something to blog about, and stick to it. This means that if your blog is about mystery novels, or writing short stories, or you're blogging your latest book, stick to the point.

Of course, you can write the occasional post about your life if you wish, but make it very occasional. If you're blogging your family life, that's fine, but it belongs on another blog - your "my family blog". You can have more than one blog, and if you have many interests, start a blog for each.

Interested in pro blogging? Read Blogging for Dollars.

Technorati Tags: blog your writing

Writing Web sites and developing online real estate - become a publisher

Many freelance writers are jumping onto the "Web real estate" publishing trend. Essentially, it means that you're a publisher, but instead of creating magazines or books, you're creating Web sites.

"Building an Online Empire: 16 Types of Websites You Can Create for Profit" has an excellent outline of the many, many different kinds of sites you can create.

The kinds of site YOU can create depend on your own interests.

Why create Web sites?

Essentially, it's so you can make money from your writing skills. You can monetize the Web sites you create in many ways. You can also create small sites and sell them.

A Web site has a value; several writing colleagues have switched from writing for magazines to writing Web sites - they're making more income than they did from writing for magazines.

How much money? Sites with minimal content sell for $5000 to $10,000, especially if they've been online for a few months and have started to generate income. People want to buy a site for various reasons, and buying a site which is already online has powerful benefits for search engine traffic.

How to create Web sites if you're not a geek

Many writers baulk at the idea of creating Web sites. It sounds difficult. However, if you can use a word processor, you can create Web sites.

My ebook package "Super-Fast Money-Making Web Sites For Writers: Join The Web-Publishing Bonanza" shows you the benefits of creating fast Web sites, including:

* It's very profitable - what could you do with an extra $10 a day... an extra $100 a day... or an extra $300 a day?

* Any writer can write money-making Web sites, even beginning writers;

* As a writer, you have skills that parlay directly into creating Web sites - it's very much like writing a series of articles.

In addition to generating income, writing your own Web sites is a lot of fun. If you're bored with the writing you're doing now, I encourage you to give it a try.

Technorati Tags: Web publishing

End writing confusion

Confused about your writing?

I've just posted "I don't know where to start! Why confusion is good for you" on my Fab Freelance Writing Blog.

The post covers Life Writing and PMI charts, both useful tools for any writer.

Enjoy. :-)

Technorati Tags: Motivation

Last-minute Christmas gifts for writers

Shock, horror - five days left till the big day.

If you're buying for writers on your list, here muse-attracting fun books for writers:

Books:

* Writing Open the Mind

* Writing the Wave

* With Pen in Hand

* My own Holiday Gift Pack for Writers

My favorite writing kit item, sure to be loved by any writer:

* Circa PDA - index cards with the Circa system, add, remove, rearrange to your heart's content.

Technorati Tags: writing, writing ebook

What am I grateful for, what did I learn in 2007?

Here's a fun exercise for you if you tend to look on the negatives of your writing - your whines and wails. :-)

In your journal, turn to a fresh page, and write "Five things I'm grateful for in 2007:__________"

Turn to another page, and write "Five things I learned in 2007: __________"

Your five things don't need to be writing-related, because if you're a writer, everything's related to your writing anyway. :-)

Here are some things I'm grateful for:

* My lovely, wonderful iMac, and Leopard, which make writing easy and help me to be more creative...

* My cute little Circa PDA, which keeps me motivated and on track...

* Honey, my sweetly rambunctious Jack Russell terrier, who loves me anyway, even when I can't take her for a walk because I'm busy...

Technorati Tags: journal

Top writing blogs I love in 2007

More and more writers are "getting" blogs, so there are more and more great blogs to read.

Some writing blogs I return to again and again, either because the writer has a great voice, or because he/ she makes a lot of sense.

These writing blogs are the stars of my RSS readers (FWIW, I use BlogLines and NetNewsWire).

In no special order:

* Writing Tools - Roy Peter Clark is a pleasure to read, and his book (just buy it) is a treasure;

* Neville Hobson, a professional communicator and it shows. A master of new technology for communicators;

* Lorelle on WordPress - Lorelle's an expert on kicking WordPress into shape, and much more;

* Paperback Writer - funny, profound, professional - Lynn's a writing pro with class, attitude and style;

* All Freelance Writing - Jennifer Mattern's newish blog. She grabs the writing world by the throat and shakes it;

* Ezine Articles Blog - all about articles, and why they're essential to your writing life;

* SEOBook Blog - all about SEO. Funny, controversial and always informative;

* Terry Whalin's The Writing Life - a lifetime's worth of writing knowledge. Read Terry's blog to enhance your career;

* Lee Goldberg's A Writing Life - books, TV - get a taste of one writer's life;

* Whatever - funny, informative. John Scalzi covers everything writing-related with panache;

* The Penguin Blog - you grew up reading Penguins; read the blog too.

Technorati Tags: blog your writing

The process professional writers follow that you don't

Professional writers write. That's the biggie. They get up in the morning, check their pulse, and if there's a flutter, they stumble to the computer and tap the keyboard. Or they write three pages in their notebook.

You've heard it before: "writers write."

Just doing it - writing - is vital.

Follow your muse - it's not as dopey as it sounds

So here's the process professional writers follow that you don't: they follow their muse and trust the writing process. They know that words and inspiration arrive willy nilly - you can't manage your subconscious mind (your muse), but you can follow along, picking up the words and trusting that sooner or later they'll make sense and can be structured into some kind of order.

They also know that inspiration (your muse) arrives when you're writing, not when you're watching TV or are thinking about writing.

Amateur writers believe that the words they read in a book or magazine just magically fell onto the page that way. Professional writers fall about laughing at the very idea that that's possible.

Following your muse is the reason that writing more, and writing exercises, are so valuable.

If you don't write the crumbs your muse tosses you RIGHT NOW, this very moment, you've lost them forever. Writing happens in the moment: not tomorrow, and not "when I have more time."

Writing happens NOW. What you get when you write is what you get.

If you follow your muse, you'll get more than you believe possible. Write. Trust. Follow your muse. She/ he knows more than you do. :-)

A Christmas Carol: must-read for the season

It's that time of the year: time to read A Christmas Carol again, either for your own enjoyment, or the enjoyment of deserving children you love.

Here's a treat - a 4th edition copy of A Christmas Carol (1844)  for you, if you're feeling generous. (It would make a great investment, too.)

The details: Fourth Edition.

Small 8vo. Finely bound by The Chelsea Bindery in full crimson morocco, titles and decoration to spine gilt, raised bands, single rule to boards gilt, inset with coloured onlay reproducing the frontispiece to centre of front board, twin rule to turn-ins gilt, cream plain endpapers, original covers bound in at back, all edges gilt. With colour illustrations by John Leech. A couple of very light thumb marks, a fine copy.

Very, very nice... :-)

Technorati Tags: books

My best tip for writers' block - have fun

Running with seagulls

Several readers have asked about writers' block this week. Is it something in the water, or in the air? :-)

I've written about writers' block extensively on this blog and elsewhere, so here's my best tip.

Start by giving yourself a break

Over the next two weeks, join the rest of the human race and give yourself a break from writing until the holiday season is over.

During the two weeks, let yourself wonder idly why you're experiencing resistance to your writing. Don't make a production out of it - don't stress.  Just think to yourself occasionally: "I wonder why I'm not writing?"

You'll get an answer; probably when you first wake up in the morning.

Now you know. :-)

"What would be fun for me to write?"

In the new year, ask yourself: "What would be fun for me to write?"

Make a list. You may be surprised. You may secretly want to write a novel, or a screenplay, or a poem.

Just start noodling on whatever it is, stop when it stops being fun.

Make a commitment to yourself in 2008 that you will only write what is FUN for you to write.

The creative part of you is very child-like; it likes to play. When you turn writing into play, your writing will flow like a river in full flood - you won't be able to stop it.

It all starts with your commitment to FUN.

Technorati Tags: 100 ways to be more creative