Angela Booth's Writing Blog

Today's Writing Tip: Stop Thinking, Write Instead

As far as possible, avoid thinking about writing. Do your thinking while writing.

In this post, "Thinking about writing is different from writing", I said:

Over time, I've found that I can solve any writing challenge -- when I'm writing. As much as possible, I avoid thinking about current projects too much when I'm not in front of the computer, or when I don't have a pen in my hand.

Get your thoughts about your project onto the page. Write about your writing when you're confused or uncertain. 

For example, if you're writing a novel:

I'm not sure what I need here. Benny Cleaver [the protagonist in your short story] isn't coming to life. There's no logical reason for him to take the attitude he does. What if something happened to him when he was a child, and he's completely blocked it out?

Or you're writing a Web sales page:

I'm not sure what I should emphasize here. The client's competitors all seem to be using the sales material from the manufacturer. I should start by checking parenting forums, so that I can see what people are saying about the product. Maybe interview a couple of real life customers?

When you write about your project as you're developing the project, not only are you writing (your best ideas will always come when you're writing), you're also documenting the project. Days, weeks, and even years later, you'll be able to see what your thinking was, which means you can drop a project and go back to it.

Most importantly of all, you'll find that when you document your projects in this way, you'll build your enthusiasm, so that you're eager to start writing each day.

Want to make your writing easy and fun? Discover my Top 70 Writing Tips.

Today's Writing Tip: Routine Eliminates Resistance

Do you procrastinate? If you're too busy, too tired, too anything to write each day, say hello to resistance.

Writers write, even if they're too busy and too tired. 

They write because writing has become a routine. Every day they get out of bed early and write for a couple of hours, or they write in their lunch hour. Full-time writers write every day from 9AM to noon, and 2PM to 5PM, or whatever hours they've chosen.

Every creative person knows all about resistance. All writers meet resistance every day.

You can't fight resistance, because there's nothing there: your resistance is you.

The only way to eliminate resistance is to have a routine.

Your routine says you sit in front of your computer for your allotted time each day, and you write, no matter what. Even if the words won't come, you sit there anyway. You're a writer, so you sit, and wait, or write junk if that's what comes out on a given day...

Your routine isn't discipline -- you don't need discipline.

Your routine is humble, and ordinary, and very powerful.

Build your routine. You'll crush your resistance.

Join the inner circle of professional writers...

Professional writers know all about resistance, but they don't let it concern them. They have a wonderful writing career to build.

Today's Writing Tip: Write Something Just for Yourself

Is your writing growing a little stale? 

Writing something just for yourself will help. Often we're so caught up in what we "should" write, that writing becomes totally dry and joyless.

If you're not sure what would be fun for you to write, do this simple free writing exercise. It takes five minutes.

(Free writing is writing as quickly as possible, without stopping to think and without taking your fingers from the keyboard. Use a timer.)

In your journal, complete this sentence: "I'd love to write about_____", then just keep writing for five minutes.

In the Ezine (out tomorrow)

Here's what's in our writing tips ezine this week -- this issue is out tomorrow.

New Poll: Your Greatest Writing Challenge

It's time for a new poll. Your answers will help me to write posts which will help you -- choose one or two answers.

Thanks for responding, I appreciate it.

If you respond "other", please leave a comment, or drop me an email.

 

Easy-Write Process: Final 24 Hours

The Easy-Write Process

If you need to write, you need to be able to just get it done. Do you have a process which works for you... every time?

If you want a writing process which makes writing fun, rather than a chore, and which works for everything: blogs, sales copy, business letters, novels -- you need the Easy-Write Process.

Get it working for you today. You'll be thrilled with how much more you can accomplish.

You have just 24 hours to discover this process at the pre-launch price.

Around the Blogs This Week: Get Writing Jobs, Publish Your Book and More

I covered a lot of ground on my writing blogs this week. Discover how a young author made more than $4 million from her ebooks in one year, how to get unadvertised writing jobs and much more.

Here’s what happened on the blogs this week…

Publish Your Book on Your Blog: Yes or No?

Back in 2007, I wrote about the publication of Diary of A Wimpy Kid, which was initially published free online, and talked about the benefits of doing the same — publishing your book on the Web, first. Is that still a viable option in 2011?

Get to the Point: Online and Offline

Offline and online, waffling abounds. Not only is it frustrating, but you’re damaging your interactions, whether via email, blog posts, or in face to face meetings.

Get to the point: confidence is attractive.

Get Freelance Writing Jobs via Email

Can you use email to get writing jobs? Yes you can — IF you make it easy for your recipients to not only understand your message, but also to respond to you.

Your Writing Goals in 2011: Eagle or Turkey?

The first quarter of 2011 is almost over. How’s progress on your writing goals? It’s time to soar with the eagles… Tip: write your goals each day, so that they’re REAL for you.

Publish Your Book on Twitter: Another Way to Get Known

Twitter’s hot, and it can work for you if you’re writing a book. You may not want to publish your entire book on Twitter, but you certain can tweet little snippets to build your readership and make sales.

Avoiding Email Craziness: I Love Gmail

If your email application isn’t all it should be, give Gmail a try. I switched to Gmail years ago, and have never regretted it.

Want to Become a Better Writer? Learn the Power of Acceptance

Want to become a better writer? You can, when you accept what you’re writing when you’re writing it. You can’t dictate to your creative self, that only creates problems.

Best Book Title in the World

I share my candidate for the best book title in the world. What’s yours?

Editorial Calendar WordPress Plugin Saves Time

Editorial Calendar is one of my favorite WordPress plugins. It makes blogging much easier, and saves time too.

Your Key to Getting Writing Jobs: Follow Up

Want great writing jobs? You can get all the unadvertised, and high-paying writing jobs you want when you learn one very simple skill. Find out what it is, and prosper.

Master Your Blog: You’re the Boss

If you’re feeling that your blogging is a little out of control, you can master your blog.

Realize that you’re the boss. Discover how you do that.

AOL to Hire More Journalists: What’s It Mean?

AOL is betting big on content. What does that mean for you, the proudly independent writer?

Amanda Hocking in Four-Book $2 Million Deal

Ebook heroine Amanda Hocking has just done an amazing deal with St. Martins. That’s a cool $4 million Ms Hocking has earned in less than a year. Wonderful story.

Writing Fiction: Write in a Genre or Not?

You’re writing a novel… should you write in a genre, or not? You may just find that it’s the shortest route to writing a great book.

Your Writing Goals in 2011: Eagle or Turkey?

The first quarter of 2011 is almost over. How's your progress on your writing goals? As I discussed on the freelance writing blog last year, it's your choice: will you soar with the eagles in 2011, or flap around like a turkey? 

If you haven't set goals, it's turkey-town for you. :-)

From what writers said at the completion of our 100 Day Writing Challenge last year, the single biggest benefit they received was learning how to set goals, and how to confidently march forward to achieve them. (We'll be running the Challenge again at some point this year; so don't worry if you missed out.)

Remember that your goals have deadlines; otherwise they're just ideas, or wishes. 

Once you've set a goal, or several goals, make sure you keep your goals visible. I like to write my goals each day; this keeps them in focus. I encourage you to do the same. Reread your goals several times each day, too.

Big tip: make your goal-related tasks the FIRST thing you do each day. And yes, that may mean getting up a little earlier...

This week in Fab Freelance Writing Ezine, our topic is Get Fantastic Writing Jobs You Love -- if you've got a challenge related to finding great writing jobs, leave a message in the comments to the post.

 OK -- now stretch your wings and soar. Make 2011 your best writing year ever. I know you can do it.

Around the Blogs This Week: Write a Bestseller, Professional Writing

It’s been a busy week on the blogs. We discussed writing a bestseller, professional writing, and more.

Here’s what happened on the blogs this week…

Write a Book: Could You Write a Bestseller?

Could you write a bestseller? If you’ve got a burning desire, and if you learn how to write a book, perhaps you could.

I give you some useful advice to set you on the right path to (perhaps) bestsellerdom.

Have Fun, Make Money: Write About Your Hobbies

Don’t know what to write about? Why not write about your hobbies? Everyone has hobby, even if it’s just eating… and if you think you can’t write profitably about eating, it turns out that you’re wrong…

What do you LOVE?

You’re a Freelance Writing Pro now: 24 Hour Money Ideas

Fab Freelance Writing Ezine now has a companion Pro ezine: Fab Freelance Writing Pro.

Subscribe to receive the first issue, “24 Hour Money Ideas: Write Today, Make Money Tomorrow”.

Turbo-charge Your WordPress Blog with Jetpack

Got a WordPress blog? I love the new Jetpack plugin, and you will too. It adds lots of functionality to your WordPress site.

Launch: Fab Freelance Writing Pro — for Professional Writers

I explain why I waited so long to launch Fab Freelance Writing Pro Fab Freelance Writing Pro, and what you can expect to see in this publication.

How to Write A Book When You’re Not Sure What You Want to Write

You want to write a book. Your mind is completely blank. If this sad state of affairs sounds familiar, it’s time to develop easy ways to sneak up on your book.

New York Times Selling Content: Weird Payment Model

As promised the NY Times site has started charging for content. However, the payment model they’ve chosen seems weird.

Will it work for them? I’m a writer, so I hope it does.

Making the Leap to Self-Publishing (Fear Not)

Writing a book? These days, not only is self-publishing a viable option, it’s the sensible option. Take your publishing destiny into your own hands.

Price Your Writing Services Confidently

“How much do you charge?” If hearing that question scares you, you’re not alone. Many writers feel this way.

Discover how you can set your freelance writing rates confidently.

Words to Live by: “I Don’t Know”

Writers feel vulnerable. That’s natural. Stay with “I don’t know.” It can lead to a real breakthrough in your writing, and in your life.

Words to Live by: "I Don't Know"

Writers feel vulnerable because our work comes from who we are. That's what makes writing a different occupation from, let's say, plumbing, or cooking. 

Not knowing, beginner's mind, is valuable. When you don't know, you can't dig your current rut any deeper.

Not unknowing is uncomfortable -- don't run away from this. Stay with the discomfort. If you do, you just may have a breakthrough.

Launch: Fab Freelance Writing Pro (for Professional Writers)

I'm thrilled that Fab Freelance Writing Pro, my new publication for professional writers, is finally ready.

I've posted about the release on my Creativity Factory blog, and on my freelance writing blog.

Enjoy. :-)

 

Have Fun, Make Money: Write About Your Hobbies

Julie & Julia

Wondering what to write about? Why not write about your hobbies? Everyone has hobbies -- even if it's just eating.

Not possible, you say? Well...

Consider that Julie Powell devoted an entire blog to Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" She promoted it as: "365 days. 536 recipes. One girl and a crappy outer borough kitchen".

That blog grew into a book, which promptly developed into a movie...

Julie Powell is passionate about cooking; what are you passionate about?

I'm passionate about writing, and helping writers to succeed. You may be passionate about antique dolls, fashion, your hair... 

When you write about what turns you on, you always have something to write about. Yes, you can write about what you love and make money. :-)

The Path Less Travelled...

Writers have written about losing a job, and finding a new life, their pets, renovating a home -- think about what's happening in your life, and consider writing about it.

You can write about anything you please. A Sell Your Writing Online NOW (SYWON) student contacted me asking whether I thought she could write about her hobby, which is fascinating.

I told her "why not? Get started!"

She did, and her blog has not only developed a community, but she's also making a nice income from it. 

You don't need anyone's permission to do write about what fascinates you. If you're worried about what friends and family will say, don't tell them. Many young or new writers keep their writing a secret; you can too. 

Getting Started: You Get Inspired when You Write

Just get started. Write on an index card, in a computer file, or in a notebook. You'll get inspired when you do.

You could discuss: what you love about your hobby, what you dislike, your experiences -- just write whatever comes to mind.

Over the years, many of my longest writing gigs began when I started to write about a hobby. I wrote for one computer magazine for 15 years, and a client hired me to write his newsletter because he read an article I wrote.

The big benefit of writing about what you love is that you lose self-consciousness. Research is fun. 

This "easy writing" builds your writing muscles. 

You'll be amazed at where it can lead you.

 

Blog Post Roundup This Week: Get Hired to Write and More

Here’s what happened on the blogs this week…

Freelance Writing: Give People a Reason to Hire YOU

Want to get many more writing jobs than you’re getting how? It’s easy. All you need to do is give people a reason to hire YOU.

Yes, YOU, specifically. Discover why you must learn to present yourself authentically.

Was Author Robert Ludlum Murdered?

In a shock new book, Robert Ludlum’s nephew investigates his famous uncle’s death… was it murder?

Agatha Christie’s Celebation Cake: Delicious (Chocolatey) Death

Love chocolate cake? Jane Asher created a very special chocolate cake for Agatha Christie’s 120th anniversary last year.

If you’re an Agatha Christie fan (or just love chocolate), you’ll want to try this recipe: it’s truly to die for.

Time Your Writing Life: Use the Pomodoro Technique

Are you showing up for your writing life? Chunking down your writing time by using a timer seems a simplistic technique, but that’s the beauty of it. You don’t have time to dither when you’re on timer.

The Pomodoro Technique is beautiful in its simplicity. It just might work for you.

Your Profitable Writing Business 2: What Will You Write?

This is the second article in our new series, “Your Writing Dream: Set Up Your Own Highly Profitable Writing Business”. In this article, you’ll choose what you want to write.

Discover why writing what you enjoy is just as important as writing what makes you the most income.

Write a Novel: Settings Sell

Are you writing a novel? Give some thought to your setting. Your setting is just as important as your characters, and may even be more important.

A perfect setting for your novel not only helps you to write, but it also helps you to develop your characters: they become real to you.

Freelance Writing Career: Can Your Writer’s Website Help You Achieve Your Goals?

Your writer’s website is a tool which grows more powerful over time. Not only can it help you to attract clients, it will help you to win precisely the clients you want.

Time Your Writing Life: Use the Pomodoro Technique

I write a lot, every day, simply because I chunk my time, using a timer. I've been doing this for years, so it's just become part of the way I work.

It seems simplistic -- and it is. My writing students ask lots of questions: what timer, how, when... :-) I describe my process fully in Time to Write. 

Recently I've started recommending the Pomodoro Technique to my writing students, because it answers their questions, and you can download the ebook free.

Using a timer stops you messing around. If you know you've only got 25 minutes to write something, you get on with it and write, you don't dither. 

This is especially useful if you're working on many different projects every day; there's no time to muse and sneak in glances at Facebook or your email account when you're on a timer.

The key to success when you're timing your writing is organization.

Work out what you'll be writing next day the evening before. Just make a simple list.

The next day, turn on your timer and start work on Project 1 as soon as you sit down at your computer. When the timer rings, take a short break. Then turn on the timer again, and keep working on Project 1, or go on to Project 2... then take another break when the timer rings.

I've found that using a timer also ensures that writing is less stressful.

For example, if I'm writing something or other I'm not especially keen on (it happens :-)), I know that the longest I'll have to work on this horror project today is 25 minutes... you can put up with anything for 25 minutes. 

And those 25 minute sessions are cumulative. Here's what I said in Time to Write:

"Time management" is exactly that; managing the time you have.

Once you've set a goal, keep going until you achieve that goal.If you do, then goal setting and achieving will become a habit, and your life will become easier for one reason: you've taken control of the only thing you can manage in your life -- yourself.

Avoid second-guessing your goals once you've set them. You'll find that if you just keep completing your tasks, that everything you do is cumulative. It's like a snowball rolling down a hill. It starts small, and then gets bigger.

Occasionally when I recommend using a timer a writer will protest that she needs to be inspired.

That's fine, but you'll find that inspiration happens when you're writing, not when you're thinking about writing. 

Using a timer helps you to show up for your writing -- and showing up is all you need to do.

Live Your Passion: Write and Sell (Ezine)

The next issue of our writing tips ezine is out tomorrow.

Our theme is living your passion.

Here's an excerpt from the Editorial:

In the ezine this week, we're discussing your passion. I know that I discuss making money as a writer, because that's the entire point of both the ezine and the blog.

However, passion is equally important. Someone once said that if you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life. That's very true; I don't think of my writing as work -- it's a joy. :-)

I wish you the same joy.

What are YOU passionate about?

Our three articles this week discuss living your passions.

Enjoy the issue.

Subscribe here.

 

Blog Post Roundup This Week: Million-Dollar Ebook Author, and Much More

A young author’s created a million-dollar career writing Twilight-like ebooks, the gloss has come off the content farms, discover how you can create a profitable writing business, and much more.

Here’s what happened on the blogs this week…

Article Marketing: Changes At Ezine Articles — Will They Affect You?

If you’re writing articles for clients who are involved in article marketing, you need to be aware of how those changes are affecting Ezine Articles.

Get out ahead of this coming storm, to ensure that you keep your clients, and increase your income.

Web Content: Fear and Loathing as (Some) Websites Get Hammered

Major content sites have seen huge drops in traffic. Less traffic means less income, and this affects the way they treat writers. If you’re writing for a major content site, there’s stormy weather ahead.

Successful Freelancing: How Did You Start? Share Your Story

Where and how did you begin your writing career? Share your story — even if it’s the story of your very first sale.

Content Farm Frenzy: On One Site, Writers’ Payments Are Still a Joke

I’ve been covering the brouhaha over content farms on the blog. The silver lining seemed to be that since sites would need quality content, they’d be willing to pay writers more.

Well… no. It seems that “more” is extremely relative, judging from the princely sums one site intends paying. (Heavy sarcasm.)

Your Writing Business Mindset (New Series)

Have you dreamed of setting up your own writing business?

This new series, “Your Writing Dream: Set Up Your Own Highly Profitable Writing Business”, on our freelance writing blog will help.

If you’re facing challenges, leave a comment on the post, and tell me what they are, so that I can cover them in the series.

Millionaire Self-Published Young Adult Author Sells Half a Million Books

Here’s the story of how one young, self-published ebook author became a millionaire very quickly, selling her young adult novels.

Rejected by New York publishers, she took her writing career into her own hands. Can you do this? You’ve got the tools she has — go for it. :-)

Best Writing Advice: Write Every Day

Want to be a successful writer? There’s just one piece of advice you need: write! Discover author Philip Pullman’s best advice for writers in this post.

Success Strategy: Overcome Your Fear of Making Mistakes

Are you nervous about making mistakes? Most of the mistakes we make aren’t fatal. Indeed, making a mistake can be a good thing, especially if you know what to do.

New Rules for Writers: Are You Paying Attention?

The operative word here is “attention.” A tsunami of information is created every day. As a writer, you’re competing for attention not only from prospective clients, but also, once you get hired, your words are competing for attention with everything and everyone.

Scary? Yes.

Competent Writers Are Hard to Find: the Competition Is in Your Head

You’re a writer. If you think you have competition, it’s in your head. Discover why that’s so, and what you can do about it.

Publicity Is Powerful: Make Money for Your Clients -- and Yourself

Why should YOU learn how to write press releases?

One word: money.

Once you learn how press release campaigns work, you can create simple campaigns for your clients. You can feel quite comfortable charging anywhere from $3,000 to $7,000 per campaign.

This is a drop in the bucket to businesses, which are used to paying at least 10 per cent of their net for advertising.

Writing publicity is a form of copywriting, and YOU can do it -- even as a relatively new writer. I'll show you how.