Angela Booth's Writing Blog

Writing On Paper: I Feel Better Now

I love gadgets. This means that I own computers, an iPhone, iPad etc -- but I also have a serious stationery fetish. Not to mention a fountain pen collection. And Moleskines...

Here's why: I think better on paper than I do on the computer. Although this is fine, I kept wondering WHY I think better with a pen or pencil in my hand.

I found the answer. And I feel better now. :-)

From A Note on Paper: The Human Interface:

"Not every note I jot down has to make immediate sense. (Please suspend your thoughts about how that state lingers on until the comments.) Most note-taking software I've seen works very hard to translate the scratches I write into explicit characters or symbols. I have used certain symbols to mean particular things - for example, > to mean "make this idea into a heading," and < to mean "make this parenthetical.""

That's it. My notes don't need to make sense to me, right away.

Also, instead of copying and pasting, and calling that note-taking, I think as I write, and what I write sticks in my memory. I can go back over what I've written (with a highlighter, a red or green pen, and edit.) Later, when I get around to the "real" writing, on my computer, I've digested what I've read.

What about you? Have you eliminated pens and paper from your life? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Around the Blogs This Week: Christmas, Make Money Writing

Here’s what we discussed on the blogs this week…

A Christmas Carol: Get Into The Spirit Of The Season

It’s that time of year again… Time to get into the spirit of the season (pun intended), by reading Dickens’ immortal A Christmas Carol.

Writing Articles for Love and Cash: 4 Easy Tips You Can Use Today

Want to make money writing? If you love to write, one of the easiest ways to generate cash is by writing articles. Unfortunately, the competition’s huge. This means that payment’s very low. You need to make your articles stand out, if you want to thrive.

A Writer’s Christmas: How To Ensure It’s A Merry One

The holidays are almost upon us. Getting excited yet? I am. At this time of year, your writing can be crowded out with holiday preparations. Don’t let that happen. Otherwise you can wake up sometime in January to find that you’re missing deadlines, your client list is shrinking, and you need money now to pay those pesky credit card bills.

Top Opportunities for Writers in 2012: Offer Curation Services

In our first post in our new series,Top Opportunities for Writers in 2012, we discussed the importance of fresh content for websites in the wake of Google’s new update. This means that you can make money by offering “updating” services to your clients. Our next opportunity for writers in 2012 is offering curation services.

Ebook Writing and Selling: Questions Answered

I’ve had several questions about writing and selling ebooks this week, so let’s answer them here.

Write a Book: Use Charles Dickens’ Method to Plan Your Book

You’ve created a blurb for your book. You’ve even created an outline. Now comes the writing. Unfortunately, few things go according to plan. When you’re writing a book, nothing goes according to plan.

Make Money: Five Resolutions for Your Article Writing Business

If you’re looking for a work from home opportunity, writing articles for businesses may be for you, especially if you enjoy writing. You can live anywhere you choose, and the startup costs are minimal.

By Bye 2011: My Favorite Fab Freelance Writing Blog Posts

Here are my favorite Fab Freelance Writing Blog posts for the year.

Top Opportunities for Writers in 2012: Writing Kindle Ebooks

I’m sure you’re wondering whether you can actually make a living by self-publishing ebooks. But is this opportunity for you?

Easy WordPress for Writers: Tips for WordPress newbies

You’re a writer. You’re using WordPress. Excellent — WordPress is amazing, but it can be intimidating, too. Here are four tips which will help you to get comfortable.

An iPad Christmas: Was Santa Kind to You?

Depending on where you are in the world, Santa may have already arrived. If you received an iPad, happy days! Your iPad will change your life.

Dear Writer, Itz Santa! (hugs)

Merry Christmas, dear writer!:-)

Have a wonderful day...

 

 

Top Opportunities for Writers in 2012

Want to make 2012 your best writing year ever? It's time to explore some of the top opportunities for writers in 2012.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be covering various opportunities. I hope that several will be new to you, and that at least one will get your heart pumping and mind buzzing with inspiration.

To date, I've covered two prime opportunities:

* Google's "freshness" update;

* Content curation.

I'll be publishing the opportunities on the freelance writing blog.

By the way, I'll be updating you on writing industry news via Twitter, right throughout the holidays. So, if you get bored, join me.

There's never been a better time to be a writer -- enjoy. :-)

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A Christmas Carol: Get Into The Spirit Of The Season

It's that time of year again... Time to get into the spirit of the season (pun intended), by reading Dickens' immortal A Christmas Carol.

You can't resist the opening paragraph:

MARLEY was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it: and Scrooge's name was good upon 'Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.

And the ending's enough to bring a tear to your eye, no matter how cynical you are:

He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!

So, get yourself over to Project Gutenberg, and download A Christmas Carol in the format of your choice. (It's free.)

Read it yourself, or read it aloud to anyone who'll listen; if you have kids, read it to them at bedtime. Make it a family tradition to read this classic aloud each year.

By Christmas day, you'll join Tiny Tim and say, with joy in your heart: God bless Us, Every One!

 

 

 

 

Around the Blogs This Week: Kindle Novels, Finding Sources, Writers' Traits

Here’s what we discussed on the blogs this week…

Only Readers Matter: Focus On Readers and Conquer Rejection

Readers are right. Everyone else is WRONG. Darcie Chan’s rejected novel sold 400,000 digital copies in seven months. She’s attracting attention from movie studios and others.

Website Flipping: How to Price a Website and Make it Sell

Have you checked out the Merry Christmas Treasure Bundle yet? I chose the products for the bundle especially for you, so that you can start 2012 with a BANG, and make it your most profitable year ever. Write to Flip is part of the bundle.

Write a Kindle Novel: Write Within a Genre

Kindle novels outsell fiction 6 to one. I’ve had several questions about writing novels for the Kindle (and other ereaders) over the past few days, so I might as well answer them here.

Crazy Writer: 12 Novels in 2012

What are you doing in 2012? Bless Matt Forbeck, because he’s got an insane plan for 2012 — he’s writing 12 novels.

2011 Wrapping Up: “Best of 2011″ Ezine Issues

As part of wrapping things up for the year, I’ve been reviewing responses to the weekly Fab Freelance Writing Ezine issues. As you know, the ezine’s not archived, so I get lots of messages from readers who beg me for issues they missed.

Help! Finding Sources For Writing Pitches

If you’re looking for sources for writing pitches for magazines, or websites, the Internet can seem vast and intimidating. Here are some fast and easy ways to find the sources you need.

Two Writers’ Traits Clients Hate

If you’re a writer, chances are you have a couple of traits your clients hate. These two traits are common among writers. The good news: they’re easy to overcome, as long as make an effort to do so.

Top Tools For Writers in 2011: These are mine, share yours

What are your top writing tools in 2011 — the tools you actually use every day? I’ve listed some of mine, please share yours in the comments.

Top Opportunities for Writers in 2012: Freshness Means Writing Jobs

We’re in the final weeks of 2011, so let’s look at some of the fantastic opportunities for savvy writers in 2012. The first opportunity comes to you courtesy of Google.

Writing Fiction: Ebooks For Fiction Writers

Fiction’s the hot new thing in ebook writing. Novels and short stories out-sell nonfiction 6 to 1 on the Kindle store.

Writers are taking to fiction writing with gusto, and I’ve had many questions about which of my writing guides will help you to create fiction.

Writing Fiction: Ebooks For Fiction Writers

Fiction's the hot new thing in ebook writing. Novels and short stories out-sell nonfiction 6 to 1 on the Kindle store.

Writers are taking to fiction writing with gusto, and I've had many questions about which of my writing guides will help you to create fiction.

So, I've made a list:

* The Write A Book Collection

The "Write a Book" collection shows you exactly HOW to write and sell your books FAST, and have fun while you're doing it.

You'll be writing quality books, and building an audience. This means that you're building a long-lasting career. Not only that… Once you have an audience, publishers will be eager to snap you up: you'll be their ideal author.

* Words into Cash: Write and Sell Your Ebook in Just 8 Hours

The benefit of writing and selling ebooks is that once written, they can keep on selling forever.

Would you trade eight hours for an income stream? Even if you did this just a couple of times a year, you've created little income streams which flood money into your bank account.

* Kindle Gold Rush -- Auto Pilot Income For Writers

A complete package for you which enables you to take advantage of this hot new publishing opportunity: writing for the Kindle and other ereaders. You can create an autopilot income.

 

Around the Blogs This Week: Ebooks, Christmas Treasures, Writing Tips

Here’s what we discussed on the blogs this week…

Ebook Writing Process: Promote As You Write

Writing and selling ebooks is the easiest way to make money from your writing, long after you’ve written it. In Words into Cash: Write and Sell Your Ebook in Just 8 Hours, I give you a super-simple way to write your ebooks, without floundering, so you just get it DONE.

Christmas Treasures For Writers

The holiday season is almost upon us. This year, as always, we have a Christmas Bundle of products for you.

Sell Your Heart Out — No, Really, I’m Not Kidding

Writers hate marketing. Selling anything, much less ourselves, makes us nervous. Here’s the solution, and it’s a simple one: just do it. Get used to marketing yourself, OR confine yourself to an itty bitty writing career. (And don’t complain if you choose to do that — it’s YOUR choice.)

WordPress for Writers 1: Which WordPress?

Every writer now knows that he/ she needs a blog. That blog of course, should be WordPress.

Therefore, our new series will focus on the ins and outs of WordPress. I have dozens of WordPress blogs, which means that I know the strengths, and the weaknesses, of WordPress for writers.

Piggyback Your Way to Success

Over the years, I’ve coached many writers. All successful writers discover that they’re not alone. They make professional contacts, and then piggyback their way to success.

Writing Secret: The Power Of Introductions

You’re a writer. You need profession contacts, but how do you make them? Never underestimate the power of introductions.

Pick Yourself: Words of Wisdom From Seth Godin

Seth Godin is a marketing genius. He advises that you don’t wait for a publisher to pick you; pick yourself.

Writing Tip for 2012: Get Proactive

I’ll be giving you lots of tips to make 2012 your best writing year ever over the next few weeks. So, here’s the first one: get PROACTIVE.

Want An Agent? Don’t Shoot Yourself In the Foot

Want an agent? If you do, try not to shoot yourself in the foot.

Writing Secret: The Power Of Introductions

You're a writer. You need profession contacts, but how do you make them? Never underestimate the power of introductions.

Here's an excerpt from my guide, The Piggyback Process: Piggyback Your Way To Success -- And Money:

You can NEVER introduce yourself too often, or to too many people.

Please remember, as we’ve said, it’s all about who knows you.

Now, here’s a secret. The first time you introduce yourself, they won’t remember you.

Why should they? You don’t remember all your simple contacts either. Last week we had tradesmen call to do some minor repairs (painting, patio sealing), and although each tradesman spent several hours here, I can't remember any of their names.

Your clients are like that. You do the work, you get paid, and that's that. If you've just sent one email message, you make even less of an impression: none at all, in fact.

The benefit of introducing yourself is just that — a simple contact.
Now you can tell the editor, or the website owner, or business owner or whoever — I got in touch with you a few weeks/ months ago.

Know what happens then? I’ll tell you: instant awareness, perhaps even a touch of guilt, if he/ she didn’t respond. This is a normal human reaction, and you can use it to your advantage. You’re not being manipulative, you’re simply being professional.

A couple of years ago, I read the autobiography of Mary Kay Ash. She was the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics. She started from nothing, and when she died in 2001, Mary Kay Cosmetics were in 37 countries, and had annual sales at retail of over $2 BILLION.

Here’s what stuck in my mind. Mary Kay was always the last person to leave her office in the evening, and before she did, her motto was “one more phone call.” She knew all about introducing herself, and making professional contacts — and she kept making them.

How many professional contacts have you initiated today?

You'll learn much more about the power of introductions in The Piggyback Process.

 

Christmas Treasures For Writers

The holiday season is almost upon us.

This year, as always, we have a Christmas Bundle of products for you.

I've chosen your guides carefully. Now you can create the income you want, and work the hours you want -- from your kitchen table, or your living room sofa.

Relax, and shape the life YOU want in 2012. Get started today. You'll agree that it's a very special offer.

Enjoy. :-)

Around the Blogs This Week: Writing for The Web, Writing Novels, Blogging

Here’s what we discussed on the blogs this week…

Sourcing Images For Your Writing Clients

Occasionally a client will ask you to source images for him. Here’s the thing: clients can have weird ideas about copyright. “Just find something online,” your client might say.

Writing For The Web: Get Paid to Keep It Fresh

A webpage, and a website, are like housework: they’re never, ever done. You can offer a content updating service to your Web writing clients.

Best Description Of Writing a Novel I’ve Ever Read

You’re writing a novel. You’ve got a 101 things to consider: plot, character, action, timeline, theme, and on and on.

Would You Work For a Book Packager?

There’s an interesting article about a book packager hiring writers in Business Week.

Yes, Blogging’s An Excellent Strategy For Novelists

If you’ve considered blogging for buzz, then decided that it’s not for novelists, think again. You can and should be blogging to build a platform while you’re writing.

Writing for Money: Back to Pen and Paper (LiveScribe journal)

You’re writing for money, successfully. By definition, this means that you’re highly organized. If you’re not organized, you can’t be successful. You’ll be behind on deadlines (horror), poverty-stricken because you’re behind on sending out invoices, and stressed. The stress develops because you’re never sure at any one moment of the precise best use of your precious time.