Angela Booth's Writing Blog

Writing: when you don't know what to write

Each week, I receive several requests, asking for advice on what to write.

It's an impossible question for anyone to answer, including the person who's asking the question.

If you're not sure what to write, just start writing. Sooner or later, you'll have your answer, because your writing will turn into: an article, the start of a book, a short story, a novel...

Writing is a lot of fun, when you allow yourself just to write. Writing is always a process of discovery, so you don't have to know where a particular piece of writing is going when you start to write.

If you want to write for money, the answer's a lot clearer. Write what people will pay you to write.

As I said in this article How to Write for Money Online - Choose What You’ll Write — Angela Booth's Fab Freelance Writing Blog:

"When You’re Starting out: Get Paid to Write for Others

Every business of any size - and many small businesses too - needs words. Finding those businesses is easy. Just go to any of the out-sourcing sites, and bid on projects. Write the projects you win, and ask your buyers for testimonials.

Those testimonials are vital: once you’ve gained some testimonials, you can make more money than you ever could on the out-sourcing sites by creating your own Web site, and selling your services there, directly to buyers who approach you."

Here's what to do when you don't know what to write

Anytime you feel the urge to write, just grab a pen and some paper, or create a new word processor file. Then just start writing until you want to stop.

That's truly all it takes.

Sometimes what you've written will amaze you. At other times, what you've written is nonsense.

However, the next time you sit down to write you'll find that the previous writing session has loosened you up. You're suddenly inspired. You couldn't have reached that blissful state of inspiration without the previous "nothing" session of writing.

So when you don't know what to write, just start writing. :-)

Writing Success: Achieve Your Goals by Setting Deadlines

Do you set writing goals?

I hope you do, and that you ensure that every goal you set has a deadline. A goal without a deadline is simply a dream.

Here's a simple goal setting process.

1. Write down five goals you want to achieve

2. Pick one of your goals and create a deadline for it

You can't do goals, you can only do tasks, so create a list of tasks which will take you to your goal. You may not know exactly what your tasks should be, but as long as you can think of ONE task, you can start working toward achieving your goal.

For example, perhaps you want to write a book. Writing a book is a huge project. Let's say that you set a deadline of one year for the project's completion.  Now all you need to do is to create some tasks. Your first task could be: write an outline.

Writing an outline however isn't just a task; it's an entire project on its own. Therefore you'll need to chunk your outline down into tasks which take you no longer than half an hour each.

Here's a simpler example. Let's say you've just been commissioned to write five Web articles. "Write 5 articles by ___________(date)" is your goal, so now you need to create some tasks.

These tasks could include:

1. Find keywords for the articles

2. Write five article titles

3. Plan the first article

4. Write a quick draft of the first article

5. Etc

Big tip: don't get too bogged down in worrying about tasks. Writing is always a process of discovery. Be happy with one task -- tasks tend to breed. :-) So before you know it one task has turned into ten tasks. If you keep your goal in mind, your tasks will appear of their own accord. Before you know it, you'll have achieved your goal -- before your deadline.

Kick off your writing career: go from zero to $250 per hour

Time Management for Writers: Task Triage

Is time management difficult for you? Most writers aren't as productive as they could be; procrastination is a challenge. Task triage can help.

Let's look at three tips which will help you to manage your time, so that not only do you have more time for your writing, you get more done.

1. Choose Your Goals and Commit

Your first step is to choose goals and commit to them.

Successful writers take their time in setting goals, but once they've set them, rarely change them. For these writers, setting a goal is a commitment to themselves.

Struggling writers set goals quickly, and forget about them just as quickly.

Therefore, take your time in choosing at least one goal. Then, tell yourself that barring serious injury or death, you will persist until you achieve the goal.

2. Triage Tasks: Only Do What You Can Do

Once you've set a goal, you need to chunk it down. For example, let's say your goal is: "I have a Web site by ___________ (a date three weeks from now.)"

You need to chunk this down, because you can't "do" a goal, you can only do tasks.

Just make a list of tasks: "buy a domain name, get hosting, write the content for four Web pages, create the site, get it online".

Add each task to your calendar or diary, with an estimate of the time the task will take.

Certain tasks, such as "write the content for four Web pages" will need to be chunked down even further, so that each chunk takes less than half an hour. Efficient chunking, slicing up tasks, is the secret to eliminating procrastination.

But what's triage? Triage means only doing what YOU can do, and outsourcing or delegating the rest. In our example, you could outsource everything except the writing.

3. Just Show up Every Day: Results Are Cumulative

"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.

Just show up and complete your tasks.

Setting goals and task triage is the secret of successful time management for writers.

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Writing and commitment: finish your writing projects

Many writers begin projects with enthusiasm, but they begin many more projects than they finish.

"Finishing" a project means doing what you set out to do.

So if your aim is to write an essay and send it to a magazine, finishing the project is sending the essay. If finishing means writing a suspense novel and getting it published, you've completed the project when you've submitted the novel to every agent, and every publishing house which accepts author submissions on the planet, then self-publishing it if you don't get an acceptance. Finishing a project in the case of a blog means blogging until you've achieved the blog's mission - for more on missions see my Blogging For Dollars Blog.

If you're female, it may be especially hard for you to finish creative tasks. Abraham Maslow said that women are process-oriented, while men are product-oriented. Women like the writing process, men like tangible results. Women are more likely than men to leave a project when it's almost complete, and start a new project. Because they've reached the end of the process, they feel it's complete, even if it's not. :-)

Finishing projects builds your confidence

When you start a project, knowing that you will finish the project, it gives you a boost, and it ensures that you will finish it. You've committed yourself.

And over time, completing projects, no matter what the results, gives you a real buzz, and that buzz translates into a quiet confidence in yourself and in your writing.

Technorati Tags: practice your writing

Get started writing when you're blocked - roundup

I've had several requests this week for information on getting started writing when you're blocked, so here's a roundup of posts which will help:

* Free writing - this always helps. No expectations. :-)

* Brain dumps - get it out of your head and onto the computer screen. You may be blocked because you're trying to do too many things at the same time. Remember to separate planning, writing and editing.

* Try write-thinking - plan it.

* Are you an inspiration addict? Writers write. Inspiration is fickle - and it usually shows up AFTER you start writing, not before.

* Chunk large projects. Whenever I get blocked, it's always because I haven't chunked a project right down. You can also chunk tiny projects too.

* Use affirmations. They work.

* Break your procrastination habit. We all do it. Your goal should be just to be aware that you are procrastinating... when you become aware of it, procrastination loses its power over you.

* Practice. Seriously - just do it. It's a part of planning.

* Free associate - tickle your memory and get inspired.

* The secret benefit of blogs - a blog chunks your writing, and stops you "writing": what's not to like?

* Try hypnosis - it's a portal to your subconscious mind.

* Trust your creative impulses - they're a gift. Trust them and WRITE. Here's the thing: when you stop using your creativity, it atrophies. Learn to be grateful for the creative nudges you get, and follow through on them, even if it's only scribbling a note to yourself in your journal.

* Doodle. It's right-brained; it works.

So there you go; lots of ways to get started writing, no matter how blocked you are.

Technorati Tags: 100 ways to be more creative, be more productive, creativity, get started blogging, GTD, practice your writing

A NEW Writers' Webzine That YOU Write - Let me know if you're interested

I hope you're having a great weekend. I've been thinking about starting a new writers' Webzine - one that's mostly written by contributors. That's you. :-)

I don't have any preconceived ideas of what kinds of writing the Webzine will contain. It's very much up to you. It may contain:

* Writing tips and hints

* Fiction - short stories of less than 800 words

* Creative ideas - tell us what sparks your creativity

* Stories about you, your family, your pets - whatever you want to write about

* Articles about the business of writing

* Rants - got something you want to get off your chest? Rant!

* Inspiration - what inspires you?

We'll be using PublicSquare, which will make managing the Web publishing process easy.

Please let me know if you're interested in writing for the Webzine. At the moment, it will be a labor of love. There's no payment, but you're welcome to put links to your site and/ or blog, at the end of your writing. If you don't have any publishing credits at the moment, the Webzine will be a publishing credit for you.

Use the Comments section to indicate interest. Just express your interest - and tell me what you'd like to write.

If you're a new writer you're welcome, and if you're a pro, you're welcome too, because I'll be looking for editors.

Technorati Tags: 100 ways to be more creative, get published

Write more - New Ebook Shows Writers And Others How To Write More And Enjoy It

(PRESS RELEASE)

In today's online world, everyone has to write. However, writing on demand and prolifically is a challenge not just for students and professional writers, but also for business people. Copywriter Angela Booth's new ebook, Top 70 Writing Tips To Help You To Write More, is crammed with tips to make writing fun and easy.

September 3, 2006 – Writing is just as hard for professional writers as it is for people who need to write for their work – and these days, when you combine emails, business proposals, blogs and Web sites, that means just about everyone. A new ebook, Top 70 Writing Tips To Help You To Write More, has the solution.

Copywriter and author Angela Booth has been helping writers to write for almost 20 years. She says: "Many writers put off writing until the last minute. They hate to write. The words don't come easily. I'm a copywriter, so I know that business people hate to write too. Seven months ago, when I wrote a blog item -- Top 10 Writing Tips To Help You To Write More – it became hugely popular. Dozens of people find that item via the search engines every day, and I've had more thanks, compliments, questions and messages about that one item than any other."

Readers always asked for more tips, Angela says. "So I compiled all my hints and tips on how to write more, and write more easily, into an ebook. This ebook is the Top 70 Writing Tips To Help You To Write More, which has just been released. The ebook is 90 pages crammed with tips which help you to write more, whether you're a business person, a student, or a writer – everyone who writes can discover how to write fearlessly, how to be much more productive, and how to look forward to writing, and enjoy it." Angela said that she focused on tips not just for writers, but also for anyone who needs to write for business. "One of the biggest compliments I received was from a business owner who said that my tips had landed him contracts – he stopped procrastinating, wrote the proposals, and landed the contracts."

She's a writing teacher, so Angela's tested all the tips on her students. "Many of the tips started out as suggestions I made in response to challenges my students have had, so I know that the tips work."

For more information, visit:

http://www.abmagic.com/Write-More/write-more.html

http://angelabooth.com/

Angela Booth is a copywriter, author and writing teacher. Her blog, Angela Booth's Writing Blog at http://copywriter.typepad.com/ is read by thousands of writers every week.

Technorati Tags: 100 ways to be more creative, be more productive, practice your writing, productivity, time management, Writing Tip

NEW: Top 70 Writing Tips To Help You To Write More

Are you writing as much as you could be? If you're:

• Anxious when you sit down to write;

• Easily interrupted by outside distractions;

• Baffled by your inability to organize your writing;

• Frustrated: you put off writing until the last moment before a deadline, then are stressed when you rush your writing --

You'll love my new ebook, "Top 70 Writing Tips To Help You To Write More".

The book helps you to write more, and to have FUN writing - yes, writing should be fun for you, and it can be.

The ebook shows you that:

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.

The "Top 70 Writing Tips To Help You To Write More" helps you to write more, guaranteed. I compiled these tips because writers have asked for more -- the most popular post on this blog is "Top Ten Writing Tips To Help You To Write More".

So here you go: more tips on how to write more.

Enjoy. :-)

Technorati Tags: be more productive, ebook, Planning, practice your writing, productivity, writing, writing ebook, Writing Tip

Final Sale: Writing for Online Cash

Been wondering whether you should buy Writing for Online Cash?

I've got a couple of new ebooks coming out, so I'm withdrawing Writing for Online Cash on September 8. This brilliant ebook has been very successful and has had a great response among from professional writers as well as novice writers.

If you've been waiting to buy this ebook, make sure to buy it before September 8. Until then, it's at the special price of just $39.99 (previously $97.)

Technorati Tags: ebook, get started freelance writing, make money writing, marketing your writing

Podcasts: Learn more about an area of writing that interests you

Podcasts have become hugely successful online. A podcast is just an audio file, in MP3 format, that you can listen to on your computer, or save onto an MP3 player (or a CD) to listen to whenever you have a spare moment. iTunes popularized podcasts in a huge way.

I've been thinking about creating some podcasts, and have found a way which will let me combine a PowerPoint presentation with audio and make the combination easily available to you as a podcast. The podcasts will be free, of course.

What writing area would you like to know more about? Please tell me in the Comments to this post.

Here are some ideas that I have:

* Writing markets (online and offline)

* How to write more

* How to write __________ (an article, a book, for a Web site, etc)

* How to get started writing

* How to promote yourself as a writer

* How to get a job as a writer online

If there's an interest in any of the above, I'm happy to create a podcast on it. Or on any other writing topic you want to know more about.

So please, feel free to ask. :-)

Use the comments, or send me an email message, with PODCAST TOPIC in the subject line.

Technorati Tags: get started freelance writing, podcast, practice your writing, writing

Five secret benefits of blogs for writers

Gotta blog? Good. Here are five ways that blogging benefits you and your writing -- without you doing anything except blogging:

1. A blog forces you to write every day. When you write every day, you get better at it, so your blog develops your writing skills;

2. A blog stops you "writing". In other words, you stop being conscious of the fact that you're writing, and you just communicate. A wise man said that you need to write a million words before you become a writer. IMHO, the million words create the connections between all areas of your brain, your mind, and your heart, so that you write simply, clearly and effectively. Note: developing your ability to write in clearly etc is a lifetime effort. Your blog makes this (almost) effortless;

3. If I had a choice, I'd love to write like Stephen King. Or Charles Dickens. But, I can only write like me, just as you can only write like YOU. Since writing is an act of DISCOVERY, you don't know how to write like you -- you just write. When you just write, your writing topics and your writing skills develop unconsciously. The writing is your writing, for good or for ill. Your blog shows you the kind of writer YOU are;

4. Your blog gives you ideas for writing. I always advise my writing students not to begrudge their prewriting warm-ups. They help you to write better, and to write more. Don't believe me?

OK, try it. Tomorrow, before you start your writing stint, spend five minutes free writing. Just set a timer, and write anything that comes to your mind for five minutes. The only rule is that you can't stop writing. Watch what happens the rest of the day: you'll write more. And your writing will be better and easier.

Your blog is your daily writing warm-up which will help you to develop ideas.

5. Your blog makes you fearless. Hate sending out submissions to editors? Your blog will cure you of your anxiety. When you blog, you know that your writing will be read, and you get used to writing for an audience. You begin to realize that people must enjoy your writing, or they wouldn't be reading your blog. After you've been blogging for a while, you'll send out submissions with confidence.

Technorati Tags: 100 ways to be more creative, be more productive, blog how-to, blog your writing, creativity, get started blogging, writing, Writing Tip

Get the Writing Habit

What habits do you have?

I’m a chocaholic, so I’ve got a chocolate habit. I’ve also got a book habit. Plant me anywhere, and I’ll look for the nearest book shop.

Of course, my biggest habit is my Writing Habit.

Want to develop a Writing Habit? Here’s how:

Three times today, do a timed writing of five minutes. Just write wherever you happen to be. Start by describing three things you can see, and go on from there.

Do the five-minute, three-times-a-day timed writings for two weeks. This will help you to integrate writing into your day so that writing is just something you do; it'll go a long way to developing your Writing Habit.

During those two weeks, watch your own reactions. Your intuition is your creativity, and your intuition helps you in all your writing. Become aware of glimmers of ideas and feelings. What excites you? What time of the day do you most feel like writing?

At the end of three weeks, you will have developed a Writing Habit.

Technorati Tags: practice your writing

Can’t get started writing? Find models and create raw material

Like all performers, writers get stage fright -- but we call it “page” fright.

Page fright often happens when you’re writing something you haven’t written before. Here’s how to cure it:

* Find a model for the writing. A model is a template. Let’s say you’re writing a mystery novel. You would go out and find some models: read six mysteries, and outline one (the one that will be most like your novel) to see how it’s structured;

* Rehearse. Do lots of pre-writing work, like clustering and free writing to build up the raw material for your mystery novel, or whatever it is that you’re writing. The rehearsal phase can include rough drafts (I call them flash drafts) -- all the dialogue in a chapter for example, or all the settings, or character journals for all the main characters.

Modeling and rehearsing help you to write ANYTHING. Don’t skimp on the rehearsal phase. It’s a lot of fun, and low pressure.

Technorati Tags: practice your writing

My How-To-Write-No-Matter-What Process

Want to write more than you write now? If you're not writing much, it's not because you're lazy, or you lack motivation, or you don't have time management skills. It's because you lack a METHOD.

I discuss My How-To-Write-No-Matter-What Process in Writing for Online Cash -- the ebook writing manual is packed with tips like this to help you to WRITE.

Here's a clip:

Wood Allen said 90% of acting was just showing up. It's true about writing too. But what if you show up at the computer, and just sit there staring at the computer screen? On those days, you need a mechanical process to get you writing which doesn't take thought, inspiration, or prayer, and which you can use for both fiction and non-fiction.

Here it is:

1) Idea/ topic/ subject

2) Ten minutes of research

3) Word lists

4) Timed free-writing for five minutes

5) Take a break

6) First draft

I developed this process while writing copy for clients, and was delighted to find that it works for all kinds of writing, not just for copy. The process tickles your right brain/ subconscious into creative mode and is a stress-free way to get your writing done.

Try the process. It works, because it's mechanical. You don't need to wait until you're "inspired" and you can fit the steps in whenever you have a spare five minutes. I do a lot of this work on my Palm handheld when I'm out and about -- the process is very portable.

* Note: you can switch Steps 2 - 5 around, doing them in any order you please.*

Try it. Please let me know how it works for you in the Comments to this post.

Technorati Tags: practice your writing, writing ebook

Good writing = truthful writing: Share yourself

Writing truthfully can be like undressing in public, so many beginning writers worry about sharing their writing.

Be compassionate. Firstly, to yourself. Write. Write for yourself. If you write something which is painful for you, it's therapeutic. Whatever the experience was, you've managed to place it outside yourself. You'll gain a fresh perspective. What did you learn from the experience? Share your learning with your readers.

All writing takes courage. Over time, this nervousness will diminish. You'll begin to realize that people read to confirm their own opinions and prejudices, not yours.

You have a point of view that only YOU have. You were born in a specific place and time, and had experiences that no one else had. Share your ideas and thoughts, so we can all benefit.

Oprah's site has an excellent how-to on journaling. Writing in a journal can help you to be more truthful in all your writing.

Technorati Tags: practice your writing