Write
September 23rd, 2009Write
Who Doesn’t Want to be a Writer?
Like any field, excellent writing requires study, practice and mentorship. Very few successful authors ever published their first draft of their first work. Nearly all had to expend considerable effort to improve their craft. Here are some ways to prepare for that moment of publication. These tips also help keep you on your toes after publication for better and better writing results as your career develops.
- Read, read, read in your field. You can never read too much when you’re trying to excel as a writer. Reading in your field helps you develop a discerning eye. You need this discerning eye for when you step back and look at your own work.
- Cultivate role models. Know who the top-selling authors are in your field. Find out more about them. How did they get to where they are? Do searches in the Internet (available in most libraries-ask your librarian how to use a search engine) for information about particular authors whose careers you admire. Let your role models inspire rather than daunt you. There is no competition, only inspiration, potential teachers and opportunities for cooperation. That author you envy this year may be writing a blurb for your first novel next year.
- Research your markets. If you want to publish in periodicals, whether literary fiction, journalistic writing, or anything else, realize publication standards serve a purpose other than to frustrate new authors.
- Take classes. Many cities offer writing classes through community colleges or local writing groups. Online writing classes are popping up everywhere. If possible, choose a writing teacher who has published in a field you’d like to enter. Even better, find someone you already consider a mentor. Not every published author has what it takes to offer beginning writers what they need, but many do.
- Join or start a writer’s group in your area. We teach best what we most need to learn. There is no better way to improve your own writing than to help others with theirs.
- Find a writing buddy with whom to check in on a regular basis. The two of you can be each others’ inspiration, accountability market, guidepost and reality check. Having structure and someone to check in with may help you look forward to your otherwise lonely writing sessions.
- Play with changing voices. Copy other writers you admire. How does that feel? Pretend you suddenly got an injection of creativity serum or I.Q. booster, then write like mad for ten minutes. What happens to the quality of your words? Is this a possible new direction for you? As creative and intelligent beings, we have so much more within us than we could ever dream.
- Accept the reality of rewriting. Unlike other professions who get to rest on their milestones, for writers, a completed manuscript often represents a beginning. The best writing comes after lots of rewriting, even for seasoned authors. You needn’t throw any of it away, but not every sentence belongs in every work. Save the scraps, but don’t get attached to where they go, or the integrity of your project will suffer.
- Get clear on what you want out of getting published. Many writers move forward without knowing where they want to wind up. As a teacher once told me, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” The answer to what you want out of getting published will help you determine the best route to take. And in publishing, those routes are many and varied. You can use our Twenty Questions as a self-help guide.
- If what you want is to get published in the least amount of time, considering hiring a ghostwriter. An extremely common but rarely discussed practice, many successful authors talk to ghostwriters, who put their skills to work on an author’s behalf. Although some such ghostwriters get a cover credit, many do not, hence the “ghost” terminology. If you have more money than time or inclination to toil, ghostwriting may be the option for you.
Sink Your Teeth In
August 23rd, 2009Sink Your Teeth In
The First Bite Is The Hardest
Am I the only one becoming addicted to vampires?
I don’t mean those silly little Twilight vampires. I mean “real” vampires. You know, like the ones in True Blood.
OK, maybe I’m just in love with “Jessica” – a.k.a. Deborah Ann Woll.
Predict The Stock Market
August 5th, 2009Predict The Stock Market
Easy
Some people say that you can’t accurately predict what individual stocks will do. I disagree.
I’ve discovered an extremely accurate measure to determine when stock prices are going to drop…
I buy them.
No matter which company or industry, and no matter what their current financial situations are – when I buy their stock, the price will drop.
Over the past week I’ve been 100% accurate.
Tour de My Family Room
July 12th, 2009Tour de My Family Room
Exhaustion
As an avid cyclist, I take great pleasure in watching the Tour de France as much as possible (it’s hard to clear the entire month of July from my schedule).
But, I’m finding myself getting tired just watching these guys, especially during thr 25 mile uphill legs of the race. And, by “uphill”, we of course mean “up-steep-French-mountains”.
I’ve never done any professional bicycle racing, but probably should have. And what a cool job to have… “Hey, what do you do for work?”
“Oh, I ride around on a bike.”
I Have Fleas
June 28th, 2009I Have Fleas
Well, Sort Of
Actually, my dog and cats have fleas. This is the first time in about 8 years that any of our pets have experienced a problem with fleas. But the bugs have won the batter (so far) this year.
Now I need to decide between battling the little beasts over the next two months, or just burning down my house. The latter will be easier, but probably less convenient in the long run.
Looks like it’s chemical time.
Premature Motivation
June 28th, 2009Premature Motivation
Work
I hate it when I start getting really motivated for the work week late on Sunday.
Now, this is not a common occurance. Usually I just get depressed on Sundays, knowing that I’ll be heading back to the office on Monday. But, occasionally, a strong sense of motivation grips me on Sunday, and I’ll get this great plan of all the things I’ll accomplish come Monday morning.
Then, Monday morning the alarm goes off, and I drag myself out of bed and crawl into the office.
There will be 50 emails waiting for me, 10 voicemail messages, and at least 1 meeting.
At that point, the motivation is gone, and I’m left with nothing other than counting down the days to the next weekend.
OK, now I’m depressed again…
30 Minutes
June 28th, 200930 Minutes
The Longest
What are the longest 30 minutes in life?
Waiting for that pizza to arrive.
The online ordering services now offered by the “big guys” is cool – no need to call and try to order from someone that doesn’t speak English.
But no matter how quick and easy it is to place the order, you still need to wait for delivery. And since I usually wait until I’m starving before I order, that’s a very long 30 minutes.
Thankfully theres plenty of cold beer to pass the time with.
Everybody’s Working
May 30th, 2009Everybody’s Working
For The Weekend
Working on a Saturday isn’t so bad…
Sure, I complained about it all week. Heck, for the past two weeks. And hearing that alarm on a Saturday morning does suck.
But, I have to admit, in 8 hours at the office today I completed what would take close to 40 hours during the week. No phone calls. No coworkers. No distractions.
I might just have to start doing this more often.
Hammock Life
April 27th, 2009Hammock Life
Secrets Revealed
After much consideration, extensive research, and repeat testing, I’ve determined that 30 minutes in a hammock is better than 40 hours at work.
I realize this is a great proportion to declare, but my tests were conclusive beyond any reasonable doubt.
The trick now is determining a way to market my results. How, exactly, can I make a career out of relaxing in a hammock?
If we can unlock this mystery, I firmly believe that we will have decoded the meaning of life.
Now, back to my research…
Britney
March 6th, 2009Britney
She’s Back!
Welcome back Ms Spears…
You’re always going to be my favorite fucked-up, psychotic, celebrity. There’s a special place in my heart for you.
In fact, Britney can be my stimulus package anytime…
Personally, I hope to see MUCH more of Britney.
