Writing is helping me get to know myself better than I used to. Criticism, doubly so. My favorite thing about writing on the Internet is that commenters critique my work for free. If I’ve written a piece that resonates with them, they’ll tell me and I’ll be happy. If they tell me my proud observations...
Dorothy Parker famously said: “I hate writing. I enjoy having written.” Don’t we all? We love the end result, the feeling of accomplishment and creative fulfillment. But the hardest thing for most writers is the simple act of getting started. Here’s the usual scenario: A great idea pops into your head while in the shower....
While being a writer has major advantages, it also has its own challenges. Anything without challenges is boring because challenges mould and train us. Some challenges can drain the life out of us, though, which is why it is good to enlist help from others when we experience them. Below are some of the major...
Sometimes it seems like everyone I know either is a published writer (traditional or indie) or wants to be one. There is, essentially, only one difference between the two: One group finished their books and one didn’t. Not finishing is part of the writer’s condition, though. It happens to everyone. Even those who finished their...
In an earlier post we showed you five reasons to write your own book. Now, let’s talk about the steps you must take to make this happen. 1. Create a plan Have you heard the popular saying that failing to plan is planning to fail? If you want to write a book the first step is to create a plan;...
Writing is absolutely essential to modern life. From news stories, social media posts, and art to politics, academics, and business, few other skills (if any) are as important or influential as the capacity to express oneself clearly, intelligently, and convincingly via the written word. It’s no wonder, then, that the search phrase “How do I...
Oftentimes, people think that being a writer and being an author are the same, especially because they are in the same line of work. Their work might be similar, but they are not the same. First, definitions. A writer is someone who carefully puts words together in a written form for a particular purpose, while...
Have you ever felt that you are a slow writer, especially when compared to the speed at which your friends and colleagues churn out great pieces of writing? I will share with you tips to help you write faster. Being a “slow writer” is nothing to worry about. Writing, like every other skill, improves over...
It is possible for you to have a flair for writing but because of some criticism of your work, you feel you are not meant to be a writer. In spite of those doubts you might have, here are some indicators that you are meant to be a writer: 1. You have a childhood passion...
There are plenty of folks happy to tell you how to write better, just as any doctor will tell you to “eat right and exercise.” But changing your writing (or eating) habits only happens when you understand why you do what you do. I can help you with that. That proposal or email you...
