Guest Post: Being Teachable

By Trish Ryan

Last spring I finished my first book, a memoir about my search for the right God and the right guy. I'd spent the previous ten months dredging up and ruminating over every stupid thing I'd ever done, so I was pretty excited to finally reach that last page, and the pronouncement of my happily ever after.

When I sent the manuscript to my editor, I was quite sure it was complete. While it's true that my final version weighed in at a hefty 135,000 words (my contract required only 85,000), I thought this was simply because my story was BIGGER than we'd realized at the start. I had, after all, screwed up A LOT.

I checked my email hourly that week, waiting for my editor's enthusiastic words of affirmation. I imagined them in my head, something along the lines of, "This is fantastic! We may need to move some punctuation around, but other than than, it's perfect!" I was sure there would be lots of exclamation points, and perhaps the occasional word set out in all caps. Editors like to encourage first-time authors, right?

Six weeks later, a package arrived. It contained a marked-up version of my manuscript, along with a two-page (single spaced) editorial letter. Suffice to say, there were no all caps. The letter began, "An important thing to remember when telling a story is that it needs to have a cohesive narrative arc." Ouch.

But the truth is, I hadn't known. My editor saw my problem--that I had writing skill, but no writing sense--and called me on it. Rather than leaving me to wallow in my ignorance, she spent the next five months putting me through book writing boot camp, helping me transform my unwieldy collection of anecdotes and essays into an actual STORY. (One that now weighs in, interestingly enough, at about 85,000 words. )

I wasn't always the best student. It's not fun to be challenged by someone trained to identify and correct your weaknesses. I wrestled with the usual array of prideful temptations: the urge to blow off her suggestions, to cling to the stylish turns of phrase I'd come to love (these were always the ones she'd mark, "This could be clearer," or--worse--"Is this necessary?") But I fought that temptation: I took deep, calming breaths. I prayed for humility. I reminded myself that my editor wasn't a professor grading me or a critic trying to tear me down--she was part of my team, coaching me to reach beyond where I could get to on my own. And she was spot-on with her questions and comments--every single time.

Now, as I wait for my book to come out this spring, I'm sometimes asked if I have any advice for aspiring writers. It's good to listen, I say. Be teachable. That's pretty much all I've got. Having someone work on your work, adding their best to yours, is a gift. Don't refuse it.

Feel free to remind me of this the next time I blog about receiving an editorial letter...

Trish Ryan is the author of HE LOVES ME, HE LOVES ME NOT: A MEMOIR OF FAITH, HOPE, AND HAPPILY EVER AFTER (Hachette, April 30, 2008). She lives outside Boston with her husband Steve and an improbable, adorable mixed-breed dog. Her website is www.trishryanonline.com.

Guest Post: 5 Reasons Blogging Helps Me Write the Cyber Highway

By Michele L. Tune

When I first hit publish on Blogger, I was mortified. What had I done? In a whim I had created Writing the Cyber Highway, a blog where I hoped to share my struggles, triumphs, goals, and successes for all the world to see. But now I was apprehensive. Could I do it? Could I really be a "blogger?" I mean, I write. Is that so different? Before losing my nerve and deleting the entire thing, I posted immediately, welcoming my cyber neighbors to come see my new virtual home.

That was July, 2007. Now I'm a little more comfortable with my blogging abilities.

I decided it was time to share five reasons blogging has enhanced my writing life.

1. Blogging frequently, for me, has made my writing better. How? Don't you remember an adult from your youth reminding you: Practice makes perfect! This is so true. By posting blog entries several times a week - even daily at times - I've honed my writing skills. I may not be the best writer out there, but I'm more polished than I was pre-blog. Some of my posts have even sparked ideas for articles - articles that sold!

2. I've found a new confidence. In retrospect, I've always had hermit tendencies. I'd rather steal away to a quiet room than face the world. Although I'm a very compassionate and caring gal, I need "my time", and a lot of it. Too much noise clutters a writer's head - this writer anyway. So, by conversing with other bloggers, as well as honing my writing skills, my confidence has risen to new heights.

3. It has been a wonderful form of networking. I've met amazing writers along the cyber highway and am making lasting friendships all around the globe. It's a beautiful experience to glean from my blogger friends and offer support and advice when needed. According to the feedback I receive, my readers are inspired by me as well. They also offer encouragement, gentle criticism, tips, and advice because they truly desire to see me go to the next level.

4. I've learned a little HTML, which is a bonus for some writing/blogging gigs. It's fascinating and I glean from those who know it and are willing to give step-by-step instruction and as I learn, I share the knowledge with my readers.

5. Getting discovered. One of the main reasons I started my blog was because I read about a girl (I wish I could remember where!) who was blogging from her quaint home in the woods, while an editor was following her every word! The writer never ever even knew it, but eventually the editor contacted her asking to buy reprint rights for several of her posts and asked her to write an article about the process of blogging, I believe it was, and a budding relationship transpired. That girl now has a couple of books under her belt as well as some pretty nice publishing credits. I haven't been discovered like that, no, but my intuition served me well. My newest client found my blog, followed it, checked out my clips, and has hired me to write about a topic I'm so passionate about!

If you don't have a blog already, I urge you to start one. It may very well be the best choice you've ever made.

Michele L. Tune is a Freelance Writer and Blogger. Find her at www.michele-tune.com or Writing the Cyber Highway.

Guest Post: Academic Blogs, Reaching the Ivory Tower

By Delia Lloyd

For a long time, academics sat on the sidelines of the public sphere. Sure, there were famous professors like John Kenneth Galbraith--or more recently, Paul Krugman--who had tremendous influence inside the scholarly community and also shaped the public debate. For the most part, however, academics just seemed to do "something else" and we, as a society, had little knowledge of--or interest in--exactly what that was.

In recent years, however, a growing number of Ph.D.s--both inside and outside of the university--have begun sharing their expertise with a wider audience on a range of subjects that spans economics, law, political science, even literature. And the way they've done this is through blogs.

Among the most famous of these "academic blogs" is probably Freakonomics, the New York Times blog (based on the best selling book by Steven. D. Levitt and Steven J. Dubner) that sheds economic insight onto everyday occurrences. But Freakonomics is not alone. Brad De Long, a professor of economics at the University of California Berkeley, uses his blog, "Grasping Reality with Both Hands" to discuss contemporary economic trends in layman's terms.

In law, check out Balkinization and The Volokh Conspiracy, both of which provide legal analysis, punditry and cultural commentary. And in political science, Daniel Drezner offers up his daily take on developments in politics, economics and globalization.

But you don't have to write about public policy to make your disciplinary knowledge useful and engaging for a wider public. Girl With Pen is written by a PhD in English who wishes to provide inspiration and tips for "feminist scholars seeking to popularize their prose." Nor do you have to be famous. You just need some expertise on a given topic and strong research and writing skills--two things that the academy is actually good at providing.

Given how many Phds are leaving the academy these days because they are either forced out, can't find a job, or choose to do something else, this trend is encouraging. So if you have years of graduate school under your belt, a strong desire to make a difference, and nowhere to go with it all except (if you're lucky!) the classroom, look no further. The blogosphere awaits you...

Delia Lloyd is a writer/journalist based in London. In previous professional incarnations, she produced a nationally syndicated talk show for Chicago Public Radio and taught political science at The University of Chicago. Check out her website.

Letter to My Dell Inspiron 1200

Dearest Dell,

You have been among my closest confidantes over the last two and a half years, and I have enjoyed the countless hours we've spent together. You have been with me on airplanes, in coffeeshops, and during late-night blogging binges. And though, admittedly, I have a history of disfunctional relationships with electronics, I have tried to do my part by dutifully offering you memory upgrades, Norton Anti-virus software, and a secure wireless network. My eyes have seldom strayed to younger, sleeker models (OK, except the MacBook Air, but that was a mere flirtation, I remain loyal to PCs).

However, I think we both know that it's time for an upgrade.

This is a decision I do not take lightly, but I know it's best for both of us that we part ways. You just don't meet my needs anymore. You now take twenty minutes to get fully turned on, and that I cannot abide. I need someone who offers me instant gratification: someone whose battery doesn't tease me by turning on, then falling asleep after a mere ten minutes of activity, and someone who can keep up with my need for speed and efficiency. Don't worry... I will still keep you around and caress your well-worn keys on occasion, but I just can't rely on you the way I used to. Even though I may bring home someone new, rest assured that I still cherish all of the memories we've created together!

Yours 'til the hard drive dies,
Susan

As you may have gathered, I am in the market for a new laptop. The boyfriend has offered to take me computer shopping. I'm psyched, because this means that I will have someone who's not earning commission to help explain processor speeds and wireless cards. He's psyched, because it means he'll get the vicarious thrill of shopping for electronics without actually spending his own money. Of course, this also means that I need to figure out what I value in a laptop.

Wireless capabilities, word processing, and reasonable speed/hard drive space are all musts for me. A CD burner would be nice. Though I'm Mac-proficient, I prefer PCs, since I'm not doing any elaborate photo or video editing. So, fellow writers, what do you look for in a laptop? How much storage space do you need? What's your favorite model? How do you balance a readable screen with the desire for something small and portable? Any general thoughts on computer shopping?

Guest Post: Writing a Business Email

By Andrew Norcross

By now, email has become a primary method of communication. In our personal lives, email makes it possible for ongoing conversations between friends and family, who are more and more stretched across the country and the world. Gosh, I remember the days of using AOL 2.7 on my old Macintosh Performa. Seems like a decade ago…oh wait. It was. Those emails were few and far between, and the structure and flow went just about everywhere.

But as I grew up and joined the business world, I can see how this cavalier attitude, coupled with an older generation attempting to learn new technology, has created a wasteland of bad emails. Writing a business email shouldn't be difficult, nor should it end up being the mess that many of our inboxes are filled with. By now, we should all know the basics: don't blindly use "reply all", use your spell check, use a standard font type and color, etc. But what about the rest? Here's a few things to remember:

1. Subject lines matter - Nothing is worse that a subject line that, when read, gives the reader no idea what the subject is. Using vague terms discourages people from reading your email. While you're not looking to market anything, you still want to have people read what you've sent. While you don't want to include sensitive information, including an account number, particular client or product name, or some other simple identifier will go a long way to notifying the recipient what they're reading, and why.

2. Get to the point - While conversing with friends, use whatever tone you want. Sprinkle as much English Lit dust on it as you'd like, and really prose it up. But leave that style in your personal inbox. When it comes to office correspondence, short and sweet is where it's at. Keep in mind that as more and more people are reading their email on Blackberries and other PDA devices, you've got a 4 inch screen to pour over. If the email starts becoming long, maybe it deserves a phone call, with a follow-up summary email afterwards. There is a reason people don't read novels on their PocketPCs.

3. "Reply All" is ok, when used correctly - It's often that more than one person is involved in an ongoing issue, and an email chain ensues. So when responding, make an effort to point out what parts of the email pertains to each part. I've found that splitting the email into separate parts, and using some sort of heading for each person is extremely effective. It lets people focus on what part you want them to read, then they can work on their portion and you're not left with 3 responses to 1 question, and zero to another.

4. Attach nothing, unless absolutely required – We all know the risks involved with viruses in email attachments. This goes hand in hand with the idea of brevity. What's worse than reading a 3 page email on a Blackberry? Trying to read a 10 page PDF. While there are times where the file is required, don't just attach them with a simple "see attached" message, unless you're on the phone with the person and they're waiting for it. It's always a good idea to give people an idea what is in the attachment, if they're in a situation where they can't immediately access the file.

5. Use the signatures – Most companies use Microsoft Outlook as an email client. If that's the case, then use the functions! One of them is allowing for multiple signatures. I have my default signature, but I also use about 10 others. I've incorporated some "standard" responses into signatures, and using a quick right-click over an email signature will give you a list of all the ones you've created. You can even go as far as to include company logos. Simple, effective, and saves a lot of wasted time typing the same things over and over again. Also, depending on what your business is, you may want (or be required) to include a disclaimer or other policy statement.

6. Remember the basics – Use clear spelling and grammar, don't use ALL CAPS, and avoid words like "urgent" and "important." They're all important. Also, using the little red exclamation point isn't going to get it read any faster.

Andrew Norcross blogs at Restless Like Me.

Q & A: When do you say 'when'?

I'm still on vacation (blogging from my beachside lanai - highly recommended!), but I did want to offer some advice in my own words, rather than relying on my fabulous guest bloggers for the whole month. Here's a question that a reader emailed to me a few weeks ago. I have a few more guest posts to post, but I'll be back in full force very soon!

Q: How do you decide when a freelance project just isn't worth it for you, in terms of amount of research, backend work, writing time, etc. in relation to pay? I'm writing because I am in the midst of a freelance project that's kicking my butt (writing SEO articles in a very regimented format that always get kicked back for revisions, lengthening the short writing time they promised), and I'm starting to feel a little browbeaten by the amount of work required for what I'm being paid. Any advice?

A: A lot of writers (not including me, unfortunately) charge by the hour so they can avoid this type of situation. This isn't always an option, so you want to look at how much this project is earning you per hour by adding up the time it takes you to research, write, rewrite, and invoice each piece.

But more importantly, consider what you're learning and if having these writings in your portfolio this will help you land more of the type of projects you want to do. If your goal is to become an SEO guru, then you might want to learn as much as you can now so you can move up to higher paying SEO projects. If you're really hoping to write poetry or query women's magazines, then it might be time to refocus.

Here's a test I sometimes use with new-to-me editors: I test-drive one project before I commit to several or a longer term project. I pitch an idea, and if it's accepted, I'll write the article and see if the editor asks a million questions and demands multiple rewrites or if she thanks me for the article, makes a few tweaks, and promptly sends a check. Unless it's a very high-paying (or high-profile) client, I'm unlikely to work with someone again if they fall into the former category. There are enough opportunities out there that you don't need to write for people who don't respect your work.

A little over a year ago, I gave up a regular gig that wasn't giving me the money (or clips) to take me to the "next level" like I wanted. Moving on has given me more time to pursue my dream projects, and I've never looked back and second guessed that choice. If your instincts are telling you it's time to move on, then I doubt you'll regret your decision, either.

Guest Post: Balancing Freelance and Full Time Work

By Derek Walter

It's 11:30 at night, and I'm listening to a parrot sing on The Tonight Show. The vocal bird is a momentary distraction from the multiple tasks at hand – ones which would keep me from any sleep this night should I choose to tackle them all. There is that posting for my blog I wanted to finish, those two editors to e-mail back, that irritating source who won't return my messages, and of course, this posting. The totality of these tasks alone are not overwhelming, but when they must be juggled with a day job filled with needy third-grade students, it can make me wonder how much worth it this writing thing is after all.

Such is the life of the not-so-freelancer. Having inspiration for that right phrase or a new story idea in the middle of teaching nine-year-olds to divide. Hoping that I won't be too drained when the school day is over to work on my true passion – building my career and portfolio as a writer. So how does one balance these obligations? And is it possible to make the leap one day from teacher to writer? These are the questions I wrestle with, often without answers. There can only be drive, desire, hope, and inspiration. The writing life is a series of lows where hours, sometimes days go by feeling like a child who just can't quite stay balanced on his bicycle. Yet there also those highs – when your query is accepted, when you come up with a great idea to submit to your or another blog, or just the right symphony of words.

So how to balance it all? A few suggestions follow (none of which have I completely mastered)

Get organized

It may sound blasé, but being organized has been essential. After a day filled with reading groups, children who whine that they didn't get the ball enough during PE, and grading grammar assignments, I have to plan and be disciplined. Which of course means sometimes turning off the Xbox 360 or turning down an offer to get drinks.

It also means having the right organizational tools. I find Google Calendar (also called Gcal) worthwhile. It's an easy way to keep track of appointments and other obligations. The more I'm mobile, the more I feel some sort of smart phone, whether it's a Blackberry or iPhone is necessary for the aspiring freelancer.

Get online

While it would be nice to assume that you are an embryonic Hemmingway and clients and book deals will flock to you, reality is another matter.

It is essential you have your own web site. It gives you instant credibility and potential to display your portfolio. If you don't know the difference between HTML or BYOB, fret not. There are many quality hosts that have excellent templates which do not require much skill (I use 2mhost.com). Plus buying a domain name and hosting are very inexpensive, sometimes as little as $5 a month.

Also, consider blogging. The blogosphere is so spread with topics, you can write on just about anything that is your interest. And if you're reading this post, then you already know there are multiple quality blogs devoted to writing. You can exhibit as much or little effort into web design as you wish. Blogger and Wordpress both offer free sites. Or if you have your own domain, consider downloading Wordpress to run your blog.

Keep track of your web success. Sitemeter is a great tool to get stats on how well your site is doing. Also, join Technorati and Digg to promote your site by getting involved with the online community where you can rank blogs and submit sites that you are a fan of.

Get out there

Clients and web site hits won't come to you – you have to make it happen! Offer to guest post on other sites (like I'm doing here) and post on other forums and blogs with your URL. Add other sites to your blogroll, and ask others to do the same. It means spending time online and signing up and keeping track with what is new in interactivity and discussion.

Also, post and share any coverage you get. At a recent political event I was at, I walked up to reporters and introduced myself, and secured several interviews. While it wasn't for writing, the same principle applies. You can't be shy and just hope people will discover you. Self-promotion is essential.

Perhaps you may know this life. Not yet a full-time writer, yet somehow not comfortable just labeling yourself by your day job. I live in the not yet, furiously working to become independent of the constraints of the 8-to-5 world. Maybe next time I hear a singing parrot on late-night television, I can be at ease knowing I don't have to wake up in six hours.

Derek Walter is a freelance writer in California. He blogs at The Pursuit.

Guest Post: 5 Tips for Writing Pitch Letters

By Ian Paul

 

There are many different ways to take the plunge into freelance writing.  My own experience has led me to it through the world of public relations. While many writers dread PR people, the industry can provide you with a strong understanding of how the media industry works.  In addition, PR's fundamental skills are very similar to a writer's; including the keys to composing a successful pitch letter.  Here are a few tips based on my experiences from working with editors, writers and producers to help your next pitch stand out! 

1. Can your idea stand on its own merits? It doesn't matter how well written your pitch letter is if your idea is not engaging.  Obvious as this may seem you really need to take a step back and make sure your idea is strong. Pare your idea down to one sentence. Is your focus interesting, insightful, original, or innovative?  Be honest, but don't be too harsh on yourself.  Besides, further scrutiny could lead you in a direction you never considered.

2. Where do you place the 'hard sell'? In every pitch letter you inevitably have to state what publication or section you are pitching your idea to.  While there are many different ideas about how to handle this, I usually follow two simple rules:

1. If the editor oversees one department then your target is obvious so feel free to place the 'hard sell' where you feel it fits into the rhythm of the letter. 
2. If the editor directs several sections of a publication you should consider stating your focus in the early part of the letter so your reader has a clear idea of where you are going.
Either way, make sure you grab their attention with a good introduction first!

3. Tell a story, be interesting. If the editors snooze you lose! Treat your pitch like an abstract for your future piece.  Grab the reader right away with a great introduction, build momentum throughout your letter and present your facts in an engaging and clear way.  Remember that even in a query you are trying to tell a story.

4. Keep it short. Your letter should be one page or less with a nice amount of white space.  According to Maria Schneider, who blogs at The Writer's Perspective, most people are not willing to read more than 2.5 screens and they read text 25% slower on a computer monitor than on the printed page.  This advice applies specifically to blogs, but it is also a great way to think about pitches.  If your letter is too long, or the screen is filled to the brim with text, it may end up in the trash bin. 

5. Revise, Revise, Revise: Treat your pitch the same way you'd treat an article—never, never, never send out a first draft.  You might be tired, you might be hungry, you may have slaved over your letter all night and all you want to do is send it out.  NO WAY!!! The point is to get work, not to mark another item off your to do list.  In fact, do not send out your second draft!  Read it again.  'Third time's a charm' is not just a cliché!  

If you'd like to read more about pitch letters try these resources:
·        Publicity Insider's "How to Write A Great Pitch Letter": written with PR people in mind, but there are still some great tips in here for writers.
·        Get A Freelance Life: An excellent book on all things freelance from Mediabistro.com.

 

Ian Paul blogs at The Freelance Diaries.

Guest Post: Conquering Cold Email Fear

By Amanda Ryan

What is it about cold emailing editors that makes writers shake in their pj's? When I started out, it was the task on my list of writer's goals that kept getting pushed back farther and farther, until one day I came across a publication I thought would be a great fit with an article idea I hadn't quite formulated yet. I didn't know a whole lot about what I was doing when I sent that first cold email off, but afterward I felt I'd (mostly) conquered my fear and felt darn good about myself for doing it. I didn't get a go-ahead from that editor, but I learned one very important thing: it's all in the packaging. Here are my ways for getting over that initial fear and taking the plunge into cold emailing.

* Sell your idea to yourself first. Give yourself all the reasons why your idea and that publication are a great fit. In fact, they ought to get married, they're so meant to be together. That publication deserves to have your article, but more importantly, that article deserves to be in that publication.

* Imagine your pitch already accepted. I think this is what that Tony Robbins guy is always preaching, but there's a reason he's a billionaire. Imagining that you've already got the editor's approval takes all the negative edge off (I'm not good enough, there are lots of writers with better ideas, more experience, etc.), and your confidence takes over.

* There are millions out there just like you. This may not seem like such a great thing. In fact, it seems downright discouraging. But there's also a safety in numbers when it comes to the global market of freelance writing. Just think of how many bad--sometimes very, very bad--cold emails an editor gets. When you know you're good at what you do, your idea is fantastic and your email says just that (but in a clever and level-headed way), you've got a chance at impressing this person by standing out from the crowd. The archives of Deb Ng's Cover Letter Clinic are filled with other writers'cover letters, as well as Deb's excellent feedback.

* Look over other writers' shoulders. Check out some other writers' cold emails. Ask your fellow writer friends to send you some of theirs. Or, send an email to queries@renegadewriter.com for some excellent and free query letter samples.

* If you're not happy, don't send it. That is, don't send the pitch until your confidence in the piece shines through. Remember that the editor has no idea what your article is about, the research it requires or why it's important to you, and the way you portray it is the only thing s/he has to go on. Just like when you're in the drug store deciding on a new shampoo, it's the packaging that makes you take the plunge.

Amanda Ryan is a freelance writer in Vancouver, BC who blogs at From Ink to Ether.

Guest Post: Scrape Misusage (Making a Case for Grammatical Errors)

By Patricia Harrelson

Recently, Michael Martine at Remarkablogger had a good laugh after content from one of his posts, "I Have Big Hot Burning Desires," was scraped.

Blog scraping is a process whereby automated software scans thousands of blogs daily, searching for and copying content. The scraper then applies a program which rearranges and substitutes the words in the original content, reshaping it into something weirdly different. This new content is published in splogs or spam blogs. Problogger has a great post that describes scraping and what to do about it. There are a lot of issues with scraping (see here), but that's not what this post is about, nor was that the point of Martine's post.

Martine quoted the hilarious results of his scraped content so his readers could laugh with him. And so that he could make this final point:

I've seen a lot of people bitching about scrapers, but they spell it wrong, which really blunts their whole point. It's scraper, people, as in to scrape or remove forcefully, not scrapper, as in to scrap, or throw away junk. Get it right, will ya?

What I want readers and writers to think about is how this story explores language related issues: vocabulary, syntax, and especially SPELLING.

As a retired English teacher, I've long been intrigued by crafty spelling, garbled syntax, and scribbled handwriting. I think wonderful stories lie beneath the surface of these oddities--or errors as they are generally regarded.  Without a doubt, Michael Martine sees the frequent confusion of scrape and scrap as an error and tells folks to "get it right."

And yet it was the scraper's error-be-riddled version of his work that amused Martine and in which he recognized content for a delightful post—a post aimed at entertaining and educating readers. Martine uses the humor of distortion to drive toward his conclusion—a vocabulary lesson on the difference between scrape and scrap as well as a subtle reminder that his content is not junk.

So what conclusion am I driving toward?  I want to encourage the use of errors in the service of good writing.  Here are a few ways we writers have scraped misusage:

• Creative spelling becomes a captivating title or brand-name: IttyBiz

• A pair of words collapses into a new a word: weblog = BLOG, spam blog = SPLOG

• Clichés say more than a paragraph ever could: Mimi Smarty Pants

• Distorted syntax becomes evocative: See How We Almost Fly

Do usage errors make you crazy or are you on the lookout for ways to turn them into a piece of good writing? What's your favorite example of misused language turned useful or even valuable?

Patricia Harrelson is a retired English teacher who blogs at Grammar Police.

Guest Post: Set Your Goals Low - Inspiring Advice For Writers

By Tammy Brocker

In the self improvement world, there is a lot of talk about "living your dreams, reaching for the stars, setting your goals high," but I'm thinking, what if, as writers, we set our goals low and see how that goes first? Not very inspiring, I know. Can you imagine Oprah shouting YES!!! Be mediocre!!!! Do it… kind of! You can…sometimes!?? But here's my idea- "Living Your Dream" is way too much pressure. What happens when you decide you won't rest until you are famous? Well, you might be so paralyzed by the enormity of that task that you won't even get started. You'll imagine what it's going to be like when you are famous, and that's as far as you'll get.

When I was a kid, a few of my teachers told me I had a "natural gift for writing." Boy, I carried that around with me for years – those well intentioned teachers wrecked me. Other people get rejected and struggle, struggle, struggle to get published, but that won't be me, because I have a NATURAL GIFT. When I write something, angels will appear and weep at the beauty, Oprah will come and beg me to be featured on her book club, and I will say, "let me think it over O, I'll get back to you, I've got the Today show and Letterman to juggle." As soon as I get started I'll be living the writer's life: book tours, fame, more money than I know what to do with, and the adoration of my many fans. Maybe, I thought, I shouldn't even use my real name, so that I could still go to the grocery store without being mobbed by crazy fans.

A funny thing happens when you put things off: you get older and you run out of time. Julia Cameron, author of The Right to Write, says you should imagine an 80-year old version of yourself, giving the younger you advice about life. So I tried it, and the old me said, just write something for God's sake! You know, now that I think about it, she could have been nicer, she was kind of a blunt, pushy old lady. She also told me to quit worrying about my upper butt fat, but that's a whole other issue.

So I started with a blog, even though I was a big blog snob; after all, it's not a book, it's just a blog (need I remind you that I have a NATURAL GIFT?). I posted once a week though, because I didn't want to let my 12 readers down. Then, my friend asked me to contribute articles to her website. These two little things, a blog and a website, have become huge victories for my aspiring inner writer. I see my name on that website, or someone posts a comment on my blog, and I feel completely victorious. I'm not famous, but every day I get up at 4:30 to get my writing done, and the way I see it, that makes me a writer. Published or not, famous or not, this is what I do. I work my day job, I am girlfriend and Mommy, and I write.

What happened while I was quietly pursuing these tiny goals is I realized that I am living my dream and doing what I love in my own way. I am baby stepping it to my writing goals, and in the process I realized that it's not about the fame and fortune, it's about the journey and all the little victories along the way. Okay, well, ya, I'd still like to be on Oprah, but I don't need that to validate that I am a writer.

Tammy Brocker writes for dahliabreeze.com and her own blog, twomommyblog.

Guest Post: 4 Lessons for New Writers

By Patricia Robb

I only began writing in August, but I have very quickly learned some valuable lessons along the way:

1. Is that your final answer? Don't submit an article to an editor until you are finished to the best of your ability. In the beginning I submitted articles and then kept changing my mind and sending the newer and improved versions to the editors with an e-mail to explain I liked this one better and could they please use it instead. I can just imagine the collective cringes of the editors as they received the multiple versions of my articles. Which one was the final version? In two instances the wrong version was actually published with incorrect information. Thankfully it was only for a local newsletter, but I got the message. Only submit when finished.
2. May I quote you? You need permission to quote someone if you are using their material, is another lesson I had to learn. As I was frantically trying to get permission to quote for an item I used in an article that had already gone to print, it was brought home to me the importance of getting permissions early on and not during publication.
3. Sounds like... The art of paraphrasing has become my new way of reporting a fact. I have discovered that you can still properly quote information by paraphrasing a quote and referencing where you got the information. A quote from a reliable source gives weight to your article.
4. Consider the source. The reliability of the person or site you are quoting from is also very important. I had gone on one site in October and they had quoted 20 million and when I went back in November it had been changed to 10.5 million which would have affected my credibility as a writer if the wrong information had gone out. Check your sources to make sure they are reliable.

Yes, I have had some close calls. I think at times one of my editors must have thought I was a psycho author as I madly e-mailed my concerns to him each day before the article was printed. But I survived and now I can truly call myself a freelance writer and a published author and that has made it all worth it. The next step will be to see my article in print and I am eagerly anticipating that.

Patricia Robb is a freelance writer from Ottawa, Canada and writes a blog for administrative assistants. Her blog is called Laughing all the Way to Work: The Ultimate Secretarial Survival Blog.

Never Rely on the Web for Your Writing Clips

Here's a lesson I learned the hard way this week: don't rely solely on links for your clips. One of my favorite lifestyle articles was posted online until the website stopped publishing. Fortunately, I got paid the full fee last year, but I don't have the pretty clip formatted with graphics and a photo anymore.

I even had some advance warning, because my editor sent me a nice note to let me know that they wouldn't be publishing anymore but she wasn't sure if/when the archives would stop working. I took the lazy way out and did nothing.

Here's what I could have done so I'd have it even after the link died:

• Converted the page to a PDF (I use DocuDesk for PDF-making).
• Printed out the article so I'd have a hard copy I could scan later.
• Taken a screen shot and saved it on my computer somewhere.
• Copied the text and graphics into a word doc (not ideal because it would lose some of the nice formatting, but still an option).

Changing links is another issue to watch out for when you're sending writing clips via email or posting on your website. Here's my newest article: Decoding Business Lingo. Time for making PDFs!

UPDATE: Thank you to Grammar Geek for the brilliant suggestion that I look up my articles using Google's cached pages. See her comment on this post for full instructions!

Guest Post: Write What You Mean

By Christopher D. Hall

We've had the amazing experience of reading someone's writing build up, layer upon layer, until, in the last paragraph or chapter, the author with a flourish reveals his conclusion, "Thus the sun must revolve around the earth!" We gasp at how skillful he was in leading us right to where he wanted us. It is shocking, to be pulled along, hook-line-and-sinker by an amazing thinker who convinces you unwittingly and forces you to her own conclusion…or at least the reasonableness of her conclusion.

Mystery writers are particularly gifted at this, especially when the perp is not some deus ex machina but has been in the narrative all along, dropping bread crumbs throughout the story. Whether reading fiction or non-fiction, that experience can be electrifying, seeing the power of words, of arguments, of leading a reader in the direction you have planned, carrying him through until he's convinced in the end.

Attempting to emulate this without the skill and gift is a fatal mistake. I can't do this, at least not by sheer will. It takes an organized, subtle, logical mind to write in an organized, subtle, and logical way. It cannot be forced, and it cannot be created ex nihilo.

You cannot write effects. Every writer wants to create certain effect in his/her readers, but we don't write effects--or affects either. We write words. In sentences. We write words that we mean, conveying the information you want to convey. If you are not writing words, but writing for an effect, with the eye to the emotional response you want your reader (hearers) to have, you will go wrong, and create nothing that makes sense nor moves anyone.

Remember that a writer writes words. That's the key to good writing. Write what you want to say, using words. Write what you are thinking. Don't try to be polished and nuanced and subtle. If you are polished and nuanced in your thinking, then it will come out on the paper. If you're not, don't pretend to be. Just write.

If you attempt to write in a way that your brain doesn't work, what will show up on your paper will be meandering and vague. It is inevitable: what is in your brain will show up on paper, in some form. If you're unclear about the point you are making, your confusion will be right there on the paper.

But if it's the case that you're not sure which approach would be best, that is, what sort of argument to make, how to introduce this topic which builds to that topic, what kind of rhetorical outline to use, the best approach is to simply pick one and write. If it's the wrong approach or outline, then you'll know when you edit it.

If you're writing because you want the reader to feel the way you feel, then you must feel, and write what you feel and explain why. Know what you want to say, then write it down. It works.

Christopher D. Hall is a Lutheran pastor, husband, father of four, freelancer and blogger for This Side of the Pulpit.

Guest Post: Asking Interesting Interview Questions

By Gabrielle Linnell

I don't have the privilege of being a well-known published author, though I can fantasize. In those fantasies, I imagine that in the middle of all the commercial and critical success, it would get old—really old—to be constantly answering the questions, "What is your inspiration?" "How did you get published?" "Why did you write this book?" "What is your inspiration?"

See the imminent boredom?

As the editor of an e-zine for teen writers, I've interviewed a bunch of fabulous authors, mostly YA ones. I love discovering more about an author's writing process, life, etc. But I bleed (metaphorically) for these authors because I know they get asked the same questions all the time. Often by me.

So, in the interests of well known interviewees everywhere, here are ideas on asking the question they never see coming.

Get gritty with their book/product. Look for all the random little facts. Does the protagonist always count to 54 cows before sleeping? Is the color on the milk cartons purple? Does the surgeon always sing "76 Trombones" before injecting Botox? WHY do they do that?

Tell me about yourself, sort of. Favorite joke? Favorite fat-free product? Least liked country singer? Least liked fashion era? I once saw a blogger ask an author what her favorite curse word was—hilarious AND unexpected. Hypothetical situations ("If you were alone on an island") are great too. Whether it relates to the topic of the interview or not, throw in a few of these.

Expert me, please. Give them their pre-designed soapbox. Instead of asking what their view is on vegetarianism, ask how veggie-eaters are portrayed in film. Forgo "What is the state of the publishing industry?" in favor of "What ancient civilizations remind you of publishing?" Like a brilliant journalist, always search for the crazy and never-used angle.

Of course, the authors and famous interviewees will never get off easy. The boring questions must be asked, because they are important ones. But seriously: why would any surgeon sing Broadway before Botox?

It never hurts to ask.

Gabrielle Linnell can be found writing for Innovative: A Word for the WriTeen and asking a well-rounded mix of questions.

Guest Post: 4 Quick Ways to Improve Your Writing

By Kelvin Lee

As an offshoot of writing a column for the Sunstar Davao newspaper, a short stint as Food Correspondent for the That's Beijing magazine (when I lived in China) and as a contributor to the AIM (Asian Institute of Management) Leader Magazine, I managed to pick up some basic writing tips which I think anyone can use.

I believe these tips can quickly improve the quality of your work. They mostly revolve around keeping things short and simple:

1.) K.I.S.S. –Keep It Simple Stupid. Readers as a whole don't like it when you complicate the things you are writing. It tends to tire them out and discourages them from reading more.

Simplicity is key. Otherwise, you're just trying to show off to your readers. The point of writing anything is to make yourself understood. Not to show off. Stick to the basics and keep things simple. Your readers will thank you for it.

2.) Shorten Your Sentences. Shorten Your Paragraphs– Be like Ernest Hemingway. He liked his sentences "cut to the bone." He abhorred long and complicated ones. Even if you think it makes you look smart to have a hundred word sentence, trust me, you don't. Instead you are just making things difficult for both yourself and your reader.

Get rid of all the unnecessary words in your sentences and in your work. Stick to the barest minimum you need to get your point across.

While we're at it, try to stick to short paragraphs too. Long paragraphs tend to tire out the reader and looks daunting to the naked eye. Reader fatigue will set in, and you don't want that.

In fact, you could try one sentence paragraphs. The successful Brazen Careerist author and blogger Penelope Trunk swears by this technique and tries to get away with as many one sentence paragraphs as she can.

3.) One Thought, One Paragraph – Author Stephen King, in his memoir On Writing, believes that having one basic thought in a paragraph works best when writing.

This is because having more than one idea in a paragraph tends to confuse readers. They lose the train of thought of the article. Instead of understanding what the written piece is trying to say, readers wind up trying to figure out what each individual paragraph is saying and how they connect to each other.

This wastes the time of the reader, and that means the time the writer spent writing the piece has just been wasted too.

Try to stick to one idea per paragraph. This keep your ideas organized and helps you with the flow of your written work

4.) Use Words You Know – When I used to check essays as a teacher, I was always irritated at the number of fancy words my students would use in their writing.

They would get a simple word they did know, pick up a thesaurus, and then just throw in the fanciest synonym that they saw. This was exactly what George W. Bush did in Phillips Academy, Andover, when he was in high school. To impress his teachers, he replaced the word "tears" in his essay with "lacerates." He got a big fat zero for his trouble.

It didn't work for George W. Bush and it definitely won't work for you.

Use words you know. Use words you understand. That way, you'll at least know what you're writing (and you can probably avoid that failing mark too).

In Short
To write articles that are readable, complexity is the enemy. Unless you are writing for an academic journal, there is no point in making things complicated.

Keep things simple. Keep things short. Stick to one basic thought per paragraph and use words you know. You'd be surprised how quickly your writing gets better.

Improve Your Writing Skills.

Kelvin Lee is a law student and writer in the Philippines. He blogs at Bizness Blawg.

Guest Post: Writing for International Markets

By Chryselle D'Silva Dias

It may not be humanly possible, but on some mornings you could wake up and think that you've run out of potential markets to write for.

If you've had such a morning, despair not! There's hope for you yet.

If you're tired of going through the magazines on your newsstand and or are inundated with rejections, why not look beyond your country's border?

Outside of the UK, US and Canada lie a whole planet full of English speaking countries, most of which have publications looking for freelance writers to fill their pages and come up with fresh ideas for each issue of their newspaper or magazine. Take a map and point a finger at a random spot. Chances are that you will pick a country that has a high English speaking/reading population. Why not target those markets?

Writing for foreign markets is not as exotic as it sounds, however. The same rules often apply : queries, submissions, meeting deadlines and word-counts. You are still expected to show professionalism irrespective of whether you have been published there before or not.

What can you write about for foreign markets?
Well, how about travel articles? Your neck of the woods may seem boring to you, but to someone on another continent, it may well be an exotic destination on their top-ten list of places to see. Take advantage of the distance and keep the allure alive. Destination, travel and lifestyle pieces are always wanted.

Taking off from that idea, pick your speciality and take a spin on it. Like food? Why not dish out some quick regional recipes? For example, if you're Indian, cash in on the wide appeal of spicy curries and show the world a new trick or two. Indian food is not only about curries; recipes that move away from the standard fare will also be welcome. Write about your country's history, food, festivals and holidays.

Other ideas could include writing about events in your target market, profiling people in your target audience (how about profiles on expats living in your country?)

Finding an appropriate market
This should ideally be the first thing to do. For me, finding a market and then tailoring an idea to it is usually a sensible option. Occasionally, the reverse works. Pick the one that works for you.

The usual places to look for markets online are the online market listings. Thanks to the internet, it is not too hard to locate a newspaper or magazine in your target country. Most of these will also have an online edition which will give you a clue about their contents and style. When you can't afford to import sample copies, study the online versions carefully instead.

Then, you can always ask friends and relatives to keep copies for you. Even better, find a friend on a writers forum to swap magazine copies.

For reference and more ideas, take a look at these articles :
A whole list of articles on International writing at Writing-World.com
Writing for International Markets by Raymond Wells
How to study a magazine you've never seen by Mridu Khullar

Chryselle D'Silva Dias is a UK-based freelance writer who blogs at The Inspired Writer.