Again thank you for such a generous and wonderful response. I’m posting almost all the advice that was sent in. (If your advice isn’t posted it’s because it wasn’t quite suited for readers of this blog .) More to come over the next few weeks so stay tuned. I wish I could let everyone know when their advice appears, but time and numbers make it impossible.
Butts in seats. Set a timer for how long you want to write. Do not get up until timer goes off. Make certain you're writing while you're sitting. Repeat daily. - Libbe HaLevy, Blast Your "Writer's Block" to Smithereens!, www.WriteYourBrainsOut.com
Writing a Non-Fiction Book Proposal
I think blogging helped me be featured in New York Times, LA Times, USA Today ….Blogging has been a way to connect with my readers. - Natalie Caine M.A.
Write daily, even if it’s only email, develop a thick skin and an ability to hear critique about your writing. Don’t become too attached to your words but deeply care for your ideas and thoughts. .- Jill Nussinow http://www.theveggiequeen.com
The best thing I have learned about writing for the web (on any topic) is to write in natural voice, without hype. Write as if the website visitor is sitting in front of you. - Teajai 'T J' Kimsey www.IdeasThatWork.net
Believe in your story and yourself. Work at your craft, improve it. Never let rejection stop you. Know how much you want to be publish and don't settle for anything less that what you want. -
Susan May www.susanCmay.com
The more queries/submissions you have going at one time, the greater your likelihood of getting published. So, rather than obsessing over writing the "perfect" query or finding the most brilliant idea you can, you need to get out there and not get too attached to any one idea. That's my $.02. Thanks! - Susan Johnston www.susan-johnston.com
A lot of people say they want to be a writer. This is a silly comment, because writing isn't about "being," it's about "doing." Writing means butt to the chair, fingers to the keyboard, no excuses, just do it. - Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD
www.eileenkennedymoore.com Co-author of "The Unwritten Rules of Friendship: Simple Strategies to Help Your Child Make Friends" (Little,Brown)
Although it's good to know about the business of publishing, far too many writers worry far too much about how to find an agent or figure royalties and not nearly enough about learning their craft. But if they don't master the basics of storytelling, plot, characterization, dialogue, and research techniques, they're left with a work that no agent in the world will want to see and no publisher will want to bring out. First things first.
- Gretchen Hirsch www.midwestbookdocs.com
http://writebetternow.blogspot.com
Read, write daily, start with sensory images to get your first draft flowing, and read advice from other experts at Writer Advice, www.writeradvice.com. – B.Lynn Goodwin
I appreciate reading all the suggestions about writing. Sitting my butt down to write is the hardest thing I've had to deal with when it comes to writing. Starting a blog is a suggestion that I'm now doing. Hopefully it helps to keep me in a routine and keeps me writing.
Posted by: To Teach the Teacher | February 25, 2009 at 03:23 PM
Teach - Thanks - glad the suggestions are helpful. Good luck with the blog!
Posted by: Barbara | February 26, 2009 at 09:19 AM
Very nice commentary Heather! I stluggre with when to call myself a writer as well, but I came to the conclusion that if I'm writing I must therefore be a writer.I loved all the comments about how God has blessed people with the ability to write. I have a very different situation however. Whether or not God has gifted me with the ability to write I don't know yet. I am a writer. The novel I'm currently finishing is over 100,000 words (so far)and will close in about another 15-20,000.The interesting thing is, I have NEVER wanted to write. In fact, there's days I don't want to write now. But God two of my favorite words God has given me a story (four actually) and He seems quite sure I must write it. Where I stluggre most is that I am very good at so many other things. Financially, writing has not been lucrative for me yet, I'm unpublished. But God won't give up, He won't let me rest, He stays on me constantly.Am I an anomaly? Am I the only one writing against my will? (ha ha) I won't say that I don't enjoy it, just that it is not my first love or my first God given talent, at least in my own opinion. It's also probably the most difficult, time consuming, off the wall thing I've ever had to TRUST God in.Help?
Posted by: Tamara | May 18, 2012 at 06:23 PM