Author, Life Story Facilitator and Publishing Coach
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I
am a writer. It started when I discovered books, paper, pencils and school. The word writer is friendly and easy, not pompous and full of expectations like author or blogger.
I believe everyone is a writer because we spend our days telling stories to ourselves (although many of them are not true) about ourselves and the world around us. Sadly, many of us never write our stories down where others can be informed, inspired, and empowered by them.
I believe so much in the power of writing that I now encourage others to write and even publish their work, not to necessarily become best sellers, but to become “tellers” before they die.
Having said all that, I confess that my inner critic, Susie, still tries to discourage my writing. When she shows up I send her to the corner.
Which is why we need like-minded encouragers, supporters and sounding boards. That has been the great gift of social media. Where else and when else in history can you share your thoughts and ideas or post your inquiries with people from the around the world 24/7? For all our complaining about the pervasiveness of social media, it is a miraculous opportunity. And when combined with local networks and events, we arm ourselves with the resources and tools we need for success.
Five things to do to become a (better) writer.
1. Create a community.
You can do this on LinkedIn, Meetup or Facebook. On all these sites, decide your goal for joining the group. Then find groups that have active and robust memberships. Once you join, participate by offering valuable information, not making a pitch for your products.
2. Join a tribe.
I joined Triberr.com and GutsieIndiePublishers online, and a Southern California group called Publishers and Writers of San Diego. Not only have I met many fine writers, editors and publishers, but have discovered many new resources and techniques as well.
Perhaps you will benefit from a tribe that writes in your genre, such as the National Association of Memoir Writers, where you can have access to loads of resources, as well as learn from active memoir writers who share their experiences and tips on the member teleconferences.
3. Participate in a challenge.
I’ve been in blogging challenges and article challenges. I’ve participated in a writing challenge created by Jeff Goins and a blog challenge by Michelle Shaeffer, to name a few. Though most writing challenges offer prizes, that is not the point. My motivation is to sharpen my skills and get to know other writers. Some of the writers I’ve met in these challenges have become friends, colleagues and even joint venture partners.
4. Read.
Reading broadens you, gives you another perspective and sparks new ideas.
In his article, “Stephen King’s 20 Tips for Becoming a Frighteningly Good Writer,” Jon Morrow captures King’s key wisdom and then adds commentary of his own regarding becoming a successful blogger.
Stephen King said
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.”
Jon said
Of course, most bloggers do neither. We start a blog, squeeze in the occasional post between going to the gym and picking up take-out, and then expect it to somehow lead to fame and fortune.
Sorry, but that’s not how it works. Every popular blogger I know reads at least one book every week and writes at least 1,000 words every day.
Yes, it’s a lot, but success comes at a price, folks. Are you willing to pay it?
5. Respect the revision process.
I urge you to hire or convince someone else to edit your work before you publish it. Then use their notes to make revisions. That’s why I urge my clients to get their first drafts done as fast as possible so they can get to the real work of writing: revision.
Revision is not optional. It is actually the most important part of the writing process. It’s when you shape, tone up and hone your thoughts.
“I’m not a very good writer, but I’m an excellent rewriter.”James Michener
You may have submitted your first and only drafts in high school English, and maybe even in college. But publishing your article and book for the public is a different story. They won’t be as forgiving as Miss Lewis (my 10th grade English teacher–Wait! she wasn’t that forgiving either.)
Your job as a writer is to make your ideas flow smoothly to eliminate (or at least minimize) jerks and jumps in the story you tell.
And for those of you who insist on doing your own proofreading, (gasp!) at least heed this advice.
“If you’re going to proofread your own work, do it from back to front,” says Neal Wooten
Some of the advice I’ve shared is best suited for people who want to make a living from writing or blogging. That may not be you.
Perhaps you want to be an occasional writer for whom just getting your work into print is the reward. Or maybe you want to use your writing to springboard your speaking career or leave a legacy for your grandkids or make just enough euros to pay for your lattes when you travel.
Whatever your goal, by doing these five things you will not only be a writer, but a better one for sure.
Does the idea of writing appeal to you, but you need help with getting started or back in gear? An easy way to get into the swing is to get my 4-week e-course, “Rockin’ My Book.” Once enrolled you will receive a lesson in your email each week with loads of content and suggested activitives. Get the e-course details here. You’ll get a gentle push, but no pressure. Email me with your questions throughout the course. Get the e-course now.
Just as each chapter in your book has a job to do, so does it have a structure, a framework upon which the content hangs.
If your chapter heading is a question to be answered, the content of your chapter must provide the answer, preferably in a structure that is easy to follow. A consistent structure guides the reader through your book easily, enabling her to grasp your concepts and messages.
Throughout my book, Color Your LIfe Happy: Create the Success, Abundance and Inner Joy You Deserve
1. Relevant quote
2. Attention-getter pulling the reader in the story
3. Reassure reader that he’s not alone
4. Example or story with action, dialogue or to show relationships
5. Advice or tip to bring about the change suggested in chapter title
6. Relevant comic relief to lighten mood
7. Summary of chapter
8. Activites to get reader to reflect and/or apply what was suggested in chapter
Here are excerpts from Chapter Two, Preparing Your Mind for Happiness, to demonstrate how the structure unfolds. Remember, in your mind change the chapter title into a question, How do you prepare your mind for happiness? The components of the chapter helps answer the question.
1. Relevant Quote
What you think of yourself is much more important than what others think of you.~Lucius Annaeus Seneca
2. Attention-getter pulling the reader in the story
If you’ve spent your entire life being moody, cranky, negative, judgmental, and just plain miserable, then you can’t expect to jump into happiness overnight. That would be a tremendous shock to your system—worse than being unprepared and diving into a pool of ice water. . .
3. Reassure reader that he’s not alone
For you, it’s probably scary to think about being happy—or to think it’s even attainable for you. After all, you’re comfortable and familiar with being unhappy. But if you’re going to become happy, then you’re going to have to step out of your comfort zone. Brrr!. . .
4. Example or story with action, dialogue, or to show relationships
Being happy is not for the faint-hearted. It takes courage and energy to move from one way of thinking to another or from one set of habits to another. And it seems that happiness can even worry other people.
For example, a member of my church stopped me one day and asked, “Are you always happy?”
“What do you mean?” I responded, feeling almost guilty for a moment.
“You’re always smiling,” he replied. . .
5. Advice, tips to bring about the change suggested in chapter title
You don’t need to make huge changes in your life in order to be happy, although positive changes will likely come about as a result. If you want to change your eating habits, for example, you could choose to eat half as much per meal, or just cut out one item. This small effort will get you started on your way without requiring a major overhaul.
Don’t be intimidated by others you think are happier than you. They may not be. Their happiness may be maintained with a lot of effort, just as a bodybuilder must maintain a certain lifestyle in order to keep up that chiseled appearance. . .
6. Relevant comic relief to lighten mood
Happiness Flashback I took lots of photos of my children to chronicle major and minor events in their lives. They were so used to posing for pictures in the midst of activities that no matter how upset or tearful they were, when I pulled out a camera, they froze in place and broke into smiles, and then returned to whatever dispute or turmoil they had been involved in at the time. 7. Summary of chapter
Happiness is not something you put on in the morning and remove at
night. It is a way of living. It’s the way you see the world and choose the
experiences you want to have.Four habits can help you create happiness in your life.
Conceive and visualize what you want, but be careful what you ask for.
Remember, words have power.
Set your goals without worrying about how you’ll get there.
Chop your big goal into small manageable ones. Think of small things
you can do today or tomorrow that will begin to move you toward your
goal.Instead of stepping out of your comfort zone, widen it to include new
habits and experiences. One of the easiest ways to do this is to associate
with others who are engaged in the activity that interests you.You must be willing to do whatever it takes to get where you want to
go. If you aren’t, then how do you expect to get there?Don’t let bad news stunt your growth. It’s all around us, but it can be
a dream killer if you dwell on it. Like all living things, the economy goes
in cycles. It will be down, followed by up, followed by down, and so on.Failure, though we try to avoid it, is part of life as well.
Though positive affirmations work for me, they don’t work for others.
Thinking brings about results to match it. What’s important is to find a
technique that brings about the results you desire.While you may have trouble accepting the concept of positive thinking,
consider other factors researchers agree also lead to happiness: adequate
sleep, a balanced diet and exercise.Finally, to make happiness a part of your daily life, you need to bring
your inner critic in line and enable your intuition to get louder. Be good
to yourself. Put your best interests first. Learn to say “no” to things that
pull you from your goals or deplete your positive energy.8. Activities to get reader to reflect and/or apply what was suggested in chapter
a. Make a list of all the activities, events and experiences you’ve really enjoyed. It doesn’t matter what they are. Only you know which things have made you feel good and given you joy—not only while you were doing them—but even just remembering them. They may even be things you haven’t done since childhood or your youth. . .
b. List one goal you’ve delayed or been afraid to pursue. It doesn’t matter
whether it’s a personal, spiritual or career goal. Only share your goal with people who are supportive. . .c. Do you know people who have accomplished the same goal as yours?
You don’t have to know them personally, just know where they are
located. If so, list their names here. . .
Sometimes your chapter structure will be clear to you at the very beginning. Other times it evolves as you create and/or edit your manuscript.
In either case, by having a structure throughout your book, your readers will be able to follow you easily from chapter to chapter until the end just as you planned. When this happens, they not only get the answer to the questions posed by the book title and chapters, but also now anticipate your next book.
Do you have a book idea under construction? I would love to be your partner in putting its structure in place.. If you are ready to begin, pop me an email right now with “READY” in the subject line at [email protected] . Be sure to include your phone number and I’ll call you within 24 hours.
I’m going over to check for your email right now.
According to Wikipedia the first ebook (electronic book) was created by Michael S. Hart in 1971 when he typed the United States Declaration of Independence into a computer. Hart, an author, had been given unlimited computer time by the operators of the Xerox Sigma V mainframe at the University of Illinois and wanted to do something worthy of his time. While computers were being used mainly for data processing then, Hart decided to use it for information distribution.
It wasn’t until 1992 when Sony created the Discman that there was a reader for the ebook. Now the ebook has grown in such popularity that not only have many new devices sprung up for reading it, but it is an alternative format for print books, with its own category on Amazon.
Magazines, journals and newspapers are now easily accessible in e-versions, saving money, sparing trees, but unfortunately also leading to the demise of major companies that were built on print reading materials.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that book lovers are not ready or willing to give up the touch and smell of “real” books, much less the indescribable pleasure of browsing library or bookstore shelves and sharing copies with their friends.
While we have yet to settle on how we will spell ebooks (Ebooks? e-books? eBooks?) we can’t deny that they have changed writing, publishing and reading forever.
The ebook is indeed the Brave New Word.
Download the ebook version of my book, “Color Your Life Happy: Create the Success, Abundance and Inner Joy You Deserve” here or the Kindle version here.
