Beth Greenslade's Blog, page 126

The Best Questions To Ask A Writer

There are lots of questions that writers don’t like to be asked. You know, things like ‘what do you REALLY do for a living?’ or ‘how DO you make any money?’ And so on.

Yes, it’s true that we can be quite sensitive about our work and how people react to what we have chosen to do. On the other hand, there are plenty of questions that writers will be delighted to answer.

So if you want to strike up a friendly conversation with a writer then here are some great questions you can ask.

What are you working on right now?

Writers love an opportunity to tell you about their work. It’s actually great practice for them to try to tell people succinctly and convincingly what projects they have going on. Sometimes you might feel as though you have to prise this information out of them, as writers can be a little shy. If you have asked them several different ways and they are still a little closed, then they might be being secretive for a reason so just leave it there and don’t push them.

How can I read your work?

Naturally, writers want more readers so showing a genuine interest in buying their book or reading their articles will be appreciated. If a writer has been published or if they’ve self-published they’ll have somewhere you can find it so ask away, and they’ll be happy to show you where you can find it.

Would you be interested in working for me?

Most writers are always on the hunt for new contacts and ways of making a bit of extra money. They’ll feel flattered that you are interested in working with them, and if the job is something they are interested in doing, then they will no doubt be excited to discuss the project or assignment with you further. However, whatever you do, make sure you don’t expect a writer to work for you for free. It’s insulting to assume that they would even if you think it will give them good experience – so make sure you make it clear you are happy to pay them (fairly) for their services.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Writers get their inspiration from all sorts of weird and wonderful places. They’ll love telling you about how they got an idea for a book, or what made them think about a certain argument or point of view. It’s always nice if you know a little bit about their work so you can start with ‘ I loved so and so, where do you get your ideas from?’

What lessons have you learned as a writer?

Writers also enjoy musing about their writing processes, and they always like to help out fellow authors, so starting an interesting discussion about how they write and what they have learned will always go down well.

Which books do you like to read?

Most writers are avid readers and a lively discussion (or debate!) about their favourite authors, and yours is an excellent way to start a conversation with a writer.

Of course, writers like to talk about a great many things besides writing! However, if you want an ice breaker, then these questions will help you strike up an initial conversation and then you can just see where it takes you!

Bethany Cadman -author of ‘Doctor Vanilla’s Sunflowers’

The post The Best Questions To Ask A Writer appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How To Stick To Your Writing Schedule

Having a writing schedule is incredibly important as a writer. Just as you get up every day, shower, have breakfast, get dressed and so on, so should your writing also become part of your daily routine.

If you have a good, realistic schedule that works for you then your writing will become just another habit that you do, almost without thinking about it. If you write erratically it can be far more challenging to get into the swing of things and stopping and starting all the time can make your life so much harder, and more likely, your writing quality will suffer too.

However, I don’t know a single fellow writer that has created a writing schedule for themselves from day one and stuck to it religiously!I am certainly guilty of starting each week determined to write consistently, at the same time each morning, and by about day three ‘life’ seems to have gotten in the way. It can be difficult for any writer regardless of whether they write full time or have to juggle another job on the side, to make sure that they always find time to write and stick to their schedule ever single day.

So how can we make ourselves better at this? Happily, there are some tricks you can try which can help you be more disciplined and actually enjoy it too!

Don’t think of your writing as an ‘option.’

If you really want this to work, you need to stop thinking of your writing as something that you can take or leave. If it’s important to you then you need to give yourself a good talking to! There are bound to be lots of things in your life that you treat as necessities. Going to work, cooking dinner, exercising, cleaning your house. Why do these things mean more to us then our writing? If you are anything like me, you leave your writing for too long and you end up feeling miserable and angry with yourself for letting it go. Only you can change this, so stop seeing it as ‘fake’ and give your writing the attention it deserves – you’ll feel a lot happier for it I’m sure!

Come up with a writing routine

Don’t create a writing schedule where you literally have exactly 30 minutes in between two stressful, pressing tasks to sit down and scribble out as much as you can. Let it be a pleasant experience. Have a lovely, calm writing space, with a plant in it, a comfy chair, and lots of light. Make yourself a vat of coffee, put on some music that inspires you. Whatever it is you do to get your head into that writing mindset, do that before you begin so you feel completely relaxed and tuned in to start the writing process.

Bury those distractions

Whatever it is that usually distracts you make sure you get it out of sight and mind before you begin writing. If you have a massive pile of ironing that’s begging to be sorted out, don’t sit in that room so it can tempt you. If you know you can’t help but check your phone every 5 minutes, turn it off. Make it as easy as possible to stay focused on your writing for the entire period you want to dedicate to it – you will have a much better chance of success this way.

Get competitive

Goal setting is a great way to keep you focused on your writing, and introducing a bit of healthy competition is useful too. Challenge your fellow writers to join you in writing a certain number of words every day, join online groups and discussions to keep you motivated, or find a local writing group who you can meet up with in person to share ideas and discuss your work.

There is only one thing that you need to do if you want to be a writer, and that’s write. Sticking to a writing schedule will help you to turn your writing into a habit where eventually it will feel like an inherent part of what you do. The more regular writing you do the better you will get at it, so don’t let yourself and your writing down and use these tips to make you more determined than ever to write every day.

Bethany Cadman -author of ‘Doctor Vanilla’s Sunflowers’

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Going Travelling? Here’s How To Write About It

Travelling can be so inspiring for a writer. The more you explore the world, experience different cultures, sights, sounds and smells, the more you view beautiful landscapes, bustling cities and the more interesting people you meet, the richer and fuller your bank of writing ideas will be.

From taking a couple of days either side of a weekend and heading to a nearby city, to packing up all your worldly belongings and setting off to travel the world, no matter where or how long you are travelling for there will always be ways to make a story out of it.

Travelling can fill you with awe and wonder. When you go somewhere you have never been before you tend to keep your eyes open that little bit wider, to be more willing to try new things, to talk to strangers – these experiences are perfect for stories. It might be that you experience a hilarious or humiliating cultural misunderstanding, that you find yourself lost in a slightly unsavoury part of town, or that you buy something from a market stall owner who ends up telling you their incredible life story.

So how do you make sure that you are ready to capture those brilliant moments on your travels and turn them into some epic creative writing?

Here are some useful tips.

The quest

To kick off your story you need to let your reader know what inspired you to take this journey in the first place. What drove you there? If you are travelling around the world you might be running away from something; you might be hoping it answers a question or teaches you things about yourself you didn’t already know. Perhaps you are going to visit relatives you haven’t seen in a while, perhaps you are heading somewhere to buy a specific item. Your quest can be life changing and huge or small and specific, but either way, giving a reason is crucial.

Keep your reader guessing

You need to engage your readers, and, as with all good stories, the way to do this is to make them desperate to find out what happens next. Entice them in by asking a question or, better still, getting the reader to ask themselves questions ‘who is she, where is she going, why does she need to go there?’ The questions your readers asks must fill them with intrigue, so they have to find out the answers.

Use what you see to take your reader on your journey with you

Wherever you are, you need to immerse yourself in the place completely and entirely. Listen to the sounds – every single one of them. Look all around you and memorise the colours, the faces of the people, the buildings, the streets, the way the trees are swaying and the sun hits the waters edge. Your reader needs to feel as though they are being taken into another world, they want to be there too, so make sure your descriptions are as rich, vivid and detailed as possible.

Pick your moments and use these as the basis of your story

Sometimes the smallest stories are the most powerful. Giving a minute by minute account of what happened to you (or ‘your character’) on their holiday or trip won’t excite or engage your reader the way you want them to. Focus on one or two particular moments and use these to tell your story – these moments will actually reveal a whole lot more.

Finish with a resolution

However big or small each time we experience somewhere new it changes us a little. End your story by explaining to your reader how travelling impacted your (or the character’s) life. Did you achieve what you needed to achieve? Or perhaps what you thought you needed to achieve turn out to be something completely different?

Remember no one else see’s the world the same way you do, so don’t ever doubt that your experiences are unique – and can make for brilliant stories, should you choose to tell them.

Bethany Cadman -author of ‘Doctor Vanilla’s Sunflowers’

The post Going Travelling? Here’s How To Write About It appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How To Hire A Freelance Editor

When you have finished your book and want to send it off to publishers, or if you have decided to go down the self-publishing route, it is important to make sure that it is in the very best condition before you try to get it out there into the world.

There are many things you can do to give your book the very best chance of success. One of these is by hiring a freelance editor whose eagle eyes will help spot mistakes or inconsistencies and who will be able to give you helpful advice and suggestions on how to improve your work.

However, there are lots of things to consider before you take the plunge. Hiring a freelance editor to review your work is not a decision that you should take lightly so make sure that you have solid reasons for doing so, and that you have done your research too.

Here are some things to consider.

Can you afford it?

Hiring an editor doesn’t usually come cheap, and if it does you should probably be suspicious of the quality of the work they can provide. Bringing a pair of fresh eyes and a new perspective in can be invaluable, especially when that person has years of experience, and is removed from your work so will give you a professional and unbiased point of view. However, getting yourself into masses of debt before you have even begun will get you nowhere. If you need to wait and save up to hire and editor then do this. Unless your book is particularly time sensitive then waiting a few months to make it the best it can be is the better option rather than rushing it and putting it out there full of mistakes.

Are you ready?

Don’t hire a freelance editor to help you if you haven’t already drafted and re-drafted your novel yourself first. Many editors will charge by the hour so make sure that you get your book in the very best condition you can before hiring someone else to take over. It is also important to be ready to accept constructive criticism and suggestions for change. If you are too emotionally attached to every single word in your book, then you might end up ignoring your editor’s advice which makes the whole exercise rather pointless.

Have you done your research?

Take your time to investigate several different options. Good freelance editors will have a portfolio of work and be able to provide references from previous satisfied customers. While you shouldn’t just go for the cheapest, there is no reason why an editor can’t be good value, so shop around, get several different quotes and try to negotiate. Also, it is important to make it clear exactly what you expect from and editor and what guarantees they can put in place. For example, if you want them just to correct spelling and grammar but not comment on the plot or structure you need to explain this from the outset to ensure that everyone is on the same page.

When you have found an editor you are interested in the first thing you should do is make contact. Introduce yourself and your project and give as much information as you can. Let them know the length of your manuscript, the genre, and the type of editing you require. A good editor will then be able to come back to you with an accurate price, and timeframe. It’s OK to ask them what experience they have had with the genre, for references and links to previous jobs and if they have payment options. Many editors will have answers to these questions already on their website – so make sure you check this out first.

Getting a sample edit is also entirely usual and a useful way of being able to tell whether this editor is any good. Some editors offer this service for free; others will charge for it. You can decide whether you are willing to pay, but don’t get put out if there are costs attached – it is still work for them, and can be very time-consuming if they are offering this service to several potential clients!

Contracts

Once you have decided you would like to go ahead with a particular editor, then get a contract. The editor will usually send this to you. Make sure you read it thoroughly and don’t be afraid to ask them if you don’t understand anything. Contracts are usually pretty straightforward, but you need to be clear on everything before you sign.

So, are you thinking of hiring a freelance editor? If so make sure you follow the above steps, and you should enjoy a positive and productive relationship and have an altogether pleasant experience!

Bethany Cadman -author of ‘Doctor Vanilla’s Sunflowers’

The post How To Hire A Freelance Editor appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How To Write A Great Author Profile

Ahh, the dreaded author profile. Is there anything worse? Synopsis writing? Editing? I am not sure! The thing about writing an author profile is that you have to turn from being your own worst critic to your own biggest fan, and for some writers this can feel like an impossible task.

The thing about writing a great author profile is that it needs to include all the right information, as well as have a bit of personality too. If you can’t write your profile well, how can you write a book well? Of course, we writers know that these are entirely different things, but this may well be what a potential publisher/ agent/ reader thinks, therefore, it is worth investing some time and effort into making sure that your author profile stands out.

Be it for a guest post publication, the blurb on your amazon page or when sending off a submission, here is how to make your author profile stand out.

Write in the third person

Your profile will sound much more professional and slick if you write it in the third person. It also gives you that sense of distance that some authors need to list their achievements without cringing themselves into an early grave. It might seem odd/ fake to write in the third person, but trust us, readers won’t mind – it doesn’t make you sound pretentious or weird, it just keeps it business-like and professional. Mix up using your name and ‘he’ ‘she’ to keep it flowing well. Remember, there is the odd exception to the rule, where publications will ask for your bio to be in the first person, so it’s always good to write two versions and make sure that you check the guidelines before submitting.

Think about your reader

Your author profile is about you, but it’s also just as much about your reader as anything else. Just as you wrote your book/ article/ synopsis and so on with your reader in mind, you should also consider them when writing your author profile. Put yourself in their shoes. What would you like to know about an author and the kind of things they write about that would make you believe in them and want to read what they have written? Whatever those things are, write them in your own.

Get inspiration from others

A quick search on the internet and you’ll be able to pull up loads of examples of good and bad author profiles. Read them. You can see how different authors have chosen to present themselves to the world and decide what works best for you. Informative, engaging and professional is a good start, but if you can be funny or unusual the this will make your profile stand out, and pique readers interest too.

Make sure you show them your credible.

The most important thing to get across is your credibility. You need to convince readers they should read what you have written, but why? If readers believe that you are an authority on the subject, or that you will be able to deliver on your promises (be that entertaining them, making them laugh, teaching them something, scaring them, etc.) then they will be more likely to pick up your book, or read your article. Make sure you tell readers why you are the best person to write about this subject – what experience do you have, why are you qualified? The more you have to convince them, the better your chances of them reading your work.

Keep it short and sweet

Remember, no matter how rich and fascinating, no one wants to read pages and pages about your life. Keep your author profile to a few paragraphs maximum (unless otherwise requested of course).

Writing a good author bio doesn’t have to be taxing. By following these tips, you can create an engaging and interesting profile that will entice and intrigue readers and significantly increase your chances of reading your work.

Bethany Cadman -author of ‘Doctor Vanilla’s Sunflowers’

The post How To Write A Great Author Profile appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

Why A Library Is Every Writers Best Friend

There are some places that should be sacred to writers. Places where they can go to feel truly immersed in their work, that can inspire them, help them improve and where they feel supported and believed in.

Libraries are very special places for writers, and there are many advantages to making a trip to yours.

Here’s why libraries are a writer’s best friend.

They have books.

Every writer knows that reading is an integral part of writing. The more you read, the better. Reading is helpful to writers in so many ways. It can help them identify themes in a genre, it can give them ideas and inspiration for stories, it can help them fall in love with language, or to discover a whole new genre of writing they never knew before. Libraries are brilliant for finding new and exciting books to read – and they are all free too!

They are peaceful.

The wonderful thing about libraries is that they have a sense of peace and quiet which is quite unlike anywhere else. There is something very peaceful about being in a library and wandering through the aisles of books both new and old. This makes them ideal places for writers to work. They have thousands of resources at their fingertips, and they are a quiet place where talking loudly is not permitted. If your home is too chaotic to write, and your local coffee shop too busy (and expensive) then head to the library and see if you can find a writing space that is perfect for you.

They can help you promote your book.

Befriending your local library is a fantastic idea because when it comes to getting your book out there and into the world, they can be an excellent place to approach. Libraries can feature your book in ‘new releases,’ ‘local authors’ or when they are promoting different genres.

You can also try to arrange a book signing at your local library or an ‘evening with the author’ event. Having a library on your side when trying to promote your book can be invaluable. Lots of libraries now host author events which provide an excellent way to promote your book as well as meet like-minded people and share helpful knowledge and advice.

Libraries are a fantastic resource for writers, though it is surprising how little many of us use them. While it may be easier for some authors to work from home or to buy their books on Amazon, visiting your local library is an experience which could inspire you in new and different ways.

So next time you are sitting down to write, why not try heading to your library and see whether you end up writing more productively and more satisfactorily than ever before?

Bethany Cadman -author of ‘Doctor Vanilla’s Sunflowers’

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Don’t Let Critics Stop You Writing

Some people hate your writing.

Unfortunately, this is a fact that each and every writer will have to deal with throughout their career.

But you know what? It’s OK for people not to like your writing, and coming to terms with this and learning how to address out critics in a way that isn’t bursting into tears or plotting a wild and elaborate revenge plan is extremely useful if you want to continue enjoying your writing career.

Many writers find criticism incredibly difficult to deal with, but unless we understand how to, and find mechanisms and coping techniques for it the danger is that the critics will stop us from writing altogether.

So how can you learn how to deal with negative feedback about your writing, and ensure that no critic will ever stop you from writing?

Let’s take a look.

Know you are not perfect

As soon as you understand this, you won’t continue to beat yourself up every time a critic points out a spelling mistake or a piece of imperfect content that you have put out into the world. Of course, it is annoying when you have poured our heart and soul into something for someone to point out that you’ve missed out the apostrophe in ‘it’s’. (Of course you know the difference – you had just read the piece 500 times to make sure it was perfect and become blind to the actual words). Just learn to let it go. You will continue to make these little mistakes throughout your writing career, and at some point, you have got to learn not to sweat the small stuff.

Rise above it

There will always be people who decide to attack you and your writing in an unnecessarily vicious way. Rather than retaliating and getting into a horribly messy and unprofessional war of words, why not just rise above it. People that don’t have anything constructive to say obviously have too much time on their hands and are just negative and depressing. Thank the world that you are not one of those people, believe in yourself and know your worth enough so that their attack cannot penetrate you and focus on all the lovely positive things that people have said.

Understand you can’t please everyone

If you try too hard to please people, you’ll only end up getting stressed and frustrated. It’s OK to have an opinion that doesn’ fit with someone else’s. In fact, that should be celebrated. Some people simply cannot be pleased, no matter what you try to do, and if you end up wasting all of your time trying to appease them, you’ll never be able to get on with what you love. Remember art is subjective therefore while some people might not like your work at all, others will think it is the best thing they have ever read.

Also it’s important to remember that people are completely entitled to their opinions. Just because they don’t like your work it doesn’t mean they are wrong, so try not to jump on the defensive.

Thank people who engage with you

Negative or positive if you do decide to reply to critics, thank them. If you retaliate with anger, you will only fuel their fire. Stay professional, logical and positive at all times. If someone critiques your work because they are looking for a fight, but you don’t give them one, they’ll soon pipe down and move on.

Remember, no matter what anyone says about your writing, if it is what you love to do then you shouldn’t let anyone stop you. Critics will come and go, and so will fans so just try to take the rough with the smooth and never let anyone, no matter what they say, get in the way of your dreams!

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The People Every Writer Needs In Their Life

Writing can often feel like quite a solitary job. If you spend long hours of your day holed up in your little ‘writing sanctuary’ – with family and friends under strict instruction not to disturb you – it is possible to get so lost in your work you become a little disconnected from the outside world.

That’s why it is especially important for writers to surround themselves with people who understand and support them. These are the selfless friends and loved ones of the writer who have endured their quirks and charms for so long they just seem to instinctively get what it is you need!

There are, however, particular types of people that writers can do with in their lives, and it’s a good idea to make sure your nearest and dearest has at least one of each!

The biggest fan

Every writer needs someone to be their biggest fan. This person is their cheerleader. They think everything they write is brilliant, every idea they come up with is inspired, and they think you are creative and wonderful, and are in complete awe of you. Your biggest fan can be someone who follows all of your work and writes you gushing reviews or it might just be your best mate or partner. The point is when you are suffering from self-doubt and criticism, this gem of a person is always there to give you a little pick me up!

The editor

Every writer needs a good editor. There is no getting away from how completely invaluable a good editor is when it comes to writing. No matter how good you are, there is no way that you will be able to spot every error, or step far enough back from your writing to critique it objectively. A good editor can make your writing shine. They are the person who you can count on to honestly (but professionally) tell you what you need to change and what you need to fix. Finding a good editor will seriously change your writing life. Though beware! Having a bad one will also change it (but not for the better!) so make sure you make having a great editor in your life a top priority.

The inspiration

Your inspiration is what keeps you writing. You’ll look up to them and respect their opinion. They will mentor you and guide you through your writing life. You can turn to them for advice and rely on them to support you when the going gets tough. Remember, an inspiration doesn’t have to be someone you actually know. It might be your favourite author or a blogger you just love, but it’s their words that keep you going, that encourage you to persevere with your own work no matter what.

A motivator

Who is the person that keeps you going, that one who won’t let you quit? This is the motvatior, and they are an individual completely necessary for every writer. Your motivator might be your parents who always tell you to believe in yourself or that you can achieve whatever you want if you put your mind to it, or they might be your readers and fans who get in touch to tell you how much they enjoy your work. Every writer needs something to motivate them so make sure you have a motivator in your life!

A critic

Writers need people to criticise them, otherwise, how would they ever improve? A critic is someone you can rely on to give you honest feedback about your work. They won’t be afraid to hurt your feelings and will give you practical, constructive criticism which you can use to improve your writing. You may not always love your critic, but they can always be relied upon to tell you the truth – even if it hurts.

So there you go, the ultimate writer’s crew! Making sure you have these people in your life will not only mean you have got people there for you when the going gets tough, but they’ll also help you get better at wiring too!

Bethany Cadman -author of ‘Doctor Vanilla’s Sunflowers’

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How To Juggle Writing With Your Day Job

For many writers, writing is something that they have to fit in around other work and life commitments. In fact, only a very small proportion of lucky (and talented, of course) writers get to quit their day jobs and write full time.

It can be difficult, therefore, to keep motivated, and constantly hunt for those gaps in your busy day where you can snatch a little bit of time to write. However, if it is your passion, it is so important to make time for your writing, despite having so many other commitments. Writing takes time, practice and dedication, and the more you prioritise other things over your writing the harder it will get to stay motivated and to improve.

So how do you juggle writing with your day job? Try these top tips.

Get up 30 minutes earlier

While admittedly, there are those jobs where you already have to get up at the crack of dawn, or perhaps you have children to take care of and organise in the morning, most of us, if we really wanted to, could set our alarms a little earlier. Even as little as 30 minutes means that you could sit down and write every single day. Try doing it for a week and see how much better and more motivated you feel.

Make writing part of your routine

If you truly care about your writing then try to make it part of your daily routine. Whether it is first thing in the morning or the last thing at night. Before you go to bed, on your commute, on your lunch break, or on the weekends – whatever works for you. Just blocking out that time to write – and sticking to it, will mean you are writing regularly. You will be far more likely to stay motivated to write if it becomes a ‘habit’ rather than something you try to fit in as and when.

Join a writing group

Join a writing class or writing group to keep you writing. If you surround yourself with like-minded people and have a class or group to attend each week, you may find it much easier to keep writing a part of your life rather than simply relying on your own willpower and dedication to make sure it happens.

Give something up

You may have a calendar packed with commitments, social engagements and hobbies. Perhaps you need to reassess what is most important to you. Is there anything you can give up to make time for your writing? It might simply be that hour of TV you watch every night, or it could be the weekly tennis lesson you have. If writing is a priority, then it may be you are happy to sacrifice another area of your life to make it happen.

Create a writing sanctuary

Having a space that is just for you and your writing, where you won’t be disturbed and can think creatively can help you write more productively. Having this place away from your office and separate from the other activities you do in your home can be very beneficial. Your brain will get used to the fact that every time you go there, it is time to get writing, and so you’ll find it easier to focus on that rather than trying to write in your kitchen surrounded by last night’s washing up and a big pile of laundry that needs doing!

Tell your friends, family and colleagues

Tell your nearest and dearest how important your writing is to you, encourage them to be interested in it as well. If your friends and family know that writing is your passion, they will respect that and do their best not to tempt you away with other offers! The more people that know about it, the more you’ll feel like a writer, and want to have something to say to them when they ask you how it’s going!

Set goals and deadlines

Having writing goals and deadlines to stick to will keep you more motivated to work even when what you feel like doing is plonking yourself down on the sofa and watching movies all evening. Give yourself realistic and achievable targets otherwise you’ll feel like you have failed before you have even begun.

Writing while juggling a full-time job can be difficult. However, by staying organised and focused and writing as often as you can, you’ll manage to keep up with your writing while having a career at the same time.

Do you have any tips on how to juggle writing while working? Let us know!

Bethany Cadman -author of ‘Doctor Vanilla’s Sunflowers’

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5 Things Your Inner Critic Might Say (And Why You Should Ignore Them)

Every author has an inner critic – and while sometimes they can be helpful – they can keep your ego in check, can push you to write the best you possibly can, and make you into a good sort of perfectionist, there are also times when you need to tell them to pipe down!

Writers often struggle with self-doubt, and the fact that we have to face rejection from others (agents, publishers, negative reviewers) throughout our careers means that the last thing we need is an internal dialogue that also tries to put us down.

So it’s important to learn when to ignore those negative voices inside your head. When they are simply trying to sabotage you, don’t give in! They aren’t trying to help you and certainly won’t make you a better writer.

Here are five things your inner critic might tell you.

You’ll never be as good as (insert brilliant author/ someone you are jealous of in your writing class here)

It is so easy to compare yourself to author authors; you know those with the seemingly effortless and glittering careers. The ones whose work you read and shudder with envy before returning to your own and immediately crawling into a pit of despair.

However, let’s be clear here. Reading is so important for writing, and learning from the greats, being inspired by other authors and aspiring to achieve the same amount of recognition and success as them is all healthy. But letting their brilliance lead you to believe your work is awful and worthless is not. Appreciate that writers have different styles, and unique ideas – and you have your own special, individual way of writing too. Celebrate that and silence your critic by pointing out that there is no harm in being different.

No one wants to read what you have written.

It is easy on those doubtful days, to convince ourselves that no one would ever want to read our book. Why would they? There are a million other books out there guaranteed to be far more interesting/insightful/ helpful/ inspiring than ours right? Don’t let yourself be the judge of your own merit, or how important what you write could be to others. It’s true; not everyone will like your book, it simply cannot be everyone’s cup of tea, but it will also be exactly what some people are looking for.

Have you ever started to read a bestseller and thought ‘no, this isn’t for me’ or ‘I just don’t get what all the fuss is about’? Sure you have! So accept that while there will be some readers who don’t want to read the kind of work you have produced, there will be plenty of others who will appreciate it.

You don’t write enough

Our inner critic will always beat us up about not writing enough. However, the more time you spend sulking over that fact or feeling guilty about it, the less time you will spend putting positive steps in place to try and write more. All writers can do is their best, and try to fit their writing in when they can. It’s not always easy, and sure, there are probably times where you could do more. The important part is not to give up and just keep trying – however frequently or infrequently that may be.

Your writing is awful

We all have good days and bad days, and it may sometimes feel that you have ‘lost it’, and everything you write is terrible. However, just remember you can always, always revisit your writing and make it better. If your inner critic is telling you how bad your writing is, shut them down. The most important part is to get those words on paper. You can figure out how to improve it later.

Just give up

There will be days where you inner critic is powerful and destructive and will try to tell you to give up. You must ignore this. Tell yourself you can do this, that you are a strong person, that you can overcome obstacles and that you aren’t a quitter. Writers have to fight to keep going, and sometimes it can be very tough – but each time you pull yourself back from the brink of quitting you’ll feel stronger, more empowered and more convinced that you will get there eventually – so never give up, no matter what!

Bethany Cadman -author of ‘Doctor Vanilla’s Sunflowers’

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