Beth Greenslade's Blog, page 69

Writing Tips To Change Your Writing Right Now!

It can be all too easy to get into a writing slump. If you feel like you are in one, don’t worry. You just need to step back. Take a deep breath and figure out how you can change your perspective to get back into the swing of things again.

Coming up with a great writing routine is essential, and so is keeping writing at the forefront of your mind. So if you want to become an excellent, unstoppable writer, try this now!

Be alert to your ideas and write them down as soon as they come.

Keeping a notebook with you at all times is so important. This way anytime you get inspiration, have an idea for a new story, or just overhear or see something interesting that you might be able to use in your work, you can immediately write it down before it is forgotten. By keeping a notebook with you, you’ll be more likely to be alert to inspiration, and soon enough it will be jam-packed full of ideas that could lead to your next new project.

Kill bad ideas before they waste your time.

If you start writing something and it feels like too much of a struggle, or you’ve had an idea in your head for a couple of weeks but haven’t felt inspired enough to do anything about it, then just let it go. Great ideas will make you feel excited to start writing, bad ideas won’t, and there is no point exploring them too much if it doesn’t feel natural and motivating from the outset.

Have a great writing schedule that means you write regularly.

If you can’t write every day that’s OK, but you should try and write regularly throughout the week and have dedicated writing time to make sure that you keep practicing and progressing. Without a writing schedule, it’s so easy for other things to get in the way. So if you don’t have one already, sit down and work out when you have the time to write, then make sure you stick to that.

Set your goals one at a time.

Goal setting is so important, but sometimes trying to set all your goals at once makes things seem overwhelming. Instead, focus on one goal at a time. But as soon as you have achieved that one, make sure you set another and start work on it right away.

Don’t be afraid of experimenting.

Experimenting and practicing are how you become a better writer. Keep trying ideas out, and never tell yourself an idea is silly or too ridiculous. By trying new things you’ll learn what works and what doesn’t and find your unique writing voice, so test, learn and refine, and you’ll soon see how much your writing improves.

These tips can help change your writing for the better, so what are you waiting for? Start writing with positivity, and determination today!

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

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What Are The Differences Between Good Writers And Bad Writers?

Because writing is so subjective, being able to say what makes good writing good, and, consequently what makes bad writing bad, is difficult.

OK, so there are obvious mistakes that writers can make - poor grammar and spelling, repetitive descriptions and so on. But what one reader might find monotonous and uninspiring might be right up another readers alley.

Many famous and successful books have opinions divided. The Twilight Saga, 50 Shades of Grey, even more, ‘serious’ books, such as Life of Pi - have all had their share of critics, despite being bestsellers and having had movies made out of them.

Lots of now highly celebrated novelists have also revealed how many times they were rejected before a publisher gave them a chance. Does that mean that some of the editors they sent their novels to thought that their writing was bad? Possibly. Probably.

However, there is one huge difference between good writers and bad writers, and that’s that good writers never gave up. You wouldn’t know about them if they did.

Writing is a craft; it can be learnt. Every writer that starts out will not be as good a writer as they will be if they keep doing it for twenty years, and applying themselves to the practice of writing, and be open to learning and experimenting and refining their art and taking advice and criticism.

Good writers didn’t give up halfway through their first draft because they thought it was terrible. Good writers didn’t throw their manuscript in the bin before they’d even bothered to send it off to anyone for a second opinion. Good writers didn’t stop writing because they received a rejection, or a third or a fourth.

If you are willing to put the effort in. To take criticism and rejection on the chin and think of it as an opportunity to go back to the drawing board and get even better, then you will. You’ll keep improving, and you’ll become a good writer because you are committed to the craft and will keep progressing and doing whatever it takes to get you there.

Let’s be clear about this. This doesn’t mean you can just write once a month, or whenever the inspiration takes you. It’s about creating a schedule, deciding on your writing goals, and working tirelessly to achieve them.

Bad writers don’t do this. They are either too fearful or too precious about their writing to try and edit it properly, to truly make it better. They talk about writing as if that’s all they want to do, yet can’t seem to find the time ever to sit down and get anything done. They are full of excuses, and they are afraid of failure, so they don’t even try.

Making the time to write takes effort. Going through the editing process properly can be tedious and grueling. Putting your work out there for the world to see can be genuinely terrifying. But if you want to be a good writer, you need to persevere, you need to have discipline and humility, and you need to be able to take a knock or two.

So do you have what it takes to be a good writer?

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

The post What Are The Differences Between Good Writers And Bad Writers? appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

Hate Editing? Here’s How To Make It More Fun

Once you’ve finished the first draft of your manuscript, you have every right to celebrate. It’s a considerable achievement after all.

However, unfortunately, you can’t rest on your laurels for long as this is when the hard work really begins! Now there is no denying that there are some writers out there who love the editing process. They enjoy perfecting and reworking their manuscript until they get it just right.

For most of us, however, editing can be a real drag and something that many of us dread. In the worst cases, it can mean never actually getting your book into a state where you feel comfortable enough to try and publish it - and all that hard work is wasted.

So how can you find ways to get through the editing process and try to make it more fun? Here are some helpful tips:

Break it down

The idea of editing your entire novel can feel somewhat overwhelming -so you need to break the process down to make it feel more manageable. Just tackle one chapter at a time. Make that chapter as brilliant as you can before moving onto the next.

Set goals

Don’t let the editing process go on indefinitely. Give yourself specific goals and a timeframe by which you need to finish. Doing this will help you keep things in perspective and motivate you to keep going.

Bribe yourself

To make the process more fun, you need to keep rewarding yourself along the way. Only you know what will keep you motivated but make sure you treat yourself and also take time to get excited about how your novel is shaping up and patting yourself on the back for all the great work you are doing.

Work methodically

It’s imperative not to keep starting each editing session from the beginning of your book; otherwise you’ll end up with a flawless first three chapters, and the rest of it barely looked at. Understanding when it is time to move on and realizing that perfection is not an option is also important.

Work with friends

Having writing buddies to meet up with, bounce ideas off or just to have a good old moan to can be invaluable, so join a local writing group or find some support online to help you when you are feeling demotivated and don’t want to continue.

Cheat!

Of course, you could always hire a professional editor to help you. So really, all you need to do it get your book in as good a shape as possible and then hand it over to someone who does this for a living. Remember an editor actually enjoys searching for missing commas or inconsistencies so you can rest assured that it’s not all on you to find them.

We know the editing process is tough, but by following these tips, you can make it more manageable and get your book into a publishable standard in no time!

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

The post Hate Editing? Here’s How To Make It More Fun appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

Are Rules Necessary In Writing?

There are so many rules that writers are given to follow to make their writing good. However, are they really necessary? Are there any that can be broken? And what happened to creative freedom?!

Let’s take a look at some of the rules of writing and examine whether or not they are really necessary.

Keep sentences short and language plain

Short sentences and simple language certainly have their place. But this rule can’t apply to every piece of writing, fiction or otherwise. The better thing for writers to do is always keep their reader in mind. Get to know your intended audience. If you do, you’ll know what they can handle and if you want to use more academic or complicated language then as long as you feel confident in your reader, it’s no problem.

Don’t overwrite

Writing too elaborately can be off-putting. However, some pieces of writing are exquisitely written precisely because of the beautifully descriptive, ornate and arresting imagery that the author uses. Descriptive writing has its place - just like any other kind of writing, if it is done well then it works!

Write every day

Writers are often told that to improve they should write every day. However, this just isn’t possible for some writers, and they shouldn’t feel any less of one because they don’t. You have to write the way that works for you, and as long as you are happy with the pace of your progress, then that’s all that really matters.

Set and stick to your goals

Writers do need to set goals. Without them, it is too easy to get distracted and never get anything done. How and what those goals are is entirely up to the individual though.

Show don’t tell

Show don’t tell has been a writing rule that appears time and time again. However if taken too literally it can leave some writers painstakingly trying to remove every instance where they tell the reader something - to the detriment of their work. Sometimes telling is necessary, more economical and it just works. Writers should be aware of that while also remembering that if they ONLY tell their readers the story, it may be difficult for them to become fully immersed in the world and characters they are trying to make come alive on the page.

Read as much as possible

This is a no brainer. Reading is the elixir of life for writers and is the best way to learn and improve. So read as much as you can!

Write what you know

Another common rule for writers is to only write what they know. However, taken too literally and this can stifle a writers creativity, leading them to believe that unless they have had specific experiences or encounters, they shouldn’t write about them. The beauty of being a writer is that you can use your imagination, and besides, you can research almost anything these days. So don’t write about what you know, write about what you love instead!

At the end of the day, the most important thing is to enjoy your writing; otherwise, you are kind of missing the point. So if you feel the writing rules are stopping you from writing the way that makes you happiest, then perhaps those rules should be broken after all.

What do you think? Do you believe these rules are still necessary? Are there any other writing rules that you think should be broken? Let us know.

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

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Easy Ways To Improve Your Writing Skills

All writers know that no matter whether they are just starting or are seasoned professionals there is always more to learn and ways to improve.

So if you are looking for some quick fixes to get better at writing, why not try the following?

Make writing your job

You don’t need to quit your day job to take your writing seriously. However, if you treat writing like you would your job, then you are much more likely to get better. Why? Well, think about it! You can’t just fail to turn up to your job, and you can’t do nothing when you get there! At work, you might get developmental reviews and new challenges and be expected to improve - apply all this to your writing, and you’ll become so much more productive and committed - the more you write, the better you’ll get!

Make reading part of the process

If writing is your job then reading is like prepping for the interview. Reading should be an integral part of every writer's process. So instead of binge watching that boxset, head to bed half an hour earlier and read. It’s hardly much of a chore and the more you read, the more you’ll learn from others and be inspired and motivated to continue yourself.

Find a Writing Partner

A writing partner can help you so much. Not only will you then have someone holding you accountable (as well as encouraging you of course), you’ll also have someone you can bounce ideas off, and who can take a first look at your work and give you honest feedback which can be so invaluable, especially in the early stages.

Explore writing that you admire

When you read, don’t just do it for the sake of it, actually pay attention to what you are reading and look for common factors in books that you love. What makes a story stand out to you? What characters have you fallen in love with? Which are the books you just couldn’t put down? Investigating and dissecting the writing you admire in this way can mean you find common themes that you can incorporate into your own stories.

Write outlines and do proper research

Every good writer knows that it pays to be organised. So don’t start your writing sessions without a clear plan. Having chapter outlines sketched out before you start writing your book can keep you on the right track and make sure that you have the whole story plotted out before you begin. Improving your research skills and taking the time to research important topics thoroughly will also help make your writing more detailed, engaging and believable too.

Eliminate Unnecessary Words

Train yourself to become eagle-eyed when editing your work and look out for where you’ve used more words than you need to. ‘Trimming the fat’ in writing is so essential and can turn sloppy, overwritten passages into neat, smart pieces of literature that deliver an impact.

Following these tips can help you continue to improve your writing over time. What quick tips do you use when you need to give your writing a boost? Share them with us here!

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

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Can You Be Happy As An Unsuccessful Writer?

If you ask most writers what their dream is, it’s to be published. When you probe a little further, they mean traditionally published, or at least, successfully published. That is to say, most writers want people to read what they write.

Now the sad truth is that for many writers, this is a massive problem. For no matter how well they follow the rules, no matter how much time and effort they put into their writing they might still struggle to get more than a handful of people reading what they’ve poured their heart and soul into.

So is it really worth it? Is there a point where being an unsuccessful writer just isn’t worth the time, effort and anguish? Are we likely to look back on all those wasted years and think, ‘If only I had put all that energy into doing something else.’?

Of course, in reality, it is all up to the individual, and the only way of knowing whether you can be happy as an unsuccessful writer is to do a bit of soulsearching, find out what your intentions are, what goals you have and what drives you to write in the first place.

There is a famous quote about how important it is to be the star of your own movie. This is so apt when talking about writing. The universe is unimaginably vast, and the world is but a speck upon a speck within it. So even the greatest and most celebrated writers of all time are still relatively insignificant when we start to zoom out. So really, instead of focusing on how we can become them, we should instead zoom in on our own reality, our own slice of life however minuscule it is, and become the celebrated, joyful, satisfied star of it all.

If you write because writing is your passion. If you write because you want to tell a story even if no one is really listening. If you write because you find it beautifully cathartic and you aren’t driven by fortune and fame then it doesn’t matter if you never become successful (if successful is denied by having a mass readership), because you are happy and inspired and motivated regardless.

If however, every rejection crushes you a little more, and the writing process becomes slower and more painful. If you feel your inner critic taking over and you spend your life feeling worthless, ineffective and that all your efforts are wasted and in vain, it might be time to think about whether that’s how you want to spend your life. You might still be starring in it, but it certainly doesn’t look like you are heading for a happy ending.

At the end of the day, the most important thing, surely, is to try and fill your life with the things you enjoy - and if that’s writing, regardless of what happens with your writing after you’re done - then that’s all that really matters.

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

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Avoid These Freelance Writing Jobs

When starting as a freelance writer, it can be easy and tempting to take on jobs that you shouldn’t. Of course, we can’t dictate to you what work to take on, but there is a genuine problem with writers taking on poorly defined, unfairly demanding jobs to build up their portfolio which means that the businesses offering these jobs will continue to think it’s okay to treat writers this way.

It’s not just the money; there are also people out there who refuse to give you the right information to get the job done - and then complain you did it wrong, and those who take far too long to pay you or who try to avoid paying you at all.

As a novice freelance writer, it’s easy to make mistakes and to make your life less stressful here are some kinds of freelance writing jobs that every writer should avoid:

Ones that ask you not to plagiarise

There are so many jobs out there that patronize writers - ones that specifically say ‘no article spinning’ or ‘we’ll know if you plagiarise’ are already revealing themselves to have no respect for writers. OK, we understand that maybe they have had bad experiences in the past. But by communicating with the writer, asking them about their experience and making sure they are a good fit for the piece of work it will become obvious whether they are a serious, credible writer, or one who will try to get away with using someone else's work. Stating this in the job ad suggests an inherent distrust of writers from the outset, and spells trouble ahead.

Ones that pay less than minimum wage

When you first start as a freelance writer, you might have to wait a while to get the highest paid jobs. However, that doesn’t mean you should work for free or get paid next to nothing for your copy. Don’t let businesses take advantage of writers and refuse to accept jobs that don’t pay at least the minimum wage.

Ones that are too vague and the communication is bad

Another red flag is a vague job description, or one that sounds too good to be true or where the poster doesn’t communicate well or answer your questions. In these instances, the job posting might be spam, or it just may indicate that the employer isn’t willing to give you enough information to do the job well.

Ones where the employer is rude and demanding

No matter how inexperienced you are employers should treat you with respect. They are hiring you to do a service, and if they are rude or overly demanding from the outset they will probably continue to be this way throughout the project, and you’ve got to ask yourself whether it is worth it?

Ones that compromise your morals, integrity or passions

Content is needed for all sorts of things, so find out what you are most interested in and passionate about and try to find jobs that align with that. Avoid writing content that you don’t agree with that compromises your beliefs in some way or that bores you - what’s the fun in that?

By avoiding the types of job above, you can start your freelance writing career with your head held high and can make sure you are doing honest, exciting work that makes you proud.

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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Are You A Writer? Here Are The Signs

Writers can all get a case of the doubts from time to time, and when they are at their worst, we wonder whether we are cut out for this writing life at all. When we start to procrastinate and haven’t done any writing in ages, or we are suffering from a case of writer's block, it’s easy to start feeling like we should give up.

However all it takes is a bit of time to sit back and reflect, and if you need a bit of a boost to confirm you are a writer, take a look at these signs.

You know you are a writer when:

You have paper and pen by your bed. Late night eureka moments, a brilliant idea just as we’re about to drift off, crazy dreams that make no sense when you read over them in the morning. Whatever your reasons you want to make sure you don’t miss those 3 am bursts of inspiration!

When you are not writing, you are thinking about it. A lot. OK so your whole life doesn’t have to revolve around your writing, but you do spend a helluva lot of time thinking about writing when you're not doing it. Whether mulling over a problematic plot point, talking to your characters or just seeing little bits of inspiration in everyday life, writing tends to take over your headspace more often than not.

You write when you should be working, when you are on holiday and may have even taken a sick day to work on your latest project! So you are dedicated to your day job and all, but there have been times where you might have let your lunch break run over so you can finish that chapter, or have decided to call in sick when you’ve only got a bit of a cold so you can keep writing. Even on holiday you can’t help but keep working on your project, so you always stay in the zone.

When you write time passes insanely quick. There is nothing quite as surprising as being in the writing ‘zone,’ and every writer knows the feeling when they look up from a writing session and hours have gone by even though you could swear you only started a few minutes ago.

Everyone and everything has the potential to end up in your book. The world is your inspiration! Every time you step out of the house you are on high alert, eyes wide open, ears pricked up! Things you see, conversations and interactions you overhear, places you travel, experiences you have - they all have the potential to end up in your novel.

Reading is your most important hobby. Writers love to read. It is their most excellent source of inspiration, motivation and the best way of learning how to improve. You can’t really be a writer if you don’t love to read!

Things you hate most in life include a blank page, editing your finished novel, talking about your writing, word counts, showing versus telling, Amazon rankings and the dreaded wait to hear back from publishers.

Your computer/ notebooks are full of weird and wonderful half-baked story ideas, characters, even single sentences or words that you’ll get to one day and turn into something brilliant - probably!

Do any of the above sound like you? What do you think makes someone a writer? We’d love to know!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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How To Handle Feedback From Your Editor

Getting feedback from your editor can be both exciting and challenging. It’s great to have someone look over your work, to help you get it in better shape, and bring you one step closer to getting it published and out there for everyone to read. However, having spent so long on your work it can sometimes be harder than you might think to accept what someone else has to say about it.

When you have poured your heart and soul into something, criticism, however constructive can feel like someone is profoundly wounding you. However, learning how to handle this kind of feedback will make the process easier and will help you to do your work justice too.

Here are some tips to help you:

Stay calm

Freaking out or going into a mad panic won’t help anyone. It can be difficult to digest if there are many more edits than you had expected, and it might feel as though your work is no longer your own. However, it is essential to approach this logically and dispassionately.

For a start even the most talented authors receive hundreds of suggestions for alteration from their editors - so seeing your manuscript swarming in a sea of red doesn’t make you a bad writer. Secondly, taking the time to read over each one will probably mean it might not be as bad as you think. You may see thousands of edits, but some of them will be as small as adding or removing a comma of adding a line break at the end of a sentence.

Review each and every change

At the end of the day, it is still your book, and you get the final say. So don’t just blindly accept or reject all the edits, take the time to go through each and every one. Some might be simple such as spelling or punctuation errors; others might take a little more consideration. Take your time, track all the changes, and make a note of any edits you decide to decline. If you deny most of them, you need to discuss this with your editor. You might have hired a bad editor, but it is more likely that you need more reassurance and a discussion will help you smooth out the finer points.

Feel free to ask questions

An editor has to accept that authors will want to raise questions where they don’t feel comfortable with a change - answering them is part of their role, and a good editor will be happy to explain why they think something needs to be different. So instead of panicking or feeling outraged, just ask what you need to ask - but make sure you have a legitimate argument for why you think the change isn’t necessary too otherwise you’ll end up looking like an egotistical author who can’t take feedback - and that’s kind of missing the point.

Return your accepted edits to the editor

An editor has a job to do too, and they have a reputation to protect. So many editors may expect that you return the manuscript to them if you haven’t agreed with all their edits. Some editors may even state this in their contract with you so make sure you read the fine print. If they want final approval, accept that it’s their pride and reputation on the line too and try to work together.

Save copies at different stages

Keeping track of edits and versions can be difficult, so make sure you save different versions, so you don’t end up having to start from scratch should the worst happen!

Don’t forget to celebrate

While the editing process can be tricky, once you have finalized your manuscript don’t forget to take a step back and enjoy the moment. Finishing a book is no mean feat and however tough the journey was, you got there in the end - and that’s something well worth celebrating!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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How To Blend Fiction And Nonfiction

The idea of blending fiction and nonfiction may seem strange to some. If you are writing a novel, you might draw on elements and experiences from your real life, but actually switching the way you write, so some parts of your book are fictionalized is not a technique you often come across.

However, there are particular types of books that can lend themselves well to this technique and if you are writing a book that is designed to help people this can be a great way of getting practical information across as well as telling a story that draws readers in and makes your book more exciting and entertaining to read.

Business books, self-help books, any book that is trying to deliver some lesson can mix fiction and nonfiction to make it more readable and to help those who are interested in the book absorb the information without it being too dry or complicated.

So how can you do this?

Begin by planning.

People are on a constant information overload these days. So finding ways to break down important information and make it more interesting and memorable is crucial. Design the characters in your book so that they are realistic but also engaging. Talk to people in relevant industries to give you inside information on what the setting should be, how people would interact, how they would dress, what their interests would be. It is essential to blend fictional characters with the realities of whatever world they inhabit - say a particular business.

Give characters or objects meaning.

Presenting information by telling a story can not only keep your readers interested but also make it easier for them to grasp more complicated concepts. For example, you could have each character in your story be representative of a particular discipline or lesson or strength and, by the characters coming together, they can fully succeed at the task at hand.

Settings give context

Using fictional characters in a setting that is representative of the real culture of a particular business can also help blend elements of fiction and nonfiction together to give a new perspective that allows people to recognize the behaviors and cultures in a specific organization. At the same time, this can help them see how to learn something new or overcome any challenges that might arise.

Pulling it together

Ultimately, if you are writing the kind of book which has a purpose to inform and teach people, this needs to be a priority. However finding creative ways to convey information can make all the difference, and blending fiction and nonfiction together can be an effective way of doing so.

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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