Beth Greenslade's Blog, page 78

Top Ten Books To Help You Get Better At Writing

When it comes to writing there is always room for improvement. A writer who is willing to accept this and take the time and make an effort to continually progress and refine their skills will become better and better and will give themselves the very best chance of becoming successful.

One of the ways writers can get better at writing is by reading, and so why not kill two birds with one stone and read books designed to give you the very best tips and knowledge to improve your writing skills?

There are a lot of books out there which claim to help writers write, but which ones are the most effective? These ten books are insightful, well written and full of great tips and advice to help writers hone their skills:

1. The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century by Steven Pinker

This book gives fresh and contemporary advice on how to improve your writing style. While it’s not necessarily suitable for those just starting out, it’s witty, smart and full of fascinating insights to help you get your writing into great shape.

2. Write Tight: Say Exactly What You Mean with Precision and Power by William Brohaugh

Every writer knows that being a thorough editor is all part and parcel of the job. This book teaches you how to trim the fat from your writing, to recognize where you’ve overwritten or added parts to a story that aren’t necessary. Follow these tips to keep your writing sharp, precise and slick.

3. Indie Writer Survival Guide by Susan Kaye Quinn

The Indie Author Survival Guide is full of useful, easily digestible information to help improve your writing. It has a great conversational tone and feels as though you’re getting a whole bunch of insider secrets from a learned friend.

4. 1001 Ways to Write Great Fiction, Get Published, and Earn Your Audience by Chuck Wendig

If you want a frank and honest approach on how to write well, this book will deliver. Beware the no-nonsense style might not be everyone’s cup of tea but Wendigs advice is to the point, and very funny, if a little harsh at times.

5. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

No one can deny that the great Stephen King knows a thing or two about writing, it’s, therefore, no wonder that his how-to guide is one of the most popular writing advice books out there. King’s book is full of personal anecdotes that help writers feel as though they can make it too.

6. The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler

If you like to learn by example, The Writer’s Journey is going to be right up your street. Jam-packed with useful examples, and excellent exercises to help you improve your writing, this book will help you get well on your way.

7. Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King

This book is a genuinely fantastic guide to use when editing your manuscript. Go through each chapter and apply the advice to your work and you’ll end up with an entirely different, and much improved, story by the end.

8. Write. Publish. Repeat. by Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant

This book is a must-read for all writers. It offers something different to other writing advice books because it teaches writers that writing is a business, and how to learn the nature of that business and apply one’s business knowledge effectively is, ultimately, what will help you sell your book.

9. The Creative Tarot by Jessica Crispin

The creative tarrot is great for writers who need some creative inspiration and will teach you how to tap into your most creative self, become more imaginative and experimental and have fun with your writing at the same time.

10. The Sense of Style by Steven Pinker

This book will help writers to recognise when their writing isn’t very good, and how to put it right as well. It teaches writers how to let go of themselves, how to stop being so self-conscious with their writing and how to get out of the way so the reader can truly enjoy their work.

These ten books all bring something a little different to the table, and each one of them will give you some fantastic insight into how to make your writing better. By learning from the masters and the greats and applying their advice to your work you are sure to learn new skills and even surprise yourself along the way.

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

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What To Do When You Feel Like Giving Up

Almost every writer, at some stage during their writing career has a moment where they feel like giving up. That moment may be fleeting and be dismissed just as quickly as it came, or it may be something that builds up, creeps into your head and becomes impossible to shake.

There is no denying that writing is a tough job. We all know it. However there are times where writing can feel so tough it’s hard to carry on. Perhaps you are suffering from writer’s block and tired of being so exacerbated and infuriated that no words seem to want to come out, or perhaps you’ve suffered a rejection or been giving a particularly bad review. Perhaps you just can’t find the time to write or have got into such a routine of procrastination that you wonder how you’ll ever manage to get back to writing regularly.

Feeling as though you are wasting your time, that you’ll never become a success and that no one really cares about your writing can be pretty draining. However before you decide to pack in writing forever you need to really be sure it is the right decision, and not something you will come to regret.

More often then not quitting isn’t the right choice, so what should you do when you feel like giving up to really be sure, one way or another?

How do you feel?

Only you know deep down how you truly feel. Try to get to the very root cause of how you feel and be honest with yourself about what is causing you to feel this way. More often then not there might be a particular problem that has a solution. If you truly find writing unenjoyable and can’t see how you could ever change that you’ll know that maybe it is time to stop.

Where have you gotten to?

If you are just forming a new idea and you feel like giving up already, it may simply be that this particular idea isn’t going to work. Park it and try working on something else for a while to see if that gets you motivated. If you are midway through a writing project just look how far you have come already. It might be tough but if you’ve come this far why not try and push through until the end and then see how you feel?

What is writing getting in the way of?

Sometimes we can feel like giving up on writing because it takes away from other things we want to do. Writing doesn’t come without sacrifice, but if there is something that you feel is lacking from your life and writing is getting in the way of it try to reassess your priorities, to shift and juggle some of your daily activities to find room for both. Why not cut your writing time, or find a different slot for it rather then quitting altogether?

Reassess your goals

You might feel like giving up on writing because you have simply given yourself too much to do. Your writing goals should be challenges but they don’t have to make you feel totally stressed out or pressured. Why not create some easily achievable goals to help give you more of a sense of achievement with your writing, and then start to build up again from there?

Give yourself time

Just because thought of giving up comes into your head doesn’t mean it’s the right answer. It’s OK to give yourself a bit of time to think about what you really want, what your goals and priorities are and what will make you happiest.

Surround yourself with positive people

Some people just aren’t going to ‘get’ your writing or aren’t going to support you when it comes to your writing goals. These people aren’t helping you so try to distance yourself from them, or at least separate the time you spend with them from your work so you don’t have to mix the two.

Try to finish something

Sometimes all it takes is getting something finished to feel as though you are back on track. Before you give up on writing, promise yourself you’ll finish your latest project and then reassess things after that.

Take a break

Taking a break from your writing is not the same as giving up on it, so if things are really getting on top of you give yourself some space, create some distance from your writing and just return to it when you feel ready.

So next time you feel like giving up why not take some time to really ask yourself why you feel like doing so? Then use the above tips to get you back into a positive and productive frame of mind once more! At the end of the day feeling happy and fulfilled is what is most important, so do whatever feels right for you!

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

The post What To Do When You Feel Like Giving Up appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

Step By Step Guide To Writing A Proposal

The ability to write a fantastic book proposal is an essential skill that every writer should have.

So many writers put all their time and energy into making their manuscript as perfect as possible, but when it comes to sending it off, panic when trying to put their proposal together, and this is where they can really let themselves down.

The ability to pull together a document explaining just why your book is worth that particular editor's attention, who it will appeal to and why it is unique, is so important.

For many writers, putting together a proposal doesn’t come naturally. However, having the ability to calmly and factually explain why their manuscript is worth reading is what will make an agent or editor initially sit up and take notice.

If your proposal is dreadful, they might not even bother getting to your manuscript at all. If you can’t write a decent proposal, they may assume that your book will be terrible without even giving it a chance.

So how do you write an excellent book proposal? Here is a step by step guide:

Present your idea

Make sure you can clearly and succinctly explain your story. You should be able to do this in a paragraph or two. Make sure you do this first and foremost and make the plot sounds as exciting and intriguing as possible.

Make it obvious you have done your research

You need to state your reasons why this particular editor or agent would be a good fit to take on your book. Make it personal and show that you have taken the time to write an individual proposal just for them.

Be clear about the genre and your readership

An editor will want to be sure your book will sell, and it’s your job to persuade them. A proposal gives you the opportunity to tell them who is going to buy it and why.

Give your USP

Every new book needs to bring something different to the market. What makes your book special? Why is it something different?

Be genuine and positive not boastful (and back up with facts where you can)

This is your chance to be positive about your book. It’s not the time to be self-deprecating. Learn how to write, so you come across as though you genuinely believe in your book but don’t make outlandish, unevidenced claims about it either.

Talk about your skills and give it some personality

An agent or editor will want to get an idea of what you are like too - so don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through and include relevant details about your skills and achievements to show them you are what they are looking for.

Make sure your writing backs it up

Your proposal needs to be well-written as this will indicate how good a writer you really are. So take the time to make sure your proposal is clear and has no spelling or grammatical errors which will make you seem sloppy and unprofessional from the outset.

Your book proposal is not just a letter explaining why your book is excellent, it is your business plan, and it needs to prove to editors and agents that you have a marketable idea that will appeal to a mass audience. A publisher who takes on your work is investing in it and you, so make your proposal as smart, direct and appealing as possible to give your book the best chance of being taken seriously.

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

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Why You Should Say NO More Often

Most people are keen on saying yes all the time, but not a lot of people like to say no. The thing is, you should be saying no more often than you say yes. The reason you should be saying no is that your time is valuable. When you say yes too often, you’re giving up your time that could have been better used elsewhere.

There’s nothing wrong with saying yes to things important to you, but you also have to get your priorities straight. If you don’t have your priorities in order, you will waste time. You may not think saying yes today will affect you, but if you compound it over time, you will find out you haven’t ended up at the destination you intended. I don’t think you want to end up at a destination in which you never intended to be at. The only way you make sure that doesn’t happen is if you say no more often!

You need to remember that this is your life. You’re not responsible for anyone else besides yourself. Don’t be afraid to say no. People will respect you more for saying no than saying yes all the time. Don’t become the person who says yes just because they don’t want to hurt the other person’s feelings. The person won’t be offended and don’t make up an excuse for when you say no. Tell them straight about how you’re feeling.

When you say no more often, you’re creating boundaries in your life. By creating boundaries in your life, you’re able to get more done. When you get more done during the day, you get closer to achieving your dreams because your actions will compound. You need to create boundaries in your life if you ever wish to become successful. Ask yourself if you’re where you want to be, if the answer is no, then you need to say no more in your life!

 Trevor Oldham

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The Key Trait Of The Successful

When you read about successful people, you start to realize something every successful person has in common. The successful person does not differ from you or I. We all have the same 24 hours in a day, but why are some people more successful than others? The successful don’t have a special skill that you don’t have. What the successful do have is they take action. They don’t wait around for others to tell them when to start.

How many people never achieve their dreams because they didn’t take action? People always talk about what they will do. You can always talk about what you will do, but at the end of the day, you have to be willing to put in the work whether or not you feel like it. The successful will do the work even on their worst days.

Your situation will never be perfect. You can’t wait for today or tomorrow to start. The quicker you start to take action, the quicker you’ll be to achieving your ideal success. The longer you take to take action, the longer you’ll be delaying your success. You only have so much time in the day to work, why do you keep putting it off?

Start in the morning. The way your morning goes will dictate how the rest of your day goes. Don’t check your phone in the morning, save that for later in the day when you can no longer work. Spend the first couple of hours working on your craft and it’ll help to carry you throughout your week.

At the start of each day, create a list of what needs to get accomplished. What tasks will lead you to your success? Each day focus on your most important tasks. Successful isn’t built in one day, it’s built over time. When you take action each day, it’s only a matter of time before you become successful!

 Trevor Oldham

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How To Handle Editorial Feedback

Sending your manuscript off to an editor can be nerve-wracking. Even though you may be paying them for their services, getting feedback can be difficult when you have spent so long trying to make your book as good as it can be.

An editor’s job is to find mistakes, not just regarding spelling, grammar and punctuation, but also with regards to how your story works overall.

Of course, if you are paying an editor to review your book, it is up to you to direct them about what kind of feedback you want. Just remember however that having a professional editor review your work before you send it to agents and publishers makes a massive difference in terms of your chances of success. If you choose to self-publish, a professional editor can ensure your book goes on sale being as the best version it can be.

So how can you prepare yourself for editorial feedback and learn how to handle it professionally?

Don’t panic!

When you first look at the changes an editor has made, there may be a lot of them. This may make you feel utterly disheartened or completely outraged, but either way, the key is not to freak out.

There may be hundreds, even thousands of edits to your manuscript. A lot of these, however, will be minor amendments - a comma here, a formatting change there and are therefore nothing to worry about.

Additional edits may require more time to look over and absorb, but remember edits don’t mean your manuscript was awful to start with. Many excellent books need a considerable amount of editing before they hit the shelves and it’s something all writers must go through to make their book amazing.

Be thorough

Take your time to go through every edit and consider whether you want to accept it or reject it. Don’t rush this. At first, you may feel wounded by some of the suggested changes and your natural reaction may be to refuse them. However, this might not be what is best for your book so try to stay calm and be as objective as you possibly can be.

Saying that you also don’t have to accept every suggestion an editor has made. It is your story after all. Just be sure you are clear in your reasons for doing so and make sure it’s not just your ego getting in the way.

Ask questions

If you aren’t sure why a particular edit has been made, get in touch with your editor for clarification. Doing so can help you get a better understanding and insight into their thinking which will reassure you that they know what they are talking about and have done an excellent job.

Proofread once more

Once you have accepted or rejected the changes made by your editor, it is a good idea to have a final read-through of your manuscript to make sure everything is as it should be. It can be easy to accidentally make a change that then doesn’t make sense or creates an error elsewhere so reading through one more time will make doubly sure your manuscript is perfect and ready to be shared with the world!

Celebrate!

Working through your edited manuscript is one of the very last stages of finalizing your book. Doing so takes time, effort and a cool head. It’s not easy to let someone else get their hands on your work so pat yourself on the back and take some time to celebrate your achievement!

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

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Should You Change Your Story For A Publishing Deal?

Let’s face it; there are not many writers in the world who wouldn’t love a publishing deal. Sure some of us might find the self-publishing route more rewarding, even more lucrative than if we were to sign with a traditional publisher. The majority of us, however, have a shared dream, and that’s to find a traditional publisher who is willing to take a punt on us.

But one thing many of us don’t think about is what we would do if that publisher wanted to take on our book, but wouldn’t agree to do so without making significant changes. Would we blindly accept, so glad that they picked us that we would let them do anything to our precious manuscript to see it in print? Or would we baulk at the idea and refuse, even for a considerable sum, to let anyone tamper with our sacred work?

This is something every writer should think about. Where is it that you would draw the line? How much would you be willing to change if the price was right? Would you never sell your soul just for a publishing deal, or does that sort of thing not matter to you at all - they are the professionals after all, and know what sells, so why not?

Writers need to ask themselves:

What do I feel comfortable with?

Don’t let a publisher push you into making changes that you hate. There is always room for negotiation and compromise. At the same time, it pays to be flexible. If you outright refuse to make any changes to your story, you’ll come across as difficult to work with which may make them wonder whether doing a deal with you is the right move after all.

Do I write for fame and fortune or something more?

Understanding what inspires you to write in the first place will help you come to an easier decision when realizing just how far you’d go and how many changes you’d be willing to make. If your motivation to write is merely to see your name in print and have people buy your books then making changes may not cause you to bat an eyelid. If however, you write because you have a particular story you want to share with the world, you might feel very protective of the words that have created that story and the specific message you want to get accross.

Would I regret it?

If you have a sneaking suspicion that you’ll end up regretting it, then it’s probably a good idea to stay true to yourself. There is nothing worse than feeling as though you have let yourself down and damaged your authenticity as a writer.

On the one hand, if your book is good enough to get a positive response from a publisher, even if they do want to make changes, that’s something to be very excited about. On the other, if you were to change your story and get your book published, you’ll then have a much more robust platform from which to write another book, and this time may feel you have the experience and backing of your fanbase to argue that your stories should remain as they are.

At the end of the day, this is a hugely personal choice, and there really is no right or wrong answer. But it is something worth considering, because knowing your limits, and understanding how you feel about your story can only prove beneficial in the long run.

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

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Can You Really Be A Part-Time Writer?

When it comes to writing we all hear those stories of famous writers, you know, the ones who ate, slept and breathed writing. Those who would get up at 3 am, shaking with passion, and a fierce, unstoppable desire to write all their thoughts down. Those who couldn’t think of anything other than writing, who would spend their days holed up in their study, perhaps a quirky, dust filled shed at the bottom of their garden, and not see daylight or eat for days on end because their work would so consume them.

Well, that might be all well and good. But for most of us, the idea of being a full-time writer is a bit of a luxury. We all know how hard it is to get published, so how much time can we realistically spend on our writing while still making sure we have a roof over our heads?

Also, it’s OK not to want writing to be the only thing you do with your life. Writers seem to carry immense amounts of guilt around with them. They beat themselves us for not doing enough, for not being good enough. In fact, often we are so down on ourselves and put so much pressure on ourselves it’s a wonder we find any joy in writing at all.

Sure, being a good writer requires dedication and discipline. There is no doubt about it. But one can be a part-time writer and still progress, still set targets and still achieve our writing dreams.

When did being a writer mean one has to be bleary-eyed, neglect our friends and families and live on crusts of bread and water for weeks on end? It’s like we have to be ashamed if we aren’t practically killing ourselves to achieve our writing goals. There is a myth that unless we are waking up in the middle of the night and slowly becoming reclusive in order to write, that we can’t possibly be passionate enough about it or dedicated enough to it to deserve to be successful.

Writers need to give themselves a break. At the end of the day, while it’s important to work hard for what you want in life, it is also important to enjoy the process. So if writing part-time works for you, and allows you to write at your leisure, while also enjoying everything else that life has to offer, that’s fine. In fact, achieving a balance between your writing life and your actual life is healthy, and something which should be encouraged.

We don’t need to have a sob story; we don’t need to cripple ourselves and end up a stressed out, exhausted shell of a person to follow our dreams. That’s not to say that being a full-time writer couldn’t be brilliant, but it needs to be because that’s the right move, not born out of some sort of guilt-ridden, weird idea that you’re not a real writer unless you dedicate every inch of your being to it.

It’s essential for writers to stop and ask ourselves ‘is this working for me?’ ‘am I enjoying this?’ Writers don’t have to be tortured, sleep-deprived souls. It’s OK and possible to be a part-time writer and still be successful. It just might take you a little longer to get there that’s all!

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

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Practical Writing Tips You Can Actually Use

There are so many different pieces of advice when it comes to writing. Some you’ll find useful, some you won’t. When it comes to writing tips, every writer is different, and not all pieces of advice will be helpful to them or fit in with what they are trying to say or do.

Sometimes the most practical and straightforward advice is the best. These tips should resonate with all writers, give them food for thought and can apply to any kind of writing. So let's take a look at them:

Say something

Whatever kind of writing you are into, you need to have something to say. Take a step back and think about what your message is, what your point is, what you are trying to get across. Once you are confident of that, you have the essence of your story or article and can build everything else around that.

Use short sentences and simple language

It’s so tempting to show your readers what an enormous brain you have, and to use all the big and smart words you know to demonstrate that. But it’s important to realise that’s not the way to impress your readers. Be inclusive, keep things simple. The most intelligent writing will be able to create an impression without making their readers reach for the dictionary.

Get detailed

Be specific and use detail to build a picture in your reader's mind. The more clever and arresting information you include the more readers will feel they know your characters and the world they live in.

Use the active voice

We know you’ve heard it all before, but using the active voice makes your writing more present and readers have a better connection to the words. So try, where you can, to use the active voice at all times.

Break up your text

Even in fiction writing, massive chunks of texts can make a reader's eyes glaze over. If you are writing a story, break up text into short paragraphs and use dialogue. Articles can be broken down into smaller chunks of text and devices such as bulleted lists, and fact boxes can help too.

Don’t overwrite

Good writing is where a writers ego stays out of it. If you put your reader first and think about what they need to know and what will give them a better, more meaningful understanding of what is going on you’ll find the instances where you overwrite will really stand out. Stop rambling, stop trying to sound smart and merely say what you are trying to say.

Become a brutal editor

Eliminate what you don’t need, become eagle-eyed at spotting mistakes. Read your work through the eyes of a critical reader and remember to keep that ego at bay!

These tips will help make writing sharper, more accessible and more readable. So why not try applying them to your writing projects today?!

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

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10 Ways To Get Motivated

Writers often find that it can be hard to stay motivated. We all have days where we get a little off track, a little distracted, and that’s fine. But when the days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months it can be a real problem trying to find that motivation and inspiration to get back to writing once more.

So what can you do to help keep you motivated and on the right track? Here are ten things to try:

Brainstorm

No idea is a bad idea. Give yourself the space to be creatively free by having a good old brainstorming session. Don’t censor yourself and just write down every idea, character, plot point etc. that comes to you. When you have finished look over what you’ve got, pick out the ideas that stand out and begin to develop them. You’ll feel excited and motivated once you realize you’ve got several good story ideas that could really go somewhere.

2. Go for a run.

Exercise releases endorphins so instead of staring in a frustrated stupor at your computer screen, give yourself a break, get out into the big wide world and get moving. If running isn’t your thing a brisk walk, a yoga class or any other form of exercise that takes your fancy can help you release some energy, get the blood pumping and feel motivated once more.

3. Read your positive reviews

It’s so easy to become focused on the negative and lose faith in ourselves. If you need a bit of a confidence boost read over old positive reviews or feedback you’ve been given. Even just remembering positive words form a friend or relative can help you to remember why you are doing this in the first place and inspire you to get back to work!

4. Get feedback

If you don’t have a lot of feedback now is the time to bite the bullet, put yourself out there and get some. If might not all be positive, but getting feedback is crucial to help you learn and improve.

5. Have a mantra

Have a positive mantra that you start each writing day with. Look at yourself in the mirror and give yourself an inspiring pep talk to get you revved up and ready to start the day in the right way,

6. Meditate

Sometimes having too much clutter in your brain can mean you lose focus, become overwhelmed and give up all too easily. Try retraining your mind and finding a moment of calm to sit quietly by yourself and just let go. Meditation can be a great way to do this, but if you are not a fan try sitting quietly and taking some deep breaths instead.

7. Set goals

Goal setting is so important. If you can create some realistic but challenging goals for yourself, write these down and work out how you are going to achieve them, you’ll feel organized as well as inspired, and you’ll be able to see a clear path as to how to get to where you want to be.

8. Stick to those goals!

The more you can stick to your goal plan and achieve your goals the more motivated you will become. Start off by giving yourself some easy wins, and you’ll soon see that you feel even more motivated to continue.

9. Reward yourself

Have a reward system in place so each time you reach a specific goal or hit a particular milestone, you can celebrate your success. By rewarding yourself, or knowing a reward is in store you’ll keep pushing yourself to reach your goals and keep achieving what you want to achieve.

10 Find a buddy

Sometimes all we need is someone there by our side to keep us soldering on. Having a buddy also helps us because we don’t want to let the other person down. So if you need a little extra help to keep motivated, find a writing buddy and work together -you might find them an invaluable partner to help you along your writing journey.

So there you have it - if you are feeling a little lacking in creativity, or you know you are guilty of not writing as much as you should, try using these ten ways to get motivated and become a prolific and productive writer once more!

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

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