Beth Greenslade's Blog, page 79

Answer This Question If You Wish To Achieve Success

You can read every self-help book there is out there, but there’s only one question you need to ask yourself, “How badly do you want?” Most people don’t want success bad enough. They’d rather be unproductive than put in the work it takes to become successful. If you aren’t motivated to become a better version of yourself today, it will never happen. If you don’t want it badly enough, you need to find something that will force you to want it badly enough.

You want to find something that will create a fire within yourself. Something that’ll allow you to wake up with passion in the morning. Until you find that something, you shouldn’t stop searching. Your life is too short to live doing something you don’t wish to do. Even if you’re not doing something you wish right now, it doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. If that’s how you feel, then you must do something to change your situation.

Have you ever sat for a second and really thought about what you wanted to achieve in this life? Most people go their entire life without fully understanding what they were put on this planet for. Wouldn’t it be sad if you went your entire life without achieving what you were put here for? I don’t want to see that happen to you. Start with creating a plan with want you want to achieve during your lifetime.

Once you have your plan in place, it’s time you take action. You won’t get to where you want to go if you don’t take any action. Action is what will allow you to realize your dreams. Wouldn’t it feel good knowing on your deathbed that you gave it your all? You left nothing for chance and you created the life you wanted to live and not a life someone else told you to live.  

 Trevor Oldham

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The Best Places To Learn About Writing

When it comes to writing, there is always room to improve. Even the most seasoned writers will agree that there is still so much to learn. Getting better at writing is all about being open to learning opportunities, never resting on your laurels and continually experimenting and finding new ways to create better, more intelligent, more exciting pieces of writing each time you start a new project.

But how can you learn about writing? Where are the best places to find information, and the most effective ways to get better?

Here are some of the places you can try.

Writing groups

Joining a writing group is a great way to keep you motivated. By being part of a group, you have an instant support system. You can test your ideas out on a ready-made group who will honestly critique your work. You can discuss any problems you are having or hurdles you need to get over, and can learn from writers who have more years in the game, have had unique experiences of the writing industry or have a style of writing that’s different from yours.

Writing retreats

Writing retreats can be expensive but are also a fantastic way to meet like-minded people and to set aside some serious quality writing time where you can focus on your work, make tremendous advances and genuinely get to know yourself as a writer. Writing retreats are perfectly constructed to enhance creativity and guide the writer towards a deeper understanding of themselves and their work. If you can’t afford one, why not try setting one up yourself?

Writing courses

Writing courses come in all shapes and sizes from online courses, local community courses, right the way through to university degrees on the subject. Investing in a writing course can be a good way of learning more of the technical aspects of writing as well as giving a person the freedom to experiment with different techniques and approach their writing from new angles.

Online forums

There are thousands of online writing communities out there, some are networking or support groups, others are places where you can learn about writing or even submit your work for critique by fellow writers. The internet is an invaluable resource when it comes to your writing education, and it’s pretty much all free and available at the click of a button too!

Books on writing

Many writers find nothing quite as satisfying as the feel of a book's pages between their fingers. There are countless books available out there on how to write, what to do to get published, what common mistakes to avoid. It’s easy to find reviews from fellow writers about the ones they found most useful, and if you are struggling with a particular aspect of writing, you can search for a book which focuses on helping you improve in that area.

By reading and writing and learning from mistakes

Above all, however, writers learn about writing by writing themselves, reading books and learning from their own mistakes. If you set aside time to write as often as you are able, can look back on your work with a critical eye and accept where you might have gone wrong, and read everything you can get your hands on for inspiration, you’ll see your writing improve and develop effortlessly over time.

While some people have more of a natural creative flair than others, writing is still a skill, and if writers want to improve, they must dedicate time to practising, learning and developing their writing techniques. Above are some of the ways to do just that. How do you make sure you keep learning and improving when it comes to your writing? Share your thoughts with us here!

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

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Why Exercising Will Bring You Success

You’ve been told at one point in your life you need to exercise. It’s common sense you should exercise if you want to live longer and feel better, but did you know that exercising can also bring you success? You may think that the only reason exercising is bringing you success is because it makes you feel better but it’s much more than that. When you decide to exercise, you’re developing good habits in your life.

The habits you have today will decide how the rest of your life goes. If you don’t implement good habits today, bad habits will carry over to tomorrow. The first thing you do in the morning is based on the precis of your habits. Getting up and going for a run is good habits while checking your phone for an hour would be considered a bad habit. Be on the lookout to implement more good than bad habits in your life.

When you start to workout, over time you’ll get used to working out at the same time each day. It’ll feel weird when you miss a workout. When you get that weird feeling, you’ll know that you’ve created a good habit in your life. You know which habits are good in your life right now and which habits are bad. Focus on the good and minimizing the bad.

By working out, it will force you to be disciplined. Discipline will shape your life. Discipline forms the good and bad habits. Discipline is getting up when your alarm clock goes off and going for a run instead of hitting the snooze button. Yes, exercise will make you feel better but most importantly, you’ll start to develop a routine with good habits that will bring you success and last a lifetime. When you decide to exercise, you’ll change your life for better in more ways than one.

 Trevor Oldham

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What Are Publishers Looking For?

Getting published is hard. All writers know it. Yet so many of us keep on trying to get our work published. We keep going through the long, drawn-out process of writing, perfecting and sending off our manuscripts. We keep writing synopses and cover letters, researching agents and editors to try and find the best match and painfully, excruciatingly sitting around and waiting to hear any news.

We do all this for the teeny, tiny one in a million chance that we might hear back from them, and that they might tell us they liked our work and that they want to take it forward.

It’s a lot of effort for such a small chance. So how can we make it more worth our while?

The truth is that we can do everything right. We can polish our manuscripts to perfection, we can write a dazzling covering letter, we can research our audience and prove that there is a readership out there, but still, we don't get the response we are hoping for.

It leaves us tearing our hair out, staring at our gradually thickening pile of rejection letters screaming ‘WHAT DO YOU WANT???’

While we don’t have a crystal ball, often it’s because writers aren’t really, honestly paying attention to or accepting what it is that publishers want that they see their work rejected time and time again. If we close our eyes and ears to what they are asking us for, we naturally can’t expect to get very far.

So just what is it that publishers are looking for?

They want to be dazzled by your idea

Your story must be unique and but not so ‘out there’ that it has no mass appeal. It needs to be mainstream enough that a lot of people will buy it (or have a specific unique audience that is hungry for it) but also needs to be strong enough to stand out from the competition. It needs to be on trend or good enough to stand the test of time.

They want the whole package

Being great at writing books is no longer enough. Publishers want someone who they can rely on to get out there and be a powerhouse of promotion too. If you are personable, presentable, and passionate about your work, you need to make sure that comes across every time you pitch. Authors can no longer just let their work do the talking or hide behind their stories. They need to be marketable as people too.

They want a business partner

The more skills you can bring to the table the better. Publishers no longer want to take a punt on a new author, no matter how promising. They don’t like risks. They want to know that by going into partnership with you that you can produce results, and by results we mean book sales. Showing that you have a significant social media following, that you are marketing savvy, that you are passionate, hardworking, and already have more books in the pipeline all help publishers recognize you as a safe bet. Your credentials and author platform will help them see this. If you can prove you already have a creative and detailed promotion plan and are willing to put the work in, this can help you seem more appealing too.

So if you want to land a traditional publishing deal think about how you can mould yourself and your work into the above. These days a writer needs to be so much more than just a writer, so if you can prove you have the business know-how as well as the skill as well as the personality and passion, you may find yourself with a contract in your hands much sooner than you think.

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

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Does Money Matter?

When we first start to write, one of the thoughts that must go round every writer's head is, how can I make money from this?

That’s not to say that every writer is money driven, but at the same time, whether you are writing a novel and trying to get it published, or have decided to pack in the day job and set yourself up as a freelance writer, many of the decisions about how much time you can dedicate to your writing will revolve around the possibility of being able to make a living from it.

While it is true that there is money to be made in writing, particularly for fiction writers often we have to make a choice, do we want to write or do we want to have money?

Writing takes up a lot of time, and while it is possible to fit your writing in around a full-time job, doing so requires a tremendous amount of dedication. Even then there are no guaranteed rewards.

It’s also important to decide how important money truly is to you. For most writers being published is their ultimate goal, and many writers assume that if they do get that all-important ‘yes’ from a publisher that their money worries will simply drift away and they’ll be given a considerable advance and can write their stories living a life of leisure.

Unfortunately for those lucky few reality soon kicks in. Advances aren’t likely to be enough to retire on, and when it comes to royalties often the percentage taken from agents and publishers is so high that the author doesn’t see a massive return from book sales.

Of course, if your book is a huge success you could end up extremely rich, but if you think about how many books are out there, and how many rich and famous authors you can name, the two don’t quite add up. That’s because the majority of authors, yes even published authors , aren’t wealthy, and in fact, many have to do other work alongside their writing to make ends meet.

Writing costs money too!

It’s also worth remembering that writing is likely not only to cost you in time but money too. Even if you self-publish which means you can keep all or most of the money from any book sales, you are then solely responsible for getting the book edited to a publishable standard, getting a book cover designed and printing and sending copies to any readers -all of which will take significant dollars off your sale price. Not to mention marketing costs actually to get your book noticed in the first place.

There are lots of ways, however, to make a lucrative living from your writing, it might just be that selling books isn’t the one you should rely on! If you can land yourself a consistent writing gig, this is a great way to pay the bills while still allowing the freedom and flexibility necessary to get the novel written.

At the end of the day many writers have to make difficult decisions, choices and sacrifices when it comes to their writing career, and being firm about how far you are willing to go, and just what sacrifices you are ready to make will help you to stay focused and purposeful and make everything much clearer in the long run.

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

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Questions Every Writer Should Ask Themselves

Whether you have just started out writing, or have been doing it for years, it is good for every writer to check in with themselves from time to time. Understanding what drives and motivates you to write will help keep you on the right track and remain focused and confident even when things aren’t going your way. It will also give you a clear idea of exactly what you are writing for, who you are writing for, and what will satisfy you regarding your writing achievement.

So here are some essential questions every writer should take the time to ask themselves:

Why do you write?

Do you write to be admired? Do you write to connect with other people? Do you write because you want to share your stories or so you can force your opinions on others? Is your writing a vanity project, or because you genuinely think you can help people with what you are trying to get out there?

What are you hoping to change?

Writers usually write with some purpose in mind. The best stories leave people feeling changed, feeling different, affected by what they now know. Writers often find that this is the kind of writing that brings them the most satisfaction too. So figure out just what it is you hope to do, and what kind of effect you wish to have on your readers.

What makes you so special?

To be successful in the writing world you need your unique selling point. What can you bring to the table that others can’t? What can you offer that’s completely genuine and original? Find your own voice and find the words that only you can express, create worlds just you know how to navigate. Set yourself apart from others and you’ll stand out from the crowd.

What do you want?

It’s so important to have a focus, a clear goal in mind. Without one it’s all too easy to keep putting your writing aside and letting other things get in the way. Search deep down within yourself and figure out what it is you hope to achieve, and once you truly know that, don’t let anything stop you!

Asking these questions can be so helpful and give writers the focus they need to keep going. Sometimes just having clarity and a firm grip on our purpose can be so important, and it’s all too easy to lose that in amongst writing pressures, self-doubt, rejections and so on.

So if you haven’t already make sure you ask yourself these questions and take time to really think about how to answer them as precisely and clearly as you can. Doing so could reaffirm what you thought you always knew, or even change your perspective entirely, so why not give them a go?

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

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The Importance Of Great Time Keeping

There are lots of skills that you need to perfect as a writer. Finding inspiration, staying motivated, and learning about the craft are just some of them. Being great at timekeeping is another.

While it may seem that being a great timekeeper is something only necessary for the office workers of the world, actually there is so much more than just arriving at work on time that a writer needs to think about. Learning how to manage your time appropriately will be seriously beneficial when it comes to your writing progress.

Here's why:

Meeting deadlines

If you are a freelance writer, you’ll know all about the importance of meeting deadlines. Without doing so, you’ll quickly lose clients and gain a reputation for being unprofessional. But meeting deadlines also applies to fiction writers too. This could be anything from competition deadlines, deadlines from your publisher or simply deadlines you have set yourself - making sure that you are organized enough to meet these is so important to your writing career.

Goal setting

Every writer knows how important it is to set goals. Whatever kind of writing project you are working on, by making sure that you have targets and set timeframes within which to achieve those goals is so important. Doing so will keep you motivated and feeling as though you are moving forward and making progress with your writing. Without this, it’s so easy to make excuses, start procrastinating and putting your writing on the back burner until it eventually drops off your to-do list altogether.

Making time to write

Excellent timekeeping will help free up more of your time to write. If you have other commitments (and who doesn’t?) being able to manage your time well will become invaluable. The more productive you can be in your day to day life the easier it will be to find slots where you can sit down and get some precious writing time in.

Feeling professional and organized

Being a writer is fantastic, but you want to feel like you have a proper job and treat yourself and your business with respect and professionalism. Make sure you set your alarm, get up and have an official time that you start work for the day. Have working hours (they can be flexible to suit you of course) and stick to them. Without doing so you could find you get distracted by other things that need doing and suddenly the day will have passed you by, and you’ll have achieved so much less than you wanted to.

Being a good writer may seem all arty and freeing on the surface, but it actually requires a great deal of organization, dedication and is pretty time-consuming too! So the sooner writers learn to pay attention to their timekeeping and treat it with the importance it deserves the more productive, creative and satisfying each writing day will be.

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

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Quick Ways To Boost Your Writing Confidence

One of the most significant problems that many writers face is their inner critic. It is so easy to let that pesky voice inside tell you-you're not good enough and that you should give up. Listening to it or not being able to quieten it can have a massive effect on your writing confidence and could ultimately stop you writing altogether.

There is nothing wrong with having confidence in your writing, for feeling positive and excited about it rather than shy, stuttery and hopeless. So next time you think your confidence could do with a boost why not try the following to see if you can get back on track in no time at all?

Write regularly

The more you practice your writing, and the further you progress, the more you will feel confident that you know what you are doing and that you can get to where you want to be. This is by far the best way to quickly gain confidence, so even when you don’t feel like it, it’s important to keep writing.

Get feedback

While it can be scary to get feedback, often you’ll find that people are encouraging and helpful rather than destructive and cruel. Joining a writing group or online community where you can share your work are great places where you can expect honest, constructive feedback that tends to stay positive as it’s coming from your fellow writers who know just how tough the writing game is!

Read positive stories

So many writers suffer from lack of confidence and setbacks, and many of those writers are now celebrated and mega-famous authors! It’s so important to remember that you could well be your own worst critic and while you feel that your writing might be awful, you’d be surprised at the reactions of others. Even if you do get rejected, remember that is just part of being a writer, and you should keep trying because you never know when you might get your big break.

Stick up inspirational quotes

Sometimes just reading something uplifting and aspirational can help change our mindset. Why not stick up some of your favourite quotes around your workspace which will help to remind you to stay focused on your dream even through the toughest of times?

Write down your goals

Be clear about what you want to achieve and write this down. Seeing your goals in print in front of you will remind you of what you want, and will help give you the confidence to go out and get it.

Start small, dream big

You can build up to that six-figure publishing deal, but while you are trying to boost your confidence why not start with local competitions, small publications and even just posting your work online to get feedback? Starting small can help you slowly build up a belief in yourself and your writing. If you aim too high too soon, you might feel disheartened when you need to work your way up to get there slowly.

Learn about writing

There are so many different things you can learn about writing, so always make sure you are learning as much as you can. Read lots and widely for inspiration too. The more you learn and the more you read, the more inspired and confident you’ll feel.

Submit your work

Getting to the point where you feel ready to submit your work is a massive achievement in itself. Who cares if you get rejected? It just means that you're a real writer now!

By doing the above, you will always feel like you are moving forward with your writing, getting closer to reaching your goals and achieving your dreams. So next time you are feeling doubtful about your writing abilities or whether you can do it, try working on the above tips to help you stay focused and feeling confident throughout the writing process.

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

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How To Reclaim Your Life After You’ve Been Fired

It’s easy to get down on yourself after getting fired but this doesn’t have to be the case. Most people look at being fired as if it’s something bad when it can be quite the contrary. When you get fired, it can be the fresh start that you looking were looking for. When you get fired it can be a blessing in disguise.

When you get fired, you can look at it in a negative or positive light. I want you to look at getting fired in a positive light. When you get fired, it will open a door of new opportunities for you. You will have more time on hand until you find another job for yourself. You’ll want to use this time wisely. With newfound time, you can start the business you had been putting off or write the book you’ve always wanted too.

When you wish to reclaim your life, you’ll want to stick with the routine you’ve had going in your life. The worst thing you can do for yourself is feeling sorry for yourself. When you feel sorry for yourself, you won’t want to get out of bed. By not getting out of bed, you won’t be able to progress in your life.

Get up in the morning and go throughout your normal routine, besides looking for a job use your time to progress in your life. Do that which you have kept putting off. The best thing you can do is keep yourself busy. Take online courses or read books. Show your previous company why they never should’ve fired you.

You’ll learn a lot about yourself when you get fired, especially who you are as a person. Understand that you can make it through whatever you’re going through. You’re always stronger than you think. When you get fired, take advantage of the time given to you and stay within your daily routine!

 Trevor Oldham

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How To React When Others Try To Bring You Down

It’s easy to feel down when others try to bring you down. No matter where you are in life, you will always have someone who is trying to bring you down. This can come from someone who is a family or friend. Sometimes it’s not that they don’t want to see you succeed but it rather they are scared what will happen if you fail. But there are also people who always want to bring you down and see you fail, those are the people we’re going to be discussing today.

The first thing I want you to understand when someone is making a negative comment towards you is that the person is feeling something negative inside of themselves. No one makes a negative comment about someone unless they are feeling bad themselves. When someone says something negative about you, it’s not personal, it’s they themselves that feel that way.

It’s easy to get mad when someone says something negative about you. You need to walk away or you will only escalate the situation. If you give into their negative comment, they’re going to see that they can get under your skin and they’re going to continue to be more negative.

It’s difficult to not react when someone says something to you. Most people will act in a rage and want to say something bad. What you say back is going to determine a lot about your personality. If you lack self-esteem, you will want to say something negative back. If you have confidence, you’ll be able to restrain yourself. When you restrain yourself, you won’t say something you regret in the future. Do the best you can to not react to what something someone has said about you and instead pause for a few seconds. When you decide to pause, you’ll be able to control your emotions and make the correct decision.

 Trevor Oldham

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