Beth Greenslade's Blog, page 90

New Year – New Writing

January 1st marks a fresh start in life. A new calendar, a new year, a new you, and new writing. If you’re feeling like you’re in a slump, or need fresh ideas, then now is the time to make some changes!

The beginning of a new year can either bring change or not. It’s up to you to decide. The minutia that makes up every day life certainly doesn’t change. The laundry still need to be done, dinner still needs to be cooked, and the dog still needs to be walked. But the atmosphere of life can most certainly be changed.

How we perceive life to be can be altered at any moment. It’s just that sometimes we need a special event to kick start us. And that’s the beauty of the new year. It’s a time where everyone gathers to celebrate a new beginning. And while everyone can agree on a new beginning, it’s up to the individual to interpret how that new beginning will unfold.

Will you make giant leaps into 2018? Will your long-time fantasies be played out? Or will you make subtle, but important changes to your life? The most important thing is to recognize that change is necessary. The world will continue to change whether you want it to or not, so you might as well try to change with it, for the better.

The new year can bring whatever you would like, you just need to decide what that will be. Instead of focusing on details, start with a theme. Do you want more adventure in your life? Do you want more comfort? Do you want a new purpose?

A new year can’t exist without an old year. So be sure to think back to 2017. What made last year good? What made it bad? What were the highlights and is it possible to create more of those? What didn’t work well and is it possible to eliminate those situations?

Think about how you want your life to be and go forth to create that life. This is a new year. It will be full of new wonders, new possibilities, and new writing. Make the most of it and be as happy as you can be!

 

The post New Year – New Writing appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How Writers Can Help One Another

When it comes to writing, we can often feel as though we are on our own. Because writing is such a tough and competitive industry, that ‘us against the world attitude’ can bring us down, and make us feel somewhat overwhelmed at times.

Of course, it is true that writers are competing against one another, and that is unlucky to change. However, this doesn’t mean that we can’t help and support one another at the same time! We all know how solitary and lonely writing can be, so taking the time to reach out and help our fellow writers can make us feel part of a community, and can bring invaluable support, advice, and friendship into our writing lives too!

So how can writers help one another?

Buying each other's books

Make an effort to support other writers by buying their books. Seeking out promising indie writers means not only can you discover some gems, but you are supporting the writing community too. Often writers prices are forced down to try and be competitive, or because people offer their books for free. Help the community by actually paying for the books you buy!

Leaving reviews

If you’ve enjoyed a book take the time to write a positive review for the author. You know how wonderful it feels when you receive a new positive review of your work, it can be a massive confidence boost - so taking the time to do so will really help and benefit your fellow writers.

Not out pricing one another

Don’t be a sellout and price your book too low. One of the problems with the book market, particularly for indie authors is that so many books are priced at next to nothing, or for free that they feel they must do the same to compete. This makes it almost impossible to make a living from selling books, despite how much time and effort goes into creating one. This needs to change, and one of the ways it will is by not pricing your own books so low and encouraging other authors to do the same.

Following one another on social media

Having a decent following on social media can boost writers profile. Help one another out by following your fellow writers on social media, sharing their blog posts or liking or commenting on their posts.

Sharing advice and experiences

Knowing you are not alone out there can be incredibly comforting, so why not join writing communities and actively contribute your stories, your lessons learned and your tips and advice? The more we share with one another, the more supported we feel, and its good to know that every bad experience, every time we’ve felt like giving up, every negative review or reaction is just part of a writer’s life!

By following the above advice, you’ll feel better about yourself as a writer, feel more part of a community, and are more likely to find fellow writers who are willing to help and support you in return. Having a support network can be so beneficial, can help to improve your writing, and keep you motivated too - therefore helping other writers is well worth doing!

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

The post How Writers Can Help One Another appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

The One Thing Every Successful Writer Has In Common

To become a successful writer doesn’t have to be hard. There is only thing you need and that’s the drive to succeed.

There are millions of people who dream of writing a book but never actually end up writing that book. Do you want to go to the grave knowing you had a masterpiece in your hands? I don’t think you do.

What are you doing today that’s going to make you a successful writer? You can keep coming up with excuses and saying that you’re too busy. Guess what? We all live busy lives. Until you put aside the excuses you’re making for yourself, you’re never going to be a successful writer.

When you look at any successful writer, you’ll see they had the drive whether they felt like it or not. Yes, some mornings we wake up and we don’t want to work. It wouldn’t be normal if you didn’t feel that way. However, the difference between the successful and unsuccessful is that the successful fought through that feeling.

When you wake up and work on your book or blog, you’re getting that much further than the person who slept in or was at a party the night before.

What you’re going to be doing for yourself is creating momentum. Each day it’s going to get a little bit easier. Over a period of time, it’s going to become a habit. A habit that’s going to be beneficial for your career as a successful writer.

How do you think Stephen King or Nicholas Sparks got to where they are? Do you think they got there by not having any drive? Of course, they couldn’t, they worked even when they didn’t feel like working.

It doesn’t matter if you’re talented or not, all that matters is how badly you want it. If you’re willing to put in the effort and grind it out, there’s no reason that you can’t become a successful writer!

 Trevor Oldham

The post The One Thing Every Successful Writer Has In Common appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How To Make Your Writing Come More Naturally

It can be very frustrating as a writer when you sit down to write, and you feel as though you can’t quite get into the swing of things. No matter how hard you try your words seem clunky, you can’t quite think of the right phrasing, and your story seems to be going nowhere.

When this happens it's a good idea to take a step back and think about how you can help yourself write more naturally. To help you, here are some useful things to try:

Be imaginative.

Using your imagination is one of the great joys of writing. Don’t censor yourself or hold your imagination back. Remember, when it comes to fiction anything is possible so the more you indulge in your artistic creativity, the easier your words will flow, and the more inspired you will feel.

Write more.

The more you write, the easier it will become, it’s as simple as that. Practice your writing as much as you can. If you leave it too long in between writing sessions, it’s harder to get back into the swing of things. Try to write every day, even if it’s only for a little bit.

Write your passions.

If you are writing what you are passionate about you are more likely to find the words come naturally to you. Always consider balancing what you love and what you have knowledge about, and try to be as authentic as possible.

Remove distractions and clear your schedule.

Writing is made more challenging if you are constantly being distracted. Try to find a quiet space to write where you can focus and concentrate. Turn off your phone and emails and really try to get into the writing ‘zone.’

Write like no one is watching.

When writing first drafts, it’s best just to try and get the story down. Don’t be self-conscious about your writing, and keep reminding yourself that no one has to read it yet! You can edit and make improvements later so just remember that and don’t let any negativity hold you back.

Write in the active voice.

Writing in the active voice can boost your writing and will make it a more interesting read too. An active voice brings immediacy and helps readers engage and immerse themselves in your story; it will also help you to write with more energy and focus as well.

The more you practice the above tips, the more likely you are to be able to write naturally and more productively too. So next time you feel as though you might be in a bit of a writer’s slump, try to practice the above, and soon you’ll find the words flow freely, and your writing experience becomes more enjoyable too.

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

The post How To Make Your Writing Come More Naturally appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

Write What You Love Vs Write What You Know

When it comes to writing fiction, the sky is the limit, or is it?!

So many of us get confused by writing advice, and it’s no wonder. Much of it can be contradictory and to understand which pieces of advice to follow can be tricky.

This has never nee truer when it comes to the age-old advice of writing what you know. Writer’s are often told that writing what we know is the best way to write convincingly, reliably, to ensure the reader believes in us and our writing voice.

However, the argument against this is, well, writing what we know can feel a little dull!

The problem with being told to write what you know is that many things you know are just the things that you do on a daily basis, and the danger of writing about these things is that they neither inspire or interest you, nor do they inspire or interest your readers! Great stories are dramatic and action-packed, and while characters need to be relatable and ordinary in some ways, their journeys are not so.

At the same time, if you completely ignore this advice and only write what you think might impress others, or just to sell books, you risk sounding vague and unconvincing. If you aren’t passionate about your writing that’s going to come across, no matter how hard you try to disguise it with big storylines and larger than life characters.

Besides, what’s popular now might have had its time in the spotlight by the time your book is finished, and then you’ll have wasted all that time and effort for nothing.

Often, by taking the advice to write what you love, you do end up writing what you know regardless.

It’s just the very best of what you know rather than the day to day. Writing about what you love is writing about what you are most passionate about, what fills you with emotion and gets you going. You’ll, therefore, be more enthused by your writing project, and more likely to be able to write it quicker and better, as well as feeling a far deeper sense of accomplishment and satisfaction once you complete it.

Writing what you love will also make it easier for you after you’ve finished your book. If you need to promote and market it yourself, if you genuinely believe in it and are passionate about sharing your writing with the world, you’ll be more dedicated to promotion and more likely to find creative and effective ways to do so. Your passion will naturally shine through, and potential readers will pick up on this.

At the end of the day, some pieces of writing advice can be beneficial, while others can feel foreign and unnatural to you, and it’s up to the individual writer to decide which writing pieces of advice work for them.

Nothing is set in stone, that’s the beauty of writing - and as long as you are trying to improve, to learn and are continuing to write then you can’t go too far wrong!

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

The post Write What You Love Vs Write What You Know appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How To Befriend Other Writers

Sometimes writing can be a lonely old game. It is a somewhat solitary pursuit after all. Unlike other jobs, you don’t need anyone else to help you write, and indeed if you are writing a novel the ideas come from you and you alone.

However, while this may be true, there are many reasons why writers should try to find other writers to befriend. Other writers can be an excellent support network when times get tough, can pick you up when you aren’t feeling confident or have suffered rejection, and are super helpful to bounce ideas off and ask to critique your work as well.

A friendship group of writers can not only help you feel more supported, inspired and motivated to write, but can help you become a better writer too.

Of course, this may feel easier said than done. If you write at home, alone, day in day out, where are you supposed to go to find these other writers who could potentially become friends? Well luckily there are plenty of avenues to try, and for some of them, you don’t even need to leave the comfort of your own home!

Here’s how to befriend other writers:

Local writing groups

Local writing groups are a great way to meet like-minded people and get feedback on your work.

Online forums

If you are a little time poor, online forums can be an excellent way to join in conversations about writing and learn new things.

Take a class

A writing class is a fantastic way to meet people and get support and tips on how to improve your writing.

Via social media

Connecting via social media is a quick and easy way to reach out to fellow writers and build a repertoire with them.

Place an ad

If you can’t find what you are looking for why not be bold and place an ad online or in a local paper to see if you can find a writing partner, or set up your own writing group?

Go to a writers retreat

Fancy some rest and recuperation as well as a relaxing environment to inspire you to write? A writer’s retreat may be just what you are looking for and the perfect setting to meet likeminded people.

Once you have made contact with fellow writers, it’s all about building relationships by offering to help them as well as getting advice and tips in return.

Offer to critique their work

So many writers are looking for feedback on their work. Whether you can help as a proofreader or give your opinion on their story, most writers welcome points of view and will likely offer to do the same for yours in return.

Post and comment on group boards

Get involved in the writing community by posting and commenting on different writing boards, giving advice and joining the conversation is a great way to build relationships and make new acquaintances.

Follow them on social media

Start the relationship by following them on social media, like their posts and leave thoughtful comments; this will get the conversation going and make them take notice of you.

Buy their books and leave reviews.

Authors love those who buy their books, especially those who take the time to leave reviews. Buy from indie authors, and they may well return the favour.

Be positive but helpful

Being too brutally honest or negative won’t make you any friends, so when critiquing try to find both good and slightly more constructive things to say!

Remember it is all about give and take!

Don’t expect your writing friends to help and support you if you offer nothing in return - there has to be a balance so you must be willing to put the effort in too.

Befriending other writers is well worth doing and can make such a difference to your writing life. So you are looking to expand your social circle, improve your writing, get motivated and potentially meet lifelong friends, then why not try the tips above and get your very own invaluable army of writing friends today?!

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

The post How To Befriend Other Writers appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How To Write More Persuasively

Being able to write persuasively is a skill all writers should have. Whether you are writing an article or writing a novel, you do so with a reader in mind. You might be trying to convince the reader to believe in your world or care about your characters, or urge them to change their mind about something, buy a product or click on a link.

Of course, writing persuasively for fiction requires different considerations than when writing to try to get readers to act. However, there are some principals that hold true for both and therefore learning how to write this way is something that all writers should practice and bear in mind, whatever kind of writing they do.

So what can you do to write more persuasively? Try these helpful tips:

Repetition

When you are trying to persuade a reader to buy something, for example, you might be explaining why that particular product or service will be so beneficial to them. You won’t just say this once, but instead, say in a few different and creative ways to make sure you get your point across. This is true of fiction writing too where you are trying to convince your reader that a character is a particular thing - kind, dangerous, trustworthy brave. You won’t just tell them it is so, but rather show them, through several descriptions and actions how they are this way.

Reasons

To write persuasively, you need to give readers reasons to believe that what you are telling them is the truth. In non-fiction writing, a reader will only be convinced by you if they believe you are an authority on the subject. Similarly, in fiction writing the reader must trust the author and the narrator of the story - whether they turn out to be reliable or not is another matter, but for the reader to immerse themselves in the world, they must not question what is being told.

Quality

Persuasive writing must be of a certain standard. If you are writing a blog post giving advice, for example, if it is poorly written then it will be difficult for your audience to take you seriously. If you are trying to sell a product, a badly written piece of content will not do anything to make a person buy it - if the writing is poor the product may also be so. If you are writing a book and the writing is terrible, readers won’t buy into the world or the characters you are trying to create. To be a persuasive writer, you must be a good one!

Compare and contrast

Another device used in persuasive writing is to create contrasts and comparisons which serve to highlight your points further. In an article, this might be by listing all the benefits that your product or service has over another. In fiction writing, you might create contrasting characters which make the others seem more extreme.

Solve problems

A persuasive piece of writing will present problems and provide solutions. This is the most important part of a writers work. By doing so, you are showing your reader, without a doubt, why your solution will make the problem better. In fiction writing, every protagonist must face obstacles - for the reader to care about them and root for them their road must not be straightforward. The more challenging the road is, the more a reader will invest.

Tell a story

Lastly, persuasive writing tells a story. Stories allow readers to become involved, and to care. The better you make your stories, whatever kind of writer you are, the more persuasive you will be!

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

The post How To Write More Persuasively appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How To Achieve A Writing/ Life Balance

Sometimes when you write, it seems like nothing else matters in the world. When it’s going well, minutes turn into hours which then turn into days!

While this feeling can be pretty powerful, and make you feel as though writing is what you were born to do, it is also important to remember that there is another world out there, and if you ignore it for too long you could end up regretting it!

The best part about being a writer is that we can be flexible with our work. We can decide when to write, where to write and how much we want to write at any given time. This means we have a unique opportunity to fit other things we love to do around our writing, much more so than someone who has set hours and an office that they must travel to, to get to work each day.

With that flexibility, however, comes the responsibility of managing our own time and workload. Whether you are writing blogs, articles, web pages, short stories, novels or anything else in between, it is essential to get a good writing/life balance otherwise it is far too easy to dedicate too much time to writing, and let other relationships and activities suffer.

Of course, there is also the danger that one will experience writing burnout too, and this could mean that while you write on a roll for a while, your productivity suffers in the long run as you become too exhausted and fatigued with writing to be able to do any more!

So what are the tips and tricks writers can use to ensure they achieve a healthy balance between work and a life outside it? Here are some things to try:

Set your working hours and goals

If writing is your full-time job, it is essential to treat it as such. That means you should set your working hours, have days off and even set yourself holiday too. Of course, it’s great to be able to work whenever you want, but without any structure, it is easy to do too much. If you don’t want to have to work at specific times each day, then make sure you set goals instead. Make goals at the start of each week, work out how long it will take you to achieve them and then work out when you will be able to work around your other commitments.

Make downtime count

When you aren’t working, it is important to ensure you do put it to one side and do something else. Turn off your phone and emails and shut down your computer. Make an effort not to talk about work, or even think about it. Spend quality time with family and friends or pursuing other hobbies and interests that you love. This way you’ll feel as though you have a full and balanced life!

Don’t get distracted

Just as it is important to take time out of work to do other things, it is also important to make your working hours as productive as possible. So don’t procrastinate, minimise distractions such as social media and try to focus as much as possible. This way you are far more likely to have a productive and useful day and feel like you can walk away from your work at the end of it. If you stop and start and don’t make much progress, you’ll waste your own time and feel like you need to keep going, while achieving half as much!

Be realistic and kind to yourself

Of course, you are going to have days where you aren’t as productive, or ones where you need to work late to reach a deadline, or just because you feel like it. If this happens, there is no point in beating yourself up about it. But if you know you have a tendency to overwork yourself you need to ensure you keep these instances in check and don’t let them become too regular.

It’s also important to let yourself have breaks and enjoy other parts of your life. So many writers carry around a sense of guilt because they feel as though they should be dedicating every minute of every hour to their writing. Realistically no one can do this, and if you try you run the risk of taking all the joy out of writing and potentially damaging your writing career in the long run!

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

The post How To Achieve A Writing/ Life Balance appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

Why Journalling Works

Chances are we’ve all started a journal at one point in our lives. And some of us have even been able to continue with it. If you’re thinking about starting a journal for the first time, or want to get back into it, here are four reasons why journaling works.

 

Freedom on Paper

With journaling you have the whole page to write on. Instead of typing lines on a computer, with a journal you can write or draw however you want. Lists, words, even images, can all be arranged in a fluid motion. This freedom can help with your ideas as it allows you to organize your thoughts however best works for you.

 

Midnight Ideas

It’s no secret that some of the best ideas happen in the middle of the night. And woe to the person who doesn’t have a pen and paper next to the bed to document these precious insights. A journal is the perfect instrument to have next to you at night. That way, all your ideas can be stored in one easy to find place. Just be sure to write somewhat legible as there’s nothing worse than not being able to read your writing in the morning.

 

Writing as a routine

Journaling should be a routine, but not in a negative way. Journaling is often done before sleep, but it can just as easily be done in the morning. If you take public transportation or carpool to work, this can be a productive time to journal. Whenever works best for you, make sure you stick to it. Journaling can start out hard at first and you may have to force yourself to work at it. Try to set goals – either time increments or page numbers. Hopefully you’ll find that it becomes habit to pick up your journal each day.

 

Keep going

You might be going really strong at journaling, and then life might step in the way. A late-night party or a bout of the flu could leave you forgoing your daily ritual. One day might turn into multiple days which can easily become a week. If you find that you’ve fallen off the journaling wagon, take heart and get back on. It’s never too late to start journaling again. And if you’re not sure where to start, try a few words or sentences to get back into it. Hopefully you’ll find the joy in journaling once again.

 

 

The post Why Journalling Works appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How To Avoid Distractions

Distractions are everywhere. From noisy children to chores to social media, there is a never-ending list of things trying to get in the way of productivity. If you find yourself becoming so distracted that it gets in the way of meaningful work, take a look at these tips to help you out.

 

Have a snack

You don’t need to have a gourmet meal before you start working, but you should have a relatively full stomach. Being hungry is a huge distraction and can easily get in the way of any progress.

Try to time your writing spurts around meal times. If that’s not possible, make sure you have a snack first. Fruit or complex carbohydrates will keep you satisfied and give you the energy to focus. Sugary sweets or drinks might be too stimulating and can actually further distract you. And, if you plan on a long writing session, make sure you have a snack ready at hand. A bowl of nuts or a protein shake that is easily accessible as you’re typing along will allow you to write for a longer period of time.

 

Make a list of things you want to look up later

If the piece of writing you’re working on includes a lot of details, it can be easy to get distracted on further research. Instead of heading to Wikipedia the moment you need more information, keep a notepad next to you and start a list. It’s ok if your writing has blanks you need to fill in; what’s important is to keep the flow going.

 

Play some classical music

Sometimes getting rid of too many distractions can lead to a distraction in itself. Try playing some classical music. Music with lyrics is a huge distraction; when you’re writing, the last thing you want is someone else’s words interrupting your own. But classical music can provide a rhythm to your writing, aiding in your fluidity.

 

Time yourself

It’s ok if you often need to take breaks. Just be realistic about it. If you find that you take breaks every few minutes, start timing yourself. Set the timer for 15 minutes and know that when the timer goes off you get to stop, guilt free. Over time you can try adding more time on to your writing sessions.

As well, time your breaks. Make sure that you’re spending more time being productive than being distracted. A timing method allows you to concentrate on what you’re working on and takes away the guilt of needing frequent breaks.

 

The post How To Avoid Distractions appeared first on Writer's Life.org.