Writing Forums

I recommend you take a look at this post by Sally Quiller. I must admit that I have not really joined writer forums, rather business forums as I prefer to frequent places where potential clients may hang out.

I know that some writers can be very bitchy and jealous of others' success. It can also seem easy to put other writers down because they are more successful, but what has made them more successful?

Could it be that they actually sat down and wrote that novel? Rewrote it several times? They've done the round of submitting it to agents and collected rejections that sit framed on the wall or lined a litter bin? They have worked hard to be published. Have you?

They have sent queries to magazines, contacted editors, written and rewritten articles. In short, they have got up off their backsides and done something about becoming a writer. They have written.

I look forward to the day when I can be so productive. Go Sally, and many others like you. Being published is not just the means to an end but can be a beginning to a beginning.

If you want to be published too, then never stop writing, never stop learning, always be generous to others and publication may one day come your way too.

Photo Credit: Pen and Paper by Mike (Inbet 1979)

Writing When Distracted

Today is the first day of school half term. There are two young people to be entertained as well as the usual house tidying, meal cooking and washing, washing, washing! The only bright side is the lack of a school run which usually severely cuts into my writing time.

There's no real answer to this - every family is different. I'm between jobs right now, but that doesn't mean I have plenty to do. I set up a strict blogging schedule on my own sites at the beginning of the new year and it's beginning to pay dividends in terms of increased traffic. I also write for Suite101 and Hubpages and would like to increase my articles at both places.

My answer is to leave the computer set up and write in short bursts. If I have a chance at night, then I might plan out the articles I want to do, leaving the actual writing until morning. Otherwise thinking time takes away from writing time.

One thing I do want to do is enjoy the children. We will still get outside every day (even when it's cold and wet) and do some interesting activities. I got into this writing life so that I could take time off and things will slow this week for this very reason. On the other hand, it's what keeps life interesting!

How do you organise your writing life?

Five Top Blogs to Help You with Your Writing Career

Here are my top five blogs that helped me when I was starting out on my writing career.

1. Anne Wayman About Freelance Writing

This is a superb blog which publishes jobs every day and offers some great articles on starting freelance writing to boot!

2. Copyblogger

The information on this website is truly staggering. To learn how to write great copy, then follow this blog and get involved in the great discussions following the posts.

3. Lis Sowerbutts Passive Income Online

Lis lives in Australia and tells it like it is! She has some great tips for making passive income and for using Hubpages as a way to make money.

4. Felicia Williams No Job for Mom

A feel-good blog about making passive income by writing online. Felicia leads by example and always has some interesting posts about the writing life.

5. Carol Tice Make a Living Writing

Carol is up and coming and very informative about how to approach editors and find writing jobs. She offers interesting discussions and has done a couple of webinars with Anne Wayman.

One more that I couldn't resist:

6. Ken Crawford - The Freelancer Today

Again fairly recent on my radar, but Ken's website offers all the information you need to know about setting up a website and making money from it. He also offers perspectives on writing for upfront income.

These are bloggers who are bookmarked and I go back regularly to read their new content.

Who are your favourite bloggers? Have you found any other really informative posts? Let me know.

Photo Credit: Photo on Flickr by 2careless

Should Apostrophes be Scrapped?

I need you to know what kind of a nutter you are dealing with here when it comes to things like apostrophes. When Lynne Truss brought out her book, 'Eats, Shoots and Leaves' complete with an apostrophe repair kit, I could have applauded! For years I have been using apostrophes correctly and have really disliked the current problem where it appears that people who write pub signs and use chalk boards have absolutely no idea what to do with them!

The discussion was posted on a writers' and editors' group on Linked-In and the general consensus of the writers was that we would hate to see them go. However we are writers and in general understand how to learn and use them.

My six year old came home with two words using apostrophes for his spelling test this week: he had to learn 'I'm' and 'don't'. He did very well, although I had to explain to him that he did not need to make his apostrophe as big as the letters!

The twelve-nearly-a-teenager year old looked over his shoulder and remarked that she always gets 'I'm' wrong.

"What do you mean?" I asked. "Surely you know how to use apostrophes?" (I would like to point out that we go over them several times in the year!)

"The problem is I use a small 'i'," she explained, "and forget to put the apostrophe in!"

I was speechless! She knows how to do it when she thinks about it, but the teachers don't seem to care and let so many spelling mistakes go by. It sends a wrong message to the pupils and this is from an ex-teacher!

So what do you think? Should we give in to the masses and let apostrophes go? I can't help it - it would always look wrong to me without apostrophes.

I have written three articles for my other website on using apostrophes and they can be found here:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Photo Credit: Photo on Flickr by mag3737

Do You Want to be a Writer in 2011?

I still do!

I've had a mixed year with some work through most of the year which had trailed out by the end. 2011 has started well and I hope to apply some of the lessons I've learned over the last year. I've earned a little money through Suite101 and Hubpages but I'm not going away to the Caribbean yet! I've had a great time, however and feel that my job is something that I am good at.

So, what about you? Do you want to be a writer in 2011? Have you got a burning desire to write a novel? Do you want to see your tagline in a publication or do you just want to share your online ramblings in a blog?

Here are my top five tips for writing more in 2011:

1. You ARE a writer! If you love to get your ideas and thoughts down on paper then you are a writer and don't let anyone disagree! If you start to see yourself as a writer, then you have more chance of becoming a writer. Of course you have to take some steps too.

2. Join a writing class. Colleges all over this UK are offering creative writing classes which give you the chance to meet with other writers, share your work and get some constructive feedback. The courses are usually general content with all kinds of writing covered. It's a great way to try out different types of writing.

3. Find time to write. When is your creative period? Is it early in the morning before the family get up or is it after the children have gone to bed. It can be embarrassing to admit to your spouse or partner that you want to do some writing, but offer them some of their own TV time and they won't care what you're doing with it.

4. Realise that it doesn't matter how you write or what you write. Some writers love big notebooks and smooth pens, others prefer a laptop or computer for speed. Actually I think there is a time and place for both. I love my notebooks for planning out or just scribbling down ideas, but computers allow fast writing and easy editing.

5. Keep going. There is a point in Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month), at about day 10, when you are struggling. The first flush of enthusiasm has gone, the inspiration is a distant memory and the ideas refuse to flow. You feel as though what you have written is rubbish and should be consigned to the nearest fire. Then you get an email which explains that you are not alone, that actually many other people who started writing the same time as you are feeling the same way and that it is not unusual.

The only way to overcome this feeling is to keep writing, word by word, sentence by sentence until you have reached the end. It may be rubbish, but today you are not editing, you are writing and you will find your inspiration again. You just need to keep going.

In 2011, there is no excuse for writing on your own, locked in your room. Explore the web, search for creative writing and connect with other writers. Share work, share ideas and improve your ability to write.

If you want to be a writer then make 2011 the year that you started to write for yourself and, who knows? One day you might make your dreams come true.

Photo Credit: Essays in Idleness by tonyhall on Flickr