Have you seen The Book Channel?

www.youtube.com/thebookchanneltv

How prepared are you to invest in your writing?

If you want to make a serious life change to be a writer and are prepared to invest time and money then take a look at this page on the Faber site.  It's a serious investment but the calibre of the people involved is high and if they accepted you on their course they must feel that you have something of quality in your writing.

http://www.faber.co.uk/article/2010/3/writing-novel-from-start-to-finish-with-faber-acad/

Directory of Writers' Circles, Courses and Workshops 2010

Looking for resources to pass on to you, I found this website which is advertising the directory.  Costs £8 or £!0 depending upon format.

http://www.writers-circles.com/

Business writing: how to write to communicate and connect

Writing is a fundamental skill in business.  But it terrifies many business people. 

Why?

They're afraid of the blank page.
They're afraid of grammar and punctuation which they believe are there to expose their weaknesses.
In short they're afraid of getting it wrong.

Let's look at what we're trying to achieve when we write.

Whether we're writing for business or we're would be novelists, our aim is to make some connection with our reader.  That's it plain and simple.  Because without that connection the reader won't turn the page.

That's essential in business isn't it.  And even if they won't turn the page, i.e. on a website, you still want them to keep reading.  Because and let's be honest here, you want in the short or long term to sell them something.

What motivates most business people is not merely the desire to make money, but to offer something you're passionate about.  Something that will help people lead happier, more fulfilled, healthier, richer lives.

That's why passion is the key to connecting.

Imagine you want to buy something.  Who are you more likely to buy from?  Someone who just mumbles and mutters and shows no enthusiasm.  Or someone who looks you in the eyes and tells you honestly what the product can, and as important, can't do.

So you need to drill down to the reasons you want to pass on this product or service.  What do you believe about it that you can transmit in what you say or write?

Be proud of what you're offering.  Be passionate about how it can help people.  Always write as if you're speaking directly to one person at a time because only one will read it at a time.

When you write from that core of belief, your writing will sing and connect with those it can help.

Let me know what's happened to you when you've written from your core beliefs instead of writing from the surface.

Writing competitions

Found this on my Google search:  Guy named Michael Shenton rounds up some of the competitions.  Covers all types of writing.  Scanning through I found competitions in Welsh, from Italy (though not in Italian)  Some have entry fee, some not.  Prizes range from money, to subscriptions to magazines to goods.


http://www.prizemagic.co.uk/html/writing_comps.htm

Agatha Christie on writing

I've always believed in writing without a collaborator, because where two people are writing the same book, each believes he gets all the worries and only half the royalties.   Agatha Christie (1890 - 1976)

Article writing strategy; how to create a winning formula

Article writing is an important part of creating your presence on or offline.  A contact of mine recently had an article published in her peer journal enhancing her already solid reputation.

How can you make your articles stand out from others?

Increasing the value your reader finds in your articles is the only way to go.

Imagine you're building a house.  You do it brick by brick from the bottom to give the house solid foundations.  Start at the top and your house is likely to fall down very fast.

It's the same in writing articles.  Here are 3 key strategies for consistent article writing.

1. Decide what you can write about:  create a list ot topics you can cover.
2. Create a way of writing fast: making yourself some templates for articles means that you can ring the changes effectively.
3. Decide on a writing strategy: because you're busy, you might put off writing articles 'until you're less busy.  But you can write articles anywhere.  Between appointments, on train journeys or at a time when you're focused and most efficient.

The key point in using articles as part of your strategy is to being consistent.  Many people wait for time and inspiration.  Be open and flexible and the ideas will come.  Be committed and you'll surprise yourself by how fast you can write them.