Would be writers often get very hot under the collar about changing their text. Especially if they've sweated over it for a while. So it's always encouraging then to hear about writers we might revere who have struggled like us.
I was reading an article in the Guardian at the weekend, taken originally from The New Yorker about Norman Mailer and his struggles with one of his books.
In a letter to his editor, he talks about knowing that there are parts of the book he describes as 'dead places' and needing attention.
It's his intention to clean up those parts and he's very firm about it. In a humble way I agree with him. No matter what text you write, there are very few times that it can't be improved, sharpened and re-focused.
But to do that you need a bit of distance from writing it and then put on another hat to become that editor who can quite firmly tell you to lose part of what you've written and the whole thing will stand out clearer and sparkle more.
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Monday, 16 February 2009
Inspirational quotes for writers 18 February 2009
"Everyone walks past a thousand story ideas every day. The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. Most people don't see any."
Orson Scott Card
Author of Ender's Game
Orson Scott Card
Author of Ender's Game
Writers' block - 3 tips on how to banish it
Today we have a guest post from another member of the team. Babu Basu is a professional writer for business, with a background in business and a talent for writing comedy. He tackles the challenge that lurks in wait for all us writers. What happens when the words won't come.
Getting in the mood to write
Even the most prolific writers are besieged by writer's block or the overwhelming feeling of, "I really can't be bothered."
Fear Not My Friends - here are 3 tips to banish the fiend.
Getting in the mood to write
Even the most prolific writers are besieged by writer's block or the overwhelming feeling of, "I really can't be bothered."
Fear Not My Friends - here are 3 tips to banish the fiend.
- Step away from the keyboard.
It may sound crazy, but sometimes the best way to get creative is to stop being creative.
Distract yourself with washing, ironing, tidying up, absolutely anything. Whilst you're off doing something productive, your subconscious mind kicks in. Before you know it, the answers you're looking for will present themselves to you.
2 Be passionate and get that goat.
Write about what riles you. What gets your goat or inspires your soul? Writer about what moves or frustrates you and I promise, the words will come flowing out.
3. Make mistakes.
If you're scared to write because of grotesque grammar or spurious spelling, give yourself a break. We all make mistakes! And if you need it, a good editor can even out your errors and clarify your message.
Happy writings
Babu
Erewash Partnership event Long Eaton 12 February 2009
Had a great time at the Erewash Partnership event on 12th February in Long Eaton on Thursday. Been so busy since I haven't had time to blog about it.
Met lots of local business owners, The Mayor of Erewash, Cllr Barbara Harrison, and sold some books. Including to The Mayor. Thank you for the support Cllr Harrison.
The book display created interest - I was well placed for people walking backwards and forwards to the buffet. So if we didn't catch them on their way to lunch, we caught them on the way back.
Babu Basu, one of the Writers Little Book Club team was with me and we have a fantastic photo of us with the Mayor, and the book of course, which we'll be posting on the website, www.writerslittlebook.co.uk
It's fun going out to talk to people about the book. It stimulates a variety of conversations and nearly everybody wants or knows someone else who wants to write a book.
Of course I think that anyone in business should think about it as a way of rasing their profile. These days there are so many ways on and offline to promote it. Digital printing makes producing it a doddle compared to years ago and it doesn't have to be a weighty tome.
Small, to the point and on one topic is what Seth Godin advises and if it works for him, who are we to argue.
Met lots of local business owners, The Mayor of Erewash, Cllr Barbara Harrison, and sold some books. Including to The Mayor. Thank you for the support Cllr Harrison.
The book display created interest - I was well placed for people walking backwards and forwards to the buffet. So if we didn't catch them on their way to lunch, we caught them on the way back.
Babu Basu, one of the Writers Little Book Club team was with me and we have a fantastic photo of us with the Mayor, and the book of course, which we'll be posting on the website, www.writerslittlebook.co.uk
It's fun going out to talk to people about the book. It stimulates a variety of conversations and nearly everybody wants or knows someone else who wants to write a book.
Of course I think that anyone in business should think about it as a way of rasing their profile. These days there are so many ways on and offline to promote it. Digital printing makes producing it a doddle compared to years ago and it doesn't have to be a weighty tome.
Small, to the point and on one topic is what Seth Godin advises and if it works for him, who are we to argue.
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
How to get started as a writer
Whenever I talk to people about writing they always ask me how I got started. Most of them assume that I've done it all my life.
In fact I started my writing business 6 years ago when I was looking for something to take me into a retirement career. If that sounds a little odd, a retirement career I mean, I guess I'd better explain it. I wanted something that I could carry on doing, that I could do at home, and that I could make money from.
I don't know about you but I'm not that keen on a starving writer in a garret scenario. So where did I go to learn? Well whenever I try to learn something new then I look for people who are already successfully doing what it is I want to do. Then learn how they do it.
Because I wanted to write for businesses inititally I ended up with a correspondence course from American Writers and Artists Institute. And boy did I receive a shock when the course arrived.
This was a serious, down and dirty and hands on course. At first I was put off by some of the language. You know that Americans are more in your face than we are.
Then I realised, thank goodness that what they were offering me was priceless because if I could master what they were teaching me, I could write anything. Up to and including books. So I knuckled down and did my homework, my assignments and finished the course.
After that I took myself off to Florida to one of their workshops, or bootcamps as they called it. And they worked us hard for 3 days. But being in the room with so many other writers was such a buzz. And it showed me that it didn't matter what you looked like, where you were from, how old you were, writing as a career was open to you. If you had the will and the determination to succeed.
I met some great people there, some of whom I'm still in touch with. And there were some good speakers. Plus I still follow newsletters and updates from AWAI and their colleagues.
If you want a good resource for writing then I thoroughly recommend them. Reading their material teaches you the structure of good sales writing and even if you want to write novels, it shows you how to write strong prose.
I've recommended this material over on my Words For You blog which is my writing business website, www.words-for-you.co.uk but I'll repeat it here.
Early To Rise is a daily update about writing, sales, marketing and all sorts of other things. Of course it offers things to buy, but read it with an eye to the writing, as well as the marketing tips.
Copywriters Roundtable is a fortnightly email from one of the speakers at the Bootcamp. I like it because John Forde is a great communicator, funny and with a very open mind. His latest email received this morning includes 25 random things about his readers.
Whatever you want to write, you should be reading across a wide range of things including marketing material. If you're putting in the effort to write a book, then surely you want it to have an effect out in the world. If so, then learn how to make your book count.
In fact I started my writing business 6 years ago when I was looking for something to take me into a retirement career. If that sounds a little odd, a retirement career I mean, I guess I'd better explain it. I wanted something that I could carry on doing, that I could do at home, and that I could make money from.
I don't know about you but I'm not that keen on a starving writer in a garret scenario. So where did I go to learn? Well whenever I try to learn something new then I look for people who are already successfully doing what it is I want to do. Then learn how they do it.
Because I wanted to write for businesses inititally I ended up with a correspondence course from American Writers and Artists Institute. And boy did I receive a shock when the course arrived.
This was a serious, down and dirty and hands on course. At first I was put off by some of the language. You know that Americans are more in your face than we are.
Then I realised, thank goodness that what they were offering me was priceless because if I could master what they were teaching me, I could write anything. Up to and including books. So I knuckled down and did my homework, my assignments and finished the course.
After that I took myself off to Florida to one of their workshops, or bootcamps as they called it. And they worked us hard for 3 days. But being in the room with so many other writers was such a buzz. And it showed me that it didn't matter what you looked like, where you were from, how old you were, writing as a career was open to you. If you had the will and the determination to succeed.
I met some great people there, some of whom I'm still in touch with. And there were some good speakers. Plus I still follow newsletters and updates from AWAI and their colleagues.
If you want a good resource for writing then I thoroughly recommend them. Reading their material teaches you the structure of good sales writing and even if you want to write novels, it shows you how to write strong prose.
I've recommended this material over on my Words For You blog which is my writing business website, www.words-for-you.co.uk but I'll repeat it here.
Early To Rise is a daily update about writing, sales, marketing and all sorts of other things. Of course it offers things to buy, but read it with an eye to the writing, as well as the marketing tips.
Copywriters Roundtable is a fortnightly email from one of the speakers at the Bootcamp. I like it because John Forde is a great communicator, funny and with a very open mind. His latest email received this morning includes 25 random things about his readers.
Whatever you want to write, you should be reading across a wide range of things including marketing material. If you're putting in the effort to write a book, then surely you want it to have an effect out in the world. If so, then learn how to make your book count.
Monday, 9 February 2009
Writing for those who don't read
I was reading the Guardian weekend paper yesterday and came across an interesting statistic. That 96% of all published books do not appear as audio books.
That started me thinking. Because having just launched my Writer's Little Book... with BIG IDEAS I had already considered supplying audio and video versions of some of the training we're going to be doing for the Writer's Little Book Club.
Not being very technical I don't keep up with all the gadgets out there on the market. But I have recorded CDs in the past and I know that using a professional studio is not that expensive these days. So I shall start to think more seriously about this untapped market.
Since I believe that if you have the will to write a book, then the means can be found no matter what the challenges. I've worked with dyslexics, I've worked with people with mental health problems and with people who don't especially enjoy writing. Some of the latter don't like writing because they're more image based and some because they have hang ups from school. Not being able to spell shouldn't be a handicap these days.
And there are many people in business, trainers in particular who shouldn't even consider putting pen to paper, or fingers on keyboards.
That's because they are much more vibrant when they're speaking. So I always recommend to them to record what they want to say.
I'm going to discuss this whole topic with my team and see what we can produce. Doing it the audio way will be much faster than going to print. Even when you have digital printing.
I'll let you know what we decide and if you have any c omments, then let us know.
That started me thinking. Because having just launched my Writer's Little Book... with BIG IDEAS I had already considered supplying audio and video versions of some of the training we're going to be doing for the Writer's Little Book Club.
Not being very technical I don't keep up with all the gadgets out there on the market. But I have recorded CDs in the past and I know that using a professional studio is not that expensive these days. So I shall start to think more seriously about this untapped market.
Since I believe that if you have the will to write a book, then the means can be found no matter what the challenges. I've worked with dyslexics, I've worked with people with mental health problems and with people who don't especially enjoy writing. Some of the latter don't like writing because they're more image based and some because they have hang ups from school. Not being able to spell shouldn't be a handicap these days.
And there are many people in business, trainers in particular who shouldn't even consider putting pen to paper, or fingers on keyboards.
That's because they are much more vibrant when they're speaking. So I always recommend to them to record what they want to say.
I'm going to discuss this whole topic with my team and see what we can produce. Doing it the audio way will be much faster than going to print. Even when you have digital printing.
I'll let you know what we decide and if you have any c omments, then let us know.
Monday, 2 February 2009
Writer's Little Book... with BIG IDEAS - post launch
28 would be writers all gathered together in one room.
What a fanstastic feeling with all the creative energy. Plus some of them were also designers, theatre people and trainers. And I've had some very supportive messages since the event.
Which is always good. But what I want is to know how they're progressing using the book.
How many of those in the room will have finished books by the end of this year? Not counting my team of course because I assume that they all will finish their books.
I'd like to think that at least 5 will have some solid results to show. My first author Becky Shaw is about to launch her book Wonderfully Strange. Since we started on her book this time last year, then based on her progress I expect there to be 5 who've made progress close to finishing.
If you can write 1,000 words a day, then in only 2 months you can have the first draft of a 60,000 word book completed.
My team has been a fantastic support to me so I want to point you in their direction as well as telling you how to secure their support as part of my team.
Sharon Roberts - for motivational and presentational training, plus business development.
www.visionconsulttraining.co.uk
Babu Basu - for comic writing in and out of business www.babubasu.co.uk
Kirsty Farrelly - for web trouble shooting and book design and selling.
www.openbookagency.co.uk
and of course I musn't forget our great photographer Ed Jasion www.edjasion.com
Sorry if you couldn't get to the launch - you'd have loved the energy in the room. But make sure you sign up to the free Writer's Little Book Club - that way you can be part of a community and gain support and encouragement for your own writing.
What a fanstastic feeling with all the creative energy. Plus some of them were also designers, theatre people and trainers. And I've had some very supportive messages since the event.
Which is always good. But what I want is to know how they're progressing using the book.
How many of those in the room will have finished books by the end of this year? Not counting my team of course because I assume that they all will finish their books.
I'd like to think that at least 5 will have some solid results to show. My first author Becky Shaw is about to launch her book Wonderfully Strange. Since we started on her book this time last year, then based on her progress I expect there to be 5 who've made progress close to finishing.
If you can write 1,000 words a day, then in only 2 months you can have the first draft of a 60,000 word book completed.
My team has been a fantastic support to me so I want to point you in their direction as well as telling you how to secure their support as part of my team.
Sharon Roberts - for motivational and presentational training, plus business development.
www.visionconsulttraining.co.uk
Babu Basu - for comic writing in and out of business www.babubasu.co.uk
Kirsty Farrelly - for web trouble shooting and book design and selling.
www.openbookagency.co.uk
and of course I musn't forget our great photographer Ed Jasion www.edjasion.com
Sorry if you couldn't get to the launch - you'd have loved the energy in the room. But make sure you sign up to the free Writer's Little Book Club - that way you can be part of a community and gain support and encouragement for your own writing.
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