Did I Really Just Do That?

Yes, I really did. I just sent a message to my email list containing a video I made about my new service and I posted the same video on Twitter.

Now I’m cringing, realizing that my video is cheesy. That I stumbled over my words. That it’s obviously recorded by an amateur. And while I’m very nervous of what comments may be made (“Wow – she has a huge forehead”) and how I’ll be perceived (“She had the gall to make a sales offer!”), I’m also excited to have pushed past my fears and complete something new and challenging. And even more than that, share it with others. Read More

3 Reasons to Keep Your Reader in Mind

Who is your audience? It’s a simple enough question. And your answer may appear simple as well: “my readers.”  But that’s not specific enough. You’re not writing for “everyone;” you’re writing for the people who are seeking the information you have to share.  Thus, regardless of genre, you need to concentrate on your target audience.

Yes, even memoir or autobiography writers need to visualize their ideal reader throughout the process. You might be thinking, “It’s the story of my life! Why should I consider the reader?” Because although your story is about you and your experiences, it must relate in some manner to your audience. If they don’t connect with your content – emotionally or intellectually – then they will quickly lose interest and never finish the book, let alone recommend it to others.

To keep your audience engaged, consider the following three points:Read More

5 Ways to Push Past Your Fears and Write Your Story

You know there’s a story inside of you. A meaningful story, not just a fluff piece. Something that will inform, inspire and intrigue others. But every time you try to put it down on paper, you come up empty.

It seems that no one else has this problem. New authors crop up every day, causing you to wonder what it is that they know that you don’t. How were they able to take their ordinary life and turn it into something people are eager to read?
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7 Ways to Write Compelling Content

Whether you’re a professional blogger, copywriter or ghostwriter, you’re getting paid to compose well-written articles and books that garner likes, shares and ultimately, sales. If you’re an entrepreneur with an important message to share or an individual writing an autobiography, then you want to ensure that your readers enjoy and benefit from your message and story.

So how can you create a stand-out piece of work that’s not dry, boring or confusing? Follow these seven techniques:

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From Start to Finish – How to Accomplish Your Writing Goal

Quill Pen - iStockphotoLet’s face it. Writing can be hard, especially finding the time to pen a literary masterpiece. I recently came to the conclusion that it’s a lot like running an endurance race.

Three weeks ago I completed my first half marathon. With a milestone birthday looming, I decided that I needed to accomplish something monumental before the big day. So I selected something popular in my area: a distance race.

The lessons I learned leading up to and during that event apply equally well to writing. First, you need a plan. I didn’t simply show up at the race expecting to run 13.1 miles without any preparation. No, I endured a four-day per week running schedule for seventeen weeks. The same is true with writing, whether you’re blogging, composing your memoir, or writing a fictional novel:

  • Develop a writing schedule – determine the time of day, how many days a week, and the duration of each writing session.
  • Document your schedule – obviously, there will be days that something unexpected happens, but visually seeing the writing sessions on your calendar lends mental credibility, responsibility, and motivation.
  • Notify others – Whether it’s your spouse, kids, a next-door neighbor and/or several close friends, let them know your writing schedule. This not only prevents them from unintentionally calling or dropping by while you’re writing, but it also enables them to encourage you throughout the writing process.

Second, you need to implement the plan. The previous points won’t do you any good if you don’t actually apply them. If all I had done was write down my training schedule and tell my friends that I was training for a race, I never would have crossed the finish line. Why? Because I would have neglected the most important aspect: hitting the pavement and actually running. Believe me, there were many days that it was raining, or it was windy, or I simply didn’t feel like running. But I did it anyway. I had a goal, and I kept my eyes on the end result. I have found that to be true with my writing as well. When I have writer’s block or I’m unusually busy (such as the current holiday season), I tend to find excuses why I shouldn’t write as planned. However, I have learned through experience that it’s ultimately more rewarding, and the process goes much more smoothly, when I type regularly.

Third, work gradually but steadily. When I began my running schedule, I was only going two miles at a stretch. Every two weeks, I gradually increased the mileage until finally I was able to run the full 13.1 miles on race day. If you feel overwhelmed and/or don’t know where to start, just write something – anything. Simply write down whatever first pops into your head – it will inevitably lead to additional ideas. You might find that you’re only able to write in small blocks of time, but if your schedule allows, try to plan nonessential activities after your writing time. This gives you the freedom to continue writing past your designated timeframe on days when your creative juices are overflowing.

Fourth, and finally, you need to finish. On race day, I was so nervous that I was tempted not to go. By mile ten, I was exhausted and wondering what in the world ever possessed me to attempt something so grueling. And throughout the last mile, as I woefully huffed and puffed my way to the finish line, a number of racers simply stopped running and walked the remainder of the course.  Yes, some may have had physical ailments that prevented them from running across the finish line, but undoubtedly some of them just gave up. This can be applied to writing as well. Sometimes we writers are our own worst critics. We may have labored over our work for weeks, months or years and yet at the end we hesitate submitting our work because we don’t consider it to be “good enough” for various reasons. Or maybe we’ve received multiple rejection letters, and we’re afraid of getting another one (or no response at all). If this describes you, I encourage you to continue to submit your work. Yes, rejection stings, but it’s also an opportunity to learn how to write better. Ultimately, isn’t that what we all want?

How do you schedule your writing time? What motivates you to continue writing? Please share your comments!