‘Writer Challenges’ Archives
Why Oh Why Can’t I Write Like That?
{photo credit} Ever read someone else's writing and cringe? Not because they did a hacked up job of writing and/or editing, but because they are SO good! They are so good that you are suddenly reduced to the insecurities of a teenager. And from out of nowhere you hear yourself saying (in a surprisingly high piercing nasally voice I [...]
Doing the Yucky Writer Stuff
Were you ever a fan of Jon & Kate Plus 8? Before Jon left and made it a sad sounding Kate Plus 8? If you haven't a clue as to what I'm talking about. It's okay. I'll save you the TLC gory details. Anyway, there was one episode where Kate Gosselin, mother of 8 (twins and sextuplets) said something like, "Being a mom is not a glamorous job, [...]
The Little Annoyance Getting in the Way of Your Writing: You
I don't know if this is a girl thing. But my hair is my best friend and my worst enemy. I have a lot of hair! As a kid, I bemoaned the day I forgot to bring a rubber band. In swimming class, my hair floated around me. I was a body of hair with a tiny body attached. And it gave the boys extra ammunition to tease me that day and call me, [...]
Does Age Matter?
I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I wonder, for example, if there is such a thing as age discrimination in writing. Does one get less respect the younger he or she is? I also think about whether your age or your perceived age makes you more or less marketable in the freelance writing biz. Why do I ponder these things at 9:51 in [...]
WordCount Blogathon 2010 Here I Come!
It's Day 4 of the 2010 WordCount Blogathon. Here's a bit of info in case you haven't heard of it. Reporter, writer, blogger, basically media/publishing entrepreneur, Michelle Rafter created a challenge for herself. In 2008, she blogged every day for the entire month of May. Asking others to join in the fun, she created the WordCount Blogathon to [...]
Received Yet Another Rejection Letter? Don’t Close the Door Just Yet
Last year I sent out a flurry of queries and a couple completed manuscripts. I worked like crazy to reach that impossible, unattainable dream-to get published in a well-known magazine. And here's what happened: No, I didn't get into Glamour or O magazines. A prayer wasn't answered. A miracle was yet to be seen. Instead, last year's [...]
Resilience Key in Succeeding as a Freelance Writer
Something pulled me from my warm bed and hour of mindless magazine reading today. I was thinking about my last post. I was thinking about how Walt Disney encountered a lot of bad people in the biz and still waded in his way through the slime and got to the other side. In fact, not just in spite of the greedy people out there but because he had [...]
An Important Lesson for Writers from Mr. Walt Disney
A writer could learn a thing or two from Mr. Walt Disney. My husband and I attended the Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio area of San Francisco this weekend. You can read my overall impression of the museum here. But if you're a writer or author, stick around, this post is for you! I didn't know much about Walt Disney except for the [...]
Fears of a Beginning Writer
One thing I love about freelance writing, besides the writing itself, is how there are SO many opportunities for self-growth. Confronting our inner fears, for example, is one of them. And in every freelance writer's bag, there is an array of fears to pick from. There's the fear of rejection, for example. To the beginning writer, a letter of [...]
Honesty Not Wanted: Keep Your Mouth Shut Please
Martha Stewart's recent rant about FoodNetwork star and talk show host Raechel Ray got me thinking, "Is it better to be honest or keep your mouth shut?" As a freelance writer, sometimes you work with people who are unprofessional or difficult. Is it ever a good idea to state honestly how you feel about the working relationship or is it better [...]
