Tweet {guest post written by: Mahesh Raj Mohan} I’ve always liked the concept of a mentor: a sagacious master of an art, craft, or trade who passes knowledge to seekers, students, and adventurers. Bonus points if s/he is a kind person who patiently corrects rookie mistakes and helps an apprentice grow. Teachers usually fill that role for us, as well as parents and siblings, if we’re fortunate. I’ve been taught by many wise mentors throughout my life. But more importantly, I’ve learned to face several challenges on my own. Getting to a place of self-reliance can be difficult. But I…
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Tweet Sometimes when I’m creating, I feel a heaviness upon me. There’s a gorilla of a being sitting on my shoulders weighing me and my creativity down. Know him? He’s the guy that: says your writing isn’t good enough takes a kernel of negativity and rolls into a wave of self-defeating thoughts tells you you’ll never make it as a writer snickers when you finally get the courage to share your work whispers that you’re a fake and they’ll figure it out soon enough compares you excessively with other better writers Classy guy isn’t he? That kind of sinister attitude…
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Tweet It’s almost Halloween, but I’m not talking literal here. {Though I must admit the visual of a glow-in-the-dark pen, a notebook and a flashlight sound pretty cool to me.} What I’m talking about is what happens when you write with your mind half-conscious, semi-aware. Even as a full-time writer and someone who writes every day, I still catch myself doing it too. And it’s not a pretty picture. I think somewhere a long, long time ago, I got the impression that I wasn’t that creative. And more importantly, that I was a terrible, terrible writer. So instead of fessing…
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Tweet One moment we’re filled with ideas. The next we’re digging for dirt under rocks all in a desperate attempt to discover that next big idea. If you’re feeling stuck about what to do for your next novel scene or big article idea, check out my latest article for The Writer magazine. I brainstormed 4 fresh brainstorming ideas to help you get back on track. Hope you find it inspiring!
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Tweet When I wrote this list of easy ways I increased my chance to freelance writing success, I neglected something BIG. In fact, it was the number one thing that helped launch my career. And the fastest. Just this past March, I wrote about how I was on the fence about this one. Looking back, I’m patting myself on the back and singing my “hallelujahs” because had I not done so, I might be singing a whole different tune today. How I Became the Lone Wolf When I started freelancing about four years ago, I was way behind the pack.…
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Tweet Instead of an A for excellent, they probably should have given you a P-for perfectionist. You know who you are. You spend an inordinate amount of time perfecting your craft. You have been known to make basketballs out of your shoddy pieces of work. If anyone asked your friends of your family, what they admire about you and what annoys them most about you, the answer would be the same = your perfectionism. You’re probably working the perfect on the outside with a bit neurotic on the inside (a.k.a. you’re also a control freak). You end up charging less…
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Tweet While I’m hardly one to call myself a success (unlike this couple), I have picked up a few learn-as-you-go tips that have seriously change my career and my life. To be honest, my freelancing career started without any preparation, focus or long-term planning. I basically decided one day that it was time to stop waiting for my life to happen and start living it. Although it’s been a rocky road, I have never had trouble finding a writing gig (*knock on wood) and have succeeded in getting bigger and better jobs throughout my career. I must have done something…
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Tweet When I first started telling people I was going to quit my full-time job and go freelance, I think they heard “rogue” instead. It’s as if I just announced I was going to make a living making balloon animals or shooting to outer space. It’s hard to explain their expression-a mix of disbelief, pity and maybe even undertones of resentment. I initially chalked it up to my own insecurities. Maybe they thought I wasn’t good enough or that I was just being Brandi-you know irresponsible, only child syndrome. What they said was things like: You can’t be a writer.…
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Tweet It’s Wednesday, but it already feels like a Friday. {Maybe it’s wishful thinking?} To get us through this hump day, I’m posting something a little different. I’m going to add a disclaimer here by saying: I am not a professional artist. But I do think everyone is creative. And with that being said, here is cartoon I did awhile back just for the sake of doing it. Hope this gives you a little giggle!
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Tweet It could be a fad or maybe I’m just more aware of it now. But does it seem like everybody and their brother are trying to sell you something? Here’s my guilty confession. Every morning when I open my email, there is usually about 90 spammy emails staring back at me. Except Google can’t catch the spammers I actually subscribe to. I understand that everyone has to make money. And I bet a lot of those people are selling really good things. In fact, I would be lying if I said I hadn’t invested in a few. But when…