Category Goals for Writers

Reel in the Right Blog Fans

October 24, 2012 Goals for Writers, Writing Tips  No comments

So, you’ve decided to take your passion (and expertise) to the next level. It might seem easy enough to throw up a blog and sit back and wait for the fans to roll in. After all, there are plenty of free blogging sites out there, or maybe you even subscribe to a few favorites yourself. How hard could it be?

Plenty difficult, it turns out. The point is, there are a lot of blogs out there. So how do you get yours to stand out? Maybe you’ve just dabbled in writing and this is more about sheer passion than building a following or making an income. No matter what your goal, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.

Building Your Brand

Blogs are mean to be easily digestible, fun to read and catchy. Would you read a blog, no matter how helpful, if it were dry or rambling? Probably not.Read More

Close Reading Pt.1

July 5, 2012 Goals for Writers, Learn the Craft, Uncategorized, Writing Tips  3 comments

During my recent process of educating myself about writing, I have undertaken a study of the concept of “close reading” or “artful reading” as some refer to it.

In between the hurly burly of work, I.T study, pet ownership, fatherhood and marriage – *gasp for breath* –  I took a few moments to think about what I could do to improve my skills as a writer.  In attempting to work out what I could do to improve my writing I had a think about why I wanted to write and what was the main driving force behind it.

To cut a long story short:

• I like reading because I can escape to a new and different place.
• I like reading because I can learn new information about the world generally and the human condition.
• I like reading because of my love of language.
• Because I love language, reading is theRead More

NOW is Your Time

August 3, 2011 Goals for Writers, Writing Tips  One comment

We never have enough time, until we run out of it. I just got off the phone with my wife who informed me that one of our friends had a heart attack last night.  Which seems to be a recurring theme with our family, friends, and even myself who just started high blood pressure meds a few weeks ago?

You see most of last year was a bit of a blur for me and my family as I lost both my mother and my father within six months. Both of them were in their mid eighties but not in bad shape really.  Until mom was diagnosed with irreversible pulmonary fibrosis and she spent the last few months of her life in Hospice care.  My dad was doing fine until he was in a car accident, fractured his hip and never really recovered.

2010 was a rough year.  I didn’t write much.  I didn’t see the point inRead More

My Five Tips for New Writers

June 27, 2011 Goals for Writers  2 comments

Sometimes I am not the best at taking my own advice, or the advice of others for that matter but here are a few tips I have discovered the hard way and I hope you don’t fall into the same trap I did early on and get caught up into the logistics of what you are doing and spending valuable time on the idea of being a writer instead of actually being a writer. 

1)      Don’t worry about getting published.  This notion seems a bit counterproductive but I think every Newbie writer has this as a goal.  But worrying about it too much too soon is detrimental.  When I was younger I was a runner I hated running.  It was work.  It wasn’t until I took the advice of Jim Fixx that was to forget the stop watch, forget how fast you can run a mile, and just enjoy your runs that I began toRead More

Honing Your Skills as a Writer

February 20, 2010 Goals for Writers  One comment

One of the most important lessons I have learned as a writer is that I always have room for improvement. I’ve actually been writing for many years now, but I still find I learn great lessons every day when I write. That’s why I love Newbie Writer’s Forum – I can get help and constructive criticism from other writers here.

Previously, we had a blog post about dealing with rejections and that is something that does happen to every professional (and not quite so professional) writer. Instead of calling it a rejection, which has negative connotations, call it a lesson you can learn. This has hope for the future.

When I first graduated with a degree in Communications (print journalism), I thought I knew everything there was to know about writing. How wrong I was! I have continuouslyRead More

Time Management

February 5, 2010 Goals for Writers  No comments

I am busy! I currently have a full time job, a part-time job (my passion of writing), and am setting up a business to allow me to write and train others in writing full time (when I leave my job at the end of the month). Meanwhile, I am desperately trying to find time to write for my current customers who will be the mainstay of my business when I go full-time as a freelancer in March. I am also trying to spend some time with my husband who is usually going to bed alone, muttering “I’m a computer widow”, while I continue to tap away on the keyboard.

Yep, life is extremely busy for me at the moment and that got me thinking about how I manage my time as a freelancer. I can’t just assume all the work is just going to happen (no, I don’t own a magic wand that I can wave and justRead More

Writing Goals 2010 – simplicity is best

December 13, 2009 Goals for Writers  No comments

Last year, after quite a lot of soul searching, I made the decision to pursue a freelance writing career.  I was happy now have a career path to pursue.  Enthusiastic and ready to begin my journey, I sat down at my lap-top computer and pounded out a two page business plan and goals for the year.

As the year started, I was a little nervous but ambitious. I sent out my first set of article queries and hoped to hear something form someone. I heard about a few online writing groups that would publish my work. Miss-guided I signed up for them. Was I published online? Yes. Have I seen any monetary pay outs for them? No and I doubt I will for these.

Is it discouraging? Of course it is. Will I give up? Of course not! A side from my family, writing is my pride and joy.  Rejection of any kindRead More

Goal for 2010 – Learn the Craft of Writing

December 10, 2009 Goals for Writers  No comments

Everyone who visits this website has a love of writing; whether it is journalistic, in depth feature style articles, short stories, novels, or poetry, writing is a pleasure that satisfies a deep part of our souls. Yet, not everyone who has a love of writing can write well – yet!

Writing is a craft that takes a lifetime to learn, refine, and enjoy before you become a true master. Even the most famous authors suffer through personal doubts, changes from editors, rejections from publishers, and criticism from readers. This is part of the process of writing.

You can write only for yourself and avoid some of the rejections or criticisms, but if you do this you will miss half of the joy of real writing. Writing is a method of communication that allows one heart to speak to another, andRead More