There are many methods you can use to keep up with your writing. Some writers simply sit down and write the story, while others prefer a more organized approach with charts, graphs, timelines, etc.

Writing 101 is working on a series of guides for those who want to try a more structured and organized approach.

Remember, no one’s method is perfect except to them. We all must find or develop our own method before its perfect for us. This series will simply be some guidelines or tactics you may want to test until you find a method that is instinctively your own.

Keep an eye out for the upcoming series. They may not be in consecutive posts, we may go off on a tangent or two once in awhile.

Happy Writing!

Share/Save

Hello Writers,

I am very sorry for the lack of updates lately. I have been very ill for the past 2 weeks and just now starting to feel human again.

I’m still taking it easy this week because I’ve had one relapse already and don’t wish to push my luck with another. Next week I should be back on some type of schedule and will get some new material posted.

Thank you for your patience and understanding,

Happy Writing!

Share/Save

I recently covered the topic of rejection, Are You Passionate and Excited Enough to Handle Rejection?

Today I want to list a few rejections received by some of the most famous and well-established authors in the industry–past and present.

• The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter was rejected 7 times before Beatrix self-published. One of the previous publishers, who had rejected the book, had a change of mind and is still selling the book today.
• Peyton Place by Grace Metalious received 14 rejections.
• Lust for Life by Irving Stone had 17 rejections, then went on to sell over 25 million copies.
• The cult classic, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert W. Pirsig was rejected 121 times.
• Pulitzer Prize winner Ironweed, by William Kennedy, was rejected 13 times.

For more famous rejections: http://susiesmith13.tripod.com/id12.html

The moral of the story is: Don’t give up. The one thing that sets a published author aside from a non-published author is persistence. This is the reason you have to be passionate enough and excited enough about your craft to keep trying.

Develop a thick skin and keep sending those submissions out!

image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/myloonyland/349811110/

Share/Save

Having trouble finding your muse?  I’ve recently discovered three great writing sites that I’d like to share.

Story Fix is written by Larry Brooks, a fellow writer at Blogging Tips.  Larry will help you keep your dream real by offering concrete advice dealing with writing and the world of getting published.

Next in the lineup is Mary DeMuth: Relevant Blog.  Mary is a published author with many great insights.

And third is an article The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Authors.  A lot of great tips there about getting your butt planted in the writers chair and making it happen.

Share/Save

Each Wednesday a small group of writers devote the day to writing. It’s not a massive spree like the 10K Day, this is just about setting time aside each week to devote to your craft.

The time can be spent outlining characters, plots, scenes, etc. or it can be spent using it for a writing marathon. The focus is to simply devote more time to your writing.

It’s often difficult to schedule a chunk of time each day for personal writing. We keep making plans to do it, keep telling ourselves to do it, but something always comes up. Setting aside a whole day just for personal writing projects works better because you can plan for it and make preparations. You can schedule other work for another time so you aren’t leaving any clients in limbo.

Make it a part of your weekly work schedule and I’m sure you’ll not only have a good time and feel good about finally spending time with your personal writing, you’ll also make progress.

If you would like to participate, we have opened a public access board in our writer’s group so you can share your progress while joining in on the Wednesday Writing Sprint.

Hope to see you there!

Share/Save

I recently did a post at Blogging Tips titled, “You Were Not Born a Writer.” One reader disagreed with me.  I’d like to use my own blog here at Writing 101 to discuss it further and explain why writers are not born but created.

We are not born writers.  Before we can become writers we must take a few steps to reach that destination.  It takes years to get there.  This process requires us to learn the alphabet, learn how to make our little fingers form these new frustrating shapes, then in a few years we begin to learn English (or language as it may be).

When my husband, Kevin, was 3 years old he picked up his first guitar and that’s when people decided he needed a guitar, because even though he didn’t “know” the mechanics of using this instrument he made nice audible sounds come from it.  The music was born in him. In fact he played music for years before he ever learned what the notes were or how to read music.  He plays by ear, but he’s also had the teaching to read from sheet music–although he rarely does this.

I’ve never seen a 3 year old pick up a pencil and write a story, or even have a story in them.

Let’s look at people in third world countries–or even the deep wood Aborigines.  These people are not subjected to school, television or anything that we are.  Yes, many of these people grow up to “tell” great stories verbally but that doesn’t make them a writer–especially since they don’t use a written language to the extent the rest of us do.

But even peoples of those cultures who know nothing of the modern world, can pick up sticks and stones (at a very young age) and make music with them.  So I feel music is something many people are just born with.  Writers have to master a whole skill set.  Musicians can make beautiful sounds just playing by ear and may not be able to tell you the first note they’ve played–they don’t have a clue if it’s G or C or E—they just hear it and can reproduce it.

I do believe that some people are born natural storytellers, while some of us have to really use our noggin’ to tell about a mishap in the kitchen.

Storytelling and writing do not always come together and not all great storytellers can write it down.  Not all storytellers are even literate.  I’ve known many old men who could tell you a story and hold you in the palm of their hand–their writing ability didn’t go any further than learning to sign their name.

Writers are not born, they have to be created. Unless you learn the skills to put stories into the written word, you are only a storyteller.

Any thoughts? We’d love to hear your opinion.

Share/Save

Writer's Digest Short Story Competition

Writer’s Digest annual “Short Story Competion” is now underway.  The deadline for entries is  Monday, November 2, 2009.

As usual there are 5 categories of entries:

• Romance
• Mystery/Crime Fiction
• Science Fiction/Fantasy
• Thriller/Suspense
• Horror

The Grand Prize consists of:

• $2,500 cash
• $100 worth of Writer’s Digest Books
• 2010 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market

Check the website for more information about submissions and prizes.  Writer’s Digest Short Story Competition

.

.

Share/Save

Yesterday marked another 10K Day for Writers and was a huge success.  We had several writers finish up books or screenplays they had been working on.

We had several writers who simply got back in touch with their passion for writing and the written word.

We all came together, shared our ups, downs, accomplishments and distractions and cheered each other on.

You can view our progress and support at 10K Day: Live While It’s Happening – July 16.

The next 10K Day for Writers is August 13.  Making a commitment can help you clear your schedule and set aside this day simply for being a writer and following your passion.

We will keep you posted as the next 10K approaches.

Happy Writing!

Share/Save