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Guest Post: How to Write an Engaging News Story

November 29, 2011 2 Comments

by
Brittany Lyons

***

Every day we read news stories and probably have no idea how much work goes into them. Short bulletins are somewhat easier to write as they relate the facts about an earthquake or other disaster and just give the details. Yet, what about articles that relay information that is not so interesting or exciting in nature? What if the article is bigger than just a few sentences of quick facts and must depend upon the skills and experience of the writer to be both interesting and informative? You are about to see how there is more to an engaging news story than meets the eye.

As many advanced writers and PhDs will tell you, the foundation of a good news story relies upon answering the questions: who, what, where, when, why and how. Thus, in order ensure that all of these elements make it into an article, beginning writers may want to follow these tips from John Hopkins University.

However, a good story is also informative and concise. Consider the sentence: “Frank Burns walked seven miles on foot to the Police Station in Springfield yesterday after his car was stolen at gun point by two criminals.” This brief description provides you with all the facts of Frank Burns case without adding in any extraneous information. Reading your local newspaper will provide many examples of how to write in a similar manner, so you can convey basic information to readers.

Although it is important for a story to contain the facts, the piece must also be interesting if you want to attract readers. One technique for grabbing the interest of readers is by structuring an article using the “inverted pyramid” format. When using the inverted pyramid, a writer starts out with the most important aspects of the story, followed by less important details and ends with the least significant information. This structure keeps the “attention-getter” of the piece located near the beginning, where it can draw readers in, and places the less important facts that might cause readers to lose interest at the end of the article. The Virginia Commonwealth University points out that the one disadvantage of this style is that it discourages good writing. Since the least important information is at the end of the article, it will often end abruptly, which is often considered inelegant by good story writers.

In addition to the overall structure of the piece, good writers should also pay attention to some general rules involving content. For example, readers are often interested in people, so it is recommended that stories center around someone who is relatable. It is equally important for writers to have an “angle” when developing a piece. According to the Journalist’s Resource, having an angle will keep readers engaged and prevent the story from becoming too dry and fact-filled. Readers are generally not interested in basic numbers and cold, factual information. Thus, writers should make the article more interesting by using a “hook” to stimulate curiosity, which will in turn make people want to share it with others.

Another aspect of writing a good newspaper story involves keeping common mistakes to a minimum. If your writing style is too flowery, it can be distracting to the reader. Besides, using metaphors and colorful phrases is not appropriate when describing unfortunate events, such as car accidents. Likewise, factual inaccuracies such as a wrong “where” or “when” are not taken lightly. This is why newspapers publish corrections so they can apologize for mistakes and set the record straight.

Writers should also strive to avoid spelling and grammar errors. These are the worst type of mistakes a writer can make, as they not only make the article hard to read, but also cause readers to wonder about the level of care and professionalism that went into the publication. When a number of mistakes are found on a website or in a newspaper, readers lose trust in the publication and often turn to another source for information, resulting in a loss of sales. However if you keep your work free from these mistakes and heed the advice above, you might have a chance at the big leagues.

Writers that create informative and compelling news stories on a consistent basis don’t do so by accident. It takes knowledge, skill and experience to write a good news story and that doesn’t come over night. If you wish to work for a newspaper, you will be able to find many resources for information, but you must practice in order to refine your skills. If you a determined, you will be able to improve your work as the weeks and months go by, and ultimately may be able to offer your work to local papers and news sites. Examining the differences between a well written newspaper story and one that was just thrown together, makes the writer appreciate just how skilled they must be to be considered a great writer.

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Bio: Brittany Lyons aspires to be a psychology professor, but decided to take some time off from grad school to help people learn to navigate the academic lifestyle. She currently lives in Spokane, Washington, where she spends her time reading science fiction and walking her dog.

Filed Under Guest Blogger, Writing Business, writing tips Tagged With news writing

Start a Writing Business – Basic Do’s and Don’ts

August 27, 2011 Leave a Comment

Have you been considering a writing business of your own? Starting and growing this type of business can be a simple and straightforward process. However, many aspiring writers struggle. The most common reason for their struggle is they may have made one or more of the following mistakes. Read these before you start a writing business.

Here are eight writing business dos and don’ts.

Do – ALWAYS DELIVER  your writing projects on time or early. If you run into a complication, address it with the client right away. For example, your computer breaks and you lose everything on it. Let your client know immediately! Almost everyone can access email with their cell phone these days. Contact the client and ask for a brief extension and offer to refund their money if an extension is not possible. It pays to always make sure your work is done well ahead of time; that way if there is ever an issue, you have time available to make up for it.

Also consider backing up all of your files online so you can access them from any computer. One such place is Zen OK.

Do – STAY VISIBLE. One of the biggest mistakes a writer can make is to deliver a project, cash the check and never contact the client again. If you enjoyed working with them, stay in touch. It doesn’t have to be a big deal either. Send them a note from time to time. Use an autoresponder to send special promotion offers to past clients. Connect with them on social networking sites. Stay visible. If you forget about them, they’ll forget about you too.

Don’t – BE AFRAID  to ask questions. Clients are notorious for expecting writers to be mind-readers too. Even if you’re 99% sure you know the answer, ask the question anyway. In fact, one excellent way to establish trust with a client is to ask questions. It shows them that you’re invested in working with them and delivering quality work.

Do – GET REFERRALS. If your client expresses pleasure with your work, don’t hesitate to ask for a referral. In fact, consider launching a referral program. For example, each client that refers a client to you gets 10% off their next order.

Don’t – PANIC when you’re going through a slow spell. Things slow down from time to time; think positively and use the time to plan your business. Brush up on your skills, create marketing materials and focus on growth. Work on creating affiliate sites and multiple streams of income for yourself.

Slow spells pass.

Do – COMMIT to lifelong learning. You can always improve your skills, offer more value and learn more about your industry. Become, if you’re not already, the kind of person who is always striving to improve.

Do – USE SYSTEMS. Systems help you move through your business efficiently and effectively. Create payment and invoicing systems. Create autoresponder messages, client communication systems and even editing and delivery systems.

Don’t – LET GO of your passion for writing. Your writing passion is contagious. Your clients and customers will recognize it and appreciate it. If you become apathetic about your business, your clients will too.

Starting and growing a writing business can be a lot of work but it’s also tremendously rewarding. You’re creating a business made just for you. You’re offering value and helping people achieve their goals all while making a living. However, you will be your own boss so you need to hold yourself to some high standards. No one will be standing over you making you do the work. Make sure you can handle that aspect before you start a writing business.

Filed Under Writing Business, writing tips Tagged With starting a writing business, writing business

A Writer’s Story

August 1, 2011 1 Comment

Ah, it sometimes happens to the best of us. We’re writers. We’re supposed to be writing. Okay, some days we don’t.

I was looking through some older posts here at the site and instead of doing your “normal” link to old posts, I thought I’d write a little story and let you find those little gems yourself.

Some days, believe it or not, a writer gets bored and needs to be motivated.

Gasp!

What shall I do? My creative juices aren’t flowing. They’ve turned into hot fudge and I can’t get moving.

I need help writing my essay and I’m on a serious deadline! Help!

I’m making so many mistakes in my work, I need help with editing too. And if you don’t mind, I’d like to write a little faster.

Okay, that’s my update for today. Hope you enjoyed it!

~Patti

 

P.S. I added my Content eCourse sign up page to this site. I normally do this through my PLR site, but if you write freelance, ebooks,  infoproducts, or you’ve been thinking you need to market your stuff a little more,  you may be interested.

You can find it here.

Filed Under writing, writing tips

Being an Online Writer

May 24, 2011 Leave a Comment

I was cleaning out the back-end of my blog and discovered that this never posted when it was scheduled. It should have been posted six months ago. Oops! I thought I’d share it now. :)

 

Many people aspire to live the writer lifestyle. It’s easy to understand why. You can control your work hours, take on clients and projects that you want and take a vacation or a day off when you need to. There’s a lot of freedom when you’re an online writer. Once your business is established and you’ve planned ahead so your finances are in order, it’s a great way to make a living.

However, the same people who aspire to become online writers are unsure if they can. The honest truth is that if you have a desire and a commitment to make a living as an online writer, you can do it. Here’s why:

You don’t need formal writing education to be a successful online writer.

Online writing is different than many other forms of writing and many of them are not taught in school. For example, blogging was never taught in school. It may be now, but you still don’t need a degree to blog. Additionally, your clients have a variety of purposes for their content. They may want to entertain. They may want to inform. They may want to attract search engines or sell products. A formal education may help you learn how to help your clients reach their goals. However, you can learn the same thing online or by reading a book from the library.

Everything you need to learn about being an online writer can be learned online. So if you have a desire to learn about becoming an online writer, you can do it.

Most of the content found online is conversational.

Conversational content is content that is written as if you’re talking to someone. You use words like “you” and “you’re” when you’re writing. Other common forms of online content include lists, tip sheets, fact sheets, reviews, comparisons and how to articles. If you can talk and format a list, then you can write online content.

Do you have a desire to own a successful business?

One of the most important aspects of being a successful online writer isn’t necessarily your writing skills. They do matter of course, but equally important is your professionalism. This includes your ability to meet a deadline, to provide the content your client is asking for and to be a clear and effective communicator. If you have the desire and passion to offer the best writing service possible, then you can be an online writer.

If you’d like to live the writer’s life and make a living as an online writer, you can do it. The dream is within your reach. Learn all you can about building a business. Consider choosing a specialty, brush up on your writing skills and get started.

Filed Under writing, writing tips Tagged With online writing, writing, writing online

Story Engineering; A Review

March 1, 2011 5 Comments

I recently had the privilege, actually that’s an understatement, it was a true honor, to read Larry Brooks’ new Writer’s Digest publication of Story Engineering. My review at Amazon.com is still pending at the time of this blog post, but I wanted to share it here anyway.

My review: Story Engineering by Larry Brooks

This is not a how to book on the mechanics of writing. Larry doesn’t tell you when or where to use adverbs and adjectives or why you should or shouldn’t. This book covers what the title says..story engineering. He tells you exactly what elements you need for a publishable story, where it goes and why it goes where it does. If you want to learn about writing dialogue or how to choose the best descriptive words in your writing, this is not the book. This book goes much deeper into the structure of a great story. This book is the blueprint of building that great story. You can have great characters, great scenes, a great plot, and all the other components of a great story, but if you don’t have all of those elements where they belong–you have something that will need a ton of edits until those elements are in the right place. Save yourself and your editor a lot of time by studying this book and getting it down right the first time.
Many people believe their creativity is hampered by using structure. I can tell you it’s not. I started using Larry’s “timeline” of events awhile back. I lay out the big things that need to happen in my story, where they should happen and then write from point A to point B to point C. Everything in between those points is still creative freedom. You know where your character is and where he needs to go–you can be as free as you want in getting him there, but you have to get him there and get him in the right place at the right time.
I have books on writing dialogue, writing great plots, writing the setting of your story and all those things that go into a great story, Larry’s book pulls it all together and explains the when, and more importantly, the why of all these elements. He shows you how to put the puzzle pieces together.
I’ve had the priviledge of communicating with Larry privately over the past two years. He is warm and charming but when it comes to story structure he’s a no-fluff kind of guy. He doesn’t do the hand holding or candy coating thing.
Story Engineering contains a ton of stuff. If you want to dabble in writing, this is probably not the book for you. It’s a mouth full, very in-depth and Larry doesn’t hold back, he is not here to motivate you and tell you how easy it is to craft a great story. But if you take writing seriously, get this book and study it religiously. You won’t be disappointed.

 

Grab your copy today! By ordering through the link below you can get a free copy of Larry’s book, “101 Slightly Unpredictable Tips for Novelists and Screenwriters.”

Simply place your order, then send an email to Larry (storyfixer at gmail.com) and tell him, “Patti sent me.” He will send you a copy of his ebook. And yes, it is very good. I have a copy of it myself. :)
Order Story Engineering

 

You can also check out his website: Story Fix.

Filed Under Featured, Featured Writer, Review, writing, writing tips

How to Write Your Start Up Business Plan – 10 Tips

January 12, 2011 1 Comment

by guest blogger James Adams

When an individual decides to start a business from scratch without borrowing money from a bank or finding investors, that person is said to be a bootstrapper. Each one has an idea for a business that will make money and create at least one job in the economy. While miracles do happen, writing a business plan is probably a better strategy to ensure guided success through the challenging waters of life in business. Write out specific information concerning these ten areas to create a business plan that is a true roadmap.

1. Reason for starting the business – Some entrepreneurs set out to change the face of an entire industry and end up becoming a brand like Ford, Gates, or Perot. Others simply want to replace the family income and be free from the expectations of an employer. Whatever the reason for starting your company, take out a notebook and write down your reason for creating a business.

2. Long-term goal – Becoming a multi-million dollar enterprise is entirely possible with a strong work ethic and a great service or product that the market is seeking. Another admirable goal is to never be out of work again and make twice the money you ever did working for someone else. On a new piece of paper in your notebook, write out the long-term goal. If you are in your twenties trying to support a young family, how long do you see yourself running this company?

3. Starting point – Look around at the current situation. If you are working out an office in your home, write out every aspect of the starting position of the company. The status of the company vehicle is important because you need to claim the business expenses associated with using that automobile. Whatever assets you have committed to the business must be documented. Maybe you are working alone with some assistance from your spouse. Write down every detail of the beginning of the business.

4. Incremental goals – On another sheet of paper write down the basic goals for business income, number of employees, service offerings, and business facilities for 5, 10, and 15 years from now. Dream big and spend some time writing down your vision for the growth of the company. Some companies just exploded onto the scene in a given industry and made so much money that plans were made with a full bank account. Most business owners live in the real world and must make the money ahead of implementing the plan. Consider the life of your family when making these goals.

5. Annual goals – Again, turn to a new page within the notebook and write out where the business must be one year from today. Making money is the reason that every business is in existence. How much revenue must the business generate to support your family and sustain business operations? Just as a family must operate on a budget to restrain expenses, all profitable businesses operate on a written budget. Write down every expense and how the business will generate revenue twelve months from now.

6. Milestones – On a new page, start writing the months of the year that lies ahead. Write what must be accomplished in the next thirty, sixty, and ninety days. Getting the message about your company out into the public is important, but what means will yield the best results? How will you find the information you need to grow the business and work efficiently at the same time? Who must you contact to enlist as an advisor?

7. Review plan – Find a calendar that you will use to track your schedule and write down monthly reviews of the notes you have made in the notebook. Those notes have just become your business plan. Review the plan and assess the current situation against the milestones you wrote down on the sixth page.

8. Update strategy – Sometimes the plan must be changed to sustain business operations because of economic conditions and changes in the market. Plans must be assessed and changed without completely starting over whenever a bump in the road appears. Write down a few thoughts for the indicators that will require a complete reassessment of the business goals.

9. Course correction requirements – Have some professional connections for the times that you need someone to look at your business and make recommendations. Be willing to listen and make the changes to save the life of your business. Participate in networking organisations that share your goals and values so you have some help when necessary. Engage the help of a reputable accountant and financial advisor before either one is needed.

10. Never finish the plan – Losing track of the original plan might mean that your business must involve into something else and a new plan must be written. Most professionals warn that finishing the business plan means the end of business operations. Edit the plan and continue to add more thoughts to the pages that started as simple notes.

Elaborate business plans with leather covers are for the businesses that need to find financing and gain the approval of some entity. As your business grows and the business plan becomes an integral part of your plans, you can have it professionally typed, but make sure that you have a copy where you can write revisions. This document is for your benefit and is not sacred. You own the document and will use it as the rudder to guide your business through calm and rough waters. Have a new copy made at the beginning of each fiscal year and set a goal to write all over every page before the new copy is made next year.

James Adams works for Cartridge Save, rated by Hitwise as one of the UK’s biggest online suppliers of cheap ink cartridges.

Filed Under Business Plan, Featured, Guest Blogger, writing tips Tagged With business plan writing, James Adams

Writing Cliffhangers

November 18, 2010 1 Comment

Reprinted with permission from the Advanced Fiction Writing E-zine.

The secret to writing novels that readers can’t put down is simple — in theory.

All you have to do is making the ending of each chapter so exciting that your reader can’t help but turn the page.

That’s a nice theory. How do you do it in practice?

The answer depends on the kind of novel you’re writing. The purpose of a novel is to give your reader a Powerful Emotional Experience.

Each category of fiction creates its own mix of emotional experiences. Each category makes a promise to deliver a certain kind of emotion at the end of the novel. A romance promises to deliver love. A suspense novel promises to deliver safety. A mystery promises to deliver justice.

As your story progresses, your reader tracks how close you are to delivering the final emotional payoff for your story. If the payoff looks like it’s getting closer, your reader’s tension eases. If it looks like the payoff is getting further away, your reader’s tension tightens.

When something happens at the very end of a chapter to make the payoff suddenly look dramatically less likely, that’s a cliffhanger.

Lee Child is a master of writing cliffhangers. Child is the author of a series of thrillers starring Jack

Reacher, a drifter who left the Army after 13 years as a military cop. Now Reacher hitchhikes around the country, running into one set of bad guys after another and reluctantly puttings right.

Reacher is a skilled street fighter who knows every dirty fighting trick in the book and uses them to get out of trouble. That’s a great skill to have when you get in fights with thugs three at a time, or you’re threatened by guys with guns.

In one scene in KILLING FLOOR, the first novel in the series, Reacher and a businessman named Hubble are put in prison on a trumped up charge late one night. There’s been a murder in town, and both Reacher and Hubble are incidentally connected, even though they’re not suspects. They’re supposed to be put on the holding floor for nonviolent prisoners. By mistake, they’ve been put on the floor with the hard guys — lifers.

[Read more...]

Filed Under writing, writing tips Tagged With the snowflake guy, writing cliffhangers, writing novels, writing tips

Holly Lisle’s Plot Outline Mini Course

November 17, 2010 1 Comment
Hi Everyone!
Are you having trouble with your novel? Can’t get your plot right? Do you need help with your plots?
Holly offers awesome help for writers. I’ve purchased several of her clinics myself and have been working through them.
She’s just created a Novel Writing School and the first course on plotting is up and ready.
Here are some of the highlights of the course (from Holly’s site.)
  • Figure out your character.
    You’ll decide on the few points about him or her that really matter—but enough to give you a place to start your story, and not so much that you get bogged down in background and never get to your writing.
  • Decide on your central idea.
    You’ll figure out what actually counts in your story, so you avoid getting bogged down writing details that don’t.
  • Write your opener.
    You’ll learn how to give yourself and your readers a GREAT first look at your character doing something fascinating.
  • Create your ending.
    You’ll discover one method of planning out a great conclusion.
  • And rough in your middle…
    You know…all those pages that used to bog you down when you couldn’t figure out what happened next?

I realize everyone is busy with their NaNo novel this month but you owe it to yourself to check out Holly’s materials. I love the way she explains things.

If you’d like to sign up and hone your writing skills, you won’t be disappointed.

Holly Lisle’s Plot Outline Clinic.

Happy Writing!
Patti

P.S. As an affiliate of Holly’s materials I will receive a commission for any purchases you make past the free clinic.  I have purchased quite a few of her courses and they are top notch—or else I wouldn’t recommend them. :)

Filed Under Courses, writing, writing tips Tagged With plot clinic, writing plots

Five Tips for Printing Your Manuscript

November 14, 2010 5 Comments

Writing a manuscript is a big undertaking that many people never manage to complete. It’s a labor of love that can be years in the making, and the thought of yet another step to finish it may seem daunting. However, taking the time to format and print your manuscript before submitting it to a publisher is absolutely necessary. Many editors will toss an improperly formatted manuscript aside without reading it, effectively rejecting an author without seeing his or her material. Making your manuscript accessible with the correct formatting is important if you wish for it to be noticed and considered for publication.

1. Make it Easy on the Eyes

Use a font that is easy to read. Fancy, bold, or overly compact fonts are all hard on the eyes, and an editor won’t want to spend hours peering at page after page of indecipherable text. Aim for a serif font such as Times New Roman or Courier sized at 12 point. Avoid mixing fonts within your manuscript, as this will make it appear sloppy or incongruous. Text alignment is an important consideration as well. Text should be left-aligned with half-inch indentations to denote the beginnings of paragraphs. Do not use spaces to separate paragraphs from each other.

2. Use Proper Margins and Spacing

A good rule of thumb for clean manuscript margins is one inch all around. Some editors may request one-and-a-quarter inch margins or one-and-one-half inch margins to give them more space to make notes. Whatever the case, make sure to set the margins to the required size using the page setup function of your word processing program. If you type manuscripts frequently, you may want to consider using such settings as the default.

For spacing between lines and paragraphs, use the paragraph formatting tool on your word processor rather than putting the spaces in yourself. Hitting the “Enter” key between lines is called a “hard return” and should only be done when starting a new paragraph. Use the paragraph formatting tool to double-space your manuscript for easier reading. Don’t try to adjust the default size of this spacing to make your manuscript look longer.

3. Include an Identifying Header

A header including pertinent information should appear beginning on the second page of your manuscript. Information in the header should include your last name, the page number, and the title of your manuscript. If the title is too long, use a key word or phrase. This header helps identify the manuscript and aids editors in keeping your story organized. When formatting a header, keep it low-key so that it doesn’t detract from the main text. Also make sure that the page numbers are continuous and don’t reset to page one at the beginning of each chapter.

4. Don’t Forget a Cover Page

The cover page is the first thing an editor will see upon receiving your manuscript. Create a good first impression by centering the title of your manuscript and your name halfway down the page. Also be sure to include your complete contact information: your full name (especially if you write under a pseudonym), mailing address, daytime phone number, and e-mail address. This is essential information to put on a cover page even if you’ve already included it in a query or cover letter. If your manuscript becomes separated from this letter, the editor will still be able to contact you with ease. Word count may also be included after your contact information to give the editor an idea of the length of your finished work.

5. Always Double-check Editor Preferences

Although following basic rules of thumb can help you get your manuscript ready to send, it’s always important to double-check editor preferences before sending anything to a publisher. Some editors may want larger or smaller margins, extra header information or no header at all, or different spacing between lines and paragraphs. Some may even express preferences as to the type of font a submitted manuscript should be in. Take the time to double-check these preferences before shipping off the manuscript you’ve worked so hard on.

Submitting a manuscript that follows all the proper formatting guidelines increases your chances of getting noticed by editors. A clean manuscript makes it easier for editors to read, review, and comment on your writing, and can bring you one step closer to being a published author.

This guest article was contributed by James Adams, a writer and analyst who writes in-depth reviews of new Epson supplies for CartridgeSave.co.uk, a specialist online store for printer hardware.

Filed Under Guest Blogger, Publication, writing, writing tips Tagged With James Adams, manuscript, manuscript printing

Organizing: National Novel Writing Month

November 14, 2010 Leave a Comment

Reprinted with permission from the Advanced Fiction Writing E-zine

The biggest mistake fiction writers make is failing to spend enough hours actually writing fiction.

That seems odd, doesn’t it? A tennis player gets good by playing tennis. A pilot gets good by flying. Seems like a fiction writer would know that you get good at writing fiction by writing fiction.

The trouble is that it’s easy to sit down and start a novel. That hard part is staying seated and continuing to write. The excitement of doing the exact same thing as Stephen King and Nora Roberts lasts about twenty minutes.

After that, reality sets in. A typical novel is 60000 to 120000 words. Even if you could type 100 words per minute, it would take ten to twenty hours to type it all in.

But very few writers can write fiction at 100 words per minute. A novelist who puts out 1000 words per hour is considered pretty fast. That amounts to fewer than 17 words per minute.

So now the job amounts to 60 to 120 hours — if you’re fast.

If you can only squeeze out 100 words per hour, it’s going to run you 600 to 1200 hours to get that first draft done. And yes, some writers have trouble managing that pace. It’s slower than two words per minute, or about one letter every six seconds.

Writing a novel is a boatload of work.

What this means is that a lot of novelists never finish their novel. They’ll get rolling, type out a chapter or two, take it to a critique group, and then realize that this writing game is a whole harder than it looks.

It’s easy to fill up your time doing all the other good things that a novelist needs to do. Reading excellent fiction.
Studying the craft.
Getting critiqued.
Planning the novel.

But never actually writing the darned thing.

That’s why I like National Novel Writing Month. The goal of NaNoWriMo is simple: Write 50000 words in 30 days. That’s 1666 words per day — a challenging goal, but doable.

There are critics who’ll tell you that, oh sure, you can drill out a crappy novel in 30 days, but it’s impossible to write a good one in that length of time.

Sure, it’s impossible if you believe it’s impossible.

But I know a fair number of published novelists who’ve written a novel in 30 days or less. Good novels –ready to go to the publisher for editing. Some of these folks are New York Times best-selling authors. Others have won major awards.

If you can write a novel at all, you can write one in 30 days. If your skills aren’t up to snuff yet, then no, you can’t write a good novel in 30 days. But if you have good craft, then yes, you can write an excellent novel in 30 days.

Either way, fire breeds fire, and fiction writing breeds fiction writing. If you take the NaNoWriMo challenge and meet your goal, you’re going to stretch yourself as a writer. You’ll come out of it a better and more confident writer.

Most importantly, you’ll have done something that only a small fraction of people on this planet have ever done. You’ll have written a complete novel.

Whether the quality is good or not, quantity matters. Having done it the first time is the best indicator that you’ll do it again.

You may be wondering if I eat my own dog food. Have I ever written a novel in 30 days?

The answer is yes. I did it once, under a tight deadline. But it wasn’t a mere 50000 words. It was 90000 words.

It was hard work, 3000 words per day, and for most of those days I thought I was going to die.

But I didn’t die. I wrote the thing in a white fury.

The faster I wrote, the easier it came.

I finished the book a day early. It was my best piece of work.

Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year?

If so, carry on. Don’t stop now. Losers quit. Winners can’t.

If you’re not doing it this year, think about next year. What have you got to lose by trying? You grow by challenging yourself and then executing the challenge.

You can check out National Novel Writing Month here:

http://www.NaNoWriMo.org

Award-winning novelist Randy Ingermanson, “the Snowflake Guy,” publishes the Advanced Fiction Writing E-zine, with more than 23,000 readers, every month. If
you want to learn the craft and marketing of fiction, AND make your writing more valuable to editors, AND have FUN doing it, visit
Download your free Special Report on Tiger Marketing and get a free 5-Day Course in How To Publish a Novel.
Filed Under writing, writing tips Tagged With fiction writing, NaNoWriMo, novel writing

Five Tips for Breaking Into Ghostwriting

November 12, 2010 1 Comment

So you want to be a ghostwriter? Congratulations. It is a rewarding lifestyle. You have the freedom to work when it suits you. You get to work with wonderful clients. Additionally, you are able to learn new things each and every day and focus on a skill you enjoy. However, as a ghostwriter, competition can be difficult. And breaking into ghostwriting provides some challenges.

Here are the top five tips to break into ghostwriting.

Tip #1 – Focus on a niche. A niche is a specialty. As a ghostwriter, a niche can help you establish credibility and authority. Your niche can be a topic, for example “parenting,” or your niche can be a format like articles or blog posts. A niche will also help clients find you. They may search online for “parenting blog writers.” If you’ve established yourself and created a website around that niche, they’ll find you.

Tip #2 – Remember customer service. One of the most important aspects of being a ghostwriter doesn’t have anything to do with writing. It’s your customer service. This means professional communication, reliability, timeliness and of course a professional approach to requests, revisions and feedback. You’re providing a service to a customer – if they have a good experience they’ll recommend you to others.

Tip #3 – Network. Breaking into ghostwriting can be simply a matter of being in the right place at the right time. In order to create more opportunities, you may want to network online and off. The more people who know about your service, the more opportunities you’ll come across.

Tip #4 – Price competitively. There are a number of ghostwriters who seem to write for next to nothing. And there are those who charge ten times what the market demands. Your job is to price yourself competitively. You want people to be willing to pay to try out your services and sometimes that means working for a little less than you’d like – especially in the beginning. Know that you can raise your rates once you’re established. You might even consider doing some work on spec. It can pay off handsomely.

Tip #5 – Brag. Often writers are introverts. They also struggle with confidence. Half the time they think they’re an amazing writer and the other half of the time they think everything they write is the worst ever. However, in order to instill confidence in your clients you’re going to need to at least fake it. Don’t hesitate to list your writing accomplishments, credentials and experience.

Breaking into ghostwriting isn’t difficult. It takes a plan, a commitment to succeed and the willingness to go out and market yourself. Trust that you’ll soon have a full schedule, wonderful clients and you’ll be living the writer’s life. The life you’ve always dreamed of.

Filed Under writing tips Tagged With ghostwriting, niche writing

Nailing Down Your Niche, or Not

November 7, 2010 2 Comments

So in this world of blogging/writing, we should pick a niche, a single topic that is our passion, and grow a blog around it. I’ve tried this several times and discovered something about myself..I can’t pick just one niche. There are several things I am passionate about and trying to nail down just one seems very limiting to me. Correction; it is very limiting to me. I get bored with the same old thing all the time, so I need many “shiny objects” to keep my mind in forward motion. Otherwise, I just feel like my brain grows stagnant, it’s get dull, lifeless and boring.

This leads to a problem in itself because none of my “projects” get my undivided attention. This works well for me, but it doesn’t work well when you want to build something that gains a lot of attention and eventually brings in an income. What’s my plan? I think I’ll just keep doing what I do–write! Of course the topic of my writing may change from day to day, but that’s how I roll best. It may not be the best way to build credibility on the Internet or gain a host of followers, but..“To thine own self be true,” right?

Do one thing and do it well. It’s great advice for normal people, but as we all know, writers (and musicians) are not normal people. In the land of writing there are so many topics to choose from, and not a single one of them—not even the ones I love to write about–is my one true passion, because I have many passions. I have many things I want to share.

As I take this blog to a little more personal level I will cover some of my favorite topics often. Things like health, fitness, nutrition, low carb lifestyles, affiliate marketing, sharing awesome products that I find.

Maybe I should dub myself “The Niche Lover.” I love niche topics, just don’t ask me to choose only one. LOL

Do you find yourself struggling to choose one topic area of expertise? If so, what do you do or have you done to overcome this obstacle? Or maybe you just roll with the flow. Please share your thoughts and ideas.

Happy Writing!

Stafford Scribe

Filed Under writing, writing tips Tagged With niche, niche writing
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