From Kate’s Writing Crate…
My
professional life has gotten very busy. I’m editing and indexing a book for
publication in early spring as well as working on a book I’m co-authoring with
Cheryl L. Butler, co-founder of this blog. Add to that a few other freelance
projects, this blog, and my day job of editing and writing for two publications and I’m
very busy indeed.
There are
so many opportunities for writers these days as an employee, a freelancer and,
best of all, as your own boss!
Whatever
your dreams, be fearless!
You have to be able to write
on demand to meet deadlines. Have great ideas for articles and follow through
with interviews and/or finish the book you are always talking about and get it
published.
Write. Rewrite. Polish.
Publish. If you are a writer, those are the job requirements to make a living
doing what you love.
Practical
ways to achieve your dreams:
I recommend reading:
Fearless
Writing: How to Create Boldly and Write with Confidence by William Kenower
is essential for every writer. Inspiring. Motivating. Supportive. Fantastic!
(Please see my reviews of this book on this blog.)
Ensouling Language: On the Art of Nonfiction
and the Writer’s Life by Stephen Harrod Buhner. Read it for the sheer
beauty of his written words as well as his remarkable thoughts—a fabulous
beacon for anyone on a writer’s path.
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and
Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield will keep writer’s
block away. Whenever I’m not inspired to write, I flip it open and read a page or two
then I’m raring to write again without fail. I most love his encouraging and
inspiring essay “The Artist’s Life” on page 165—which I think should have been the
first in his book because it’s essential for writer’s to know and believe in
it.
Writing
Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg
will get you thinking and writing. Follow her routine of filling a spiral
notebook every month. I’ve been doing this for well over a decade. I have no
fear of the blank page because I face it every day in this low-key way.
I
recommend writing:
Fill a
spiral notebook a month as recommended by Natalie Goldberg in her book
recommended above. Upside—no fear of blank pages. It's a private way to improve your writing and capture ideas fearlessly.
Start a blog on any topic of
interest so you write regularly—never missing a deadline. Gain an audience. Get
feedback. Improve your writing fearlessly.
Take a
writing class. I did and besides learning more about the writing craft, I met
the new owner of a local magazine there. This led to an internship, then a
staff writing position, then Assistant Editor, then Editor, then Editor of two
publications, then three, then four. Then all the freelance work I’ve done—and
soon a published book—all because I was brave enough to go to one writing class
and willing to work hard and fearlessly.
Cheryl
wrote her first book, Pregnant Women
Don’t Eat Cabbage, for one hour each Saturday (all the time she could spare
while raising eight children) until completed. She was brave and did some
public speaking events. In the audience one night was a woman from Macmillan Publishing.
A while later when the current Mighty Mommy left, this woman remembered Cheryl
and recommended her to become the company’s Mighty Mommy columnist and
podcaster—all because Cheryl pursued her writing dream fearlessly!
.
.
Amazon has certainly opened
up opportunities for authors. I have several friends working on books they plan
to publish through Amazon. A friend of one of these friends has published both
through a traditional publisher and Amazon, and she prefers Amazon as she has
full control over the cover and content and receives more of the profits. Publish fearlessly.
Be fearless! That’s what it
takes to be a professional and successful writer!
