Hope Writes

Back From Land Of The Writing

Posted by Hope

I apologize for my absense here last week. I had a boat-load of work to do, so I needed to take a step back for a bit to catch up. I’m nowhere near being caught up, but at least I did get quite a bit done.

There’s been a lot of things going on outside my house, first of all. Then the last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of events within my home. To make a long story short, we pulled our daughter out of public school two weeks ago. So now I’m not just a writer, but I’m a home schooling mom, too.

These are fun and exciting times for all of us, believe it or not. It is taking some time for her (my daughter) to adjust to this new lifestyle. She’s used to the rigorous routine of “school.” I’m doing a loose version of deschooling with her right now.

What this all means is that my daytime writing time has been greatly reduced. I’m learning how to manage many more things during the day. I also came to the realization that I had to rethink my own schedule and readjust accordingly.

The wonderful thing about working from home is that you can create your own work schedule. On the flip side, you also have to be very careful not to let your personal life get in the way of your work. Everything has to mesh and intertwine just right.

Technorati Tags: on writing, writing, working from home, home school, homeschooling, homeschooling mom, writing mom

Popularity: 8% [?]

What Is Your Burning Question About Writing?

Posted by Hope

I’d like to give you the floor today. What are your burning questions about writing? Is there something you’ve been wondering and would like to read more about?

Leave your questions here in the comments. I look forward to hearing from you!

Technorati Tags: on writing, writing, writing questions, ask your writing question, write

Popularity: 21% [?]

Is Twitter Harmful To Your Health?

Posted by Hope

I joined Twitter a little while ago after I saw murmuring about it on the Warrior Forum. At first, I wasn’t very sure what to do with it. Then I started adding friends and interacting with others. At that point, Twitter took on a life of its own.

The first thing I did every morning as soon as I sat down at the computer was turn on Twitter. I’d catch up on all the latest blurbs from everyone while I was sleeping. Then I’d jump in and start Twittering with the best of them.

It didn’t take very long until Twitter consumed quite a bit of my time during the day. I’d get my work done, but boy I’d Twitter up a storm every few minutes. One day I sat down and figured up how much time I’d spent on Twitter that day and I was…shocked, to say the least.

It’s funny how these simple little “conveniences” can eat up so much of our time without us even realizing it. Now, I’m not saying don’t use Twitter. Lord knows I still Twitter with the best of them even still! But what I’m saying is that if you do use Twitter, be very careful. Allow me to elaborate…

Today I did some serious thinking. (Yeah, if you heard thunder clap and saw lightening strike, that’s probably why!) What I realized is that I have been using Twitter as more of an instant messaging system, rather than a “mini blog.” Hmmm…interesting!

Furthermore, a lot of my Twitters on a daily basis sometimes consist of nothing more than “LOL! @so-and-so” or “Yeah, me too @so-and-so”. Is this type of social communication really profiting my business?

Sure, I’m forging new friendships and relationships with others through Twitter. I guess my main concern right now is this: Is Twitter doing more harm than good for my business life? Is it merely a distraction? Is it really furthering my business in any way? I’m afraid at this point my answer to this would have to be “no.”

I love chatting with others. I especially love the sense of “community” that social networking like Twitter can bring to the picture. However, I’m not sure if my using Twitter is really anything more than truly a social tool or if it can become something more useful for my career.

What do you think about all this? Have you thought about it in this perspective, if you’re already using Twitter? In what ways have you found Twitter useful in business-building relationships? Or am I the only one who is being unproductive in using Twitter?

Technorati Tags: Twitter, social networking, social networking for writers

Popularity: 15% [?]

More Great Articles Online

Posted by Hope

I have a full plate today, so I thought I’d do some linky love to a few of my articles published elsewhere online. Here goes…

• Stress Busters: 10 Ways to Manage Stress
• Positive Attitude: Keeping A Positive Attitude Despite Problems
• 7 Ways to Love Yourself
• Why Writers Should Write and Submit to Article Directories
• Big Brother 8: The Devil and His Daughter Wins
• Finding Extra Time in a Busy Day: Check Out 5 Time-Saving Tips

Technorati Tags: articles, writing, Big Brother 8, Big Brother, save time, time-savers, stress, manage stress, positive attitude, article directories

Popularity: 10% [?]

Writing From Your Dreams

Posted by Hope

I was awakened this morning from quite an odd dream, wherein I was losing my hair. It was literally falling out of my head in chunks as I ran my hands through my hair. Weird.

Well, I’m the kind of person who believes some dreams have meanings. Usually, the ones that stick with me after I’m awake are the ones who have some kind of meaning. So I headed to my favorite dream dictionary to look this one up.

“Losing your hair also signifies a lack of strength and that you do not possess the power to succeed in an undertaking. You may be feeilng weak and vulnerable.”

Wow. Nail on head.

Last night, before bed, I wrote out some of my fears at the moment in my journal. Then I proceeded to “work out” the problem in my journal, which I do from time to time. (Brainstorming in a journal is very helpful sometimes, by the way!) Once I had clearly mapped out a solution for myself, I then proceeded to write more fears:

• What if this doesn’t work?
• What if I’m totally off base with this idea?
• Maybe I don’t know enough to put this into action.

So I suppose all my doubts and fears didn’t exactly get dumped on the page, since I ended up having that dream anyway.

I said all that to say this…

Our dreams can open us up to possibilities. Now, I could sit here and give myself the “Woe is me” speech. I could tell myself that I should forfeit those plans I sketched out in my journal last night because, obviously from my dream I don’t have what it takes to undertake what I mapped out in my journal. But me…? I’m hard-headed.

Instead, what I take from this dream is that my sub-conscious is worrying and playing out the scenerio in the background. I’m literally trying to figure out for myself if I am capable of succeeding. And you know what, I think I am! Most of the time, I am the one who stands in my own way.

I’ve heard plenty of writers say that you should use your dreams as springing boards for fictional pieces. And, while this is true, I propose you use your dreams for something totally different. Use them to inspire and encourage yourself. Use them to be a motivating factor for what you’re doing in real life.

If you are feeling unsure of yourself and that comes out in your dream, ask yourself how you can turn that around. What can you do to gain more self-confidence? Maybe you’ve been overwhelmed with a large amount of work, and that is starting to manifest itself through your dreams. Perhaps you should figure out a way to pare back a bit and allow yourself some breathing room.

Not every dream means something. But if you have one of those that haunt you the day after, maybe you should stop and ask yourself what it means and how your writing can benefit from it.

Technorati Tags: writing, on writing, dreams, writing dreams, writing and dreams, writing tips

Popularity: 7% [?]

The Pang Of Writer’s Jealousy

Posted by Hope

I recently surfed through my “old” bookmarks and found myself sitting in a stew of stinky jealousy.

As I revisited friends’ blogs I found out that life didn’t stop when I transitioned from trying to write fiction into non-fiction writing. Furthermore, I discovered that some writers I knew a few years ago, who were struggling just as much as I was then, have continued in their pursuits of fiction writing and are now becoming published authors.

I felt that old familiar twinge of jealousy in the pit of my stomach as I read the wonderful news that one of those writers has a new book coming out that is published by a very well-known publishing company. I sat here for a minute feeling the surge of regret and remorse over walking away from my own dreams.

Funny how things like this happen, huh?

It’s not to say that I don’t love what I’m doing–because I do. I just remember the dreams I once had of writing and publishing epic tales that would make any reader swoon, cry, laugh or shout. What happened to those dreams?

Jealousy is a crazy thing. It’ll make you remember things you thought were long gone. It’ll make you wish you’d never have given up in the first place. It’ll make you see that it really is possible…if you want it bad enough to never give up.

Jealousy aside, I’m so proud when I read of the successes of people who I’m sure have long forgotten about me by now. It’s nice to visit them online, quiety nod and smile and think to myself, ‘I remember her when…’

Technorati Tags: on writing, writing, writing thoughts, writer

Popularity: 7% [?]

Writers: Are You All Written Out?

Posted by Hope

This thought popped into my head and I knew I had to blog about it. If you are a writer, have you ever felt “all written out”?

I will admit to you that there have been quite a few times when I have felt this way. In fact, there were even times when I stopped writing altogether.

So what do you do when you feel like you’ve written every single word out of yourself? What can you do when you feel empty and devoid of words? Here are a few things that help me and could help you:

• Keep a daily journal. Writing in a journal every day can help you generate fresh, new ideas. I’ve found that carrying a journal with me at all times is condusive to collecting ideas, no matter where I am.
• Write Morning Pages. This is totally different from keeping a journal, in my opinion. My Morning Pages (taken from Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way) are my dumping grounds. It’s where I write about my fears, hopes, worries, and goals. It’s where I rant about my latest frustrations and boast about my children’s latest accomplishments. Morning Pages are what keep me going; when I don’t write them, it shows in my daily writing.
• Write lists. Lists are literally the backbone of my writing business. I use them to plan projects for clients, daily tasks, weekly tasks, and more. Angela Booth also suggests using lists when you get stuck in writing, and I totally agree. Brainstorming with a list is one of the easiest ways to get your creative juices flowing again.
• Do something that doesn’t involve writing. Sometimes you just need a break from it all. Step away. Take a couple of hours away from the computer. If you’re feeling completely drained, a day or two away could be in order.
• Read. Catch up on all those books you’ve been stacking in the corner of your desk. I’ll bet before you even make it through to the end of the first one you’ll be itching to write again.

The key, in my opinion, to staying prolific is to constantly and continually replenish your writing well with images and words. Writing can be compared to your vehicle. If you fill the tank up, then drive a few hundred miles, at some point, you will have to stop and refill the tank again. Otherwise, you’ll be sitting on the side of the road with your thumb in the air. Writing is just the same. You have to stop and fill up the tank again every few hundred miles.

Technorati Tags: writing, writing tips, refill your well, tips for writers, help for writers, writing help

Popularity: 11% [?]

Finding Work

Posted by Hope

One thing that has always irritated me is reading or hearing other accomplished writers refer fledgling newbies to these freelance writing job sites. It really bugs me.

I am sure there are plenty of writers out there who cut their teeth on sites like Guru.com and elance.com. While these sites were powerful in their day, times have rapidly changed. Such websites are stomping grounds for unscrupulous marketers to take full advantage of unsuspecting, unknowledgable writers who are looking for real writing jobs to earn an income from. Thus, these sites are quickly becoming places where such marketers are demanding “slave labor” in exchange for tiddly-winks. I think that stinks!

At the suggestion of a colleague a while back, I bit the bullet and gave Guru.com my hard-earned money for a subscription. Many months and bids later, I’ve yet to land a job there. I personally spoke with a few writers who said that was where they got their start at making money online. Obviously I’m not doing something right, or I would have landed at least one project there.

I was even awarded 100 more bids because I have been there for so long and placed bids and haven’t landed a job yet. It’s embarrassing, really, but at the same time, I know that my lack of employment from that website doesn’t have a single thing to do with my skills or experience. Rather, I believe it has everything to do with me not being willing to accept anything less than what I’m worth.

Every bid I’ve placed was a reasonable one. However, I refuse to place a low bid, just to get a job and have feedback posted (which is what more than one person told me I should do).

Like I said, I’m sure these types of freelance websites probably do work for some writers. I suppose you need to ask yourself if you are willing to take on a job for low payment, just so you can get your foot in the door. In my opinion, my time and writing is worth way too much to give it away.

If you are a writer wanting to start earning an income solely from writing, I want to tell you that it is possible. But please don’t waste your time or money on job sites that expect you to give it away for pennies on the dollar. Here are some tips to help you get started:

First, and most importantly, ask yourself how much you’re worth. If you are a new writer and you know you need lots more practice and learning, then you can’t charge the same as a seasoned writer and expect people to pay that. Take on a couple of pro-bono jobs in exchange for testimonials. This will help you cut your teeth and net you some great feedback, too.

If you have more experience, then set your rates accordingly and don’t be shy to ask for what you’re worth. You can always go down, but you can rarely go up.

Second, make a list of business owners you know. There are very few of us that don’t know someone who owns a business. Make a quick list of those you know, then contact them and offer them your services. Businesses who run newspaper ads often let the newspaper people write the ads, which doesn’t usually gain them many new prospects. Offer to write their next ad campaign for them and they can pay you after they see the results from the ad. You can also offer to write their brochures, fliers, sales papers, company newsletters, etc.

Third, start networking online. The Internet is hugely profitable, but you have to be willing to step out and start networking. Google ‘writing forums’ and see what you come up with. Better still, run a search for forums within your niche. If you are a technical writer, search for forums where people are talking about those things. More often than not, you’ll start making some great contact points and will often find business this way as well.

Fourth, look for unusual, out of the box ways to make money from writing. I know lots of writers who make money from writing articles and submitting them to article directories. This involves everything from selling their own short reports or ebooks, to promoting affiliate programs.

Fifth, sell your own writing online. There are tons of writers out there right now who are making a very nice living just by writing and selling their own ebooks. If you can write articles, then writing an ebook is as simple as expanding on an idea. With lengths varying from 15 to as much as 75 or 100 pages, ebooks are a popular way to get information out there to hungry people and make a hefty income in the meantime. (Check out The eBook $uccess Blueprint if you need a step-by-step guide on how to do this: http://ebooksuccess.hopewrites.com/.)

Finally, there are websites out there that will pay you for articles that you write and submit to them, too. One such website that I’ve submitted to before and some of my other colleagues like, is Associated Content. Granted, you won’t get rich doing this, but you’ll be able to pull in some extra cash every month from your articles.

Making money with your writing isn’t a hard thing to do. It does require patience and perseverance. If you want to write magazine articles for pay, go for it. This isn’t an area where you’ll receive payment as quickly as you might in other areas, but it’s still writing for money nonetheless.

My point is, don’t jump on a bandwagon just because somebody else says it worked for them. Find your own way and follow through with it.

I hope something I’ve given you here will help you out if you are wanting to make money from your writing!

Technorati Tags: writing, make money writing, how to write and make money, business of writing, writing business

Popularity: 24% [?]

Plan B

Posted by Hope

Since school started several weeks ago, we have struggled and watched as our daughter slowly grows more disinterested in school every day. As a child who has always loved school and thrived on learning, this has been extremely disheartening, to say the least. So my husband and I finally decided to remove her from the public school system and homeschool her. Today was her last day at school.

If you’re wondering what that has to do with writing, hang on and I’ll tell you. I’m a full-time writer. It’s how I earn a living. It’s my career. As such, homeschooling will cut out a chunk of hours that I’d ordinarily be working. So what does this mean for my clients and my income?

First, I’m going to have to plan my time better. Second, I’ll need to take a good look at my working hours and possibly revamp them. More than likely, I’ll start working on a totally different schedule than I have been.

If you’ve never considered the possibility of your business being turned upside down by the unexpected, then you should. You just never know what could come your way.

Here are three things you can include in your Plan B:

>> 1. Alternate work schedule.

If you are accustomed to working during the day, would you be able to switch your working hours to evening, or even during the middle of the night if you had to?

It is a wise idea to be able to be flexible in your work schedule when necessary.

>> 2. Be a good manager of your time.

Are you wasting hours of your work day on unimportant tasks that don’t contribute to your business in a positive manner?

Lately I’ve been taking mental notes of things that cut down on my productivity:

=> instant messaging
=> chatting via email
=> social media outlets (Twitter)

While it might seem that a little chat here or a few emails there don’t really account for much time in your day, you’d be surprised at just how much time those few things swallow up in a day. I once estimated that I was wasting around 3-4 hours every day on the three things listed above. That’s a lot of time!

>> 3. Outsourcing options.

Unless you’re raking in money hand over fist this might not be an option for you yet. However, it is an option that you should keep in mind.

If your business requires repetitive tasks, such as replying to emails a few hours every day, you could outsource this task to a virutal assistant.

>> All the little things add up.

Whether it’s repetitive tasks or just plain wasted time, every little thing adds up. Be cautious of wasted time. And have a Plan B.

Technorati Tags: writing tips, Plan B, have a plan b, business of writing, writing business, business tips

Popularity: 16% [?]

Do You Use Article Marketing To Promote Your Business?

Posted by Hope

If you are a writer, I have a quick question for you today: Do you use articles to promote yourself/your business? If not, then why?

Did you know that article marketing is one of the easiest ways to get your name out there? It’s true! Article marketing is free advertisement. You already write on a daily basis, so why not use free articles to advertise.

With article marketing, you…

• Create a buzz
• Become an expert in your area of knowledge
• Share your experience with others

…and so much more.

The reality of it is that just about everybody you know that is doing business online, is probably using articles to promote themselves (and if they’re not, they’re losing out, too!).

Tomorrow…How to get started with article marketing

Technorati Tags: article marketing, articles, writing articles, writers, write

Popularity: 26% [?]

« Previous Entries