Hope Writes

Cool Winds of Change

Posted by Hope

I’m sitting in my living room watching a tractor plow the field in the distance. A slight, barely cool breeze tickles the curtains every now and then through the open windows. Spring is in the air.

I love these pre-spring days. The temperature warms up just enough to make you warm, but not quite enough for you to need the air conditioner. These days are perfect for opening the windows and doors and letting the house air out. Perfect for airing out the writer’s soul, too.

Popularity: 15% [?]

Is Writing Enough?

Posted by Hope

Have you ever reached a point where you felt like you couldn’t write another word? That’s where I’ve been for about 2-3 weeks now. I’ve barely written at all. Every word I do write is painstakingly squeaked out, after which I almost run away and hide from the laptop.

As a writer, this isn’t good. Writing is my life. And yet, I feel like it’s eluding me at this very moment.

I network and chat with enough writers to know that I’m not alone in this. Some writers call this writer’s block. I’ve always preferred not to call it a "block" because that seems so cold and bleak. But that’s precisely how I feel right now, so perhaps "block" is the best word after all.

So what is a writer to do at this point? Some writers really do run away from writing altogether. They throw away their notebooks and pens and swear off writing forever. This isn’t the answer.

Is writing enough? Only you can answer that question. Maybe you’ve reached a pivotal point in your life where writing isn’t enough. Maybe it’s time to step up and reach out for another life dream. But if writing is enough for you, and you just need a break, then take one.

I just had a thought. If you know writing is enough for you, but you feel drained and can’t write, romance the writing again. Here are some ideas for you to try:

Read a book in a genre you wouldn’t normally choose. I love self-help books. If you see me in the library or a bookstore, you’ll most likely find me perusing the self-help section. When I was younger, I read contemporary Christian romance books. I would devour a book in as little as two hours, uninterrupted.

Reading from the same genre all the time almost makes you zone out until every book begins to read the same to you. Pick up a book in a genre totally opposite of what you’d normally read. If you like mysteries, try a book on self-improvement. If you enjoy motivational books, read a historical fiction.

Only write in your journal. If you don’t already keep a journal by hand, you don’t know what you’re missing. Writing on the computer makes writing fast, which is why you should keep an offline journal. Writing by hands slows you down. It slows down your hand, but it also slows down your mind and thought process. Try writing just three pages a day, by hand.

Ask yourself this question: Why do I write? Sometimes you get lost in the words until you lose sight of the core reason for the writing. What was it that drew you to writing in the beginning? Why did you enjoy writing? How did it make you feel? Why was it so meaningful? Get back to the basics and remember how you used to feel about writing.

Ask yourself this question: What will happen if I don’t write anymore. Close your eyes and imagine your world a place where writing is no more. Maybe you’d pursue another dream career. Perhaps you’d spend more time with your family. Maybe the stress that constantly nags at you would suddenly be removed. Imagine your life without writing. If you imagine it to be a better place, then maybe you should listen to your heart and say good-bye to writing. But if you feel a deep, empty spot where the writing once was, you probably just need a break for a bit.

Popularity: 18% [?]

The Cost of Procrastination for Freelance Writers

Posted by Hope

By Nick Usborne

If there is one thing almost all freelance writers have in common, it is that their productivity varies from day to day.

Some days are great, targets are achieved, projects are completed and there were no problems.

Other days, writers find themselves procrastinating. They get distracted and find that by the end of the day they haven’t achieved even half of what they set out to get done.

The big problem is, those bad days cost a lot of money in lost productivity and billings.

Freelance writers only get rich if they can find a way to maintain a peak level of productivity, every single day.

How can you do that? How can you make sure that every day is a productive day? How can you get rid of writer’s block, banish procrastination and avoid all distractions?

You need to get organized and have a system in place.

You need a process that gives structure and discipline to each day.

Frankly, most freelance writers don’t have enough self-discipline. As a result they lose hundreds of hours a year, and thousands of dollars.

Is there a way to structure one’s work that results in continuous, peak productivity?

Yes, there is. It’s called Writing Rituals.

Five separate a sequential rituals are put in place, helping writers structure their work and achieve much higher levels of productivity, on a continuous basis.

Click here to learn more about the Writing Rituals method…

Popularity: 15% [?]

Are Your Words Like A Tornado?

Posted by Hope

 
Tree damaged in Feb. 17th tornado

In the wee hours of Sunday morning, around 1:30 a.m., a tornado ripped through our tiny community. I was awake, praying, and nervously preparing to wake the kids and move them into the hallway when all the noise suddenly stopped. The eery silence of the storm having passed is a sound I don’t think I’ll ever get accustomed to.

Tornados are a rarity in Louisiana. But I lived in Tennessee for over 12 years, where tornado season was a yearly affair. I hate them. Here in Louisiana, the threat of hurricanes are the norm. And hurricanes are something that can be predicted, but tornados, as you know, cannot. They are a scary and fierce child of nature.

When the kids and I left for church yesterday morning, I saw the immediate damage here at home. Thankfully our house remained untouched, but one of the huge cypress trees in the front yard was destroyed. As I walked around the tree to take photos, I realized there was a piece of crumpled siding nestled in the middle of the damaged tree. This siding, as it turns out, was ripped off a trailer just up the road from us, and tossed to and fro throughout the neighborhood.

It’s amazing what a tornado can do. It can literally rip up an entire section of homes on one side of the street and leave the other side totally undamaged. It’s a powerful force of nature.

Do Your Words Hold A Fury?

Tree damaged in Feb. 17th tornado

Our words are a powerful force. With words, we can build someone up or tear them down. As writers, we hold a great responsibility to those who read our words.

If we aren’t careful, we take out our frustrations with our words, hurting others in the process. Have you ever been so appalled at something that you turned to the page and wrote an essay about it? Or maybe you were mad about something and turned it into a blog post.

Our words hold a power unlike any other. Your emotions seep through the words you write. Those who read what you wrote will feel those emotions years from now in the words you penned. Your words are that powerful.

Harness And Direct That Written Energy

Tree damaged in Feb. 17th tornado

As a writer, it is your duty to ensure your words are a positive force of nature. After all, why in the world would you want to write something that does nothing but destroy others?

Like a tornado, when your words are harmful and damaging, you leave a path of destruction. Bad feelings, anger, hurt, rejection, pain, sorrow, disappointment… These will all be littered along the path your writing takes when it is filled with negative, hurtful emotions. The challenge then lies in being able to harness and direct all that written energy so that it is focused in the best and most positive direction.

First, take a look at your writing to date. What sort of message or theme does it have woven through it? Everything you write has an underlying tone. If you’re angry at the time of writing, pessimism will emerge. If you’re excited, those emotions will shine through.

As you contemplate these things, think about what theme you want your current and future writings to hold. What do you want your readers to feel and think when they walk away after having read something you wrote?

An important point to remember is that you’ll always have your up and down days. But when you know what the theme of your writing should be, you’ll be much more able to get focused and centered within yourself, then direct your negative thoughts and feelings into an appropriate piece of writing that will help others, not hurt them.

Popularity: 29% [?]

Writer, Don’t Give Up

Posted by Hope

Are you feeling discouraged? Have you received so many rejections that you feel like giving up?

The writer’s life is not always an easy one. We writers face a myriad of emotions and feelings every single day. We might go from being elated over the sell of a feature article to a glossy magazine, to being disgusted over the fifth draft of a short story.

If you’ve been feeling discouraged, I want to encourage you to keep pushing forward. Write past the pain. Write past the discouragement. Write through the frustration. Write through the rejection.

You can make it as a writer. Just keep writing.

Popularity: 20% [?]

Working Vacations

Posted by Hope

This weekend I went on a working vacation with my family. Well, that’s how it started out, anyway. As the weekend passes, I’ve found myself relaxing and just enjoying the time with my children. And that’s just how it should be.

If you’re a freelance, or make your living online, you can empathize with me. Even though I have a life, there are things that must be done nearly every day. I can’t necessarily put my work on hold just because I’m not working in my office.

Here’s a bit of truth from me to you, though: I rarely never take a break. My best friend fusses at me all the time. And even though I know she’s right when she tells me I should take a weekend off, or just a day away, it’s not as easy as it seems.

That was exactly why I brought the work with me this weekend. I knew I had some things that needed to be taken care of, and others that needed to be done this weekend. So I figured I’d get some work done during the day, then enjoy family time in the evening.

Here’s another bit of truth: I really needed a break. It’s not always easy to walk away from work when you work from home. In fact, for me anyway, it’s easier to pour myself into work when I’m stressed out. It’s my retreat. My distraction. But this isn’t a good thing.

Yesterday I turned on my laptop early in the morning. To my dismay, I couldn’t think. I couldn’t process any information. I couldn’t form a single sentence. So I did the one thing I didn’t think I could do. I turned off the computer after checking my email.

I relaxed all day and watched cartoons with my kids. Yes, that’s all we did…all day long. I took a 3-hour nap. I don’t even like napping because I feel like it’s a time-waster. But that nap was so wonderful! Afterwards, I felt refreshed and rested.

4 Reasons Why You Should Erase "Working" From Your Next Vacation

Reason #1: You deserve a break.
If you’re anything like me, you probably don’t know what "break" means. Even more reason for you to truly take a vacation. Freelance writers work hard. We spend many hours at our desks. Writing is only a very small part of the work we do. We have to market ourselves as well as network with other freelancers and business owners. We have to spread the word about what we do to reel in prospective clients. With all this work and little down time, you deserve a nice break every now and then.

Reason #2: You need to recharge your creative batteries.
Be honest. How creative do you really feel after working for 2-3 weeks (or months!) straight? Not very. Right? Taking a day or two to unwind is highly conducive to stirring up that creative energy inside you again. Even if you don’t feel your creativity is stifled by endless hours at your desk, give it a try and see if you don’t feel much more creative after you’ve had a nice break.

Reason #3: You need to spend time with your family.
It’s difficult enough to find extra time to spend with your children and/or spouse. But when you purposefully neglect them so that you can put in a few more hours of work, you’re abandoning your family. Taking a real vacation and leaving work at home lets your family know that you care enough about them to put down work for a few days to spend quality time with them. Besides, these are memories that your family will have years from now. Would you rather them remember you as being too busy to spend time with them, or that you cared enough to put work aside for a little while to have fun together?

Reason #4: Your body needs real rest.
Honestly, I’m the world’s worst at taking care of myself. I give my time and energy to everybody else and don’t think much about my own needs. My body is telling on me, too. Lately I’ve been dealing with chronic pain throughout my body. I keep blaming it on lots of different things, and while some of those excuses are probably valid, the great majority of my aches and pains could very well be brought on by my lack of rest. When I can’t sleep, I tend to get up out of bed and head straight to the computer. I usually tell myself that if I can’t sleep I may as well work. Getting away this weekend has given me the opportunity to really rest and relax and not have to worry about much. My body is thanking me for it, too, as will yours.

Popularity: 23% [?]

5 Reasons Why A Writing Career Might Fit You Like A Glove

Posted by Hope

Photo by restlessglobetrotter

Earlier this week I gave you several reasons why writing might not exactly be a good career choice. If those reasons didn’t run you off, congratulations! You very well could have a healthy and productive career as a full-time freelance writer. Here are five reasons why a writing career just might work for you:

Reason #1: You enjoy the challenge of a slow, steady pace towards success.

Freelance writing requires patience, endurance, and perseverance. If you love the challenge of working hard towards a goal that you can build a career upon with slow, but steady, progress, you’ll probably make a great excellent freelance writer.

Reason #2: You aren’t afraid to put yourself "out there."

One of the scariest things for many new freelance writers is to put your ideas on the line without the reassurance that you’ll get a positive response. If you have lots of creative ideas and aren’t afraid to put those ideas to test in the form of queries, you’ll love freelance writing.

Reason #3: You are time-conscious and don’t mind bossing yourself around.

Do you love calendars? Do you thrive on setting schedules and keeping track of appointments? Do you plan everything in advance? Do deadlines excite you and push you to work harder? Freelance writers must have good time management skills. Likewise, to become a well-paid and respectable freelance writer, you should be able to meet deadlines and keep your word.

Reason #4: You enjoy talking to others and listening to their stories.

Freelance writers get to interview lots of different people. Whether you write an article on global warming, or a review of a top best-selling book, you’ll have the opportunity to speak with experts in all walks of life. Interviewing experts (and everyday people!) is just one part of the writing life that is fun and educational. If you enjoy listening and are inquisitive, these two skills will help make your writing shine.

Reason #5: You love writing.

Let’s face it. Writers love everything about the written word. From journaling, to reading, to writing a full-length novel, writing brings a thrill to those called to write like none other. It’s an amazing feeling when you do what you love and you build a career out of it. If you love writing, then there is nothing holding you back from becoming a paid writer.

Popularity: 24% [?]

5 Reasons Why A Writing Career Might Not Be For You

Posted by Hope

Photo by toestubber

Are you considering the life of a full-time writer? Do you daydream of working from home and writing the articles or stories that people love to read? Writing is pretty hard work. In fact, if you are a parent and have children at home, your job as a writer just got doubly-difficult.

The truth is, as much fun and rewarding as writing is, it is also challenging and time-consuming. Before you make up your mind, consider these reasons why writing might not be for you.

Reason #1: You Won’t Become An Overnight Success.

Building a successful freelance writing career requires long hours and diligence. In fact, you will probably need to pull some all-nighters at times to make deadlines. You’ll sacrifice a lot of time with loved ones in the beginning while you build your new writing career.

Reason #2: You Won’t Make Big Bucks.

Many new freelancers earn significantly less during their first year of professional writing than they did at their full-time job. One piece of advice that is doled out by nearly every successful freelance writer is, "Don’t quit your day job." Aside from the fodder you’ll find in your job, you’ll be able to spend tightly focused hours during your off time to build your writing career without the worry of financial strain.

Reason #3: You Won’t Instantly Land Prestigious Gigs.

At first, you’ll put in a lot of time and effort and see very little return. It will take some time to build a nice portfolio of clips and establish positive relationships with editors. During this time, you might need to accept writing assignments that don’t land you a 3-page spread in a national glossy magazine. Briefs, shorts, fillers, quizzes…they’re all small assignments, but can lead to bigger and better things in the future.

Reason #4: You’ll Be Rejected.

How’s your self-esteem? If you aren’t able to take constructive criticism, or if you fall apart at the first sign of rejection, then a professional writing career probably isn’t for you. This is a tough market and it requires thick skin. You’ll face rejection more than you could ever imagine. But once you reach that pinnacle of rejection, you’ll find acceptance on the other side.

Reason #5: You Are Responsible For Your Own Success.

Let’s face it. The biggest reason why writing is attractive to so many people today is because it puts you in control of your own destiny. And this is also the very same reason why writing may not be the best career choice for you. If you aren’t able to plan ahead and be smart in business, your chances of succeeding are far less likely to happen. Can you manage your time wisely? Are you able to work productively on your own? You’ll be responsible for your own success, or failure thereof.

Popularity: 25% [?]

Looking For A Recurring Income Opportunity?

Posted by Hope

After much deliberation, I’ve decided to put my Self-Improvement PLR membership site up for sale. If you’re a writer looking for a monthly recurring income, this could be just what you need.

I launched this website at the end of July 2007 and it has done very well since then. My 30-day stats this month show an income of $450+ (after PayPal fees). This is with MINIMAL advertising. So if you know your stuff and have time to market this website, you have a huge income potential.

Popularity: 24% [?]