Image by Trevor Blake via Flickr

We all have our comfort zones.  Sometimes in many areas of life.  Today is a good day to do something new and different. 

Try out a new form of writing.  It might help you see things in a new light, allowing you to grow as a writer.

Are you a poet?  Try to write a non-fiction piece (sure, you can write about poetry, just not in verse).

Are you a copywriter?  Pen a short story.  Find a writing contest and enter, giving yourself a deadline.

Have you self-published a few books, but can’t seem to sell many?  Try your hand at writing a press release.  Heck, if you’re good enough at it, you might get hired to write them for others.

Do you write How-to books?  Try writing a Haiku (a Japanese form of poetry that is only 17 syllables).

Whatever your genre, try something different.  Shatter your comfort zones.

I asked my friend, Michelle Carlbert, to write a piece about fanfiction. I don’t know about this area, but she does. When she posts a story she gets thousands of visitors! To learn more about her work, please visit: www.MokisFanfictionBlog.com/blog.

Using Fanfiction To Improve Your Writing

by Michelle Carlbert

What is “fanfiction” you ask?

Fanfiction is work written by fans based upon published work – books, television shows, movies, comics, etc. People write fanfiction purely for fun, but it can also be a great way to practice your writing skills.

I have been writing fanfiction for the past four years. When I started, I didn’t have much confidence as a writer and didn’t think anyone would like my work. After getting lots of positive feedback I soon found myself with the courage to write my own original work. I now do freelance writing and run two separate blogs – all of which came about directly because of those first tentative steps I took in the world of fanfiction.

Here are some of the benefits of writing fanfiction…..

Get feedback right away

Why wait for your work to be published to hear back from your readers? With fanfiction you can often get a response within days, if not hours (or sometimes even minutes). Also, many of the readers of fanfiction are also authors, providing quality feedback.

Post a story before it’s complete

There’s no need to wait weeks or months until you’ve completed a story to post it. In fact, posting before a story is complete can help give you an idea of what works and doesn’t work, as you hear back from your readers. This allows you to do corrections as you go along.

Try as many genres as you like

Never written a romance? Want to try your hand at a humorous story? There’s no limit to what you can write in fanfiction. From romance to action to poetry, there are people interested in reading it all.

Build up a fanbase

Readers of fanfiction are very loyal. Having a ready-made group of fans can be a very nice thing to have when getting ready to publish your own original work.

Contests

Many fanfiction sites run contests based on “prompts” (a word or phrase used as a jumping off point for a story). Taking part in these contests is not only a lot of fun; it can really keep you on your toes.

So pick your favorite tv show, movie or book and start writing!

Image by Move The Clouds via Flickr

Shhh….don’t tell anyone, it’s a secret!

Just kidding.  It isn’t really a secret, but on the other hand it isn’t really broadly known either. How do you make the most of all these social networking sites?  Especially if you’re a writer and you want to just get your name out there, become known and get work (paid work).

The power of these sites comes from your ability to create relationships.  Real friendships.  As a writer, you have an edge!  You can communicate through words.  Not everyone can do this.

If you’re on Twitter, you need to find little messages to tweet on a daily basis. You can also reference your blog. These will all help you, but who will listen?  Yes, you can build “followers”, but if they don’t know you, they probably won’t respond. They won’t look for your tweets and forward your messages on to their people.

You have to spend some time helping others forward their tweets too. You can also work to help them, giving advice and assistance as you grow your followers. Just focus on helping others and it will come back around to you.

If you’re on Linkedin, you have much more flexibility and it is your time to shine as a writer. Spend some time on their forum (called “Answers”) and post answers to people’s questions and pleas for advice.

Your answers will be read by others and if they are well written, you will get noticed. They will then click through to your profile, which must read like a fascinating bio and resume combined. Have a good headshot and fill in every little bit of info that you can. When people click through, you want them to want to get to know you, learn more about you.

On Linkedin, you can also find groups to join. If you do, make sure to be active on their discussion boards. Help others, answer questions, give advice.

Through relationship building you will find work, you’ll get referrals and can make money as a writer. Give it a try and let me know how it goes!

Image by miss miah via Flickr

When you visit a blog and you like an article, post a comment for the blogger.  It is always appreciated.

If you are able to, ask a question, start a discussion.  The questions and answers will be saved on the blog for other readers.

This is very helpful and encouraging to the blogger, but it also helps you.  When you sign the comment, your name will link to your blog and others will find you, click through and read your blog.

It is a win, win situation!

Make sure that your comments are positive.  If you disagree with the poster, do so with respect.  An intellectual debate on a blog makes for a very interesting read, but only if the parties are thoughtful in their response. Otherwise, it is as my young son would say, “awkward” (you know, when it is said in a sing-songy way).

So, help a blogger, post a comment!

Image by Rennett Stowe via Flickr

I was reading an article about procrastination, specifically about why writers don’t write.  This subject interests me, as I know a lot of people love to write…but don’t.

One of the big reasons given was that writers sometimes don’t like what they write.  So they stop writing.  The quality bothers them.

It struck me that these writers must be editing themselves out of existence!  Maybe they had a teacher or parent or “friend” who told them all the reasons their writing wasn’t good enough.  Those comments can stick with one and can stop a writer.

The best thing to do is to keep writing.  Continue.  Don’t let your fear that you might not be good enough for someone out there, who might one day read your story or article, stop you from putting the words down on paper.

If you are having trouble finishing a story, any story, push yourself to complete it.  Don’t worry about the quality.  After you write your rough draft you can go back over it and change things around, pull sections out, etc.  But for now, just write, get it all down.

This isn’t to say that if you are an experienced writer and don’t like a piece you are writing, that you must finish it.  That would be dreadful advice.  No, sometimes it is completely acceptable to scrap something and start over.  But then you wouldn’t be procrastinating, now would you?

If you’d like to read the original article in full, click here.  Join in on the conversation!

Image via Wikipedia

If you have a business and you are interested in boosting your internet presence, try writing a few articles. Give them away for free, offer to guest blog, etc. Just get your name out there.

What do you write about? Well, let me turn that question back around to you. What knowledge do you have to offer that no one else on the planet knows?

Don’t be concerned that you need to store away all your secrets for that grand book you’re planning. Start sharing now!

Whatever you do, don’t try to promote.  People will see right through you, roll their eyes and move on. Come on, it’s annoying when you read an “article” that is really an ad.

Instead, offer valuable information.  Ideas that people can actually apply to their current lives with success.  The business will come in if you just focus on helping others through your articles.

Make your articles fun and interesting.

Think about what you look for in an article. What do you like to read? Write to your readers in a way you’d like to be written to. You’ll enjoy writing in that style and it will be real to your reader.

Avoid long paragraphs. People typically prefer short paragraphs, snippet reading.

Lists are always good:

• “Putting Tips for Beginners”
• “Fun Activities for Four Year Olds”
• “Recipes for the Parent with Two Jobs”

You get the idea.

Whatever it is, write about it, maybe have a friend proofread it and then offer it to others. Many are looking for content for their websites and blogs.

And, it will be a good chance to practice your writing skills!

One way to keep up on your writing is to start a blog…today!  Don’t put it off or it won’t get done.

What should you blog about?  As always, write about what you know.

Pick a theme that you can comfortably talk about every day (or at least every other day).

Don’t worry about the “right way to blog”.  Just start and write and write and write.

The best blog articles are the ones that help others in some way.  Share your expertise in some area.

Are you an organic gardener?  Share basic tips!  What difficulties have you overcome? Show pictures if you can.  People love pictures, showing what you’re discussing.

Are you a fine artist?  Share your work on your blog!  Tell others how you got started, how you find the time to paint, how you get clients, etc.  You can even go over basic techniques of your style.

Make sure to keep the language simple, avoiding the technical terms to do with your hobby or business.  If people can’t understand what you’re talking about, they will click away and not return.

Above all, have fun!  If you enjoy writing your blog, others will probably enjoy reading it.  And before you know it, you’ll find you’re writing up a storm.  Feel free to share your blog with me.  I’d love to visit!

Image by austinevan via Flickr

Write about what you know.  I’m sure you’ve heard that one before, right?  It’s true.  When you put your name on something, you want to be sure it is accurate.

If you need to write about an area you know nothing about, you must do a lot of research.  Don’t just take the word of one source, even if it “sounds about right”.  You can wind up with egg on your face.

Personally I like to find at least three to five different references on a fact before I take it to be true.

A word of caution: If you’re using the internet as a research tool, be careful of other “authors” who just copy another’s work.  Obviously that isn’t a second source.

I do a lot of non-fiction writing.  As I research a subject (and I do research every subject I write about, even if I’m familiar with it), I see blatant copies of paragraphs in different articles.  Word for word copying.

I’m currently writing a series of articles and guides about mortgages for a client.  I was hired because I had been in that industry, as a licensed mortgage broker, for five years.  I learned a lot and even lectured regularly about different kinds of mortgage loans.

Even with all that personal knowledge, I still want to research the area.  Why?  Because I want to make sure my information is current and accurate.  Then I add in my own perspective, making my articles and guides unique.

Over the last few months I have read a lot of articles about mortgages on the internet and I can tell you that many have incorrect information. It is appalling how wrong some of them are.

Then I see others copying these incorrect articles, printing them as their own.  So, if you were to simply look for three sources, you could find them and still end up with egg on your face.

The way around that is to find three different sources who are clearly speaking from experience.  Look at the author’s credentials and look at the other pieces they have written.  Are they an expert in their field?

I also like to speak to industry professionals.  Social media networking comes in very handy for finding experts in any field.  Talk to someone who is currently working in the area you are researching and check any information you are not 100% sure about.

For some research projects the library is hands down the best resource.  Although books are usually more reliable than internet articles, you still need multiple sources.  It isn’t hard to find three.

Researching is a fun task. And chances are, if you do your job correctly, you’ll end up being a source for someone else.

I found this article and wanted to share it with you.  After checking with the author, who generously offered to share it with me, I am pleased to present…

Encouragement
by Elizabeth Spann Craig

When I got my daughter’s 3rd grade newsletter (when she finally returned to school after her bout with the flu), there was an entire page on a new technique they were using to teach spelling. The letter also asked parents to encourage children to spell carefully.

I was delighted to see this at the end of the letter: “Most importantly, don’t overdo it. Some places need to be “free zones” where children are free to express themselves without fear of the ‘red pen.’ Journals, poems, anything personal should be encouraged, not graded.”

I easily remember being 8 years old and giving stories for different teachers or adult friends to read. “It’s a wonderful story. But I’m so distracted by the spelling that I can’t really enjoy it as much…” The “wonderful story” got lost and so did the encouragement. I wasn’t asking them to grade it. I wanted them to like the story.

I think the same school of thought applies to adults. Obviously, spelling and grammar need to be perfect when we’re at the submission stage. But before then, unless someone specifically asks for line editing help, I think it’s much better to offer encouragement on content as well as advice on improving the manuscript (if that’s what’s asked for.)

When I gave my manuscript to first readers years ago, I didn’t know to tell them what types of errors I needed them to read for. Now I’d rather say, “Can you read this strictly for content?” unless I’m at the point where I need line revision.

The writing community is an incredibly supportive one. I think that’s because writers get constant rejection—agents, editors, reviewers, even critique group members. We get negative feedback on our work. And maybe we’re not the best folks to handle it.

I’ve read articles from some writers that say we shouldn’t give out false hope to writers who just haven’t gotten there yet. I don’t agree. No one’s saying the road to publication isn’t a rough one. No one’s saying not to do your homework and revise like crazy.

But every manuscript or poem or essay I’ve ever taken a look at has some worth to it. If the writer has cared enough to share it, there’s a spark in the words that belongs to the writer.

It might be an original idea or an interesting character, or a new twist on an old plot.

One of the critique groups I was in had a rule: you’ve got to find something good to say about the manuscript. You couldn’t just go in and rip it to shreds. You had to find some redeeming value to the piece. And there’s always something there.

Writing can be a very discouraging business. It helps tremendously to have people who cheer you on.

If you’re a writer  in need of help or guidance, please feel free to write me. If you’re having difficulty, let me know what you’re running into and I’ll see what I can do to help.

Here are a few tips:

TIP #1: Don’t edit your work as you write. Just write, get it all out on paper and don’t “think” about it too much. There will be plenty of time later to edit your work.

TIP #2: Try to write something every day. Even if it is a Haiku poem (a traditional Japanese poem with three lines. The first and last are made up of 5 syllables and the middle has 7).

TIP #3: Surround yourself with encouraging people. Don’t share your writing with negative, critical friends.

TIP #4: If you are just starting, write for free. Start a blog, guest blog, write articles that you offer for a credit. This will give you publicity and practice!