Why You Should Write Even If You Don’t Feel Like Writing

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You’re probably thinking, “Sure, been there; done that. I didn’t even bother to collect the t-shirt.”

There is a point in every writer’s life when he just doesn’t feel like writing. Whatever the reason may be, it does not matter when you’re that point. You just probably want to do anything but write, but let me give you a little tug – back to earth.

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If you’re a writer, you should write even if you don’t feel like it. Of course, there are exceptions, but if you want to be a better writer, then you’ll have to push yourself when these moments come.

Why should you write even if you don’t feel like it? Here you go. [Read more…]

7 Writing Prompts to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing

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Are you stuck on something today? Are you having trouble getting a paragraph/chapter just the way you want it to?

Maybe you ought to take a break. Maybe you have to do or write something totally different from what you are supposed to be working on.

Or maybe, you just want to write something totally new, something not related to work – even if you’re not stuck.

Here are seven writing prompts that may get you out of your comfort zone, maybe give you a laugh, or maybe even take you to a state where you realize you are more creative than you think.

Disney princesses as hipsters

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The pinata

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Retell a story – with a twist

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Two kinds of people

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Tell this story

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Directions

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Zombiecalypse

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I hope at least one of these writing prompts help you! Do you have your own writing prompts to share? Let us know in the comments below.

Related reading:

5 Blog Post Topics for When Your Inspiration Well Runs Dry

Writer’s Block: What it is and How to Move Past it so You can Write Again

What Do You Read on a Regular Basis?

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“There is no friend as loyal as a book.”  – Ernest Hemingway

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These days, though, who has time to read as many books as one wants? I don’t know if it’s the same for you, but with work always waiting to be finished, it is very difficult to find the time to read what I want every day. Sometimes, during the weekend, I sneak in a couple of hours of reading in between doing household chores, email, and tons of other things that still need doing.

As writers, though, the importance of reading regularly cannot be emphasized enough. We are what we read. We get inspiration from what we read. We learn how to write better when we read.

Of course, with the abundance of reading material in various forms today, books are not the only things we can read – whether for the sheer enjoyment of it or for work purposes.

I suppose that, depending on the kind of writing you do, your reading list will be different from mine – and other writers. For example, of you write for a news site, then you probably spend a lot of time reading up on social media news. If you write for an Apple-related site, then you’ll be reading all the Apple-centric sites out there.

Focusing on how to write, tips on writing, the writing life, and similar topics, though, I’d like to share my list of web sites with you.

  • FWJ Resources – as they say, love your own! And, we do have some good articles in this section, so I make it a point to take a look as often as I can.
  • Brain Pickings – from book reviews to little known stories about our favorite books and authors to art – all these things can be found on the site. And while I often read for pleasure, the writing style of Maria Popova teaches me a lot.
  • Pick the Brain – this blog is not exactly about writing, but it does have a lot of inspirational articles which can help a writer. Whether to take a break from writing or to purposely find something motivational, this site can do the trick for you.
  • Daily Writing Tips – for a quick “today I learned” (TIL) moment about word usage, grammar, and punctuation (among other things), I like visiting this web site. You have probably noticed that we’ve shared some of their articles as well.
  • Goins, Writer – Jeff Goins has built his own tribe in the writing niche, and he has a lot to teach aspiring and seasoned writers. From writing tips to topic ideas to marketing your book, you’ll find help here.

That’s just a handful of the websites I like reading, which I think you will like too (if you’re not already a fan).

What about you? What do you read these days?

For more on reading:

5 Literary Agent Blogs Aspiring Writers Should Read

On Reading: Do You Read the Right Way?

Reading to Pitch

5 Blog Post Topics for When Your Inspiration Well Runs Dry

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Writer’s block is that thing we all dread, yet happens now and then. We have a very useful resource on the topic of writer’s block and how to move past it, but if you’re looking for a quick fix, here’s a short list of go-to ideas that can help you come up with a blog post without having to go through the sometimes excruciating process of smashing that block to pieces.

These blog post topics are rather general in nature, and you can tweak them and play around with them as much as you want to when you find yourself wondering what to write about. [Read more…]

Three Ways to Fight Plagiarism Easily

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Having worked online for almost a decade, I do believe that there is such a thing as accidentally plagiarizing. After all, how many times and/or ways can a subject be written about? At some point, an online writer might find himself writing the same words and ideas that he has read somewhere else – without the intention of copying. But, the road to hell is paved with adverbs good intentions, right?

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Then there’s the other side of the coin – other people copying your content. You may think that it won’t happen to you, but believe me, there are so many unscrupulous people out there who would go so low just to make a quick buck. Some may not care about other people copying their work, but I think that if it does happen to you, you just might not like it.

So how do you fight plagiarism – from both sides? Here are three “easy” ways to do so.

List down all your sources/inspiration for every piece you write.

Some of you may already have this habit – good for you! It is so easy to fall into the trap of thinking that your idea is 100 percent original, but we know that we get our inspiration from all sorts of places. For special pieces of content, especially, research is required, and the best way to ensure that you do not end up plagiarizing your sources is that you carefully take note of all of them and cite them in your work.

This is a very basic concept, but also very easily overlooked.

Use plagiarism checkers.

Once you’re done with your work, you can use anti-plagiarism software. There’s a host of them available, some for free, some for a fee. Obviously, the results that you will get will differ depending on the service and whether it is free or not. You can also try contentplagiarismchecker.com, which gives you one free check upon registration.

Whether you’re checking if your work is totally original or you’re checking if someone else has copied your content, these tools will give you a starting point to fight plagiarism.

Stay true.

This is by far the most important thing, as far as I am concerned. Sure, there may be occasional slips – everyone has them, even seasoned journalists. At the end of the day, however, if you are true to yourself and take pride in your work, creating original content is in your blood. You will not have to worry (for the most part) that you copy other people’s work simply because that is not you.

How do you fight plagiarism? Do you have experiences that you want to share?

Write and Be Merry- How to Make a Vocal Splash without Even Trying

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BOO!

OK so that’s all I got. That’s my splash. Spectacular wasn’t it?

Kidding.

Seriously though, all this labor and angst over finding your “voice” as a writer… does it really have to be so damn hard all the time? (Hint: OF COURSE IT DOESN’T.)

Sorry, was I shouting? Forgive me, it’s all the pent up passion y’know. Wreaks havoc with my social filters.

Anyhoo, you probably already know the usual tips to finding your writing voice and groove, like:

2011 Writing Prep: Editorial Calendar

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We are barely past the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday and here I am crashing through all the fun of the season by bringing up January. There’s no point sticking your head in the sand. The new year is coming and with it comes new responsibilities. To put a positive spin on it, it brings new opportunities to get organized and to create the cushy work environment of which you’ve always dreamed.

In my dreamland, all of my calendars – editorial, home, kid activity and husband, are perfectly synced and color coordinated. In reality, my editorial calendar clashes with the other calendars in a fight to the death, stomping over karate classes and movie nights with reckless abandon. It’s a mess. I somehow get everything done – well. But just imagine if I got them in harmony? I’d be completely unstoppable!

Evaluate.

I won’t go into the importance of having an editorial calendar, we’ve got plenty of posts on that here, here and here. Those that have one, take this time to evaluate it. What worked? What could you do better? Do you need a different style of calendar? A different system of tracking? Do you need to place it in a different position? Sometimes, depending on the amount of work you have, placing it right in your face can be overwhelming or depressing. Other times it can be a motivator. In that case, it’s not providing much motivation behind your bookcase.

How about too many calendars? Do you have one to carry, one at home, one on each floor, one on your desk and one or two online reminders? How’s that working for you? Pare down and keep organization tools simple and easy to use.

Don’t force it.

I have a great smart phone. It does all kinds of cool stuff, including keeping track of appointments and due dates. It cannot replace my pen and paper calendar. I know it is completely old school, but there is something about writing it down and mapping it out that works for me. I tried going completely electronic. I was lost and or late for a week. Find what works for you and stick with it. I know a writer who uses the Post-It method. It would drive me crazy, but hey…

Pen in days.

There are days that should be set in stone. Add them in now because if you don’t you’ll likely find every excuse not to set them – doctor’s appointments (you can’t meet a deadline if you’re dead); holidays, administrative days – days you clear up the books, straighten the files, etc. Penning in days is important because it gives you permission to have a life outside of writing.

Editorial calendars are essential tools when used effectively. Take this time to tweak yours.

Making changes to your calendar/methods? Tell us or share what works for you!

A Complex World: Language Families

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Many writers are interested in learning more than one language and not just stick to good ol’ English. Often it can be easier to learn a new language because many languages belong to the same family and use similar base rules. The evolution of language is also undeniably linked to economic shifts in global integration, as seen in the emergence of Credit Loans.

I’m sure everyone knows many examples of Anglicisms used in other languages such as offshore or Germanisms used in English, such as Schadenfreude. Another very popular example, especially among freelance writers, is the Gallicism Resumé or for nostalgic souls your Curriculum [Vitae]. These terms are also called loanwords.

In this new infographic, we have a look at the different language families, their spread and popularity- really a very complex and controversial topic in the classifications of such families.

Did you know that every 14 days a language dies?

Thanks to the crew at Infographiclabs.com for another awesome infographic.

Do’s and Don’ts of Hot Topic Writing

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Sniper Alley

Copyright: The Other Paper 2010

I love a good hot topic article. It’s hip, current and tells me all I need to know on whatever everyone is talking, blogging, Tweeting, Facebooking and Googling about at that particular time. Unfortunately, there are often more bad hot topic articles than good. To tell the truth, some writers/publications wake up, check Google or Twitter trends and start writing on whatever subject that’s moving up the interest boards. In an hour or two, they’ve got their piece up there alongside everyone else’s and it stinks. They hit every “Don’t” of hot topic writing:

Don’t Simply Rehash What Everyone Already Knows

  • It’s boring and lazy writing. Everyone is talking about it already. Find a new angle on the topic while other people beat the main points horse to death.

Example: The President visited my city recently – it was a big deal. Interrupting local programming to watch the plane taxi in kind of deal. He held a Q & A in a local family’s backyard – even bigger deal and that’s all anyone reported. We learned the family’s names, what the parents did for a living, what neighborhood the chat took place in – repeatedly. Even the broadcasters seemed bored with reciting the same thing all day.

DO Find a Different Angle

When everyone is talking about something – ask the questions no one is asking! When in doubt, try to take the story the local route. Is there someone local who’s been affected by or involved with the subject? Taking the previous example, one could try to find if there were other families in your area that had hosted a sitting U.S. president. You could also go the route of our local weekly, besting the big time daily paper here with a little digging:

The Other Paper found and interviewed the family that came in second to host the President. The story was interesting, hit a different angle and told readers something new about the level of security concern surrounding the President. Named “Sniper Alley,” the article let readers in on a security snafu that knocked the couple out of the running – a quiet, suburban alleyway that could have been a sniper’s paradise.

DON’T Force a Hot Topic on an Unwilling Audience

I could be wrong, but when people hit a online knitting  magazine, they are not looking for gossip about Snooki or any of those other Jersey characters. What may be a hot topic on The View can be wildly out of place in other media. Likewise, the latest college football shake-up may not play well with the fictitious Senior Medical Times magazine.

DO Tailor the Topic for Your Publication

This is similar to finding a different angle. Getting a little creative AND working a different angle can make a hot topic work for your audience. Senior Medical Times may not be interested in the mechanics of the Big Ten division split and championship game, but they would be interested in a story about recognizing and preventing deadly heart attacks during football games  – true fact: deadly heart attacks increase during games because men having the attack are absorbed in the game and ignore the warning signs.

Sure they score you points with your audience and Google, but tackle a hot topic the wrong way and you’ll find yourself in the slush pile or worse – with a completely irrelevant or stale article.

In my next post we’ll talk about more on hot topic writing. Got a good tip? Email me at [email protected] and I might use it in the next post! Be sure to include your name and blog or portfolio url.

When Good Article Writing Goes Bad

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On the outside, writer ‘A’ appears to be successful. Their byline appears in multiple publications, they make a decent living as a freelance writer and they can roll out most articles with minimum effort. That’s a good thing right? Maybe not. Writer ‘A’ has got what I call “By Rote Disease.” It’s a common affliction for many freelance writers.

Symptoms include:

  • Writing articles by a formula
  • Nodding off during an assignment
  • Creating work that is competent but typical

“By Rote Disease” is not serious for most writers and can be cured by re-igniting the writing spark  that lives inside of each keyboard tapper. There are many reasons why “By Rote Disease” attacks a writer – often it stems from sheer boredom. When a writer becomes an expert in their niche they are 10 times more likely to become victims. A writer is also more susceptible to contracting this disease when they focus more on making money writing than on writing.

Many writers walk away from their full-time jobs to join the exciting world of freelance writing. They are lured by the promises of relaxing days outside under a tree with words pouring forth onto their laptop like a waterfall. They imagine skipping through the tulips on the way to their mailbox to pick up large checks for work that was more pleasure than pain. They see themselves interviewing the leading experts in a particular niche and becoming “besties” with them. Then reality hits:

  • Lots of work doesn’t necessarily translate to tulip skipping.
  • Thinking about the phone bill can put a damper on creativity.
  • Becoming an expert in a niche can mean being so sick of writing about it you want to scream!

This is when the disease sets in and writers turn off the creativity and turn on the robotic lede-paragraph-quote-paragraph-quote-side bar-paragraph-close formula. The copy? Clean. The sources? Stellar. The passion, interest and spark? Gone.

Light the Spark

The quickest way to get over “By Rote Disease” is to simply get out of your comfort zone – which can be scary for writers. Writers build up a reputation, following and list of contacts that makes the job easier, but can potentially stagnate their growth. Moving out of your comfort zone can be as dramatic as moving onto a completely new niche or as easy as taking on a different perspective.

One of the quickest ways to set the writing spark on fire is to learn more about a subject. The great thing about writing is the world is constantly evolving and there are always new ideas and theories being floated about everything. There is always a conference, a new book, etc. popping up. Instead of waiting for a bandwagon to drive by, create your own by investigating and writing about the new things that are happening in your particular niche.

Another great way to freshen up your work is to hit another genre on the side. It’s not like you’re cheating on your niche, it’s more like an open relationship kind of thing. You hook up with a few other interesting niches or genres and bring what you learn back to your main squeeze.

If all else fails, change your location. Get out of the basement and into creation. Hit the library, the park, a bookstore, your back porch…Anywhere that’s not your office. Utilize a perk of freelancing and be open to creating and being inspired by a new location.

All writers run into a lull every once in a while. Great writers recognize when the copy is getting stale and shake things up. Now, get out there and write something great!

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