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Announcing Scholarships for The Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference

June 30, 2016 by Noemi Tasarra-Twigg Leave a Comment

The Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference was founded in 2006 by writer and filmmaker Clay Stafford as a trademarked charitable production of American Blackguard, Inc. With 500 participants every year, it has developed a reputation as a leading advocate for writers and readers of all genres. The next conference will be held August 18-21, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee.

If you want to attend the conference but you don’t have the financial means to do so, it’s not too late to apply for a sponsorship. We’ve got two to share with you. The first one is due tomorrow, so get writing!
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The Most Popular Book Genres

October 8, 2015 by Freelance Writing Jobs 3 Comments

I could be wrong, but most – if not all – freelance writers dream, or at least think, about writing a novel and getting it published. Whether you’re writing content for clients, doing copywriting work, or even ghostwriting, the chances are that you have a novel somewhere inside you.

We all have to start somewhere, though, and one of the ways to do so is to know what genre you want your book to fall under. Sometimes, you won’t have to decide – your ideas and characters will come alive without you having much control with regard to genre. They’ll practically give you the finger and say “F” genre! Write our story! [Read more…]

12 Quotes From Children’s Books Every Author Should Know

September 25, 2015 by Noemi Tasarra-Twigg 3 Comments

“A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.” ― C.S. Lewis

I may be biased since C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite authors, but when it comes to children’s books, no truer words have been spoken. I believe that if there is one thing children’s books authors should always remember, it is this quote.

While the children’s book market is shifting, with sales numbers going up and down, the market is still strong. Factors such as reading an eBook instead of a paperback, parents choosing a personalised children’s book instead of a mass-published one, and preferring hardcovers bought in brick-and-mortar bookstores all come together to continue boosting the children’s book industry. [Read more…]

The Best Blog Posts About Writing to Read This Week

September 24, 2015 by Noemi Tasarra-Twigg 2 Comments

Reading is essential to being a good writer, so here are the best blog posts I’ve seen this week, which I’d like to share with you.

Blog posts about writing you’ll enjoy

Five Must-see TED Talks for Writers!

TED Talks used to be the hottest thing online, and while that may not be the case anymore, it doesn’t mean TED Talks doesn’t have anything to offer. Today, check out this article which includes talks from Any Tan, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Tim Brown. Topics range from creativity (and where it hides) to success and failure and the drive to keep on going. [Read more…]

Become an Exceptional Writer with Udemy’s “Writing with Flair” Course [FREEBIE ALERT]

July 15, 2015 by Noemi Tasarra-Twigg Leave a Comment

“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.”
― Albert Einstein

We’re still alive, aren’t we? We continue to look for new clients and work with existing clients.

Shouldn’t we then apply Einstein’s words to our professional lives? Shouldn’t we find ways to continue growing professionally?

The reason I’m writing about this topic is that I have always been a firm believer in keeping up with new ideas and trends in my line of work. This is particularly important for online writers as the landscape of freelance writing, blogging, and content marketing is in a constant state of flux. If you stand still by not expanding your knowledge, you’ll find yourself being left behind.

Ways to continuously improve as a writer

One of the best and easiest ways to keep up with the times is to read – blogs of other writers, books, news, and other material that will aid you in learning more about writing and other online jobs you may have.

Another way – and perhaps more effective – is to take courses that teach you skills and ideas beyond what you already know. There are a lot of online educational providers today, some free, some for a fee.

I know that not everyone has the money to spend on expensive courses, but guess what? We have a treat for you.

Udemy

The guys a Udemy got in touch with us about a “free writing course” they are currently offering.

If you’re not familiar with Udemy, it is one of the biggest providers of online courses. Their courses range from app development to search engine optimization to job search to writing. Some of their courses are free, but they also have paid courses.

One of their current offerings on writing is “Writing with Flair: How to Become an Exceptional Writer”. It focuses on tightening your writing style while at the same time honing your skills to take your writing to the next level.

My experience

Michael Blau from Udemy generously gave me a code to take the course, which is priced at $299 (now don’t stop reading yet), and while I haven’t finished it, based on the outline and the sections I’ve gone through, I can honestly say that I will walk away a better writer when I am done.

To give you a sneak peek, the course introduces you to the “world elite writing” – not the usual articles/web content you see online – and the “secret sauce of flair” (while at the same time cutting out the unnecessary).

The good stuff

When you saw the price of the course in the previous section, you might have ditched the idea of taking it – and understandably so. The $300 price tag is not easy to swallow, and even if I keep on repeating how good the course is, some of you may just not want to spend that money.

I’ve got good news for you, though. Michael was generous in giving me a code to take the course, but he has gone the extra mile by giving a code for our readers, essentially making “Writing with Flair: How to Become an Exceptional Writer” a free writing course!

How do you get in on the action?

Just visit the course page, and enter the code NOEMIBUSINESSWRITING.

It’s that simple. You get to take a $299 writing course for free!

Here’s one important detail: This code is good for the first 50 users who sign up (no fees to create a Udemy account).

Learn how to improve your writing skills from one of the most popular courses on Udemy without spending a single cent. How’s that for a great deal?

Catch Writing Mistakes More Easily With Grammarly

May 13, 2015 by Noemi Tasarra-Twigg 2 Comments

We all make mistakes and typos, but that’s what proofreading is for, right? There’s also Word – or whatever software you use to create documents – which has spell check built in. However, we know quite well how Word misses a lot of mistakes, especially when it comes to more complicated syntax. Also, Word is useless if you’re typing on your browser.

That’s why I was really interested when the guys at Grammarly got in touch to share their new web app, which does what Word does, but more effectively and more efficiently. In fact, Grammarly is supposed to find and correct up to 10 times more mistakes than the conventional word processor. Of course, I had to give the app a try! [Read more…]

It’s Not Too Late to Publish Your Bestseller!

March 25, 2015 by Noemi Tasarra-Twigg 1 Comment

Correct me if I’m wrong, but we all aspire to write a bestselling novel. Whether you’ve been writing for online or print, there is just something about seeing your name on a book – even better if that book makes it to the top of the charts!

Source

The sad truth is that many of us just can’t seem to get a novel done. There’s freelance work necessary to make a living. There are so many other things that keep getting in the way.

You may be at a point where you think of your novel as “could have been”, but guess what? It is not too late to publish your bestseller.

You might also like: 5 Writers Who Have Been Imprisoned

Sure, you have to find the time to write, but take heart. Some of the most renowned authors were late bloomers. Some of them toiled for decades before achieving success.

If they can do it, so can you!

Here is an encouraging infographic that will show you examples of authors who struggled before reaching that status they have now.

Source

The next time you feel down and think you’ll never become the author you always wanted to be, take a look at this graphic. Tell yourself that you can still publish your novel. It’s never too late!

5 Writers Who Have Been Imprisoned

February 27, 2015 by Freelance Writing Jobs Leave a Comment

There is no great genius without a mixture of madness. ~Aristotle

Some of the best writers – literary geniuses, even – have more than their fair share of mischief and periods of madness. While some were able to get off with nary a scratch (figuratively and literally speaking) – thanks to either their criminal lawyer or their specific circumstances, others have had to serve time in jail.

Here are some of the most popular writers who have been imprisoned. You might be surprised – or not. [Read more…]

5 Blog Posts You’ll Want to Read This Week

January 7, 2015 by Noemi Tasarra-Twigg 4 Comments

“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” – Stephen King

While not everyone is a fan of Stephen King, it’s difficult to deny how true this quote is. As writers, we need to continuously evolve, and one of the best ways to do this is to read the work of others. Whether you read books, essays, or blogs – it doesn’t matter. The important thing is that you make time for reading and that you learn from what you read.

Today, I’d like to share five blog posts that will help you in your freelance writing life. Knowing how hectic a freelancer’s schedule can be, I don’t suggest reading them all in one day. Spread them out. Re-read them. Learn from them.

How to Not Set Yourself up for Failure with New Year’s Resolutions by Jeff Goins

Every new year starts with good intentions. We’ve been conditioned to plan a fresh start and make resolutions for a better life. The thing is, we all know too well that New Year’s resolutions tend to be thrown out of the window at some point.

This post by Jeff Goins shows you that New Year’s resolutions are achievable. In one sentence: “Measure the process, not the outcome”.

A Better Approach to “Write Every Day” by Jessica Strawser

“Write every day even if you don’t feel like it.”

You’ve heard this piece of advice many times. You may even have shared it with fellow writers. It doesn’t always work, though, and if that’s the case for you, this blog post will give you a fresh perspective.

The Forest for the Trees: How to Cure Overwriting by C.S. Lakin

Is there such a thing as overwriting? Definitely. Here’s how the author defines it.

Overwriting takes many forms. Wordiness. Overuse of modifiers and weak sentence construction. Vagueness. Redundancy. Convolution. Pushing metaphors so far beyond the breaking point that they cease to be enlightening and become ridiculous instead. Purple prose.

If that hits too close to home, then read this post first.

How to Avoid High PayPal Fees: A Lucrative Trick for Freelancers by Alexis Grant

There are many ways freelance writers can receive payment, but PayPal is probably one of the most common. If you use PayPal, you’re already aware of the fees that cut into your earnings. This post will teach you how to save on those fees.

Finding Readers: Strategies for Building Your Audience in 2015 by Stacey Roberts

If you are using your blog to make money, you definitely want to increase your reader base. The theory is simple, but the implementation is not always an easy road. This blog post gives actionable tips that will help get more readers.

Happy reading!

P.S. It wouldn’t hurt to follow that woman’s example (in the image up top) and read with a glass of wine in your hand.

Also read: 7 Forms of Freelance Writer Payment You Can Accept

You Are What You Read. What Does Your Bookshelf Contain?

June 18, 2014 by Noemi Tasarra-Twigg 2 Comments

One of my favorite quotes related to writing is from Stephen King (I think many of you know this by now):

If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.

That is why, as busy as I am, I try my best to spend even a few minutes every day reading something that I want to read, and not merely something I have to read because of work. In my case, it’s usually fantasy or sci-fi, with the occasional blog/online publication I read for personal pleasure.

I don’t think I need to convince any of you of the importance of reading for writers. We all know that, don’t we?

This infographic makes things a bit more interesting, as it takes us into the homes of some public figures who are widely respected (although there may be arguable points when you go through the graphic), specifically taking a look at their bookshelves.

For sure, the books on display are just a small part of their collections, but it does give a curious mind some insight into the people highlighted. Take a look.

So what do you think? Were you surprised by any of the books on display? Can you relate to any of the individuals featured in the infographic? What does your bookshelf contain?