On Being an Apprehensive Writer
Guest Writer: Alina Bradford
Ah, I admit it, I’m an apprehensive writer. I put off assignments and do as little writing as possible, especially if my personal life is hectic. Now, this may make it sound like I don’t like writing at all. On the contrary! I love writing, that’s why it’s my career. In fact I miss writing if I skip a day.
So what’s my problem? Well, I hate pressure. The pressure to perform, and perform well, makes me all jittery inside. Self-doubt inevitably looms with questions like, “What if my reader hates it?” or “What if I make a (gasp) mistake?” and “What if my editor bashes my ideas?”
Now you’d think after more than a decade as a published writer that I would have all of this under control and for the most part I have. There are times, though, when the self doubt and pressure starts to build.
To counteract my syndrome, I, first, think back to all of the successes that I’ve had over the years. I’ve won awards, had a children’s book published, I’ve had my own column… Being scared of writing is hard to do when you’ve pumped up your own ego.
Next, I set my butt in my office chair and refuse to let myself move until I’ve done something. After a while I get bored with checking emails and scanning forum threads. Eventually, I have to write.
When I’m done, I feel light as a feather. Sometimes the prose could use tweaking, but at least it’s finally down on the virtual paper of my word processing software. The act I was so afraid of is finally done.
The inner demons have been beaten, but they live to fight another day, so I must be vigilant in my resistance. Being a writer may be hard for me, but I wouldn’t want to do anything else. It’s a “fight for love” scenario to the tune of typing fingers.
A. Bradford's "Pinkish Peaceful Treehugger"
About Alina Bradford:
Alina Bradford has been a freelance writer for more than 11 years; she’s also an artist and illustrator. She is a feature writer for SketchUp Magazine and Painting/Drawing at Suite 101 and a contributing writer for TopTen Reviews.
Tags: Alina Bradford, Alina Bradford Drawing, Alina Bradford Painting, Being an Apprehensive Writer, on being a writer
Whether one writes for print magazines or online market, writers and editors will agree that good writing is simply, good writing. Doubtless, editors from both sides will most appreciate the tried and true clarity, timeliness and appropriate queries for your chosen market. All that.
One tip: Obviously, the computer screen is a different medium altogether from print. Readers can be easily distracted in the former so brief posts and pieces will be more effective on the web. Besides, it’s much easier to click away online rather than throw away a piece of printed article.
Tags: online writing, print writing
As a writer, I’ve always been a believer of journaling. One of my favourite memoirists is Belgian-born American May Sarton. She has lots of wonderful journals including Journal of Solitude and Plant Dreaming Deep. And of course, there are Anais Nin, with her famous 8-Volume Diary of Anais Nin, a combination of truth and fiction, but really, the significance is in her presentation of the inner journey and the self-discoveries that come along.
One famous diary is undoubtedly that of Anne Frank which I’m sure almost everyone is familiar with. Such a heart-rending account as the family hid in an attic from the Nazis.
I still have some famous diary & letter writers in mind, including Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Plath, Samuel Pepys and Noel Coward. Their works stand as great inspiration after these many years. And during their days, diaries, journals and letters were literature’s favourite forms. They still are, to many of us who are ever passionate with the literary bookshelf life.
Tags: Anais Nin, Anne Frank, diary writing, journal writing, letter writing, May Sarton, Noel Coward, Samuel Pepys, Sylvia Plath
Sallie Schaaf Borrink
Writing as an Act of Faith
Guest Writer: Sallie Schaaf Borrink
A number of years ago I came across a quote in a children’s book and jotted it onto a slip of paper. I don’t remember the book and neglected to even write down the author. But I do know that finding that quote in a file a few years later had a profound impact on my decision to start writing online five years ago. This unknown author wrote:
“No one else could have written exactly what I wrote, and if I didn’t write it, it would never get said.”
Like most writers, I write because I have something to say and have a certain ability to communicate through the written word. As a Christian, I write because I believe God has things to say through me. Writing, for me, is an act of faith. God has given me a unique path in life filled with circumstances, people and opportunities that no one else has had. All of these come together to make me the individual God has created me to be. And they make it possible for me to write what I do, something no one else can do.
I continue to write as an act of faith because I see how God has used my writing time and time again to encourage and bless others. There have been numerous occasions I have suddenly felt compelled to write about a specific topic on my website. Usually it is something that was not even on my radar as a future post. But I sit down, the writing flows, and I publish it. Usually the same day someone will leave a comment indicating that what I wrote was exactly what she needed to read that day. Experiences like that confirm that God is blessing my desire to share my faith through my writing and that He delights in working through me to reach others with words of hope, encouragement or challenge.
Writing as an act of faith has also meant focusing on the content of my writing and not how many people are reading it. The internet is full of ebooks, workshops and conferences that will tell a novice how to develop a large following, increase traffic to her site, and be generally more “successful”. While there is nothing wrong with generating large amounts of traffic, it has been my personal conviction that my time is best spent writing honest thoughts about life instead of trying to write posts that will appeal to the greatest number of people. My ongoing prayer has been that God would bring the right person to read the right post at the right time. My writing is an act of faith that God will guide people to my site when they are searching for a particular answer, word of encouragement, or helpful insight.
At one point in my life I was receiving regular invitations for speaking engagements. I thoroughly enjoy speaking and teaching so I wondered if perhaps God might lead me to further develop these skills and bring opportunities for a wider audience. But as life took many twists and turns in the ensuing years, traveling for speaking engagements became increasingly unlikely due to health concerns. But even as God chose to narrow that sphere of influence, He literally threw open the entire world – by writing online. Through the marvel of the internet, He made it possible for me to share my faith around the world from the quiet of my own little office.
I’m thankful for the opportunity to see two of my greatest passions work together. My faith shapes who I am and my writing flows as a gift from God. I look forward to continuing to write and discovering how the words that only I could write are just the words someone needs.
About Sallie Schaaf Borrink:
Sallie Schaaf Borrink enjoys being a wife, mother, business owner and writer. Working at home with her graphic designer husband in their business Arts & Letters, Inc., she enjoys collaborating with her best friend on a daily basis. Sallie finds the biggest challenge to her writing is being the mom to a busy almost four year old daughter. It seems there is just never enough time or quiet! Sallie has been published in a variety of magazines including Christian Home and School, Student Leadership Journal, ParentLife, and The Standard. Her big breakthough as a writer came when she “happened” to sit next to a magazine editor at a conference which resulted in a cover story. She enjoys maintaining two websites about daily life and education: A Quiet Simple Life and A Quiet Simple Learning Life. She also writes at Suite101.Com.
Tags: On Being a Writier, Sallie Schaaf Borrink, Writing as an Act of Faith
Always, I smile in silence each time I run along Robert Benchley’s quote. He said,
“It took me fifteen years to discover that I had no talent for writing, but I couldn’t give it up because by that time I was too famous.”
- Robert Benchley (1889-1945), American humorous writer, actor, drama critic -
(By the way, he was father of Nathaniel Benchley (author of Sail a Crooked Ship), and grandfather of Peter Benchley (author of Jaws).
Tags: nathaniel benchley, on talent, peter benchley, quote, robert benchley, writing talent
G’day! I’m writing this as they enter my mind. I hope my aspiring online writer readers can pick up something worthy.
- Get involved in online forums for writers. Some of the best leads will come from writer colleagues, seasoned or veteran writers who generously share them.
- Think of other online writers as your support network, and not your competition even if there’s an element of truth.
- Search, search and search some more. There are endless writing possibilities on the Web and so much out there to write. But first, hone your writing skills and try not to write for writing’s sake. Write from within. This may sound like a broken record but truly meant, start with topics closest to your heart and you know about.
- Spend time to keep up with technology, at least the basic HTML, common Web terms like SEO, and simple web designing from free blog sites like WordPress and Blogger. The Internet world and software tools, along with your email will help make you competent in time, and develop your online presence.
- Be polite and respectful. Know the online netiquette.
Best regards!
Tags: online writing opportunities, online writing tips, tips for online market
Karin-Marijke Vis
On Being a Travel Writer
Guest Writer: Karin-Marijke Vis
On one of the last days in September 2002 we were outdoors in the garden of our favourite sauna complex, lying in two of the lazy chairs that stood in a remote corner of the grass and enjoying the warmth of the Indian summer.
“If I were to travel through the world for two years, would you come with me?”
The question lingered in the air. I glanced sideways and gazed at Coen for a moment.
“Yes, I would, right away,” I answered and an enormous feeling of freedom overwhelmed me. I felt the warm rays of sunshine on my body and a heavy load fell off my shoulders, as if I had sprung from a long confinement. No more pressure, no more schedules, no more ‘yes boss’; nothing but a life ruled by my own wishes and desires.
“But what will you do with your house?” Coen asked.
“Sell it.”
“And your job?”
“I’ll quit.”
Life could be easy – if you choose to.
“But what about your dogs?”
“I don’t know. I can’t bear the thought of leaving them behind but I’m sure I’ll find a good solution for them.” I sighed; that question was the only one that hurt.
The idea of leaving everything behind and exploring the world dominated my thoughts and actions in the days that followed and the spontaneous reaction of that afternoon in the sauna grew into a firm resolve.
I sent Coen an SMS, “Okay, let’s go. This is exactly what I want to do.”
He SMS-ed back, “So I can vacate my apartment?”
Our nomadic existence had started.
Eight months later we had sold our belongings, bought an antique Toyota Landcruiser and were on the road. Right from the beginning of our journey I was overcome by two strong sensations: to explore what lie ahead of us, as well as to write about it. Maybe the absence of friends and families to tell our stories to was what started me to write, and our website quickly grew into a large collection of travel stories. Something more significantly happened: my passion for travelling extended into another passion, that of writing.
Making a living out of travel writing
Two years later when we were approached by a 4WD magazine with the request to write adventure stories for them, we had found the solution on how to make a living while travelling. Since Coen is a photographer we make a good team in providing text with professional photos; soon the number of 4WD magazines that requested stories grew worldwide.
When the question came from a Dutch newspaper to become their travel correspondent for South America I had found a new niche: travel writing. Becoming the Feature Writer for South America Travel on Suite101.com was the next step. Besides these monthly recurring publications we love the unexpected requests: to do a photo exposition in Argentina; to supply photos for a calendar; and we are now on the road to provide a Belgium NGO with fresh articles and pictures of their agricultural projects in Bolivia.
What I love to write most? About all we enjoy and encounter during our explorations. We love travelling in this marvellous world full of fabulous people. People we should cherish and love instead of fear – as we are so often told through the media [and ourselves].
Sticking to guidebooks and staying on the well-travelled paths is just fine. However, the world has so much more to offer! Surprises lie around every corner, whether this is in landscape, culture or encounters with people. If we learned anything during out travel it is the fact that danger and fear mostly exist in our head – in fact even Roosevelt already said, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” I try to convey this fervent message in my travel stories and articles on travel destinations: explore with an open mind, try the unknown and be marvelled by the planet Earth and its inhabitants!
About Karin-Marijke Vis
After more than seven years of exploring the world in an antique LandCruiser she is just as enthusiastic about her life changing decision as when she took it. After 3.5 years of travelling from the Netherlands to Vietnam she and her partner are currently exploring the Americas.
Karin-Marijke is currently writing a book on her journey from the Netherlands to Southeast Asia. Her travel stories can be found on the LandCruisering Adventure Website, which features a publication page with an overview of her publications.
Tags: being a travel writer, Karin-Marijke Vis, on being a writer
As I muse over the struggles one makes to become a writer, I’ve been thinking of writers who started writing late as a career. It takes lots and lots of perseverance, persistence and patience.
And unless you are financially well-off or have a better-half who can financially support you, don’t ever give up on your day job. This is a big mistake if you do, trust me. But, if your passion is writing, you’ll have to find a way to write. Just write, simply write.
One novelist that comes to mind is (Dame) Catherine Cookson, English writer who became UK’s most widely read contemporary novelist. She derived inspiration mainly from her youth in North East England. It’s not surprising that settings of her books came from there.
I’d like to share one quote from her I’ve kept since I found it.
Cookson said: “Early in my career, one of my manuscripts was returned woithout a covering letter, but written across the back page in red ink were the words: “Strongly advise author not to take up writing as a career.” I cried my eyes out and stopped writing for a fortnight. Then I said to myself, “What do they know?“”
(From Touching the Heart of Your Reader, in The Writer’s Handbook edited by A.S. Burack (Boston: The Writer, 1978)
Tags: Catherine Cookson, Cookson, Touching the Heart, Writing as a Career
Apology. I want to write more but my self-imposed deadlines for planned articles at Great Thinkers beckon. I’ve written enough on Goethe and Voltaire, and this time I’d like to end this short post with a quote on R. de Chateaubriand. Something on the glory in writing.
“Achilles exists only through Homer. Take away the art of writing from this world and you will probably take away its glory.”
~F. René de Chateaubriand~
Tags: glory in writing, Goethe, Homer, Voltaire
Angela England
On Being a Busy Writer – Keeping it All Straight
Guest Writer: Angela England
Writing is something I dearly love to do. Reaching out across my own finite space and moment in time. Knowing that others may be touched by what I say. Confident in a skill that allows me to be home with my children. It’s a priceless thing, this writing that I do.
Yet sometimes it is also overwhelming. In addition to being a Feature Writer with Suite101, I’m also working as Editor-in-Chief with Blissfully Domestic and have recently founded Untrained Housewife - a collaborative blog that takes a great deal of time. Someone asked me once, “How do you keep it all straight and survive your hectic schedule?”. Beyond the unhelpful and sarcastic “I don’t” are a few helpful tips that may come in handy for other, busy writers who want help managing their freelance and web writing jobs.
1. Feel Free to Say NO as Needed
While this may not seem like the best tip for how to survive as a busy writer, trust me, it’s a skill that everyone should learn. Especially people like me who say yes, yes, yes, yes indiscriminately and wind up paying the piper with health and sanity. Learning to let go, when necessary, can help free you up for better opportunities.
2. Use a Calender (Online or Paper) and Schedule
I hear you moaning excuses now. The fact that you don’t have time to use a schedule proves your need for one. Even a loose and flexible schedule can work wonders in helping streamline your writing efforts. If you’re a web writer you might say “Two articles for Suite101 on Monday and then two for Examiner on Tuesday and I’ll be set for the week. ” Or you may schedule a specific time each day to work on your novel and not allow yourself to get up until you’ve written 1,000 words or 30 minutes, whichever comes first. Whatever will work best for you, scheduling that will allow you to commit.
3. Know Where You Want to Be
The worst thing in the world is to spend three hours at the computer and get up realizing you accomplished nothing. And it’s so very easy to have that happen unless you know ahead of time what you are attempting to accomplish when you sit down. I have set specific goals for various online efforts which means that I have dedicated times to trying to accomplish these tasks. Knowing my goals helps me to stay focused. I get more done because I know what I need to focus on instead of wasting time and energy piddling about the internet with no purpose. Freeing up those extra spare minutes throughout the day gives me the edge I need to survive as a busy writer.
What tips and tricks do you have for surviving in this crazy job? Do you find that writing is variable for you with some weeks of very little writing, and other weeks where you need to get a lot done? How do you handle a busy writing demand?
About Angela England:
Angela lives in Southeast, Oklahoma. She is a freelance writer/author and a wonderful mother of four children.
She maintains multiple certifications and licenses, including as a Licensed Massage Therapist and professional member of ABMP. She has worked with pregnant women of all ages and backgrounds as a CAPPA trained Childbirth Educator and Labor Support Doula serving Atoka, Pittsburg and Bryan Counties.
Aside from her numerous work for private companies, and specializing in natural health, business and marketing, parenting and gardening articles, she has been featured in Massage and Bodywork Magazine.
She is available to write content for hire for your business, newsletter or other publication both print and online. Writers are also able to contribute to her social site The Untrained Housewife – a support group for those learning to manage their homes. Interested readers can also subscribe to Angela’s newsletter on Gardening, Massage or Aromatherapy.
Tags: Angela England, Aromatherapy, Gardening, on being a writer
