The Top Ten Best Things about Being a Writer

This is post #15 in a fifteen post series, entitled “15 Days to Writerly Awesome in 2015,” posting on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday of January.

And the series comes to a close. We've learned so much already, haven't we? From scheduling our writing time to creating our own writing spaces, this has been a month of serious content. Someone pour me a cocktail, please. Kidding! You know I'm a wine kind of girl.

With all of this information swimming around in your head, you might be a bit overloaded. So for our last post in the series, I decided it would be a good idea to reflect on why we are who we are. Being a Writer and all that comes with the territory. We all have our own journeys, but we are all here together, and I don't know about you, but I'm a better writer for it. Okay, cue the sappy nostalgia song, because it's list time:

*In no particular order, I should point out…

1. The fun, inspiration rush you get when you have a new idea. You know that feeling? When you're struck by the muse in a grocery store and you whip out your phone and type up a jumbled set of words because you can't afford to lose this stroke of brilliance? That's the one.
2. The pretty notebooks. I mean, just peruse some of my blog posts, people. I'm a notebook hoarder. S/O to TJ Maxx.
3. All of the awesome people who become your instant best friends. I love the random twitter mentions and emails and blog comments. People saying things like, "I'm a coffee addict too" or "I can't stop watching Frozen either!" This is friendship, people.
4. The books, oh goodness, the books. Non-writers expect us to have a heck of a lot of books lying around the house. We are more than happy to oblige.
5. The perfectly legitimate reason to drink your weight in coffee/tea. I drink approximately five cups of green tea a day now, and I make no apologies.
6. The a-ha moments, when you actually like something you wrote. I don't think this needs much explanation.
7. That whirring sound your brain makes when you can't sleep, because you're idea-crazy. This is usually ten minutes after you tried to fall asleep, so you grab hold of the pen and start writing down all of your ideas on the nearest notebook. Ignore the whirring sound. It'll go away.
8. The deep, deep thoughts. We're just so darn smart. I mean, am I right? We are the thinkers, the questioners, the wordsmiths. We also hate pants.
9. The couch potato days. I'm working, okay? Our job requires us to sit behind a laptop. This typically happens on a couch, in pajamas. How lazy/awesome can you get?
10. The fact that even if there was no money, no readers, and no "fame," we'd write anyway. Because it's what we do. I'm lucky enough to have readers on this blog, and I'm so thankful for each and every one of you. May an outpouring of confetti greet you in your travels.

And there you have it, folks! Thoughts on the series? Comment below!

How to Set Goals & Keep Them

This is post #14 in a fifteen post series, entitled “15 Days to Writerly Awesome in 2015,” posting on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday of January.

Okay, my little lovebugs. This is the second to last post in my "15 days to Writerly Awesome in 2015," and once it's all over, I'm going to take a long nap. Phew. 15 posts in one month is exhausting! But also, incredibly cool and fun.

Today, we're talking about how to set goals and keep them, which kind of goes along with this post on New Year's resolutions. For this year, my goal is publishing my book. I'm happy to say that #TATM will be sent off for developmental editing on February 11th, and so the ball is already rolling. I'm going to be a published novelist, say what?

The thing to keep in mind when goal-setting is establishing achievable, realistic goals, all the while pushing yourself to be better. Make sense? Okay let's get down to business:

Write a Goal List, then Trim

In the beginning of the year, you had a thousand million and a half goals. You were going to make a budget and paint your room and lose twenty pounds and start a blog... and and and. Good news? You still have plenty of time. Bad news? You are not Superman.

I'm a supporter of lofty goals; however, being overwhelmed often leads to quitting. Write a goal list. Every little thing you want to accomplish in your life should go on this list. Every lofty little thing. Then, circle the ones you think you can actually achieve. From there, take this list, and hang it somewhere you can see it. Read every day.

Take it a Week at a Time

I've been getting in the habit of working on one goal per week. For instance, a couple of weeks ago I wanted to make my bed every day. That habit has carried all the way over to now. The next week, I set a goal of heading to the gym at least three times. Now, I'm going nearly every day. By rotating changes into your schedule a little at a time, it's easier to form habits.

When it comes to writing, you should schedule your time, that way you feel more inclined to view it as a habit. You should also aim for something, like writing a chapter a week to reach the overall goal of finishing your novel. It's good to go into this with a vision.

How to Keep Goals

The key to keeping goals is to break them down into actionable plans. Don't simply say, "I'm going to write a novel." Create baby steps to reaching this, such as: I'm going to write 500 words a day. You have to give yourself the tools to succeed. It's one thing to have a goal; it's another to implement it.

Try the weekly goal idea, and see if this works for you. For instance, if you're trying to lose weight, say, "I'm going to cut all sugar this week." Then the next, maybe eliminate carbs. Set yourself up for success.

Discussion Time: How do you keep goals? What's one writing goal you'd like to accomplish this year?

What to Write Next: Deciding on Your Next Project

This is post #13 in a fifteen post series, entitled “15 Days to Writerly Awesome in 2015,” posting on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday of January.

Below is a guest post by my friend, Drew Hayes, writer of the Super Powereds:

Writing about writing is difficult to do, or at least to do without devolving into a circle jerk of quotes and tropes. I don’t know that I’ve ever actually read something that taught me how to be a better writer, aside from the foundations of grammar I learned early in life and then proceeded to fuck up consistently from that point on. Learning to write is done by reading, sure, but by reading things you love that draw you in, and seeing techniques that you incorporate into your own repertoire. I doubt I could give any advice about improving one’s writing that would be worth listening to, so I’m not going to try.

What I do think I can help with, even if only a little, is the process for deciding what to write. Let’s be honest here: most authors have 3 – 300 ideas floating around in our skulls at any given moment, jockeying for attention and causing us to daydream during the boring bits of meetings. How does one decide what the next project is going to be? Do you go with one that fits the expected mold of what you’ve previously produced, or try and play into an under-served market to expand your readership? Picking one idea to pursue is a tough decision to make, but I have a quote I like to keep in mind whenever I’m choosing projects:

“Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.” – Warren Buffet.

Some of you will undoubtedly recognize that as having nothing to do with writing, and in fact being (excellent) advice about the stock market. Nonetheless, I find it holds true in the world of writing just as much as the world of business. Often times there will be genres that go through the cycle of becoming hot, then explode all over the literary world until a point of such over saturation is reached that no one wants to touch the property for fear of being lumped with hundreds of other similar works. A wonderful example: Vampires over the last five years, or zombies before that.

For many writers, going into a genre at the point of over saturation is a death sentence, but as someone who occasionally writes satire, for me that’s actually a sweet spot. Good satire and comedy revolve around poking fun at the expectations people have built in their heads, and the more wide-spread that knowledge is the more a satirist can trust their readers to have those pre-existing notions. By the same token, I try to avoid any properties that are “huge” or a “sure thing” because I know the tipping point for them is inevitable, and I don’t want to be on the wrong side of that crush when they strike. Like most of life, it’s all in the timing.

This is not me trying to coax you all into doing satire or anything of the like. I merely use myself as an example because it’s the topic I know best. My point is that when making selections for your next project, take a good look at the landscape set before you; not just a few feet in front but for miles in every direction. See not only where it is, but it might end up, then try to get ahead of it rather than following. Going with the crowd is one of the best ways to make sure you never stand out.

 Of course, all of this presumes you don’t have an idea burning a hole in your mind, in which case we all know you’ll have to write that, landscape be damned. If such is the case then just buckle in and enjoy the ride.

Why You Should Write a Blog Post Series

This is post #12 in a fifteen post series, entitled “15 Days to Writerly Awesome in 2015,” posting on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday of January.

As we come close to the end of January (wait, what?), it's time to do a little reflecting. In the beginning of the year, I started a 15 blog post series for writers, jumpstarting the year of what I like to call "Writerly Awesome." It was my first blog series, and already, I feel like a new and improved blogger.

If you want to write a blog post series, the first step is figuring out what it is you want to talk about. Elephants? Felt pens? How to start a traveling circus? I chose to talk about writerly awesomeness as a way to lay the building blocks for the new year. And now, wh:

More Content = More Practice

In November, I celebrated a year of blogging. My sister, Monica of Bravo for Paleo, has been my biggest influence in this endeavor, guiding me through the crazy complicated world of SEO and keywords. By choosing to write 15 posts in one month — when I typically only write 4 — I challenged myself to improve as both a blog writer and a promoter. Here's what I learned:

1. Clearer Titles Work Better. Instead of titling my post, "How to Write a First Draft," which is a little vague and generic, I evolved to writing more striking titles like, "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to be Your Own Critic." See? The second title is much clearer than the first, allowing my readers to fully understand what this post entails.
2. Images Matter. I take my own photos with a DSLR camera, but I am by no means an expert. With more posts, I've been able to play around with pairing fonts, picking colors and font size. Tip: the more pictures you take, the more comfortable you'll become.
3. Ask Questions. One of my favorite things about this blog is the audience engagement. I love hearing your questions and your suggestions, and this series has helped me to tailor my questions to you. "Discussion Time" is a way to get the conversation started.

Audience Appeal

With this blog series, I've tripled my page views from the last month. Yes, you heard that right. Now, I'm aware that there are several attributing factors besides this series, such as holiday time and my inclusion on the 100 Best Writing Blogs of 2015.

Still, the numbers speak for themselves. I've had more returning readers than ever this month, and the statistics show that they're visiting more than one post each visit.

Accountability Sells

Okay, I admit: I missed about three posts in this series. Why? Time restraint, poor planning, the excuse list goes on and on. Granted, I'm making them up this week, but still. Accountability is the key factor when it comes to blogging. Show up for your friends when you say you're going to, no matter what. (Take my word for it.) Accountability = trust = loyalty. Memorize this formula. Your accountability gains their trust, which in turn, gains their loyalty.

Discussion Time: I'd love your feedback! How has this blog post series helped you? What kinds of posts would you like to see in the future?

Why You Should Edit Your NaNoWriMo Novel Now

This is post #11 in a fifteen post series, entitled “15 Days to Writerly Awesome in 2015,”  posting on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday of January.

the above photo is a modified adaptation of this work

Below is a guest post from my dear friend Marissa Fuller, editor extraordinaire:

January is a time for reflecting on the past year. Just a few months ago now, many of us writerly folk participated in NaNoWriMo, if I’m not much mistaken. If you haven’t started already, you’ve likely been popping your head into your office/ water closet/ cupboard under the stairs, or wherever it is you keep your laptop, thinking it’s about time to get to editing that NaNo manuscript. On the other hand, you may have already finished editing it! I know a few people who pitched and queried their NaNo manuscripts in December (??!!@##UHFSOA).

Here’s the thing—you wrote that manuscript within the confines of a month. It could be absolute gold, but there is no getting around the fact that it was written in thirty days or less. For most of us, that means we just jotted down our story as fast as we could, not giving ourselves many moments to sit and think on the perfect phrasing (this is what drove me mad during NaNoWriMo), or the proper scene sequence, or to mix in the right amount of foreshadowing. Here's why you should edit your NaNoWriMo novel now:

Breathe in Edits

Take your time in editing. Just do a couple hours a day (a week!) if that’s what your manuscript needs. Mull over plot changes, edit out of order—give yourself the time you didn’t take while creating in NaNoWriMo. Even thought you wrote something quickly, you still have to put in the hours in other ways, like editing.

New writers might think that editing is basically syntax and punctuation corrections, and that alone. The truth of the matter is, your manuscript is born out of editing. Edits could (and should) change your manuscript in a huge way, even more so if you’re having a professional edit your manuscript as well.

It’s no small task, and it’s not something that can be done in a rush. Your first few drafts are just as, if not more, important than your first, because you continue to write and to learn your story as you weave through it.

Let your manuscript breathe the sweet air of change, of growth, of synonyms that liven the language and bring it to a whole new level. Oh, and did I mention? You should probably breathe, too.