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Sankofa Literary Society Posting Home
Author: Catherine Franz
During the past few months I have received many questions asto how I
have gone from an unknown writer to over comingsociety's adversarial
thoughts on what writing should be andbecome a well known writer. So,
today, I was inspired towrite on this. Let me present a gist of my
story. And likeall stories there's always more depth.
When it comes to being judged by society's belief of whatgood writing
is, I thoroughly understand the pressure. Beenthrough that. For years
I was a closet writer because thefeedback I received from writing
instructors (from variouslevels) was, "your writing is...is...is
different and I'mnot really qualified to comment." I took this to
mean, "Iwas a lousy writer." So daily, I quietly wrote, read
it,agreed, and tossed it into a growing set of boxes.
Years and 72 boxes later, my insides were screaming. Thescreaming
displayed itself in anger everything I did andeveryone I touched.
After my father died, I was fed up withlife, society, and all the
shoulds in my life. I knew I wasangry at something but had no idea
what at that time. Witha full level of frustration and disgust, I
decided to giveup everything, take off a year, and travel to every
writingconference, study anywhere I could, with anyone I could,
and"really" learn to write. I had no idea what I was lookingfor at the
time. Now I realize that I was looking for mypersonal voice and my
writing voice.
After traveling I returned home to Virginia not feeling thatmuch
better about my writing than when I started. I didnotice that my skin
was a little tougher but I was stillangry, still embarrassed about my
call to write. And as faras my skill level, I didn't feel there was
much improvement.The feedback I received was similar to what I
receivedbefore. One teacher, at a workshop at Puget Sound
WritingConference, Washington state, told me, "If I kept working atit
maybe (with a big voice emphasis at maybe) some day in 10years or so I
will be good enough to release my writing."
Occasionally a light appeared in my tunnel. One time waswhen I was
attending the International Writer's Guild (IWG)yearly retreat in
Syracuse, New York. Hundreds of womenwriters, all supportive, all
different in so many ways. Thepositive energy was empowering. I took
away from this thatthere wasn't any exact science to writing. Learning
totrust my own womanhood at 52 was a completely new eyeopening
experience for me. There was a shift in my writingvoice.
A few weeks after my year, I woke up crying. Not a gentlesob but a
whaling one. I was pissed. I was angry. At theworld, at myself, at the
lamp shade, it didn't matter. Ikicked shoes, took walks, and wrote
pages in my journaltrying to understand what was happening. There was
a rage,an internal fight between what feedback and theirsuggestions
and my internal dialogue. Later I realized thewriter inside was
fighting to get out.
Afterwards, my pissed let to, "screw everyone." I apologizefor the
language ladies and gents but I'm sharing my truth.I decide to just
put it out there and let it land where itmay. Grammar mistakes,
imperfections, whatever emerged.Let the commas be too many or too few.
The first time I had to let go it took me a week of
internaldialoguing, and more edits than I'm willing to admit to,
inorder to let go. (Actually my first experience with overediting.) My
emotions changed by the hour. My family ranfor the hills and didn't
know what to do with me. I didn'teven know what to do with me.
The first time an English specialist sent me theirsuggestion that I
might want to improve on my grammar first,mind you they never were
specific of where or even what theywere reading, I would cry again.
This would cause me tostop writing for the remainder of the day. The
next day Iwas back to a "what the he__" again (thank goodness).
Next I wanted to tackle adding discipline to my writing.Boy 'o boy
that was easy to say yet hard to implement. Isoon learned that I
preferred cleaning out the refrigerator,even visit the dentist rather
than sitting down at aspecific time to write. Since then and over
time, I learnedhow this same avoidance rippled its way into other
places inmy life.
At no given time did I ever suffer from writer's block. Ialways felt
comfortable writing on almost anything (ablessing and a curse). The
curse being I was spreading myfocus too thinly. Yet, I was happy and
having a ball andthat's why I kept on doing it that way. Looking back,
now Ican see how badly I needed to release all my bottled upemotions
at that time.
Success at focusing in didn't come easy. But eventually theexcuses ran
out and the emotions balanced it started to comenaturally. When I
learn to place my needs first, which alsomeant writing, anger never
emerged. In fact, I was downright pleasant to be around the rest of
the day. Mydiscipline started with one hour of writing every
morningand has evolved into a 5 to 8 morning experience and an hourin
the evening reviewing my days notes.
The more I wrote, the more outlet opportunities knocked onmy door. I
began three ezines, including a daily. Then Ibegan writing for other
professionals and Internet andmagazine articles.
When I began to allow my writings to go public, even oneemail from
about my English skills set me to tears and Icouldn't write the rest
of the day. Thank goodness itdidn't last and the next morning I was
writing again. Atthat moment I realized the importance of a
disciplinedwriting time.
Eventually, I began to receive feedback on how people lovedwhat I
wrote, liked my ideas, and by passed the occasionalgrammar error. My
name even found its place in a few localnewspapers including the
Washington Post. The positivefeedback was far bigger than the "you've
need to do better"messages. They began with three pats to one
scolding. Thenmoved to six pats to one. Then 30 pats to 1.
And the most amazing part -- I was happier than ever. Youcould find me
starting my weekend day writing at McDonalds(the only place open at 6
am), by 10 at the bookstore, by 3the library, by 6 returning home and
satisfied. There werebum times on park benches especially in the
spring, museumsand shopping malls when the weather was nasty. At
myfrequent stops employees or regulars stopped and asked whatI was
working on and willingly shared their thoughts andideas on the topic.
Some agreed, some didn't, but the magicwas my writing was richer
because of them, because of theenvironmental switches.
My writing kept improving and what I produced tripled.Occasionally I
would read something I previous wrote and satnumb, not believing, "I
wrote, that!" My inner critic evenstopped punching.
Now my pat to grammar email ratio doesn't matter. I knowthere's more
to learn yet I'm so glad my writing is out inthe public eye. I write
every chance I can and make thespace for it in my life. Topics don't
matter nor does firstquality matter. Just as long as it's on a page
somewhereand safe.
A little while back I began outlining (Mind Maps) beforewriting.
Previously outlining wasn't my thing. I've alsolearned that if there I
don't have a certain number ofpoints don't begin to write. Yet even I
don't have enoughto begin writing, my mind is still tumbling and
building andsomething better always appears. Something that
couldn'tappear without the tossing first.
Over the years, my penmanship has gone from good to worse.What I have
also realized is that my first draft issometimes just me jumping and
trying to find my way aroundon the topic. Almost like a maze.
Afterwards, I highlightthe good and usually find there is more than
one topic to gowith.
My advice to people who desire to write -- follow yourheart. Trust
that it will lead you down the right path.Trust today's writing will
always look different tomorrowand your writing will always improve and
evolve the more youwrite. Not any book you read, writing conference
youattend, the best lessons are learned by writing regularly.
One of my favorite quotes is, "Big things come from thesmallest
actions." The light will come after you completemany small actions.
The same as I did and many who precededme, there is light available in
the tunnel and you will seechanges within yourself that will transfer
onto the pages.Writing will always be an evolving process, even after
thePulitzer.
Worry about the grammar until its time, not before. If youlearn one
writing tip a week and work it into your writingall week, it can't
help but improve because that's 52improvements a year.
You don't need a lot, one word can do. For one year I wrote394
articles from one word -- honor. Every time I completedone article the
word was complete, another appeared. If Ihad thought I could write
this many articles from one wordbefore this experience I would laugh
at you. Eventually Icalled a truce. It was amazing watch my bar as it
keptgetting higher. An experience that fuels my beliefs today.Whenever
I began to write another honor story I wastransitioned to age seven
watching my Dad pitch the ballagainst the steel milk bottles, feeling
like I just won the1st prize teddy bear. Yes, the biggest one on the
topshelf, the one that looks twice my size.
At times the thoughts were firing so rapidly it forced me tostop what
I was doing and write what I could. Many times Ihad to pull off the
road and get it down.
Even today there are times when my writing doesn't makesense but I
know now that I can't get to the next pointuntil I get rid of this
stuff first. Like many writers, weall have a few boxes or stacks of
these.
For everyone who feels a pull to write but hasn't. Let mequote Nike,
"just do it." Let all the inhibitions go, theyare nonsense until after
all the editing. Let the commasfall where they may. Write without any
attachment to theoutcome. That comes later.
It took time for my writing to turn into a hundred thousanddollar
business. Even a year ago I wouldn't have thought itpossible and would
have just laughed at the though. I amhappier than ever. No crying,
just writing. No kicking theshoes. No more doubt of my possibilities
(okay, some butvery small). Be free, write and let it lead you
wherever itneeds to go.
Nothing you or I write will ever be lost. Fight for yourwriter's life,
it's worth the battle. Especially don't letanyone should all over you.
(c) Copyright Catherine Franz. All rights reserved.
Catherine Franz, writer, speaker, marketing master, specializes in
infoproduct development. More at:http://
www.MarketingStrategiesToGo.com andhttp://www.AbundanceCenter.com.
Including articlesand ezines.
Sankofa Literary Society Posting Home
Author: Charles O. Goulet
Many writers stare at the blank page or clean computer screen and wait
for inspiration with a feeling of hopelessness. That white page or
screen is always a struggle to fill, and it probably will always be
for most writers.
Writing is fatiguing work because it is the source of great stress,
great concentration, great thought, and a great expenditure of energy-
mental, emotional, and physical.
Writing is stressful because it requires the writer to be aware that
others will read what one writes and thus pass judgment on it. Writing
is stressful when ideas and thoughts will not come to fill that blank
page. Writing is stressful if the writer feels that he must write and
yet cannot write. Writing is stressful because the writer is never
sure of how effective the composition will be.
Writing requires thought. The writer must think of many elements as he
writes: grammar, syntax, topic, theme, punctuation, spelling, and all
the other factors that are required for effective, useful, and
favorable writing whether it is fiction or non-fiction. In addition,
this rational process must happen simultaneously as words are put to
paper or screen.
Because thought requires concentration, and concentration requires
effort, and effort requires discipline, the writer is under a great
deal of pressure when he or she is working to express an idea in the
most effective way. Writing is never easy although it may be easier at
one time and not at another.
With all these impediments to conquering the blank page or screen,
what must a writer do? The writer must start writing one word at a
time until the flow comes, and then the page or screen can be
dominated-not easily-but it can be controlled.
With its filling, the agony diminishes.
Charles O. Goulet had a BA in English literature. He has published
several novels that are available from Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, and many
other online bookstores.
His website is: http://www.telusplanet.net/public/go1c
Sankofa Literary Society Posting Home
Author: Charles O. Goulet
The only way to become a writer is to write. That requires a great
deal of self-control and dedication, not only writing when the urge is
upon you, but even when it is not. That requires seeing the words flow
onto the blank page or screen.
Force yourself to sit at your desk or in front of your computer screen
and write something, anything until the ideas begin to flow, and flow
they will. You will soon learn that what you write when the urge is
not there will be as good as when the impulse is strong. Later, when
you reread what you wrote, you will be unable to tell what was a
struggle or what was an inspiration.
Stay before the bare page or empty screen until it is full. One page
is not impossible, and once that page is full, you will find that it
is easy to fill two pages or more. Write as quickly as you can think.
Do not disrupt the flow of ideas and sentences with concern about
grammar, syntax, and other rules.
This is not the time to rewrite. Write quickly, ignoring spelling and
punctuation. That can be corrected with rewriting as is the use of the
dictionary and thesaurus. The important action is to put words to
paper or to screen, to explore your thoughts, to brainstorm, if
necessary.
More important is the development of self-control, of dedication, of
persistence, and of a work habit. All productive writers have acquired
this determination.
Charles O. Goulet has a BA in English literature. He has published
several books that are available at http://www.Amazon.com, http://www.Amazon.ca,
and many other bookstores.
Sankofa Literary Society Posting Home
Author: Steven Van Yoder
One morning, you open your inbox and find several e-mails that will
boost your business. There is an invitation to speak at a local group
comprised of your best prospects. Several emails have arrived from
people who've "heard of you" and inquire about your services.
There is a message from a potential joint venture partner who has
invited you to be a guest on a teleconference that will reach 500
people, all of them prospects. Later that day, a journalist calls. She
wants to write a story about your business, which she heard about on a
radio interview you gave weeks earlier.
Is this a fantasy? No. This could be a typical day in your life as a
published author.
More and more business people are realizing the power of writing a
book to catapult their businesses to a higher level. Speakers,
consultants, coaches, therapists and other small business owners are
learning that publishing a book is one of the most powerful marketing
strategies available.
Published authors report that their lives change, often dramatically,
when their books reach the marketplace. When you become an author, you
become known as the expert. When you are known as an expert in your
field, whatever your field, you will find that the world will beat a
path to your door.
A Book Generates Visibility and Attracts Clients
Of all the information products you can create, a book has the
greatest potential to open doors. A book can give you more recognition
and professional credibility than audiotapes, CDs, videos, seminars,
workshops and public speaking.
Since my book Get Slightly Famous was published last year, I have been
amazed at how it has transformed my business.
Publishing my book was a newsworthy event that resulted in tens of
thousands of dollars in new business, high-profile media coverage,
speaking engagements, radio interviews, partnership opportunities, and
too many other benefits to mention.
Prospective clients now hear about me from all over the world. The
media regularly call me, and I appear in newspaper articles and radio
interviews.
Get Slightly Famous is not just my most effective marketing tool. It
has become the core of my brand identity. My book provides a marketing
platform for my business that gives all my marketing efforts a
natural, sharp focus.
Best of all, marketing is not such a struggle anymore.
As a successful author you will find the stress of constantly seeking
new clients can largely become a thing of the past. Clients will seek
you out, ready to pay good money for your services, because you are
seen as a leader in your field. You become their first choice.
It's Not Just a Book -- It's a Business!
Your book is the seed from which you can grow a multi-faceted
"empire'' of related products and services, including seminars,
teleclasses, reports, consulting packages, audiotapes, and other
profitable information products.
Imagine selling thousands of books to trade associations as premiums
for their members. Or how about creating a $49-a-month newsletter, a
$995 home-study course, a $499 a year membership web site? Could you
use your book as the basis for a year-long mentorship program for
which individuals or groups that pay thousands of dollars a piece to
participate?
The idea is to see your book as a launching pad for new business
opportunities.
Barbara Hemphill used her book Taming The Paper Tiger to develop a
multi-pronged branding strategy. Hemphill offers organizing skills
services designed to reduce stress and increase productivity. Her
business is based almost entirely on her book.
Barbara has used her book to develop Taming the Paper Tiger software,
gain an endorsement by Pendaflex, and found the Hemphill Productivity
Institute. Her company now employs more than 70 Paper Tiger authorized
consultants across the U.S. and Canada.
You can write a book!
Me, publish a book, you ask? Yes, you. It is easier than you might
think, and you don't need to be a seasoned writer to become a
published author.
Writing a successful book is not the easiest thing in the world, but
it is entirely possible. The talents and expertise you bring to your
clients can form the basis of a successful book. If you know your
subject area, and can communicate your ideas in a clear, compelling,
organized manner, becoming a published author is within your reach.
A strategy that works for many is to break the process into smaller
steps by writing a series of articles. They then become the basis for
a book. Or, you can work with a talented freelance writer to help you
express your ideas clearly and with conviction.
The most traditional route is to find a publisher who will handle the
production, marketing, promotion and distribution. This involves up
front work (you write a detailed proposal, a table of contents, sample
chapters and a market overview). Then you shop the proposal around to
potential publishers, either on your own or with the help of a
commissioned agent.
Self-publishing has many advantages over traditional publishing, the
most compelling being greater financial returns for the author. "When
you self-publish, you keep all the profits," says Dan Poynter, author
of The Self-Publishing Manual. "Additionally, you get into print
quickly, own the copyright, and take all applicable tax breaks."
On the downside, self-publishing can be expensive. You pay up front
for all the production and distribution costs, and if your book does
not sell, you will be stuck with the leftover inventory. However, if
your book is successful, you will not only have the satisfaction and
advantages of being a published author, you will make more money.
Whatever publishing route you choose, the Internet provides a global
marketplace for your book. Never before has it been so easy to market
a book if you are willing to invest the time and energy to write one.
About The Author
Steven Van Yoder is the author of Get Slightly Famous. He teaches
small business owners how to duplicate his success and become a
"slightly" famous author in your field. Visit www.getslightlyfamous.com
to claim your FREE Slightly Famous Marketing Plan Workbook and learn
how to attract more business with less effort by creating your own
information empire.