Beth's Picks of the Week

What a great week! I received this message from reference librarian extraordinaire Nancy Larson:

FYI, I just came across a book published by (of all people) The American Psychological Association.  In How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing Dr. Paul Silvia neatly demolished all the little demons that purportedly keep us from writing.

Although it is targeted to academics trying to churn out articles for tenure, the information is applicable to everyone who needs to be prolific, rather than relying on emotions.  You, of all people,  already know It's not
inspiration, it's not binge writing.  Rather, it's writing so much that it becomes mundane. And he tells you how to do it.  Just thought you might want to take a look at How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing.

Keep up the newsletter--you are my reward after doing the "grunt" stuff.

Regards, Nancy L. Larson

My second pick for this week is a long-time favorite. As always, Bob Bly is a master at making a great living as a freelance writer. This classic, Secrets of a Freelance Writer, Third Edition: How to Make $100,000 a Year or More launched my freelance biz and it's a great addition to your library as well.

Secrets of a Freelance Writer, Third Edition: How to Make $100,000 a Year or More will spill tip after tip on not only how to set up your freelance biz, but it goes into great length on where to find lucrative writing assignments. Highly recommended.

The July Issue of The Creative Mindset Print Newsletter

If you’re a writer who has an inner voice telling you that you can't get published, you’re not alone.

I became aware of my own inner voice when I was in seventh grade.  My inner voice told me I wasn't good enough to make first chair in orchestra.

That was the beginning.

Later that voice told me I wouldn't “fit in” on the newspaper staff.

I listened to the voice.  I was odd-person out.

I realized the voice was not my friend.  It was holding me back. I and I knew I had to do something.

As I launched my freelance career, I deeply studied psychology, sociology, spiritualism, and hypnosis. I used a unique mix of these elements to break free of those negative voices.

But some people either don’t have the time or inclination to do this.

Most writers I meet are sharper than a tack. But something has been holding them back.

In many cases, it's this inner voice whispering, “You can't do it.” Sometimes you react to that voice’s lies without even hearing it.

Well, if you’re sitting on a pile of potential, you need to do something about it.

If you know inside your heart you should be accomplishing more in your life, let today become your personal independence day.

Click here: http://filbertpublishing.com/creative.html


I Give Up...

I don’t believe any e-mail hits me between the eyes more than one that starts with “I give up.”

It’s too sad.

Those three short words sum up a lifetime of ambition, a generation of dreams, and very likely a writer’s very identity.

“I give up.”

It utterly breaks my heart.

Because I’ve been there. I know what it feels like to pour out words onto paper, only to have every single idea I present instantly rejected.

I’ve sharpened issues of Writing Etc., only to have avalanches of angry e-mail flood my in-box.

I’ve had weeks when my titles don’t move.

It’s all part of the cycle.

Conversely, for every negative e-mail I receive, I betcha ten positive ones chime the in-box bell. Some issues of Writing Etc. really hit the mark and bless some subscribers to no end. There are days that book sales take my breath away.

It’s all a matter of focus: What do you choose to focus on?

Yeah. I admit. Sometimes this job is the most frustrating occupation on the planet. Other days, words flow, mojo sings, and the stars line up for an incredible ride.

It can feel like a roller coaster ride sometimes.

But I guess that’s half the fun, eh?

If it weren’t for the valleys, we wouldn’t appreciate the peaks as well.

Besides, I’ve always said that this profession isn’t for the faint hearted.

Which brings me back to that original e-mail, “I give up.”

Now… don’t get me wrong. But if I had a penny for every time I wanted to give up, I’d be fairly wealthy around now.

Thing is, I can’t give up. This compulsion to write simply won’t go away no matter how much I sometimes wish it would.

I’ve taken an informal poll amongst my writer-friends and they all tell me the same way.

“It’s like a curse,” one said, “the business drives me crazy but if I don’t keep writing I’ll go crazy.”

Same here, bud. I hear what you’re saying.

So at the risk of sounding snarky, I guess any scribe who can hang up their quill and move on without a second thought probably wasn’t a card carrying member of the brotherhood of the pen after all.

Because writers write. Period.

We write when it’s easy. We write when pulling words out of our head hurts. We write laughing and keep going when tears stream down our cheeks.

We write despite accolades and keep going when the critics jump down our throat.

It’s just the way we operate.

So, is quitting an option?

Nope. Not for the true writer.

And personally, I’m glad you’re hanging out here with me. You sure make this job interesting.

Talk later,

Beth