Hey, did you know you can get your hands on 150+ webpages of fre* writing info?
Just head to http://FilbertPublishing.com and dig around. Be sure to sign up for one of our fre* writing courses. Here’s
to some great high profit writing.
Forward Writing Etc. to all your writing friends. They’ll be glad you
did.
It's bitter sweet watching someone you love walk across a stage to receive his
high school diploma.
It's pure sweetness knowing he's done so well with his life, it's pleasant
knowing he's well prepared to enter this big bad world.
On the other hand, I'm going to miss him like gangbusters when he decides to
move away.
I've kinda gotten attached to that kid these past 18 years.
So it's with pride and just a bit of sadness that I'm writing this today. I'm
sure I'll get over it.
It's like a page turn; the beginning of a new chapter. Characters change,
stories evolve. If they don't it gets pretty darned boring.
And it's on that note I launch this issue of Writing Etc. I hope you enjoy
it.
I've got tons of new stuff... quirky blog entries and a fre* inspiration video.
Gimme feedback, folks. I can't wait to hear your comments.
Talk later!
Beth
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techniques for turbo charging your freelance writing business? Do yourself a favor and pick up Erickson’s
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“Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. The
most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most
interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.” Baz Luhrmann’s “Something For Everybody” CD, Track 5
“Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen) Mix.”
How can anybody take a lifespan… 80, maybe 90 years… and decide at the tender
age of 18 (give or take) what they’re going to “do” for the next half a century?
It’s an awesome task. Huge, in fact.
Looking back, I’m not surprised it took me so long to find my path. Dubbed the
“Walter Mitty” of the family, I could perform the most mundane task with pure delight because my imagination
could entertain me for hours on end.
However, EVERYBODY knows, you can’t make a living using your imagination,
right?
That’s why I tossed aside every whimsical dream I had of earning a living doing
something I truly loved and concentrated on finding a career that allowed me the solitude to let all my
inner ramblings to breathe.
That’s how I got into tailoring. I spent a good fifteen years altering
everything from wedding gowns to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costumes. Although the money was OK, I wasn’t
truly happy. After years of weaving stories in my mind, there were days I felt as though my head would
explode. The frustration built until I realized I had begun to merely endure my time at the sewing
machine.
That’s when I decided to make a change.
One day, out of a pure need to feel a semblance of happiness in my life, I sat
at the computer and began to write. It was probably one of the defining moments in my life. The incredible
release of words on paper is a sensation I’ll never forget. I instantly knew how I wanted to spend the rest
of my life.
But I had something I wanted to do first. I wanted to go back to college and
earn the degree I never finished. I enjoyed university life. It’d been so long that I’d been mentally
stimulated, I felt like a sponge soaking in everything I could. Finally, in March of ’95 I earned my
bachelor’s degree in Communications.
Now, I was ready to get writing. Armed with my computer, the Writer’s Market,
and a desire to succeed, I began querying… and querying… and querying.
Unfortunately, I didn’t realize that the starting wage for freelance writers is
pretty dismal. But, thanks to a very patient husband, I kept writing. My yearly income that first year didn’t
touch the money I made tailoring. But I didn’t give up.
I floundered for a few years until I received a letter claiming I could make a
living wage as a writer by writing advertising copy.
I was skeptical… very skeptical… because after four years as a struggling
freelancer, I’d come dangerously close to chucking my dream and going out to find a “real” job.
As a last resort, I took the class described in the letter and discovered I
could easily make a living wage writing for businesses. In fact, writing ad copy turned out to be a fantastic
way to finance my fiction writing habit.
Today I’m the published author of five books. I own a thriving e-mag. I
continue to write long fiction. Of course, I write copy for companies all over the nation. But best of all, I
feel as though I’ve found my place in this world. All the stories bouncing around in my head appear to have
tamed somewhat… probably because they know they’ll someday find their way to the printed page.
Sometimes I look back and realize I always knew what I should do with my life.
Problem was, I listened to my head. I listened to people around me. I listened to everything but my
heart.
Hang tight to your dream… you know which one. It’s the one you THINK is stupid.
It’s the one that doesn’t make sense. It’s the one that will NEVER earn you a living wage. Take that dream
and turn obstacles into opportunities. Never be afraid to invest some time, talents, and resources into
achieving that dream.
If you do this, perhaps you’ll gaze into your future with a fulfilled and
hopeful heart.
~~~
Beth Ann Erickson is the publisher of Writing Etc., the free e-mag that will
make your writing sparkle. Help you write killer copy and get you onto the road to publication ASAP. Get your
hands on her latest book right here: http://filbertpublishing.com/101.html
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Check This Out!
I've been harping that our success in this biz remains largely based on the
conversation that happens between our ears. To that end, I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite...
well... click “play” and you'll see what I'm talking about.
Oh! And you can download this and watch any time you need a little boost. My
treat. :)
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Industry News and Interesting Info
OK. I've got some fun news this week starting with some funky Amazon reviews, a
dog eating (yes, you read right) protester, “elevator speech” info, a job op, as well as a very wily water
buffalo. Enjoy!
Writing For Dollars! The FREE ezine for writers featuring tips, tricks and
ideas for selling what you write. Receive the FREE ebook, 83 WAYS TO MAKE MONEY WRITING when you subscribe.
Email to subscribe@writingfordollars.com -*-
WRITERS FIND MARKETS EASILY - Worldwide Freelance has a NEW fully-searchable
Markets Database. Discover writing markets from North America, Europe, Australia and other places. It's free,
so come and try it out
Information Marketers! Discover the copywriter who knows the unique demands of
your industry and can help you sell a ton of product. http://BethAnnErickson.com
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