Read to Write

I've always been told you've got to read to write. Never thought I would start writing because of reading old magazines. Some of these magazines are older than the ones at a doctors office, or the ones we used to use as coasters at the Kokomo Tribune, but despite dust covered, curling pages, I found three free writing contest to enter this year starting in May. So it's time to stop reading and write!

Creating a Writing Portfolio

As I beef up my resume and portfolio to get a position as an editor, similarly I am working on my writing portfolio. Like a potential employer, a publisher wants to see evidence that you are a good risk, that you are a good writer. This can be proven with published clips. My portfolio isn't so bad: I've published in the Correspondent and the Kokomo Tribune. Now I'm working on getting published in a magazine or two. I'm also trying to place in at least one writing contest. I entered the FCM contest for the first year. Judging will be in October. The same day I entered I got a rejection from "Branches." That's OK. I'll just try again until I get my name in a byline.

Writing Overtime

I've decided to take business tips for success and apply them to writing. One that I remember is that people who are successful and make a lot of money work at least 50-60 hours a week. So if you really want something, you put in the overtime. This could apply to writing as well. After all, those who publish spend hours a day, everyday, writing. I work forty hours a week, so that doesn't leave me with much time. I'll try to start with 20 hours and go from there. So far this week, I've put in two hours; not a great start, but the week just started.

Networking

I was recently introduced to writer Lacey Thorn. From her appearence, she looks like she'd write children's stories, but she writes erotica. As an author who lives primarily from her published works, her advice was very valuable to me. After all, she is living my dream. She told me to join the indiana writers association. The networking opportunities and information about contest is well worth the fee, she reassured me. I'm going to give it a try. I'd like to enter some contest and get my name out there. Who knows, maybe this will lead to my novels getting published or at the least, a job as a copy editor, proofreader, or content editor. Who knows who I'll meet next?

The Writer's Bazaar

In high school, I wanted to start a writer's club. Inspired by visions of writing expeditions, contest, and group critiques, I invited all of my friends, but it never took off. Now, six years later, my sister and her old college dorm-mate invited me to join The Writer's Bazaar--an online group for writers. The purpose is to inspire other women writers. I'm hoping with the support and feedback from this group, I will finally finish my novel.

Two Kinds of Writers

I read that there are two kinds of writers: those who want to write and those who want to have written.

I fall in the second category. It's not that I don't love to write, but I've been working on the same novel for six years and I would like to see it finished/published.

Resurrecting old writing

After dabbling in other writing projects I've decided to revisit my first major writing attempt--Takani. I wrote this "novel" while I was in high school. Although the plot is novice, and the love part of the story is sappy, it shouldn't be impossible to resuscitate because the writing is alarmingly good quality for a high school student. In fact, it scares me that, at times, the 18-year old me writes better than the 23-year old me who took writing classes in college.

So far, my college degree has not helped me get a job in my area of study, but I plan on using everything I learned to help me write a good book. After four years of studying what makes a good novel, perhaps, I will be able to write one.