She Just Writes

Learn how to:

Locate your signature writing style

Uncover hidden writing opportunities

Be a successful (and lucratively paid) writer

Avoid business practices that keep you broke!

Yea! We did it!

With 30 days of continuous writing under our belts, nothing can stop the flow of writing inspiration flowing through our pens! As professional freelance writers, one of the hardest things to do is write. It’s so much easier to think up creative ideas, conduct creative conversations and be inspired by creativity. And all of these can trump the process of sitting down and writing (I hate it when that happens!).

But, we’ve gone 30 days strong, and nothing can stop us now! There were definitely some bumps in the road, but we made it. So in the spirit of Christmas giving, I would like to give my (She)Writers a gift. I’ve compiled a list of 15 Things Every (She)Writer Must Know About Writing. I hope that this list and the 30-Day-Challenge blogs continue to motivate you towards producing awesome content.

Remember, there is nothing more powerful than a woman who knows how to skillfully wield her pen.

Happy Writing Ladies! 

1. Solitude is essential and should be embraced. There is nothing more inspiring than a peaceful, quiet place where you can be alone with your thoughts. As responsibilities and obligations become the norm in our lives, carving out times of solitude is almost a rare phenomenon. When you have quiet time, use it to your advantage. Gather your thoughts, channel your inspiration and write what you hear. Some of your best work is born out of the realm of solitude. 

2. Carry a notebook (and pen) with you at all times. This is an unwritten rule for true (she)writers. You never know when inspiration will strike and you’ll need to quickly jot down an idea. I am most inspired by people watching. I get some of my best dialogue ideas from listening to the natural ebb and flow of real conversations. I have millions notebooks everywhere, with notes scribbled in them. I marvel when I review them and see connections in my thought process over the years. As a backup, I also download note-taking apps on my smartphone. Some of my favorite apps are ColorNote and EverNote. These apps allow you to pen ideas and email them to yourself. There’s nothing better than inspiration in your inbox!

3. Read. Great writers are voracious readers. I read everything from books, magazines, news clippings, twitter feeds, scripts, billboards…you get the idea. I love to read! And what I love most about reading is smart, clever and witty writing. And this is often the form that my writing takes. Once you find what you love to read, you will better discover your writing passion. So when you’re not reading you should be writing, and vise versa.

4. Live and explore what life has to offer. Living a full, versatile and explorative lifestyle gives your writing perspective. There is nothing more tragic than the vanilla (and oftentimes stereotypical) writing of women who have never experienced life. If you have never explored life from the perspective of other cultures, lifestyles and norms, your writing will lack complexity. No one wants to read a boring account of presumptions and make-believe. Great stories arise from real experiences. Keep that in mind, while you’re living.

6. Share your work. This is the scariest and most vulnerable calling of the writer. We write for our own personal reasons, but we mainly want to write for others to enjoy our contributions to society. In order for this to happen, however, we must share our work. Stop holding your words captive. I believe that the most tragic occurrence is for a writer to receive her accolades and praise postmortem. I believe that the written word will ultimately be shared. Why not receive your flowers (and praise) while you’re sill living?

7. Embrace critics. When we share our work, we must prepare ourselves for critics. They are an inevitable part of the process. And with today’s modern technology, critics are an international, up-to-the-millisecond phenomenon. Brace yourself, but don’t be afraid. At the end of the day, it’s your work. You released it, and if everyone (and this is never the case) hates it, at least you stand behind it.

8. Don’t be a critic’s punching bag. Constructive criticism makes us better writers. But, ill-intentioned taunting and bullying is unacceptable. Always stand your creative ground when you believe in your work. Only accept the opinions of those who A) have your best intentions at heart, B) have the best intentions for your work and its expansion at heart, and/or C) can help further the reach of your writing’s influence. When it comes to critics, opinions are welcomed, but blatant cruelty is unacceptable and should not be tolerated.

9. Connect with your audience. There is no task more important to a writer than connecting with her audience. Every story has a specific audience, and it is up to the savvy (she)writer to locate it and connect effectively.

There is an old wives’ tales that says if your enter the New Year with a disorganized home, you will experience a year full of disarray. Now I don’t completely agree with this notion. Mainly because, I know that your finish does not have to mirror your start. But, I do understand the pure intention behind this superstitious tale.

I woke up this morning, looked around my house and (literally) popped up out of bed and began cleaning my house. It was a mess. It has been a busy two weeks, and my house has suffered from neglect. But during my cleanup session, I had an epiphany. I realized that it is imperative for writers to have an organized space in order for inspiration, thoughts and ideas to flow freely.

Now, I know the image of the mad writer with crumbled papers lying about her feet is the picture you may have of writers. But, I guarantee that inspired writing sessions usually began with some sort of clean space.

I’m not saying that you must sterilize your entire living space in order to produce inspired writing. I am saying that clear spaces aid in clearer writing. I’ve written in chaotic (looking) places, and have produced good work. However, the work that I produce in neat spaces is always far more superior.

As a writer you may encounter circumstances and obstacles that call for a change in direction. Your story may stop flowing or your charcaterization may loose its focus or zeal. This can be a frustraiting juncture on creativity lane.

I can remember spending several hours brainstorming a piece I was working on during undergrad. With undivided focus, I was able to write one solid paragragh. When the decision to change the direction of the piece arose internally, I immediatly resisted the notion. I had spent two days researching the topic. I was determined to finish what I had started; even though, I had only managed five sentences.

After wasting another thirty minutes fighting with my gut, I decided to give in, and change direction. And the moment I made the decision, my ideas were released from captivity. In about an hour's time, I had written the ten page paper that the assignment required.

I learned a valuable lesson that day: a detour does not equal a failure. Since then, I never second guessed my intuition concerning writing. I am now more concerned with producing great work regardless of several changes and revisions.

Stuff happens. Direction changes. Computers crash. Writer’s block ensues. In order for writers to consistently produce pieces, we must plan for hiccups in the road. Writers write. So regardless of the obstacle, we must continue to write.

I remember I used to plan for bad things to happen. That is until I discovered that I was living my life in total and utter fear. What if this happens? What if that happens? While I was planning for the evil tidings of life, I was not writing. And without work, I had nothing to document the writing talent that I was certain I possessed.

After understanding the groundwork of fear induced living, I decided to flip the script. Instead of planning what-if scenarios, I began planning perseverance and tenacity. I promised myself two things: regardless of what life threw my way 1) I would survive and 2) I would continue writing.

This 30-Day Challenge was a reigniting of this promise. And with 16 days under my belt, I have met a few bumps in the road. But, my outlook is rooted in perseverance. I will successful complete this challenge and write my way to the finish line. I am a writer and it’s what we do. We write like nobody’s business!

Every platform is built on sturdy foundation. When it comes to building your writer’s platform, two important relationships are its necessary footing. The first is the connection between you and your craft. The second is the relationship between you and your audience.

With the rapid advance of technology, many writers believe that creating websites and having a social media presence is the complete recipe for success. This is a half-truth (see lie). If you never effectively connect with your story and its audience, online efforts are trivial. People will only patron individuals they know or relate to. So, if you’re writer’s identity is uncertain, creating and positioning your work in the marketplace will prove difficult.

Online persona building and marketing tools have created a serious dilemma in the writing world. Not only are writers less personable, nowadays, many neglect to nurture the relationship between themselves and their artistry. When promotion overshadows creativity, platforms quickly crumble. And with no great works in your repertoire, what is there to promote?

I’ve seen great promotions by writers, and have been deflated by the finished product. My disappointment was rooted in the lack of follow-through. The bottom line is, consumers will know when your work is created with passion or half-hearted effort. Hence, writers must adhere to a standard of excellence.

When we take pride in our story presentation and connection, audiences will take notice, and patron our work. Remember, no amount of platform promotion can camouflage rushed, unorganized and uninspired writing.

Hello Ladies!

I did not write yesterday because I was busy gigging (I’m a photographer for Santa during the holidays). And after the last gig I took a much-needed nap. I did think about writing, but I was completely exhausted after three back-to-back holiday events. With all that, please forgive me. I am still very much on this 30-day challenge. As a matter of fact, we are 16 days in! Yea, we passed the halfway mark.

Today, I want to talk about editing.

As a writer many of us believe that editing is a breeze since we know (in our minds) how we want our finished work to sound. That notion couldn’t be further from the truth. I am also an editor, and when I edit the works of my clients they are always amazed at the critiques I find that make their work better before publishing. Long story short, writers shouldn’t edit their own work. And here’s why.

First, to write with an editing eye is a surefire way to have a blank screen (forever). I have to completely turn off that side of my brain if creativity is going to flow. My motto is: “it’s easier to edit than to create”. So while the inspiration juices are flowing, just write. Write whatever comes to mind without critique or reservation. When all of your thoughts are on paper it’s easier to edit from a clearer perspective. It’s nearly impossible to edit with a mind full of chatter from characters, plots and/or chapter ideas. Just trust me on this one.

Second, if you must edit your own work, edit small pieces only. For example, I edit these blog posts myself. But, what I do is translate them into a spoken track on my computer, and have my trusty editing assistant, Alex, read to me. His unenthusiastic, robotic voice helps me clearly hear mistakes and bouts of wordiness. From there, I touch up sections before publishing. But for larger projects, I always recommend a second (and third) pair of eyes.

As writers, we are too close to our work. Therefore, we miss mistakes because our minds will fill in the blanks with what we meant to write, instead of what is actually on the page. And spellcheck is a joke. Don’t trust it.

The worst thing to do is call yourself a writer and release work with several errors. People will question your level of credibility (and commitment) if you consistently produce patchy work. Now I will say this, the power of being a great storyteller will outshine most errors. But, professional writers (which we are) always want to present excellent work to the public.

As a new writer establishing her platform, the most frequent question you will be asked is who are you. Before people become interested in your work, they will want to get to know the woman behind the work. Having an established identity (and voice) is key.

The easiest, and most effortless, persona to present to the public is one rooted in honesty. People respect truth over credentials. Trust me.

When I first had the courage to share my work, critics complimented my honest perspective and voice. I realized in those moments that people patron writers who they feel are relatable, and not shrouded in clouds of degrees, prestige and exclusivity. Now don't get me wrong, education is great (I have two degrees), and formal training and exclusive memberships are awesome. But, don’t think that in order to impact audiences with your writing, you must have all these things. I believed this lie for a long time.

There is an audience for every voice.

Concentrate on understanding the writing style that is most natural to your voice and perspective. Also, remember that locating your writer's voice is a process. Expect and embrace (without judgment) frequent metamorphosis as you discover the right fit.

Once you grow confident in your writer's voice, answering the who are you query will be a breeze. You'll effortlessly shine as you speak about both yourself and your work passionately.

Give it a go today. How would you answer the question "who are you?"

This morning was a bit of a drag for me. My grogginess was met by intense sinus pressure and rain. Everything in me wanted to retreat back to my apartment, but my obligation to an early morning gig made my decision clear.

As I looked in the mirror, my reflection looked how I felt. The word blah comes to mind. But, I grabbed my trusty makeup bag and proceeded to cover the drabness of my countenance.

As I gussied myself up with a layer of foundation and my favorite magenta eye shadow, my eyes begin to smile. My glimmer was returning as I slowly began to resemble the Nicole that I know. After sealing the deal with lipgloss, inspiration struck for today's challenge installment.

As a writer you will have off days--moments when your writing feels blah. In those instances, you'll question the point of you subjecting yourself to such torture. Uninspired and forced writing is the pits. Frankly, it sucks.

When I find myself at low points in my writing, I leave ground zero and find something else to do. This usually involves creating something beautiful. Instead of stressing over the next chapter or blog entry, I open Photoshop and create an awesome cover for a book idea. Or, I'll find, and repin beautiful pins on Pinterest that inspire my mood.

Momentarily, relocating my focus always lightens my mood concerning a writing project. Beauty seems to be the elixir that rejuvenates my writing mojo. So when I'm in a funk, I locate the nearest beauty attraction or create something spectacular.

“I love it!”

“I hate it!”

Not everyone will be absolutely ga-ga over your creations. As a matter of fact, not many people will even care that you’ve decided to give writing a go, and put your soul on the line for your craft. In a world of chronic self-centeredness, not many people will even notice. This may sound pessimistic, but it’s truth with a heavy dose of reality.

As writers, when we share our work, the first rule of thumb is to expect rejection. And not only expect it, embrace it. Rejection begets choice and opportunity. These are the two best friends of a writer.

Choice presents the option to choose again.

Do I accept or reject criticism?

Do I continue or quit writing?

Do I agree or disagree with the commentary concerning my writing?

You have a choice in the matter. So, choose wisely.

Once you decide whether to take or leave rejection, this opens the door of opportunity.

How can I improve my writing?

How will I handle criticism in the future?

How can I improve the delivery of, or platform for my writing?

I’ve always believed that great works of art are polarizing. The moment you create something magnificent is the moment critic circles gather on either side of the pole. Some will love what you do; others will hate it. Instead of concerning yourself with either group’s criticisms, concentrate on creating something great. Lukewarm, non-polarizing writing is what you should avoid, not criticism.

As a writer, I get asked several questions about my craft. Many of these questions are from aspiring writers, poets and authors. After answering the same questions repeatedly, I decided to create an online series titled: So…You Think You Can Write?

  This writing series is intended to aid writers with subjects such as locating voice, determining tone and identifying a target audience for content. Listen to the first installment of SYTYCW for FREE, and download the accompanying worksheet.

  Don’t forget to share this with other aspiring writers.

  Enjoy. Happy writing!