Writers Beware: Why You Shouldn't Pay For Book Reviews

I'm sharing this for 2 reasons,,,one it's a friends blog and I support the work she does and two,,,this is important folks,,,if you are a self published author or considering that route for your writing this is something to be on the look out for and avoid,,,Google the dudes name and many more articles concerning this will come up,,,

Writers Beware: Why You Shouldn't Pay For Book Reviews

Can my blog posts get better?

It's a bit of a rhetorical question, and not one I am expecting a answer for. Altho any critique is welcome. As a wannabe writer, I am always looking for ways to improve my writing, whether it be how I write or the topics I choose to write about. If my writing improves it should follow that my blog will improve, at least I hope so.

As I spend more time with my blog, or attempt to (life has a way of interrupting), I find that I have been instinctively following what the author suggests. The only one I catch myself not following is #1, writing the headline first. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.

As for the four remaining tips, it seems the natural thing to do. Especially for my longer entries.

5 Tips for Writing Significantly Better Blog Posts

Feed your brain

Some great ideas to help you find inspiration for writing. If you're like me, I can use all the help I can get.

Have you ever sat for hours, staring at your screen, hating yourself for procrastinating, but struggling to think of a single sentence to write?

The blinking cursor mocking you from a blank screen might be the world’s worst place to search for writing inspiration. Your brain needs stimulation and fuel to think creatively.

A weightlifter would be a fool to expect major muscle mass without a proper diet and exercise regimen –– you can’t expect to produce compelling copy without making a conscious effort to feed your mind and spirit.

Writing Inspiration

Online vs. "real" life

I was anonymous back then, and didn’t feel the need to censor anything I wrote. After all, wasn’t that what blogs were for? Verbally drop-kicking people who hurt me, divulging my uneasy secrets to get them off my chest, saying everything I could never say in real life? Wasn’t that what the Internet was for? Finally — a way to be noticed without being called out.

I had to chuckle when I came across this article, I am at a crossroads as to how much I want (need??) to vent (oh,,, how I want to vent so so bad) versus what I actually should say regarding issues in my personal life. Not that I am concerned about the impact such disclosures would have on me personally, but out of respect to "others" involved (not that I have received any respect lately, but that is another story.)

A primary example being the situation surrounding my now ex and her arrest; public knowledge of the story versus putting a spotlight on something that had remained out of the local news media. In other words, until the court hearings, very little detail had been published concerning the incident. I wanted to blab about it, but out of respect for my friends who where victimized, I didn't. (Actually both my friends and I were hoping that we may luck out and not have any information published in the local media. We did lobby for that idea, since we live in such a small town, but the media won out. To their credit, they were very discreet and kept the use of names to a minimum.)

All of this is why now, no matter what I write, be it on Facebook or Twitter or my personal blog or a comment on someone else’s website, I make sure the words I’m typing are words I am willing to stand behind.

Prior to this blog I had two others, one similar to this and a more personal blog/website dealing with my journey of being dx'd with bipolar disorder and the immediate aftermath. I remember some people even then commenting about my openness concerning my diagnosis, but I was more concerned about learning, reaching out and trying to destroy the stigma surrounding mental illness. I still am, and remain, to this day. If my rantings reached one confused soul so be it, all was good.

Now tho it's a much different scenario.

Like the author, I felt anonymous (facebook didn't exist, neither did twitter); and yes, there has been a progression in my thinking. I will still talk openly about my battles with bipolar and issues surrounding it, but I will not delve too deep into personal life. (Now I'm more interested in topics that deal with proper treatment and maintaining a stable life with or without meds.) Also, I may have an advantage, I keep a personal handwritten journal where all hell is let loose, and I do not hold back; so my need to publicly vent is held in check (altho occasionally, little bits an pieces do sneak out in other online forums. Sometimes I just can't help myself.) Another factor, the focus of my blog is different. I'm more interested in intriguing bits of information that are floating in the cyber world, not discussing the nitty gritty of my personal life unless it highlights a point in an article I am posting about.

Blending my online persona with who I really am can sometimes feel boring; after all, there’s no way to make myself seem super awesome and interesting through carefully crafted Facebook updates or a half-true blog post, but if a slight mundane-ness is the price I have to pay for living a truthful life — both online and off — then bring on the ordinary.

And that I agree with whole heartily. What you see, is what you get. I am who I am, and I hope some may find it interesting, and gain insight. Others may well be bored out of their minds. It is still fun for me, and that is what this blog is partly about. And as I have stated before, I am an information junkie, I must store this information some where.

The Dangers Of Letting Your Online Persona Do The Talking | World of Psychology

For the writer in you

Just thought I would pass this along; from my Writer's Digest newsletter.

There Are No Rules - 5 Free E-Books Every Writer Needs

Writing Voice,,,what's mine?

For those interested in writing, this author offers some great insights into the process. Who hasn't' dreamed of writing a best seller, I know I have,,,lol.

After the third time I had taken the class I realized that it was a matter of trying to tap into a source inside me and write from there, speak from there, discover from there. This voice was both familiar and new, but it wasn’t mine until I wrote it down and worked with it.

Ah the ole writing voice,,,I've never been good at this aspect of my writing, or have I?? I can be serious or light I guess it depends on the topic of interest. One thing I have discovered through the course of my blogging "career" - just be me. I have found that if I just let things flow I get more production (for lack of a better word). I do not edit much except for the occasional typo and maybe wordiness, but other than that, what you see is what you get.

The one fly in this delusional ointment was the fact that sitting down to write something engaging was much more difficult than I could imagine,,,To find my voice, I needed to spend more time writing. I began thinking about writing all the time,,,

Isn't that the truth!! I have about 20 post started but not yet finished. They are a bit "deeper" than my usual rants and raves. My problem tho is more to do with quality time to write. And yes, I think about writing all the time, is why I keep a note book with me, if not I would have many napkins laying about.

The single greatest lesson I’ve learned is to write what I feel inspired to write, and to accept the fact that only about one tenth of what I produce will make it into print. In some odd way this has taken the pressure off me to hit the nail on the head when I write something. Instead I can focus on trying to convey a thought or a feeling, and allow myself the luxury of rewriting it until my voice is as clear as possible.

Some articles I read spark a nerve, ie. issues surrounding mental illness, and I can spend an hour or two writing. Others, need a bit more kindling and may take two or three sittings. And then there are the duds, no matter how much I want to write, nothing comes out.

In the grand scheme of thing, I write what I do because it hits a nerve in some way. It interest me, and I hope those of you who visit my blog. I have fun doing this, and learn some new things in the process.

Do I want to publish a book? You betcha, I actually have two outlines and one rough draft written. I just don't have the quality time I need to do it properly. Some day tho, but in the mean time y'all get my rants and raves.


Finding Your Writing Voice without Losing Your Mind | World of Psychology

So you stil want to be a writer?

A good rundown on the writing process. Something to post into the back of my mind when the writing bug hits me. Yes, I aspire to be a writer, but life has interupted. So for now I play with my blog until I get better settled financially.

Finding Your Writing Voice without Losing Your Mind

If y'all are into writing personal memiors,,,

this is a good site with lots of info and tips. Pretty straight foreward with different techniques.

Memoir Writing Blog — Autobiography, Personal Stories, Family History, Life Story, Memoir Writing Workshops, Journaling, Writing, Memoir Writing Prompts