A - Z of Writing Success

Joining. To help with your writing, joining a writers’ circle or group can be of great help. Here you can get feedback on your work as well as advice and opinions from others. Writing can be a lonely occupation and by meeting others your writing can not only benefit but you will have the chance to meet others who share your interests.

Know-how. In order to write effectively you will need to discover what works. And the best way to obtain this and the writing know-how is to read other writers in the subjects and genres you are interested in.

Learning. As a writer it is important to be aware and learn about what is going on. Whether it is learning about new publications or reading and widening your general knowledge, by being prepared to develop, your writing and skills will benefit.

A - Z of Writing Success

Genre. Choose your genre well. Write in the areas you know about rather than be tempted by markets which you may think offer big returns but which you are not really comfortable with. If you enjoy what you write this will show through in your work.

Humour. When appropriate try and inject some humour or light relief into what you write. This could be an anecdote, a quote or curious fact but its inclusion can help to make your writing more enjoyable and illustrate points in a more memorable way.

Ideas are essential to a writer and ideas are all around. Observe what is going on, look to newspapers and the media for inspiration. By being aware, by wondering, by asking ‘what if?’ you will find ideas coming more readily.

A - Z of Writing Success

Having got back from quite a bit of travelling here are the next 3 letters in the A-Z of Writing Success.

Discipline. To write and keep going requires discipline. So many writers have given up on good ideas when they run into problems or enthusiasm wanes. But to realise your potential and see results, you do need to remain disciplined and persevere.

Editing. As a writer you are aiming to sell your work and the better you edit the more favourably it will be viewed. In addition to checking spelling and grammar, look for superfluous words, clichés and sentences which may need tidying up. By editing well, you will be increasing your chances of acceptance.

Facts. In your writing, take care with the facts you use. Readers can be very quick to spot mistakes and if you make one, it will lessen the quality and authenticity of your work. When possible use more than one source and if you have any queries, check. Thanks to the internet it is possible to get information as well as contact experts far more easily.

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For those who are interested in my special writing report, Achieve More Acceptances and be Published More Often, a new edition will be made available on Lulu fairly soon. However if you would like a discounted copy, do please email me.

A - Z of Writing Success

Over the next few weeks I will be sharing what I call the A - Z of Writing Success and hope these thoughts will be helpful and inspiring.



Acceptance. This is what so many writers want but getting those acceptances requires determination. And if at the start of your writing career, rather than aim for top magazines or big publishers where competition is greatest, consider more regional publications or smaller publishing houses. In writing it is best to start small, gain experience and then gradually build up your writing career.

Belief. You must believe in yourself and your work. To doubt your abilities or what you write will undermine your work and chances. Remember the praise and constructive comments you may have received and successes enjoyed. As a writer, know you have it within you to write and to write well.

Contacts are important. Make the most of chances to meet other writers and those in the publishing industry. And if an editor or publisher takes your work, aim to build on this and keep in contact.


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Do please email if interested in my special report Achieve More Acceptances and Be Published More Often.

Your Subconcious

In this posting I would like to share a tip which has served me particularly well. And it is an unusual one and perhaps not found in many writing manuals.

When you are wanting an idea, whether for a story or article, tell yourself 'I need an idea' and leave this thought to dwell in your subconcious. When it is ready, your subconcious will respond.

Barbara Cartland used this method on many an occasion to help her come up with new plot scenarios and only last Sunday I told myself I needed a new article idea. By Monday morning I had one and an editor has already expressed interest.

Do remember the power of the subconcious. Put in requests. Tell yourself what you want - and you will get answers.

It is really effective.

Try it and I hope you will enjoy some good results.

Neil

ACHIEVE MORE ACCEPTANCES - Important Announcement

Thank you to those who have bought and also praised my special report.

I am about to revise and update it and the previous link to www.achievemoreacceptances.com is no longer valid. When I have finished revising I will be selling it on www.lulu.com.

In the meantime if you are interested in obtaining a copy of Achieve More Acceptances at a special discount do please email me at neil@neilsomerville.com

Alphasmart Neo - a review for writers

A writer friend I have was given an Alphasmart Neo as a Christmas present. It is a battery operated keyboard and which allows you to type in work, edit, print it out, send or beam it to a computer or Palm device. The word processing programme it uses, Alphaword, also has a great many features including find and replace, a spell checker, thesaurus, word count and copy and paste. In addition it has a calculator function and a typing tutor.
I was so impressed that I decided to buy one and it has already proved its worth.

No longer do I need to sit at or be tied to a computer and with the distraction of the internet and emails that come through. I can instead take the Alphasmart around with me and use it to type and edit my work virtually anywhere. It is very light and portable. Also the screen is clear and does not have the glare of some monitors and which can I am sure lead to eye strain. The Alphasmart has an incredibly long battery life – possibly 800 hours or more - and is very energy efficient.

Another impressive feature is how easy the Alphasmart is to use with the computer. Files can be sent through a USB cable to MS Word or relevant programme or beamed over using IR. I have also used it with my Palm TX and again beaming files was easy and straightforward. From the Palm I send the text as an email attachment and with both the Neo and Palm so portable this has already proved exceptionally helpful.

The Alphasmart model I have is the Neo and this does seem a firm favourite with Alphasmart User groups. There is though another model available in the US called the Dana and which does have internet and email capabilities.

On the one occasion I needed to contact the makers of the Alphasmart, they were most helpful and responsive. The Alphasmart is not only an impressive product but backed by an equally impressive company and with great customer support. The Alphasmart, because of its reliability and simplicity has also been introduced into many schools but for writers it has my highest recommendation. It is convenient, sturdy, portable, energy efficient and I have no doubt will help to increase my productivity and output. For further details visit www.alphasmart.co.uk or www.alphasmart.com.

Writing Output

I have been asked how many words I write a day?

The answer is probably about 2000 although sometimes, when I have a lot of editing to do, it is much less. I try to have 2 main writing sessions - first thing in the morning and this is when I write on Chinese horoscopes - the second is the afternoon when I write or revise articles.

Although it is always interesting to know how much writers write each day, I feel the main thing is not so much the number of words but that you do actually write something. Even if you are only able to write 50 or 100, at least over time your words will mount up.

As a writer, do aim to write something everyday - it will help your output and your craft.

Good luck - and do please email me with any questions.

Writing Advice

In response to the first question I have had, 'What advice would you give a beginner writer?'

In one word - persistence. You have to persist and by persisting, by trying and by venturing, you not only improve your writing and style but also find what works best for you, including the right genre.

Also, do be prepared for rejections. These are inevitable but again, by pitching your work and ideas, you may get valuable feedback, find out more what editors are looking for as well as continually improving your work. And if you follow The Golden Opportunity, as described in Achieve More Acceptances, you could find this opens up some good ways into print.

Good luck, and I look forward to receiving and answering more writing questions in my next posting.

Writing Questions Answered

A Happy New Year and I wish you well and every success with your writing in 2008.

For this month I have decided to change the nature of this blog a little and instead of writing small pieces, will be answering any writing questions you may have. So, if you would welcome some advice or an opinion, do please email. Your question will be given on the blog (but not your name) together with my reply.

Also, I have decided to keep the current offer on Achieve More Acceptances open for January. All purchasers will be entitled to have a piece of writing of upto 1500 words apprasied and with helpful marketing suggestions given if appropriate.

I very much look forward to hearing from you and your writing questions.

Happy Christmas - and a special writing offer

This will be the last blog of the current year and I would like to take this opportunity of wishing you a truly happy Christmas and successful new year. And thank you to the many who I know regularly visit my blog and for the kind messages I have received.

As a very special Christmas offer, I am offering all who buy my special report, Achieve More Acceptances and be Published More Often, a FREE evaluation and assessment of a piece of work. This can be in any genre and upto 1500 words. If appropriate I will also give marketing advice. With the reasonable price of Achieve More Acceptances, this free assessment makes it remarkable value and the offer applies only to those who buy between now and 31st December. To order and for more details, this is the link.

Name Prints - ideal Christmas present

An unusual posting this week but with Christmas around the corner this may be of interest.

Over the year I have been studying the ancient science of acrophonology and which looks at the significance of letters in a name. As a result of this I have written several articles and have started to produce personalised name prints. These have been extremely well received and are not only interesting to read but are ideal for framing and displaying. Female names are printed on an attractive rose bordered paper and male names on an inspiring sky blue paper

I am currently offering a surprise free gift with each order as well as FREE postage. If you are interested here is the link for more details.

Keys to Writing Success - Revision Time

Here is a writing tip which I hope will serve you well.

It is that when finishing a piece of work, and you do not have a pressing deadline to meet, allow some time before sending the work off. By allowing yourself this time - even if just a gap of a few days - you will be able to look at your work in a new light and perhaps spot errors or sentences that may not read as well as you would like. Today, for instance, I was going through an article I finished last Friday and thought was ready. To my alarm I spotted two errors - one in the opening paragraph and which, despite my reading the article over several times, I had not spotted before. Allowing time and reading your work after an interval can certainly help you to spot mistakes, improve it and, in the process, help strenghten your chances of publication.

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I have recently updated my website and if you would like to take a look it is http://neilsomerville.com

Story Endings

In recent weeks I have heard several writers read out short stories they have written. Interestingly most of these stories started really well and drew you into the action and characterisation quite quickly. They then tailed off and with the concluding part of the story a disappointment.

It is possible these writers began their stories with the beginning and opening very clear in their mind and then, as they wrote, thought up the conclusion.

Some writers do write this way and see where their stories and characters take them. I know one detective writer who does not know whodunit until their story is quite advanced. However if you write this way, once you have written your story you do need to consider your conclusion carefully.

Does it satisfy the reader?
Is there a good twist?
Does it end in the strongest possible way?
Does your story end with a 'bang,' ie deliver the conclusion and then finish rather than peter out.

The beginning of any story is very important as you need to draw the reader in. But the ending also has to be strong, particularly if you are hoping to interest an editor with your work.

If you write fiction, do pay attention to your ending and make sure it is strong and satisfying. Just as writers like to give thought to beginnings, this is equally true of endings - and besides, a strong ending can always increase the chance of acceptance.

Keys to Writing Success Part 11. Naming Characters

Sherlock Holmes.

One of the most famous and enduring names in fiction.

It has a special quality. Different, intriguing and also possibly a little remote.

It is a name we remember.

And names in fiction are supremely important.

As Emile Zola wrote, 'I always judge a young author by the names which he bestows on his characters. If the names seem to be weak or unsuitable on the people who bear them, I put the author down as a man of little talent, and am no further interested in the book.'

You can choose names from books containing name lists - for instance Baby Names, online or by looking through the phone book. One name I conjured up for one of my characters in my one and only novel was Ma Demuth, with the Demuth coming from the phone book. Although the novel is unpublished those who have read it, remember Ma Demuth well.

It really is worth spending the time to create good and appropriate character names, particularly as it can help make your characters remain in the minds of readers.

Keys to Writing Success - Part 10

I once read about a writer who specialised in writing teenage fiction. To help keep her target audience in mind she had a picture of a teenager on her desk. This was a constant reminder of who (and the age range) she was writing for and allowed her to write in the best and most appropriate way.

As you plan and set about your writing, this is something which can be of great help. Visualise the type of person most likely to read your material. By doing so your writing will be more relevant, applicable and, if sent to the right magazine or publisher, have greater chance of acceptance.

Do bear this important Writing Key in mind - I am sure it will serve you well.

Keys to Writing Success Part 9 - Successful Timing

Before mentioning a new writing tip, many thanks to all who have contacted me through this blog. Also, some have also enquired about my new book, Your Chinese Horoscope 2008. For American readers this is now available for purchase from Barnes and Noble. If you would like to order a signed copy, please visit my website, http://neilsomerville.com

My writing tip this week is this: plan and look ahead. Magazines often work several months ahead and although we are in early October, many Christmas editions have been or are about to be finalised. If you write for magazines, you do need to write seasonal or time-related items well in advance. Similarly with newspaper submissions, if you have an idea for an article, try and submit this as soon as you can. In publishing time is of the essense and, as the saying reminds us, 'the early bird catches the worm,' and in writing it is often the early and appropriate submissions that catch the editor's eye.

For magazine and newspaper writing, plan your work well in advance.

Good Luck.

Keys to Writing Success - Part 8

Recently I read about a writer who had written a short story and was wondering where he should send this. He mentioned it was a rather unusual story and with hidden meanings.

On reading this I do wonder if his story stands any chance of publication. The reason is, if you are hoping to get published rather than write for personal pleasure, then you do need to consider the market first and where you intend to submit to. That way you can tailor your work to meet the needs of a magazine or publisher and their intended audience.

For those writing for publication, this is an important principle - start by considering the needs to the market (including what readers and editors are looking for,) rather than writing and then wondering what to do next. I write about this in greater detail in Achieve More Acceptances and this and other principles given can certainly help make the path to publication that much smoother.

Bear this Key to Writing Success in mind. It is an important one and can serve you well.

Good Luck.

Story ideas - The Colin Dexter way

A little while ago I attended a talk given by the crime writer and creator of Morse, Colin Dexter. And during a fascinating evening he told of how he devised many of his stories. He said that he took an incident from real life but changed just one thing. And from that change, events took a new (and sometimes sinister) turn.

It's a wonderful way to come up with story ideas and if you are ever in need of a plot, do bear this method in mind. It could be an incident you read in a paper or something you actually experienced but just change one thing or detail ... and then wonder what the consequences are.

Good luck and happy plot creating!

Achieve More Acceptances - A Review

When I wrote Achieve More Acceptances my aim was to help writers make more of their talents and to get published more easily. And I was very gratified to receive the following review from writer John Craggs earlier this week.

'I finally got to finish reading AMA, (Life got in the way for a while...), and thoroughly enjoyed it, much of the time nodding in agreement

I could have done with something like this all those years ago when I first started trying to sell my work. Good solid practical information which double-guesses most of a would-be writer's questions.

The concept of the 'golden opportunity 'was very worthwhile. I've had a few of these, where a little extra effort or thought have really paid off. I suspect a lot of people let these chances slip by either through procrastination, fear of rejection, or giving up too easily.

I'm not teaching any classes at the moment, but AMA has been added to my small list of books I'll cheerfully suggest to writing students. Come to think of it, this will be the first 'download' I've ever suggested. (Sign of the times.)'

Achieve More Acceptances is currently available for the very reasonable price of $7 (about £3.60) and to order or for more details please email me at neil@neilsomerville.com

John Craggs is the author of some highly entertaining books, 'A Hamper of Havoc' and 'British Bike Bodgers Booklet' and both can be ordered via www.lulu.com. He also writes a fortnightly humour newsletter and to subscribe you can email John at gyppo1@ntlworld.com with 'MSD SUB'