Keys to Writing Success - Part 7

This week I'm going to share with you something that has served me well for many a year. It is also something that I have touched on before but is so important, is worth mentioning again.

To make the most of your writing time you need to stay organised and think ahead. By doing so, you will be preparing yourself mentally for what it is you want to write. If not, there is a risk that when you do have writing time, you could be sitting in front of a screen or sheet of paper without any firm ideas.

Writing time is too valuable to waste.

To help me maintain my own output, I always plan out on Sunday what I intend to write during the week. This gives me something to aim for as well as allow me to collect my thoughts. This weekly plan is not necessarily detailed but serves as a useful guide and prompt.

I also make a daily to do list, again setting out all I want to do that day, including specific writing projects as well as other things.

By making weekly - and daily - lists you will find it will not only help you with your writing output but keep your writing projects on track.

The Keys to Writing Success - Part 6

One of my favourite writing maxims is, 'To be a writer you need to be an eternal optimist.'

And to succeed, you do need to believe in what you do and keep putting your work and ideas forward. Such is the way of publishing, some work and ideas will get rejected but you must keep going and be optimistic and hopeful.

During the week I was saddened to read one person interested in writing, write 'I have never had anything accepted and probably never will.'

With such an attitude making that breakthrough and getting accepted will be doubly difficult. As Henry Ford wrote, 'If you believe you can do a thing, or if you believe you cannot, you are RIGHT.'

As a writer believe in your skills. And know that if you keep writing, keep putting forward ideas and proposals and retain a healthy sense of optimism (despite the inevitable knocks) you will get results.

Good luck and I wish you and your writing well.

Back from my holidays

In case you have been wondering why there haven't been any postings recently, I have been away on holiday - and a very idyllic time in rural Estonia. As is always the case after a holiday, loads of emails, post, the unpacking etc. But I hope to be adding a new (and important) Key to Writing Success in the next few days.

Also as a reminder, for those in the UK who may prefer to buy a copy of Achieve More Acceptances and pay in sterling (rather than dollars) please email me at neil@neilsomerville.com.

Until my next post, here's wishing you all the best with your own writing activities.

The Keys to Writing Success - Part 5

As a writer you need to be aware. This way you can pick up ideas and thoughts more easily or see or hear things that you could incorporate in what you write.

And although you may think, 'Ok, I will be more aware,' this is not always enough. You need to actually take in and note down what you see. Jot down your thoughts in a notebook or, if have one and are able, record your impressions on your MP3.

And in addition to noticing what may be going on around you, keep alert for writing possibilities and markets. You could see something interesting or amusing that could make a good filler or be made into an article or a magazine you could possible write for.

As a writer it is essential to be aware.

There are writing ideas and possibilities all around.

And as a final thought. Today, make an effort to be especially aware and to notice or think of something that could have some writing value for you and be sure to write it down.

Good luck.

Achieve More Acceptances - British Writers

Some British writers have asked me if it is possible to buy Achieve More Acceptances in sterling rather than to pay in dollars. At the moment the Paypal link is set up in dollars but if you are interested in buying Achieve More Acceptances and paying in sterling, please email me at neil@neilsomerville.com for details.

More information and some reader comment can be found on http://achievemoreacceptances.com . The UK price is currently £3.50 and, with the tips, advice and the special Golden Opportunity which I have found so useful, is truly remarkable value.

The Keys to Writing Success - Part 4

JK Rowling first thought of Harry Potter while sitting alone on a train and Dickens created many of his masterpieces while walking the Kent countryside.

These moments of quiet and reflection are essential for the creator. And in this fast paced and noisy age, it is very important to shut yourself away from all this and just think, wonder and be yourself. This is when some of the best creations and ideas come about.

As a writer, make sure you have times of quiet during your week and you will find it can lead you to new ideas, allow you to work out plot scenarios or just freshen your mind and spirit for work you may currently be engaged on.

Seek out the quiet
the stillness
the tranquility.
And enjoy.

Achieve More Acceptances

I have recently had a number of enquiries about Achieve More Acceptances and Be Published More Often and, in answer to some of the questions, I am pleased to reproduce the introduction to the report and hope that it will be of interest.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this report is to help you achieve more acceptances and be published more often. And, in the pages that follow, you will find ways in which you can strengthen your submissions and so improve your chance of acceptance.

Some of these methods you may already follow but there will also be some you may not be so familiar with. In particular you will read about ‘The Golden Opportunity.’ This is something I stumbled across in my own writing career and has opened a number of outlets for my work. This opportunity can, I believe, also help many and I thoroughly recommend that you stay alert for your own ‘golden opportunities.’ By doing so you could be well rewarded.

Much of the advice covered in this report covers can be applied to both fiction and non-fiction. However, if you are particularly keen to get into print, I would recommend you concentrate initially on non-fiction. There are far more openings for informative and factual pieces than there are for stories and this is shown by the many special interest magazines and publications currently in print. Even though fiction may be enjoyable to write, it is also harder to sell.

Also, when you place your work or get an encouraging response from an editor, do use and build on this. One submission or compliment can be the opening you need and pave the way to others. As a writer keen to get those all important acceptances, do make the most of chances you have.

Be alert. Be persistent. And believe in what you do.
And I very much hope that this report can guide you towards the breakthrough and acceptances you are wanting.


More details can be found at http://achievemoreacceptances.com and where it is available for instant download for $7 (or about £3.50).


Next week, another Key to Successful Writing.

The Keys to Writing Success - Part 3

This week an essential key.

To write and to realise your potential, you need to be persistent. Unfortunately many feel that writing is just a case of sitting down and putting pen to paper. But to get published and to get your writing taken seriously, you need to allow time to learn the craft, to perfect your prose and to find out what works.

In my early days of writing I had countless rejections, but I just kept believing that one day I would get something accepted. And if you are in the early stages of your writing career, the same could be true for you. You can get published but you do need to allow time and persist

And here are some thoughts on this very subject

Be persistent.. Editors change; editorial tastes change; markets change. Too many beginning writers give up too easily.
John Jakes.


Never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.
Harriet Beecher Stow.

And finally,

If you've got the guts to stick it out ... you're going to make it.
Brian Hays.


Good luck, and remember persistence pays.

The Keys to Writing Success - Part 2

The title is the first thing an editor or reader sees and it has to capture attention.

Whenever possible make sure your title intrigues or, if an article or nonfiction, sets out possible benefits (eg the ever-effective How to … or 7 Ways to …) So important is a good title, I have written about it at great length in Achieve More Acceptances.

In the meantime, here are the thoughts of some well-known authors on titles:

The Ancient Mariner would not have taken so well if it had been called The Old Sailor.
Samuel Butler.

I make a list of titles after I’ve finished the story or the book – sometimes as many as a hundred. Then I start eliminating them, sometimes all of them.
Ernest Hemingway.

A good title is the title of a successful book.
Raymond Chandler

With every piece of writing you do, it really will reward you well to give careful thought to the title. A good title will help sell your work.

The Keys to Writing Success - Part 1

'I often quote myself. It adds spice to the conversation'
George Bernard Shaw.


And quotes can certainly add some spice, whether to something you have written or in helping to illustrate a point you want to make in a discussion or speech.

And in the next few blogs I will be passing on some quotes from writers which I think contain some valuable sentiments.

The first is from William Styron, 'There's only one person a writer should pay any attention to. It's not any damn critic. It's the reader.'

While from Quentin Crisp, 'I want to write the words people want to print.'

And Judith Krantz, 'I'm writing to have fun and for my readers to have fun. I do the best work I can do.'

All these three quotes have the same message - you need to write with the reader (and audience) in mind. Once you do that, your writing will be far more effective - and often more successful too.

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In my special report, Achieve More Acceptances I mention The Golden Opportunity and which I have found a very effective way of getting material (and in some cases, some series) published. A few weeks ago I took The Golden Opportunity a stage further, approaching a web publisher. They responded within minutes expressing interest and accepting my work. For more details about The Golden Opportunity, take a look at Achieve More Acceptances and Be Published More Often and you could find it opens up some interesting markets for your own work, both for print or the web.


Good Luck.

Chinese Horoscopes

This week sees the publication of my new book, Your Chinese Horoscope 2008. Although in this blog I mainly write about writing matters, if Chinese horoscopes are of interest you can find more details about my book by clicking on the Amazon link below. For American readers the book will be available through Barnes and Noble a little later in the year.




One of the fascinating aspects of Chinese horoscpes concerns the personalities of the 12 animal signs and, just as I have seen writing teachers suggest that writers base characters on their knowledge of Western signs (eg determined Taureans, secretive Scorpions etc), the same can be applied to animal signs. Indeed whenever I meet someone I am always interested to find out their Chinese sign and so have a better appreciation of their nature, including strengths and possible weaknesses. This, together with the helpfulness of indicated trends, are just part of this fascinating and ancient discipline.

In my next blog I will share some of my favourite writing quotations and some more information about Achieve More Acceptances and Be Published More Often .

Write this Moment

As writers it is very important to remain aware of market developments as well as keep informed about possible opportunities. Although books and directories can be useful, with new publications appearing as well as changes in personnel and requirements, these are not always up to date or reflect current needs. However I recently discovered a service being offered by Write this Moment. For a very reasonable quarterly or annual subscrittion, each week they post details on a job board listing the requirements of certain magazines or publishers.

I have had my own subscription for about a month and have been greatly impressed by the range of work and opportunities being posted. Also, if something is of particular interest, it is possible to have the details emailed to you or be directed to the relevant website.

In Achieve More Acceptances and Be Published More Often I wrote about how to find and profit from 'golden opportunities' and am positive Write This Moment will yield quite a few.

If you are seeking to be published or looking for new markets, I thoroughly recommend taking out a subscription. For details and more information visit, www.writethismoment.com.

Getting the Editor's Approval

In my last blog I emphasised how important it is for you, the writer, to think of your reader. This way your writing will be more appropriate as well as having greater chance of being accepted.

To this, I would like to add how important it is to also think of the editor. The editor has to provide what his or her readers may be wanting. And, when putting work forward for consideration, mention in your covering letter or email how your work will appeal to their readers. Outline some benefits or the relevance and main appeal of your work and, by doing so, the editor can quickly see your work has merit and so will give it closer attention.

As a writer you are trying to sell your work and by thinking of the requirements of the reader and editor and meeting both, your work will stand more chance or publication.

Good luck.

Increasing Your Chance of Publication

I was watching a business programme the other night and the key message one industrialist kept putting forward was 'Think Customer.' It is the customer who buys and who ultimately decides on the success or failure of any venture.

And this message applies to writers. You need to think of the reader. What do they want to know or can gain from your writing? If you can make it relevant to their needs or can engage the reader in some way, then you will increase the chance of selling your work.

Sometimes writers can be indulgent and write for themselves. And while this can make writing a joy and pleasure it does not necessarily help you to sell what you write.

If you want to sell your work, always keep the reader in mind.

Next week I will add a further consideration which can again help you to increase your chances of a sale. In the meantime if you are keen to write for publication, do have a look at my special report, Achieve More Acceptances and Be Published More Often. One reviewer wrote, “I have read quite a few books about writing but I have never read anything as good as this. It says it all simply and is packed with so much information." And with the purpose and theme of the report being to help you to 'Achieve More Acceptances.'

Good luck.

The Magic of Writing Goals

In previous blogs I have mentioned that every Sunday I make a list of what I need and want to write over the next week. This not only helps me to keep on track but allows me to think ahead as well as collect thoughts, ideas and facts.

However this Sunday I not only wrote my list but also added some longer term hopes and aims. I have been a firm believer in the value of writing goals but my action this Sunday helped re-enforce how valuable this process can be. It was as if writing down some personal aims I have re-ignited a spark inside me and yesterday (Monday) was exceptionally productive.

In addition to writing down daily or weekly writing targets, add longer term aims and see what a difference this can make.

If you find this as effective as I do and/or have had success in goals you have previously written down, do please write and tell me at selfhelpforwriters@hotmail.co.uk It is a fascinating area and one that can help with your writing as well as in other areas of your life.

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Thanks to all who have recently visited my blog and for the comments I have received, including a newspaper plug! However if you are visiting for the first time and are keen to make more of your writing talents, do take a look at my ebook, Achieve More Acceptances and Be Published More Often. For reviews, information and to benefit from the current low price (it's just $7), do visit http://achievemoreacceptances.com

Writer's Market UK

A new writing directory has just been published in the UK. Published by David and Charles, Writer's Market UK 2008 is a large directory containing 976 pages of entries, advice and information useful to the writer. To accompany the book there is also a dedicated website and with a free 30 day trial available to those purchasing the book.

The first 110 pages consists of articles on all aspects of writing including Publicity and How to Get It, Writing for Newspapers, Writing for the Web and Good and Bad Letters. This is followed by the Directory listings and which include UK and Irish publishers and publications. These are extensive and just by looking through the entries I discovered publications which I did not know about and which I intend to follow up. (Only yesterday I pitched an idea to one of the publications listed.)

There are also extensive listings for Radio and Television, theatre, agencies and consultancies, organisations, groups and clubs, competition and prizes, festivals and conferences as well as a wide range of resources useful for the writer.

For those interested in selling their work, whether to a magazine or to learn of suitable publishers or agents, I thoroughly recommend obtaining a copy. It is detailed, comprehensive and has all the links and details you need.

Stephen King's Advice

In his excellent book On Writing, Stephen King mentions the time he was asked how he wrote his books. He replied, 'word by word.' And by sitting down and writing his many books and novels got written.

And as writers, we do need to write - regularly and often. And by writing 'word by word,' articles, stories and books will get completed and you will be increasing your chances of publication.

Ideally aim to write something everyday and this way your words and output will mount up.

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The British authoress Suzanne Harris has recently posted a review of Achieve More Acceptances and Be Published More Often on her blog, she writes:

I found the report to be a simple, factual piece of writing that all aspiring writers can learn a lot from, and I personally highly recommend it. This report is a good read, contains valuable information and only costs $7! If you're just starting out, you can a learn from a well-established author, for very little money, simply by reading this valuable document.

For the full review, here's the link to Suzie's blog http://nonfictionmuse.blogspot.com.

My new website

I have often read that it is worth writers having their own website, so making it easier for readers and the media to contact as well as to help promote their work. It is something I have considered for some time and this week have launched my site,www.neilsomerville.com. I hope to be adding to the various pages shortly but do take a look and I'd be very interested and grateful for any comments.

Also my special report Achieve More Acceptances and be Published More Often has been recently updated and with a specially reduced price. Details can be obtained from this link.

Roald Dahl's idea

One of my favourite writers is Roald Dahl and I will never forget reading about a journey he made. He was out in the country driving along when suddenly an idea struck. As he didn't want to forget it, he stopped to write it down. However, as he did not have any paper or a pen in the car, he ended up writing the idea on the dust of the bonnet of his car!

The moral is - always take some paper and something to write with you when you go out. However, to this I would like to add the following suggestion.

Whenever you go for a walk or out somewhere, always aim to write something down before you return home. By priming youself like this, ideas will come.

Try it and you'll see how effective this can be.

Next week I have some interesting news to announce - until then, have a good weekend.

Building on Your Writing Contacts

Earlier this month I emailed an idea to a magazine editor. The next day my mail server went down (and is still down). This meant that I was not able to receive emails to my main address.

Wondering if the editor had responded to my idea and knowing they were not able to send me an email, I got back in contact and explained my email problem, saying that if she had replied I would not have received it.

The editor did reply, commented how annoying my email situation must be but said she did not want to take up this particular idea. I then replied thanking her for her response and tentatively wondered if another idea I had may be more suitable.

It was. And it has since resulted in a major commission.

The reason I am mentioning this is because it shows how important it is that when you have established communication and contact with an editor, it is possible to build on it. And also that problems (eg my email situation) can turn out to be blessings in disguise!

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For other ways to help you to achieve more acceptances, do take a look at my special report, http://achievemoreacceptances.com.