Advice

Some of the Most Habit-Forming Things are Good for You! by Ginger Jorgental

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Virtual Writers holds a daily Writers’ Dash exercise (Monday-Friday at 6am and 6pm PT) that benefits both students and writers by expanding their knowledge of the English language. According to Sue Dymoke (2003), part of the instructional process of creative writing is to attempt the usage of new words. Other aspects of creative writing development include the initiation and expansion of ideas as well as the process of planning and reviewing (Dymoke, 2003). By drawing from personal reservoirs of knowledge, each writer gains insight into his or her world view. The ongoing exchange of dialogue and support at the dash helps improve the self-confidence that so many writers need. Through the absorption of content found in each other’s writings, participants fuel one another’s progress while at the same time garnering value by observing a multitude of individual writing styles. Within the constraints of a 15 minute time limit, writers are faced with the challenges of composition: form, word usage as well as content (Dymoke, 2003).  They must make decisions about the tone of their writing, the delivery of their words, and at the same time be mindful that others will read what they have written. With the option to post their Dash pieces to the Virtual Writers blog, there is an immediacy of exposure which can benefit writers and that engenders confidence amongst peers. Also, by making writing habit-forming, the daily Dash supports a diet rich in creative writing. Writing on a daily basis instills discipline, while at the same time this routine allows an immense inborn quality to emerge. Writing gives many lives new meaning. I’m sure you will find that exploring creative avenues will allow you to delve into depths which cannot be explored in the confines of reality. And after a period of time writing in this way, many people find that they have amassed quite a large diary of their own work, much of which can be edited and reworked for the purposes of self-publishing. For those of you who are considering self-publishing, I encourage you to explore your options and seek out publishing partners who are reputable. In North America, a high rating from the Better Business Bureau is indicative of the propensity to conduct sound business. Seek out consumer evaluations and research all registered complaints against a given company before signing up. Price points in self-publishing include the initial publication package, which may include services such as copyright registration, book sellers insurance (in case of returns), cover design and copy editing (line editing for spelling and grammar only). Look for e-publishing as well as traditional product offerings inclusive in the package. Additional costs include: high-pixel image for the front cover, content editing (highly recommended!), and promotional materials. Consider everything that will go into the making of your book and create a project plan that includes registration of your own URL and website construction and maintenance. In a highly competitive market, Indie writers need to find platforms to showcase their talent. Demonstrating the quality of your work...

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How To Deal With Rejection by Lucy V Hay aka @Bang2write

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Any writer who believes s/he can go from “aspiring to published” writer without experiencing the bitter sting of rejection is in for a shock. Whether you want to be published the traditional way or go the indie route, rejection is part of the journey, whether it means being unable to get past “the gatekeepers” or a reader “advising” others on social media to actually stay away from your work! So, as we’ve established: rejection hurts and it’s going to happen, regardless of how brilliant a writer you are. Even the greats remember their first rejection letters and even still get rejected from time to time. The key is knowing how to deal with it, so here are my steps on turning rejection into a positive, rather than negative, experience: 1) Walk Away Just been rejected? Don’t obsess over it, reading the email or letter over and over. Do something else to take your mind off it – ANYTHING. Outline a new project; go for a walk; eat some chocolate; phone a friend. Whatever works for you (bar airing your grievances online on social media!). All that matters at the moment is the decision is in and it’s a negative. So give yourself some time to process the disappointment and calm down, before you do anything else. 2) Read between the lines No feedback other than a “thanks, but no thanks”? Then the journey is over for that opportunity. There’s absolutely no point second guessing what could have “gone wrong” … Maybe nothing did, it just so happens it wasn’t “right” either. That can happen. As a reader for literary agents and competitions, I have seen this happen to LOTS of great writing. That does NOT mean your submission was automatically crap. So chalk it up – THIS TIME – and move on. Don’t dwell. You have some feedback? Don’t ignore it. Remember, all industry pros are mega busy, so if they have taken the time to give you some feedback, they must have found your submission notable *in some way* and there’s a strong chance they want to help you be more successful “next time”. Honest guv! Now how this works may depend, so this is where as writers we need to really read between the lines: i)                 Your feedback seems really negative. If the industry pro seems harsh or negative about your work, talking about the concept behind it or the characters being clichéd, “tropey” or familiar, take note. This is a clue that the industry pro has seen ideas or writing *like* yours A LOT. Obviously in this crowded marketplace that’s not a good thing, because your writing needs to stand out. So what can you do to make your concept, characters or writing more UNUSUAL? Do some research re: your target audience and what has gone before already, don’t just trust to instinct. ii)               Your feedback seems really positive. Somewhat ironically, my Bang2writers often find positive feedback in rejections even MORE confusing: if that industry pro...

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