In high school, an English teacher
noticed my flair for word creations.

“You have a way with words.”

“Uh huh.” I nodded, didn’t mean
much to me.

I continued my education, and
began to appreciate my writing
ability.

Still, I pushed away the idea of
taking it seriously.

The degree and I found a job,
planned to retire from it.

The unthinkable happened. I was,
unjustly, fired.

Devastated covered only one of
the emotions I felt.

“Why?” you asked

My former manager and co-workers weren’t happy with taking away my
livelihood.

They took it to the street.

My neighbors began being
rude, to put it lightly. Now,
I spoke to them, but they
weren’t friends.

Strangers bumped into me
as they passed on the
street.

I was forced to call the
Philadelphia Police.

They were the first on
the scene to take me
seriously. They came
to my aid. I was a person
with no money, and no
connections. Yet, they
found my complaint had
substance.

The tears dried up.

I turned to writing a detailed
account of what happened at
my former job, but fictionalized
it.

Besides, I was unable to
get a job. I sent out over
one-hundred resumes.

All kinds of doubts
invaded my thoughts
about my novel.

Can I do it? Would anyone
buy it? Publisher? Maybe,
an agent?

I shoved those writing-stoppers
away.

I wrote the novel, not sure where
to go with it.

I found someone to critique it, but
her rates were too expensive.

“I’m cheap compared to others.”
She assured.

“It’s just that my funds are limited.
My elderly mother shares her food
with me.”

“Good luck.”

I trashed paragraphs, and improved
the plot. From time to time, peppered it with more suspense.

I crossed paths with an agent, sent
him the manuscript. He returned it
with a scribbled note that read,
“Work on it.”

I did.

A telephone call or two from
him showed me my book was
not on his submit to a publisher
list. I moved on.

Next, I enrolled in a writing, mail-
order, course. The instructor
had the option of recommending
a student’s work for publication
with the school.

Of course, my manuscript failed
to get picked.

I tried a second attempt at taking
the course, and my manuscript
was tossed back into my hands.

It was time to read on my own.
The goal was to get a better
understanding of plot, suspense,
and breaking into the writing
world.

Surprisingly, no one explained
the reason(s) my manuscript
wasn’t acceptable.

So, it was up to me.

When I critique someone’s work,
I explain my comments. I tell
people why their work will be
rejected. It’s the humane thing
to do.

After studying on my own, I
managed to pin-point, correct,
errors.

Meanwhile, my search for a
publisher went on.

My efforts paid-off.

Life gave me the writing idea,
and I had the courage to use
it.

My novel, Grave Street House, was
published.

At any given moment, life will
throw dirt at me, you. I’ll write about it. What will you do?

In closing, life gives us many writing
ideas. Some are funny, and easily
written about. Others take effort to write about.
*******************************************
An excerpt from my novel, Grave Street House.

“Amanda, few of us are goin’ to the club.
Come with?”
“No, I have to get home, because my mother wasn’t…”
“Not gonna last long ’round here with that attitude.”
“I’ll go another time.”
“Has to be now.”
“Why didn’t you let me know before the last minute?”
“That’s why they say stuck-up using ya’re name.” She rolled her eyes.
The trust I had for them added up to zero. The thought of going out with them made me uneasy. A trick? The way they talked
openly, loud in the work area. It showed they were capable of doing anything. I preferred not to be in their company.
On the other hand, if I joined them at the club, how bad could it be with others around?
Plus, if I go now, never again.
“All right, I’ll go out with you one time.”

Popularity: 2% [?]

“Id like to be a writer, but
I can’t find the time.” I’ve
heard several say.

It’s a must to push pass
excuses for not writing.
There are two choices for
you. They are to write, or
not.

Don’t give yourself any
excuses as to why you
aren’t writing.

Instead, find time to
jot ideas down. Later,
edit, and explore the
idea.

Set your alarm one hour
or two earlier to get writing
time. Scribble notes down
on a break, at lunch. Try
idea gathering as you
commute home, before bed,
or while relaxing in front of
the television.

You witnessed an interesting
event? Heard idea provoking
chat as you passed several
people? Take a few moments
to write your thoughts down.
It counts as writing time.

Let’s look at why passionate
writers are successful.

Passionate writers are
successful, because they find
time to write.

Passionate writers squeeze-
out some portion of their day
for writing, and so must you.

Perhaps, the time you spend
in the bathroom is your writing
get-a-way.

Have a writing session as you
enjoy coffee, tea, or orange
juice.

Think of reasons to write.
It frees you. Enlightens
you? You have something
to contribute to the world?
It stresses you down? You
have a story to tell.

Get into the habit of
writing at the same time.
This good habit is practiced
everyday. Stay there a
minimum of two hours.
This is your time.

Bring inspiration. Inspiration
is a quote, favorite book,
poem that needs your touch,
or a note to yourself.

A possible note: I will write
at four o’clock. Repeat it
to yourself throughout the
day.

It becomes a goal, something
to look forward to. A dream
in the making. Connect to it,
realize your potential.

Look at a possible
writing idea from my life.

The city I live in gave me a
fine.

“Why?” You asked.

The fine was for litter.
Yes, litter.

I place my trash bags out
every week, at the same
time. This is a habit, like
brushing my teeth.

On a particular day, a violation
notice was pushed in my door.

I paid the violation.

Now, three and four weeks
after payment, the city is still
sending me a bill.

I’m being billed for the original
fine, and penalty. The penalty
is as much as the original bill.

I referenced it to point-out
the fact that life gives us
writing ideas.

There are endless ideas
running to my mind about
the litter fine.

Find the passion in you,
and don’t make excuses
for not writing.

In closing, push pass
writing excuses by
doing the simple act of
writing.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Fiction and non-fiction presented
to an editor should be free of
spelling errors, poor sentence
structure, and weak writing. Now,
that isn’t to say, you’ll never error.
Simply, critique your work.

The important step is creating.
There will be time to go back,
review, and critique.

I’ve been in the moment of
writing, many times. I stopped,
read through it. Some paragraphs
were unreadable, weak verbs. I
had to put it aside for a few days,
and then do the critiquing. I found
mistakes immediately after writing.
What would I, you, find when
refreshed?

Like I always say, longer writing
projects require more time away.

An editor can spot mistakes in
paragraph one. To be honest, it’s
a waste of the editor’s time, and
your energy when your best work
isn’t sent out.

“How do you know?” You asked.

I’ve made similar blunders. Yes, I
speak from experience. It has led to
failures, of course. I gained from the
process, learned to write better. It set
me on the rode to developing an editor’s
eye.

The editor’s eye took me some years
to grasp. It could happen, sooner or
later, for you. Keep learning, writing.
It is the only sure way, I know of, to
reach writing goals.

It’s good form to request writer’s
guidelines before submitting your
work to a publisher. Also, a must
do is to include a self-addressed
stamped envelope. Sometimes, the
guidelines can be read online.

There are publications that offer
online issues for sale. Read back
issues of magazines to get a feel
for the style, flavor of it.

“Why read back issues?” You
pondered.

You are better able to give the
editor what he/she wants.

The dictionary and thesaurus are
tools that should be kept at your
finger-tips. Spell-check more than
once.

The dictionary explains the
meaning of words. It, also,
helps with spelling.

The thesaurus provides words with
the same, almost the same meaning,
and opposite meanings of words.

“Why is the thesaurus needed?”
You questioned.

Let’s look at angry.

“What’s the point?” You stared
at the word.

Your writing calls for an emotion,
anger, for example. Instead of
using angry nine times, replace
it with: annoyed, bitter, cross,
enraged, fuming, irate, vexed,
heated, or offended. I found
the words in the thesaurus.

It’s boring to read the same
words over. Also, it marks you
as an amateur.

I’ll show you.

Henry was angry at Jess. They
fought over the cat. Jess kicked
the chair. I guess, she was angry.
They were so angry until I had to
get my brothers.

Tom and Bill persuaded Henry
to leave. Henry broke the door
down.

The re-written version follows.

Henry was irate when he walked
in the door. Henry and Jess
fought over the cat. Jess fumed,
and kicked the chair.

They exchanged heated words,
and I ran to get my brothers.

My brothers, Tom and Bill, urged
Henry to leave.

They offended Henry, and he
shattered the door as he left.

Critique the above two paragraphs.
Would you write the paragraphs
differently? How? Did you find
the thesaurus helpful?

Leave me some comments, thank
you.

The goal is to pull-out weak,
bloated, and grammatically
incorrect sentences. Once that
is done, you’re on your way to
success.

Popularity: 4% [?]

“I can’t get my writing day
started,” You complained.
“I’ve tried to play the game
to writing, but I’m not feeling
it.”

One method will not work
for everyone. No matter
how hard you try, some
days you’ll not connect
with a specific writing
method.

Still, you must write.

Take a deep breath,
several times, if
needed. Relax.

Next, write anything,
everything, that comes
to mind. Write about
your favorite color, for
ten to fifteen minutes.

Scribble down why a
particular season is
the most pleasing to you.
Or, describe your favorite
time of year, and why.

Make remarks about any
noises you hear.

What was the longest day
of the year? Why did it
seen so? Was it a bad
experience for you? Was
it the best day of your life?
Write about a funny
experience.

Think of a plot,
characters, when
re-counting an incident.

Or, do some research
on an area. Gather-up
more information to
write an article.

Pull-out a book to read.
Is there a section you’d
like to re-write?

If yes, make sure the
passage is yours, not
paraphrased. Don’t
restate someone’s words.

“Why?” You asked.

The writing starts your
day, and stimulates the
right brain.

“What does the right
brain have to do with
anything?” Someone
questioned.

The right brain is
responsible for
creating, your
creative side.

The same holds true
if you write an e-mail,
snail-mail. The writing
prior to working on your
regular project(s) serves
to kindle your creative
flow.

Start your writing day
by toying with new
ideas.

After ten to fifteen
minutes, your creative
flow should be ignited.

If not, continue with
the exercise.

Perhaps, the exercise
has turned into a piece
you plan to show-case,
sell.

The writing exercise
gets you into the
writing mood. Your
writing day starts
with all kinds of
possibilities, new ideas.

File away new ideas,
possible projects, for
later. Come back to
them as time permits.

Carry writing ideas
from the exercise
to your normal,
regular, projects.

In closing, stir-up
old projects with
new ideas. This
is how to start your
writing day.

This writing exercise
picks up momentum
as you churn out new
material.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Ghost-writing is an excellent area
to explore. Here is how it works.

Writers are paid to write essays,
fiction, non-fiction, reports, and
letters. There’s no limit on what
can be written. In other words,
ghost-writers address writing
needs.

Your name isn’t listed on the
project. Rarely, a ghost-writer
is given credit, or mentioned.
The ghost-writer writes for
someone else.

There’s lots of back and forth
communication with a client. It
includes e-mails, telephone calls,
meetings, and snail-mail. A client
wants his/her voice heard
throughout the work. It’s your job,
the ghost-writer, to make it happen.

The ghost-writer is given information,
documentation, relating to the project.
There’s a possibility photos and/or
audio is a part of it. Take accurate
notes. A tape recorder would be
useful.

Draw-up an agreement. Be
specific. Leave nothing to
chance. Allow a reasonable
time to complete the project.

I suggest that you get part
payment up-front. I’m referring
to a fifty percent retainer.

“How do I get clients?” You
looked around the room.

Every e-mail, snail-mail, should
have your URL, or a link
mentioning your ghost-writing
service. The service is displayed,
proudly, on business cards.
Mention the ghost-writing service
in writing forums. There are ghost-
writing opportunities at:
http://elance.com, and
http://Guru.com. Don’t forget
to scan Craigslist.

Have samples of your work available
to e-mail potential clients. Your
web site, URL, should show-case
samples of your work as well.

Use the same research and
hard work you’d put in your own
venture. Treat ghost-writing
projects like your babies until
given to the rightful guardians.

Consider using an alias. Face it,
in most cases, you have no idea
whose hands will re-do the project,
or tamper with it. Possibly,
someone wants new information
added after you’ve finished.

A few, satisfied, clients can bring
you more business than an ad
placed. Word-of-mouth advertising
spreads like wild fire. Once the word
gets around about your ghost-writing
business, you’re on your way to
success. Reach for your goal.

Popularity: 7% [?]

“Yeah, I’d like to know the
secret to writing.” You said.

The secret to writing is doing it,
frequently. It’s required that you
write daily. Let the writer in you
run free.

Schedule your writing time.
Select a time during the day
or night for writing. Spend a
minimum of two hours writing.

Find a space just for writing.
It doesn’t matter where. Curve
out your space in the garage,
attic, or extra bedroom.

Turn off your cell phone,
land-line, radio, television,
and tune-out anything else
that would prevent you from
writing.

Bring fruit, snack of some
kind, coffee, water, and
other items to keep you
from leaving your writing
space.

This time is for writing,
creating. Make it a
habit. Make a mental
note of it.

I suggest you keep a pen
and pad on you at all times.

“Why?” You asked.

You never know when
an idea will pop-up. You’ll
have the means to capture
those ideas.

It’s likely you’ll forget the
ideas as the day rolls on.
It’s hard to pull them to
mind as you work, take
care of the kids, grocery
shop, care for relatives,
etc. So, scribble the ideas
down.

Store your ideas in your
writing place. Type them
in a file, or slide them in a
folder.

During your writing time,
look-over various ideas.
Any ideas ready to be
spun into fiction, or non-
fiction?

One morning, birds chirped
outside my window. A simple
observation. What could I do
with that?

My notes on the idea.
–birds chirping at 3 am
–why?

Take a look at my idea.

Two guys planned to rob
a house when the family
was out. The would-be
robbers were surprised
as the family arrived back
home.

One of them were in the
house.

The second thief used
a bird chirp to signal his
partner.

This is how the idea looks
in non-fiction. Specifically,
an essay.

Crime is a factor in urban living,
but your exact location raises
or lowers your vulnerability.
This fact relates to…

There is material for poems.

There are other writing streets
to go down with it.

Are you beginning to understand
the secret to writing?

Writing ideas can be
adapted from the original.

The focus of my idea
could center on what type
of bird chirps in the early
morning hours.

Or, a story about crows
who gather at a certain
house. They congregate
there everyday at the same
time. Why? The plot unfolds
as the reader finds out why.

Let your imagination run
free as you write.

Now, you know the secret
to writing. Simply, sit down,
and do it.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Rejection is a part of life. When someone
can’t, will not, accept something from you,
stop. The best action is to move on. Try
another person.

The same applies to writing. Make sure
the person, publication, is a match for
your work. Check for grammatical errors,
run-on sentences, and weak verbs.

Take the concept, article, and flip-it.

“What do you mean?” You asked.

Take a look at one of my rejected
articles.

L. Frank Baum played the Tin Man in
The Wizard Of Oz. It was popular,
a feature film, during 1939.

It was a funny, upbeat, fantasy.
The movie offered funny moments,
tearful ones too.

I, even, recall the re-runs of it
as a teen.

Here’s the twist.

According to a Los Angeles reporter,
a mini-series is being made. It isn’t
your mother/grandmother must see show.

The re-make stirs in acid tripping addicts,
crazed-acting people, possibly multi-
personalities, and sex. I’m not talking
about an appearance of a kiss, but a sexy
sorceress.

Could the series be a “thing” for a new
generation.

This is just my opinion. Gothic images
danced in someone’s head when the
idea was in its conception.

It takes place in not exactly OZ.
The location is O. Z., like Outer Zone.

Whatever happened to the good and bad
witches?

A mean spirited, sorceress, Azkadellia
is in the house. Kathleen Robertson
plays her.

Well, her character is nuts, looks for
revenge. She shows plenty of chest, if
you know what I mean. Oh, let me not
forget, the chest tattoos. They will
be exposed.

The mini-series sprinkles in other
neon characters to this version.

It is a matter of taste, or profit.
Specifically, is art imitating life?

Now, what can I do with that?
I can write an essay on L. Frank Baum,
write my own version of the Wizard Of
Oz, or come up with a new idea.
There is no limit to how the article
can be re-worked.

The same is true for your
rejected work.

Some need to discuss
rejected work.

If you do, talk about it with a
trusted friend. Distance
yourself from it.

Come back to it with
fresh ideas. Ask yourself
questions.

Some people prefer
working immediately
on returned work. Others
pull their work out after a
reasonable time has
passed, and there has
been no word from the
publisher.

It’s up to you.

Questions to ask yourself.
Did I send it to the right
publication? Is it grammatically
correct? Look at your work
upside down, and inside out.
Where else can I send it?

Make sure you have read
the writer’s guidelines before
submitting to any new publication,
or web site.

In conclusion, writers handle
rejection of their work by
finding a new place for it.

Popularity: 5% [?]

It’s important to believe in
yourself. Get into the habit
of writing everyday, practically
daily.

Have a good excuse why
you can’t write a specific
day. Don’t allow yourself
to get into the habit of
inventing reasons for not
writing.

Simply, write everyday.

“Why write everyday?” You
asked.

Writing everyday helps hone
your skills. You become a
better writer, and have work
available to sell, show-case.

Write pass the doubters.

“Who are the doubters?” A
few pondered.

Doubters are the people who
don’t believe you have what it
takes to be a writer.

“Get a real job.” Some
doubters said.

“Yer wastin’ time wit dat
writin’ stuff.” Others
complained.

“They hirin’ at Wal-Mart.”
A friend shared.

There is nothing wrong
with working at Wal-Mart.
Still, work on your writing
dream.

Find time during the day
or night for writing. Allow,
at least, two hours for
writing.

You were tired some days,
but managed to scribble a
few notes down on paper.

It counts as writing.

However, I question why
doubters push to see you
do anything else, but write.

Do they see your talent, and
are afraid you’ll succeed?
Perhaps, they’re afraid
you’ll tell some truth. They
envy your dedication to
your dream? They don’t
want you to be more than
average like them? Beware
of such people.

Often, it becomes a problem.

Sit down, and write about
it. Ask yourself some
questions. Why is he/she
pushing me away from my
dream? Is it real friendship?
Jealousy? Is he/she looking
out for my interest? Why
doesn’t he/she believe in my
talent? Is it time to leave
him/her in the past?

Swirl your answers into
fiction, or non-fiction.

Look at a possible idea
for fiction. A friend
stood by a character and
his/her dream. When the
character’s dream was
about to come true, the
friend tried to plant doubt
in the character’s mind.

There are many avenues
to travel down with it.

What would you write
next?

Or, take another idea to
explore. If one idea
isn’t working, try another.

Mix ideas up in new
situations. Stir my example
up in a new setting, different
scenario.

Remember, all fiction must
have a beginning, middle,
and an ending.

Work out your problem in
fiction to understand
it from a different perspective.

In conclusion, write pass the
doubters as they try to push you
away from your writing dream.
Write everyday about a problem
using a character. You’ll be able
to see the situation clearer, and
write interesting fiction.

Popularity: 4% [?]

There exists more than one factor
to writing interesting fiction.
Fiction leans toward the imaginary,
invented, made-up, and inspired. Of
course, writers want to entertain, and
invoke the reader’s emotions. Hopefully,
the reader becomes involved, and puts
the story down after the last page has
been read.

A key to writing fiction well, in my
opinion, is plenty of suspense.

Suspense is indecision, doubt,
knowing something is going to
happen, awaiting, and anxiety.

It doesn’t matter if you’re writing
a mystery, romance, or science
fiction. Suspense pulls the reader
in. Begin suspense with paragraph
one.

Start the story in the middle of a crisis,
problem. This is where the reader’s
attention is grabbed. He/she has
something to be concerned about,
wants to know how a character(s) will
resolve the issue. Perhaps, the reader
identifies with a character, knows
someone in a similar situation, is
cheering for the protagonist, and/or is
gripped by the plot.

Plot is the problem in the story, and
how it unfolds.

The pages of a story should have
something new, exciting, or, even,
a threat of an approaching doom.

“Do you ever pause?” Someone
asked.

Yes, there are brief pauses. The
idea is to keep the reader buried
in suspense.

Take a look at my example.

I opened the front door, heard my
cousin arguing.

“Pete!” I shouted. “What’s goin’ on?”

“Call…” He fell on the cement steps
before finishing.

The strange man started toward me…

************************************************

How would you have started the first
sentence? Could it be laced with more
suspense? Would you continue to read
the story?

In short fiction, there’s a concern for
space, word count. Publishers adhere
to a specific number of words, and so
should you.

One problem is enough for short fiction.
In longer fiction, more than one issue is
addressed.

Each word earns its place. Every,
suspenseful, word should move the story
forward, not just take up space. Words
holding up valuable space must be
deleted.

It’s been my practice to keep cut lines,
paragraphs. They can be re-worked,
placed somewhere else, spark a new
idea, and used as a tool against writer’s
block.

The more you write, the easier it will be
to include that major factor, suspense.

Take a look at the following.

“‘Member our dare?” Barb asked.

“Don’t think it’s a good idea.” Tish
dropped her head.

“Ya shoulda thought ’bout that before
sayin’ crap ’bout bein’ as tough as me.”

“Was a joke.”

“Be there, or…”

“You’ll harass me?” Tish interrupted
Barb.

“Tell everyone ya’re a punk.

“I’ll be there.”
****************************************************

Do you get the feeling the dare isn’t
something positive, upbeat? Could be
dangerous? Are you curious about it?
Are you pulled in the story?

Fiction is written well when its smeared
with suspense, on practically every page.
A grammatically correct story is boring
without suspense. Suspense is the, must
include, factor a story can’t do without.

Popularity: 4% [?]

I believe life is exciting,
challenging, wonderful, demanding,
and has the stuffing for countless
writing ideas.

If one writing idea is rejected,
stop. Don’t throw it away. Turn
a rejected idea into a new one.

I wrote a piece on best friend
shopping, which didn’t make the
cut.

Now, I can sit around complaining,
or find another place for the
article.

Let me share some of it with you.

This story idea is from living
life, and ideas do come to you
this way. You must be the
sponge, find a fit, for rejected
ideas.

**Best Friend Shopping**

Your eyes rolled skyward.
A gift is needed for him/her.

“What do I get?” You twisted
a piece of hair.

You don’t want to get the last
time kind of gift. You saw the
disappointed expression as it
was unwrapped. Even though,
he/she tried to disguise it.

Of course, you pondered, fussed, over
getting the right gift. Times like
these test a friendship. Sure, you
can close your eyes, and grab
something without looking. Possibly,
your friend will feel the uncaring that
went into that.

Or, shop for what your friend likes
best. Search for a gift your friend
can’t help but like. No one knows
him/her like you.

It’s best to start shopping early.
Mix the needed shopping time
into your schedule. Avoid
unnecessary stress.

Look at the results of my sponge
process as a story idea took
form. Read over my new
idea.

A character was at a Used
Clothing Store, looking
for something unique.

“I’ve been to five other stores,
nothing caught my eye.” Chell’s
eyes rolled along the floor.
What’s that?”

It appeared to be a clown.

“That would be a fun gift, life
size clown.”

She bent down to inspect it,
noticed it was a dead body…

There are so many directions
that my plot can take. Also,
other ideas can be spun from it.

Essays can be rolled-out, poems,
or excellent articles from the new
idea.

I suggest to take any writing idea,
and look at it through a microscope
Pluck every writing idea possible
from it.
.
When your work is rejected, look
for other ways to show-case it.
A sponge drips everywhere, soaks
in everything. Be the sponge when
it comes to writing ideas anew.

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