The Importance of Befriending Your Competition
Building relationships with competitors can provide significant benefits in any industry. Rather than viewing others as threats, collaborating and exchanging knowledge can lead to mutual growth. Competitors often offer valuable insights, opportunities for collaboration, and the potential for referrals when workloads overflow. Additionally, forming genuine connections fosters a supportive network where professionals can learn from one another’s successes and mistakes. This mindset encourages shared learning, resource exchange, and creative partnerships that benefit everyone involved.
Writing Every Day: What Writing As A Journalist Taught Me About Deadlines & Discipline
Developing a consistent daily writing habit is fundamental for writers aiming to enhance their craft. Waiting for the perfect moment or relying solely on inspiration can lead to procrastination and hinder progress. Embracing the imperfection of first drafts allows writers to focus on completion rather than unattainable perfection. Regular writing not only demystifies the creative process but also builds discipline, making it easier to tackle larger projects and meet deadlines. Ultimately, consistent practice and dedication are key to overcoming challenges like writer's block and achieving success in writing endeavors.
Book Review: Brother By Ania Ahlborn (My Book Of The Year For 2019)
We don’t have hardly anything.”
“We gotta make do with what the land gives us.”
It Left me Hungry for more…
Okay, maybe not the best way to start out a review over a book that deals with many dark topics such as cannibalism, abuse, abduction, necrophilia, to name a few.
Get Things Done With The Pomodoro Technique
25 Minutes On, 5 Minutes Off, 4 Times—It’s That Easy. When I first learned about the Pomodoro Technique, I probably thought the same thing as you—the Pomodoro what now? But as I learned more about it, it became an incredibly useful tool in writing projects.
How I Got Started Reading When I Hated It
It might be surprising to learn that a published author, creative writer, and professional editor used to hate reading books. The truth is I wasn’t always an avid reader. To fully understand how my love for books, and more importantly—my love for stories has grown over the years, I have to back up to a time before I appreciated books.
Blank Pages Versus Bad Pages: Overcoming Writer’s Block When The Editor Brain Is At War With The Writer Brain
Writer's block often arises when writers struggle to separate their creative "writer brain" from their critical "editor brain." This internal conflict can hinder the drafting process, as the urge to edit prematurely stifles creativity. It's essential to recognize that rough drafts are inherently imperfect, serving as the foundation for refinement. Embracing the notion that "you can always edit a bad page, but you can't edit a blank page" encourages writers to prioritize getting words on the page without immediate judgment. By allowing the writer and editor roles to function separately and sequentially, one can overcome writer's block and foster a more productive writing process.
Starting Artists, Not Starving Artists
Supporting emerging artists can prevent them from facing the common struggle of financial instability. Collaborating with new creatives, like hiring them for design, writing, or marketing tasks, benefits both parties by fostering growth and exchanging valuable services. This approach saves time, provides artists with opportunities, and strengthens the creative community. Offering honest reviews and testimonials further supports their credibility. By choosing collaboration over competition, professionals contribute to a thriving artistic ecosystem.
Get Immersed in Your Reading: Writing With The Five Senses
In the writing world, we always hear about ‘showing instead of telling’ but what if we, as readers helped bring the stories to life, ourselves. I’ve talked a little about immersion reading, on this blog before, but this takes it to a whole new level.
My Current Faves (of 2019)
Below is my list of my favorite poets and recommendations of a few of their books. These poets have taught me do much about writing thought and feeling-provoking poems as well as many interesting truths about the world and those in it. Their writing is so inspiring and I'd recommend them to anyone looking to get into more modern poetry.
Immersion Reading: Audiobooks and Ambiance
Audiobooks aren’t really books. Or are they? While many argue that listening to an audiobook doesn’t really compare to reading a book, there’s something to be said about immersion reading -or reading text while listening to an audiobook simultaneously. By using two of the five senses, readers gain a richer reading experience and find it easier to get into the story.
Oversaturation In A World of Overconsumption (There's No Such Thing)
In today's digital age, the notion of market oversaturation is challenged by the rapid consumption of media content. Consumers eagerly await new material from their favorite creators, often consuming content faster than it can be produced. This high demand indicates that opportunities abound for new creators to enter the scene. As Gary Vee noted in Matt D’Avella’s podcast, the fragmentation of attention across various platforms prevents overexposure. Therefore, aspiring content creators should recognize that the ever-growing appetite for fresh content diminishes the concept of oversaturation, making it an opportune time to share their unique voices.
Disability and Spectrum Representation in Books
One incredibly world-changing element of reading is the ability for readers to connect with and imagine themselves in the shoes of the main character. Readers absolutely must make these crucial connections to the main characters to find a deeper immersion and foster a more enriched reading experience.Unfortunately, not everyone can make these connections so easily. Accurate and respectful representation of both physical and mental disabilities in books is not nearly as prominent as it should be.
Editing Misconceptions: Book Editors Aren’t Monsters
Editors are often perceived as overly critical individuals fixated on finding every possible error in a manuscript. However, this portrayal is misleading. Editors play a crucial role in refining a writer's work, offering constructive feedback to enhance clarity, coherence, and overall quality. Their goal is not to criticize but to collaborate with writers, helping them realize their vision and produce the best possible version of their work. Understanding this collaborative dynamic can alleviate apprehensions writers may have about the editing process and foster a more productive author-editor relationship.
Alternative Book Buying: Build Your Home Library With These Affordable Options
Libraries are always great. Well, except for when they don't have that one book you've been looking all over for! Someone has had it checked out for weeks, or maybe your library just doesn't have the book anyways. Sometimes you have to pick up the book, yourself, but books can rack up quite a bill if you're a prolific reader. If you're looking to get great reading material at low cost or maybe you're building your personal library, here's a few places to go book shopping for less.
Freelancing Basics
Embarking on a freelance editing career requires strategic preparation and continuous development. Aspiring editors should seek internships during or after their studies to gain practical experience with industry-standard tools and techniques. Pursuing specialized courses in various editing facets, grammar, and the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) is essential, as is obtaining relevant certifications to validate one's expertise. Joining editorial associations can facilitate networking and provide valuable resources. A commitment to extensive reading—including industry literature, style guides, and genre-specific novels—enhances critical thinking and editorial skills. To secure clients, collaborating with fellow editors, connecting with literary agents, and offering services both online and within local communities are effective strategies. Specializing in specific editing types allows for skill refinement and niche expertise. Efficient time management, such as batching similar tasks, is crucial for productivity. Maintaining a steady workflow involves continually seeking new projects to mitigate potential lulls. Additionally, setting realistic working hours and establishing boundaries ensures a sustainable work-life balance.