U is for unique.
You have a unique voice and writing style. I cannot emphasize this enough.
It is overwhelming to take the first step in the writing world. One click on the internet and you know what I mean. There are hundreds of thousands of writers out there; everything from personal blogs to authors. Are there readers who want what you have to offer? Yes!
Believe in yourself and build on that foundation. There is room for everyone.
V is for voice.
Your writer's voice is your fingerprint; your distinctive writing style. This includes how you arrange your words and sentences, your use of punctuation, character development, and more.
Teacher and journalist Donald Murray defines voice:
"It is what attracts the reader and communicates to the reader ... voice carries the writer's intensity and glues together the information that the reader needs to know. It is the music in writing that makes the meaning clear."Once you find your voice you will know it. The words will flow and come naturally and will guide you to the kind of writing you will be successful with.
W is for work.
The old adage, "it's not what you know, it's who you know" wasn't necessarily true for mystery writer, Hester Young.
An email query landed her a three-book deal with G.P. Putnam & Sons in 1 month. But it took her 15 years after writing the book to be published.
In Becoming a Novelist: Five Principles to Success, (Writer's Digest; June 2016) Young says:
"What truly helped me get an agent and a deal were my actions over that fifteen year period."Wow.
Technology has made life quicker and easier in many ways. It's important to remember some things take time and work. When you keep this in your sight, you will not be tempted to give up.
X, Y, Z is for "insert your content here".
What will be the mark you leave on the writing world?
It's up to you!
Image above is courtesy of digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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Kathy is a K - 12 subsitute teacher and enjoys writing for magazines. Recently, her story, "One of a Kind", was published in The Kids' Ark. You can find her passion to bring encouragement and hope to people of all ages at When It Hurts - http://kathleenmoulton.com
1 comment:
Kathleen, great writing tips as usual. Love the example of Hester Young getting a contract 15 years after writing the book. Now that's patience and perseverance!
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