Pictures for Word Spinners

A writer can be more than the words they spin.

Ever thought of drawing something to go with your writing? Or taking a photograph to go with your article? Or even backwards, creating words to go with your drawings, like a comic? Scanning pictures, drawings or photographs into your journal or blog?

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. As much as we love them, words are typography on paper but pictures bring a new element into your words, light and shadow and instant gratification. One look and half or all of the story can be told. The words become more information, details, the rest of the story.

Publishers looking for photographs or drawings will pay for them. They could be paying you.

Feeling Like a Fraud

I wrote this in my blog. What do you think? Do you feel the same way?

You have no idea what a big fraud I feel like. I'm no expert in or about anything and yet here I am writing newsletters for Pagans, travelers, gardeners, writers, decorators, and so on. Who do I think I am? But, more than that why do they listen to me? There's the real mystery.

It's weird isn't it? When I'm writing I have in my mind the critic who keeps shouting over my shoulder that someone could poke their eye out if they listen to me. But, I keep going. I keep writing anyway. The sending for publishing part is even harder than the original writing part. If you actually try to publish your unexpertness someone is bound to catch you and report you as the fraud you are.

I admit I know nothing beyond the contents of my own brain. Maybe that's good enough. I do have a lot up there after all.

Those brain contents and our research are all any of us have to go on really. Think about that next time you feel like you're a writing fraud. If someone can read your words and come away with something concrete or something they see as good then you're doing your job as a writer. You don't have to be the perfect expert with all the answers. Sometimes it just takes someone to write it, even if all they really know are the questions.

Focus and Angles

Being a writer is about using focus and angles. You keep your focus but you use up all the angles you can find.

For instance, take a topic like Christmas. How over done is that? Could you find something new to say about Christmas (a new angle) without forgetting who you are writing for and what you are writing about (your focus). Christmas would be a tough one but every year the magazines have flocks of articles for Christmas topics. Sure, many are the same old themes about not breaking your diet, coping with the stress of shopping, bills and family, etc. If you could come up with something new to pitch to the women's magazines your chances of making a sale increase if you have a new angle and have not lost focus on your market.

I don't seem to have trouble with angles. I enjoy being contrary, turning tables and looking at things in a new way. Focus, is where my trouble starts. I get looking at angles, some of them are way out there, and focus just gets lost in the brainstorm.

I like to think there are other writers out there with the opposite problem. They have all the focus keeping them grounded but they just can't think of all the angles. While they are still working on angles I might have a chance to slip my angle in first and see my name on another cheque. My name looks so wonderful on cheques, I really should get more of them.

Better Procrastination

What would you rather be doing? Here you sit at this machine, your face plugged into a monitor your fingers slaving away over a keyboard, chances are you aren't really all that comfortable sitting there... what would you rather be doing?

Think about it. Take your time.... well, ok take all of a minute. I can wait that long.

So? What would you rather be doing than writing? How about sailing, dancing, traveling, swimming, spending money at the mall, enjoying a really good coffee, kissing your sweetheart... it can become quite a list.

So, when you procrastinate instead of writing, why do you tend to do things not even on your list of things you'd rather be doing?

Don't give me that innocent look.

Next time you start to procrastinate by playing some computer game, watching the soaps, checking for email and so on and on, stop and think. What would you really rather be doing?

Then take some time and do it. At least a modified version of whatever you would rather be doing.

Writing is a job but it's not a torture. If you don't give yourself a break you will suffer and so will your writing. But, make sure you take a real break. Don't just aimlessly procrastinate then feel guilty for it later. Accomplish something and feel good. Come back to your computer ready and happy to write. Refresh yourself by doing something you really would rather be doing.

Besides, everyone knows writing isn't a real job. Our cover is blown, might as well make the most of it.