When I asked new ezine subscribers, "What is your Number One writing question?" the answer came back loud and clear: "Time!"
How do I find time to write? I'm busy all day -- and when I make some time, the phone rings or someone needs to see me right away.
Here's how a coaching session -- or series of sessions -- might address these questions.
1. What's happening in the rest of your life? Are you chronically late? Waking up exhausted? Feeling out of control? Some people have gotten so accustomed to feeling pressured they need to learn a whole new concept of creating space in their lives to do what they want.
2. Why do you want to write? Do you have room in your life for everything but writing? Maybe you need to find a new way to reach your goals.
Remember: You do not need to write. This is your coach speaking! Writing can be the most powerful tool in your marketing arsenal -- but chances are you can find ways to succeed by hiring a writer and promoting your service in creative, non-writing ways.
Alexandria Brown, the "ezine queen," has to have an ezine to be credible. Most of the rest of us don't. If you are a life coach, an ezine is a nice-to-have. Some successful life coaches do fine with a signature website and no ezine. They network extensively and build business from referrals. And some have thousands of ezine subscribers but no clients. Use the marketing tools that feel comfortable to you.
3. Have you bought into the myth, "Good writing takes time?" Think of each piece of writing as an email you are writing to a good friend. You might need to combine two or three short emails to make up a single article or a few dozen to make up an ebook. As you get time during the day, dash off an email to yourself or a very trusted friend. Don't edit or censor your work.
When you're in a good mood, arm yourself with your favorite beverage. A piece of chocolate is okay, too, if you're not allergic. A cat in your lap will discourage frequent breaks. Turn on your favorite music. Now -- look over what you have written. Fix typos and spelling errors. Cut out as many words as possible; short is almost always better.
4. Remember the Odd Couple? Following their divorces, the excessively tidy Felix moves in with the proudly sloppy Oscar. Most of us tend to relate to one or the other. If you are a Felix, you have to learn to let go. Send out your work when you are eighty percent satisfied and move on.
Oscars have to learn to hang on. Sit on your work a few days -- even weeks. Remember that your potential customers and clients include some Felixes.
I must admit I tend more towards Oscar in most areas of my life. I dashed off a website and proudly set up a "work in progress." My writinglady.com site continues to change while I invite subscribers to visit. That's my style. I wouldn't be motivated if I spent too much time working on perfection. However, I've learned to let writing projects simmer for a few days, and I revise extensively.
5. Are you forcing yourself to choose a topic you think you "should" write about? Take your topic off its pedestal and write from the heart. What topics get your juices flowing? Are you so happy, angry or frustrated that you want to jump up and down? Use that energy to create an idea and transform that idea into an article.
About The Author
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com.
"Ten secrets of mastering a major life change" http://www.cathygoodwin.com
Contact: http://www.cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294
Chicago limo Skokie ..Plagiarism has been condemned lately by all types of experts,... Read More
Working on my first humorous novel, I started with a... Read More
Freelance writer STANLEY BURKHARDT has a passion for animals. He... Read More
One obvious question that can get overlooked in the process... Read More
If you want to be a writer, then you must... Read More
Around eighty percent of nonfiction books today are written by... Read More
Suspense novels are probably the easiest novels to write. Suspense... Read More
When I was young, I used to talk to myself.... Read More
Writers are an insecure lot.It's easy to understand why. You... Read More
You have a great idea for a poem, a story,... Read More
I am sure that at in some era, at some... Read More
Chances are, you'll be busy over the next several weeks.... Read More
Creating incredible characters can be easy if you know of... Read More
I asked several writers how long it took them to... Read More
I do on occasion run out of ideas for my... Read More
The tiniest things can be so useful when you come... Read More
Fiction manuscripts receive feedback that addresses and scores:? The theme... Read More
I started writing as a way of keeping safe memories... Read More
Have you ever written a letter to a friend? Ever... Read More
If you have an online home based business you know... Read More
Ever wonder what an author's life is like? What that... Read More
Maybe you should write a book! This is not as... Read More
1. Use Logic: Check for External PressuresAre you under physical... Read More
If a writer considers writing to be a task, he/she... Read More
I went to school to be a teacher. In fact,... Read More
limo O'Hare Bonfield ..Have you ever read someone else's writing and thought one... Read More
You know, I really hate it when someone catches me... Read More
As an aspiring or an established entrepreneur, you are an... Read More
'Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented... Read More
Using a ghostwriter to craft your free reprint articles and... Read More
Short Story Writing Tips:Your title is your selling tool. It's... Read More
GAINING WRITING EXPERIENCE Some Catch-22, huh? In... Read More
"If you're like me, than I'm sure you're pretty familiar... Read More
Have you ever considered writing a book? If so, maybe... Read More
As a freelance writer, it is important to present yourself... Read More
Started a book and then got bogged down? Like many... Read More
One Saturday afternoon, I sat in a packed conference room... Read More
Think of writing like karate...it's about DISCIPLINE.Writing, like other forms... Read More
The following answer sounds simplistic?but think about it. The single... Read More
Ah, writing. For those of us who love to play... Read More
How many of you take the time to really write... Read More
Traditionally, business writing uses the "one thing after another" format,... Read More
How to Come Up with Fresh Story Ideas When Your... Read More
How to Start Your Story with a BangThe purpose of... Read More
Paulo Coelho was born on August 24th 1947 in Rio... Read More
1) Convince yourself you want to do something else. If... Read More
Many experts recommend reading as a way to get ideas,... Read More
Writing is a muscle that needs exercise to stay in... Read More
Almost everyone could profit from enhancing their writing skills. From... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?You are plotting the story. You write... Read More
Writing |