Deadlines
What is a writer to do with time constraints?
By participating in NaNoWriMo last year, (National Novel Writing Month) I personally learned that I write best when I have a certain goal to accomplish each day. That goal helps me push myself to complete it. Even if I’m too tired or getting discouraged, I know I have a goal in mind and I want to meet it.
Things like NaNoWriMo and signing up for a writing class will help with writing under pressure. In a writing class, the teacher gives you a deadline. If you miss that deadline, you can’t participate in any assignments concerning that piece of writing; deadlines have consequences when not met. You could even assign your own deadlines. Maybe three thousand words in one day or a chapter a week or any other deadline you want to create!
Also, finding a writing buddy helps. Whether you can meet in person or just online, you and your buddy can make personal goals and then discuss each day (or week, or whatever you choose) how you accomplished that goal. Meanwhile, you can discuss ideas, encourage each other, and find support in knowing that someone is working with you.
The best option, in my opinion, is a class in which you’ll lose percentage points if you turn in an assignment late. I’ve taken classes through my local community college. Search around where you live; you might find a good program.
Once again, it’s entirely your decision what to do. I’ve provided some examples that have worked for me and hope that other writers will find something useful from them.
Visit the Nation Novel Writing Website: http://www.nanowrimo.org/
ESTHER LOPRESTO
I am first and foremost a Scribe of the King. It is my desire to serve God through the written word. I have been creating stories since age three. I would tell them to entertain my family, but didn’t start writing them down until age eight or nine.
Since then, the need to write has been insatiable. At age nineteen, I had my first book, Where’s My Other Sock?, published by Tate Publishing. Then, I graduated from community college with a degree; not in anything writing related, but in accounting. Currently, I’m hunting for a bookkeeping job and working on several books or story ideas. In my stories, I challenge the reader’s imagination with adventures into the fantasy realm. Some stories lean towards mystery/suspense or general fiction, and I try to write for all ages. I find my inspiration from JRR Tolkien’s works and from the Randomness of everyday life.
SDG. (read more…)
Writer’s Block and Procrastination
T
he other day, my friend, Gracia, asked for tips on overcoming writer’s block and procrastination. I thought I’d share here what I told her.
Writer’s block is a tough subject. I experience it quite frequently and it’s hard to get rid of. Sometimes, the best thing is to put the project aside for a few days and not think about it. Then, come back, reread what you’ve written and the “rhythm” of the story (or paper, essay, whatever) will return.
And procrastination … ? I can offer pretty good advice on how to procrastinate. Bestselling author, Brandilyn Collins, has a sure-fire twelve-step strategy (reference: http://forensicsandfaith.blogspot.com/2010/02/sure-fire-twelve-point-strategy-to.html) on this form of art, but how to overcome it is another story. What usually helps me is making a schedule and taping it on the wall by my desk so I’ll see it every time I sit there. Then I have a visual reminder of what I need to get done each day.
These things happen to all writers and we all have our own methods. The best thing to do is figure out what works best for you.
ESTHER LOPRESTO
I am first and foremost a Scribe of the King. It is my desire to serve God through the written word. I have been creating stories since age three. I would tell them to entertain my family, but didn’t start writing them down until age eight or nine.
Since then, the need to write has been insatiable. At age nineteen, I had my first book, Where’s My Other Sock?, published by Tate Publishing. Then, I graduated from community college with a degree; not in anything writing related, but in accounting. Currently, I’m hunting for a bookkeeping job and working on several books or story ideas. In my stories, I challenge the reader’s imagination with adventures into the fantasy realm. Some stories lean towards mystery/suspense or general fiction, and I try to write for all ages. I find my inspiration from JRR Tolkien’s works and from the Randomness of everyday life.
SDG. (read more…)
iBeGat.com’s “End of Summer 20.11 Writing Contest!”
End of Summer 20.11 Winner!
Meet Danielle Dodge, our End of Summer 20.11 winner! Not only did she win first place, she did so by submitting her essay on her passion for writing. Often, stories of summer’s highlights involve outdoor adventures, fantastic trips, family reunions, or some other new adventure. Danielle took her love for writing and discovered she not only loves writing, but she truly has a calling to cultivate her craft and serve God and his people through story.
Congratulations, Danielle! Have fun spending your $20.11 on Amazon and we would love to see you write more for iBeGat.com!
Click HERE to read Danielle’s devo!
Write the Vision
“Then the Lord answered me and said:’ Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.’” (Habakkuk 2:2 NKJV)
Do you have a vision? Has God placed a dream on the inside of you? The Word tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 that God has a good plan for each one of us, so if you don’t know your plan, ask God to reveal it to you today. He will. He desires to share it with you. He wants you to have a sense of purpose and direction. There is nothing quite as exciting as discovering your destiny in Jesus.
Once you have a vision of that plan, it’s your job to keep that vision before you. Write the vision. Record it in your journal. Post it on your computer or in your locker. Tape it on your bathroom mirror. Keep a copy in your bible. Just keep the vision before you. See, we never want to lose sight of what God has for us. To use an old sports analogy, we want to keep our eyes on the ball at all times.
Maybe you haven’t spent much time meditating on the dream that God has placed in your heart. Maybe it seems too big, but nothing is too big for God. If He has placed a vision on the inside of you, He is more than able to help you fulfill it. But, you must do your part.
Find scriptures that pertain to your vision. Pray over your vision every day. Talk about your vision with your Christian friends, your youth pastor, and your family. Spend time envisioning yourself fulfilling your destiny. Lastly, believe with every fiber of your being that you will one day walk in your dream. Now, get excited! You’re one day closer to seeing your vision become a reality.
MICHELLE ADAMS
Grace Principle: The late William Ashley (Billy) Sunday, an American evangelist and Presbyterian minister, said: “More men fail through lack of purpose than lack of talent.”
Michelle Adams is a successful and award-winning author. She teaches at writers conferences across the country and shares her love of the written word with aspiring writers. Visit Michelle at www.michellemedlockadams.com
Research: The Backbone of Any Article
There’s an old saying in the newsroom that goes something like this: “You’re only as good as your sources.” That’s actually very true. Think about it; if your sources aren’t good ones, your information within your article, essay, school report or book will be flawed.
- Find Good Sources of Information: Sources come in all shapes and sizes—from books to websites to actual interviews with experts.
a. Need experts to interview? Profnet.com is a great place to start. Unfortunately, this is only available to college students who are working on an article for publication. So, hang onto this resource if you plan to write for your future college newspaper. Even if you can’t use Profnet, you can still find experts to interview by scanning the internet. For example, go to amazon.com and see if anyone has written a recent book about your subject matter. Then see if the author has a website (they usually do) and email that expert, asking for an interview via email. Typically, experts are more open to responding at their own convenience via email. Also, I’ve heard that Helpareporter.com is more open to student inquiries.
RED FLAG: Be very specific and detailed when asking for information and be sure you tell your potential sources how you wish to be contacted—by email, by phone, etc.
QUICK TIP: Maintain good working relationships with past sources by sending clippings of the stories where they’re featured; always offer to read back their quotes if they’re nervous; and offer to promote their latest book/website/cause within your article or book whenever appropriate.
QUICK TIP #2: Take good notes and use a recording device when interviewing a source. Never just rely on your tape recording because technology can fail us at any given moment. Also, you must let your source know that you’re using a recording device to keep it legal.
QUICK TIP #3: Google the name of the source you’re using…just to be on the safe side. You want to make sure that your source is legit.
Use statistics and interesting factoids within your essay/report/article/book.
- The internet is a goldmine of information. By typing in a key phrase such as “average number of pets per home” into a search engine, you can find many articles that will give the exact statistics you need to strengthen your own writing.
- Startling statistics always make great sidebars and pull-out boxes.
RED FLAG: Just make sure you accurately attribute the statistics/information within your article or book. EXAMPLE: Dachshunds are the eighth most popular breed in the United States, according to the 2009 American Kennel Club statistics.
RED FLAG #2: Just because it is on the internet doesn’t mean it’s true. Get more than one source to support your conclusions.
Mine the goldmine of information you already have.
- Once you’ve written an article or a book, there is always extraneous information that you weren’t able to use, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t great info.
- That extraneous information might even launch you into a whole different article or book, so be thinking about what you can do with it.
QUICK TIP: Don’t waste any good quote, statistic or factoid. Create a folder of “extra stuff” to use in the future.
Good research takes time, so don’t wait until the last minute to begin the researching process.
- Allow yourself time to get pertinent and timely information—tracking down sources by phone can take persistence on your part. (People go on vacation, so don’t wait until the day your story is due to start calling that crucial source you need because that source may be on the beach somewhere, away from the phone.)
- Always try and get the most recent data available.
QUICK TIP: While books are great sources of information, magazine articles and websites usually offer more current information.
When possible, try and use various sources that offer balance to a story, and make sure you don’t do “one source” stories.
- Be a fair reporter/writer, offering research/info that falls on both sides of an issue.
- When interviewing someone about a touchy subject, be sure to record their responses and let them know what the other “side” is saying in response to your question.
QUICK TIP: Always end an interview by thanking that person and saying, “Is there anything else you’d like to share that I didn’t ask you?”
Networking with other writers and editors is a good way to gain new sources.
- Don’t limit your source database to the people you know…let the people you know introduce you to the people they know.
a. So, if you interview a fitness professional for an article about weight loss, why not ask that expert to hook you up with someone he/she has trained who has lost a great deal of weight?
QUICK TIP: Also, if you’re working on assignment for a magazine or newspaper, don’t be afraid to ask your assigning editor or publisher for source suggestions. They may have a few sources in mind, which will cut your work in half.
Some online sources that may help with your research:
- The Amazing Picture Machine [ Kids/Teens ] – Index to graphical resources and maps on the internet. Database of all types of images suitable for children.
- Bartleby.com [ Kids/Teens/Mature Teens ] – Search for famous quotes, classic literature, and nonfictional works. Site also includes dictionary, encyclopedia, and thesaurus.
- Ben’s Phaster Online Reference Desk [ Kids/Teens/Mature Teens ] – Reference search guide. Research portal covers biography, dictionary, encyclopedia, language translation, thesaurus, world and city maps
- Electronic Text Center [ Teens/Mature Teens ] – Online archive includes over 45,000 classic texts in 12 languages.
- eLook [ Kids/Teens/Mature Teens ] – Provides information on programming, computers, definitions, and literature.
- Emily Post: Rules of Etiquette [ Teens/Mature Teens ] – Guide to good manners includes thousands of tips on correspondence, party giving, and conduct in every public or private setting.
- English Library [ Teens/Mature Teens ] – Features links to biographies, literature, poetry, and foreign classics. Includes alphabetical index of authors, as well as dictionaries and other reference works.
- FactMonster [ Kids/Teens ] – Includes searchable information related to sports, entertainment, geography, history, biography, education, and health.
- Gary Price Fast Facts [ Kids/Teens ] – Compilation of quick reference resources, including almanacs, statistics, and fact books.
- Info Zone Research Skills Area [ Kids/Teens/Mature Teens ] – Exploration of the research process and links to related sites.
- Infonation [ Teens/Mature Teens ] – View and compare statistical data for countries that are a part of the United Nations. Find everything from land size to population, average temperature to crime rates.
- Inter-Lace Webtopics Directory: [ Kids/Teens/Mature Teens ] – This teacher-librarian designed website contains searching tips and a weblinks topic subject list for teachers and students. Contains a high percentage of Australian links.
- Martindale’s Reference Desk [ Teens/Mature Teens ] – Massive collection of links to reference resources includes language centers, calculators, maps, science tables and important websites of various countries.
- My Virtual Reference Desk [ Kids/Teens/Mature Teens ] – Links to a variety of resources including news, weather, sports, encyclopedias, facts on file, FAQs, and tutorials.
- NoodleQuest [ Kids/Teens/Mature Teens ] – Free service offers automated search engine strategy development.
- NoodleTools [ Mature Teens ] – A suite of interactive tools designed to aid students with their online research, from selecting a search engine and finding some relevant sources, to citing those sources.
- Research-It [ Teens/Mature Teens ] – Look up the meaning of a word, find out when a famous person lived, or identify a foreign language at this one-stop research center.
- TekMom’s Search Tools for Students [ Kids/Teens/Mature Teens ] – An easy-to-use, one-page reference desk for students. Includes kids’ search engines, encyclopedias, biographies, images, dictionaries, and maps.
- Time and Date [ Kids/Teens/Mature Teens ] – Lots of time and date related information, such as yearly and monthly calendars,
MICHELLE ADAMS
counters, countdown, and the world clock which shows the current time in cities all over the world.
Michelle Adams is a successful and award-winning author. She teaches at writers conferences across the country and shares her love of the written word with aspiring writers. Visit Michelle at www.michellemedlockadams.com
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