Blogging for Authors—Lesson #7 Writers don’t like to write for free. I know this well. I received my degree in magazine journalism and continue to work as a journalist. One of the first lessons I learned in journalism school was, “Don’t ever write a word unless you know you will get paid.” Yet, I’m a blogger. Bloggers blog for free…
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Writing Prompt 110 List and describe your weaknesses, learning needs. Have you ever noticed in job interviews how the interviewer asks about weaknesses? That is probably not the best time to admit your bad hygiene, snoring, sloppiness in the kitchen, or other similar weaknesses. We all have embarrassing weaknesses from time to time, but there’s no need to broadcast them…
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This post is a blogged draft excerpt from The Author Training Manual (Writer’s Digest Books, March 2014). Read the previous blogged excerpt, here. What does “author platform” really mean? There are numerous definitions as well as opinions about how you create one–or if you should. A Few Definitions According to Chuck Sambuchino, author of Create Your Writer Platform, “a platform…
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Writing Prompt 109 List and describe your strengths and expertise. We’ve been talking for some time about finding creative and interesting ways to describe your talents and skillsets. Today’s prompt builds upon previous prompts and gets you back into the professional mindset. Do you know what your strengths are? Do you come up with mind-blowing ideas? Are you a great…
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Writing Prompt 108 Write or modify a list of your comprehensive skills and talents. Today’s writing prompt should be great encouragement to every person to toot their own horn and shower great praise upon himself. How do you go about writing a comprehensive set of skills and talents? Well, it’s not an easy task to do because it is necessary…
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Inspiration hits. The light bulb goes on. You’ve got a passion, and you pursue it. You see a need, and you fill it. There’s a question, and you answer it. You have a purpose, and you fulfill it. These all present great reasons to begin writing a nonfiction book. And most writers, when struck by a good idea and the…
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Writing Prompt 107 Write or modify your list of personal interests. A list of personal interests is just a formal way of saying hobbies. Why do you suppose it’s important to identify, list, and briefly describe extracurricular interests that have absolutely no bearing on the professional work you do as a writer? Hmmm. Before I answer that, think about the…
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