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Do you head for the keyboard every morning even before having your coffee?
Do you sometimes turn down invitations so you can stay home and write?
Would you rather work on your book than join neighbors for a pool party?
Do you even enjoy writing lists, emails and thank you notes?
Do you sometimes work right through mealtime?

If you answered yes to these questions, you could be a write-a-holic.

I don’t believe there is a cure. But then, I’ve never met a write-a-holic who wanted to be healed. There’s just too much pleasure in writing for those of us with the passion.

Having enjoyed the process of writing for around 45 years and writing for publication for over 30, I can give you a few reasons for stepping away from the keyboard a little more often than you actually want to.

• Repetitive stress syndrome.
• Eye strain.
• Stiff neck.
• Electromagnetic hazard.
• Deep vein thrombosis or e-thrombosis dangers.

We’ve known for years that exposure to an electromagnetic field might not be good for us and that repetitive movement and poor posture for extended periods can cause stress and damage to our bodies. But now, add to that list of dangers, the one that airplane passengers face—deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or, for computer users, e-thrombosis.

What can we do to avoid these dangers?

• Get up at least once every hour and move around for 10 minutes.
• Keep hydrated—drink plenty of water.
• Test your computer to find out how much radiation is seeping.
• Reconfigure your work station so it is ergonomically correct.

Part of the problem results from our habits and patterns. Take these additional steps toward better health:

• Cut long fingernails which can interfere with your natural way of typing.
• Uncross your legs.
• Move equipment so that you have to get up and walk in order to use it.
• Get a headset to use when on the phone so you can walk around while talking.
• Wear compression hose.
• Play music while working. You’ll tap your feet and keep the blood from pooling.

Sites where you can get more information about these issues:
http://www.office-ergo.com
http://www.mercola.com/article/emf/emf_dangers.htm.

Changing long-held habits is not easy, but I think we should all try to take better care of ourselves so that we can continue enjoying the writing life.

Would you excuse me? It’s time to jog around my office.

If you’re a writer/author, you really must check out my list of writing/publishing-related books. My latest and greatest is: The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. You should read this book if:

• You are thinking about writing a book for publication.
• You are in the process of writing a book for publication.
• You know nothing about the publishing industry.
• You are considering self-publishing.
• You want to go with a traditional royalty publisher.
• You are considering a fee-based, POD “self-publishing” company.
• You are promoting a book.
• You are seeking an agent or a publisher.
• You want to know how to write a book proposal.
• You have any questions about the publishing industry or process.

Learn more about this book and my others at http://www.matilijapress.com

You’ve heard of Dancing With Wolves. Well, how many of you out there write with cats? By this I mean do you have cats around while you write. Do you sometimes have to move a cat in order to locate a project? Must you crawl around on the floor in search of your favorite pen from time to time? Do you frequently go to your cat’s favorite play spot in search of a sticky note with an important phone number on it? And does your tech guy scold you after he cleans wads and wads of cat hair out of your computer?

Ah the inconveniences of writing with cats.

But what’s the alternative? I actually know writers who ban their cats from their offices. I, too, do this on occasion—when I’m attempting to take down information from someone on the phone and Sophie (our playful tortie) is chasing the pen. I’ve been known to close my office door when I’m doing an assembly-line job such as collating and stapling handout material, reorganizing my filing cabinet or hardcopy cutting and pasting a book, for example.

Since our cats sleep much of the day and the morning sunlight doesn’t come through my office window to lure them in here, our two fur kids don’t spend a great deal of time in my office while I’m working. So, mostly, I acquiesce when they do wander in and insist upon a little snuggle time. I just take care of tasks that I can do with a large cat curled up on my lap or a small one draped across my shoulders. Sometimes our kitties just sit on my desk watching the hummingbirds and yellow finches feed outside the window.

While cats can be a distraction to a writer and even an annoyance, I prefer an open-door policy where Sophie and Max are concerned. I even allowed cats in my office when there were four. I’ll never forget the time that our Himalayan, Katy, deleted a book I was editing in one motion of the paw. In an instant, the entire book had vanished. Luckily, I knew how to get the file back. I’ve had more than one cup of coffee spilled in my office. And since we adopted Sophie, now things go missing. You see, she is a kleptomaniac.

Sometimes I weigh the pros and cons of allowing cats in the office. Without them:
• My computer (and my office) would need fewer cleanings.
• I would have to take full responsibility for any spills, losses or damage.
• There would be no little nose smudges on my window.
• I could do my choice of tasks when I want to do them.
• There would be fewer interruptions.

So what do cats bring to a writer’s office?
• A sense of Serenity. Cats are natural stress reducers.
• Humor. Cats cause smiles and even laughter.
• Affection. Is there anything more loving and cuddly than a cat?
• Support. A cat is there for the long haul.
• Approval. In a cat’s eyes, you can do no wrong.
• Ideas for articles and books. I’ve written dozens of cat-related articles and I’m even working on a book of stories inspired by my cats.

I wrote this entire blog entry, this morning, while being entertained and snuggled up by our office kitties, Max and Sophie.

Have you visited my web site, lately? I have tons of information, inspiration and resources for freelance writers and authors. I offer 3 courses on demand. I have some excellent books for sale. Check it out at http://www.matilijapress.com

Most activities are purpose-based. There’s a reason why you make a doctor’s appointment, take a friend to lunch, apply for a job at a particular company, take a class, study, exercise, get married… You don’t travel without a reason. You go someplace to relax, to see the sights, to visit someone or for business.

And there is a reason why you write. In fact, your writing or publishing success depends on that deep down personal purpose.

Let’s examine your purpose and determine how it computes into your ultimate success.

1: You write to become somebody. Fame has long been the incentive for some would-be writers, musicians and actors. From afar, the attention, the recognition, the constant kudos seem oh so delicious. You dream of being in the limelight. And it happens. You’ve seen it happen and it could happen for you. However, the odds against it are so huge that it is practically a non issue.

But, as a published author, you can feel like somebody among your family and friends. I’m kind of a celebrity in my community because of my local history books. You could become well-known in your area of expertise. I’m known within the writing/publishing community because I do so much writing within the industry and because of my affiliation with SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) http://www.spawn.org

If extreme publishing fame is your goal, however, I’d suggest that you pursue a less competitive field.

2: You’re motivated by money. There’s money to be made as a writer—I’ve been supporting myself through writing for nearly 20 years. And some freelance writers and authors are earning six figure incomes (and more). But I doubt that any of them are in this business purely for the money. With very few exceptions, it takes a lot of promotion, persistence and patience to get anywhere in this business. And a love for writing is a major prerequisite.

I’ve actually seen people try to enter into this field without the talent or the love for writing. Sure you can make money as a writer, but it is not as easy and straightforward as most think. You don’t just sit down and write a wonderful book and become wealthy. It’s often a matter of writing what’s needed, rewriting, meeting deadlines, withstanding rejection and promotion, promotion, promotion.

3: You have something to say. I think that most writers have this in common. And most of us start out by sharing our thoughts and expressing ourselves. While there certainly are some writers who continue to make a good living through opinion columns, for example, this is not a very realistic goal for most. You will succeed in this business only if you are willing to branch out and expand your writing repertoire.

4: You want to change hearts and minds. More people than ever before are writing about their experiences. They want to share, to be validated, to help ease their own personal pain through writing. They want to touch people—to help them—to make them laugh or cry. And most of these people are one-time authors. They write that one book and they are done. Some writers, however, continue writing on their original theme of losing a child, being cured of a disease, overcoming an addiction and so forth. They build a website, launch a newsletter and write articles for magazines, thus building a career as a writer.

5: You want to see your words in print. While this is part of the thrill of writing for most writers, it isn’t a strong enough motivation to stand alone.

6: You write as a teaching tool. Countless people become writers in order to teach their craft or their business. By writing books and/or articles, you can position yourself as an expert in your field. This is certainly a valid reason to become a writer. I know educators, therapists, psychologists, artists and others who have produced books to use in their workshops and classrooms. Some of them continue teaching through magazine articles.

7: You are attracted to what you perceive as the writer’s lifestyle. I’ve been writing for publication for over 30 years and I don’t think I have a lifestyle much different than I would had I gone to work for a large corporation all those many years ago. Actually, I might be retired now and traveling on a large pension. Any lifestyle is whatever you make it. No matter what work you do, you should also be doing the things you love. For me, writing is my love—my passion. I’ve been fortunate enough to find a way to earn a living through my writing. My lifestyle consists of time writing, of course. But much of my time consists of self-promotion, facing rejection, rewriting, pounding the pavement (so to speak) for assignments and freelance work and so forth.

8: You can’t not write. Those who seem to find their place in the world of writing are those with a passion for the process. Their passion motivates them in establishing a writing lifestyle; that is, if they can direct that passion realistically.

The thing is, if you love writing and you really want to see your work in print, go for it. But enter into this extremely competitive field with a sense of reality. Publishing success is relative. Attaining the highest level of success is a real crap shoot. There are no guarantees. But I would venture to say that those of you who put in the time and work studying, learning and promoting yourself AND who are willing to be flexible and adaptable, have the greatest chance of grabbing that brass ring.

While I urge you to look toward all possibilities—even fame and fortune, I also want you to be realistic. Write for the right reasons, reach for the top and be prepared for anything.

If you are ready to write a book, find a publisher for your manuscript, write a book proposal, promote your finished book or you just want to know more about the publishing industry, order my book today: The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

I’m teaching my online article-writing course this month and I’m enjoying it immensely. I love helping good writers channel their energies and talent in a way that computes into cash. I like watching writers finally see their work in print—to hold a magazine with their article and their byline right there on the printed page.

A variety of students have gathered to take my course this time. Some of them want to promote their book(s) through targeted articles. Others want to bring in some money writing for magazines. A few of them hope to jumpstart a writing career—to ease into full-time or even part-time work as a writer.

Many of you know that I supported myself for quite a few years by writing magazine articles. There were times when I was sending out 100 query letters each month on 20 different subjects and writing as many as 5 articles per week.

People would ask me, “How do you find the time to do all of that writing?” What most non-writers don’t understand is that writing is my full-time job just like accounting or real estate sales or running a retail business is theirs. It’s what I do.

What my students will be learning over the next few weeks is that freelance article-writing is not always fun. Writing is just part of the equation. You must constantly come up with viable article ideas. You have to pitch those ideas to editors who are not always open or even cordial. There’s a lot of rejection. There’s also a lot of bookwork involved and, sometimes, you have to become a hard-nosed bill collector.

Many writers fail because they find some of these tasks so distasteful. For some, coming up with ideas and pitching them is pure torture. Some balk at the necessary bookkeeping. Still others hate the research.

I tell writers that if they truly dislike some aspects of their work and feel that they are really no good at it, hire someone to handle those tasks. Throughout my career, I’ve hired help. I hire printers, of course and book and cover designers, but I’ve also hired a secretary to print out and send query letters for me. And recently, I’ve hired a researcher to help me discover new promotional opportunities for some of my books. I also used to hire my grandchildren, when they were younger, to help with bulk mailings, large shipments and such.

These days, most article-writers are supplementing their income by taking on corporate work or editorial jobs. Actually, those writers who have landed jobs with organizations, companies and/or agencies typically have less stress and make more money. You have to be assertive enough to sell yourself and land the job, but then you simply do what is commissioned. Typically, there’s no pitching, waiting, rejection, etc. The corporate representative simply contacts you with assignments.

As a corporate freelance writer, you might be asked to write newsletters, rewrite business manuals, compose letters, edit business plans or contracts, design brochures, write or rewrite copy for their Web site or even compile the company history. I’ve done all of the above. I also now work with individual authors and freelance writers on their projects. That, I am really enjoying!

What’s it like being a freelance writer? After 33 years, I can say that it has been and continues to be a great ride. This lifestyle has suited me nicely. I like being at home. I am disciplined enough to actually work at home and, most of the time, I’m pretty good about balancing my work with a little play, as well.

Every year and sometimes twice throughout the year, I examine my business. I look at my bottom line and compare it to my accomplishments and my level of satisfaction. Periodically, I will change something. I’ll decide to do more teaching, conduct more workshops, solicit more editorial work or promote my books more widely. Recently, I have decided to get back to writing. I realized that, other than my blog, the work I do for SPAWN and the promotional articles I write for writing/publishing-related magazines, I haven’t been doing much writing. And so for the next few months, I’ll be working on my Catscapades book. That is Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats. I’m thinking about putting it in ebook form and offering it from my Web site. My projected completion date is July. So watch for my big announcement.

In the meantime, if you have any cat stories you’d like to contribute, let me know.

Finally, it’s not too late to sign up for my article-writing course. Lesson two comes out tomorrow (April 17, 2007). If you are interested in any of my other online courses, How to Write a Successful Book Proposal or Self-Publishing Workshop, let me know. I am now offering these courses on demand. If someone is interested, I will set a date to start and begin promoting the course to get additional students in order to make it worth my time.

http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm

I’ve been doing quite a bit of editing, lately and I’m loving the work. I’ve edited a fantasy, a thriller, a few spiritual books and memoirs as well as a true crime, a historical, some how-to and self-help books and mass market novels.

While the books are different in content and purpose, there are some similarities between many of them as far as editing goes. Are you curious as to what they are? Here’s my tell all:

1: Most writers still leave two spaces after a period, question mark, etc. The rule now is one space after all punctuation. You’ll save yourself some money if you will correct this problem throughout your manuscript before turning it over to an editor. If your editor doesn’t know about the one-space-after-a-period rule, maybe she/he isn’t the right editor for you.

2: Many authors still leave the em-dash dangling between two words. The em-dash is correctly placed when it is about the width of the letter “M” and it connects the two words—thusly. Also, make sure that you use the em-dash appropriately within your text. I can see that I need a new Associated Press Stylebook. While there is text within the book in which the em-dash is used correctly, the punctuation section of this 1992 edition still shows the em-dash as a dangler. Use the em-dash to denote an abrupt change in thought within a sentence, to set off an explanatory element of the sentence and sometimes it’s used in place of a comma. My 2003 edition of the Chicago Manual of Style shows the em-dash (or dash) used correctly.

3: Many authors engage in what I call “muddy writing.” They sacrifice clarity for some sort of desire to use complicated, go nowhere sentences. Write so that you can be understood, or why bother.

4: Writers use incomplete sentences. Make sure that your sentences can stand alone—in other words that it has a subject, an action and appropriate connecting words.

5: New authors commonly write sentences that are too long and/or too complex. If someone has to read a sentence through again just to figure out what it means, the author has failed that reader.

6: Novice writers tend to repeat themselves. As an editor, I spend a great deal of my time suggesting that authors replace copycat words with fresh ones. When you finish a paragraph, read through it again to make sure that you haven’t repeated words such as, “had,” “also,” “very,” etc. When you are writing about a dog, vary the way you refer to him. Use his name, call him pup, the old guy, pet, canine, four-footed friend, fur kid, man’s best friend, etc.

7: I see some excellent, fresh writing and some boring, stale text. Make your paragraphs more interesting by varying the size and style of sentences and using unexpected words and phrases. One way to jazz up your writing is by increasing your vocabulary.

8: I also see manuscripts where authors use words that are too fancy and even obscure. Again, think about your audience. Ask, will they enjoy reading this or will it become a chore for them to make their way through unfamiliar territory?

9: Many authors aren’t sure where to break for a new paragraph. I deal with a lot of paragraphs that are too long.

10: Most authors use far too many instances of quotation marks. Often, it is Italics that they should use in order to emphasize a word or a phrase. Use Italics sparingly, however. Likewise, authors use quotation marks incorrectly in dialogue. They put punctuation outside of quotation marks and omit the comma before the quote, for example.

11: Many writers today still use the passive instead of the active voice. Instead of writing, “The worm was put on the hook by the fisherman.” Say, “The fisherman baited the hook.” Rather than, “The chick was thought by us to be stunning.” Say, “We all agreed that the chick was hot.”

12: Probably the most consistent problem I see in editing is lack of consistency. Rather than charging my clients for me to fix inconsistencies, I generally suggest that they use the find and replace tool on their computer and do it themselves. When you finish your manuscript, make sure that the words you want capitalized are all capitalized, that the names of your characters stay true, without different spellings throughout, and that your facts stay the same.

13: Some authors lean too much on their editors. When I edit a manuscript for a client, I provide lessons as I go along. I teach the rules and techniques in hopes that the author actually learns from the experience. But, alas, some of them send me their second manuscripts with the same mistakes I encountered in their first. I guess some writers just aren’t interested in developing new skills.

For information about self-editing, read Chapter 9 in my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
Are you looking for a networking organization where you can learn more about the publishing industry, authorship and opportunities for writers, authors and artists? Join SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) http://www.spawn.org