As many of you know, I\u2019ve been writing for publication for over 35 years\u2014actually it has been 37 years and counting. I did a lot of writing even before deciding to establish a writing career. I wrote stories for my three daughters when they were small, kept travel journals and was an avid letter writer, list-maker and poet. My dream, however, was to write articles for magazines and, in 1973, I began writing and submitting articles to a variety of magazines. I earned my living through article-writing for a number of years and I am also now the author of 31 books (number 32 is in the works). <\/p>\n
I\u2019ve found writing to be an interesting lifestyle. While I attempt to teach through my writing, I also learn. And I\u2019d like to share some of the things I\u2019ve learned over the years.<\/p>\n
1: The process of writing is more for me than for others. Sure I write to be read\u2014like most writers and authors, I believe I have something of value to share. But it is the joy I derive from the process of writing that keeps me writing.<\/p>\n
2: Writing, while my profession, is often also my escape. <\/p>\n
3: Writers have different writing schedules for a reason. We really do have a natural rhythm that dictates when we are at our best\/worst. Although, sometimes, when we\u2019re working to establish a writing career or we\u2019re writing a book while living a full life, we have to write when we\u2019re not at our best.<\/p>\n
4: Writers want to be heard\/read. While some of us are natural communicators others have other reasons for writing\u2014they want to make a difference\u2014create change in the world.<\/p>\n
5: Not all writers were born under the sign of the communicator, Gemini. There are other motivators that cause people to write. For years, anytime my astrological sign (Gemini) came up or I had a reading (for fun), I was told, \u201cYou should write,\u201d or \u201cYou will become a writer,\u201d or \u201cYou were a writer in a past life.\u201d <\/p>\n
6: Most writers and authors are not good promoters. We just want to write, thank you! <\/p>\n
7: Most writers don\u2019t take well to criticism. It\u2019s painful when someone criticizes our writing or our ideas. Often, it seems as though some people just don\u2019t understand you and that\u2019s hard to take when you feel as though you\u2019ve bared your soul through your writing. Don\u2019t you hate it when someone nitpicks one minute point or idea in your book? Some reviewers or critics seem to miss the whole point of your story or your nonfiction book and focus on something they personally take exception with. Authors, stay far, far away from people who like to criticize just for the pure pleasure of it. But don\u2019t ignore valid critique. If you\u2019re not sure which is valid and which isn\u2019t, spend a few days getting familiar with an editor\u2019s comments, for example. You may eventually realize they do enhance your work.<\/p>\n
8: A beautiful day can pretty much ruin an otherwise promising writing schedule. Good thing we have laptops that we can take outdoors with us on those delicious early days of summer.<\/p>\n
9: Cats are more conducive to the writing life than are dogs or small children. Cats are generally calm. They love having someone around all the time. And if that person is sitting down, all the better because that means there is a lap that needs warming. <\/p>\n
10: Cat fur is not conducive to writing equipment. Just this weekend I learned a nifty way to clean cat hair from the keyboard. Periodically, I turn my keyboard over and tap it on the desk ever so lightly in order to loosen and remove dust, etc. that has settled between the keys. This weekend, when I wasn\u2019t writing, I was reading. I came across this tip\u2014use the sticky side of a Post-It to clean between the keys. I tried this and you should have seen the cat fur that I pulled out of my keyboard. <\/p>\n
Special Prices for Patricia Fry’s Online Courses<\/strong> \u2022\tSelf-Editing Course (NEW!) It\u2019s $32 off the Self-Publishing Workshop and $25 off the Article-Writing Course. Questions? PLFry620@yahoo.com <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As many of you know, I\u2019ve been writing for publication for over 35 years\u2014actually it has been 37 years and counting. I did a lot of writing even before deciding to establish a writing career. I wrote stories for my three daughters when they were small, kept travel journals and was an avid letter writer, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\nWe\u2019re closing in on summer and it\u2019s a good time to sign up for one of my on-demand, online course. Also, June is my birthday month. So I\u2019ve decided to drop my course prices for the entire month of June. Sign up now through June 30, 2010 and get 20% off. That\u2019s a $40 discount for the following courses:<\/p>\n
\n\u2022\tMemoir-Writing Course (NEW!)
\n\u2022\tBook Promotion Workshop
\n\u2022\tBook Proposal Workshop<\/p>\n
\nLearn more here: http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/courses.htm<\/a> <\/p>\n