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Author: nyreepress
Nyree Press, Inc is an independent literary and coaching firm designed to assist writers who are interested in independently publishing their books. As a great resource for writers, Nyree Press offers personal coaching and resources to help you get from point A to Z with your book.
Dear readers,
NyreePress is packing up and moving to a new platform. If you would like to continue getting daily motivational writing blog-post, please click here to subscribe to our new system! We value your support and look forward to building with you!
See you on our new platform!
Warmly,
Kennisha Hill
Owner, Chief Operator | NyreePress Literary Group
Dear readers,
NyreePress is packing up and moving to a new platform. If you would like to continue getting daily motivational writing blog-post, please click here to subscribe to our new system! We value your support and look forward to building with you!
See you on our new platform!
Warmly,
Kennisha Hill
Owner, Chief Operator | NyreePress Literary Group
On Friday’s, I’d like to ask thought-provoking questions to our readers. Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section on this blog. We appreciate your participation!
I didn’t listen.
Instead, I walked into the gym ready to begin a work-out regime on my own. I wasn’t sure what I should do first. My years of gym-experience didn’t matter because this time I was clueless. The truth is, I haven’t worked out at a gym in a very long time. But somehow, hopping right into it made sense to me. I couldn’t start of slowly. I needed a rush. So…
I didn’t just get on the treadmill for a brisk walk. (too easy)
And, I didn’t visit my friend the exercise-bike for a brief ride. (still, too easy.)
And I didn’t even do five sets of 10 with 5lb weights like my husband suggested.
Nope.
I picked up a schedule that read “Cardio-kickboxing…7PM” and dove right in. I thought, “Oh, I used to do cardio-kickboxing back in the day. This is perfect. I can start back again!” Yeah, I had great ambition. However, I wasn’t considering the fact that my untrained and out-of-shape body was not ready for such a debilitating work-out.
Bad idea.
That evening, I could barely walk. I was limping all over the place. Exercise is supposed to give you more energy, right? Not for me– especially that evening. I was wiped out and I was in serious pain. And apparently, my timing was way off because I didn’t consider the fact that I had an appointment scheduled with a personal trainer the very next day.
Double ouch.
I learned something valuable from that experience.
Take. My. Time.
This is also something writers should consider as they begin their journey’s.
A little backstory…
When I first started writing, I was ready to jump in full swing. I tend to do that quite often. (sideways look) I wanted to work on a book, write and maintain a blog and I wasn’t sure how but I wanted to write for magazines too. However, quite honestly, I was completely spent just from trying to establish myself as a blogger. So, write a book too? Yeah, right. Write for magazines? *Giggling*
I was overwhelmed and overbooked. I had to take a few steps back and consider what I was really hoping to accomplish and work my way down the list.
I asked myself…
Do you want to maintain a blog? Are you prepared to take time to engage with your audience? What will I dedicate myself to writing about? What’s my passion? What’s my message?
And, are you prepared to deal with the exhaustion of querying magazine after magazine hoping for an assignment?
The answer was quite simple for me. No. So, I had to pull back a little and reconfigure somethings. I had to decide what stays, what goes and where I can give my undivided attention.
Afterward, I learned the value of taking my time. There wasn’t a rush. I just put enormous pressure on myself to try to get to a certain place at a fast pace. But that didn’t help. It left me up all hours of the night and frustrated.
Once I learned the answer to those questions, I was able focus on one thing at a time. That helped me become a more proficient blogger and learn the value of commitment and loyalty to my readers.
Aspiring writers, take your time.
If you’re new to the writing world, I’d like to encourage you to take your time. Consider what your short-term and full-term goals are. Do you want to become a published author? Do you simply want to write to be published? Or is your goal to establish a blog and build a great platform for your passion?
Whatever your goals are, try taking things one step at a time. There’s one key that I believe will help you as you continue on your writing journey:
Focus on one thing at a time until you get the hang of it.
I’m not saying you can’t blog and work on a book at the same time. You can– just make sure you make time to get comfortable– er— get to know that part of writing well. Desire to become proficient. Get better. Grow.
Just like I suffered with soreness and discomfort after rushing too fast into physical fitness, writers can experience similar results. Usually, we end up feeling DRAINED!
Take it from me, instead of jumping in thinking it’s a good idea to go full-swing and master every aspect of the writing life, it’s a better idea to take your time and pursue one goal at a time.
- Learn how to write a proper query letter, if you want to write for publications.
- Blog consistently, if you have a passion for something and want to share your message with your online community.
- Set writing goals if you’re working on a book. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to write 2,000 words a day. Start light-weight with 500 words and work your way upward from there.
- Be consistent in one area before you move on to something new.
These are a few simple examples that I think will help your writing career– especially if you’re just beginning. Most importantly, remember that there’s no need to rush. Each day is a blessing of its own. It’s a new day filled with grace and opportunity for you to walk confidently into your career as a writer. Prevent stress by taking it one day at a time!
Question for you:
Do you work on several projects at a time? If so, how’s that working for you? How do you manage? How do you prevent stress and take your time?
Thanks for visiting and Happy Thursday,
Kennisha Hill
Owner, Chief Operator, NyreePress Literary Group
Contact me here for your free 30 minute coaching consultation!
{Picture source: Google Images}
From Kennisha Hill, the Owner and Operator at NyreePress, have a wonderful and safe 4th of July!
Celebrate.
Enjoy Family.
Take the day off!
Sincerely,
Kennisha Hill
Some people hear the titles writer and author and automatically assume…
Cha-Ching
However, if you’re an aspiring writer and you are wondering when you’ll begin “rolling in the doe,” there are a few things you should know.
It takes lots of hard work and personal / professional commitment to see consistent money coming in from writing. And… it takes time. But, know that it’s highly possible that you can have a successful career as a writer and see great financial gain from it.
In this post, I’m not specifically talking about “book writing.” Although that is a sure way to see consistent monthly income– in various forms– that’s not the only way to make money as a writer.
If you’re wondering how you can make money as a writer, I’ll gladly share ways I’ve learned through experience and by research. It’s no big secret.
So, you wanna write full time and make money?
Here’s what you should consider:
- Decide if you simply want to write for money or to gain exposure / build a platform: There are people who promote writing for free (volunteer writing) just to build a writing resume. This is a way I believe a great writing career can begin, especially if you’re hoping to get into bigger magazines / newspapers. However, some people simply can’t afford to write for free. If you’re one of those newbies who’s trying to start making money to pay for necessities (rent, car, etc) then “free-writing” is probably not best for you. In this step, I want you to consider where you are. Are you simply trying to build a platform and writing resume or do you want to work and make money?
- Make sure you have time to pursue full-time writing: Writing full-time should be similar to how you treat a full-time job at corporate America. The difference is, you can create your own schedule– work your own hours. It’s important to schedule your own work hours, how much time you can commit to writing and how much time you can commit to searching for jobs. It’s important to consider if you have the time for it.
- Create a daily search-list: Writers who write full time either are writing for one place that pays them per week / month, or they have several freelance gigs lined up that pay. What does it take to get those freelance paying jobs? Lots of research and writing. It’s a good idea to search for other magazine columns that would fit your message. Search for their submission guidelines and then query, query, query. Learn how to write a query letter and start sending them your ideas. Some places want you to send the entire article, some only want a synopsis. It’s important to know what each magazine / source is requiring before sending them a letter / email. If you use Writers Market, you can save your searches in a folder. Writers Market is a great resource.
- Seek professional writing jobs: Here’s where you should be careful. There are many scams out there that try to lure in writers who want to make money. Be careful of them. Use career search engines and preferably resources like Writers Digest for suggestions. Another online service that shows writing jobs is Freelance Writing. Maybe you can be a copyeditor, help writing professional documents, etc. Those are lucrative jobs you can work to help you gain experience and build your writing resume.
- Start your own writing business: Many people start earning money by starting their own writing business. Maybe you’re a great editor or business writer with experience. If you have writing experience, you can make it work for you that way. It takes time and great commitment, but it’s highly possible if you know you’re skillful.
- Write Short Stories / Short Informative works: If you’re a fiction writer and can write short-stories, consider writing them and selling them as e-books. If you write non-fiction, consider writing a short e-book and selling it from your website. This is something many writers do. Short e-books are great ways to earn consistent money. (note: make sure you get it edited well and have a great cover!)
- Set short-term and long-term goals for your writing. Revisit and revise these goals regularly. After all, you can’t achieve success or track your progress as a writer unless you know what your benchmarks for success are. (Source: Writers Market).
Let’s Talk:
Have you tried any of these tips? How do you make consistent money as a writer? Your comment could help another writer!
Validation. Affirmation. Motivation.
Many of us diligently seek these three things. Sometimes, I do too. These types of things can be especially helpful when you’re a writer. Here are three reasons why:
- Validation: We like to know people enjoy what we have to say. Our message matters.
- Affirmation: We like to know that people are encouraged / moved by what we have to say. Are we doing what we’re supposed to be doing? Are we doing the right thing?
- Motivation: We like to know if we should continue writing. Why should we? Is this journey really worth it?
Here are a few simple truths. Validation, Affirmation and Motivation are helpful to writers, however they shouldn’t be the fuel that lights your fire– especially if you’re seeking them from other people. Although I am a literary coach, I am clear about making sure my clients know for themselves how special they are and how they possess the ability to share it with the world. I want them know realize their own potential. I want them to recognize their gifts! I want them to see it for themselves and not just look to get those things from me. Know what I mean?
When we’re constantly seeking approval by validation, affirmation or motivation from outside sources it means we may not be so sure about our own purpose. As a result, we look for other people to boost our confidence those ways. I believe it’s important to know it for yourself.
A little backstory…
I had a book-signing some time ago and it left me heartbroken. It was always a dream of mine to have my book displayed at Barnes and Nobles and for people come to support me and my work. But when I had a no-show on that day, my world was shattered. I was disappointed and didn’t want to write again.
As time moved on, I had to really dig deep and search for my truth. Why was I so disappointed? I learned the answer is quite simple. I didn’t have anyone to validate me as a writer, affirm that I’m doing something to help make the world a better place and I had no one to motivate me to keep writing. I felt like I was writing for no reason and quite frankly, no one. I was sulking over things that I made myself believe.
I learned something valuable from that experience. Sure people can inspire us to keep moving forward, however, it is also important to motivate yourself without fully depending on it from someone else.
- You validate yourself.
- You practice self-affirmation.
- You motivate yourself.
3 Ways to Motivate Yourself:
When I became serious about my writing career, I quickly learned that not very many people understood that life. How could they? They weren’t writers. And the truth is, when someone is not walking in your shoes, it’s hard for them to motivate you to pursue what you love. That’s when you have to step in and proclaim these simple truths– and then believe them. Here are three ways I’d like to encourage you to motivate yourself:
- Know your worth: Do you know your worth? You were uniquely created with a great purpose in your life and your were equipped with what it takes to pursue and perform it. Search deep within and learn just how valuable your are. Once you know that, no one or not one situation can make you feel any less important. Tell yourself, you do have something special to share with the world.
- Use your gifts to help others: Many times when we’re simply focused on what we can get, we lose sight of what matters the most. But when we take time to bless someone else with our gift, we learn to value and appreciate it more. How can we do this? Write someone a special note on a card. Send an encouraging email. Use your writing gift as a way to help someone else’s day. This helps us remember our purpose and encourages and motivates us to use our gifts more!
- Get excited about it! : If you’re a writer, it can be hard to feel great after getting tons of rejection and harsh critique. But don’t let that discourage you. That’s a normal part of this journey. Instead, get excited about what you do and yearn to become better– then give yourself credit for trying. Step back and look at your progress. Look at how far you’ve come. Have you ever thought you’d write so much in your life? Create an awesome blog? Encourage so many people? Write a book? Write for a magazine? Right now, you’re at a great place where all writers are– and that’s constantly growing on this journey. Thank God you haven’t arrived! We’re all still growing as we travel this journey. So, embrace it and get excited about it!
Homework from your Literary Coach:
Today, I want you to get a journal, index cards or if you’re “techie” use notes in your smart phone. Write down three things you love about yourself as writer. Why do you enjoy writing? How can you motivate yourself to press on and keep moving forward? How do you ignore rejection and disappointment?
Ponder on this:
“…I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14)
Do you believe that? Do you know that “full well?”
Let’s Talk:
What have you gained from this post today?
Thank you for visiting today!
Picture credit: Google images.
LeBron James recently led the Miami Heat to victory during the NBA finals. It was a great game, however, there was something incredibly profound Mr. James said when he was interviewed by Stewart Scott. Stu asked him what made him play so differently during this season. He referenced the “humbling” loss to the Dallas Mavericks last year.
LeBron eloquently explained (paraphrasing)
Last year I played with anger. This year I played with love. I went back to the basics.
Revisit the Love for Writing
Maybe you’ve started this journey thinking it was going to be a perfect walk and now you’re faced with challenges. Maybe you’re looking for a book deal with a traditional publisher. Maybe you’ve been working on a book and you just can’t seem to finish. Maybe you’re querying magazine’s and have been rejected. All of these things can make a writers life frustrating and simply put– hard.
The truth is, when you revisit the love for writing– you know what I mean– when regardless of opposition, rejection or frustration, you STILL want to write. That’s love. Do you feel that way? If so, then it’s because writing is a joy to you regardless of what you may face. You can’t help but pick up your pen because you know something special will happen as a result. Today, I want you to remember that.
Keep that love strong while you write. Remember your passion to pen inspiring messages or powerful plots the next time you face rejection.
The writing journey was never promised to be an easy one, however, your love and passion can make it a walk in the clouds. Similar to basketball, the world of writing can be very competitive. You’re writing a book that millions of other writers are writing too. However, you’re perform / write much better when you focus on the joy that writing brings you. Do it because you love it. Readers can tell the difference between someone who’s money-hungry and someone who loves what they do. Trust me.
Enjoy the blessing of creativity!
Question for you:
What helps you revisit the love for writing? What have you gained from this post today?
Photo Credit: Lebronjames.com
A year ago, I was in a tough position in my career. I was constantly chasing freelance writing gigs, writing daily blog-post, writing book reviews, writing my own book and writing a magazine column. This writer was exhausted. I thought a career as a writer was like a brisk walk through a field of flowers!!??!!
But wait….there’s more!
Not only was I doing those things— I was also managing my home as a wife and mom of three little ones. As I tried my hardest to manage it all, I realized something..
I couldn’t do it. I was losing passion for writing. I didn’t want to do it. Something had to give.
A little later, I learned the value of committing to a schedule, taking on projects that I could handle and prioritizing my life. This helped me make the right amount of room– or margin– and it helped me not feel so overwhelmed and overworked.
A few suggestions:
- Create space for what you know you can handle: If you’re pursing writing a book, set a realistic amount of time for you to work on it. Consider your day– your lifestyle. Do you have room for it? If you’re searching for freelance writing gigs and are constantly writing query letters and articles, make sure you have room for it. Don’t overcrowd your day.
- Say no to projects you don’t have room for: I used to have a problem saying no. I wanted to do it all and please everybody in the process. The truth is, you just can’t do that. You’ll end up working yourself too hard / over-extending yourself. If a good project lands on your desk, consider if you really can handle it. If not, say no and stay where you are.
- Set a schedule for your work and commit to it: Utilize the calendar on your smart phone (I bet you have one) and use it. I’m guilty of this. I just started using my calendar on my iphone and on my Macbook. (sad, I know.) But wow do I feel like I have it together!
- Prioritize your life: If you work a full time job, don’t work a full time job and come home to spend 6-8 more hours writing at night. And if you stay home with your children, don’t write more than you engage with them. They need you more. And, you won’t produce great work that way.
- Rest. Rest. Rest: I used to only write in the middle of the night. Eventually, I learned it’s not a great idea to do that every night. Give yourself time to rest and recoup. Writing is not breaking bricks… however… it is still hard work. Consider your body and rest is crucial for you to stay healthy. (listening to my own advice here.)
I believe you can have a successful writing career without being so overwhelmed. Don’t drain yourself. Take a deep breath and consider how you can add to your life in a healthy way. Your life as a writer can very well be a walk in a flower field. You just have to make it that way. I know you can do it!
Question for you:
What do you do to minimize that “overwhelming” feeling? What have you gained from today’s post?
Warmly,
Kennisha
NyreePress Blog 