If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

If truth be told, most people would love to erase their mistakes. But, not only is that impossible, it really wouldn’t be as wonderful as most people think.

After all, we learn from our mistakes.

Still, it’s always great when we can avoid mistakes in the first place by educating ourselves.

Read my writing tips at The National Writing for Children Center today and avoid some of the most common mistakes I see from new writers.

Once you get to the homepage, just scroll down to today’s blog post.

Happy writing!

Suzanne

Writers who’ve been taking part in the Lieurance-King New Year’s Article Challenge are now racing to the finish line since the challenge officially ends tomorrow, Saturday, March 31st, at midnight.

The challenge offered to the 31 writers who accepted it was to write a total of 30 new articles between February 1st and March 31st, and submit them to online article directories.

Last night, a f.ree teleclass called Race to the Finish Line, was presented as part of Writers on Call (weekly group coaching teleclasses for freelance writers) to offer tips for those writers trying to complete the challenge.
In case you missed the teleclass (as many people did since there were problems with the bridge line used for last night’s class), here’s a summary of what we discussed on the call.

Tips for Writing at Least FIVE More Articles by the Deadline (Saturday, March 31st)

Whether you’ve completed 30 articles as part of the Lieurance-King New Year’s Challenge or just one or two, it doesn’t really matter.

What matters is that you’ve finally taken action to make article marketing part of your overall strategy to promote your other products and services.

And every single article to add to online directories will help get your name out there to potential customers or clients.

So here are some tips to help you write at least 5 more articles before the deadline tomorrow night:

1) If you’ve had trouble coming up with topics for articles, you’ve probably been thinking too hard. You’re not out to write scholarly pieces, or full-blown magazine articles that require many sources and a lot of research. Limit your articles to 400-600 words, and “write what you know,” for the most part.

2) Look for seasonal ideas for articles. With spring now in full bloom, tailor an article with spring tips for whatever it is you specialize in writing about. For example, if your area of expertise is pet care, try an article like, “Even Pets Need Spring Cleaning: Five Tips to Spiff Up Your Pet” - you get the idea.

3) Tax season is here, too. Ezines and websites would love an article called “Last Minute Tax Tips,” or, “The Dos and Don’ts of Doing Your Own Taxes.” You might need to do a little research for an article like this. But you’ve probably learned a lot through personal experience over the years, so use that experience to write a short article.

4) Summer will be here soon, too. Readers love articles with tips for getting into shape for summer. Plus, “Ten Tips for a Healthier YOU This Summer” would attract the attention of ezine editors and website owners and they’d probably use your article.

5) Recipes are an easy way to create an article, and many websites and ezines love to use this type of piece. What are some of your favorite summer recipes? Share them in an article or two.

6) Grilling is something everyone loves to do in summer. Come up with a jazzy title and an article with tips for outdoor grilling.

7) Write a book review. Chances are, you’ve read a new book in the last month or so if you’re a writer. Take a few minutes to write a simple, straightforward review of this book.

Write an easy how-to article. “How to Get Your Yard Ready for Summer,” for example, or “How to Help Your Teenager Start a Summer Lawn Care Business.”

As you’re trying to come up with ideas for a few more articles, think about the websites and ezines you read on a regular basis.

What kinds of articles do these publications tend to use?

Write something with these publications in mind, then don’t be surprised when you see they’ve picked up your piece from the online directory you submitted it to.

Also, browse some new websites and ezines that you would like to see carry your articles.

What could you write an article about that would probably appeal to the readers of these sites and publications?

Another tip for finding ideas is to browse through magazines.

If you don’t have a stack of magazines on hand, visit your public library and leaf through several magazines that interest you until you find at least a couple of articles that attract your attention. You could probably write articles about these same topics yourself. Try it.

As you make that final dash to the finish line, it shouldn’t be too hard to come up with at least 5 more articles.

And don’t forget - on April 4th, we’ll have a special award ceremony for everyone who took part in the challenge, so we hope to see you there!

Happy writing!

I’m always telling my coaching clients, and other freelance writers I know, that it just takes time to develop a full time career as a freelance writer, so they need to be patient.

Well, guess what?

Most things that are worthwhile take time.

Even creating a great writers’ group takes time.

Case in point is the Kansas City Writers Meetup group.

We’ve been together since last August and it’s taken until now for the group to really start coming together.

I guess we’ve just finally found the right combination of writers who are serious about joining a group, are willing to pay yearly dues, and are willing to participate in the group’s activities.

If you’re trying to start a writers’ group, or you’re even wondering if you should stick with the writers’ group you’re in, keep this in mind.

Be sure you give yourself and the group enough time before you decide to bow out.

If you wait just a little longer you may end up with a fantastic group!

We did.

Find out more about The Kansas City Writers Meetup.

Eldon Miller Speech at Toastmasters International - MarathonMasters Club

Many writers today are also speakers who present at all sorts of conferences and workshops across the country - and even around the world.

But how does someone make the leap from writer to speaker?

Well, my suggestion would be to join Toastmasters International.

That’s what I did.

As the name implies, Toastmasters International has clubs all over the world. Many of the clubs meet in the evening, while others meet during the day.

I belong to MarathonMasters here in Kansas City and we meet during the lunch hour every Thursday.

I really enjoy this group because it gives me a chance to try out new speeches or workshop presentations BEFORE I have to do them in front of a paying audience.

Besides, the group is just plain fun.

That’s a photo (above) of MarathonMasters member, Eldon Miller giving a speech called All Aboard when our theme last week was Trains.

Eldon used some simple props - a stepstool, a lantern, and a hat and uniform - to introduce his speech.

When he stepped on that stool, swung the lantern, and announced in a deep, loud voice, “All aboard,” he had everyone in the room hooked and on board for his presentation.

If you’re ready to make the leap from writer to speaker, visit Toastmasters International online and find a club near you.

Becoming a speaker as well as a writer is a great way to increase your income - so why not try it?

As Eldon would say, “All Aboard, for Toastmasters International”!

Wow! One week from today is the last day of March 2007.

Those of you who accepted the Lieurance-King New Year’s Article Challenge will be making your final race to the finish line to complete a total of 30 articles to submit to article directories by that date.

Kristen King and I want to help you make it to the finish line.

With that in mind, we’re inviting everyone to our Race to the Finish Line: One Final Shove (uh, I mean, one final Nudge), f.ree teleclass from Writers on Call this Thursday night, March 29th at 7:00 p.m. (central time).

While Writers on Call is a subscription based weekly teleclass for writers, this week’s class is F.ree to everyone. The only cost for this session will be for the long distance phone call.

You don’t need any special equipment for this teleclass either - just a telephone.

During this fun, motivating, and (we hope) inspirational telesession, we’ll nudge you on to completing just a few more articles that will move you closer to completing the Lieurance-King New Year’s Article Challenge.

We’ll talk to challenge participants who have already completed 30 articles and find out just how they were able to do it.

Come brag about your articles!

Come whine about your lack of time and other reasons why you haven’t completed the 30 articles!

Just come join us and have fun with other writers from across the country, and across the pond(s).

To receive an email invitation to this event, please send your name, email address, and time zone (this is very important, so don’t forget the time zone) to Suzanne Lieurance before March 28th.

Until then, keep writing those articles!

Have a great day!

Suzanne Lieurance
The Working Writer’s Coach

Writers are always asking me, “Why should I have a blog?”

There are a number of reasons for having a professional blog to promote your writing and your writing services, so I can never answer that question quickly and easily.

But usually I just tell these writers that the main reason they need a blog is so they can start establishing an online presence for themselves and start creating their identity as writers.

Some writers seem to “get it” right away and they start a blog.

Others just give me a puzzled look and put blogging at the bottom of their “to-do-someday-before-I-die” list.

But, to each his own, I guess.

Tim Anderson, the Medical Migrant

One writer who has done very well with blogging is Tim Anderson, who, in the online world, is known as The Medical Migrant.

Tim does not profess to be a medical doctor, or any other type of medical expert, for that matter.

Rather, he is a medical migrant, traveling around online, finding the latest, and often the greatest, medical miracles and advances in modern medicine and leading his readers to this information.

The fun part of Tim’s blog is the unique, rather quirky and often humorous, slant he gives to each of the serious topics he writes about. If you visit Tim’s blog, - The Medical Migrant you’ll see what I mean.

Lately, Tim has taken a step beyond simply attracting readers to his blog.

Last month Tim’s blog posts were frequently picked up by national newspapers and other national online publications through BlogBurst.com.

In fact, Tim’s blog was one of the top 100 blogs featured at Blogburst.com and, for that, Tim received a check for $100.

Not a bad little bonus for just posting to his blog on a regular basis.

And just think of all the people around the world who will now visit The Medical Migrant on a regular basis to see what other medical news Tim has managed to locate for them.

Way to go, Tim!

If you’re a writer, you’ll enjoy visiting these other blogs for writers. They’re all links in our blog chain this week, so please visit each one and leave a positive comment.

Thanks!

Soaring with Sylvia

The Writing for Children Center

KCWrite4u

Wealth of Words

Content Done Better

Writers in the Sky

Musings from a Writer

Okay. I finally did it. I’ve ventured into the world of myspace.com and I’ve created a blog there.

Only problem is - I don’t have the slightest idea of what I’d doing there.

I know one thing though.

I need someone to “pimp my blog.”

Now, don’t get offended.

That just means I need to find someone who can jazz up my blog.

You know…add some bells and whistles type stuff to make it more attractive.

At my age, I never thought I’d be asking anyone to “pimp” anything of mine.

But then I never envisioned anything like MySpace.com either.

Right now I’m trying to correct some of the information in the “Suzanne’s details” section of my profile there. It says I’m single, don’t want kids, and I’m from Alabama.

How the heck did that information get there? I certainly didn’t put it there. And now I can’t seem to figure out how to change it.

Any MySpace.com experts out there who can help me out?

I’d appreciate it.

Remodel Your Reality: Seven Steps to Rebalance Your Life and Reclaim Your Passion
Author: Kimberly Fulcher
Paperback: 195 pages
Publisher: River Rock Press/Compass Life (April 15, 2006)
ISBN-10: 0977026043
ISBN-13: 978-0977026043

In today’s busy world, many women find that their lives have taken over their dreams. They run around all day, feeling totally frazzled, yet somehow still unfulfilled, by bedtime.

If this describes you, then you need to read Remodel Your Reality by life coach, Kimberly Fulcher.

In this practical, easy-to-follow book, Fulcher outlines seven steps to rebalance your life and reclaim your passion. She helps women stop doing things because they feel they “should” do them and begin saying no to things they really don’t want (or need) to do.

The book includes some easy exercises that can help anyone see themselves in a different light and understand themselves a bit better.

Fulcher also gives tips for very simple things anyone can do to take better care of themselves and be able to function at a more enjoyable level. For example, if you’re feeling tired all of the time, you could be dehydrated. Starting your day by drinking a full glass of water could result in higher energy levels all day long.

I was thankful for this little reminder because I often feel draggy the day after a good workout. But when I took Fulcher’s advice and drank more water I suddenly had more energy. You’d think we could figure out these simple things ourselves, but sometimes we’re just too busy.

Fulcher offers tips and advice for everything from how to lose weight to building a successful career. And, if you’ve had trouble discovering your purpose in life, maybe that’s because you’ve been thinking your purpose means finding your perfect career instead of understanding who you are and how you do everything you do, which is what Fulcher’s book is all about.

To receive a f.ree chapter of this book, plus three months of f.ree life coaching from Kimberly Fulcher, click here.

If you’d love to work with a writing coach, but just don’t have the money right now for individual coaching, then Writers on Call is for you.

For only $37.00 per month you’ll receive FOUR monthly teleclasses. Each one covers some aspect of freelance writing, and each teleclass is 55 minutes long.

All classes are recorded, and the day after each live session, the link to the recording of that session is emailed to each subscriber. That way, subscribers can listen to the classes whenever they want and never have to miss one of the calls.

However, each session includes some individual coaching and questions from subscribers are answered right then by the class facilitator, so it’s always best to listen to the live call, if possible.

Writers on Call teleclasses feature guest authors, editors, publishers, and other publishing professionals.

Join us this Thursday night when facilitator Yvonne Perry (owner of Write On! Creative Writing Services in Nashville, Tennessee) will teach class five of an 8-Week series on writing a book. She’ll discuss setting up the manuscript in MS Word and subscribers will learn how to create a hyperlinked table of contents. This will be a basic primer in some of the useful but little known features of Word regarding margins, font styles and sizes, paragraph spacing.

New subscribers who’ve missed the first 4 parts of this 8-week session can order CDs of each of the first 4 classes for just $20.00 each, or links to each session for just $10.00 each.

Join us tomorrow night for Writers on Call and take your freelance writing career to the next level.

Find out more and subscribe here.