There are 3 important questions you can ask yourself to find out whether your writing is going to help you succeed – or fail. Tweet This.

In a moment, we’ll talk about what those questions are. But first, let’s talk about the Internet, which is why these questions are important in the first place.

The best thing about the Internet is that it gives you the ability to find information on absolutely  any topic, day and night. You can get an answer to almost any question, research any subject, and locate people in all parts of the world.

Awesome stuff.

But herein lies the pitfall – having access to information like that makes it all too easy to get your head jammed with other people’s information, other people’s words, and over time your writing can become less and less a reflection of who you truly are in your gut but more of a regurgitation of other people’s heart and soul.

So how do you know? How do you know your writing is really and truly coming from an authentic place in you; that it speaks to the path you are walking, contributes to the meaning of your life, and supports your personal mission to contribute to society in only the way you can?

Or, if your writing is going to ultimately contribute to your failure to obtain your goals?

Let’s find out.

Track down one of your recent pieces of writing – whether it’s a blog post or a book chapter and ask yourself these 3 questions:

1. Was I feeling a little lost on what to write so I begin this piece by scanning the Internet to get inspired?
2.  If I were being totally honest, would I admit that more than a few of my phrases are well-turned phrases I found elsewhere and then rewrote to make them “mine?”
3. Is there any place in this piece of writing where it strikes a powerful cord of intense emotion somewhere within me?

If you answered yes to the 1st question, there’s a good chance that your piece of writing started on a tact that is not truly yours. Don’t get me wrong – there is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking inspiration on the Internet (heck, you’re here on zencopy, right?). The problem comes in when you know you have to write something, say a blog post, but you have no idea what topic you want to tackle so you skim around the net and find something that feels okay to you and you go from there. If this is your approach you most certainly are not going to produce a powerful meaningful piece of writing.

If you answered yes on the 2^nd question thank you for being so honest with yourself.  Most of us (if not all) need some help from time to time and we read a phrase that just strikes a chord so we repurpose it for our own writing. Raise your hand if you’re guilty (my hand is raised here). Not to worry, that’s okay (as long as you are re writing or quoting and giving credit). But if you’re just plain worn out, not feeling it, and you start getting 2, 3, or (oops) a phrase or two in each paragraph that is repurposed, then that is a problem.

And on the last question, if you answered no, if there is not any place in your writing that digs into one of your emotions  such as anger, fear, happiness, sadness, or surprise (from http://www.listofhumanemotions.com/) then the piece does not speak loudly to you which means it didn’t come from that core place within you that is aligned with the path you are walking and supporting your personal mission to contribute to society in only the way you can. In other words, that piece of writing is probably not what you should be turning loose in the world. You can do better.

Lukewarm and half-assed is not ever going to create the success you want and deserve.

So, if you’ve gotten a little lazy and are leaning on the Internet and other people’s words just a hair too much here’s what you can do to break the habit:

1. Don’t use the Internet to find a topic, use it to support a topic you already know it’s important for you to write about.
2. Set a limit on yourself for how many unoriginal rewrites of someone else’s sentences you are allowed. (An ultimate goal of 1 or 0 for a piece of writing is a good number here).
3. When you have your topic, before you start writing, ask yourself what aspect of that topic really makes you squirm? Or want to shout from the rooftops? Begin your writing from that point of emotion not from the topic itself.  

When you approach each piece with these ideas in mind you’ll have less of a tendency to end up with watered down words and it will help ensure that your writing comes from that important core place within that is in alignment with your success.

or The Truth about Writer’s Block

Psst, hey, you. Yes, YOU. Writer Person. You’re going to have to bend in close to hear this one because I’m not supposed to tell you what I’m about to tell you. And if you tell anyone you heard it here I’m obligated to hunt you down and pour coffee on your keyboard.

Ready?

You know that thing you call writer’s block?

Well, the real truth is that it doesn’t really exist. Maybe writer’s block is a marketing ploy designed so other professional writers can sell you things. In fact, here’s my cure for writer’s block for you – it’s free.

I know what you’re thinking. “Karen, seriously, then what in the hell do you call that writing dry spell last week where I couldn’t write anything that was worth a damn – or even much of anything at all?”

I call it, yes, I know this sounds a little harsh, self-indulgence. Wait! Before you click off this page, bear with me because there’s some really important stuff here.

We live in a new time when the Internet provides a great forum for writer’s to put their authentic selves out there and every day you spend ‘blocked’ is a day your gifts and talents and world-changing words cannot be shared.

So let’s, just for a moment, look  at the idea of writer’s block in a new light.

Writer’s Block isn’t really Romantic

Sure, Hemingway got a great deal of mileage out of creative angst, enough so we often tend to romanticize the ideal of it. But in today’s reality if you stay tortured for more than a few minutes, hundreds of new articles pop up on the net and you’re left out of the fun. Let’s face it, the payoff of tortured is no longer there so let’s dump that romantic notion out right now.

Being a Starving Artist just Plain Sucks

If you’ve ready any history at all, even just the small amount that was forced upon you in grade school, you know that our past  is filled with lines of incredible artist/writers who changed the world and the way we think, yet, they hardly made a dime. But today, because of the open forum we call the Internet, there are lots and lots of incredible writers, like you, who are getting their voices out there and the opportunities to also create income while fulfilling your purpose have never been greater. Allowing yourself to stay blocked and starving is a choice, not a given.

You are not Alone

Wikipedia defines writer’s block as the inability of the writer to produce new work. Well, in days gone by when a writer spent years on a novel (I know of what I speak, my first novel was written on a typewriter) and then had to wait years to get an agent, then a publisher, and then to wait even more months and years for it to be released to hear how well it was received, the pressure was stymieing. Years of your hard work and time could go down the toilet if the novel was panned. No wonder writers got stuck because they were always faced with the darkness of their own minds that said, “I could be wasting my time.” But guess what? Now, you can get feedback early and often. On your blog for instance! So, if you’re writing to be read, and you care about how others respond to your writing (you don’t have to care btw), then put it out there and let ‘er rip. Invite the world in – you no longer have to wait for years. You can know right now. In minutes. How liberating is that?

Who has the Time?

Today, as a writer you live and work on the Internet. It’s fast, it’s robust, and it’s great. And it leaves no time for sitting around reveling in the creative anguish of being blocked. Necessity, as they say…there’s nothing like giving yourself a deadline that you have to meet to blow apart “writer’s block.”

Your Payoff

We don’t do anything in life if we don’t have a payoff. Your payoff might be money, or indulging your fears, or walling in self-pity or the sympathy of others. Your payoff might even be enjoying the drama of it all – said the writer who threw herself on the bed in anguish. So the trick then, is to dig around a little so you understand what your payoff might be.

Payoff 1. You’re afraid  that‘They’ may not like it so your payoff is avoiding potential rejection

I’m not going to define “they” for you because everyone has their own they. But if you get stuck because “they” won ‘t like what you have to say, then I’ll take care of that little ditty for you right now – a lot of people won’t – will not – like your writing and what you have to say. You will be rejected. People may even curse at you. Whew. Now knowing you will absolutely be rejected at some point, you can decide whether you are going to let others control your decisions, or you can buck up and be the writer you were born to be.

Payoff 2. You’re afraid what you have to say is not important enough and if you don’t put it out there, you don’t have to have this confirmed

If you find yourself staring at the flashing computer screen trying to think of those words that are going to change the world and they just don’t come, this isn’t writer’s block, it’s a god complex. Get another profession. You can’t set out to change the world because words that hit the spot in the mind of the reader, is in the mind of the reader, and you NEVER know when, or where, your word, or words, will strike a chord and maybe, just maybe, profoundly affect someone’s life. But the only way to do this is to write, and keep on writing so the people who need to find your words, will. So stop trying to guess if what you’re saying will matter, just put it out there.

Payoff 3. You’re writing because you like the way “I’m a writer” sounds

If you find yourself continually blocked and unable to write ask yourself this – “Do I love to write enough or do I just like saying I’m a writer?” If you have a true and abiding passion for writing you will love it enough to do it even when no one is making you, enough to do it and not just talk about it because it sounds romantic at a party, enough to invite opinion in even when it’s harsh, enough to keep on writing even when “they” don’t like it, enough to do it even when you think what you’re saying is trivial. You write because you have to, not because it sounds good. If you’re doing it because it sounds good it’s not in your heart so of course you’re blocked. If this is true, great! You know it now and then you’re job is to go out and find what your passions truly are.

As a writer, opportunities for you to make a great living writing have never been greater. The Internet is bursting every day with entrepreneurs and companies and people who need fresh, lively, online content.

So if writer’s block isn’t romantic anymore, and it’s no fun, and it’s costing you time and money, and you now understand what your payoff might be, how do you stop the madness?

What Writer’s Block really Is

Writer’s block is not really a block, it’s a message – from you, to you.

It’s a message that often says one of these things:

• Woah self, you need to change direction because you’re off your path. Cure – if this rings true for you then you’ve become sidetracked so reevaluate why you write, why you are writing what you write, and re direct yourself.
• Hey self, stop in the name of all that is holy and decide what your real purpose is so we can get on with it. Cure – if this rings true, you need to dig into your core and revisit your basic purposes for doing what you’re doing (which writing is a part of). Has your purpose changed?
• I’m afraid I’m afraid I’m afraid. Cure – this reason for feeling blocked is very common. You might be afraid of some of the things I wrote about above. To stop being stuck you need to think about what you’re honestly afraid of, own it for what it is (are you afraid of success, lack of success?) and then you can move on.
• OMG, I’m so burnt out. Cure – take a break – then double it. It’s tremendously easy to burn out in today’s faced paced filled with distractions world. You always need more time off than you think you do.

So, next time you find yourself blaming your lack of productive writing on writer’s block, get over that, dig a little digger and see it for the opportunity that it is rather than this grand something that all writer’s must endure, because that my writer friends, is rubbish.

Look for the real reason within yourself and then you’ll be able to move past it and find your own zencopy.

And let’s leave writer’s block in the past, where it should stay.

Do you long to be the Fearless Creativepreneur that you know you were born to be?

Then hop on over to Fearless Creativepreneur and sign up for free updates where you will get bold solutions for multi-passionate entrepreneurs – IF you’re truly ready to fulfill your purpose and carve your slice of freedom.

The desire to expose ourselves is a natural urge.

There is not one amongst us who as a toddler did not smile at the joyful freedom that comes from be-bopping around in our birthday suit.

But then we start to grow up and along with that comes the feeling that society is more comfortable if we keep our clothes on. So, we learn to cover our physical naked self with striped t-shirts and Bermuda shorts and after we’ve done this long enough we start to feel uncomfortable going without our “covers.”

And about the same time we’re learning the hard truth that the people around us are not quite as joyful at our nakedness as we are, we are also learning that neither are they happy with our emotional truth – they don’t like it when we speak our naked truth every time it pops into our mind:

“Oh my god that lady is fat.”

“You’re so stupid.”

“Stop talking. You’re boring me.”

Right? Sure, as long as we’re speaking about naked truths here we should all just admit right now that we still think these things, we’ve just learned to edit ourselves before it comes out of our mouths (well, at least most of us have). So rather than the above sentences we say,

“I love your hat!”

“You make a good point.”

“Wow, I never thought of it that way.”

And now, we’re all nice and civil and grown up and one big happy family. Great, right?

Sure, if you want to be a mediocre writer.

But if you want to be a powerful writer the very thing that would make your writing rock and stand heads above other writing, is hidden from you, buried under all those years of “covers.”

Writing that sings, that makes us weep or laugh or pokes our heart or makes us ache or just plain pisses us off, comes from the naked parts.

Just writing words is not hard, but to create impactful, change the world words that truly touch your reader, as the saying goes, is a lot like opening a vein.

Below you will find 3 Steps to learn just how to not only open that vein of yours (that is nicely covered by your sleeve) but to proudly leave those blood stains right there on the page.

3 Steps to Taking it all Off

Step 1. How to Fake It

(Sorry ladies, you don’t get the corner on faking it.)

Writers are also readers. So as you read things, pay close attention to what moves you in some way. Pick up or search something you want to read right now and highlight or write down a phrase that moves you in some way.

Now take that phrase and substitute your nouns verbs and adjectives for those in the phrase. For it to really work what you write has to be true (in other words, heartfelt) or it won’t be effective. When you do this enough times you’ll get really good at faking it and then at some point you’ll make the crossover to not needing that kickstart.

A big part of this is practice. As a child you had to learn, through repetition, to stop exposing your emotions so truthfully. Now, you are just reversing the process. Somewhere inside of you is that small innocent child who knows the naked truth and is dying to write it

From here on out, when you read, pay attention to phrases that trigger you. You can even keep a handy dandy file of these, then, when your writing needs some instant emotion if you need a kickstart, pull out your handy-dandy phrases, put in your own words (so what you write is absolutely true) in the same pattern as the phrase that moved you and there you go.

Step 2. Have the Guts to say what you really Think

Truly powerful writing makes a statement.

If you don’t take a stance your writing will be wishy-washy shit.

Note: that there was taking a stance – it brings out emotions in the reader, as in, did you feel anything when you read that? Defensive? Angry? Self righteous?

Step 3. Tap into the Power of Your Naked Emotions – a Writing Activity

Whether you’re currently writing a blog post or a novel, or some marketing copy, take a few moments now to do this simple writing activity.

1. Consider the topic you are currently writing about. Now ask yourself how you feel about the topic or some aspect of the topic (and if you feel nothing pick another topic because if you don’t feel it won’t be good).
2. Don’t dismiss how you feel (sorry to all you guys but since we just taught you how to fake it you might as well learn about those darn emotions too).
3. As you think about your topic can you pinpoint just what aspect makes you feel that way? Is it the entire subject matter? Or some sliver within that gets your juices flowing?
4. What image comes to mind that is related to that emotion?
5. Focus on that image and now write a sentence or two that translates that image into words.

And just in case your deep naked self is too covered up for you to even do the above activity, here is a gentle  reminder of our basic emotions (from The Copywriting Lesson Every Writer Needs to Succeed):

• Fear
• Anger
• Sadness
• Joy
• Disgust
• Trust
• Anticipation
• Surprise

If you can bring an aspect of even one of those emotions into what you write, your readers  will feel that too and that makes for powerful writing.

Remember, we’re born naked and we die naked- in between we should write naked. Tweet this.

baby image:  ram reddy via Compfight

One of the more frequent questions I get asked is “Should I consider turning my writing into my business?” There are many variations on this question such as:

“Can I quit my day job and just write?”

“How can I make a living as a writer?”

“I love to write but how do I take it to the next level?”

“How can I be sure I can really make it as a writer?”

“Should I really be spending my time writing or is being a full time writer just a pipedream?”

Making decisions which involve something you are passionate about – such as writing (or your life), can feel truly challenging because there is no right or wrong, really. However, all the above questions, in fact, most deep life questions, have one big thing in common- our concerns are not the real issue.

The real issue is fear.

It’s much easier to just think about something rather than do it because actually taking steps brings up fears. In fact, many people are so paralyzed by fear, by the idea of change, that they never actually make decisions and never actually get to the action part.

And so, they never get to the good parts, either. The parts that include abundance and real fulfillment of purpose.

But here’s the thing:

Clarity comes from action, not contemplation.

You can visualize and imagine and consider and think about things FOREVER and still not have the kind of clarity that comes from a few actual action steps.

The dividing line between those that are truly visionary kickass writers who command the kind of salaries you dream about and live the life of dreams, and those that are “maybe someday” folk – is plain and simply ACTION.

Here’s the thing – the Universe supports action. You will never know for sure if something is going to work before you try it. You will never know for sure if you can succeed, unless you go for it.

So if you’re waiting for a guarantee or to “know for sure” before you take steps, you’ll be waiting forever!  Tweet this

There are a lot of things I am crappy  at. Trust me, you never want to hear me sing happy birthday to you – it’s kind of horrifying. You would also never want to put me in a footrace that relied on speed because you would be very disappointed in my performance.

But one thing I am good at – I mean really good at – is seeing a situation in my life and then going balls out right into the heart of change even when I am scared sh**less. Because of this- let’s call it a capacity – because of this capacity I get one of two reactions by people who know me: 1) Why can’t you just leave things the way they are or 2) How do you do it?

The “Why can’t you just leave things the way they are” people are those who like status quo and would rather not cause waves or they don’t want to be reminded that they should be making some changes.

The “How to you do it” people usually are faced with some unhappiness in their own life and long to make changes but fear stops them even if they think the reason is something else.

So, if you prefer status quo and are insanely happy with your life and your writing, well, you can probably skip the rest of this post. For everyone else, I’m going to tell you two (2) things you need to know so you can make big decisions more easily and learn how to embrace change so you get less stuck in the “OMG I can’t do this!” phase.

Thing 1. Understanding the Land of Change

Change, intentional and unintentional, takes us out of our comfort zone. Change forces us to define ourselves just a little differently and that makes most people a little squeamish. All change brings anxiety; even if its change we long for and work towards. But given the right tools and it doesn’t have to be as hard.

 According to Psychology Today, there are roughly three stages to change:

1. Resistance and Reaction

This is the phase where you object to the change and compare the upcoming change to your old situation. You are not seeing opportunity, you’re judging.

2. Adjusting/Exploration 

In this stage you go beyond your initial feelings and begin to gather information on how to make this new thing work. You begin making choices and asking questions.

3. Living Well

It’s this stage that you don’t really notice because you have arrived at your new destination and it no longer feels like a stage. At this point, you wonder why you resisted in the first place.

Tip: Recognizing which stage of change you are in will help you get through it.

When change happens, don’t expect yourself to feel great about it. In fact, just know that sometimes you are probably going to feel lousy. This will help keep you from beating up on yourself during the process. If you’re in the resistance phase, recognize it as such and know that this too shall pass. In the meantime, revel in it.

As you’re dealing with your anxiety, feel what you are feeling but also keep the facts in mind.

Tip: If you’re too focused on the anxiety, sit down and create a list of the actual facts of the situation.

For you: here’s a free “playsheet” to help you with anxiety

To the best of your ability, give yourself a time frame for the adjustment period. Remind yourself that even though change is happening, other things in your life are currently in place and already working for you. Most often you are not starting from scratch so enjoy those things that are staying the same for you—right now.

Tip: Don’t wait to feel good to do something to do it – motivation follows behavior, not the other way around!

Accepting that change is a journey unto itself, a journey with recognizable stages, will help you be less afraid. You see, change is not really an unknown but when we overly focus on being afraid of it, we forget that we’ve been through many changes – and lived to tell the tale.

If you think back on the last year of your life, unless you’ve been in a bubble, you’ve had to weather changes – either your own or from those around you. And yet, here you are, still alive, still doing. (yeah you!)

So, step 1, don’t get stopped by your perceived wall of fear but see it as the journey it is.

Now, the second (2nd) thing to keep in mind…

Thing 2. Seeing Past the Land of Change

When you are thinking about changes in your writing business, or your life in general, it’s important to view past the fear of change and envision what the world looks like beyond.

But here’s the thing – you need some of the clarity that comes from action in order to truly see past the land of change so don’t just create your dream and then put it in cement – you need to KEEP recreating what you envision, what you want, for your writing and your life, as you go through the process of change and action.

This is the big mistake many people make – they create their vision while they are still in front of or in the land of change and this can limit what you can see for yourself. When you are seeing past the Land of Change – through the window of fear – it can hobble your vision so for every few steps of action you take, you’ll have new ideas and clarity of thought you should bring into your vision. Which means, sit down with your vision and pay it a visit frequently as you go through the 3 stages of change.

There are a lot of tools you can use to help you make better decisions for your writing and your life – such as my find your Write Idea Now tool – which you can download here. If you want detailed instructions for this tool there is a post here.

To be human is to yearn beyond our current boundaries which means to be human is to have fear. Fear is good for you. Fear is the gift that keeps us alive and can make us wise. But if should not stop you cold (unless it’s survival fear saying warning warning, don’t step in front of that car!).

Now, take a bold step forward and share one of your fears with us – at the very least you will know, you are not alone.

Do you crave freedom and purpose? Would you like to be a Fearless Creativepreneur? Then take a cruise over to my site karendaniels.com for multi-passionate ninjas – there are lots of cool new things you’ll enjoy.

Have you ever felt like you were capable of so much more – like if you could just find the right path, you could get to that magical place of happy fulfillment while you’re making a big difference in the world?

Have you ever wondered why, even though you’re writing and writing, you seem to make no real progress?

One of the most important posts I’ve ever written on this blog was What Noble Excuse Have You Designed to Fool Your Creative Self?

That post is key because one of the things I believe all human beings excel at is self- deception. Oh sure, we may talk a good game, how we’re doing all this cool stuff to change the world. In fact, the game we create in our heads is probably so convincing, we believe it ourselves.

First we believe it, then we live it, then we wonder why we aren’t more fulfilled, or why we’re not achieving the things we want to achieve, why the income isn’t there, why, WHY?

In short, our self-deception keeps us away from any of the “good” stuff we want and know we deserve.

For writers, the self-deception can be even more insidious because as long as you are writing something, be it a blog, or book, or letter, or journal, or…then you are doing what you are supposed to do? Right? I mean you’re writing so it’s all good.

Isn’t it?

Uh, no. So sorry.

Yes, in the beginning, there is the word. Lots of them. You write write write. That’s when the ball starts rolling.

But at some point if you desire to use your writing in a professional sense you must allow yourself to grow into phase 2.

Phase 2 begins when you first feel that inkling that, yes, you’re writing more than x number of words per day or week, or articles or posts, yet something is missing. Everyone tells you that to be a writer you must keep your butt on the chair and pound out the words. And you are! Good for you!

But the questions beg to be asked – what is the essential why of your writing? Why are you writing? What do you want your writing to do?

You have a purpose in life – even if you can’t clearly define it, it’s there. And writing likely plays a big part in that purpose (else you wouldn’t be reading this blog). So, do not let self-deception lull you into believing that just getting the words out means your job is done.

You’ll know if you are guilty of that because you’ll be doing and doing and doing, and yet, (loop back) not feeling all that goodness and satisfaction that comes from steady progress toward making that difference with your writing that you were born to make.

Maybe I’m just talking to myself. Perhaps, I’m the only one here that is guilty of writing mountains of words that aren’t leading me any place specific. But on the off chance that you have a niggling suspicion you too might be guilty of writing without purpose, read on for how to solve it.

The Easy Cure for Writer’s Self-Deception

1. Admit you are deceiving yourself no matter how noble your excuses sound.

2. Set up one goal that you will achieve with your writing. This can be anything from “make my husband cry with a love poem” to “raise my sales on product A with more targeted copy”. The point is to try and do something very specific with your writing and then keep at it until that goal is met.

3. Stop setting your writing goals up as creating a certain number of words, or posts, or articles. Rather, set your writing goals up more in terms of writing something that accomplishes a specific thing. That may be 1 sentence rather than 500 words. but it could be the one sentence that finally – FINALLY – sells your eBook or your product or your important thing. It could be the sentence that begins the ball rolling to world peace. Who knows. 

The point is, forget the “how much” approach and go for the “why” approach.

Now, go find that why.

If you unsure of your big why and would like some guidance on your creative mission in life, try my book Mindful Creativity and get started on the rest of your life today.

image: Vinoth Chandar via Compfight

In writing a recent post on “Why Your Writing Fails” it dawned on me that something very strange was afoot. Strange not in a woowoo (cue spooky music) kind of way, but in an isn’t-this-odd-that-we’re-all-doing-it-even-if-it’s-not-working kind of way.

What is this strange thing afoot? Read on to find out.

No matter what you are doing with your writing, working to improve your own personal writing process is one of the best things you can do for yourself.

• Blogging? Improving your personal writing process will make your writing more effective.
• Freelance writing? Improving your personal writing process will make you more efficient so you make more money per minute.
• Creating a website? Improving your personal writing process will help you communicate more forcefully.

It’s possible that you believe the writing process is an elusive mysterious energy flow thingie that only visits you once in awhile when the moons align and you wear your lucky hat turned backwards.

But the reality is, any writer, yes, even you, can use these simple steps to improve your own personal writing process.

First Key – Give yourself permission to forget the traditional steps of the writing process

If you Google “writing process”, you’ll find tons of information – a lot of it telling you that the writing process consists of 1) Decide what to write about, 2) Write your draft, 3) Revise, 4) Edit, 5) Publish. Even Wikipedia will tell you that is the process.

But what if it’s not for you? What if your brain happens to work more like 1) Think the draft, 2)Think the revision, 3) Write down what you already wrote in your head 4) publish you finished product.

Or maybe you’re more of a writer that operates like this: 1) Sit and start writing with no topic in mind, 2) Continue to write until your mind is cleansed, 3) Pick a few random paragraphs, 4) Throw a few edits at it, 4) Add another random paragraph, 5) Smoosh together what you have, 6) Publish.

In other words, your mind may function totally differently (you are unique after all). Which means, if you’re trying to force yourself into a writing process that you’re ‘supposed to follow’, you could actually be harming your creativity and therefore, your ultimate output. If so, stop it right now! Don’t try and write in a way that isn’t optimum for you.

Second Key – Give yourself permission to regroup, or even project jump

Follow through, stick with it, never quit…and so on. These phrases are pounded into us from an early age. It’s entirely possible you’re working on your say, first ebook, and you’re halfway through and you’re stymied. It’s just not flowing for you anymore. In fact, you don’t have any desire to finish it.

If you find yourself in this position rather than forcing yourself to persevere, stop, and ask yourself this:

1. Is it possible you’ve already learned what you needed to learn from this unfinished project?

Consider this – maybe the point of the project, after all, was not to finish the project, but to do it to a certain point so you could learn something (about the topic, about yourself, about your writing) and take that thing into your next project. In this case, it might just be a waste of your time to continue on.

Now, if you do this with every project you might just be afraid to finish something because then you’ll have to send your baby out into the world – in which case, that is another issue entirely.

But if this happens once in a while, be okay with not completing a project (and while we’re at it, it’s also okay to stop reading a book that you are not enjoying. Really).

Third Key – Give yourself permission to be really really wrong

We all like to be right. In fact, it’s a little stressful going in the face of the almighty WRITING PROCESS that is still taught in schools, to this day. (However, on this, I am not wrong, just saying). But the thing is, if you never put yourself far enough on a limb that you might fall, then you’re never risking anything and you’ll never be really really right either. You’ll just be middle of the road. Kind of dull. (true for writing, true for life).

So, allow yourself to take a stance with your writing, even if it’s a little scary because it’s guaranteed that someone, somewhere, will be able to relate and will benefit by you putting yourself out there.

And that strange thing afoot (not in a woowoo (cue spooky music) kind of way, but in an isn’t-this-odd-that-we’re-all-doing-it-even-if-it’s-not-working kind of way) that dawned on me?

Often, as writers, we are wrestling with the wrong things – we’re wresting with other peoples things rather than our own. We’re following someone elses process, or ideas, or goals or….

Which means we inevitably get dead-ended on our paths. Because, truly, if you are struggling with your writing, then it’s a sign that somewhere along the line you stopped being true to yourself.

When you struggle with your writing, you’re struggling with yourself so use that struggle as your cue to reevaluate and just maybe, change direction.

Image Len Matthews via Compfight

Sometimes you have to know when to hold ‘em, and when to fold ‘em.

Read on to find out why you need to focus on what’s truly important to you if you want to make a long-term living as a writer.

And if you stick with me here, I’m also going to share a very personal story with you.

Writers often feel as if they are struggling.

The feeling that you are struggling as a professional writer usually comes from 2 main areas:

1. Not making enough money

2. or Taking on work you don’t care about just to make money

It would appear on the surface that solving the “struggle” for each of these would require different tactics but in reality if you are truly a writer and wish to make your living by spreading the lead, you should ALWAYS keep both in mind.

Here’s why.

If you need to make more money as a writer you can start to feel a little desperate. And desperation as we know, often leads to poor decision-making (true in any job, relationship, or life situation).

So if you’re writing for money and all your time is not booked you are likely to take on any work that comes your way. And this feels pretty good.

For awhile.

But let’s suppose you get more and more work – and you don’t actually care about a lot of what you said yes to other than you like that money coming in.

Eventually you are going to become depressed. It always happens. The first flush of actually getting paid to write has worn off, and your days are spent crafting words for yet another new lint remover, or some newfangled marketing scheme for company zyx. You begin to avoid writing.

Then you come to the point where you ask yourself:

Why exactly did I want to become a writer in the first place?

And before you know it you hate being a writer as much as you hated the job you gave up to be a writer because you loved it so much.

Bummer.

But what if…

What if you allowed yourself to pursue and accept only writing work you truly cared about? Writing work that mattered, not just because you were getting paid for it but because you were truly passionate about the topic or idea or company?

Then, as you become more successful, your days will be filled writing about things that matter to you– a.k.a. – making money and a difference, and being fulfilled.

Not only will you be much happier, you will have more energy, get more done, which in the end leads to, yes, making more money.

Why You Should Learn to Say No to Certain Writing Jobs

Saying no to a paid gig is hard because we are conditioned to want more money.

First, never work for pennies. Your work is valuable so don’t fall into being a starving artist.

But beyond asking for payment that is in line with your talent, focus on not only what you realistically can do, but what you want to do; that is the only way to build a foundation for long term success.

Let’s be clear – I’m not advocating that you say no to paid work if you are in danger of losing your home or you are struggling to buy food for yourself or your family. Do what you have to do.

But if you are on the line where you have just enough coming in to get by, it’s time to consider saying no to work you don’t truly care about because this will give you the mental space and time for work you actually do care about, to come in.

To help illustrate this point, at the beginning of this post I promised you a personal story.

This story is about how walking away from a contract that is not right for you, can actually increase your income.

For a few years now I’ve done writing work for an organization that focuses on a topic I am passionate about. For this work I received a small stipend that was just enough for me to justify doing the job with my already maxed out schedule. During my stint with them I shared many of the responsibilities with another editor so if there came a crunch situation there was always a fall back person. We were humming along and then my fellow editor announced her retirement. The organization asked me to absorb the responsibilities for the same amount of money I had been receiving. I thought long and hard about it because I did care about the topic at hand. The greater good of the project was a powerful pull for me. But, I also have more important priorities: I am a single parent of 3 young kids with a mortgage to pay and, like many freelance writers my livelihood depends on my number of billable hours. Don’t get me wrong – I completely believe and support in donating some time for a cause that is important to you. In fact, every month I pick a random project that comes my way and I do it, for free, just because I love helping people. It’s my way of giving back no matter how busy I am (example, see this zencopy editing makeover). I knew in my heart that the number of hours the new situation would require would be horrible for my family, it entailed a large portion of work I did not truly care to do and was not highly skilled at. Still, though the stipend was less than 10k per year it was, hey almost 10k per year. And we all know that is not nothing.

I took a hard look at my priorities, and thought about having the space and energy to bring in more high paying work I cared about. And I took a hard look at my finances to make sure I could absorb the hit. I could. So I walked away from my existing contract. It was not a game, or a ploy to get more. It was a sincere, honest, this is not for me situation. I gave notice, moved on, and started taking on new work.

And then, a strange thing happened. The company contacted me and wanted to talk. In essence, I was asked to create a job scenario with them that was exactly what I wanted to do that also allowed them to get what they needed. And just like that (insert 1 month later) I had a new contract that was more than 20k higher per year doing work that I’m completely into and care a great deal about.

Of course, I had worked long and hard for this company for a number of years and they knew my worth (and they got a bargain on what I’m doing for them – win win).

Staying in touch with your priorities and passions, and balancing them in a way that is healthy for you, will allow you to make solid decisions and give you the perseverance and happiness to sustain your work over the long haul. And that is the way to multiply your income.

Happy writing!

top image: Brian Hathcock via Compfight

bottom image: -=RoBeE=- via Compfight

There are millions of writers.

Writers of all colors and walks of life.

In fact, due to the Internet there are more writers than there has ever been in all of history.

Most of these writers rarely, if ever, get read. Maybe they’ve tried their hand at publishing a book, or they have a blog that doesn’t take off, in any sense of the word. They’ve taken course after course to make their writing better. They’ve studied copy writing and other techniques because experts tell them it’s what they need to do to “make it.”

It’s entirely possible that some of those writers are just like you.

Maybe they believed that if they just wrote and worked hard to be a better writer and then put it out there every writing thing they ever dreamed would come true.

And maybe they thought, “I’m good and getting better, so surely I’ll succeed.”

And yet, here they are, the beginning of yet another year without much to show for it.

And now, they’ve fallen to their knees and lamented to the apparently unlistening heavens – “Why, oh why, have I failed?”

Really, why do writing projects fail?

Why does your writing fail?

And conversely, why do other writers have seemingly instant success when that writer doesn’t try nearly as hard or write nearly as well?

It’s enough to make you want to take your proverbial pen, stab that damn writing bug that lives inside you, then throw the bloodied pen away.

Are you on the verge of quitting?

Are you trying to convince yourself that 2013 is the year you’ll pull your writing head out of the clouds and come to your senses so you can live happily ever after without that pesky writing bug eating away at your insides?

Well, good news.

You don’t have to quit.

Read on to learn why believing in the wrong things are what turns many potentially truly successful writers into dejected, cranky, unhappy wannabes.

People just like you.

image by sharyn morrow via Compfight

Mistake 1. Always Focusing on Writing More

Do a quick Google search on how much you should write per day to be a success and you’ll get countless answers. And all of these experts will tell you if you don’t write so many words, or pages, or whatever per day, you’ll never succeed.

No, no, and Hell No.

In fact, you don’t even have to write every day to be a success. What?

It’s true. You are your own best judge on how often you should write. Some people thrive on writing every day and others will do much better when they write only once per week or less.

The cold truth of this is – if you are constantly trying to write more in an effort to fit some predetermined threshold set by some “expert” you are more likely to experience frustration and self-disappointment than you are to experience more success.

Hint: give yourself permission to get off the write-write-write treadmill. It only leads to soreness and stiffness that slows you down. Don’t use this as an excuse to simply be lazy with your writing but do pay attention to what pattern works best for you.

Mistake 2. Presenting Your Content in the Wrong Way

This is a very common mistake.

Everyone is Tweeting so you have to, too.

Everyone is writing an eBook so you have to, too.

Everyone has a blog so you have one, too.

Just as there are clothing styles, there are also writing styles. Trying to wear a certain clothing style just because it’s the in thing when that style does not in the least suit you, your personality, or your lifestyle, is never a good decision.

Your writing is just the same. You and your writing might fit well on the short and precise Twitter platform but fall short on a blog where you have to write in a completely different way.

How do you decide what’s the best way to present your writing?

Hint: as writers we often read what we like to write. If you find yourself spending hours on Twitter, not as a waste of time, but because you just love those 140 characters of wit and wisdom, that’s probably a good outlet for you. But if you love reading white papers that are pages and pages long because you love that deep dive and comprehensive coverage of a particular topic, then work on presenting your writing in that format.

Mistake 3. Doing it just because it Worked for Someone Else

There is so much writing out and about these days that if you don’t find a way to stand out you’re in grave danger of disappearing. And standing out isn’t that awfully hard – all you have to do is bring the full you to the table.

And you need to understand specifically what you stand for, as a writer-person. What unique aspects of you can you leverage and bring into your writing? Since you are the only you, no one can complete with you on that level.

Hint: write 3 specific sentences about what is great in you and your writing then make sure to bring that into your work. Forget about doing something because it worked for someone else. Learn from others but don’t try to recreate what they’ve already done.

So, now what do you do?

These above 3 mistakes will ultimately make your writing fail. So, armed with this new understanding, what can you do now to stop failing and actually become successful?

First

For starters, pause your routine long enough to determine when and where you’re making the above mistakes.

If you’re a blogger because it was the thing to do, but really hate blogging and reading blogs, then look at what you’ve written and imagine what mode of presentation would be a better fit for you.

Should it be an eBook?

A year long set of Twitter tips?

A downloadable course?

Second

Next, find the best place for presenting that type of information.

A website that offers similar courses?

Do you need to set up a new Twitter account?

Ultimately

Find the what that you love, then the path that best fits that what.

Put your time into a style and path that suits both you and your writing and stop trying to be something you are not.

That is the secret to creating writing that succeeds.

pencil image by @Doug88888 via Compfight

You may have heard rumors that the world is going to end on Dec. 21, 2012.

But since we have already  hit that date in some parts of the world and we’re mostly still here, I guess it’s not the end.

So, if it’s not the end then what exactly is this? A cosmic dawn of some sort?

Well, I imagine like many things, this Mayan ending/Cosmic beginning is what we make of it for ourselves.

So, in the spirit of  giving you a little humor through the power of words in order to help you herald in an awesome beginning for yourself here are some funny autocorrects (if you want to see the entire batch of the  “25 funniest autocorrects” of 2012 go to http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/the-25-funniest-autocorrects-of-2012)

I only put up a few here as most of the best ones are, uh, gritty. So, take a few minutes and get your laugh on. And hey, if the world does end, thanks for being part of ZenCopy and here’s to going out laughing.

pyramid pic Farrukh via Compfight

Is 2013 going to be THE year for you as an online writer?

No reason it shouldn’t be.

Throughout 2012 you’ve been hard at it, writing and writing, and now another new year is upon us. Can you believe it?

It’s entirely possible you’ve been so hard at work and living that you haven’t had a chance to keep up in the online writing world so I wanted to help you get a leg up with this down and dirty writing cheat sheet.

Click to Tweet “Get Your Down and Dirty Writing Cheatsheet for 2013″

This “writing cheatsheet”  is easy to go through, but will give you a good basic understanding of trends and tips that and will stimulate your writing brain. These are some of the easiest to understand resources I’ve found.

Here’s to your online writing success in 2013!

Zencopy Subscribers – keep an eye out for the special gift coming your way soon! (not yet a subscriber? Don’t miss out – click here now.)

Get Started with 2013 Content Trends

Take a look at the marketing profs slideshow below to see where businesses are putting their writing money in 2013. Use the information to create your marketing strategies and to decide where to best put your time and energy.

Types of Content to Consider for 2013

As a writer, you know there are many different types of content and avenues for getting your writing out there. Here’s a list for your reference, just in case you need a little brush up or feel a tad out of date. For some of the less familiar types of content I’ve linked to information sources so you can get started learning. Content Types:

• animated GIF
• content visualizations
• controversial content
• video
• embedded tweets
• infographic
• memes (visual content)
• podcasts
• slideshares
• how to content, advice or tips
• reviews
• articles
• testimonials
• white papers
• newsletters
• seminars
• FAQ’s
• surveys
• referrals
• case studies
• interactive content
• mega lists
• facts, figures, stats
• news research

The Content We Crave

No matter what type of content you choose to work on, there are basic types of content human beings crave – fulfilling one of these “cravings” helps your writing be more effective and sell-able. Here’s a great infographic that tells you everything you need on this subject:

Your 2013 Google Strategy

Here are some marketing strategy suggestions from Google to take into account as you’re developing your plans. I don’t put this resource up here because you have to use Google, but because it’s good to be aware of what’s there if you do want to incorporate it into your marketing strategies:

• Local listings

Payoff: Reach customers in your area and drive local sales
Commitment: One-time setup with weekly to monthly updates
Example: Claim your Google Places page

• Online ads

Payoff: Get your products and services in front of people looking for them
Commitment: One-time setup, monthly costs, weekly updates
Example: Create an ad campaign for ‘custom floral arrangements’ using Google AdWords

• Organic Search

Payoff: Improve your website to rank higher in search results
Commitment: High level of initial effort and updates as needed
Example: Create a useful, information-rich site, and writing pages that clearly and accurately describe the content

• Social Networking

Payoff: Create a community of customers
Commitment: One-time setup with hourly or daily updates
Example: Create a page for your business on popular social networking sites

• Discount & Deal Sites

Payoff: Drive business to your website or brick-and-mortar location with incentives and group discounts
Commitment: Setup on as-needed basis. Low cost but may impact profits.
Example: Offer 10% off on Tuesdays via top discount/deal sites

• Review sites

Payoff: Get customers to rate and recommend your products and services
Commitment: One-time setup with minimal updates
Example: Send emails to customers asking them to review your product on top sites

Create Your 2013 Communication Plan

I love this straightforward chart for an optin communication plan by Firepolemarketing.com:

With the information in this Online Writing Success Cheatsheet for 2013 you’ll have some solid ideas to improve your writing and make it more effective in order to make more money.

Let 2013 be the year you meet your writing goals, succeed as a writer, and become more of the writer you want to be.