(Oh, and I got a little excited and asked more than one question within a question, so I hope you can keep up.)

Fuel Your Writing:

Let’s get the big questions out of the way — What prompted you to start oneword.com? How did you go about doing just that? And (if you did) how did you market the site?

Brian Kessler:

It is a prompt site, which was prompted by prompting in a verbal prompt exercise. So there was a lot of prompting involved. A friend of mine had done a similar exercise in a writing group where one person would call out a word, then the group would write about it until the moderator would call out “stop!”
I really liked the idea and wanted to create an online version of the exercise, but had no clue where to begin. This was back in 1998. In 2003, I started blogging and was using the Movable Type publishing platform, and I realized that I could tweak it and make it work, so I tweaked away and it was up and running within a week. At that point, I really was just wanting it for myself, and didn’t really imagine anything else happening with it. I sent it to a few friends and they all dug it, then within a few weeks it got listed as Yahoo!’s site-of-the-day and sorta blew up. Sorta. It simmered back down to a cool 200-300 posts per day, which was good, because it was mostly serious writers, and very few cut-and-paste-the-F-word entries.

Oh, and no marketing whatsoever.

FYW:

I heard that Demi Moore tweeted about your site a while back. Do you know what types of people you reach? And how many visit the site on a daily basis? Do you even care about the stats? Is it just a service, for lack of a better term, you provide, and what the writers get out of it is satisfaction enough for you?? What DO you get out of all of this?

BK:

Yes, [Demi] did and her tweet generated a lot of new fans . . . I certainly appreciated the props. … The site averages around 1500 visits per day. Though there have been up to 10,000 visits in a day—that’s the average lately. …
What I get out of it is the satisfaction of knowing that I’m helping others to be creative. I love it when people leave comments on the Facebook page about how it got them out of a block—that really makes my day.

FYW:

[So,] you’re up and running now and you have great prompts all the time. I use them myself just as a simple writing exercise for the day, or I even take it further sometimes. I expand on what I’ve written in the sixty seconds allotted for anything from my books to flash fiction to just random ramblings. It seems you’ve struck a chord with a lot of people, and I’m wondering what your plans are for the future of the site…

BK:

Right now, it has already exceeded all of my expectations. I love that people like you use it to kick-start your creativity. That really makes it all worth it.

There has been discussion of revamping it and adding new features, which has garnered a lot of “NO!!!!! Don’t change it!!!!’” multi-exclamation-point responses. But really, the changes would be unobtrusive, and the simplicity of the site would remain intact, as I believe that has been what has kept it afloat all these years. It’s really a no-nonsense site. It does what it does, and does it well.

That being said, we’re taking suggestions in the discussions section of our Facebook page.

FYW:

(I asked Brian if there was anything he wanted to tell me I may have missed asking, and this was his response — his question to himself…)
–The only thing I know you wanted to ask, but were too afraid was “where do the words come from?” to which I added: Are you the only one involved, or do you have people who help you out? Are all the prompts yours? Do you think you’ve ever unintentionally repeated a prompt, or do you keep a list of some sort??

BK:

A lot of times (thanks to the iPhone) I’ll be out and about and will just look around for inspiration. Other times it has something to do with what’s going on in my life at the time.
Yes, it’s just me. Now and then I’ll be with someone and say “give me a word,” to which they usually say something like “sesquipedantilism!” or [something a bit more risqué] — depending on who I’m with at the time. And I like to keep it clean and simple. Even so, I still get the occasional “wall? what’s that? wtf? I don’t know what that means!”
I try and keep it to words that my 6-yr-old niece can understand. And, no, I don’t keep a list, and have most definitely repeated one or three words over the last six years. I’ve been tempted to do the same word twice in a week to see if return writers would be inspired to write something totally different, though I’m pretty sure I’d get a lot of “hey! we already did this one!”. Really, that’s what flow is all about, letting those fingers fly regardless of any would-be obstacles.

FYW:

Another part of the follow-up included this: I actually did have one more question based on what you said:: Do you read through the entries to see what people are writing? You mentioned a couple times that you were aware of the content and quality, so I was just curious.

BK:

I don’t read every entry, but I do browse through them, usually . I will be going more thoroughly through them over the next few months as I am thinking of doing an annual book “365words” or something like that. And it will be a good time for me to go get rid of all the useless entries.

* * *

– There was so much more we discussed, but this was what I thought was the coolest and most interesting info that you might want to learn. Head on over to the site, oneword.com (I do all the time — one of our writers even has it set as his homepage (after reading my first article) and I guess be on the lookout for a future book. We’ll keep you updated!!

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More Than One Word (.com) With Brian Kessler

Tell us a bit about yourself and Charade

Well, I’m a creative writing student living in Bristol in the UK. I’ve always written ever since I can remember. It started with simple lyrics and stories; then went through a stage of angst-ridden poetry, and has settled into a pattern of online journalism and part-time novel writing. Charade is my blog, where I attempt to enthuse and inspire mostly female audience of stylish yet budget conscious students with tales of surviving successfully.

Is your love for writing that made you start Charade?

Yes, writing’s no fun if you are your only audience. I wanted a way to ‘get my writing out there’ and blogging seemed the quickest and most instantly satisfying option. It’s such a confidence boost to have even a very small following supporting you.

What things influence you to write?

On Charade, I’m influenced mainly by my own needs as a reader. I like to think of  the blog as something I’d love to come across if I were surfing the web, and make it an aim to answer questions that have always nagged me through research. In terms of my fiction, I’m also inspired mainly by my own life and experience. I think building on what you know and being as authentic as possible is the key to great writing.

What is your favorite thing you’ve written?

That’s a tough one but I’d have to say The Dream Style Series just because it got so much positive feedback and attracted so many new readers, whilst being enormously inspiring to me as a subject.

What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?

I honestly don’t know! I just started blogging one day and never stopped. I have slow months but I just enjoy doing it so much and am so thrilled by all the little intricacies and opportunities I’ve come across that I never get bored. You have to love writing or whatever you’re doing, and then motivation takes care of itself.

Do you think being a student of creative writing helps a lot with having your own website?

Definitely, if I look back on some of my early articles, I can see a clear difference against the standard of my current writing. The study of creative writing is something people are often dubious about, and people regularly ask me how you can be taught something creative. I think writing is a craft and a skill as much as any other, and there really is so much I know now that didn’t even cross my mind before I started my studies.

Lastly, what is your future plan for Charade?

I’m actually just about to release an Annual (a real-life book!) of the best of my articles from the first year of the blog. It’s a really exciting venture and I’ve already seen a lot of positive feedback just from the initial announcement. Beyond that I just hope to stay on the path I’ve already forged and keep learning!

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5 Minutes with Megan and Charade

How old were you when you first started writing?

I don’t remember the first piece I ever wrote, but ever since I was very young, I loved reading and making up stories in my head. Make believe definitely used to be (and still is!) my favorite game. When I was eight or nine I distinctively remember writing a lot of fiction. It was a lot of science fiction/fantasy and it was in Chinese, modeled after short stories or novels I’d read.

Where do you get your ideas?

They come from everywhere. Especially living in the city, anytime I go outside ideas hit me in the face from every direction. The subway, a park, a passerby, my friends…everything. I also get inspiration from photos I see on Flickr or books and movies. Music is also a great source of ideas. Certain songs suggest stories that have to be written.

What and who influences you the most when it comes to writing?

My earliest influence was definitely Stephen King. I was a huge King fan girl back in the day. I think out of all his works, there are only a few that I haven’t read. And this is including the giant ones like The Stand, Desperation and the whole Dark Tower series. When I read his On Writing, though, it seemed to set in my mind that this is what I have to do, not just now but in the future. More recently, since I’m making my way through Infinite Jest, David Foster Wallace is a huge influence. I find myself adding excessive parentheticals and observations and ironic bits into so much of my writing. I’m really influenced by pop culture and the whole music, arts and fashion world in general. Seeing something or reading something easily influences the way I write.

How much do you feel you’ve improved in the last few years?

Immensely. I mean, I would hope, it’s a constant struggle and constant improving thing, but if I read back on stories or blogs I wrote in the past years, sometimes it just seems so embarrassing. I used so much passive voice and unnecessary description and bland characters! Just growing older and experiencing more of the world, as well as reading more (and different) books helped a lot.

What is your favorite place to go and think?

Parks, in the subway, long walks (especially down West 10th street, my favorite street in all of New York, but my rooftop might be my absolute favorite. It has the most incredible postcard-view of the Manhattan skyline and the air is generally perfect for thinking.

How do you divide your time between writing and photography?

There’s not really a set formula. I bring my camera everywhere I go and some days are more photo-oriented days and some days writing. But since I always have camera and notebook on hand, it’s easy to switch between whichever I’m more inspired to do. Photography is especially good for late nights. I run Photoshop and talk to my friends online while uploading and posting on Tumblr. Writing takes more of a focus to sit down and just do or when I get desperate enough, I won’t be able to help but write ridiculous amounts for long periods

Any plans to publish your novel?

Yes! I’m currently querying a lot of agents and if I don’t hear back after a while, I’m going to query a lot more and start working on new material. If all else fails I’m considering self-publishing. It seems like the sort of thing that I’m driven and motivated enough to pull off. But if you’re an agent/publisher, please don’t hesitate to send word my way! Even if it’s old fashioned and business driven, there’s still something in that traditional route I’m very fond of.

How long have you been trying to get it published?

I’ve only recently began writing a query and submitting to agents, so about two months, I think. I only did electronic queries so I’ve only gotten a few emailed rejections from agents (but I’m not giving up just yet!) My advice for writers who want to get published is probably to remain optimistic, dedicated and open minded. I’ve learned a lot regarding the publishing world, like my perception of it changed dramatically when I worked retail at a bookstore a few years back. More recently I’ve read so much about how authors really just don’t make any money. Regardless of how difficult or easy it might sound when you’re reading about it, you should start applying and going for it to get a true taste of what it’s like. And remain optimistic. I think that’s pretty much my rule on life.

You can find Laura Yan on her blog and on Flickr.

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NYC Through a Writer’s Eyes

Annie Bahringer is all too familiar with those dreaded rejection slips that writers receive in the mail. Another frustrating aspect that she is familiar with is the lack of feedback. Agents and publishers get thousands of pieces a year, and cannot possibly give feedback on every writer’s submission. Yet this is the Catch-22 that many would-be authors find themselves in: If their work can’t be published because it needs to be “fixed,” then how can they “fix” it if they don’t know where the issue lies?

Annie is persevering, though. While she has admittedly “run out of steam,” she knows that the important things is to keep trying.

What are you trying to get published and how long have been trying?

I am currently writing a novel because I gave up on short fiction. It was always “Your piece does not fit our needs right now.” That was four years ago. Still haven’t finished the novel. But I have been trying, still do occasionally, when I feel strong enough, to send out my short stories in hopes that now is the right time. Still isn’t and hasn’t been for about 15 years.

How many places have you contacted regarding this/these piece(s)?

At least 100, I ran out of steam.

What hurdles have you run into when you tried to contact these companies?

They are eager to talk to you in email, but that’s as far as it goes.

What kind of feedback have you been given?

Hardly any. I would love to get feedback, positive or negative. I want to know what I am doing wrong and if the case, what I am doing right.

What frustrates you the most about this process?

The feedback. And the rejection notices. It’s been reduced to a Xeroxed slip of paper. Not even a half-sheet rejection. A slip I could use as a bookmark. I would really like the feedback.

Have you considered self-publishing?

Yes, but I don’t have enough material as of yet to publish a full volume of work.

What tips can you give to those writers out there who are about to jump into the publishing world?

I’ve noticed part-time writers, like myself take a lot longer than those who are able to jump feet first and stay in the pool. Do that, stay there and start now.

What are your next steps?

Finish my novel and possibly self-publish to start with queries being sent to larger publishing houses.

A big ‘thank you’ to Annie for sharing her story with us! If you have publishing story that you’d like to share with our readers, please drop us a line!

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The Road to Getting Published: Annie Bahringer’s Story

Cap’n Fatty Goodlander has found success as an author for many reasons, one of those being because he writes about what he knows and loves…life on the water. As a self-proclaimed ’sea gypsy’, Cap’n Fatty spends his time writing tales about his sailing adventures and acts as Editor at Large of Cruising World magazine.

Cap’n Fatty (Gary) Goodlander

What are you trying to get published and how long have been trying?

I’ve been a professional writer now for almost 30 years. But I remember well starting out by attempting to write four hours a day and get something (anything) published within a years. Zilch, at first. Then I changed my goal to collecting 100 honest rejection slips from well-known national publications. On my 17th mss submission, I sold something! Within the year I was regularly selling. Eighteen months later, I had  a  bylined column!

How many places have you contacted regarding this/these piece(s)?

At first, I kept 25 mss in the mail, minimum. I pre-wrote my cover letters so the sting of rejection would be less. I never gave up. I just tried everything I could think of or read about… and eventually it worked. Now I sell every word I write!

What hurdles have you run into when you tried to contact these companies?

[Keep in mind that] the company SHOULD not waste time talking to ‘wanna be’ writers. The writers should make SURE that their manuscripts ARE NOT wasting the editor’s time. The editors and the readers OWE the writer nothing. It is the WRITER who owes them.

What kind of feedback have you been given?

Usually, none. But I viewed any feedback as positive.

What frustrates you the most about this process?

…that people give up. Professional writing is just like anything else. A writer creates a product and an editor buys. Why should writers have to be cuddled more?

Have you considered self-publishing?

I have five books currently in print. (If you want to call it self-published, fine.) One of them, Chasing the Horizon, was accepted by Lothar Simon at Sheridan Books. Luckily, I published it myself. It has made me many many thousands of dollars over the course of 20 years.

What are your next steps?

I’ve written about 18 to 22 GREAT pages. I want to write another great page (or two or two thousand) before I die.

I personally have found that my career progressed roughly at the same pace as my talent. When I didn’t deserve to be Editor at Large of Cruising World magazine, I was not. Once I deserved to be,  I was.

Keep writing. Keep trying. The marketplace is the best teacher. Don’t bitch. This is the easiest time to be a professional writer EVER!

A big ‘thank you’ to Cap’n Fatty Goodlander for sharing his story with us! If you have publishing story that you’d like to share with our readers, please drop us a line!

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The Road to Getting Published: Cap’n Fatty (Gary) Goodlander’s Story

Gary Murning knows what it takes to get your books on people’s bookshelves. His is a bit of a Cinderella story as his first novel, If I Never, was published on August 29th through Legend Press. FYW is lucky to have Gary as a regular contributor of content aimed towards helping writers develop their talents in the hopes of one day living their dream.

Gary William Murning

Have you been published prior to If I Never?

No — If I Never is my first published work.

How long had you tried to get it published before it happened?

All things told, not that long at all, really. It was less than two years between completion and acceptance — which isn’t bad going, compared to some.

How many places did you contact regarding this piece?

Funnily enough, just the one! Very different to my previous experience of submitting work!

What hurdles (if any) did you run into when you tried to contact these companies?

None whatsoever. The Legend Press team has been and continues to be very responsive and easy to get in touch with. They involve the author in the whole publishing process — even to the point where I had input regarding the cover design.

Before finding a publisher for If I Never, what kind of feedback were you given from other publishers?

Well, most feedback these days comes from agents. In the vast majority of cases they are the first contact for a writer with work to submit — and, I have to say, I’ve received some very positive and encouraging comments from agents over the years. The problem for many (which says a lot, most not very good, about the industry today) was that my work didn’t neatly fit any particular genre or niche. It has strong “literary” elements but it isn’t “literary” enough to be classed as “literary”! (My publisher favours the terms “literary mainstream” or “light literary” — which works well for me!) The overwhelming sense I got, I suppose, was of an industry extremely cautious about taking a chance on new and slightly different talent.

How is the novel that the reader will get different from the one that you shopped around to publishing houses?

There’s hardly any difference at all, actually. Apart from proof corrections I’d say there were about, in total, no more than ten pages excised.

Was it hard to accept the comments/critiques on “your baby?” How did you get past that?

Generally speaking, critical comments usually only serve to confirm what I already know. Most writers quickly learn their own strengths and weaknesses and, if they’re willing to be truthful with themselves, they soon learn when to make a stand and when to accept the criticism. It’s something that comes with time, I suppose. I now know what I want my work to do and I’m fairly confident about my ability to achieve it.

What frustrates you the most about the getting published/publishing process?

Prior to being accepted by Legend Press, I’d probably have said just about every aspect of it! The need for agents was always a big one with me, though. Not being able to submit directly to many of the bigger publishers was something that really annoyed me. One of the reasons I decided to have a go at submitting to Legend was that they accepted work directly, without the need for an agent. That’s not to say that agents are all “evil”, of course! On the whole, they do an excellent job. It’s simply that it always seemed to me that the aspiring writer was kept “at arms length” from the industry — which wasn’t how it was when I first started writing.

Working with legend, however, has been a breath of fresh air. They’re a pretty young and dynamic bunch — forward-looking in their approach to publishing and, yet, old-fashioned (in a good way!) in the way they work with their authors. I’m as surprised as anyone when I say that I really have no gripes about my experience of working with Legend. Very good team (and I’m not just saying that because they’ll be reading this!)

Have you considered self-publishing? Had to considered it for this book?

I briefly considered it for an earlier book — print on demand, that kind of thing — but, no, it isn’t really a road down which I wanted to travel.

What is one thing that you wish you knew before contacting anyone in the industry?

That’s a difficult question. To be honest, I’ve been reading about publishing etc for so long that I’ve been pretty clued up on how best to approach/pitch etc for quite a while. The information is out there — especially now we have wonderful websites like this — and it doesn’t take too much effort to find the best way to approach publishers/agents.

Do you think it will “get easier” now that you’re published? (do you feel that the door has been opened and so the “hard part” is over, etc.)

Well, there are no guarantees, of course. We none of us know what tomorrow will bring — especially in the wild and wacky world of publishing! But, yes, it is looking quite “promising” for me. I have another completed project that Legend has expressed an interest in, and I’m fairly sure they’ll go with that — as long as If I Never doesn’t sink without a trace!

What tips can you give to those writers out there who are about to jump into this?

Don’t expect it to be easy. Learn as much as you can about the right way to approach agents/publishers and follow the guidelines rigidly — but don’t be afraid to try something new when the opportunity arises. I originally found my publisher on MySpace, believe it or not, and they are now the fastest growing independent publisher in the UK. The industry is changing (it’s being forced to) but many of these changes will not happen overnight. So follow the tried and tested submission/pitch methods, but keep an eye out for publishers with an innovative approach. My prediction is there’s going to be a lot more of them… more opportunities but also more competition. Therefore, do what you do to the best of your ability.

What are your next steps?

Well, at the moment it’s all go with the promotion of If I Never. I’m also working on what will hopefully be my third Legend Press novel, As Morning Shows the Day. Exciting times with plenty to think about. I’m very aware just how fortunate I am so I’m making sure I enjoy every minute!

A big ‘thank you’ to Gary for sharing his story with us! If you have publishing story that you’d like to share with our readers, please drop us a line!

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The Road to Getting Published: Gary Murning’s Story

We spoke with four writers at different stages in their journeys. A couple have been published, the others have not, but not for lack of perseverance. They gave us a glimpse into their triumphs and frustrations. They shared their hard-won advice and pearls of wisdom. All in the hope of showing aspiring authors that their literary travels will always lead them somewhere.

Debbie’s tale is one that many writers are familiar with:  Sending out multitudes of queries and hearing little -if anything- back from literary agents and/or publishing houses. Her determination and “it will happen someday” attitude is one that other writers should emulate.

Debbie Riley-Magnus

What are you trying to get published and how long have been trying?

I’ve been writing for fifteen years, but primarily seeking representation and publication for my fiction over the past three years. The first is a literary novel. Two years ago I sought an agent and stumbled onto one of those agents you should never sign on with; the kind that requires payment for everything. Having fired them eight months later, I continue my search for representation. I have been lucky enough to have three agents request more chapters (one the full manuscript) for that literary novel and was told more than once that in this economic climate, it was unlikely an agent would pick up a literary piece by a first time author. I then began writing an urban fantasy fiction series. I queried the first book of this fun series four months ago with amazing results; an average of 2 of every 6 queries resulted in a request for more. To date, it has not been picked up for representation. I am also writing a cookbook and attempting to make my way into publishing through the non-fiction door. I am querying all three pieces at this time.

How many places have you contacted regarding this/these piece(s)?

Let me check my query notes … yup. Of the three books, one literary, one fantasy and the other non-fiction, I have sent more than 100 queries. I’m diligent about keeping this process moving and query at least one of the books every single week.

What hurdles have you run into when you tried to contact these companies?

I seldom try to contact an agent when I’ve just queried, but I have contacted them after they’ve received requested material (three chapters to full mss). I use email, remind them that they had requested the material and noted that it had passed the number of days they suggested it would take for the read (90 seems the usual). They’ve always replied quickly with an apology and note that they are behind or over loaded and will get to the requested material as soon as possible.

What kind of feedback have you been given?

The feedback ranges from wonderful to the typical form letters. Some are so vague it can make a writer’s head spin. Comments regarding the “missing X factor” or stating “wonderful plot, great character development and terrific prose but not for us” are not helpful. Needless to say, with the volume of queries I send out, I have enough rejections to wallpaper my office, but on the good side, at any given time, at least three agents have additional chapters of one of my books.

What frustrates you the most about this process?

I suppose everything about the process is frustrating but the key is to work through the frustrations and push on. I’m constantly working to improve everything from the query letters to the full manuscript. Taking classes and accepting assistance from professionals and published authors can be just as frustrating and even more confusing. For example, when one person offered help, they asked for various pieces and proceeded to completely rewrite the query letter for one of my books. It was actually funny … that query letter was the only thing that was working. I believe there comes a time when we as writers have to just take up the challenge and go with our gut; to trust ourselves and just do it. If something isn’t working look at every angle, our genre, the market tolerance for that genre, the writing, etc. It’s a “never give up” world and not for the weak of heart, that’s for sure.

Have you considered self-publishing?

I have not considered self publishing for a number of reasons. But some e-publishing may be in my future. I have several novels that aren’t my “loves” but are really good all the same. It may be a good avenue to at least earn a little and get more online exposure.

What tips can you give to those writers out there who are about to jump into the publishing world?

Gird your loins. Polish your armor. Believe in your cause. Never say never. Have I missed any clichés? I hate to say it, but the reason clichés apply to tackling the publishing world is because it may be the hardest thing a writer will ever attempt to conquer. There is definitely a badge of honor at the end. I want that and my advice is that if another writer doesn’t want it bad enough, get out of the pond.

What are your next steps?

I have a tiny advantage of having been in the marketing, advertising and PR business for many years. Using that experience and knowledge, I’m connecting with several other writers (published and unpublished) as well as a few publishers to help promote my clients’ soon to be released novels. This has strengthened not only my knowledge of how to assist in my own success when it comes, but it has clearly shown the lay of the land for me. As far as my writing career … easy. One foot in front of the other. A little e-publishing. Continue to query my novels. Continue to write. Continue to work on my cookbook proposal. And always remember that there’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

In addition to her writing website, Debbie also has a blog and a literary website filled with the work of many very talented writers.

A big ‘thank you’ to Debbie for sharing her story with us! If you have publishing story that you’d like to share with our readers, please drop us a line!

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The Road to Getting Published: Debbie Riley-Magnus’ Story

Some people are gifted with persuasiveness; most of us are not. But no worries – when nature fails, cleverness come in handy!

That’s exactly what Aristotle claimed: back in the Greece of the 4th century BC, he set the standard for effective communication starting from the simple assumption that the key to persuasion is in the idea.

The word ‘idea’ is the acronym for Inventio, Dispositio, Elocutio and Actio, which for Aristotle were the foundations of rhetoric, or the art of persuasion. The ancient Greek used rhetoric to gain the upper hand over rivals in trials (no lawyers at that time!) and in political debates. Now we can use the same tricks to write effective, engaging and persuasive text.

Inventio means discovery. For every text you need to find out a group of basic arguments that will give strength and credibility to your message. Some of these arguments will be apparent (e.g. scientific truth), others will require some effort to make them apparent to your readers. For instance, you might use deductive or inductive reasoning, exemplify using metaphors and analogy, appeal to horse sense or recall concepts from the common imagery.

Dispositio means arrangement and refers to the logical order of the building blocks you found during your Inventio phase. There isn’t a fixed structure to fit every message or purpose, but remember that you can hit the mark even with a simple introduction -> arguments -> conclusion order.

Elocutio means delivery and has to do with the style of your text. Reading a lot of essays, articles and blogs will help you recognize and learn to exploit at least some of the most common figures of speech. A first step towards oratory mastery could be looking up “rhetorical strategies” in Google!

Actio is action – in other words, presenting your arguments in a public speech. A brilliant actio is one that makes savvy use of gestures, tone of voice, pauses and other forms of body language or non-verbal communication. Not every text is meant to be performed, but pretending to perform what you’ve written in front of an audience may help you check if your writing is really consistent and compelling. For example, do you need to add many non-verbal clues to make it work? If so, then maybe it needs some revision!

Remember: start your writing from an idea!

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The Ideas Behind Ideas

Writers are not just writers these days. Some decide to freelance on a part-time basis while some have full-time jobs wearing many different hats such as producers, coordinators and photographers. These are the people who can  make you think and inspire you in so many different ways. Isn’t that what we want? To be inspired by others on daily basis? Recently, I sat down with my friend Norman Ismail, a web content developer cum webmaster who is a writer as well. We talked about what inspires him.

Why did you choose writing instead of other things like photography?

I do both, actually. I am a photojournalist and a blogger. I didn’t choose- it’s just in me. I realized I like to write when I was around 12. I remember entering a lot of essay competitions and I won a few during my primary school days. Then during high school I always scored (well) in English and Bahasa Melayu (Malay language) thanks to my essay writing skills.

What inspires your writing?

Sometimes I want to write but when time is not on my side, I lose my muse and I get writer’s block. Normally I make a mental note on the subject I wanted to write (about). Then there are times during the drive home from work when I will try to recalibrate my mind. I use (the word) recalibrate because when I’m writing, there are two types of articles: what your editor wants you to write and what you know the followers of your blog want to read. When task one is done, I do task two. I write on what I really feel, not what others want. You can actually go on my blog and see what I mean so you can see (how) my writing can vary.

So for you, writing is more of what YOU want to write and what you feel at that time. Have you thought about writing a novel or a book?

I actually wrote a piece once. It was like 284 A4-sized pages and a true life experience love story. The manuscript was destroyed when the water tank at my old home broke. It was published in URTV (a local entertainment magazine) as a 12-part short series. When I got my first cheque, that inspired me to be a writer and frankly speaking everyone can write but not many can write a soulful piece.

Currently you’re a web content developer cum webmaster, so what is your job description?

What I do now is  manage three websites and I am also known as the Digital Owner of these three portals (ManggaOnline, ManggaTV and Ranggi.) It all starts from the beginning of the website development. I will sit down with the technical team comprising of designers, programmers and application developers. As an example, ManggaOnline is now version 2. Version 1 was dull and merely an entertainment news portal with no User Generated Content (UGC). I had to search for appropriate applications like social networking, comment, forum and chat engines. What we cannot develop, we buy. Currently, I am in the midst of upgrading ManggaOnline to version 3 with a better social networking engine similar to Facebook and Myspace plus upgrading some applications. I also have to find out what I can put on our sites that our competitors don’t have.

Did your writing experience help your website gain readers?

Yes it did. As the webmaster I also contribute articles whenever there is the opportunity. I have to stay ahead of my competitors so if I get the news first, it’s better for me to publish it  before everyone else once I verify that the news is valid. I wouldn’t want to face any lawsuits.

How does your audience respond to your articles?

Very well. My approach is not too tabloid but enough juices to drip on the side, if you know what I mean. It is simply because most celebrities I know confide in me because they trust me.  Believe me, it is not easy to earn the trust of a public figure. They trust me simply because I have never run the stories for my gain. I learned that from Juwie, one of the best entertainment writers in Malaysia and he earned the respect from celebrities. Juwie is my inspiration. His writings is superb; not too spicy but hot enough to make his readers wonder who he is writing about.

How did you feel when you were published for the first time?

When it came out I was 21and I just broke up with my girlfriend of five years so I didn’t really think anything of it at the time! But when I was a cadet writer with MPH Magazines I was ecstatic, excited and also afraid. I was so afraid of the reader’s reaction. Would they accept me? After a few issues, I got very encouraging emails so it got me going.

Do you have a favorite author?

My  favorites are Dale Brown, Stephen King, (John) Grisham and Tolkien. They can actually make me feel like I am the main character. Stephen King grips me, my hair stands on end whenever he describes a horrifying detail. That was what I meant by a soulful piece- a piece that makes you feel you are a part of the story. If it was a tear-jerker, you will shed a tear when you immerse yourself into the story. If it was horror, you end up reading it under the blanket. I was once terrified of clowns thanks to IT and also scared of black cats thanks to PET SEMETARY. I sometimes can even feel the pressure of the trigger of an M16 rifle as I am hunting a terrorist in the forests of Brazil whenever I read Dale Brown’s novels. Dale Brown is an ex US Air Force pilot and he turned out to be a better writer than pilot. His details are vivid just like Tolkien’s. They really put a lot of effort into details.

Do you have any encouraging words or advice for up and coming writers?

It is all about location, location, location. Choose a perfect location to find your muse. It varies for everyone. Some find solace over a cup of coffee at Starbucks or kopitiam (local coffee shop) and some find it easier to write while lying on their bed listening to songs. I can get(inspired) anywhere, anytime. It’s different for every individual.

Norman Ismail is currently working with  local Malaysian magazine Mangga as a web content developer cum webmaster. He has worn all type of hats and his plate full with words and photos.

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Norman Ismail Discusses Inspiration, Soulful Writing and Wearing Many Hats

1. Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a freelance business writer. I work exclusively online, handling various corporate and marketing communications and Web writing projects such as blogging and Web copywriting. I focus on working with small business owners and independent professionals, but also take on larger clients occasionally and do subcontracted work for marketing firms.

2. What do you do to unwind?

When I need to unwind, I prefer staying in. I’ll light some candles, curl up on the couch, and watch a good movie. If I need a change of scenery, I go to a park for a hike in the woods.

3. How long have you been a freelancer and what made you make the switch?

I first started freelancing back in 1999 while I was in college. While I “officially” didn’t start freelance writing full-time until 2008, I was technically earning a full-time living writing for several years prior to that (I ran an online PR firm in addition to taking on other business writing part-time, and the majority of my PR work involved writing press releases, press room content, pitch letters, features, etc. for clients). I never really “made the switch.” I just always wrote in addition to whatever else I was doing, and when it was the majority of my PR work I simply decided to cut out the consulting aspect.

4. Did you go to college? If so, where and what degree(s) did you obtain?

I have a degree in public relations.

5. If you weren’t a writer, what career would you have?

I would probably go back to full-service PR.

6. If you could write only one thing for the rest of your life what would it be and why?

If I had to choose, I’d stick with blogging. It’s a good income source and allows a lot of freedom and interaction, which I enjoy.

7. Describe your worst client experience.

I haven’t had any truly awful client experiences actually. I’ve only had issues with two clients in the past, both involving nonpayment. In one case, after the work was contracted, finished, approved, and accepted by the client, they decided that they didn’t want to pursue that project after all and thought that meant they shouldn’t have to pay for the completed work. The other situation was a bit worse, but still nothing like what some of my colleagues have dealt with. In that case, I was hired by a client overseas to write marketing copy for their website. I’d actually done quite a bit of copywriting in the past for them. There were language barriers. With one particular page, much of it didn’t translate literally for them (they were targeting an English-speaking audience). Because of those issues, they actually came out and accused me of hiring a bunch of Indian writers to do my work for me (their ethnic choice of words – not mine). That was the end of that. I wished them luck in finding a new writer to replace me, and went on my way to better things.  (And for the record, I never outsource my projects – on showing the copy to several colleagues who are native English speakers, they couldn’t even begin to understand the accusation). It’s a risk of working with international clients I suppose, but since most of them have been absolutely wonderful to work with, I wouldn’t trade that for the world. In the end it was a good thing for that relationship to end. There’s never a good excuse to work with someone who disrespects you.

8. Describe your best client experience.

That’s really a tough one. I’m not sure if I have a “best” client experience. The vast majority of my client experiences are entirely pleasant. That’s a perk of working with clients who appreciate professional work though (as opposed to the dirt cheap clients who treat writers as replaceable article mills). When there’s a sense of mutual respect and you’re being fairly compensated for your time, what more can you really ask for?

9. What are a few of your biggest writing pet peeves?

I can’t stand the lies that freelance writers are told. It drives me crazy to see people telling new writers that they have to work for low rates because of the so-called global market for freelance writing. Anyone claiming that doesn’t know what a “market” is. They lump all writers into one collective group, and they act as though language is an equivalent of manufacturing jobs (which can be done equally well anywhere by anyone with equal equipment available).
What upsets me more than that though are the freelance writers who try to justify accepting dirt cheap rates. I get tired of seeing writers complain that they can’t earn more, but then seeing those same writers go on and one about how cheap Web content gigs, residual pay sites, etc. are actually worthwhile. They’re not. Anyone who’s taken that approach as well as charging more professional rates knows that. The problem is that many of these writers never do try. They want things to be easy – to be handed to them. They expect good gigs to be advertised publicly so they can just apply. It doesn’t work that way, and acting like it should is nothing short of lazy. Yes, there are some writers who simply don’t know any better early in their careers, and that’s why I continue to try to help them find better ways to earn a sustainable living through forums, my blogs, and e-books. But it’s not nearly as difficult as people like to think it is. It just involves a lot of hard work that unfortunately not enough writers are willing to do (or maybe it’s fortunate after all – there are plenty of us happy to take those higher-paying gigs while others keep taking the easy way out).

10. What was your biggest “newbie” mistake?

I didn’t honestly make many traditional “newbie” mistakes in freelancing (like thinking I had to start with extremely low pay, not being able to choose a proper target market, etc.). I came from a marketing and PR background, so I knew to get busy on building visibility and a platform early (the biggest mistake a new writer can make is fail to set themselves apart from others). If I made a serious mistake, it was actually before I ever began writing for others. I was never considering writing to be my future. I mean, when I was in high school I certainly dreamed of being a writer. But I wouldn’t have pursued it if my PR work hadn’t led me into it – the writing I did during college wasn’t something I considered a future career. I loved my PR work though (and actually my highest earning blog is a result of that work), so in the end it all worked out well for me.

11. If you could do anything over again in regards to your career, what would it be?

If I could do anything differently, I never would have touched content networks (I was a writer and / or editor with three of them at various points). That was always side work, while running my PR firm, so it never had the chance to hold me back as much as it could have if I made it an even bigger emphasis. It does upset me to think how much time I wasted there though. Yes, it’s easy to get sucked in when you think you’ll keep earning residually, a little bit at a time each month. But when I left my last network gig, it only took me about 3 months before I was earning four times as much from a single blog of my own than I was as an editor there (low $xxxx). Had I started that much earlier, I probably would have already moved to writing for myself fulltime by now. A tip for new writers – if you want residual income, get it by writing for yourself and not for others. If you have any marketing ability whatsoever, that’s the way to come out ahead (and since content networks generally expect you to promote your content if you want to earn more anyway, there’s really no way to avoid marketing ).

12. What is one piece of advice that you wish someone told you before taking the plunge into the world of freelance writing?

Here’s the same advice I often give myself in life. Ignore what everyone else is doing. You cannot be exceptional at what you do if you only follow everyone around you. That couldn’t be more true than in freelancing. When everyone else I knew in PR took a “be nice and kiss ass” approach, I opted for blunt honesty. It suited me. It suited more clients than you’d think. And it helped me build a presence and name for myself. The same is true in writing. Something has to set you apart. For me it’s that up front, no nonsense approach. For others, it will be something else. The key is to avoid being fake. If you’re not comfortable doing what you’re doing, then get out and do something else.

13. In your opinion, what is one trait that people looking to start a writing career MUST HAVE in order to be successful?

If you cannot market yourself effectively, you will not succeed. There’s no way around that.

14. Where do you see yourself professionally in 10 years?

Can I say “in early retirement, off touring Europe?” No, seriously, I don’t know if I’ll still be taking on client writing at that point. I’m already cutting it down to part-time work next year (making my own blogs, e-books, and hopefully future books my income priority). I do hope, and expect, that some of those sources will still be bringing in residual income for me that far down the line. But really, the only concrete 10-year goal I can give you is that I’d like to have a bare minimum of two books published by that time.

15. Do you have any new projects in the works that you want to give FYW readers a sneak peek into?

I have a lot of projects in the works. The biggest and newest project right now is QueryFreeFreelancer.com which I launched last month. This is my secondary blog for freelance writers. More importantly, it’s a platform piece to help build a targeted audience for a nonfiction book I’m working on – The Query-Free Freelancer. I haven’t yet decided if I’m going to pursue traditional publishing or self-publish that book, but I do know I won’t be participating in the usual pitching routines (in good old query-free style).

16. You run a ton of websites! Can you offer any time management tips?

I run quite a few that I never mention publicly on top of my known blogs. I’m a big believer in diversifying your income streams. I have blogs, directories, static content sites, my business site, product sites, etc. In some cases, it’s a “set it and forget it” approach where the initial content earns residual income indefinitely. The real time drains are the blogs, e-books, and (now) the book. There’s no way you can do everything. I’m always putting good ideas on hold (I have multiple composition books filled with nothing business and site ideas). Ones I’m really passionate about get launched (I can build and launch most of my blogs and sites in just a few hours if I don’t have to wait on a coder or something). I put them up, see how they do, and compare them to my larger projects. If they prove to be profitable (and more so than other efforts), then older projects get dropped so I can make more time for the new ones (why I recently merged several of my other writing blogs with AllFreelanceWriting.com – to make time for the Query-Free Freelancer project). You have to be able to pick and choose, and be willing to let go of your “baby” sometimes. That ability to let go is probably the best thing you can do when it comes to better managing your time.
And to-do lists. I can’t get through a day without to-do lists! (I like using various-size index cards depending on how much I need to get done).

17. I find your downloads section very interesting and helpful! What has been your reader’s reaction to that feature?

Honestly, there has been very little reaction to the free downloads. I don’t promote them well enough. Heck, I forget they’re there most of the time. Terrible of me, I know.

18. Where do you get your content ideas from?

Not sure if I’m allowed to say this, but to be frank, my best ideas come when I’m pissed off (speaking of my own blogs – not client work of course). What I’m known for through my PR blog specifically are my rants – I’ll say what others won’t. I’m not looking to impress people with niceties there, and the style works for me (and a lot ticks me off when it comes to PR and social media being misused or misunderstood). Even at All Freelance Writing, some of the highest-traffic and most commented posts are rants. I’m not afraid to give people a piece of my mind. I just keep my eyes open and share my thoughts on what I see, no matter what others might think of it. My policy is pretty simple – don’t shy away from anything. If it brings about some kind of emotion in me, whether positive or negative, it’s worth sharing. If it bores me to tears, then I move on.

19. Are there any writing related blogs that you read regularly and would recommend to our readers?

This may sound awful, but I can’t think of a single blog I read “regularly” (as in daily). There just isn’t time. You have to step away from the blogosphere and get busy writing if you want to be a writer. That said, I do read every day – I just limit my time and don’t visit the same blogs every day. I have a few that I’ll periodically pull up just to see what’s going on conversation-wise, like ChrisBlogging.com and FreelanceWritingGigs.com. Some days I want to read up on PR issues, so I read blogs in that niche. Other days I want to read about freelancing. Others I want to read blogs on blogging. I can’t do everything and still be productive in my actual work. I read enough to stay connected and to know what’s going on in the niches, but that’s about it. In addition to those blogs mentioned, I’d suggest writers check out Anne Wayman’s blog - AboutFreelanceWriting.com. FreelanceSwitch.com is also often a good bet.

20. What direction do you see web and business writing going in the future?

It’s absolutely on an up-swing, and not just the low paying content writing gigs you often see advertised. More corporate clients are out there wanting to get into blogging for example. Business blogging requires someone who understand both Web writing and business writing, since those blogs are often PR or marketing tools representing the company. Even in basic SEO Web content, people are increasingly paying professional rates. They don’t want keyword-stuffed drivel. They want authoritative content that just happens to naturally attract readers, links, and subscribers because that kind of content helps them get (and stay) at the top of the search engine rankings in the long haul. As small businesses move to the Web, they need Web marketing copy. They’re both great areas to be in right now, with a lot of growth still to come.

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20 Questions with Jennifer Mattern of ProBusinessWriter.com

“Hello?”
“Hey, it’s me. You’re busy?” she asked.
It was from Mas, a close friend whom I’ve known since I was 12, we went to high school together, skipped Saturday extracurricular activities and when she went off for college, I was left behind to do some soul searching.

“Kind of…what’s up?”

“Do you have any idea who I can interview and get more information for my assignment?” Mas was looking for an individual whom she can interview for her final exam. I sipped my coffee when one familiar name pops into my head.

“How about A. Samad Said?” I asked.

“Yes but how do I contact him?”

A few phone calls to Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (The Institute of Language and Literature) in Kuala Lumpur, I managed to schedule an interview with Pak Samad.

A. Samad Said or fondly known as Pak Samad to his fans is a Malaysian writer/poet whose works has inspired a lot of other writers including yours truly. He started off as a clerk then an editor in various local newspapers which includes The New Straits Times. He writes in different genre such as poetry, novels and essays. Meeting him was a good opportunity to get to know him as a writer.

We met him in Starbucks on a Saturday afternoon. We instantly saw him from far through his long, white beard and fragile looks. As we sit down, Mas pulled out her questionnaire to show to him and Pak Samad asks us if there are a lot of questions for him. Mas smiled, said only a few but we’re interested to know his opinions on certain things. Questions were asked, pretty much all of it related to his work and he asked me if I would like to add anything to the questionnaire.

“What inspires you?” “Where do you get all those brilliant ideas from?” I asked with a million thoughts running through my head.

“Two things” he said. “Read; read the newspapers, school books, story books, encyclopedias, biographies, magazines even comic books. You need to read to expand your mind. It doesn’t have to be a particular genre; it can be any type of readable materials. It helps to have more knowledge, not just certain knowledge but all sorts of knowledge. Just because you’re reading comic books, it doesn’t mean you’re not gaining any knowledge. You’re most likely to get inspired to become an artist from reading comics.”

“Second; go outside and watch people go by. From watching them, you can see how people move around. Their body language, facial expression tells you something; every person you see has a different story to tell.”

He signed the questionnaire and we ended our 45 minutes session by taking photos, thanking him as he rushed for his next appointment. Probably rushed to inspire others with the same words.

We went home feeling very much inspired; inspired to write, read and hopefully, we will inspire others too.

Do you have anyone who inspires you on daily basis?

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Interview with Pak Samad