Writing Tips continued

Here are more tips, this time a mixture of general advice and blog-specific advice. Enjoy! Laura
“Write about how you have solved problems or overcome obstacles. Readers connect strongly with writing that provides solutions. This need not be personal; explain how to organize an overflowing email inbox, grow an avocado tree, or connect to a SQL database.” From - Jess Johnson writer for GrokCode

Barbara Dana and her newly released book.

“When I have a day when I can’t write, think I’m no good, the idea is stupid, the whole thing should be thrown out, I say to myself. “I’m not going to write today. But if I were going to write I would write something like this. Then I write something that I usually end up developing the next day. Sometimes I end up using it just the way it came out!” From Betsy Model quoting Barbara Dana (http://www.barbaradana.com/), author of A Voice of Her Own: Becoming Emily Dickinson.

“Know your audience, write for that audience, and promote to it. Whether it's a commercial project or a novel, know who you're talking to and what you want them to do, and how you'll reach them to tell about it.” From Shel Horowitz http://www.grassrootsmarketingforauthors.com/, http://www.frugalmarketing.com/

“My best and perhaps only tip that applies to all writers is to do with getting started. I don't mean what time of day you switch on the computer, I mean getting started when you have something to say - even if it is just for your own satisfaction. Despite doing a lot of work for educational publications I didn't find the courage to start and finish a novel until well into middle age. Why? because all the time I could hear a voice (a parent) saying 'And just who do you think you are - showing off like that?'” From Jane Arredondo (J.G. Harlond) www.EloquentBooks.com/TheMagpie.html

“Viral marketing tip: Recently, I have been using twitter to try and spread the word a bit. I've followed lots of people in my location and in field of expertise. I set up an auto feed so when I make a new blog post, it automatically sends a tweet out on Twitter. When people see good posts, they re-tweet it, therefore sending the word out to the wide userbase. “ From Anna Moose http://www.bargainmoose.ca/

Re blog writing: “Post daily! Write ahead! Have a brainstorm list of 50 to 100 blog topics to write about!” From Stacey Kannenberg http://www.blogger.com/www.cedarvalleypublishing.com