Writing Information


Why Book Writers Need A Running Mate


By far, I have found that the lack of discipline is the biggest hindrance for most people, when it comes to writing a book of any kind. Although I urge you as a would-be writer to develop a theme because once you are clear on "why" you want to write a book, your motivational level will shift into a higher gear, I also urge you to get an accountability partner. This person will be the most important asset you can have as a writer.

However, choose carefully, because the role of the accountability partner is to make sure that you are following your commitment on a daily basis. The partner is responsible for calling, e-mailing you or talking to you by phone or in person every day to check the progress of your book. This person should be gentle enough to keep you encouraged, but forceful enough to not be afraid to chastise you.

In other words, your accountability partner will "hold your feet to the fire" to make sure you keep moving forward. Believe me; this person is worth his or her weight in gold. Why?

Although I promise you that writing a manuscript is easier than you might think-you don't need to be a seasoned writer-it is not the easiest thing in the world to do. There will be plenty of times when you will want to scratch the whole idea. Your accountability partner is your cheerleader, telling you, "We have spirit, yes we do!" and exhorting you on to "V.I.C.T.O.R.Y.," even when it seems like you are in the waning minutes of the game and your team is losing 42-0.

Games are played, one at a time. If you lose today, unless something tragically happens, there will be another one tomorrow. Television's Dr. Phil said, "Everyone wants to be a hero on Saturday. The big difference between winners and losers is that the winners work hard every day to do what it takes to win."

If you fail your writing task today, you can start again tomorrow. However, losing seasons occur when in the end, you have lost more than you have won. Most new writers and seasoned ones as well, don't write as much as they can on a daily basis.

Even writing part-time, two pages per day is a good start, and more can easily be done if the effort is put forth. However, most of us need that extra push from someone who genuinely cares about us and our project, to keep us in the game. Although it is good to find a like-minded individual, in some ways, your accountability partner's character should be diametrically opposed to your character.

For example, if you know you need a lot of hand-holding, your accountability partner should definitely be a self-starter. If you are a pessimist, your partner should be an optimist. However, if you are an optimist, it is usually better for you not to pick a pessimist for your partner.

By Marvin D. Cloud, founder of mybestseller Publishing Co. and author of "Get Off The Pot: How to Stop Procrastinating and Write Your Personal Bestseller in 90 Days." Visit http://www.mybestseller.com and grab a free copy of the "Get Off The Pot" newsletter, which is dedicated to motivating ordinary people with extraordinary stories.


MORE RESOURCES:

USA Today

Must schools change how writing teachers are taught?
USA Today
LOUISVILLE — "I was incredibly well trained to teach college writing, but only one course at a time. ...
CSN To Offer English CompositionMesquite Local News

all 3 news articles »


findingDulcinea

Reading and Writing and 'Rithmetic
Huffington Post (blog)
"The stumbling way in which even the ablest of the scientists in every generation have had to fight through thickets of erroneous observations, ...
So How Will Texas's New Ultra-Conservative Interpretation of History Affect ...Riverfront Times (blog)

all 142 news articles »


Writing Stiffs
New York Times (blog)
A 2008 study of the creative economy from the National Endowment for the Arts reported that full-time “writers and authors” earned a ...



New Zealand Herald

Video game hurts schoolwork of boys--study
Washington Post (blog)
*The boys who had the videogames immediately achieved lower reading and writing test scores than those who didn't. But the PlayStations seemed to have no ...
Video games make boys stupidInquirer (blog)
Study shows gaming can hinder reading, writing progressReg Hardware
'Gaming' Sends Boys' Test Scores SlidingBusinessWeek
Sify -ABC News -Computerandvideogames.com
all 59 news articles »


BBC News

Kicked off train for writing The Killers on a list
Metro
A musician was stunned when he was kicked off a train – for writing down a playlist of songs and band names. Bass player Tom Shaw had written down some ...
Man thrown off train for writing Killers song titles on listNME.com
Musician questioned by train staff over Killers songBBC News
Man Thrown Off Train for Writing Killers Song TitlesStereoboard.com
The Press Association -Daily Echo -Daily Mail
all 42 news articles »


Writing women back into history
The Union of Grass Valley
To celebrate March as Women's History Month, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) of Nevada County is hosting a showing of the PBS ...

and more »


Madoff geeks charged for writing book-cooking code
Register
A federal grand jury has indicted two computer programmers on fraud and conspiracy charges for developing programs used by Bernard Madoff to cook the books ...

and more »


Creative Loafing Tampa (blog)

Larry Flynt Writing Book on Presidential Sex
Newser
The Hustler publisher is writing One Nation Under Sex, an “academically sourced” history of White House seductions. Gawker got a look at the proposal, ...
Larry Flynt of "Hustler" Writing Book on U.S. Presidents' Sex LivesGather.com

all 8 news articles »


Washington Post

David Weidner's Writing on the Wall
MarketWatch
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Here's one way of looking at Sen. Christopher Dodd's financial reform bill: if Wall Street hates it, ...
Dodd unveils bill that puts consumer agency at FedReuters

all 1,878 news articles »


Sarah Stewart Taylor on Writing Amelia Earhart
Comic Book Resources
When James was working on starting the school he got together people in the area he knew who were writing teachers and cartoonists. ...


Google News

home | site map
© 2008 ReV Brown and LaMesa Gifts