Articles in the headline Category

What have you learned from the past that allows you to create a new beginning in 2010? January is a great time for new beginnings and this month I’d like to introduce “beginnings” as a theme.

In November 2009, Web Betty gave Writer’s Round-About an excellent technical review. She corroborated some ideas I had for changes I wanted to make to the blog theme. Today, I launch WRA’s tweaked theme, version 2.0, and I’d love to know what you think about the changes. What do you like? What do you hate? Do you have suggestions for things you’d like to see done differently?

Launching a new version of the WRA Theme is just one of the “beginnings” we’ll see on Writer’s Round-About this month. Later in the month we’ll share posts that relate to how beginnings affect us as writers, from how to find those first words that begin a new story or article, to how our beginnings, our headlines, our hooks, our opening paragraphs, impact the way readers interact with our content.

What comes to mind when you think of beginnings as a writer? Write about it and then consider beginning 2010 as a WRA contributor where you can share your writing with other freelancers from beginning to end?

Have you wondered about writing a guest post for Writer’s Round-About? Have you been thinking about joining the collaborative blogging project but just don’t know if it’s right for you? Do you want to know some of the benefits of writing for Writer’s Round-About?

Everyone, from those just beginning to inspect their writing bug to the experienced explorers of the writing world, are invited to take part in our collaborative blogging project but read on now to find out 7 reasons why you might like to join us.

1. The biggest draw card is freedom. Unlike Demand Studios you aren’t given a title for which you have to research or scrimp for words. You have the freedom to follow what captures your interest, fires your passions, or intrigues your inspiration. As long as you can tie your topic to freelance or fiction writing you have free reign to explore anything that interests you. You’re also free to decide when you write and how often you contribute. You are not tied to any specific posting schedule and can contribute several posts when you’re visited by your muse or one or two as inspiration strikes. Even if you post sporadically your readership will continue to grow because Writer’s Round-About has a growing base of contributors allowing us to publish fresh content regularly.
2. Qualified contributors are given the opportunity to subscribe to the WRA-Writer’s Mailing List. This is a huge plus because around once a month I send out a short newsletter packed with ideas, keywords, sometimes a theme, and some gossip about what our readers have been wanting to read and what we’d love you to write about. You don’t have to write about those topics if you’re fired up about something else but if you’re ever feeling short on ideas you have a well of inspiration in these newsletters. And I’ve got thousands and thousands more where they came from so if you want even more all it takes is a quick email and I’ll brainstorm with you to come up with some great content.
3. WRA has a flexible word count. 400-800 words (longer if prior arranged) is the bottom line. This is because this is the ideal length for blog format and it’s what I know my readers prefer. Most of them are busy writers, like us. They need inspiration and education; they aren’t looking for an epic adventure. But they’re also readers in the true sense of the word. If a topic interests them they’ll read several posts as it goes into more detail so series work well.
4. WRA also has an awesome, professional, human editor who likes to pretty up posts, is happy to make edits if needed or requested, manages the posting schedule for you so you can write your posts whenever you want to rather than keeping to a strict schedule, is easy going, and is a firm believer in only doing it because you love it. She’s not pushy, she’s not about to demand several rewrites or delete your content without giving advance warning. Um… Ok, enough tooting my own horn.
5. WRA is growing in popularity and developing it’s brand as a writer resource and community. There are plans in the works for expanding the reach of the site and the services it offers. There is an opportunity to get involved in the creation of electronic products exclusive to WRA and your ideas regarding the site will always be heard and considered carefully. It also has a standing history having lasted the test of time for blogging. It’s not a fly by night and it’s not about to disappear off the web never to be heard or updated again. Writer’s Round-About is also 100% financed and maintained by my freelance business so I’ll never ask contributors to assist with costs associated with running the site such as hosting and domain name fees.
6. You maintain rights to your posts. While I do ask for first time electronic rights you can republish your posts after they’ve launched on WRA. That means the post you wrote for us could go on to make money when you pitch it as a reprint to other publications or post it as a guest post on other blogs. We’d love you to give WRA a nod as original publication but we don’t require that because what you write will always belong to you.
7. Finally, clips, experience, and full credits, are pretty strong draws in and of their own. Some of WRA’s writers write for that alone. And the knowledge that they’ve got a ready-made audience. Writing for WRA is more effective than writing a blog of your own because there is a team of people working to promote each post and an established readership already coming to look. You don’t have to do all the legwork to find readers. It is also a great way to practice writing online content and if you want any feedback or advice regarding your writing I’m happy to critique or copy-edit your posts. And, your byline, bio, photograph, and up to three external links go right there on the page with every single one of your posts.

Are you excited? Do these fantastic benefits sound enticing? Do you have any questions?

Happy Holidays! Around the world there is a special celebration at this time of year. Whatever you choose to believe I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy peace, love, and the joy of giving with your family this holiday season. The holidays are a magical opportunity for writers to experience new wonders in their life. This holiday season, watch and listen for the beautiful stories that exist in every moment.

On behalf of all the writers at Writer’s Round-About, and especially from me, I wish you a very special holiday.

Merry Christmas!

Yay! It’s DECEMBER!

*starts singing* “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…” I love December and the holiday season. I’m wrapped in the excitement and community spirit of Christmas. Despite the queues at the store, the impatient bustle of traffic, and a sudden dip in my bank account balance, there is something magical about December.

Did you know, however, that almost all of the fresh, new content that fills the world this month was written months ago? The advert for those holiday sales, the gift catalogs of your favorite stores, and the press releases announcing this party and that holiday event were put together at least several weeks past, usually around August/September.

Guess what that means for seasonal writers? You should be working on content for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s, and even Easter. The only people who get to write about December in December are bloggers (ok, I guess the “breaking news” journalists do too, sometimes). Which is another awesome reason to blog don’t you think? We can write about the holidays when we’re fired with the passion and excitement of the moment. Or, if you’re fired in the moment, consider writing in advance of next year’s holiday season.

What are you writing about this December? And how do you prepare in advance for seasonal writing?

While the U.S. celebrates a remarkable moment in their history, Thankgiving offers an opportunity for everyone around the world to remember the importance of gratitude. For what are you most thankful?

With just a few weeks of school before the holiday season is truly upon us I look around myself today and appreciate the true wonders and joy in my life. From the smiling faces of my children and the tight knit of my loving family to the simpler things like food on our table and a roof over our heads. There are so many things to be grateful for in each and every day.

As writers, we are gifted with expressive voice. Every word we place on the page has meaning and purpose, each sentence expresses an idea. Every story we tell, be it fiction or non-fiction, has a message, something rich and meaningful that our readers take with them when the story is read. Consider, as the holidays approach, including the message of gratitude in your writing.

How can we express gratitude in every moment? Begin, by being truly thankful for the opportunity to be who you are, a writer. Your gift is unique and precious. I give thanks that we might share our gifts with each other.

Did you know, November is National Novel Writing Month? Over 100,000 people have signed up, each committed to writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days.

November is a crazy month for many writers, especially those who are taking on the NaNoWriMo challenge. Even those of us who aren’t beginning a new book, are working steadily through gigs for our clients, submitting articles, or completing existing projects. We are working harder than ever toward year’s end.

What do you do differently in November? Have you looked at the goals you set earlier this year and evaluated where you stand today? Now is the perfect time to look at what you need to do to make remarkable accomplishments for 2009.

With just 69 days until 2010, what goals are you committed to completing before the new year?

Wow! September was an phenomenal month for Writer’s Round-About. We shared fantastic articles and a rocking interview sending our subscriber count to an all-time high of 104 readers.

Thank You for your part in this site’s growing success!

Did you miss out on Mysti’s 5-Part Series? Find it here: F-O-C-U-S on Writing (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5)
And don’t miss my 3-part interview with powerhouse writer, Michele Tune – Social Networking Success, The Business of Blogging, Habits & Courage.

Please share your favorite posts with your friends. You can post links to Twitter, Plurk, Digg, Facebook, StumbleUpon, Delicious, and anywhere you love to hang out or find the greatest content. Let’s break the 104 record!

Stay tuned for more great posts by our talented contributors and don’t forget, if you have something to share you might consider becoming a WRA writer.

Have you got a fantastic new book or product that’s all to do with writing? We’d love to help you promote you to the right people.

Each Month, WRA hosts a new author as they showcase their latest success and share insight into writing and the writer’s life. Want an honest, thoughtful review? Willing to participate in an interview or Q and A session? Want to offer your own post or article? Should we run a contest together? Writer’s Round-About offers many choices for promoting authors.

I would love to be able to share more from blog touring authors and we have a few empty places in our schedule. If you have a blog tour planned for the coming months, drop me an email, it might be just the thing WRA would love to help you with!

Wow, July just flew by didn’t it? I hope you had a fantastic month. I’m excited because, after a couple of lean months, the beginning of August has brought me a few new gigs. Others around me have found business picking up too! Is this a sign that the economy is improving, or that our marketing skills are blossoming? How is business for you?

This month we have some exciting features. The most notable being a fantastic Blog Tour with Sue William Silverman, author of “Fearless Confessions: A Writer’s Guide to Memoir“. I will share my review of her book on the 10th of August but in a few days you will have an opportunity to suggest questions for inclusion in my interview of Sue (tentatively scheduled for the 17th) and enter this months contest for a chance to win a copy of “Fearless Confessions“. Sue joins us again on the 21st with a fantastic post about using Sensory Description.

I have a few other posts lined up from me and I hope some other writer’s will consider adding contributions of their own this month. If you’re not involved in our collaborative blogging project find out how you can become a WRA writer!

With this fantastic line-up be sure to subscribe via RSS so you don’t miss a thing. Is there something you want to read about or a topic of particular interest to you at the moment? Leave your suggestions in the comments or send me an email. What would you like to see on Writer’s Round-About this month?

I’m excited to announce that we are hosting a special guest, MaAnna Stephenson, author of Just the FAQs, this month. MaAnna is a talented writer who has recently launched a series of instructional eBooks that share, in simple terms, the technical aspects that often confuse writers trying to promote themselves online. Are you wondering how to begin a blog of your own, create a website, or get started with article directories? MaAnna answers these questions and more in her Just the FAQs series.

Even better is your opportunity win! Leave a comment on any of MaAnna’s blog stops for a chance to win one of two free Just the FAQs eClasses. To find out more about MaAnna’s Virtual Blog Tour including a list of her scheduled blog stops click here.

Also in July I’ll review, “Can I Change Your Mind?“, a fantastic book on the craft and art of persuasive writing by Lindsay Camp and the book I won at Writing The Cyber Highway, “Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing” by Mignon Fogarty.

What else would you like to see at WRA this month?