I started writing songs because it was easier than trying to learn other people’s. A few years back, some ten-year-old kid asked his parents for a guitar. He wanted to be like Roy Rogers. A few years later, the kid started a band with some buddies and they wrote their own song. It was downhill from there. The music industry is a tough one – probably tougher than the writing industry (hard as that may be to believe for many pen masters out there). It’s who you know and being in the right place at
> Read MoreArchives for March 2008
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Frustrated by Blogging? The Most Common Issues Resolved.
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Blogging’s fun. It lets you voice your opinion, build a business and make new friends. Blogging can be a chore, too. Hopefuls hop on the wagon and slap up their brand-new blogs, only to realize very quickly that all the promises of riches and fame don’t happen overnight – if they happen at all. I threw the question out on Twitter, asking, “What’s your biggest blogging challenge?” Not enough time. Not enough traffic. What to write. When to write it…The answers kept coming. Want some solutions? Head over to Michael Martine’s Remarkablogger and read my
> Read MoreColliding Fiction with Technology at Seekerville
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Women surround me, and they’re asking me if they look good in their jeans. Trick question? Discover why I’m a sudden rockstar over at Seekerville and enjoy the high levels of wit and humor. Need a laugh? You’ll find it right here in the comment section following my guest post, Blogging with Harry: More than Words – Fiction Writing Meets Technology. Yes, that’s right. I’ve taken on the fiction writing crowd head to head, and I’m out to tell them how blogging can help them reach their goals in my latest two-part series guest post.
> Read MoreDrive-By-Shooting Sundays: The Writer’s Manifesto
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He killed the engine and silence filled the air, marked only by the sharp tick of a cooling motor. The streets were quiet, the arid evening air still and undisturbed. “Last week’s hit went too smoothly,” James remarked calmly, gazing at today’s victim. She was oblivious of the observation, unknowing that every inch of her appearance was being raked over by expert eyes. “Ain’t always that way.” Harry gave the sights of the M1D a last polish before tucking the cloth in the glove compartment. “You going to sit there all day?” “Nope.” James cocked
> Read MoreHow to Accomplish Your Dreams
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People come up with brilliant ideas all the time. You probably have one or two of your own tucked in the back of your mind, filed away in the “one day” area collecting a thick layer of dust. It could be a novel, a business, a trip… “One day I’ll get to it…” “I’ll have the time one day…” “I’ll get around to this one day. Not today, though.” The problem is that “one day” never comes. It‘s easy to shove “one day” aside. Today is more important. We’re a short-term society with short attention
> Read MoreWould You Use a Job Auction Site to Find Work?
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I’m puzzled. A large group of writers frown down on job auction sites, and I’m not quite sure why. It’s probably another symptom of the Great Divide, the canyon that separates writers who prioritize work and writers who prioritize art. Some say that job auction sites are for small-time writers. Some feel the auction sites only offer cheap work and low rates. Some believe that auction sites are a rip-off, charging writers money with no guarantee of gigs. Some feel that auction sites don’t cater to the very people that keep them alive: the service
> Read MoreToDoodle Your Way to Better Efficiency
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If you’re the kind of person to put things off because your To-Do list looks like something from an asylum written by monkeys on crack, then we have the solution. Or rather, Nick Cernis does, and it’s a good solution because Nick’s very smart that way. He’s also an excellent writer, a forward thinker and a pretty nice guy. He’s released Todoodlist, a new ebook to hit the virtual shelves. Todoodlist is for people like me (and maybe you), people who have 24 gadgets and 36 applications that are supposed to help you manage time
> Read MoreHarry Falls from Grace, the Beatles Reunite and Twitter
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It would appear that, unbeknownst to the world, the Beatles have reunited. The four band members got back together – don’t ask me how. Keith Richards finally realized he was dead (after living his unlife for several centuries), Hell has frozen over (twice now, if you count the Eagles reunion), and pigs are flying outside my window. Yes, folks. I gave in to Twitter. I Told You So James, Jon, Michael, Brett, Nick… Go ahead and gloat. You know you want to. John H? I’m sorry, man. The pull of the dark side was far
> Read MoreHow to Stay on the Slopes when You’re Dealing with an Avalanche
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I’m not a complainer and I don’t like to whine, so before you read this post, recognize that I’m penning this because there are valuable lessons to pass on. I’m not writing this post for sympathy or for attention, like so many others do. I’m writing it because you might be able to relate to my experience, and you might start thinking a little about how you handle the pressure when your workload becomes a mountain. Where it All Began James and the rest of Quebec may be buried under snow, but I’m buried under
> Read MoreHead-to-Head Showdown for Best Blogs for Writers
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There’s a battle of the blogs going on, and we’re a contender for the victory… … Sorta. Copyblogger’s there. Are we good enough to give Brian a run for his money for the second time in less than a year? John Hewitt of Poewar.com is pitting blogs for writers head to head to see who the best in the West is. He’s put together a list of 32 blogs for writers, and his showdown is going to be interesting. Yup. Men with Pens made the ranks. Here’s who we’re up against for the best blog
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