Unless you're frightened of them, you shouldn't say you're "anxious to see your friends." 

        You are actually "eager," or "excited."      

         To be "anxious" implies a looming fear, dread or anxiety. It doesn't mean you're looking forward to something.

      Would you share this newsletter with people who matter to you? If you would, click "forward this email" at the bottom of the page. Only you can get the word out to writers who want to be successful. Tell them about the excellent instruction our students get. 

Thank you!

         You've been "planning to write a book" for a while now. Often, time is what stops you. You can't seem to find the time to sit and write, and if you do, you find yourself looking at a blank page. So, where do you go from there? That book is in you and you want to get it out into the world.

         That's where we come in. We're here for you. We know how hard it is to get a book out of your head and onto the page. 

         We also know what it takes to get it out to the world. It's what we love to do--help writers turn an idea into readable, publishable copy.  In fact, it's all we do. 

         So, go ahead.  Write that book. We're here to help. 

       The reality is that new authors almost always submit their work prematurely; one revision short of what would be considered professional. 

       Discouragingly, the material that arrives in an agent's or publisher's mail every day can be broken down as follows:

• 87 percent is amateurish and un-publishable.
• 3 percent target the market well but is so poorly written it can't be fixed.
• 4 percent is pretty good material with virtually no market.
• 4 percent is pretty good material if the work is revised and polished.
• 1 percent of the material has excellent potential that is ready for submission.

(Taken from Damn! Why Didn't I Write That? by Marc McCutcheon, 2001)

      You elevate yourself and your work into the publishable one percent once you know what not to do.  Remember, self-published works must be well written too.

How many books do you have to sell in order to be considered a best seller?

Answer:

Hint: Use these parameters to determine your own level of 'best seller'. The bottom line is this: Be determined to write well enough so your books will sell themselves. 

There is more than a strong case for writing shorter books; they cost less, are faster to read, and require good writing. 

It's never how long a story should be, but rather how powerfully the author captivates the reader. So, writers should think impact, not length. It isn't rocket science. Only good, succinct writing leads to reader impact. 

Writers often ask me how long a chapter or book should be. The answer is always: "Only long enough to impact the reader and get your point across." When you've done that, stop! 

Writers are often unaware of how their work impacts a reader and consequently over write believing the reader won't get their point. 

Our advice is to hook up with a qualified mentor who knows what it takes to write captivating material. Friends and relatives are not those people.

    Writing is a craft and words are the tools of the trade --the basis for ideas. They change minds, bring injustices to light, inform, and entertain. 

       The writer's job is to know the craft so well that he or she can manipulate words to accomplish those ends. 

     Don't be fooled into believing writing is just another form of talking. Writing is not talking. Talking depends on vocal tones, facial expressions, and hand gestures to assist with meaning. Writing does not have that advantage. 

      Writing is only effective when the writer knows the value of words and the power they have to become ideas.

      Writers who neglect to master words find it difficult to scale the wall between amateur and professional. 

      Take time to learn how to harness the power of the written word.

"To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it's about, but the music the words make." 

--Truman Capote

1. Insecurity-- a lack of belief in your ability to write on the subject you've chosen.
2. An unrealistic demand for perfection-write it first, correct it later.
3. Not interested in the subject.