TGIF! And a wonderful Friday it is too. Because today's post features guest blogger Janice Wald with some great advice for writers. Enjoy!
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Are you a new writer who was not prepared for the demands of doing what you love? People say that everything comes with a price. Have you had to pay the price for pursuing your passion, writing?
One of the demands on a writer is time. Writers find it difficult to fulfill their daily obligations and simultaneously find time to write. I have read about and observed situations where family members feel neglected by the family writer’s attempts to divide time that formerly belonged to them. If you can relate to feeling overwhelmed by these pressures and more, this post is for you.
One way people find support when they find themselves under added stress is through supportive people. However, while people mean well, they may not understand the pressures on a writer. Many just don’t “get it”. The goal is to find not just supportive people, but supportive writers.
*** ***
Are you a new writer who was not prepared for the demands of doing what you love? People say that everything comes with a price. Have you had to pay the price for pursuing your passion, writing?
One of the demands on a writer is time. Writers find it difficult to fulfill their daily obligations and simultaneously find time to write. I have read about and observed situations where family members feel neglected by the family writer’s attempts to divide time that formerly belonged to them. If you can relate to feeling overwhelmed by these pressures and more, this post is for you.
One way people find support when they find themselves under added stress is through supportive people. However, while people mean well, they may not understand the pressures on a writer. Many just don’t “get it”. The goal is to find not just supportive people, but supportive writers.
How to Find Support Systems for Writers
I recently attended a conference I found out about through Facebook. I am a member of several Southern California Facebook blogging groups, so finding out about a local conference was easy. My posts How Bloggers Can Focus and How Bloggers Can Stay Focused details the instruction I received at the conference. When I was there, a participant told me about a way to find more conferences. She told me to Google BlogHer Conferences. I did and found many more in California where I live.
At the conference, I became closer with the presenter. We met for coffee, and she explained Triberr to me. To date, How You Can Increase Your Blog Traffic Using Triberr is one of my most popular posts. Networking is crucial for any writer, blogger or otherwise. I not only received support but my skills increased.
The first place to look would be in some formal classroom setting. Community colleges and adult schools should be obvious places to look. In our community, Parks and Recreation puts out a brochure offering classes to all ages, levels, and topics of interest. These course offerings are free. I recently took a photography class in hopes of improving the photos I use in my blog posts.
The next place to look for writing classes is online. WordPress is currently offering three, Blogging 101, Blogging 201, and Writing 101. I took the first two. In the six weeks that I was enrolled in them, I gained ninety new blog followers. Networking is invaluable.
Lidy Wilks, the administrator of this blog, told me in passing she joined a support group for insecure writers. I was so touched. I looked online and found other support groups for insecure writers as well.
A new follower of mine explained her secret to success—she meets many new bloggers at blogging events. She writes them, and they write her. She gets new followers and more writers who become online friends.
WordPress holds many of the events she attends. They have a daily prompt, for example, where writers read each others’ responses to see how each tackled the challenge.
In addition, there are Twitter parties for writers. One is held on Wednesdays. Use the hashtag #WriterWednesday and you’ll find many other writers.
The SITS Girls holds blog hops every Saturday that is internationally renown. They also have a wealth of information and resources to help writers. I am even holding a blog hop, also called a Linky Party, and I do every Monday and have met nice people who come to my site to post the links to their writing. I host The Inspire Me Monday Linky Party with seven other women and have networked that way too.
Clearly, networking is invaluable. As an emotional support system if you need to reach out, as a way to improve skills, and even as a way to simply get a question answered, nothing beats networking.
I am currently putting together an Expert Round Up post. I interviewed experts in the field of writing and asked them their best tip. Suzi81, Creator of http://Suzie81speaks.com and #SundayBlogShare says networking is the best tip she can offer a writer. For the reasons I’ve stated in this post, I agree.
I’d like to thank Lidy Wilks and IHeartAllStories for hosting me. I offer many more writing tips and time-saving techniques for writers at my site Reflections at mycurrentnewsblog.com.
- Conferences – There are many ways to find out about conferences.
I recently attended a conference I found out about through Facebook. I am a member of several Southern California Facebook blogging groups, so finding out about a local conference was easy. My posts How Bloggers Can Focus and How Bloggers Can Stay Focused details the instruction I received at the conference. When I was there, a participant told me about a way to find more conferences. She told me to Google BlogHer Conferences. I did and found many more in California where I live.
At the conference, I became closer with the presenter. We met for coffee, and she explained Triberr to me. To date, How You Can Increase Your Blog Traffic Using Triberr is one of my most popular posts. Networking is crucial for any writer, blogger or otherwise. I not only received support but my skills increased.
- Classes – There are many ways to find classes for writers.
The first place to look would be in some formal classroom setting. Community colleges and adult schools should be obvious places to look. In our community, Parks and Recreation puts out a brochure offering classes to all ages, levels, and topics of interest. These course offerings are free. I recently took a photography class in hopes of improving the photos I use in my blog posts.
The next place to look for writing classes is online. WordPress is currently offering three, Blogging 101, Blogging 201, and Writing 101. I took the first two. In the six weeks that I was enrolled in them, I gained ninety new blog followers. Networking is invaluable.
- Online Support Groups – There is an easy way to find online support groups—online!
Lidy Wilks, the administrator of this blog, told me in passing she joined a support group for insecure writers. I was so touched. I looked online and found other support groups for insecure writers as well.
- Events –There are many ways to find events where you can meet new writers. Can you guess how? If you said, online, you guessed it!
A new follower of mine explained her secret to success—she meets many new bloggers at blogging events. She writes them, and they write her. She gets new followers and more writers who become online friends.
WordPress holds many of the events she attends. They have a daily prompt, for example, where writers read each others’ responses to see how each tackled the challenge.
In addition, there are Twitter parties for writers. One is held on Wednesdays. Use the hashtag #WriterWednesday and you’ll find many other writers.
The SITS Girls holds blog hops every Saturday that is internationally renown. They also have a wealth of information and resources to help writers. I am even holding a blog hop, also called a Linky Party, and I do every Monday and have met nice people who come to my site to post the links to their writing. I host The Inspire Me Monday Linky Party with seven other women and have networked that way too.
Clearly, networking is invaluable. As an emotional support system if you need to reach out, as a way to improve skills, and even as a way to simply get a question answered, nothing beats networking.
I am currently putting together an Expert Round Up post. I interviewed experts in the field of writing and asked them their best tip. Suzi81, Creator of http://Suzie81speaks.com and #SundayBlogShare says networking is the best tip she can offer a writer. For the reasons I’ve stated in this post, I agree.
I’d like to thank Lidy Wilks and IHeartAllStories for hosting me. I offer many more writing tips and time-saving techniques for writers at my site Reflections at mycurrentnewsblog.com.
Janice Wald is a wife, mother, teacher and blogger. Her greatest motivation in life is blogging about blogging. And dispensing advice through blogging.
PS Some have answered the call, but there are many more that is needed. If you're interested in poetry, like to read and write it, please sign up and participate in the 30 Days of Poetry Love project. #npm15
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