A to Z Blog Challenge

R = Refine Habits as a Writer

A writer’s habits are usually works in progress. None of our habits are carved in stone. The habits that successful writers create and commit to are usually fluid at best. They must be moulded with the writer and his/her situation.

So, what are fluid habits? Fluid habits are habits that change for a writer. Most writers have to change their writing goals every quarter. This is because some goals get done while others must be rethought or shuffled onto a back burner for later.

In order to refine habits, writers must do one or more of the following things. They must:

1. Refocus their habits so that they reflect their true goals for a particular time.

2. Restructure their habits so that they reflect what they really need to do during a quarter.

3. Clarify their habits often. Sometimes what we think we should be doing on a regular basis won’t help us to be successful. So, we have to clarify our goals and then reformulate our habits.

4. Expand a writing project and habit so that it is clear and can be done step-by-step to complete their writing goals. .

5. Rethink their habits. Some writers get their writing goals wrong the first time they develop their habits. So, it is very important that writers rethink their goals to make sure that they are really the goals they should be focusing on.

By refining habits, writers can become much more successful and motivated over time.

Try it!

Irene S. Roth
Author and Editor

A to Z Blog Challenge

Q = Commitment to Quality Work

Successful and motivated writers must produce quality work. If they don’t, sooner or later they won’t be successful and their articles, stories and books won’t be purchased.

Thus, it is absolutely essential for writers to produce quality manuscripts at all times. Here are a few ways to produce quality manuscripts.

1. Write about a new fresh topic, one that hasn’t been written about over and over again.

2. Have a unique slant to your article or story.

3. Do a lot of research about your topic.

4. Proofread and revise your work several times.

5. Have a professional critique of your work, if possible.

6. Believe in yourself.

7. Take courses and workshops to keep improving as a writer.

By following these tips, you’ll be committing yourself to producing quality manuscripts.

Try it!

Irene S. Roth
Author and Editor

A to Z Blog Challenge

P = Be Persistent

The most successful and motivated writers are persistent. They take the time to develop successful habits, get assignments, and work hard at producing quality work.

It isn’t always easy to be persistent as a writer. There is always something that comes up and that beckons our attention. Since most writers don’t live with other writers, it can be hard for them to convince their family and friends that their writing is an important commitment in their lives.

When speaking to other writers in my various critique groups and writing conferences, I discovered that being a persistent writer is one of a writer’s biggest challenges. I find that the same is the case for me in my writing life. Despite the fact that my husband IS a writer, he doesn’t want to spend endless hours writing. But I must do so in order to complete all of my writing tasks. So, this can cause tension sometimes.

Here are a few tips to become a persistent writer:

1. Keep a consistent time to write so that your family knows when you will be writing. That way they know that if it is morning or evening, you will be writing in your office.

2. Keep your writing time non-negotiable. Nothing should stand between you and actually getting the writing done.

3. After you complete your writing time, your family duties should take priority.

4. Create balance in your writing life. Balance your writing with family, friends, and other duties. Just don’t tell your family that your writing comes first. But it must if you’re going to be successful.

By following these tips, writers will become persistent. By creating structure and balance, it is easier to be a persistent writer. Try it!

Irene S. Roth
Author and Editor

A – Z Challenge

O = Be Objective

In order to be successful and motivated, writers must try to be objective. To be objective, writers must be serious and committed to their writing without outside influences which may catapult the writer.

In order to be objective about their writing, writers must:

1. Write every day, even if they don’t feel like it or are tired.

2. Not be dissuaded from writing by negative people.

3. Not allow the family to catapult their writing time.

4. Be steadfast in their commitment to writing.

5. Know that they are okay just as they are right now.

By following these tips, writers will be objective about themselves as writers and not affected by another writer’s opinion of how they fare as a writer. No one knows the writer as well as (s)he does him/herself. The worst thing a writer can do is to continuously criticize herself. Writers should try to be positive about their ability as a writer.

Irene S. Roth
Author and Editor

A – Z Blog Challenge

N = Negative Emotions

For many writers, negative emotions are their constant companions. But nothing can cause more toxicity and stifle a writer’s productivity more than harbouring negative emotions. Thus, writers must find a way to eliminate these pests once and for all.

There are many things writers can do to free themselves from such emotions. Here are a few things that successful writers can try.

1. Don’t compare yourself to other writers. There is nothing worse than comparison to dampen your spirits.
2. Know that you’re as good a writer as you can be at this moment. Many writers keep criticizing themselves. But you are great just as you are.
3. Always take workshops and courses to improve. Nothing can boost your self-esteem as a writer than if you know that you are doing as much improving as you can feasibly do.
4. Stay away from negative minded writers. Nothing can wreak havoc with your self-esteem faster than hanging around gloomy writers. Choose positive writers who love writing.
5. Have a support system in place. We all need positive friends, and writers need that more than anyone else.

By avoiding toxic emotions as much as possible, you will be a much more successful and motivated writer.

Irene S. Roth
Author and Editor

A – Z Challenge

M = Manage

Successful and motivated writers are able to manage their writing assignments, and future writing projects. Writers just need to manage themselves, their writing, and the other people in their lives in order to have balance.

Here are a few things that successful writers MUST manage.

1. Writers must manage their writing time.
2. Writers must manage their writing projects.
3. Writers must manage how long they devote to each writing project.
4. Writers must manage their writing files.
5. Writers must manage the quality of the work they produce.
6. Writers must manage their writing lives and balance it around their family life and other duties.
7. Writers must manage their alone time.

There are many other things that writers must manage. However, I have kept it to seven items. Can you add any other things that writers should manage in order to be successful? Jot them down in your writer’s journal.

Irene S. Roth
Author and Editor

A-Z Blog Challenge

L = Leadership

Writers should try to take the leadership role in the small niche they write about. Without this, writers won’t always want to write and sometimes they will stop writing for a long time.

Wanting to be on the cutting edge of your writing niche can be so motivating. Not only will you consider yourself an expert in your field, but others may consider you that way too when they read your articles in magazine. In order to be a leader in your field, you must want to learn more and more all the time and not get stuck in your ways. In addition, you must focus on one niche at a time in order to become a leader in your field.

There is no more motivating thing than being considered an expert in a niche. Ever since I became an adolescent health expert with Examiner, I have known what to read and what to write about. I was also motivated to write in this area of expertise. So, it is a win-win for everyone concerned.

So, consider being a leader in your designated field. If you don’t have an area of expertise, choose an area to write within, and focus on that area alone until you have a few articles purchased. You will then gain a following, and you may even have people asking for your expertise.

Try it!

Irene S. Roth
Author and Editor

A-Z Blog Challenge

K= Knowledge

One of the many things that writers have to do to be motivated to write is to constantly be gaining knowledge in the niche they are writing within. This is never easy. And it usually means that you have to divide up your day so that you take the time to read and research widely.

There is nothing more motivating than reading and researching. I just love sitting down to read for a few hours. I try to read about an hour or two each and every day. Sometimes, I merely read for pleasure. But other times, I read in order to research different topics.

There are many benefits to reading and researching widely. Here are a few well-known benefits.

1. You will have many ideas to write about.
2. You will keep learning about different topics.
3. You will be making sense of the world and people around you.
4. You will know what needs to be written about in the future.
5. You will know what kids and adults need to know. Some topics are simply passé. We must be careful in order not to write about overdone topics.

By always reading and researching, you will become a student of your culture and times. That way, you could pass on this information to people through your writing.

Try it!

Irene S. Roth
Author and Editor

A-Z Blog Challenge

J = Juggle

Many successful writers do many other things except write. Some writers work full time. Others work part time. Still others work full time or part time and have families. So, writing takes a juggling act for most of us.

However, it is essential for writers to write in order to be successful. No one can be a considered a writer unless (s)he spends a considerable amount of time actually writing. Writing doesn’t just happen without a lot of effort and perspiration. But mostly writing won’t happen unless we actually setting a consistent time to write every week.

Here are a few ways that writers who work full time (or part time) can make sure that they write.

1. Prepare large batches of food ahead of time so that two or three evenings a week you could sit down and write instead of cook.
2. Tell your family that you will be writing on certain days and don’t make plans for you to go out as a family unless they want to go out by themselves.
3. Keep your writing in mind at all times and make sure that you keep those days and times sacrosanct. For instance, if you’re supposed to write on Tuesday and Thursday after dinner, don’t schedule a girl’s night out on one of those days.
4. Notify your friends when you will be unavailable. Tell them that you’re a writer, and which days of the week are devoted to writing.

By being serious about your writing and keeping the time sacrosanct, you will be showing your friends and family that you a serious writer. Who knows, they may even help you by giving you the time to write when you need it.

Try it!

Irene S. Roth
Author and Editor

A-Z Blog Challenge

I = Idea File

Most successful writers have an ongoing idea file. The file could be part of a notebook or file folder. It could also be a series of file folders in a filing cabinet, as it is for me. This is because I wear many different hats when I write. I write both creatively and academically.

It is also essential for writers to carry a small notepad with them when they are out and about. This can really help writers jot down points when they are away from their desks or computer. I have found so many ideas over the years just be doing this consistently. And, people around you will definitely know you’re a writer if you do this.

There are many benefits to keeping an idea file and/or journal. Here are a few:

1. You’ll never run out of ideas.
2. You’ll be looking for clues as you walk around the world.
3. You will feel you are continuously trying to understand the world and people around you and make it a better place for everyone.
4. You will feel like a writer.

By developing the habit of keeping idea files, you will become a much more inspired and motivated writer. And, you will become much more successful and invigorated to write during your allotted time.

Try it!

Irene S. Roth
Author and Editor