How’s The Writer In You?
Looking at a Blank Page?
A white page is a white page waiting for a collage of words that would capture the insatiable appetites of adventurous readers. But when you can’t squeeze out a drop of idea, you are suffering from brain freeze, or popularly, the dreaded writer’s block, which can decapitate your ego and your lifestyle.
This short term lunacy can empty your old leather wallets if {spin]you’ve|you have[/spin] lived off your bi-weekly pay and you are swamped with unwritten articles or rejected articles lying stiff and cold inside your MORGUE folder. .
Go on writing, until blood oozes out of your pores to move your writing career into high gear. Before you know it, your collection of empty men’s wallets sitting idly on your dressing table will be filled with crisp dollar bills. Once you’ve ended up with something better than the usual slew of articles, you’ll need to air your passport wallet; time for a summer break after all that brain picking.
Disregard Those Rejection Slips
Celebrated writers have had their share of rejection slips. William Saroyan received some 7,000 rejection slips, according to urban legend. He scored his initial hit with his “The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze” (1934) which was published in the Story Magazine and since then, he was unstoppable - but he still continued to receive rejection slips.
Mine Ideas
If there are no more ideas pickling in your brain, graba book, read newspapers, watch a TV series, and take note of the punch lines. A word, a phrase, or an action can light up the dim bulb that is your brain. The world around you is also an endless source of ideas, so get out of the house and air the dusty recesses of your exhausted mind.
Do not Underestimate the Value of Research
Writers, whatever their writing specialization, need to do careful literary and non-literary study. Read your articles from the viewpoint of your readers. What would they want to know? Ask questions and seek the answers to do your readers a favor by giving them the information they [spn]might|may[/spin] want to know.
Writing is not hogging the computer and pounding on the keyboards. You need a story idea, a cast of characters, research material, and repeated editing. Once you’ve mastered the art, know the business aspect of writing. A word of advice from the masters - keep on writing with dogged determination and painful perseverance. You will get the big name editors biting soon.