Getting Your Ass (and Your Ego) Handed to You

I was scared; I admit it. The first time I got the nerve up to write a piece, I was freaking terrified. It was like pulling off a part of myself, stuffing it into a box, then handing it over to someone else to judge it...to inspect it.

They would hold it up to the light. What would they see?

A complete stranger would be able to look right through me, to see all of my flaws, my uncertainty.

What if I put a comma where a period should be? What if I split an infinitive?

What if my words compelled nothing more than a yawn? Was I just vomiting words on white, or was I really creating something that engaged someone?

The truth was that it was not just my words on that screen; it was an extension of me. I held my breath, closed my eyes and hit 'send'. To my utter shock, they liked it.

Building Momentum

After that, I was braver. I submitted one article after another, mostly to the "content mills." After a six months of real struggle, I was able to take my accumulated clips and land a job as an entry-level writer.

I was so happy, and I worked hard. I really, really tried. I put in the hours, did the work. God, I was so dedicated.

And I totally bombed.

As in, nose-dive, straight down. In smoke and flames. The phone call with the editor was horrible. Two minutes of terminal velocity and a big, big boom at the end.

Back to Earth, The Hard Way

Yes. I crashed to earth faster than Icarus hanging onto a two-ton ball of lead. Every fear I had ever had seemed validated.

The ghosts of failure past hovered about me, singing in a ghastly chorus just how much I sucked. I wanted to give up, to go back to something safe. I wanted to hide to run away.

Instead, I called the editor back and politely asked for a just a few minutes of her time. She seemed surprised, and I asked if she could tell me exactly what I needed to work on.

Not going to lie, it was very illuminating (and rather soul-crushing at the same time). I took notes.

Screw Icarus and His Wax Wings

I took a day to cry, to mull it over. I dusted myself off and got mad. Not at her, not really at me, just at the situation. I was not going to let one failure determine my fate.

Screw Icarus. Screw fate. I was going to become a writer-scratch that, I was a freaking writer! Good or bad, there was someone who wanted what I wrote.

I was not, and never would be the best, but I was not going to go down without a fight.

So here I am, two years later, making a decent income from my words. Am I the best? Hardly. Did I get better? You bet your sweet spell-check I did.

My point in sharing all of this is that no one died.

Failure is only permanent if you quit.

Find Your Voice

There comes a time in everyone's life, where you find out that you are flawed. You will fail at something. You may even be a terrible writer. Who gives an effing crap?! Really?! So what?

 Getting your ass handed to you will not kill you. Keep going. Get better.

You are a work in progress.

Beating yourself up about how many times you fall down is stupid. Take a day. Take a deep breath and haul your butt back up onto that horse and ride on.

Writers improve.

We evolve. There is not freaking perfect, ideal sentence. All that matters is that you connect with your audience. Period.

Some editors are going to love you. Some are going to hate you. Either way, it does not matter.

What matters is that there is something inside of you, no matter how raw, that needs to be expressed.

And, somewhere, in this vast world, someone else wants, or even needs, to read it.

This is a journey, not a destination.

Do it. More than that, keep doing it.

Here is a link to a video I made about overcoming fear. Drop me a line and let me know how you are getting on.
Now, stop reading. Go write something. Move forward. It is all any of us can really do.

 

Jumping off: Writing for a Living

 Standing on the lonely precipice, your foot dislodges a few small pebbles; they tumble off into the unknowable... 

You are filled with a mysterious longing, a need to move forward, to plunge into a life that is yet to be. You want to write for a living, but you are not sure if you are good enough.

Do you have the right alchemy of the soul, the kind that bends words into lovely forms? Have you suffered enough for your craft?  To which I gently reply, "Who gives the fussy crack of a rodent's furry little backside?"

Who says that you have to pay your dues? And, exactly where are these mysterious dues going?

Please feel free to email me number of the Swiss bank account that has been gathering fees wrung from the agony of writers throughout time.

Just freaking do it. Stop worrying about being "good enough." No matter what your level of talent, there is an audience that needs and wants your words. Will you have to work a bit. Um, yes. Will you get knocked down a few times? Duh.

Is it worth it? You bet your sweet word processor it is. Write. Just freaking do it already. Get your big girl panties on and move forward. There is no cure for a lack of experience, other that is, of course, than getting some by writing your butt off.

By the way, that goes for anything in life. Quit whining. Quit talking about doing it and just go and do it already. Make a plan. Take action. Start now. Why are you still reading? Go and write. Like, now.

Taking Your First Steps as a Baby Writer

There has never been a better time to start a writing career. While print books may be soon going the way of the dinosaurs, the written word itself is going to live to a ripe old age-albeit in a digital form. The Internet has opened a doorway to an almost endless need for the written word.

 The communication explosion that began a few decades ago is merely getting started. It will continue to change and grow like an ever-evolving chameleon hanging from the branches of technology, tethered purely by the fuzzy boundaries' imagination.

The truth is that the written word touches every field of endeavor and runs the gauntlet of human expression and emotion. So if the muses are whispering in your ear-then maybe it is time you picked up the (virtual) stylus and got to work.

Opportunities really are everywhere. If you have a decent grasp of the language, a willingness to learn, an ability to set your ego aside, a drive to work hard (make no mistake-it IS work) and a modicum of talent you can make an income from writing. It may not be enough to retire to the Bahamas at first, but it can build and become something over time-if you are willing to get knocked down and keep getting back up and moving forward.

You will also need a few basic tools to ply your trade. First, you need a decent computer. You do not have to have one that is faster than the speed of light or capable of making waffles. (Although, if you find one that does-give me a call. Love that wafflie goodness!) You need a word processor, but there are several free and low cost options out there. Try Apache Open Office for starters ( https://www.openoffice.org/). You might want to make a donation; they are a not-for-profit and well worth tossing a few coins in their general direction.

You need a reliable Internet connection, but that can be had for free at many places like Starbucks or even some fast-food places such as McDonald's. You also need a road-map of sorts. The Internet is an awfully big place, and many budding writers are overwhelmed. They have no clue where to start, and they may fall prey to the bottom-feeding  scammers that lure the naive in with promises of wealth. If you have the moolah to spread around, feel free to buy a good PC, get Microsoft Word and head down the virtual highway.

Just bear in mind that you do not have to spend a lot to get started. Don't just throw money at it-but do get the best you can afford (without having to attempt to pay your rent with coupons and gum-wrappers. FYI-it doesn't work). 

While many writers do not like content mills, I believe that they can help you to get your feet wet, make you a little cash and help you to learn the ropes. Try Textbroker.com or iwriter.com. Some pay better than others, but it is a place to start and as your skill level improves, you can get paid more. Textbroker, for instance, has editors who give feedback and can help you improve your skills.

 A simple Google search will provide you with many more, but a word of caution here-make sure you do your homework. Read the reviews first. Furthermore, be aware that a lot of rather seedy companies put out fake reviews to muddy the water and hide the fact that they are less than honorable (read: cheats).

If it sounds too good to be true, it's probably a scam, and you should be very leery about shelling out your hard-earned money in exchange for empty promises that you can be barefoot, writing on a beach with endless wads of cash raining down from the heavens. If they are making THAT kind of money, then why do they need yours? In case I did not spell it out clearly enough, just say, "NO!" to barefootwriter.com or anything they have so much as brushed up against.

There are some real low-life's out there that are practically lying in wait to eat your lunch, but there also some wonderful resources too. For starters, I would heartily recommend Carol Tice's blog. She really knows her stuff and provides a lot of useful-real life advice and guidance for both new and established writers ( http://www.makealivingwriting.com/).  All I can say about her work is that it is awesome-sauce with sprinkles and a cherry on top. She also offers classes, workshops and has some great books too. Do yourself a favor and belly up to that bar.

Other than that, what you need most to become a writer is to start writing. Practice may not make perfect (there is no such thing as the perfect sentence).  Even walking slowly towards a goal though, will get you a heck of a lot further down the road than wishing you could fly.

By the way, reading about writing is not writing. Thinking about writing is not writing. You actually have to craft words, put something down on paper and well, not to put too fine of a point on it, actually write.

I will post more about this in the next blog, but for now, go forth and multiply (words that is). Set your mind, voice and hands in motion. Stop dreaming. Get off your butt and start doing. In the meantime, feel free to check out my page at Caycewritingcompany.com. The new site is being built, so if it is not up yet, please check back.

You can also contact me at Victoriajane7@yahoo.com or add me as a Facebook friend (Victoria LeVane Cayce). I will be happy to write for you or help out a fellow writer (as much as time allows). Until next time, rock on lover of words!

How I Started Turning Writing Tricks for Money (Confessions of a Word Ho)

Yep. I did it. I sold out. I admit it. Yes, folks, I am a literary skank, a word ho, a strumpet of chat, pimped out for my pen and trading my copy on the virtual online street corner. I give a come on to sailors and businessmen alike, selling my verbal  goodies on the open market to the highest bidder.

Admittedly, I have a few published works, and I still write about things I am interested in, but for the most part, I just ho myself out for the moolah. I  take all comers and will write copy and content on almost any subject -if someone crosses my palm with the weight of a silver coin. Now, come close. I have a confession to whisper in your ear. Secretly, I enjoy it. It makes me feel dirty just to say that, but it is true. I like selling it. I like creating copy and content for others. I enjoy looking at an ad and knowing that it is my words on the page.


Granted, writing for the pure pleasure of it wonderful, but getting paid to create is pretty fun-provided that is, that you have a lot of drive and a really thick skin. You do have to have some rudimentary skills, and it is work, mind you, but there are worse things than sitting in your pajamas and stringing words together to express idea.

If you have been wanting to leave your days of feeling like a hamster running on a wheel, locked away in a cubicle zoo, then maybe you should consider writing. Screw the nobility of creating the next great novel or suffering for your art. I say, get some cash in your back pocket, feed your children and pay your bills.

 Words are after all, a means to an end. They are bridges from our hearts and minds into the lives of others. Words, mere syllables, sounds and symbols represent ideas, emotions and in the case of writers, commerce.

Words can be spellbinding; they can lift us up, create panoramic views that move us to be better than we were, or they can fan the embers of prejudice and hate or even promote acts of terrible violence. Words have the power to connect and to divide, to heal and to break asunder. Therefore, words must be used wisely and, I believe, responsibly. I think we can make the world a better place, just because of the magnificent and terrible power of simple words.

Then again, I may be an idiot. True, I, like any writer, have a romance with sound of words.  The written word is my lover, my muse, my enemy and my friend all at once. It seizes me and shakes me awake at night with the power of ideas.

It torments me, cajoles me and lures me in all at the same time. Most of all though, it brings me joy and some pretty decent money. And that is why I am starting this blog, to chronicle my journey into writing. I want to share it as it happens, pass on what I learn and inspire other budding writers to join the herd and learn to make a living from what we love (and sometimes hate) to do. We shall see.http://www.makealivingwriting.com




Having said that, check back with me later as the adventure continues.  Victoria