Editor's Note: This is a guest post from one of our Edit This® writers and a close, personal friend, Lori Fickling. Lori has been one of my biggest supporters, and she was nice enough to share a few of her thoughts on my book, Write Like You Mean It.
A Writer on Writing – by Lori Fickling
When a writer meets another writer who happens to be really good, and that writer writes a book about writing, they’re compelled to write about it. Such is the case with Steve’s new book, Write Like You Mean It: Mastering Your Passion For The Written Word.
Consider me hooked!
This book is packed with good, solid advice and tips on crafting the written word, whether you’re a professional writer or a novice who is all too familiar with staring at a blank screen. It can even be beneficial to someone who needs to write occasionally for business.
Good writing is an art form, not an exact science. That’s why having a roadmap to get you from an idea to a finished product is invaluable. Steve offers a ton of great advice and encouraging tips in his book, mixed with real-world examples and a dose of humor. Get yourself a copy. You’ll wonder how you wrote without it.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book – the ones I’ve highlighted in my copy and refer to often:
A little about confidence!
"At some point, we must believe in ourselves and be confident in our work. We also have to be both gracious and thick-skinned enough to accept what people say or think about our work."
"There is an incredible amount of vulnerability that comes with writing something and then putting it out there for the masses. After all, we’re also putting a piece of ourselves out there."
"You are talented. Invest in yourself, overcome your fears, and then get to writing!"
"If writing is your passion and you have overcome your fears about stepping into that wider world, you should equip yourself with the necessary tools to be successful and live out that passion for as long as you want."
"With dedication, the right strategies, and even better writing tools by your side, your dreams of being a writer will become a reality."
Writer’s block, anyone?
"I fully subscribe to the belief that if you focus on good, clean writing at its basic level – perfect grammar; an active, powerful voice; a varied sentence structure and word choice – the story you’re trying to tell falls into place."
"Sometimes, you have to know when it’s time to write. Writer’s block taught me a long time ago that if I just listen to my body and my brain, I’ll know when it’s time to write."
"Every time I struggle with and ultimately overcome writer’s block, I build a little bit more confidence in my writing. My thought process sounds like 'I beat it once, I can do it again.'"
"We need to examine the various reasons why writer’s block might have such a tight grip on us. We have more control over writer’s block than we think. Getting through it is easier said than done, but it is possible."
Writing with purpose!
"If you can put yourself in a position where you can write about what you really know and enjoy, then you’ve hit the jackpot as a writer. Your writing will have depth and perspective, you’ll be creative, and if you do it long enough, you’ll become the authority in that area."
"If you can become a pro at seeking out the story, constructing narratives that audiences enjoy, writing clearly and understandably, and consistently finding the human-interest element to draw everyone in, you instantly become extremely valuable to a lot of organizations."
"When you’ve found your niche, whatever it might be, you can really start writing with purpose."
"Writers who choose to be journalists should be passionate about the stories they tell. And to tell them appropriately, they must learn the art of active listening."
"I believe that focusing on active listening, drawing inspiration from the world around me, and making sure I get the most out of each interview allows me to write in ways others can’t. And I believe it can do the same for you."
"Make yourself available and be willing to cover anything, from a football game to a local fair or a city council meeting. Not only will it make you a better writer, but your bosses will think of you before they offer a story to anyone else."
Storytelling!
"Regardless of what your topic is, choose one that you’re informed about, have experience with, and can share in a way that is relatable to your audience."
"Storytelling is the number-one way to get your point across, make what you’re trying to write easier, and keep readers engaged at the same time."
"The key to writing a book is to go in knowing that it will be one of the more difficult projects you’ve ever tried to complete. Embrace it. Take it chapter by chapter, and you’ll get it done."
"… whether you want to write fiction, nonfiction, or magazine articles, you must also be a devoted reader if you expect to hone your craft."
"The act of writing should be a deeply personal relationship between authors and their words, and the finished product should consistently reward the reader with an opportunity to feel every moment of that process through raw, captivating, and intentional storytelling."
How can you get your hands on Write Like You Mean It?
Write Like You Mean It is fully distributed, meaning that you can pretty much get it anywhere books are sold. That includes Patchouli Joe's if you're in the Denton area!
Get your copy:
Patchouli Joe's: https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9781612545271
Thank you for reading!
*STEVE GAMEL is the President & Owner of Edit This®, a writing and editing services company located in Denton, TX, and the author of Write Like You Mean It: Mastering Your Passion For The Written Word. Steve handles anything involving the written word. Give him a call today to help give your business a clear voice.