15 Habits of Great Writers: Brand

Everyone has a brand...at least that is what Jeff Goins states on his blog. 

What makes a brand, you say?

 A brand is comprised of 3 things:

• Your name
• An image
• Your voice

So I started thinking...what is my brand?

• My Name ~ Marcie Colleen (although I realize that my blog is called The Write Routine, and might eventually need to be changed to be just my name or Marcie Colleen's Write Routine).  It is important to get my name associated with all I do.

• My Image ~ How do people recognize me?  Its the hair.  I have very big, curly blonde hair.  I also often have sunglasses on top of my head. It sounds funny, but it is usually people's first impression of me and how I am found in a crowd.  The real question to start pondering is how to make that part of my brand.  I could look to one of my creative artist friends and ask them to create a logo based on my hair and sunglasses....or I can simply use my headshot (which is what I currently use). But in any case, it is part of my brand.

• My Voice ~ All writers spend at least some time looking for their voice.  Its the style in which we communicate.  A writing teacher once said, upon reading a manuscript of mine, that is contained my "trademark wit and sense of absurd joy"! What a magnificent compliment!  I felt like I had really found my picture book voice. 

So there you have it.  My brand...

Marcie Colleen ~ Big curly blond hair, with sunglasses atop her head and a trademark wit and sense of absurd joy! 

I'll take it!  Now to let the world know about it!

What's your brand?



15 Habits of Great Writers: Publish

Great writers are great not because of talent, but because they possess one crucial ingredient that the rest of us lack:

Perseverance.

They know how to stick things through — to push hard and achieve a goal and move on to the next project.

Mostly, they understand that until they publish their work, until other eyeballs are on it, it might as well be invisible.  ~ Jeff Goins

Yesterday I had a wonderful feeling as I walked through Brooklyn on the way home from work.  I truly felt like I was closer than ever to the big dream of becoming a published author.  Just the mere thought was enough to put a spring in my step, despite soaring record high temperatures that literally baked me on the asphalt.

The thing is, every artist knows that there are days when you feel like you are on the right track and getting closer to the goal and then there are days when you feel like you couldn't be farther.  But the truth is that I am closer.  I am closer to my goal because of one thing...perseverance.

Every day I spent time pursuing my dream I get closer. 

I am even closer than I was a month ago because today I have more manuscripts than a month ago.  I have more ideas, more contacts in the business, more confidence...

Every writer has a choice. 

One month from today can be simply  a month that has gone by.  Or it can be one month closer.

Great writers persevere.  I choose to, as well.

Happy writing!



15 Habits of Great Writers: Provoke

I'm not gonna lie.  I got incredibly excited when I saw what this habit was.  I kinda thought it meant that I should contact agents and editors and say, "what?  aren't you big enough for this?  are you not smart enough to see how genius this work is?  I bet you don't have what it takes!"

But no.  This is not about provoking, meaning bullying.  Although it can include bullying, in another sense.  Hang with me.  I'll explain.

About a month ago, I shared one of my manuscripts, a WIP, with some fellow writers.  The response..."this story kinda makes light of bullying.  You might want to steer clear of this, seeing as it is such a hot topic." 

Since then, I have been present when other fellow writers have gotten criticism along the lines of:  "Dealing with the death of a parent might be too intense for kids."  "Parents might not be happy about the way they are portrayed in this story."  "The language might be too high for kids."  "Everyone steers clear of this topic because it is hard."

Countless times we are told that what we might be creating is "hot" or "too emotional". So what are we to do?

Jeff Goins writes, "Writing is an art. And all good art pushes buttons. It pokes and prods, makes people uncomfortable."

If you’re going to be a great writer, you’re going to have to shake things up. Maybe even break a few rules. Here are some ideas:

• Tell the ugly truth.
• Pick a fight with something that’s wrong with the world.
• Call yourself out.
• Make a giant confession.
• Take a risk.
• Write something dangerous (something you’ve never written before).

Why do we do this?

• Because we live in a world of lies. Of false flattery and exaggeration. And we need you, the artist, to tell the truth. To help us get out of our comfort zones. After all, that’s the only place we grow.
• Because this sets others free. To do the same. To live freely and honestly. So get in our faces; tell us the truth. And watch the ripple effect.

So go on!  Provoke today!  Be bold!

15 Habits of Great Writers: Declutter

As a Picture Book writer I am constantly trying to master the economy of language.  In fact, today I am in the process of revising a 650 word manuscript before getting it critiqued.  I have it down to 501 words.

Its amazing to me when I read a manuscript that I thought was perfect two months ago and I suddenly notice turns of phrases and filler words that simply aren't needed. 

My newest war is on "lazy" verbs and adverbs.  I am currently trying to make stronger choices that say much more.

Cut, cut, trim, trim.

Not all phrases and words are easy to eliminate, however.  I sometimes find myself trying to hold on to those clever and funny lines that are not really important to the plot...but they genius!  Ugh..kill those darlings!

Cut, cut, trim, trim.

And it never fails that whenever word count is discussed among Picture Book writers, there is always someone who brings up that there are indeed 1000 word books that are published.  Sure...there are exceptions...but if 500 word manuscripts are what agents and editors are buying more of, don't you want to increase your odds of getting sold?  I know I do.

We can argue for longer manuscripts, but make sure it isn't simply your ego that is arguing. 

When in doubt, try trimming...maybe 100 words at a time.  You will surprise yourself.

Cut, cut, trim, trim!  Let's all declutter today!

15 Habits of Great Writers: Share

Great writers share. Not just their own knowledge, ideas, and expertise. They also share the work of others and credit them accordingly. And ironically, paradoxically, they ultimately benefit from their own generosity. ~ Jeff Goins, goinswriter.com

As a nanny who spends a lot of time on the playground, I find myself constantly having to remind my 2 year old to "share".  Its one of my jobs to make sure he learns to share food, toys, playground equipment, me, etc. 

Today I am going to remind myself to do the same.  Share. 

We all have stories.  Its time for me to listen.

I want to hear from YOU!  Not about you...but a writer you admire who you think needs to be known!

Comment below and tell me. 

Who inspires you?  Share their story/journey/life in a future blog.

This is an excellent way to help promote those around us who help us strive to be better.  

My new Friday series will be called Friday's Friends and will be your opportunity to guest blog about the writer YOU want to promote!

Share away!  I look forward to meeting your friends.  :)

Happy Writing!

 



15 Habits of Great Writers: Connect

I am your number one fan. There is nothing to worry about. You are going to be just fine. I am your number one fan.  ~ Annie Wilkes, Stephen King's Misery

Writing can be a very solitary craft...but it doesn't have to be.  The last habit of this week is the habit of connecting.

Jeff Goins focuses on three types of relationships all writers need to learn to foster:  friends, fan and patrons.  Check out his blog here.

Personally, I have to say that my journey as a pre-published writer has been bearable each step of the way because of the people I have met along the way.  From classmates and teachers at Gotham Writers Workshop to my Critique Group to people I have met through online challenges like PiBoIdMo and 12x12in'12 to people I have connected with through attending SCBWI conferences in both NYC and NJ. 

These people are both published and pre-published writers.  Some of them have read my work and critiqued it.  Some have shared a story of their own struggles which have given me the courage to continue.  Some have taught me more about the craft.  Some have been cheerleaders when I doubted myself.  Some have commented on this blog and been a follower.  Some have simply shared a laugh and a smile.  But all of them are important.

To best explain my take on finding people to journey with together, I would like to re-post something I wrote for a guest blog on Julie Hedlund's blog last March.  

So here is my guest blog.  Enjoy!

And before the weekend is done, find one person to take out for coffee or a drink.  Its worth it!







15 Habits of Great Writers: Build

"A writer doesn’t just start things; she finishes them. Do this enough, and you actually build something worth paying attention to."  ~ Jeff Goins

To start is not to build.  There is a BIG difference, and I am grateful to today's Habit for forcing me to acknowledge this.

I have started many things in my life:  a scarf I was meaning to knit, a recipe book that is only half-done, even a few novels that never made it past the second or third chapter.  But today is a day to break those bad habits.  Its requires true discipline.

Why do we need discipline?

• Because one discipline begets another. Take up the habit of jogging or working out and just see how it affects the way you approach the rest of life.
• Because sometimes the Muse doesn’t clock in until you do. Stephen King pictures his inspiration as a blue-collar guy who doesn’t show up for work until the boss (which is you, by the way) does. Show him you mean business.
• Because it’s good for you. If you take writing seriously, you’ll do serious (i.e. better) work. I promise.

Jeff's blog challenges us to finish something...anything.  And remember, yesterday's habit reminds us that it doesn't have to be pretty.  Just get it out!

"So, pick a creative project you are working on ~ an essay, a blog post, a query letter, a picture book ~ and finish it!  Not tomorrow.  Today!

It should never take longer than 30 minutes to finish anything. If it does, you’re not breaking the project up into enough chunks. Which will lead to stalling, your worst enemy.

Find something and move it across the finish line. Then do the same thing tomorrow. And the day after that. And so on.

If you’re still doing this in a month, you’re building something. Until then, you’re just managing tasks. Pick a few that are worth your time, and keep with them. Your work deserves this."

I will be working on the manuscript that I outlined yesterday.  I will strive to get it done! 

Happy Writing!