If you’re like me, getting back into the swing of things can be difficult to do. I have to force myself to sit down and start typing, hoping that something (anything!) will come through my fingertips! Alas, some days are better than others.

I’ve decided to practice a writing exercise to get myself out of writer’s block mode and into writing a successful story! I invite you to join me in this challenge if you are fighting writer’s block as well.

Find three to five things in your house or office and describe them in detail. Personify them. Give them names. Create an environment for them. Imagine a scenario that involves these items. Whatever you do, you have to write for at least an hour about these items. Once you get your creative juices flowing, you may just find that story hiding inside of you!

Share your ideas with me! I would love to read your stories!

To your success,
Katie

Hey! How are you doing this week? Are you getting back into the swing of things now that the kids are back in school? Can you believe that 2007 is almost over? It seems like it was Christmas just yesterday, and now it’s almost Christmas time again!

Writing is a hard job. You have to take the time to commit yourself to just sitting down and jotting your thoughts onto paper. Anyone who has experienced writer’s block can vouch that this career is definitely not for everyone! But if you’re one of the few who has the ability to write, then maybe you need some tips on getting started.

1. Set aside at least an hour each day to just sit and write. It doesn’t matter what you write. Just get the creative juices flowing. I have mentioned before that Roald Dahl, renowned children’s author of books such as The BFG, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Matilda, would set aside time each day to just sit and write about what he saw. As a result, he wrote many wonderful books that were created from things he noticed in his own yard.

2. Write about what you know. If you’ve never been to Europe, don’t try to write a book based on that culture (unless you plan on doing a lot of research!) Instead, write about things that are happening in your own neighborhood and add your own creative elements. Go to the mall and just observe people walking by. Everyone has a story, and you can usually create your own based on what you see people doing or wearing.

3. Don’t edit yourself. This is something I catch myself doing often. Just write your story. Once you’re done, then you can go back and do the rewrite. For now, just get your ideas down on paper. They don’t have to be perfect. After all, you’re the only one who is going to be reading them at this point in the game.

If you’re still having writer’s block, change your surroundings and try something new. You never know who or what will show up or what kind of story may develop.

To your success,

Katie

Hello, Fellow Writers!

I’m sorry I haven’t written all summer on my blog, but I have had my plate full with various projects (including growing my family), so it has been hard to focus on this blog! But I hope that you haven’t stopped writing while I’ve been silent. I haven’t. In fact, I have a new story in the works, which I hope to get published once it is completed. I have some publishing friends who are encouraging me along the way, and that is a key ingredient to any successful publication!

I know that it can become overwhelming to try and find your place in the writing world. It seems as though everybody and anybody believes they can write these days, especially celebrities (Ghost writers, consider increasing your rates at this point!) So how do you keep from getting lost in this dog-eat-dog industry? Submit, submit, submit!

But where do you start? Consider submitting short stories, poems, essays, or articles to various magazines and websites in order to “get your name out there.” If you have a manuscript ready for review, buy or borrow from your local library The Writer’s Market or any other writer’s guidebook to find out what publishers are accepting in terms of manuscripts these days. Don’t send your historical fiction manuscript to a publisher who specializes in science fiction! You are only setting yourself up for rejection.

Even if the first publisher rejects your work, keep sending it out to other prospective publishing houses. Don’t just choose the ones you are familiar with either! Some of the best books have been published by lesser-known houses because the manuscripts were simply lost in the “slush pile” at the larger, more well-known publishing house. Don’t be discouraged if you are rejected over and over again. Take each rejection as an incentive to go after the next publisher with even more fortitude. Believe in your workmanship!

If you feel that you have been rejected too many times to count, then perhaps you should seek an outside opinion. Allow someone you know to be an honest critic to give you advice on your manuscript. Take their advice and make those changes. Agents are also a really good source to let you know if you have a manuscript that is publishable. Most agents won’t charge you a fee until your work has been accepted to be published. Then submit, submit, and submit again!

Don’t give up! Just because celebrities make it look easy doesn’t mean that it actually is for most writers. That doesn’t mean your story’s not good. It just needs to be read by the right person at the right time. Visit www.writersdigest.com for help with your manuscript and feedback from editors and publishers.

Don’t give up! You have the drive to write, so keep writing!

To your success,

Katie

Well, my week has been so busy, this is the first time I have had a chance to sit down and type! Last weekend, my fellow classmates and I reunited for our 10-year high school reunion. It was so great to see everyone again. I graduated with a class of 28, so we were a pretty close-knit group. Thanks to everyone on the committee who helped plan the event!

As I was helping plan my reunion, I had the opportunity to look back through some of my old writings, including some essays I submitted for contests in high school. I was amazed at the ways my style has changed and at the ways it has stayed the same. In fact, I gleaned some new ideas from stories and poems I had written in my formative years.

What about you? Do you ever take the time to look back over what you have written in the past? How is it different from what you are writing today? Send me some of your work, and I will be happy to give you my unbiased opinion! Perhaps you can build on past work to get your writing juices flowing again!

While we’re talking about looking back, 2007 is halfway over already! How is your business doing? This is a good time of year to look at what you have accomplished since January and to re-evaluate your strategies for the rest of the year. July is a great time to offer a Christmas in July sale! Now is also a great time to be gathering ideas for Christmas. It’ll be here before you know it! Send me your ideas if you want some feedback.

To the Hampton Park Class of 1997 – Happy 10 Years!

To your success,
Katie

Hey everyone!

I’m sorry I haven’t written in a while, but things have been crazy at my house with my birthday, Mother’s Day, baby showers (not mine), and weddings! May is definitely the month of activity. In addition, my sister and brother-in-law are moving with their two daughters, and I had to help babysit the kids.

What’s going on with you? I know there are several writing contests going on right now. Have you submitted anything? Honestly, I haven’t had the time to get anything together for any contests. Business has been booming around here lately, and I have had my hands full!

One thing to remember when trying to get published is to submit, submit, submit! You probably are not going to get published by the first publishing house to see your work. You may not even get published by the 50th publishing house to see your work. However, keep sending your manuscripts. Send them to everyone you possibly can. Someone is looking for your topic and your type of work.

The Writer’s Market is a good source for finding publishers, identifying the types of manuscripts they accept, receiving information on writing query letters, and learning facts on how much each publisher pays for your manuscript. Do your research before sending your manuscript because you don’t want to waste your time sending your work to a publisher who isn’t interested.

You should also consider joining writer’s forums in order to receive feedback on your work. Other writers will be more critical than your family and friends and will usually have helpful tips to improve your manuscript. In return, you can critique their work and examine manuscripts from an editor’s point of view.

Remember that writing is hard work. If you keep working towards your goals, you will be published before you know it!

To your success,

Katie

Sorry I haven’t written in awhile! This month has been crazy! I hope you all had as wonderful a Valentine’s Day as I did. My husband is so thoughtful and always goes overboard on buying me gifts! He is so thoughtful!

I have started working on a story for the Writer’s Digest contest, but I don’t know if it will be ready for this year’s competition. I still have a long way to go. How is your story developing? If you are experiencing writer’s block, follow some of these tips to get the ball rolling:

1. Challenge yourself. Consider trying a new setting, adding a new character, or inventing a new situation to challenge your creativity. You don’t even have to fit it into the story. Just sit down and write about something completely separate from your work. Sometimes it helps just to divorce your mind from the project at hand and to get back to your roots. Write a poem or a diary entry – anything that will deter you from looking at your novel for the one millionth time.

2. Commit yourself. Set aside an hour or two each day that you will definitely, no matter what, use to write. If you are experiencing writer’s block, just write about where you are or define something you see. You may actually be able to use these in your story later. My favorite children’s author, Roald Dahl, used to develop most of his characters and settings from the world in which he lived. He would simply dedicate himself to writing about his surroundings every day. Once his mind started working, he was able to envision well-known characters such as James (in James and the Giant Peach) or the Big Friendly Giant (in The BFG).

3. De-clutter yourself. If you are working with a messy area, you are probably less likely to be able to get any work done. Clean up your work space and start fresh! Turn off the television and radio. Hide yourself from noise. Start with a blank slate and free your mind of any problems with which you may be dealing. Work in an environment that suits you to be able to write your best. The fewer distractions you have around you, the better you will be able to write.

No one said that writing is always easy. In fact, many writers are often frustrated with their limitations. However, if you follow the tips I have set out for you, you will well be on your way to having a successful writing experience! If you need some advice about your project, please feel free to send me a sample, and I will help you as best as I can.

To your success,

Katie

Sorry I missed you all last week, but my husband and I took a final vacation to the beach before he delved into his new duties as store manager. The weather was perfect, and the ocean was warm enough for an afternoon swim! I hope you guys had a great week.

I thought I would give you a writing prompt today. Halloween is at the end of this month, and I would love to hear your best ghost stories or mysteries! If you would like me to post them on my site, I will be happy to do that for Halloween.

Have a great week!

To your success,

Katie

With Labor Day quickly approaching, I do believe that fall is upon us. I love this time of year since we live near the mountains and can take a day trip to watch the leaves change. You will probably find us spending next weekend at the annual Apple Festival in Hendersonville, NC. After driving through the gold and red hues of the Blue Ridge Mountains, we will partake in this annual festival where local vendors display their wares and where you can find every type of delectable apple treat (think apple cider, apple cobbler, candy apples, etc.)

Fall is also a great time for a lot of writing contests. I know that Writer’s Digest is holding several contests this fall, and www.fanstory.com is always hosting a seasonal contest. I urge you to participate! Write a story that uses the details of September in your country and submit them to a contest. Write a poem that emphasizes the sights and sounds of the season.

I would love to see your ideas! Please feel free to post them here!

To your success,

Katie

Good morning! Can you believe it’s already mid-August? Most of the kids in our area are starting back to school either this week or next week. I remember those first days of school. I was so excited to have new opportunities to make new friends and enjoy new experiences.

I don’t have long to write today, so I thought I would just leave you with a writing prompt. Write a story about your first days of school. Include any sights, sounds, and new experiences that happened that first day. Please send me your submissions. I would be happy to display them on my next blog if you want.

To your success,

Katie

Can you believe that it’s the last day of July? I’m already noticing Back to School signs hanging in the stores and aisles packed with this year’s line of notebooks, pens, protractors, and the sort. Even though I am no longer in school and have no children yet, I still get excited about this time of year because, as a writer, I love having a new selection of really cool pens and notebooks to purchase for myself.

Back to school sales also mean that fall is quickly approaching, followed by winter and the end of the year. Where are you in your goals thus far? Have you written that first chapter in your new novel? Have you started a new business venture? What exciting stories do you have to share for this year?

If you’re feeling an extreme case of writer’s block, go to the store and purchase some of the exciting back to school items for your own business. Who says you can’t purchase new pens and notebooks just because you’re not going back to school?

Now is the time to shake the cobwebs off of your computer because the kids will be going back to school, and you will have alone time once again. Start brainstorming now for the upcoming months. Before you know it, you will find yourself back in the swing of things.

To your success,

Katie

P.S. Check out some of my latest articles at www.associatedcontent.com. Just do a search for Katie Smith.