Motivation from a Grump

Lindsey Rietzsch

We were at my husband's company party Friday night having a great time with the family. Shortly before we were ready to leave my husband introduced me to his boss. He told me that the nick name for his boss at the office is "Grumpy" because he seldom smiles and he doesn't know how to relax. He's a brawny manly man who doesn't say much and yes, when talking to him, I could see how that nick name rang a little true - which is why I was completely surprised when he said what he said.

As we headed towards the exit, he turned to me and said, "I absolutely loved your book!" (of course without a smile, just a serious expression). Apparently he had read The Realm and was a big fan. He then told me that he has never read that genre before or had any interest in it but decided to give my book a try. He said he was so glad he did and couldn't believe what it good book it really was. As if he didn't think I was convinced he proceeded to tell me why he liked the book so much and how he can't wait for the second book. Soon I began to see a spark in his eye as he continued talking about it.

Let me just tell you that this wasn't the first time I have heard a great review about my book - but for some reason because it came from someone as serious as this man, it meant more. For him to take the time to tell me as much as he did, I knew he meant it. That was my motivating moment to get book #2 finished as soon as possible.

I think we all motivating moments like this in our life. Moments when we get real and genuine feedback from our fans and we remember why it is we love what we do as writers.

Down the road when those discouraging moments come, I will reflect back on this man's comments as a reminder to why it's important to keep up the hard work.

I challenge you to start a collection of all the positive remarks you receive about your books. Write them down and keep them close by - so when you need your motivation and reminders that you are a great writer, you'll have it close by!

Happy Writing! 

The Value of a Negative Review

Lindsey Rietzsch

If you haven't yet experienced the stab to the gut feeling of reading that first negative review of your first beloved masterpiece - well, don't hold your breath...sooner or later you will.

It's funny how more than often it doesn't matter that you may have received ten or more wonderful reviews from your loyal readers - when that blow to your heart & soul strikes all those other excellent reviews seem to go right out the window. Strange how that happens.

Well, here's a valuable lesson I learned from taking a negative review and turning it into something good. Yes, you read right - turning something negative into something positive. It can be done!

I remember getting my first negative review on my most recent book, and being frustrated that the reader gave me a bad review because the characters in my book were of a non-denominational Christian upbringing and this particular reader was an atheist. I didn't think that was fair for her to give my story a bad review because she didn't agree with the beliefs of the characters.

After a few days of letting off steam and receiving a few more similar reviews, I finally realized the value of this harsh review. My book was categorized under "paranormal" as it is very much a suspenseful, paranormal book. However as much as it mentions demons and dark apparitions, it also mentions angels, light and miracles. I realized that most paranormal readers prefer dark stories without the happy feel good endings. My book needed to reach readers who prefer happy feel good endings where good triumphs over evil. I needed to re-categorize my book under  Christian Paranormal.

Yes, my friends - that made all the difference. I realized that these other readers were angry. As much as they wanted a good ghost story they didn't want to hear any mentioning of Christian influences. They just wanted the ghost story. As soon as I changed my category I found the right readers and it was a match made in heaven. The good reviews began to pour in. My new readers became big fans and had nothing but great things to say about my book!

Had I just been angry about those bad reviews and left it at that, I would have continued receiving more bad reviews. Instead I chose to listen to what the reviewers were saying  - I was targeting the wrong readers. After becoming proactive I saved the repuation of my book.

You see, all reviews especially the bad ones, tell us valuable information about our book. They give us clues as to what we can do to avoid more bad reviews. Whether it be that we need to have our book better edited or just that we have it placed under a more fitting genre - we should listen to what those readers are telling us.

With that I offer a small caution. There are certain instances when readers are not being respectful or helpful with their reviews. Instead it appears as though they are just plain bullying you and your book. Go ahead and Google "authors bullied on goodreads" and you'll see what I mean. It happens quite often.

I remember with my first book How to Date Your Spouse - one woman gave it a low review because it didn't save her marriage. She said that her husband was unwilling to read the book and try any of the date ideas. She did however state that it was "a great book" and she learned "all kinds of stuff". Now it didn't seem fair after saying it was great, that she would rate it low just because her husband didn't want to read it and try the ideas. Also in the beginning of my book - it states that it's not for couples with serious marital issues. But I have no control over that and as an author I have to respect her rating. I can rest at ease however knowing  that most people who read her review will take it with a grain of salt realizing her circumstance.

I will admit from personal experience that goodreads reviewers are much more harsh than Amazon reviewers. It's not uncommon to have a higher rating on Amazon than on Goodreads in regards to the same book. When this happens you just have to bite the bullet and disregard the comments or it can destroy you if you let it. Bullying behavior can be reported but there is never a guarantee that it will be dealt with by Goodreads or Amazon. For the most part, if the majority of your reviews are wonderful than you really shouldn't let a couple of pointless bashing remarks bother you.

Take the reviews that seem honest and see what you can learn from them - even if you disagree with them. There is great value in doing this.

Happy Writing!

Tips for the Blogging Mommy (Guest Blogger - Tristi Pinkston)

Tristi Pinkston

I’m an author, an editor, a homeschooling mom, and I’m very involved in my church. I teach at writing conferences and I’m a media reviewer. In short, I’m very busy.

People ask me all the time how I manage to balance everything. Well, truth be told, I don’t always. You don’t want to drop by my house unexpectedly or you’ll never know what you’ll find. We live in organized chaos. I stay up too late at night and there are days when I feel like I’m chasing my tail. But there are a few things I’ve learned that I’d like to share with you in hopes that it will help make your schedule a little more conducive to writing. Or for that matter, finding time to do any other thing you’d like.

1 – Meals and Snacks

You don’t need to prepare an all-out meal from scratch three times a day. You can do cold cereal for breakfast once in a while, you know. You can also do cheese, crackers, lunch meat, and fruit/veggies for lunch. I do try to prepare “actual dinners,” as my daughter puts it, but on days when I’m seriously writing, I let mealtimes become more casual. Some ideas:

a. Keep yogurt in your fridge for a quick snack for you or the kids. Yogurt and a banana make a great breakfast, too. 

b. Take a loaf of bread and make it into a whole stack of sandwiches. Then slide the sandwiches back into the bread sack. When someone needs a sandwich, they can just grab one out of the fridge.

c. Designate one crisper in your fridge to be a “snack drawer.” Fill it up with apples, cheese sticks, yogurt, etc. When your children want a snack, tell them to go get something out of the “snack drawer.” You can do the same thing in your cupboard. Make a basket with pretzels, crackers, etc. and have that be the special “snack basket.” You can take sandwich bags and break the boxes down into serving sizes and tell them they can have one so they don’t run off with the whole box.

d. Make meals ahead of time and stick them in the freezer. 

e. When I buy a package of meat, I like to cook it all up and then freeze it, cooked. That way, when I go to use it, I just have to warm it through instead of defrosting and then cooking it.

f. Make tomorrow’s dinner while you’re making tonight’s. Especially if you’re using cooked meat, you can assemble tomorrow’s dinner, cover it, and put it in the fridge. Then just throw it in the oven tomorrow night.

g. Teach your older children how to make sandwiches, warm up soup, etc. They get a sense of pride in their accomplishments when they are allowed to help make a meal.

h. If you have younger children, make some sippy cups with milk, juice, and water in them. Then when the child gets thirsty, they can either grab one themselves or you can send your older child to get it for them. It’s a lot less expensive than juice boxes, that’s for sure.

These are all things you can either direct from your computer or will help you spend less time in the kitchen = more time at the computer.


2 – Entertaining the Troops

a. It’s not a sin to let your children watch TV. I don’t mean to stick them in front of it for hours on end and let them watch whatever comes on; there are definite dangers in allowing entire days in front of the TV, and with the programming that’s on, you never know what they might be subjected to. But there are some fabulous programs on that are fun and educational, as well as great DVDs. My kids have learned a lot from shows like CyberChase, Stanley, Reading Rainbow, Sesame Street, The Magic School Bus, and the like. There’s nothing wrong with turning on the TV and letting your kids watch a show or two while you write, and then you both take breaks and spend time together. 

b. Get some paper and crayons and let your kids “write” a book of their own while you’re working.

c. Ask older children to read to the younger ones.


3 – Adjusting Your Sleep

This one’s hard. But consider getting up earlier than your kids or staying up late after they go to bed. It will do a number on your own sleep, but you’ll have a sense of contentment that may help make up for some of that lack.

4 – Housework

a. I have to get up and walk around periodically. So while I’m doing that, I’ll change out the laundry and put in a load of dishes. Usually by the time I’m done doing that, I’ll be ready to get back to work.

b. It’s not a sin to teach your children to do chores. The happiest children are the ones who feel that they are valuable in their homes and who have a sense of purpose. When you teach your children to do chores, you are helping them to feel needed. Of course, keep the chores age-appropriate. My 10-year-old can vacuum, and my 8-year-old can wipe up the bathroom mirrors and counter top. My five-year-old can unload the dishwasher. I even have my older kids stand on chairs to get the laundry out of the washer and put it in the dryer. They all love helping me make dinner. As they get older, I’ll teach them to do other things. This not only clears up five minutes of time for me here and there, but when we work together to turn a half-hour job into a ten-minute job (freeing up twenty minutes) we’re drawing closer together.

c. Reevaluate your thinking about housework. It’s important to have clean towels and clothes, and feeding your family is a good thing. But if you can give up something to give yourself time to write, think about doing it. Are there ways you could simplify your routines? Can you delegate more to your husband? Can you put up with toys scattered across the floor for a little while so you can finish your chapter? Is it necessary to have all your dishes perfectly stacked all the time? When you’re on a roll with your book, it’s okay to let some things slide until you’re done. 

5 – Organizing Your Time

Yeah, this tip’s not a piece of cake either. When you’ve got other people in the house and they have needs, it’s sometimes impossible to create the chunks of time you need. 

a. One thing I do is to create Days. What I mean by that is, Wednesday, for instance, was Scout Day when that was my assignment at church. After lunch I’d sit down and review what I needed to do to prepare for the Scouts to come at 4:30. I wasn’t writing during this time, or grocery shopping, or anything else. It was devoted to Scouts. I got ready for them to come, they came, and then after they left, I looked at the next week’s meeting. I did any ahead-of-time prep work that needed doing, and if I needed to buy something, I put it on my shopping list. I recorded what they got passed off and made notes on what they needed to do next. Then, with the exception of getting whatever I might have put on the shopping list, I didn’t think about it until the next Wednesday. When I was a Stampin’ Up! distributor, Tuesday was my prep day for that. Look at your life—are there certain tasks you can isolate to one day a week?

b. Create an errand day. I used to have the tendency to run out and do errands several times a week, and I found I was away from home a lot. Now what I do is designate an errand day. This usually coordinates with payday. I’ll sit down and pay bills, and then I’ll go out and do all my grocery shopping, trip to the post office, to the bank (if needed) library, etc, all at once. It makes for about a three-hour trip, but it’s better for me to get it done at once. Now, of course, in between times I still run to the library (who could go for two weeks without books?) and I do mail books as the orders come in. But I try to do it in chunks so I’m home more often.

c. And again, with the sleep thing I already mentioned. I’m usually up until around 2 am, the main reason for this being that the house is quiet and I’m not pulled in so many directions. From 9:00 when all the kids are in bed (supposedly) until I conk out, I can be at the computer.

I think the main thing we need to do is find a way to create balance. You can write and take care of your children at the same time. If you’re totally ignoring your kids in order to write, it won’t be as satisfactory to you. But if you totally ignore yourself and your own talents and ambitions, you won’t derive the kind of satisfaction from motherhood that you should. Take care of yourself so you can take care of your kids.

Tristi's Blog http://tristipinkston.blogspot.com/

Guest Blogger - Bestselling Author Jason Wright

We want to thank Jason for accepting the invitation to be a guest on our blog!

Bestselling author shares theory – and his cellphone number

Several years ago I appeared on Glenn Beck’s television program to discuss my novel,The Wednesday Letters. Much to Beck’s astonishment, I chose to share my cellphone number on air with his audience. I invited them to call and share their memories on the importance of personal, handwritten letters in their lives.

I will never forget Beck leaning forward and looking straight into the camera with that patented, sneaky look in his eyes. “Please call him at two in the morning.” After the interview ended, we said goodbye and he promised me my phone would ring.

He was right.

I received thousands of calls and answered as many as I could over the span of several weeks. Many left voicemail messages and some asked for a return call. It took a while, but I honored every request.
It was a sweet experience.

I heard the most incredible stories from people whose lives had been changed by the art of the handwritten letter. I spoke to widows and widowers who clung to boxes of letters like life preservers to remember their loved ones.

I chatted with teens that cherished letters from mothers and from mothers who wept at the memory of a letter from prodigal sons and daughters.

I got to know a young woman whose best friend was on board Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001. A treasure trove of personal letters was the salve that helped her heal.

On these many calls we discussed writing, publishing, the books people were reading and what they liked or didn’t about my books and others in my genre.

Many of those callers became readers, but, more importantly, some of those readers became friends.
At the time, the idea of becoming so accessible was highly controversial. Church friends called me crazy, neighbors wondered if I’d lost a bet and even my own family asked what I was thinking.
But to me, the concept was obvious.

If you ask to see someone in the kitchen, servers will usually accommodate you. You might want to raise a concern or compliment the chef.

When you get your car washed, you might give a shout-out to the dedicated employee who polishes that one last pesky spot before opening your door and sending you on your way.

Perhaps you saw a show at your local high school or community theater. It would be quite natural to congratulate the cast or director and tell them what a fine job they’d done.

When visiting a public restroom you might have noticed a sign on the wall inviting you to report unclean conditions to the management. One popular chain of convenience stores even invites customers to call a member of the executive team to report unsanitary conditions at any of their nationwide locations.

The list never ends. Virtually everywhere consumers spend money offers some line of communication back to management, distributors or creators of those particular goods and services.
Why should it be any different with artists?

I once discussed this topic with a loyal reader who also happens to be a good friend. He was lamenting that another author he enjoys reading has a policy about not responding personally to email received through his website. It’s not evident whether messages sent through his online contact form are even read by him and not an assistant.

It’s a shame that any author or artist of any kind would opt to practice their craft behind a digital wall that prevents them from engaging one-on-one with consumers Have we forgotten whom we work for? I recognize that I owe my entire career to hard-working men and women who spend their treasure on something I’ve created.

I don’t work for myself; I work for my readers. The notion that artists are self-employed is a myth. Shouldn’t I be responsive to the market and offer easy lines of communication? Shouldn’t all artists welcome opinions on what they enjoy or don’t?

Of course.

So, if you’ve got something to say about one of my books or columns, I invite you to email me or pick up the phone and call. I can be reached at jwright@deseretnews.com or 540-328-0111.

I can’t promise I’ll answer every call as life, work and sheer volume may sometimes prevent it. But if you leave me a phone number and ask for a return call, you will get one.

Just don’t call me at 2 a.m.

About Jason

Jason Wright is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author.

Jason is a weekly columnist for the Deseret News and Northern Virginia Daily and articles by Jason have appeared in over 50 newspapers and magazines across the United States including The Washington Times, The Chicago Tribune, and Forbes. He is the author of The James Miracle (2004); Christmas Jars (2005); The Wednesday Letters (2007); Recovering Charles (2008), Christmas Jars Reunion (2009); Penny’s Christmas Jar Miracle (2009); The Cross Gardener (2010); The Seventeen Second Miracle (2010); The Wedding Letters (2011); and, The 13th Day of Christmas (2012).

Jason is also a popular speaker who speaks on faith, the Christmas Jars movement, the Joy of Service, the lost art of letter writing and many other topics. He has been seen on CNN, FoxNews, C-SPAN, and on local television affiliates around the country.

Jason is from Charlottesville, Virginia, but has also lived in Germany, Illinois, Brazil, Oregon and Utah. In 2007, while researching Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley for his novel The Wednesday Letters, Jason fell so in love with the area that he moved his family westward from northern Virginia to the Valley.

Jason is married to Kodi Erekson Wright. They have two girls and two boys.

www.jasonfwright.com

Your Talents and Patience - a Good Marriage

Lindsey Rietzsch

Back in 2005 I was asked to put together a class called, “How to Date Your Spouse” for my ward Relief Society (women in my church). At first I wondered, why me? My husband and I don't date that often and we are not experts. I was then told that I was selected because of my creative abilities and ideas. It was then I realized this could be a good thing for me. I could put together something that worked and experiment on my own husband. Soon I was excited and began the task of researching information and ideas.

After I taught the class, several women came and thanked me and expressed their interest in the subject. Though the class was over I continued researching the topic and collecting my ideas. Eventually I had enough material to put it into a book -so that’s what I did.

At first I decided to keep this book quiet from my friends and family so that if it never was published they would never know. At the time there was nothing like it on the market so I figured my chances were pretty good. After being turned down 25 times from various local and national publishers I was ready to give up. Soon, I was running out of options and thought that maybe my book was just not meant to be. Maybe I was supposed to be doing something else with my time and talents. After running into a dead end I began to work on other ideas and started up a small business.

How to Date Your Spouse on the shelf at Deseret Book

Not more than a month after doing so I was contacted by a publisher interested in my book. I couldn’t believe it! I thought those days were over. How wrong I was. It’s amazing what a confidence booster can do. Since signing that first publishing contract I realized how important my writing abilities are and how much good I can do in the world with my talent. Since this experience I began writing other books and embarking on new projects. 

Let this be a lesson to anyone reading that we should never take our talents for granted. We have been given them for a reason and it is our responsibility to find out why. It may take a few years before we see the big picture but if we give up on them and let other people tell us we have no talent then we lose our talents and miss out on some great life experiences.

A month ago I walked into Deseret Book store and to my surprise, my daughter and I both spotted a couple of copies of How to Date Your Spouse on the shelf. After all these years I truly thought it was now just on special order. The section for Relationships/Family was rather narrow and to see my book still on that shelf was priceless!

To this day my first book is still my best selling book. Though many have tried to replicate it, it still holds it's place well in the market. So, remember that you never know what a "good idea" can turn into with a little patience and faith. Good luck with your talents and embrace them daily!

Just Write It’s in You

“You write your first draft with your heart, and you write your second draft with your head.”

                                                                                                                        -Finding Forrester (The Movie)

               

Funny that I should find inspiration from a movie to write a book, although those words were originally written by someone to inspire the movie. We are starting to cover more depth in these posts that we feature on the blog. This is still the number one question I get, how do you write a novel?

               
The answer is so simple, you sit down with a computer or get a pen and paper and put write words down. ‘But I don’t know what to write about,’ is the usual response. Get one idea in your head and just begin tapping at keys or scribbling on the page, the keys and words seem to take on a life of their own once you begin writing.

There are days I have written chapters for my books that I never thought about, and some characters I introduced that ended up being the best twist in the plot that I hadn’t even thought about. Don’t think, don’t stop to correct the grammar, don’t watch the TV while you do it, and then talk to your cat, just write.

  
 My inspiration seems to come from different times in my life that I merge together and then I play the what if game. For example, what if my high school boyfriend met my college boyfriend while I was still in college? Alternatively, what if I run into an old friend from school that used to be nerdy but is now successful. On the other hand, what would happen if a mountain man settler suddenly was transported through time into our world and wound up in a car what would his reaction be? 

  
 Or if you ever need inspiration for story ask a child; they are never ever short on ideas. Sorry, this is a short post, but the point is a lot of you aren’t becoming authors because you aren’t writing. Try your luck at any genre. Even if you wish to keep a journal, you may be surprised after all how interesting your life really is on paper. Keep writing.

The Balance of Writing and Being a Mom

Lindsey Rietzsch

I was just asked this question on Thursday by a friend of mine who is writing a book, “How do you juggle being a mom and writing a book? Any good tips?” 

Funny, because I get asked this all the time and thought it would be the perfect topic to start off the week.

Ask any mom with a side business, blog, or hobby – and she’ll tell you that in order to keep your sanity you need to prioritize, organize and makes some sacrifices. It’s very simple but easier said than done!

For me, I set aside specific times for writing so that it doesn’t interfere with my family time. My kids nap and have quiet time from 12:30 to 3:00 every day. That is my time to do business stuff, blog, and write books. All other time throughout the day is reserved for taking care of my family. After the kids go to bed I squeeze in my workout and a little reading – but it’s important that I reserve the evenings to spend time with my husband. 

By sticking to this schedule everyone stays happy and I feel in control. HOWEVER, I must admit I have been guilty of not sticking to the schedule when I get caught up in a great idea. On days like this, I am glued to my computer, my kids are still in their PJs and they are helping themselves to the fridge and pantry – which means a giant mess in the kitchen. Not to mention on days like this my phone seems to ring off the hook and beep with endless text messages. By the time the kids are in bed, I’m too tired to exercise and I feel mentally exhausted which makes for one big headache.

Overall, I think when you’re kids see you constantly on the computer or phone they feel neglected and you end up feeling guilt ridden by the end of the day – I know I do. 

So, here are some quick tips to help you juggle writing with parenthood:

Make a Schedule and Stick to It!

Set aside no more than 2 ½ hours a day to do your writing. I have found that anything more than that is too much anyways and I end up needing a break from my computer screen. If the time is up and you feel you are on fire with your writing and need to keep going – allow yourself an extra 15-20 minutes tops. Quickly type your ideas out so you can get back to them the next day. Then you don’t have to worry about forgetting them.

Do Your Writing When You Have Alone Time

You don’t want your spouse and kids to resent your writing because it’s become your number one priority. When they are in the room, they should be your priority. Besides, it’s hard to write when you have distractions and it’s easy to lose your temper at your kids or spouse when they cause you to lose your train of thought or interrupt your flow. It’s just best to write when you have alone time. If that means turning on a movie, giving them quiet time in their rooms or sending them off on a play date – they won’t mind if it’s a part of the daily schedule. Kids do well with routine and it’s good for everyone to have a break. If you are consistent with your schedule this will work just fine. If you are not, your kids may have a hard time with it. 

Don’t Make Writing Your Only Focus

If you eat, breath and sleep writing it’s easy to let it overtake other areas of your life. I have found that it’s good to turn that part of my brain off during the day and only allow it on during my writing time or when I’m alone such as driving, in the shower, etc. Sometimes I have to force myself to enjoy a good movie , bakes some treats or even paint my toenails – because when I have a good idea for my next chapter all I want to do is write. But by taking time for myself to enjoy other things I tend to be happier which makes for a happier mom and wife.

Make Small Sacrifices

If you have a super busy schedule and it’s hard to find the time to write you may need to make some small sacrifices. Giving up some TV time, cooking quick meals, or getting up early in the morning are all ways to add some extra time for your writing. It may even be that you only have time on the weekends to write – that’s okay. Writing is something that shouldn’t be rushed; a good book takes time.

Summary

It’s very possible to be a mom and an author, you just have to set guidelines for yourself and your family and stick to them. Remember also, that it’s okay to take long breaks. I sometimes will skip an entire week if needs be. If you ever feel guilty – listen to those feelings and don’t ignore them. Take a break and tend to the things that are more important. Don’t sacrifice a clean house and happy kids for the sake of finishing a chapter – it’s just not worth it. Write during designated times and make sure your family is aware and okay with those designated times to avoid conflict. Overall, if you stick to these tips I’m confident you’ll be able to find a nice balance between being a writer and being a mom.

Happy Writing!

Lindsey

Your Journey As a Writer

Lindsey Rietzsch

At the age of eight I developed an interest in writing. It was my third grade teacher who discovered that I had an ability to write and because of her I became excited about it. I remember the poem that I wrote which caught her eye was a poem about Rip Van Winkle the man that slept for 100 years. I remember rhyming about the silly details of his experience such as “worms crawling in his nose and mushrooms sprouting between his toes”. She was so amused by it she sent me around the school to read it to the other classes. I remember after that, my grandma, my parents and any adult that heard my poem laughed so hard I thought they’d kill over. Never before had I evoked such a reaction from anyone. I really enjoyed it.

As time went on, I grew to love writing. Entering contests, winning awards, and even using it as therapy! Upon entering junior high I really needed an outlet for all the stress, changes and fear that I was experiencing. I found that writing about my feelings was a way to let them out and help me deal with my challenges. Though I seldom shared them with anyone other than my best friend, I found that the more I wrote and the more I shared the better my writing abilities became and the more I enjoyed it. 

Then during my junior year in high school I anxiously enrolled in a creative writing class at school. I thought for sure that this would be an easy A - but how wrong I was. For the first time I had encountered a teacher who did not see any talent in my writing. I experienced C’s and B-'s; paper after paper. He continued to make suggestions and told me that if I changed my writing to meet his suggestions I could resubmit my writing for a better grade. I was deeply angered as I felt that my poems were becoming his poems. I’d rather settle for a bad grade than to represent work that was not mine. Needless to say that class took all of the fun and enjoyment out of writing and I came to the conclusion that I was no longer a good writer. I had lost my talent. 

At that point in my life I realized that writing was not going to get me anywhere in life and I decided to bury my talent. Occasionally for weddings and upon requests I would write. I even wrote lyrics to songs. However as I buckled down in my studies, became married and got lost in a full time job, I no longer found the time for writing and saw it as a waste of time as there were always more important things to do.

Clearly - that's not how my story ends. Along the way, one event after another, I was reminded why writing had once been so important to me and the passion came back!  It started with writing songs, in a journal, on blogs, and then came my first book. Just like that the door was wide open to several opportunities all from those initial baby steps. 

Are You a Good Enough Writer?

If you have questioned your ability as a writer because of unfortunate experiences it's completely normal, but as cliche as it sounds, the key to moving past that is believing in yourself. If you don't believe in yourself as a writer, no one else will. It's okay to take a break but don't quit all together. After all, the more you write the better you get.

Embrace criticism and feedback in all forms. Don't take it personal or you'll never make it as a writer. Just like art, good writing can sometimes vary from one opinion to another. Use it as a tool to better yourself on your journey. 

Becoming a Serious Writer

If writing has been a dream of yours, you need to establish your credibility. Whether you start with a journal or a blog - just get started. Eventually you can submit your writings to contests, magazines or become a guest writer for other blogs. Getting your foot in the door not only boosts your confidence but opens up doors for more opportunity to share your talent! One door always leads to another and before you know it you're an established writer and author.

So, where are you at in your writing journey? I'd love to hear.

- Lindsey Rietzsch