MGR: Professional Writer

I had a little trouble with this month's topic, but I created something "on the fly."  Check it out, if you dare.

Man in a hut

I have thought long and hard over this month’s topic. For days I just wanted to pass this one, because if there is one thing I’m sure of, it’s that I’m not a professional writer. Differently from everybody else, I’m not sure if I’d ever want to be. But then I think I should elaborate the thought a bit more so we could all be on the same page on this.

You can continue reading here.

The Professional Writer

Professional Writer - there’s a nice title, huh? I’ve always wanted to be one, but it’s only been the last few years that I’ve discovered what the title means.

As a high school student, I had visions of lolling about the typewriter (yes, I’m that old) and attending conferences in a tweed jacket.
Come to think of it, that’s about all I could see at the time… Hmmm…

I considered myself a better artist than a writer, though, so my young adulthood was all about pen & ink, graphite and Prismacolor pencils. When I hit college in my late 20’s I fell in love with airbrush. I dropped my psychology major for a fine arts major in a hot minute.

(No, not really. It took three terms of serious soul-searching before I made that decision. I’m nothing if not anal retentive.)

To continue reading, head over to Redhawk's site, In Shadows

Professional Is as Professional Does

 The topic of being professional is one that I return to again and again. Not because I'm some great sage able to impart my wisdom to writers far and wide, but because in writing about it, I continue to refine my own thoughts about what it means to be professional.

In my prior life as a Physical Therapist, being professional meant holding to ethical practice, advocating for patients and their goals, contributing as a member of a health care team, and seeking out opportunities for assessment and continued learning.

For over 20 years, I practiced as a professional PT, learning and growing as a clinician, performing my job to the best of my abilities.

When I made my career shift from clinician to writer, many aspects of my life changed. Certainly, my commute got easier, if you don't count the traffic jam of two dogs trying to trip me up on my walk across the living room. Particularly hazardous when holding coffee! I can go to work these days in sweats or even PJ's. Hooray for writers working at home without dress codes! Everyday is casual Friday!
(Continue reading on Once in a Blue Muse) 

Defining a pro

I've talked about pro levels of sales on my blog before. Today, I'm just pointing out behaviors that make anyone professional, regardless of where they stand on the publication ladder. Read more on my blog

Blowing Your Own Horn--Or Not

   In our culture we are taught that we should not brag about our accomplishments.  We even have an old saying, “Don’t blow your own horn.”  (to continue click here)

Strengths and Weaknesses

 Over time and with great effort every writer strives to have more strengths than weaknesses.  Naturally the first step is to acknowledge your weaknesses and define your strengths. That being said, you are usually your own worst critic. Keeping this in mind I will list what I think are my most prevalent weaknesses. Naturally I think there are many so I will save you the boredom and only list three.

Come read the rest on my blog!

Excellence in Writing

Having been asked my strengths in my writing, I imagine the whole list of my weaknesses. I have decided to look at the areas I excel at with writing to keep my mind on the positives. There is a time to explore where we need to improve by all means. When I begin a project, I want to be in the best frame of mind that I can be. This is the way I overcome my inner critic that loves to mess with us all. Undermining our confidence, making us edit as we go or making us just plain give up, the inner critic is a tricky little bugger....  Continue reading...

I Could Carry About 20 Books + My Kindle

Sorry for the title (which would make sense if this was about reading), but I didn't want to title it, "My Strengths As A Writer" because it sounds like one of those back-to-school reports we used to have to write in elementary school. "What I Did During Summer Vacation."

Continue reading on my blog.

It'll Knock Your Socks Off

We writers are often a mixed lot when it comes to how we see our strengths and weaknesses. I've met the raging egomaniacal writer who thinks "everything I write is a gold nugget of perfect prose" and "I'll knock your socks off with my awesomeness." On the flip side, I've met the self deprecating nervous Nellies who insist that everything they write is Read more...

My strengths as a writer

The fact that an elephant can learn how to balance itself on a small cabaret chair is probably just as hard to explain as is what I consider myself to be strong at.

Continues here...

MGR: What I Do Best (Writing-Wise)

Have you wondered what I think I do best in the writing realm?  Check out this month's post to find out.

What I do best in writing

There are so many ways to look at this kind of question. Yes, there are the basics: I always need to rework description and I overuse some words, but I do my best to edit those out. I'm good at dialogue, though. I'm fairly good at humor.

Read More Here

Writing Strengths - What Are Yours?

Writing strengths — every successful writer either has them or develops them over time. Sometimes it’s difficult for a new writer to see their abilities objectively, so here’s a list of mine. Not everyone will have the same ones, but the following qualities are major assets in my writing.

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1. Discipline
2. Working Solo
3. Inner Eye
4. Inner Ear
5. Curiosity
6. Voracious Appetite
7. Grasp of Language
8. Enjoyment

1. Discipline —

I’ll be honest. I’m stubborn as all get-out. When I make my mind up, it takes an act of the gods to get me to change it. (Ask my mother… I once left a candy bar on the counter for weeks because I’d made up my mind not to eat it. My little brother eventually scored the chocolate.)

Even obstinacy doesn’t fully help with the primary skill all writers need to acquire. You’d think it would. Daily sitting my butt in front of the computer is a toughie!

Continue reading this article at In Shadows

The post I would have written

This month's Merry-Go-Round prompt is writing strengths.

I offer my apologies, but I wasn't able to put together a formal blogpost for it, due to a death in the family. What I would have talked about as my greatest writing strength is that I strive for emotional honesty in all my writing.

I am in mourning now, for my mother's passing.

I am not ready to tackle the enormity of what her loss means to my life and until I can, the words must wait.

Getting Along

Do you picture your inner critic? I do. Mine is a dominatrix in red leather, with short blonde hair, red lips and black nail polish, and a whip she knows how to use. Read the rest at Cowgirl in New England.

Dawn's Writing Strengths

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