YOU’RE A WRITER IN A BARREN LAND

Hello Fellow Writers!

Just writing to say that even though our country is in a recession (thank goodness they finally admitted it!), there are still opportunities out there. As a matter of fact, I just won a grant from The Haven Foundation (in 2009). To read more about The Haven Foundation, please click on this link: www.thehavenfdn.org.

Anyway, as a professional writer whose livelihood is writing, you would do well to remember that times are hard, and everyone needs money. Everyone! This means, if you’re fortunate enough to find a writing contest or grant that seems perfect for you, you shouldn’t take it lightly! Hundreds, maybe thousands of writers are eyeing the very same opportunities you find. You’ll be pitting your skills against the published and unpublished, the famous and not-so-famous writers; adults (certainly) and even children (surprise, surprise!!!).

Since the birth of the written word, people have been under the strong delusion that writing is ridiculously easy. And they’ll tell you so, too. How many times have you stood by while someone flicked their hand at you and said, “So you wrote a book. So what? Anyone can write a book!”

Well, true ‘dat, anyone can. Anyone with working fingers and a rudimentary knowledge of the alphabet can compose sentences that may someday develop into coherent thoughts, and anyone can pull these sentences together under one binding and call what they produce a book. But this certainly doesn’t mean they’ll actually do it, and it certainly doesn’t mean it’ll be a successful book if they do.

People talk a good game about writing, don’t they? But many never study; never hone their craft, never attend seminars or read books about writing. Heck, many don’t even pick up a pencil. In fact, many don’t even own a pencil, and get angry if you ask them why they don’t.

Don’t be that way.

You…you’re a freelancer; an entrepreneur; a writer in a barren land trying to get paid so you’ll know where your next meal is coming from. That being said, go to the store and buy some pencils. Paper, too. Then pick up your pencil, sit down and start writing. You have the gift of writing, so give it 110% of your effort. You’ll be glad you did.

Keep walking in this barren land, pencil in hand, and keep your eyes open. You never know what opportunity is waiting for you.

Your friend and fellow writer,

Rita Lorraine