Watch this killer trailer for the magazine, and read an excerpt from my contribution below!

What Writing Means to Me: My Give and Take with the World

As I write this piece, I am overcome with anticipation, excited to read how the other writers answer this question. It’s so big, and yet so basic to what we do. And no one will say exactly the same thing as another.

This excitement about sharing and connecting with others has become, over the years, what writing means to me. It’s a far cry from the selfish hours I used to spend penning pre-adolescent thoughts in a hot-pink diary alone in my room — but we all have to start somewhere.

Now, writing is all about the community. It’s become that, because now I share my writing, and it has by some beautiful twist of fate built a community around me. It’s what keeps me fed, so it is no longer mine, but belongs to everyone who chips in to help support me. Writing is what defines my brand, so it’s not only the words I put together, but it’s every business decision I make and every hour I spend considering my future and organizing my present.

I write few words for myself anymore.

Even when I write in my journal — because I still do, and, yes, it’s still a hot pink notebook — I am always digging for some kind of brilliance to emerge, something I could turn into a blog post, magazine article, or book. I write under the pressure of hundreds of eyes, even when I’m completely alone. What will this mean to them? How will this help them? Why would they read this? Would they write it differently? >>

To read on, check out thewritelifemagazine.com, and grab The Write Life mag app for iPhone, iPad, Android, or Kindle Fire.

I’m taking a break from posting for the month of May (so get out and enjoy spring sunshine when you need it most!), and I’ll resume posting — with a killer, beefed-up calendar — at the brand new DIY Writing at writersbucketlist.com in June.

It’s gonna be awesome.

Along with a new design (and finally moving to a self-hosted site and less-vain URL), the “new” blog will optimize all the best parts of DIY Writing, including our unique books and guides and our incredible community. Plus, we’re set up to better feature DIY Writers, with tons of opportunities to be published and get involved!

I’m also bringing in more expert voices, so you can look forward to connecting with and learning from some of the best writers around the blogosphere.

Stay connected while we’re gone.

For the next four weeks, you can still get great DIYW content delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the email list. Plus “email insiders” are going to be the first to know about the new opportunities to get involved — and you don’t want to miss out!

Subscribe for May’s exclusive content.

(Oh, and don’t forget: You also get a free copy of A Writer’s Bucket List when you subscribe!)

Stay connected on social media.

#DIYwriteCHAT is happening at its regularly-scheduled time for May: Tuesday, May 7, at 7 p.m. ET. Join us to discuss the best ways to connect with readers and other writers. Follow @DIYWriting for a reminder!

A Writer’s Bucket List Action Team is going strong on Facebook — seriously, these writers are blowing my mind! The group rounded over 100 last week and continues to grow with tons of writers willing to spill their guts and share their advice. Every week, I post an action step, discussion prompts, and resources to help everyone work together toward crossing items off their Bucket Lists.

We’ll continue to share writing prompts and resources through the DIY Writing Facebook page.

And, you can always say hello, ask questions, and get resources and updates from me on Twitter @danasitar and on Google+. And look for me around the blogosphere, because I don’t intend to stop writing! I’ve got some great friends out there happy to host me for some writing, publishing, career, and life tips :)

If you’re subscribed via WordPress or RSS

Those subscriptions are going to change when we re-launch at the new site. The best way to ensure you don’t miss a beat is to subscribe via email — I’ll share updated links and subscription info there once we’re settled in.

Did I mention I’m really excited??

And I want to make sure you are, too. The new blog is all about the DIY Writing community, and I want your voice heard!

Tell me in the comments: What’s one change or addition you’d like to see at the new DIY Writing?

DIY Writing shares resources, tips, and tools for writers in search of a path. To learn more, start here. You can also subscribe to updates to grab your FREE ebook.

DIYW News

Have a sneak peek at the new blog design! (Click the image below to see full size.) We’re right on schedule. DIYW will be going on hiatus for the month of May and re-launching in June at writersbucketlist.com. Subscribe via email to continue to receive exclusive resources and tips while we’re away AND be the first to know about some exciting opportunities for DIY Writers at the “new” blog! (Oh, and you get that free book for signing up!)

My April Guest Posts

• How the Unlost E Course Helped Me Find My True Path for The Unlost
• Why I’m Totally Okay with Giving My Book Away Free for 30 Day Books
• How to Go Beyond the Book and Engage Readers with Your Author Brand for RonVitale.com
• Live the Life You’re Passionate About for Take Your Life Back!!
• Secrets for Publishing and Promoting an Ebook – Q&A for JessicaLawlor.com
• 11 Fresh Ways to Boost Your Freelancing or Consulting Business for Brazen Life
• How’s Your Blogging Customer Service? 3 Phrases to Ensure Readers Leave with a Smile and Come Back Soon for Kickstart Kitchen

And here’s what was so good that I tagged it in Feedly to remember to share it with you:

• Personal finance, parenting and women’s lifestyle writer Dawn Papandrea shared really annoying things people to say to freelance writers at Freelance Switch.

• Sarah at Write Your Revolution shared tips for creating a super-simple business plan for your freelancing business.

• C Hope Clark explains why you need a daily writing habit, and simple tips to get started — even when you don’t think you can fit writing into your day.

• Brazen Careerist has published an ebook! The lifestyle and career blog for ambitious young professionals brought together its top posts to create  Daring Advice on Jobs and Life from 20-Somethings, including pieces from some of my favorite bloggers, Jessica Lawlor, Kelly (aka Cordelia), and edited by Alexis Grant. (Great grad gift if you’re starting your shopping early!)

• Erin at {re}made by hand wrote an awesome piece to say it’s okay to dabble and tinker with your brand — as long as you’re “iterating” and not flailing.

• Feeling encumbered by your audience, goals, and need for impeccable editing? Blogging will beat the perfectionist out of you, says Jenny Blake at Life After College.

• Melissa Anzman reflects on insights and lessons learned from her first year as a full-time entrepreneur — great tips for career authors, too!

• Fun opportunity! Do you want to be published on the Renegade Writer blog? Linda Formichelli wants your artwork!

• It doesn’t matter how many content producers and marketing gurus you have on staff, says Brian Cross at Elasticity, if your company doesn’t have a creative idea.

• This is the BEST time to be a writer, if you work for it, says Dan Blank at We Grow Media.

• Are you a blogger? You’ve got to bookmark this list of 52 free resources for bloggers from Sophie Lizard at Be a Freelance Blogger. Great stuff from education, to marketing, to inspiration (and she included Bucket List!)

• This one’s an oldie, but I just discovered it: The real lesson learned from the fabricated resume of an MIT admissions dean, from Charles Eisenstein at The Ascent of Humanity – a much-needed reminder that a degree is not the only measure of someone’s professional worth.

• If you’re planning a book, starting a blog, or launching a business, pick up this free, easy worksheet from Peter Sandeen to help you find the reason people will choose you instead of your competitors (your value proposition).

And the latest from #TempPod (“This is Temporary” podcast with Stefan Davis and me about our life as poor dreamers, often homeless on the road.)

• Ep 2: With Special Guest Ryan Casey (a.k.a Cricket, a.k.a. Producer Ryan)

• Ep 3: I Scream, You Scream…Talkin’ About Ice Cream (Dana Wrote this Headline)

If you’re new to DIY Writing, here’s a great place to start. You can also subscribe to updates to download your FREE ebook!

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If you’re new to DIY Writing, here’s a great place to start. You can also subscribe to updates to download your FREE ebook!

by Chloe Trogden

Writing groups can be incredibly effective tools for helping you take your writing to the next level. Or they can be an incredible waste of time and leave you feeling frustrated and ready to give up. In order to make writing groups work for you, you need to make some informed choices.

Here are a few tips for using writing groups to help make your writing the best it can be and reach your writing goals:

1. Find like-minded participants.

First off, everyone has to be on the same page — not only about what you want out of the group, but also about what kind of writers you are. Everyone needs to be equally committed to the success of the group to get and give the best feedback.

Everyone in your group should also be interested in the same type of writing or have similar philosophies about their approach to writing. For example, if you write romance but everyone else is interested in sci-fi, you aren’t likely to get the kind of feedback you need. If you take on an experimental style but everyone else writes in a straight-forward narrative, their advice might not be relevant to what you’re doing. Make sure you find other writers who have the same or complementary interests.

2. Limit the size of the group.

You’ll have trouble getting the in-depth feedback you need in a large, live writing group. You either won’t get your work reviewed often enough, or the group won’t have the time needed to really dedicate meaningful conversation to it. You need to join a group that has a small number so everyone can get enough review time, or split a large group into smaller sub-groups for critiques. There’s no hard and fast rule for how many is too many, but aim for around five and definitely less than ten.

3. Start with clear guidelines.

Make sure everyone knows what’s expected from the group by setting clear rules at the beginning. This should include what the review schedule will be, how feedback will be managed, what must be submitted for review, etc. Must submissions be a certain length? Will you issue prompts? Can writers talk while they are receiving feedback? Consider these and other questions early on to keep everyone on the same page.

4. Rotate moderators.

Every group will benefit from different perspectives. It’s important to rotate moderators so that you get that change in perspective. Different moderators might bring new ideas that can push the group forward. They might be able to institute different rules that will help the group or to inject a new energy into the discussions that they lead. Create a schedule, and ensure that each member who’s interested has a chance to moderate at least once.

5. Ask pointed questions.

When you get feedback for your work, don’t just be a passive receiver. Come with a list of questions that you want answered about how to make the work better or how to overcome specific problems you’re struggling with. Ask questions that help you understand how readers perceive what you’ve written, so you can make sure you’re getting your message across clearly.

When used correctly, writing groups can help you to take your writing to the next level, to make your work the best it can be, and to overcome the weaknesses in your writing.

Have you worked with a writing group? What tips can you add?

Looking for a group of like-minded go-getters to help you along your writing journey? Join the Writer’s Bucket List Action Team on Facebook to connect with other DIY Writers and get started on your Bucket List!

This is a guest post from Chloe Trogden. Chloe is a seasoned financial aid writer who authors a comprehensive online financial aid guide at collegegrant.net.

Photo in the featured image by Paul Lowry (Creative Commons)

by Brian Klems (@BrianKlems)

When writing my book, Oh Boy, You’re Having a Girl: A Dad’s Survival Guide to Raising Daughters, I ran into a lot of roadblocks. I’d like to place the blame elsewhere, but the truth is, they were my fault (Okay, I’ll place part of the blame on TBS for airing all those reruns of “Scrubs” — seriously, I just can’t get enough of that show). Most of the roadblocks, though, were from avoidable mistakes I made during the writing process. Thankfully, now I know better.

To help you out, I’ve pulled together the five things you shouldn’t do when writing a book. These are tips that I wish someone else would have told me before I started writing Oh Boy. To save you a lot of time, do not:

1. Tell Anyone The Plot of Your Book

When you’re writing a book, occasionally someone — like a family member, friend or that loaded guy sitting next to you at the bar — will con you into talking about your book while you’re writing it. Wrong move. They will offer unsolicited pieces of advice like, “You should name your main character Booger.”

While most are honestly trying to be helpful, the majority of them — who have never written a book — will likely be offering bad advice. Best to stay hush-hush about it until it’s finished and you can have it edited or work-shopped by other writers.

2. Get Attached to Any Part of Your Book

As writers, we often fall in love with our own writing and plot points. This happens to me all the time. I write an awesome first paragraph and continue writing a chapter. As I go along, it’s clear that the chapter has taken a decidedly different turn and that first paragraph doesn’t quite fit. But I love that first paragraph. So I spend countless hours rewriting the rest of the chapter, even though deep down I know the only real solution is to cut that first graph.

It’s brutally painful, but not cutting it is a mistake rookie writers make. And if you want to publish your book, you’ll cut anything that doesn’t quite fit — even if it’s a part you love. [Like this idea? Tweet it!]

3. Set Unreasonable Goals

I believe in goals, so no matter what you are writing — a novel, nonfiction book, memoir, poetry chapbook, an article on how to write a blog (which I did) — you need to set some. That being said, don’t set goals that are nearly impossible to reach. Unreasonable goals will only cause you to get mad at yourself and will, in fact, slow your process down rather than speed it up — after all, if you feel like you’re letting yourself down, you’ll be less motivated to write.

I like to set time goals as opposed to word-count goals. For example, if you only have 30 minutes a day to write, just sit down and write as many words as you can in that 30 minutes. Some days you may only walk away with a couple hundred. Others you may knock out a thousand or two. But if you walk away with any words, you’ll feel more confident knowing you worked as hard as you could that day to get that many words out. And eventually, they will add up.

4. Only Save Your Book in One Place

Like every writer, I have a very love-hate relationship with computers — as in, I love them when they are helping me work more efficiently and I hate them when … well … nearly all the rest of the time. It’s not intuitive to me to continually hit “save” when writing, especially when I’m in the zone. So when I forget to save (which happens all the time) and my computer crashes (which seems to happen every time I’m finally satisfied with my work), I lose everything.

I finally started writing using Google Docs, where it not only automatically saves your work but it saves it online, so you can access it from any computer you want. After writing the first few chapters of Oh Boy, You’re Having a Girl in Word and losing nearly 50% of my writing, I fell in love with Google Docs because they took away the unnecessary stress of worrying about my computer crashing. Now my computer could reboot all it wanted and I’d still have all those wonderful words I worked so hard to write.

5. Take the Fun Out of Writing

Too often writing a book turns into a chore. That can happen for many reasons — stressed over a self-imposed deadline, trouble defining a character, dealing with writer’s block, afraid that the book just isn’t good enough so far, etc. I once got stuck on one sentence — one sentence – because I didn’t think it was “funny enough” and used it as an excuse to stop writing for days. That’s a true story. And now, looking back, I see how absurd that is.

The important thing to do is forget all of that — all the worries and stresses and self-induced headaches. Just focus on the reason you wanted to write a book in the first place: Because you’re a storyteller and you have a story to tell. Remind yourself of that every day and you’ll have fewer roadblocks to finishing your book.

What mistakes have you made — and learned from — when writing a book?

Brian A. Klems is the online editor for Writer’s Digest magazine and author of Oh Boy, You’re Having a Girl: A Dad’s Survival Guide to Raising Daughters (Adams 2013). He’s also the editor of The Writer’s Dig and hosts the popular parenting blog, TheLifeOfDad.com. You can follow him on Twitter @BrianKlems.

If you’re new to DIY Writing, here’s a great place to start. You can also subscribe to updates to download your FREE ebook!

Photo in the featured image by Nic McPhee (Creative Commons)

Lauren’s new YA novel

by Lauren Tharp (@LittleZotzWrite)

I first stumbled upon DIY Writing early this year when I came here to grab my copy of A Writer’s Bucket List (back when it wasn’t free, mind you — You readers today are so lucky!)

I thought the book was great (Seriously, I can’t believe she’s giving it away for free now). Little did I know that my initial purchase would lead to so much more…

How the DIY Writing Newsletter Helped Me Become a Local Celebrity

Guess what?

I’m a newly-published YA author!

I know, right? I was super excited!

But then I got to the stage where I went, “Now what…?”

And that’s when I downloaded Dana’s Press Kit Template for the DIY Author (a subscriber-only freebie at the time). (The Publicity Checklist for the Itty-Bitty DIY Author is also that link. Nab that too!).

Best. Free. Download. EVER.

Seriously.

I’ve been writing press releases for a few years now, but they were always for other people/companies, never for myself. So, while I knew how to write them, I didn’t really know what came next. That part of the process was always taken care of by someone else.

But thanks to the advice in Dana’s free template, I ended up becoming somewhat of a “local celebrity”!

There was a story about me in the local newspaper.

It was picked up by my hometown’s newspaper.

And I’ve gotten speaking gigs at my former high school, middle school, and elementary school. Plus an additional local school I’d never even heard of until they contacted me! (I’ve spoken with just shy of 1,000 people in my target audience in the past two weeks and there’s more to come!)

I had a former classmate call me last week because they saw my face in the paper. How cool is that?

And that’s just the in-person events! Because you know what else…?

Blog tours ROCK!

Traditional marketing can only go so far, which is why Dana’s suggestion to have a blog tour was so freakin’ awesome. Through a blog tour you offer up free articles and interviews to blogs in exchange for a link back to your website or book. The blogger gets to relax and show off that they know other cool bloggers, and you get some free publicity. Everybody wins!

Through my blog tour, I’ve gotten to write guest articles for amazing blogs, be interviewed by other bloggers, and have my book, The Ballad of Allison and Bandit, reviewed.

The WordPress calendar plugin I’m using on my Events page has been a wonderful way to interact with my readers. And the hosts at the various online and offline venues I’ve been featured at have loved seeing their names pop up on it as well!

DIY Author? You’re in the Right Place!

Whether you’ve just been published, are about to be published, or are thinking to get published sometime in the future… I consider DIY Writing the place to be.

Read the articles. Sign up for the newsletter.

You’ll be glad you did.

I certainly am.

From Dana: *blushing* Thanks for all the kind words, Lauren! We’re happy to hear about your success, and hope launch week is going awesome :)

About this Writer

When Lauren Tharp isn’t running LittleZotz Writing, working with small business owners to help them earn more cash via her catchy copywriting, she’s lovingly typing up stories for young adults. Her latest YA novel, The Ballad of Allison and Bandit, tackles grief, growing up, and gaining a purpose. It’s a darkly humorous drama about abandonment, isolation, mortality, friendship, and hope. Download it free!

If you’re new to DIY Writing, here’s a great place to start. You can also subscribe to updates to download your FREE ebook!

Images courtesy of Lauren Tharp.

From Dana: This is a guest post from Jennifer Dunn. Jennifer owns Social Street Media and specializes in blogging and content marketing for clients in the tech and finance sectors, and brings you this post on behalf of WePay. She prides herself on learning something new everyday.

by Jennifer Dunn (@JennEscalona)

Starting a freelance career is fun, exhilarating — and a little frustrating. If you have no idea how to find your first client, you may start to wonder why you started this venture in the first place. With these tips and a little luck, you’ll be on the way to starting your freelance career in no time!

1. Start with those you know.

Your family and friends may not have work for you, but they know people. You’d be surprised at how often your mom or uncle or best friend has heard of someone needing the services of a freelancer, but didn’t think to call you. Make sure everyone you know realizes you are actively searching for new clients!

2. Find people you don’t know.

Once your family and friends have all been tapped for resources, it’s time to move out to the rest of the world. Try expanding your reach through the contacts you made through your loved ones, as they may be more receptive to talk with you. At the very least, you may stumble upon some work through a friend of a friend of a friend.

3. Go offline.

It may be a little scary, but head out into the “real world” and see if you can meet people there. There are plenty of networking events around you, no matter where you live. Head out to a few and make some contacts. Also attend other local events in your community. Many business leaders attend these events, and you may be able to convince some of them to give you a chance.

Identify companies or industries you’d be interested in working with. Even if they don’t seem to be hiring at the moment, write to a contact there and ask them out for coffee. While you may experience some rejection this way, just one “yes” could be your foot in the door.

4. Up your web presence.

Clients are out there on the internet, frantically searching for you. What if you’re nowhere to be found? If you don’t have a website, Facebook page, Twitter profile, LinkedIn account, etc. then you’re just begging to be ignored.

If you have that stuff already, make sure it’s as professional as possible. Also, reconfigure them to point everything to your contact info on your website. The last thing you want is a potential client stumbling upon your page and having no idea how to contact you.

5. Think about free work.

Free work gives you a portfolio to hand over to potential clients so they can see how good you are. It will be much easier for them to hire you with visual confirmation of your talent. Make sure it’s your best work, though, or your true talents won’t come through! For best results, do free work that’s truly interesting to you — you’re doing someone a huge favor, after all, so you get to be choosy!

What barriers do you face to finding your first freelance client?

If you’re new to DIY Writing, here’s a great place to start. You can also subscribe to updates to download your FREE ebook!

A Writer’s Bucket List is now available for Kindle!

You can still get the PDF of the book free, but if you want something easier to read on your Kindle (or you just wanna say, “Hey, thanks for the book, Dana. Have some money for groceries.”), you can get it at Amazon for just $4.95. Because I’m aiming for a big launch this week to prod Amazon’s robots and get noticed, we’re having some more launch week fun, and I’m offering a nice bonus package for everyone who buys the book by Friday.

Look at these goodies from DIY Writing and our generous blog partners:

Buy A Writer’s Bucket List for Kindle between today and Friday, April 19, email me your receipt [dmsitar(at)gmail(dot)com], and I’ll send you this bonus package as a thank you.

• The Weekend Book Marketing Makeover from Duolit Self-Publishing Team
• Good Enough: Stop Seeking Perfection and Approval from Bryan Hutchinson of Positive Writer
• eBooks Suck! (but they don’t have to): The Most Comprehensive Guide to eBook Conception, Creation, and Promotion Quite Possibly Ever from Hungry Entrepreneurs
• Press Kit Template for the DIY Author from DIY Writing
• How to Start an Email Newsletter from DIY Writing
• Blog Tour Planning Guide from DIY Writing

*Note: You HAVE to email me your receipt in order to get the bonuses; Amazon won’t give them to you automatically, and I have no other way to know you bought the book. I won’t*

More ways to get involved in Launch Week

DIY Writing Spring Blog Hop

Another blog hop! Help us promote the book, and get some exposure for your blog :) If you’re interested in participating, it’s not too late. Email me for details. Find participating blogs at writersbucketlist.com/blog-hop.

Tell your friends about the promotion.

It’s easy to spread the word, and it would be a big help if you can tell just one other writer about this offer. Mention it on your blog or newsletter, email a friend, or just click the buttons below to share these messages for Twitter or Facebook:

Buy @danasitar’s #WritersBucketList before Apr 19, and get this awesome bonus package free! writersbucketlist.com/kindle [Click to Tweet]

Wanna be a writer, but not sure where to start? @danasitar’s #WritersBucketList is 99 tasks to get you going! http://amzn.to/10G31Eq [Click to Tweet]

Here’s the kick in the butt you need to take the next step on your writing journey!  http://amzn.to/10G31Eq #WritersBucketList by @danasitar [Click to Tweet]

Wanna be a writer, but you’re not sure where to start? Dana  Sitar’s ‘A Writer’s Bucket List’ is 99 tasks from the writer’s life to get you going! http://amzn.to/10G31Eq [Copy + paste message to share on Facebook]

Review the book on Amazon.

If you’ve already read A Writer’s Bucket List and found it helpful, could you leave a few words at Amazon to let others  know? Other book buyers really like to see what readers think of the book — it’s more important to them than what I have to say about it — so your review could make a big difference in their decision to buy the book.

Thanks so much for your continued support of A Writer’s Bucket List and DIY Writing!

We’ve got some big, exciting changes just around the corner, and I’m so happy to have all of you in my corner :) If there’s ever anything you want to see here but can’t find, please don’t hesitate to ask for it. And if you want to keep up with our pending move and upcoming opportunities for DIY Writers, subscribe to updates, and you’ll be the first to know.

Thanks for reading all the way through! To save you some scrolling, here’s the link one more time to buy the book for Kindle. Thank you-thank you, and I’ll see you around the blogosphere this week!

If you’re new to DIY Writing, here’s a great place to start. You can also subscribe to updates to download your FREE ebook!

From Dana: This is a guest post by C. Hope Clark, editor of FundsforWriters.com and author of The Carolina Slade Mystery Series books Lowcountry Bribe and forthcoming Tidewater Murder. She is also author of the popular books for writers, The Shy Writer and The Shy Writer Reborn. She has written for Writer’s Market, Guide to Literary Agents, Writer’s Digest, and The Writer Magazine. Hope’s work has inspired me since early on in this journey, and I’m honored to welcome her today to DIY Writing!

by C. Hope  Clark (@hopeclark)

For every writer who shoots off a premature piece that’s unedited and too raw to be published, there are ten too afraid to even try. We don’t hear about them, because, well, they don’t make much noise. Not the first ripple in the pond.

I am a shy writer.

I know the drill. I feel the discomfort. That’s why I wrote The Shy Writer. That’s why I wrote its sequel, The Shy Writer Reborn. My blood, sweat, experiences and fears are on each and every page. Writing is the easy part. Being the marketable writer is harder, because it requires making yourself known. The last thing we want to be is arrogant, overbearing, proud, or, God forbid, just plain loud. We hate labels, period.

One of the worst problems we have as introverted writers is the overuse of labeling. We quickly scope out every obstacle before us, to determine its discomfort level before we give the issue half a chance. Entering a contest, submitting to a magazine, submitting a grant, pitching an agent at a conference, enrolling in the class that might make us read aloud. The thought of putting ourselves out there scares us away. It’s so amazing to me how hard we fight ourselves. We’ll decline an opportunity because it feels uncomfortable before we rule out whether or not it’s even professionally worthwhile!

We go through life as if we’re always boarding a bus, trying to determine who’s safe to sit next to. We almost always choose the sweet old lady with matching shoes and purse, avoiding the sour middle-aged man in the wrinkled trench coat. We dodge discomfort and make quick determinations on what part of life to engage in. All too often, we avoid wonderful opportunities because of the pinch of uneasiness. We forget about using our people skills.

In reality, the old woman might have poisoned her husband that morning, and the middle-aged man wears that old coat because it belonged to his deceased son who died way too young. The thirty-year-old man with dirty fingernails might be wealthy, just with an obsession for gardening. The girl with the red-spiked hair could be a prolific ebook writer with six figures in the bank, who could teach you a lot if you just said, “Hello, what do you do?”

Labeling Ourselves

What’s quirky is that we jump too quickly to label ourselves, thinking we can’t do this and can’t do that. We aren’t educated, aren’t good enough, aren’t sophisticated enough to do all that’s required of a writer. We don’t know how to show instead of tell, and don’t understand passive voice. So we don’t submit. Unfortunately, sometimes we don’t even write.

As an introvert, we don’t like being called slow, snobbish, sensitive, awkward, uninteresting or boring by people who do not know us. Inside we’re genuine, deep thinkers, prepared and deliberate. The loud world tends to label us too quickly when they don’t readily see what we’re made of.

So why do we do it to ourselves? Why label ourselves as having shortcomings before giving ourselves a chance to perform? Why do we decide we can’t do before we even try?

We are often our own worst enemy.

In The Shy Writer Reborn, considered a graduate level version of The Shy Writer, you learn tricks to get you through the uncomfortable. You develop savvy one-liners that keep you on track. You repeat mantras that remind you that you can become a force to be reckoned with, before you forget under pressure.

I’ve forgotten speeches, been bluntly rejected, crashed and burned during a pitch, and misspelled the name of someone I interviewed. I submitted articles to competing magazines, and had both published at the same time. I missed a deadline, and forgot about a radio interview.

But that missed radio interview boondoggle landed me another radio spot, and a newspaper interview, and two speaking engagements. The competing magazines got to know me, and have since published several of my pieces. I found a much better agent than the one who treated me so rudely. And I learned how to dig deeper within myself, tapping my passion to keep going.

Life happens. Yes, when you become a proactive writer you face rejection after rejection, even mistake after mistake. But those negatives become the best lessons. Without them, you never grow.

It’s okay to be introverted.

It’s who many of us are. But it’s not okay to use it as an excuse not to be a published writer. We can be both.

Have you let shyness hold you back from opportunities in your writing career? How do you overcome it?

If you’re new to DIY Writing, here’s a great place to start. You can also subscribe to updates to download your FREE ebook!

Photo in the featured image from stock.xchng.