Finding Your Virtual Voice

October 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Do you ever get a great idea that you think would make a compelling book? Do your friends and family tell you that you’re a great storyteller?
Ever considered becoming a writer?
You may think that writers are snooty English professors with degrees from Oxford, but think of some of the greatest literary minds in the world. Take Ernest Hemingway, for instance. Hemingway is undoubtedly one of the most talented and celebrated writers ever to have graced pen to page, and did he have high profile formal education? Not hardly.
So what keeps you from sharing your story with the world?
Afraid an editor or a publisher won’t agree with your family and friends’ assessment of your abilities as a raconteur? Or worse, your readers will be bored after flipping through the first page?
Before you talk yourself out of writing, why not turn to the Internet to test the waters and try your hand at writing online?
Nowadays, Internet publishing is the way to go for novices and professional writers alike. Almost everyone has Internet access and most people use the Internet as their primary source for information. Think about it: We all have favorite blogs or websites that we turn to time and time again for content. Why not join the ranks?
Whether you want to start out writing a blog that chronicles your day-to-day experiences, or you want to begin writing for an online publication that appeals to you as a writer, developing content online is a great way to establish a writing routine that will allow you to practice and hone your craft.
As the old adage goes, in order to be good at something you have to practice, and writing is no exception.
The best part is you’ll get lots of exposure and constructive feedback.
So why not get started. You never know what can happen as a result, or who is reading. You might find that the blog you started writing may turn into a book deal.

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Be an Internet Scribe

September 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Amateur Sleuths Name Anonymous Dead
Image by Renegade98 via Flickr

Have you ever toyed with the idea of becoming a writer, but were unsure about how to get started? Do you have an idea, but you’re not sure how to further develop it into a story? Or, are you uncertain whether people will find your idea or story worth reading?
Nowadays, the process of becoming a writer is not as challenging or elusive as it used to be and you don’t need an English degree from Oxford to get your work published.
Thanks to the Internet, it’s now easier than ever to share your story with people from all over the world.
Why not start your online publishing career by creating a blog or a personal website where you can share your ideas and stories with friends and family? Perhaps you want to chronicle your day-to-day experiences, or share a story that you’ve been toying with developing into a book. Perhaps you just want to bounce a few ideas off of friends or maybe even professional writers.

Virtual Playground for Writers
The Internet offers tons of forums, online publications and other mediums in which to share your ideas, so start thinking of outlets that best suit your writing needs.
You never know what can happen as a result of your efforts and you never know whose attention you might grab. In other words, you never know who’s reading and if you’re lucky, that article that you wrote might get online syndication or your daily memoirs could turn into a must-read.
It’s not that far-fetched. Some of today’s bestselling authors got their start writing online, and we’re not just talking about writing for professional publications. As of late, there are quite a few blogs that later became books, and a few even became movies.
In addition to providing a forum for you to share your work, the Internet is a great place to develop your craft, as there are numerous online writing courses, chat rooms and forums out there to help aspiring writers become great scribes.

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Filed Under: Computers, Democracy, General, Internet Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Connect With Fellow Writers on the Internet

September 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Are you a new or aspiring writer with a story to share, but you’re not quite sure which forum your writing is best suited? Do you have an interest in local, national or global news? Is a newspaper the right medium? Do you have an interest or expertise in a specific topic? Would a magazine or other periodical such as a niche or trade publication provide the best home for your work? Perhaps you’re more of a novelist or short story author.
Whatever your medium, you can connect with authors interested in all forms of writing via the Internet.
In many ways, the Internet is the go-to spot for writers to share their ideas and their latest material. Many writers use the Internet to create a virtual meeting spot, a sort of writers’ workshop where they discuss what’s new in the literary world as well as the latest techniques, works in progress and published materials.
Among its many functions, the Internet is also a place where people can share their thoughts and ideas freely, so don’t be intimidated by the process of sharing pieces of your work online. Make sure that when you are sharing your work with an online feedback provider that you trust this individual to review your work and not to attack it or claim it as their own.
Know that when you are sharing materials with people online that professional etiquette must be exercised in the same way that you would expect when conducting a feedback session face-to-face.
Once you have established a professional and trustworthy rapport, have fun and enjoy the benefits of having an independent party examine your work.
You may find that you get more out of the constructive criticism of a stranger who is reading your work for the first time online, versus the feedback of a friend or a loved one who has read your work each step of the way.

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Filed Under: Computers, Democracy, General, Internet Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Advantages of the Internet and E-Publishing

September 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Remember the days of writing workshops?
Seasoned writers and editors will recall a time when they used to meet at coffee shops, libraries and lounges to discuss their latest writing projects, schlepping their totes stuffed with their latest manuscripts, complete with frayed edges, smeared ink and coffee stains to meetings to discuss new ideas and revisions.
This was a time when writing and editing was still done on paper and there was no such thing as an electronic version of anything.
How those days have changed. And while some writers and editors still prefer the experience of meeting face-to-face with colleagues to discuss their work and the tactile feeling of writing and editing on paper, many rely on the Internet to exercise their craft and connect with fellow professionals in the trade.
Virtual Professional Relationships
Thanks to the development of professional networking and freelance sites, the Internet is a great place for writers to expand their professional network, debut ideas, garner feedback and get work. Where else can you meet with authors of different backgrounds and fields of expertise from so many corners of the world to chat about your craft, discuss projects and broker publishing deals?
The World of E-Publishing
The Internet is also a fantastic place to publish your work. As print media struggles and the publishing industry continues to suffer, more writers and editors are turning to electronic media for work. Whether you want to create a blog, write articles for an online publication or publish an e-book, using the Internet as a vehicle for sharing your writing is a great way to make an income, plus you get the benefit of having great exposure to other authors and readers all over the world.

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