Writing Resolutions

They say that the pen is like a knife. If you use it properly, many will get good results. But if you are careless, it is enough to destroy quite a lot of lives. So, if you are planning to take up writing please keep this in your mind. This is a very interesting profession. Especially if you are a freelancer you need not work according to a fixed schedule and get orders from others. You can be your own boss and write what you like. In the good old days writers had to wait for ages to get their work published and some of their books come out after their death. Being a writer I can very well understand their pitiful state. These days of course we get to publish our own articles without any delay thanks to the World Wide Web. We can design our own blog for free, write on anything we like and get money. Just think about the bloggers who are earning hundreds of dollars for writing about what they eat and drink.

Becoming a writer or a blogger is very easy. But to survive here you have to develop some of the following qualities (it is better if you have all, but something is better than nothing)

1) Determination - when you tell others that you want to become a writer, most of them will advise you against it. They will try to come up with various stories to discourage you and force you to become a doctor or an engineer. If you don't have a sheer determination you will end up in a hospital, not to take medicine but to treat patients (hopefully). Well, that is a noble profession if you enjoy helping others.

2) Believe in your self - if you don't have self confidence you will end up as a farmer when your first manuscript is rejected. Publishers are only humans and have their own individual preferences. One may take what the other publisher has rejected. He/she may even take you up to the top of the ladder. Sometimes it is better to be on the ground because there's no way others can pull you down unless they dig a well and bury you.

3) Patience - do not expect overnight success. Some publish their first blog with the anticipation of having reporters and fans at their door next day morning or getting a $1000 cheque from their advertiser before the month end. We should not expect miracles like that. We should wait patiently and do what is necessary to find success.

4) Commitment - find time to write and try to produce manuscripts or blogs with quality. Do not expect fan mail or hundreds of dollars after writing a few sentences about your dog. You have to work hard to be successful.

5) Inquisitive - find out about the latest developments and also about what others are doing or else you will be like a frog in a well making outdated articles and you will have to pay others to read them. Try to supply according to the needs of your readers without asking them to read about fishing or cooking when they want to find out about the stock market.

6) Discipline - this is very important unless you want to be a garbage bin collecting rubbish. Decent readers will label it as dirt and will never visit you unless they go crack. Very few seeking junk will come to you.

7) Honesty - you have to win the trust of your readers. Then only they will visit your Blog. This is your key to success. If you deceive them you are committing suicide. Don't write like a marketer trying desperately to sell your content.

8) Effort - you should keep on trying till you are successful. Some people give up very easily if they do not get the votes from their readers. Make an attempt to find out more about your readers and other bloggers. Join a forum for bloggers to find out what they do to overcome their problems.

9) Equanimity - this is another essential quality you should develop. Don't go to the extreme ends when you write. Sometimes it can be difficult, but try to practice whenever possible.

10) Wisdom - many people think that is something you get by birth or something gifted to a very few in the world. Some expect this to fall from the sky. Well, if you really work hard you can develop this. If you think you lack this your brain is taking a nap. Shake it (not recommended) and wake up the sleepy cells in your brain. Be mindful about what you are doing, observe what is happening around you, start thinking about everything and anything and find out the reason behind what you see or hear. Read and listen whenever possible on any topic you come across. Try to gain knowledge from what you experience. If you really practice wisdom, this will be there with you like a companion. Well, it can be really irritating, but will always guide you towards success. Do not start developing all this today to become an ‘Einstein' tomorrow. It takes time.

Well, I can keep on adding qualities to this list. But, you will definitely give up reading (forget about practicing) because of the length. I will hope for the best and stop here with a pure intention of coming across Einstein Bloggers/Writers next week. Good Luck!

Well I did write about a pen in this hub. But this is the sad reality. This video is based on a true story.