The Writer's Mailbag: Installment 239

Thank you for sharing valuable tips, Bill. I do need to keep myself more focused and get less distracted by something that turns up suddenly but does not need immediate attention.

Hi, Bill,

Good things are worth waiting for. There is always a touch of kindness and understanding in every comment I read that you post.

Have a great week, and I'm looking forward to your next article.

Much respect,

Tim

Another great mailbag. Scheduling is one of the concerns that I have. I need to learn how to keep a schedule that also gives me time for my five kids at home and my wife. That is a challenge for which I have yet to figure out the solution. I figure I will need to wait until the kids grow up and out before really focusing on the writing the way I want. Thanks for a great article.

Excellent advice this week! I had to laugh at your story in the intro. No, dumb never takes a vacation. Thanks for another informative mailbag. I hope you have a great week!

Hi, Bill,

I was writing to see if you read my comment.

Are you calling my freelancing endeavors volatile? Like the stock market? LOL. If you are, that probably sums it up perfectly. Just because I'm attempting to write to day does't mean I will pen a single word tomorrow.

I was happy to have published my first article no fear or sign of less confident. A&Q well answered.

Good mailbag, Bill. I think we all struggle with confidence at the start and doubt our ability to measure up. Like anything the more you do it the more confidence you build.

Take care in those winds, my friend.

Fogelberg is such a great poet, I'm in awe. Thanks for sharing.

Good evening, Bill. Sixty miles per hour through the fir trees, huh. Sometimes we have that problem here with the pines. In fact, Larry had my two favorite pines cut down for that very reason. Now the house looks bare. I don't have too much to say today, except that you are to be commended for still cranking 'em out.

I do have a question you can probably answer though. If a person (namely me) has 10 years experience commercial copywriting in the days before computers and content writing, would a course in today's techniques be beneficial. I'm not sure I want to write copy again at all, but in case I do.... I'll wait for your answer next week. And watch out for falling firs!

Hi Bill. I agree that niche writing is the way to go. My first few years on HP I wrote about a variety of topics. It wasn’t until I started to focus exclusively on travel that my HP writing began to gain traction. Just my simple opinion, but it seems to be working for me. Have a great week.

OMG, I can't believe I'm here in the Mailbag on, wait for it, Monday! Great start to the week, eh?

Re: Freelance/Lack of Confidence. Seems these are two issues that are solved by the same thing: Just doing it!

Re: Niches are they Nice or Nonsense? I do agree that niche writing is the way to become known as an expert in your field. The only thing is dealing with expectations. If the niche is super small, the traffic and resulting income streams can be small as well. So do some research before deciding on what niches are right for you.

I see that you're getting a big of the Windy City weather on the Left Coast. Stay safe and warm!

Thanks for the lessons you teach by precept and by example. This mailbag is itself a lesson in discipline. Have a great week.

Terry, I'm with you, babe. I struggle terribly with lack of confidence. Bill, I know you already know this, but you are blessed beyond measure for Bev as a supportive wife. If it were not for the encouragement of my HP friends I wouldn't even consider writing a book. I constantly struggle with "will people like my work? What if they don't." I've decided to just do it to the best of my ability. I think once I get the first book published, it will be easier to keep going.

I am also thinking of going into freelance. I'm glad I read this. I will check out your articles on freelancing. Love the mailbag.

Bill,

I am in agreement with niche writing, although you can look at some of my articles on HubPages and see all sorts of different types of subject matter. It took time and I found what was good for me and what I could put out consistently. Thanks again for the helpful tips.

Blessed the traveler who journeys

The length of the light.

I love these lines of the poem you included here. For me, it's like an encouragement to keep at the journey.

I often get distracted even when I am alone in the house. I have several things going on at the same time. I am seeing now that it is not a good idea at all.

Hi, Bill,

Superb. From what I've read from writers such as Samuel Sinclair, an important thing to do is to find a time of day when you will write and do nothing else. It helps prepare your mind and body for that task. I've also had the good fortune of working with editors at college and as a columnist/reporter for a town newspaper who taught me about what is important: "Two kinds of news will sale: good and bad." Everybody's taste isn't the same, and some will like you today, and some will never like what you write. Others will want to take you out for dinner. Such is the writing life.

I recall reading one story in which Steven King wanted to give up on publishing his classic novel, "Cary." Thanks to his wife, he didn't. My wife is much like yours - a very supportive person and my toughest critic. I love her for that.

Loved your mail bag, Bill.

Great stuff in here.

Much respect and deepest admiration,

Tim

Happy Monday Bill! I'm also surrounded by huge tall pine and oak trees, and I can really identify with the eerie feeling of walking my dog through the woods and hearing those creaking noises coming from above...we call those branches that come crashing down "widow makers" and I find myself trying to protect myself by raising my hand's above my head. LOL good luck with that!

Hope you have a happy and productive week! Looking forward to your book coming out soon! :)

The freelance thing always confuses me. I've made a little money, but certainly not enough to say that 's what drives me. I write . . . well because I write, because it's what I love to do. I suppose there's no way of knowing for sure, but do you think most consider writing for money, or just for the love of writing? Do you think money drives good writing or does good writing drive money? I realize this is probably just an opinion question, but I'm curious as to how most writers think.

Hi Bill – This is as a condensed version of this story that I can put together. While visiting with family on Sunday, the conversation turned to an online business idea blossoming for the sleep deprived. The question was put to me with a straight face, if I wanted to contribute my past writing to ‘him’ to turn them into a ten hour audio to put people to sleep.

I left shortly afterwards.

Happy Mailbag Monday.

Oh, I have seen a toppled 100 foot pine. Not a pretty sight. The ‘Pine Motel’ now has a fifteen foot pine out front.

Money should not be the primary motivation for writing. If it is, get ready to starve. If you choose a niche, you absolutely must choose one you love.

Bill, what an interesting collection of questions this week. Of course, the answers are brilliant! I am glad that you weathered the storm (pun intended). Perhaps Bev should outfit you with a construction area helmet when you venture out to feed the chickens.

Have a safe and productive week my friend.

"Craigslist has gigs listed…as does Textbroker…as does a dozen other sites. Dive in the water and see what happens" - Thanks for the tip, in case I go hungry someday lol I guess it's good to know that there is something to fall on for some peanuts.

"I’m afraid to publish for fear that others won’t like my work." - Of course some people will not like it and probably many. On the other hand, many others may like it. Never know till You try. On top of which, it's always nice to do things "in spite of...". Haha!!

"I do believe this: a talented writer can make money writing about anything." - Ya but will You enjoy it? I hear there's some money to be made in writing technical/instructional manuals. Who enjoys doing that though? I'd rather bleed to death lol I'm joking ... a little.

"I follow a strict schedule during workdays." - Ya, that's a problem with yours truly. Sleep when tired, eat when hungry. What's a clock, or a schedule? Not only do I not know the date but often I don;t even know the day of the week.

"I don’t randomly pick another chore to do if it is not on my schedule."' - Not sure why it has taken me nearly forty years to learn to do one thing at a time but I often find myself nowadays saying: "One at a time!" Sigh ... lol

Thanks for the help with the introspection and for the writing.

All the best!

Bill, I do not have the couch potato mentality either. I like being productive, but I can't do some things I always took for granted. I focus my energy in other directions now, but stay busy.

I did write for Textbroker for about a year, but I got tired of it. I like choosing my own topis, so Hubpages works for me. I think you are fortunate to have a wife like Bev, one who believes in you and gives you a little push when appropriate. Sounds like you will have a beautiful week.

Rajan's question is also one I struggle with, but I am getting better.

I am too easily distracted.

As for making money from writing, there are a lot of avenues out there. I found I was spreading myself too thinly and not doing on best on any of the sites, and felt burned out. Hubpages is where I'm happiest.

Have a great week up there.

Wind storms. I have a love-hate relationship with them, a little like a bad thunderstorm. Quite awesome and also a a bit bothersome.

My two cents about freelancing online: In addition to Craigslist, there are several other sites that are designed for freelancers. Some of them I wouldn't recommend because of price and payment issues. However, there are others that I was able to make decent money on when I sold an article or worked for a particular client. I just haven't had the time it requires to sit down and write in scheduled blocks like I used to. Anything I've sold lately had been random articles still up for sale that hadn't posted sooner. My stock is dwindling.

Once again you have touched on topics that strike a chord with me. Your hubs are so relevant. I smiled especially at your tips for getting things done. The question I have is this: in your list of things to do, which I assume you probably have (if not on paper, at least in your head) do you ever reach the end of the list? I never seem to, but may be reaching the end of things to do will signal boredom.

Being focused and consistent amidst all the distractions is indeed commendable. This is an art I need to learn. Thanks for another interesting mailbag!

Morning Bill, You are so right about the windstorms hitting hard this winter. Enough! Lovely mailbag. Good that you offer so many resources to writers. I used to write for money in my former days as a newspaper reporter. Online writing is a whole different ball game.

Thanks for sharing your advice. I think getting distracted is my greatest obstacle.

Happy Monday Bill!

Great mailbag questions and your helpful answers. As always, you inspired and motivated me, especially in the answer to Rajan’s question.

Nice poem and videos. I hope the weather is good in your part of the World. Take care! Thank You.

Always you have these lovely lyrics to end with - it's a great 'extra'!

I totally agree about writers needing to share their thoughts in this time of 'crudeness and rudeness'. We have to try to bring back reason and perspective, consideration and friendship; in short, love.

The winds have come back here too - always windy by the sea but there are degrees and we get the full blast occasionally.

Wishing you a windless week and a mellow Monday, bill!

Ann

Chilly Monday here. But also thankful that it is partly sunny and no snow just yet. Supposed to get some for the first time in 2019 this weekend. But so far, we haven't and been lucky I suppose. Yet, I am pretty sure this weekend our luck will run out. Still going to take what we can for the week ahead and get as much done as I can while the sun shines. Happy Monday now, my friend!! :)