Today was an astonishingly wonderful day. One of the best. Ever. Perhaps even life changing.
In The Color of Money, the only movie for which Paul Newman ever won a Best Actor Oscar, there’s a scene near the end where he’s playing against the once infamous real-life pool player Steve “The Miz” Mizerack, and after Steve loses to Paul, Steve says, “I didn’t deserve that.”
And without the slightest hesitation, Paul’s character, Fast Eddie Felson, replies, “Yes, you did.”
The reason Fast Eddie said, “Yes, you did.” is the same reason too many writers the world over self-destruct, fail and quit writing.
Let’s face it, we all want to become better writers. Don’t we? I know I do. I strive to become a better writer every day, and in order to improve I’ve discovered the secret is in having awesome resources at your disposal.
What follows are a list of links to resources I’ve found pretty darn useful. Most are remarkable blog posts containing brilliant tips, tricks, and top secret, secrets.
The below post is a short excerpt from Writer’s Doubt. (Some of the content in the book has changed due to rewrites and editing, and this excerpt was adapted for use as a stand alone blog post.)
Everyone has a story to tell, including you.
The dangerous part of writing and sharing our stories isn’t always the writing itself or even the story, it’s more about how it may affect others, and how they might react to it. It’s dangerous, because honesty always is.
I get a lot of inquiries about blogging. Most people ask me to visit their blog and tell them how they can improve it.
Unfortunately, the answer is rarely cut and dry.
But I have noticed some common mistakes that turn off would be readers and also happen to be the secrets top bloggers know…
Creative Commons by ChrisSmith
When did you know?
What led you to becoming a writer? What did you go through to get here? Do you remember the moment you finally realized that’s what you are? Or, did it come to you gradually? How did you feel when you finally realized it? Were you elated, or doubtful, or both?
Those are the type of things I’d love to know about you and when you finally knew: You Are A Writer.
So much so that I have created Positive Writer’s First Writing Contest!
You Are A Writer – Writing Contest
Due to failing grades and a seemingly total disregard for my own education, I was pulled out of school during the middle of 10th grade, never to return to high school. I eventually went to college, but this is the story of what happened in-between – you know, when I thought all was lost and the world would end.
Dropping out was one of the most embarrassing, disappointing times of my life. You are reading this today because of that experience and what followed.
Creative Commons by Î’ethan
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