Happy Monday my friends and welcome back to Artistry With Words.
Today’s topic: well, not so much a topic as a pep talk.
There will be days, and you know this to be true, when doubts creep in. This is a lonely profession, and it is natural at times to feel like you are making no headway at all. The rejection slips come; your latest article is hardly read by anyone; even your dog thinks you have no talent. J Those are the days when you have to read the quote by Mr. Washington below and keep moving forward.
There are no free passes in writing. You have to continue to pay your dues and reach for the stars.
I’m here with you. You are never alone as long as I’m drawing a breath.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.”
Booker T. Washington
Any questions?
SITE OF THE DAY
Washington City Paper hires a ton of work from freelancers like you. Makes no difference whether you live there; they are looking for work from published and unpublished writers all the time. Check them out here if interested.
CONTEST OF THE DAY
The Reuben Rose Poetry Contest has a deadline of September 30th and the entry fee is only six bucks. Check it out here and give it some thought. Who knows when fame will hit you smack between the eyes?
OPPORTUNITY OF THE DAY
GRIT Magazine hires people to do guest blogging for them. You can find them here.
No, you won’t get paid, but you will get a byline and will become one of their preferred writers, which means you will be seriously considered for future paying gigs. Good deal if you are looking to build your platform…..and hey, they just hired me so anything is possible, right?
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Speaking of building your platform, my thought and tip of the day have to do with getting your name out there. There are times when you need to trade pay for a byline. Getting published is huge as you go about this business of writing. If you can do a blog for free in a magazine, and get a byline, then do it.
That byline makes you a published author and that will eventually open other doors for you.
PROMPT OF THE DAY
See it…..absorb it….what does it do for your senses? Open up your imagination. There is a story in this picture.
SHORT ONE TODAY
I’ll give you a break today and keep it short, mainly because we are having some ungodly heat today and I need to get busy before it becomes too warm to write. Not all of us have air-conditioning you know. J
Have a great day of writing and as always, if you need anything just holler. You can reach me via email at holland1145@yahoo.com.
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
I haven’t stopped yet this morning, but just wanted to stop back in and say hi again to you!! Enjoy your Monday my friend!! 🙂
You are a doll, Janine! Thank you and I hope the rest of your day is enjoyable.
I agree Bill. It’s not about the money all the time. gotta reach out to such gateways for being recognized in what you LOVE to do 🙂
Happy Monday and hang in there. It’s in 90’s in sunny CA and too hot to concentrate!
Ruchira, it’s in the 90’s here and believe me, I’m dying a slow death. LOL Thank you my friend.
Dying of the heat, eh? If only you could see the look I’m giving you right now. LOL
Let the fan blow directly on you tonight and you’ll sleep like a baby. Not like my baby, of course, because she is a terrible sleeper.
Your sarcasm is duly noted, Lizzy. LOL
I tried the fan last night; it failed miserably. 🙂
I gotta tell ya: it was the loneliness, in part, that prompted me to go back to teaching. That and somehow it got into my blood and when I’m not doing it, I feel like I NEED to be. However, even if I am doing the Master’s, I always intend on doing writing and art…somehow those have etched their way into my genome, too. LOL. I’m one gnarly dudette, imprinted with Espanol, writing and art onto my DNA. Now…how to balance it all out….;)
Cyndi, at your age I could have never left teaching. I understand completely, and you will always have writing and art to fall back on during tough times or when teaching is finally over. 🙂
Thank you Bill–for your own persistence –checking out the poetry contest–
I’m glad, Audrey. You are such a fine poet….I want you to win some contests. 🙂
Hi Bill,
I did free work as a Make Up Artist starting off in photographic and film work in order to get a portfolio of work and establish important connections. You are dead right, sometimes you have to forego the cash to build a presence.
Cheers for another great reminder!
I checked out the Washington paper too!!
Suzie, for some reason in today’s world, people have forgotten this lesson….you have to build your portfolio in order to be taken seriously in any endeavor. Thanks for verifying that with your experience.
Good morning sir Bill! Sorry for being lax in visiting, but – i have visitors..lol..
i am loving on this blog of yours and learning tons, but i must admit to being one of…’them’…
if i don’t feel like writing – i don’t..
i know i’m a bad, bad girl and prolly need a good spanking..HAHA
kidding of, COOOOurse!
btw..you don’t want me to tell you where that prompt takes me…
at 21,000 and writing..
lol
Leslie, don’t be so fast to tell me you were kidding about the spanking. Remember, I’ve read a lot of your hubs. LOL
I’m happy when you show up and understanding when you don’t…no pressure from me. I’m just here to help when writers need it. Your friendship is enough to keep me happy. 🙂
Try searching for marketing and you should
provide these on time. One of my top tips for anyone starting out online
marketing affiliate products and and wondering how
you can improve your marketing campaign in the context of the specific business.
The keywords you select will be the starting place for conversations on all
the companies as well go online, so as to return your web page.
Because you gave something they enjoyed receiving and because it will give you an unfair
advantage over your competition.
Thanks for stopping by, whoever you are. 🙂