One invaluable tool I use on a regular basis is my thesaurus. I have it sitting on my computer desk within easy reach. When I’m writing about a particular subject, and I need to break up my article or manuscript with a different synonym, my thesaurus gives me a plethora of choices to prevent my piece from becoming redundant.

I picked up my copy for a few bucks at an outlet store several years ago. It was one of those, “Should I buy this?” kind of moments. I’m so glad I talked myself into its purchase. It is used more often than my dictionary.

Looking for a first-rate writing resource? Think thesaurus.

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As writers we need to offer legitimacy to the words and stories we write. That’s why it’s crucial to do our  homework and dive into that extra bit of research. One way is to take classes.

Suppose you’re writing about a girl who owns a horse. By taking a horseback riding class, you can learn about saddles, reins, and bits, as well as learning how to ride.

Maybe one of your scenes involves a clue hidden in a stained glass window. Take a class to help you understand all that’s involved in creating such a work of art.

Research is crucial in making your story believable. Why not have fun while doing it? Enroll in a class and learn hands on.

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Even though I didn’t grow up wanting to be a writer, I have to acknowledge that my training started early. Loving to read helped. I was reading since before Kindergarten and I haven’t stopped since. Reading helped me to develop my vocabulary and taught me a lot about imagery and story telling.

But the hardest training I had, that definitely prepared me for the writer’s path I am on today, was my high school Honors English classes with Sister Bernadette. She was very strict, and the rules of grammar were literally carved into your brain. It was either learn or be ostracized. I chose to learn.

And I’m glad I did. Her lessons helped me stand out in the job market when someone with good writing skills was needed. Friends and family members still ask me to help compose letters or proofread papers. Her strictness helped me develop discipline to compose quality articles so that, as one editor has put it, he has little to do before he sends my piece on for final review.

So I’m thankful for Sister Bernadette, the toughest teacher I ever had, but whose efforts and faithfulness to her teaching has opened many publishing doors for me.

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I’ve read a lot of blog talk the past several weeks on whether one should write in more than one genre. Some have argued that a publisher will want to market one area only, not several. Another said that if you build up one audience, you need to follow with a similar story to keep that audience. Someone else pointed out that you should wait until you make it big and then step into another area.

I have a problem with these arguments. As a Christian I pray for the Lord to stir my heart towards projects. He has given me many, and they are not all in the same genre. I’ve written for both adult and children, fiction and non-fiction. I enjoy mysteries for kids and I’m working on a YA novel right now. As I keep writing and seeking the Lord’s direction, He keeps giving me a variety of ideas. I need to be faithful to put them down onto paper. I’ll let Him worry about the marketing details.

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I sometimes work on writing projects with a friend of mine. In fact it was her desire to learn about writing that launched me on my own writing journey. But it isn’t always easy working together. So here are a few tips I’ve learned over the years to help when collaborating.

1.      Find a common ground. In our case we are both Christians, so we will pray to ask God for time and direction in our writing efforts.

2.      Allow for varying personalities. Because we are different from one another, we know we will not always agree on everything 100%. This is where our faith helps, too, because we can step back and pray for the Lord to help us work any snags in our relationship. Of course, we also realize that it’s these differences that give texture and substance to a lot of what we write.

3.      Be respectful of one another. This means making sure you listen completely to what your writing partner has to say.

4.      Don’t be impatient if timing doesn’t always work out. This has been a tough one for me because sometimes I want to work, work, work. But then I have to remember point #2. Because of our different personalities, we both have different work habits as well as work schedules. I have learned to wait on God’s timing, which always works out for the best when I wait for it.

I’m sure there are more collaborating tips that I will learn as time goes on. I just enjoy being able to have a good friend to bounce ideas off of.

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It’s tax time. Time to gather up the receipts and visit the accountant. I’ve used the same tax man for over 20 years. It’s great having someone who can answer all my questions, especially in regards to what I can and cannot deduct for my writing.

A helpful tip is to keep your receipts together so you aren’t digging through a bunch of folders or drawers to find them. I keep mine in a 9 x 6 inch envelope. Before I put them into the envelope, I will write a little memo on the back telling me what the expense was for. Come tax time I separate the receipts by category, and then add up the various totals.

Make sure you remember to keep track of your mileage. Even your trips to the post office and to the library count.

So are you ready for tax time?

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You would think that as writers we should know the true meanings of words. You would also think we would be excellent proofreaders. Yet this week I received a letter where I totally misinterpreted a word, thereby getting a good portion of the message wrong.

I was asked if I would grant permission for a group to use one of my articles on their database. I would be compensated, but I thought they were asking for exclusive rights. The word “non” was in front of the word “exclusive,” but for some reason I only read “exclusive.” It took two e-mails to clear things up for me. I probably looked pretty foolish.

That will teach me not to rush reading through a letter. I was in a hurry when the mail had come that day, so I only gave it a brief glance on my initial read. Of course, that was enough to set my misinterpretation into motion.           

Make sure you take the time to thoroughly read through documents and letters. You don’t want to miss out on any potential opportunities. And you definitely don’t want to look unprofessional.

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My time is limited. Being a wife and a mother of four, I know my writing has to take second place. So when I do sit down to work, I have to be very specific in the tasks I need to complete.

Research is such a critical part of my writing, especially if I’m working on non-fiction articles. When I have a deadline looming (like within the next week or two), I often won’t set specific writing-only times for other projects. This is tough, but since I only have so much time in the day to work, I have to include reading and digging up facts that will make my article desirable to my editor.

But once that deadline is met, I will make the time to work on those other opuses that are dear to my heart. This may not be the best approach, but it is what works for me at this moment in my life when my family must come first.

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Just as in any job, the more skills you have, the better asset you are to your employer. I think the same goes for writing, particularly in tough times: the more styles and genres you can write, the more marketable you will be.

Although I would love to write middle grade fiction novels, I make money writing children’s fiction and non-fiction stories. Through some work samples from a friend, I learned to write rebuses. For one magazine I have made money writing rebus, historical fiction, and non-fiction pieces. I even wrote a craft article. For another group I have earned a nice sum writing fictional Biblical value stories.

Being willing to diversify your writing will not only help bring dollars into your coffers, it will improve your craft and develop a nice resume.

In this difficult economic market, try branching out a bit. You may be rewarded with some welcome income opportunities.

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What do you do to get into the mood to write? Do you play soft music in the background? Do you wear a certain hat or use a particular pen? Do you take a walk before you start to compose, or do you take a nap to feel refreshed?

I don’t do any of the above. I get into the mood by praying for inspiration. It is through prayer that I am demonstrating my dependence upon God for ideas. He put writing into my heart as a career. I told Him that I would write as long as He gave me ideas, and it’s fun to see how God keeps answering my prayers by giving me some wonderful insights. Sometimes it’s just a matter of time to get something down on paper.

How do you get into a writing mood?

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