Posted on April 14, 2009 by Catherine L. Osornio
I have been called to write. It was never a serious intention of my life to become a scribe, but that is exactly the path God provided for me. And now that I know it’s the direction God wants me to take, and I have whole-heartily accepted this design for my life, I am pursuing its avenues with dedication and perseverance.
What about you? Is writing a serious pursuit or just a hobby? If it is a serious pursuit, are you learning all you can about this craft? Are you taking classes, joining a critique group, and reading up on the latest information? If not, then you need to. You will never develop the essential skills you need to be a good and effective writer if you don’t take the time to hone your gifts.
God gives each of us talents. If writing is yours, get serious and learn all you can to become the scribe God has called you to be.
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Posted on April 6, 2009 by Catherine L. Osornio
I read this in an article about Daniel Handler, the author who wrote A Series of Unfortunate Events under the pseudonym Lemony Snicket. He said, “So much of writing is mere contemplation, and it took me a few years to find validity in this idea. One day I’d write 12 pages, and the next I’d sit around and think and eke out one paragraph, and it took me awhile to realize that was a legitimate use of time. Stephen Merritt, a songwriter I collaborate with, helped me see that, as long as what I’m doing is moving my brain forward, it’s OK.”
I love this quote because we are working when we think. Before we can set our words down onto paper, we must have ideas to place there, and that takes using our brains.
Are you pushing yourself to get a certain number of pages written each day? Don’t forget that the thinking process counts as work, too.
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Posted on March 26, 2009 by Catherine L. Osornio
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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Posted on March 19, 2009 by Catherine L. Osornio
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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Posted on March 10, 2009 by Catherine L. Osornio
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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Posted on March 3, 2009 by Catherine L. Osornio
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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Posted on February 24, 2009 by Catherine L. Osornio
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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Posted on February 16, 2009 by Catherine L. Osornio
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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Posted on February 10, 2009 by Catherine L. Osornio
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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Posted on February 2, 2009 by Catherine L. Osornio
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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