The Writer's Vault
This newsletter, Write for Your Life, began over two years ago. During that time we've covered a lot of territory.
As of this moment, one-thousand-four-hundred and nine subscribers have hopped on board. Thank you for being one of them.
But if you haven't subscribed yet, join us in this quest to write better, publish more, and monetize our written work.
For this special Anniversary Edition of Write for Your Life, I've opened The Writer's Vault!
Except for the first entry (our very first edition), the remaining articles are in alphabetical order, not chronological.
Come in and see what's in The Writer's Vault...
As writers, you and I need a daily procedure to turn out work — words on paper or computer screen. The point is to produce written work. Good or bad, polished, or not, at the beginning stage all writing is a process of production.
Some books fundamentally expand your thinking and potentially change your life. Here are ten non-fiction works that do just that, especially if you’re a writer.
When you’re stuck on a piece of writing, one or more of these questions will break up the mental logjam and allow you to write.
No matter how much time you devote to your writing, it makes sense to discover ways to monetize what you write. Doing so allows you to write more, publish more, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
What's the most important thing a writer should know? A writing mission statement could make all the difference in how you approach your writing.
As an experiment, I decided to delve into the nature of good writing, publishing, and monetizing with ChatGPT. What follows may surprise you…
We delve into Ayn Rand’s illuminating and practical insights on fiction writing.
During her lifetime, Ayn Rand taught fiction and non-fiction writing to a select group of individuals. Her insightful series of lectures on principles, strategies, and tactics for successful writing were published in two books. Here are some essential highlights…
It’s not what life throws at you that matters. It’s what you do about it. When bad or unexpected things happen to us, what’s most important is what we do next…
Writing and editing are two separate activities. Expecting it to be good, polished, or perfect when you begin to write, stifles your writing.
To help keep you writing and focused, here are the links to three articles from authors who share their knowledge and love of writing. Learn and enjoy.
A reminder with links to the resources mentioned in various issues of Write for Your Life…
I’ve self-published six books, five non-fiction and one book of “flash fiction.” (I’ve added one more since I originally wrote this, so now it’s seven.) I’ve learned a few things along the way that may help you if you want to self-publish. Hopefully, my experience will be useful to you in your own efforts.
I don’t have all the answers, but I can share what works for me and what I’ve learned so far. Self-publishing is relatively easy. What’s challenging is publishing books that readers want to buy.
There are times when seeking perfection is vital, such as life and death situations. Yet, for most of us, seeking perfection in everyday activities, especially writing, can lead to frustration and non-achievement. Here’s a better option…
If you want to make money from your writing, you need an audience—individuals who read what you write and are willing to pay for it. This is true whether you write non-fiction or fiction. But how do you find that audience?...
This is why it's vital to know your potential audience and be able to show the WIIFM — “What’s in it for me.”
How to Jump-Start Your Writing (A 3-part process)
“I wanted to be a writer. All my heroes were writers. Problem was, I wasn’t writing. How could I be a writer if I wasn’t getting stuff written? I was ready to give up. Then, one day…”
Always in search of ideas to monetize our writing, I found three articles worthy of your time and attention…
Recommended by LinkedIn
The first seven issues of Write for Your Life offered an incredible array of resources from successful writers willing and able to share what they know. This was a rundown of what each issue contained…
Politics affects all of us, especially when our freedom is at stake. So, how can you write to the White House, Congress, the Media, and Regional Politicians? Find out…
If you seek to make a decent income from your writing, become an independent entrepreneur. As a profitable writer (or soon-to-be one), you are in the business of presenting and packaging ideas that can enhance the lives of your readers.
If you seek to make an income from your writing, become an independent entrepreneur — a solopreneur. Allow me to suggest sixteen ways to approach the challenge of becoming a productive and successful writer...
Writers, Blogs, Websites, and posts to help you write better, publish more, and monetize your written work.
The key is to offer specific value to a well-defined audience of folks you choose to serve with your written work.
It’s writing for yourself, not worrying about what you write, only that you write. Can be a stream of consciousness or thoughts about life. It’s “priming the pump,” getting in the habit of writing for yourself first, with no self-criticism about what you’re writing. You prove to yourself that you have the writing chops to… write!
If you are ever at a loss for what to write, consider creating a memory list as a useful resource. It’s a list you create with a brief sentence, a phrase, or just a word that signifies a memory from your life. In this issue, I share some examples to help you with yours…
Allow me to share a brief story of a writer and his dog living on a deserted island. It speaks to how we sometimes may feel about our writing journey…
If you're a writer, you are in the idea business. Doesn't matter whether you write fiction or non-fiction. You live and breathe the atmosphere of ideas.
Marketing is about connecting, conversing, encouraging, and inspiring your chosen target audience with actionable information and inspiration they can use and want to use. So, how do you begin…
Reading about writing is not writing. You and I must write! But it’s not easy. Sometimes, we need a kick in the pants…
I've gathered a collection of videos from fiction and nonfiction writers, featuring their writing routines, work habits, insights, suggestions, and even intimate looks into their writing offices and desks.
Finding Your Writer's Sweet Spot: “It’s not about you! It’s about the audience! Dazzle them. Make them laugh. Make them cry. Inspire them. Broaden their horizons. Show them something new. Teach them. But never, ever talk down to them or act as their superior.”—Tom Cruise
What’s your motive? What are you trying to accomplish as a writer? It may be different from mine. We are all in various stages of our life journey and writing careers.
Sometimes we forget that writing is a physical process as much as a mental one. Here’s a way to take advantage of that…
When you write, you are a doer, planner, and dreamer who converts thoughts, experiences, and imagination into stories, articles, poems, essays, plays, and more.
If you are trying to discover who you are really writing for, try this: Write to your past self. Then your present self. Finally, write to your future self.
We’re always on the lookout for resources to help writers like you and me to become more productive and successful. Here are seven writers with valuable, yet different perspectives on writing and publishing.
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I encourage you to leave your thoughts and suggestions in the comments. They are much appreciated.
- Ken West is the author of seven books designed to help you live the best life possible and flourish in this ever-changing creator economy.