Writing Advice: So You Want to Be a Writer?

Even the best writers know the rules when writing anything: always have someone else review your work before you submit it for consideration. This is true whether you are writing an article for submission to a magazine, writing a term paper for school, or writing that soon-to-be best selling novel.




Mama Loves You







Okay, so you know it's best to have someone review your work, but who should you choose to do this? Well, many writers do indeed have family and friends who review their writing, but there is a problem with this approach. Your best friend or your mother is surely not going to view your writing with an unbiased opinion. To them, anything you write is going to be outstanding! Well, unless your mom is like mine, but then, I digress. That doesn't mean you can't have family and friends review your writing, but perhaps it would be best to obtain a more professional opinion in addition to theirs.




Starving Artist







So where can you get a professional opinion on a shoestring budget? Should you recycle cans and take a second job to pay someone thousands of dollars to edit your book? Well, you could…but then, after crushing all those cans, your hands might be too sore to write!




Never fear, a low cost and sometimes even free option may is available. Join a writer's group or chat forum where members are invited to submit writings for reviews and critiques. Find a private writer's forum where experienced and published authors are members, and you can definitely learn from their experience. These writer’s forums are a wonderful option during the creative stages of a writing. The feedback from people who both love to write and love to read can help shape your writing into something that appeals to a broad audience.




Sticks and Stones