For budding GR writers: 13 tips for actually getting some writing done

**kingcap72** · July 5th, 2009, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by buttmunch

Blergh...I hate when I come across old writing. I'm a harsh critic of my own stuff.

Same here, Butt. Nobody's a tougher critic on my writing than I am.

But the one good thing about rereading some of your old work is that you can see the areas where you improved.

**buttmunch** · July 6th, 2009, 02:31 AM

True, true. And every once in a very blue moon I come across something and think 'hey, that's really not bad at all.' It's a rare day when that happens, though. Hell, I don't even like most of what I currently write.

**kingcap72** · July 6th, 2009, 08:25 AM

Sometimes, I'll read some old work and think 'wow, I wrote that?' and that applies to the good and the bad writing.

But the best thing to do if you really love to write is to just keep doing it.

**buttmunch** · July 6th, 2009, 07:48 PM

Yeah, too right. I'm trying to get back into freelance right now and forgot about the amount of discipline you need. Gah...I really have to strap myself to a chair and disconnect the internet.

**kingcap72** · July 6th, 2009, 08:33 PM

Same here. I keep telling myself that I need to buckle down and write, but between the Internet, looking for a job and other things I can't seem to carve out the time.

Although my goal is to start carving out some time before the end of the month.

**buttmunch** · July 6th, 2009, 11:04 PM

Ok, I challenge you: write one article proposal that has a good shot at being bought by the end of July. Are you on?

**kingcap72** · July 8th, 2009, 05:00 PM

Sounds like a plan. Give me a few specifics and guidelines.

**buttmunch** · July 9th, 2009, 04:20 AM

OK, come up with an article idea that could be sold to a mid-range women's magazine. Think Women's Day or the like.

**RevellingInSane** · July 9th, 2009, 07:00 AM

Good advice in this thread.

**kingcap72** · July 15th, 2009, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by buttmunch

OK, come up with an article idea that could be sold to a mid-range women's magazine. Think Women's Day or the like.

A woman's magazine? You're not making this easy.

How about this? The cultural dynamics between older & younger women in the corporate workplace in the post-feminist era.

**buttmunch** · July 16th, 2009, 04:55 AM

Excellent. Give me headline, a secondary bold and a general run-down of what the article will be about. PM if you're more comfortable.

**kingcap72** · July 16th, 2009, 09:28 AM

Damn. How much work do I have to do? I just thought about how the older & younger women at my old job didn't get along, and just threw in the words 'cultural' & 'feminism' to make it sound professional.

Give me a little time and I'll think of a headline, drophead and some key article points.

**kingcap72** · July 16th, 2009, 11:56 AM

Here's what I came up with, Butt:

Survival of the Feminist in the Workplace
How women view each other & cope in the post-feminist era

Key article points:

1) The definition of feminism for younger & older women

2) Younger women who use sex appeal over experience

3) Older women who feel like experience isn't enough vs. sex appeal of younger women

4) How both younger & older women view workplace sexism

**AliceInWonderland** · July 16th, 2009, 01:43 PM

omg butt, what a great thread! i always wanted to write but have no idea to go about it and i know its extremely hard work so i've been lazy too ...

this is exciting though, maybe just maybe ill start

Originally Posted by kingcap72

I wrote a novel years ago when I was about 18 or 19. Took me almost a year to finish it since it was about 700-plus pages. I went back and reread it a few months ago, and laughed my ass off with how cheesy and bad it was.

so thats still quite an accomplishment! i dont think most ppl realize how hard it is to write anything, let alone a whole novel! im impressed king!

**kingcap72** · July 16th, 2009, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by AliceInWonderland

omg butt, what a great thread! i always wanted to write but have no idea to go about it and i know its extremely hard work so i've been lazy too ...

this is exciting though, maybe just maybe ill start

so thats still quite an accomplishment! i dont think most ppl realize how hard it is to write anything, let alone a whole novel! im impressed king!

Thanks, Alice.

It is hard to write, especially a book, screenplay or play, but it's worth it when you're done and you can look at what you've accomplished.

And if you feel like writing, you should give it a try. If you can't figure out where to start, just think of things from your own life, or the lives of people you know, as a jump-off point.