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As a writer I have been wanting to write for days. However, it seems to me, I haven’t been writing. So I stopped and thought about why I haven’t been writing.

Then my self doubt comes in and says, “well, even if you did write something, who would want to read it? Probably not very many people, right? So it isn’t important if you don’t write today.”

Then my heart chimes in and says, “but you love to write and you have something you want to say. For instance, this conversation you are having with yourself right now. I bet other writers have this or a similar conversation with themselves. It may help someone else realize they aren’t alone. So I think you should share it with them.

See, you and I aren’t alone and that is why I have chosen to write this post.

I don’t want to have my self doubt stop me from writing. The other things I “fight” with myself on about writing are:

“You don’t have any credentials to be a writer. So what makes you think you would be any good at it.” Then I remember people like Paula Deen (Food Network host) isn’t formally trained and she found her happiness just by doing what she loved to do—cook for her friends and family.

“Why go through all of this and then found out you can’t sell any of the books you want to write.” Then I remember if I am doing what I love, it is better than giving up on it because I may not make tons of money at it. Money has never been a motivator for me anyway.

“If you want to take your book to a traditional publisher, you have to first find an agent. And in order to find an agent, you will need a query letter. You don’t know how to write a query letter. I think it is too much trouble…just don’t try. Then I remember what my daughter told me this morning. She said, “Mom, If there is a road block in your way, find a way to either go over it, around it or crash though it mom”.

So today, I started writing and each day I am going to keep writing whether it be a 250 word post or 250 words toward the book my daughter and I are writing together. Or perhaps it will be at least 1 page for the novel I am writing.

As a writer, what are your road (or writing) block? Please share with me and perhaps we can support each other in our writing goals.

Here are my picks for Fab Five Friday this week:

First, let me start out with a link from a link. Joan Stewart, the Publicity Hound, posted a link to The Daily ‘Dog article about how to submit material to the editors at The Family Circle magazine. Great insight and information. The one I really enjoyed was sticking to one form of communication. For instance, if you choose to email a query, don’t then call the editor asking if they have received your email. If you want to follow up, you follow up by email.

Next, I found a new organization online for writers and editors called the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors. You can join and receive some benefits such as:
You can receive your own NAIWE based website to showcase your work.
Get listed in the “find a writer/find an editor” database.
Receive legal information and responses on a individual basis for industry specific questions.
Discount on technical support services for one of your most valuable assets, your computer.
Opportunity to network with fellow NAIWE members.

And there are more benefits for only $149 per year to join.

Another interesting post came from Twitter from ASBPE (American Socity of Business Publication Editors) where Matt Bolch wrote an article titled, “Levering your Freelance Stuff”. I enjoyed this article because it started off by discussing the importance of establishing relationships between editors and freelancers. He gives some advice on how to get more out of a freelancer (not about money, but more concise work) and how to encourage a freelancer.

Then I would like to introduce you to a fellow twitterer I am now following, @10 Minute Writer (aka Katharine Grubb) who wrote a post called Canoeing Down the Illinois River: A Tribute. Katharine talks about how canoeing allowed her to enjoy a childhood memory and write about it (her passion). This then inspired me to write about how her story reminded me of a childhood memory and thus I wrote about it too.

I would like to end by sharing with you some work from one of my online friends, Sheila Finkelstein. Sheila is a wonderful person who is a gifted writer, photographer and artist.

Thank you for visiting my blog and sharing with me these websites and blogs. I hope you have a great weekend!

This morning, I came across an interesting discussion in one of the forums I am a part of on LinkedIn called Freelance Success. One of the members, George Angus, shared a link to his blog post titled, The reason why freelance writing is in piss-poor shape.

In the post George writes about how he finally “broke down” and decided to sign up for a bidding site to find writing jobs. He quickly was not happy about many of the providers offered writing jobs for such low rates. He would bid on jobs, however, someone else would receive the jobs because they required less payment for the jobs. He expresses his concern for the future of freelance writers if some are willing to get pennies for their writing.

Well, this topic was pretty hot because he already has received over 30 comments on his blog and over 50 on the LinkedIn forum.

Some people chimed in and said they wouldn’t mind working for a little bit of money in order to get their name out there. Others wrote it is distasteful to the writing community to be willing to receive pennies for hard work.

I had written back on both the forum and George’s blog because I can see a bit on both sides. And in the end here are a few things I took away from my participation:

1) Do what is best for you. In the forum one of the members, Allia, shared a video with us. The video makes some great points. If you feel you want to take on a few pro bono clients, then do so. However, don’t allow this to become your measurement for jobs.

2) Don’t allow negative conversations to get to you. Don’t allow yourself to become absorbed in the negativity. Be the positive influence in your conversations.

3) If you don’t value yourself as a writer, how do you expect someone else to value your writing? You love writing and you have the knowledge and passion to write. Not everyone has the desire and skills to write well. Don’t allow others to place a value on your writing for less than you deserve.

So do you value yourself as a writer? I invite you to share your thoughts with me.