Source 

I have written over a thousand freelance articles during the past two years.  These articles have ranged in subject matter from poetry to health to motivational and inspirational in nature.  They have come from my heart and with time, I'd like to think that the quality and content has improved and only gotten better. 

Within this time, the vast majority of comments I have received (especially from Triond members) have been supportive, uplifting and a godsend truly beyond what words of gratitude could ever fully express.  But, on the rarest of occasions I do happen to receive some not so pleasant comments.

I know many new and seasoned writers have experienced similar unwelcome comments and I write this article mainly for them; as support and a reminder that this world would not be as limitlessly beautiful if these unpleasant, momentary nuisances deterred them from pursuing their writing dreams.  I write this to say to my beloved, fellow writers, please keep writing; hold fast to your dreams - the world needs the endless pure light that shines brilliantly from your heart illuminating even the darkest night that attempts to extinguish it.

So, onward we go:

When you take the time to sit back and reflect, you begin to see things with greater clarity. You are able to suddenly realize the toughest of critics are merely trying to frighten and make you question the true intention of your work - and I implore you all, do not let them.  As artists, creators and inventors of new visions and ideas, you are leading the world toward greater things, away from boredom, away from a static existence, and, ironically, closer toward the fulfillment of their dreams.  The fear and emotional upset critics are placing on you is actually a reflection of what holds them back from pursuing the beautiful passion found within every heart when the spirit is calm and peace allows it to flow naturally.

Trust with everything in your heart that despite human err or unkind critique, the good, uplifting message in your heart will always transcend any potential obstacle. 

Source 

So, Why Does Deleting Comments Do a Writer Good?

I'm a voracious reader.  I enjoy delving into new concepts and ideas that help me reach all my dreams and goals.  Many of the books I read explain that you must focus on the best things in life, people who only support your dreams, and positive energy, etc.  What you think about most, manifests in your life and reality.  If you focus on the positive, more will develop in your life; if you focus on the negative, logically, the opposite is true as well.

Said another way, everything is important, from what you listen to, to whom you surround yourself with, to what you decide to eat during the day. 

Now, metaphorically, take a moment to reflect upon the comparison below:

Most people have encountered an uncomfortable food situation like the following: Someone you know tells you that you should eat something they made.  The food item is fried, unhealthy and upon offering it to you, they explain that it would hurt their feelings if you do not eat it.  This does not mean that you have to eat it.  If it is not good for you, if it will knock you off your healthy lifestyle goals, and if it will make you feel guilty in the process, there is absolutely all the logic in the world to not only eliminate that influence, but to block it from being able to enter your world at all. 

You have a duty and right to protect yourself from any person who offers you something that is not good for your health!  Yes, this is contrary to much that our society supports.  Be polite; do not hurt another person's feelings, etc. However, I'm a big believer in "out of the box" thinking.  Furthermore, based off statistics, about 85% of the population is overweight.  Are you going to listen to the people who remain overweight or your own intuition, the voice from your spirit that loves you the most?

Comparably Words are Literally "Food for Thought"

If a reader does not like your work, that's completely fine; to each their own.  This is what makes life interesting, if we all liked the same things, our world would be a very different place.  But, if you do not like the comment, if it makes you feel bad, deleting comments is perfectly fine, logical and success reinforcing.

Regarding the Critics

In my opinion, constructive criticism is just that - it's constructive.

Constructive means it helps build, not destroy or leave you feeling deflated, guilty or hurt in the process.  When you build something, like a house for example, you might constructively say to the architect: "You know that window would be better over here where the sun rises because it will help keep the heating bills down."  This comment does not discount the architect's original idea it simply suggests a new idea (building off yours) that could greatly improve your life! 

When reader's leave comments like this, then you have the decision to either "move the window" or keep it where you originally placed it because maybe you liked the window where it was.  Maybe it was an artistic, sentimental, or just your own personal prerogative reason.  You see, this is the power and freedom of art and creating.  It is a reflection of the heart and no two hearts are or will ever be the same.  When we are able to universally realize this, we can then accept and develop a greater appreciation for the fact that there truly is no right or wrong way to express the heart (except of course, if it is with the purposeful intent to harm another person, which is not art). 

Source 

True artists understand that their work is meant to teach and inspire others about how infinitely precious life is and in turn each and every person. Again, your purpose is to lift others up and show them that they too can reach their dreams. You cannot do this if they are able to successfully pull you down to their level. 

In the end, no matter how much we try to interpret another's art, we will never fully know what the artist's vision was.  Again, the greatest purpose of art is to help us understand our own hearts and how we can find common ties that link us all together universally.  The greatest lesson we learn in the process is that everything we see in our world is actually a reflection of who we are.  You can only see in others what you see in yourself. So, ironically, the critics are actually revealing their flaws, insecurities, etc to you.  Given that fact, you can either focus on them or just let them fade softly away like you do worries and instead let confidence and strength guide your path to success.

So, do yourself a favor, delete comments if they make you feel bad in any way.  It's like opting for an "apple a day" over food that's not good for you.  It does a writer good.

You have the power to make all your decisions; choose the very best ones for you and the betterment of mankind.

Remember writing takes exceptional courage. When you write from the heart, it is an exhilarating and sometimes terrifying feeling. You are basically saying to the world, this is me take it or leave it. It is also widely known that public speaking is one of the greatest fears in society, sometimes rated higher than death. Writing is a form of public speaking. And, in the end, this is why I decided to publish this article. It is my way of standing up for my fellow writers and me. Never let anyone frighten you and make you think your dreams are unattainable. Never!

More Inspiring Motivational Reading

• My Best Triond Article Has Received Over 63,000 Views and Counting - Why I think this article has enjoyed great success and how you can experience the same for all your writing work.
• You Must Lift Others Up to be Successful - When you help others you indirectly help yourself, it is the beautiful and incredible circle of life.
• Encouragement and Motivation Especially for Writers - You will make all your dreams come true!
• 57 Websites You Want to Know About - Check them out! 
• Which Articles Get Read and Why- Helpful tips for your writing success.

Character Diversity

Another characteristic of bad fiction writing is a lack of diversity of characters.  If each character understands one another without incident or speaks using the same voice (without dissenting opinion) then it is almost certain to be a bad story.  However, this can only be true unless a lack of character diversity is being used as a plot/comedic/dramatic device.  As you can imagine, I would only suggest a very experienced writer use such a technique.  An example?  Animal Farm, by George Orwell.

Furthermore, a variety of characters who all say the same thing is indicative of a pompous author. And if there's one thing editors cannot stand, is authors who attempt to pound concepts in the head of the reader.  For the sake of ibuprofen, please keep off of the soapbox.

Ebb & Flow

When constructing the story itself (outside of characterization and plausibility), a bad fiction writer tends to jump from one scene to the next without transitions.  Plot devices withstanding, of course.  Mainstream literary fiction craves conceivable transitions.  As I'm sure you know, the vast majority of both print and web-based literary magazines want to do without genre fiction.  (Don't ask me, I adore genre fiction.)  In any case, for the love of realism, a good fiction writer must adequately explain why and how a character goes to a certain place, reacts a certain way, or smells the way she does.

If you haven't already guessed, character diversity and plausibility (here called ebb & flow) are interconnected.  Why?  Because something one character may regard as completely reasonable, it is advised that another character (for adequate reasons) find this same situation/item completely insane.  And as a human endowed with the power of empathy this goal as a good fiction writer, is completely within your grasp.

The Ending (Deus ex Machina)

Generally, I am of the opinion that stories do not end:  The bad guy is never entirely overcome and the protagonist may not live--let alone live "happily ever after."  It seems this sentiment goes against many centuries of American literature.  (Those of you outside of the States can rest assured.)  On the other hand, thanks to the comparatively recent "movement" of postmodernism, the trend in Western literature agrees (for now).
So, in my opinion, how does a bad fiction writer end a story?  Happily, I tell you.  If you care at all about realism (and you definitely don't have to) I would advise you end your masterpiece on a flat note--one neither particularly happy nor sad.

Reading is not a passive activity.  When one is engaged in reading, there are a seemingly infinite number of things upon which to ponder at the end of the adventure.  There's nothing wrong with leaving the reader upset--or even downright perplexed--as long as it is done skillfully and plausibly.

Pontification

This leads me, rather eagerly, to the next point.  If, through the entirety of your narrative, you have revealed nothing of your character's intentions or the plot of the story for the sole purpose of impressing your intended reader, you are pontificating.  Please.  Stop.  There is nothing more annoying (and boring) for an editor to read than a dissertation on philosophy of mind told through two guys sitting in a cafe using elaborate and unnecessary vocabulary.
Save that for academia.

Now, don't get me wrong.  Figures such as Sartre, who write out their philosophies in the form of prose create intriguing worlds in which to delve.  Novels/stories requiring a second read to gain more insight into the intricacies of the language used or a plot element are rewarding to readers.  Stories requiring several hundred reads with no epiphanies--are merely examples of the writer's superior intellect and complexity of wit.  Right...?

On that note, this editor has noticed on several (hundred) occasions that literary pontificators tend to use long sentences to get across the points of the story.  Please. Stop.  That kind of sentence structure was allowed (and necessary) in years prior to the twentieth century.  Now, however, at the beginning of the twenty-first, with the aid of technological advancements such as color photography and the internet, a reader does not need to be told what something like the Eiffel Tower looks like.  She probably already knows.  Seriously, sometimes less is more...

RR&R

Revise.  Revise.   And revise again. Word processors can't catch everything, y'know!  There's only one thing frustrating about reading an awe-inspiring story of great depth:  awkward sentence structure, misspellings, and nonsensical transitions.  Originality can't help you if you don't know how to form and represent your ideas in a professional way.  An editor should have no reason to doubt that you've been published online and in print magazines or anthologies from all over the world.

In addition, if your life's work contains errors so  minor even the editor doesn't catch them, I guarantee you one of the readers will catch it and find either your story, the magazine, or both to be unsuitable to his lofty tastes.

Professionalism

Speaking (figuratively, of course) of the guise of professionalism, it's extremely important in other ways as well!

1. Read the entirety of a magazine's submission and writing guidelines.

    Many top magazines have spam filters that will simply toss your work in the trash if you don't make sure to follow their rules.  Some of them may seem strange or superfluous to you, but believe you me, they exist for a reason.  Without an adequate system of accepting submissions, most editors would be pulling their hair out dealing with a myriad of writings and writers.
   

2. Do yourself a favor and assume rejection if you haven't received a response from an editor within six months.

    (Depending on the popularity of the magazine and the information provided on the website.)  Most mainstream literary magazines get an absurd number of submissions per month--far too many to give an acceptable reply to all of the authors.  Of course, you're allowed to send at least one e-mail inquiring about the status of your submission, but don't make it a habit; you're just more like to annoy an editor that way.
   

3. Don't limit yourself

    Or rather, don't dismiss publications that don't pay.  Even non-paying publications get a great deal of readers.  If you want to get your work out there, the best way to do that would be to... just get it out there, no matter where it's published.  Editing a magazine of meager reputation is still a labor of love; not everyone who wants to publish can afford to pay.  Instead of monetary compensation, you get your name (and stories) in circulation.
   

4. Lastly, but not least, if an editor actually goes through the trouble to give extended comments or feedback on your work, do not take this personally.

   Whether your work is accepted by the magazine or not, reflects nothing of your character--and may not reflect anything of your talent either.  If an editor doesn't have the most positive things to say about your fiction, thank him/her for the consideration and send your work elsewhere.  (You may also choose to take some of their advise and partake of some revision.)  The only way to increase your chances of publication is to submit your work to as many magazines, publishing houses, or small presses as possible.  Case in point, J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was rejected a whopping twenty-one times before a publisher decided to take it.  And now look where she is!

Writing for Get Paid To sites will not replace your full time job, but will give you the opportunity to earn a few extra dollars from your home. This is an ideal option for college students, people with children, and those with unusual schedules. Generating a small amount of income can ease the strain on a household budget for small items; it may pay for a tank of gas, food, or contribute in the payment of an unexpected expense. However, getting started writing an article can be a difficult and daunting task.

For each Get Paid To site you write for, read the TOS or Terms of Service. Each site has different guidelines as to what they will accept, the length of the article, rules on prohibited content, how they pay, and if they accept previously published articles or require original content. If you violate the TOS, there is the risk you will be reprimanded or even banned from the site. It is better to err on the side of caution when writing articles and if you have any questions it is better to contact the site and ask them rather than guess.

Starting to write an article is probably the most difficult task out of all the steps you will take. You have to decide what the article is about, what points you want to cover, and how to introduce this information. But how does the process begin?

Choose a Topic

First, you have to decide what the article will be about. If you do not have a specific idea in mind, start with a general topic and work your way to one that is focused. Also, choose something that interests you! Articles become difficult to write when they are about a topic you are attracted to. Choosing popular topics will not work unless you are already interested; if you are not it will clearly show in your writing. Your goal is to engage the audience, entertain them, and/or relay knowledge.

Just Write!

When going through the beginning steps of writing an article use the method that is most comfortable for you. Keep in mind there is no wrong way to write, and articles can be corrected up to and possibly after their submission. One method is to sit with pencil and paper and write ideas as they flow - this may be in the form of keywords, phrases, scribbled notes, or even full sentences. Another method is to sit at a keyboard and type ideas as they flow. Do whatever works for you and your article will be successful.

Start to Form the Article

This is the point in the creation process where the article begins to take shape. Take your notes and put them into article format remembering that it is not and will not be perfect at this stage. The goal is to create a rough draft that will eventually turn into a final copy.

Proofread

Nothing is worse than an article that doesn't make sense. After the rough draft is written it is time for a rewrite. Make sure ideas flow smoothly from one to another, the sentences make sense, and your grammar is correct. Any corrections needed should be made at this point before moving onto the next stage of writing.

Spell Check

Other than a poorly written article the next worst mistake is an article with spelling errors. If it has not been done already, it is time to transfer the article onto the computer and have it do the checking for you. Make sure your mistakes are being replaced with the correct word - the computer may find mistakes but the corrections it chooses may not be right. After this stage is complete, review the article again and verify all the corrections made.

Final Read-Through

Before the publish button is pushed, reread the article one last time. Check for any errors, and if you need to step away from the article before it is reviewed. The most heartbreaking mistake for any writer is finding an error after the article is published and viewable by the public. Some sites will allow you to correct your errors, but most will not. Save yourself the embarrassment - make the article as perfect as you can get it

Publish!

After all that hard work, it is time to publish the article to the Get Paid To site. Most will require that they review your writing before it is posted, which may take a day or two, possibly even a week. That information should be covered in the TOS or FAQ. Shortly after your review, you will receive that extra bit of income you worked so hard for.

Free-will opposing Norms and Principles

As educated individuals, it remains our primary obligation to pay tribute to our nation by being objective and by utilizing our writing skills to address features and stories most important to our country. Creative Writers do not adhere themselves to the norms of their society and literary standards. They are more like day-dreamers who sketch their visualized castles on paper and are repeatedly accused of irrational themes, deconstructive thoughts and notions. Remarkable as it may seem, their work arises much curiosity, fame and prosperity as opposed to a traditional writers predictable context. They tend to break all rules and free themselves from daily constraints of reality. Their theories may seem neurotic in pattern and mystic in nature simply because they have merged visionary faith into their literature. Such an example is prevalent in William Shakespeare’s earliest comedies, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which chants creative imagination empowered with the supernatural world.

Reading widely

Writing can be developed as a craft through perseverance and eagerness. Reading can invoke your inner most thoughts. You need to read as much as possible to identify and personalize your writing style. Initially you may read only non-fiction or mystery but exploring diverse genres of literature opens your minds to accept different styles of narration. People all around tend to evaluate your potential based on which you may excel as a writer. Expose your work to masses and consume their reaction. Be sensitive to other readers and soon you will win yourself a dedicated crowd of readers.

Reaching out

If you work for a local newspaper, you need to reach out to the people all around you by stimulating them to react and response to your writing. Don’t limit your writing to concerts, latest fashion or upcoming events or movie reviews but explore audience reactions and what your readers are looking forward while trying all the while to answer the following similar questions. What Event, Why is it happening in your state, why so late or why it is delayed/ rescheduled, When is the event, who is free to attend, is the event on a weekend or does it coincide with another gig? Where is the event and why it is staged there, how do you expect the crowd to be? These questions surely get your audience involved- While you wait for your article to get published, they search your article to catch a glimpse of their remark. You need to contribute your efforts to the society you live in. Look around you and what do you see: Famine, Drought, Corruption, Immorality, Rapes and Abuses. Through your Poetry or articles, you can depict the horrors your society confronts or detail the excellent infrastructure of your city.

Rewriting and Recreating

At times you may feel a strong urge to rewrite a paragraph or verse in a poem or story. In your own solace, you may want to pen down your thoughts upon finishing a certain chapter. Various ideas may flash through your mind as you summarize a chapter or note down your reactions. When you finish, your inspiration will stare back at you in big bold font. Don’t worry yourself with Ethics and Norms. As a free will writer you gradually learn the art of expressing your personal heart-felt, provocative and intrusive ideas and are never afraid to take on an opponent in your game of words. Rest assured your logic will one day be evaluated, preserved, and dignified.

1. Interesting Subject

   The topic of your article has to be interesting. If its on a boring subject no one will want to read it. So write about interesting and entertaining topics or about helpful tips on how to do things.

2. Grammar

   You have to use good grammar. If you use bad grammar the readers will have a hard time reading and understanding your article. It will also make your article look sloppy and unprofessional, and that will turn off many readers.

3. Tags and Title

   Your title has to be interesting and catchy. Your title has to stand out in order for people to read it. With a normal, average the readers will just scan right past your article. Your tags have to be detailed and also wide-ranging. The more tags you have the more likely someone will find your articles. With bad tags no one will be able to find your article.

Follow these three easy steps and it will improve your Triond articles 3 times more. These steps will help you gain more views which leads to more money! On the next article you write put these 3 steps into your article it will be worth it!

Some people believe a name is most important in a person, others disagree and point out that a name is nothing; but it is the personality of a being that makes them unique. I believe both are true in a sense. A name can be worthless in comparison to a person's personality, but a name is dedicated to that person and holds a certain power to them. In stories "true names" are very important to the storyline because the true name holds power.

Names make impressions. You typically know a character's name before you know who they are or what they are like. The greatest hero of all time, a legend and trustworthy person is not usually named Bob for a variety of reasons. People spend a lot of time finding a name that holds an ancient meaning or a nice ring to it to suit the character. This is wise, but do not let a lack of name prevent you from starting up a story. Keep it blank or put in a filler name, like Bob, until you find the perfect name.

To create names you can (gently) key mash to get a random combination of letters on screen (or write out the first letters that come to mind on paper). Like so: “ejkahfdr” This is simply a random combination, an combinations will vary depending on where you hit the keys. Taking these letters, try to form decent sounding names. Repeat this process to get some ideas for unique names. “Rekah”, “Kade”, “Dak”. This tend to be really far out but may help get your mind working and mulling over names and you might just stumble across a fantasy-like name that sounds just right. Or you can look up names on Google: Celtic names, Japanese names, baby names, or baby names to browse the selections.

Remember that a name is important. Readers want to be able to pronounce the name and either learn to love or hate it depending on the character. Names like Peter or James may denote prestige, while "Billy Bob Joe" will most likely not…

Personality

Who we are inside and how we act are very important characteristics. For someone creating a character for their story or for a Role Play the personality is key. In such situation how would they act? If they were required to fight against all odds to save someone, would they? If they tripped in front of a crowd of their friends how would they react to the laughter? Would they lose hope if life was going badly for a time? Would they flee from a challenge or stand up and be bold? Are they irritating to others? Perhaps they are shy, quiet and kept to themselves? Maybe the character is a little punk that likes to vandalize everything and play with fire? A personality will define the character.

So how do we create a personality? Well, think about yourself. Over the years I'm sure your personality has changed, maybe not a lot, but at least a little. Yet your personality is most likely fairly consistent. You like what you like, dislike certain things, fit in with a certain crowd, and do certain things. Think about your own personality and what makes you who you are. Don't think about your appearance. The appearance of a person is a way of showing one's personality. But really think about who you are inside and how you act. Apply such characteristics to your character. But remember, a good writer should be able to write as anyone; male or female, preppy, punky, geeky, flirty, heroic, romantic, failure, success, and so forth.

After thinking for awhile, define the personality and try to keep it consistent when you don't plan or run into a change. Characters are people you create, but they are themselves. Its almost as if they aren't controlled and evolve overtime. Yet it is important to keep who they are CONSISTENT. A character constantly changing their mind, changing the side they are on, changing how they act, isn't really a good thing. If they are cold and cruel, abusive and mean that is how they act; even if you want them to act kindly. Gradual change in personality is a good thing though. The cruel and cold becoming warm and kind over time or because of a reason like someone special coming into their life and changing their mind and heart.

What is in Their Pockets?

I dunno about you, but I tend to keep a lot of stuff in my pockets. As a teenager in high school I carry around pencils, pens, money, random slips of paper, sometimes calculators, notes, homework, a guitar pick, or an mp3 with me. It all depends on the day. I'm to play the guitar, and I carry a guitar pick in my pocket. No one can see it, but having it there is reassuring. I listen to music a lot, and even though mp3s in class = no no I still have my mp3 either in my pocket or book bag with me all the time. I write and draw a lot and do class work, so pencils and pens come in handy; especially during school. I'm not too good at math, so a calculator helps a lot.

So what does your character have in their pockets? Something shiny? A lucky item? A bouncy ball? A special pen they love? Maybe it's a picture of someone they lost or wish to see? Maybe they have bullets in their pockets? It all depends on the character's personality. Figuring out what is in their pockets or on their person can really help a writer develop the character and define them. Think for awhile, what would be in your character's pockets? Mints, chewing gum, maybe nail clippers?

Appearance and Attire

Okay, so we've learned over the years that its what's inside that counts and not what's on the outside. Inner beauty. And that is very true. But when it comes to creating characters, both good and bad, wonderful and terrible, the appearance DOES matter. My favorite anime artist and developer Hayao Miyazaki created the movie Spirited Away. His main character was not a fully mature goddess-like pretty girl. She was an average young girl that didn't look to special, but didn't look bad either. She was average. This was done on purpose.

What do you think of when you hear "sophisticated". Perhaps someone that is dressed well, clean shaven, has a good hygiene, maybe where's glasses, and has well kept hair. But what do you think about when villain comes into mind. A stereotypical villain, especially in cartoons, might be hideous, dirty, hunch backed and terrifying. The appearance adds the feel to the character's personality.

How about a sly, seducing, cunning young villain? Mix it up a little. A young man that looks to be well kept and good natured but has an evil heart and evil intentions will throw other characters off. Maybe even the readers will be confused. The reader may even like the villain for how he appears and how he acts; the contrast between them.

A great hero in peasant clothing or a shy girl in high school with "emo" hair and a certain style of clothing tend to bring about a certain air to the characters. The appearance can mean a lot. A hero born into poverty but rising to greatness, wearing his rough tunic and leggings with a scruffy face but a kind heart and berserker mode when in a terrible rage.

Decide how you want your character to look based on the era and setting. His or her facial features, age, clothing, build, and hygiene will play an important role in how the reader views the character. A troubled teen with spiked wristbands, Mohawk hair, and baggy clothing with chains will likely surprise readers when he turns out to have a good heart and a soft spot for kittens.

Skills and Talents

Everyone has skills and talents. You and me, we both have some sort of ability. Some people can make others laugh and be happy in the midst of crying. Others can style hair and match stunning clothing. Some can write or draw or perform music. There are acrobats, sports professionals, fencers, actors, and chiefs. All can do something or many things particularly well. Whether with their hands, their voice, their mind, their personality, or their appearance; they have a talent. So why shouldn't our characters?

A lot of times I like to make my characters skilled at drawing or certain forms of magic. But what set or soon-to-be-learned-talents do you want each of your characters to have? Perhaps the hero can run for miles without stopping and use certain weapons? Maybe the teenage star of the story has their own band is lead singer or guitarist of it. A journalist could be successful at their job; writing being their passion. Or even a wild life expert having the ability to tame animals into a calm. Who knows? Depending on the genre, setting, era, and theme of the story your character could be good at about almost anything. Really take some time and map out what your character is good at and what they aren't. Add this into the story as you go to help the readers get attached or hate the character.

Character Sheet

To get a good idea on who your character is try filling the below out in as much detail as you can to get an outline. These are great for role playing or defining a character for a story you are writing.

Name:

Age:

Appearance: (hair, eyes, build, skin tone, tattoos)

Attire: (clothing, accessories, jewelry, shoes)

Personality:

Pockets: (What's in their pockets)

History: (or their past; bits or long paragraphs will do)

Skills:

Weapon of choice: (if weapons are included in story)

The writer moulds and shapes words into forms in order to draw the reader's ideas in a certain direction. Good writers may use metaphors to conjure up images in the mind that will allow the readers imagination to take them on a journey of discovery. The writer is the guide and yet the reader steers the ship, which is the thought processes, where they will.

An adept writer will make suggestions, give clues and hints to a broader scope of ideas in which, hopefully, the reader will continue to develop beyond the words on the page when they've finished reading.

The purpose of a good piece of writing is to cause someone to ask questions and search for answers, to engage in self-discovery and to inspire passion and motivation. I've read books, poems and articles that have been life changing because they've raised me up and transformed the way I perceive myself and my universe.

Words on a page are powerful and can cause many changes in the world when they skilfully carry the mind along certain paths. They may contain such perception and possibilities that the reader continues along a suggested route and allows the new information to alter the way they do things.

The writer can create characters that can be related to and unlike portraits or sculptures of people they move, talk, dance, suffer and even die. They can become friends or enemies, heroes or victims.

When we become deeply absorbed in reading it's as though the world around us vanishes and we live in the imagination of the author. It's almost as though we become the characters we're reading about. We adopt their hopes and dreams; we relish their triumphs and feel wounded at their suffering.

Through the pen the writer enters minds with his/her own in a manner that mere verbal communication or art can't do because the reader's guard is dropped when they're absorbed in reading.

Who hasn't read something that they'll always remember and that's influenced them to make positive choices and given them courage to face their challenges? I suggest that writers, song writing musicians and poets are truly the most powerful people on the planet!

But it is arguably more important than ever to be able to promote yourself and get your name known in the writing world. Snagging assignments and getting jobs isn't that hard if you know your stuff, but there is a lot of competition snapping at your heels and going for the same jobs as you.

Perhaps the most important thing you can do to promote yourself is to get your own website up and running - and it doesn't need to cost hundreds of dollars either.

If you are anxious about spending money on your own website, try one of the free services first. A free website usually only comes with a single webpage, and you will not be able to do nearly as much with it as if you bought your own, but it is a useful way to provide links to your work all across the internet.

Assuming, however, that you are serious about your work as a writer, you will be better served by having a professional website with your own domain name. You can still have links to published work, but you can also sell directly from your site if you have books or similar items to sell, provided you have the right tools to do so.

You can also have a blog, a newsletter, and perhaps a free report to give away to encourage visitors to keep coming back for more.

The most important thing to remember is that traffic to your site has to be generated by you, so make sure you include a link to your site in every email you send, and perhaps have some business cards printed which promote your site.

Promoting yourself as a writer is an ongoing process, but with a website of your own you will have a specific place to direct people to. As your writing career grows, so will your site, as you find new and interesting ways to promote and use it.

Defamation ... slander ... libel. It doesn't take a rabbinic scholar to tell you that words have the power to wound, to destroy lives, careers, and legacies. Any writer dealing in non-fiction narrative, biography or autobiography needs to be aware of his or her legal responsibility in disseminating information about someone, living or dead, celebrity or common person. Even if the perceptions recorded are accurate, writers still need to protect their interests in the event of a libel suit.

Charges of libel used to be the purview of printed material, primarily news publications. Today, however, bloggers, people posting MySpace and Facebook rants and others publishing items on the Internet that can be seen globally need to be concerned with libel. Innocent people have been hurt by defamatory postings, and many have successfully sued. The First Amendment doesn't mean a writer can say anything; the right to free speech applies in the case of political speech (opinions), but does not protect the willful dissemination of false information.

The legal definition of libel is: “the publication and distribution of false information regarding an individual which is defamatory in nature, and has been published and distributed with malicious intent.” Subjects covered under the libel laws include allegations of criminal behavior, sexual or moral inappropriateness, or any allusions to a person's competency (or lack thereof) in their profession.

TRUTH AS DEFENSE:

The key words contained in this definition are “false information.” If a writer can establish that the information they have written and published is true, then they have made their case.

But “truth” is not necessarily an absolute, and there are steps every writer must take in order to get an audience - or a judge - to see things their way.

SOURCES:

The first is to have impeccable sources of information. Yes, everyone is flawed, but some flaws create larger credibility gaps than others. For example, Juanita Broderick's story of being raped by Bill Clinton was undamaged by her “flaw” of being involved at the time with another man while still married. The weight of her capacity as a successful businesswoman who was rational, down to earth and financially stable gave her an air of veracity. On the other hand, the publishing house which released - and soon retracted - the book, Fortunate Son, had depended heavily on the testimony of a drug user / dealer to support claims of President Bush's cocaine use. Drug dealers and users are known to be less than credible, and with no corroborating evidence, the story was built on very shaky ground.

EVIDENCE:

The second step is to verify all information with some sort of corroborating evidence. Public records, receipts, time cards, or any written evidence that comes from a source with “no horse in the race,” so to speak, are good backups for information received from a source. But take a lesson from Dan Rather, and be certain that any documentation has not been corrupted. At the very least, have more than one piece of evidence to support any allegations.

CONTEXT:

Finally, be sure you are accurate in describing the context of the behavior you are alleging. Recently, a judge successfully sued a television news team for libel. The reporter's editorial slant was that this judge was soft on crime, and had little empathy for victims. The judge did not refute the truth of the cases reviewed; however, he stated that the cases described in their news stories were aberrations, and that an overview of all the cases adjudicated in his courtroom presented a more accurate picture of his judgments and behavior. Everyone can have a bad day, and everyone makes poor decisions at some time. Playing the “gotcha” game without presenting the entire picture can only damage your credibility as a writer, and could possibly cost you more than your reputation.

“CELEBRITY” DOESN'T EQUAL “TARGET”

Public figures face the reality that they have fewer rights to privacy than an ordinary person. This doesn't exempt writers from doing their “due diligence” if a celebrity is their chosen topic. A good writer would never depend solely on the marketing fluff spun by a celebrity's publicist, but neither should they depend solely on information from the hairdresser, housekeeper, or gardener's cousin. Once again, good sources make a good story, and also protect the writer from legal action.

Any time your story involves real people, scan it for libel potential. The following checklist helps to identify potentially libelous information.

1. Does the material identify a person (living or dead) or an entity? This material does not need to actually name names - any behavior or description that makes clear to the reader the identity of the person or entity is potentially a problem. If the person is dead, their estate can bring suit against a writer for libel.
2. Is the person identified a private individual, a public person or celebrity or a political figure? Private individuals have more protection of their privacy under the law than do people who put themselves into the limelight. At the very least, the person being written about should be offered the opportunity to state their side of the story. If they refuse, that information can become part of the story, but the refusal, like other evidence, should be in writing or documented in some way.
3. Would the material negatively influence a reasonable reader's opinion of the person or entity identified? Would it reflect badly on the character of the person or entity? Would it damage the esteem in which that person is held in the community? More importantly, could it limit their earning capacity? The latter question forms the basis on which judges assess damages owed by defendants
4. Is defamatory information stated as a fact, an opinion, or in the form of a parody or caricature?
5. Does the evidence support the allegations? Is the evidence public information, such as speeding tickets, bankruptcy filings or the outcome of criminal proceedings, or is it private information, such as medical records or tax information? If it is private information, there will be questions as to the method in which it was obtained. The writer may avoid the libel charge, but may be charged criminally with more serious crimes.

The more “yes” answers to these questions, the greater the likelihood of a libel lawsuit. As a writer, it's your responsibility to monitor the information you release. Settling a score through your writing may give you momentary pleasure, but the financial and emotional costs of a lawsuit last a lot longer.

Since the internet exploded and brought us millions of websites that are crying out for content, we've seen an explosion in markets for the freelance writer to target. Many writers who used to write regularly for magazines (myself included) re-branded themselves as online web content writers, and started sourcing work online instead.

But where do you actually find this work? Is it really out there?

I can confirm that it is.

After three weeks of my search for online freelance writing jobs (spending every evening trawling job boards, Craigslist and writers' newsletters too numerous to mention) I have succeeded in getting two long term writing gigs, both of which are offering more work than I could handle, if I could fit it all in.

I've also found a third job which should provide at least one batch of articles to write each week, and I've made another contact who is providing me with short keyword articles to write - sometimes a batch, sometimes just the one.

And that's after just three weeks. I've actually made the decision not to bid on or apply for any more jobs at the moment, because the writing jobs I have are keeping me more than busy.

I never thought I'd be in a position to say that. The work I have is writing short articles, and web pages for all kinds of sites. The subjects are diverse and I could never get bored.

So what's my best advice on how to bag an online freelance writing job (or four)?

Persevere. Find as many job boards, newsletters, job listings and sites as you can, and check them all on a daily basis. Daily. That's important. You want to be the first to jump on an opportunity when it comes along.

If you really put the effort in, you'll find work in no time. Just make sure you don't get swamped!

Good luck.