This book encouraged me and scared me at the same time. It’s good to know that the author, and other writers are, and have been, exactly where I am today….aspiring in my heart to be a writer. I have started on a book, I have lists of ideas for books and other things to write about, but, stop short of actually finishing anything, or even starting some things. Years ago, I took notes upon notes of ideas to start my own blog, but was too scared to ever do it. I’ve even started on writing a history of our Acadian ancestors, which sits unfinished right above this computer I’m typing on at this very moment.

To be a writer, you can’t just write when inspired by a thought or idea, you HAVE TO WRITE DAY-IN AND DAY-OUT!!! This is a scary thought to commit myself daily to writing and producing something…anything really, keeping in mind that Facebook is only reactionary writing. That is not writing! You cannot react and write at the same time. To write daily is to write free of any distractions and thoughts that provoke responses. You need a free and clear mind. I guess I need to pack my bags and head to the woods to be alone for a while.

The author suggests that the very first step to becoming a writer is to proclaim yourself as a writer, even if you are not one yet. Attach “, writer” to the end of your signature….haha…okay...done!

Next, start a blog and start publishing your work immediately, even if you have no followers. Remember, no one cares about you or what you write, but this is the practice you need. You have to earn the follower’s trust, and THEY choose what matters to them. Eventually, you will have a few fans, and maybe later on you’ll have more. But, he does warn about keeping up with the numbers, a trap you need to avoid. Maybe use it only as a guide to help you find your writing voice. If your writing voice only moves you and no one else, then you haven’t found your voice. Remember to write for YOURSELF! Be TRUE! Be CONSISTENT! Don’t write to impress others because you will be found out if you are a fake or not!

For the blog, start by building your platform. I would have to say…if I were to start a blog….that my platform would be “The Journalist” (homestead stuff) and the “The Artist” (photography stuff) combined. You would need to build your brand of who you really are: 1) A name or brand name; 2) Image of yourself through all platforms (blog, Facebook, twitter, website, etc…); and 3) Your voice…style and tone. He has a lot more good information to reference later on, if I make it to this step.

He then goes into getting your work published for magazines, guest posts on other blogger's websites, and even publishing books. This is where it all gets a bit scary for me, and I have to ask myself if I’m really ready. He insists you don’t waste your time writing until AFTER you present your subject ideas to the editor. If they bite, and accept your ideas to be published, then you are given a time-frame to write your piece, even if you have to do the research on your subject. ME: Mind goes completely blank and I can’t find words. That’s exactly what would happen! The last thing you need to do is let down an editor because it’s over after that!

You can follow this author on different social media:
Blog: goinswriter.com
Facebook: facebook.com/goinswriter
Website: youareawriter.com
Twitter: twitter.com/jeffgoins
http://tribewriters.com

Missy Ivey, writer ( )

This power-packed book is a firm reminder for artists to take their creative work seriously if they want the world to treat their work seriously. It is challenging, provocative, and encouraging--kind of like that trusted friend who steps up to remind you to charge boldly into life.
[b:You Are A Writer|13610173|You Are A Writer (So Start Acting Like One)|Jeff Goins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1334942684l/13610173._SX50_.jpg|19207985] ( )

This book is a short introduction into the mindset and practices that writers today can succeed with. It places a principle that writers are mainly designed to write. Nonetheless, there are also other marketing, technology, and networking skills that can help writers, like me, to succeed financially in their ventures.

Goins takes the position opposite of Hemingway and stereotype that writers ought to be "very poor and very happy." Instead, Goins takes the position that writers ought to write for themselves, and not for others, but that this act of writing should be able to support themselves financially.

I write because I love exploring the world of ideas. I love interacting with others' ideas in books, and I want to figure out how to be compensated for my interest. I'm not looking for a new career, but Goins' book speaks to me as I think of how to market my interests towards others' good and my own financial self-interest. ( )

I first heard of Jeff Goins through an interview on The Crestive Penn. He seemed full of energy and relatively down to earth so I thought I would give this a read.
There is some general good advice for people who want to write. The innards of it are aimed more at those who want to publish articles or guest blogs, and form relationships with editors and publishers, however the motivational issues are the same regardless of what you write. There is also decent advice on how to get started marketing yourself and how to develop an online presence.
This is a quick and easy read and quite conversational in tone. It's clear this isn't the only way to get writing, but it is the way that worked for the author. Chances are it will work for more than one person.
I would recommend this book to someone who loves writing and is thinking of getting out there and doing it. ( )

So I had this book for a while--downloaded when it was free on Amazon but I only recently read through it. Jeff Goins talks about his vocation as writer (being a person who writes), encourages would-be-writers to write and write daily, and offers some practical advice for success as a writer.

In this book Goins is one part motivational speaker, and one part guide. He hopes to ignite a fire under writers, to follow their passion and get writing, not to get published or for anyone else's sake but for your own. But he is mindful that to succeed as a writer, you need people to read you. So he gives some practical advice about developing a platform, a brand and fostering professional connections. He also gives some examples of literary submissions with publishers.

Not a bad little book. Won't revolutionize my writing but I will admit that Goins's passion is infectious. ( )