Rob Parnell's Writing Academy Blog

The following article seemed to hit home with a lot of writers when I sent it to my subscribers.  It was originally called The Medusa Syndrome but many learned scholars and professors (yes - they get my newsletters too!) pointed out I'd made a slight 'myth-take' when it came to picking a mythological creature for my syndrome. I hope you enjoy it - and please, feel free to leave a comment of your own! Have you ever noticed how you, as a writer, see-saw? For one heady moment you know you're brilliant and then, later, with just as much clarity, you know what you do is awful. It's the writer's curse. I've noticed this happens at certain times in the writing process. When the ideas are fresh and you're starting out on a project, the adrenaline is flowing, the words are spewing on to the page - everything seems so clear, so clever, to you. And then after, when you look back, the words seem dull, the structure contrived and the talent - well, non-exis...

Here's a cute lie that most people believe: Writing is more than a skill, a pastime or a way of making a living. It is a vocation - like being a nurse or missionary. In order to commit yourself, and impress those that would read your work, you have to want to do it for nothing. Indeed this is how many of us become writers - it's something we feel compelled to do, whether asked to, required to or not! Certainly I've noticed that when you first start dealing with publishers, your enthusiasm, commitment and talent are of primary concern. Any talk of money too early in the process will see you ostracized very quickly. You're supposed to want to write for yourself - for art's sake - first. I guess it's about trust. The people that would help us get our work seen - in other words, published - need to be sure that our motives are sincere. That we write for some purpose other than just to make money. Tosh! I have discussed this aspect of the writer'...

Probably the most consistent problem I'm asked to help with is how to sustain the momentum required to finish writing projects. Writing a book is apparently the secret wish of 90% of the population - as though writing a book somehow validates us as humans - and perhaps makes us a little immortal.  But only around 5% of people will ever rise to the challenge - and even they will falter more times than not. Of these would-be writers, less than one percent will ever finish their books - and just to be depressing now, only a handful of that one percent will ever be published, or publish themselves. Faced with this punishing reality, how do you find the strength to carry on writing? Let me answer by telling you a story. Once, a very long time ago, I asked a practising motivational guru how I could become rich. I say it was a long time ago because in those days I was very cynical and I asked the question as more of a challenge than a query. The guru gave me a quick answer: ...

You write a book for someone else, and they pay you to put their own name on it. Is that even legal?  It is.  And professional ghost writers defend their right to do it. There’s money to be made here because there are many people who have a lot to say but do not necessarily have the time nor the skills to write it all down. However, there are some pitfalls to the ghost writing business. First piece of advice?  Always have a contract in place before you start the actual writing. It will save you a lot of heartache - and lawsuits - in the future. It’s worth remembering that not all ghost writing will entail writing books.  Some corporate executives want their company statements written by someone else. Scientists and doctors sometimes procure the services of ghosts to write their dissertations and academic reports. Celebrities have been known to hire ghosts to maintain an online presence for them. Webmasters too will often want their sales pag...

It’s surprisingly easy to get writing work from local businesses. At least that’s been my experience. Basically, all you need to do is let businesses know you offer business writing services - and they’ll call. The main caveat I would offer you is that it’s best to contact business offline, in person - as opposed to just using the Net to attract business. Of course, you can use the Net if you like. All I’m saying is that you’ll likely be more successful - and more quickly - if you try to establish personal relationships with business people in your local area - rather than focus on large online corporations that will no doubt already have lots of their own in-house writers. Now, it’s probable you think that the most glamorous of corporate jobs is either writing their ad copy or their promotional material. Both are considered the most prestigious and influential of all corporate writing gigs - which is why these gigs are usually so well paid. However, I've foun...

Many new pensmiths are drawn to writing about their travels, their holidays, and their observations about the world. ​​​​​​​ Many websites and “schools” these days offer (often expensive) courses on effective travel writing that promise a glamorous and fun-filled life as a writer for magazines or coffee-table books. As with many fun-sounding opportunities, there’s a lot of competition out there for travel writing jobs. However, with a little forethought and planning, the Freelance Writer can indulge in some of the perks and rewards of this healthy niche market. First, we need to explode a couple of myths. Simply because you did a lot on holiday or went to see a lot of things, this does not immediately qualify you to write about them. Similarly, you might be an expert on the local history of a place. However, this too does not automatically place you at the top of the submission pile. The ideal travel writer combines a love of place, an eye for deta...

Visit Rob Parnell's Writing Academy Many people ask me how I manage to get so much done. I often wonder myself. I was lucky. When I'd done schooling, I decided I didn't want to work for a living. Of course I had to - for a while. I did some pretty horrible jobs, gravitating from factory to office work because I noticed that the office workers seemed to get an easier time of things, worked fewer hours, and got paid more. Of course I could have done the life journey properly and got a nice cushy career type job in a bank or a corporate company. It's not as if I wasn't bright enough. I was even offered a few positions like that. But, much to the chagrin of my mother, I chose not to do them - mainly because it seemed like a cop out. The too easy option. I deliberately chose the hard way - because I wanted to reject the 9 to 5 I suppose. I'd watched my Dad living a sad life of quiet desperation for twenty years and I always believed there had to be...