Review: Practical advice and encouragement in a quick read...
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 29, 2012
It used to be that to become a writer, you had to hope that you could convince the gatekeepers to let you pass. Publishers held all the cards, and your only option was to play the game their way (or not play at all).Those days are gone...Jeff Goins is a great example of someone who has figured out the new rules and freedoms that exist when it comes to being a writer.  He shares his insights as well as dishing out plenty of encouragement in his new e-book You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One).  What I found is that I'm much closer to "being a writer" than I give myself credit for.  In fact, I *am* a writer... I just need to decide where I want to take it from here.Contents:ForewordIntroductionWriters Are Born, Not MadeThe Truth About WritingBuilding a PlatformEstablishing a BrandChannels of ConnectionGetting StartedBefore Your First BookWhat Next?About the AuthorShare this BookBeing a writer comes down to making a choice... a choice to BE a writer... to write.  There is nothing to prevent you from putting your words out there for others to read.  Goins acknowledges that it isn't necessarily easy to commit to writing (as opposed to just thinking about writing).  But with all the online tools available (blogs, e-books, newsletters, etc.), there's no reason that your writing has to remain in your head or be limited to actual paper and ink.Beyond the encouragement aspect of the material, Goins has solid information on how to put down a foundation on which to base your efforts.  Building a platform (get experience, demonstrate competence, generate buzz) establishes you as someone worth listening to and following.  Branding yourself is also critical in today's over-saturated media environment.  Take the time to figure out what you want to portray to others, as that will be what people will think of when they turn to you.  Finally, you need to figure out how you'll communicate and connect with your audience.  While it's easier than ever to make connections via Twitter, Facebook, and other online tools, it's also critically important to not neglect those channels once you set them up.  It's a privilege to have people listen to you.  If you don't reciprocate that listening, your audience won't stay around very long.You Are A Writer is a book that won't take you very long to read, but it will stay with you forever if you let the message change the way you think about who and what you are.  You *are* a writer if you choose to be...Disclosure:Obtained From: AuthorPayment: Free