FOUR....

It was my first golf lesson ever. And when the instructor said, "Okay, pull out your putters..."

I had to turn to my S.I.L. and say, "Which one's a putter?"

Yeah, we all gotta start somewhere..."write"?

Well, golfing is a lot like writing...or so I'm thinking.

We all start somewhere, and each of us come to the task with different backgrounds, different training and different experiences.

So, one good way to make progress is to hook up with other more experienced golfers, or writers.

That way, you can ask questions, learn a little and sometimes a lot along the way. And you might even catch a few tips, tricks and hints simply by being near people who have the same interest...like golfing, or writing.

Another great thing to do is to link up with a network or community that can help you along the way. One great writers group, is the SCBWI. They'll be happy to help you along the path to publication. And, even if that's not your ultimate goal, you'll definitely make a few friends along the journey.

I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY

I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY:

Juices flow best without barriers. It’s true. Writers can get so focused on goals, limits, and restrictions that they can’t even write.

This horrible affliction is called: "Writer’s block" and it's an actual affliction that saps self-confidence from the best storytellers.

Setting goals is great. But don’t be so concerned about staying within borders – after all, walls are meant to keep things inside.

So, writing about something you know nothing about might be the surefire path to publication.

We all have things we’ve wondered about. Some people pay thousands of dollars to enroll in classes, later in life, just to learn more about these subjects. Why not offer this information to readers, in an article?

Editors are always looking for interesting stories. So step outside the box and take a chance.

Think back. Remember the exhilaration of jumping off the ledge into the deep-end. Writing should give you the same thrill. When you write about something you know nothing about, you’re taking that daring dive into the writing waters. So, just tell the story and you might get lucky and end up getting your feet wet in the wonderful world of publishing.