Tag: advice

Five Kicks in the Pants for Writers

March 13, 2017 / Rissa Renae

Alright, all you “I’ll be a writer some day” writers out there. It’s time for some tough love. Stop using the internet or a Netflix binge as an excuse for not writing and get writing! You know who you are. This is your kick in the pants.

1. It’s All Your Fault

No, really. Who decided to check Facebook? Who turned on the TV and went to Netflix? You. And if someone else turned it on, then leave the room. It’s no excuse. Turn off the TV, silence the Facebook notifications, and put down your phone. Heck, if you need to just disconnect from the internet because you still haven’t learned to be responsible, then do that! The only thing keeping you from writing is you.

Would Giorgio Tsoukalos lead you astray?

2. You’re Being a Lazyass

You don’t want to sit down and write? You’d rather binge watch Orange is the New Black on Netflix? Then who’s gonna write that novel? Because it sure as hell ain’t writing itself. Get off your butt, establish a quiet work space, get in the zone, and friggin’ write. A couch potato brain only wants to be fed. A writer’s brain wants to be the one supplying the food.

Go away. Too busy being lazy.

3. You Don’t Need the Internet for ‘Research’

Catching up on your YouTube feed, or stalking your idol on Instagram is not research. Lack of research is not keeping you from writing, you’re using it as an excuse. If you’re stuck on historical accuracy or can’t figure out the best way to dispose of a dismembered body, make a note and move on. Research should be saved for your actual down time, not for when you’re supposed to be immersed nose-deep in writing.

4. You Have No Imagination

This excuse is usually combined with one’s belief that they need the internet and television to survive. Your imagination won’t come forth if it’s held in a corner by funny cat gif’s and reruns of The Real Housewives. Go outside. Clean the kitchen. Lock yourself in a room. You have no imagination because you’ve frightened it into a corner by all the crap on the internet. Let the crap go and you’ll find your imagination will start peeking out to see if the coast is clear.

This coming from a talking sponge.

5. Stop Using Your Family as an Excuse

How many times have you used these excuses: I have to cook dinner. I have to help the kids with homework. I have to clean the house. I have to <insert activity to blame on the family> . Now, the single parent superhero aside, when dinner’s done, the homework’s worked, and the kids are in bed, you’d really rather scrub down the toilet than write? Or are you really just sitting on your rear end in front of the TV with your laptop tuned to Facebook? Who are you kidding here? Only yourself. Your family’s not the excuse, you are (see Point #1).

Are you still sitting on your bum reading this? Stop it! Get to writing, you lazy writer!

Take Care When Taking a Political Stance

July 13, 2016 / Rissa Renae

or: choose your battles wisely

At some point in time, we’re all tempted to do it: to add our voice to a political discussion. Sure, we may think we have the best of intentions, but more often than not, that interaction will end up blowing up in our faces. Keep in mind that as authors, we have to behave like public figures, and not like kids in a chat room with a chip on their shoulders.

Some may think that lending opinions to the Twitter trend of the day will help gain followers, but I’d strongly encourage you to sit out of the debate. Your reputation and credibility is on the line.

Research Before You Post

A knee-jerk reaction to a politically motivated post does more harm than good to your reputation. Spur-of-the-moment posts often lack one key factor: research.

Take for instance The Tenor’s member Remigio Pereira’s world-wide gaf: displaying an “All Lives Matter” sign and hacking apart the Canadian National Anthem to get his political view across. Although deep down inside, Mr. Pereira may have meant well, unfortunately he forgot to research what the phrase “All Lives Matter” really meant. As a result, he pissed off a civil rights movement, angered an entire country (well, as mad as us Canadians can get), and gained an unceremonious boot from his job as a result.

If you’re going to lend your thoughts to the hot topic of the day, do your research first. Making an uninformed post will hurt your credibility and give your readership the impression that you really have no clue what you’re talking about.

Be Careful Choosing Sides

When it comes to politics, there is no ‘correct side’ to choose. Your readership will also be split between the two sides of a debate just as the rest of the populace is split throughout your country. Taking a side can alienate your readers on the other side of that decision.

An excellent example is the Trump vs. Clinton presidential race in the United States. Throwing your support behind one candidate will literally turn off the other half of North America and possibly other parts of the world from being interested in your work. Each candidate has their strengths, but each candidate also has their glaring flaws. Remember that. Holding the Hilary Clinton sign may peg you as a supporter of healthcare reform that comes with an outrageous price tag. At the same time, waving the Trump flag may peg you as a hater of immigration and religious diversity. There is no right side to any political debate. If there was then there would be no political debating. Mind blown yet?

Keep Your Cool

And if in the end you really-really-really have to make that post, then make sure you keep your cool doing it. Attacking the opposition, calling other posters names, and cursing once again brings you down to the level of that uninformed kid who just wants talk to be heard. The internet is full of trolls already, and you don’t want to be associated with their ilk.

So remember: think before you post and make sure to act your age! Speak about issues as if speaking about them in real life. Ask yourself: “what if my boss read this post”, or “is this how I would want people to view me?” before pushing that submit button. And as always, happy writing!

– Rissa