Tag: the write life

  • Meet The Write Life’s New Managing Editor

    Meet The Write Life’s New Managing Editor

    Hello there, writers!

    My name is Jessica Lawlor and I am the new managing editor of The Write Life.

    Wow, that feels pretty awesome to write.

    You may recognize my name (or perhaps, my words). I’ve been a contributing writer around these parts for quite some time. I’m an avid supporter, reader, and let’s face it, superfan, of The Write Life and TWL founder, Alexis Grant.

    Let’s get acquainted

    A little bit about me:

    • At heart, I’m a writer. It’s what I’ve always done. It’s what I do now. I blog about stepping outside your comfort zone and dabble with creative fiction, too.
    • I’m a voracious reader. When I was three years old, my parents gave me a basket of books for Christmas, and I refused to open my other presents until I was finished reading each and every book. #NerdAlert
    • I quit a safe career in public relations in December to take my communications consulting, blog/brand, speaking and teaching full time. I’m documenting this journey in a series called Becoming CEO (juicy income breakdowns included, if you’re into that sort of thing). I wear *many* hats: communications professional, consultant, blogger, writer, editor, yoga teacher, adjunct professor…the list goes on. I’ve cobbled all of my passions into a career.

    Now, I want to learn about you!

    As a contributing writer for the site, I already know The Write Life’s community is passionate and engaged.

    As managing editor, I want to work even harder to make sure our team is delivering you high-quality and valuable information that makes you a stronger writer, helps you earn money writing and moves you closer to your writing dreams.

    Here’s how you can get involved:

    For those who have been part of The Write Life community for the last year, you’ve been reading the meticulously edited words of the wonderful Lisa Rowan, editor and writer extraordinaire. Please join me in a big round of internet applause for Lisa for the dedication, creativity and love she’s poured into this site. I have very large shoes to fill. We’ll miss Lisa, but she’s onto new adventures in Florida at The Penny Hoarder. We wish her very well!

    A new chapter unfolds…

    Until next time,

    Jessica Lawlor

    Managing Editor, The Write Life

  • 26 Obvious Signs You’re a Writer

    26 Obvious Signs You’re a Writer

    Ah, the writing life. You know it so well.

    Endless caffeine, a little bit of procrastination, blank Word documents, piles of notebooks, bouts of self-doubt and the satisfying clickety-clack of the keyboard. All things those of us who fancy ourselves writers are intimately familiar with. (OK. Maybe it’s a lot of procrastination, not just a little.)

    We took to social media to ask writers all over the world to complete the sentence, “You know you’re a writer when…” The results are hilarious, honest and heartfelt.

    You know you’re a writer when…

    1. You keep a journal and pen by your bed — you know, for those middle-of-the-night bursts of inspiration.

    via GIPHY

    2. Every moment when you’re not writing is spent thinking about writing.

    3. You take a sick day from work to stay home and work on your latest project.

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    4. You can never have enough coffee to keep you going.

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    5. You have a stockpile of 15+ blank notebooks and journals and buy more faster than you fill them.

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    6. Your friends, family, and colleagues make you write their important emails, cover letters…and even the inscriptions on greeting cards.

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    7. You turn down plans with family and friends so you can keep writing.

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    8. You type, type, type away and don’t even care about the time.

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    9. Your wrist physically aches.

    10. Every person you see, whether on a bus, at work or out shopping, becomes a potential character for your novel.

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    11. You finish reading a novel and you head straight to your laptop to start writing yours!

    via GIPHY

    12. Your friends and family are a tad sick of hearing about your latest writing project.

    13. You get in a writing groove and just can’t stop.

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    14. Word counts only slightly stress you out. OK. They really stress you out.

    15. There’s paper wadded up all over your floor from editing.

    16. You’ve perfected the art of procrastination.

    via GIPHY

    17. Your computer is filled with half-baked story ideas that you’ll get to one day.

    18. A blank page no longer scares you.

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    19. You think “this will make a great story” as you’re in the middle of an experience.

    20. You document your life on the Internet.

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    21. You’d rather be reading a book.

    22. You use words like an artist uses paint.

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    23. Every part of your life (purse, car, house) is filled with random Post-it Notes and scribbled-on-receipts because you got an idea at a random moment.

    24. Killing off one of your beloved characters gives you real heartbreak.

    via GIPHY

    25. You finally admit it to yourself.

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    26. You write. Simple as that.

    Go on! Add to this list in the comments. You know you’re a writer when…

    Thank you to members of the Freelance to Freedom Project, One Woman Shop and The Write Life Facebook communities for contributing to this post!

  • The Write Life Turns One: Thanks for Being Part of Our First Year!

    The Write Life Turns One: Thanks for Being Part of Our First Year!

    It’s hard to believe, but The Write Life is celebrating its first birthday!

    Thank you for being part of this community of writers: for reading, subscribing, contributing, commenting and sharing. We’re glad you’ve enjoyed our posts this past year, and look forward to continuing to help you create, connect and earn.

    As we look forward to our second year, we’d love to know more about how we can help you. Would you mind sharing your thoughts in our five-minute survey?

    The survey asks questions like, What are your writing goals? What writerly challenges are you facing? What do you most need to make progress on the writer’s journey? Your feedback will guide us in providing information and content that’s most helpful for you.

     

    Thanks for supporting us through our first year, and here’s to many more!

    Cheers,

    The Write Life team