What Is YA Literature?

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YA writing is better understood as writing that is targeted towards young adults. Young adult readers are typically in the age group of 12-18 years. This categorization is not necessarily rigid; some YA writing is focused on younger ages between 10 and 12. Such writing is also referred to as MG or middle grade writing. Other YA writing enjoys a spill over to a slightly older audience between the ages of 18 and 25.

YA literature focuses on plots and themes that appeal to this younger demographic; a recurring theme in YA writing is coming-of-age stories.

The Realities and how-to’s of YA Writing

YA writing is a complex process: You are not writing for adults, but for a young audience. This can be a more daunting task than it seems. After all, how long has it been since you were in those shoes, and in those situations? Given how quickly trends, language and preferences change, it takes a lot of effort and research to design a story so that it is neither childish nor alienating to the young adult market.

Finding a publisher and market realities: As it is with any form of writing, finding a publisher for your work is not an easy task. These days with the surge of interest in YA writing, there is more interest in new projects and ideas, and more competition. Look up the success of the Hunger Games, The Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, to gauge how dynamic this sector is and how far you can go if you get it right. The key is to never give up and keep working on your writing.

 Understanding your audience: It goes without saying that to be a successful YA writer, you need to have a pulse on the young adult mindset, which in turn will reflect in the YA characters of your story. As long as you understand and write from the point of view of at least one teen (maybe your teenage self), you’ll find it easier to write for these young readers.

Dig deep, dig back: Take a look back at all the reading you did as a teenager. Was it all the same? What YA genre were you drawn to most: humor, romance, horror, fantasy, mystery? Each genre has a strong following and great representation, from the Nancy Drew Series, Hardy Boys Series, Twilight, Sweet Valley, to the revolutionary Harry Potter Series. Find your niche and target that market group.

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Language matters: Remember that you are writing for young adults. It is important to use vocabulary, speech patterns and grammar that is more relaxed, more youthful. Words used can be simpler, paragraphs and sentences can be shorter and more direct. However, be careful when using slang words in your writing. For all you know, by the time the story comes out in print the slang may be outdated.

Read a lot: As with any other form of writing, to be a better writer, you have to read a lot. Read as much as possible. Read as many genres of YA lit as you can. Analyze the style, the plot, the characters, the dialogues.  Study all the details and at the same time work on your own style.

At the end of the day, the one thing that truly makes a difference is passion. You must be passionate about YA literature. Only real passion can bring out good and convincing writing.

11 Reasons why Networking is Important for Writers

In today’s world a lot of business is conducted through networking. Hence it is imperative that all professional writers, even the introverts, take some time out to mingle and market themselves within the industry.

How Networking can Boost your Writing Career:

1. Networking in the real and virtual world is an easy way to connect with fellow writers, editors and other industry professionals. This is an opportunity to build yourself an industry specific support system.

2. Joining (and networking within) a forum like a Writers Network is a convenient outlet for bouncing ideas and thoughts with other writers. It can be a great learning experience that helps you grow as a writer.

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3. Established writers have a lot of experience and advice to offer to aspiring and new writers, and networking with them gives you access to this experience; be open to honest feedback and work towards improving your writing skills.

4. Considering this is an industry built on connections, networking with industry professionals is a foolproof marketing tool to build contacts and a productive database.

5. Networking online is one of the easiest ways to promote your work; create and establish a strong web presence to extract maximum mileage out of online networking.

6. A major chunk of your readers comprise of other writers, bloggers, editors and publishers. Networking within the right circles ensures your work is read, reviewed and critiqued by this niche crowd. This group in turn can channel more traffic your way.

7. Creating a website dedicated to your work ensures most of your work is online, all the time. It is a good idea to update the site frequently and to engage with your audience. Your posts may invite new project offers; one of your readers can be a future employer!

8. The internet affords limitless opportunities to writers. Networking opens up a plethora of options as it lets you discover sites, blogs and portals where one can make money online. Some sites pay you to blog, others to review products and some to advertise and promote their products on your blog.

9. Online networking has been made easier with the explosion of Social Media Networks. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn can help you engage with readers, editors and potential clients. A smart move is to link your blog to these networks to share your writing. Encourage readers to give constructive feedback and to recommend your work if they like it.

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10. Networking in the real world is just as important as networking in the virtual world as it can lead to new (lasting) business opportunities. Sometimes the best way to network with influential industry players is to take a break from your writing and attend a social or literary event. Go watch a play or sign up for a workshop. Chances are you will clear out the cobwebs from your mind, meet some interesting people.

11. Sharing a cup of coffee with another writer serves as a bonding experience. It gives you an opportunity to brainstormand share success and failure stories and tips. It also helps in deriving inspiration from one anotherwhile facing new projects or the dreaded writers block.

A Writer’s Armoury – How to Craft the Perfect ‘About’ Page

All writers need their own blog or website, and each element of the site needs to be crafted to reflect the writer and the writer’s vision. This is especially true for the ‘About’ page.

How to Craft the Perfect ‘About’ Page:

A Striking Introduction: The About page is the perfect space to introduce the theme of your blog. For instance if you run a food blog, it is a good idea to tell the reader your food related history – when did you first fall in love with food and cooking. Tell them what to expect – what kind of recipes you enjoy, if you follow any particular food philosophy, should they expect simple, but elegant food or avant garde cuisine. This page sets both a back story and the tone for things to come.

The Story behind your Blog: In addition to your own history, it helps to take the reader on a journey of the blog, from the birth of the concept to production. Share what prompted you to start the blog. For example, going back to the food blog, it could be your dual passion for cooking and writing.

What’s in it for the Reader: Readers visiting your site are interested in knowing what’s in it for them; put down the benefits (very lucidly) in a quirky list, or an interesting paragraph, so they keep coming back.

Picture Perfect: Add your picture to your About page. A face to go with the words helps readers feel a connection with the blog and with you the writer. Be sure to pick a photo that fits the theme of the blog. Also, it’s best to avoid inappropriate shots, especially if you use the site as a professional showcase.

KISS or Keep It Simple Silly: Use simple language and try to engage your reader. An interesting, easy-to-follow About page works as a hook and encourages a reader to go through the site in detail instead of merely browsing.

Personalize the About Page: Don’t keep the page dry and clinical. Infuse it with some character, a bit of your personality, and let the blog come to life. If your readers find you interesting, they’ll keep coming back, and a loyal fan base in turn helps draw in more readers.

Add Contact Details on Your About Page: Add your email id along with other details like links to your Twitter feed and Facebook page on your About page. This ensures readers, writers and editors can get in touch with you easily.

Take time to work on your About page. Pay attention to details. Browse different sites and see the various approaches to the page before starting on your own. Once you know what you want, work on creating an enjoyable reading experience, one that will have your readers coming back for more.

What is Technical Writing?

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Technical writing refers to writing on a specific ‘technical’ subject for a specific group of people – these can be individuals within that field of play or laymen. Technical writing involves understanding and communicating technical matter in an accurate and concise manner. Technical writing is usually structural and utilitarian in form.

There are two main types of technical writing: procedural writing and narrative writing.

• Procedural writing: Procedural writing involves writing step-by-step instructions on how to perform an operation – the most common example of procedural writing is a user’s manual.
• Narrative writing: Narrative writing comprises of all other technical writing that is not procedural in nature. This includes writing accurate details of the principles, concepts and theories of a specialized subject.

Technical Writing – A Walk Through

If you are considering a career as a Technical Writer, the following points will help you understand the process better and will allow you to tackle projects more effectively:

Understand the Reader: Since technical writing is all about expertise, simplicity and accuracy, it begins with understanding the final audience. What is their depth of knowledge of the subject? Is the article targeted at beginners or for industry professionals? What is the specific goal of the piece? When you have the answers to these questions, it will be much easier to write the article.

Research: The only way to write a flawless article is to invest your time in comprehensive research. In addition to a quick Google search, look up journal articles, research data, specialized books, and interact with subject matter experts (SME). The more information you have at your fingertips, the better you will be able to write.

Plan the Piece: Plan the article beforehand. Given the technical subject matter, it helps to be thoroughly organized through the writing process. Collect the data, structure it in the required format. Finish the draft. Edit, read, edit. Continue this process till you are satisfied with the outcome.

Run the Draft through Experts: Once the draft is ready, it is always a good idea to get the opinion of a technical expert. Get the SME to read your draft and check for accuracy. If they point out any flaws or suggest points for improvement, work on it and improve your article.

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A few examples of Technical Writing:

• User and installation manuals
• Reports
• Business proposals
• Process documents
• Policies and procedure documents
• Textbooks

To be a Technical Writer:

A technical writer is expected to have good written communication skills and a flair for research and writing. The writer must also have the ability to absorb and translate complex technical data into accurate articles.

Quick and Easy Fitness Tips for Busy Writers

Like any other profession, writers also occasionally suffer from work-related ailments. A majority of the work requires writers to spend long hours in front of the computer, this has a direct impact on the eyes, neck and back. Work-related stress can also cause moments of tension and anxiety.

Fortunately there is a very simple solution to all these writing-related ailments: exercise. There are certain exercises which can either be performed while working; they don’t eat into your working hours, and can go a long way in reducing writing-related complaints.

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So the next time you feel a niggle coming along, try one of these exercises and chase it away:

Wrist Exercises: The most common ailment plaguing modern day writers (and other computer users) is carpal tunnel syndrome. This is a condition wherein the user develops numbness or a burning sensations in the thumb and fingers. Some people also feel pain in their wrists and a loss of grip. When you feel the pressure building along your wrists, take a few minutes to perform these simple exercises:

• Extend and stretch both wrists and fingers, in a hand-stand position. This will help to relieve the stress
• Follow this up by straightening both wrists and relaxing the fingers
• Make a fist with both your hands and bend both the wrists while holding the fist. Repeat this movement 10 times.
• Once you’ve completing these exercises, let your arms hang loose and shake them in the air; you’ll find them relaxing immediately 

Exercises for the Eyes: Ask any writer and he will tell you that the most overworked and strained part of his body is his eyes. Usually the eyes bear most of the brunt of the writer’s workload thanks to the long hours spent in front of the computer. The constant pressure put on the eyes may result in them becoming red and puffy, dry, irritated, and in many cases swollen. Try some of the following exercises to ease the stress:

• Focus on the tip of your nose without blinking. This will help relax the eyes. Close your eyes after you’ve completed the exercise and feel the strain ebb away
• Keep your head still and focus both eyes to your left shoulder. Hold this position for 5 counts. Repeat this process on the right side as well
• The perfect way to end this set of eye exercises is to rub your palms together. Once they warm up, hold them over your closed eyes for 5 counts. Repeat the process a few times over
• In case of swelling or intense irritation, use a cold compress to ease the strain. Soak a hand towel in cold water; roll it up and place it on your eyes for 5 to 10 minutes

Stretching Exercises: Sitting in the same position for a long time can put tremendous pressure on the neck, back and leg muscles. Health professionals recommend taking frequent short breaks through work hours.

• Take a short walk – pace around the room, step outside and do the same. This will help ease the strain on your muscles and you will feel refreshed.
• Try some simple stretching exercises. These can be undertaken at your seat, which makes them incredibly convenient. Stretch out your legs, one at a time, and hold to 5 counts. Repeat this process with your hands and neck muscles as well
• In a seated position, with your back straight, raise your arms over your head, lock them together and stretch out your upper body for 5-7 counts. Repeat

Breathing Exercises:  Deep breathing is a known natural cure for anxiety and stress. When you feel the walls closing in, stop your work, close your eyes and slowly breathe in and out. Continue doing this till you feel calmer.

Adopt this simple mantra for a long and successful career: Keep fit, write well.

The Importance of Writing Everyday

“You can’t say, I won’t write today because that excuse will extend into several days, then several months, then… you are not a writer anymore, just someone who dreams about being a writer”.  - Dorothy C. Fontana

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Writing is hard work. And as every writer knows, there are days when the inspiration runs low, and you look for any excuse to avoid writing.

However as a professional writer, it is important to write something every single day, no matter how difficult it may seem.

WHY WRITE EVERYDAY:

Practice makes Perfect: You have probably heard it a million times before, but there is no substitute to consistency and perseverance. The more you write, the better you will get at it; the more you write, the easier it gets to write through a rough patch.

Improve Writing Skills: Writing often is the best way to improve your writing skills – this includes language, vocabulary, grammar, even sentence construction, and more. As a writer, it is very important to constantly work on your skill set, and how do you better your skill set? You write every day.

Get over the Block: Once the habit of writing everyday is established, you settle into an easy writing rhythm. This means that even when you feel stuck, you will have the tools to dig your way out and around the problem.

Experiment with Styles: When you write each day, you have the space and freedom to try out new styles. The more you experiment with your writing, the larger your range gets. This also helps you zero in on your own unique style and voice.

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Self discipline: Yes, this is the best way to bring order and discipline in your writing career. Be it freelance writing or part-time, writing is something you do around other jobs and routine chores. It is easy to lose focus and find excuses not to write. Writing every single day without fail is like establishing an exercise routine – it may feel  difficult at first, but will also prove to be refreshing and energizing. Soon it will come to you naturally.

Just Write: This is your chance to forget rules, guidelines, grammar and simply write for 15-20 minutes. Somewhere along the way, you’ll find yourself writing beautiful prose, come up with a great idea, find a new angle for an existing idea. This is the result of pressure free, constant writing.

Gain Confidence: Everyone, at some point, feels overwhelmed. But hey, it’s all about taking the journey one step at a time. The more often you write, the better you get at it, the more confidence you gain.

So go ahead, buy a journal or start a blog, and write a little bit every day. It’s easier than it sounds!

A Few Green Tips for Writers

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April is traditionally a green month, with events and projects revolving around World Earth Day (April 22). Words like “recycle” and “reuse” are gaining a lot of importance in modern society. Professionals, students, senior citizens, are all being asked to pitch in and do their bit for the earth. As a writer, you too can make a large contribution to the “green movement” by following some very simple rules. Here’s how:

Minimise use of paper: Paper is used by every writer – to jot down ideas and observations, for printing, and more. A simple and effective way to contribute to the green cause is to minimize the use of paper. Since deforestation is one of the main reasons behind environmental degradation, limiting paper wastage will have a direct and positive impact on managing forest cover.

A few tips:

• While writing down notes, make use of both sides of the paper
• Use paper scraps and blank sides of old prints. In this way, old paper will be reused and there is no need to make use of fresh sheets of paper
• Print only when it is absolutely necessary
• Use of double-side printing while printing papers/documents

Use and recycle: Try and use recycled products when possible. Recycled paper is easily available in the market these days. In fact there is a large choice of grades of recycled paper on offer. It is also important to recycle all the paper you use. And while you are at it, don’t forget to take care of the old cartridges, pens and other stationery. It may seem like an inconsequential act, but it has a great impact on the earth.

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Use technology to the world’s advantage: The advancement of technology has meant that more and more work can now be done online. Writers can use this to their benefit as well as the planet’s.

• Communication between colleagues, clients and editors can be done through e-mails instead of using written memos/notes
• Invoices, receipts and bank payments can be issued electronically, instead of on paper, and so on

However when relying on technology it is also essential to practice energy conserving methods:

• Choose energy efficient and recyclable brands
• Switch off the computer after use, switch it to hibernate between use
• Unplug all devices when not in use

In addition, e-waste is fast becoming a major environmental problem. Writers should research the various options of recycling computer equipment, batteries and chargers out there and adopt the most practical one. This will significantly reduce your carbon footprint.

Encourage others: It is very important to adopt green practices. It is equally important to spread the word. Encourage your family/friends and other writers to limit wastage and make greener choices; lead by example. After all these steps will go a long way in preserving the beauty and vitality of our planet.

6 Tips to Improve your Editing Skills

Just because you’ve finished writing, doesn’t mean your work is done. At times even when you’ve proof read your work and sent it across, it is returned with corrections/remarks. This can easily be avoided with some simple editing at your end.

Editing is the backbone of all good writing. Proper editing gives the article a crisp, neat look. It also puts across the content in a better manner. Use some the following editing tips to make your writing more accurate and effective:

Write first, leave editing for later: Some writers are forever stuck with the first line or chapter of their work. They keep editing and rewriting this first part to such an extent that they are unable to move on to the next level. However, it is best to keep the editing aside till you finish the entire draft. Once the writing is complete, begin the editing process.

Get a second opinion: Once you are done with your writing and proof-reading, it is always a good idea to get a second opinion. Do not seek advice from family/friends as they will not always be frank with their views in order to be supportive. Ask colleagues or professional editors to go through the draft and suggest editing tips.

Join a writer’s group: It is a good idea for writers to join a writer’s group. You can share your work with group members and can get different viewpoints and feedback that can prove beneficial while cutting down on unwanted matter. Some groups also have professional editors whose advice is always useful.

Take a break: If you have been continuously writing and editing your work, try and take a break. Get away from the work table. Take a walk or a short nap. Listen to soothing music. This short break will give you some clarity and will do wonders to your editing skills.

Read out loud: Once the final draft is ready, it is a good idea to read your work out loud. This will help you spot mistakes may have been skipped over while editing. This process helps steady the flow of the piece.

Step-by-step editing: The time spent editing any project is directly dependent on its length and significance. First go through the entire document. Next break up the editing process – edit the matter for content, choice of words, clarity and then shift focus to grammar, sentence formation and spelling. Editing in stages considerably reduces the chances of errors.

Read backwards: Most writers adopt the process of reading backwards as missing words and spelling mistakes can be instantly identified.Read every sentence from back to front to ensure that it makes perfect sense.

Look out for often repeated mistakes: Every writer has certain mistakes that they are prone to repeat. These may either be repeating certain words or spelling mistakes. Be on the lookout for such errors and ensure that they are not repeated in the final draft.

Editing helps remove unwanted jargon from our writing. This results in a well written article that conveys the message in a succinct manner. As the saying goes, “There is no good writing, only good rewriting”.

What Pinterest can do for Writers?

We’ve hitched onto the Pinterest wagon – it was done through one rain soaked afternoon, and we’ve been pinning away ever since!

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is the latest social media craze, adding words like pinning and pin board to the modern lexicon. But what is Pinterest? And should writers be paying any attention to it?

Pinterest allows users to share inspiring and beautiful imagery, in the form of photos, graphics and videos, with a large online network. Users can search for images from across the internet or upload original content, and arrange them on thematic pin boards on their pinterest account. Think of pinterest as a digital era manifestation of the old scrapbook.

Why Join Pinterest

Grab Traffic – Pinterest is growing into one of the most popular social networking sites around, right up there with Facebook and Twitter. Pinterest also allows the user to link their account to their blog, Twitter and Facebook accounts – this means that a visitor to your Pinterest page is a potential visitor to your blog or website. When you upload an original images or graphics, chances are other users will repin them, sharing the image with their own network, and so on. This will drive new traffic to your account and as a result, your site.

Build your Vision – Pinterest is a great space to visually build your story. Writers can create mood boards, create character portraits, find the perfect setting for the story, arrange relevant quotes, collect and pin visual references for all the elements that complete the piece. In short, writers can visually create their story, and once the whole picture lines up, they can get started on the words.

Idea Factory – There’s a lot of inspiration waiting to be mined on Pinterest. You can browse through sets of inspiring imagery. You can unearth the most interesting and witty quotes, book covers, home offices, and libraries. You can find fresh angles and hooks through each and every image, each and every board. For example, Pinterest is a fantastic resource for indulging in some creative writing – a great exercise is to pick a photo prompt and try your hand at free writing.

Get Noticed by the People that Matter – Give the amount of buzz Pinterest has generated in the last few months, it has attracted the attention of advertisers, publishers and other market leaders and professionals. By having a strong and active presence, you improve your chances of getting noticed by these influential players. A strong presence also gives them confidence in you as a media savvy professional.

Fight that Block – Sometimes the words dry up and all you want to do is get away from the routine. Pinterest almost seems custom built for such situations. Pinterest is an endless resource of beautiful imagery – be it food shots, travel photos, literary imagery, fashion, cinema, decor, there is no shortage of inspiration here. You can browse through boards and topics, absorbing the beauty and creativity. You never know, it might just spark a fresh spell of writing.

Note: Pinterest still requires you to request a login. Once you send your request the team gets back to you with account details at the earliest.

Are you on Pinterest? Follow us, if you are. Come check us out, even if you are not!