Write 2 Live

To be a writer, is to be an inspiration. I want to change the world, and so I write. I strive to construct positive articles that are written from a fresh perspective. Sharing ideas helps people to grow wiser and become more informed. That is why I want to be a writer, so that I can change the world one letter at a time. --Katherine West, editor.

I feel like I have discovered gold! I would like you to find gold in your inbox every day too. What am I talking about? Well, for a writer to receive emails from a publisher with requests for submissions is truly a joy. Opening your email, and having it overflowing with writing requests is a dream come true. After reading this post, start clicking on the many links. This just might be your lucky day! A 24-karat letter may be waiting in your mailbox tomorrow morning and every morning after that.

Through painstakingly searching databases and many different email lists, I have discovered many places that I did not know existed. These are search engine listings of nearly every mail list that there is available. You can type in writing, publishing, or any old thing. Almost immediately, you are inundated with numerous, even hundreds of qualified lists.

I am sure that many of you know about the common mail groups, but I have found more. When you visit these sights, I suggest searching for writers, authors, journalism, freelance, and other literary terms that will bring up the right lists for you. www.clubs.yahoo.com"> Yahoo is great. They are formerly www.egroups.com, but what about at http://www.topica.com Topica http://www.liszt.com/ or The Liszt http://www.gumballpoetry.com/post/index.cgi or The Gumball Post?

I also included bulletin boards on which you can post your poems for review or URL, E-zines that are always looking for talent, literary magazines that you can find on your local bookshelf, poetry and fiction contests, and even classifieds geared toward writers.

You should be sure to introduce yourself first. You must ease into submitting poetry, and asking for friends to go to links. So, if you just jump in with a link, you may be tossed out on your buns! Below are some of my favorite links.

Here are both E-zines where you can sell your stuff, and also literary magazines that pay for submissions. Be sure to check the requirements for entries. Some of these E-zines allow you to submit online; others require them to be sent via snail mail.

A Poet Born:http://www.apoetborn.com/callforpoems.cfm  

Slipstream Press: http://www.slipstreampress.org/guide.html

Literary Lion: http://www.literarylion.com/

The Blue Moon Review: http://www.TheBlueMoon.com/

The Poet's Corner: http://www.geocities.com/~spanoudi/poems/links.html

Gumball Post: http://www.gumballpost.com

Slam News: http://www.slamnews.com/

Poets and Writers Online: http://www.pw.org/"

Poetry at Able Muse: http://www.ablemuse.com/2k/cover.htm

Ploughshares: http://www.emerson.edu/ploughshares/Ploughshares.html

North American Review: http://webdelsol.com/NorthAmReview/NAR/narneed.htm

Literal Latte: http://www.literal-latte.com/

There are also many contests that are available to poets as well as fiction writers. These are not just poetry contests! (Nearly all of these sights have contests for more than just poetry) Be sure to check the requirements for entries. Some sites allow you to register online, and others may request you to use snail mail. The ones that I listed are free, but there are numerous other contests. You can access these by going to a major search engine. Just search for writing contests, poetry contests, screenwriting contests, or any other genre that you write.

For a great listing of current contests, internships, fellowships, grants, and scholarships, go to Contest Haven.

Also make sure to search the classifieds and newsgroups. A good search engine to do this with is <a href=http://www.dogpile.com> Dogpile.com. Once you get to the links that are below, you can start job and article searches. For the most part, these are call lists requesting articles on a wide range of topics that are being sought by publishers.

http://www.freelancewriting.com/ -- Freelance Writing

http://www.content-exchange.com/cx/app/classifieds/ --Content Exchange

http://www.pw.org/mag/classifieds.htm --Poets and Writers Classifieds-- THIS IS A GREAT LISTING OF JOBS!

http://www.columbia.edu/acis/documentation/journ/newsgroups.html --List of Journalism Newsgroups

Copyright Katherine West 2000-2001

Focusing on Becoming a Better Writer: Learn what Mode Your Brain is in Today

by Katherine West

Since I have come to realize that I am whole-brained, I am a much more focused writer. Most writers probably use both sides of their brain more than others. Perhaps this quirk of nature-- our genetic code-- the way our brain is wired-- or some other unknown factor is what makes a writer able to write. Who knows! This, of course, doesn't speak to the inspirations and other items that add up in the equation of a good writer. But after realizing that my thought patterns go through phases, now I understand more fully why it is that I have problems making decisions.

Most equally right-brained and left-brained individuals have a daily struggle going on in their head. Part of them wants to do the normal and expected thing. The other part longs to just let it all hang out and do a much more unconventional and creative thing. I used to be plagued by this, for my thinking was so very split. I had a tug-of-war going on in my brain.

You see most people are either primarily left-brained or primarily right-brained. Often times, people that are ambidextrous or were as a child are blessed or should I say afflicted with this? We literally fight with ourselves. By this I mean that the right side of our brain wants us to brainstorm and write in free style, but the left side of our brain is urging us to get the facts, do research, and stay focused!

By learning to detect what mode your brain is in on a particular day, you can get much accomplished. If you are just writing and writing like a demon, and there seems to be hardly rhyme or reason to your material, your right side of your brain is dictating to you. If you are experiencing writer's block, usually your left side is to blame. How do you get a good combo of both? Learn to recognize the two different modes of your writing.

Once you notice the difference and stop trying to fight it, but embrace it, you will find meaning in your writing. One day you may just write on various subjects and brainstorm. Write until you have nothing else to say. After this, ask yourself if you are ready to analyze it. If the answer is no then maybe this is a good day to catch up on reading or answer emails. If you can get down to editing and focusing then do it, and polish your stories. On days where you are very literal and into research and details, go for it! Research and document things of interest, but be sure to write it all down. If you are in a structured kind of a mood, maybe you should make a list or two. The main suggestion I want to make is to accept what your muses have for you on a particular day. Accept the way that your mind works. Don't fight it!