The Writing Ladder

How does one get on the writing ladder? It’s important for writers to earn while they’re making a name for themselves. It’s not just about the money. The payment is a statement of acceptance and a validation of your skill. It’s not about how much you get paid, but rather that someone has acknowledged your effort and worth.

I’ve worked for years to be published. Along the way, I’ve even self-published a few of my books. Nothing can compare to seeing your name in print, even if it’s at the bottom of a letter in a magazine. This is exactly why I have a regularly updated page with writing opportunities – 98 % of them paid - to give you the help you deserve. However hard the publishing process, there are certain elements that have to fall into place first. 

British Or American English

British or American English? Which one do you prefer? We'll never agree - ever. However, because I ghost write for a lot of American bodies, (or foreign companies who want to sound American) I have to be really careful how I spell - depending on who I'm writing for. I don't always get it right. Many times I forget and switch the spelling for the wrong crowd. I grew up in a former British colony and now live in England as a British subject. However, because I work on the Internet, I constantly have to use Americanized versions of words. Would you know the difference if you saw them? Let's look at some common British versus American English spelling. You should never get them wrong again! :-)

Additional reading: Speak English With Confidence (for foreigners learning English)
Free, Quick English Lessons Online (for foreigners who speak English and English speakers who want to brush up on grammar, punctuation etc.

Brit Writers Awards

Brit Writers Awards gets your work the exposure it deserves! Brit Writers Awards have been working hard on behalf of unpublished and published authors alike. They launched in 2009 and since then have brought many unknown writers from obscurity to relative acclaim.

Their coverage and influence have grown massively over the years. This is not surprising considering that their first ever competition attracted over 21,000 entries from British people living in 92 different countries around the world.

Retell A Fairy Tale In 3 Sentences

How many of us can retell a fairy tale in no more than 3 sentences? As writers we tend to go on a bit. Finding words is the easy part, it's what we do. But could you tell a story in about 3 sentences? Many scholars believe that brevity is a writer's true acid test of his/her ability. Here are some familiar fairy tales below, told in no more than three modern-speak sentences. Can you can work out what they are? Answers in the comment box, please. 

Additional reading: Writing opportunities

Popular fairy tales in no more than 3 sentences

image url:   http://www.storystarpublishing.com/tag/fairytales/ 

1. This juvenile delinquent deceives a giant's wife. He steals their valuable stuff, and when the guy tries to defend his property, the youngster murders him.