Author: Peggy Bechko

Peggy Bechko: 5 Tips for Aspiring Writers

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by Peggy Bechko

Aspiring Writer? Well for starters I’d stop ‘aspiring’. If you’re writing you’re a writer. I’ve said it before so pay attention, I’m going to offer a few tips to those writers out there who are about to break into publishing and who are determined to keep on writing.

And speaking of determined to keep on, here’s the first tip.

Get used to rejection. Probably a lot of it. Not the best ‘holiday’ news, but there you are. Or, think about self publishing. BUT, and it’s a big but, if you go the self-publishing route, make sure that book is damn near perfect before you toss it out there via one of the publishing platforms like Amazon, Smashwords or some other. It’s always important, but even more important on the first go. If people read your book and find it loaded with typos and disjointed sentences, believe me they aren’t going to go for book number two. And even if it’s a great first book, it’s probably not going to do too well – unless you have a lot of promotional savvy and a good helping of luck. read article

Peggy Bechko: Tune In And Turn Off

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by Peggy Bechko

Hey, you, writer person out there. Do you have a routine? You know, stuff you do as a matter of course? Stuff you do every day to get your writing done, polished and out there?

Don’t give me that look, and don’t give me the ‘free spirit’ route. You need a routine. One for your writing that encompasses not only the actual writing, but exercise, research, learning, maybe meditation; whatever gets you going and keeps you going. A scattered approach has rarely gotten anyone anywhere. Really. And I take the ‘rarely’ back. It doesn’t work. Period.

Develop a routine and stick to it. No cheating (well hardly any cheating – we all cheat once in a while). If you value what you do and what your goals are, establish a routine. I’m not going to tell you again. read article

Peggy Bechko: Tighten It Up

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by Peggy Bechko

Yes, writers, there it is. Almost every writer’s writing needs to be tightened, but when it’s your baby and you’ve written it, you, as the writer, frequently hesitate to do what needs to be done. So right here, right now, I’m going to spell it out for you.

Yep, you have to tighten it up and here are some ideas on how to do that.

1. Every Word Counts – how often have you heard this? It’s true. For novelists and even more so for screenwriters. Look, it doesn’t matter how many words you’ve actually written, just be sure every one is necessary. Check out those adjectives. Think about the adverbs. If you’re adding a character you better be sure that character is absolutely essential on many levels. If describing a location choose the words that make the reader feel he or she is actually there. Everything works together to move the story forward and to capture the reader or watcher. Don’t ramble, just don’t. Review, edit, and cut ruthlessly. read article

Peggy Bechko: The Unnatural Museum

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by Peggy Bechko

Today I’m going to tell you about the Museum of UnNatural History. It’s at www.unmuseum.org
Why? Well, heck, it’s just fun and this is the time of year for fun. Besides, writers need a break and this is a mind-expanding exploration. Here’s what the Museum of Unnatural History offers:

  • Travel to the Seven Wonders of the World.
  • Cryptozoology
  • UFO Mysteries
  • Aviation
  • Space & Time
  • Dinosaurs
  • Geology
  • Archaeology
  • Exploration
  • 7 Wonders
  • Surprising Science
  • Troubled History
  • Library
  • Laboratory
  • Attic
  • Theater
  • Store
  • Index/Site Map
  • Cyclorama

They offer new stuff and most popular categories to wander through – even have a ‘gift shop’ (connected via CafePress).

Now, really, don’t you want to visit the Attic? read article

Peggy Bechko: New Year’s Resolutions

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by Peggy Bechko

Are we all mad?

Seriously, how did this idiotic practice get started?

I mean it’s a created ‘holiday’ (New Year’s) and then somehow, somewhere, by someone there’s this ridiculous ‘tradition’ that gets started wherein we all make some promise (that’s probably unkeepable), then break it, then feel guilty about it. read article