emainder of the story. Still others outline the story and are content that they have a writing skeleton in their closet.

In order to be a writer you need to move beyond simply writing and never drawing a story to its logical conclusion, you need to finish what you start.

Once you’ve finished the story you can begin to clean up the draft and pay attention to many of the details you miss

First, you must write. Second, you must finish what you write. Third, you must submit what you write and keep submitting it until it either sells or you run out of markets. – Robert Heinlein

Writers can often make writing more difficult by simply spending too much time thinking about the actual skill of writing. Sure there needs to be planning and preparation, yes an outline would be nice and it would make sense to craft your article in a fashion that makes sense.

However, the problem begins when a writer starts to labor over every word, phrase and punctuation mark.

There will come a time for that, but sometimes you have to take the first step.

You Must Write

If your hard drive or journal is filled with incomplete articles you have at least gone further than many who feel they have what it takes to be a writer.

Many individuals I visit with who have an interest in writing say that feel they have a significant story to tell, they just need the opportunity. In other words, they will be happy to write the story when someone offers them a contract to do so.

The sad news is this scenario will likely never play out. There are numerous qualified writers who are actually writing. Cinderella stories, in which a publishing company seeks you out for something you haven’t even written, are almost unheard of.

In order to be a writer – you must actually write.

Finish What You Write

Some writers begin at the end of their story and work to figure out a middle and end. Others know the beginning and only have a vague notion of the remainder of the story. Still others outline the story and are content that they have a writing skeleton in their closet.

In order to be a writer you need to move beyond simply writing and never drawing a story to its logical conclusion, you need to finish what you start.

Once you’ve finished the story you can begin to clean up the draft and pay attention to many of the details you misse

and it would make sense to craft your article in a fashion that makes sense.

However, the problem begins when a writer starts to labor over every word, phrase and punctuation mark.

There will come a time for that, but sometimes you have to take the first step.

You Must Write

If your hard drive or journal is filled with incomplete articles you have at least gone further than many who feel they have what it takes to be a writer.

Many individuals I visit with who have an interest in writing say that feel they have a significant story to tell, they just need the opportunity. In other words, they will be happy to write the story when someone offers them a contract to do so.

The sad news is this scenario will likely never play out. There are numerous qualified writers who are actually writing. Cinderella stories, in which a publishing company seeks you out for something you haven’t even written, are almost unheard of.

In order to be a writer – you must actually write.

Finish What You Write

Some writers begin at the end of their story and work to figure out a middle and end. Others know the beginning and only have a vague notion of the remainder of the story. Still others outline the story and are content that they have a writing skeleton in their closet.

In order to be a writer you need to move beyond simply writing and never drawing a story to its logical conclusion, you need to finish what you start.

Once you’ve finished the story you can begin to clean up the draft and pay attention to many of the details you miss

many who feel they have what it takes to be a writer.

Many individuals I visit with who have an interest in writing say that feel they have a significant story to tell, they just need the opportunity. In other words, they will be happy to write the story when someone offers them a contract to do so.

The sad news is this scenario will likely never play out. There are numerous qualified writers who are actually writing. Cinderella stories, in which a publishing company seeks you out for something you haven’t even written, are almost unheard of.

In order to be a writer – you must actually write.

Finish What You Write

Some writers begin at the end of their story and work to figure out a middle and end. Others know the beginning and only have a vague notion of the remainder of the story. Still others outline the story and are content that they have a writing skeleton in their closet.

In order to be a writer you need to move beyond simply writing and never drawing a story to its logical conclusion, you need to finish what you start.

Once you’ve finished the story you can begin to clean up the draft and pay attention to many of the details you miss

writers who are actually writing. Cinderella stories, in which a publishing company seeks you out for something you haven’t even written, are almost unheard of.

In order to be a writer – you must actually write.

Finish What You Write

Some writers begin at the end of their story and work to figure out a middle and end. Others know the beginning and only have a vague notion of the remainder of the story. Still others outline the story and are content that they have a writing skeleton in their closet.

In order to be a writer you need to move beyond simply writing and never drawing a story to its logical conclusion, you need to finish what you start.

Once you’ve finished the story you can begin to clean up the draft and pay attention to many of the details you miss

emainder of the story. Still others outline the story and are content that they have a writing skeleton in their closet.

In order to be a writer you need to move beyond simply writing and never drawing a story to its logical conclusion, you need to finish what you start.

Once you’ve finished the story you can begin to clean up the draft and pay attention to many of the details you missed in the first (rough) draft.

Submission

The third part of this simple lesson in writing is the most difficult because it can put us in a position where we may be ridiculed or rejected.

If you have done the best you could with your writing you should submit your work to publishers that may be willing to give it a look. Don’t be discouraged if the work is returned with a rejection slip. Keep sending the work out to others until there are no more markets to submit to.

Not every work will be published, but there is no chance of publishing if the work is never sent out.

Write. Finish. Submit.