Are You Unique?

The other day I read a writing tip (from a well-known author whose name I will not mention) to post pictures of your favourite authors around your desk or on your bathroom mirror - wherever you would see them on a daily basis. Then look at yourself in the mirror and say, "I am (insert name of author here), so now I will go and write like (insert name of author here)." These tricks might work for some people, but staring at myself in a mirror and saying, "I am Liz Curtis Higgs" (she's my favourite author) is not going to make me write like Liz Curtis Higgs. That's like standing in front of  a mirror and saying, "I am a chocolate doughnut - now I will be one." Yeah...I don't think that's going to happen ... well it might ... if I eat enough of them! :)

• Read your favourite author all the time
• Read other authors that write in your favourite genre
• Practice writing daily
• Join a writer's group
• Attend writer's conferences
• Take workshops and writing courses
• Set up a writing schedule
• Enter contests
• Submit articles to magazines, etc.
• Learn from rejection slips and try again
• Edit, then edit some more
• Do whatever you can to make yourself improve at your craft