"But we had a New Year's Day LAST year!"

New Year's Day is a time for resolutions.  

Sure, you can promise yourself that you'll exercise more, eat less, and generally become a better person.

And on or about January 3rd, you stop fooling yourself and return to normal.

This year, however, make a promise to yourself to be the writer you always tell yourself that you are.

"If it is to be, it's up to me."

If you have ideas that you keep losing, carry a notebook so you can write them down.

Don't just talk about your writing, start writing even if it means taking a short lunch, getting up early in the morning or staying up a little later at night.

If you start writing something, finish it.

When you finish a piece, send it to someone to read, whether it's a friend, a relative, a spouse, or just someone whose opinion matters to you. 

If someone cares to give you feedback on your story, ponder it carefully to see if you need to take it with a grain of salt, a spoonful of sugar, or to heart.

Remember that part of the craft of writing is REwriting.  Like Football, you run the play until you get it right.

Study your market.  Keep your eye peeled for opportunities and if there aren't any, don't waste your time so you can give your attention to someone who is looking for you and your work.

Network and share your wisdom.  The person you help today could become a friend and a little gratitude goes a long way sometimes.

If you send out your work and it comes back, learn from the experience and send it out again.

If you are tired of having your writing come back, consider publishing it yourself.

Start thinking of yourself as a WRITER because you are WRITING and WORKING to put it before other people.

And never give up.

Sometimes, you include graphics just because they're cool.  Who am I to buck a trend?

Your comments here and via e-mail are welcome and encouraged.  I read everything, even if I have to move my lips.

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Visit the Freelance Words website for your writing needs.  To read my creative resume to show you I can do the work, I make it easy ... see?

In December, expect news about our first Kindle publication and tell your costuming friends to keep an eye out for it.  We'll also have announcements and other insane ramblings on our Facebook page (give us a LIKE while you're there, if you would, please) or on Twitter as @BrianKMorris.  You'll be glad you did.  Trust us.  Have I ever lied to you and gotten caught?

It's the start of yet another year.  I will admit that 2012 was not one of my favorite years, mostly because of forces beyond my control (like I'm the only one, right?).  But I'm delighted that I started this blog because I've made some great new friends, exchanged lots of sweet ideas, torqued off a couple of people who might have needed it, and I've learned a lot about myself and our craft in the process.

May 2013 be YOUR year. I plan to make it mine.

Until next time, be good to yourself, be good to each other, and stay creative!

"Why did you start a blog, Brian?"

Figures I'd ask during the third week of it, right?  It's the secret of comedy ... TIMING!

Anyway, I'm frequently asked for writing advice since over the years because I've written a lot of stuff.  Most of it's been while working for The Man (occasionally, The Woman).  But during those years, I've learned how to write a multitude of things such as business plans, copy for ads (print, TV, radio), podcasts, audio fiction, scripts for the stage, comic books, television, and I'm closing in on completing my first screenplay.  I've also conducted interviews, written reviews, executed research for other writers, and performed interview transcripts for magazines, books, and DVD commentary specials. 

Except for the different formats, it's all words.

How do all these words get put together?   It's a combination of inspiration, desperation, determination, and forcing the fingertips onto the keys.

It helps that I haven't had Writer's Block since the Spring of 1970.  What I don't have is the time and energy to do all the stories inside me.  I refuse to wait for my muse to find me.  Instead, I'd rather hunt her down, kick her door down, and pull my next story from her (but in a respectful, life-affirming way, of course).

Eventually, I'd like to share not only my thoughts on writing in all media, but also samples of what I do.  I'm also working on a collection of short stories.  Eventually, this stuff will wind up in book form.  However, you can read the stuff early.  I also welcome your comments.  We could both learn something that way, you know.

If you have any questions, I'd love to toss them out for discussion.  And if you have any suggestions for me, I'd welcome your input.

So let's read about writing.  However, it's not always just an adventure ... sometimes, it's a job.

Speaking of which, if you need my services, check out http://linkd.in/H7vJst for my resume and a profile that I worked hard to make pretty.  Btw, I can help you do that too.  Just letting you know ...