I started writing a column for a paycheck in 2005, but I was still just writing. I only transformed into a writer in 2008. That was the year I attended a local writer’s conference where the keynote speaker had us all say, “I am a writer.”

The first time the words crossed my mouth they felt uncomfortable and out of place. I think he knew that would happen because he had us say it more than once. By the end of the conference I was almost comfortable saying the words that declared me to be a writer.

Making the Transformation

1. Start right now and say, out loud, I AM A WRITER. Hearing the words come from your own mouth will allow you to begin believing their truth.

2. Look at all that you have accomplished. Each time you create content for your website you reveal your place as a writer.

3. Share with others. Tell your tale to others that will listen. Find other writers that can relate to your struggle. Tell the world that you are a writer.

4. Accept the truth. You write – that makes you a writer. The world does not dictate that position. The money does not dictate that position. The words stamp your place as a writer. It really is that simple.

5. Ignore the doubters. You will never find the way to please everyone. Someone will tell you what a REAL writer does or doesn’t do. Your walk as a writer will be unique because you are unique. Choose to listen to that inner voice and refuse to be directed by others.

6. Understand the costs. Putting words out there that others will read will bring rejection. This works with #5 in that not everyone will like what you like. That has to be okay. Write what your heart calls you to write. Be proud of what you put to print. And let the rejections line the bottom of the birdcage.

Are you a writer?

The answer to that question – if you are visiting this website – is likely a resounding yes. You write so you are therefore a writer. The sooner you stand on that statement the farther you will be able to propel your writing.

I am a writer. I refuse to let anyone or anything tell me otherwise. I choose to stand firmly on the fact that the words I create transform me into more than I ever imagined I could be.

Take the steps that will allow you to transform from that place of just writing content into the world of being a writer.

The same holds true for any food, but it can also translate over into the activities that you do including the content that you create.

Writing content on the same subject day in and day out can begin to wear down even the most passionate writer.

Trying to build a following in a particular niche or develop an expertise means that you MUST write about the same things or at least create content that relates closely with that niche.

Avoid the compulsion to walk away screaming by mixing things up now and then. Find unique and unusual ways to expand your writing repertoire in order to boost your enthusiasm in your niche once again.

Tips to Change Things Up and Keep Content Fresh

1. Spread out the work – large orders for content, or even creating your own niche focused content, can leave you feeling déjà vu all over again. The words begin to look like the same ones you just wrote. Write only one or two articles at a time and then move away to another project. Your mind and creative spirit will have a chance to recharge and refocus.

2. Take a break - set a timer for 50 minutes and then stop working when that alarm goes off. Take a ten minute break to go out and enjoy a brisk walk, sit in the sun or maybe do a chore or two. The change in scenery and activity will help to give your writing a boost when you return. Working in these one hour time blocks will also help you keep your work moving along which will leave you more productive at the end of the day.

3. Make a friend – writing can be lonely work. Meeting friends that also write will help you cope with the isolation. Visit writing forums, websites and other locations to connect with writers through those sites. You can share Facebook pages, IM links or other social media so that you will have someone to chat with when the writing burnout tries to set in. Be sure to limit your chat time so that it does not begin to dominate your content writing instead of just inspiring your writing.

4. Put off finding ways to put things off – in other words, kill procrastination. The due dates will come, the deadline will arrive and time will continue to march forward. Start projects as soon as they are set and then break them up into workable pieces so that you get the job done and avoid burnout along the way.

5. Do something extra – send a note to a friend or write your spouse a poem. Let the words come out in ways that have nothing to do with your content and you will find that your content improves with each exercise.

Too much of anything becomes unappealing. Keep your content fresh by changing up what you write, taking breaks from the normal way of doing things and allowing your creative spirit to wonder now and then.

There are ideas for articles and posts everywhere you turn. Learn to look past the obvious and expect to discover the next, great content idea for your website.

Unexpected Idea Locations

Steal your ideas – Any time you have to sit in a waiting room that has a large pile of magazines you can use the time to flip through those magazines and come up with titles and outlines for articles from the existing articles.

Go to court – Courtrooms are another great place to discover characters, dialogue and even story ideas.

Catch a wave – Reading other blogs and websites will often trigger ideas for your own articles. Playing off those ideas and linking back to the websites will help you build links as well.

Let life happen – Issues and situations in daily life. Writing about the family garden, keeping the house clean or raising kids can all offer endless opportunities for articles but also provide valuable tips and ideas for the readers.

Watch a little television - Top 10 shows (like the top ten beaches or top ten amusement parks) can be the inspiration for your own local or regional top ten lists. You can also play off the lists from the show and expand them into your own style. Always give credit where credit is due and try to link back to any websites that might be mentioned on the show.

Go back to school - Classes and seminars are great places to find the inspiration to create informative list articles, reviews of the programs or just what I learned stories.

Review your personal writing history – Reading through old journals or things written in high school (or younger) can spark the imagination in ways you might not otherwise be able to find.

Get back to nature - It is always amazing what a perfect sunset or a rising full moon will do to my muse. Seeing a herd of deer along the road or a dove in front of the church on Easter morning can also inspire me to write more.

Keep it in the family – Family gatherings are the ultimate inspiration dream. If you come away from family reunions, family dinners, or other family get-togethers uninspired either you weren’t paying attention or else you have one of those few “normal” families that I have heard exists.

Let there be no limits to where you uncover your content inspiration. Expect to find the ideas in every aspect of life and you will discover that your ideas where right there in plain view all along.

Procrastination and I go way back. Most of my younger life was spent perfecting the art of procrastination. Hopefully the lessons I have learned from many procrastination related stumbles will prove beneficial for all those that struggle with getting started or keeping the momentum going.

Although the ways to defeat procrastination are as numerous as the stars, the key lies in one simple step. Just do it. The only way I know to break the habit of procrastination is to start doing things right now – this instant – no matter how small. Action begets action and action forces procrastination to run for cover.

Practical Tips for Pushing Back Procrastination…

• Invest in a timer. Do something for one hour (50 minutes plus 10 minutes to take a break). Choose one project and then set the timer to complete that project.

• Do it now. When the thought or idea comes to mind then act on it at that moment. Even if you only get a partial start on the project at least the project is under way. It means there is one less thing to do tomorrow.

• Do one more thing. Find one more piece of a project or step that you can take before you call it a day or just take a break. Pushing to complete one more task will help you to keep focus on the bigger picture.

• Speak your goals. Verbalizing the things that you want to accomplish gives them life. It can be one of the best ways to get things moving in the right direction.

• Ask for help. There is always someone who knows more about what you are experiencing than you know. Reach out to that person or persons. Be open to their advice and suggestions. Learn from their mistakes and triumphs.

• Seek support. Surround yourself with people that will cheer you on to the finish line but that will also challenge you to cross. Meet with your encouragers on a regular basis.

• Never walk past something that can be done right now. Just like action begets action, procrastination inflates from exposure. Soon it will fill the whole day. Take a moment to put that file away, pick up that pen from the floor or do that small task that is calling to be completed.

• Read a book, listen to a seminar, or take a class about motivation, organization, or attitudes to help you stay focused on your goal. Many of the writers have been where you are and want to help you break free by showing you their own path to freedom.

• Turn off the television – or at least limit yourself to a small amount per day. If the recent writer’s strike has taught my nothing else, it has taught me that I can survive without television.

Procrastination can be a powerful force, but action creates the energy that will force procrastination to find a new dwelling place.

Share your greatest tip for beating the procrastination bug.

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination are omnipotent.” – Calvin Coolidge

This saying has pushed me through most of my life. It gave me the courage to pursue diving in high school. It bolstered that same courage to step out into a ballroom dancing career in college. But I still struggle to find that same persistence and determination when it comes to writing content. Tomorrow always looks like a better time to write.

The time must be now. Great content does not come from the mind of a talented writer, a smart writer, or even an educated writer. The only content you will ever read will come from an active writer. Waiting until tomorrow almost guarantees that the words will never be written.

Making a Habit of Persistent Writing

1. Sign up to do blog carnivals, guest posts and other content writing opportunities. It can be easier to write the content now when it has been promised to someone else. Setting up a regular schedule of content for others will help develop a habit of persistent writing.

2. Complete something every day. Writing eBooks, reports and other long term projects will not be finished in one day. Putting those off until tomorrow almost seems natural. Completing a content writing task (like a short blog post or other article) can help to inspire work on the longer projects.

3. Break large projects into small projects. Writing 50,000 words of content (or some other equally unimaginable large task) can seem overwhelming and that can increase the odds that procrastination will find its way into the project. Divide up the content project into parts that can be completed in one day. The accomplishment of finishing the task will add to the determination to take on the next part.

4. Enlist help. Find a group of encouragers that can give you motivation when you begin to think of tomorrow. A few good cheerleaders can have you tackling the world right now in no time flat. Writers groups – online and in person – can be a great tool for finding the encouragement you need to develop persistent writing habits.

Great content can only be found where writing has been done. The art of procrastination will hinder that forward progress by putting off all content writing until tomorrow. Developing strong habits of persistent and determined writing will defeat the fog of procrastination and serve to push your content forward to a stronger and bolder level.

What habits are you forming that are creating persistent and determined content?

Getting readers to choose YOUR content can be a challenge. Alice talked about some ways to draw new prospects to your website. Building a better (or at least a unique) mousetrap will aid in the draw and help keep them around once they find you.

Five Steps to Make Your Content Stand Out

1. Voice – many writers carry a specific voice with their words. Some writers tend to be more casual and chatty. Other writers swing to the opposite side with articles that follow the formal structure of a journalist or English class. A unique voice will set you apart from other websites and even give you the ability to write about the same thing as other websites in your niche without writing the same thing.

2. Focus – you want to keep content fresh, but still have it all relate. An article about the policeman pulling you over might be funny, but unless it relates to the main focus of your website you might want to skip it.

3. Understanding – knowing where you want to take the content and the website will clarify your content and simplify the writing. Map out your website by creating a list of who you are marketing towards and what you are trying to share. The better you can visualize the picture the stronger you will be able to reveal that picture to your visitors.

4. Vision – avoid passive words. Show readers the idea through words of action. She is running fast or she sprinted passed; which helps the reader see the picture that you are searching to create with your content?

5. Connections – get new readers into your website by linking your articles. Bring new readers to your website by linking to other websites and from other websites back to your site. Relevant links can do a lot to increase your page rank, drive new visitors to your site, and increasing the way others view your level of expertise.

People can find the information they need on hundreds of different websites. The key to driving them to your website comes from content unique to your site. The information may be the same, but the tilt you put on your content will give you the edge you need to build your visitors and keep them around after they stop by the first time.

All websites are not created equal. Developing content that puts your website at the front of the pack starts with your voice and ends with the connections you make. Stay true to your vision and write articles that relate to your focus. Readers will find you and the sound content will keep them coming back for more. It may not be a new mousetrap, but it will be uniquely yours.