by Lisa Cara

Created on: May 06, 2009

To be a writer is to have a compulsion to write. Strictly speaking anyone can be a writer. To be discovered as a writer is adding a whole new parameter set to consider when we write. We need to define who we are writing to and why we feel the need to write to them. We have to consider not just what words we string together, but how we string them together. There has to be a theme that is the skeleton holding the meat of the structure. We have to fit the form of the vehicle we hope to publish in. We need to pay attention to the mechanics of writing. Finally, we have to be courageous enough to put our work out there to be judged. We need to learn how to accept the rejections as well as how to use them to our benefit. This parameter set is by what our efforts are judged against, separating the good from the outstanding.

Being discovered as a writer means we want someone to read our pieces. We prefer that as many as possible be able to read the fruits of our labour, but we need to seriously consider exactly who we are writing for. In considering the who, we should consider the why. Why do we want to write about this particular subject, or in this particular genre? Do we want to inform, persuade, educate, entertain, share experiences or just express ourselves with abandon? The answer to these questions will help in identifying who we want most to reach, and the best vehicle to use. Once identified, we need to read the publications we think are candidates for submission to be sure we are correctly using the best outlet, and we are meeting the publications needs for material. Finally we need the publication's style sheet, to ensure we adhere to their guidelines.

Theme, or the main idea, should be succinctly stated, or hinted at in the title. Each paragraph should fit the theme, each sentence should flesh out the paragraphs part of the theme. We need to evaluate our pieces as to how on target we maintain each paragraph to its point of the theme. Is the main point is clear and logically supported? Is it well fleshed out and easily read? Does it say what we intended? Do we need to add anything to clarify our position? Can we delete anything for tightness? Does it meet the needs of the reader? Is it relevant to our position? We need to do the proper research to ensure we can answer these questions. We also need to be sure that our theme fits in with our editor's acceptable parameters.

In all of our pieces, we have to address the mechanics of writing; punctuation, spelling,

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