The Writing Fairy

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This handy flexi-light/wand is great for searching through a handbag during a concert, being able to look into a spot that is hard to shine a regular flashlight into, or using the laser pointer during a presentation. Comes in an attractive gift box.

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THE WRITING FAIRY HAS LANDED!

The Writing Fairy^® Guide to Calling Yourself a Writer, the first in the series of The Writing FairyTM Guide books is now available.

Do you know deep down inside that you are a writer, but hesitate to refer to yourself with that label in case you’re not worthy? Do you long to see your byline on articles, poems or books, but hold back from sending in anything in case your work might be rejected? Are you afraid of rejection, or of success?

A big part of becoming a writer is giving yourself the gift of permission to live out that passion. How? Enter the wacky world of popular writing instructor Dorothea Helms, the self-proclaimed Writing Fairy, and discover the freedom to admit and to be what you really are.

If you are one of the thousands of closet writers out there, it’s time to acknowledge your passion for words and come out into the light. Let Dorothea help you take the all-important step of calling yourself a writer, and then do something about it.

This book is inspirational – and hilarious. Dorothea is an internationally published humour writer whose edgy voice and straightforward advice have helped hundreds of writers get their psychological “starts” in the biz.

“People may wonder how someone could write a whole book on the topic of calling yourself a writer,” Dorothea says, “but after 10 years of teaching creative writing at the college level, I have discovered that my job is mainly to offer permission to people to do just that. When it happens, magic occurs. That’s why I call myself The Writing Fairy. And frankly, can you prove that I’m not?”

Watch for Dorothea’s next book, The Writing Fairy^® Guide to Freelancing.

Remember to indicate whether you would like the book signed and personalized to someone special.

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Want to jump-start your creative energies and increase your chances of having queries accepted by newspapers and magazines? Engage in some creative trend-spotting and beat other writers to the punch. I have had several queries accepted by editors who appreciated my proposing topic or topic angles that are new and different. Back in the 1990s, I did a piece about the negative stereotypes about female bodybuilders before it became prevalent in the media. A few years ago, I sold a piece about women in the trades to a national magazine before we were inundated with articles on this very subject.

Here’s how I do it. I pay attention to what’s happening in my own life and in the lives of those around me. If I hear of or experience something that is “new” to me, I figure it’s probably new to other people too. And you know how that weird universe thing happens, where you hear of something for the first time, and then hear about it again within a few days? When that happens, you’re probably on to a topic that bears some research and a query. It’s the trend-spotters who stay ahead of the game, whether it be in writing or marketing any product or service. The message is, PAY ATTENTION!

The past year has been a challenging one for all business owners, including those who write for a living. It’s easy to succumb to the negativity in the media, and of course, with prices rising, layoffs increasing and work dwindling, life can look dismal during economic dips. One thing to keep in mind is that WE create the economy. WE refers to all of us, not just people sitting in government offices and at the board tables of major corporations.

Writers need to know about a psychological phenomenon called the self-fulfilling prophecy.” If you tell people things are bad, they’ll make them bad. Fortunately, the opposite can happen. I’m not naïve enough to suggest that wishing alone can make things happen, and of course life is more complicated than that. But weathering economic downturns sometimes requires plunging ahead with plans rather than putting them on hold out of fear … optimism rather than pessimism.

There’s a fine balance between calculated risk and foolish risk, but for writers, risk is part of everyday life. Sending out query letters involves risk. Having something – anything – published involves risk. Allowing fictional characters to have their own voices can be risky. But we do it because we love the craft.

The best advice I can give is to hang in there. If freelance work seems elusive at the moment, continue marketing your product. Be more creative than ever in coming up with ideas that aren’t same-old, same-old and pitch them to editors. Think about expanding your writing in areas you may not have tried. How about web writing or brochure writing? Ask around, let everyone know that you’re looking for writing work, and keep the faith!

I bring in a fair bit of revenue from speech/remarks writing for corporate clients. In this half-day workshop, find out the difference between the two, how to tailor a speech to the “voice” of the deliverer, how to structure an effective talk, when to add humour, and more.

AND – if you are looking for someone to write a speech for you, consider The Writing Fairy! I’ve written everything from Bar Mitzvah talks to eulogies, wedding addresses and corporate business speeches. Let me put the right words in your mouth.