From Pixabay by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke

By Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld, ProlificPulse.com

Triangle Association of Freelancers presents WriteNow! 2025, a one-day, in-person conference on May 17th at the McKimmon Center at North Carolina State University. Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld will be presenting “Using Poetry to Elevate Journalistic Writing.” In this post, she gives us a preview of her talk.

At the heart of every good story is the pulse of poetry. T.S. Eliot

As a teacher of several poetry workshops, it has been my focus to help others find the poet within themselves. It is my belief that most writers have some form of poetic ability.

Think about the metaphor, a common term used to describe the essence of poetry. While some poems, such as Haiku, don’t employ the use of metaphor, many do. What is most important is metaphors can also be used in any form of expression.

Some of the most valuable prose I have enjoyed has woven the use of metaphor throughout. It’s not always strikingly obvious, but when it comes through, it stops the reader to take a pause and to reflect. When I find these, I sometimes highlight them, they become a place to go back and ponder the meaning of the stories.

This also holds true for alliteration, assonance, rhythm, and other characteristics commonly seen in poetry. What possible essence is exuded when these tools are employed? Is it any wonder that poetry employed in other forms of writing can only improve the messages conveyed?

Journalistic articles must cover the commonly known “5 W’s and H” which are about the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of a story. Some people reading this may be familiar with Dragnet, a fictional police show from the 1960s which reemerged in the 1980s as a film. When the detectives showed up at a crime scene and interviewed witnesses, one of the officers would tell the witnesses, “Only the facts, Ma’am or Sir.” This is often how journalists operate.

The question arises about how journalism can employ poetry elements and remain as journalistic writing. Poetry refines language, causing a more vivid expression to engage readers. Both poetry and journalism require precision, rhythm, and emotion to connect with the audience. Poetry and journalism both share the economy of words, strong imagery, and flow.

Even when the news is the hardest to read, poetry can add depth without sacrificing objectivity.

I invite you to participate in my session at Write Now! 2025 where we will discuss more on this topic. We’re going to have a lot of fun. Join us!

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld, a former educator, is a widely published poet and writer. She is an editor for Fine Lines Literary Journal, and the Poet Laureate Emeritus of Garden of Neuro Institute. Lisa is the founder and manager of Prolific Pulse Press LLC, a micro press that publishes poetry, novellas, small books, and experimental manuscripts.

by Domanie Spencer, www.KerningEditorial.com

“I wouldn’t worry about it – just use a pen name. Get your writing out there!”

Couched within this exuberant advice from a well-published writer, the too-easy flippancy of it all escaped me. Of course! I thought naively. A pen name for every way to tell a story will solve all my problems. Fiction will know me as A, nonfiction will know me as B, and I shall submit poetry under C. There was indeed a way to be more than one thing. I was overjoyed. Marvelous plan.

But, no. Not really.

“Pen names are used widely, but each one needs to have a life of its own on social media,” the presenter said. This news deterred most folks within the Zoom squares on my screen, but I warmed to the opportunity of being three distinctly separate people. A delicious idea, I thought, my imagination bursting with soon-to-be personas… “But,” the presenter continued, absurdly not stopping at the good news, “agents won’t like it. It will be a tough road to establish credibility.” Hmm, this sounded serious. They should have led with that…

And then came the genre-boxes (not an official term). At any writerly forum – in the name of reader clarity, book sales, and industry roadmaps – discussions regarding the boxes writers must fit themselves into erupt and gaily continue, unhindered and unresolved. General debate still exists on the definition of creative nonfiction vs. nonfiction. Another exists on how long a successful personal essay should be before it’s considered “flash.” Then there’s migraine-inducing genre-bending: speculative/flash, narrative/spiritual, atmospheric/magic, etc. If you attempt fiction while your real estate is currently located within the neighborhood of nonfiction, what are you? If you sprinkle a little magic in telling the story of your walk in the woods, is it blasphemy? While reeling within this dust-devil of abundance a writer must choose from, I wondered: Could neighborhoods simply co-mingle? Frowned upon, apparently.

“Pick a lane – don’t confuse the reader,” say some. “Don’t forget the tropes! You can’t possibly engage all the tropes if not fully immersed and committed to the one thing;” say others. “You’ll lose your reader and, worse, never find an agent,” say the most helpful.

The more I learn about writing for publication, the murkier it becomes. The quest to be a writer of more than just one thing has grown spikes and become less of a quest and more of a startling obstacle course. 

With gratitude, I appreciate the existence of step-by-step guides, charts, graphs, webinars, TED talks, craft books and magazines, clubs, coaches, critique groups, and conferences that attempt to clear up the murk. The remote access at my fingertips to all of this is a gift to any writer, as are writer-friends. I’m certain I have grown several new brains to help with the sheer enormity of information available on publishing. Thankfully, within the past few years of self-education in my quest-turned-obstacle course, I have landed on a few simple truths: hold on to the basics, make them your own, and keep writing. The thing I have learned I must be in all the different ways no matter which genre-boxes beckon or push me away – is resilient.

I keep writing and continue in my determined quest to write more than one thing. I have successfully co-mingled my neighborhoods because they are mine to do so. Whether this approach will be successful in the world of publication, with or without pen names, remains to be seen. Most importantly, I no longer allow it to stop me in my tracks and beckon me down the rabbit hole of doubt. Rather, I give it a polite wave and note its location.

I protect the spark that appeared in my childhood when I wrote like no one was watching. I have found a home for the spark and surrounded it with barbed wire so no one, not even I, can sabotage it. I have a secret password (one that makes me laugh). It lets me enter when I need to be reminded why I write.

I’m in the throes of arranging decades’ worth of personal essays that will make up a collection squarely within a world of creative nonfiction. I happily share poetry under a pen name. Simultaneously, I’m writing a fictional story that keeps feeding my creativity – which is ravenous after 20 years of shooting off pointed emails in “corporate speak.” I have become more than one thing.

In fleeting flashes, I miss my past world of bottom-line-driven corporate laypeople who went to bars after work and not once spoke of genre, subgenre, cross-genre, genre-bending, or multi-genre.

“What do you do when you’re not working?” they would ask.

“I write,” I would say. Their wholehearted surface-interest response?

“Wonderful! Cheers!”

That was it. It was a simpler time.

Domanie Spencer writes with a grateful heart. She finds humor in life’s quirks as she runs an editorial business while learning to grow things from seed and make things from scratch in a gentle North Carolina town. More information on her blog and business can be found at: https://KerningEditorial.com  

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

by Lee O’Connell

“When I am in my room alone and I write

Thoughts come easily, words come fluently then”

~ Sheldon Harnick

If you’re not familiar with 1960s back-catalog Broadway musicals (Really? Just me?), that quote is from the song “Will He Like Me?” from the musical She Loves Me. I consider it the introvert’s manifesto.

If you have seen the movies You’ve Got Mail with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, or The Shop Around the Corner with Jimmy Stewart, you know the plot of this show. Real-life foes fall in love through anonymous written correspondence and live happily ever after. In this song, Amalia, the female lead, agonizes over the prospect of meeting her pen-pal love interest in person. Everything is so perfect in the letters she writes, and so much could go wrong when the words have to come out of her mouth instead.

I encountered this song as a soprano musical theatre student building her repertoire. But I instantly connected with it. I’m also an introvert who can clearly lay out her thoughts when she writes, but struggles to get the thoughts swirling around in her brain to come out in coherent and comprehensive sentences.

Why is it so simple for me to think elaborately laid out thoughts, yet so challenging to translate them into speech? I can imagine entire conversations in my head (I used to do this in Spanish, too, when I was studying it). But when I have those conversations in real life, I am nowhere near as eloquent as I planned to be.

With so many of my inner thoughts trapped inside me, I often don’t realize how little of my interior reasoning or experience I communicate to the people in my life.

When I write, though, just as Amalia sings, thoughts come easily, and words come fluently. I can articulate topics, complex or simple, with passion and clarity. I feel like a much more functional human being than the awkward mess I seem to be when I speak, especially if I’m–gulp–put on the spot.

Whenever my husband and I have had a critical topic to discuss, I have written him a letter. I need to lay out my thoughts fully and clearly. Writing is the only way to be sure I do. The last time I did this was when we were debating whether to have a third child. My multi-page missive wasn’t the deciding factor, but it helped my husband better understand my yearning for one more baby.

Our third son is almost two now, and he is a delight.

Writing has served me well throughout my life. The heartfelt letter I wrote to our home’s previous owner convinced him to pick our bid. My carefully scripted speech at my sister’s wedding delighted so many guests that I missed the cake-cutting. I was swarmed by friends and family who wanted to compliment me on it.

My preference for the written word flows both ways. I would rather read an article than watch a video to learn about a topic. And I will pick a scripted show over reality TV every time. There’s something about the written word that clicks better with the neurons in my brain, even when it’s an input rather than an output. Maybe it’s the relative quietness. Or just a more organized presentation of thoughts and feelings that seems easier to process.

Before anyone gets the wrong idea, I am a functioning human in social situations. I can get through interviews or answer the phone or whatever else and be, at most, mildly awkward. My social anxiety is entirely surmountable. I even used to be an actor. Multiple people told me that I never seemed more alive than when I was onstage. I think it’s partly because I was unburdened of having to find the words — someone had already written them for me.

I take some comfort in knowing that I’m not a complete freak. Many introverts prefer writing, says science. And throughout my new journey as a freelancer, I have found connection through writing in different corners of the internet. Will those people like me if we meet? I don’t know. But, unlike Amalia, I’m tempted to keep trying.

Lee is a freelance content and copywriter specializing in causes/nonprofits, parenting, and B2B. Committed to using words to make the world a bit better and parenting a bit easier. You can read some of her other posts at leeoconnell.com/blog.

Image from Pixabay by Ray Shrewsberry

By Don Vaughan

For much of my career, I stridently opposed writing for less than a professional rate. Pennies per word, I felt, was an insult. Writers deserve dollars. 

A few months ago, however, I had an epiphany: Sometimes the purpose of writing is about more than just the money.

My change of heart came with the release of a new magazine titled Cryptology, which is devoted to horror comics, television, films, and related media. In other words, MY kind of magazine. The editor was interested in republishing an article I had written decades earlier, and asked if I had additional article ideas. Boy, did I! For three days I submitted idea after idea, and when the dust settled, I came away with nine assignments ranging from an article on the making of I Was a Teenage Werewolf to an overview of The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror episodes.

Here’s the thing: Cryptology pays only $10 per published page. At the most, I will make $70 per article, likely less. I knew this going in, and didn’t care. Cryptology gave me the opportunity to write about topics of great interest to me, and in the process interview some very interesting people, including scream queen Brinke Stevens, Spider Baby actress Beverly Washburn, and Vanessa Harryhausen, the daughter of legendary stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen. I pitched these ideas knowing the money would be little, but that the fun factor would be through the roof. And that’s a very good reason for doing anything.

Around the same time that I started writing for Cryptology, I was also approached by a British-based publication called Illustrators, which publishes gorgeous profiles of artists in a variety of genres and forms. The editor was planning a special issue devoted to a long-defunct comic book publisher, and was interested in an interview I had conducted related to a specific artist. In this case, there would be no financial compensation at all—I would be paid in comps.

I didn’t hesitate. I immediately said yes, because Illustrators is a stunning publication and I very much wanted to be a part of it. When the editor sent the galleys featuring my contribution, I was staggered. The pages looked amazing, and my interview fit perfectly. My byline was misspelled, but that was quickly corrected.

Comp copies will also be my sole compensation for an essay I wrote for an upcoming book about The Monster Times, a tabloid publication that ran a total of 47 issues in the early to mid-1970s, and which had a huge fan base. My essay is about my introduction to The Monster Times and how it sparked my interest in EC Comics, a publisher best known today for creating MAD Magazine. The essay didn’t take me long to write, and I was happy to contribute because The Monster Times was an important and memorable part of my youth.

Understandably, these kinds of assignments bring me much more joy than those I accept only for the paycheck, though my effort toward both is equal. That right there is a wonderful reason to write for less than a professional rate; anything that brings you joy should be pursued.

But there are other very good reasons as well. For example, less affluent publications are more likely to work with beginning writers, and accept their proposals. Smaller publications are also a great place to hone your craft, and add bylines to your professional portfolio. The pay may be low, but the benefits to your career can be many.

Most importantly, writing for smaller, lesser paying publications often allows you the opportunity to write on topics close to your heart—especially if they are outside the mainstream. I doubt that Esquire would be interested in a feature about the making of I Was a Teenage Werewolf, but Cryptology jumped at the idea. And I know I’ll have a great time writing it.

Don Vaughan has been a full-time freelance writer since 1991. During that time he has published more than 2,500 articles and columns in an eclectic array of publications, including Writer’s Digest, Encyclopedia Britannica and MAD Magazine. Don is the founder of Triangle Association of Freelancers.

Image from JDK from Pixabay

by Maya Spikes
Executive Director, Triangle Association of Freelancers

It’s time to look back on 2024 and the many special moments for TAF and its members. Here are some of the highlights:

April marked the return of Write Now!, our popular spring writing conference. Our keynote speakers were award-winning science fiction/horror author Nicole Givens Kurtz and Writer’s Digest editor-in-chief Amy Jones.

Conference sessions included: “The Treasurers in Your Own Back Yard: Mining Your Life for Articles” by Don Vaughan, “Share Your Story: Memoir Writing” by Kyle Marie McMahon, “Enhance Your Story with Compelling Secondary Characters” by Reese Ryan, “The Art of the Interview: How to Talk to Anyone About Anything” by Sean Flynn, “A Guide to Self-Publishing: Everything You Need to Know Before Jumping In” by Karin Wiberg, and “A Writer’s Best Friend: Style Manuals and How to Use Them” by Laura Poole.

The Write Now! planning committee is currently finalizing arrangements for next year’s conference, which will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at The McKimmon Center in Raleigh. Keep an eye out for upcoming announcements about guest speakers, session topics, and other conference details!

In September, TAF continued its growing series of anthologies with the publication of The TAF Omnibus Vol. III (Stories, Essays & Poems) edited by Arlene Bice. Twenty-one TAF members contributed a total of 33 great poems and stories to our latest anthology.

We also continued our monthly meetings and hosted three TAF Talks, all via Zoom. Featured meeting guests included indie film director Justin Ferguson, Triangle Family editor Janice Lewine, The Assembly’s John Drescher, cybersecurity expert Laura Rodgers, and a special poetry panel hosted by poet Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld.

TAF’s monthly meetings also featured writing coach Christy Murphy, publicist Joe Marich, romance author Rhonda McKnight, North Carolina Writer’s Network executive director Ed Southern, and horror writer and The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction editor Sheree Renee Thomas.

Our TAF Talk guests for 2024 were science fiction/horror author Nicole Givens Kurtz, Newbery Medal winning children’s author Meg Medina, and science fiction novelist and short story-writer Tobias Buckell.

We’ve had much success with our virtual meetings, but we also like to meet in person. In August, several local TAF members enjoyed delicious meals and great conversation at Saints & Scholars Pub in Raleigh.

And finally, I would like to thank everyone in TAF for making 2024 another wonderful year. I’m so grateful for our inspirational and educational discussions, both in person and virtual, which have created a thriving community of writers.

I wish you much writing success in 2025 and beyond.

Happy Holidays!

Photo by Mike Rumble

By Mike Rumble, www.rumblesrumblings.wordpress.com

Shortly after I joined TAF and became very interested in doing more writing, I had a sit down with Don and asked him, “Where is the best place to do writing?” Don’s answer was very simple, he told me, “Find a place, even just a small corner of your house, and when you find that space, decorate it in such a way that when you are in it, it will inspire you to write and create.”

Not too long ago, after my roommate and I moved into a larger house, and in exchange for giving her the primary bedroom, I got two smaller rooms: one for my bedroom, and the other for my office. That’s when the creation of my creative space started. I’m a confirmed Batman freak. Everyone needs a superhero. Mine just happens to be a guy whose life is as complicated as mine, so it was a perfect match. Over the next few months, I bought Batman posters, statues, books, and even Batman Lego and decorated my office with them. The result was exactly what Don said would happen. When I am in my “Batcave,” I write and create almost without thinking about it. The ideas flow because I am in a place where I can create. So, if you’re writing or doing your creating in a place that doesn’t inspire you, change it! Even if it’s the corner of your favorite coffee shop, find that special place that gets your writing hand moving and creating something beautiful! And if you have a space in your house that you can make your creative space, use it! And yes, decorate it to the max so that when you walk into it, you’ll feel inspired and motivated to take what is in your thoughts and get it written out!

Mike has been a member of TAF since 2008. He has had stories published in Chicken Soup for the Soul as well in two TAF Anthologies. Mike is also a Certified Professional Resume Writer(CPRW). You can follow Mike’s writings at his blog: www.rumblesrumblings.wordpress.com.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

By Chanah Wizenberg

October is the month of International Dyslexia Awareness. I discovered this when doing my research in preparation for my interview with Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver, prolific co-authors of the Hank Zipzer children’s book series.

 Many of you will remember Henry’s infamous role, Fonzie, in the 1970’s hit comedy show, Happy Days. For those who may not know who Henry Winkler is, he’s an actor, producer, and director of many films and televisions shows. To see his many accomplishments click here. In addition to his rich career in film, theater, and television he’s an author. Something he thought he’d never become.

Why? Because Henry Winkler has severe dyslexia. That’s something I can relate to as I have dyslexia also. I didn’t think I’d ever become a writer either. This and the way our fathers treated us was also quite similar. That connection is what drew me to do the interview.

            Enter Lin Oliver. Lin Oliver is a gifted author, producer of children’s books and television shows. To see her impressive history click here. Henry and Lin met through a mutual friend. It was at a time when Winkler’s career had stalled. He couldn’t get work. No one would hire him because of his role as Fonzie. The whole world knew him as “The Fonz”.

Typecasting is every actor’s worst nightmare. When an actor becomes known for a particular role, audiences have a hard time seeing that actor as anything other than the infamous character they portrayed. As a result, no director or producer wants to risk hiring that actor. Henry was left high and dry with no prospects in sight. That was his lowest point.

            Enter Alan Berger. Having nowhere else to turn, Winkler called his old manager, Alan, seeking his advice. That advice was to write a book about his experience with dyslexia. Berger understood Henry would need support and help. He gave Henry Lin Oliver’s number and encouraged him to call. Which he did and their first book series, Hank Zipzer was born.

            Lin and Henry worked out the perfect system. Henry walked around Lin’s apartment and talked while Lin typed. They scrutinized every word to get it just right. They were more successful than they realized. The series was a hit. Its subject, was about a boy, Hank, with dyslexia who struggled at school and at home. With the help of his friends and special principal, the protagonist, begins to find success.

            What also sets this children’s book apart from others is that it’s written in a font that is easier for those with dyslexia to read. The font is called Dyslexie; created by Christopher Boer, a graphic designer who has dyslexia. He wanted to create a font that would make reading easier for children with dyslexia. One of the first book series to use it in was the Hank Zipzer books. To learn more about this font click here.

            In celebration of International Dyslexia Awareness month, I encourage you to go to your local library or favorite bookstore and take out or purchase a copy of the Hank Zipzer children’s book series for young readers.

            If you would like to read a more in-depth article about Mr. Winkler’s struggles with dyslexia and how he overcame those struggles to become a co-author of forty children’s books, see the November/December issue of Writer’s Digest magazine that comes out at the end of this month.

Chanah Wizenberg writes poetry and short stories and has published in a number of anthologies and has been a member of TAF for many years. She shares her domicile with her dog and cat.

Photos from Pixabay by jhenning and rperucho

By Sarah Merritt Ryan

If there is power in disclosing something that bears personal risk, the chance is that it is a story that needs to be told. 

With each passing year in our country, the discourse on mental health deepens. People want to understand serious mental illness better and more research is being devoted to finding the root causes of it. Editors are becoming more receptive to articles about all aspects of mental health. With this discourse comes awareness and acceptance of long stigmatized issues. 

Writing about mental health is one thing, but making yourself vulnerable and disclosing your own illness, especially a serious one, is another. First-hand accounts, though, are essential in making this national discourse authentic and true to life.

            Take me for example: I had three psychotic breaks in two years during my early thirties, after going off the antipsychotics I had taken for ten years. Homeless after my second hospitalization, I was soon readmitted and then discharged to my parents. A social worker gave me disability papers to sign, and some months later I was diagnosed with schizophrenia. It was shocking. Suddenly, I felt like I had so much to hide, and the emotional toll was staggering.

            However, I have been in full remission of symptoms for twelve years while consistently taking an antipsychotic. Several years ago, after much reflection, I decided I was finally ready to own my past and open up about it. I was moved to share what I have been through to help others through writing. I decided to start blogging in order to articulate what emotional healing from psychosis looks like and how to deal with a stigmatized diagnosis. Here are five benefits I have realized from disclosing my mental health challenges publicly.

Writing as an Energy Channel

It takes a great deal of energy to withhold and filter your past from the people you meet. The act of writing reverses that energy flow outward in a positive way that creates more energy and passion in your words, leading to authenticity and power. Writing can be a vital channel — for some a sole means of personal expression — on a sensitive topic that is difficult to verbalize. Learning to articulate your deepest inner thoughts while recounting your personal experience can help you to improve as a writer. It can be scary to dredge up painful memories, but I have found it cathartic for myself and beneficial to others.

All this energy I used to withhold from people details of my past is now channeled into much needed self-expression. This one huge secret that no one could know about has transitioned into an entire body of thoughts, ideas, and insight into the recovery process. I had no idea how much I had to say until I started blogging about it. The feedback from my editors and readers that my writing is powerful surprised me at first. I believe that the power in my writing must come from the strong, deep-seated emotions I am redirecting from fear and shame into pride and activism.

Making Beauty from Ashes

Writing to explain your experience to someone else can help you understand it better as well, leading to additional closure. Writing fosters personal sensemaking, especially when you learn how to reframe your experience more positively. Exploring meaning in your traumatic experience through writing can mark a turning point in your recovery. Your increased awareness and articulation of feelings and thoughts can be beneficial to others who may be going through a similar experience. 

Writing details about my psychotic experiences seemed unimaginable to me even five years ago, but it has paid off. I now blog on the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) and Psychology Today websites. Writing blogs that are geared towards sending hope, a positive message, and understanding to people in a similar situation helps me reclaim my life and accept my past struggles. I can turn my negative experiences around and make them positive influences in the lives of others.

Using Writing to Make a Difference

When you are going through something especially painful in your life, you’re surely not the only person going through the same isolating experience, even though it may feel like it. When you write about something not often written about, you can become a pioneer and thought leader on your topic. Being motivated to make a difference can take you a long way toward more effective, impactful, and authentic writing.

Students, resident psychiatrists, and professors in the psychiatry program where I am treated follow my blog. My psychiatrist says they appreciate the insight I articulate about the emotional healing process of patients like me. (There are not many people writing first-hand accounts about emotional recovery from psychosis.) I am guided in what I write by what I see as missing and what I wish I could have read in the early years of my recovery. It is gratifying that my words are being shared by people of influence in the mental healthcare community. Such an honor as this brings my story of illness and recovery full circle.

Joining a Global Movement

With the tide turning, and mental health disclosures becoming a bit more common, it is less stigmatized to have serious mental illness. With increased understanding, even serious symptoms are starting to be viewed as part of a “normal,” treatable mental condition. Now is the time to participate in a public discussion that removes the misunderstanding about mental illness. You can use your own story and writing skills to help end the shame and secrecy. 

When I first started publishing blogs on my illness, using my real first and last name was a big decision for me, but I felt that I needed to demonstrate to others they shouldn’t be ashamed about their diagnosis. The next step was sharing my picture, bio, and full name on Psychology Today. That was a huge decision, but I believe revealing my full identity online makes me part of a social movement where we reevaluate stereotypes and eradicate shame. Writers are known for pushing social boundaries and opening discourse on difficult topics, and this is the kind of writer I want to be. 

Your Legacy

Years from now, when you look back at your life, would you appreciate more that you played it safe, and hid your true battle that has shaped you as a person? Or would you feel proud that by being brave, making yourself vulnerable and sharing your experience, you encouraged others to communicate what they have been through as well? For so long, I was afraid that having schizophrenia would be my legacy, but now that I have become a successful writer on the topic, I feel proud that sharing my journey may be paving the way for others to do the same. 

Schizophrenia does not define me, but I have chosen to write about this part of my life and identify publicly with this diagnosis so those years of my life do not go to waste. Patients with psychosis, clinicians, and family members will be able to view my blog posts about emotional recovery, accessible and available for years to come, and that’s how I want to leave my mark. My memoir is in progress.

First published in Writer’s Digest online in April 2024.

Writing background: Sarah Merritt Ryan is a blogger, poet, and memoirist. She writes an ongoing Personal Perspectives blog for Psychology Today called Healing Mind: My Journey to Cognitive and Emotional Recovery. She has also published a number of blog posts on Nami.org about stigma, cognitive and emotional recovery, and hope. She has published over a dozen poems in anthologies and journals that focus on surviving emotional trauma.

Image by Judy from Pixabay

By Ron Whitaker

There are boundless possibilities that come with crafting words and weaving stories for a living. Embracing the writer’s life is akin to embracing a profound sense of freedom. It’s a journey that transcends traditional work boundaries, offering a unique blend of time, location, and financial independence.

One of the most alluring aspects of freelance writing is the freedom of time and control.  Unlike conventional 9-to-5 jobs, freelancing allows for a flexible schedule. The ability to write in the early morning, late at night, or during the quiet hours of the afternoon is a dream come true! This flexibility is not just a luxury; it’s a necessity for fostering creativity. The ability to structure my day around my most productive hours improves the quality of my work and enhances my overall well-being. It also allows me to balance other important aspects of life, such as family, hobbies, and personal growth, without feeling confined by rigid work hours.  

Freelancing also provides the option to work from anywhere. Whether it’s a cozy corner in my home, a bustling café, or a serene beachside retreat, my office is wherever my laptop or notebook is. The blessing of working anywhere I choose or need to be at that particular moment — without having to ask for permission to take time off — is awesome!! This geographical flexibility not only enriches my writing by exposing me to diverse environments and cultures, but also infuses my life with a sense of adventure and spontaneity. The ability to travel and experience new places while maintaining a steady workflow is a privilege that many professions do not afford. It’s a reminder that creativity knows no bounds and can flourish in any setting.

The financial freedom that this life can bring is another compelling aspect. While the journey to financial stability through writing can be challenging and requires perseverance, the potential rewards are significant. It is for sure a marathon and not a sprint! It also means having control…control of the particular job or project I choose rather than having someone dictate to me the level of work that I should have…control of my income without having someone else dictate how much money I should make…or even worse, having the ability to take away my income! With my newfound career, I envision being “the one” in my family to change the dynamics of our finances, allowing us to get out of debt and have the financial independence we desire! I look forward to eventually getting off the proverbial hamster wheel of working two jobs and having the freedom of choosing my own hours so I can spend more time with my family and take care of their needs. As a writer, multiple income streams are possible, from book royalties and freelance writing gigs to teaching and speaking engagements. This diversity in income sources not only provides financial security but also allows me to pursue projects that are truly meaningful and aligned with my passions. Moreover, the scalability of writing — where one successful piece can lead to multiple opportunities — creates a sustainable financial model that can lead to long-term prosperity.

Ron has been a TAF member since 2023, and a member of AWAI (American Writers and Artists Institute) since 2020.

By Drew Becker, www.realizationpress.com

Reading well-crafted works is one of the greatest delights for readers and authors. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a fact of life and we need to learn how to thrive with it while promoting ethics in writing.

Recently, working with a group of writers critiquing each other’s work, we determined that one member used to write the first few chapters of her book. She was young and some other members suggested we ignore what she had done. I was so surprised that someone would waste the group’s efforts offering machine-written text to be critiqued. In the next few years, algorithms may compose many of our books.

In my youth, I sang “John Henry,”a traditional American folksong.As many of you may remember, this song deals with a railroad worker (a steel-driving man) who challenges a machine to build a new stretch of track. In the end, he cannot keep up and dies from trying. Should we be concerned about a similar future for authors? Many authors have voiced concerns about how AI might threaten originality and affect the quality of books in the future.

What to use AI for

AI is a great tool when used for research. What exactly does that mean? Before computers were on most people’s desks, many went to the library to do research for term papers. We learned to record the essence of what we read from a source and copy quotes to back up with a notation, giving credit to the author. We could paraphrase other writers but could not lift sentences, paragraphs, and more without attribution and quotation marks. Otherwise, what we were doing was plagiarism.

Tools

A plethora of new tools are available. Spell check and grammar check can help writers, especially if we learn and improve our work rather than rely on them. Some of these tools suggest rephrasing of unclear or confusing sentences. Mapping tools can suggest structures for different types of writing and create templates. In programs like Microsoft Word, we can find misspelled words, compare different versions, create mark-up with different writers, and hear our text spoken. These forms of AI are beneficial when used correctly.

In addition, AI detection tools have and are being created. After these tools are made available, however, other tools are being created to fool these tools. It’s a bit of a cat and mouse game at present and we will have to wait and see how our ingenuity meets the challenges.

What not to use AI for

AI, when misused, steals from authors and creatives. As writers, we do not want our hard work to be taken by someone else and claimed as theirs. “Thou shall not steal.” If I stated that this quote was my creation, I would be plagiarizing. In this case most readers would know that the words in quotation marks came from the Bible.

As defined by Merriam-Webster, plagiarism is “to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own: use (another’s production) without crediting the source.” That would apply to book covers, song lyrics, text from published and some unpublished works, and copyrighted works except those where the copyright has expired. (We also must be careful with those works that we think may have expired since the copyright may have been extended.)

The Future of Authoring

These situations that arise from misuse of AI devalue writing and other creative processes. Competing with those who learn how to “program” these platforms and then shift a few words around from stolen and slightly modified texts seems senseless. A glut of non-readable drivel could be on the horizon, and I’m not sure what we as authors can do besides remain aware. It is early in the acceptance of AI. How it will be used and legislated is unclear. Amazon has a check box to indicate whether AI was used in the creation of books in the Kindle upload, so the big companies are aware.

A couple of other articles can help us understand the current thinking about plagiarism and AI. An article concerning with how higher education is dealing plagiarism is worth a read. Check out https://www.turnitin.com/blog/ai-plagiarism-changers-how-administrators-can-prepare-their-institutions. Another source to review deals with strategies for prevention https://www.aje.com/arc/guide-to-avoiding-plagiarism-ai/.

Is there a way we as writers can turn the tide or at least sound the alarm for the misuse while taking advantage of AI tools for marketing our books? I know that our individual creativity cannot be matched. We all hope that we can protect our work and continue to value the harvesting of deep, original thinking.

We are at the beginning of the AI revolution, and no one knows where it will lead. In the meantime, we need to support any efforts to curb the misuse of AI and keep writing and expressing our creativity to bring our brilliance to the world.  

Drew Becker is a multi-book author, writing coach, branding architect, and is the publisher for Realization Press. His latest book, The Joyful Brand: Personal Branding for Authors, Speakers and the Rest of Us, includes exercises to help define a personal brand and is writing a follow-up book about maintaining integrity today. He appreciates the camaraderie of TAF.