inspiration

Is 2011 the Year of Real Social Media Engagement?

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 09:32:41 +0100

If technologies have changed, bringing us information in the speed of type, know that your audience have evolved as well: They are now smarter, tech-savvy and ever more discrete. You can't simply mollycoddle them into sweet talks and empty promises hoping that it will bring you some marketing advantage. With the recent Social Media Week last February 7-11th, which was held simultaneously in nine cities worldwide ( New York, San Francisco, Rome, Paris, Toronto, Sao Paulo, London, Hongkong and Istanbul ) - there has been much talk about how social engagement has the power to get people involved with your brand, if you only know how to do 'real talk'.

Social What?! Where the heck did the word 'social engagement' came from?

A lot of seasoned social media marketers have thrown this buzz word around and we get to read them in almost every Google news feed on social media. In the most simple explanation I can come up with, social engagement is the art of connecting with your audience. It's like that proverbial spark when you finally meet 'the one' you've been looking for your entire life. The real problem now is that social networking has provided us not only with privacy issues too many to count, but with a lot of pseudo-personalities on the Social Web that you can barely distinguish who's for real and who's not.

When Talking the Talk Loses Its Magic...

I used to think about social engagement as talking with folks in the social sphere like you would talk to them for real. It's almost a month ago when one of my freelance clients has launched a viral hit about what not to do in social media and it's friggin' hilarious I had a blast in previewing this funny vid before final release. In real life, you don't simply talk like you're some Twitter spam bot come to life. These days though, it's not enough that you talk to your peeps. You need to do it with 'genuine interest' and actively participate in building your very own online community of brand advocates. What will differ is your willingness to reach out and to all who are just doing that, good digital karma will be theirs to behold this year.

So..What's the Real Art to Social Media Engagement?

Just because you have thousands or millions of followers don't necessarily mean that they are truly engaged with your business. Simply put, do they really give a damn? For now, there are plenty of tools that let you measure your engagement through website visits and clicks. But having all those unique site visits converted into buying customers is a totally different thing. Unless you're opening communication channels and treat each one as an individual whose shoes may not fit everyone's, then.. it's either you engage for real... or die trying.

Value! Value! and More Value!

If I have to scream it into your ears, I would. Your audience are smarter and they would always ask 'What's in it for them?' if ever they decide to give you some T.L.C. This is where guerrilla marketers shine as they know that in order to succeed, they simply got to focus on content, conversations and spread it to where the most traffic is. It's a pretty simple trick that's never passe and a few big brands like Southwest Airlines have already been employing this tactic in their marketing. But wait! They simply got a step ahead and made customer support their new marketing playground - where the customer is the boss.

To Engage or Not to Engage? Wrong Question!

Is there an anatomy to engagement on the Social Web? Is it all about conversations? It's often believed that social media is all about conversations, but it's like a seed - without the water of participation and learning, you might as well as have a blog that's more silent than the dead of the night. For example, there are hundreds of bloggers who complain that they're not getting any genuine comments on their blogs. Then, when you read these blogs, they're like a poor copycat of what you used to read in print. If people are reminded of reading a newspaper with your blog, they might as well buy a copy and never come back to read from you - for good. People go online for many reasons and all of them are looking for fresh, informative content.

Why people engage online will always be an A-Z list, but know that even if new tools have been making the automation of posts as easy as 1-2-click, there's always that human factor- where people can tell if you're 24K or a cheap knockoff.

As a treat, here's a link to live video streams from Social Media Week 2011. You may watch replays here.

Spread the Love... Happy Valentine's! - issa

To Blog or Microblog: Which One is Best?

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 01:17:44 +0100

If you're a prolific blogger, chances are, you both blog and microblog - whether you do it for personal or business reasons. With the recent launch of the new Twitter, microblogging has taken the next level in bringing you instant news from tweeple that matters most and then, comes this most intriguing question of them all: Is blogging truly dead?

A year ago, a tech guru has made such daring prediction that microblogging through platforms like Twitter will soon replace blogging. The reason? It is much simpler to post a 140-character string or a one sentence post than having to organize your thoughts so you can come up with at least a 300-word article to start with.

Difference Doesn't Matter!

It is, in my opinion, unfair to compare both as they have different uses - although with the same goal: to drive traffic to your site. To compare them is like comparing air and water: Can you survive with only one? Blogging and microblogging should complement each other in your quest to engage your target audience on the Web.

Why You Should Blog and Microblog?

Microblogs, are "micro" - means they're super short. Yes, you can publish your news in real time using a sentence and a tiny URL link to start with... and it's faster than old school blogging which you keep on your site. Can you make both work for you? The answer is YES.

There's no point blogging everyday if you don't write something people would love to read. Let's say you're as busy as I am and you blog three times a week. You can simply tweet your followers on Twitter every time a new blog is posted on your site, pointing them there with a link. Then, in other days when you don't blog, you can microblog to keep up with your friends and followers.

Out of Timeline... Out of Mind

In this fast-paced world that's faster than the speed of type, if you're not making daily conversations with your audience, you might as well be non-existent. Microblogging helps you fill in that gap when you're too busy with your business ( or any other stuff you do each day ) and you don't have the time to craft something that I'm writing right now.

So... Why Blog?

We're back to square one and you ask, why blog when you can have all this chit-chat in real time? The answer is all about your image as an expert in your niche. Besides, microblogging runs on a third-party platform that you don't totally own. Anytime your account gets closed, hacked, or the site got a change of rules, all those conversations can be wiped clean in a snap. What's your recourse then?

Blogging, no matter how lengthy it can be, lets your readers have a glimpse of who you are. They may love or hate what you write.. and you may not please everyone with your posts, but blogging helps strengthen your brand on the World Wide Web. Besides, you want people using search engines to find you as well and you can do this by optimizing your blog posts with keywords related to your site.

" If you blog it, your links will come.. " No matter how frequent you blog or microblog, it's all about building an online community and finding each other online. Instead of simply drinking a cup of freshly-brewed coffee ( blogging ) - why not add milk (microblogging )? Try it for yourself and see how you can leverage both for your gain. There is no trick but only effort - in sparing yourself a few minutes each day to connect with everyone out there.

I rest my case.

Are You an SEO Rookie?

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 04:01:49 +0100

SEO is short for search engine optimization and it's not a candy bar you can buy from a drugstore. There have been a lot of self-professed 'gurus' in this field and businesses need to watch out. The thing is that search engine algorithms change with time and so those who think they can trick its spiders with cheap tricks are in for a messy treat.

Many loyal writers on the traditional route have scoffed at the idea of SEO as it ruins the art of writing itself. Just how can you write something creative that is limited to the keywords that people will type in the searches? There have been a lot of SEO expert-wannabe's who are promising the moon and the stars just to improve your website's ranking and Google webmaster has even warned us about them here.

Why Should You Care About SEO?

To make the story short, if your website or web copy is not optimized for the search engines, people can't find you. There are more technical stuff to this but the point is -- if you're doing business on the Web, you need traffic to get your potential customers ( and please, no flashy, gimmicky website animation or annoying popups ).

Are You an SEO Amateur?

Yes, if you commit any of these big No-No's:

1. Choosing the Wrong Keywords

So, you've used Google Adwords Keyword Tool and Word Tracker ..and your keywords are not winning the heart of search engines. Don't just go for a simple generic key word, but imagine how people will type in a search item. Serious searchers type in more than a keyword or two so make yours very specific.

2. Linking with the Wrong Crowd

Off page SEO means getting all those links from outside sources and it can be a comment back or track back to your site. So, you've decided to buy links and get your site into one of those nasty link farms. You may get away with it for now... at the cost of getting banned from Google, not really a big deal unless it costs you US$4 million like this guy did. When Google is the kingpin of search engines out there, you don't want to be linking to sites that are not worth linking. Quality Rules!

3. Having a Keyword Rave Party on Your Site

This is worse than using the wrong keywords. So, you think it's hot stuffing your website with keywords here, there and everywhere. Oh No! You may even be using colors to hide those words! Go ahead if you want to get rid of your site from the searches faster than the speed of sound.

4. Ignoring Your Meta's

Meta tags are still an important factor in your site's source code and forgetting to fill this up with the right keywords or stuffing it with a lot of irrelevant ones make you a newbie on the SEO block. So, having a cheat sheet is definitely a must as you can't memorize all those tags. As a rule of the thumb, your title tag must be within 70 characters long; keywords of up to 10 maximum; and your description within 155 characters long. The search engines may care less about your site's description, but write in a way that I'll be curious enough to click on your site. Google's core search won't even use your keywords in the ranking, but there are other search engines that do. Makes sense?

5. Being Delusional

If you think that SEO is one of those get-rich-quick schemes, you're up for a big failure. SEO is a continuous work and if you think you'll see results anytime tomorrow, I'd say give it two or three weeks more ( that is, if you did your research right ).

At the end of the day, SEO is just a part of your online presence pie and when you get all the traffic you need - this is where you have to go to plan B - to engage with your visitors and sell your stuff like it's hot. That's for my upcoming blog then!

Branding Rule No. 1: Break the Rules!

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 03:53:55 +0100

If you're having huge eye bags and dark circles from scouring your local library, bookstore, Amazon, or the world wide web for the holy grail of branding - You are wasting your time! Why don't you get a good night's sleep and start a new day on a blank slate? It's time to unlearn all those things you have read. Are you ready to take that risk?

This is not about making another rule to break stupid rules that don't work. Many have been lost in thick books and theories. They have lost a good common sense. It's pretty simple. If your brand don't bring you the sales you need, you must be missing a lot. Money speaks.

Great Product. Brand Sucks.

My father always tell me that anyone can come up with a great idea, but to make people buy that idea is something only 1% of us can do successfully. If I were in a debate with him, I'd say he'll lose his argument on the grounds of lacking evidence to support his claim. But, there's a truth behind something that's so basic. Maybe you have the next big thing that can bring down the Apple empire and this has nothing to do with putting another fruit into stardom.

The Name Game

What's in a name? Some big brands have been stuck to our heads, passed down from generations to the next like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Hersheys, Nike, and more. Some of these big names don't even make a sense at all. Even the word Google eludes me and you'll hear people talking about 'Googlin' on the web. Or how about the 140 character-driven site called Twitter ? Even the word 'tweet' is now part of our modern-day lingo you can use it like you're about to speak. So, what makes these names tick?

You've Got a Brain Itch

Have you ever wondered why you can memorize something that annoys? For example, Beyonce's Single Ladies chorus get stuck in your brain that you find yourself singing the line while taking a hot shower. Just what makes words stick to your brain? The human mind is like a sponge and it can absorb anything, just as it easily squeeze the info all away. But there are those tough grimes that won't leave and this is what makes the best brands stick.

The Case of an Orange

I've been having a good laugh this week watching all the funny gigs of an Annoying Orange in YouTube. It looks a bit silly to me at first, but when you take a look at the number of people who viewed those videos - I can only wonder.. " Why haven't I thought of that before? " If you take a closer look at those videos, the lines are witty and downright funny.

What's the POINT?

Simple. Just go with your heart when it comes to your brand. Forget about the rules and let passion fuel success into your name. How many months have you already spent researching on your competition? That time could have been used to build your rep on the web. You only have to think of a name that you can be proud of, nothing more or less.

Don't make it too complicated or you'll get lost in the process. Still having a hard time? Turn off your PC after reading this post. Go grab a pen and paper. Just write down names that you fancy until you create a list. From there, you choose. You can be done in an hour or less. You'll be amazed at what you can come up with.

Dynamic Writing: Is it Achievable?

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 03:54:12 +0100

After having written for my clients' websites for the past two years, I have asked myself: Should I write for the search engines or for the readers? Writing quality content on the web goes beyond the usual writing one does on print publications like your local newspaper or the glossy pages of your favorite magazine. You have to be careful with the words you use when you write on the web. Being a word smith isn't enough in making sure the readers find your stuff on the internet. It goes more than the usual writing stuff, which is a challenge for a word smith such as myself.

I remember my English teacher told me to write my essay in a consistent manner: To remove unrelated paragraphs or phrases which doesn't talk about the title of the essay itself. I can only be grateful for this advice in my freelance writing career. When I have to write a copy that must be optimized for the search engines, it is definitely a must to include words that are related. For example, if the topic is about golf clubs, why would I even write about basketball somewhere along? They're not really related, unless you're taking about sports in general. And the more general your topic will be, the more competition your site will have in the organic listings.

What are organic listings? It's pretty simple. This is where any surfer go to their favorite search engine ( Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc. ) and type in a search item. Normally, they type in a word or two. Only those making an intensive research will type in keyword strings that are very specific, like "Apple iPad 3G chipset," instead of just typing "Apple iPad." So, can you really write quality content on the web that will drive traffic as well to your website?

How to Write Dynamic Content on the Web

Yes! Keep in mind that content is still king and you might know plenty of gray or black hat SEO tricks that let you escape for now, but be sure that duplicate contents and other malpractices can get your site banned for life. Writing dynamic contents for the web takes time, effort, and energy. You can't just be lazy and copy someone else's work. Plagiarism is a big crime on the web, so you better be your own master scribe.

1. Write Unique Contents

What makes your blog stand out from the rest? From a catchy headline to a new, helpful tip - your blog must be something personalized. Readers hate fakers on the web so you better stay real. Be you!

2. Respect Your Readers

We all know how important page ranking is, but the readers are still humans.. so, write for them. Don't stuff your writing with too much keywords that leave your readers grasping for air or having the worst headache they had after having read what you wrote.

3. Be Witty

Ever read something so boring it makes you yawn after having read the second paragraph? Add humor and spice to your writing, something that appeals not only to your readers' intellect, but to their emotions as well.

4. Edit!

You might have written a unique and catchy blog, but the typos are such an eye sore it will make your readers frown. Make sure that you correct any grammatical errors and always check your punctuations.

5. Involve Your Readers

Don't we all hate being talked at? Instead of just telling a story, why not ask their opinions? Readers would love to get involved in any discussion, real-time or online. This will also be good for getting quality backlinks that will increase the page ranking of your site.

In the end, you must write something that you will love reading yourself. Writing on the web can be full of HTML tags, but a savvy writer knows that speaking from the heart will always win readers on the web. Are you passionate about writing?

The Power of Why: Your Psychological Ally To Marketing Success!

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:08:08 +0100

Here's why ‘WHY’ is such a profit-making marketing trigger.

“Stop taking two and three plates of food,” my mother said to me angrily.

I was at a wedding and seven years old. Back then, at a lot of the weddings we used to go to, the food would be pre-served on a plate. I could never get enough of those calorie-ridden platters. Waylaying different waiters, (so I would not be recognized), I’d polish 3-4 plates without blinking an eye.

Mum wasn’t impressed, and told me to stop and desist.

“Why?” I’d ask. Her stock reply was always, “It’s bad manners to do that.” This Dustbin Hoffman (yes, I do mean Dustbin and not Dustin) act obviously got her goat, but it left me unfazed. It must have bugged her more than I expected though, because in a short while Dad was peering down at my food-stuffed face.

My question remained unchanged. “WHY?”

“If you invite a hundred people to a wedding, how many would you cater for?” he asked. “A hundred,” I answered, proud of my analytical genius. “If you ate four plates,” he continued, “how many would remain?” He prompted quickly, “Ninety-six right?” I nodded vigorously. “That means some people don’t eat. If you’re so hungry, we can go out after the wedding and get something to eat, but don’t deprive others.”

Dad Made Sense. Do You?

Dad understood psychology. He had to sell my brain an idea that my rumbling stomach didn’t want to understand. And he did it by answering the question, 'WHY?' How many of us ignore this powerful trigger in our marketing because it seems too obvious, almost too simple?

Why 'Why?' Puts Elvis’ Shaking and Moving to Shame

Let’s examine the six honest men. What, How, When, Where, Who and Why. Which one of these is the most powerful psychological movers of them all? This would be better answered with an example.

Let’s assume you needed to go to the supermarket. All the other triggers (how, when, where, who and what) would make absolutely no difference if you didn’t know ‘WHY’ you were headed there. Everything else would be totally irrelevant. Once you know WHY you’re doing something, everything else is just a matter of logistics.

Why Does 90% of Advertising and Marketing Communication Go Down the Drain?

Simple. Look for the WHY in advertising and scarcity pops up instantly. All the fancy layouts and the smart headlines can’t quite compensate for the niggling question that goes unanswered. All your customers want to know is, Why should I choose you? Why should I take this decision? Why should I spend this money? Why should I look at your website? Why should I read your brochure?’ Why should I listen to your speech? ‘Why? Why? Why?’

Dump the cotton woolly fluff. Get your customer’s brain to go scrambling like an over-enthusiastic pup after a Frisbee. Once you have enough WHY factor built into what you’re selling, everything else is just clip, clop, fall in place stuff.

Be an Accountant, Do an Audit

Look at your communication. Like reeeeeeeaaaaally look at it! What about your website? Does it answer the question WHY straight up? And does it do it on the first page? How about your brochure? Does its headline make it a cinch for dustbin land? What about your speech? Do you have enough beds to compensate for your lack of WHY?

I could go on, but I suspect you get the message.

Be merciless. If the WHYs don’t stack up, dump the communication. Or chop and change it till it does.

Finding the Right Level of Why Power

If you noticed, Mum actually answered my WHY question. She just didn’t answer it to my satisfaction like Dad did. Herein lies a subtle, yet formidable difference.

It’s not enough to simply have the WHY question answered. It’s got to be the most ‘Rambo in your face’ answer, or it will bounce higher than a defaulting cheque. Let your WHYs loose on each other, and let only the one with the most testosterone come out shining.

Aristotle -- Man, Was he Smart or What?

All communication must lead to change.

That’s what the old wise man said over 2300 years ago. Not some or most communication.

All.

Yet we are dealing with customers that inherently detest change. WHY is the only motivator that allows them to make that shift. Change is still a scary word, but at least the justification sits nicely in their cranium.

In fact, if you look closely, even a WHAT question like, What’s in it for me?, is really a "WHY" issue. All it is saying is ‘Why should I pay attention?’ Give your customers the WHY factor and their buying sprees will reflect nicely in your growing bank account.

This is simple, down to earth advice. Yet it represents one of the most powerful psychological triggers why people buy. WHY on earth would you ignore it?

( This is a free article posted on www.psychotactics.com. If you like this article, feel free to share it with your own list, post it on your site, on your blog, or add it to your autoresponder. Twitter it, Facebook it, translate it. As long as you leave it intact and do not alter it in anyway. All links must remain in the article. No textual amendments permitted. Only exception is Twitter. )

Writing Your Flight Plan to Success: Goal Setting for the Freelance Writer

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:12:14 +0100

Whoever told you that being a freelance writer is easy - should really try to fit in one of our shoes. Nothing's ever easy in life, and that includes the art of crafting words into a compelling, original masterpiece that is within the allocated word limit. If that's not enough challenge, try imagining fitting an hour of wearing your word smith's hat to come up with a 500-word article about a niche you barely even know. Welcome my friends to the world of freelance writing!

Writing is not just putting a jumble of words and hoping that it makes sense, somehow. Neither it is re-writing someone's creative works, or worst, spinning them to make it look like your original work ( and does anyone hear the word " Karma? " ). On top of having to be a master in what you truly love, as a writer, you are also faced with the greatest challenge of the proverbial Writer's Block. When your mind suddenly becomes blank, or when you are distracted by your non-stop addiction for posting 140 character posts in the Twitterdom, nothing can just compel you to bring back that writing mojo and start writing to meet your client's deadlines.

Laziness is the very nemesis of a freelance writer. There's no mistaking it. As the adage goes: If there's a will, there's a way... Surely, there are plenty of reasons NOT to do a writing assignment, if you simply feel lazy doing so. In the process, not only do you ruin your writing schedule, but you also jeopardize those writing projects that your clients have entrusted to you. In the end, you lose valuable projects ( and money as well ), where you lose your focus in fighting for that infinite dream of being the best writer you can ever be.

How to Be a Successful Freelance Writer

The year 2010 is a fresh start for all of us, writers and non-writers alike. It is also the best time for freelance writers ( such as myself ) to write a flight plan to success, if ever there is this dream to become a big name in the literary world someday. When studies show that manually writing down our goals in a journal works better than typing them in your PC, it's time to take that dusty book out of the drawers once more and write these simple pledges:

1. I shall AIM high...... Yet, Realistic Goals!
2. I shall FORMULATE my own strategy in getting these goals.
3. I will really learn the meaning of the word: DISCIPLINE.
4. I will CREATE my flight plan with a target in mind.
5. I will ACKNOWLEDGE the fact that I am not perfect, that I will need guidance and advices from those who are already successful in their careers.
6. I will RESPECT my schedule like I would respect my grandma.
7. I will never stop finding my INSPIRATION and DREAMS.
8. I will TRULY pay attention to my passion and imagination.
9. I will value other people's OPINIONS about my works, no matter how brutal it may sound.
10. I will be CONFIDENT in what I do best.

The truth is: There's really no one formula that will work for all freelance writers. Many have just wished without ever doing anything to fulfill their dreams. To be successful in any undertaking, there must be a strong desire to make one's visions come to life. It is this flame of passion that inspires the very soul of your dreams to take all the matters in the world and manifest it in reality. You are the pilot of your success and it is up to you to make your flight plan work in the turbulence of the freelance writing world. Soar Higher!

The Earth Awaits Your Manifestation: What are You Leaving Behind?

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:32:03 +0100

This article, among many good things, is what I will be leaving behind this pale, blue dot in the sky we call home - Earth. The body may wither and perish, but the ebb of inspiration shall linger across the shores of the human mind, flowing to the very core of the soul that unites our lives like a spinning web. You may not even have heard of my name... but the very thought of this article being read right now have made me feel that somehow, I have touched someone else's life. It is not a magic pill, yet, I am only hoping for the best.

DREAM.

I have always been a dreamer under countless stars, waiting for miracles to happen...until one day, I woke up being hit hard by an ultimate realization: I have the power to get my dreams! I never had the confidence in myself until I have realized one thing - that if I don't believe in me, then, no one probably will. I have dreamed of being a writer and now, I become one. The road of dreams is one rocky, steep climb, and I got bruises along the way. It is in my darkest moments that I have learned to face my deepest fears and learned to rise again. Life may not always be a picture-perfect postcard, or a box of the sweetest chocolates, but always find a time to dream. It can come true. It happened to me and so, it can happen to you.

DESIRE.

Being an artist, I am more open to the countless moments of serendipity in my life. There were times when I had wanted something so badly, only to have a friend coming to give me that very thing I had desired. I even find myself in the edge of sanity as I try so hard to find ways in fixing my life only to find answers in the very wind that gently kissed my face. I believe that my openness to the simplest joys and pleasures of this world had made my life a cornucopia where graces fill and flow. Sometimes, the rigors of daily living could take a toll on each one of us.. but never stop desiring.. for the cosmos has a mysterious way of bringing all hopes together into the material world. Believe it or not. The important thing is living each day with passion and love for life itself.

DO.

I will never forget the ads I saw a few years back: JUST DO IT! Yes, that is my motto in life. I had numerous moments of doubts and fears gnawing on my mind like nasty little maggots. If only I had been wiser, I would have done things differently. Fact is: Nothing is ever too late. I have made mistakes and so did you. We might even harbor some guilt and regrets that are clouding the very beauty of our lives.

It is hard to let go of the past or worries for the future, but I am still learning the art of letting go. I have accepted that I am not a perfect person. This is the first step in doing what I am meant to do here on Earth. When I had lowered the high bar jump of my life and accepted the way that I am, I have found out that life is not so tough as I used to believe it is. Then, everything flows seamlessly like an invincible shroud had cradled me from the ugliness of the real world.

I am a living testament to life's simple grace. This is my manifestation. It may not even be the golden key to the secrets of the universe but it makes me happy that I am leaving these words of hope for you to read.

" Inspiration...this is my gift.. "

The Truth Behind Every Writer's Success

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:32:26 +0100

" I write, therefore...I am.." These are the words I have in mind when an inspiring thought suddenly spark out of the blue, like an irresistible itch I can't resist, a thought that must be put into words, into phrases, into sentences, into paragraphs - until I am fully satiated and saw that I have just made my own masterpiece.

Writing is the very blood that drives me to dream more, make most, and enjoy the fruits of my skill with words. It just started on a one, gloomy day when I needed an outlet for my overwhelming desire to be heard. What used to be the first entry on my journal gave way to more and never had I thought that I will be on the way to polishing my skills as a creative writer, in the making.

Was it tough? I believe you can even ask J.K. Rowling this question when she had just started to write. I bet a dozen more big names in the industry could tell you that even though a very few are born with the prodigy in them, it takes more than that to claim the right of being called: Writer. One doesn't even have to be in the big league to tell you that writing is not some magic trick where you can produce something good in a snap of your fingers.

The reality of being a writer is like a sugar coated chocolate candy... only with the nuts.

Years of practice and careful attention to grammar and punctuation isn't enough to make a career out of the very passion that I had loved most. I always wake up in the morning with a single purpose that drives me like crazy - Write. It is apparently clear to me that my life purpose here on Earth is to be a writer.

It was hard getting noticed at first. I've tried approaching the kingpins of the publishing industry, full of hope, as I sent numerous query letters, manuscripts and my proverbial " pitch. " The gatekeepers of the writing business are very stringent in their choices and I had numerous No's to a lot of those I have sent... I lost track of it all.

Rejection is so natural in the writing industry. Get used to it.

Lucky that my optimism is greater than all the criticisms I could ever muster. I had learned to be open to them for you'll never know what you're going to learn from it. It is specially hard at first to take all those negative stuff they tell you. But these doesn't deter me, or even dampen my spirit. I am, like the cliche would say, dreaming.. of the impossible dream.

In real life, there are just too many antagonists to deal with.

I remember starting as a renegade writer and it was like trying to clean a 2,000 square foot floor with only a toothbrush in hand. It took me 3 months before a small player in the business had wanted to hire my services as a staff writer. I couldn't argue much about the pay since I don't still have that made-to-impress portfolio to show. I was just on the verge of building one.

Income-wise? It was just a meager income barely meeting my everyday needs, and to pay for bills, I have to think of some other ways. There was even a time when close family and friends started to get worried and tried to make me forget about this dream. They told me to get a life... and grab a job that could pay the monthly bills.

Seeing my first work in print, however, was the greatest reward I had. It felt more than cloud nine. Yes, there were times of confusion when I have to leave and try an office routine work just to make ends meet. Through the In's and Out's of my writing career, I could only be sure that this is the one true thing that makes me really happy. It is the very reflection of my wanting to connect with the world and make an indelible mark on it. Maybe, nothing is impossible for I had gone through impossible times and just turned out to be fine. I even had those bitter days of waiting to be paid for an article or two I have written late at nights, only to end up being used.. abused, and unpaid. But, there are really good people out there who appreciate both thoughts and labor.

The golden key of inspiration is inside every writer. There are many doors to choose from where hard work and discipline are essential tools, like spices to this innate love for the craft. I might be a newbie in the freelance writing scene to others, and an expert to a very few. I've been writing for free and writing for food. In the end, the realities of being a writer might be too hard to deal with...but the rewards.. are more than any adjective could ever describe.

" Live to Write. Write to live. "