4. Believe that Everything has a Solution. An optimistic outlook always leads to solutions, no matter how impossible a problem or task may be. Often when a solution can't be found, all that's needed is for problem to be redefined. Or when you think you're stumped, surprise your mind with silly solutions then work backwards, leading to original problem. Cultivate an attitude of continuing search for solutions.

5. Let Go of Your Fear of Failure. Don't expect to do something perfectly for first time. Thomas Edison tried about 1800 things for perfect filament for incandescent lamp. Fear of failure is one of major factors that can hinder your creativity. Instead of looking at failed attempts negatively, look at your failures as learning opportunities. Failing isn't fun, but neither is doing nothing.

Copyright © 2004 Shery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ

Mistake No. 5: Getting Too Personal It’s great to get personal with an editor. In fact, I highly recommend it. But don’t take it too far. Your editor is not going to appreciate forwarded jokes, tales of your latest adventures in Himalayas or sob story of your dog’s death. However friendly your editor might be getting, do remember that it is after all, a professional relationship. If you wouldn’t say it to your boss, don’t say it to your editor.

Mistake No. 6: Letting off Steam Your editor’s changed meaning of your review so that it now sounds positive when you clearly intended it to be negative, modified your quotes or hasn’t sent payment even after months of bugging her. You’d want to tell her exactly what you think of her, right? Bad idea. While I wouldn’t suggest being a doormat and accepting what happened, I wouldn’t recommend a fist-session with her either. Go tell her you didn’t like what she did, but do so politely. If you’re still upset, you can always stop writing for magazine, or let her know that your viewpoints don’t match.

Mistake No. 7: Not Proposing Another Idea Once you’ve written for an editor, your chances of writing for his publication again increase by a huge factor. He’s more likely to trust you with more assignments if you come through on first one. So after final acceptance, send off a thank you note and another query. Don’t give editor time to cool off and forget you. Strike when he knows exactly who you are, how brilliantly you’ve done your job and how you’ll make his life easier.

So next time you’re tempted to accept an editor’s initial offer or scream at him for adding in spelling errors, remember that you only have one chance. To keep your clients happy *and* earn a living in process, avoid making these errors of judgment. You’ll soon be on your way to a very lucrative career.