6. Write in way that you speak. It's friendlier to read and it's an easier and more natural way for you to write.

7. Don't worry about perfection too soon. Spell checking, indenting paragraphs, changing font size - this is icing on cake. Just let your writing flow and, just for once, forget grammar. Perfection can come later - at redrafting stage.

8. Think about your readers in a different way. You may be anxious that your article is not "good enough" to be read by your peers. Remember, even if your audience are "experts", they don't know what you think about your subject. Nor does it mean that they know everything there is to know about a subject area. Target your writing towards an intelligent, enthusiastic, but non-expert, reader and your writing confidence will grow.

9. You've completed your writing. This is your first draft. The secret, now, is to redraft and redraft again. You'd be surprised at just how many things you'll want to say differently when sun rises tomorrow! Read your article once a day, make changes then put it aside until next day. In a few days, you'll read your article and find nothing to change. That's when you're ready to publish!

10. Believe in yourself. The first articles you write may not be perfect but more you write, better your style will become. It's like learning to walk - all it takes is a little time and lots of practice.

(c) 2005 Lynda Blake

You're welcome to reprint this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered, including "About Author" info at end.

Lynda Blake is a UK freelance writer

Many of my well wishers countered with questions that unintentionally poked holes in my game face. "Write what?" they asked. "For whom?" they asked. The answers to their questions involved explaining vast quantities of research through which I had only recently begun to sift. I felt my courage failing because I could not adequately explain process I was only beginning to understand myself. That insidious self-doubt began to erode my courage.

But I persevered. As I plodded through articles about query letters, marketing skills, and copyright I began to see opportunity in mountains of material.

That opportunity belongs to writer who can stick it out. As I delve into some of markets listed online and read about their requirements, I now think: "I can do that!" A torrent of ideas spouts out of me as I work, as I sleep, as I drive car pool. I have several pieces started, a myriad of sticky notes hanging from shelves in my office, and a legal pad with several pages of notes. My game face is back and for first time it is supported with real confidence.

Looking back on those first weeks and months, I realize what I have accomplished. I have taken first step - I made decision to write for a living. I have learned that writing query letters is standard and expected practice for pitching ideas to potential markets. I have learned what information should be included in a query letter. I have learned that Writer's Market is best place to find those markets.

I am now taking next step: I'm looking for appropriate markets and writing query letters to pitch my ideas. We'll see...