(Reading time: 3 – 5 minutes)
Julie Angelos is an American living in Italy, a journalist, a writer, and a recently converted blogger. Julie stopped by Website In A Weekend a while back, told a story about a shark, and I immediately knew I had to recruit her as a guest author! Julie writes in an easy, yet intimate style. I hope you enjoy her writing as much as I do.
How I Became a Published Writer
-by Julie Angelos
If you would like to be a published writer you are going to need a passion for writing. I started writing as soon as I got a crayon in my hand. Then when I was 11 in 1975. I started keeping a small lock and key diary with a bright yellow and red Snoopy picture. I would write whatever came to a 11 year-old’s mind.
I have entries in my diary about what I would do for my birthday party, where my family went and who I liked and didn’t like at school. The one that makes me laugh is “My sister hit me.” Now, years later, I realize the importance of those four words. I had found in my diary a place for myself, a place for my own thoughts. More importantly, I have proof, 30 years later, that my sister hit me. ;)
As I got older, I started writing travel diaries. I have about 15 handwritten diaries in my garage that I wrote when I was between 19 and 30. Sometimes, I wanted burn them because I was afraid of what my children would think. But they probably won’t be so interested in mommy’s life until they have had a few of their own adventures. Anyway, I traveled around the world doing the cafe diary scene, before I decided to really give writing a try.
How to get published
The first time I was published as a writer was in high school. I was president of my high school so the job was sort of just assigned to me. One of my teachers came up to me and said “Julie, you are going to have to write a weekly article for the school newspaper.” It helped to have friends in high places.
A couple of weeks later, I saw my name in print for the first time with a headline saying ‘Howdy Cowboys’. What a laugh.
When I moved to Europe, I found an opportunity to write for the first English language magazine in our city. The publisher of that magazine became a good friend of mine. She had great taste and style, and the magazine was a big success.
From there, I just continued writing. I would write or suggest stories to my publisher and she usually printed them. Sometimes, my publisher friend would give me assignments, for example she’d say “Julie, there’s a new art opening on Friday, can you cover it?” And I would, gaining more experience.
And I continue to write for pleasure just as I continue to paint pictures of flowers, just as I love reading other people’s stories.
In the end, if you want to write, do it. Just take out a pen and write. Write from the heart and write as you speak.
There are many avenues to publication. The easiest way to get published is to publish yourself – just as I’m doing here. As you gain experience, opportunity may well find you, if you’re open to it.
What sort of things do you like to write about? Have you ever been published? Where?
Writing since she found a crayon in her hand, Julie is currently working as a Special Aids and English teacher at two Middle Schools in Italy. She has lived in Italy for more than 15 years, is married, has two young children and writes JBulie’s Blog.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I stand up and take a bow. I’m so humbled. What a sweet story and honor to be featured at your blog.
The publishing journey continues as I just published my first downloadable ebook called Zero to Blog available at my site and also at Lulu. It’s going great. I am happy to have a steady stream of fresh faces visiting me at jbulie’s blog.
Thanks again David. How kind and generous. You told my story better than I did. Now, that’s real writing talent.
Julie
.-= Julie Angelos´s last blog ..Creativity =-.
Julie, I like publishing a wide variety of articles on Website In A Weekend. Keeps it interesting for me, and I believe it broadens the appeal for general readers.
Thanks again for allowing me to publish these articles.
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..How Julie Became Successful Without Even Trying =-.
I have such a hit and miss relationship with English teachers, too. Good thing this one is a hit or my mom could be expecting yet another call at home. ;) I patiently await your next “fresh brewed pot of delicious hot blog copy”.
Okay, off to tap, tap, tap away at the keyboard and get those thoughts out of my head and into my laptop [reminds me of a Billy Ocean song].
Dave – glad to see you got rid of that nasty bugger invading your site and are back to business as usual. I would have loved to attend your WP Skype session, but 5 pm [my time] is when the family decides to come home and locking them out of the house just seems mean. That and for some strange reason they all gather around the table with knives and forks in hand. I wonder what it all means? :)
.-= Anne´s last blog ..How to Add Your Google Reader Feeds as a Blogroll on Your Site =-.
Anne, I’ll be back to visit you at some point. Still catching up from the debacle!
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Caressing Alien Species, and, a (late) Valentine… Take cover! It’s two Weeks in Review =-.
I am very much enjoying Julie’s Blog so was very interested to read how she got started.
.-= LindyLouMac´s last blog ..The Weekend =-.
Julie has a very easy-to-read writing style, which is a nice break from some of my more technical articles. Those are hard to read, and harder to write!
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Business Avatars & Guest Posting (Under Attack! 2/15/2010) =-.
The one thing that I have realized is the most important to have when starting a blog is to love writing.
Your post makes me want to write more.
.-= Deacon´s last blog ..More Punk, More Woodblock Prints =-.
I always return to writing, no matter how long I’ve been away.
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Under Attack! Freedom! (Update 2/13/2010) =-.
Kudos Julie, you started young, with great enthusiasm for writing. I guess some of us are just born with “a passion for the pen”.
And I agree with Deacon blogging requires you love writing. Otherwise you will quickly lose your drive for blogging!
:)
.-= Blog Angel a.k.a. Joella´s last blog ..Blog Plagarism – Discourage, Detect & Respond To Content Theft (Part 1/3) =-.
Starting young always helps, for any endeavor!
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Denial of Service, What’s It Like? (Under Attack! 2/16/2010) =-.
Inspiring! And yeah i agree that if you want to write, just write — do not think to much. And thanks to blog, we can do that easily these days.
.-= Dana @ Blogging Update´s last blog ..6 Benefits of Guest Blogging =-.
Dana, you got it man! It gets easier and easier the longer you’re at it.
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..World Class Copywriting: Are there Bird droppings on your catapult? =-.
Hi Dave
Julie is a great writer. I can relate to her feelingsso well. I love to write, since childhood I’ve had the desire, but it’s sort of scary when you put it out there. She does a beautiful job. I also enjoyed reading your blogs.
Penny, only you can stop yourself from writing.
Dave Doolin´s last post ..Website Hosting for Your Benefit not mine