by LuAnn SchindlerAs a writer, you spend large chunks of time sitting in front of a computer screen, maintaining your blog(s), updating your website, and promoting your work via social networking outlets.But in your rush to effectively market yourself , you may be forgetting one of the most basic marketing tools available: the business card.A business card is one of the quickest introductions a writer can make. It's also one of the least expensive forms of self-promotion.Take a look...
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The 'Luck' of a Writer
Saturday, January 30, 2010
By Jill Earl"Luck favors the prepared, darling."These words were uttered by intrepid inventor Edna Mode to Helen Parr/Elastagirl, of Disney’s ‘The Incredibles’. Here are a few definitions of ‘luck’, according to Dictionary.com:1) the force that seems to operate for good or ill in a person's life, as in shaping circumstances, events, or opportunities.2) good fortune; advantage or success, considered as the result of chance.3) a combination of circumstances, events, etc., operating by chance...
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Friday Speak Out: Use Your Intuition to Reach Your Subconscious Mind, Guest Post by Kelly L. Stone
Friday, January 29, 2010
Use Your Intuition to Reach Your Subconscious Mindby Kelly L. Stone "Women’s intuition” can be a useful tool for aspiring women writers because it’s a link to your inner resources of creativity and wisdom. Intuition is your subconscious mind attempting to communicate with you and get creative material or guidance into your conscious mind. You might experience hunches, flashes of insight, or feel...
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Update on WOW! Fall '09 Flash Fiction Contest: Top 10 E-mails Sent
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Phew! This season was tough to judge and it came down to the wire, but we just sent out notifications to the Top 10 contestants of the WOW! Fall '09 Flash Fiction Contest. Congratulations to those of you who placed in the Top 10! Please remember to send us your photo and bio as soon as possible.We will NOT be sending out e-mails to Honorable Mentions since we're working on the February issue of WOW!, but be sure to check back in February to see if you won an Honorable Mention. You can...
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Interview with Elizabeth Barton - 2009 Summer Flash Fiction Contest Runner-Up
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Elizabeth's Bio: Elizabeth Barton has been writing stories for just about as long as she can remember. After attaining degrees in psychology and nutritional sciences, she began work as a medical writer and editor. She participated in the Writer’s Loft workshop in Chicago for more than four years and has recently begun seriously pursuing a career in fiction writing. Elizabeth has dozens of short...
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Update on WOW! Fall '09 Flash Fiction Contest
Monday, January 25, 2010
We've received several e-mails from contestants asking whether we've sent out notifications for the Fall '09 Flash Fiction Contest yet, so I thought I'd post a little update here to let you all know where we are in the process.The quick answer: No. We have not sent out Top 10 notifications yet. Currently, the top 25 stories are in the hands of guest judge, literary agent Noah Lukeman. He is judging them as swiftly as possible.When we get the results back, we will send an e-mail to the...
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It's time for some exercises!
Monday, January 25, 2010
While interviewing an author recently, she mentioned she had enjoyed Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott so much that she tries to read it each year. That sounded like a wonderful suggestion so, I went to work to find my copy of Lamott's book. Along the way, I found a couple interesting writing books I thought I'd recommend:One of my favorite books for fiction writing prompts is "What If?: Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers" by Anne Bernays and Pamela...
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New Community: The WM Freelance Connection
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Seven women have joined together to start a blog and a Google group about freelance writing. It's called The WM Freelance Connection; and if you haven't checked them out yet, make some time this weekend! They started out as the "Writing Mommies," that's where the "WM" comes from, but they have resources for anyone who's freelancing--well, anyone human that is. ;) Here is some of the information they...
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Friday Speak Out: 10 x 12, Guest Post by by Tami Richards
Friday, January 22, 2010
10X12by Tami Richards There’s a nook off my kitchen that I’ve been trying to claim for myself for over twenty years now. While raising four children, I’d shared that ten by twelve foot space with kids doing homework, playing video games, making Lego masterpieces, and searching the Internet. I thought I’d properly and fully claimed it last summer when my youngest child reached adulthood and I felt...
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1000 Journals
Thursday, January 21, 2010
by LuAnn SchindlerI started journaling when I was in high school. Actually, it was in 7th grade when grandma gave me a diary in my Christmas stocking. It had a beautiful white cover with the 'diary' embossed in gold on its cover. As the years progressed, I started myriad journals. In our bedroom closet, one box contains seven volumes of my ramblings through the years. Another six sit on my computer desk.I'm a journal junkie. I'm not afraid to admit it!One of the most amazing journal projects...
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Does Reading Have A Place in Your Writing Goals?
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
By Jill EarlIn a ‘Muffin’ post from a couple of years ago, Are You An Intentional Reader?, I wrote of being inspired to develop a reading plan from an article by author Bob Hostetler. His annual plan includes reading a wide variety of authors and genres through the ages for pleasure and to enhance his writing skills.At the time, I hadn’t thought about how reading intentionally could help in making one a better writer. Intrigued by the notion, I set about creating my own plan.That first...
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Tricia Bowering: Summer 2009 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Congratulations to Tricia Bowering! She is a runner up in the 2009 Summer Flash Fiction contest. If you haven't read her short story, "Remembrance," yet, then you can check it out here. Here's a little about Tricia:Tricia Bowering was born and raised British Columbia, where she eventually studied psychology at the University of Victoria. She now makes her home in Vancouver, where she keeps busy with...
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Got Scene Problems? We've Got Quick Solutions!
Monday, January 18, 2010
If you're in the process of editing your NaNoWriMo manuscript, novel, or short story and find that a scene isn't working, it may have one of these problems listed below. See if you can pinpoint the problem and apply the quick-fix solution!Scene drags at the beginningProblem: Too much expositionSolution: Get your characters interacting right away--at least by the second paragraph. Provide them with a conflict. The story of how they got there and why can wait.Scene has too much dialogueProblem:...
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Pushing past...and getting to the good stuff
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Recently, when I was working to finish revisions on a long project I started thinking about how a writer sometimes need to push past an area of revision or of writing that isn't working. Just getting to the next page, paragraph, sentence or word can help bring clarity to what the writer is working toward.But what happens when nothing is coming? When you just can't think about it anymore? Often what works for me when I'm stuck within a piece of writing is to stop in the middle of the process...
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Goals for 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Have you ever felt like you were on a roller coaster ride that didn't want to stop? Well, I have to admit with my ever changing work schedule and other things going on in my life, I feel that way on a daily basis.Today I realized how many things have been neglected recently in my life. I can't really use the holidays as an excuse either, because, well, they just weren't in the way for the most...
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Friday Speakout: Surely You Just, Guest Post by Michelle Dwyer
Friday, January 15, 2010
Surely You Just (Cheesy, I know)by Michelle DwyerOkay so, I recently received my contest critique for the WOW! Summer 2009 Flash Fiction Contest. Not too shabby I must say. I guess the past critiques have allowed me to refine those blunders called adverbs. Toning down these dust mites (as I now call them), has taken effort. But seeing less green (you know, the highlighted adverbs) in my critique...
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Book Contest News!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Well, I’m smack-dab in the middle of my Book Blog Tour for Not Just Spirited: A Mom’s Sensational Journey With Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). It’s been so much fun so far! And I had a new experience yesterday: My first radio interview. =S I’m not feeling 100% stoked about how I did but they said that I did great for a first radio interview. I guess factoring in that I had Xander and Sophie fighting...
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Marketing Self-Published Books: More Advice From Joy Wooderson
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Last week, we talked with Joy about her self-publishing journey for her memoir, Finding Joy. If you are struggling with whether or not to invest in self-publishing, her interview might give you some answers you've been looking for.In this segment, Joy discusses how she is marketing Finding Joy: One Woman's Journey Back to Faith. As we all know whether you self-publish your book or publish at a small...
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Interview with Evelyn Addison Ray, WOW! Summer ’09 Contest Runner Up
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Evelyn’s Bio:Evelyn Addison Ray, retired from training and development and community education, has written job materials as a matter of course in all her career, but never fiction. Now, having written two short stories for WOW!, she is proud and delighted to be in the finalists and motivated to continue to write short fiction. She earned a B.A. in Journalism and English and an M.A. in Education...
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Still Time to Set Resolutions
Monday, January 11, 2010
by LuAnn SchindlerWe're not quite half way into the first month of the new year, so if you haven't taken time yet to develop a list of writing goals, don't worry. There's still time. But instead of procrastinating (do writers do that?), take a good look at what you accomplished last year and where you want to direct your energies this year.Unsure where to start? Here are a few ideas I implemented last year and a couple I plan to complete in 2010. Consider it a productivity map.Submission...
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Gemini Magazine’s 2010 Short Story Contest
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Ready to sharpen your story story writing skills? Take a look at the competition listed below.Gemini Magazine, which bills itself as the place for “fiction, poetry, a little craziness & more”, is looking for entries for their 2010 Short Story Contest. The First Place winner will receive $1,000, Second Place gets $100,and there will be three honorable mentions.They’re looking for all kinds of short fiction, such as novel excerpts, flash fiction, experimental, etc. There aren’t any...
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Learn to Write for Children: Tips from Margo L. Dill
Saturday, January 09, 2010
I've never tried writing for children's publications but I've always been intrigued by the idea. It must be so rewarding to reach out and entertain a child through your writing. I still remember all the articles and stories I read in magazines, such as Cricket, as a child. Maybe it's because I was so young that the stories stuck with me, or the fact that I was reading something I wanted to read for...
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Friday Speak Out: "From Block to Blog (in 0-60 minutes)," Guest Post by Lisa Ricard Claro
Friday, January 08, 2010
From Block to Blog (in 0-60 minutes)
by Lisa Ricard Claro
“Sabbatical from Writing” is the lofty label I plastered on any period of time during which the most imaginative thing I wrote was a grocery list.
I was delusional, of course.
Writer’s block is more akin to a death-hungry dragon that must be slain using words as a fiery sword!
Or. . .you could start a blog. Blogging is a great way to overcome that dragon beast and turns the compulsion to write into a reason to write.
Consider:
• Most blogs have a theme. Choose something about which you are passionate (child rearing, embroidery, Johnny Depp). Writing about something that matters to you makes it easier to banish the block.
• Loyal readers. It doesn’t matter if your first blog followers are your mom and Aunt Gladys. The more you blog the wider your circle of readers will become. Readers = motivation. Really.
• No pressure. You are the boss of your blog. There are no rejection letters. Just write.
Blogging is fun, but it will help you with other important aspects of writing as well. Some things to keep in mind:
• Brevity is a virtue. Keep your posts to 500 words or less. Short posts are, by necessity, sharp and focused.
• Post as if submitting to an editor. Pay attention to grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Treating your posts as professional pieces encourages solid editing.
• Commit to frequent posts. This requires discipline, creativity, attention to deadline, and increased readership. And if readers = motivation, then motivation = banished block!
• Internet presence. In this electronic age, an internet presence is not a suggestion but a necessary tool in every writer’s kit. A blog is an easy way to get started.
There are a number of websites that offer easy, free blogging. MSN and Google are two with high visibility. In less than an hour your blog can be up and running. It is this simple: Choose a theme about which you love to write and get started; then send the link to everyone on your email list.
Some contend that blogging is detrimental because it leeches creativity away from other, more important writing pursuits. But if you’re already being burned alive by the block dragon’s fire, you aren’t writing anyway. Blogging may be the jump start you need.
In 1295 Dante Alighieri wrote: “It seemed to me that I had undertaken too lofty a theme for my powers, so much so that I was afraid to enter upon it; and so I remained for several days desiring to write and afraid to begin.”
Seven hundred years later not much has changed. Too bad Dante didn’t have a blog option. But you do. Start now and be ready to write in less than an hour. You will zoom from block to blog in 0 to 60 minutes.
Now go slay that beast.
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Lisa Ricard Claro is a freelance writer whose humor columns and stories have been published on-line, in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and in anthologies Chicken Soup for Beach Lovers and Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers. (Watch for her story, “Angels Afoot”, in Cup of Comfort for a Better World, due on shelves March 2010.)For more of Lisa’s writing, please visit her blog, Writing in the Buff: www.writinginthebuff.net.
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Do you want to reach WOW’s audience? We welcome short posts (500 words or less) from writers just like you! You can include your bio, pic, and links to your website/blog for promotion. Our only requirement is that your post be about women and writing. Send your Friday “Speak Out!” post to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration.
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Self-Publish or Not? Advice From Joy Wooderson
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Many writers have this goal on their 2010 list: "Find an agent or publisher for my novel." Joy had this same goal one year after working on her memoir for eight years. As you'll hear in her own words, she'll tell you why she decided to self-publish: Finding Joy: One Woman's Journey Back to Faith. And let me tell you, this is a well-written, excellent book--full of ideas, situations, and questions...
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