Finding My Inner Author: My Experience at a Tom Bird Retreat - Arrival in Sedona

For those of you who were waiting for updates on the Tom Bird Retreat–I apologize. We hit the ground running and I absolutely had no time to put anything together. If you do make plans to attend his workshop don’t schedule any social appointments…there won’t be time.

It is early spring in Arizona’s high desert. A baby tumbleweed scampers across the lazy two lane hwy, seconds later a hawk dives in to a field up ahead. I rummage into my purse for the camera hoping to I can get some good shots while I’m driving—I want you to see this view!

I want to slow down and enjoy the meander through the canyon, but there were some traffic delays and I’m running late. My destination is the Sedona Rouge Hotel and Resort where I will be attending the Write Your Book in 5 Days Retreat. This will be my first writing retreat and I’m so excited! Thirty-five writers all attempting to write a novel in 5 days or less. We were told to come without any attachment as to what the novel would be about. But first, I’m on my way to see Lori, a therapist who will be working with us during the retreat to help us release the physical manifestations of stress and other emotions that come up.

Whatever baggage has kept us from publishing that novel will most likely become active during the workshop. Lori wants to help us release the underlying energy so the results of what we learn at the retreat can be permanent. Using a variety of techniques she can assist the client in acknowledging and releasing regrets, self judgments and false beliefs. Advanced Release Therapy is located just down the road from the Sedona Rouge in a casita next to Lori’s house; a large window looks onto the red rock mountains. Lori will be using Myofascial Release today to help me gain some movement in my shoulder (my arm locked up last week).

Lori scans my energy and begins to work. Using rocking, a bit of massage and stretching she is able to ease the rotation in my hips and gain back the range of motion in my arm. I also learn that I hold a lot of energy in my navel and that I need to be more willing to voice my feelings and to embrace my empathic gifts. She did get some emotions to release…I didn’t even know they were sitting there! We had a little talk about how and why I put up these walls (I won’t go into that here), and by the time we were finished I felt ready to embark on my little journey.

I’m off to the resort, the meet and greet session is already underway…

Robyn Chausse

(Miss the first posts of the series? Follow these links to read the first post, second post and third post.)

You've got My Style!

Many times we have fixed ideas regarding how to do a task. When the process works for us, that’s great; but sometimes we feel stuck. The process isn’t working. We fret, pace, lose sleep and wonder what’s wrong with us. Nothing is wrong; we just need a different process.

One time in junior high school I didn’t finish a written report. On the day we were to give the reports orally the teacher allowed me to give an impromptu speech instead. Afterward she told me, “If you had written that down you would have received an ‘A’ but because you didn’t follow the rules I can only give you a ‘C’. The lesson learned here is always do things the way you are told—or is it?

Many years later I was taking a writing course. The process was clearly stated:

• Create your character profiles.


• Write your outline.


• Create a flow chart to mark the arc of the story.


• Write your story.


• Make sure you have 'X' percentage of dialog, etc...

For the life of me I could not get that story out. The process felt backwards to me. My urge was to just write the darn thing. I had no idea who the characters were going to be, I would not know until they showed up, so I got stuck.

Some of us are “formula” people; we like structure, a map, a recipe. Some of us are more free-form. Then there are the times when the way we usually do it isn’t getting it done, that’s when we need to re-adjust our process. The trouble is—sometimes we don’t know how.

That’s when a community WOW! comes in handy. Hearing how other people go about a task inspires within us new ideas. So, what’s your style? Are you a formula-type or a free-form? Do you start with outlines and character profiles or just go for it? Share your thoughts here. Let’s see who’s got your style!

Robyn Chausse

Highlights Foundation: An Interview with Alison Green Myers

WOW: Welcome, Alison, to The Muffin. We are so happy to have you here today to talk about the Highlights Foundation! Can you briefly describe for us the Highlights Foundation and its purpose or mission?

Alison: The Highlights Foundation believes that children deserve excellent stories. These stories start in the minds of our authors and illustrators. We give our guests a place to shape their stories, to improve upon them, to seek guidance from the best, and to connect with others who share the same passion.

WOW: I'm sure all children's writers are currently drooling over that description. Your mission sounds absolutely fantastic! How does it differ from Highlights for Children magazine?

Alison: The Highlights Foundation is a separate entity from Highlights Inc. We are a non-profit, and as such, we have many supporters of our mission. Highlights Inc. has been very generous with the Foundation’s needs. Our executive director, Kent L. Brown Jr., is a descendant of the founders of Highlights for Children, Garry and Caroline Myers. Kent worked his way to editor-in-chief of the magazine and then created Boyds Mills Press publishing house, along with its subsidiaries. As a prominent figure in the industry, Kent saw a need. Now as editor, chief emeritus, and publisher at large, Kent is able to dedicate his time to the causes of the Foundation.

WOW: Thank you for clearing that up. What are Founders Workshops? What topics do they cover? Where are they located?

Alison: The Founders Workshops are located at the homeplace of the founders of Highlights for Children, Garry and Caroline Myers, in the picturesque mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. We find the publishing industry’s best writers, editors, and illustrators to teach Founders’ Workshops and only those who are proven mentors, willing and able to help writers and illustrators meet their goals. Our workshops range from weekend retreats about such things as establishing meaningful conflicts to week long workshops on topics like writing your first novel. We take special pleasure in fussing over our guests by offering gourmet food and cozy cabins (pictured above) for relaxation during—and after—a day of learning and writing.

WOW: Gourmet food and writing! You can't get much better than that. How do you find a schedule of the workshops and sign up to attend?

Alison: The best place to find information about  our offerings is on our website, www.highlightsfoundation.org. You can also contact Jo Lloyd at the Highlights Foundation. She'd be happy to send you a brochure with details about our Founders Workshops and our annual Writers Workshop at the Chautauqua Institute. Just call her at 570-253-1080.

We are also excited about our Founders Facebook page, where we promote our offerings, give writing tips from our faculty, and share highlights of workshops and events that take place at the homeplace. You can link to our Facebook page from the URL above.

WOW: Sounds easy! Who teaches these workshops?

Alison: Our faculty is varied: editors, authors, illustrators, and professors. The one common thread among them is that they are the best in the business. Who wouldn't feel like sitting down to an intimate dinner of eight with Jane Yolen to discuss picture books? Or Carolyn Yoder, as she shares the ins and outs of historical fiction research?

We adore our faculty because they understand and support our mission. They work tirelessly, providing tons of encouragement and insight into the field of children's book publishing. They grasp that our workshops are kept small, so a meaningful bond can be formed between participants and faculty, resulting in great conversation and more importantly, a unique environment for success.

WOW: Tell us about the new facility you are building for larger gatherings.

Alison: The Barn at Boyds Mills (pictured to the right) is our newest project out at the homestead. And although it has modern luxuries, it is hauntingly connected to its real roots. The facility is actually in the footprint of the farm's original barn. Surrounding the native blue stone patio is the remaining foundation of the original barn. The beams were recovered from southeast Pennsylvania, the lumber from the acres around the homeplace, and stone and boulders from northeast Pennsylvania--all joining together to make a one of a kind gathering place for our guests.

WOW: This all sounds great and beautiful. But you know, writers are often broke! You mentioned to me that Highlights Foundation offers scholarships. What are the scholarships for?

Alison: The scholarships and grants we offer are to offset the cost of our workshops. In today's climate, giving yourself a week or weekend away to indulge in your own passions may seem unrealistic. We understand; and since we are a non-profit, we take all collected tuitions and put the monies back into our workshops and scholarship fund.

Some faculty members have also established scholarships in their own name for our Chautauqua workshop. Chautauqua is such a magical place; it is very telling that our faculty would wish to make contributions in this way. In addition to these gifts from our faculty, they are also a part of a very lively auction at Chautauqua, where 100% of the proceeds go into the general scholarship fund. There are signed prints and books. Authors and editors auction off critiques, school visits, and retreats. The hottest items are always Joy Cowley's hand knitted shawls and Eileen Spinelli's motivational cookies. The award winning poet sends cookies and handwritten notes of encouragement throughout the year to the highest bidder. I always try for that one!

WOW: Motivational cookies--what a great idea! Thanks for the information on funding. How do writers apply?

Alison: We have a link on our website for scholarships. Jo Lloyd is instrumental in finding grants and scholarships to meet the needs of our guests. It usually just takes one call to Jo, and you are pointed in the right direction.

I should also mention a few things specific to educators. We have many educators that use Funds for Teachers and other teacher based grants at both Chautauqua and our Founders Workshops. It is also encouraging that many school districts pay a portion or all of the tuition cost, as long as teachers opt to take the workshops for college credit.

We offer continuing education credits through Chapman University. We are also working towards our professional learning accreditation with the department of education. If anyone wants to know more about our CECs, please e-mail me directly at alisongreenmyers (at) yahoo.com.

WOW: Those are fantastic opportunities for teachers. Anything else you'd like to share about the Foundation?

Alison: I have a great deal of respect for Kent and the unique offerings he has set up with the Foundation. He brings authors, illustrators, and educators together in such a meaningful way. Each guest of our workshops, each faculty member, and our staff know that books provide something magical and tangible for children. The Foundation’s family of writers understands the power that words have and go to great lengths to make each written experience authentic for our children. Adults with such respect for children deserve a place to improve upon their craft and create. The Highlights Foundation provides just that--a place for folks to gather and immerse themselves in the best that this market has to offer.

WOW: Thank you so much, Alison, for sharing the Highlights Foundation with us today. Muffin readers, if you are interested in their programs or any of the information Alison talked about today, please check out their website at http://www.highlightsfoundation.org.

interview conducted by Margo L. Dill; http://margodill.com/blog/ 

Alice O'Brien: Fall 2010 Flash Fiction Runner-Up

Congratulations to Alice O'Brien for placing as a runner-up in the Fall 2010 Flash Fiction contest with her story, "Easter Treasure." If you haven't had a chance to read Alice's story yet, you can do so right here.  We had the chance to ask Alice some questions about her story and her writing, so here we go.

WOW: Welcome to The Muffin, Alice. Congratulations on your win! Where did you get the idea for "Easter Treasure"?
 

Alice: I have an adopted son who treasures his adoption story, the details of when we met and the way our “hearts found each other.” In our family, we celebrate this day like a holiday. One night before nodding off, he was telling me our story—really cementing it in his tiny heart—and it brought tears to my eyes (like usual). The next day, I went to my first writing workshop and the instructor assigned a 15-minute free write on “Two Strangers Meeting.” It isn’t the norm to think of a mother and child meeting, but I used my experience as an adoptive mother to set a scene of a family forming. I finished the piece during that free write, and it was the first short story I had ever written. I was so nervous when I had to read it aloud; my voice cracked over nearly every syllable!  
 

WOW: What a touching story about how your flash fiction piece came to be! You were able to get so much description and characterization in a flash fiction piece. What was your process? Did you do a lot of pre-writing and/or revision?

Alice: “Easter Treasure” is the first short story I’ve composed, and I did very little revision. Typically, my work is very descriptive. In fact, I attended the writing workshop I mentioned earlier because I was trying to improve the storytelling aspects of my writing and reign in my descriptive style. The particulars of Jacob’s character came to me fully developed, which is typical of how my mind conjures characters when I’m writing. The hardest part about this piece was writing in a five-year-old voice.
 

WOW: You managed to do that 5-year-old voice very well. What made you try flash fiction and enter this contest?

Alice: A workshop attendee approached me and suggested I enter “Easter Treasure” in a flash fiction contest. As a novelist, I wasn’t familiar with the genre but fell in love with it when I read past entries on the WOW! website. I sent the short along to my critique partner who specializes in short stories, and she encouraged me to submit it. I’m glad I did!
 

WOW: We are glad, too. It is a beautiful story. You have several longer works of fiction that you have completed and are now seeking representation. Which manuscript are you currently shopping around? Tell us about it.

Alice: I’m currently seeking representation for ROOTS AT RIVER FARM, a 53,000-word middle grade novel. For six years, 12-year-old Michele Ryan has wanted one thing: to find her father. And it seems like she’ll get her wish in the spring of 1969 when Mama moves the family to River Farm in the Yankee north. But when Mama gets sick and a world of carefully crafted secrets begins to unravel, Michele tries to make sense of her world. She discovers family history carved into wood and strangled by ancient bittersweet vines…a lady made of shadows…memories of her father that wash through her like lemonade on a hot day…a root cellar locking up tragedy…and an always-barefoot neighbor with so much old and young mixed up in her, it’s hard to tell which she is. Set in small town Massachusetts during the tumultuous summer of love, Michele Ryan discovers that there is a lot more to family, love, hope, and even despair than she ever dreamed. Michele’s path of discovery reveals that every place has a purpose. Sometimes, it’s simply to bring us home. To ourselves. To each other.
 

WOW: That sounds amazing. I love the description of your book. You have been to 35 countries. That's amazing. How do these experiences enrich your writing?

Alice: For me, there is a profound difference between traveling and being a tourist. As a traveler, I aim to fully embed myself in the culture, language, and space of the city I visit. I eat where locals eat, move as locals do. This has often landed me on the back of a donkey negotiating some treacherous terrain, but it forced me to get out of my comfort zone and adapt my lens. I learn other languages, gestural modes of communication, and I pay closer attention to how my cultural biases frame my experiences.

I’ve spent entire days sitting in Italian piazzas watching passionate lovers, eager tourists, and bouncing children--how they speak, touch, communicate, interact with their environment. Listening to the hum of traders in a North African outdoor market is more like music when you don’t know the language. And the smells, tastes, feel of life in a foreign country is a beautiful assault on the senses. I think my experiences traveling the world help me to develop characters that are fully formed, realistic. They have real human problems, dreams, demands of a daily life—and they have a story. I hope my travels make my characters more colorful, more worth meeting.

WOW: I think I would love to do some traveling with you. Your approach and attitude are amazing! Do you have a writing routine? When do you do your best writing?
 

Alice: I write on the weekends, but use my daily commute to build characters, flesh out scenes, and develop story tension. My writing process is really fluid, and the story pours out of me once my fingers hit the keyboard. I’m very fortunate in this way. I know writers who struggle over every word, and they feel such a sense of frustration. With my process, the words come easily, but I have to be willing to cut huge portions of text if they don’t ultimately work within the manuscript. I’m lucky to have a critique partner who skillfully points out where my work needs improvement, and I trust her insights as a reader. 

WOW: Thank you, Alice, for sharing some insight into your writing world. We wish you the best of luck in the future.

interview conducted by Margo L. Dill; http://margodill.com/blog/  

 

Spring Forward!: Five Writing Exercises to Season The Poetic Muse

Spring Forward!: Five Writing Exercises to Season The Poetic Muse

by Melanie Faith

With a renewal of vegetation and the lengthening of sunnier days, April and National Poetry Month are just around the corner. What better time to set pen to page in poesy? As Violet Gartenlicht said: “Spring in verses,/Verses in spring.” Follow these five tips to inspire your own poetic regeneration.

• Pairing diametric opposites is often useful in amping up the thematic tension in a poem. Write a list of five or ten opposite pairings. Perhaps Republicans vs. Democrats, teacher vs. students, parent vs. teen, angel vs. demon, passive vs. aggressive, or even more abstract opposites, such as red vs. blue or square vs. circle. Draft a poem where two of the opposites have an argument with each other. By the end of the poem, there should be enough context clues to let the reader know who “wins” and why.

• Write a poem in which you begin with one phrase or image and then circle back to that image or phrase by the end of the poem. It is important to note that the reader’s understanding of the opening phrase or image must be deeper after the insights of the middle of the poem.

• Free-write a new poem in which two characters know each other intimately in one social setting and are thrown for a loop when experiencing each other in new surroundings. It might, for instance, be two divorced partners at a child’s school play or two best friends who learn something about each other while playing board games or seeing each other at the gym rather than at the local coffeehouse.

• Study the final image of a poem draft. Does that image contribute to a deeper meaning in the poem? If not, it’s possible that your poem would be better served with another final symbol or image. Frequently, poets write past the most resonant symbol. Look in the middle of the poem and compare the meaning of an image found there with one placed at or near the ending. Try to invert the order of these images, to see which makes a stronger ending. If there aren’t any strong imagers to bring to the end of the poem, draft a new ending. I’ve heard it said that a good poem should be like a suspense movie haunting-- the experience resonates meaning, questions, and thought long after an initial appearance.

• We’ve all experienced awkwardness, and probably plenty more than we’d ever care to repeat. Pen a poem in which the speaker appears calm and confident externally and yet inside, the speaker is struggling with either his or her own awkwardness or the awkward behavior of another person. What is being said (or, more likely, not said) between the characters?

These and a myriad other tips and poetic exercises will be presented to get your pens moving as part of WOW! Women on Writing's online class Spring Forward!, starting on April 8 and currently accepting sign-ups.

Melanie Faith holds an MFA in poetry from Queens University of Charlotte, NC. She recently had an essay about editing poetry published in the Jan/Feb 2011 issue of Writers' Journal. Her poetry is forthcoming from Tapestry (Delta State U., Spring 2011) and her essay about Thoreau and the internet is also forthcoming, from Front Range Review (U. of Montana, Spring 2011). A travel essay was featured in Quicksilver (U. of Texas, March 2010), and another published essay (Shape of a Box, Oct. 2009) was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Her work won the 2009 Anne E. Sucher Poetry Prize for the Iguana Review.
Her current poetry chapbook, Bright, Burning Fuse, was published by Etched Press (www.etchedpress.com) in Dec. 2008. She has been a small town journalist, an ESL classroom teacher for international students, and (currently) a literature and writing tutor at a private college prep high school. She has enjoyed teaching poetry and essay writing classes for WOW! for two years.

Once again, Melanie's interactive workshop Spring Forward! starts on Wednesday, April 8th. The class is limited to 10 students, so make sure you reserve your spot today. Click here to sign up now!

Narrowing Your Story

Often you might run across a writer who doesn't want to share his or her book idea. Afraid to share the information, the writer considers that someone might steal the idea or is superstitious that by talking about the idea, it will never come to fruition.
Currently, I'm working on a book proposal. It is an idea I've been focused on for a while and involves a high school friend I reconnected with a couple years ago. My friend doesn't know much about publishing or book proposals, so I'm putting it together. As we've bantered about the book, the concept has fleshed out. I'm confident we have a book.
During the important stage of putting the book idea to paper, I started exchanging e-mails with a friend with dozens of successful book proposals under her belt. She is graciously helping me put together the proposal. (I've done proposals before, but they have yet to risen to the level of her successes.)
I'm so glad I consulted with her.
Since we spent so much time considering the book, we had accumulated too much idea. The book had become unwieldy. In fact, according to my friend, we had two books on our hands.
Try to succinctly explain your book idea to someone really helps solidify your idea. The laser focus you can bring while giving someone the bare bones of your proposal can help form the idea, while also giving new energy to the project.
My friend was able to help me tease out the important bits of the project and left me with an enthusiasm to bring the proposal to fruition.
Do you have anyone you can turn to and explain a book idea? If so, I highly recommend starting the conversation.
If you are concerned about your idea being stolen, write it down on a piece of paper, date it and mail it to yourself. Keep the envelope sealed. Just in case you need to prove when you came up with the idea, the postmark serves as your proof system.
As for the superstitions, I'm not sure how to hold them at bay. Any ideas?

The 'Challenging' Month of April

By Jill Earl

If you’re looking for a way to develop or sharpen your poetry or scriptwriting skills, check out a couple of writing challenges happening in April.

First up is the Poetic Asides PAD (Poem-A-Day) Challenge. Created by Writer’sMarket.com editor Robert Lee Brewer, the goal is to write a poem each day; using the daily prompt provided by Brewer is optional. The submission deadline is May 5, 2011, and any received after this time will be disqualified. Poems should either be submitted either in the body of the e-mail or as a .txt or .doc file. Out of all the entries, Brewer will choose a ‘Top 50’ of the month. You don’t need to register and participation is free. Full guidelines can be found at the Poetic Asides blog.


Then there’s Script Frenzy, sister to November’s National Novel Writing Month Challenge. Participants write a script (or multiple scripts) of at least 100 pages total, individually or with a partner. Just about anything can be written: screenplays, stage plays, TV shows, short films, comic book and graphic novel scripts, adaptations of novels. There are lots of resources for Frenzy participants to use, including how-to guides, inspiring interviews, forums and a neat Plot Machine if you need some help coming up with a script idea. You must register, but there’s no fee to participate. Everyone who reaches the 100-page goal receives a Script Frenzy Winner's Certificate and web icon. I’ll be joining the over 10,000 (so far) in this year’s Frenzy myself. Go to the Script Frenzy site for more details.

Think you’re up for the challenges? Check one or both out, sign up--and get to writing!

Friday Speak Out!: A Woman Who Writes Is a Working Woman, Guest Post by Stephanie Romero

A Woman Who Writes Is a Working Woman

by Stephanie Romero

Perhaps I am dating myself but do you remember an old commercial from years ago that went something like this, “I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan. And never, ever let you forget you’re a man ‘cause I’m a woman.”

The whole point of this commercial was that as a woman she could do it all. It’s an empowering feeling but is it realistic?

As a writer one of the things that I have faced is the misconception that I have nothing but time on my hands. We tend to respect professions that require working in an office or another type of setting. But for those of us who work from home as a writer, well, it sounds a little too “relaxed.”

Writers must surely have time for naps and watching “Oprah,” right? I mean, after all, this isn’t really a true “profession,” is it? I have learned that it’s not easy to get others to take my line of work seriously.

In fact, at times I have found it difficult to get others to respect my work time. There have been many assumptions made that flexibility as a writer allows me to do whatever I like.

Working from home as a writer actually requires a great deal of dedication and discipline. I can’t bring home the bacon AND fry it up in a pan all of the time because quite honestly, sometimes I am swamped with work.

It could be that I have deadlines to meet or I have so much within that I have no choice but to let it all out through my writing. Writing is a profession and it deserves respect. We may not be able to convince others of this but I still believe we can walk with our heads held high and proudly declare that we are a working woman, a woman who writes.

* * *

Stephanie Romero works as an independent contractor writing web content for law firms. In addition she is a regular blogger at Families.com (http://www.families.com/hizchozen/), editor/writer for the independent parties’ site at Bella Online – The Voice of Women (http://www.bellaonline.com/site/independentparties), Milwaukee Marriage Advice Examiner (http://www.examiner.com/marriage-advice-in-milwaukee/stephanie-romero) and the author/instructor for an online course, “Recovery from Abuse” (http://vu.ksurf.net/catalog/5824.html). In her spare time she works on her personal blog (http://stephaniesromero.blogspot.com/) and encourages women to live their dream (http://stephanieromero.wordpress.com/).

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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Do Your Homework Before Self-Publishing

One lazy afternoon, over a bucket of beers and stale pretzels at a local watering hole, I had an epiphany. A nonfiction book idea poured into my mind, and when I shared my best-selling proposal with my husband, he asked the one question an author doesn't want to hear: "What if you can't find a publisher?"

Since that day, I've been investigating publishing options, including self-publishing. After talking with writing friends who have pursued this route, I've learned several valuable lessons about entering the publishing market:

1. Investigate the competition. What sets your proposed deal apart from what's presently available in the market? How many books are already printed on this topic? How recently were they published? Once you know these answers, you can strategize the best ways to set up your book. Can you add infographics? Photographs? Sidebars? Think beyond the printed word and you will be one step ahead of your competition.
2. Hire the best of the best. Once the book is written and edited, you should plan to hire a professional editor to give the script a once-over. A writer has an intimate working relationship with her script and all too often, you tend to overlook even the simplest of mistakes. Better to hire a professional than to print a book filled with glaring mistakes.
3. Look professional. Your book needs to look professionally printed, and this begins with the outside package: the cover. Design a book cover that draws attention and actually fits the book. (How many times have you looked at a book cover and wondered if the author threw together a graphic?) Also don't forget that your book needs an ISBN number. Contact ISBN.org for information. You may want testimonials or positive reviews for the book jacket. Consider who you can ask for a review. What sets their opinion apart from others?
4. Check on the inside. Not only does the cover need to draw attention, but the inside of the book needs to be reader-friendly. Text shouldn't run too close to the binding. Margins need to be precise so the page layout doesn't look crowded.
5. Investigate publishing options. So many options exist today, so make sure you thoroughly investigate publishing options and costs. The least expensive option isn't always the best option, but don't get carried away with option overload either. Does your book need all the bells and whistles offered? Or can it it survive - and SELL - with the KISS method?
6. Establish a marketing plan. Authors should be considering a market plan from the beginning. I've been working on the platform for my book at the same time I've been writing. I've remained open to options and ideas from my research subjects. Marketing must begin before the book prints. Otherwise, how will you sell books?

I'm still working on publishing options, but since I've done my homework, I feel comfortable about the possibility of heading down the self-publishing route.

Have you done your homework? What options have you considered for publishing your work?

by LuAnn Schindler. Read more of LuAnn's work at Writing on the Wall.

Finding My Inner Author: Preparing for the Tom Bird Retreat Week 3

Tomorrow is the big day! I am leaving for Sedona tomorrow morning.

If you have been following my posts you were probably wondering why I was taking so long to write this one. Well, something unexpected happened. During Tom’s third preparatory webinar he led a guided meditation to allow us to explore the people and situations that we feel have been holding us back from reaching our full author potential. These could be fears, things people said or did, experiences we’ve had, etc… The purpose was to bring these issues to our conscious mind to allow us to work through them. Our homework was to write letters about these experiences—a journaling project. I never got to the letter writing; apparently my issues decided they just didn’t want to be dealt with! Instead, I awoke one morning with bursitis in my right shoulder and could not write, type, or even move my arm. Who ever heard of getting bursitis from sleeping!

(For those of you just dropping in on my posts, I have been preparing for Tom Bird’s Write Your Book in 5 Days retreat taking place in beautiful Sedona, Arizona. If you would like to read the previous posts click here for my first and here for my second.)

Serendipitously, I had scheduled an interview with Lori Zeltwanger from Advanced Release Therapy, one of the therapists Tom has lined up to help participants work through the energetic and emotional blocks keeping our inner author trapped. Instead of an interview, I received a phone session. Lori guided me in how to give in to the pain and receive the underlying message. I had a good emotional release and at one point found myself attempting a pretzel maneuver—I’ll get back to that later. Did it cure the bursitis? No, but it gave me some tools for exploring my emotional and energetic blocks while I worked with the Chiropractor on the physical restrictions. After all, how much can a therapist do over the phone? Usually she would be assisting the client hands on. Lori will be working with me during the retreat so I will be able to share more information on how she facilitates this rebirthing process.

In addition to Lori, who is a physical therapist, there will be two Holographic Repatterning practitioners available to help ensure that the shift the participants make is a lasting one; I’ll be introduced to them tomorrow.

Right now I have to run and start packing for the trip. I’m really looking forward to this retreat and to being able to bring you along on the journey! What’s even better than reading about my experience, though, is to take your own journey into birthing your inner author. Tom still has some openings for his other summer sessions—I urge you to sign up now. He has special prices available for his retreats and there are special prices for rooms at The Sedona Rouge, so now is the time to act!

Robyn Chausse

Feeling Scattered? Pull Yourself Together with Journaling

Feeling Scattered? Pull Yourself Together with Journaling

by Linda M. Rhinehart Neas

Many women find themselves scattered in every direction. Journaling with the use of a wellness wheel aids in bringing back balance. I have studied many forms and designed a wheel, which I use in the journaling workshop that I teach.

The nine aspects of wellness (physical, emotional, spiritual, environmental, vocational, economic, cultural, intellectual and social) are all critical to a healthy mind, body, and spirit. When they are in balance, then the “center” in which we find Self, Family, Community, and World is also balanced. The use of a starburst reminds participants in the workshop that, when we come to center, our inner Light shines brightly. Balancing the aspects of our life helps us to illuminate our relationships with those closest to us (Family), those around us (Community), and those beyond us (World).

Using a wellness wheel is not unusual or new. Many indigenous peoples hold the wheel, circle, and spiral as sacred. The wheel, circle or spiral explained everything from the change of the seasons to the cycle of birth to death. Using a wheel for wellness helps us to understand how all aspects of life connect to and influence each other.

In addition, being able to see that the mind, body and spirit are intricately interconnected allows for balance. Too often, we are stuck obsessing about our physical bodies, totally neglecting our minds and spirit. Is it any wonder that we feel ill, or stressed all the time?

By mindfully journaling on a specific aspect, we are able to discern issues that are plaguing us; recall incidents that fill us with emotion; and discover new insight into situations. In the workshops, participants use various readings, quotes, and artwork to help inspire their writing on each aspect.

For instance, quotes like, “And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair,” by the poet, Kahlil Gibran can inspire discussion on how we view our bodies, especially our hair (often called a woman’s crowning glory) and our feet. Think of all the damage done to woman through the image of Cinderella’s stepsisters trying on the glass slipper. Women with big feet always feel self-conscious. Subsequently, we might never think that our fears, stresses, misconceptions or illnesses relate to something as simple as how we feel in our own skins.

Journal writing is rewarding for other reasons, also. Often, at the end of the workshop, participants find they have the workings of a memoir or have the beginnings of short stories and poems. The ability to focus on our selves, something women have a difficult time doing, allows us to uncover the glorious beings that linger within us all.

Thoreau wrote, “Good for the body is the work of the body, good for the soul the work of the soul, and good for either the work of the other.” Journaling is good for mind, body and soul.

Linda M. Rhinehart Neas is a writer/educator who has written extensively in various venues, publishing and performing her work throughout New England.

Her first complete book of poems, Winter of the Soul, was published in February 2008. Gogo’s Dream: Discovering Swaziland, a collection of poems dedicated to those who work to aid the peoples of Swaziland was published this year. All proceeds from the sale of Gogo’s Dream go directly to Possible Dreams International.

Linda is also a WOW! Women on Writing Classroom instructor. Her interactive workshop JOURNALING FOR HOLISTIC WELLNESS starts Monday, April 4th. This class is limited to 10 students, so make sure you reserve your spot today. Click here to sign up now!

Interview with Lisa Daly - 2nd place winner in Fall 2010 Flash Fiction Contest

Let's get to know Lisa:

Lisa has always been fascinated by characters and inspired by stories of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. She has lived her dream of being a psychotherapist. Now she is living her dream of writing.

Lisa's first short story, "Road to Dreamland," appeared in the November 2009 issue of Kansas City Voices magazine.

Lisa graduated with a degree in psychology from Baker University and a Master's Degree in clinical social work from the University of Missouri - Columbia. She provided counseling services for nearly sixteen years. Now, Lisa is a stay-at-home mother.

Lisa is actively involved with the Kansas City Writer's Group and two smaller writing critique groups. Her writing interests include poetry, short stories, flash fiction, and essays. Eventually, Lisa hopes to write a screenplay.

Lisa lives in Kansas City, Missouri with her husband and their three-year-old daughter.

If you haven't had the opportunity to read Lisa's story, Last Words, head over to the contest page and then join us for our delightful interview.

WOW: Lisa, welcome to The Muffin! Congratulations on earning 2nd place in our Fall Flash Fiction contest. I enjoyed reading Last Words. The premise is so powerful, yet it's universal. How did the idea develop?

Lisa: Thank you. I am so fortunate to have supportive friends and family. One of my close friends, Kathy, gave me a wonderful book a couple years ago, The 3 A.M. Epiphany by Brian Kiteley. In it are numerous prompts and writing exercises. "Last Words" came from one of the prompts from this book. The prompt used a phrase from William Carlos Williams, "No ideas, but in things." What came to me was the quilt, the bedroom with the dresser, canopy bed, a padlocked chest, a sapphire ring, and the Bible. I have fond memories of visiting my grandmother and watching while she applied make-up and talcum powder. For the story, I had the idea that the man character would sneak away from the visitation and steal something. It helps me to have the ending in mind before I write. I'm a visual person so I often see the story before or while I write it. I can still clearly see the house in my mind. The key is to be sure I put the right amount of those details down on paper, not too much or too little.

WOW: You generated such a great list from the exercise! Sounds like I need to check out this book. (smiles) Lisa, you formerly worked as a therapist. How did that experience influence your writing style?

Lisa: I first had the dream to be a therapist at age 12 and the passion continued for a long time. I've always been interested in people and amazed at their resilience and intrigued by their motivations. I love character studies and revealing motivations. I also like surprises in my stories mainly because I think people surprise us in real life. Just when you think you know someone they do something to change your view of them.

WOW: I agree. People always surprise me! What are a few of your writing pet peeves? How do you break - or advise others to break - those habits?

Lisa: I dislike boring narration. I love, however, when an author shows a character or story through dialogue and action. I am a very picky reader and I put a book down quickly if it doesn't keep my interest. My advice is to make the story as compelling as possible as early as possible in the story. Belonging to a writing critique group is so beneficial. I belong to the Kansas City Writers Group for their compassionate critiquing and for the inspiration I receive in hearing really good writing. Hearing your work read aloud by someone else is also a real benefit so you can hear the glitches in your writing and where it bogs down.

WOW: Great advice. I especially like listening to someone else read my work. It's a great way to catch the errors. Let's talk for a moment about your first memories of writing. What's the first piece you wrote and what was the reaction to it?

Lisa: I wrote poems as a child and some short stories. My parents were very supportive and encouraged me in all types of creative avenues. I never entered a writing contest as a child. I was more interested in art and then later in the counseling field. After quitting my day job as a therapist to adopt our daughter and be a stay-at-home mother, I found a writing workshop lead by Lawrence and Suella Walsh. They are incredibly talented writers and teachers. One of my first pieces, "Road to Dreamland" was a product from an assignment in the Walsh's class. It was well received and eventually was published in the Kansas City Voices Magazine in 2009. It has taken me a long time to see myself as a writer. Even after publication. There are so many talented writers out there, but I'm learning from writer friends that each of us has stories to tell. We have an obligation to ourselves and to each other to write those stories and possibly bridge feelings of isolation. I think good stories show the universal human experience.

WOW: Sounds like you've had an interesting publication path. Entering contests builds a writer's toolbox of skills. What advice would you offer a writer who is considering entering a contest?

Lisa: Do it! And do it again and again. I really believe in contests because it gives you a framework like a topic or genre and a word limit. You have to do your best to edit your piece. Contests give you a deadline and motivation to pull out those pieces of work you've left in your drawer, pages yellowing with age and neglect. If given enough attention and work, those pieces might bring in some cash. Winning second place in WOW's contest has helped me to believe in myself as a writer. That has been a real process for me. The writing group has helped me learn about contests and has given me the courage to enter and the knowledge and skills to improve my writing.

WOW: Yes, yes, yes! Enter and keep entering. So important for writers to keep that positive attitude. I imagine you're busy with your young daughter and family, but what projects are you currently working on?

Lisa: I have written a short memoir piece about when my husband and I adopted our daughter at birth. That was such an amazing experience. I'm writing more flash fiction and short stories. I have not attempted a novel yet, but maybe someday. One of my short stories, I've been told, is more of a young adult novel. That's often a problem for me. I try to write too much story for a short story sometimes. I'm continuing to enter contests and I'm proud that at this time I've entered more contests than at any other time in my writing life. It's still not a lot, but I've got to keep writing. I love to edit, I think, sometimes more than writing, but I have to write to have something to edit. Luckily there are plenty of topics.

WOW: You are busy! Congratulations again, Lisa, and best wishes in your writing future.

Lisa: Thank you so much for the opportunity to discuss my writing. This has been such an honor and privilege.

Interview by LuAnn Schindler. Read more of LuAnn's work at LuAnn's Writing on the Wall.

And the winners are...

Congratulations to Kim G. who commented on A Ponderance of Things and won the Everybody’s Talking About Surprises Grand Prize! Your prize includes a personalized copy of Letters from Home by Kristina McMorris, a Big Band CD, Victory Garden seeds, and a few surprises (of course).

Kristina is also sending an autographed copy of Letters from Home to one of our Surprises bloggers. And the winner is...Mason Canyon who wrote at Thoughts in Progress about her favorite surprise: envelopes of books delivered to her mailbox. (In this post.)

Thanks to everyone who entered and may next time be your turn to win! Why don't you enter to win The Literary Ladies Guide to the Writing Life on our latest WOW Blog Tour?

26-Year-Old Amanda Hocking is Making a Million Dollars a Year Publishing Her Own Books to Kindle

It's an amazing success story! An unheard of twenty-six-year-old woman sold 900,000 copies of nine different books since she first put her work for sale on April 15, 2010. There are paperback copies that sell for $8.99 and $9.99, but the ebook editions are the ones selling like wildfire at $2.99 and .99. Just check out the local news story in the video below:



Amanda Hocking tried to go the traditional publishing route for eight years but received countless rejections. She never thought of self-publishing as a viable option.

"Everything I'd heard about self-publishing is that is was impossible to make a living, reach readers, or produce a quality product. But last year, I heard about how some others like Joe Konrath and Karen McQuestion are doing well with ebooks. So I thought I had nothing to lose."

So how did she sell so many books? She worked it via social networking, of course!

"I didn't really have a strategy. I think one of the advantages I have is that stuff considered marketing is stuff that I do a lot anyway. I've been active on social networks and blogs for years.

"I also send ARCs out to book bloggers. Book bloggers are a really amazing community, and they've been tremendously supportive. They've definitely been a major force that got my books on the map.

"When I first published, I did do a bit of promoting on the Amazon forums, but they're not really open to that, so I haven't really interacted there much at all in months. I hang out at Goodreads, Kindleboards, Facebook, Twitter, and I blog. And that's about it."

She now has an agent who is working on selling the foreign rights to her books. She plans to continue self-publishing, but isn't turning her back on traditional publishing.

"As amazing as this ebook revolution has been, it's only 20-30% of the market, and I'm not going to ignore the possibilities to reach the other 70-80% of readers. However, it is hard to compete with what my books are already able to do with Kindle and PubIt."

While that may be true, rumor has it that she's been shopping a four-book series to major publishers and attracting bids well over a million.

It seems we are entering a new and inspiring age, where traditional publishing certainly isn't the last word. Being rejected by a publisher isn't the end of the line. If you have the drive to do it yourself, why not? Publishing, marketing, and creating websites is the cheapest and easiest it's ever been. And in most cases it's free. If you have any thoughts on this topic, we'd love to hear them!

To find out more about Ms. Hocking's books, visit her Amazon Author's Page.

Quotes from The Huffington Post interview, Meet Mega Bestselling Indie Heroine Amanda Hocking.
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Class: Social Networking for Writers: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and More! Learn how to leverage the power of social media with this four-week e-course.

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The Literary Ladies' Guide to the Writing Life by Nava Atlas, Blog Tour & Book Giveaway!

Have you ever been asked the question, "If you could invite 12 people--living or dead--to dinner, who would they be?"

Author Nava Atlas's latest book, The Literary Ladies' Guide to the Writing Life, is the literary version of that dinner party. Using their diaries, letters, memoirs, and interviews, Atlas has compiled writing advice from a dozen successful female writers. Her "dinner party" includes Louisa May Alcott, Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, Willa Cather, Edna Ferber, Madeleine L'Engle, L.M. Montgomery, Anaïs Nin, George Sand, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Edith Wharton, and Virginia Woolf.

Nava's own insightful commentary lifts the curtain on these women's lives and provides reassuring tips and advice on such subjects as dealing with rejection, money matters, and balancing family with the solitary writing process that will resonate with women writers in today's world. This inspirational book is punctuated with photographs, letters, drawings and other illustrations. It makes a splendid gift book for writers or yourself. Just view the book trailer (designed by the author herself!) below.

[If you're reading this in Feedburner e-mail and can't see the video below please visit www.LiteraryLadiesGuide.com or click on the blog title link.]



Book Giveaway Contest: If you'd like to win a copy of The Literary Ladies' Guide to the Writing Life, please leave a comment at the end of this post to be entered in random drawing. The giveaway contest closes this Thursday, March 24th at 11:59 PM, PST. We will announce the winner in the comments section of this post the following day, Friday March 25th. Good luck!

The Literary Ladies' Guide to the Writing Life by Nava Atlas
Published by Sellers Publishing (March 15, 2011) | Hardcover w/ Jacket | 192 pages | 130+ color/BW vintage photos | ISBN: 978-1-4162-0632-2

The book is available for purchase at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Indie Bound, and at bookstores nation wide.

----- About the author:

Nava Atlas is the author and illustrator of many well-known vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including Vegan Express, Vegan Soups and Hearty Stews for All Seasons, The Vegetarian Family Cookbook, and The Vegetarian 5-Ingredient Gourmet. Her first book was Vegetariana, now considered a classic in its field. In addition, she has published two books on humor, Expect the Unexpected When You're Expecting! (A parody), and Secret Recipes for the Modern Wife.

Nava is also a visual artist, specializing in limited edition artist's books and text-driven objects and installations. Her work has been shown nationally in museums, galleries, and alternative art spaces. Her limited edition books are housed in numerous collections of artist's books, including the special collections libraries of The Museum of Modern Art (NY), National Museum of Women in the Arts (Washington, DC), National Library at the Victoria and Albert Museum (London), Brooklyn Museum, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and dozens of academic collections. Learn more about Nava's work at VegKitchen.com and NavaAtlasArt.com, in addition to LiteraryLadiesGuide.com, and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

----- Interview by Jodi Webb

WOW: Welcome to The Muffin, Nava! We're thrilled to be launching your tour today. The Literary Ladies Guide to the Writing Life is an unusual idea. How did you come up with the concept?

Nava: Aside from being a writer, I'm also a visual artist, and I've long been fascinated with the creative process, especially for women, who have historically had to struggle a great deal to have a presence in the arts. Not surprisingly, women writers are more likely to muse on all aspects of the creative process. At first I was just going to collect inspirational quotes and short passages to put together into a simple book, but as I delved more into their personal narratives, the project grew larger in scope, to include longer narratives from their letters, journals, autobiographies, and interviews. I was then compelled to comment on these musings with my own, weaving in thoughts on how the experiences of classic women writers past still resonate with women who write today.

WOW: Why did you choose the 12 women you featured? Do you have a favorite?

Nava: I started out with a few others, but narrowed it down to 12—a solid, round number that allowed me, in the space of a 192-page book, to reveal enough so that the reader feels they've gotten to know the women behind the classic books. I chose authors who left a fair amount of writing on various aspects of their lives as writers. I suspect that Jane Austen did a lot more "writing about writing" than we're left with, as a majority of her letters were, sadly, destroyed. But I just couldn't imagine not including her, as she has influenced so many writers, and found enough nuggets to scatter throughout most of the chapters. I would have liked to include Zora Neale Hurston, but couldn't find quite enough in her personal narratives on her writing life. She was a talented, innovative artist of the written word, and bold and open on matters of race and identity in an era when it wasn't as acceptable to do so.

I fell in love with some aspects of all twelve authors, and as readers will see, each represents a certain theme or struggle inherent to the writing life. For example, Louisa May Alcott is so much about earning a living by the pen, rather than being an artiste; Edith Wharton's theme is overcoming lack of self-confidence; Madeleine L'Engle exemplifies perseverance throughout dry years of constant rejection; and so on. I don't lock them into these themes, as all twelve appear throughout the chapters of the book, but I did identify each author with a standout quality.

If I absolutely had to name my favorite, it might be Charlotte Brontë. She wasn't always successful (her first novel, The Professor, never found a home during her lifetime, though it was published after her death), and came off sometimes as rather prickly, but there was something in her steely determination that I admire. She seemed like a person who wouldn't take &@!# from anyone, and always spoke her mind. That being said, I just gave up on her novel, Villette. Each sentence is so exquisitely crafted, but the story fell apart in the middle for me and I just couldn't bear to go on!

WOW: I enjoyed the “steely determination” in many of the authors your book features. Even when they were being polite and ladylike you could sense an underlying THIS is the way it’s going to be. It seems you must have had your own determination to get published in three vastly different genres. Did you worry that starting as a cookbook writer would pigeonhole you?

Nava: When I got my first book contract I was still in my 20s, very naïve about the publishing world, and just thrilled that I was going to get a book contract. I was working as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer and didn't fashion myself as a writer per se, even though I've always loved to write. So the thought of being pigeonholed didn't cross my mind. After the first book was published, and was fairly successful, I kept getting (and still keep getting) cookbook contracts, as it seemed an easier and in many ways more gratifying way to make a living than the job-to-job existence of a freelance illustrator. Writing vegetarian, and more recently, vegan cookbooks also really squares with personal ideals that I hold dear.

But yes, one does get pigeonholed. Jumping from one niche to another is tricky. It's hard to build a platform in two or three niches. Not impossible, but tricky. The two humor books I did (Expect the Unexpected When You're Expecting!, a parody of the renowned but controversial pregnancy "bible" and more recently, Secret Recipes for the Modern Wife, a satiric look at contemporary marriage, designed to look like a 1950s cookbook) were hugely fun to do, as I love humor and satire, but I can't say that either were best sellers! And when my agent was pitching The Literary Ladies' Guide to the Writing Life, I'm reasonably sure that a few editors said something like, "not interested in this, but does she have a cookbook proposal we can look at?"

Edith Wharton did a book on house decorating and one on Italian gardens, I believe, before she started getting her fiction published. Rather than pigeonholing her, the first two publications opened some doors for her. So I take comfort in that!

WOW: What made you decide to break out of cookbooks to humor and now nonfiction? Any fiction writing in your future? Or perhaps Italian gardens?

Nava: I don't think it's something I consciously decided, it was more about pursuing a notion and seeing where it led. I had tried to write two novels in the past, but gave up when it started feeling too hard. One of the most comforting things I learned from the Literary Ladies and other authors I quoted in the book is that indeed writing does often feel hard, and that in itself isn't a reason to give up. That lesson learned, aside from continuing to do visual nonfiction for women, I'd like to try my hand at a graphic novel. I've started to research it already; it touches on a lot of subjects of interest to me—issues of gender, race, and class; food; and the aesthetic of the 1940s and 1950s.

WOW: Nava, you’re a constant surprise! Could you tell us a little about the path to publication for The Literary Ladies?

Nava: The original proposal was almost bought by my longtime cookbook editor, but just as she was about to make an offer, there was a huge layoff of editors at Random House, including her, and that was the end of that. My agents then sent the proposal to couple of other editors I'd worked with in the past who really liked the project but felt for one reason or another that it wasn't right for their house or imprint. We first started shopping the project at the end of 2008, just after the stock market plummeted and things everywhere seemed pretty gloomy. They just kept sending it around, and I can't tell you how many times it was "almost yes." So it took a year to find a good home for the project. It finally went to Sellers, a company that has been named one of the fastest-growing independent publishers for the past few years by Publisher's Weekly.

The proposal they bought was similar in spirit to the finished book, but it's much more fleshed out, and while the proposal was in two colors, the printed book is full color, a decision promoted by the publisher. My editor continually urged me to turn up my voice. At first I felt quite shy about commenting on what these eminent authors had written. You know, the "who am I to..." syndrome so many women suffer from. But as I got into it, I lost, if not my humility (as writing about such authors is a humbling experience), then at least my shyness, as my editor kept reminding me that it was my commentary that was making the book relevant to present-day writers, whether aspiring or seasoned.

WOW: You've written cookbooks, humor, and nonfiction for writers. Do you find that each book niche demands different marketing?

Nava: I do think each type of book demands a different type of marketing plan. I've been in the vegetarian/vegan cookbook niche, and my name is known in that market, so I find I actually don't have to work all that hard any longer when a new cookbook comes out. I know so many of the veg authors and bloggers out there, if not in "real life," then via the web, and we tend to be very supportive of one another to get the word out there about new books. Humor is a very tough niche to market, unless you're a known name, like Dave Barry or Amy Sedaris; it's because your audience is not readily identifiable as a demographic or even an interest group.

So now, I'm entering an entirely new niche, reaching out to writers and literature geeks (an affectionate term I apply to myself as well), and we'll see how I fare here. I would say though, that with all the writer's groups, publications, centers, sites, and blogs, it is a niche that seems eminently reachable, so I'm optimistic that The Literary Ladies' Guide to the Writing Life will find an audience.

WOW: In addition to your WOW Blog Tour, what else are you doing to promote The Literary Ladies? Do you have one great marketing tip you'd like to share with our readers?

Nava: I'll be doing readings at libraries and bookstores; the schedule is still taking shape, but those interested can go to the Literary Ladies' web site (http://www.literaryladiesguide.com). My publisher is sending out review copies to the usual mainstream media outlets plus some specialty publications; I designed a trailer (the first I've ever done; I had my webmaster animate it and set it to music), which is on the home page of the same site, and getting people to share it. My friends in the food world have even offered to do promotions on their very popular blogs, even though for them, it's off-topic. Even though these blogs are about vegan food, when you think about it, every blogger is a writer, and they're all willing to help promote the book! Interestingly, one of these talented food bloggers is an English instructor at a college and did her doctorate on Katherine Anne Porter, who isn't one of the twelve literary ladies, but I quoted her a few times in my commentary throughout the book.

WOW: Serendipity, I suppose! Besides your writing you have so many other creative outlets. Do they positively affect your writing? Help stave off writer's block?

Nava: I'm also a visual artist; I make limited edition books and text-driven objects and installations (http://navaatlasart.com). Everything I do in some sense involves both words and images, a fact of my life ever since I was a small child. I'm lucky that I can dash from one creative outlet to the next. Even cooking is a creative outlet. I'm all about simplicity in the kitchen, and prefer meals that yield the greatest rewards (in terms of flavor, health, and visual appeal) with the least amount of effort. So constantly making things, whatever form they take, is a kind of practice that does stave off blocks.

WOW: What can we expect from you next?

Nava: Well, let's see how I can do with the aforementioned graphic novel. Aside from that I have two vegan cookbooks coming out in the near future: Vegan Holiday Kitchen (fall 2011) and a cookbook on all the leafy green veggies people love so much these days, as yet untitled, in the spring of 2012. I'm going to devote more time and energy to my art career; I have a few exhibits on the horizon. For all those who are interested in the food, art and book aspects of my triangulated career, you can keep posted on events and news on my Facebook author page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nava-Atlas/67621864858.

Thanks for the great questions, Jodi. When I get to put my thoughts down in writing like this, I'm always reminded of the quote by Joan Didion that goes, "I write entirely to find out what I'm thinking..."

WOW: I think that’s a wonderful thought for all of us to keep in mind. And we’re looking forward to learning what you’ve been thinking!

----- Blog Tour Dates:

Join Nava on her tour! Check out these dates and mark your calendar! You can also snag a copy of WOW's Events Calendar HERE.

March 23, Wednesday @ Musings from the Slush Pile: Julie loved Nava Atlas's book of writing advice from classic female authors so much she's featuring The Literary Ladies today and tomorrow. Stop by today for Nava's post on dealing with literary rejection.
http://blog.juliealindsey.com/

March 24, Thursday @ Musings from the Slush Pile Day 2: Day Two features a review and giveaway of her book The Literary Ladies Guide to the Writing Life.
http://blog.juliealindsey.com/

March 25, Friday @ The Urban Muse: Today we celebrate failures! Although we all strive for success and shun failure, writer Nava Atlas tells us why failure is just as important as success.
http://www.urbanmusewriter.com/

March 28, Monday @ Crafting Fiction: Nava Atlas discusses a trait so many writers lack, self-acceptance. She's also giving away a copy of her latest book The Literary Ladies Guide to the Writing Life.
http://www.craftingfiction.com/

March 29, Tuesday @ Writers Inspired: Don't miss Mary Jo's interview with author Nava Atlas--she'll be telling us how she learned from classic female authors. Stop by and tell us your favorite classic author!
http://writerinspired.wordpress.com/

March 30, Wednesday @ Ink Thinker: Kristen King reviews a book of literary advice culled from famous authors' letters, journals, and interviews: The Literary Ladies' Guide to the Writing Life by Nava Atlas.
http://inkthinkerblog.com/

March 31, Thursday @ Colloquium: I think I can! I think I can! According to Nava Atlas, just like the little train that thought he could, writers should never give up just because the job is difficult. Need an encouraging boost? Stop by today!
http://www.jhsiess.com/

April 2, Saturday @ Writer Unboxed: We laugh when actors or actresses look foolish when faced with fame. What about authors? Author Nava Atlas posts about dealing with fame--even if we don't have paparazzi outside our window!
http://writerunboxed.com/

April 4, Monday @ WordCount: Stop by Michelle Rafter's blog for a peek into the lives of a dozen female writers.
http://michellerafter.com/

April 6, Wednesday @ The Book Tree: When you write, what do people hear? Stop by for the Don't Whisper, Don't Blather! The Literary Ladies on Finding Your Voice post by Nava Atlas and a review of her latest book, The Literary Ladies' Guide to the Writing Life.
http://thebooktree.blogspot.com/

April 7, Thursday @ Nia Promotions Podcast: Don't miss an audio interview with Nava Atlas. Interviews with Dana are always unpredictable and fun!
http://www.niapromotionspodcast.com/

April 11, Monday @ The Other Side of the Story: Nava Atlas will be the guest blogger at The Other Side of the Story's feature "How They Do It," giving us insight into some classic female authors. She'll also be giving away a copy of her latest book The Literary Ladies' Guide to the Writing Life!
http://blog.janicehardy.com/

April 12, Tuesday @ Words by Webb: Stop by for a review of The Literary Ladies' Guide to the Writing Life and a 5Ws interview with author Nava Atlas.
http://jodiwebb.com/

April 13, Wednesday @ Cathy C.'s Hall of Fame: Cathy Hall, lover of children's books, has a few questions for Nava Atlas about the children's authors she's included in her list of literary ladies.
http://www.cathychall.blogspot.com/

To view all of our touring authors, check out our Events Calendar HERE.

Get involved!
If you have a blog or website and would like to host Nava Atlas or schedule a tour of your own, please email Angela and Jodi at: blogtour@wow-womenonwriting.com

Book Giveaway Contest: Remember, if you'd like to win a copy of The Literary Ladies' Guide to the Writing Life, please leave a comment below, or ask Nava a question, to be entered in random drawing (via random.org). The giveaway contest closes this Thursday, March 24th at 11:59 PM, PST. We will announce the winner in the comments section of this post the following day, Friday March 25th. Good luck!