Best Sellers Rank: A New Book Tracking Service for Authors: Giveaway and Free Trial

We have a super interesting and exciting interview today with Todd Hoff who created a brand new site for writers titled, Best Sellers Rank. This is a site that helps authors track how their books perform on Amazon.com. Todd explains how he came up with the service, what it costs, and how you can use it to help sell books below.

But first! Guess what? Todd is giving away some prizes; plus ANYONE can try out the site for free to track one book, with no credit card required! The two prizes are a $25 Amazon gift card and a Best Sellers Rank package that includes: 10 books-$45/year subscription (A little over a penny per day per book.), completely ad free, track up to 10 books, select from daily or weekly reports.

So before you enter the contest using the Rafflecopter form below, check out Todd's author story and how Best Sellers Rank can help your author career! 

WOW Todd, welcome to the WOW! blog. Why don't we start with you telling us a little about yourself as a writer? 

Todd: Like a lot of writers, I didn't write anything until I felt I had something to say and was devastated when nobody wanted to listen. I'm sure many of your readers can relate.

I self-published my first book in 2007. It was called Your Designer Diet: How to Stay on a Diet for the Rest of Your Life. The story I told was of my struggles after being diagnosed with Type II diabetes. Eventually, I figured out a unique weight loss method that helped me lose well over a hundred pounds and keep it off to this day. It was a very personal story that took a long time to write. After I finished, I had the usual "now what?" question. 

In 2006, when I started, the resources we have today weren't in place. I tried writing query letters to publishers and of course, nothing came of that. I'm a nobody with marginal looks and even more marginal promotional skills. Hardly surprising nobody wanted to take the risk. I heard about self-publishing and did my research. At that time, self-publishing was the equivalent of walking barefoot to school both ways uphill in the snow. You had to do everything yourself—the hard way.

Eventually, I finished and once again had the "now what?" question. Back then they had these things called "bookstores," and they were the only way to distribute your books. My luck with bookstores was as good as it was with publishers. Nada. Eventually Barnes & Noble agreed to distribute my book. Yay! I was so proud to see my book on the shelf at Barnes & Noble. It was like a dream...before the nightmare. I wasn't just green; I was spring green. I had checked the box that said I would take returns. So when my book didn't sell, they sent me box after box of my own book. I was out the printing costs and had a bunch of dead trees taking space in my garage. Being an author is so glamorous! 

But I still had the itch to write. I have lots of ideas bouncing around my brain that want to get out. They make quite a racket. When Kindle came around, self-publishing became a completely different game. Formatting was easy. Distribution was easy. Sales, still a problem. I wrote a short story or two, a short picture book, and a poetry book. None of which were successful at all. But that's OK. Writing is a form of self-expression. Waiting for external validation only leads to disappointment. That's what I tell myself anyway. 

I'm a programmer by trade, and I run a blog called High Scalability that talks about esoteric computer stuff. On a trip with my wife to France, one of our fellow tourmates asked me over lunch to explain the cloud. Easy, right? This is what I do every day. My answer was bad. Horrible. Embarrassing. That failure haunted me; bouncing cannonballs thundered in my skull. 

When we got back home, I started on a new book to explain the cloud. This chance question led to my only somewhat successful book: Explain the Cloud Like I'm 10. It's not a big moneymaker, as the audience for it is small, but it has a lot of positive reviews, and I think it has helped people. That feels good. And it directly led to the service I've created called Best Sellers Rank. 

WOW: That is quite a story, Todd! I admire you for hanging in there and not giving up in spite of some bumps along the road. So you are here to talk to us today about your service for writers, Best Sellers Rank. What kind of service is this? 

Todd: You know when you go through the pain of creating a book and it's finally published? What do you do? You check Amazon to see how it’s doing, possibly even obsessively. Any new reviews? How is my sales rank doing? What’s my rating? Anyone paying attention at all? I found myself checking Amazon, possibly obsessively, and I thought this is silly. I’m a programmer, why don’t I write a service to do the work for me? So I did, and it’s called Best Sellers Rank @ https://bestsellersrank.me.

That’s one part of what Best Sellers Rank does for you. It tracks how your books are doing with all sorts of tables and pretty graphs. During the process of building Best Sellers Rank, I discovered a much deeper benefit: the power of understanding sales rank. 

Honestly, I never gave Amazon’s sales rank a lot of thought. When I saw this on my page for Explain the Cloud Like I’m 10: Best Sellers Rank: #100,802 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store), it was just a magic number. But in reality sales rank tells you what Amazon thinks of your book. Sales rank is the key component behind the algorithm powering the Kindle Store. It tells Amazon how much effort it should put into promoting your book. When sales rank goes down, you're selling less, and Amazon cares less. When sales rank goes up, you're selling more, and Amazon cares more. You want Amazon to care about your book because that causes Amazon's algorithm to sell your books for you.

Why is that important? You can use sales rank to judge how well your promotional strategies are working. Create an ad campaign: does your sales rank go up or down? Do a podcast interview: does your sales rank go up or down? Change your blurb and update your metadata: does your sales rank go up or down? You can use sales rank to drive a feedback loop to do more of the things that help sales and less of the things that don’t move the sales needle. That’s the power of sales rank. But wait, there’s more. You can also track your competition. See how they’re changing their pricing and categories. If a blurb changes, Best Sellers Rank notifies you and shows you exactly what changed. That’s pretty cool.

WOW: I'll say! That is really cool. What kind of author can benefit from this service? Is it for any genre? Any age? Traditional and indie? 

Todd: Any author. It's difficult to monitor the rankings of individual titles when you have to manually check them yourself. Consider Best Sellers Rank a virtual assistant you hire to do that mundane task for you. Now you can spend your valuable time on more important jobs like writing and promoting.

Todd's Amazon Author Profile

WOW: Great, so let's talk some details. How much does this service cost? Are there different packages? 

Todd: Everyone gets one daily report for one book free. I’m an author, too. I want you to try before you buy. See if you find value in the service before committing. When you do want to monitor more than one book, there are 5, 10, and 20 book plans available at a little over a penny a book per day. Upgrade, downgrade, or quit any time you want. There’s even an option for an hourly report, so you can closely track how a newly released book is doing. You might be surprised how often things change and you don’t even notice. 

WOW: That sounds great that you allow people to check it out for free before investing more money for more books. So if someone is interested, where can they find out more information? 

Todd: Just navigate on over to https://bestsellersrank.me. It’s all there. If you have any questions just email me at toddhoffious (at) gmail.com. I’m happy to help. 

WOW: Great. So let's end with picking your expert brain. In your opinion, what are two things authors need to do in today's publishing world to be successful? 

Todd: 1. Study what already successful people do. Fortunately, we have many great podcasts and websites like yours for people to learn from. 2. Leverage sales rank to consistently improve your sales over time. Understand how Amazon uses sales rank to power sales on the Kindle store. Track it. Learn from it. Do more of what works and less of what doesn’t.

WOW: Thank you, Todd, for hanging out with us today and telling us about Best Sellers Rank. Authors, if you are interested in checking this out for your free trial, go to the website now.

And don't forget to enter to win a 10-book tracking package or a $25 Amazon gift card! 

 

***** GIVEAWAY *****

Enter to win a Best Sellers Rank 10-Book Tracking Package for Authors (value: $45/year) and a $25 Amazon Gift Card by filling out the Rafflecopter form below. The giveaway ends October 13th at 11:59 pm CST. We will announce the winner in the Rafflecopter widget the next day. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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17 comments Amazon bestsellers rank, author tools, giveaways, indie publishing, marketing books, new author tools

INTERVIEW WITH CHLOE GRECH: 2020 SPRING FLASH FICTION CONTEST RUNNER UP

Chloe’s Bio: 

Chloe has had a passion for storytelling ever since she could first form words. Whether that be unsuccessfully convincing her mother that it was her brother who spilt paint on the carpet, or missing the bus because she was off building her own worlds, not much has changed since she grew up. Chloe is now bringing stories to the screen as a Producer and Director of children’s and adult animation in Sydney, Australia. 

Unlike the mad world of animation, Chloe enjoys the solitary gauntlet that is trying to put pen to paper. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle put it beautifully when he said that “a book is a mummified soul.” Unfortunately, writing one isn’t so beautiful and is just as excruciating as it sounds, but whether it be on the train, in a meeting, or it’s three o’clock in the morning, Chloe would be rather doing nothing else. 

Excited to further explore her writing career, Chloe is working on her first manuscript, hoping to fulfill her ten-year-old self’s dreams of telling stories to anyone who will listen. 

Take a minute to read Chloe’s story, “The Quiet that Follows,” and then come back to enjoy this chat with the author. 

WOW: There is a story behind every story. Can you tell our readers what inspired “The Quiet that Follows”? 

Chloe: I have always been interested in the different way death is perceived in different cultures. The one I was most familiar with growing up was the Grim Reaper, which is always depicted as a sinister and foreboding personification of Death. But why should death be seen as cruel when it only makes us appreciate our impermanence? 

WOW: At first, readers assume Renfri is hunting the deer to feed her people. Only later do they realize she is a different kind of huntress. How did this surprise develop during the rewrite process? 

Chloe: I always like leaving the reader something to think about toward the end of my pieces, so I knew early on that I wanted the reveal to come at the end. My hope is that in misleading the reader into believing Renfri is human, and therefore sharing a similar experience of death, the reader would be forced to challenge their perception of it once it is revealed that she is Death. I don’t believe that I would have achieved the same impact if I had introduced Renfri as Death earlier in the piece as the reader would not instinctually empathise with her. 

WOW: In your “day job” you produce and direct animation. Can you tell our readers a bit about it and how this work shapes your writing? 

Chloe: I have been in animation for seven years, mainly in management roles, but recently I have had the amazing opportunity to flex my creative muscles in the director’s chair. Animation is obviously a very visual medium, so in my work I have to have clear direction on character’s movements and actions when working with animators. I think this translates into my writing style as I tend to use verbs rather than adjectives and like to emphasise action. I do often find myself being excessive with my stage direction though, which I try to be conscious of. 

WOW: That's good advice for all of us especially if we write things that will be animated or illustrated.  What advice do you have for writers who are hesitant to attempt flash fiction? 

Chloe: It can be intimidating trying to structure a story with deep and complex characters in less than two pages. If you’re unsure how to tackle the challenge, I would suggest approaching it as if you were writing the first two pages of a story you have always wanted to write, or better yet, the final two pages. Your characters will then feel as if they have developed over, and survived, an entire book. Flash fiction is also an amazing exercise on restraint and saying more with less. I like to think that instead of me being paid per word, I’m the one paying. 

WOW: That's excellent advice on working with flash characters. What else are you working on? Where can readers find more of your work? 

Chloe: I am a chronic project-ditcher. I have plenty of starting chapters and story outlines but no real completed pieces (yet!). That is why I find flash and microfiction so fun and rewarding, because it isn’t as daunting as a 350-page novel. The projects I’m currently working on are a high fantasy novel and a series of single-shot scripts, which are like flash fiction but in film form. I have only just begun to delve back into my writing so I don’t have many pieces under my belt, but I have plans to launch a blog soon. 

WOW: Don’t we all have files full of story beginnings? We’re so glad that flash and microfiction are rewarding for you and, in turn, for our readers! We are looking forward to seeing more of your work in the future, especially getting to see your scripts as films. 

Interviewed by Sue Bradford Edwards who refuses to disclose how many abandoned first chapters she has on her desktop. Sue is the author of over 25 books for young readers. To find out more about her writing, visit her blog, One Writer's Journey. 

Sue is also the instructor for Research: Prepping to Write Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults (next session begins October 5, 2020) and Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults (next session begins October 5, 2020).

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2 comments flash fiction, interview, Runner up, Spring Flash Fiction contest, Sue Bradford Edwards

You're A Survivor

There are times in our life when it seems as if we're fallen down a dark cavernous hole and are screaming for help to no avail. But if we reflect on those times, we'll remember with pride that we were able to stop our fall midway, before we hit rock bottom. And even if fate would have it that we tumbled all the way to the bottom and had a hard landing, though battered and bruised, we always managed to gather the strength to get back up and climb out of that dark hole. We women are the ultimate survivors. You dear writer, are a survivor.

As the Queen of Disco Gloria Gaynor sang in her hit song, "I Will Survive," which has become an anthem for women everywhere, "Oh no, not I, I will survive..."

Survivors sing the song of overcomers, and as writers we write the stories of overcomers. We write in spite of and many times because of; broken hearts, tragic losses, stressful jobs, ill health, family problems, financial hardships, childhood or adult trauma, the pressures of trying to balance a home and a career, discrimination, hate and racism. Our stories show the resilient threads we are embroidered with. We refuse to let anything...anyone...or any circumstances immobilize us permanently and stop us from telling our stories.

We will kneel and pray when we are burdened and then we will write. We will weep, sometimes more than a night, as I did for Breonna Taylor, please say her name, but then I/we will write. We will vent about what deeply affects us personally or what is happening in the world, and then we will write. We will leave no stone unturned to write because writing has saved us, figuratively and literally, and it is our hope that by sharing our stories, our articles, our poems, our blog posts, our podcasts and our whole...whole novels, (what an accomplishment of survival) we can save someone else. 

We are survivors. You're a survivor. As writers we know there are certain essential tools we'll need during this writing journey we are on to survive the elements. We need a good compass so we can navigate from where we are as writers now to where we want to go and deserve to be as writers in the future. We need a sharp knife-our pen- so that we can cut through those thick brushes in the wilderness (fear, self-doubt) to tell the stories begging to be told. We need observation, tracking and gathering skills to hunt for our food (the best publications and publishers and literary agents for our work.) And we need to have enough twigs to use as tinder to continually light a flame under our feet so we never lose sight of our dream and what we must do to reach our writing goals. 

We are survivors. Writing is the yin and yang of our lives. It is our vitamin in the morning that gives us energy. It is the moonlit sky at midnight that illuminates our darkest hour. We know, once we get into a writing state of mind, we'll not only survive but thrive as our ideas flow. 

As survivors we have had to reach deep to find joy, to hear the music, to feel less robotic in this world for the last few months. It's been hard to feel the heartbeat in our soul. Still, we refuse to give up. We continue to have hope. We continue to have faith. That dear writer, is survival at its finest. 

                                                                                                       ---Jeanine

 

Jeanine DeHoney's writing has been published in numerous magazines, anthologies, and blogs. This blog post was inspired from reflecting on the wonderful women in her life; her grandmothers, mother, aunts, sister, daughter, daughter-in-law, and other female family members and friends who were/are survivors. 

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8 comments Inspiration, survival tools, writing

Creative Nonfiction Runner Up Susana Romatz Brings Humor to WOW!

We welcome creative nonfiction writer Susana Romatz to our blog today because she was a runner up in our quarter 3 2020 contest with her essay, "How to Cure Mange." If you haven't read it yet, you can check it out here.  If you are a humor writer or want to learn to write humor better than you have been, Susana gives us some great tips and insight below!

Susana is a middle school teacher in Eugene, Oregon. She grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, and graduated from Central Michigan University with a double major in earth science and religion. She went on to earn a certificate from the Eugene Waldorf Teacher Education Program and took a job at a Waldorf inspired charter school. She spends 180 days of the year arguing with twelve-year-olds. She thinks it’s the best. Susana has been writing for most of her life, having won first place in a Ford Motor Company fiction writing contest and published articles at HumaneFacts.org and The Peaceful Dumpling. Her most recent work can be found at www.scrappyhaps.com.

WOW!: Congratulations, Susana, on placing as a runner up in the creative nonfiction essay contest with your essay, "How to Cure Mange." It is hysterical! Let's start at the beginning, though. What led you to write this essay?

Susana: I wrote this essay for two reasons: 1. I felt the heaviness of what was (is) happening in the world (including but not limited to the virus) so strongly, and I wanted to lighten the mood as much as I could, both for myself and for others; and 2. I enjoy normalizing neurotic behavior. I think that everyone has something they are a little overly attentive to, and we can all get a little neurotic from time to time. It feels like we, as a group of human animals, feel like we are alone in our crazy thoughts; when in truth, we are all at least a little bit crazy, even the people we know who seem so put together. The more we can meet each other on common ground, the healthier we, and our planet, will be.

WOW!: Great points. I certainly agree that everyone has "something"! You take three events--waiting at the pharmacy and imagining COVID in the air, and your dog having mange, and worrying about eyelash mites--and weave them together to make this delightful essay. What made you piece all of these together?

Susana: In an interview for writers, David Sedaris said that we should look for times in our lives that feel like a story. I take that to mean times that are so whacky or synchronistic or other-worldly that they seem like somebody made them up. I will have memories of times like these that happened to me in the past, and I write down little notes to myself to write about them later. Often when I’m writing about something that happened recently, one of those little memories will go along with it. I really like putting two stories together into one; I think it gives more room for depth and more opportunities to squeeze in a laugh. That’s how this writing came together.

WOW!: You really can't go wrong with advice from David Sedaris. You are very good at writing humor. Is this something you often do? Any tips?

Susana: I write nearly every day, but not all of what I write is humorous. I do a lot of journaling, writing down the things that happen, so I can look back and pick ideas from it. When I’m writing for my humor blog, I usually try to imagine myself telling a story to my best friend, who is really patient at listening to me tell a million stories, some of which are funnier than others, and I translate that energy into something readable. I add in a lot of metaphor and simile, both of which allow a lot of room for colorful adjectives and funny imagery. Instead of saying, “He walked into the room, looking uncomfortable,” I’ll say, “He walked into the room like he was on the second day of his jock itch treatment.” It’s also important in humor writing to make the story relatable. When I read writing that I think is super funny, I can usually put myself in the shoes of the characters and imagine what they are seeing/doing myself.

WOW!: That's a great example of how you use figurative language to bring humor to your writing. Your bio also mentions that you are a teacher. How do you balance writing and teaching?

Susana: Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don’t. It depends on the time of year and how much extra time I’m putting in to my pet projects. I also have a small vegan specialty items business called Avellana, I’m working on developing an invention prototype idea for making nut milks at home, and as well I have a vegan recipe blog. I try to keep busy so I stay out of trouble.

WOW!: That sounds like you have quite a full plate and all very interesting projects! What's next on your writing plate? What are you working on?

Susana: I’m working on a series about campers. I have a 1978 Toyota mini motor home named Campy. We just took her out into the desert of Eastern Oregon for two weeks, and many things went...unexpectedly. I thought a series memorializing all the weird stuff that’s happened to me in my life surrounding camper camping was a rich topic for making people laugh.

WOW!: Sounds delightful and unique! Best of luck with the camper camping stories. 

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2 comments creative nonfiction essay contest, creative nonfiction winner, essay winner interview, humor writer

Podcasting Has Turned Me into a Super Sleuth

I’ve learned even more about the importance of research while working on my true crime podcast. When I first developed the concept for Missing in the Carolinas, I was determined to try and make it different from other podcasts already out there. I’ve listened to episodes where it appears all the host/writer did was lift notes directly from a Wikipedia page. I don’t want to be known as someone who does that. So, I read articles. I comb through photos and stats on the Center for Missing and Exploited Children website. I visit NamUs. I watch episodes of documentaries and true crime shows featuring cases from the Carolinas and take notes. I brainstorm creative ways to “package” episodes, such as the one where I pulled two separate cases of missing children from the 1960s. This was the episode description for “Four Lost Children of North Carolina”: 

Two stories. Four missing children. What happened to Diane Moon, Mark Yoli, and Alan and Terry Westerfield who went missing from North Carolina in the 1960s? 

I found these cases interesting because both sets of siblings had parents who were affiliated with the military. In one, two brothers, Alan and Terry Westerfield, were last seen in the company of their stepfather, who was estranged from their mother. Diane and Mark were young children who went missing after heading to a nearby park to play. I watched archives new stories and dug through newspaper articles (thanks to some investigative reporters working on cold cases, I found actual copies of the news articles that ran in the 1960s) to help put this episode together. 

Imagine my surprise when a few weeks ago I received an e-mail from a man who is the older brother of Diane Moon and Mark Yoli (he was born the year after they disappeared). Never in a million years would I have considered that a surviving family member would hear the episode and send me a message. He was very kind, thanking me for covering it, and told me it brought up memories of the investigation that resurfaced back in the 1980s. He also mentioned he learned some new information he didn’t know before in the article, which as a podcaster working on a show for no compensation, lifted my spirits at a time when I needed it. 

A lot of archived newspaper articles require a paywall for access these days, so this week found me diving into the digital archives available to me through my public library card. I am going to need a magnifying glass to read the articles I printed out, but they are all from the original published news articles from the 1980s and I’m simply thrilled to have found them. They contain information you won’t find on Wikipedia pages about the crimes. I’ve been inspired to keep on digging. 

Have you learned any new skills as a writer lately? I’d love to hear about them! 

Renee Roberson is an award-winning writer and editor who also produces the true crime podcast, Missing in the Carolinas. Learn more about her work at FinishedPages.com.

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6 comments

Knock. Knock.

Generally by fall, my calendar is full. But this year? Not so much, and I realized that I could sign up for that weekly class at my church because…well, what else was I doing?

There was a small fee involved but because I’m not eating in restaurants these days, I find myself with a little extra cash (and very tired of my own cooking). I clicked on the “Join” button and toasted new opportunities. 

 Yep, I celebrated. Not that I was exclaiming, “Whee! We’re still in a pandemic!” It was more like, “Okay, let’s take this lime and make a Margarita out of it!” So, are you ready to join, too? Check out these opportunities that might be knocking at your door: 

 Professional Organizations

Okay, most pro writing organizations haven’t sprinkled “No Dues” fairy dust over the membership page. But in my humble opinion, too many beginning writers jump into an organization with the best of intentions, only to find themselves way too busy or overwhelmed by it all to take advantage of what’s offered. And then they complain about how they spent all that money for nothing. 

So now, maybe you have more time, or maybe you’re working to be more productive with the time and resources you have. Instead of binge-watching 97 episodes of Friends, why not binge on webinars covering those writing-related subjects you’ve been meaning to deep dive into? And many of these webinars are free or very low cost for members. Check out the big organizations like Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators or Author’s Guild or a niche organization like Sisters in Crime. They all have opportunities for the published and unpublished writer. Comb through those websites like you’re looking for…I was going to say head lice but that doesn’t really paint a pretty picture. 

The point is, if you have the opportunity now to do some intentional exploring, enjoy the discovery (Ugh.... I really shouldn’t have brought up head lice!)—and then join the organization. Grow your writing skills, learn more about the business side of your career, and develop your support network!

Or go the individualist’s route… 

Class in Session! 

The online world of writing classes is a veritable smorgasbord and you can find a class to fit any budget. ANY budget. But cost is not always the best indicator of what class is right for you. So give yourself a minute to think about how you learn best and where you are in your writing journey.

Are you locked into a tight schedule? Or are you free as a bird? Do you need structure or flexibility? Look for a class with the options to accommodate your lifestyle. Then, you’ll be more likely to keep at it and find success. 

Next, what do you need to become a better writer? For the beginner, it’s often helpful to take a class where you can just soak up the info, whereas for the writer who has a body of work, even if it’s just one project, taking a class where you can get feedback—though more costly—can get you to the next level.

Every year around this time, I have to give a shout out to the instructors and classes offered here at WOW!Women-on-Writing. I guess it’s partly because I’m in a Back-to-School frame of mind but it’s mostly because these are top notch opportunities. Classes are small and personal and your instructors are as invested as you are. 

On the other hand, maybe you don’t have a lot of time or much expendable income. But that doesn’t mean you can’t set up your own classes and make your own schedule. Again, search here at the website for the issue on the writing subject you need help with and just start reading. It’s all free content, yours for the taking! I can also recommend my friend, Janice Hardy, and her Fiction University. If you have a writing problem, she’s written about it and explained it—in detail. Also free. Terrific lessons, just sitting there…wait. Did you hear that? 

Pretty sure that was opportunity knocking. Isn’t it about time you did more than peek inside the door?

~Cathy C. Hall

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6 comments Author's Guild, Cathy C. Hall, Fiction University, professional organizations for writers, SCBWI, Sisters in Crime, WOW!Women-on-Writing, writing classes

Size DOES Matter

Size does make a difference. The size of a publisher matters. A smaller publisher is going to have a more personal connection to their writers. With a small publisher, the writer doesn’t become just another number. With a small publisher (I imagine), the writer and the owner/editor develop a relationship, a rapport. In the best situations, they become friends as well as colleagues and “partners” when it comes to the birth of a book.

Sometimes, however, bigger is better. Sometimes the size of words matters. “Yes” has one extra letter than “no,” and it packs a whole tractor trailer truck full of potential and promise.

I got a “yes.” It took years, but it finally came.

Recently Finally I received an email that did not begin with, “Thanks for sending me your manuscript…” because that’s the kiss of death. Every rejection email I’ve gotten so far (and I’ve gotten a bunch) began with a thank you.

This one didn’t start out with a “thank you.” No, this email began with, “I’d love to publish your book.” That short sentence, only six words long, got me out of a rut and set me off on a journey that has already changed my life.

image by Pixabay

Here are other ways size matters when it comes to writing:

• Short sentences surrounded by longer sentences… longer sentences that stretch on for 20 or 30 (or more) words. When a two-word sentence is floating in a lake of sentences that are a normal length, it changes up the rhythm of the writing. If all the sentences are the same length, it gets boring for the reader. (I’ve worked with many students who’ve said, “My teacher said that sentences have to be at least five words long,” and I have to restrain myself from saying, “They lied.” Instead, we look at award-winning books and stories that prove I’m right and their former teachers are wrong.)

• Short paragraphs. Short paragraphs do the same (and a little more) that short sentences do. Have you ever been faced with a page or a two-page spread that’s dense with text… each paragraph five or 10 or 12 (or more) lines long? It makes the eyes weary. It makes the brain tired. But if you slip in a super-short paragraph--a sentence that is only two or three words long--it gives the reader’s brain a little rest stop. A bit of white space (space on the page that is free of ink/text) is appreciated.

• Thick skin is better than thin. When it comes to pizza, I’ll choose thin crust every time. However, a writer needs to develop a thick skin. They need to choose to embrace constructive criticism (“You mean not every line that flows onto my paper is golden? Seriously?”) and they need to persevere in spite of rejection after rejection after rejection. I sent out over 120 queries before I got a “yes.” Did I want to quit at many points? Definitely, but I’m so glad I didn’t.

• Small sparks are crucial… but so are raging fires. A spark is bright and brief. My soon-to-be book began with a spark set off by Linda Chistensen, a nationally-known social justice educator and writer. That spark turned to embers… and then it became an all-consuming fire. All my hopes and passion wrapped around getting this story told… which leads us to where I began this post.

Will I chronicle this journey to publication? Of course. Knowing me, it will be peppered with funny stories and screw-ups and stumbling (not my publisher's--the screw-ups will be all mine). But since I’ve wanted to publish a book since I was 13, it’s been… well, it’s been many decades… and it’s a dream that’s finally coming true. 

Sioux, back when she was a teenager, dreamed of being a published writer... of having a book on a bookstore shelf that has her name on it. Now it looks like her dream will finally come true. If you'd like to read more of her writing, check out Sioux's Page.

 

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11 comments getting published, Linda Christensen, Sioux Roslawski

Interview with Chris Lytwynec: 2020 Spring Flash Fiction Contest Third Place Winner

Chris’s Bio:

Chris Lytwynec is a former software developer who works at the intersection of technology and society—whether building a database to investigate foreign money in congressional testimonies, reporting on tech regulation, or writing science fiction. She holds a BA in Psychology from University of Rochester and an MS in Journalism from Boston University. Recently relocated to Phoenix, AZ, Chris enjoys hiking, learning, and playing music. Visit her website at chrislytwynec.com.

If you haven't done so already, check out Chris's award-winning story "The Places that Aren't" and then return here for a chat with the author.

WOW: Congratulations on placing third in the Spring 2020 Flash Fiction Contest! What excited you most about writing this story?

Chris: I’ve been working on a novel, so this was a bit of a relief from the ups and downs of that process. It felt great to write something complete in a short time frame! This story was also a bit of an exercise in conveying backstory in a compelling way, which is something I’ve been grappling with in my longer work. 

WOW: It’s always so interesting to hear how writing flash stories informs longer works, or vice versa. What did you learn about yourself or your writing while crafting this piece?

Chris: Trauma is typically portrayed solely as the addition of negative experiences, but this piece looks at trauma as the denial of the neutral or positive experiences – the things that never came to be as a result of a negative experience. For me, writing this piece was partly a way to put to words this unpleasant feeling somewhere between regret and nostalgia.

WOW: How does working at the intersection of technology and society influence your writing?

Chris: I find elements of sci-fi sneaking into stories that I didn’t even plan to be science fiction. This story, for example. It started from a couple of prompts relating to dreams and home, and I ended up with a draft of a science fiction story!

WOW: I love hearing how stories take shape in such unexpected ways! What are you reading right now, and why did you choose to read it?

Chris: I like to have a non-fiction book and a novel going at once. Right now, I’m working through IBM and the Holocaust by Edwin Black and Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler. The former was recommended to me based on my interest in surveillance and cataloging technologies and my tendency to read WWII-era historical fiction. The latter I picked up because I wanted to read some more science fiction and I’d already read the first book in the series.

WOW: It’ll be interesting to see if those ideas coalesce into one of your next pieces. If you could give your younger self one piece of writing advice, what would it be and why?

Chris: Just start. It sounds simple, but it’s the hardest thing to do some days.

WOW: Yes! I agree! Thank you for sharing your story and for your other thoughtful responses! Congratulations again, and happy writing!

Interviewed by Anne Greenawalt, who keeps a blog of journal entries, memoir snippets, interviews, training logs, and profiles of writers and competitive sportswomen with the purpose giving them a forum to discuss their own athletic careers, bodies, and lives in their own words. For more on the power of storytelling, join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

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1 comment 2020 Spring Flash Fiction Contest, Anne Greenawalt, Chris Lytwynec, Third Place Winner

Why. You.

If you're loving 2020 and everything is going smoothly, this may not be the article for you. But....give it a read as sometime in your life you may just feel like you need a little pick me up and put me back together kind of chat with a friend and that's exactly what this is. For the rest of us who feel like we are stuck on a carnival ride and we just want to get off and eat some mini donuts but instead we are spinning in circles and feel like we are moments away from a little vomit scene...go grab a cup of your favorite beverage and let's talk. 

First of all. How are you really friend? Not "fine" or "doing okay" but seriously? Take a sip of whatever is in your cup (if it's 7am and it's vodka, no judgment - we are that good of friends!), take a deep breath, and spill it! Here's the tissues. Let it all out.

Now that that's out of the way, dry those tears and take another sip (or refill that cup). No matter what it is you're feeling, it's okay and you're okay - actually, you are awesome! You are navigating terrain no one has every seen before and you are doing it day after day. And now I want to know why? Really, why are you doing what you are doing?

Often times when faced with a difficult situation we break our lives down into small parts. I just need to make the coffee and pay the bills. I just need to get to work. I need groceries. Let's say you are a teacher; you're trying to navigate hand sanitizer, distance learners, masks, google meets, loom thingies, etc... but WHY? We all need to get back to our why and only YOU really know what that WHY is. In our example of teaching, it's likely you had a teacher who inspired you and you decided to be a teacher because you wanted to change lives, inspire children, and make a difference in the world. When we are struggling day to day we need to get back to our WHY. So let me ask you again - What's your WHY?

Why are you eating healthy? 

Why are you writing your memoir?

Why did you want to be a nurse, a farmer, a firefighter?

Doesn't it feel good to get back to the real reason you're making that coffee this morning? The real reason you are putting one foot in front of another. The reason you are driving to work.

Without our WHY, we are going through the motions and since we are human and not a machine with well oiled parts, we need more than just momentum to keep us on the right path. 

Let's circle back to the beginning of our chat. Now that we have discussed how you are really doing, and why you're doing what you are doing, let's talk more about YOU!

You've been working really hard to take care of everyone around you. I see you. I see you making small sacrifices, large sacrifices, and holding it all together. I know you cry in the shower and smile when anyone is around. I know you worry about what tomorrow brings. What are you going to do for YOU today? You can't keep taking care of everyone else if you aren't taking care of YOU. You know that and I know that, but there's only so many hours in the day, right? Everyone says "self care" but you're taking care of so many things already it seems like an unattainable goal. I'm not going to recommend getting a manicure or taking a bath or anything that is going to take time away from your day. 

I just want you to make one small change. When YOU look in the mirror today (this can be at home, at work, in the rear view mirror while bucking up to chase the kiddos somewhere, etc...) I want you to smile at that beautiful reflection and say: YOU are Amazing! Say it to yourself, say it out loud, say it once a day, then twice, and keep doing it. 

There's so much noise in our world right now. YOU need to hear your own voice loud and clear. I don't know when we are getting off this carnival ride and I don't even know if there will be mini donuts when we do, but I know you have a few minutes every day to remember WHY you are here and hear loud and clear how amazing YOU are! You matter. 

Now let's hug it out and finish our beverages and get ready to tackle whatever life throws at us!

I WANT to hear from YOU!

What's your WHY? How are you taking care of YOU?

Drop a note and let us know!

Hugs,
~Crystal

and now...a little more about me...

Shown from left to right:
Delphine riding Honey
Mr. Otto holding Eudora
Crystal riding Marv.
Thank you Forward Farm, LLC 

Crystal is the office manager, council secretary, financial secretary, and musician at her church, birth
mother, Auntie, babywearing mama, business owner, active journaler, writer and blogger, Blog Tour Manager with WOW! Women on Writing, Press Corp teammate for the DairyGirl Network, Unicorn Mom Ambassador, as well as a dairy farmer. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and their five youngest children, two dogs, four little piggies, a handful of cats and kittens, horses Darlin' and  Miss Maggie May, and over 250 Holsteins.

And now she runs a virtual classroom for her children who are distance learners! 

You can find Crystal milking cows, riding horses, and the occasional unicorn (not at the same time), taking the ordinary and giving it a little extra (making it extraordinary), blogging and reviewing books here, and at her own blog - Crystal is dedicated to turning life's lemons into lemonade and she has never (not once) been accused of being normal!

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1 comment crystal casavant, crystal casavant otto, crystal otto, find your why, remember your why, self care

Interview with Nellie English: Q3 2020 Creative Nonfiction Essay Runner Up

Nellie English is a Zimbabwean-Irish adrenalin junkie and writer. She was the first person to run across Zimbabwe, a 724 km run in just over two weeks, for which she raised 7,000 dollars for a mental health charity. She wrote a book about her experience: Ambessa Run. Two years later, she published 1+1=3. This is the story of her pregnancy, told from three perspectives; that of herself, her boyfriend and her unborn baby. She has published essays and poetry online, and her short story was shortlisted for the Eyelands Mag Flash Fiction Contest. Nellie has recently discovered the magnificent medium of poetry, and its power to channel raw emotion and condense thought into visual images. Life would hold no sweetness without the bitter fruits, nor would the peaceful times stand out but for times of war. Nellie is grateful for even the darkest and most painful periods in her life &endash; without them she would be the person she is today. She is working on her first collection of poetry: Vacilando.

After years of searching for adventures around the world, Nellie now lives in Barcelona with her fiancé and spritely toddler. She loves playing piano and guitar and after her own family, horses hold the most space in her heart. She works as a political journalist and astronomy blogger, and is currently studying to become a paramedic. You can read about her former rum-fueled and now baby-filled shenanigans in Barcelona at her blog or see them here. To support her writing or charity projects in Zimbabwe, please check out her Patreon.

interview by Marcia Peterson

WOW: Congratulations on your top ten win in our Q3 2020 Creative Nonfiction competition! What prompted you to enter the contest?

Nellie: My partner prompted me! He writes poetry and often has his ear to the ground for interesting competitions. We both came across the link separately but he encouraged me to have a go.

WOW: Your essay, “Sex Education,” eloquently describes #MeToo-related issues and more. What inspired you to write this particular story?

Nellie: Strangely enough, the series by the same name! I was watching the Netflix Original series “Sex Education” and one of the episodes centres around one of the female characters being touched up on the bus. Thanks to a friend, she ends up reporting the incident to the police. I found the episode really shocking, not because of what happened or how she reacted, but because similar and much worse incidents have happened to me my whole life and I just accepted them as somehow my fault. Immediately after finishing the episode, I sat down to my computer and wrote “Sex Education.” It helped me deal with incidents in the past and acknowledge that many of the sexual experiences I had were actually not okay. Writing is always such a cathartic experience for me, and I wanted to share this essay in the hope that other readers might either learn from my mistakes or take comfort in shared hurt.

WOW: We love that show! They explored quite a few issues in season 2. Besides essay writing, you also write fiction and poetry (and are also a political journalist and astronomy blogger). How do you juggle the different types of writing that you do? Anything you can share about the process?

Nellie:  Coffee is my sidekick! Without a pretty gargantuan dose of caffeine in the morning I would be better suited to the Neanderthal section of an Archaeology museum. It can be challenging making the switch from writing about popular science, to a technology review, followed by a poem. Needs must however, I need all my jobs and I am grateful to have the opportunity to learn about new subjects each time.

I am also a “Tab Queen” and I love taking notes. Before writing anything, be it an essay on “What happens to the human body in space” or an article about Trump’s mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic, I read around similar topics (hence a mile of open tabs across my screen!) to immerse my mind into the new subject matter.

WOW: In your bio, you mention that you’re currently studying to become a paramedic. What prompted you to pursue that goal?

Nellie: Becoming a paramedic has been my dream for years! Three years and five months to be precise. I first became inspired to study emergency medicine after a night out. There was a fight and this man got badly punched and broke his nose. I found myself taking charge of the situation, getting him out of the club and mopping him up while we waited for the ambulance. I remember trying to keep him calm while getting gawping onlookers to move away and give him space.

It was only after the ambulance left and I was left holding my blood-soaked jacket I realized how right it felt to be taking that role in an emergency situation. Later that year I signed up for the paramedic degree at my nearest institution. Just before term started however I found out I was pregnant! So it has been put on hold while I work at being a mum and continue writing, but I am so looking forward to beginning a new career.

WOW: You seem like someone who will be a great paramedic. Good luck with your studies when you can get back to it! Thanks so much for chatting with us today, Nellie. Before you go, do you have any tips for our readers who may be thinking about entering writing contests?

Nellie: See every competition as an opportunity to share your creativity, whether you win or not! I am fiercely competitive and I take each loss quite personally. And I lose all the time! More often than not, my writing does not have what it takes for a particular competition. I try to get over the disappointment by seeing each entry as a victory in simply having the courage to share my writing and navigate the competitions entry process!

I suppose in the same way that “there’s no such thing as bad publicity” there ‘s also “no such thing as a bad competition.” Each one is you baring your writing, and therefore your soul, to a stranger. Each time it is a small win to you!

****

For more information about our quarterly Flash Fiction and Creative Nonfiction Essay contests, visit our contest page here.

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2 comments Contestant interview, Marcia Peterson, Nellie English, Q3 Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest, runner up , Sex Education

Take it Easy on Yourself

A glimpse of the wildfire smoke from earlier last week.

I wish I had advice for you. I wish I had the key that would unlock the ability to write despite every storm going on around you (or within you). Yet, this past week has been a doozy and I thought, "Why offer advice that I can't even follow?" 

In case you haven't seen the news, Oregon underwent a wildfire that has burnt about one million acres. Communities just an easy drive or bus ride away from me received warnings of possible evacuation. People all over the NextDoor app who live near me asked whether our own city would be evacuated (I live in a suburb of Portland). 

Luckily, that immediate threat of possible evacuation has passed, but lately, we have dealt with hazardous air here. As I sit typing out this blog post, it's now at "very unhealthy" levels, and I hope by the time this post goes live, we're somewhat close to normal air. In the meantime, the windows remain tightly shut. 

 And this year has had a number of these moments for so many people. In fact, maybe this year is one of many for you. Maybe your threat isn't external, but entirely internal. 

The thing is I can't say that I am able to shelve these experiences and write anyways. I'm lucky I can even focus enough to read. 

This is when advice like self-care comes in. Yes, it's an absolutely 100% overly used word. Sometimes we don't even realize we are NOT taking care of ourselves. It's not until we lose our temper, cry at an inopportune time, or have zero energy for something we usually can do with ease that we realize that we haven't been treating ourselves with care. 

So, in times of incredible stress, whether it's a fire burning your community, or an illness, or anything else that railroads your life, make sure you are kind to yourself. Give yourself some breathing room. Give yourself care, but make sure it's the right kind of care. 

As a writer, I'm naturally drawn to things that are creative, especially when I eliminate the things that can suck in my time in a negative way (such as too much social media or, embarrassingly enough, mobile gaming). Lately, I have limited social media and removed Lily's Garden (if you have to ask what that is, you're better off not knowing), and let myself be drawn to things that are of better substance. 

I ended up getting drawn back into blogging. I write for two of my blogs lately, one post was for LadyUnemployed and the other post was for World of My Imagination (I actually bought the domain recently!). Sometimes when I put on the blogging hat, I tend to take on the informative side that's a bit more concerned about results than just writing. But for these posts, I donned the creative side that uses blogging as an outlet, and just...talked. 

And you know what? It felt good. It felt like I was more myself than when I attempted to pretend I was some expert. 

 So, today, if you find yourself in a spot where you battling fires in your life, first and foremost, take care of yourself. Give yourself a moment of quiet, even if it's a few moments in the bathroom (hey, we've all done that). Breath. Center yourself. 

 Next, let your creativity flow. Let it rise up in unexpected places, even if it's for your blog. I'm a huge believer in the fact that one creative outlet helps another. Consider bugging a friend to do a writing challenge or respond to a writing prompt with you. Get out the coloring books and crayons. It's totally possible to feed your creative outlet without feeling the burden of success (even if it's the idea of success; that alone can weigh heavy). 

Basically, like Jeanine DeHoney said recently in her post, have fun. And you know? Sometimes I forget to do that. 

So, if you are facing something really difficult, remember that your creative side can still help you get through the rough days. Ditch the idea that it needs to be perfect or even seen by anyone else. Most of all, take it easy on yourself. 

Happy writing! Nicole Pyles is a Blog Tour Manager and freelance writer. Check her unemployment blog, LadyUnemployed.com for informative and inspiring posts, and WorldofMyImagination.com for her thoughts on writing and books. Say hi on Twitter @BeingTheWriter.

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14 comments Nicole Pyles, stress, writing

Nonfiction, Fiction, Faction, or Informational

Am I the only one taking advantage of all the webinars online right now? Earlier in the week, I watched the Children’s Book Insider video with author Tod Olson. Olson has written a wide variety of books, but on the video he discusses two of his most popular series, "Lost" and "How to Get Rich."

"Lost" is narrative nonfiction, nonfiction that uses scenes to tell the story. The scenes are often so realistic that you feel like you are reading fiction but the characters, dialogue, setting and events are all 100% factual and carefully researched. In "Lost," the stories are about people who get lost and must fight to survive. Lost in the Amazon is about Juliane Koepcke, a 17 year-old who falls from an airplane and lands in the Amazon rainforest. Stranded and alone, she has to survive until she can find help. 

"How to Get Rich" is a series of historical fiction books that are published as found journals. The claim is that this journal, written by a real life person from the appropriate time and place, has been found and published. In How to Get Rich on the Oregon Trail, Olson combines historical facts, all carefully researched, with a fictional wagon train family. The events are realistic, the voice is purely fictional.

Just as much research goes into the "How to Get Rich" titles as the "Lost" titles. But one series is nonfiction and the other fiction. Yet reviewers, interviewers and even librarians have mistaken "How to Get Rich" books for nonfiction. When the interviewer, Laura Backes, pointed this out, Olson laughed. He explained that it is fiction. 

“There is a genre right now, some editors are calling it faction,” said Backes. “It’s fiction but it’s so closely based in fact that you almost can’t tell the difference.” 

Backes and Olson discussed how much research goes into historic fiction but he insists the "How to Get Rich" series is fiction. “I’m a hard ass about everything,” said Olson. “If you are going to call a book nonfiction, everything has to be sourced.” 

Huzzah! I got so excited I almost jumped for joy, but I was on the treadmill. As a nonfiction author, the term faction makes me squirm. Strongly based on fact with fictional elements? To me (and Tod Olson) that’s fiction. 

Another similar term is informational. An informational book teaches readers, often young readers, about something factual using a fictional framework. Again, Tod and I would call that fiction. 

There is nothing wrong with faction or informational books. My all-time favorite graphic novel is Clan Apis. It tells the story of a bee hive. The bees are anthropomorphic. Among other things, they talk. With speech bubbles. I consider it fiction but I’ve seen it described as faction. 

Another great book is the picture book Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Jamey Christoph. The story is told in first person plural (we) from the point of view of the wall. Remember what I said about talking bees? I consider this book fiction but I’ve seen it described as informational. 

If fiction and nonfiction are good enough for Tod Olson, they are good enough for me. But here’s the thing. He’s found editors and publishers who use these terms the same way he does. 

If you write a fact based book with a fiction narrator and your editor wants to call it faction? That’s between you and her, my friend. 

You just need to know the terms so you know what you’re calling your book. 

--SueBE

Sue Bradford Edwards' is the author of over 25 books for young readers.  To find out more about her writing, visit her blog, One Writer's Journey.

Sue is also the instructor for  Research: Prepping to Write Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults (next session begins October 5, 2020) and Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults (next session begins October 5, 2020). 

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8 comments CBI, Faction, fiction, Informational, Laura Backes, nonfiction, Sue Bradford Edwards, Tod Olson

A Fantastic Young Adult Novel: Like a Love Story

I would like to rave about a young adult book I recently finished reading. Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian was a fantastic read, and I want to share it with you if you like young adult novels. I didn't know anything about it when I picked it up for the "split second" that the library was open in St. Louis when COVID-19 shelter-in-place restrictions were lifted. (Currently, libraries are not open to the public here right now.)

One summer day, my daughter and I went to the library and to the teen section. I told her I wanted to check out some young adult romances because that's the next thing I'll be working on, and she actually found Like a Love Story for me. She said, "This has to be about love--look at the title." When I saw that it was set in 1989/90, that sold it for me since that's when I graduated from high school! 

But once I started reading, I could hardly put it down. And of course, as an author, I want to figure out why that is.

Is it the three point of view characters?

Possibly! The first is Art. He is a rich, white, gay kid who is out and involved with an activist group in New York City who is protesting against pharmaceutical companies and churches for their roles in the AIDS crisis in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He is also a photographer. So that's a super interesting character.

Then there's Judy--she's a slightly overweight, fashion diva who is heterosexual and wants a boyfriend. She is Art's best friend. Her uncle is a mentor to her and Art, and he is dying of AIDS. 

Finally, my favorite POV character is Reza. A senior in high school, like the other two, his mom, sister, and he are from Iran, but they landed in Canada, where his mom met a rich New Yorker and remarried. So Reza now lives in New York with his new stepfamily. Plus he's gay. But he's not out, and he is scared to death of his culture, of AIDS, of his mom's "heartbreak." 

So these three characters kept things interesting in the book, but I think what I loved about the story so much was that it was predictable in some ways, but in others--it definitely wasn't. It was just the right balance. There's a trope: love triangle, but Abdi's characters acted like real people--with all their complications and flaws. They didn't forgive super easily. They made mistakes. They had to live with the consequences of those mistakes. 

He also worked in historical facts. (Yes, the 1980s are now historical fiction!) The protests that Art went to were real. There were a lot of 80s and 90s pop culture references, and how can I forget about MADONNA?! Let's just say, she plays a huge part in this novel, and most of the references to her were pretty factual. 

The other thing is...it was just good writing. It flowed. It made me feel like I was in 1989 New York. It was smart and witty, and the kind of book when I finished, I thought: Man, I wished I would have written that.

But I couldn't write anything like Abdi's book. And that's okay. It's not my style, and it's not my story. My story has a quirky, conflicted, kind, White girl who loves her family, her boyfriend, and her friends. But I can strive to write a true character who acts like a real person like Abdi did. I can strive to write as beautifully and smart as he did. 

If you like young adult, I highly recommend this book. I will let you know it is not "clean." It is at least PG-13 if we are rating books. I only let you know this because I want you to read this book, but only if you enjoy this genre. 

What's a great book that you've read in a genre you write in lately? And why did you love it so much? 

By the way, I'm teaching a writing class about young adult and middle grade novels, starting on September 30. Want to join? It's called "Writing Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction: A Study and Workshop." You can sign up here.  To find out more about my writing (Margo Dill), go here: https://www.margoldill.com. 

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4 comments historical fiction, Margo L. Dill, novel writing, young adult novels, young adult writers

Interview with Amy Sampson-Cutler, 2nd Place Winner in the WOW! Spring 2020 Flash Fiction Contest

Amy Sampson-Cutler is a fiction writer who recently earned her master’s degree in Creative Writing from Goddard College in Vermont. She has been published twice in the Pitkin Review, as well as the Wellness Universe, Elephant Journal, and was a Community News Writer for the Times-Herald-Record. She is the Executive Manager at Mount Peter Ski Area. She can be contacted through AmysHippieHut.com.

Read Amy's award-winning story here and then return for an interview with the author.

----------Interview by Renee Roberson

WOW: Amy, thank you for being here today! c“Clean Slate” is a great example of how importance pacing is in flash fiction, and you pulled it off beautifully. How did you first get the idea for this story exploring the complicated dynamics between sisters? Did you always know it would feature a twist at the end?

Amy: I wrote “Clean Slate” while in residency at graduate school. The sister in my story is not my own sister, but I know all too well the complicated dynamics between sisters, as I run a business with mine. The idea for this story came to me after a heated conversation with my sister about whatever drama was going on at work while I was away, and I found myself grumbling about the nature of some of the people at work. I clearly remember that I stopped mid-stride, about to leave my room and go to dinner, when I thought, “What if it’s not them? What if it’s me?” I found myself turning all negative thoughts back on myself, and I sat down and wrote this short story.

I love writing twists, and that was my intention – to make the reader think about qualities inside of themselves from the view of an outsider. 

 

WOW: In addition to being a fiction writer, you also have a background in journalism. Do you find it hard to go back and forth between the two forms? Have you ever gotten ideas for fiction based on real-life events you’ve covered?

Amy: Before I left my job at a newspaper to work full-time at my family business, I found myself writing every scenario before me in my head as a newspaper story. A traffic accident, an argument, even an old man walking his dog – everything was presented to my mind in newspaper format. Eventually, I did find it challenging to write creatively, because words became very formal and structured for me. It has been years since I left that job, and that format has finally melted away. I wouldn’t say that my story ideas have come from my time at the newspaper, but I am sure that some of the interesting folks that I have come across during my time there have and will continue to sneak into my characters.

 

WOW: I love the idea of composing every day occurrences in your head like a newspaper article! I might have to try that one out myself . . . You’ve had several pieces published in anthologies in literary journals. How do you find other markets for your work?

Amy: I am learning that being published anywhere is all about seeing the opportunity and taking it. From contests to literary journals to online magazines – there are opportunities everywhere if you know where to look for them. 

 

WOW: Very true. What advice would you give other writers who are just starting out in the flash fiction form. Any do’s or don’ts?

Amy: Writing flash fiction will tighten your writing. When I first wrote in this form, I found it difficult to fit an entire story into such a short space. Now when I write a piece of flash fiction, I find that I have extra words to use at the end. I had an advisor once tell me to look at every single word and decide if it really deserves to be in that sentence. Every. Single. Word. When writing a very short story for flash fiction, that lesson comes to mind because there is no room for extra words. If you want to learn how to trim and make every word count, write flash fiction. Writing flash fiction is also an excellent way to try out genres that you normally wouldn’t write. For example, I recently wrote my first political satire, which turned out to be so much fun. 

 

WOW: You recently received a master’s degree in creative writing. What are some of your most valuable take-aways from that program?

Amy: I decided to take the plunge into graduate school because I needed a push. I needed deadlines and to be held accountable. I learned a lot while earning my degree, but my most valuable take-away is this: Give yourself permission to do what you want in life. I learned that I do need deadlines, and I do need to be busy to be productive, but I didn’t need permission from anyone other than myself. We all choose our own destinies. In the two-year program at Goddard College, I wrote a novel which I am now in the final editing stages of. I can safely say that I would not have finished that on my own. Perhaps more important than that completion is having the clear intention to move along a certain path in life.

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2 comments Amy Sampson-Cutler, Contestant interview, WOW! Spring 2020 Flash Fiction Contest, writing advice