Interview with Kathryn A. Brackett, runner-up of the Winter 2022 Flash Fiction Contest

Kathryn’s Bio:  Kathryn A. Brackett is a native of South Carolina and holds a MFA in Fiction from the University of Pittsburgh. Throughout her writing career she’s developed her craft at prestigious programs like Sewanee Writers’ Conference while earning numerous accolades in literary competitions, some judged by notable writers like Sara Gruen. Brackett’s writing has also appeared in print and online literary journals, to name a few, Emrys Journal, Waccamaw,  Mythium: The Journal of Contemporary Literature, and most recently, a horror/love story about Friday the 13^th in Tales from the Moonlit Path. Her work has been anthologized in Short Story America, and in the early stages of her career, C. Michael Curtis, senior editor of The Atlantic, chose one of her pieces for inclusion in Expecting Goodness & Other Stories, which was runner-up in the Independent Publisher IPPY Awards in 2009 for the top collection of short fiction in North America. Her story was later adapted to screen in the Expecting Goodness Short Film Festival and won for Best Film. Brackett continues to write when she’s not teaching English. She is currently working on a novel. You can find her at www.kathrynbrackett.com.

If you haven't read Kathryn's story, "Letting Go," do that and then come back to learn about Kathryn's writing. 

-----interview with Sue Bradford Edwards-----

WOW: What was the inspiration for “Letting Go”? 

Kathryn: Back in the fall of 2021 a mysterious visitor began coming to my backdoor. The doorbell rang the first time at an hour of the night when I wasn’t expecting company. When I didn’t see anyone out the window, I assumed it was my neighbor and instantly felt unnerved when I discovered it wasn’t after a quick phone call. When it happened a week later, also at night with no one standing at the door in the quick time I reached it, I started imagining various scenarios: the doorbell was dying, or someone was playing tricks on me; either way, I didn’t like it. The next event occurred on a rain-soaked afternoon. It took less than 10 seconds for me to get to the door, and just as I peeped out the curtain, I saw a thin, straggly-looking white man with wet hair bolting off the steps while talking to someone I couldn’t see. He scurried through the backyard and disappeared behind the high-walled fence that borders my property. The barrier belongs to the city, meant to cover vast overgrown brush that humans are not supposed to trudge through, especially during a downpour. But there he was, shirtless and scaling a steep, slippery hill in clogs with blue jeans rolled up to his calves, screaming obscenities in a self-consumed conversation that I fearfully took in from my silent perch on top of an old tree stump as I peeked over the fence. I called the police immediately, and they eventually identified him, keeping an eye on his whereabouts for weeks, though they were unsure why he’d chosen my backdoor since I live in a crowded neighborhood. Later on my neighbor boarded up the small opening in his yard where the man had undoubtedly squeezed through to get to mine. As an added precaution, my boyfriend installed security cameras outside my house, often speaking to me through the devices while I sat on the porch. Sometimes the startling crackle broke through silence and made me scream, evoking laughter in our conversations; other times his tender hello simply reminded me of his nearby presence.

One day while sitting at my computer struggling to think of a story for an upcoming WOW competition, that drenched stranger came to mind, along with James’ spirit latched to my psyche. Every fiction writer understands that characters are “real” in our minds. Each creation brings a voice with it, each voice, a life, so I sensed James’ frustration and adoration for his wife immediately. He wouldn’t tell me his name at first, or his real struggle, but I knew he watched her through a security camera at the backdoor where men slipped in and out at all hours of the night. I slowly became entwined in his grief, desiring a sense of safety for him I knew could only be achieved once she took down the camera. She had to let go of him first before he could embrace his true reality. I struggled with the gut-wrenching ending for two months, but I always felt from the very beginning that it would be sad. No matter how gloomy, scary, or muddled my characters’ lives are, I owe it to them to listen to their stories, so writing James’ narrative was not only therapeutic during a foreboding situation in my life, but it was also my way of watching over him. That process brought me the most peace.

WOW: Flash fiction is so tight.  How did you decide which details deserved space in your story and which details had to go?

Kathryn: I never thought I’d be able to write flash fiction because I’m a prose writer who has no trouble exceeding a 5000 or 6000 word count in a short story, but lately I’ve wanted to embrace a new writing challenge, to step outside my comfort zone and see what I can produce. “Letting Go” barely made the 750 word limit, and believe me, it was hard to trim down! I admire writers who can relate stories in a short amount of time, especially poets whose succinct nature of storytelling has the power to draw people to their knees in profound gratitude. When I considered the bare bones of “Letting Go,” I knew there needed to be a solid motivation for the protagonist, some desire to thrust James forward in spite of his challenges. Initially he was so tacked to his anger over these miscellaneous men at his house that the tone of the story was quite crass. At times I felt like I was trapped in a room with a very surly man who refused to disengage from the only emotion he was hell-bent on displaying. I knew the story had more dimension than that though, so I kept prying details out of him while cutting away facts that didn’t feed the narrative its essential elements. 

Eventually I discovered the story was about love, not rage, and slowly I began to sink into his loss over a wife that had moved on with another man while he was still stuck in grief as elusive as his death. Loss is a theme that I explore in most of my work, as well as finding ways to move through pain that paralyzes hope, but James’ situation was tricky because I had to weave in subtle hints of his demise throughout the narrative without sacrificing his epiphany at learning he was dead. Providing descriptions like “a purse large enough to hold a tombstone” and “surviving on heartache instead of a pulse” were integral moments I hoped would read smoothly on the page yet snowball into a powerful punch as readers rounded the corner to the final two paragraphs. Writers like Stephen King, Flannery O’Connor, and Shirley Jackson have constructed stories that have blown my mind. I’ve dissected their work over the years, focusing on the skillful way they implant the smallest details to illuminate the element of surprise. Scenes burst off the page exactly when they should. God knows I’m still learning how to do this well, but it was very exciting and fulfilling to find that creative balance in “Letting Go.”  
 
WOW: As a teacher, what do you think is the most important lesson for new writers to learn about writing flash?

Kathryn: Writing flash fiction requires making purposeful choices with imagery, dialogue, setting, whatever it may be, because each sentence needs to help the character achieve his or her goal. You must be willing to let go of languid thoughts that provide little action and find more concise, powerful ways to express ideas. Sometimes that means combining description in a way that feels very blunt yet concrete, or using a strong verb to elevate a moment. Even one line of dialogue can carry enough momentum to progress a scene into the next, if it’s the right choice of words. I always tell my students to never be afraid to write and rewrite a thousand times if something isn’t working. 

Earlier in my writing career, I used to be so afraid of gutting entire paragraphs, but now I know it’s necessary for growth. “Letting Go” went through multiple drafts over the course of several months, and I had to step away from it a few times since James wasn’t always easy to get along with; remember we were locked in a proverbial room together, sometimes I just wanted to slap him. But it’s important to walk away from a story for a bit when you and the characters aren’t in tune. Having that physical and mental space will help you appreciate the blooming field of creativity that often comes while you’re focused on something else. Sometimes all a story needs is more soil, more time to breathe. When you give it exactly what it needs, it will nourish you too.
 
WOW: What advice do you have for readers who are considering entering the WOW! flash fiction competition or another writing competition?

Kathryn: I used to have this grandiose idea that every piece of writing in a bookstore was instantly published upon its first draft. My naivety quickly dwindled when I started getting writing rejections at a very young age. I no longer keep count of the no’s when I enter contests or submit to literary journals; I expect them, even appreciate them at times, since it forces me to reexamine my work in a closer way before resubmitting it somewhere else. At one point in my life, I used to put rejection letters on my refrigerator, but now I occasionally pin them to my corkboard in my office, reading them on the worst of writing days, which pushes me to keep doing what I’ve been called to do. Writing is so subjective, but it’s comforting to know what one person dislikes may very well fill up someone else’s grey sky with happiness that leads to a solid acceptance of your work. 

I’m reminded of something that Will Smith once said. Though I know he isn’t highly regarded right now, his walk of faith to persevere in his career is renowned. He spoke of this one time, and I’m paraphrasing, obviously, about how failing is necessary for any goal you’re working towards. If you don’t fail, you don’t grow, and if you don’t grow, you don’t succeed. Fail, and fail often. His resolute declaration stays in the back of my mind, especially when self-doubt tries to imprison me, as it does for every writer. 

You’ll tell yourself all kinds of reasons why you should stop writing, and the naysayers in your life will try to convince you to take a different path. After your umpteenth rejection, you might be compelled to take their advice, but you must honor that anointed feeling within you, the one reminding you to press onward to the finish line. There are no accidents when it comes to storytelling. Narrative voices that wake you up in the middle of the night, or force you to pull over to the side of the road to jot down a thought or two or twenty, are always speaking for a reason. The ones that glue you to your computer chair for two days without food or sleep are so bound to your soul that ignoring them would surely be a disserve to you both. You mustn’t give up on them, or yourself.
 
WOW: As someone who is working on a novel in addition to writing flash, what skills do you think can be carried from one type of writing to another?

Kathryn: I can recall countless stories over the years that have changed my life. I remember the ones that have brought me to tears or terrified me in keeping the lamp on all night. It’s a gift, I think, how someone’s imagination can make you rethink the entire world around you. I know I’m not alone in this sentiment because students are still actively reading Edgar Allan Poe and Emily Brontë. They want to feel goosebumps when that tell-tale heart is beating nearby. They want to get swept up in Heathcliff’s romantic madness over a woman he doesn’t know how to stop loving, and quite frankly, we hope never does. Those endearing and enduring themes can be explored in short or long narratives, so long as there’s something magical to experience in them. It’s all about telling a good story.

As a writer, you must open your heart to the narrative that works for you. You must listen to your characters’ struggle even when you’re afraid of the outcome. Be patient with them, and with yourself, since it’s easy to get discouraged on a journey that could take years to complete, even if you’re writing flash fiction. I have to laugh at this, and it may sound strange to anyone who isn’t a writer, but my characters often tell me when they’re ready to let go of my hand, not the other way around. I can’t explain it; it’s just a feeling in my core, like the person is saying, “Thank you for staying by my side, but I’m okay to walk on my own now.” It doesn’t matter if that connection takes place over a few paragraphs or hundreds of pages, because my job as a writer is to see them through, and if their story offers even the slightest bit of hope, or change to someone else’s life, then I’m happy to stand back and watch that character I love walk away. It’s the greatest of gifts, a blessing I wouldn’t trade for anything.

WOW:  And we are so grateful that you've decided to share your gifts with the WOW community!
 

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Leave a Comment flash fiction, Flash Fiction Contest, interview, Kathryn A. Beckett, Winter 2022 Flash Fiction Contest

The Art of Color-Coding a Manuscript

Back in May, I shared how I used an outline and beats and book-mapping in my latest manuscript. All of those methods were in the beginning to the middle to the end-of-writing/revising and though it may seem like a LOT, the writing process with this novel has been the smoothest yet. 

BUT I promised you a last quirky tip that I opted to use this time once I was at the stick-a-fork-in-it, this-book-is-done stage. So here it is: COLOR-CODING! 

Oh my word, I love color-coding. Not just with manuscripts; I’ve used color-coding for all sorts of organizing! But I don’t have time to go down that rainbow rabbit hole. Today we’re here to see how color-coding your manuscript can be helpful and why you might want to try it for your next project.

First, the process. I heard about this technique from author and publisher, Darcy Pattison. She recommended shrinking the manuscript and using different colors to highlight parts of the work-in-progress. That way, with the pages laid out in front of you, one can see with a quick glance the strengths and weaknesses (or whatever particulars one is looking to fix). 

I didn’t shrink my manuscript; I spent about $25 to get it printed, mostly because I didn’t want to squint for hours. Next, I ordered amazing gel highlighters in about 20 different colors. These are typically referred to as “Bible Highlighters” as they work well in highlighting and allowing easy print readability (and they don’t bleed through). And then, I worked out what I needed to look for and the color key.

For the first 25 to 50 pages of the cozy mystery, I wanted to hone in on characters. This is an ensemble group and I wanted to see—through the use of color (gray, dark yellow, neon yellow, purple)—that there was a good balance. I also wanted to make sure I saw pink and green. Er, theme and setting.

I tried to be more intentional (though not too heavy-handed) with my theme (pink). I needed the theme to dip in and out, like a big toe in the pool. And setting (green) is a bit of an Achilles' heel with me. I prefer getting right to story and dialogue with the result that the richness of setting, which can also help with tone and story, gets left behind. So I had a simple goal there: I needed to make sure I saw green in each chapter, and a plush green in the set-up of the story. 

There are two distinct mystery arcs in this novel but since I’ve used a day-by-day titles for chapters, the arcs weave in and out. Each arc had its own color (the gel highlighters ran out!) but again, I wanted to “see” the story, in this case, for pacing and tension. 

 As I highlighted the printed manuscript, I was not editing. (Okay, I circled three or four words that
weren’t working.) The colors, as Pattison had suggested all those years ago, helped me to “see” the novel in parts and in its entirety and I was very satisfied with the end result. You might want to use the color-coding at an earlier stage (first draft, for example) before doing massive edits (I used the book map for major editing). I’ll happily admit that I used color-coding at the very end because I kinda wanted to celebrate and see the novel in all its artsy glory. 

That, and the fact that I wanted a bit of fun while I waited for my beta readers and editor to weigh in. There may be more writing work ahead for this cozy mystery but I’ll always have my color-coding.

~Cathy C. Hall

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3 comments Cathy C. Hall, Characters, color-coding for editing, Darcy Pattison, plot arcs, setting, theme

Eeny Meany . . . What to Work On Now?

Recently I returned from a road trip to my home state. I don’t know if it was the eight straight days without working or the time spent among my story telling cousins, but I came home with ideas galore. This led me to an interesting problem. 

I’m working on three, big projects (a mystery, a middle grade science fiction novel, and an early grade nonfiction series). They won’t be done any time soon. Two of my new ideas are especially persistent and emerged almost fully formed. I had to decide what to work on first. 

I asked myself these questions: 

1. How does each idea fit into my long-term goals? Thanks to Renee, "Weighing the Pros and Cons of a Gig," we all know to evaluate an idea or a job according to how it fits with our goals. My two pushiest ideas won’t further my three big projects, but they could help me find an agent. Of course, each of my three big projects would also do this. For me, this question was a draw. 

2. What project is most likely to sell? The joys of being a freelance writer include trying to determine which idea is right for the market right now. Middle grade novels are in demand as is series nonfiction. In fact, a publisher has a call out which my series idea fits to a T. My two new ideas are both picture books which are especially difficult to sell if you aren’t an illustrator. That’s a point for working on the series idea and the middle grade novel. 

3. Which project am I most enthusiastic about? This is a trick question for me and for a lot of other writers, because the answer is almost always, “The new project!” After all, the new project is shiny and new and perfect. If I was close to finishing one of the others my answer might be different, but the point goes to the two new ideas. 

4. What answer will help me accomplish something? Hmm. This sounds like the kind of question my mother would have asked me. Staying on track and getting something done means that the point for this question should go to whichever of the three big projects is nearest completion, the nonfiction series idea. 

5. Do you need an easy win? While no writing project is really an easy win, sometimes you need to go with the project you can finish in the least amount of time. That is why a lot of writers work on something long and something short, rotating between the two. Me? I’ve been working on both the series and the new ideas. 

How you prioritize each of these questions will depend on where you are in your writing journey and what you are working on. The answer that is right for you today, may not be the right answer a month from now. Still, asking yourself questions like these can help you make up your mind before you sit down to write.

 --SueBE

Sue Bradford Edwards' is the author of over 30 books for young readers.  To find out more about her writing, visit her site and blog, One Writer's Journey.

The next session of her new course, Pitching, Querying and Submitting Your Work will begin on July 10, 2022).  Coping with rejection is one of the topics she will cover in this course.

Sue is also the instructor for  Research: Prepping to Write Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults (next session begins July 10, 2022) and Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults (next session begins July 10, 2022). 

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4 comments deciding what to work on, goal setting, prioritizing ideas, what to work on next

Friday Speak Out!: A Debut Novelist’s Foray into the World of Sensitivity Readers

by Adele Holmes

In 2019, while pitching my first novel which involved discrimination during the Jim Crow era, I was asked if I’d had a sensitivity read. In all honesty I’d never heard of the term, but its implication was fairly easy to pick up, so I brightly replied, “Yes.”

I’m white. Two of my beta-readers were Black. They both heartily approved of my manuscript. That’s the same as a sensitivity read, right? As it turns out, the answer is a definitive, “No.”

Luckily the agent did not offer a contract, and I went home to delve more deeply into the subject of sensitivity readers. A web search for articles from within the writing community revealed a deep divide—imagine that, in America, a deep divide over otherness. Not only was there disagreement on when and where, or even if, a sensitivity read was necessary, but there gaped a huge hole where the definition should have stood.

Those inclined to recommend such a manuscript review argued that no one outside a certain criteria (race differences, cultural differences, gender-identity differences, any you-name-it differences) could appropriately speak to the situation without oversight from someone inside the criteria.

Those against sensitivity reads bemoaned censorship of the author’s right to write about whatever they chose, without muzzling for the sake of political correctness.

I found little indifference on the subject, no shrugging of the shoulders with a quiet, “Meh.”

In the years since, likely due to the spotlight of the #OwnVoices movement, most writers have a working concept of what a sensitivity read is. The dictionaries, wikipedia included, have not yet applied a strict definition. Many publishers now require a sensitivity read for any manuscript that has the possibility for cultural inappropriateness. And still the debate rages with very little middle ground.

Back in 2019, a hard look at the facts of my situation led me to realize that my beta-readers were my friends, and as such, they might be biased in my favor. I chose to contract a professional sensitivity reader, and I’m glad I did. She found little to correct, a fact that bolstered my confidence in the cultural appropriateness of my novel. What she did correct was incredibly instructive to me. While I had no instances of the “white savior” role popping up, there were a few examples of white privilege that I had overlooked to call out.

I make no pretense of calming the waters; this tempest will likely never subside. But the honest sensitivity review I received made my book better—and made me a better person. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

* * *

Adele Holmes graduated from UAMS medical school in 1993, and from residency at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in 1996. She practiced general pediatrics in central Arkansas for over twenty years. While she loved every moment of it, a serious travel bug, a need to put the voice of her soul onto paper, and a call to give back to the community led her to an early retirement in 2017. Her debut novel Winter’s Reckoning, a southern gothic set in the Southern Appalachians of 1917, will be published by She Writes Press on August 9, 2022. She continues to write, travel, and serve in her community. Visit her website at www.adeleholmes.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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6 comments Adele Holmes, Friday Speak Out, manuscript review, novel writing, sensitivity reader

3 Writing Prompts

I was skimming one of the writing books from my shelf, Pen on Fire by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, and came across some timed writing ideas. It always feels good to have a few more writing prompts to choose from when you need one! Here are three interesting ideas from the book that you may want to try.

1. Poetry line

“Take a poem from a book of poetry [or anywhere], and pick one line.

Write that line down. Now, build a scene around it. Freewrite for fifteen minutes, using that line as a prompt.”

(You could also use the line as a prompt for a journal entry, an essay or your own poem.)

2. Crisis

“Do you have a list in your notebook headed ‘Crisis’? If not, make that list now,” DeMarco-Barrett writes. “Crisis you survived. That winter you learned your brother had stolen all of your mother’s money. Hearing the diagnosis—autism—for your firstborn. When you learned the reason the credit cards were maxed out was because your husband had been…”

Pick one and write about it in as much detail as you can. Begin in the middle of things. Don’t resort to summary; don’t tell us what happened—show us.”

Another option she offers is to do this with fictional characters. 

3. Location Variety

“Try altering your routine to see what happens. Every day for a week spend 15 minutes writing in a different location. Write at a desk, on the couch, on the bathroom floor, at the park, at a restaurant, or on a bus. Write sitting on a chair, standing up, lying down. Write and bright light, low light, blue light. Experiment. See what works for you. In the meantime, you will have collected pages. And that is a very good thing.”

Let's get writing! 

--Marcia Peterson

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2 comments Marcia Peterson, timed writing, writing prompts

Interview with Chiu Yin Wong Hempel: WOW 2022 Winter Flash Fiction Contest Third Place Winner

Chiu Yin’s Bio: Chiu Yin has held senior management positions at Pearson Education and The Economist Group. She is the author of an award-winning trilogy of illustrated books on the architecture, founders and landscape of Tuxedo Park, a historical community in the Hudson Valley, New York. The flash fiction Shanghai Tango is extracted from her debut novel about the struggle for love and survival of the fifteen-year-old, illegitimate daughter of a powerful general and a former prostitute. The story takes place in war-torn Shanghai in 1948, on the eve of the Communists’ final victory in the bloody civil war against the Kuomintang, forcing the latter to retreat to the island of Taiwan and setting the stage for the geopolitical tensions today. The narrative draws upon extensive historical research as well as stories Chiu Yin’s grandmother told her about China during the war years. 

If you haven't done so already, check out Chiu Yin's award-winning story "Shanghai Tango" and then return here for a chat with the author. 

WOW: Congratulations on placing third in the Winter 2022 Flash Fiction Contest! What excited you most about writing this story? 

Chiu Yin: The challenge of visualizing a brutal, life-changing moment. 

WOW: What did you learn about yourself or your writing while crafting this piece? 

Chiu Yin: I have a wonderful family who will praise and support me regardless of what I do. I discovered that I need to be my own harshest judge. Being perpetually dissatisfied with my work is a powerful motivator. 

WOW: Your bio says that this story is an excerpt from your debut novel, which draws on extensive historical research and stories from your grandmother. That sounds fascinating! Could you tell us more about your writing process and you how incorporate research and narrative? 

Chiu Yin: Before I began writing the novel, I read a ton of books on Japan’s war against China and the civil war between the Communists and Kuomintang afterwards. This gave me the historical context. I had visited Shanghai on a number of occasions in the 1990s. But what made that distant time of 1948 come alive in my mind were my grandmother’s vivid stories of atrocities, suffering and bravery she witnessed firsthand during the war years, and the videos and photos available online of Shanghai in the 30s and 40s. I was thus able to transport myself to that city in that time and I put my characters in that milieu and tried my best to describe in words what they – and we – saw, heard, touched and smelled as the drama of their lives unfolded. 

WOW: It’s always fascinating to hear how writers approach their projects, so thank you for sharing that insight into your research and writing processes. What are you reading right now, and why did you choose to read it? 

Chiu Yin: I read mostly non-fiction. There is so much to learn about the past and the world around us. But when I read fiction, I choose writers who are masters with the craft of words: Amy Hempel, who luckily for me is my sister-in-law and inspiration, Julian Barnes, Evelyn Waugh… I also look for page-turning tales (Lee Child who is a superb thriller writer, for instance) and I love historical fiction. 

WOW: If you could give your younger self one piece of writing advice, what would it be and why? 

Chiu Yin: I had many false starts in writing the story… so, my advice to my younger self would be to plot the arc of the story and the psychological/emotional profiles of the key characters before attempting the first word. 

WOW: Thank you for sharing that advice, and thank you for you other thoughtful responses! Happy writing! 

Interviewed by Anne Greenawalt, founder and editor-in-chief of Sport Stories Press, which publishes sports books by, for, and about sportswomen and amateur athletes and offers developmental editing and ghostwriting services to partially fund the press. Connect with Anne on Twitter @dr_greenawalt.

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Leave a Comment 2022 Winter Flash Fiction Contest, Anne Greenawalt, Chiu Yin Wong Hempel, Third Place Winner

Growing Something... and Holding Onto It

In a freak of scheduling, you're getting two servings of Sioux in a row. I figured I would continue my post from Saturday about creating a channel-platform-thingy with a couple of production friends. We'll be targeting women over 30. (We're still in the talking stage. We've only just begun. If you're ancient like me, those words might make you think of the Carpenters. Check out the end, where I've taken liberties with the first four lines of the song, and enjoy the link to the smooth croonings of Karen and Richard Carpenter.)

If you missed the past post--just two days ago--here it is, so you can catch up avoid hearing Sioux blather on. Again.

                                                          image by gerait via Pixabay

I've learned a few things since Saturday. Some tidbits I learned from what others told me. Some I learned from what others have done in the past--and I've never forgotten them. And some info I got from research.

Someone with tech skills filled us in: we're contemplating launching our own channel via an OTT platform. For those who don't know--like me, prior to Saturday--OTT stands for "over the top." The channels offered via a platform are above and beyond (over the top) when it comes to companies that usually offer content. Listeners/viewers can subscribe to these channels just like people can pay for HBO and Showtime. (If I'm getting this wrong, don't hesitate to comment. I work with middle-schoolers. I get told I'm off base all. The. Time.) 

This is a small fire that's been fanned in the hearts of a few of us. We know the general direction we want it to go in. Forks in the road will appear, we know. But we're definitely not interested in handing our steering wheel over to someone who has a strong personality so they can start using a new roadmap and take over... which I've seen before.

In the past, I've seen one person step in--after a project has evolved past its embryonic state--and immediately start talking about our program. Our project. Our class. They expected the creators to simply fall into place and include them in what (just a moment earlier) was someone else's our.  However, the dreamers kept true to their mission, listened to the schemer's ideas, and gently reminded them that they could help, yes. They could participate, of course. They could certainly contribute... but it was not their baby.

Hold onto what you know is true. And keep a firm grip on it. By the time it's grown large enough that it fills more than your hands, when it's evolved to the point where you're embracing it--your arms stretching as far as they can--it'll be able to stand on its own. Then you'll happy you didn't tear off pieces, fragmenting your dream.

I've been doing some research, and learned another acronym besides OTT. This one is CTA--call to action. We will need to tell the audience to check out the ____ video. To subscribe to our channel. To come back next Tuesday when a podcast about ___ drops.  Otherwise, our viewers and listeners will switch over to a different channel, leaving us behind in the dust. The CTA is a gentle nudge.

A watermark is important. Our logo--a small version--should be in a corner of whatever we do. Each time someone watches a video on our channel, they'll see our logo. That helps with brand awareness.

Apparently there are clever ways to suck a viewer deeper into content. Inserting a link at the end of one video--a link leading to another video--means they won't be a one-and-done viewer. Similar results will come from creating a "playlist." Just like a musical playlist means the listener will (hopefully) stick around for multiple songs, having a string of videos auto play, one into another, means they'll watch several videos... and perhaps get hooked. (Each time I sit down to watch something on Netflix, I plan on watching just one episode. But when the message comes on that the next episode will come on in a matter of seconds... I end up watching an entire season while lying on the couch. Netflix is so clever.)

How about you? What clever tips/hacks can you share with the blogosphere? 

 

We've only just begun

to work

White space and techno-stuff

Pulling out hair and we're on our way... 

                                               In case you're under 60 and have no idea who

                                               the Carpenters were--Karen had an incredible

                                               voice, her brother Richard was a master at

                                        arranging... and Karen died way too young from anorexia.

Sioux Roslawski is a middle-school teacher, a freelance writer, the author of Greenwood Gone: Henry's Story, and a dog rescuer. You may check out more of her writing via her blog.

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4 comments CTAs, Greenwood Gone: Henry's Story, OTTs, Sioux Roslawski, the Carpenters

Dream Big

 What if? What if I had said yes to that opportunity? What if I had been willing to take that risk? Those questions plague most of us. Right now, I'm at a fork. Like the song by the Clash, should I stay or should I go? Should I stay, mired in my routine... or should I go off in a new direction with a couple of friends?

                                                     image by Noel_Bauza, via Pixabay

Currently, I have a fragmented life. My writing has left me stuck on the side of the road, in a ditch. My teaching has shifted to working with graduate students, like it does every summer. My college teaching is easy, and reenergizes me, so it's in no way problematic. There's things in my personal life that need smoothing over. Here's where the stay or go part comes in...

A couple of friends have an idea of taking a simple, once-a-year storytelling event, and expanding upon it. They're talking about something (a platform? a website? something that can be subscribed to, for sure) that would be a leap for all three of us. However, my mind is already whirling.

On this platform/website, we could have podcasts. Vodcasts. Themed sets of storytelling sessions. Mini workshops. The possibilities are endless. I have a dear friend who lost her daughter, son-in-law and baby granddaughter in a horrific way, due to postpartum psychosis. I could chat with her in a vodcast, and shed some light on that form of mental illness. I'm adopted. My half-sister is adopted. I know people who are birth parents. I have a friend who adopted two handsome young boys. A vodcast/podcast (or two... or three) could focus on different adoption perspectives. Also, I'd love the chance to share some of the great writing ideas other people have gifted to me. My brain is getting dizzy... but sometimes, dizzy is good.

Yes, it would require extra work. And yes, it would require all three of us to dive into waters of unknown depth. There's so many things we'd have to learn. We'd stumble. But what if this endeavor evolves into something magical? What if? What if I say no... and years later, I wonder? And regret.

I have a writing friend, Renee Roberson. She is obsessed with true crime stories. She frothed at the mouth and pinched herself, thinking it was too good to be true when she got to go to MurderCon, a writing conference that focused on crime. (Her favorite workshop session was "Buried Bodies." That sounds like the perfect class to attend right before bedtime ;) Renee has a lulling, hypnotic voice, writing talent oozing out of her ears, and she had a dream.

What if she started her own podcast? Would she have an audience? She had no experience doing podcasts. Would she fall flat on her face?

Thankfully, Renee took the leap. Her podcast, Missing in the Carolinas, is incredible. Her love of true crime, combined with her writing talent and her wonderful voice, converged in a phenomenal way.

I am not thinking that if Renee can do it, so can I, because my knowledge of technology is 157% less than hers. (Yes, I know a little about math, and that is not an incorrect percentage.) However, I look at the leap she made, the courage she had... and perhaps I can jump into something new--as long as I can hold hands with a couple of other newbies.

How about you? Did you have the chance to dream big? If so, how did it end up?

About-to-make-the-move Sioux wants to know.

Sioux Roslawski is middle school teacher, a National Writing Project teacher-consultant, a freelance writer, and the uber proud author of Greenwood Gone: Henry's Story. In her spare time, she rescues dogs for Love a Golden. You can see more of Sioux by checking out her blog.

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8 comments Greenwood Gone: Henry's Story, Missing in the Carolinas, Renee Roberson, risk taking, Sioux Roslawski

Friday Speak Out!: Presentation, Giveaways and Gimmicks

by Janet Shawgo 

An inviting table presentation can make or break your sales, trust me on this. If it isn’t eye catching or appealing readers will pass you by.

I find it important to keep things neat and tidy, even if you have a lot going on, your books need to remain center stage.

If you have banners place them up on tables so that they will draw immediate attention. Display any awards you have received, I have mine on a canvas making it easy to transport and safe from damage.

Costumes can be a great conversation item whether you wear or display them. I have two that I wear at signings, book club meetings and festivals. You will be surprised at the reactions you receive and it can increase your sales.

Most authors have freebies, pens, candy, and bookmarkers. I have my business cards attached to a small gift bag containing either herbal tea, small nail file or handwipes. These are less than ten cents each, because I buy in bulk. You should make choices depending on your budget.

In my city I attend a festival every year and to increase traffic to the table have included a giveaway. For any book you buy a ticket goes into a box for the prize. In 2021 I gave away a Harry Potter backpack and throw. I discovered a great deal for my budget and it was well received.

This two day festival was an investment of $200.00. I cleared over $1200.00 and sold out of my books in three different genres. I discovered returning to the same festivals faithful readers seek me out for new releases. I made numerous contacts with book clubs and was interviewed for a local magazine because of the costume I wore.

Though these ideas are helpful you need to engage every person even if it’s just to say hello. Unless you are Stephen King, James Patterson or Robert Dugoni, your books will not sell themselves.

I have met readers who said they had too many books at home to read and couldn’t buy another, but after a short conversation they bought two.

It is possible for you to sell ice in the Artic.

* * *

Janet began writing in 2009 while still working as a travel nurse. She retired in 2019 to her home in Galveston Texas.

She has published five full novels, three novellas, and has been published in three anthologies for poetry, flash fiction and short stories.

Janet has multiple awards for her works and was a runner-up in the WOW winter contest for her story The Holiday Slayer.

www.jkshawgo.com  / Instagram author_janetshawgo / 

Twitter @jkshawgo_author

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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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3 comments book marketing tips, book sales, Friday Speak Out, gimmicks, giveaways, Janet Shawgo, table presentation

Weighing the Pros and Cons of a Gig

Photo by Alexander Mills on Pexels.com

A few weeks ago, I got an intriguing message from LinkedIn. A recruiter was looking to fill an editor role for a large personal finance company in my area. Although I have my hands full with my day job at a regional magazine, I took a moment and scanned the responsibilities. It looked pretty straightforward and aligned with my skill set, although a bit more “corporate” than I’m used to. But I’ll admit the contract pay ($46 per hour) attracted me. 

I hopped on a quick call with the recruiter that morning to talk specifics. Then I discovered a few things that made me pause. The company was looking for 40 hours a week, starting almost immediately, and two days a week would require driving to their corporate headquarters. That’s a 45-minute drive from me on a beltline I absolutely hate driving on because of the traffic and number of daily accidents. Still, I agreed to do a second screening interview the next week. 

Then I hung up the phone and wondered what I was doing. Haven’t I been saying all along that my day job requires so much writing so that I can’t focus on buildng my podcast and finishing revisions on a thriller novel I wrote last fall during NaNoWriMo? When I got a formal application in the e-mail from the recruiting agency I had to make a choice. I talked to my husband about it. He said he knew that while the money was attractive, it wouldn’t be something I enjoyed doing, especially with the hairy commute. Plus, the recruiter had told me that the contract ended at the end of August, and by then the company might be ready to make the position permanent. And they wanted me to start this month, when I have a week’s vacation planned at the end of the month (I had to plan that carefully, too, in between my magazine deadlines). 

I e-mailed the recruiter that I had changed my mind and didn’t want to move onto the next interview. This did spark an additional discussion with my husband, who asked why I have not asked my current boss for an increase in pay since I started there three years ago. “Yes, you are contract,” he said. “But the cost of living has gone up, including gas prices and food. You deserve to see an increase in pay.” I realized he had a point. 

Sometimes it can be tempting as a freelancer to go after every high-paying gig you see, but then you realize why you chose this profession and make a list of the reasons you like working contract jobs. I think the lesson learned here is to try and choose the work that has a good trade-off, and know what your worth is. 

Renee Roberson is an award-winning writer and editor who also hosts the true crime podcast, Missing in the Carolinas.

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6 comments asking for an increase in rates, pros and cons of full-time writing work, Renee Roberson, writing advice

Interview with Abbie Barker, 2nd Place Winner in the WOW! Winter 2022 Flash Fiction Contest

 

Abbie Barker is a creative writing instructor living with her husband and two kids in New Hampshire. Her flash fiction is featured or forthcoming in several publications including, Berkeley Fiction Review, Cutbank, Cincinnati Review, Superstition Review, Pithead Chapel, Atlas and Alice, and Best Microfiction 2022. She earned a degree in fiction from the Mountainview MFA and an MA in literature from Fordham University. She loves the ocean, large dogs, and coffee shops. Read more of her work at abbiebarker.com or connect with her on Twitter. 

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

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

WOW: Hi Abbie, congratulations on your 2nd place win in this contest! Your piece contains a unique structure with three different segments. How did you first get the idea for the the story and what inspired you to format it this way? 

Abbie: Thank you! Like many of my stories, “Store Aisles I Passed Through Before Leaving Town” was first drafted in a workshop. This one transpired from a Sarah Freligh prompt. Her micro classes are wonderful, and I recommend them for anyone wanting to sharpen their skills writing tiny, distilled stories. I won’t share the full prompt, but in general, we were asked to write about a character or narrator’s specific memory while focusing on concrete, sensory details. 

When drafting this story, my initial intention was to focus the entire story in the cosmetics aisle. However, one thing that excites me about any workshop is how a prompt provides a starting point, or a way in, but as the writer, we have to find our own way out. It didn’t take me long to realize that the larger story happened outside or beyond that first interaction with the mother. At the time, I was also in the middle of a bathroom renovation and had spent several hours in Lowe’s staring at tile, so that second scene was pulled directly from life, and then tweaked to fit the story and narrator. When possible, I try to pull from my own settings and experiences and those details find their way into my work in a variety of ways. This helps me keep my fiction more concrete and specific. Once I had written two segments, I knew I wanted to write a third to round out the story. So, I chose a third store aisle that I hoped could provide another glimpse into the lives of these three characters while creating movement. In segmented flash, I love playing around with white space and what’s been left unsaid, and it was a lot of fun tying these segments together through the store aisle setting. 

I feel fortunate that I discovered the structure in the first draft. Subsequent drafts focused on tightening the language and finding the right title. I first titled the story, “Store Aisles I Remember,” which was functional, but I really liked the idea of choosing a title that could do a little more “work” and perhaps hint at the aftermath. This is one of my favorite titles that I’ve written, and I’m glad I waited to send this piece out until I landed on one that excited me. 

WOW: That sounds like an amazing class. Speaking of classes, you also work as a writing instructor. What are some of your favorite college-level English courses to teach and why? 

Abbie: I have been teaching college English courses part-time since 2009 and have taught several different composition courses, as well as a few literature courses, and now I teach creative writing online. My favorite course to teach is a beginning fiction workshop. My students spend the term working on a 6-8 page short story (twice as long as the stories I’ve published!) and I’m tasked with guiding them through the process of writing a complete and contained work of fiction over the course of eight weeks. While I love helping students sharpen their skills, what makes it so fun is how passionate and excited my students are to be there. Most of my students are creative writing majors and the rest are students that choose the course as an elective because they enjoy writing and want to pursue that interest at a deeper level. When I taught composition, I always had to work hard to convince students that they could become stronger writers with patience and practice and beyond that, I had to encourage them to put effort into that practice. Now, when I teach fiction, my students generally show up excited to write, and my biggest challenge is helping them maintain that excitement through the process of drafting a complete story (because we all know the process is sometimes frustrating and even discouraging). 

WOW: You have an impressive list of publications. What advice would you give writers hoping to break into literary journals? 

Abbie: Thank you! I’m sometimes so focused on “what’s next” that I forget to step back and acknowledge what I’ve been able to accomplish so far, so I appreciate you saying this. I wish I had something new and profound to say on the topic of lit mag publishing, but for me it simply comes down to patience and persistence. It’s easy to become focused on the final product and lose patience in the writing process. I have to remind myself to slow down and give every story the time it needs. I am a slow writer, so this is why I enjoy flash because even the slowest writer can complete a story of 1,000 words or less in a reasonable amount of time. Sometimes I miss submission deadlines because a piece is not ready, but I remind myself that these journals will open again for submissions in a few months or a certain contest deadline will come around again next year, and hopefully I’ll be better prepared by then. I’m in my early forties, so I’m not a particularly young writer, and I’m always balancing my own sense of urgency to get my work out there with the necessary patience required to wait for the right opportunities. 

I have also spent a lot of time researching literary magazines. I read ranked lists and the annual “best of” anthologies, including Best Small Fictions, Best Microfiction, and the Wigleaf Top 50. Spending time reading a wide variety of literary magazines has helped me find the right home for the work I have been fortunate enough to publish. There are a range of opportunities out there, and I think it’s important to focus on publications that excite you. Beyond that, it’s also important to not give up when the magazines you admire turn you down. The selection process is both competitive and subjective! One of my stories collected over 30 rejections before placing in a contest that I am thrilled to have placed in. Publication success will come, but it requires this careful balance of patience and persistence, or in other words, learning when to stubbornly submit, and when to take a step back and stubbornly revise. 

WOW: What is your writing process like? How do you know when a piece is complete and ready to find a home? 

Abbie: This is a challenging question to answer because I feel like my process is always evolving and I don’t fully understand it. Sometimes first drafts come together quickly for me, and other times I have to fight my way through them. When everything (including my kids’ schools) went remote in 2020, online workshops were crucial to my writing process – I wasn’t completing story drafts without them. I needed the deadlines and regular feedback. Earlier, while I was earning my MFA in fiction, I wrote much longer stories, and I hadn't received any formal training in flash, so I craved instruction specifically on the form. A workshop I took with SmokeLong Quarterly in 2020 was crucial to my understanding of the form and led to some publication success in my first year of submitting. This year, I’ve been enrolling in fewer workshops, so I’m not drafting nearly as many stories, but I’m spending a little more time with each draft and finding my own pace and rhythm. I really enjoy editing at the sentence level and also cutting out extra words or even entire paragraphs, but I’m still learning how to take bigger risks in the revision stage. In my response above, I mentioned the importance of patience, and I’m still figuring out how to be patient with my own work and how to gauge when a story is ready for publication. Sometimes I have to send a story out to one journal before I know whether or not it’s ready. Hitting “submit” tends to crystalize my feelings. There have been a few times where I stopped submitting a piece after only one rejection because I recognized the need for more time. I am also involved in a wonderful group of flash writers who are always willing to offer support and feedback when I’m stuck. Knowing when a story is ready for publication mostly comes down to a gut feeling, and to be honest, I still sometimes get it wrong. I’ve gradually grown more confident in knowing when to submit, but this confidence has come with experience and receiving generous feedback along the way, beginning in graduate school. 

WOW: It's good that you know without workshops and submission deadlines you would have difficulty finishing drafts. It sounds like accountability is crucial in your writing process. “Blue People” was nominated for The Pushcart Prize. How hard was it to develop and revise what must have been a highly personal piece of writing? 

Abbie: It was such a huge honor when Cease, Cows nominated “Blue People” for the Pushcart Prize. This was my third story accepted for publication, but the first piece of flash fiction that truly excited me in the process of writing it. Like many of my stories, the idea began with the first line and from there, the voice of the narrator snapped into place, and I was able to draft the story rather feverishly without the aid of a deadline or workshop. I appreciate that you recognize the personal nature of the story. It is fictional, and while most plot elements are made up, the core of the story does come from a personal place; writing it became an indirect way for me to reflect on my relationship with my sister and how those dynamics might change once our mother is no longer here. (I will say, the Blue Man Group detail is true). When composing "Blue People," I was meeting with a couple writer friends in person, and they provided me with some tremendous feedback on the first draft. I’m so glad I had sensitive readers; they both had intimate knowledge of schizoaffective disorder, which gave me the confidence I needed to send the story out after revisions. I ended up removing a scene from that first draft and making it into a separate flash, which was later published in Monkeybicyle. I have since written a couple other pieces that explore this sister relationship in different ways, and I have certainly considered expanding these stories into a larger project, but have not made that leap yet.

WOW: Thanks again for all this great information, Abbie. I know our readers will find this helpful. We wish you continued success in your writing journey!

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Leave a Comment 2nd place winner, Abbie Barker, Contestant interview, Renee Roberson, WOW! Women on Writing Winter 2022 Flash Fiction Contest

An App That Helps Analyze Your Content

Whether it's pitching an editor or thinking of a new blog post idea, I'm always trying to craft the right angle for an article. In fact, I need all the help I can get lately. Recently, I had the chance to try out Brainstorm Buddy.

How it works is this app will walk you through your idea to see if your idea is ready for the masses. The self-test asks you questions about your headline, your audience, relevancy, length of the piece, usefulness, and its surprising qualities. All of these questions come down to you being honest with yourself.

It would be easy to run through the test and answer positively for each question, but how helpful is that? So, running through the quiz on one idea of mine, ended up with this answer:

The great thing is after the score it offers tips on how to make my idea better. Some suggestions include:

• Find ways you can pitch your idea elsewhere
• Dissect ideas that have been done to death and find out how you can fill in what's missing
• How to narrow down your ideas

And more! I loved those tips and that helped me a lot. Most importantly, and like I've already said, it comes down to being honest with yourself. 

What's also great about this app is the workshop available to repurpose your content ideas. The creator of Brainstorm Buddy gives you tips on how to make your one idea into 25. For example, repurposing a lengthy article by taking one of the points mentioned in your piece and turning it into a short blog post. 

As I pursue more freelancing this year, apps like this help me tremendously. Since it's always a challenge to ensure an idea is ready for pitching or for my audience, extra help like this makes a huge difference. Best of all, it isn't that much money per month! It's only $3.99 per month to get the help you might need for your writing.

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4 comments Brainstorm Buddy, Nicole Pyles, pitching, repurposing, review, test headline ideas

Interview with Natalie Y. Wester: 2022 Q2 Creative Nonfiction Contest Runner Up

Congratulations to Natalie Y. Wester and The Last Place I Ever Thought I'd Be and all the winners of our 2022 Quarter 2 Creative Non-Fiction Essay Contest!

Natalie's Bio:

Natalie is a former second-grade teacher and National State Teacher of the Year who retired from teaching as a second career at 59. A radical reinventor, permission-giver, and storyteller, she encourages midlife women to give themselves permission to change the life they’re living so they can live a life they love. 

By 60 she became a solo around-the-world traveler and recovering social media avoider. At 61, she launched The Hot Goddess blog for midlife women, and started a “blackboard to bourbon” journey by becoming a whiskey distillery intern. Now 62, she’ll become an expat when she moves solo to Portugal this fall. 

Natalie has been featured on Solo Traveler Insiders, Reinvention Rebels, Calm the Chaos, Her Bold Voice, and 365 Women platforms. As a freelance writer decades ago, her work was published in the Chicago Sun-Times, The Plain Dealer, Cleveland Magazine, and other regional publications. Previous writing awards from the International Association of Business Communicators and Society of Technical Communication were on behalf of PR clients in her first career. This is her first literary writing contest entry.

 

If you haven't done so already, check out Natalie's talent in writing with the moving story The Last Place I Ever Thought I'd Be and then return here for a chat with this amazing author. 

WOW!: Congratulations again on placing in the Q2 Creative Nonfiction Contest! I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Last Place I Ever Thought I'd Be and learning more about your story! Thank you for taking time to chat with me today! 

What was the takeaway you were hoping readers would receive from reading your submission?

Natalie:  To believe in the power of tomorrow. That sounds trite, I know, and nearly impossible to do when submerged in darkness. I was given a second chance by a friend who saved my life by calling 911, and that life eventually transformed into something I never imagined. The journey isn't over. Tomorrows hold change and discovery we simply cannot fathom today. There’s nothing more powerful than that. 

WOW!: Not trite at all - your story is very moving and impressive - speaking of impressive, you have an impressive bio - what made you start your blog? What advice do you have for others when it comes to second careers and reinventing oneself at any age? 

Natalie: When I came home from my 70-day solo around-the-world trip I then went to South America for my 60th birthday. COVID lockdowns began soon after I returned from that trip. As I was isolated at home alone, I started trying my hand at travel writing in a journal. Those writings morphed into more of a memoir format, so I registered for a free online memoir-writing course through Wesleyan. I also registered for various social media classes and a digital marketing certification program. I had to create a website for one of the digital classes, so I created The Hot Goddess, and uploaded some of my memoir class assignments under a "blog" tab. The site was not public. I finally challenged myself to muster the courage to launch the site for my 61st birthday. I discovered I don't enjoy digital marketing (just can't do daily social media as a recovering social media avoider), but I loved writing blog posts and engaging with the blogging community as a way to keep me writing every day. As far as reinventing and reimagining your life, the first step for me was giving myself permission to live a life that made me happy. And then giving myself permission to take my own time figuring out what that life is. Giving ourselves permission to put ourselves first is huge for women. It's just not something we naturally do because we're always putting others' needs before our own. 

WOW! You're spot on with taking time for ourselves - let's talk time for self care!  What advice would you give to others (specifically female authors) when it comes to self care and dealing with dark times in their lives? 

Natalie: I wrote on The Hot Goddess blog about moods and self-care, and the harmful stories we tell ourselves. I've learned the emotions we feel are based on and controlled by the messages we tell ourselves. A quotation from Dan Harris's book, 10% Happier, has stayed with me: "The voice in my head is an asshole." Identifying and addressing that voice in third-person writing in a journal has transformed the way I deal with dark times, by quieting the critical chatter and changing the narrative I tell myself. Accepting ourselves as we are, and giving ourselves permission to meet our own needs, are the first steps to embracing self-care as a routine. Solitude, time in nature near water, journaling, and writing are part of my self-care routine. I used to feel guilty for doing what I need to do to take care of and soothe myself. I don't anymore. 

WOW!: Such excellent advice - thank you!  Do you have advice for your younger self when it comes to making decisions, believing in yourself, and/or writing? What would your current self say to the younger you? (to see a pic of a younger Natalie - you can find that here)

Natalie: Much of my journal writing is letters to my younger self. I've written about this here and here on my blog. "I wish I could go back in time and tell my 20-year-old self that a lot of what she will chalk up to her “intuition” will actually be her insecurity talking, and it will lead her down a path of recurring self-sabotage and self-fulfilling prophecies. Intuition comes from a place of confidence, power, and strength. Insecurity comes from a place of fear and doubt. I wish I could tell my 20-year-old self (life) gets so much better. I wish I could tell her this is coming." My younger self, you need to know: Being different is good. Silent suffering is not. Happiness is deserved. You are good enough. 

WOW!: Such great advice - thank you for sharing some history for us! And speaking of history what is your history with writing contests? - tell us what prompted you to submit to this particular contest?

Natalie: What would you like to tell other authors concerning contests and submitting their work? This is my first writing contest. In a previous career in public relations I won business writing awards on behalf of clients, but I've never entered my personal writing in a contest before. Just as I challenged myself to launch my blog for my 61st birthday, I set a goal of entering a writing contest for my 62nd birthday. I researched contests, and discovered WOW! and its awards as a highly regarded contest and resource for writers. I certainly didn't expect my entry to be in the top 10. I just wanted to take a first step. That's what so much of writing – of living – is. Just taking a first step.

WOW!: Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today - you are such an inspiration! I look forward to hearing from you again in the future! 

Interviewed by Crystal Otto who just keeps on keeping on!

Check out the latest Contests:

http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php

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1 comment author interview, Contest, crystal otto, interview, natalie wester, non-fiction, Runner up, the last place i ever thought I'd be, writing contest

E-books vs. Print Books

 

By Bobby Christmas

 

 

Q: I was wondering how you feel about e-books. Most people have pretty strong feelings for and against. I’d be interested to know how you feel and why.

 

A: I have two takes on the subject, depending on the point of view. From the point of view of a buyer, I download many e-books onto my Kindle so I can take them with me on trips or read them in lower-light situations. I’m not in those situations often, though, so my e-books often languish unread for a long time. As an author and self-publisher, though, I’m all for e-books, but with a warning.

 

In my opinion, and it’s backed by statistics I’ll give later, I’m all for producing every book in both printed and e-book forms, so my books are available as both e-books and printed books. On the one hand I sell far more copies of my printed books than I do my e-books, but on the other hand, when people buy my e-books, I make more money per sale.

 

With e-books I have less work, as well. Buyers’ money goes into my account and my website automatically delivers the e-book file. What a breeze!

 

It’s also a breeze when people buy my books through Amazon or my publisher, because those places fulfill the order for me, but I get a truly small percentage of the price. On the other hand, I make more if people order the books directly from me, but I’m the one who has to pack and ship them, and each order takes time to fulfill.

 

E-books have many advantages to both publishers and buyers. They cost less to produce than printed books, so they cost less for buyers, even though they sometimes have a greater profit margin for the seller. They’re certainly easier to deliver than printed books, and buyers can obtain them almost instantly.

 

On the downside, e-books still don’t sell as well as printed books.

 

Sovan Mandal’s April 30, 2021, article on Good E Reader noted that according to research by Statista’s Advertising & Media Outlook, almost twice as many printed books sold in 2020 compared to e-books. About 45 percent of the people who bought a book in 2020 bought a printed one, while 23 percent of those who bought a book chose to buy an e-book. Experts are saying that e-books may have a steady market, but e-books only complement the publishing sector; they don’t replace printed books entirely. At least, not yet. In the United States, the second-largest e-book market, 22.7 percent of buyers bought an e-book in 2020 compared to 44.5 percent who bought a printed book.

 

Although a good supplement to printed books, e-books should not supplant printed books. They still don’t appeal to buyers as strongly as printed books do. Some people are hesitant or forget to go to a website and download the books. Some are afraid. Some don’t want to use a credit card online. Some don’t like reading long works electronically. Many people still like the feel of holding a printed book, as opposed to holding an electronic device.

 

Although e-book sales have been growing over the years, some people still don’t see the upside to them, which can include clickable links, electronic bookmarks, instant fulfillment, and a lower price. While printing can be costly, e-books avoid the cost of printing, plus you can sell the same file thousands of times and never “run out.” E-books have advantages to both buyers and sellers, but I recommend offering your book in both printed and e-book forms, rather than one or the other.

 

*

 

Bobbie Christmas is a book editor, author of Write In Style: How to Use Your Computer to Improve Your Writing, and owner of Zebra Communications. She will answer your questions too. Send them to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com or BZebra@aol.com. Read Bobbie’s blog at https://www.zebraeditor.com/blog/.

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Leave a Comment Ask the book doctor, Bobbie Christmas, eBooks, print vs ebook