Tamar Telian, Runner Up in 2014 Fall Flash Fiction Contest

Congratulations to Tamar Telian on placing as a runner up in the 2014 Fall Flash Fiction Contest. If you haven't had a chance to read her winning story, "My Sister is Prettier Than Me," you can do so by clicking here.

Tamar is a Long Beach-based writer and English instructor. Her writing often examines the intersection of gender, culture, and beauty standards. She is currently working on a collection of short stories that follows the lives of three young Armenian-Americans as they navigate through life and grapple with love, loss, and the weight of their cultural history. Find links to her published works here: http://tamartelian.wordpress.com/

WOW: Tamar, congratulations on your win in the flash fiction contest with your story, "My Sister is Prettier Than Me." How did you come up with the idea for this story?

Tamar: Thank you! I'm so excited to be a part of WOW! Having people come up to me and tell me how pretty my sister is--it's something I've experienced my entire life, so it's been at the back of my head for a long time.

WOW: Real life sneaking in to our fiction--it happens a lot as writers. You use repetition a lot (and well!) in this piece. What made you decide to use that technique?

Tamar: It kind of happened organically; I didn't sit down and think, "I should use repetition!" That said, I think it emphasizes how I was constantly reminded of the fact that many people believed my sister was prettier than I was. Even now, people always tell me how beautiful she is--it's the first thing they say about her, and the repetition illustrates that.

WOW: What are some themes you are exploring in this piece?

Tamar: One theme I'm exploring in this piece (and a lot of my other work) is women and society's beauty standards--how these standards impact us and how they can affect or even define our relationships. There was a long stretch of time during which this was a point of conflict for me and my sister--I let my jealousy of the way people admired her beauty and my own insecurities about the way I looked build a wall between us. For some reason, I always thought we were in competition, which I suppose is natural for siblings, but it was unhealthy. Once I stopped thinking that we were in direct competition with one another, and embraced my own beauty, my relationship with my sister and with the people around me improved.

WOW: Thank you for sharing your personal story with us! Your bio says you are working on a short story collection about three Armenian-Americans. What made you choose these characters as your focus?

Tamar: Well, I'm a huge fan of authors who focus on characters struggling with dual identities, like Amy Tan, Junot Diaz, Sherman Alexie, so I took a page from them. I'm also a big fan of short story cycles, and writing about three connected characters in a collection of stories seemed like a perfect fit!

WOW: Those are some great authors to model after. Is this flash fiction piece similar to the types of stories in your collection? What else are you working on?

Tamar: I have a few flash fiction pieces in my short story collection; however, the majority of those stories are longer works. Right now, the collection is my primary focus, but I also write short pieces that have a magical realism element to them. These usually deal with women's beauty standards as well. To give you an example, one of my recently published works is about a young woman who starts rapidly growing arm hair until the hair on her arms is as long as the length of her body. The story explores our society's stigma about women's body hair and how we expect women to invest time and money to have hairless skin.

WOW: That sounds like an interesting story! Thank you for sharing a glimpse of yourself with us today and best of luck to you in the future. 

Tamar: Thank you!

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Leave a Comment Fall 2014 Flash Fiction Contest, flash fiction runner up, identity, women's issues

There's a Hamster in the Dashboard: A Life in Pets by David W. Berner coming soon as a WOW! Blog Tour

I am excited to announce a new book and a new WOW! Women on Writing book blog tour coming your way! You dear readers will not want to miss There's a Hamster in the Dashboard by David W. Berner. This is not only a book for those of us that love pets, it's a book for anyone with a sense of humor or anyone lacking a sense of humor who is looking for a good laugh or something to put a smile on their face. This WOW! tour will launch right here on the Muffin on July 13th with an author interview and giveaway. In the meantime, there is an excerpt available at the end of this post and buy links are included. This is a five star read; pick up two copies right away as this is the perfect pick me up gift for a friend or loved one!

If you are a blogger interested in hosting this tour, please email me at: crystal@wow-womenonwriting.com

Review: Expertly written, There's a Hamster in the Dashboard is just what we need as humans living all too much of our lives without smiling. Berner will make you laugh, make you cry, and leave you with a smile on your face. I would liken this book to Chicken Soup for the Soul. The essays are great on their own, but if you wrap them up in a neat little package (ie: this book), you'll have something you can read to brighten your day and uplift your spirit. I would recommend this book, but also think it makes the perfect gift for that hard to buy for friend or relative. Congratulations on a great book Mr. Berner. This is definitely a Five Star Read!

Book Summary:
A book of essays by award-winning author and journalist David W. Berner is the next best thing to storytelling around a bonfire. In There’s a Hamster in the Dashboard, Berner shares stories of “a life in pets”—from a collie that herds Berner home when the author goes “streaking” through the neighborhood as a two-year-old, to a father crying in front of his son for the only time in his life while burying the family dog on the Fourth of July. And from the ant farm that seems like a great learning experience (until the ants learn how to escape), to the hamster that sets out on its own road trip (but only gets as far as the dashboard). Along the way, Berner shows that pets not only connect us with the animal world, but also with each other and with ourselves. The result is a collection of essays that is insightful and humorous, entertaining and touching.

Author Bio:
David W. Berner is a journalist, broadcaster, teacher, and author of two award-winning books: Accidental Lessons, which earned the Royal Dragonfly Grand Prize for Literature, and Any Road Will Take You There, which was a Grand Prize Finalist for the 2015 Hoffer Award for Books. Berner’s stories have been published in a number of literary magazines and journals, and his broadcast reporting and audio documentaries have aired on the CBS Radio Network and dozens of public radio stations across America. He teaches at Columbia College Chicago.

Buy links:

Print or Ebook: Amazon

Print copy only: Dream of Things


Excerpt (from the chapter called "The Intelligence of Dogs"):

When I was three years old, my mother turned her head for just a moment, and I slipped out the front door. I toddled my way down the steep street in front of our home. Naked. Absolutely bare-bottomed.

“Do you know where your son is?” This is how my mother remembered the neighbor’s phone call to our house. “He’s happy as ever; just out for a stroll. But he also looks like he’s on a mission. Oh, and now the dog’s there, too.”

Sally came sprinting from behind. When she caught up, she started to bark and then nudge her nose on my butt and belly.

“The dog is dancing around him like she wants to play or something,” the neighbor told my mother.

Sally kept barking, nudging. I kept walking. Then Sally started to run in a circle around me, as if she were herding sheep.

Mom hung up the phone and hurried out the door.

By this time I was all the way down the street, but I was no longer walking away from home. I was now walking back. Sally, with her persistent shepherding, had turned me around.

My mother was part of the way down the block when she stopped and instead of frantically chasing after me, she simply watched.

“I knew Sally was a good dog,” she said. “But I had never seen a dog do anything like that.” Mom grabbed my arm and gave me a slap on the butt—just enough to get my attention—and then crouched down, wrapped me in her arms, and pulled me in tight. Sally began to whimper and lick my face. My mother hugged her, looked Sally in the eyes, and softly said, “Thank you, girl.”

Photo by Olivia Brey of Oh! Photography

Crystal is a church musician, business owner, active journaler, writer and blogger as well as a dairy farmer. She lives in Reedsville, Wisconsin with her husband, four young children (Carmen 8, Andre 7, Breccan 20 months, and Delphine 14 weeks), two dogs, two rabbits, four little piggies, and over 200 Holsteins. You can find Crystal blogging and reviewing books and all sorts of other stuff at: http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

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5 comments 5 star book review, animal book, animal lover, blog tour, book blog tour, book tour, david berner, david w berner, Dream of Things, hamster in the dashboard, upcoming tour, uplifting book

How Authors Can Use Listmania to Promote Their Book

By Scott Lorenz

As a book publicist I am always on the lookout for effective inexpensive ways to reach book buyers. One way is to tap into the power of Amazon by using Listmania lists. How?

Listmania is a free marketing tool that allows all Amazon account holders to create a list of their favorite things such as books. It is ideal for authors to list their own book on their list along with other books in the same genre to gain from their popularity and association. For example, if you have a book similar to Harry Potter then listing that book along with your book and other similar books, your book can benefit at as it may show up on Google, Bing and Amazon searches.

Here's how to create a Listmania list on Amazon:

• Click the “Edit Your Profile” button on the top right-hand corner of the page.
• Click the “Lists” tab in the Contributions section of Your Profile.
• Click the “Create your first one now” link or “Manage your Listmania Lists” link if you already have existing lists.
• Provide the requested information for your list and click the Preview button to review your list and Publish list when you are finished.

Here’s the information you’ll be asked to enter:

Name Your List: Make it searchable by keywords, other bestselling authors’ names or book titles.

Your qualifications: Your qualifications should be a description of why you’re an expert in the subject of your list.

Introduction: You can add an optional introductory paragraph to describe the list.

Add tags: This allows you to add keywords that help others discover your list.

Add Your Book: This is the core of your list. You can add anything from the book listings on Amazon.com (you can add anything on Amazon for that matter).


Authors often use Listmania as a way to promote their own titles while grouping them with similar books. It is clever, discreet and effective,” said Rosanne Dingli, author of Death of Malta and According to Luke.

“My Listmania is a definitive listing of China photo books that were exhaustively compiled from every genre, from mass-market coffee table books to independently-published eccentricity,” said Tom Carter, author of China: Portrait of a People. His book is considered the most comprehensive book of photography about modern China, and it’s listed with other books in the photojournalism genre.

According to Anna Weber, a literary strategist, “Authors can ask others to list their book on their own Listmania and – if in good taste professionally, to secure recommendations from other readers who are looking for new books to read and purchase.”

Most authors are unaware of this inexpensive and valuable promotional service but should become familiar with it. By creating a list, and adding their own book, the author should also add their competition to the list. It is ideal for the author to create a list with his or her book listed along with the genre competition before someone else creates a similar list without that particular author’s book listed.

“I never understood the exposure Listmania provides each book on a list…it is invaluable. Eventually I saw how often my lists started popping up all over Amazon, and how my book was now appearing under “suggested reading” on other books’ product pages, I realized that Listmania was an untapped goldmine of free and effective book promotion,” adds Carter.

Whether you are a well-known author or self-publishing your first book, Listmania is an economical way for you to promote your book.

The Bottom Line: Listmania gives authors free exposure leading to more sales and recognition. Make a Listmania list TODAY!

***

Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it's their first book or their 15th book. He's handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman's World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at http://www.Book-Marketing-Expert.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 734-667-2090. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist.

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2 comments Amazon book marketing, book marketing, book publicity, how to create a listmania list, Listmania, Scott Lorenz

Friday Speak Out!: Recharging My Creative Palette

by Jennifer Purdie

I arrived at work exactly eight minutes late, like always. At least I was punctually late. I turned on my laptop and the bright glow hurt my eyes; I wasn’t sleeping lately and when I did, a recurring nightmare of my teeth rotting into the form of stalagmites caused me to wake up almost every night in a panic. I decided to research teeth dreams (aka look it up on Wikipedia), and found that rotting teeth symbolized an anxiety building up inside you over time.

As a magazine writer for years, I felt burned out and trying to muster any type of special sparkle in my writing felt laborious. I needed a pick me up and a new outlet to revive my creativity.

I decided to purchase one of those ubiquitous Groupons for an inspirational activity outside of my norm: something called Paint Night. At Paint Night, people learn how to paint a picture. (It’s at night, in case you didn’t get that part.) The Paint Night website stated to wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little dirty, which made sense. In the site’s photos, I spotted participants wearing aprons; at least the company offered some form of paint protection.

When I arrived, a sign read “If you look under 30, we card.” A tall, hefty bouncer with biceps the size of my thighs stood guarding the entrance with his arms crossed across his chest, acting as the gateway to entering.

I looked up at him. “You’re going to card me, right?” I asked, pointing to the sign.

He shrugged his wide, muscular shoulders. “I guess so.”

“That’s the wrong answer. Try again. You’re going to card me, right?” I enunciated every word.

The man, who looked as if his day job were either a cage fighter or stunt double, played along. “Ma’am, I need to see your license. You don’t look at day over 28.”

I cleared my throat. “Try again.”

“25?” he asked.

“That’s better.” I handed him my card and wouldn’t take it back until he at least glanced at it.

I (easily) passed the age requirement and headed into the venue to discover rows of blank canvases on easels placed on different tables. Each easel station contained a bar stool in front of it, a paper plate with the primary colors as well as black and white in paint gobs, and three brushes of various sizes.

Throughout the evening, an instructor taught us how to mix paint to create different shades and dab our brushes for the perfect shape of tree limbs. Although everyone painted the same picture, all were different in their own way. Some made the sun a bright yellow; others added pink and orange. I felt a spark of artistic power for the first time in a long time.

Now I seek out new channels to keep my writing ability fresh. From taking a ukulele course to tango dancing, all make a difference in stimulating my mind.

* * *

Jennifer Purdie is a freelance writer for publications such as The Los Angeles Times, Buzzfeed, Running Times, Purple Clover, CNN and many other national magazines. She recently completed her first novel titled The New Year's Eve Project. You can connect with her on Facebook [http://facebook.com/jenniferpurdie], Twitter [http://twitter.com/jenpurdie] and her website [http://jenniferpurdie.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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8 comments art, Creativity, Friday Speak Out, Jennifer Purdie, rekindling creativity, writer inspiration

TED-Ed's Lessons Worth Sharing: The Writer's Workshop

TED Talks have captivated hours of my life – even though each online video is 18 minutes or less – and have encouraged me to think more deeply about myself and the world: a useful past time for any writer.

I’d like to give you a little background on TED Talks and provide you with some valuable resources for you as writers.

According to the website, “TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages.” TED’s mission is to spread ideas: “We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and, ultimately, the world. On TED.com, we're building a clearinghouse of free knowledge from the world's most inspired thinkers — and a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other.”

Some of the world’s greatest living writers have given TED Talks – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Elizabeth Gilbert, Douglas Adams, Dave Eggers, and JK Rowling, to name a few – which are all available online for free.

But it gets even better.

TED also has an education division, TED-Ed, through which it hosts thousands of video lessons created by educators on countless topics. Some of these videos are part of the Writer's Workshop, which focuses on writing and how to improve your craft.

These range from debates on the Oxford comma to how to write more concisely, build fictional worlds, create believable dialogue and characters, and write powerful introductions.

There are many more and the collection keeps growing! I’ve bookmarked this page and revisit it when I need reminders and inspiration, and I check it for new videos on the writing craft. Any educators out there? You can use these videos to create customized lessons for your students.

Have TED Talks or TED-Ed lessons inspired you? If so, please share your favorites in the comments section below!

Here’s one of my favorites on storytelling to get you started:



Written by Anne Greenawalt, writer and writing instructor

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2 comments Anne Greenawalt, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, TED Talks, TED-Ed, video

Take a Fantastic Trip to the 1970's South with Liars Bench (Book Review)

Before I begin my official review, I just want to say: I love this book, Liar's Bench. From page one, it is refreshing and honest and well-written with a voice that leaps off the page and into your living room to take you back in time.

Okay, now to be more official: Liar’s Bench (published by Kensington) by Kim Michele Richardson is a well-crafted, beautifully-written debut novel by Kim Michele Richardson set in 1972 in Peckinpaw, Kentucky. It tells the story of a 17-year-old girl, living in a town full of lies and turmoil, dating back to 1860 when a slave was wrongly hung in front of the courthouse. Kim explores the themes of coming-of-age, racism, civil rights, Southern living, family secrets and more while she makes you fall in love with her main character, Mudas “Muddy” Summers.

The book begins in 1860 when slave Frannie Crow, who works at the Hark Hill Plantation, is accused of poisoning the plantation’s mistress after the overseer rapes her. It’s a shocking beginning but not told in detail. From page one, readers can see they are in the hands of a master writer and are taking that trip back in time. After Frannie is accused, tried and hung, her son used the wood from his mama’s gallows and created a park bench, which was put in the town. People eventually started calling it Liar’s Bench, “its legacy of misfortune drawn from lies, false promises, and tall tales earned the name it kept for good.”

Fast forward to 1972, and on Muddy’s 17th birthday, her mama is found dead, hanging from the rafters of her house. At first, townspeople are saying it's suicide or maybe her no-good, druggie husband (Muddy’s stepfather), Tommy, finally killed her. Muddy’s not sure what happened, but she is determined to find the truth and figure out where her mama’s life went wrong.

Flashbacks and conversations fill in the story of Muddy’s parents and what led to their divorce. Her father is a well-respected prosecuting attorney, whom Muddy has lived with since her mother married Tommy, and he didn’t want her living with them. But Muddy’s father is far from perfect, causing the divorce when he cheated and drank at home. It’s clear he is a man with secrets, but he loves his daughter, hurts for her, and wants to comfort her grief.

Besides the mystery revolving around Muddy’s mama’s death that propels you through the novel, Muddy has a love story, too, as most 17-year-old girls do. When the novel begins, Muddy thinks about Bobby Marshall, whom she says is "almost more than a friend." Racism still runs deep in Peckinpaw, and Bobby faces this in his young life because he is not "quite white." One of his ancestors is Frannie Crow (the slave wrongly hung), and everyone remembers the story of what happened with her—the park bench doesn’t allow anyone to forget.

Kim explores this young love in an authentic and heartwarming way, and scenes between Bobby and Muddy are like a breath of fresh air on a cool, spring Kentucky morning.

Kim lives in Louisville, Kentucky and has written one other book—her memoir, The Unbreakable Child, which is about when she grew up in a Catholic orphanage in the 1960s in Kentucky and suffered abuse by nuns. Besides writing, she is a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and an advocate for the prevention of child abuse and domestic violence. To find out more about Kim and her books, you can visit her website at http://www.KimmicheleRichardson.com .

Many authors can write a compelling story in a historical setting. But from page one, Kim also creates a world that you can get lost in and come out the other side, learning more about history but also yourself. I highly recommend Liar's Bench, which you can find here!

Review by Margo L. Dill 

Want to write a novel yourself? Working on one and not making progress? Check out Margo's monthly novel writing class, which starts the first Friday of every month (June 5!), here. Critiques, craft discussions, and encouragement help you finish that novel! 

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1 comment book review, debut novels, historical fiction, Margo L. Dill, southern fiction

Call for Submissions: Unfinished Chapters Anthology Competition

One of WOW's instructors--the lovely Christina Hamlett--is editing the forthcoming anthology on unfinished chapters.

Is there an "unfinished chapter" in your life you'd like to write about?

Unfinished Chapters is an upcoming paperback anthology which will feature the best original essays by writers across the country and around the world in five categories:

• Disappearing Acts
• Too Late For Goodbye
• "I Do" It Over
• The Wonder Years
• Ships That Pass

Submissions can be humorous, serious, nostalgic or introspective. See more writing guidelines here.

Word Count: 1,200 - 2,000 words

Deadline: July 1, 2015

Prizes: The top three essays will receive $200, $100, and $75 as well as a feature interview. Contributors whose work is selected for inclusion will receive a paperback copy of the book when published in Fall 2015 as well as a short bio with website links.

Entry Fee: $5

Submission Guidelines: https://unfinishedchaptersanthology.wordpress.com/about/

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2 comments anthology contest, call for submissions, Christina Hamlett, unfinished chapters

Meet Flash Fiction Runner Up, Kay Butzin

When she isn’t obsessively revising a story or essay, Kay Butzin spends her time solving crossword puzzles, playing bridge, and critiquing work for fellow members of the writers group in Rockport, TX. She also recently completed a Flash Nonfiction class online and contributed four feature articles to the fall issue of her alumni newsletter. She received an Honorable Mention in the WOW Winter 2012 contest, and her 250-word story, "Bank Job," was a runner-up in the Summer 2013 competition. Contact her at kaybutzin[at]sbcglobal[dot]net.

interview by Marcia Peterson

WOW: Congratulations on placing in the top ten in our Fall 2014 Flash Fiction competition! What inspired you to enter the contest?

Kay: Thank you, Marcia. Actually, this was the second time I entered “Passage” in a WOW contest. The first time was last summer.

Going through files in search of something to submit I found a 1000-word version of this story, which had won third place in a regional contest seven years earlier. I could see that cutting it to fit within WOW’s word limit would take nothing from it and, in fact, would make it stronger.

That version didn’t win a prize; but based on an encouraging and constructive critique, I revised the story once again and turned it around in time for the Fall 2014 deadline.

WOW: Your persistence paid off! Can you tell us what encouraged the idea behind your story, Passage?

Kay: All the main events happened, just not to one woman. The narrator and Tom are composites. Even the cemetery is a composite.

WOW: You’ve placed in our flash fiction contests several times. What have you learned that works for you, since been through the process a few times now?

Kay: Again, I credit the critiques. “Bank Job,” my runner up in the Summer 2013 contest, was also a story I revised for resubmission, based on judge’s suggestions from an earlier WOW competition.

When I think a story is finished, I print it out and let it sit for three days. After that, if I can read it without reaching for a pen to make a change, I call it finished and push “send.”

WOW: We’d also love to know more about your writing routines. Could you tell us when and where you usually write? Do you have favorite tools or habits that get you going?

Kay: I write every morning, even if only email messages or morning pages. To keep myself inspired and motivated I took an online class in flash nonfiction last fall. In April, I participated in a poem-a-day challenge for National Poetry Month.

Writing prompts are my favorite tool for getting raw ideas onto the page. All my stories, fiction and nonfiction, are conceived by hand with a gel pen and a spiral notebook. Once I’ve captured the essence in a timed writing, I transcribe it into a Word document and begin my obsessive re-visioning process.

WOW: I love that you use a variety of strategies, such as online classes, challenges, and prompts for motivation. Thanks so much for chatting with us today, Kay. Before you go, can you share your favorite writing tip or advice with our readers?

Kay: Although not specifically writing-related, I like this Picasso quote:

"Inspiration exists, but it has to find us working."

Also this one by Martin Luther King, Jr:

"You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step."

*****

For information about our quarterly Flash Fiction contest, visit our contest page. 

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2 comments contest interview, Fall 2014 Flash Fiction Contest, Flash Fiction Contest, flash fiction runner up, Kay Butzin, Runner up, writer inspiration

Summer Writing

As you read this, I am beginning day #1 of my summer writing schedule. What this means is that I’m fitting writing in around swim practice, swim meets, high school summer swim camp, Boy Scout Camp and whatever else some well-meaning soul pitches my way.

As a full time writer, this is remarkably different from my normal Monday through Friday, 8:00 am until 2:30 pm writing schedule. I have one more book due this Friday, and then I’m going to kick back and enjoy some time off. I’m a writer so I can’t not write but I’m going to slow down for a while. This means that I’m going to focus on writing short:

Blogging. Not only do I write here on the Muffin, but I have my own blog and a book review blog. When things are super busy, I may not get much else accomplished, but I can generally write a blog post in a sitting.

Picture Books. Picture books aren’t easy but they are short. That means that when I don’t have much writing time, I can focus on one spread which, in my work in progress, is 20 to 30 words. Yep. I can do that in a sitting.

Devotionals or inspirational pieces. Last year, I sold a devotional to Alive Now. Since then, I’ve only submitted one other. This will be the perfect time to work on these shorter pieces that generally max out at 400 words.

Short nonfiction. Schoolwide, one of my publishers, is in need of short nonfiction. I have one piece almost ready to go. After I smooth that out, I can develop some new pieces for this market. These can be up to 500 words but also require research. That said, I can probably work one up every two weeks or so.

If you’re a teacher, this might be the opposite of your writing schedule. Now that you aren’t in the classroom five days a week, you have the time and energy to write so instead of working on short pieces you might be looking at something longer.

But what works for you doesn’t have to work for me. The key, as always, is this – find what works for you and own it.

--SueBE

The next session of Sue's class, Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults begins on July 6, 2015.

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Leave a Comment summer writing, writing schedule, writing short

When Quitting a Project is Necessary

Sometimes, a change in perspective can make a world of difference.

A few days ago, our Friday Speak Out blogger wrote a post about coming to terms with letting go of a writing project or novel. I did a double take when I first saw the title of the piece, “Letting Go,” because I could completely relate. For the past year, I’ve battled conflicting feelings about an editorial contract position I held with a local magazine.

Without getting into all the details, over the course of three years, the advertising revenue for the magazine sank to an all-time low, and each issue found me scrambling to fill holes with relevant local content, much of which I had to write myself. I was only paid a set amount each issue, regardless of how much extra copy I had to proof and write. I also never received an increase in pay. Even though the magazine was only produced every other month, which theoretically should have given me plenty of time to work on other projects, I would find myself so mentally exhausted after each issue that I couldn’t write creatively for weeks. The novels I’ve been trying to get ready for submission have languished on my hard drive, leaving me unhappier than ever.

I’ve always heard the advice from other freelancers that if you find yourself working with a client that is keeping you from being your most productive and causing you emotional and financial distress, you should find a replacement gig and move on. For the past year, I’ve known I should do just that, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Why? I guess part of it was the lure of those six paychecks each year. I also didn’t want to break out of my comfort zone and routine, as taxing as it had become.

A few weeks ago, I came to a crossroads. After getting ready to put together the next issue of the magazine, I was told that the revenue was too low for us to print. The articles I had hired out would not be published, nor would any of the content I had already put together. But the magazine still hadn’t made the final decision whether or not to cease publishing altogether.

After several days, I knew I had to resign from my position, as disheartening as it was. The stress became too much to bear, and I had lost all my enthusiasm for the job I once loved. In many cases, I believe we need to walk away from something before we can flourish. I wallowed for about a week, but now I’m moving on. I’m excited about the chance to flesh out several article and essay ideas I’ve had brewing for awhile, and my novels are finally going to get the revision they need and deserve.

Have you ever found yourself having to walk away from a freelance assignment or contract? I’d love to hear about your experiences and how you handled them.

Renee Roberson is an award-winning freelance writer, mother of two children, and Blog Tour Manager for WOW! Women on Writing. Visit her website at www.finishedpages.com.

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6 comments career choices, freelance clients, freelance writing, Renee Roberson

Finding a Muse While You Snooze?

What stories do you think they're writing in their dreams?

I hope you find the title as amusing as I do. Maybe it’s my sleep deprived self or the countless Dr. Seuss books I am asked to read each day, but I wanted to talk about where inspiration comes from, and this title just seemed too cute to pass up.

I am blessed with a job allowing me to interview, chat with, and get to know many talented writers. One of those writers is Mari McCarthy of Create Write Now. Mari recently asked me how my own writing is going. I was ashamed to tell her I haven’t been making time. With four young children and a business, I am just thankful to sleep most days. After responding to Mari, I told my husband “I need to make more time to write” and he pointed out I haven’t been journaling either. Some of my best short story ideas came as a result of journaling. When diligent about it, I would write in my journal before even hopping out of bed in the morning. I would try to recall my dreams and get them down on paper before they slipped away and I got busy with the day.

As my current husband and I chatted about time management and how busy things have been, he turned to me with a smirk and said “you haven’t killed your ex-husband lately either, I’m sure he misses reading those stories”. So, before I ask you to share your best dream inspired stories, or tell us where your story lines come from, I’ll share a cute story about how my dreams killed my ex.

I woke up quite disturbed and before drinking my coffee, I had to text Ben (my ex who is still a friend). I had a dream he had died and I was summoned by customs to leave the country and identify his body. The dream was so incredibly real I just had to know if he was okay. He responded to my text with a phone call; we laughed and I told him the entirety of the dream. He encouraged me to turn it into a short story on my blog…which I did…readers loved it, and we still get a good laugh about the situation.

This leads me to ask the question:

Where does your inspiration come from?

Photo Courtesy of Olivia Brey of Oh! Photography

Crystal is a church musician, business owner, active journaler, writer and blogger as well as a dairy farmer. She lives in Reedsville, Wisconsin with her husband, four young children (Carmen 8, Andre 7, Breccan 20 months, and Delphine 12 weeks), two dogs, two rabbits, four little piggies, and over 200 Holsteins. You can find Crystal blogging and reviewing books and all sorts of other stuff at: http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

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3 comments author, dream, dream journal, ideas, Inspiration, inspirational dream, inspire, journal, muse, Writers, writing

Friday Speak Out!: Letting Go

by Susanne Brent

I had the slogan NO QUITTING pinned to the bulletin board near my desk. Each time I was tempted to give up on my novel, I would glance at the bulletin board and tell myself I was not a quitter. I could never abandoned the characters I created and that I’d grown to know and love, Genevieve and Darcy and all the others I birthed in my yet-unfinished manuscript. I must continue. I didn’t want to feel like a failure, to have wasted all those hours at the keyboard for nothing. How would I tell well-meaning friends who regularly asked about my novel that I, gasp, quit?

Letting go whether it be a job, a relationship or a story I’ve written, is a struggle for me. When it comes to objects, no problem. I donate clothes and other things to my local Humane Society thrift shop with ease. I’ll never be on a hoarder reality show. Yet, when it comes to people, I avoid saying goodbye. My loyalty may look commendable, but often it is fear holding me back from saying adios to that worn out friendship or stale job.

The same with my novel which I’ve labored on for more than seven years, hours spent writing and editing as well as priceless help revising from writer friends. I wrote 75,000 words, and find myself wanting to call it quits.

I revised the first chapters so many times that I am confused about my original intention. I committed the mistake writing instructors warned me against. I revised the beginning chapters before I finished the entire manuscript. For some writers revising while writing is fine, but not me. I should have just plowed through the entire story.

Ah well, it’s too late now to lament how I fouled up my writing process. I tell myself it wasn’t wasted time. I was writing and not dusting or cleaning the fridge I was practicing.

Last week while in Costa Rica I discovered not just the rainforest and monkeys, but a new idea for a novel I want to write. Those are the key words. I want to write. I don’t want to write my old novel anymore. There I said it. I confess. Now what?

I feel guilty. A quitter. I feel like a married woman with a new lover, obligated to my novel but wanting to start afresh. I worry, too, that I am untrustworthy and fickle. I’m able to discard a novel I’ve loved for the promise of the new.

To help myself let go, I tell myself I can revisit my novel someday. I grew as a writer even if the novel was never published. I apologized to my characters. I have to move on. There’s a new story calling me. I’m learning the four letter word quit doesn’t mean I’m a failure. Not when I am replacing it with another four letter word. True. I must be true to myself. And my writing.

* * *

Susanne Brent is a freelance writer who worked for several years as a newspaper reporter. She has had her news articles, short stories and essays published in various publications including Cup of Comfort for Christmas and Matter of Choice -- Twenty Five People who Transformed their Lives. Her blog is writerwaitress.blogspot.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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4 comments Friday Speak Out, new start, new story, novel writing, novel writing process, Susanne Brent, true to self

Ask (Your Writer Friends) and Receive

I had lunch with a writer friend this week; she had an ARC of her soon-to-be-released romance novel and at long last, I’d get to read the whole thing. But she wasn’t so much happy for me as she was…well, a bit apologetic.

Honestly, if I hadn’t won the ARC, I’d probably still be waiting around, wondering about her book. When in truth, all she had to do was ask.

Why do we do that? That is, why do writers—not all, of course, but a great many of us—find it so difficult to solicit support from the very people who likely understand us the most? Why do we balk at asking our personal writer friends for help? At giving a review? Or allowing us to write a guest blog post?

In talking to my friend (and really, it was quite a long lunch) I had time to hear all of her excuses. Maybe you’ve heard the same excuses:

But you don’t really like (fill in the blank with appropriate genre).

Okay, maybe I wouldn’t pick up a vampire western or a robot romance or a fairy fantasy. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t appreciate good plotting in an Old West romp, or finely-drawn fairy characters. And that’s exactly what I’ll write about—and enjoy—in whatever you’ve written. So give me a push about your book—and let me be the judge of the writing.

But what if the book really stinks.

I suppose it’s a possibility that your book could stink. Then again, I’ve read plenty of books, written by Very Famous Authors, that weren’t so hot, in my humble opinion. But those Very Famous Authors are not my personal friends, and they don't need my help. So even if your book stinks, I’ll like it well enough to say something nice because that's what friends do.

But I know you’re busy and I really hate to bother you…

Yep, I’m busy. And I may not be able to read your book tomorrow. It may be even longer before I get that review posted. And if you have to send me a nice email reminder, I’ll be fine with a nudge. Because I know you’d do whatever you could to support me in my writing journey.

I’m not unique in the writing world. I bet your writer friends are just like me—thrilled for your success and willing to lend you support. But you have to, you know, reach out a bit (or send an ARC, or an email, or a pdf of the book).

So no more excuses, writers. Ask (your friends) and you shall receive.

~Cathy C. Hall

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7 comments book reviews, Cathy C. Hall, guest blog post, Writer support, writing advice

Just Back Off and Let Us Teach by Caroline Lewis Book Review and Giveaway

If America wants to reform public education and regain its status in the world, it must start valuing teachers and stop the present policy of commissioning study after study and revising measurement tests every few years. That assertion is made by author Caroline Lewis, who outlines reform in her new book Just Back Off and Let Us Teach: A Book for Effective Teachers and Those Who Champion Them. Both descriptive and motivational, Lewis' book defines five skills distinctive of effective teachers called SCOPE (Sensitivity, Communication, Organization, Professionalism, and Enthusiasm) Skills. Lewis encourages all teachers to self-examine and grade themselves on their own effectiveness using SCOPE Scores.

"The single most important thing we can do in America today," says Lewis, "is to take the money we spend on education reforms at the federal level and invest it in school leadership and teachers' salaries and professional development. This will help attract the brightest young minds to the teaching profession, keep effective teachers in the classroom, and properly reward those who have the greatest influence on our future."

Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing (December 5, 2014)
ISBN-10: 1457534606
ISBN-13: 978-1457534607

Just Back Off and Let Us Teach is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and IndieBound.

Book Giveaway Contest:
To win a copy of Just Back Off and Let Us Teach, please enter using the Rafflecopter form at the bottom of this post. The giveaway contest closes this Tuesday, June 2 at 12:00 AM EST. We will announce the winner the same day in the Rafflecopter widget. Good luck!

About Caroline Lewis:

After spending 22 years as a science teacher and school principal, Caroline Lewis became director of education for Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and developed the award-winning Fairchild Challenge to engage students in environmental issues. As founder and CEO of The CLEO Institute, she applies her educational leadership skills to promote solution-oriented approaches to address climate disruptions. A native of Trinidad, she earned an MS in Educational Leadership in 1999 and is committed to elevating and celebrating the teaching profession.

Visit the author online:

Website: www.CarolineLewisEducation.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JustBackOffandLetUsTeach

***** Book Review: Just Back Off and Let Us Teach *****

Review by Renee Roberson

Not many can dispute that our country’s educational system is broken. Type in the search term “education reform” and you’ll find educational leaders and activists across the country devoted to repairing the broken system—all with different solutions. Author and educator Caroline Lewis also tackles this topic in her book Just Back Off and Let Us Teach: A Book for Effective Teachers and Those Who Champion Them, but instead of focusing on problems within education as a whole, she zeroes in on the people who have the ability to shine despite those cracks in the educational system—the teachers. As she writes in the introduction to her book, Lewis is well aware of “the role of poverty, school climate, school leadership, student motivation, parental involvement . . . but effective teaching remains an important component.”

Throughout the book, Lewis discusses the concept of how effective teachers can progress to become “superteachers,” and earn their imaginary superhero capes along the way. She knows teaching is a noble profession, and believes teachers should consider themselves “works-in-progress" who should continually strive to learn and grow. In her experience as an educator and administrator, Lewis has put together a list of five defining characteristics of effective teaching (note that these characteristics did not include student performance). These SCOPE skills include: Sensitivity, Communication, Organization, Professionalism, and Enthusiasm. Teachers who read this book can take a preliminary SCOPE assessment to help determine areas of improvement. The author’s genuine love of teaching and the field of education is evident throughout this book, as she gently but firmly guides teachers through these characteristics, gives examples, and offers solutions on how to keep students engaged in a love of learning, no matter what the subject.

Lewis is realistic however, and understands that teachers do “burn out,” or simply don't have the stamina and enthusiasm for teaching, causing them to fall back on less imaginative teaching practices, which do a disservice to both the teacher and the students. In this case, she’s not opposed to advising educators who have lost their zest for teaching to develop an “exit strategy” before it’s too late. In her writing, it’s clear Lewis has students’ best interests at heart, and teachers will come away from this book with a renewed vigor and passion for teaching, and numerous ways to do so.

----------Mini Blog Tour

Wednesday, May 27 @ The Muffin
Stop by for a review of Just Back Off and Let Us Teach and enter to win a copy of the book.
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

Thursday, May 28 @ My Final Forty Days
Educator Caroline Lewis answers the question "What is the major reason good teachers are declining?" in this guest post at M. Shannon Hernandez's blog.
http://www.myfinal40days.com/

Tuesday, June 2 @ Successful Teaching
What are some ways we can make the teaching profession noble again? Caroline Lewis offers her suggestions.
http://successfulteaching.blogspot.com

Thursday, June 4 @ All Things Audry
What is the Finland model for education and what is Finland doing that other countries are not? Caroline Lewis offers an explanation in this guest post.
http://allthingsaudry.blogspot.com

Monday, June 8 @ Lifting the Curtain
Caroline Lewis shares her viewpoint on the role parents, leadership, and poverty all play in the world of public education.
http://LiftingTheCurtainOnEducation.wordpress.com/

Thursday, June 11 @ Sioux's Page
Educator Sioux Roslawski reviews Caroline Lewis's book Just Back Off and Let Us Teach.
http://siouxspage.blogspot.com

To view all our touring authors, check out our Events Calendar. Keep up with blog stops and giveaways in real time by following us on Twitter @WOWBlogTour.

Get Involved!
If you have a website or blog and would like to host one of our touring authors or schedule a tour of your own, please email us at blogtour@wow-womenonwriting.com.

Book Giveaway Contest

Enter to win a copy of Just Back Off and Let Us Teach! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. We will announce the winner in the Rafflecopter widget on Tuesday, June 2.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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1 comment book review, Caroline Alexander Lewis, Education Reform, Just Back Off and Let Us Teach, Renee Roberson, WOW! Blog Tours