Friday Speak Out!: Why I Enjoy Writing, Guest Post by Muddy Kinzer

Why I Enjoy Writing

by Muddy Kinzer

There is a piece of me that is inherently creative. It is not bossy or demanding, like the part of me that insists I exercise whether I want to or not. I don’t have to force it with a sharply pointed stick to motivate it, like the part of me responsible for laundry and clean bathrooms. This part of me is just there, sitting in the middle of the floor of my mind like a giggling toddler that I can’t wait to pick up and play with.

Over the years, my creative outlets have taken different forms. I have a collection of patterned paper, inks, rubber stamps, and multi-colored markers that thrill me whenever I look at them. As a volunteer art teacher, I have spent many a happy hour elbow-deep in chalk pastels, paint, charcoal, and watercolors.

I love them all!

Well, not the set-up, of course. It takes time to pull out all the supplies and even more time to clean up afterwards. Washing out brushes, scrubbing off glue from my kitchen table, mopping up drops of colored paint from the floor... My creative ventures are fulfilling, but they are also events.

But writing—aahhh, writing! Only a computer or a piece of paper and a pencil and I’m good to go.

Writing slides neatly into the small blocks of time that make up my day, and I can do it at home on my computer or anywhere else with my notebook and mechanical pencil. I love writing longhand, in cursive with no abbreviations, forming each rounded letter if the ideas are coming in leisurely, or cutting off the ends of words when I have trouble keeping up. I can write sitting in a chair with my feet on the ground or lying on my stomach on the floor with my feet crossed in the air.

In a pinch, I don’t even need those basic supplies to write. I can ponder, create, tweak, and rewrite all in my head while I do my daily exercise, when I’m driving someone to somewhere, or at night in the period of time between turning out the light and drifting off to sleep. I just have to make sure I remember it long enough to record it.

Writing gives me the freedom to correct mistakes. In life, I can set myself into a tailspin when I say the wrong thing. But in writing, I can erase the offending line or use it as a springboard for further conflict and/or growth. When my characters have an argument and I think of the perfect retort three days later, I can go back and add it in. Life is uncertain: I may have happy endings or I may not. With my characters, I can give them any kind of ending I want.

Whether I’m buzzing with creativity or too tired to get off the couch, whether I’ve had a bad day I need to escape from or a great day I’d like to extend, writing is always there waiting for me.

* * *

After years entrenched in the baby/toddler stages of life, Muddy Kinzer is now realizing there is life after kids! She writes, plays with art, and is still indispensable to her 3 sons because she has a car. When she’s not enjoying the health benefits of good quality dark chocolate, she writes on her blog Muddying the Waters at www.muddyingthewaters.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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1 comment Friday Speak Out, guest post, Muddy Kinzer, writer inspiration

Writing a Marketable Children's Short Story

The children's magazine market is not dead--it's just changing like everything else in publishing. There are more e-zines for children, like Guardian Angel Kids and Knowonder; and even traditional magazines, like Highlights for Children, have a web presence. But one thing that is NOT different is the fact that these editors still need quality and entertaining stories for children that fit their word count, themes, and general overall magazine purpose.

Writing a fiction short story under 1,000 words for a magazine IS NOT THE SAME as writing a picture book. Picture books have the illustrations to help tell the story--as a matter of fact, the text and illustrations should both do about 50 percent of the work in a picture book. However, in a magazine story, the illustrations are there more for decoration and to draw a child to the story--the text has to do most of the work. So, before you write anything, you need to know what you are writing--a fiction short story or a picture book.

Another thing to consider is the types of stories that are in children's magazines. These are generally upbeat with a small, subtle lesson. If you want to write a story about child abuse or runaway children, a short story for a children's magazine is not your venue. And magazine editors get TOO MANY stories about divorce or dealing with a dying parent, grandparent, or pet. Yes, children go through these issues all the time, but writers write about these subjects all the time, too; so stay away from these if you want to write a marketable children's story.

Okay, so I've been writing a lot of DON'Ts so far in this post, so what should you do if you want to write for a children's magazine? (By the way, it is a great way to start out your children's writing career, OR if you have a book published, it's a great way to let children know about you as an author and get a whole NEW audience.) Here are a few tips:

• Read the submission guidelines carefully. (Consider checking them out online AND in The Writer's Market.) Editors will often give tips on what they are looking for or NOT looking for and how to break into the magazine. You also need to pay attention to theme lists and word count. 
• Read past copies of the magazines you are submitting to and/or check out their online archives. Libraries will often have past copies, or you can get a sample copy for a small fee. Once you read some stories in a particular magazine, you will see the style and tone of their fiction. Never, never blindly submit a fiction story to a publication. 
• You have a small amount of words in most cases. Don't put too many characters or subplots in your story. You generally have two or three child characters and one major problem to solve in a short fiction story. Adults should be absent or in the background.
• I've said this before on The Muffin, and I will say it again. The main character needs to be able to solve his or her OWN problem. If he or she can't, then the story will not work.
• Magazines are always in need of humor and stories for boys. Also, many children's magazines like re-tellings of old fables and stories from other cultures.

I've provided a lot of tips here; and if you follow them all, will you produce a marketable children's story? Hopefully! But I can't tell you how many  I have in the files of my computer that will probably never see the pages of a magazine--and  I know the rules. However, my writing would not be where it is today if I would not have written each and every one of those stories. And who knows? Maybe one day, some of them will work their way into the hands of kids. Write the stories in your heart, but keep the publishing rules in mind while you do! 

If you are interested in writing fiction for children's magazines, my online writing for children's magazine class starts on May 24. It's a great introduction to the magazine/e-zine world, and we also talk about writing for parenting and teaching magazines. After all, who buys the books you are writing for children? If you are interested, you can sign up at Writing for Children online class.  The class currently has a $25 discount for spring!

Thanks and happy writing,
Margo L. Dill

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Which Self-Publishing Path Is Right for YOU?

Which Self-Publishing Path Is Right for YOU?

If you decide to self-publish, the first (and most important) decision you’ll have to make is “how” you will self-publish.

To determine how you will self-publish, you should first evaluate your long-term goals, how much time you can devote to the process, and the amount of money you can afford to invest in publication and marketing. Once you do this, you will be able to choose the publishing path that will work best for you.

Here are the most common paths for self-publishers:


Self-Publishing Path 1 – Make it a Business

You establish yourself as a publisher and manage all of the publishing processes on your own. You will hire your own editor, designer, and typesetter. You will choose your print and e-book production sources. You will choose your sales and distribution channels. You will market your books or hire someone to do the marketing for you. This may seem like a complicated path to take but, in reality, it can be relatively simple. Technology and access to powerful sales, distribution, and marketing channels, have made it easy for hundreds of writers to become legitimate publishers.

This Self-Publishing Path Is Ideal If: (1)-You have the time, determination, and budget to become a publisher of quality, commercially viable books. (2)-You want to lower your costs, earn higher profits, and retain all rights and control. (3) You want credibility and easier access to sales and distribution channels.

Self-Publishing Path 2 – Lose a Little to Gain a Little

You choose a self-publishing service to manage everything for you. You will pay the self-publishing service to package your book (editing, design, typesetting, etc.) You will share a percentage of your sales profits with the self-publishing service. For some writers, the higher per book costs, lower profits, and loss of some control – is a fair exchange for not having to deal with the “business” of publishing. Thoroughly research all of the self-publishing services you are considering using. Compare each company with the other. Crunch some numbers so that you don’t have to lose too much over the long-term.

This Self-Publishing Path Is Ideal If: (1)-You aren’t interested in going into the “business” of publishing. (2)-You want someone else to manage all of the publishing processes for you and are willing to share your profits for this assistance. (3) You want everything to be as simple as possible.

Self-Publishing Path 3 – Cheap (Or Free) D.I.Y.

You choose a service such as Createspace or Lulu, where you can publish whatever you want, at virtually zero cost. You do your own editing. You design your own cover. You typeset your own interior. You let Createspace or Lulu manage the sales and distribution. Many writers are on a very tight budget and can’t afford to invest anything in book publication. Others are just testing the self-publishing waters, before making a real commitment of time or finances. If you take this path, do what you can to produce a quality book, with whatever budget and talent you have.

This Self-Publishing Path Is Ideal If: (1)-You have little to no budget for self-publishing. (2)-You are as good at editing and design as you are at writing...or have friends/colleagues who can help you in these areas. (3)-You aren’t interested in earning a living from your writing. You just want to write and put it out there. (4)-You want to start small and test the waters – before you really jump in to the real business of self-publishing.

How will you self-publish?

Next Let’s Talk About Self-Publishing Post:
5 Self-Publishing Obstacles – And How to Overcome Them

Post by Deana Riddle; Deana is a publisher and publishing consultant who provides authors and business professionals with the tools needed to become successful independent publishers. She also offers the Published in 90 Days Program, found in the WOW! classroom.

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Dawn Novotny, author of RagDoll Redeemed, launches her book tour

& book giveaway contest!

We all face obstacles in our lives. Some days it seems just too tough to go on, battling against our problems. The memoir RagDoll Redeemed: Growing Up in the Shadow of Marilyn Monroe will be an inspiration to everyone who reads it, no matter what demons they face in their own life. RagDoll Redeemed is the story of Dawn Novotny’s triumph over the problems that seemed destined to conquer her.

Early on, Dawn learned that her body could get her things she wanted . . . not luxuries like diamond rings or fancy clothes but simple things we all take for granted like food and safety. As the years passed, Dawn began a search for that thing all teenage girls want more than anything: love. She thought she found it with Joe DiMaggio Jr. but quickly learned that, like all the other men in her life, he was just interested in a trade. If she would fulfill his Marilyn fantasies, he would give her safety. RagDoll Redeemed is the story of Dawn’s realization that she would have to provide her own safety and her long journey to discover what love truly was.

Paperback: 180 pages
Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing LLC (January 12, 2012)
Genre: Memoir
ISBN-10: 1457506173
ISBN-13: 978-1457506178
Twitter Hashtag: #Novotny

RagDoll Redeemed: Growing Up in the Shadow of Marilyn Monroe is available in paperback at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Dog Ear Publishing, and your local independent bookstore.

Book Giveaway Contest: If you would like to win a copy of RagDoll Redeemed: Growing Up in the Shadow of Marilyn Monroe, please leave a comment at the end of this post to be entered in the random drawing. The giveaway contest closes this Thursday, May 10 at 11:59 PM PST. For an extra entry, link to this post on Twitter with the hashtag #Novotny, then come back and leave us a link to your tweet. We will announce the winner the following day--Friday, May 11. Good luck!

About the Author:

So many words describe Dawn Novotny: clinician, teacher, author, workshop leader, wife, mother, stepmother, grandmother, recovering addict, breast cancer survivor, reader, swing dancer, and snorkeler. But what she is most proud of is her ability to “thrive.” She thrived in the face of poverty, abuse, and addiction to finally become the woman she is today. She wrote her memoir to encourage other women to look past their difficulties to what is possible, to the women they should be.

Find the author online:

Blog: http://www.thefaceswelive.com

Twitter: @DawnNovotny

---------Interview by Jodi Webb

WOW: Memoir is such an intensely personal type of writing. What made you begin to write Ragdoll Redeemed? Did it start as a journal?

Dawn: Ragdoll Redeemed: Growing Up In The Shadow of Marilyn Monroe was never intended to be a memoir. The first written stories about my childhood were in the third person. It would have been way too scary to talk about myself in the first person back then.

My colleague and I wanted to write about the psycho-spiritual intensive workshops that we held around the country. We offered our personal stories to illustrate the therapeutic model that we utilized during these workshops. Our efforts never got off of the ground.

A few years later, I wanted to learn sentence structure and grammar; especially the use of tenses. So I signed up for a writing class with Linda Joy Myers, president of National Association of Memoir Writers and author of Becoming Whole: Writing Your Healing Story. I submitted my early stories because that was all that I had to offer at that time. I remained in her class for the next 3-4 years. Guided by Linda joy and nestled within the safety net of the writing group, Ragdoll Redeemed was born. We still laugh about my original intended goal, tenses, don't you know, LOL. No one could have imagined a book was emerging, least of all me.

WOW: How did you address the issue of how people—either those portrayed in your memoir or who might have different memories of those portrayed in your memoir—might react to your memoir?

Dawn: Most of the people in my memoir have passed away so that wasn't too much of a concern in terms of portraying others in a negative light.

WOW: What type of reactions did you get—either from those portrayed or simply from readers? Angry, sympathetic, appreciative?

Dawn: The book is quite new so the reactions thus far have mostly been appreciative. Women have identified with some of the more shameful aspects of my story. I am still in shock that I revealed some of things that I revealed! Their comments have helped me to calm down a little.

Fortunately, my husband and children are proud of me. First, that I survived my past and second that I even wrote the book knowing that writing is quite a challenge for me. My older brother held only vague memories of our past, so the reading and remembering were the hardest on him.

WOW: What is the most difficult part of memoir writing: anticipating others’ reactions, choosing what aspects to include or leave out, opening up your personal life and feelings to the public, or something else? What about memoir writing is rewarding?

Dawn: By far, the most difficult part of memoir writing was anticipating other's reactions. I have always held to the notion that if one remains small, one is less of a target to hit. And, I feared that I would make a fool of myself.

Another challenge was choosing what aspects to include or omit, which turned out to be a rather arbitrary process. The best part of memoir writing is that it slows down the details of your story which accesses a different part of one's psyche. Healing then occurs on multiple levels especially if you are being witnessed in a writing group.

WOW: The saying goes, "We all have a book in us." Do you think we all have a memoir in us, perhaps not for publication, but just a memoir that needs to be written?

Dawn: I believe absolutely that everyone has an inner memoir waiting to be written. I would suggest that you just write your story, then decide if you want to publish it. I would not have had the courage to have kept on writing if I thought that people would actual see my story.

WOW: If you had to sum up why you wrote Ragdoll Redeemed in one sentence, what would you say?

Dawn: I would sum up why I wrote Ragdoll Redeemed this way; therapy, friends, and 12-step programs healed the big black spiders in my mind; writing a memoir swept clean the lingering spider webs.

WOW: Do you have any favorite memoirs or memoir writers?

Dawn: Jeannette Walls, The Glass Castle, Sue William Silverman, Because I Remember Terror, Father, I Remember You, and all of Mary Karr's books.

WOW: What can we expect next from you?

Dawn: I will soon have two free e-books (compilations of my blogs) ready to read. One is called The Hungry Ghost of Addiction Took Our Daughter. The other is called Snippets of Marilyn and Me.

WOW: We look forward to it!

---------Blog Tour Dates

Wednesday, May 9 @ Laurie Here
Don't miss a review of Dawn Novotny's memoir RagDoll Redeemed: Growing Up in the Shadow of Marilyn Monroe.
http://www.lauriehere.blogspot.com

Wednesday, May 16 @ Women's Memoirs
Memoirist Dawn Novotny writes about how we can save family history with our storytelling. Share your favorite family story today!
http://womensmemoirs.com/

Friday, May 18 @ National Association of Memoir Writers
Learn about healing through writing from Dawn Novotny, author of the memoir RagDoll Redeemed. http://namw.org

Monday, May 21 @ Me and Reading
Learn about how Dawn Novotny, author of the memoir RagDoll Redeemed, weathered the ups and downs of life, married into baseball royalty, and finally discovered the real Dawn.
http://www.ingasilbergbooks.com/

Friday, May 25 @ Women's Memoirs
Dawn Novotny, author of RagDoll Redeemed, returns to Women's Memoirs to share some tips on how she marketed her memoir.
http://womensmemoirs.com/

Wednesday, May 30 @ All Things Audry
Dawn Novotny shares 5 “Must Haves” if Diagnosed with Breast Cancer. You can also learn more about her memoir RagDoll Redeemed from today's review.
http://allthingsaudry.blogspot.com

Monday, June 4 @ Kritter's Ramblings
Don't miss a review of Dawn Novotny's memoir about discovering your true self after years of other people telling you who they thought you should be!
http://www.krittersramblings.com

Wednesday, June 6 @ I Was Just Thinking...
Memoir writing can change your thoughts about yourself...learn more from memoir writer Dawn Novotny. http://bellewoodfarm.blogspot.com/ 

Thursday, June 7 @ Cmash Loves to Read
Forgiveness. Why is it so important to a healthy life? Find out and enter to win one of TWO COPIES of Dawn Novotny's memoir RagDoll Redeemed.
http://cmashlovestoread.com/

Friday, June 8 @ Memory Writers Network
Learn more about the ill-fated relationship between Dawn Novotny and Joe DiMaggio Jr in her memoir RagDoll Redeemed.
http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/

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

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 Robyn or Jodi at blogtour@wow-womenonwriting.com.

Book Giveaway Contest: Enter to win a print copy of RagDoll Redeemed: Growing Up in the Shadow of Marilyn Monroe! Here's how you enter:


1. For your first entry, just leave a comment on this post! Just leave Dawn a comment or ask a question to be entered in the random drawing.

2. For an extra entry, link to this post on Twitter with the hashtag #Novotny then come back and leave us a link to your tweet.

The giveaway contest closes Thursday, May 10 at 11:59 PM PST. We will announce the winner in the comments section of this post the following day--Friday, May 11, and if we have the winner's email from the comments section, we will also notify them via email.

Good luck!

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17 comments author blog tour, book giveaway contest, Dawn Novotny, Joe DiMaggio Jr, Marilyn Monroe, memoir, Ragdoll Redeemed

Interviews: Apps and 11 Simple Steps

When you need to interview someone for an article or a book, here are a 11 steps.

First contact. First, get permission for an interview. When you identify someone who has information you need for a book or article, call, write, or email for permission. Clearly identify yourself, the project you are working on, and what information you hope they can provide.

In-person, Skype, email, telephone interviews. When you make the first contact, also ask HOW they want to proceed. Many people today want to just answer by email, which means they have time to think about a question and word it carefully. However, many today still want to do an in-person or phone interview. A final option these days is a Skype interview, using the live video over the internet protocols.

Research before interview. Do your research before you interview. For example, a writer friend recently conducted a telephone interview with a very busy doctor about recent research. Before the interview, the writer had already read a great deal of background information and could easily talk the technical talk that was needed for a deep understanding of the topic. She had a list of technical questions for which she needed clarification, quotes or more details. The doctor was appreciative that she didn't have to provide a basic course in the topic for the writer.

Write out questions. Go into an interview with specific questions. These will be based on the particular slant you are taking. For example, if you interviewed a doctor about her research, are you most interested in the doctor and her scientific process, or about the implications of the research findings? Either slant could make a good article; but each would require a different understanding of the doctor and her research, thus requiring different questions.

Tape. If you are doing a Skype or telephone interview, the first thing you must do is verbally get permission to tape the interview. Usually there's no problem because the interviewee wants you to be accurate.

For telephone interviews, here's a list of six iPhone apps.

For Skype, see their apps shop for 3rd party add-ons.

Be flexible. During the interview, even with your prepared questions, be flexible. If a topic or detail comes up that is interesting, reveals new information or confuses you, follow up. Ask enough questions to make sure you understand what the person is telling you. On the other hand, if you realize you just don't know enough, be aware of their time; it may be better to say that you need to do more background reading on a particular subject and can you get back to them at another time. Busy people would appreciate this!

Anything you want to add? I always like to end interviews with this question: What have I left out? What else should I be asking? Is there anything else you want to add? Sometimes, I don't know enough to know what I don't know—and experts like to talk about their passions. You may be surprised by the answers you get to this open-ended question.

Contact info for follow-ups. End by asking how the interviewee would like you to contact them again for any follow-up questions.

Transcribe. After the interview—soon after the interview—transcribe it. Some people want to leave out this step because it is more work. But transcribing will imprint the information even better on your memory and let you work out any remaining questions.

Follow-up. Don't be afraid to go back to the expert for follow-up questions. But be sure to do any background reading you can before you do that. Don't waste an expert's time with generalities. Follow-ups should be to clarify a quote, clear up a detail, ask for reference materials, etc.

Bibliography. Be sure to add your interview to your bibliography.

Expert XYZ. Personal interview. May 5, 2012.

Write. Ok. Now, write your article of that section of your book!

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Darcy Pattison blogs about how-to-write at Fiction Notes.

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Taking a Writer's Retreat

A couple weekends ago, a friend of mine hosted a writer’s retreat at her home. I had no idea what to expect because I’d never been to one. But now I know why “treat” is part of the word. We plugged in and had a great time!

Our host had planned retreats before so she had the details down. I thought I’d share her expertise for when you plan your writer’s retreat. (Yeah, you’re going to want a writer’s retreat of your very own by the time you finish reading this post!)

1. She planned the retreat for a no-school Friday so that we’d have from early Friday afternoon to Sunday morning. (Dad took the kids for a camping weekend. Isn’t that a swell Dad?). Of course, you don’t have to use a personal home; you can rent a mountain cabin or any quiet spot and split the rent.

2. She let us know what to bring: a pillow, laptops, cords, and any other supplies we needed to write. We’d be eating out for a meal, but mostly eating in. So that meant we’d need to bring our favorite foods and beverages. (And P.S. We shared our bounty!)

3. Many of the writers arrived on Friday around the same time so we were able to gather and discuss what we were working on. Most had brought novel manuscripts, but one writer was working on a play, another a workshop presentation. Talk about great expectations! So it was time to establish the ground rules.

4. Turned out, we only needed one rule: During writing time, no talking. You didn’t have to write. You could take a walk, or take a shower, or take a call—you just had to do so quietly so as not to disturb the creative geniuses around you.

5. When we ate, or were on “break”, we talked our heads off—and a good deal of our talk centered on writing. It was a great opportunity to learn, get feedback, or work through stumbling blocks because there was so much writing experience ready and willing to help.

Honestly, I was flat wore out when I left. But I had three more chapters of my YA manuscript, and was itching to plug back into that novel when I got home. Plus, a handful of writers I knew had gone from acquaintances to friends I could call on for writing help.

Bet you’re already planning your writer’s retreat, right? (Told you so.)

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Friday Speak Out!: Women Get No Respect—at least in Westerns, by Judy Alter

Women Get No Respect—at least in Westerns

by Judy Alter

Owen Wister’s 1903 novel The Virginian set a masculine standard for the western novel that endured throughout the twentieth century. Westerns, written by men, featured, among other things, stereotyped heroines—the schoolteacher, the rancher’s daughter, the dancehall girl with the heart of gold. These women were rescued by men but never came to anyone’s rescue.

In Elmer Kelton’s admittedly formulaic 1955 novel, Hot Iron, the villain traps the hero and has him at his mercy. Elmer had the heroine pick up a pair of scissors and run the villain through, saving the hero. The editor would have none of it—the heroine and her scissors momentarily distracted the villain, long enough for the hero to grab his pistol and kill the villain.

The few women who wrote western novels published under pseudonyms, usually initials. As early as the first decades of the twentieth century, Bertha Muzzy wrote a total of fifty-seven novels under the name B. M.  Bower. In 1952, novelist Jeanne Williams wrote Tame the Wild Stallion, a young-adult novel featuring a young boy who tames a wild horse while captive on a Mexican ranch. Published under the name J. R. Williams because Prentice-Hall didn’t think boys would read a girls’ book, it won the Texas Institute of Letters Cokesbury Bookstore Award. No one could find the man who wrote the book. Jeanne missed the award ceremony. Her later adult western novels were published under her full name or a feminine pseudonym.

I’ve felt the brunt of this anti-women bias myself. In 1988 my novel, Mattie, won a Spur Award from Western Writers of America, Inc., as the Best Western Novel of the Year. A man who belonged to WWA complained to one of the judges, “That has always been a men’s action category.” And my 1994 novel, Libbie, called western historical romance by Amazon today, was damned in a book review as a soap opera. I like to think a fictional biography of Libbie Armstrong Custer had more significance.

Of course there were always exceptions, women who wrote in the literary rather than genre tradition and didn’t deal with formulas and stereotypes—Mari Sandoz and Willa Cather come to mind.

Today, enough women write about the West that they have their own organization—Women Writing the West. Lucia St. Clair Robson carved out a nice career beginning with her novel about Cynthia Ann Parker. Others who’ve made a name for themselves by proudly writing fiction and nonfiction about the West include Elizabeth Crook, Linda Hasselstrom, Charlotte Hinger, Jerrie Hurd, Cynthia Leal Massey, Candy Moulton, Jean Henry Mead, Carolyn Neithammer, Carla Kelly, and many more.

I’ve written fiction about women of the West most of my career, including books about Libbie Custer, Jessie Benton Frremont, Lucille Mulhall, and Etta Place. These ladies have been good to me, and I’m proud to be in their company.

* * *

Judy Alter has written fiction and nonfiction for adults and young adults. Her historical fiction titles feature such strong women as Elizabeth Bacon Custer (Libbie , http://tinyurl.com/botzzac), Jessie Benton Frémont (Jessie), Lucille Mulhall (Cherokee Rose),  and Etta Place, of Hole in the Wall gang fame (Sundance, Butch and Me http://tinyurl.com/cae99kg). Judy is also the author of Kelly O’Connell Mysteries-- Skeleton in a Dead Space and No Neighborhood for Old Women, with Trouble in a Big Box due in August 2012.

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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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5 comments Friday Speak Out, guest post, Judy Alter, western novels, westerns

Localize Writing and Cash In

Dreaming of your big break? Waiting to see your byline in The New York Tmes or Washington Post? Maybe seeing your name grace the pages of Cosmo or Ladies’ Home Journal or Sports Illustrated keeps you motivated.

Until you break into those national markets, smart writers localize and cash in.

Think regional publications, local websites, area newspapers.

I was lucky. When I began freelancing full-time, I broke into a national sports and fitness magazine. Within two months of my initial conversation with the editor-in-chief, I received contracts for three feature pieces.

And, I received payment up front.

At the same time, I knew if I wanted my writing career to grow, I would have to work hard and find other publications to supplement my income.

Besides, it never hurts to have a steady income stream.

How did localizing help?

I landed a steady gig at a regional newspaper, a state-wide magazine publishes a couple of my articles each year, and I launched a newspaper column geared to small weekly newspapers.

Don’t overlook the neighborhood newspaper or budding website promoting a local business. You can snag local writing gigs by keeping these points in mind.

• Develop your expertise. I’m a history nut and I enjoy current events. I’ve parlayed my interests into multiple magazine and newspaper articles, photo layouts, blogging gigs, and website writing.
• Establish relationships. So, you don’t know the editor of the local press? Go introduce yourself! Network!  I didn’t know the editor or staff of a regional magazine, but once I pitched a story and spoke with him on the phone, I made a point to learn the hierarchy of their editorial staff. Now I know not to send a query to the assistant editor. I would not have know that if I hadn’t taken a vested interest. 
• Fine-tune your pitch.  Don’t count out any ideas. A friend who is an avid reader landed a book column in a local newspaper! One trick that helped land a steady assignment was analyzing what was covered in-house and what work was farmed out to freelancers. Once you see what needs a publication has, you can adapt your platform to fit their needs.

I still haven’t ended up in The New York Times or the Washington Post, but I will eventually. Each article I investigate for a local market builds my resume and adds exemplary clips to my portfolio.

What local markets have you pitched?

by LuAnn Schindler. Read more of LuAnn's work at her website. Graphic by LuAnn.

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Leave a Comment expertise, local, local stories, localize, LuAnn Schindler, networking, personal experience, pitching editors, regional markets

Your Book Starts Here! By Mary Carroll Moore

I first heard about Mary Carroll Moore's book, Your Book Starts Here!, on one of my writing friend's blogs. My friend talked about how she and another writer were working through the chapters and exercises in this book to fulfill their dream of writing a book. I became intrigued. So, I wrote to Mary and asked her if I could get a copy to share with WOW! readers. I am so glad I did.

The PDF version I received is over 400 pages--this is a COMPREHENSIVE guide on how to write a book from the conception of an idea to how to get it published--including whether to go with an agent or not and information on self-publishing. In the introduction, Mary states, "With Your Book Starts Here, my goal is to help you write the book you dream of writing. I am offering you what I needed back in 1988 when I tackled my very first book. Back then, I couldn’t find even one comprehensive field guide to help me plan, write, and develop my book . . .In the chapters that follow are the very best tools I’ve culled from writing thirteen books in three genres. These tools guided me through each phase of planning, writing,and developing—and selling—my books. For the past ten years, I have been sharing these tools with students in my book writing classes and workshops. Many have used them to finish their books—and have gone on to successfully publish." And she does exactly what she promises in this book.

Photo: Bruce Fuller Photography

The book is arranged in three sections: "Plan (Getting to Know Your Book)," "Write (Manifesting Your Book’s Inner and Outer Story)," and "Develop (Making Your Book Shine)," which includes chapters on the publishing world. That's what I LOVE about this how-to guide. She doesn't leave any stone unturned, and it will work for ANY book--novel, memoir, or nonfiction.

The book is easy to read and easy to follow. If you are picking it up after you have already done a lot of pre-writing and are just stuck on the actual writing of the book, you can still use this guide. She states in the intro that the book can be read cover-to-cover, or writers can skip around to the parts they need when they need them. Chapters are labeled (of course), and subtitles are included for easy-to-find information; and there's a comprehensive index in the end of the book.

Writing exercises are also included. Again, these are marked a certain way in each chapter, so they are easy to find; and these exercises will help you grow as a writer and make your book stronger. They make you think about things to do with your writing that you might not have ever thought about before.

If you have been looking for a how-to guide to help you write a book, I highly suggest taking a look at Your Book Starts Here! Mary is a teacher who cares about writing and writers, and this comes out in her book.

For more information, you can check out Your Book Starts Here! on Amazon.com.

Margo L. Dill teaches two novel writing courses for WOW! "Writing a Middle-Grade Novel" and "Advanced Course: Writing a Middle-Grade Novel Part 2." Both are being offered this summer. For more information, please see the WOW! classroom or e-mail Margo at margo(at) wow-womenonwriting.com. For a full list of classes, visit the WOW! classroom at the link above.  

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Interview with Stacey Tarpley; Runner up in WOW!s Fall 2011 Flash Fiction Contest

For anyone who has ever thought the grass might just be greener… WOW! is very happy to share with you Stacey Tarpley’s Fall 2011 Flash Fiction entry Molting. Let’s just say that for our main character it was “just one of those days.” This one will make you smile!

Writing fiction from the time she learned to spell, Stacey Tarpley is a professional story-teller. Her full-time career as a zoo and aquarium designer takes her around the world, meeting amazing, inspiring people and encountering unbelievable experiences. In her free time, she has completed two fiction manuscripts and continuously challenges herself with flash fiction writing.

Stacey has published several professional papers, speaks at national and international conferences, mentors new designers at her firm, and maintains a one-of-a-kind blog, http://www.designingzoos.com/. She looks forward to one day being a full-time, fully-paid author living on a farm filled with happy, cuddly critters.

WOW: Hi Stacey, congratulations on placing in WOW!’s Fall 2011 Flash Fiction Contest! I thoroughly enjoyed Molting and felt you gave it the perfect, albeit sad, ending.

Stacey: Oh thank you! I think it’s a reflection of how life seems to go. At least for me! Happiness is far too often balanced with a healthy dose of sorrow. But, really, the story was just a poke at irony.

WOW: Yes, the irony is the element that makes this story universally appealing.

I have to admit that while reading your bio and viewing your beautiful blog I felt a pang of, “why didn’t I go that direction?” You have this amazing job that includes travel, a creative outlet via habitat design, and the knowledge that you are doing your part to improve life’s experience for our fellow furry and finned friends. Yet, you look forward to settling down to write. How do you balance these two loves?

Stacey: It’s a challenge. My career is one that is wholly encompassing. When I’m in the middle of a project, it really can take up all my time and energy. And the same is true with writing. I get totally wrapped up in the story. That’s why I’ve embraced the flash fiction genre. I can sit down for an hour and let my mind go, but that’s all I need. I’m not going back to the story to analyze the next moment or delving into character development. I write and it’s done. I can explore a whim and walk away.

WOW: In your work as a zoo and aquarium designer you need to be able to experience a space from the viewpoint and needs of the creature it will house. I see this talent expressed in Molting as we experience the same scene from two different view points, that of the birder and that of the duck. In what other ways does your work compliment your writing?

Stacey: Generally, I think it’s very helpful being enveloped in a creative endeavor all the time. My job is a wonderful mix of right and left brain thought—much of zoo and aquarium design is pure logic. Find the best solution to meet the needs of all the users (animals, staff and guests). This can be very complicated.

A huge part of my job is story-telling. We talk about the story the guest experiences as the primary driver of the design, so understanding emotional arc and building on empathy is critical. It absolutely helps me in writing, and vice versa. A big part of the guest experience is awe and surprise. These, of course, are elements I prize in writing, as well as a sense of humor and flexibility to just go along with the ride! Lastly, what we do is all about innovation. Looking at something that’s been done a hundred times before and approaching it differently, improving it. Writing’s exactly the same. Most stories share the same themes. Writing is all about approaching a theme differently.

WOW: Those are engaging analogies…they cause me to look at writing in a different way.

You mentioned having completed two manuscripts…do tell!

Stacey: I completed my first manuscript three years ago. I took me 5 years. It’s not very good! But I proved to myself I could do it. It’s a fictional look at my grandmother’s life who, like many folks, had endured a lifetime of sorrows and challenges. I was inspired by her bravery and the fact that she accomplished so much as a young single mother after my grandfather died of MS.

My second manuscript, Corn Cob Castle, is “finished,” but is currently undergoing some heavy editing. This one took me about three months. It’s a totally different tone than the first, which I think made it easier to write. The book is about a lowly architect who embarks on a very quirky adventure to uncover the truth behind a shady underground government agency who hired him to renovate their labs. Roland, the architect, is a combination of many people I’ve known over the years in my career including me. He’s a lovable goof who wants nothing more than to be world renowned for his design skills, but has found himself painted into a corner of drawing other people’s buildings. It’s a fun book with an element of sci-fi and fantasy, and blends the main story arc with outrageous fables of Roland’s architectural heroes. It makes me smile.

WOW: That sounds like a fun! I think most of us can relate to feeling painted into a corner and not living up to our own dreams or potential.

How did you happen to come across WOW!’s Flash Fiction Contest?

Stacey: In an effort to get my work published, I Googled ‘flash fiction contest.’ Nothing more exciting than that!

WOW: What are you currently working on?

Stacey: Editing, editing, editing Corn Cob Castle. Hoping to be able to start shopping around for an agent in the coming month. Any takers?

WOW: Okay, agents, you heard the call!

Incidentally, the November/December Issue of WOW! Women on Writing will be about publishers and agents; it may provide some useful leads.

Thank you for taking the time to visit with us today, Stacey. I look forward to reading Corn Cob Castle!



Interview by Robyn Chausse

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2 comments Fall 2011 Flash Fiction Contest, flash fiction runner up, Interview with Fall 2011 Flash Fiction Runner Up Stacey Tarpley, Molting by Stacey Tarpley, Robyn Chausse

Mari L. McCarthy, author of Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days, launches her book tour

& special giveaway contest!

Journaling, like any writing adventure or exercise program, tends to be cyclical—there are the times when you can’t wait to get-to-it and times when you can’t get started. Mari has the fix! It is her new workbook, Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days.

In this workbook, Mari addresses the most common roadblocks we come against in our journaling practice, from writer’s block and lack of time to finding motivation and silencing our inner critic. Whether you are new to journaling or need to climb out of a slump, these seven days of writing prompts will get you moving in the right direction.

While looking through this book, my first important realization was that I relate journaling to assigned writing—it’s a chore. Mari opens the book with a collage project! Perfect for drawing out my inner child and re-associating journaling time with play time. Sue Bradford Edwards tells us more about Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days, and shows us her collage, in her book review.

I haven’t worked through this book yet because I’m waiting to work through it with you! Join me for Mari’s upcoming Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days Challenge June 4-10 and we will re-discover journaling together! Signing up for the challenge is free. See what fellow WOW! team member, Anne Greenawalt, had to say about the challenge in the video below!



Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days is available from Create Write Now as an eWorkbook, spiral bound print copy, or Kindle e-book. 

Special Giveaway Contest!

Give your journaling a true jumpstart with Mari’s Journaling Jumpstarter Kit and an ecopy (.pdf) of Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days! The Journaling Jumpstarter Kit includes Create Write Now's Signature Journal (spiral bound), 85 of Mari's Most Musefull Journaling Tips (spiral bound) and luscious lavender scented pen. Simply leave a comment at the end of this post to be entered in the random drawing. The giveaway contest closes this Thursday, May 3 at 11:59 PM PST. For an extra entry, link to this post on Twitter with the hashtag #7DaysStart, then come back and leave us a link to your tweet. We will announce the winner the following day--Friday, May 4. Good luck!

About the author:

When Multiple Sclerosis robbed her right side of strength Mari decided to teach herself to write with her left hand. She gained more than strength, she found herself—buried talents, hidden baggage, and a way to heal herself from the inside out.

Now a certified Journal Therapist, Mari shares her knowledge and experience with others by teaching them how to find their own strengths and talents and use them to solve problems and achieve goals.

Find the author online:

Create Write Now website: http://www.createwritenow.com/

Mari L. McCarthy’s blog: http://www.createwritenow.com/journal-writing-blog/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JournalWritingTherapy

Twitter: @Createwritenow

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/MariLMcCarthy

---------Interview by Robyn Chausse

WOW: Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days is like a road map for how to get back on track with our journaling no matter why we’ve wandered away. What are some of the struggles you have faced in your own journaling that pulled you off track?

Mari: My struggles came early on when I was first starting to journal via Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages [The Artist's Way]. Once I started realizing that journaling was helping me access my inner world, I started hearing inner voices telling me that I was so selfish spending so much time writing. This major page fright incident affected me physically: my jaw clenched, my throat tightened, my stomach churned incessantly. So no more Morning Pages. I moved to my computer, and kept a “journal.” a diary really, for a long time. When I came across The Art of Fiction Writing by Emily Hanlon, I discovered that the voices were my inner critics and they no way wanted me to discover my creativity, talents and power. Someone telling me I can’t do something was all I needed to get back to my journaling practice (pen to page everyday) and start tearing down the walls of fear I’d erected and trashing all the erroneous messages I’d been carrying around. Today, if I find myself avoiding the page, I simply ask my Journal a question and free write the answer.

WOW: So many women, myself included, react strongly to the thought of being selfish—we somehow decided that taking time out for our own psyche is bad. Then again, between work and family obligations some of us truly are strapped for time. When someone comes to you saying they are so frazzled and busy that they just can’t spare more than ten to fifteen minutes a day journaling, what is your advice to them?

Mari: Whatever journaling time you can give to yourself is a start. The most important thing is that you journal every day. I’d tell them to grab their journal and pen, and just free write, write, write. I’d tell them to dump all their stresses on their Journal and to ask their Journal to help them in creating the quality self time they need for themselves. We are so experienced in ruminating and processing and over thinking, in stressing ourselves, in being controlled by our inner critics and caretaking everyone else that we’ve lost ourselves. Our Journal is there to guide us home. The best thing to do is listen to your heart and Nike it: Just do it! And you’ll see with daily practice that you manage time; it no longer controls you.

WOW: Sometimes it’s easier to “show up” for a daily practice when other people are expecting us which is why I was drawn to your free Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days Challenges; I signed up for one scheduled in June. What types of journals will people be working on?

Mari: For the Start Journaling Challenge, you’ll just need a journal you love. We’ll be doing all kinds of interesting exercises, like creating collages, remembering how to be kind to yourself, exercises that cover the arts and crafts of a daily journaling practice.

WOW: Sounds like fun! We often think of journaling as a solitary process, what is the benefit of journaling with a group?

Mari: You realize that you have a lot of company on your life and journaling journey. That the group’s love, understanding, and support helps you through your challenges and helps you get to where you need to go next. When you have friends listening to you read from your Journal, they’ll pick up things and be able to provide insight and feedback that you might never have considered. Just their positive, healthy energy means quite a lot!

WOW: You began journaling as a form of physical therapy and began a new journey in your life. What are the top three gifts you’ve received from your adventure into journaling?

Mari: The top three gifts would be: 1) a loving, positive, healthy relationship with my true Self 2) a singer who performs in public and records and sells her music and 3) 24/7/365 internal peace and serenity.

WOW: How wonderful that you share your songs on your website—such an inspiration for your readers to see what talents they too might uncover!

Speaking about uncovering . . . some people are apprehensive about delving more deeply into themselves and the possible shifts that might incur in their relationships. How would you address that? I’m sure you’ve had some shifting to deal with in your relationships with friends and family.

Mari: Journaling does mean major behavior change because you are living your life from the inside out; not responding, reacting, putting all your energy into everyone else. The best way to address those shifts is by more journaling. Talk it out, ask questions, identify your wants and needs and plan out how to handle different relationships and situations. More journaling helps you become more confident in compassionately confronting others. In starting new healthy relationships and stopping unhealthy ones.

WOW: Mari, I know you are constantly working on something! What’s next?

Mari: Well, we’ve just published a new free eBook: 143 of Mari’s Juicy Journaling Prompts  that will get journalers to the page and writing, writing, writing away.

For May through August, Create Write Now is focusing on Journaling for Self-Improvement. In May, we are doing a Pay Yourself First/Money Mastery 7 Days Journaling Challenge and running another Who Are You? 7 Days Journaling Challenge. In June, we’ll be running a Get a Job 7 Days Journaling Challenge. Here’s the 2012 Calendar of Journaling Challenges we have announced so far: http://www.createwritenow.com/journaling-center-calendar/

WOW: WOW! Something for everyone…from getting a job to de-cluttering the house!

Thank you for sharing with us today, Mari. I’ll see you in June!

You can listen to/download Mari singing Create Write Now’s company theme song, “All the Time,” and purchase her albums at http://www.createwritenow.com/about-mari-mccarthy/maris-work/

Read our other interviews with Mari McCarthy!

Peace of Mind and Body: 27 Days of Journaling to Health & Happiness

Who Are You? How to Use Journaling Therapy to Know and Grow Your Life

Dark Chocolate for the Journaler’s Soul

---------Blog Tour Dates

May 2 @ All Things Audrey
Descriptive Journaling--just how do you capture the experience? Mari has some tips...and Audry treats us to a review of Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days.
http://allthingsaudry.blogspot.com/

May 3 @ Margo Dill's Read These Books and Use Them
Step over to the silly side! Scribble, draw, make up stories…learn the benefits of playing in your journal. Winner’s Choice Giveaway!
http://margodill.com/blog/

May 4 @ I Was Just Thinking…
Did you know that non-writers can be even better at journaling than writers? Mari McCarthy explains...
http://bellewoodfarm.blogspot.com/

May 7 @ Book Bags and Catnaps
In a writer's fog? Mari tells how to shake it off!
http://bookbagsandcatnaps.com/

May 8 @ The World of My Imagination
What unleashes your energy, unlocks your imagination, excites your life and ambitions more than anything? Mari tells us how to find our wellspring!
http://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com/

May 10 @ A Slice of Life
While describing emotions comes naturally to many, some people have a very difficult time writing about how they feel inside. Mari McCarthy shares some tips...
http://lindahoye.com/

May 11 @ Happy, Healthy, Whole-The Journey to Find Balance
Is your perfectionism getting in the way of your journaling? Mari is here to help!
http://healthy-happy-whole.com/

May 12 @ Barbara Conelli's Chique Show on Blog Talk Radio
Join us for a special LIVE interview on Blog Talk Radio! Barbara Conelli, the hostess of Chique Show, will be interviewing Mari McCarthy at noon, Eastern Time.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/barbaraconelli

May 14 @ Chynna Laird's Lily Wolf Words
The "I Remember …" Prompt: A Technique for Self-Discovery – Applying this simple technique over a month (or a lifetime) is a way to create your own self-portrait, analyze it, and then put your discoveries to positive use in your life.
http://www.chynna-laird-author.com/

May 15 @ Lisa M. Buske
Does your journal go all over the place? Mari can help you gain clarity and order.
Lisa offers her review of Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days.
http://lisabuske.weebly.com/blog.html

May 17 @ Dream Hour
How adept are you at accessing the treasures revealed by your spontaneous self? Join Mari for a talk on spontaneity! Also, great fun with a giveaway (your choice of prizes) and Jessica's review of Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days!
http://dream-hour.com/

May 18 @ A Tattered Past
There's a reason your Inner Critic talks the way it does. Mari shows us how to understand that reason and to turn it into a tool that will help instead of hurt you. Rita shares her book review and there's a Winner's Choice Giveaway!! FUN!
http://www.tatteredpast.blogspot.com/

May 21 @ NerdFamily Things
Before we can discover Paradise we need to know what Pardise is--sketch out your idea of Nirvana with Mari McCarthy!
http://www.nerdfamilythings.com/

May 22 @ Books, Books, the Magical Fruit
Does spring's beauty leave you speechless? Use your journal to magnify the joy. Mari shares some jumping-off places!
http://booksbooksthemagicalfruit.blogspot.com/

May 23 @ CMash Loves to Read
Mari shares some offbeat journaling practices and we have a Winner's Choice Giveaway for you! Come join the fun!
http://cmashlovestoread.com/

May 24 @ Callie Kingston
We make up all kinds of hairy monsters that threaten our happiness and very existence. Mari shows us how to use our journal to face the enemy and make a deal.
http://calliekingston.blogspot.com/

May 25 @ Crazy for Books
Come on by! Jennifer is sharing her review of Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days.
http://crazy-for-books.com/

Check out our blog tour prizes!

At various stops along Mari’s tour winners will have the choice of either an ecopy of Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days, a spiral bound copy, or one of Mari’s signature t-shirts!

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

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 Robyn or Jodi at blogtour@wow-womenonwriting.com.

Giveaway Contest:

Enter to win a Journaling bundle! Prizes include an e-copy of Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days ($19.97), and a Journaling Jumpstarter Kit ($24.95), which includes Create Write Now's Signature Journal (spiral bound), 85 of Mari's Most Musefull Journaling Tips (spiral bound) and luscious lavender scented pen. Here's how you enter:

1. For your first entry, just leave a comment on this post! Just leave Mari a comment or ask a question to be entered in the random drawing.

2. For an extra entry, link to this post on Twitter with the hashtag #7DaysStart then come back and leave us a link to your tweet.

The giveaway contest closes Thursday, May 3 at 11:59 PM PST. We will announce the winner in the comments section of this post the following day--Friday, May 4, and if we have the winner's email from the comments section, we will also notify them via email.

Good luck!

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20 comments author blog tour, author interview, book giveaway contest, Book Tour Launch, Mari L. McCarthy, Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days

Journaling My Way to Voice and Story

Recently I blogged about Mari McCarthy’s e-book Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days. Since then, I’ve used my journal to focus on my audience before I write. Who are they? How are they different from me? What are they going to demand from this piece? How might  this differ from my expectations?

While that works for shorter nonfiction projects, I’ve been writing a longer piece of teen fiction, sending my editor an outline and then a draft. I’d journaled about audience for the outline. When it came time to write the story, I focused on what the story is all about – my characters.

I needed to do this because, based on my outline, my editor found my protagonist unsympathetic. She gave me tips on how to change this, but I had trouble starting the story. Nothing sounded right. I had to find my character’s voice while writing the story in 3rd person. I turned to my journal.

When I sat down to journal that morning, I asked what my character would have to say about being called unsympathetic. I decided to let him speak for himself and write the journal entry in his first person POV. Let’s just say that this particular teen had plenty to say, starting with the fact that he didn’t ask for anyone’s sympathy. He hadn’t created the story problem, but everyone expected him to fix it. We should shut up and let him do it his way. He was freaked out and scared and we weren’t helping.

As the author, I knew most of this. Laying it down in his own words helped me find his voice and get into the story. Soon I had a rough draft, but his brother, the antagonist, was flat.

His story had to come through as well. Sure, he was messing up his younger brother’s life, but it isn’t something he planned to do. He hates needing help from his baby brother. He hates what has happened to him. He’s angry. Who catches the brunt of this anger? His brother. Deal with it.

Again, these were things I knew, but in journaling for him I found the character’s voice. His dialogue tightened to the point of being tense, terse and rude – nothing that would keep him up at night.

If you’re having problems nailing a piece of fiction, journal.

• Write from the point of view of your protagonist.  Why is his story important?  What does he most want you to know?
• Write from the POV of your antagonist. Remember, almost no one is a villain in their own mind. What’s his story? How does he feel about being the bad guy?
• As the story progresses, journal about problem scenes. Why are your characters apprehensive about these scenes? What secrets are they holding back?

Let your characters do the talking and you may be surprised at what they have to say.

–SueBE


Author Sue Bradford Edwards blogs at One Writer's Journey.

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Where are Your Freelance Goldmines?

A writer friend and I recently discussed how she could up her income by $1000 a month. I sat down and tried to document exactly where my income comes from.
As a freelancer, I generate income from multiple sources:

• Writing
  
  • Articles
  • Royalty books
  • Work for hire books
  • Blogs – income from GoogleAds, Amazon Affiliates, and self-published ebooks
  • Self-published Ebooks. (Kindle, Nook, iBook)
  • Self-published paperback Books
  • Selling my books at speaking engagements
• Speaking
  
  • Teaching writing
  • Teacher professional development
  • School Visits
  • Conferences, retreats or other speaking opportunities

Goldmine in Waihi, New Zealand. Sometimes freelancers need to look afar for sources of income. Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jp_math54/3453406064/




Each month, the percentage from a particular source will vary widely. For example, in the fall, I will teach three novel revision retreats and collect a tidy sum for each. Because these involve travel, I only want to do 4-6 a year. The month I teach a retreat, it contributes a large chunk of cash to my overall income. But of course, the months I don’t teach a retreat, the income from this source is zero.

It takes multiple income streams to make it as a freelance writer.

Even if I was only relying on writing articles or work-for-hire books, I would still need multiple income streams. One publisher couldn’t keep me busy and support me. I would need relationships with several magazines or several educational publishers.
And overall, I’ve found that no one income stream can generate enough to abandon all the others.

Multiple income streams protects you from a dry month.

During the months when I don’t teach a novel revision retreat, I could starve. Instead, I’ve learned to focus energy those months on writing articles or developing content for my blog so readership and ad revenue will increase.

Multiple income streams provide fascinating variety.

Someone recently asked me to describe a typical day. Nope. I can’t. The very nature of a freelancer is variety. As I work to meet the needs of publishers I work with, the nature of those publishers means variety. One might want a royalty-based 2nd grade science fiction series, while another wants a how-to article on copyediting an adult novel. Flexibility is required.

Do you ever turn down work?

Sure. But I think hard before I turn something down. Do I want an ongoing relationship with this publisher? Will the requested article, blog post or book fit my strengths and overall goals as a writer? Is the pay enough, considering the time required to do a good job? I tend to say yes. Because, well, I am a freelancer and I need multiple income streams. Who can afford to say no, when the relationship might lead to bigger and better work? In other words, I tend to be a generalist.

On the other hand, my friend has found a niche that suits her well and she specialized in non-fiction for kids. You’ll need to decide where your desires as a writer fall and then make conscious choices to develop that type of relationships.
Freelancers, how do you make money from your writing? Where are your secret goldmines?

----

Darcy Pattison blogs about how-to-write at Fiction Notes.

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Researching the Picture Book Market

I'll admit, when I first starting to write picture books I didn't approach it from the same angle as I did when writing my nonfiction books. That is to say, I didn't see my stories as a product that had to fit in a competitive market. However, when I finally experienced that light bulb moment I quickly placed my first picture book, A Book For Bramble.

What changed?

I started to research the market. I visited the local library and spent hours looking at picture books. As I read, I took notes. I noted the names used, how sentences were constructed, what themes were covered, how humor was included, word count, etc. I then visited the local bookstore and repeated the exercise (slightly more discreetly) to discover if there were differences between what was being published and what had been published (the books in the library). Armed with these notes, I returned home and tried to discover if I could see patterns in subject matter, in the way subjects were covered, and in the way sentences were constructed.

I discovered:

•  Humor appears to play an important part in many books.
•  Tools such as repetition are used to help move the story along.
•  The magic number three appears in many books (for example in The Gruffalo, you'll discover "'three" hidden all over the place).

I started to use the patterns I'd found in my own stories. Within months of changing the way I looked at my stories, I fulfilled one of my lifetime ambitions of becoming a published picture book author.

Today I still continue to research the market and read picture books as often as I can. The receptionists at my dentist, doctor, optician and vets are used to seeing me rummage in the stock of picture books they provide to keep kids entertained. The assistants in the library and bookstore now take no notice as I read their picture books. Family and friends watch in amusement as I encourage their children to show me the latest addition to their bookshelf. Without this research I'd not be able to keep up to date with a changing market. By keeping abreast of what the reading public wants, I'm able to write stories I can place with a publisher.

So if a new writer (of any genre) wants to become published, my advice is research, research, research.

***

Lynne Garner has been a freelance writer and author since 1998. Since that time she has written for a large number of magazines both in the UK and the US, having over 300 features printed. She has 21 books published; these include 10 craft-related how-to books, working with both publishers and packagers. Lynne designed, produced copy, and photographed many of the craft projects featured on The Craft Ark.

*****

Join Lynne's latest WOW! Women on Writing class:

HOW TO WRITE CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOKS AND GET PUBLISHED,

a five week course starting on Saturday, May 5, 2012.

This class is limited to 15 students and early registration is recommended!


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1 comment Lynne Garner, market research, WOW Classes, WOW instructor, writing children's picture book, Writing Picture Books