How To Get Your Story in a Chicken Soup for the Soul Book

A few days ago, a group of my writer friends in Missouri met at a local library to present a panel discussion on writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul books. They know a thing or two about writing these kinds of stories; among this one group, they’ve probably published in over fifty different Chicken Soup titles.

Yep, they’re that good.

But you don’t have to be that good to get your story published in a Chicken Soup title. You just have to follow a few steps:

1. Check the Chicken Soup website regularly for the book topics they need. The editors will give you the subject and lots of ideas about what they’re looking for in that topic.

2. Follow the guidelines for a Chicken Soup story. Don’t go over those 1200 words (and keeping your word count at around 750-850 is even better).

3. Submit your story as soon as possible. The closer you submit to the deadline, the more stories there are ahead of you!

I know what you’re thinking. Is that all there is to getting a story in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book?

Well, those are the basics. Considering that there might be 3,000 stories submitted for each topic, it’s a bit more challenging to actually get a story selected. So I asked a couple of my writing friends from that Missouri group to share their best tips.

Linda O’Connell said, “I have more success when my opening paragraph is filled with images that illustrate the book title. For the beach lovers book I wrote, ‘The ocean tugs on my Midwestern soul with the same intensity that the moon pulls the tide.’ Any landlocked beach lover can relate,” she said. “Your opening has to engage the reader.”

Linda should know. She’s been published in 23 Chicken Soup for the Soul books!

And then there’s Sioux Roslawski who has a badge on her blog stating that she’s a 10x contributor. But by my last count, she’s been published in at least 15 titles! Here’s what Sioux had to share:

“Relive the memory like a movie. You have a story idea, a moment in your life that would make a great Chicken Soup story? Go back to that instant, and take your time as you retell it.

See the story in your head, like you're in a movie theater. Pretend it's happening to someone else. Imagine what your facial expressions were, your gestures. If aromas or sounds would help tell the story, sneak them in. Be sure to include a bit of dialogue, even if you don't remember exactly what was said. (It's okay to make up things like that, as long as you stay true to the tale.)

And then let the story unfold... as you put it down on paper.”

Finally, here’s advice that I think any of us, from 1x to 20x contributor, would share: If you live in Missouri, get yourself in that writing group! (But if you don’t live in Missouri, then read plenty of Chicken Soup for the Soul books to get a feel for what the editors like. And then write, submit, repeat until published!)

~Cathy C. Hall

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7 comments Cathy C. Hall, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Linda O'Connell, Sioux Roslawski, writing tips

Interview with Christa Fairfield: Summer 2015 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

Christa started writing when she was in elementary school and has continued making time to put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, ever since.

After writing with a community of writers, following the Amherst Writers and Artist (AWA) method, she was trained as an AWA workshop leader. She loves the time she spends with her writing groups and facilitating retreats. She is also a past board member of the California Writers Club, Mt. Diablo branch and past co-leader of the branch’s Young Writers Contest. One of Christa’s passions is finding opportunities to express her own voice, the voice of her characters and celebrating the voice of other writers.

She has a BA in Business and Masters in GLS. She has spent the majority of her life in management, first in the semiconductor industry and now in a non-profit. She is also on the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities of the East Bay.

These days, Christa spends most of her writing time creating short stories and work related articles. She always has multiple creative projects going. In addition to writing, she quilts and does paper crafts.

Read Christa's story here and return to learn more about her.

WOW: You really nailed the voice of the narrator in "Through the Window." What gave you the idea for setting the story at an elementary school?

Christa: One afternoon, my niece came home from elementary school and shared how one of her friends declared that she was not going to be friends with a girl in their class. Very much like the little girl does in my story. I was stunned and couldn’t get the idea of a young girl’s frankness out of my head. The story percolated until I couldn’t help but write it down.

WOW: What do you think makes a compelling flash fiction story?

Christa: Clarity of all the elements of the story. The reader needs to be able to enter into the story immediately and see a shift in the protagonist. This requires clarity of character and plot development, requiring the writer reduce the story down to its essence.

WOW: Your bio says you are trained as an Amherst Writers and Artist workshop leader What is the AWA method and what does the training involve?

Christa: Amherst Writers and Artists is a method of writing in community with an emphasis on supporting, honoring and celebrating the unique voice of every person. We believe everyone is a storyteller and everyone has stories to tell. But often our voices are dismissed and silenced. Through telling our stories in safe responsive communities, people are transformed.

An AWA writing group is facilitated by a trained leader who invites several opportunities for writing at each session. Writers are invited (but not required) to share their writing with each other in a safe, affirming environment.

This method was developed by Pat Schneider, and is described in her powerful book, Writing Alone and With Others. I wrote in an AWA group for a number of years and was encouraged by my long time AWA facilitator to apply to the training program. The training includes a study of the guidelines and principles of the practice, diversity of genres and forms and writing group facilitation.

WOW: We'd love to know more about your crafty side, which includes quilting and paper crafts. Are there any that hold a special place in your heart?

Christa: I’m a pretty serious person with a number of responsibilities. Play is challenging for me. That’s why I craft. It’s a place for me to mix things up, experiment and let things be messy. I love playing with paper and glue, and stamps and ink. I mostly make cards and journals.

My great thrill is quilting. When I started quilting, I was very concerned that everything matched. Now, I enjoy pulling out fabrics that may not be obvious partners and introduce new patterns or colors until it works in a unique way.

WOW: What types of books do you like to read?

Christa: I read everything. Fiction, non-fiction. Essays, novels and short stories. I’m that person who reads the cereal box if there isn’t something else to read. I am always reading at least two or three books and listening to one on audible.com.

Last year some of my favorite reads were: Euphoria, Lily King, The 6th Extinction, Elizabeth Kolbert, Deep, Down, Dark, Hector Tobar, The Sparrow, Mary Doria Russell and Everything I Never Told You, Celeste Ng.

Currently, I’m reading Dept. of Speculation, Jenny Offill, Ten Windows-How Great Poems Transform the World, Jane Hirshfield, Mercy in the City, Kerry Weber and listening to Carol (The Price of Salt), Patricia Highsmith.

WOW: That's an impressive list! Thank you so much for this interview, and we look forward to reading more great stories from you in the future!

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Leave a Comment Christa Fairfield, Contestant interview, Renee Roberson, WOW! Summer 2015 Summer Flash Fiction Contest

An Incredible Talent for Existing: A Writer's Story by Pamela Jane Blog Tour and Book Giveaway

In An Incredible Talent For Existing: A Writer’s Story, a young woman longs for an idyllic past, despite her revolutionary belief that everything that exists must be destroyed.

It is 1965, the era of love, light and revolution. While the romantic narrator imagines a bucolic future in an old country house with children running through the dappled sunlight, her husband plots to organize a revolution and fight a guerrilla war in the Catskills.

Their fantasies are on a collision course.

The clash of visions turns into an inner war of identities when the author embraces radical feminism; she and her husband are comrades in revolution but combatants in marriage; she is a woman warrior who spends her days sewing long silk dresses reminiscent of a Henry James novel. One half of her isn't speaking to the other half.

And then, just when it seems that things cannot possibly get more explosive, her wilderness cabin burns down and Pamela finds herself left with only the clothes on her back.

From her vividly evoked existential childhood ("the only way I would know for sure that I existed was if others lots of others acknowledged it") to writing her first children's book on a sugar high during a glucose tolerance test, Pamela Jane takes the reader along on a highly entertaining personal, political, and psychological adventure.



Paperback: 246 pages
Genre: Memoir
Publisher: Open Books Press (February 1, 2016)
ISBN-10: 1941799213
ISBN-13: 978-1941799215

An Incredible Talent For Existing: A Writer’s Story is available in print and as an ebook at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Indiebound.

Book Giveaway Contest:
To win a copy of An Incredible Talent For Existing: A Writer’s Story, please enter using the Rafflecopter form at the bottom of this post. The giveaway contest closes next Monday, March 14th at 12:00 AM EST. We will announce the winner the same day in the Rafflecopter widget. Good luck!

About the Author: 
Pamela Jane has published over twenty-five children’s books with Houghton Mifflin, Atheneum, Simon & Schuster, Penguin-Putnam, and Harper. Her books include Noelle of the Nutcracker illustrated by Jan Brett, Little Goblins Ten illustrated by NY Times best-selling illustrator, Jane Manning, and Little Elfie One (Harper 2015). Pride and Prejudice and Kitties: A Cat-Lover’s Romp Through Jane Austen’s Classic (Skyhorse) was featured in The Wall Street Journal, BBC America, The Huffington Post, The New York Times Sunday Book Review and The Daily Dot, and has just come out in paper. Pamela Jane has published short stories and essays with The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Antigonish Review, Literary Mama. Pamela Jane is a writer and editor for womensmemoirs.com.

Below are three clips of her work:

Literary Mama:
The Ambivalent Agnostic: An Adoption Story

WomensMemoirs:
5 Tips for Getting Your Memoir Published in 2016
Memoir Writers Take Note: Help! I Can't Press the "Send" Button

Find Pamela Jane Online:

Memoir Coaching: http://www.memoircoaching.com

Pamela's Website: http://www.pamelajane.com (children’s books)

Pride and Prejudice Kitties: http://www.prideandprejudiceandkitties.com (humorous book)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pamela.jane1

Twitter: @memoircoaching, @austencats

----- Interview by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

WOW: Pamela, thank you so much for choosing WOW! for your book blog tour. It has been such a pleasure.

I understand you rewrote your opening several times before choosing the opening for An Incredible Talent for Existing. What helped lead you in this direction and what do you like most about the current opening?

Pamela Jane: I tried out dozens openings over the years. I wrote openings that were funny, wry, suspenseful or poignant. Each one, in its way, was alluring, like a shiny door knob that leads inside a house you long to explore. I finally wrote a flash-forward when I am eighteen and running 3,000 miles away from home with my nest egg – a single dime – tucked securely into my pocket. I felt that this opening oriented the reader to where the story was headed. (The title of my book, by the way, in tongue in cheek because, as a child, I felt that my only talent was existing and I better make the most of it.)

WOW: You apparently have a talent for storytelling as well, but I certainly love the title!

If you could chose just a small excerpt from An Incredible Talent for Existing, what excerpt would be your favorite and why?

Pamela Jane: The Writer published an excerpt from my memoir recently:

"JUST WAIT: A Short Story Rejected in Grade School Becomes a Cause of Action"
http://www.writermag.com/2016/01/23/pamela-jane/

WOW: You really are making waves and getting noticed; how incredibly exciting! Tell us more about your first children's book (the one you say was written on a sugar high from a glucose tolerance test).

Pamela Jane: Noelle of the Nutcracker illustrated by Jan Brett, is the story of an ambitious ballerina doll who longs to dance in the Nutcracker ballet. At the time I wrote it, I was taking a course with a famous writing instructor at The New School. When she read my story, she said, “If you want to get published, don’t write fantasy, don’t write seasonal material, and for heaven’s sake, don’t write about dolls!” She advised me instead to write about my authentic childhood experience. The trouble was my story about an ambitious ballerina doll was my authentic childhood experience. As I little girl, I had been impressed by the apparent dedication and discipline a beautiful ballerina doll my aunt sent me from New York. Because of what my teacher said, however, I was convinced that no publisher would be interested in my book. It was my friend, Debbie, who persuaded me to send the story to Houghton Mifflin, and I only did it to prove she was wrong. As it turned out, I was wrong.

WOW: I'm glad for your teacher and your stubborn will. If not for them, we may not have met. What advice would you give other authors interested in publishing their memoir?

Pamela Jane: It’s well-worn wisdom, but the best advice is not to give up. A manuscript languishing in a drawer has 0% chance of selling. When you submit, you have the hope of acceptance or at least feedback that will either fuel your determination (to prove the agent or editor wrong) or help you tweak your manuscript or proposal to make it more publishable.

WOW: I think it's important for others to hear what you wrote above. Having the support of someone who has made it happen, is important. Who has been your biggest supporter during your writing career and specifically concerning publishing your memoir?

Pamela Jane: My husband has been my biggest supporter by believing in me. As far as publishing the memoir, my biggest supporter was this angry little genie inside who was furious at the people in my life – teachers, my first husband, family members – who said I didn’t have the talent or discipline to become a writer. Of course, there were many supportive people along the way, too.

In spite of that angry little genie, the greatest impetus for writing my memoir was of love of story, of the natural world, and of the past.

WOW: The question is, does your husband know about the angry little genie? (laughs)

How do you deal with rejection and what wisdom can you share with others?

Pamela Jane: I jokingly advise becoming a masochist and imagining that rejection feels great. Truthfully, rejection stings and sometimes exasperates when your ms. is rejected for reasons other than its quality, such as when the editor has recently published something similar. You get accustomed to rejection in time, though, and it becomes part of the writing life and something every writer faces.

WOW: Hoping you won't keep the genie locked in the bottle... What's next? What can we expect from you moving forward?

Pamela Jane: I am having fun publishing essays and I continue to write children’s books. I am also working on a humorous travelogue on my experiences living in Florence for several years with my family. The subtitle is “No One Feels Sorry for You When You’re Living in Tuscany” which is true!

WOW: I won't be feeling sorry for anyone living in Tuscany - but I sure wouldn't mind an invitation to visit!

You've said it took over two decades to write your memoir. What was holding you back or pushing you forward?

Pamela Jane: My book needed time. I had to write thousands of pages (and toss them out) before I found my story and my voice, which tends to be humorous but also serious. It also takes time for a writer to relax into her natural voice, like an actor who does not appear to be “acting.” Here is the writing formula I expressed in my memoir:

Agony + (obsession x conflict) + panic + 10,000 drafts – total crap = finished memoir

A Word of Encouragement:
I have seen many writers work on manuscripts that looked hopeless, and I would encourage other writers not to get discouraged by this or by rejection, but to continue forward, if necessary “without faith and without hope” (as Isak Dinesen said of writing her memoir, Out of Africa). Don’t worry about adjusting your attitude; just sit down and write. The rest will follow!

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

Monday, March 7th @ The Muffin
Stop by for an interview and book giveaway!
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

Tuesday, March 8th @ Writers Pay it Forward
Don’t miss today’s guest post “Likeability: Getting Your Readers to Hang Out with You” and giveaway of the memoir, An Incredible Talent for Existing: A Writer’s Story by Pamela Jane.
http://writerspayitforward.org/

Wednesday, March 9th @ All Things Audry
Pamela Jane visits All Things Audry today with a guest post “The Light Side: Adding Humor to a Dark Story”. Don’t miss this great post and a giveaway of Pamela’s memoir, An Incredible Talent for Existing: A Writer’s Story.
http://allthingsaudry.blogspot.com/

Thursday, March 10th @ Choices with Madeline Sharples
Madeline Sharples hosts fellow memoir writer Pamela Jane as Pamela provides today’s guest post: “Trimming the Pie Crust: What to Leave out of Your Memoir”. Don’t miss this insightful post and get in on the giveaway to win your own copy of Pamela Jane’s memoir, An Incredible Talent for Existing: A Writer’s Story. Good Luck!
http://madelinesharples.com/

Friday, March 11th @ Colloquium
Pamela Jane visits the popular blog Colloquium as she answers the question "Writing About Sex: Fade in or Fade Out?" and offers a giveaway of her memoir, An Incredible Talent for Existing: A Writer's Story.
http://www.jhsiess.com/

Monday, March 14th @ Mari McCarthy’s Create Write Now
Join Pamela Jane with a guest post titled: Organic Organizing for Writers. In addition to this fabulous guest post, readers can also participate in a giveaway for Pamela Jane's memoir, An Incredible Talent for Existing: A Writer's Story.
http://www.createwritenow.com/

Tuesday, March 15th @ Bring On Lemons
Pamela Jane writers today's guest post: Do You Need a Writing Coach? (5 Tips on Finding a Good One). This is fabulous advice you don't want to miss. Once lucky reader will also win a copy in the giveaway for Pamela Jane's memoir An Incredible Talent for Existing: A Writer's Story.
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, March 15th @ Lisa Haselton Reviews and Interviews
Don't miss today's interview between Lisa Haselton and Pamela Jane as Pamela gives us some insight into her memoir An Incredible Talent for Existing: A Writer's Story.
http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, March 16th @ Jerry Waxler
Fellow author and memoir expert Jerry Waxler reviews Pamela Jane's An Incredible Talent for Existing: A Writer's Story.
http://jerrywaxler.com/

Thursday, March 17th @ Selling Books with Cathy Stucker
Cathy Stucker interviews Pamela Jane to find our more about Pamela's memoir An Incredible Talent for Existing: A Writer's Story.
http://www.sellingbooks.com/

Friday, March 18th @ Lauren Scharhag
Author Pamela Jane offers a great guest post "A New (and winning) Perspective on Rejection" and has graciously given a copy of her memoir for a giveaway. Don't miss this blog tour stop to find out more about Pamela Jane's memoir, An Incredible Talent for Existing: A Writer's Story.
http://laurenscharhag.blogspot.com/

Thursday, March 24th @ Lisa M Buske
Find out what Lisa M Buske and her daughter have to say about the touching memoir An Incredible Talent for Existing by Pamela Jane.
http://www.lisambuske.com/

Monday, March 28th @ Sherrey Meyer
Sherrey Meyer reviews Pamela Jane's memoir An Incredible Talent for Existing.
http://sherreymeyer.com/blog/

Tuesday, March 29th @ Linda Appleman Shapiro
Fellow author and memoir writer Linda Appleman Shapiro shares her thoughts as she reviews Pamela Jane's memoir, An Incredible Talent for Existing: A Writer's Story.
http://applemanshapiro.com/

Thursday, March 31st @ Coming Down the Mountain with Karen Jones Gowen
Karen Jones Gowen shares her thoughts after reading An Incredible Talent for Existing: A Writer's Story by Pamela Jane. This is one memoir and one memoir review you won't want to miss!
http://karenjonesgowen.blogspot.com

Friday, April 8th @ Kathleen Pooler
Kathleen Pooler puts Pamela Jane in the author spotlight today as readers learn more about Pamela Jane's memoir An Incredible Talent for Existing: A Writer's Story. There will also be a giveaway for one lucky reader to receive their own copy of this intriguing book.
http://krpooler.com/

***** BOOK GIVEAWAY CONTEST *****

Enter to win a copy of An Incredible Talent for Existing: A Writer's Story by Pamela Jane! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. We will announce the winner in the Rafflecopter widget next Monday, March 14th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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6 comments 1960s, An Incredible Talent for Existing, author blog tour, book giveaway contest, Catskills, feminism, memoir, pamela jane, writer's memoir

How to Use Social Media for Copywriting Projects

I’ve been contracted to work as a copywriter for a three-month health and fitness challenge for a local parenting magazine. Part of the work involves writing e-mails that will be sent out to the challenge participants on a weekly basis. The majority of that process includes curating appropriate content to go into those e-mails.

I put off starting on the project because I was intimidated. I’m a writer and not necessarily a content strategist. Right? Even though I consider myself a pretty health-conscious gal, I began to doubt myself. Was I the right person for this job? Finally last week I decided to see what I could find related to healthy lifestyles on Pinterest.

I hit pay dirt.

“50 Workout Songs to Keep You Going.” Inspirational quotes from personal trainers. Healthy recipes galore. “How to Burn the Most Calories in 20 Minutes.” Within an hour I had pinned so many different ideas to my board that my head started to spin. Then I started to get that feeling you get when inspiration strikes. You know the one I’m talking about? The one that feels you’ve just had three cups of espresso?

I e-mailed the head of the project and shared the board with her. She loved it and shared it with the social media strategist for the initiative who is in charge of creating a Pinterest board for the group. I then shared it with the magazine’s editor, who used it to help put together the editorial plan that will run in the magazine for the next few months. Now that I’ve compiled so many different ideas, I no longer feel intimidated about putting together the remainder of the e-mails for the project.

And of course I stumbled across what always happens when I get on Pinterest—-ideas to pin on other boards. For fun I started browsing through creative writing ideas (Hello “11 Elements to Brainstorm Character Development!) and pinned so many I’ve now got a stockpile of future ideas to share on my social media accounts, specifically Facebook and Twitter.

Have you used social media (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, etc.) as inspiration for writing projects? I’d love to hear your stories!

Renee Roberson is an award-winning freelance writer and editor who also blogs at Renee’s Pages. Visit her Pinterest board for ideas on creative writing, healthy living, home décor, fashion, and to catch up on her fictional works in progress.

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4 comments content strategy, curating content, Pinterest for writers, Renee Roberson, social media

You ARE Interesting & Don't You Forget It!

Admit it, you've thought about writing a memoir or someone has said "you should really write a book". If you're like most people I know, your comeback sounds something like this "I'm just not that interesting; who would want to read about me?

I've been saying that for a long time, and I still haven't moved forward with writing my own memoir. I did strike up enough courage to start a blog which somehow led to doing book reviews which landed me with WOW! Women on Writing which is where I met NYTimes Best Selling Author Bette Lee Crosby. Even when Bette approached me about my story, I was quick to say "Really? I'm not that interesting," but she pushed forward anyway. Now, there's a book out there based on my life story. Talk about a humbling experience.

The process has been amazing and quite therapeutic. I had a chance to talk about things that hadn't crossed my mind in nearly two decades. In addition to being humbling and therapeutic, it has also been terrifying. As the reviews roll in, I hold my breath and read each one. Of course, I hope readers like the character who is based on me...and most readers have been very kind. I assure you I'll be in tears the first time someone says anything unkind. I still don't think I'm very interesting, but I'm glad someone does. And dear reader, if this small town girl from the middle of Wisconsin is interesting enough to share her story with the world, then trust me when I say:

YOU ARE INTERESTING TOO !

Stop making excuses. Stop thinking people aren't interested in what you have to say. Your story will resonate with someone, and it just may be the inspiration they need to get through a difficult time.

My other bit of advice (to myself more than anyone else), is this:

If you write a book or have a book based on your story, please don't let the reviews get you down. As my daddy used to say, "You can't please everyone all the time and if they don't like you, maybe it's cuz they're jealous of you."

If you wrote your memoir today, what would be the title? If your life was a Hallmark movie, who would play you? (Leave your answers in the comments of this post.)

For more information about Bette Lee Crosby and any of her books, please check out her website: http://betteleecrosby.com/

To pre-order Baby Girl or find out more about it, follow this link: http://betteleecrosby.com/baby-girl/

Thank you Oh! Photography

Crystal is a church musician, babywearing mama (aka crunchy mama), business owner, active journaler, writer and blogger, Blog Tour Manager with WOW! Women on Writing, Publicist with Dream of Things Publishing, as well as a dairy farmer. She lives in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin with her husband, four young children (Carmen 8, Andre 7, Breccan 2, and Delphine who just celebrated her first trip around the sun - pictured to the left), two dogs, two rabbits, four little piggies, a handful of cats and kittens, and over 230 Holsteins.

You can find Crystal riding unicorns, blogging and reviewing books, baby carriers, cloth diapers, and all sorts of other stuff at: http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/ and here: http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/ 

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2 comments adoption story, baby girl, bette lee crosy, birth mother story, grateful, memoir, tell your story, you are interesting, your story

Friday Speak Out!: Tuning in to Good Writing

by Carie Juettner

Sometimes writing feels like magic. Most of us have experienced it at one time or another. Some people call it “being in the zone.” Other people label it “muse.” Whatever name it goes by, there are moments when the writing flows from our fingers with ease and fluidity. Moments when it seems as if the words were already there on the screen before we even had a chance to think them. Moments when we read what we’ve written and say to ourselves, “That’s good. Where did it come from?” If you’re lucky enough to have experienced one of these magic moments, then, chances are, you’ve spent a LOT of time since trying to recreate it. (If you’ve been successful, please send me an email with your magic recipe.) While I’m still not able to conjure such carefree creativity at my whim, I’ve learned a few tricks to help me get there, and one of them is music.

Writers have different opinions about what makes good background noise for putting words on paper. Some prefer lively coffee shop conversation while others need absolute silence. And when it comes to music listeners, I’ve heard of everything from classical to thrash rock.

I used to make specific playlists for my larger projects. My middle grade novel about a geeky gamer included “Pinball Wizard” by The Who and “Hero” by Family of the Year on its playlist, while my comedy-fantasy novel set in Hell had more Band of Heathens and Hank Williams. (It made sense, trust me.) While themed soundtracks are fun and sometimes do inspire me, they’re also prone to steal my attention away from the task at hand. A slow song switches to a fast one or something easy to sing to comes on and before I know it I’m Googling lyrics or checking Facebook while humming along. Plus, creating those playlists is a really fun method of procrastination.

Eventually, I figured out what I need is music that fits any genre—something that inspires me without distracting me. And I found it: yoga music.

I used to take kundalini yoga classes, and I loved the musical mantras that played while I breathed and meditated. Unfortunately, I rarely make it to yoga anymore, but I can still tune into the kundalini mindset by listening to the music at home, and that mindset works well for writing too. While the songs are different, they all have a similar cadence and tone so that transitions aren’t jarring, and the beat is both energetic and soothing. These days, when I find myself fidgeting in my desk chair and wanting to run away from my work-in-progress, I turn on my yoga playlist, take a deep cleansing breath, and get one step closer to that magical writing moment that I seek. And, as a bonus, the mantra always puts my dog right to sleep.

Here are some of my favorite yoga songs:
* In the Light of My Soul – GuruGanesha Singh
* Adi Shakti – GuruGanesha Singh
* Sat Nam Wahe Guru – Singh Kaur & Kim Robertson
* Bountiful, Blissful, Beautiful – Bachan Kaur
* Pavan Pavan – Guru Shabad Singh

What do you listen to while you write?

* * *

Carie Juettner is a poet, short story author, and novelist in Austin, TX. Her work has been published in Nature Futures, The Texas Observer, and The Texas Poetry Calendar, among other places, and she has a story forthcoming in Ember: A Journal of Luminous Things. In addition to writing, Carie substitute teaches, shelves library books, and speaks to students about poetry. Follow Carie's blog at cariejuettner.com. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 Carie Juettner, flow, Friday Speak Out, muse, songs, writing and music

Passion: What Your Character Needs Most

“Nice people with common sense don’t make good characters. They only make good former spouses.” Isabel Allende

The first time that I heard Chilean author Isabel Allende say this, I just wasn’t sure I bought it. Certainly you can have a top notch character with more than a little common sense. Right?

Then I started to think about my favorite characters.

Phryne Fisher could easy flit from party to party, drinking cocktails and dancing the night away. Instead she takes on investigations for dirty orphans and nameless women alike, even when she’s threatened by drug dealers, angry madams or communist sympathizers. She’ll take on these villains and more in order to get to the truth.

Harry Dresden won’t back down even when a powerful underworld figure warns him off the case. Abandon truth when the simple act of investigation may get him condemned by the Wizarding Council? Pfft. Dresden wants to avoid execution as much as the next guy but he isn’t going to back down when someone is using magic in the wrong way.

The list goes on. Elisa in The Girl of Fire and Thorns goes from pampered princess to grubby rebel leader. Tana in The Coldest Girl in Cold Town voluntarily enters a vampire settlement because her former boyfriend needs her help.

These characters aren’t memorable only for the lack of common sense. Sure, they have to have a certain daring or they’d never get off the sofa, but what draws readers to them is their passion. It may be passion for an ideal (truth, justice, the American way). It may be passion toward a person (desire to help the victim, refusal to desert a friend, or admiration). They may want to prove themselves right, clear their name or conquer an unconquerable foe. What matters is that they are driven, passionate and just a little bit unhinged when it comes to meeting that goal.

Trying to write character driven fiction and just can’t make it work? Think about your character.

Is she the kind of girl who caps the toothpaste, flosses and always wears her seatbelt and sensible shoes? That’s okay as long as there is something that infuriates her like nothing else. There has to be something that means so much that she will leave her safe, comfortable world behind, cause her to alienate friends and family alike, and make her question her own sanity if only for the course of the novel.

If she plays it safe all the time and isn’t driven to act out, dial down the common sense. Then give her the passion that she needs to see the story through, solve the big problem and draw in readers who want to get to know her now and in books to come.

--SueBE

Sue is the instructor for our course, Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults. The next session begins on March 21, 2016.

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Leave a Comment characterization, common sense, drive, Isabel Allende, passion

What Do You Think of my Manuscript?

I suddenly became very popular last week. Out of the blue, two writers I know contacted me to critique their writing. Critiquing is tough enough for strangers but when it’s for a friend you have to teeter on that tightrope between being helpful and having someone take it personally (yes, people always say they take won’t take it personally but deep down you know they do). Chances are you have your popular weeks too, so I thought I’d share my seven tips for critiquing.

Regular Read – First, read like a regular reader. Don’t think about the technical aspects of writing we all agonize over. Instead, just enjoy. And once you hit the end jot down your general thoughts on what you liked and didn’t like about the story. Then it’s time to slow down, re-read and get serious.

Blah, blah, blah – Do you find yourself speeding through any sections, not even reading them because they go on too long, the author is repeating themselves or it just seems unnecessary? This can be a section of dialogue or description, even an entire scene. I usually mark these sections with “Is this slowing down the story?”

He said, she said – Focus on dialogue. Reading it aloud is helpful. Does it sound like a real conversation? Can you tell different speakers apart even without tags (he said, she said)? Are there unrelenting tags? Are characters making long speeches to impart information that might be shown another way?

Lights, Camera, Action – Is there enough action to keep you interested? Do the verbs bring the sentences to life or are they passive?

Surprise – Are there any surprises? If you find yourself correctly predicting what will happen or feeling like you read this story or some version of it before maybe it needs a revamp. Have any tired clichés snuck into the story?

Be specific -- “The dialogue isn’t great” could make even the toughest writer want to toss their computer out the window while “This speech on page two seems a little stilted” is a lot easier to accept and improve.

Confess – If you’re reading a genre you aren’t familiar with or don’t particularly like let the writer know. One genre’s unbelievable is another genre’s reality. One genre’s predictable is another genre’s expected. If you’re reading a genre you aren’t familiar with you might not “get it”. When reading dismiss the genre expectations and focus on basics like dialogue, suspense and three dimensional characters.

Be Gentle – Remember how you would feel if you were the one being critiqued. Of course it goes without saying to start with what you do like (there’s always something to like). I find that asking leading questions instead of boldly stating what you feel could be changed makes accepting criticism a little easier. Instead of getting defensive (we all do it), when faced with a question the writer can think about it on their own and maybe come to the same conclusion you did. 

And don't forget...now they have to critique something of yours!

What tips do you have about critiquing other's work?

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3 comments critiquing

Interview with Donna Landi: Summer 2015 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

Donna Landi is a life-long resident of the historic village of Sleepy Hollow, New York, depicted in Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the Tim Burton movie and the Fox TV show. Although the village isn’t the ominous place it’s made out to be, in the still of night, the distant clip-clop of horses can often be heard from her home located a block from where the beheaded man rode his steed. As a girl, she was certain it was the sound of the Headless Horseman. Today, the adult she has become says it’s impossible, but the child in her will forever wonder.

Donna started writing stories at age six, and with the encouragement of her first-grade teacher, wrote a play and cast her classmates as characters. In high school, she kept a journal, tried her hand at poetry, and had a poem published in Young America Sings. She regrets putting her writing aside to pursue a lengthy career in corporate management, but six years ago acknowledging that she’s always wanted to be a writer, she dusted off her creative side and honed her skills, studying fiction writing with the Long Ridge Writer’s Group. Her writing has appeared in The River Journal, a local publication serving the Hudson River Valley of New York, Midlifecollage.com and Stagesoflife.com. In addition to writing, she loves to cook. She shares her life with Anthony, her husband of twenty-four years, who enjoys all the dishes she prepares while providing her with many story ideas. Trick or Treat, however, was inspired by her niece, Kimberly and her late sister, Pam, who Donna knows would be proud of her finally pursuing her dream.

If you haven't done so already, check out Donna's award-winning story "Trick or Treat" then return here for a chat with the author.

WOW: Congratulations on placing in the Summer 2015 Flash Fiction Contest! What was the inspiration for your short story, or what prompted you to write this particular story?

Donna; I wrote “Trick or Treat” because much of the flash fiction written today, although heartfelt, tends to be tragic or dark. I think readers need some humor to lighten up their days at a time when so many bad things happen in the world on a regular basis. “Trick or Treat” is based on a real incident that happened to my sister when her daughter was only three years old. My sister lost her battle to cancer at fifty-one years old, soon after my niece’s sixteenth birthday. I wanted to celebrate her life by writing about a happy time and not the darkness of her illness and death.

WOW: Thank you for sharing the happy memory with all of us and letting us enjoy the much-needed humor! Can you tell us more about your transition from corporate management back into creative writing? What prompted the shift?

Donna: Although successful in all the positions I’ve held in the corporate arena, at the end of the day something was missing—creativity. I have a fantastic imagination that wasn’t being exercised. When my fiftieth birthday approached, I enrolled in a writing course to refresh my skills. I now write every day.

WOW: That’s fantastic that you were able to recognize what was missing – and do something about it. What do you enjoy the most and/or the least about writing?

Donna: I enjoy writing because I can be anyone and anywhere through the characters I create without leaving my desk. However, as an emerging writer, when I see the credentials and accomplishments of other writers, I feel insignificant.

WOW: I don’t think you’re alone there, but hopefully you don’t let others’ accomplishments bog you down. What are you reading right now, and why did you choose to read it?

Donna: “A Christmas Wish” by Joseph Pittman is the book I am in the process of reading. I read a Christmas story every holiday season. I find it enhances my Christmas spirit.

WOW: What a lovely tradition! If you could give other creative writers one piece of advice, what would it be and why?

Donna: The more we write, the better we get at the craft. Practice makes perfect.

WOW: Anything else you’d like to add?

Donna: I’d like to thank everyone involved with selecting the winners for the Summer 2015 Flash Fiction Contest. The recognition has given me encouragement to continue sharing the stories I write.

WOW: Wonderful! We’re so happy you shared your story with us! Congratulations again, and happy writing.

Interviewed by Anne Greenawalt

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Leave a Comment Anne Greenawalt, Donna Landi, Runner up, Summer 2015 Flash Fiction contest

Talent by B. Lynn Goodwin Blog Tour Launch and Book Giveaway

The life of your average teenager is filled with drama both big and small. But put a teenager in the school drama club, surrounded by other teenagers who live to perform, and the drama quotient will go through the roof. Life will be filled with everything from the seemingly trivial (but absolutely vital) issue of stepping on each other’s lines to the more far reaching problems that accompany alcohol abuse, death and relationships.

In Talent, fifteen-and-half-year-old Sandee Mason has a hard enough time dealing with auditioning for the school musical, getting her driver's license, and surviving Algebra. But she has to deal with a host of more adult problems all stemming from the disappearance of her big brother Bri while in Afghanistan.

She discovers that real life doesn’t have a script as she deals with loss, the manipulation of Bri’s best friend, her burning ambition to find her talent and the mystery of what happened to Bri.

Paperback: 284 pages  (also available in e-format)

Publisher: Eternal Press (November 1, 2015)   

ISBN-10:  1629293350

ISBN-13: 978-1629293356

Twitter hashtag: #TalentYA

Talent is available as a print and e-book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and IndieBound.

Book Giveaway Contest:

To win a copy of Talent, please enter using the Rafflecopter form at the bottom of this post. The giveaway contest closes this Monday, March 7 at 12:00 AM EST. We will announce the winner the same day in the Rafflecopter widget. Good luck!

About the Author:

B. Lynn Goodwin is the owner of Writer Advice and the author of You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers. She’s been published in local and regional newspapers, plus numerous magazines, anthologies, and online journals. A former drama and English teacher, she now conducts writing workshops, writes book reviews, edits, coaches writers, and is currently working on a second book about Sandee Mason’s adventures and a memoir about getting married for the first time at age 62 to a two-time widower who she met on…gulp…Craigslist. She lives with her husband, Richard, and her dog, Eddie McPuppers, in Northern California.

B. Lynn Goodwin’s websites:

http://www.writeradvice.com/

http://blynngoodwin.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blynn.goodwin

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lgood67334

-----Interview by Jodi Webb  

WOW: In the past, your writing has been on the non-fiction side of the library--writing how-to, memoir. What made you decide to plunge into fiction?

LYNN: I had several stories to tell, and the best way to do it was to combine what I knew and what I was exploring in a work of fiction. In 1979 I directed the musical Oklahoma! at San Ramon High. All of the characters in TALENT are fictitious, but I remember feeling like I could read the minds of kids who knew they were not going to get chosen for a part but wanted to find their talent and some recognition for it. My fiction has roots in reality. No dystopian fantasy monsters or zombies here.

WOW: So many of characters started out in a series of short stories? What made you decide to take the stories to the next level and write them in a novel? Or were the short stories “test runs” for the novel you were planning?

LYNN: The articles for Dramatics were well received. I liked the characters and wanted to keep telling their stories. I had wonderful memories of directing Oklahoma! a few years earlier, so this seemed like the logical next step.

WOW: Tell us more about your work as an educator. What lessons did you learn from your days as an educator that helped you as a writer?

LYNN: I taught English and drama in high school and college. I learned to value teens, especially my students who wanted to succeed. I learned that teens are eager to embrace the world, that sometimes they are scared, but other times they are full of life, love, gratitude, and energy—crying out to be harnessed. I never thought of my young actors as students. I thought of them as actors, and I gave them the respect that eludes so many teens.

WOW: As fiction writers, it's difficult enough creating realistic characters--but you had to tackle that tough subject: teenagers. Do you find teenager characters more difficult to write than adult characters?

LYNN: I spent nearly 20 years teaching high school and college students. I knew my teenage actors very well. I still carry them with me in my head. These characters were easy to write. Some of them had already appeared in a series in Dramatics Magazine. I wanted their stories out in the world.

WOW: Did you do any special research before creating your characters for Talent to ensure that they felt real and timely? Some writers have confessed to eavesdropping at the mall!

LYNN: I did my research years ago. I wrote the first draft on an Apple IIC in the mid-eighties. It’s come a long way. Since I was in high school, I’ve understood that all teens want recognition, acknowledgement, respect, and most want freedom from the rules of Mom and Dad. These kids are on that road. I am rooting for them.

Teens have many of the same goals as adults, but they have less life experience. I knew what they wanted, what they would do to get it, and who/what was in their way, so I don’t remember finding this difficult. If I did, though, I’d go into my journal, write “Sandee, what’s going on? You can tell me,” let her answer, and keep going.

WOW: When you were writing Talent did you have any young adult beta-readers or "experts" to help you make sure your characters rang true?

LYNN: Emily, one of my granddaughters (you have no idea how thrilled I am every time I write that—I got married for the first time four years ago to a two-time widower with seven adult children) was my teenage beta reader. She said it was good and she put a review on Amazon. She reads constantly and loves Harry Potter. Her cousin, Haleigh, got a copy after the book came out. I’m not sure she’s found time to read it yet.

WOW: Do you have any advice for aspiring YA writers?

LYNN: Whether you’re writing contemporary, realistic, fantasy, sci fi, or dystopian, be true to your characters. Make their goals real.

If you don’t know what teens want, talk to them. You’ll find them in any Starbuck’s near a high school. You’ll find them in line at the DMV. You’ll find some in the library, some on the sports field, and some seeking work. Read Teen Ink. Volunteer in a school. Looking for the bad guys? Volunteer at your local juvenile hall.

Let your characters and their environment guide the action. Never put their parents or teachers in charge.

Of course it goes without saying that you should read YA. Also, try journaling in the voice of your characters. It’s a great way to get in their heads. Need an example? Sandee Mason, my protagonist, has written many of the blog posts at http://blynngoodwin.com.

WOW: What's up next for you?

LYNN: Right now I’m working on a memoir about getting married for the first time at 62 to a 2-time widower that I met on … gulp … Craigslist. I’m also thinking about my next Sandee story. I think it will start at the DMV on the day that she goes to get her license.

I’m teaching Independent Study in Writing through Story CircleNetwork I’m scheduled to present a workshop at the Story Circle Network Conference in April and a salon about the powers of journaling at the International Women Writer’s Guild in July. Four times a year I produce a new issue of Writer Advice, and I’m reading and responding to all submissions for our four contests this year.

In my spare time, I read for book reviews; walk Eddie McPuppers, who is our dog-dog and a columnist for a Petfinder Newsletter; and spend time with the man I married 4 years ago. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts with the readers of this Muffin interview. This has been a great experience.

WOW: Hang on, Lynn because the experience is just beginning. After all this is just the first stop on your WOW Blog Tour. Enjoy the tour everyone!

----------Blog Tour Dates 

Monday, February 29(today!) @ The Muffin

Stop by for an interview with B. Lynn Goodwin and a chance to win Talent!

http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

Wednesday, March 2 @ Building Bookshelves

Read a review of B. Lynn Goodwin's YA novel Talent about all the drama in high school and enter to win a copy.

http://blogs.republicanherald.com/bookshelves

Friday, March 4 @ All Things Audry

Author B. Lynn Goodwin shares tips for discovering your hidden talents.

http://allthingsaudry.blogspot.com

Tuesday, March 8 @ Just Commonly

B. Lynn Goodwin, author of the YA novel Talent, shares five ways to cope with loss and the opportunity to win a copy of Talent!

http://justcommonly.blogspot.com

Thursday, March 10 @ Lisa’s Reviews and Interviews

Wonder what makes writers tick? Learn more about author B. Lynn Goodwin in today's interview.

http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com

Friday, March 11 @ Books & Such

Author B. Lynn Goodwin will be sharing ways to make your writing shine -- and we all want shiny writing! Enter to win a copy of her latest book: the YA novel Talent.

http://teripolen.com/

Tuesday, March 15 @ Adan Ramie 

B. Lynn Goodwin, author of the YA novel Talent, stops by today with a guest post. Don't miss it!

http://adanramie.com/blog/

Wednesday, March 16 @ Finished Pages

Author B. Lynn Goodwin, author of the YA novel Talent, shares some acting techniques to help you create three dimensional characters. Action!

http://www.finishedpages.com/

Friday, March 18 @ The New Book Review

Don't miss today's review of B. Lynn Goodwin's debut YA novel, Talent.

http://thenewbookreview.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, March 23 @ Deal Sharing Aunt

Learn more about author B. Lynn Goodwin in today's interview and read a review of her YA novel Talent.

http://www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com/

Friday, March 25 @ The Things You Can Read

B. Lynn Goodwin's tour for her debut YA novel, Talent, is coming to a close. Don't miss today's review.

http://thethingsyoucanread.blogspot.com/

Sunday, March 27 @ Writer Unboxed

B. Lynn Goodwin, author of the Young Adult novel Talent shares "5 Ways to Tap into Universal Truths about Young Adults".

http://writerunboxed.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 Talent! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. We will announce the winner in the Rafflecopter widget this Monday, March 7.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

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7 comments B. Lynn Goodwin, blog tour, giveaway, talent, young adult

Being Unique

Watching the Oscars last night made me think about how all of us are trying to make our statement in the world, and many of us do that by working on being unique. I think it is possibly one of the hardest things to do in a world where people who are truly unique are often criticized, bullied, and in some places–ostracized. But let’s look at it on even a smaller scale. What happens to kids and teens (and even adults) who do not fit the mold of what everyone else is doing? Every once in a while, this person will hit it big somehow--maybe even win an Academy Award. But unfortunately, we don’t have to look too far to find the disappointing and often depressing answer to this question: many of these kids and teens wind up committing suicide or suffer from depression. They are pleading with society to just understand that they are unique, and that this is something to be celebrated.

This is one of my favorite photos of my daughter--she is unique. And of course, I think that because I'm her mother. But I find her struggling with this concept even in preschool--I'm telling her to be herself, and she wants to make sure all her friends like and play with her. I hope that I am teaching her that in a world where everyone expects you to fit in and be like them, it is okay to always think you are “QUEEN OF THE WORLD.” No matter what challenges come your way, you will end the day with your hands above your head, with a song in your heart, and with a love for yourself. I wish this for her in the worst way, and I will work as hard as I can for this to happen.

I also thought I would share a couple of young adult and middle grade books with you that I think do a tremendous job of sharing the stories of unique people. If you haven’t read these yet, then please check them out. If you have read them, then share them with someone who hasn’t.

• Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher: You only hurt the ones you love. Logan Witherspoon recently discovered that his girlfriend of three years cheated on him. But things start to look up when a new student breezes through the halls of his small-town high school. Sage Hendricks befriends Logan at a time when he no longer trusts or believes in people. Sage has been homeschooled for a number of years and her parents have forbidden her to date anyone, but she won’t tell Logan why. One day, Logan acts on his growing feelings for Sage. Moments later, he wishes he never had. Sage finally discloses her big secret: she’s actually a boy. Enraged, frightened, and feeling betrayed, Logan lashes out at Sage and disowns her. But once Logan comes to terms with what happened, he reaches out to Sage in an attempt to understand her situation. But Logan has no idea how rocky the road back to friendship will be.
• Tithe by Holly Black: Welcome to the realm of very scary faeries! Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother’s rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms — a struggle that could very well mean her death.
• Wringer by Jerry Spinelli: Palmer LaRue is running out of birthdays. For as long as he can remember, he’s dreaded the day he turns ten — the day he’ll take his place beside all the other ten-year-old boys in town, the day he’ll be a wringer. But Palmer doesn’t want to be a wringer. It’s one of the first things he learned about himself and it’s one of the biggest things he has to hide. In Palmer’s town being a wringer is an honor, a tradition passed down from father to son. Palmer can’t stop himself from being a wringer just like he can’t stop himself from growing one year older, just like he can’t stand up to a whole town — right? Newbery Medal winner Jerry Spinelli’s most powerful novel yet is a gripping tale of how one boy learns how not to be afraid.

Wringer, a middle-grade novel, is one of the best books I’ve ever read! The other two are amazing young adult novels. I would love to hear if you’ve read a book with a unique main character. Please share the title below. I would also love any comment about being unique--in your writing or in your life!

Margo L. Dill is a children’s and young adult author of three books: Caught Between Two Curses, Finding My Place: One Girl’s Strength at Vicksburg, and Maggie Mae, Detective Extraordinaire: The Case of the Missing Cookies. You can find out more about Margo and her books at http://www.margodill.com.

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4 comments middle-grade novels, unique, writing inspiration, young adult novels

About Annoying Emails…

Last time we met, I shared a couple of cardinal sins having to do with spelling, grammar, and punctuation. This week, after dealing with about a trillion emails, I decided to share…well, maybe not sins so much as annoyances, little things that nearly drove me around the bend.

You don’t want to be the one responsible for driving editors, agents, or publishers around the bend, do you? So let’s take a look and vow to change our errant ways.


But I’ve Had This Email Forever


It’s so tempting to keep the first email address you’ve ever had. I’m sure when you thought up a cutesy name like SexySuzytheWriter it seemed like a great idea. And if you write erotica and don’t want the teachers at your child’s grade school to know your name, then I will give you a pass.

But if you now write stories for children and still use the SexySuzy email, then it’s time to make a clean break. It’s time to be a professional and use your real name. Besides, those cutesy names are so hard to remember.

If I have a list of authors that I’ve contacted, and I need to contact them again, and their name is in their email, then it’s a simple procedure. I type, the names pop up. But invariably, I come to a name that does not pop up. Oh, snap. What name did that person go by? Ilovemonkeys? FictionFan? Bob’sYourUncle?

Make it easy for someone to reach and remember you. Just use your name.


Oh, No, You Didn’t


So you receive an email, one asking for a writer bio, or maybe a slew of edits. And you promptly send it back with all the information. And then you receive another email, from the same editor or whomever, asking for the writer bio or the slew of edits. At which point, you feel compelled to defend your honor: “But I emailed that information already,” you say. Which requires another email from the other end, asking again for the bio and/or edits.

Before long, you’ve got an argumentative thread that a nuclear physicist couldn’t untangle. So do yourself and the person on the other end a favor: don’t argue, just respond to the email. Needing to be right can sometimes give the wrong impression. And speaking of wrong…



Better Late Than Never, Right?


Wrong.

But wait. You have a good excuse. A personal loss, family on vacation, the laptop blew up in an unfortunate experiment. When you have a legitimate reason for a late response, by all means say so. The person on the other end will most likely understand and try to work with you.

But legitimate reasons are scarcer than hen’s teeth. Usually, what goes out is an email like this: “Ack! I just saw this email! I hope it’s not too late to…”

Chances are very good that it is too late and now you have put someone in a difficult position. Or at the very least, you have branded yourself, but not in a positive way. So break the “Hope I’m not too late” email habit and respond to an email when your receive it.


If you want to drive an agent or editor or publisher crazy, I won’t stop you. Just make sure it’s because your writing is awesome and not because your emails are annoying.

~Cathy C. Hall

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4 comments Cathy C. Hall, email addresses, email etiquette

Document Design for Creative Writers

Document design is the way you format your writing on the page. It helps promote the readability of your manuscript, you query letter, or your book proposal.

Although document design is not as important as the substance of your writing, the way it’s formatted makes a difference in how your audience perceives it.

Many editors, agents, and others who read submission require certain formatting such as double-space, 12 pt. font, etc. Their requirements, whatever they may be, likely promote manuscript readability. The requirements also standardize the look of submissions, which makes it easier to read them when editor is reading dozens or even hundreds of them.

Document design for fiction and other types of creative prose is usually pretty simple. When you create something like a book proposal that has multiple sections and headings is where you could have more flexibility. Adding items like a cover page, table of contents, section headers and subheaders all contribute to making your content easier to read.

When your content is easier to read and navigate, it ensures that your audience will focus on your excellent content rather than straining its eyes through poor font sizes or style choices, lack of spacing, or even too much spacing among other document design faux pas.

See here for more on document design.

Written by Anne Greenawalt

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Leave a Comment Anne Greenawalt, document design, readability

Friday Speak Out!: An Insecure Writer

by Barbara Barth

Facebook feeds my writing insecurities. Connected to many successful authors that I only know as ‘friends’ because of our common love of writing, I read their posts, happy for all their great news, but sad for me. When I see how hard everyone is working on their books, promotions, and travel for book signings, I worry I have failed. Am I a writer at all? I ask myself this too many times during the day when I should, at the very least, be writing these pitiful thoughts down to purge from my system. After all, I started writing in 2009 to come to terms with the loss of my husband. I am good at finding my way by taking life’s lessons and writing myself into my own next chapter. Until now. I am in a slump, trying to determine what to write about next. Health issues have slowed me down, but so has my desire to write about the same topics. I need a new viewpoint. A new inspiration. Time to decide if I want to write non-fiction or fiction. In the meantime, I waver and do nothing. Well, almost nothing. I am reading more now. Lots more.

A friend recently gave me a copy of Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast. He knows I love memoir. He also knows my last book was a little picture book, A Dog Dreams of Paris, starring my rescue dog Miss April in Paris. Doing research on Paris (I’ve never been there) I fell in love with the City of Lights. I also love the period of the Lost Generation, as depicted in Woody Allen’s movie Midnight in Paris. The book was kismet for me. Reading it had a domino effect. It lead me to discover books I love that I never knew existed. (Not to sound like a dolt, I do know Hemingway!) I’ve found authors that are inspiring me now. I am reading more than writing. I am learning. It is exhilarating!

My point of this little post is simple. As a writer, I feel like a failure if I am not writing. I’ve been hard on myself when I shouldn’t be. I’ve taken some time off, to heal from my surgery, but also to open my mind to new ideas, to find the next path for my writing. I am putting that thought in a folder called GROWTH. Growing pains can be hard. It takes time to mature. My plan is to come out of this quiet period knowing myself better, having read some incredible books, and finally, a new book of my own. I am a writer. I am a writer. I am a writer. My mantra. It is good to take a deep breath and plot your own story line as well as your next book. I just need to remember no one likes a weepy heroine! Facebook tells me so.

* * *

Barbara Barth is a writer, blogger, antique dealer, and dog whisperer. She lives with five rescue dogs that rescued her. She is the author of The Unfaithful Widow (a finalist in the 2011 USA Best Book Awards), Danger in her Words, and a picture book A Dog Dreams of Paris (a portion of the proceeds go to animal rescue). Her work has appeared on many women’s blogs and in On Purpose Woman magazine.

In addition to her own writing, Barth helps share author’s books on her two book blogs, Book Talk and Writer With Dogs. Visit her website www.barbarabarthwriter.com or contact her at bb-bjd@comcast.net .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 Barbara Barth, Facebook, Friday Speak Out, self-doubt, writer inspiration