tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336122932010-04-12T01:28:34.658-07:00WOW! Women On Writing BlogWOW! promotes the communication between women writers, authors, editors, agents, publishers and readers. Stay up-to-date on writer's markets, events, author interviews, and more! We are dedicated to helping you achieve your writing dreams.Wow!http://www.blogger.com/profile/00196768330556357725noreply@blogger.comBlogger1080125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-51489341615223582252010-04-12T01:28:00.001-07:002010-04-12T01:28:34.776-07:00This blog has moved<br /> This blog is now located at http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/.<br /> You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click <a href='http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/'>here</a>.<br /><br /> For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to<br /> http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/feeds/posts/default.<br /> <div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-5148934161522358225?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Wow!http://www.blogger.com/profile/00196768330556357725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-47629867974410202322010-04-11T05:10:00.000-07:002010-04-11T05:10:00.943-07:00The Muffin FTP Blogger MigrationI knew this would happen sooner or later. Blogger is no longer supporting FTP blogs, which is what The Muffin is. Their reason is "FTP remains a significant drain on our ability to improve Blogger: only 5% of active blogs are published via FTP--yet the percentage of our engineering resources devoted to supporting FTP vastly exceeds that."<br /><br />So we have to "migrate" the blog to a Blogger-managed URL, which we will be attempting this Monday, April 12.<br /><br />This news isn't sitting well with FTP bloggers. Imagine publishing a blog for years on your own server, hosting (owning) your own files and posts on your own server, and then having to move your entire blog to a new URL, and losing the ability to control your property. It's like owning your own home and having someone say that you have to pick up and move your house to another location with another address, and all of a sudden you're renting it, instead of owning it.<br /><br />Not to mention the complications! The Muffin has four years worth of posts, high traffic, SEO, and links to our URL. Now, all The Muffin's posts will have to be redirected to a new URL. I can't imagine this will run smoothly. And what happens to our RSS feed, our traffic to our site, and everything else? I'm not tech savvy enough to wrap my head around this and I'm disappointed in Blogger/Google for making this decision.<br /><br />Another truly sad part about this is it affects users in China. China's "Great Fire Wall" blocks their ability to use Blogger blogs, and their only way around it was by using FTP blogs.<br /><br />Ugh. The list of grievances is long. The comments at the bottom of <a href="http://blogger-ftp.blogspot.com/2010/01/deprecating-ftp.html">this post</a> explain some of the other concerns FTP bloggers have with the migration.<br /><br />Over the next couple of days we'll be working out the kinks, so please bear with us.<br /><br />As with anything, change is always scary but it forces us to move forward. Sometimes situations we view as negative in the beginning can have positive results in the long run. Who knows? Perhaps we'll migrate to their host and find it has more functionality, or perhaps we'll move to Wordpress like we've always wanted to do, and this is just the first step that will propel us toward our goals. We'll just have to see what happens as we dig in. Wish us luck!<div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-4762986797441020232?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Wow!http://www.blogger.com/profile/00196768330556357725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-67183598672099692922010-04-10T05:30:00.000-07:002010-04-10T05:30:00.623-07:00The Professor and Other Writings - A Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/TheProfessor-TerryCastle-742521.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 157px; height: 240px;" src="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/TheProfessor-TerryCastle-742509.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0061670901/?tag=wowwomenonwri-20"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Professor and Other Writings</span></a> is a collection of seven essays by author and professor, Terry Castle. As she wrote in the ‘Author’s Note’ at the front of the book, some of the pieces had been previously published, and in this book, appear in the order in which they were written. Castle added, “Having labored in the dusty groves of academe for over twenty years, I felt---as a new millennium unfolded---a desire to write more directly and personally than had previously been the case.”<br /><br />Intriguing photos serve to introduce, as well as illustrate the theme of each autobiographical essay. Castle unveils her perspectives on love, family, relationships and sexuality, all accompanied by her wicked wit. Nothing has been held back, especially in the title essay, ‘The Professor’, in which she relates her relationship with a female professor. There were times when reading through the book was overwhelming, with the sheer amount of scholarly information that backed personal details.<br /><br />One essay, ‘Courage, Mon Amie’, is a fascinating study of the author’s obsession (or ‘war fixation’, as she puts it) with military history, inspired by her desire to find the gravesite of her great-uncle, who died during WWI. As British-born Castle makes the rounds of France and Belgium, you’re drawn into her search. There are detailed descriptions of the cemetery, trenches, tiny museums, and other military haunts she visits, sometimes alone, other times with a relative. While it may be off-putting to some readers, the author’s passion for war and its trappings is phenomenal, especially as she struggles (as many of us did back in 2002) with myriad emotions in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.<br /><br />Another essay, ‘Home Alone’, deals with America’s captivation with design (or shelter) magazines, and the desire to create a space, some sort of secured home of one’s own. Castle admits her own ‘shelter-lit addiction’, relishing in flea market finds and eagerness to get her hands on the latest mag candy. She asserts that it “is all about consumption, luxury goods, and the pipe dreams of upward mobility” that drives one to seek this decorative nirvana. Enhancing her dead-on commentary are quotes from American interior design experts Elsie de Wolfe and Mario Praz, and those from the publishing staff of some of the magazines mentioned in this piece. This essay was a much easier read than the one above.<br /><br />In conclusion, if essay collections laced with scholarly insights and biting humor are your cup of tea, then you’ll want to give The Professor and Other Writings a look.<div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-6718359867209969292?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646925379094524750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-53709240932551678242010-04-09T06:00:00.000-07:002010-04-09T06:00:03.462-07:00Friday Speak Out!: Why to be a Writer, Guest Post by Amy O'Neil<div><strong>‘Why’ to be a Writer</strong><br /><em></em><br /><em>by Amy O'Neil</em><br /><br /><font color="#ff6600"><a href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/Child_drawing-fro-Amy-ONeill-post-725005.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 281px;" src="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/Child_drawing-fro-Amy-ONeill-post-724882.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></font> Look on the internet and you will find a million different sites talking about ‘how to draw’, but how many of them discuss the all important question of <em>why </em>to draw? The same goes for writing. </div><br /><div><br />I found myself asking this question today, right before I was about to embark on a commission for four large drawings. </div><br /><div><br />I found a few vague answers, such as “We draw to express our creativity and expose it to the world”. </div><br /><div><br />But today these answers didn't really satisfy. What is <em>your</em> creativity, why do you want to <em>expose</em> it, and why does the world need to be exposed to it? What does it ultimately achieve?<br /></div><br /><div>Is this just a stock phrase that merely <em>sounds</em> like it could be answering the question, or is it the truth of why to draw?<br /></div><br /><div>In our present times we have access to people’s talents, skills, stories and creations in the billions over the internet. We are literally swamped with exceptional and puzzling works of the mind, and not always in a good way. Can your work really contribute anything meaningful? Is the reason to create really ‘to add something to the world’? Or is it to feel like your existence is necessary?<br /></div><br /><div>It's a hard pill to swallow when you consider that the world would be okay if you weren't here, that literature would still be great and that art would continue to shock and delight. Films would still be moving and extraordinary, food would still be delicious, music would still sound wonderful, the earth would still spin.<br /><br />So is it important that you draw, or write?<br /></div><br /><div>For me, today, the truth was <em>no</em>.<br /></div><br /><div>Is it essential for our already overwhelming culture?<br />Chances are slim.<br /></div><br /><div>So why do it? It's the same question as why bother existing. We exist <em>because</em> we exist. Existence is not necessary but it's a gift.<br /></div><br /><div>To be able to be here and taste delicious food, and read wonderful books, and watch breathtaking films and have complicated relationships is a one-hundred percent bonus.<br /></div><br /><div>Why draw or write? It is part of the gift. You do it because you can, because you're here and you have thoughts and opinions and were born into this tiny slither of time and place that nobody else was. And for some reason you fell into it; it happened, like when a flash of colour catches your eye.<br /></div><br /><div>So when you sit down to do that very important piece of writing today, or that ‘essential’ work of art, remember <em>why</em> you’re doing it. I mean, why you're <em>really</em> doing it.<br /></div><br /><div>Perhaps it’s because when you were a child you had an idea, and you decided to put it on paper because it seemed fun and natural, not because you were driven by adult fantasies of self-importance.<br /></div><br /><div>It is a gift. All you need to do is relish it.<br /><br /><font size="2">Photograph courtesy of D. Sharon Pruitt.<br /></font><br />* * *<br /><br /><font color="#ff6600"><a href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/Amy-O'Neil-724815.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 261px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/Amy-O'Neil-724812.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /></font> <em><strong>Amy O'Neil</strong> has a BA in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Art and Design, which she completed in 2007. Since then she has been taking private commissions for drawings from photographs, but has found her interests have turned more towards short fiction writing. Her stories have been placed in several small competitions, as well as being recently short-listed for the Fish Short Story Prize. You can contact her at amygraceATgooglemailDOTcom.<br /></em><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br /><font color="#333399" face="verdana">Would you like to participate in <strong>Friday "Speak Out!</strong><strong>"</strong>? 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!</font><br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-5370924093255167824?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>MPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303375584867596482noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-80418553489139550682010-04-08T02:00:00.000-07:002010-04-09T12:59:36.426-07:00An Interview with Demand Studios Editor, Robyn Galbos<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/demand-studios-778393.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 159px; height: 151px;" src="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/demand-studios-778390.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>We are lucky to have Robyn Galbos from <a href="http://www.demandstudios.com/freelance-work/writers.html?utm_source=wow&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=blogpost">Demand Studios </a>with us today to answer some questions we've received about becoming a writer for them. She has provided some tips for applying and writing articles and information about some of the new Demand Studios programs, so let's get started! <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-weight: bold;">WOW: Hi, Robyn. Thank you for taking time out to talk with <span style="font-style: italic;">The Muffin</span> about writing for Demand Studios. What kind of writers are Demand Studios looking for? Specific genres? Certain experience or college degrees?</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Robyn: </span></span></o:p>Demand Studios is looking for all kinds of writers with a variety of backgrounds and interests. We are primarily looking for people with solid researching and reporting skills, and ideal candidates have had their work published in print or online. During <a href="http://www.demandstudios.com/freelance-work/writers.html?utm_source=wow&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=blogpost">the application process</a>, writers must upload a résumé and a writing sample; the stronger the writing sample, the more likely the writer will be accepted.<br /><o:p></o:p></p> <o:p></o:p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p></o:p><o:p style="font-weight: bold;">WOW: So, writers can use their knowledge they gain from hobbies and other careers to write articles and make extra money on Demand Studios. </o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">What are two or three tips you can give writers who are applying for positions?</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Robyn: </span></span></o:p>First, take <a href="http://www.demandstudios.com/freelance-work/writers.html?utm_source=wow&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=blogpost">the application process </a>as seriously as you would for a full-time position. Because this is an independent contractor position, sometimes writers think that they don't need to try as hard. Upload a recent résumé that highlights your writing experience and any expertise you may have. Proofread your résumé for typos. Typos in a résumé are a red flag when you're applying for a writing position. <a title="http://www.demandstudios.com/freelance-work/writers.html?utm_source=wow&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=blogpost" href="http://www.demandstudios.com/freelance-work/writers.html?utm_source=wow&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=blogpost" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span id="lw_1270669625_0" class="yshortcuts"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p></o:p>Second, put your best foot forward with your writing sample. Take time to research the sites for which you are applying to write, and take note of the voice and tone of the writing. Attach writing samples that would fit well on those sites. If you don't have published work, try writing an article in the style of eHow, LIVESTRONG, Garden Guides or any other site you're interested in. Be sure to submit original work as your writing sample, however, and remember to proofread your submission for typos as well. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">WOW: Thanks for the tips, Robyn. </span></o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Many writers can write 400- to 500-word articles quickly; and therefore, they write several Demand Studios articles a day in a short amount of time. What are some tips for writing Demand Studios articles in a timely manner?</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Robyn:</span> </span></o:p>The simplest answer is "write what you know." The more you venture into topics that are not your area of expertise, the more time you will take to research and write the articles. If you know a topic, you likely know where to find the most credible references. A word of caution: Even though you know a topic, resist the urge to write off the top of your head without researching. We require references for every article, and facts must be verifiable by the copy editors.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p></o:p>I also recommend that writers master one format before moving on to others. Once you understand the guidelines and nuances for a particular format, you get in a rhythm and can work a lot faster.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p></o:p>Finally, really take the time to familiarize yourself with all of the <a href="http://www.demandstudios.com/freelance-work/writers.html?utm_source=wow&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=blogpost">Demand Studios</a> guidelines. This will help save time on rewrite requests. <a title="http://www.demandstudios.com/freelance-work/writers.html?utm_source=wow&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=blogpost" href="http://www.demandstudios.com/freelance-work/writers.html?utm_source=wow&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=blogpost" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span id="lw_1270669625_0" class="yshortcuts"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">WOW: More great tips. It seems like if writers take time at the beginning to learn about the templates and different types of articles, they will work quicker and more accurately in a few months. </span></o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Demand Studios allows writers to suggest articles they would like to write. Please explain to us how this process works. Are these articles paid the same rates as articles that Demand Studios assigns?</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Robyn: </span></span></o:p>Writers may create their own assignments in Demand Studios, and approved articles are paid on a revenue-share basis. We are looking for titles that revolve around a topical theme while remaining evergreen. For example, articles around filing your tax returns are perfect in the early part of the year. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p style="font-weight: bold;">WOW: </o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sometimes, Demand Studios editors have to send articles back to writers to fix. What are some of the most common reasons why writers get their work sent back to them?</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Robyn: </span></span></o:p>Every article that is submitted through the Demand Studios publishing tools is edited and fact-checked by a copy editor, and we consider rewrites to be a natural part of the editorial process. Copy editors look at articles with the eye of a reader. If there are questions about clarity or facts, the editor may need to ask the writer some questions.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p></o:p>The most common reasons for rewrites are unverifiable facts, guideline violations, unclear sentence structure, or vague statements. An editor may also send an article back if the article does not directly answer the question put forth in the title or is not specific enough to address the title accurately. Writers who study the guidelines, do research, and cite their sources likely will receive fewer rewrite requests. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">WOW: So, copy editors and writers work together to make the articles as clear and accurate as possible. That makes perfect sense! </span></o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Many Demand Studios writers make an average of $15 an article, but there are ways to make between $20 and $80 an article. Please explain how writers can make more money per article and about your new specialty writers program. </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Robyn: </span></span>Demand Studios has several levels of special assignments that we reserve for our best writers: that is, writers who consistently deliver high-quality articles written according to all applicable guidelines. These higher-paying opportunities are for Demand Media sites and for our partner sites and include premium assignments for our copy editors. We regularly review our creator base and look for these standout performers. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">WOW: It's nice to hear that hard work is rewarded, and there are chances to move up in the company while writing for Demand Studios. </span></o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Demand Studios periodically has the program "Write for a Cause." What is this program and how does it work? When will you be offering it again?</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Robyn: </span></span></o:p>Demand Studios partnered with First Book in December to donate new books to children across the country, and the program was such a hit that we revived it for two weeks in mid-March. For every eight Demand Studios articles published during the program, Demand Media donates one book to a child in need. Thanks to our writers and copy editors, we have been able to donate a total of 26,639 books to kids so far. I can't say for certain when we'll offer the program again, but I can say it's been a huge success, and I look forward to the next round.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">WOW: 26,639 books--that is awesome! I'm sure writers enjoy "Write for a Cause," and are also looking forward to the next round. </span></o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">In 2010, Demand Studios started awarding one $1,000 grant to one of your writers each month for creative projects. How does a writer apply for one of these grants, and do you have any information on what types of projects or applications are receiving the grants? </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Robyn: </span></span>Demand Studios contributors who have been with us for more than three months can apply for a grant. Eligible projects include works of fiction, non-fiction, essay collections, plays, screenplays, short films/videos, and feature length films/videos. Applications and supporting materials are accepted electronically at grantprogram@demandmedia.com. We accept submissions from the 1st through 7th of every month. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">The first grant was awarded to Demand Studios writer Dan Antony for the completion of his project, "Beeg Mec," a book that tells the story of the rise of a restaurant and the fall of a government. We post all of the winners on our blog, so you can <a href="http://www.demandstudios.com/blog/demand-studios-grant-program-marchs-winner">check out the winners there</a>.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-weight: bold;">WOW: Thank you, Robyn, for taking time out to explain Demand Studios to <span style="font-style: italic;">The Muffin</span> readers and any interested writers! If Demand Studios sounds like something you would want to check out, just click <a href="http://www.demandstudios.com/freelance-work/writers.html?utm_source=wow&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=blogpost">here</a>. </span><a title="http://www.demandstudios.com/freelance-work/writers.html?utm_source=wow&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=blogpost" href="http://www.demandstudios.com/freelance-work/writers.html?utm_source=wow&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=blogpost" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span id="lw_1270669625_0" class="yshortcuts"></span></a></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-style: italic;">interview conducted by Margo L. Dill, http://margodill.com/blog/</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-8041855348913955068?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Margo Dillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03635922963449775278margodll@aol.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-56747904300346783292010-04-07T03:54:00.000-07:002010-04-07T03:54:00.853-07:00AutoCrit: A Helpful Tool for Editing Flash FictionI stumbled across the AutoCrit site today and found it to be a helpful tool for editing your flash fiction stories. The free version allows you to paste a story of under 800 words into a text box, where you have the option of selecting reports on three categories: Overused Words, Repeated Phrases, and Sentence Length Variations. These categories are crucial to analyze when crafting a flash piece.<br /><br />So, I dug out an old story and pasted it into text box here: <a href="http://www.autocrit.com/autocrit/wizardformpage.php">http://www.autocrit.com/autocrit/wizardformpage.php</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/autocrit1-760472.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 338px;" src="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/autocrit1-760470.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I clicked the "Overused Words" button and clicked "Analyze." The next screen shows a list of typically overused words with red check marks pertaining to your story, as well as suggestions for how many words to remove.<br /><br />I definitely used "that" too many times--which is a common mistake *that* (delete!) I see a lot in flash fiction, and a bad habit of mine. In most cases, you can safely remove "that"--it doesn't add anything to the sentence--and will help trim your word count.<br /><br />The AutoCrit said my use of "ly adverbs" was "Excellent," as was my use of "could," "it/there," and "maybe." Other interesting areas are the use of generic descriptions (I got a "Nice one" response), the use of feel/feeling/felt (I got a "Yay"), initial conjunction ("Well done"), and initial ing ("Nice work"). The comments are encouraging and are all wonderful helpers to fix passive voice problems.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/autocrit2-793043.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 340px;" src="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/autocrit2-793038.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Beneath the checklist is your highlighted text with culprits displayed in blue. Drag your cursor over the text and copy-paste it into your MS Word program--you'll notice the blue text copies as well. At least it did with mine.<br /><br />You can only select one option at a time but you can hit the back button after you've read the results and your text will still be there. Then you can select one of the other options, such as "Repeated Phrases" and "Sentence Length."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Repeated Phrases:</span> This page shows all phrases which repeat within 100 words in highlighted blue text. If you are using a repeated phrase for emphasis it can be very powerful, but remember it should contribute something to the story, so use them carefully. When in doubt, leave it out--especially in flash. It will only eat your word count.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sentence Length:</span> This page gives you a list of the beginning of each sentence and how many words it contains. It's important to vary your sentence length because similar-length sentences can be dull to read.<br /><br />The AutoCrit site offers further services to those that subscribe for a fee. I haven't tried their paid services, so I can't offer a review. Their "Members Only" reports include other editing tools such as: Dialogue Tags, First Words, Names and Pronouns, Cliche Finder, Redundancy Finder, Homonym Highlighter, Readability Suite, and Pacing Monitor.<br /><br />But I found their free online tool to be quite helpful in trimming unnecessary words and a good reminder to really check your story for any issues you might have missed. So if you're preparing to enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW<span style="font-style: italic;">!</span> Women On Writing Flash Fiction Contest</a>, you may want to test your story with this helpful little tool before you hit the send button.<br /><br />Happy writing!<div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-5674790430034678329?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Wow!http://www.blogger.com/profile/00196768330556357725noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-11032562911697140352010-04-06T00:00:00.000-07:002010-04-06T00:00:06.048-07:00Martha Katzeff, Fall '09 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up<a href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/MarthaKatzeff-728300.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 216px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 237px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/MarthaKatzeff-728299.jpg" /></a><strong>Martha Katzeff </strong>is very excited to have her first submission to a WOW! contest be among the top ten finalists. She has been writing for several years and takes classes at the Gotham Writers’ Workshop. She wrote an essay for Masters Cycling called “My Clown Bike” about her hot pink bicycle and recently had a piece of flash fiction titled “The Farm” published in 365 Tomorrows. Martha swims competitively with a Masters Swim team and wrote an essay about being a slow competitor called “Life in the Slow Lane” for the USMS website. She is married with two grown children, lives in the Bronx and likes to knit, read and travel. <br /><br /><em>interviewed by Marcia Peterson</em> <br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#666666;">WOW:</span> Congratulations on placing as one of the Runners Up in our Fall 2009 Flash Fiction contest! What inspired you to enter the contest?</strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#660000;">Martha:</span></strong> I have a good friend who is also a relatively new writer and we're both always looking for contests to test our skills and storytelling abilities. I like the challenge of competing against other writers in a contest. It levels the playing field.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#666666;">WOW:</span> Could you tell us a little about your story and what encouraged the idea behind “<a href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/downloads/printable/37-FE1-Fall09Contest-MarthaKatzeff.html">Get a Fresh Killed Chicken</a>?"</strong> <br /><br /><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>Martha:</strong></span> I initially entered a contest open only to Bronx writers and I wrote a memoir about shopping with my grandmother and mother. When I didn't win that contest, I re-wrote the story as fiction, throwing in a little bit of a speculative fiction/ghost story twist to it.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#666666;">WOW:</span> Great idea to play around with the story—it worked out well for you. Since you've taken several writing classes, we'd love to know which ones have been your favorites and why?</strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#660000;">Martha:</span></strong> My favorite writing classes have been through Gotham Writers' Workshops. I started with Science Fiction I and moved to Science Fiction II which I've taken a few times (online). The instructor for most of the classes has been Michaela Roessener—the author of several wonderful science fiction/fantasy novels. She's very encouraging and loved the idea that one of her homework assignments morphed into this prize winning story!<br /><br />Science Fiction (or speculative fiction as it's called now) allows me to express my outrageous opinons through fiction in a way that mainstream fiction does not. In sci fi, there are unlimited worlds and experiences to write about.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#666666;">WOW:</span> It's always interesting to learn about other people's writing routines. Could you tell us when and where you usually write? Do you have favorite tools or habits that get you going?</strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#660000;">Martha:</span></strong> I'll probably get into trouble for this, but I do most of my writing at work. Whether for better or worse, I have a low stress job with lots of down time. (I will absolutely not divulge where I work!) Sometimes I write on Sunday while my husband is watching some sporting event. I like the distraction—it helps me think. I wish I did have favorite tools or habits that get me going. I'd write more. That's why I like taking classes—it’s good impetus to keep going.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#666666;">WOW:</span> Too bad you can’t tell us where you work! I agree that taking writing classes is a great way to force yourself into action. Finally, is there if there was one bit of advice you could pass on to other aspiring writers, what would it be?</strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#660000;">Martha:</span></strong> Don't get discouraged by negative criticism. Recently I was told that a story I'm writing isn't really Science Fiction, to which Michaela replied: give 'em the old Bronx cheer!<br /><br />Ignore unhelpful critiques and keep writing! <br /><br />************ <br /><br /><em>Check back on Tuesdays for more contest winner interviews.</em><div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-1103256291169714035?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>MPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303375584867596482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-49264829958299604672010-04-05T00:01:00.000-07:002010-04-05T00:01:02.927-07:00My Reasons for Wanting to Win a Scholarship to Attend the Backspace Writers ConferenceRecently I interviewed one of my childhood heroes for a magazine pitch. It was a thrill to visit his art studio and see decades of his work on display. He started his artist's career when a friend suggested he move from real estate development into another field. Needing some educational backing, he worked to receive his MFA. <br /><br />He taught during his graduate studies, incorporating his business background and instructing his students on how to manage a career in art. The school's administration balked. He related to me that the administration told him artists need to create and not to worry about the business aspects of art. He left academia, but not before befriending many of the students he had helped.<br /><br />Since that interview, I've wondered where I would be if I could have learned about the business aspects of publishing from someone like him. Echoing in my brain are inspiring and creative words from many of my MFA professors. Unfortunately, few words come to mind about navigating the business aspects of the publishing world. <br /><br />Novel ideas continue to percolate in my brain. However, income-producing writing assignments hold my daily focus. For me, the day-to-day joys of writing are to learn something new each day, to converse with someone who also loves books, and to know that I can apply my backspace key liberally. But my long-term goal is to earn a living as a novelist and a writer. <br /><br />While trying to publish my first novel, finding an agent has become discouraging and, regretfully, has taken a backseat. After initially enthusiastic responses from agents, I've had my novel rejected numerous times and other proposals have failed to engage anyone’s interest. <br /><br />I am turning to conferences to help find caring communities to help move my agent search into the front seat while filling the gaps in my knowledge of the business of writing. In addition, I hope to find a group that can help me learn and grow as a writer, enabling me to exchange my skills as I gain experience.<br /><br />With the Backspace Writers Conference, which covers craft and navigating the tricky terrain of the publishing world, I’ve found the right outlet to support my growth as a writer. By incorporating the practice of writers helping writers, Backspace’s founders have recognized the importance of <a href="http://www.backspacewritersconference.com/">building a community among writers</a>. (As have the creators of Women On Writing!)<br /><br />One of the many things that appeals to me about Backspace is the opportunity to connect with people in the publishing world and to discuss writing without the pressure to pitch. Backspace will allow me to learn what I need to present my best work and publish. This conference gives me an opportunity to speak with publishing world pros, to learn from them and to find a common ground and positive direction.<br /><br />I would like to attend the Backspace Writers Conference and its Agent-Author Seminar because it is the next step in my education in the business of writing while meeting a great community of supportive publishing people.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">What about you? Is there a conference you would like to attend and why?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Elizabeth King Humphrey is a writer and creativity coach. When she is not researching and trying to win scholarships to writers' conferences, Elizabeth contributes to <a href="http://www.parentdish.com/bloggers/elizabeth-humphrey/">AOL's ParentDish</a> and she blogs at <a href="http://www.thewriteelizabeth.com">The Write Elizabeth</a>, delving into creativity in everyday places.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-4926482995829960467?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Elizabeth King Humphreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809509302290228767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-45101779084659424132010-04-03T12:49:00.000-07:002010-04-03T14:17:46.111-07:00Should Writers Specialize?I've known since I was a young age that I wanted to be a writer. In high school and college, I wrote for my school newspapers. After working in corporate America and teaching both high school and college English and Journalism, I took the plunge into freelance writing.<br /><br />Experts say "write what you know." What should I write about? Education? Writing? Cooking? Current events? I made a list of topics I felt I could successfully write about. Sure, they were fun, and my knowledge base in many of them ran deep, but I wanted to write <em>and</em> learn. Would I be able to write about any topic and sell a piece to a magazine or should I focus on one area and specialize?<br /><br />Sure, some experts preach sticking to one area. With social networking and author branding, specializing may seem like a no-brainer. For me, specializing limits my writing style. I've been lucky. I've had investigative pieces appear in national magazines. Regional topics appeal to me and make up half of my monthly sales. And since I have experience teaching writing, I've used that knowledge to bolster sales.<br /><br />What I've realized about specializing is this: writers need to find the best fit for their writing style. This month, a national glossy may want a 3,000 word article. Next month, a regional newspaper or magazine may offer you eight assignments.<br /><br />For writers who do choose to specialize - and for writers in general - here are a few ideas to break out of your niche and find new homes for your work:<br /><br /><ul><li>Branch out. Think about the subtopics associated with your specialization area. Under those topics, you'll find even more subtopics, and eventually you'll have a huge cluster of possible articles. </li><li>Consider the opposite. If you primarily write for women, tailor an article on the same subject toward men. Write for adults? Why not focus on teens or tweens?</li><li>Find common bond. I once had a writing teacher who said you should be able to write about any topic for any publication if your writing is strong. Look at a topic and consider how it can fit the editorial needs of a magazine or publication you've never queried before.</li><li>Renew interests. Even writers need to renew their interest in a topic. Are there conferences or classes you can attend that offer new insight? Sign up and learn all you can. Not only may you find new writing ideas, you may also find that you'd like to write a different style of article.</li><li>Understand trends.Use trends to boost timely sales. Look at trends and find a correlation between them and your area of expertise.</li></ul><p>Determine if specializing will be best for your writing career. Discover what fits your style. Decide what writing goals drive your freelance business.</p><p>And then, write.</p><p><strong><em>by LuAnn Schindler</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>Visit LuAnn's website <a href="http://luannschindler.com/">http://luannschindler.com/</a> or follow her on Twitter @luannschindler.</em></strong></p><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-4510177908465942413?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900198406300651790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-85909455195577195752010-04-03T10:25:00.000-07:002010-04-03T11:09:38.159-07:00Classes Starting Next Week!We have a few classes starting next week (Monday and Tuesday). There's still some available spots if you'd like to participate. :)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">April 5, 2010 (Monday):</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">PERSONAL BRANDING 101</span><br />Instructor: Mary MacRae Warren<br />Duration: 4 Weeks<br />This course will explore the importance of branding to authors and help you pull together your brand--whether you're established or just starting out in your writing career. At the end of the class you will have a portfolio and campaign to market your writing.<br /><a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/WOWclasses.html">Visit the classroom for complete details and curriculum</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">INTRODUCTION TO SCREENWRITING</span><br />Instructor: Christina Hamlett<br />Duration: 6 weeks<br />This 6-week class provides an overview of the techniques and formatting requirements to develop an original screenplay. The lectures and assignments cover character development, dialogue, genre, structure, pacing, budget, and marketability. All materials submitted are critiqued by a professional screenplay consultant and learners are free to ask as many questions as they'd like about how to turn a story idea into a commercial, pitch-ready script.<br /><a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/WOWclasses.html">Visit the classroom for complete details and curriculum</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">INTRODUCTION TO PLAYWRITING</span><br />Instructor: Christina Hamlett<br />Duration: 6 weeks<br />Since the time of the Ancient Greeks, the live theater experience has satisfied an audience's need for entertainment that is immediate, intimate and accessible to all ages and levels of society. Whether performed in an outdoor courtyard, on a vintage stage, in a school auditorium, or above the din of an urban coffeehouse, a play is an ever-evolving and timeless art form that derives its energy from both sides of the footlights. Unlike a novel or film which is financed and produced only once, a theater script undergoes a new transformation with each change of cast and each change of venue. Even the passage of time itself impacts how a theatrical story will resonate with successive generations, giving new definition and perspective to old ideas or providing a yardstick of how far we've come from social mores that were once held as truth.<br /><br />In this class, you'll be learning what makes a play successful...and how to write one yourself! Each module consists of a lecture and writing assignment, as well as interviews, websites and anecdotes. Ideally, it should only take one week to complete each exercise. The final assignment will be the writing and submission of an original 15-minute one-act play, which will be professionally critiqued for its adherence to all of the principles addressed in class.<br /><a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/WOWclasses.html">Visit the classroom for complete details and curriculum</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">HOW TO WRITE A NONFICTION BOOK PROPOSAL THAT SELLS</span><br />Instructor: Andrea Campbell<br />Duration: 8 weeks<br />Let me show you through my intense, 8-week-long workshop how to get a nonfiction book proposal ready for publishers. This is your opportunity to gain a serious business advantage over other writers who will try to wing it. And even if your first book doesn't sell, you will have the skills and the template to apply to other ideas and projects. You may even come up with more ideas for more books as you work through this course.<br /><br />And my workshop is different. I keep the classes small so you receive a lot of individual attention: class size is limited to 10 students. In addition, you will have e-mail feedback on all assignments. Another thing I do in my workshops is to have weekly chat sessions. Yes, every Thursday night, we will meet online to ask questions, discuss lesson plans, and talk about additional information or details that you might have missed. Chats are an important tool for learning (and camaraderie) and why shouldn't we work together to leverage our knowledge? And to make it worth your while, you will also receive additional materials to help illustrate important points from the lesson plans or that you can use to aid you in staying abreast of what is happening in the publishing industry.<br /><br />By the end of class, students will have a marketable, nonfiction book proposal package ready to send out to agents, including a query letter, along with the confidence to market his/her product.<br /><a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/WOWclasses.html">Visit the classroom for complete details and curriculum</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">April 6, 2010 (Tuesday):</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">SHORT FICTION WRITING</span><br />Instructor: Gila Green<br />Duration: 8 weeks<br />Through writing exercises and classmate and instructor feedback we will delve into the fundamentals of short fiction with a view to publishable work. We will explore a variety of craft elements including: character, plot, point of view, description, dialogue, setting, pacing, voice and theme.<br /><a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/WOWclasses.html">Visit the classroom for complete details and curriculum</a><br /><br />-----<br /><br />If you're interested in any of these subjects, consider taking one of these courses taught by our expert instructors! All of the classes are held online and you can work at your own pace and on your own time. You do not need to be present at any particular time (we get that question a lot), and if the instructor has a set time for online chats, you can make arrangements with her to fit your schedule. Visit: <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/WOWclasses.html">http://wow-womenonwriting.com/WOWclasses.html</a><br /><br />Happy writing!<div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-8590945519557719575?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Wow!http://www.blogger.com/profile/00196768330556357725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-58807812471909714402010-04-02T06:00:00.000-07:002010-04-02T08:27:26.087-07:00Friday Speak Out!: "The Write Life," Guest Post by Sherri Kuhn<strong>The Write Life</strong><br /><em></em><br /><em>by Sherri Kuhn </em><br /><br />I have always considered myself a writer, even when everything I wrote remained in my head. Of course, I would never have called myself a writer to anyone else. This was more of an imagined second life, nestled in my head along with the grocery list, shoes sizes for my kids, and phone numbers of my next of kin. Words have always intrigued me, especially those twisted around to create sarcastic humor and wit.<br /><br />Several years ago, I decided that to actually call myself a writer, well, I would have to write. I signed up for a fiction writing class at the local community college. The eclectic group that attended this night class would have made the basis for a great short story, except I was too busy trying to read the assigned books and do the assigned writing to write it. By the end of the course, I had learned a lot about writing fiction, successfully kept from breaking into tears at the constructive criticism, and written my first real short story (which, I might add, had a surprise ending that even the professor didn’t see coming). I still, however, would not refer to myself as a writer.<br /><br />Fast forward several more years, during which I did little to no writing at all. Then one day while I was working in the yard, a story just came to me so clearly that I just had to write it down. It felt so good to feel the words flow! After some editing and re-reading, I sent my essay to the local newspaper for their reader submissions column. When I heard back that my story was chosen, I was so surprised! A few months later, another story came to me and I frantically wrote it, edited it, and sent it off to the newspaper again. I got an almost immediate response from the features editor that she loved it. I still didn’t quite feel like a “real” writer, but I was getting the idea.<br /><br />Now with two mini successes under my belt, I started to wonder if I could really let the writer inside me live in my daily life. Would we get along, or would she be fighting for my time? Would the other parts of my life suffer when the writing part took over? How many of “me” can there be? Would my family resent her?<br /><br />I decided to start slowly. As long as I did something related to writing each day, I was making progress on merging my second life with my first. I became a fan of writing pages on Facebook. I found a few writing blogs and started following them. Since having a blog requires you to actually write, I started my own blog. I read information on writing contests, online workshops, conferences, and self-publishing. I submitted an essay to a publisher.<br /><br />Now I am a writer. But then again, I always was.<br /><br />* * *<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/Sherri-Kuhn-716750.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/Sherri-Kuhn-716744.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><strong>Sherri Kuhn</strong> works with at-risk elementary school students, nags her two children, loves her husband, exercises once in a while, and is a newbie blogger. She has had several personal essays featured in the <em>Contra Costa Times</em>. Follow her observations about everyday life on her blog at <a href="http://oldtweener.blogspot.com/">http://oldtweener.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;">Would you like to participate in <strong>Friday "Speak Out!</strong><strong>"</strong>? 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!</span><br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-5880781247190971440?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>MPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303375584867596482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-5385223832079558842010-04-01T10:25:00.000-07:002010-04-01T11:25:01.749-07:0010 Ways to Help Google Find Your Site<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/googlescreenshot-796012.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 187px;" src="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/googlescreenshot-796001.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />If you've ever searched your site on Google and then sat in wonder trying to figure out what page it was on, take heart. Many site owners are wondering the same thing. Search results ping back hundreds of sites, but when you find yours showing up on page five--or worse--page fifty, you know it's time to take action. Studies have shown that 93% of web users don't look past the first page of results. So what's a website owner to do? Well, there are a few things that are out of your control: algorithms for one and competing sites for another. But you can make sure your site is armed for effective ranking and high searchability. Here's how.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Make sure you have an analytics system and know how to use it:</span> first and foremost you want to make sure that you have access to your back end statistics. Why? Because they're important and because you want to know how much traffic your site is getting and where it is coming from. Also, learn how to read these reports. I would recommend considering Google analytics, it's the easiest to learn, manage, and install. [Editor's note: check out Anne-Marie Nichols's article on WOW<span style="font-style: italic;">!</span> for step-by-step instructions on using Google Analytics: <a href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/34-FE3-BlogAnalytics101.html">Blog Analytics 101: How to Use Google Analytics Effectively</a>.] You'll want to monitor this data a few times a month (especially if you're knee-deep in book promotion) to see where your traffic is coming from and whether the work you are doing to send people to your site is paying off in unique visitors.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. What is the one major goal for the site?</span> Do you know what you want your site to do? If you don't, then start here and make this your #1 priority. You must have one major goal for the site (yes, you can have additional goals for it but you need to identify your #1 priority first). If your goal is to sell books then you need to be clear about this message. Why is Google going to care about this? Because part of the reason some sites don't get consistent good traffic or ranking is that their site is a mish-mash of 9 different major goals and confusing messages. If your site visitor is confused, Google will be too.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Keywords:</span> I know this is a tricky area. The term "keywords" often conjures up the idea that hours of research are involved in getting the perfect set of words. Well, it make take you a few hours but it's worth it. You want to know this not only to identify what your users are searching on but also, what words Google will rank you best for. Identify first where your major searches are coming from via your back-end site statistics, then head on over to the <a href="https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal">Google AdWords Keyword Tool</a> and see what's coming up in your market search-wise. Once you have these keywords you'll want to use them on your site. See #4.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Use of keywords:</span> there is a good way to use keywords and a bad way. The good way is to use them in sentences, headers, blog posts, articles, Twitter postings. The bad way is to do keyword stuffing, which is where you stuff a blog post or intro paragraph on your site with so many keywords that not only does that paragraph not make sense, the keywords won't even get ranked in Google because there are so many of them used in a non-sensicle way. I'm not kidding. Google can spot keyword stuffers a mile away. Here's a tip if you're using keywords in a blog post--use them in your header, first paragraph and last paragraph--then sprinkle them throughout the 2nd or 3rd paragraph. Just enough to capture the traffic, but not enough to seem like you're spamming the search engine world with an overabundance of keywords.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Linkbait:</span> if you're getting a lot of incoming links to your site, great! But make sure there's a good reason for people to visit. This is called linkbait. Some SEO experts use this phrase to mean capturing people through a loss leader online that brings people back to your site. They will then capture them into their funnel via a "teaser" posted somewhere online. There's nothing wrong with this as long as the teaser and the linkbait have good content, but for the purposes of this piece we're focused on the content on your site and if you're leading people back to your URL via linkbait, make sure both are substantial.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. Have lots of content on your site:</span> this goes back to #5--linkbait. Content, content, content. Make sure you have a blog and that it's updated at least twice weekly. If that's all the content you have on your site you're doing better than most. A blog is a great way to develop content and keep the site fresh, focused, and personal.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. Dump flash:</span> having flash on your site is like putting up a brick wall around your domain name and making sure no search engine can get in or see it. Now there are different types of flash and some can be searched, so check with your website people--but generally, flash is bad for the site (users don't like waiting for the flash to load or display) and search engines can't even see it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. Sitemap:</span> if you don't have a sitemap, have your designer add one. Google loves sitemaps, and it's a great way to make sure all your pages are getting spidered in Google.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. All pages should be created equal:</span> when you look at your site stats, check and see where people are coming in (what pages they're entering your site on). You might find that most visitors aren't coming in through your home page, they're entering somewhere else. What's on the page they are entering through? If there isn't a lot of content on there you'll want to make sure to make it substantial. Remember: Google sees all your pages, so be sure that they all pass muster.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">10. Twitter:</span> if you want to get a lot of incoming links to your website then hop onto Twitter. All Twitter posts are searchable and live forever online so a) never post anything you don't want your grandmother to read and b) make sure and post often, including links back to your site when appropriate. You shouldn't put links to your site all the time, otherwise you'll just look like a spammer. A successful method to offer a good number of links without seeming too salesy is to link your blog to Twitter via Twitterfeed. Then every time you update your blog it will update Twitter, send a link back to your site and voila: another incoming link. Yep, the stuff Google loves.<br /><br />A final tip for helping Google find your site is through incoming links. Google loves these and it will help your site bump up in searches. You'll want high-traffic, high-quality incoming links, so that means links from sites relevant to your own in topic and sites that are coming up high in searches. What's the best way to get links? Well, you could offer them a review copy of your book (when they review it they will likely post a link to your site) or if the site has a blog (most high-traffic sites will) then you can post comments on their blog (see my article on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/penny-c-sansevieri/social-networking-on-blog_b_408165.html">Social Networking on Blogs</a> for an explanation of how this works.)<br /><br />These tips might seem simple, but they work. If you've been perplexed about your site ranking and tempted to call Google and say, "Hey, where's my site??", try this. It's effective and will not just get you ranking in the short-term, but it will help you build your site's credibility for the long-term.<br /><br />----------<br /><br />Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques: <a href="http://www.amarketingexpert.com/">http://www.amarketingexpert.com</a>.<br /><br />For more tips from book marketing expert Penny Sansevieri, check out WOW's interview <a href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/32-20questions-PennySansevieri.html">20 Questions Answered by Penny Sansevieri, Author Marketing Guru</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-538522383207955884?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Wow!http://www.blogger.com/profile/00196768330556357725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-41904860147179990512010-03-31T07:00:00.000-07:002010-03-31T07:00:05.813-07:00The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Book Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/ImmortalLifeofHenriettaLacks-749798.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/ImmortalLifeofHenriettaLacks-749308.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I'd never heard of Henrietta Lacks, pictured on the book cover, before I picked up Rebecca Skloot's wonderful book. Chances are, you haven't either. But you may have heard of HeLa cells or at the very least, information about medical research to find a polio vaccine or cure for cancer. In </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1400052173/?tag=wowwomenonwri-20">The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks</a>, </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">you finally meet the women </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">behind HeLa cells, “the first immortal cells ever grown in a laboratory,” as well as her family and key medical researchers. </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The author first learned of HeLa when she was 16, and she soon grew fascinated by the story of Henrietta, an African-American woman, and her cells from a cervical cancer tumor. These cells have not only helped develop the polio vaccine and made important discoveries in fighting cancer, they've also led to advancements in gene mapping and in vitro fertilization.<br /><br /><br /></span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What fascinated Skloot even more than HeLa cells and their contribution to scientific research is the story of Henrietta and her family. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who went to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland in the 1950s with cervical cancer. Doctors took a sample of her tumor without her knowledge or her family’s consent before she died.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br />The HeLa cells are still alive today and have multiplied into weighing more than 50 million metric tons—“as much as the Empire State Building.” Her family knew nothing about her cells being alive and helping modern medicine until the 1970s when doctors called her husband and children for research without informed consent. </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/RebeccaSkloot-Photo%28c%29MandaTownsend-794543.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 158px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/RebeccaSkloot-Photo%28c%29MandaTownsend-793527.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">By the time Skloot met Henrietta’s family members in the late 1990s and started intervie</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">wing them for her book, many of them, including her grown children, trusted no one, especially Caucasian reporters who wanted to know about Henrietta’s cancer cells. </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">But because Skloot cared so much about Henrietta's story and knew it like her own, Henrietta's relatives started to trust her and share important information with her. </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Besides introducing readers to Henrietta Lacks, her husband, and her children, Skloot s</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">killfully informs readers about cell research and medical discoveries. Skloot also writes about the ethical issues, court cases, and laws surrounding these cells and other cell lines from patients, who didn’t realize that doctors were using them for research and making money from them. She takes a complex issue and writes about it so anyone can understand the science, medicine, and law. But more importantly, she intersperses the often heartbreaking personal story of Henrietta among the scientific fact.<br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The most captivating chapters of this book are the real stories of the Lacks family’s struggles. For example, Skloot befriends Henrietta’s daughter Deborah, who was preschool age when her mother died. Deborah was on a quest for almost 30 years to find out what happened to her mother. All Deborah wanted was for her mother to get the recognition she deserved.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br />In one especially touching scene, Skloot writes about Henrietta Lacks Day on October 11, 1996 in Atlanta during a conference at the Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Roland Pattillo organized the first ever HeLa Cancer Control Symposium; and Deborah , her father, and her siblings attended.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Deborah spoke to the conference attendees and said, “When Dr. Pattillo called me, it all became real. For years, it seem to be a dream. . .Can this about our mother be true?. . .No one from the medical field took the time.” </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><br />If you are interested in biology and medical research, you won’t want to miss this book. But even more, if you are interested in human stories and how we are all connected to one another, then read this book and share it with others.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Review by Margo L. Dill, http://margodill.com/blog/, Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Margo_L_Dill</span> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Rebecca Skloot photo credit: Manda Townsend</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-4190486014717999051?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Margo Dillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03635922963449775278margodll@aol.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-44662221100488357742010-03-30T04:00:00.000-07:002010-03-30T22:10:49.326-07:00Interview with Stacy Post - Runner Up in the Fall 2009<a href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/StacyPost-735370.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 250px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 217px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/StacyPost-735368.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Mother. Librarian. Writer. Native Hoosier. Now, Stacy Post can add "WOW<em>!</em> Contest Runner Up" to the list of words that describe her. </div><div></div><div>As a Mother's Day gift, Stacy's children surprised her with a whirlwind gift: a flying lesson. Ever since, Stacy has been floating on air; earning a pilot's license is on her "bucket list."</div><div></div><div>Stacy majored in English at Purdue University and received a Master's Degree in Library Science from Indiana University. For the past ten years, she's worked in public libraries.</div><div></div><div>Stacy's publishing credits include the <em>Purdue Exponent, Skylark, Haiku Headlines,</em> and the <em>Indianapolis Star.</em> </div><div><em></em></div><div>Check out Stacy's story, <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/downloads/printable/37-FE1-Fall09Contest-StacyPost.html"><em>Twist in the Wind</em></a><em>, </em>and then join us for a discussion about flying, expectations, story development, and writing.</div><div></div><div><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">WOW: Stacy, welcome to The Muffin. Congratulations on Runner Up honors in the Fall 2009 Flash Fiction contest. In </span><a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/downloads/printable/37-FE1-Fall09Contest-StacyPost.html"><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Twist in the Wind</span></em></a><span style="color:#ff0000;"><em>, </em>the parents establish a negative tone with the young girl. How does that parental tone affect their child and her future decisions?</span></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">Stacy:</span></strong> I was interested in telling a life story in a short amount of words. So I put the parental conflict in early to motivate the character. (It wouldn't be much of a story if she played her parent's negative thoughts in her head like a broken record.) I wanted a character that could move beyond early labels and find happiness.</div><div></div><div><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">WOW: Your character certainly broke away from the preconceived notions of her parents and took flight on her own. For me, and perhaps for other readers, flying evokes a feeling of freedom in addition to a feeling of hesitation or uncertainty. What's the fascination with flying, both in your personal life and in your story?</span></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#6666cc;">Stacy:</span> </strong>In my early twenties, my great uncle took me flying in his small plane over the Gulf of Mexico. When he let me try the yoke . . . that was the moment I put flying lessons on my bucket list.</div><div></div><div>Presently, we live within a few miles of a county airport. Small planes buzz over the house on fair weather days. I hear this often while writing at my desk. It's neat to know when it is a good day for flying.</div><div></div><div>In the story, I felt that flying was another form of exhilaration for the character to experience and the plane represented the body well. Her childhood joy was defined in a way she reasonably could express it.</div><div></div><div><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">WOW: I'm still visualizing flying a small plane over the Gulf. Beautiful view, I imagine! What a fantastic opportunity! You were able to build a dream based on experience. Why is it imperative for parents to listen to children's dreams?</span></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">Stacy:</span> </strong>When children share their dreams, I think it's important for parents to listen, to honor those dreams and to help guide those dreams to realistic ends. Not everyone can be a professional ballerina, but everyone certainly can enjoy, appreciate and express a passion for dancing.</div><div></div><div><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">WOW: Exactly! My parents supported my dreams and told me I could do anything I put my mind to. I always wanted to be a lawyer, but eventually I followed in their footsteps and became a teacher and writer. Living life to the fullest is one theme your story addresses. Why do you think so many people forget to experience life?</span></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">Stacy:</span> </strong>Many people don't see beyond the day to day because of responsibilities and obligations. It's easy to get lost in the routine of it all. I think bucket lists are important. Opportunities arise, but if you aren't looking for the potential, they can slip away. For example, if the plane buzzing over my house hadn't happened, I don't think I would've ever had the discussion with my family that I'd like to fly again.</div><div></div><div><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">WOW: Good point! I'm sitting down with my husband tonight so we can create our bucket lists. Having that discussion is such an important idea. Stacy, you shared your list with your family and your children gave you the gift of flying lessons for Mother's Day. How did that experience tie into <em><a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/downloads/printable/37-FE1-Fall09Contest-StacyPost.html">Twist in the Wind</a>?</em></span></strong></div><div><strong><em></em></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">Stacy:</span></strong> I live a pretty ordinary life as a mom, librarian, wife and writer. Flying ups the stakes. In a small plane, which seriously feels like flying in a tin can, the ride can invigorate or exacerbate your senses. I absolutely love the stomach-trembling sensation of being in the air. It lifts my spirits and changes my perspective.</div><div></div><div>When you're flying a small plane, your focus has to be directly on the action of flying. There isn't time for distracting thoughts. I felt that was good for my character. There's also so much room in the sky, it'd be hard to knock anything over. And since my character was somewhat clumsy, I wanted to give her plenty of space.</div><div></div><div><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">WOW: Character development - and staying true to a character - builds rapport with readers. Such an important lesson for writers to learn! Let's talk about your day job. You work as a librarian in a public library system. What's your favorite genre?</span></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">Stacy:</span> </strong>That's like asking a mother to pick a favorite child! I read voraciously and eclectically so that I can help many readers find books to enjoy. I worked as a children's librarian for many years, so children's literature will always have a special place in my heart. For my personal enjoyment, I'm a moody reader, in that I might be in a mystery mood one week or a romantic mood the next. Right now, I'm deep into southern fiction with sassy leading ladies.</div><div></div><div><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">WOW: Selecting one genre would be difficult for me, too! My reading selections vary with what's happening in my life. My writing process tends to follow that same course. Let's talk about your writing process.</span></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">Stacy:</span> </strong>Usually a character pesters me. He or she has a secret to reveal. So I follow that character on paper for a while. Sometimes it ends with a flash piece. Sometimes it's a short story. And several times, it's developed into a full-blown novel.</div><div></div><div>Since I have a day job, I have to manage my writing time efficiently. I'd like to say I write everyday, but it's more like five days a week right now. If I can squeeze in an hour or two in the mornings, or an hour or two in the evenings, I can churn out a decent word count. (I've given up a lot of television to achieve this.)</div><div></div><div>Revision is a big part of my process too. I like for stories, especially short stories and flash pieces, to sit for a month or two before I go back and revise. Having fresh eyes helps me see the errors. But I'm always thinking about a story or a character, wondering how they'd manage this obstacle or what they'd say or do in a given circumstance.</div><div></div><div><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">WOW: Revising work takes practice and a certain openness from a writer to let go of words or entire scenes. What advice would you offer to someone who is considering jumping into the world of flash fiction?</span></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">Stacy:</span> </strong>Read flash fiction. There are great stories being written right now, available online and in anthologies. Take a workshop and educate yourself on what it is. If you have an idea for a story, see if it can be told in a thousand words or less. It's the perfect medium for tinkering. The WOW<em>!</em> contest offers critiques. It's a great opportunity to see if your story can succeed in the short form. Try it! You might like it.</div><div></div><div><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">WOW: Great advice, Stacy! Flash fiction teaches a lot about the craft of storytelling. And, WOW<em>!</em>s critique option helps writers see potential pitfalls and areas that need definition or fine-tuning. What projects are you currently working on that you'd like to share with our readers?</span></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">Stacy:</span> </strong>February was a great month. I published a poem and two flash fiction stories. I have another short fiction story coming out in the spring issue of <em>Rose & Thorn</em> journal. I'm currently wrapping up a sequel to a middle grade ghost story novel. And, like most writers, I'm sending out stories, poems, queries and gathering rejections. I'm in search of an agent too. It's all a part of the process. I've been blessed to final in this contest. Thank you, WOW<em>! </em></div><div><em></em></div><div><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">WOW: Thank you, Stacy, for participating and placing in the contest. If you'd like additional information about Stacy or her work, you can visit her </span><a href="http://www.stacypost.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#ff0000;">blog</span></a><span style="color:#ff0000;"> or read other works of </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/:%20http://www.everydaypoets.com/lost-found-by-stacy-post/"><span style="color:#ff0000;">poetry </span></a><span style="color:#ff0000;">and </span><a href="http://www.everydayfiction.com/the-big-blue-by-stacy-post/"><span style="color:#ff0000;">flash fiction</span></a><span style="color:#ff0000;">.</span> </strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong><em>Interview conducted by LuAnn Schindler. Follow LuAnn on Twitter - @luannschindler or visit her website: <a href="http://luannschindler.com/">http://luannschindler.com/</a>.</em></strong></div><div></div><div><strong></strong></div><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-4466222110048835774?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900198406300651790noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-89786505419333574192010-03-29T05:00:00.000-07:002010-03-29T05:00:01.465-07:00In April, It’s All About the Scriptby Jill Earl<br /><br />Novelists have <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/">NaNoWriMo</a>, National Novel Writing Month. Bloggers have <a href="http://www.nablopomo.com/">NaBloPoMo</a>, National Blog Posting Month. The start of April later this week brings the fourth annual <a href="http://www.scriptfrenzy.org/">Script Frenzy</a> for the aspiring scriptwriter.<br /><br />Script Frenzy is a free international writing event where participants are challenged to write 100 pages of scripted material in the month of April, experience not required. No prizes are offered, but every writer that finishes receives a winner's certificate and accompanying web icon to proclaim your achievement. Any type of script is eligible: screenplays, stage plays, TV shows, short films, comic book and graphic novel scripts, adaptations of novels, radio scripts, whatever gets you scribbling.<br /><br />Like its siblings above, entrants won’t be left adrift. Start with the ‘Writer’s Resources’ page to begin your pre-Frenzy prep with how-to guides and worksheets to map out your writing. Move on to the the ‘Writing Software’ page for advice on selecting the proper one for your needs. Peruse ‘Cameos’ for articles by industry experts. To get the juices flowing, hit the Plot Machine for script ideas like this one: “After waiting in line for a Wii, a near-sighted chemist must stop the space-time continuum.”<br /><br />And when the Frenzy begins, don’t forget checking out the forums to network, ask questions, offer answers, see what’s up in your specific genre, discuss the latest tools of the trade, and many other activities.<br /><br />There's still time to sign up. The festivities begin 12:00:01 a.m. April 1 and end no later than 11:59:59 p.m. April 30.<br /><br />Script Frenzy’s tagline asks, “30 days. 100 pages. April. Are you in?”<br /><br />I sure am. Let’s see how this baby turns out.<div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-8978650541933357419?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646925379094524750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-75558156400306736882010-03-28T12:04:00.000-07:002010-03-28T12:25:28.333-07:00Writing Books: For Love or Money?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/loveofwriting-737764.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 174px; height: 163px;" src="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/loveofwriting-737762.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I've always been a big believer in following your passion, no matter what it is, and hopefully, the money will come later. I admit, this hasn't always worked out so well, but at least I was doing something I loved. I think this is especially true for authors.<br /><br />In Seth Godin's <a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/03/publishing-books-to-make-money.html">blog post</a> today, he wrote, "Publishing books to make money...is a little like hanging out in a singles bar if you want to get married."<br /><br />We can all smell the insincerity of a book that was published only to make money. We've seen this before with e-books that promise a wealth of information for a steep price and hardly deliver. I've been duped into purchasing many such books in hopes that they will provide the answers I seek--and I'm sure I'm not alone. So, in that sense, I suppose those authors did what they set out to do: make money. With the low overhead costs of e-books, authors who self-publish can make a profit. Just don't think it's a shortcut to making a living.<br /><br />Writing a book takes a lot of time and energy with very little monetary return. There's hardly a reason to write one other than for passion. With authors getting paid a few pennies for each book sold and the responsibility of having to pay for their own publicity, it's safe to say an author must have a strong need to share their story, help someone out with their words, or simply do it for the love of writing.<br /><br />Those authors who do it for love, promote their books because they believe in its message, make connections and reach out to readers, and follow up by writing more books, can hopefully make a return on their time invested. Seth Godin wrote, "The only people who should plan on making money from writing a book are people who made money on their last book. Everyone else should either be in it for passion, trust, referrals, speaking, consulting, change-making, tenure, connections or joy."<br /><br />So follow your passion and do it with everything you got, and don't waste your time with shortcuts. Bring love into everything you do, and it will come back to you!<div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-7555815640030673688?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Wow!http://www.blogger.com/profile/00196768330556357725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-87262444667697013942010-03-28T10:25:00.000-07:002010-03-28T10:39:19.848-07:00Update on Winter '10 Flash Fiction ContestWe received a few e-mails from contestants asking when the results of the Winter '10 Flash Fiction Contest will be announced, so we're posting an update for everyone. :)<br /><br />As you know, the contest closed Feb. 28th/March 1st, and we are currently in judging. First round notifications will be sent via e-mail next week--before April. If your entry passes the first round, it will be sent to our guest judge for the season. From there, we will send an e-mail notification to the Top 10 contestants requesting their bios and pics. All winners will be announced with our May e-zine issue in a feature. After winners are posted, we will send out critiques one at a time via e-mail to those that purchased one.<br /><br />Thank you for your participation, and we wish you the best of luck! We're as excited as you are to find out the results. :)<div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-8726244466769701394?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Wow!http://www.blogger.com/profile/00196768330556357725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-88748322729768052952010-03-26T06:00:00.000-07:002010-03-26T06:00:03.369-07:00Review of Shadow Tag by Louise Erdrich<em>Reviewed by Cher'ley Grogg</em><br /><br /><a href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/Shadow-Tag-779528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/Shadow-Tag-779351.jpg" width="141" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0061536091/?tag=wowwomenonwri-20">Shadow Tag</a>, written in narrative form allows the author, Louise Erdrich, to move seamlessly between characters. The novel revolves around a single family. The father Gil America, his wife Irene and their three children; 14 year old son Forian, 11 year old daughter, Riel and 6 year old son Stoney. The family is American Indian and their heritage plays a vital role in the story.<br /><br />Gil is an artist who has become famous by painting a series called "Irene America". Irene and Gil met when as a young maiden she started modeling for him--they fell in love and married. His personal intimate relationship with his wife allowed him the freedom to paint her from virginal girl to sensual woman. Gil painted her in every pose imaginable, pregnant, on all fours, with the impression rape, dismemberment, death by smallpox, and in ways that only he knows what they represent. <br /><br />Irene hangs on to the elusion of becoming an art historian and has an office in their basement to do work on her studies. In a bottom drawer, covered with ribbons and wrapping paper, in the very back of a file cabinet is her Red Diary. She begins to suspect that her husband is reading her diary. Once she confirms this, she uses it to manipulate him. She still has the need to write out her feelings so she buys a safe-deposit box where she keeps her true diary, the Blue Notebook. <br /><br />Gil has invaded her privacy and everyday she grows more resentful; everyday she drinks more wine. The marriage goes from rocky to turbulent. <br />The two older children affected by their parents' stormy relationship cross boundaries that kids their age should not be crossing. The youngest, a budding artist draws many pictures of his family. His mother asks him about the "stick with a little half-moon" that he always paints at the end of her hand. With the simplicity of a first grader he answers, "the wineglass". <br /><br />A few happy times appear in the novel and one evening, during one of those times Gil and Irene ran outside with their three children to play a Native American game called shadow tag. If you step on a person's shadow, you capture them. Irene felt Gil had captured her and that she had no way out. <br /><br />Shadow Tag starts out as a slow read; the scenes feel stretched out a little too far. The explicit scenes and language do little to increase the pace. As the book progresses there is redemption because interest grows for the characters. <br /><br />This book explores human relationships and the intricacies of a broken family. It feels as if the author has had first hand experiences with these issues.<div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-8874832272976805295?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Cher'leyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15135360082307967914cherleygrogg@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-19922792109238578012010-03-25T00:01:00.001-07:002010-03-25T00:01:05.476-07:00Exercising the Write MusclesI'm watching snow fall in Denver as I write this. <br />My family and I have been on a vacation of sorts for more than a week. I've been enjoying my childhood haunts and playing with my kids. I've had a chance to finish reading a novel and start another one. A client re-configured assignments, so I've had only e-mails to draw me near to the computer. No deadlines to interfere with my focus on fun.<br />While the play and fun has helped to revive some of my creativity, staying in a place that is not conducive for writing for more than a week has dulled my writing abilities.<br />I have always had an understanding about how important it is to write regularly, but because I write regularly, I rarely have had a chance to test that understanding.<br />Now I have.<br />My writing muscles feel sluggish. My brain feels slushy.<br />I'm enjoying my vacation, but writing this post is making me realize how I may have to start exercising my writing muscles before returning home.<br />Otherwise, I may need a to take a writing vacation once I'm back from my family vacation.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Elizabeth King Humphrey is a writer and creativity coach. When she is not on vacation, Elizabeth contributes to <a href="http://www.parentdish.com/bloggers/elizabeth-humphrey/">AOL's ParentDish</a>, she blogs at <a href="http://www.thewriteelizabeth.com">The Write Elizabeth</a>, delving into creativity in everyday places.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-1992279210923857801?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Elizabeth King Humphreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809509302290228767noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-19819821102548708732010-03-24T04:00:00.000-07:002010-03-24T04:00:10.197-07:00Spring Resolutions for WritersSpring officially began last Saturday - somewhere around 2:10 p.m. - but it's possible that winter or the dreary doldrums still interfere with your productivity levels.<br /><br />In my "neck of the woods" in the Nebraska Sandhills, the sun didn't shine for three months, and snow filled ditches and roadways since December 5. Finally, it's beginning to disappear and we've had two days of sun and warm temperatures.<br /><br />During that time, though, the gloom and doom of grey skies cut my productivity. Did I meet all the New Year's resolutions I established? Most of them, but it's time to evaluate the goals.<br /><br />It's not too late to set new goals, especially since spring just sprung a few days ago. Use these ideas to get your writing back on track:<br /><ol><li><strong><span style="color:#66cccc;">Begin a new project.</span></strong> <span style="color:#000000;">Use the season as a springboard and kick off a new project. You'll feel an extra dose of satisfaction once you reach your goal. </span><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><em>I plan to finish making PDF files of all my clips and have pertinent clips on my new website by June 1. This correlates with my second point.</em></span></li><li><span style="color:#33ccff;"><strong><span style="color:#66cccc;">Devise a list of wants and priorities.</span> </strong></span><span style="color:#000000;">Include items from your lists in your daily writing routine. Want to investigate a new subject? Schedule the time and use it wisely. Need to complete the revisions in your memoir? Add revision time to your calendar. </span><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><em>I've written my lists and am scheduling my priorities and wishes around the days I'm scheduled to substitute teach. Writing has to be a priority or it will remain an idle notion.</em></span></li><li><span style="color:#66cccc;"><strong>Increase "light" time.</strong> </span><span style="color:#000000;">Since the weather is warming up, why not spend some of your writing time outside. The change of scenery, coupled with increased light (read that as a boost of Vitamin D), definitely will change your mood and attitude. One rainy days, turn on the lights instead of working in the semi-darkness. Watch productivity soar! </span><span style="color:#cc66cc;"><em>I create rough drafts while I work in the yard. Scenes or articles play out in my mind and once inside, I head for the computer. I plan to spend one hour a day outside and outline new material while I'm drinking in the sunshine. </em></span></li><li><span style="color:#66cccc;"><strong>Leave the office.</strong> <span style="color:#000000;">A change in routine not only provides a break from the daily grind, but getting out of the office or your usual writing zone can stir emotions and generate new ideas. </span></span><span style="color:#cc66cc;"><em>I'm schedule to substitute teach two to three days a week until the end of the school year, so the chance of developing new ideas is high. I plan to carry my notebook, camera, and digital voice recorder to capture important snippets. At school, something fascinating is bound to capture my attention!</em></span></li><li><span style="color:#66cccc;"><strong>Rearrange your writing space.</strong> <span style="color:#000000;">Spring cleaning starts with your writing space. Rearrange furniture, if possible. Don't forget to organize your computer files, too. A fresh start will rejuvenate your mind and your commitment to writing. </span></span><span style="color:#cc66cc;"><em>I've already started my spring office cleaning. Once I've organized the clutter and ditched the unnecessaries, I plan to rearrange my writing zone. </em></span></li><li><span style="color:#66cccc;"><strong>Seek inspiration.</strong> <span style="color:#000000;">Read from other writers and remember what attracted you to writing. Hearing about how others struggle with the same frustrations makes the writing process that much easier. </span></span><span style="color:#cc66cc;"><em>I use a writer's calendar and read the quote of the day first thing in the morning. It's my daily affirmation of why I write and why I can't imagine a life without sharing the written word.</em></span></li></ol><p><span style="color:#000000;">Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth. It's not too late to recommit to the dusty resolutions you set nearly four months ago. Your writing - and your attitude - will thank you.</span></p><p><em>by LuAnn Schindler</em></p><p><em>Follow LuAnn on Twitter - @luannschindler or visit her website <a href="http://luannschindler.com/">http://luannschindler.com</a>. </em></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-1981982110254870873?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02900198406300651790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-68063555598424845982010-03-23T05:46:00.000-07:002010-03-23T05:46:00.779-07:00Interview with Pamela Allison - Fall 2009 Contest Runner Up<strong>Pamela ’s Bio:<br /></strong>Pam Allison lives in a historic community near Atlanta, Georgia with her husband. Currently she divides her time between revising her novel manuscript, writing book and movie reviews, and submitting short stories and articles. She’s had several articles, a poem, and illustrations published. An active participant in online critique sites, Pam will attend a writer’s conference later this year. Every day she adheres to her writing schedule, looks for new markets, and researches agents. She enjoys reading, bird watching, volunteering, and spending quality time with family and friends. This year she will also graduate with a degree in Accounting.<br /><br /><em>If you have not done so already, check out Pamela's story "<a href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/downloads/printable/37-FE1-Fall09Contest-PamelaAllison.html">Ten Past Midnight</a>" and return here for a chat with the author!</em><br /><br /><strong>WOW!: Congratulations on placing in the Fall 2009 Flash Fiction Contest! What is the inspiration for your story?</strong><br /><br /><strong>Pam</strong>: Last year I caught a late night show. When the movie finished, I walked out of the restroom and into a deserted lobby. I’d never experienced that, because I’m a Sunday matinee kind of gal. Everything was dark except for moonlight coming through the front windows, and the only other person I saw was an employee running a sweeper over the carpet. I walked around, struck by the eeriness of it all. So I tapped into that fleeting experience as inspiration. Plus, while in college I worked briefly for a theater and the job was pretty awful, so I drew from that memory as well.<br /><br /><strong>WOW!: You do set an eerie scene. I especially like the line “we leave projectors rolling to keep ourselves company” because it brings out that lonely, eeriness. What is the biggest challenge you face as a writer?<br /></strong><br /><strong>Pam</strong>: Sitting down to write is the easy part, and if I didn’t have to eat or sleep or juggle life responsibilities, I’d write nonstop. However, life sometimes pulls me away long enough that it takes a day or two to plug back into the story. I write every day, and when I can’t, it’s frustrating because momentum breakers waste time that could have otherwise been productive. Also, many people dismiss writer aspirations as being a pipe dream, so I don’t really talk about it too much. I just keep my head low and my keyboard clacking as I focus on making my professional goals a reality.<br /><br /><strong>WOW!: I can definitely relate to the frustration of momentum breakers! I have to give myself little pep talks to keep going, but as soon as I start I settle right back into the rhythm again. If you could have lunch with one writer, who would it be and why?<br /></strong><br /><strong>Pam</strong>: Definitely Stephen King. I have followed his entire career, and think he’s an incredibly gifted and prolific storyteller who transcends all the labels people have tried to put on him. From everything I’ve ever read and listened to from interviews, he strikes me as a down to earth and genuinely decent human being. I respect many things he stands for and does, including his charities. So to have a chance to talk with him would be wonderful. I envy those in his life who call him friend.<br /><br /><strong>WOW!: According to your bio, you will graduate with a degree in accounting this year, which I think is very interesting because accounting and creative writing are often considered to be opposites. Would you agree? Does studying accounting ever stunt your artistic creativity?</strong><br /><br /><strong>Pam</strong>: I get that a lot, and my joke is this: I’m neither a left nor a right brained person, but a whole brained individual. On a surface level they are opposites, but digging deeper you find overlap. I’ve met plenty of creative people who are highly analytical, and analytical people who are highly creative. So I think we’re all analytical and creative in our lives, just in different ways. Accounting probably helps my creativity, by doing its part to keep my mind active and challenged. Even as a kid, math, science, language and art were always my strongest subjects. Also, I’m a realist. Being a self supporting novelist is extremely hard—not impossible, but difficult. By hedging my bets, I can face whatever the future has in store for me. Which career path will win out? We’ll see.<br /><br /><strong>WOW!: I like that, “a whole brained individual.” I'm glad to hear that accounting helps fuel your creativity rather than stifle it. What do you enjoy most about writing?<br /></strong><br /><strong>Pam</strong>: The enormous satisfaction I get from channeling my sometimes bizarre imagination into a tangible story. I also love getting feedback, especially from publishing professionals. I don’t shy away from constructive criticism at all, because it’s so important to hear what others say about your work. Last, I feel oddly grateful to look back and see how much my craft has improved since those first initial steps…like I’m doing something right, and that deepens my resolve.<br /><br /><strong>WOW!: Accepting constructive criticism and learning how to use it to improve is, in my opinion, one of the most challenging and most important parts of being a writer.</strong><br /><strong><br />Thank you, Pam! We hope to see more of your writing in the future!</strong><div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-6806355559842484598?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Anne Greenawalthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09157846460729963143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-52901476591795062342010-03-21T06:00:00.000-07:002010-03-21T06:00:06.010-07:00Script Pimp 2010Think you got the best screenplay going? Then <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://www.scriptpimp.com">Script Pimp</a> is looking for you!<br /><br />Now in its 8th year, the 2010 Script P.I.M.P (Pipeline Into Motion Pictures) Competition is searching for the best stories told by the best screenwriters worldwide. Entries are judged by literary managers, producers, professional analysts and writers, and development directors from the film industry.<br /><br />The competition is open to adults 18 years old or older and entries must be original. Submissions should be feature-length screenplays, and all genres, styles, lengths, etc. are welcomed. There’s no limit on number of entries allowed and simultaneous submissions are allowed (i.e. you can enter other screenwriting contests with the same script).<br /><br />The deadline is May 1, 2010 and there’s a fee of $50 per entry. Submitting scripts in PDF, Final Draft (.fdr), or Microsoft Word (.doc) is preferred.<br /><br />There will be four Grand Prize winners receiving $14,000 total in cash and additional prizes. Twenty finalists will receive $3,200 total in cash and additional prizes. All finalists will receive a $250 travel voucher to attend the Script Pimp Awards Ceremony July 2010 at Writers Boot Camp in Santa Monica, CA.<br /><br />Complete competition guidelines are available online at the Script Pimp site. For any questions, contact Contest Director Chadwick Clough by email at comp@scriptpimp.com or by phone at 310-401-1155.<br /><br />Still interested? Get over to <a href="http://www.scriptpimp.com">Script Pimp.com</a> and enter. Who knows, your script may be the next Tinseltown blockbuster! Good luck!<div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-5290147659179506234?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646925379094524750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-56215045524787062010-03-20T04:55:00.000-07:002010-03-20T04:55:00.886-07:00Book Titles, Back Cover Copy, & Author Promotion: Tips from Susan Kendrick<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/SusanKendrick-720421.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 177px; height: 228px;" src="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/SusanKendrick-720418.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>One question we get a lot is: how do I choose a winning book title? Another is: how do I write my back-cover copy/synopsis? And what are the most effective ways to market my book?<br /><br />To help you answer these questions, we've invited Susan Kendrick to share her expert advice. There are some wonderful tips and how-tos in this interview that you can apply right away!<br /><br />Susan Kendrick and Graham Van Dixhorn are partners at Write To Your Market, Inc. They specialize in creating bestselling book covers and business brands--book titles and subtitles, back-cover sales copy, testimonials, business names and taglines, and other pivotal branding and marketing tools. Their clients win major book awards and are featured in <span style="font-style: italic;">The New York Times</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">L.A. Times</span>, and <span style="font-style: italic;">U.S.A. Today</span>, and appear on national TV talk shows, including The Today Show. But maybe more importantly, Susan and Graham help these authors and experts package their message so that it makes a difference in the world. To learn more, visit <a href="http://www.writetoyourmarket.com/">www.WriteToYourMarket.com</a> or <a href="http://www.bookcovercoaching.com/">www.BookCoverCoaching.com</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">WOW:</span> Welcome to The Muffin, Susan! Thank you for taking time to share your tips with our readers today. Let's start off by finding out what you do. What services do you provide for authors?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Susan:</span> Thanks for having us! Graham and I create bestselling book titles and subtitles, back cover positioning and sales copy, business names and taglines, media kits, and speaker materials--the tools you need to create and grow a powerful brand for you, your message, and your business.<br /><br />By doing this, we provide welcome relief for authors whose job it is to be expansive on their topic. Whether you are in the idea, planning, writing, or editing stage of your book, all your focus is on creating a story or message that will speak to people. The job of your book cover, on the other hand, is to take all that you are creating and condense it to the few words that will <span style="font-style: italic;">sell</span> your book. It's writing, but a different kind.<br /><br />What Graham and I do is interview you, listen to your ideas, and explore your manuscript to capture the highlights that will make you stand out from the crowd and appeal to the people you want to influence most--your readers. You're creating this book for them; you want to make sure they "get" what's in it for them. We also help you position your book to take the lead in your market, so that you are perceived as the expert not only to your readers, but to book reviewers, the media, joint venture partners, and other decision-makers.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">WOW:</span> That's a good point and one we often forget while we're writing. We need to think about positioning our book not only for our readers but for the media as well. Another super important issue that authors often ask about is how to choose a book title. What are some things authors should consider when deciding on a working title? And what makes for a winning title?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Susan:</span> First, understand the purpose of a good working book title.<br /><br />Just as there is expert status associated with being the author of a published book, there is similar status involved in getting out there with news of your "forthcoming" book. Using a good working title to promote your book while you are writing it does several important things.<br /><br />- A good working book title enables you to talk about your "forthcoming" book in a concrete way, in your emails, on your blog, on your website, in speaking presentations, and through your consulting.<br /><br />- In this way, it lets you start building a loyal following for your unique ideas and approach to your topic.<br /><br />- A good working title can also help you reach out to joint venture partners who will ultimately be very important to your promotion and sales efforts.<br /><br />- In fact, since you are still writing the book, you have the flexibility to mention or quote these experts in your book, a great incentive for them to get behind you and your message.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What makes a winning final title and subtitle?</span><br /><br />Use this quick-start checklist to see if your working book title measures up or if you need to either rethink or fine-tune it:<br /><br /><ul><li>Your title or your subtitle contains a keyword or keywords related to your topic</li><li>The title is easy to say, hear, remember, and talk about</li><li>Your book title is clear and concise, i.e. no one who hears about it or sees it, regardless of their background, will go, "Huh?"</li><li>The title stands out from other books on this topic because of some unique feature or benefit</li><li>It is not already taken--book titles can't be copyrighted, but you don't want your book confused with another one out there</li><li>Experts in the area of book covers and book marketing give you a thumbs up</li><li>It will give you the flexibility to create a series of related books, products, and services</li><li>Your book title captures the attention of your target audience, which you can determine either by a focus group or online tools like Google AdWords</li><li>Your book title creates a defining brand that will grow your reputation and your overall business</li></ul><br />Here are a few basic rules to keep you on track:<br /><ol><li>Decide what to say, then how to say it</li><li>Choose clarity over cleverness</li><li>Keep it short</li></ol><br />There are numerous strategies and techniques for creating book titles. Just a few approaches include the following:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Look to Your Book (a chapter title, for example, may yield a winning title)</span><br />Ex:<span style="font-style: italic;"> How YOU</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana; font-style: italic;">™</span><!--EndFragment--><span style="font-style: italic;"> Are Like Shampoo</span>, by corporate branding expert Brenda Bence<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Be a One-Word Wonder</span><br />Ex: <span style="font-style: italic;">Blink</span>, by Malcolm Gladwell<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Create a Twist on a Familiar Phrase</span><br />Ex: <span style="font-style: italic;">Squeaky Green</span>, by Adam Lowry and Eric Ryan, founders of Method cleaning products<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coin a New Term</span><br />Ex: <span style="font-style: italic;">Freakonomics</span>, by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Use Four-Letter Words</span><br />Ex: <span style="font-style: italic;">Mojo Mom</span>, by Amy Tiemann<br />Ex: <span style="font-style: italic;">Eat This Not That</span>, by David Zinczenko<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Be the Obvious Expert</span><br />Ex: <span style="font-style: italic;">Big Book of Parenting Solutions</span>, by Michelle Borba<br />Ex: <span style="font-style: italic;">The Self-Publishing Manual</span>, by Dan Poynter<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Be compelling or Controversial</span><br />Ex: <span style="font-style: italic;">The Four-Hour Work Week</span>, by Tim Ferriss<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">WOW: </span>Excellent points, Susan! You've given us a lot to think about. Now, back cover copy is also equally important because it must convey the contents of the book in such a short word count. What are some tips for writing and paring down a synopsis?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Susan:</span> One word--positioning. Think of positioning as where your book stands in relation to three things: your readers, your market, and your competition. Then, take a more active role. Use this information to decide what you will say about your book to "position" it in the best possible light. Your back cover does not give you a lot of room to work, so get to the point and be clear, concise, and compelling. Decide what needs to be said, then decide how to say it in the most concise, compelling way possible.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here are 7 positioning questions to get your creative juices flowing:</span><br /><br />1. How does your book address your readers' wants, needs, hurts, hopes, or deepest desires?<br /><br />2. What do your readers already know about your topic and what do you bring them that's new?<br /><br />3. What differentiates you and your message from similar books already on the market--what's unique about your ideas, perspective, approach, process, focus, experience, background, etc. In other words, why <span style="font-style: italic;">you</span> and not someone else or some other book?<br /><br />4. Are you a "first" or "only" in what you bring to this subject or some aspect of this subject?<br /><br />5. Do you fill an important gap in the information available on this topic? What's been missing that you address?<br /><br />6. What else makes you stand out in a crowded market, or are you able to create a new niche and dominate it, right from the start?<br /><br />7. And, most importantly, what will your audience get from your book that they can't get anywhere else?<br /><br />Your back cover copy then becomes the foundation of your entire marketing campaign, in print and online. You'll use this copy as your website content, on your blog, in articles and press releases, proposals to distributors, pitches to the media, corporate sponsors, joint venture partners, and anyone else who might be interested in buying or selling your book or product.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">WOW:</span> Wow, it seems that if you get your back cover copy right, it can do a lot for you! So, do you design book covers as well? Or do you work with designers? How does the process work?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Susan:</span> We do not do the design. We specialize in the words that brand and promote your book, so that even if you have a cover that is designed typographically--that is, with just that billboard look of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0316010669/?tag=wowwomenonwri-20"><span style="font-style: italic;">Blink</span></a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0385528752/?tag=wowwomenonwri-20"><span style="font-style: italic;">Switch</span></a>, and others--your message still comes across loud and clear. We do, however, work closely with a handful of designers we refer our clients to, and their work is very impressive.<br /><br />The process is that you first develop the front cover copy--title and subtitle, series name if appropriate, high-end testimonial, and any other front cover copy. Then you take this to the book cover designer for the visual effects that make your brand really pop--on the shelf and online. Then, it's the same with the back cover, spine, and flaps of your books if a hard cover--copy then design.<br /><br />For more details, you can <span style="font-weight: bold;">download a free copy of our </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Book Cover Timeline</span> on our home page <a href="http://www.writetoyourmarket.com/">here</a>.<br /><br />NOTE: Be aware that there is a big difference between a graphic designer and a book cover designer. Hire someone who knows the industry and understands all the subtleties of designing book covers that sell.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">WOW:</span> Marketing a book these days involves so many different elements: a website, blog, social networking, media kit, and so forth. If an author has a limited budget, where should she start? And what is the one thing she should definitely spend her money on?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Susan:</span> That's a great question. In fact, we regularly check in with our authors to ask this same question and to see which marketing outlets are working best for them. I did a couple of recent blog posts on this because this is one thing new authors really want and need to know--what really works?<br /><br />The two authors we interviewed include one who has sold over 150,000 copies of his book since 2001, and one who released and began marketing her book last summer. Overwhelmingly, the responses we get from authors in general and these two in particular are very much the same. You can see the details on our <a href="http://www.bookcovercoaching.blogspot.com/">blog</a>, but here is the list in order of results for the book that has sold 150,000 copies:<br /><br /><ol><li>Speaking</li><li>Giving Away Books to Movers and Shakers</li><li>Becoming Your Own Publicist</li><li>Selling Books to Direct Sales/MLM companies</li><li>Selling Foreign Rights of Book</li></ol><br />Susan Berg, the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982263139/?tag=wowwomenonwri-20"><span style="font-style: italic;">Choose on Purpose for Twentysomethings</span></a>, released her book with very good results in the first three months by also focusing on public appearances. She also credits book reviews with jumpstarting interest in her book. From a review by Library Journal, she got invited to do a national webcast with the American Marketing Association (AMA), which resulted in a Twitter group following as well as inquiries for follow-up materials and a request to be a guest blogger.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">WOW:</span> Those are great suggestions. What about a "squeeze page?" What is it, and do you think this type of marketing is still effective?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Susan:</span> Absolutely! It is the first thing I look for when we are asked to do a critique & consultation of an author's website. Also called a "name-capture," this technique is a way to get visitors to your website to give you their name and contact information in exchange for something you give them. This can be a free excerpt from your book or some other useful or interesting download related to your topic or area of expertise.<br /><br />The point is that when you have someone's email address, you can stay in touch with them about what you offer that may interest them. People visit websites to learn something. In any kind of advertising, it usually takes repeated exposure to an offer before someone makes a buying decision. We've talked to authors and experts who boast about how many visitors they get each month. It's right there in their web stats. That's great, but you want to know who these people are and how to stay in touch with them so that they become fans and repeat buyers over time. The right name-capture offer will do this for you.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">WOW:</span> That makes sense! You really have a gift for explaining things in easy-to-understand language. :) So what are some current trends you've noticed in your field?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Susan:</span> Here are two trends--one that is good for your book and one that is not so good. The bad news first. We see people who fall in love with their working titles. They say things like, "This title has a lot of meaning for me. It's been in my head for a long time and is so much a part of who I am and what is most meaningful about my book."<br /><br />That's OK, but often these titles-of-the-heart do not speak to anyone but the author. Your book cover and your book title especially are your packaging, your brand, the one chance you have to hit a nerve and get someone to give you a look. Make sure your title speaks to the need, desires, and hopes of the readers and the world at large. You can use your pet phrase somewhere in your marketing, but maybe just not at the title. Love is blind. Don't fall in love with the first title that occurs to you.<br /><br />This brings us to the good news. Another trend is that we see more and more authors testing their titles. This is a great way to get real-world feedback, outside of your own personal preferences. There are several good ways to test a book title. One, of course, is <a href="http://www.adwords.google.com">Google Adwords</a>. And, it's possible to do this without costing a lot. [Editor's note: try the Google Adwords Keyword research tool to see what people are searching for and how popular those searches are--it's free!] We use Adwords a lot, and are very strategic about using the ad variation tool to get useful feedback very quickly. Another way to test your title, or your subtitle--or any major headlines, for that matter--is to test two different versions to your own or someone else's list. We give a detailed outline of how to do this on our <a href="http://bookcovercoaching.blogspot.com/2008/12/whats-author-like-you-doing-with-book.html">blog</a> as well.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">WOW:</span> Thank you, Susan, for taking time out of your busy schedule to share your tips with us today! You've helped me, and I'm sure our readers, understand so much about the process of creating titles, book cover copy, and positioning. Do you have any parting advice for our women authors?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Susan:</span> Yes. Make use of all the credibility, experience, expertise, and support you already have in place. In so many areas, women tend to assume that there is so much more they can be doing to create success and they tend to dismiss or overlook the systems and highly productive relationships they already have in place. You'd be surprised how much of a business base and marketing platform <span style="font-style: italic;">you</span> already have in place if you simply start seeing it that way.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">WOW:</span> Very true! So how can our readers get in touch with you and find out more about your services?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Susan:</span> Please email Graham and me at info[at]WriteToYourMarket[dot]com or call us toll-free at 1-888-634-4120. Again, look around the articles on our blog at <a href="http://www.bookcovercoaching.com">www.BookCoverCoaching.com</a> and pick up a copy of our free <span style="font-style: italic;">Book Cover Timeline</span>. We are happy to answer questions and help authors and experts wherever they are in the book cover or book marketing process, so we really look forward to hearing from you.<br /><br />You can also hear more about when to start your book cover and why at <a href="http://www.bestsellingbookcover.com">www.BestsellingBookCover.com</a>, where you can also get your own copy of our complete learning system, "Cover That Book: Insider Secrets for Writing and Designing a Bestselling Book cover." This comes with three special bonuses, including a complimentary 30-minute consultation with us about your book or even your idea for a book and how you can package that book to sell.<div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-5621504552478706?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Wow!http://www.blogger.com/profile/00196768330556357725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-29486046998242837912010-03-19T00:00:00.000-07:002010-03-19T00:00:09.434-07:00Friday Speak Out!: "Where Do Writers Go For Inspiration?" Guest Post by Anna Miller<a href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/for-A-Miller-FSo---see-attribution-info-786415.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/uploaded_images/for-A-Miller-FSo---see-attribution-info-786239.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>Where Do Writers Go For Inspiration?</strong><br /><br /><em>by Anna Miller </em><br /><br />Writing has been my profession for a while now, but it has always been a passion for as long as I can remember. From school essays to writing short stories and poems for the school magazine and local book club, I would take part in all of them with an enthusiasm that my friends considered somewhat unnatural – they were not the bookish kind and did not understand the intensity I showed towards my paperback friends. I was never at a loss for words when asked to write, I always had something to write about, and long or short, I always loved the result of my creative expression. In short, I was my biggest fan and I had never heard of writer’s block let alone experienced it.<br /><br />Well, that sure changed when I started writing for a living--I found that in a few years’ time, there were many times when I became disillusioned with writing and other times when I just could not pen a single sentence without hating it. In the old days, it would have been the equivalent of crumpled sheets of paper lying strewn around my writing table, but today, it’s more a case of banging the keyboard when you’re frustrated at the words not flowing freely. Every writer has faced this situation more than once during their careers – they’re stuck in a rut and short of inspiration, and cannot write even though they want to. So where do they go for inspiration?<br /><br />In my experience, I’ve found that the following things work when you’re looking to rejuvenate your creativity and breathe a whiff of fresh air into your writing:<br /><br /><blockquote>• <strong>Broadening your horizons:</strong> When you expand your repertoire of activities, you grow as a writer because you learn much more about life than when confined to your desk and computer all day long. The first time I felt a mental block, I took a break from work and went out to sign up for tennis lessons. A few hours of this game every day, and I felt like a new person. I didn’t switch on my notebook for a week, not until I felt I was ready to write again. This time, the words were at my command and ready to do my bidding. So when you feel you need inspiration, just look around for other things that interest you. You’ll be back in the saddle sooner than you think.<br /><br />• <strong>Write about something else</strong>: If inspiration is what is lacking, try changing the subject you normally write about. If technology is your cup of tea, switch to coffee for a change and take on health or education or anything else you feel passionate or know about. Alternatively, start a personal blog where you can write about anything and everything that interests you. The point is that you must not write for your career’s sake; instead, you must write for your own. When you feel your confidence returning after a few well-written pieces, you’re ready to get back to writing as a profession.<br /><br />• <strong>Take time off:</strong> And finally, it’s best to just take time off from work to go do your own thing when you feel the dearth of inspiration. You’re probably just overworked and your brain is too tired to think anymore. So what you really need is some rest and rejuvenation, after which you’ll be good to go once again.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Image courtesy of </span><a href="http://www.bmpl.lib.me.us/writer.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://www.bmpl.lib.me.us/writer.jpg</span></a><br /><br />* * *<br /><br /><em><strong>Anna Miller</strong> is a staff writer for <a href="http://www.onlinedegree.net/">degree online </a>. A native Houstonian, deep in the heart of Texas, she brings a friendliness and informality to her writing that makes it accessible to individuals of diverse backgrounds. With a background in print journalism she enjoys bringing her loyal readers innovative articles and resources which are both rigorously researched but informally presented. She welcomes your comments at her email id: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/anna.miller009@gmail.com">anna.miller009@gmail.com</a>.</em><br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;">Would you like to participate in <strong>Friday "Speak Out!</strong><strong>"</strong>? 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!</span><br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-2948604699824283791?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>MPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00303375584867596482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33612293.post-86240449541196745512010-03-18T05:00:00.000-07:002010-03-18T12:19:05.521-07:00Slow down!Recently I noticed that I have been on a fast track and can't seem to slow down. It's as if I am on fast forward. I don't know how many people also feel this way, but I think I have learned a lesson over the past few days.<br /><br />I recently came down sick with a horrible virus. It really knocked me for a huge loop. I couldn't believe it. I literally have had to stop and rest. Mind you I don't like to rest, I am the one that feels I have to keep going and keep doing no matter the situation.<br /><br />This brought me to another thought about my writing. I am driven when it comes to deadlines. As long as I know when something is due and I know that there is a set time to get something completed by, I can make the deadline; however, I have noticed that if I don't slow down enough, I tend to make a ton of mistakes. This has not only shown up in my personal life and at work but in my writing as well.<br /><br />My paragraphs are way out of whack and my sentence structure is awful. It made me realize that I am rushing things a little too much and that I really need to slow down. I need to take the time to make sure that everything is right and what is asked of me in my writing. So, then it is time for me to slow down. I need to make a difference in how I do things. It won't be easy, but it will be worth it in the long run.<br /><br />I have made myself a list of how I will make a difference in my writing by slowing down.<br /><br />1) Make sure I have done the research on the subject and have a clear understanding of it.<br /><br />2) Take the time to build each paragraph accordingly, making sure that each paragraph flows properly and creates a good valid point for the readers.<br /><br />3) Read through the entire article more than once. Make the necessary corrections as I am reading through the article to make sure that it flows properly for my readers.<br /><br />4) Read through the article once again checking for any additional spelling errors or sentence issues.<br /><br />5) Double check research information, make sure I am passing along the correct information. This is highly important. Not only to me but to my readers; I want to make sure they are getting the correct information on the subject.<br /><br />Through these steps I am hoping that I can make a difference in my writing, my life and the things that I hope to accomplish.<br /><br />Happy writing everyone!<div class="blogger-post-footer">(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com">WOW! Women On Writing</a> for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the <a href="http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php">WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest</a> Open Now!<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33612293-8624044954119674551?l=www.wow-womenonwriting.com%2Fblog.html' alt='' /></div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07103413217394938992noreply@blogger.com4