Ten Steps to Publication
August 28, 2009 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as OCCRWA, publication, writingOn Saturday August 22, Charlotte Lobb and I taught a full day workshop sponsored by OCCRWA. It was a special workshop arranged by the OCC Board to offer more resources for writers, and it was the second such workshop offered this year. The first one was a Plotting workshop by Diane Pershing back in January.
I discussed Character and Conflict, and Charlotte talked about Point of View and Dialogue. Every writer can always learn something new, even after many books (I picked up some great tips on dialogue from Char.) It was a small group, only about 17 people or so, which made for an intimate class that encouraged discussion. This made me think about the great resources available to aspiring writers from groups like OCC, which sounded like a good topic for a blog.
Ten Steps to Publication:
1. Write. If you don’t write it, you can’t submit it and no one can publish it! Find your own schedule, your own rhythm. Every writer’s life is different, and every writer’s process is different. Find what works for you and do it, no matter what. Make the time.
2. Join a writer’s group. OCCRWA is a great example of a valuable writer’s group. There are monthly meetings with two speakers every month! There is the contest, which gets your work in front of published author and editor judges. There’s the newsletter and the email loop. There’s cool special workshops like the one Char and I just did. The most important thing a writer’s group can offer, however, is support. No one understands the angst of a writer better than another writer.
3. Get a critique partner or group. Writers tend to be introverted individuals who hang out alone in front of their computers. Some of them are even too afraid to show their work to anyone. In my seventeen years as a serious writer, I have found critique partners/groups to be an invaluable objective eye. Every writer has a blind spot. Is there a phrase or word that you overuse? Is there a grammatical error you always make? Your critque partners will find it and alert you to it before you send off the manuscript.
4. Enter contests. Entering contests is a good way to get objective feedback, but you should have reasons for choosing the contests you enter. The Orange Rose from OCCRWA is one geared to get your manuscript ready for the Golden Heart or submission to an editor or agent. Or maybe you want to enter a contest because a certain author or editor is judging. Perhaps you’re worried about your synopsis so you enter a synopsis contest. Always have a reason, even if that reason is just to support your local chapter. 🙂
5. Know when to stop editing the first three chapters. Many aspiring authors write a dynamite three chapters, then edit them until they squeak. There is such a thing as editing the life out of pages, and you want to avoid that. Walk away from chapter three and move on to chapter four. An editor can’t buy only three chapters of a book.
6. Finish your book. As stated in number 5 above, an editor can’t buy only a few chapters. They need to see the whole book. Just do it. You will be astounded at the sense of accomplishment you get from writing The End.
7. Read new authors. The new authors are the writers who sold their work within the last year. This tells you what editors are buying. Plus you get some great reading material!
8. Learn about the market. Writing is a joy, an outlet, a balm to the soul. Publishing is a business. If you want to get paid for your work, you need to learn about the market. Read the RWR. Subscribe to Publisher’s Marketplace (http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/) so you can get Publisher’s Lunch, a daily email that tells you the news in the marketplace. There is also a daily email listing the deals made that day by editors and agents for all genres of books–and the subscription is only about $20 a month.
9. Set goals. No one gets anywhere without setting goals. If the idea of writing a whole book overwhelms you, then concentrate on writing the next page, or the next paragraph, or the next chapter. Keep your goals realistic according to what you can reasonably accomplish. Setting impossible goals guarantees failure. Remember: how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!
10. Let go of the fear. We all have a fear about getting published. I’ve published 11 books (#12 currently in the works), and I still get nervous around release time. Every writer is worried someone will tell her that her baby is ugly. Don’t project, just deal with the here and now. And don’t be afraid to finish that book and send it out. We’re all dying to hear what you have to say!
See you on the shelves!
A Fantasy Life
August 27, 2009 by A Slice of Orange in category A Fantasy Life by Janet Cornelow tagged as Janet Cornelow, Janet QuinnBy Janet Quinn Cornelow
I have a new book coming out from Whiskey Creek Press in September. Wanted: True Love is a contemporary, fantasy romance. Bree-Anna, the heroine, is a witch coming up on her 200th birthday and needs to find true love to break a curse that was put on her by Gerard, a warlock. Unfortunately, every time Bree-Anna thinks she has found true love, Gerard steps in and something untoward happens to her suitor. Now she has met Quint. A hunk that she can really go for, if she can keep Gerard away from him. She only has two weeks to make Quint fall in love with her. And she can’t use her magic.
I have finished the galley and now I am waiting for the new cover. It just doesn’t feel finished without a cover and I have nothing to put up for a picture this month because I don’t have a cover.
I am still recovering from hurting my back and have gotten no writing done. I went to the movies yesterday and am paying for it today. My back does not like sitting for long times without moving. That could be why I am not getting much writing done.
September Online Class: “Plot That Novel Your Way” w Sue Viders and Becky Martinez
August 26, 2009 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives“Plot That Novel YOUR Way” with Sue Viders and Becky Martinez
September 14, 2009 – October 10, 2009
Enrollment Information at http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclassSep09.html
COST: $20 for OCC members, $30 for non-members
Enrollment deadline: September 13, 2009
If you have specific questions, email occrwaonlineclass@yahoo.com
ABOUT THE CLASS:
Plotting is never easy, even for the seasoned writer. How do you keep everything straight and go in the right direction? While this class is aimed at the beginning writer, any level writer can benefit from this overview of various plotting systems. It provides explanations of ways to plot and goes into detail on how authors who write by the seat of their pants can use those ways to make their own plotting—or lack of it—easier.
To give you some idea of how the class will be conducted, here is a brief outline of the subjects we will be discussing in depth during the coming weeks. We’ll be including assignments to go with the various lectures, and discussing the assignments with the class members. We’ll also leave plenty of time for students to ask questions at any time.
Plot that Novel YOUR Way Outline
Week 1
1. Introduction & Greetings
2. Lesson One – A Quick look at Plotting using the 5 W’s
3. Lesson Two – The 3-act structure & Building an Outline
Week 2
1. Lesson Three – Plot Points & Turning Points
2. Lesson Four – Using the Story Board for Pacing
Week 3
1. Lesson Five – Introduction to the Plotting Wheel
2. Lesson Six – Plotting Wheel pt. 2
Week 4
1. Lesson Seven – Putting it all Together
2. Lesson Eight – Plotting backwards & No Plotting
3. Wrap Up – Discovering the Method that works best for you
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS:
Sue Viders is the author of more than 20 books, numerous articles and columns for both artists and writers. An international art marketing consultant, she was the director of the Art Education Division of Color Q, Inc. for over 30 years. Her first writing book Heroes and Heroines, Sixteen Master Archetypes, is used in many colleges and universities from creative writing master programs to screen writing courses. Her latest book, 10 Steps to Creating Memorable Characters is gaining use as a practical workbook for writers who want to further develop their characters. She is a practicing artist, seminar leader, and educator with on-line classes both for writers and artists.
Sue lives in Lone Tree, CO with her husband. Her five grown children and six grandkids live nearby. She is currently working on a coffee table book about the art of money with one of her daughters and a children’s book with her 15 year-old grandson.
Her latest product for writers is Deal a Story; an interactive card game consisting of 101 cards and six sections and is based on her Heroes and Heroines book. Check it out at www.dealastory.com or at her blog http://dealastory.blogspot.com
Becky Martinez is an award-winning former broadcast journalist and published author who teaches classes to writing groups and conducts online writing workshops. Her latest book, a romantic suspense, will soon be published by The Wild Rose Press. Her first published romance novel was an Aspen Gold finalist. She has had several short stories published, including “The Problem†in July 2008 by The Wild Rose Press and she contributed a short story to an anthology that was a 2007 New Mexico Book Award finalist.
With Sue Viders, Lucynda Storey and Cher Gorman, she co-authored the writing book, Ten Steps to Creating Memorable Characters, a workbook for writers.She is currently working with Sue Viders on a new book on plotting.
In addition, she has worked as a publicist, public information officer and public relations consultant in the Denver metro area and has taught classes and workshops on marketing, public relations and broadcast journalism.
Enrollment Information at http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclassSep09.html
COST: $20 for OCC members, $30 for non-members
Enrollment deadline: September 13, 2009
Coming in October – Muse Therapy – D. D. Scott style – is all about injecting life into tired and/or stressed out muses. I’ll give writers fun and fabulous tools to analyze their muses’ funks, reign in their creative divas and up their page counts.
http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclasses.html Check out our full 2009 list of workshops.
Want to be notified personally two weeks before each class? Be sure you’re signed up for our Online Class Notices Yahoo Group! Sign up at the bottom of http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclasses.html or send a blank email to OCCRWAOnlineClassNotices-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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Audio-visual Resources Expand Understanding of Google Book Search Settlement
August 24, 2009 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as Association of American Publishers, Authors Guild, Copyright, Google SettlementYes, it’s me again sharing information on the Google Settlement!
Much has been written about the Google Book Search Settlement. For those who want a better understanding of the Settlement but are a bit print-weary, audio-visual resources have become available in recent weeks that can clarify and expand that understanding.
For a general overview of Google Books and the Settlement on YouTube click here .
For a better understanding of the role of the Settlement in leveling the educational playing field for minority students and students with disabilities click here
For a discussion of what the Settlement means for publishers click here. There’s information on a webinar below as well.
I have to note that I do get irritated at those that trumpet “all content should be free.” Hey, I’m sure we’d all like everything to be free! But if someone started announcing that all lawyers should work for free, or all milk should be free, we’d see the absurdity of that statement! Why can’t they acknowledge the same value for Intellectual Property (IP) or the written material many sweat blood to create.
But there’s also a recent Webinar hosted by Publisher’s Weekly you can access. Go to www.PublishersWeekly.com, click on “Tools” to the far right of the top navibar, then Webcasts and register for the webcast:
Google Library Project Settlement: What It Means for Publishers (or just click on the link!).
You will be able to access the webcast archive for one year following the initial webcast.
Description of the Webinar:
In a webinar first, the leaders involved with the crafting of the Google Library Project Settlement will share with the publishing industry the benefits of the agreement for publishers and authors. If approved by the Court in October, the agreement will create one of the most far-reaching intellectual, cultural, and commercial platforms for access to digital books for the reading public, while granting publishers unprecedented opportunities and protections. Presented in collaboration with Google, The Association of American Publishers, and Publishers Weekly, the web session is a must-attend event.
PANELISTS
Richard Sarnoff, Co-Chair, Bertelsmann, Inc., AAP Board of Directors
John Sargent, Chief Executive Officer, Macmillan, AAP Board of Directors
Jan Constantine, General Counsel, Author’s Guild
James Gleick, Author
Michael Healy, Executive Director Designate, Book Rights Registry
MODERATOR
Jim Milliot, News Director, Publishers Weekly
Advice to Myself as a Newbie Author
August 22, 2009 by A Slice of Orange in category Advice to Myself as a Newbie Author by Shauna Roberts tagged as Advice to Myself as a Newbie Author, Kate Carlisleby Shauna Roberts
http://www.ShaunaRoberts.com
http://ShaunaRoberts.blogspot.com
Today’s Guest: Kate Carlisle
After writing for twenty years, Kate Carlisle became an overnight sensation when her debut mystery, Homicide in Hardcover (Signet), hit the New York Times Bestseller List. Romantic Times gave the book 4½ stars and said: “This first in a new series is going to launch Carlisle to bestselling position and have readers looking forward to the next installment of delightfully eccentric characters, droll dialogue and a meticulously planned crime.†A Golden Heart and Daphne du Maurier Award winner, Kate lives and writes in Venice Beach, California.
If you could travel back in time to before you were first published, what advice would you give yourself?
Wouldn’t it be great to go back in time and give myself advice? The problem is, I’m not sure my newbie self would listen. Maybe that’s why it took me twenty years to publish my first book! Or maybe not. I really did appreciate any advice I could get, but publication just wasn’t meant to be—until recently. So that’s why my number one bit of advice would be . . .
1. Have patience, but don’t be passive. Continue to learn your craft. Don’t give up. Perseverance is the key. Just because you’re not published yet doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer. It just means the stars and planets haven’t aligned in your favor yet.
Keep writing, keep sending your work out, keep networking. Make friends with your fellow writers. Polish your work, send it out, start something new. Study the market. Read as much as you can. Don’t be negative. You’re doing exactly what you’ve always wanted to do. Remember all this and you’ll be ready for that moment when it all comes together.
2. Learn to write to a deadline. Before I was published, I felt as though I had all the time in the world to write a book, so I rarely put time limits or deadlines on my work. Now that I’m published, I am frantic with each deadline and petrified that if I don’t spend every spare minute writing, I’ll blow it. I don’t take enough time off to see family and friends. I always feel guilty if I’m not writing. For a while there, I was sure I’d end up with an ulcer, so now I’m teaching myself to budget my time better. My calendar is my best friend. I write everything down now, including estimated page counts on my writing days. It sounds a bit obsessive, but it keeps me honest and happy.
3. Write every day. This is another good habit I wish I’d developed early on. During the last year, I’ve found that if I take a few days or a week off from writing, I’m flummoxed once I get back to the story. I’ve forgotten how to write! I can’t remember the story! What was my hero’s name? I can’t remember! It’s pitiful. I now try to write something, even a paragraph—but hopefully much more—every day.
4. Clean your room before you begin a new book. Now, this may sound like ridiculous advice to give a writer, but I know that if my room is a mess, if my desk is piled with junk, papers, books, three thousand Post-It notes, and other stuff buried in piles that threaten to bury me if they tumble over, I’m not in a happy place. I tend to let things pile up around me. Not just paper, but laundry, bills, everything. Call it feng shui or just plain good housekeeping, but clean up your room! Get rid of all that stagnant Qi!
You need harmony, not chaos, if you want to be creative. Well, I need that, anyway. How can I think with all that crap piled up all around me? And the dust that collects around those piles is downright harmful to my physical health! So clean things up and be happy.
5. Surprise, it doesn’t get easier. If you think “The Call” will change your life, well, you’re right. It’s the greatest moment ever. But if you think that from this moment on, everything will be hunky dory and you’ll never have to work that hard again, you are soooo delusional! It just gets harder. Harder to come up with ideas, harder to meet deadlines, harder to keep publishers happy, harder to keep up the level of work you need to do to be a working writer. You need to know this early on, then ask yourself the question, is there a better way to make a living?
6. Recognize opportunity and grab it with both hands. Someone once told me that when you pass up an opportunity, you gain ten pounds. Think about it. For me, it was true. I passed up any number of opportunities because I was scared, or shy, or worried that someone wouldn’t like my work or wouldn’t like me. I wouldn’t follow up with editors on contest wins because maybe they would think I was pushy or self-aggrandizing. Instead, I would sit in the back of the room and pretend to be invisible. Ridiculous!
And the thing about opportunity is, that takes many different forms. It might be a request from the chapter to drive an editor to the airport. Or a call for volunteers at a conference. Sometimes, just being friendly to a visitor becomes an opportunity for something greater. You never know when an opportunity will arise, and if you don’t take it, you’ll gain weight. Just sayin’.
✥✥✥✥✥
To learn more about Kate Carlisle, please visit her Web page at http://katecarlisle.com. You can find Homicide in Hardcover at your local bookstore or can order it online at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, or Borders.
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