The Process
July 2009 
 WOW! Women On Writing
 Issue #31: The Process

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Greetings!


"The creative process is a process of surrender, not control." ~ Julia Cameron

"I do not believe in failure. It is not failure if you enjoyed the process." ~ Oprah Winfrey

No matter what type of writing you do, there is a process involved. It can be a step-by-step process of creating something--from seed to fruition--or it can be a small, but necessary, part of a bigger picture--like communicating with an editor.

For instance, in creating this issue, there are many processes involved. First, the editorial board evaluates every query and submission that pertains to the theme. Then, we contact each freelancer who we accept and send them an email requesting the finished article by a certain date. Upon receipt, we properly format and send the article to an editor assigned to it. When we receive the polished article back, our graphic arts department begins to create editorial artwork, headers, and colors to illustrate the article. From there, our SEO specialist adds necessary Meta tags, keywords, and article summary descriptions. Finally, the completed article is sent to our Webmaster to format into html and put live on the website--which brings us to what you see today. The completed product and a labor of love passed through many caring hands.

I'm simplifying, of course. What I'm not telling you about are the many e-mails exchanged, the discussions about content, the revisions made, and the fun stuff in between to lighten the workday--YouTube videos sent, e-mail jokes, and phone chats--which are all a part of the process as well.

When we came up with the theme for this month, many freelancers wrote and asked, "What does 'The Process' mean?" It's vague enough to instill that question, and that's what we were shooting for. We were open to interpretation and were delighted with the outcome of ideas!

Ready to find out more about "The Process?" We have a great issue for you.

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A big, warm, Thank You goes out to our freelancers & staff:

A big thank you goes to WOW! columnist Margo L. Dill for her excellent article, Novel Writing: Choosing a Method That Works Best For You. The novel writing process can be so diverse that for those of us just starting out, it's hard to decide which method to go with! Margo provides you with proven solutions--both for the budding novelist and the expert.

We welcome back freelancer Sue Bradford Edwards and thank her for sharing her personal journey with combating writer's block. Like many writers, she never believed in writer's block until she came down with a bad case of it. In this article, she shares advice on the subject from other women writers, whom we'd also like to thank for their insight. We wish Jane Yolen, Julia Cameron, Darcy Pattison, and Kristi Holl a big thank you as well!

We welcome freelancer Darcy Pattison to the WOW! family. Darcy's article, The Incredible Shrunken Manuscript: How To Diagnose Your Novel's Strengths and Weaknesses, is chock-full of fantastic exercises for those working on their novels. Her fascinating visual techniques and step-by-step instructions are groundbreaking to say the least. Not to miss!

We also welcome freelancer Lea Schizas to the WOW! family. Although this is her first time freelancing for us, Lea was interviewed by WOW! in Sept. '07 about The Muse Online Writer's Conference, which she co-founded. (If you missed that interview, be sure to check it out--the con is a must-do for writers.) In this issue, Lea discusses an important part of the publishing process--Author/Editor Zesty Relationships. She asks six authors the same question: "How did your manuscript change from its original state after you collaborated with your publishing house's editor?" Thank you to authors L.A. Banks, Kim Smith, Raven Starr, Aline de Chevigny, Janis Susan May, and Linda Mooney for sharing your personal anecdotes and experiences.

With summer in full swing, vacations abound! Many of us write while we're traveling, and getting paid to do it would be a dream; but how can we make that happen? WOW! columnist LuAnn Schindler gives us the skinny on the process of garnering these trips in her article, Spanning the Globe: Attend Press Trips and Increase Your Portfolio Power, in this month's Freelancer's Corner. LuAnn has attended several press trips in the past few years and shares her personal resources with you.

As writers, research is a necessary process of our daily routine. Being good at it is another story. We welcome freelancer Mary Horner to the WOW! family, and thank her for her informative article, How To Research for the Non-Researcher. Mary provides much-needed search engine tips and information about library databases that we all could use to help make our research efforts more efficient. I even learned some new tricks!

Another big thank you goes to WOW! columnist Marcia Peterson for her inspirational interview with author Maria Laurino. Maria discusses Old World family values and New World feminism, as well as memoir writing, writing for The Sopranos, Italian culture, Michelle Obama, and online journalism. Thank you, Marcia, for turning around this interview so quickly--it's fantastic!

I'd also like to thank staff members Margo L. Dill and Joanne Stacey for editing this month's issue. Great job, ladies! I couldn't have done it without you.

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Announcements:

On another note, with any process comes change. WOW! is saddened to announce that our esteemed senior editor, Annette Fix, will no longer be with our publication (unless we can convince her to accept some freelance work!), as she is pursuing her career as a multi-talented woman with many hats. Annette is busy teaching her workshops, public speaking, and promoting her memoir, which was recently optioned for development as a cable television series. We wish Annette much success in all her endeavors!

To find out more about what Annette is up to, visit her website.

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Summer 2009 Flash Fiction Contest

DEADLINE: August 31, 2009 Midnight, Pacific Time.

GUEST JUDGE: Literary Agent, Melissa Jeglinski

About Melissa: Melissa Jeglinski joined The Knight Agency in September of 2008 as Associate Agent/Submissions Coordinator. A graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in English with a concentration in writing, Melissa began her career as an editorial assistant at Harlequin Enterprises.

During her 17-year tenure, she discovered more than a dozen authors who have become National bestsellers and ascended to senior editor of the Silhouette Desire line, one of the company's most prestigious and successful series. An undeniable asset to the TKA team, she utilizes her extensive editorial experience, combined with distinctive tastes and a top-notch romantic pedigree, to foster TKA's client roster to national prominence. Melissa is a member of RWA and AAR.

Find out more about the Knight Agency by visiting: http://www.knightagency.net

PROMPT: Open Prompt

WORD COUNT: 750 Max; 250 Min

LIMIT: 300 Entries

Don't wait until the last minute! Enter Today. Visit our Contest Page and download our terms & conditions ebook. Good luck!

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Call for Submissions

WOW! is seeking submissions for their upcoming themes:

- Successful Women (Sept. '09 issue): interviews with celebrity authors, best-selling authors, philanthropists, editor/publishers, entrepreneurs.

- All Web Writing (Oct '09)

- Literary Agents (Nov '09)

We are also looking for photo essays and video on a variety of subjects: workspaces, tours of author's homes, how-tos, speakers on craft of writing subjects, author interviews, event coverage, balancing work/writing with family, etc. If you have an idea for a photo essay (300-500 words), or a video, please query us with examples of photo essays/video work you've previously completed.

Please review our submission guidelines on our Contact Page (scroll to the bottom) for pay rates and how to submit. We look forward to hearing from you!

To find out about first calls from WOW! please subscribe to our Premium-Green Writer's Markets. We share detailed descriptions of specific articles we need right now. Land one gig and it more than pays for a year's subscription! We currently have over 20 issues--ebooks filled with over 100 pages of markets--available for immediate download with the purchase of your subscription. Join the community that gives back! And write-on!

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On to the issue, enjoy!

 Novel Writing: Choosing a Method that Works Best for You
 By Margo L. Dill

Novel outlining with sticky notes Every novelist has her own way of writing a novel. From outlining to sticky notes to just writing the darn thing, novel writing is a process that can differ for each writer. For those novelists out there struggling with their current methods, Margo L. Dill provides several solutions you can put to use right away. This article includes samples of outlines, chapter summaries, character sketches, note cards and sticky notes, and tips for NaNoWriMo!

MORE >> 


 How To Combat Writer's Block
 By Sue Bradford Edwards

Sue Bradford Edwards "Until recently, I didn't believe in writer's block. Some days were more productive than others, but I didn't have long dry spells. Fortunately, several generous women writers shared their cures. To figure out which one would work, I needed to know why I was blocked."

In this article, Sue Bradford Edwards examines the various cases and situations of writer's block and tackles the solutions head-on with help from experts. Uncover writing habits that may be blocking you, and discover solutions to combat your writer's block: transitions, story problems, article organization, fear-based blocks, and tips for recharging your literary batteries.


MORE>> 


 The Incredible Shrunken Manuscript: How To Diagnose Your Novel's Strengths and Weaknesses
 By Darcy Pattison

Darcy Pattison Without reading a single word of your novel, Darcy Pattison can tell you some of its strengths and weaknesses by using the "Shrunken Manuscript" technique. This step-by-step process can help you evaluate the big picture of a novel: the overall structure, pacing, scenes, characters, and dialogue. By following these exercises, you'll be able to change the context of the story--from large to small--and it will give you a starting place for manuscript revisions. Includes a video!

MORE>> 


 One Editor's Question; Six Authors' Answers: ZESTY Author/Editor Relationships
 By Lea Schizas

Lea Schizas Writing is only the beginning. Getting a contract is the thrill of proclaiming you are a published writer. Now, the tough part begins. The task of communicating, listening, and cooperating with your editor, at times, falls to the wayside. An author/editor relationship is vital to the final and formatted manuscript.

Lea Schizas, editor-in-chief/submissions editor for Red Rose Publishing, asks six authors a question: How did your manuscript change from its original state after you collaborated with your publishing house's editor? Romance authors L.A. Banks, Kim Smith, Raven Starr, Aline de Chevigny, Janis Susan May, and Linda Mooney share their insights!


MORE>> 


 Spanning the Globe: Attend Press Trips & Increase Your Portfolio Power
 By LuAnn Schindler

Press Trips Traveling to interesting and exotic locations on a press trip sounds like a writer's dream, right? In reality, breaking into the travel writing industry is tough. Competition is intense; the quest to appear on the pages of top-tier travel publications turns off many writers. But don't be discouraged! LuAnn Schindler shows you how to break into the travel writing market and provides you with online resources to find press trips, so you can get paid to travel...and write about it!

MORE>> 


 How 2 Research for the Non-Researcher
 By Mary Horner

Mary Horner Have you ever lost an entire evening researching a topic on the Internet? If so, you aren't alone. Knowing where to find information and conduct research efficiently and effectively can increase your publishing credits and your bottom line. Mary Horner provides you with tips to focus your search for information and to gain access to sources you didn't know you had. Learn how to conduct effective research by using search engine strategies, the local library for access to specific databases, and interview experts for direct quotes on your subject.

MORE>> 


 Old World Daughter, New World Mother: An Interview with Maria Laurino
 By Marcia Peterson

Maria Laurino It's a dilemma still faced by many women today: how do we balance our desires for autonomy and career with those of raising a family? To add another angle to the discussion, how do our cultural values shape our child-rearing choices? Maria Laurino explores these issues in her memoir, Old World Daughter, New World Mother: An Education in Love and Freedom. The book has been described as a warm, smart, and witty personal investigation of ethnicity and womanhood. Join Marcia Peterson as she chats with Maria about her memoir, her Italian-American family, writing for The Sopranos, Michelle Obama, contemporary feminism and more. Includes a video!

MORE>> 


 WOW! Women On Writing Workshops & Classes
 invest in yourself, write now

WOW! Classes Whether you are looking to boost your income or work on your craft, we know that education is an important part of a writer's career. That's why WOW! handpicks qualified instructors and targeted classes that women writers will benefit from. The instructors are women we've worked with on a professional level, and these ladies offer high quality courses on various topics.

How the courses work: All of the courses operate online--whether through email, website, chat room, or listserv, depending on the instructor's preferences--and are taught one-on-one with the instructor. The flexibility of the platform allows students to complete assignments on their own time and work at their own pace in the comfort of their own home. It's a wonderful experience and an excellent way to further develop your skills, or to try your hand at something completely new!


Featured e-Courses (By Date):


HOW TO GET THE RIGHT AGENT FOR YOUR MANUSCRIPT, by Annette Fix

START DATE: July 27, 2009

DURATION: 3 weeks

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Are you looking for the perfect agent to represent your manuscript but not sure where to start? Have you sent out queries and received rejection letters? If you haven't had agents request a partial or full read of your manuscript, you need help targeting the right agent and honing your pitch and query letter.

This class is for writers who want to find an agent who will fall in love with their manuscript and be excited to present their work to major publishers. Querying is not a numbers game. Mass submissions = mass rejections. Without the proper approach, your manuscript will never have the opportunity to be read by an agent.

By the end of this course, you will know how to target the right agent for your material and leave with a list of agents who are signing and selling in your genre. You will develop your "elevator pitch" and learn valuable in-person pitching techniques. You will complete the course with a query letter that showcases your voice and the tone of your book, and lifts your query out of the slush pile.

COST: $165, which includes access to a private Google Group, support and feedback from your instructor, weekly assignments, a weekly one-hour chat, and FREE valuable query samples from agents in the publishing industry. Limit: 10 students. Early registration is recommended.

Visit the Classroom Page for Full Details>>

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BECOME A FREELANCE WRITER! YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO FREELANCE WRITING BASICS, by Nicole LaMarco

START DATE: August 10, 2009

DURATION: 10 weeks

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This class is for beginning freelance writers or for those who are interested in becoming freelance writers. It includes all of the basics of freelance writing: overviews of the different fields in freelance writing, what is needed to begin, how to store ideas, where to get ideas, how much you should make, where to find clients, and how to get clients.

In this class, I am your writing mentor through every lesson and every assignment. Make some extra money with your writing or create your own full-time freelance career! Learn from my personal stories, information, resources, goals, activities, lessons, and assignments. This class will provide the you with the structure and guidance you need to earn money from your writing. A certification will be given to those who pass the entire class.

COST: $150, which includes email support and feedback from your instructor, weekly assignments, and a FREE ebook, Paying Markets for Writers, (valued at $19.95). Paying Markets for Writers contains direct links to over 1,000 paying publications online! Limit: 25 students. Early registration is recommended.

Visit the Classroom Page for Full Details>>

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PUBLISH THAT BOOK: HOW TO WRITE A NONFICTION BOOK PROPOSAL THAT SELLS by Andrea Campbell

START DATE: September 7, 2009

DURATION: 8 weeks

COURSE DESCRIPTION: 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 other projects. You may even come up with more ideas for more books as you work through this course.

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 the 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.

This course is for intermediate level students. Try to clear your plate of other things that may distract you and be prepared to work hard. If you want results, you will get them but this class involves work and preparation week after week. In this class, you can expect to learn:

  • If your idea is a good one
  • The essential ingredients of a book proposal
  • What the format and overall look of the actual proposal should be
  • How to write your proposal letters and the best markets for your book
  • Why you must exploit your "intellectual capital"
  • The nuts and bolts of the nonfiction book publishing industry


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.

Note: One of her students recently got a "very good deal," and, according to Publisher's Lunch, a $100,000-plus book contract.

COST: $379, which includes access to a private Yahoo! Group, a weekly 1 hour chat, a weekly critique and assessments/corrections done by the instructor. Limit: 10 students. Early registration is recommended.

Visit the Classroom Page for Full Details>>

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AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CRAFT OF SCREENWRITING by Christina Hamlett

START DATE: Start now! One-on-One Instruction.

DURATION: 6 weeks

COURSE DESCRIPTION: 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.

COST: $150, which includes one-on-one support and critiques through email. With the exception of two assignments that need to be sent via U.S. mail, all content and critiques are exchanged by email.

Visit the Classroom Page for Full Details>>

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CREATING A CHARACTER SKETCH by Janie Sullivan

START DATE: Start now! Upon registration, log in to the private blog group and get started on your charted course of learning.

DURATION: 3 weeks

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Developing a character sketch for each character in the story is essential to the success of the story. The writer needs to know who the characters are, what they are thinking, and why they do the things they do in order to make them believable to the reader. This course will teach writers how to develop their characters so their readers will identify with them--whether or not they like them.

COST: $125, which includes access to a private blog group, email support and feedback from your instructor and peers.

Visit the Classroom Page for Full Details>>

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I hope you are as excited about our classes as we are. WOW! Women On Writing ensures that our instructors will work with you one-on-one. In most cases you will receive emailed course materials and assignments, or for those with groups, you will be able to download course materials. Your instructor will give you assignments and personal feedback, and guide you through a charted course of learning. Our instructors are wonderful ladies who go above and beyond to help you achieve your writing goals.

MORE>> 


 Article: Turn Summertime Fun Into Profits
 By Christina Katz

Christina Katz From WOW's Articles Page:

Well, it's summertime and the writing is...maybe not as easy as it was on those gray days during the winter when there wasn't so much sun-shiny competition for your attention. So if you want to get out and play this summer, but you just can't ignore the bottom line, there's only one thing to do: Make your summertime fun pay. Here are six ways to turn your summer fun into writing profits:

Think photo feature
Going on a home tour that features historic or best-decorated houses in your area? Ask the homeowner if you can shoot scouting photos as you go. Best bets are homes owned and designed by local architects, designers and retail shop owners. Then match home style and decor to publications and pitch away. A home decorated in country style might appeal to Country Sampler or Country Living. A bungalow might fit in American Bungalow, a teeny-weeny cottage in The Cottage Life, a condo on the shore for Coastal Living. Visit your local newsstand or search a magazine database like www.magazines.com to find the most likely match.

Turn summer reading into reviews or interviews
Looking forward to catching up on that growing stack of books next to your bed? If the publication date is still current, pitch reviews to appropriate publications, then grab your pencil and sticky notes and dive in. If you're a really big fan--especially if you've already read an author's previous books--pitch an interview or profile with the author as well (but check with the publisher to make sure the author isn't on summer vacation first).

Channel your happy thoughts
Chances are good you will have an increase in warm and fuzzy thoughts after you relax a bit this summer. So after a float in the pool or an afternoon siesta, keep a notebook handy to capture those fleeting butterflies of inspiration. Then send them to Woman's World.

Turn travel setbacks into a how-to article
Okay, so maybe you weren't prepared to break down with a flat tire in the middle of the dessert when it's 110 degrees and you have no water. But after you survive the experience, you will surely have lots of ideas on how to be prepared next time. Jot a list now while the memories are fresh. Then query for possible publication next summer.

Be event-oriented
The key to selling travel pieces is tying it all together for editors. We all love New Orleans at Mardi Gras time, but do we really want to go there in August? Probably not. If you have to go somewhere ghastly hot, visit the chamber of commerce while you're there and pick up the event schedule for the whole year. It will be easier to convince your paper's travel section editor to run your piece, if it ties into a newsworthy event when the weather there is more desirable.

Milk your hobby
Are you a gardener? A bird-watcher? Do you love to go to farmer's markets, flea markets or antique hunting? What you already love is prime material for an article, a series of articles or even a column. It's also a great way to expand what you love into your workweek. An article I wrote about making time for myself, one of my favorite pastimes and one I never get enough of, got my daughter and myself two tickets to N.Y.C. to appear on Good Morning America. Now that's fun.

The great outdoors
Health, exercise and recreation stories are in-demand, which means you can make yourself invaluable to an editor who needs pieces just like yours. Whether you climb Everest or simply stroll the local shores, editors love writers who are familiar with the outdoors and will gladly pay you for your ideas and familiarity. Label a blank folder "recreation" and fill it with possibilities. Think not just summer, but also autumn, winter and spring and then pitch your local newspaper or magazines.

Write-offs, sweet write-offs
Thinking about tax write-offs while you're wandering the streets of that quaint out-of the way town where you stopped for lunch won't happen spontaneously. That's why you need to plan for it. So make stopping at the local library, chamber of commerce, and visitor's center a habit, and grab armloads of regional publications to offer your reprints to when you get home. After you make a sale, you might be able to write off your expenses. So keep a mileage log and all of your receipts and consult your accountant when you get home.

Happy summer fun, everyone!


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Christina Katz is the author of Writer Mama, How To Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids, and Get Known Before The Book Deal: Use Your Personal Strengths To Grow An Author Platform (both: Writer's Digest Books).


Visit the Articles Page>> 


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 WOW! BLOG: THE MUFFIN
 Find out the latest from the Bakers of WOW!

The Muffin Have you checked out what we've been baking for you on the daily Muffin? We've stirred together some traditional ingredients with new ones to deliver more interviews, enlightenment, thought provoking ideas, and inspirational messages to help you through those gray writing days.

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Never Stale! Here's the Latest:

Tuesdays are contest interview days!

If you are interested in writing for our contests, check out the interviews with previous Top 10 winners to find out how they crafted their stories.

Winter '09 Flash Fiction Contest 1st Place Winner: Gay Degani
Interview by Marcia Peterson

Winter '09 Flash Fiction Contest 2nd Place Winner: Theresa Mae Leitch
Interview by Margo L. Dill

Winter '09 Flash Fiction Contest 3rd Place Winner: Kimberly Zook
Interview by LuAnn Schindler

Winter '09 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up: Julie Eger
Interview by Jill Earl

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Blog Posts of Interest:

Elizabeth Kirschner, Author of My Life as a Doll, Launches Her Blog Tour!
Interview by LuAnn Schindler

Elisabeth Kirschner begins her blog tour for her memoir, My Life as a Doll. A survivor's tale about abuse, madness and recovery, this is Elisabeth's fourth book of poetry. In a powerful interview, she talks about her work, her words, and the power of creative expression.

Ann Whitford Paul, author of Writing Picture Books, Launches her Blog Tour!
Interview by Jodi Webb

Have you ever thought you'd like to write a picture book, but don't know where to begin? Check out Ann Whitford Paul's new book, Writing Picture Books. Ann is an award winning author of 17 children's books, and we've got a terrific interview with her. She talks about the changes in children's book publishing, how to get a children's manuscript accepted by a publisher, and offers some great public speaking tips. Note: This blog tour is still going! Check the dates and join in.

Exploring and Finding What You Like In The Process
By Alison Diefenderfer

Alison stumbled into writing, more or less, to keep her mind agile and to provide something to do in between job applications and job searches. Now, it opens a lot of little doors for her and gives her room to try different things.

Author Vs. Writer - What's Your Title?
By LuAnn Schindler

Is there a taxonomy to writer's titles? Is one better than the other? Chime in with your thoughts.

Finding a New Groove
By Carrie Hulce

When big life changes take you away from writing, how do you get your groove back? Carrie explores a new direction, and attempts to find her way back to the writing world.

Social Networking and E-mail: Friend or Foe?
By Margo L. Dill

Watch out for social media and e-mail mistakes. Remember, you are a writer, who is trying to build a platform for your work. You don't want to be in the middle of a controversy and ruin your career!

Writing: Pursue it 110 Percent
By Jill Earl

Do you live and breathe writing? Are you excited when you pick up a pen or turn on the computer, because you're about to do your favorite thing? Jill reminds us that you can't be lukewarm in this business and succeed!

How Americans Talk
By Marcia Peterson

Depending on where you live, you might call your submarine sandwich a "hero" (New York City area), a "hoagie" (New Jersey and Pennsylvania), a "grinder" (New England), or a "Cuban sandwich" (Florida). This kind of information--the words and phrases used in distinct regions of the country--will be included in a new edition of The Dictionary of American Regional English next year.

Now, what was it that I was typing?
By Elizabeth King Humphrey

Elizabeth finds herself chained to her desk, trying to fit in her freelance writing business in the midst of her own kids camp, complete with 8-, 5- and 2-year old children running circles around her. It's a constant battle to find the elusive, amoeba-like balance.

Belief In Yourself: A Valuable Writing Tool
By Chynna Laird

Belief in yourself and what you do is a major component to success. This post has some great suggestions to help you keep up your positive energy!

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Want to contribute to The Muffin?

Friday's are "Speak Out!" days. We allow posts from contributors for promotion. If you'd like to submit a post, please make sure that it's about women and writing.

Your post can be about: writing inspiration, balancing family life/parenting with writing, craft of writing fiction/nonfiction, how-tos, tips for author promotion/marketing/social media, book reviews, writing prompts, special opportunities (paying markets for writers), publishing industry news/gossip, and anything you think our readers will love.

Please make sure that there is take-away value to our readers. No press releases please. We're more interested in hearing from our core audience--personal essays and humorous anecdotes are encouraged as well, as long as they provide something useful to our audience--including a good laugh! ;)

How To Submit: Submit your 250 - 500 word post in the body of your email to our blog editor Marcia Peterson: [email protected]. Upon acceptance, we will ask for your bio, links, bio photo, and any other pics to illustrate the article. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Questions about: PG, Blog Tour Promotion, and Writing for eHow...





From: Debra G.

Email:

Hello WOW! Ladies,

Quick question: I know you sometimes have combined e-zine issues, and I'm interested in joining the Premium-Green, but I'm wondering if those issues are combined as well? Or do you still put out monthly markets newsletter?

Thanks,
Debra


From WOW: Thank you, Debra, for writing in! To answer your question: the Premium-Green Markets newsletter comes out monthly--no matter if the WOW! e-zine has a combined issue or not. It's its own separate deal.

When you subscribe, you'll be able to download all the past issues (there's 20 now), as well as receive a year's worth of issues from when you start.

Thanks so much for the great question! We hope to see you in the group. :)

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From: Sarah

Email:

Dear Angela & Jodi,

I saw the blog post about your book tours on the book cover coaching blog and I'm wondering what else you do for the blog tour (besides managing it) for promotion? I have a memoir coming out in September and am interested in booking a blog tour with WOW & I want to tell my publisher some of the details.

Best,
Sarah

From Angela: Thank you so much, Sarah, for your email. I'm glad you asked! For specific questions, please tell your publicist to email Angela & Jodi at: [email protected]. We would love to chat with her/him.

To answer your question, in general: A benefit of touring with WOW! Women On Writing is reaching our audience of 20,000 + email subscribers. When an author's blog tour launches, we create a dedicated email campaign newsletter announcing her tour, her book information, bio, website, and the blogs she will be visiting.

Many of our subscribers follow along for the whole tour to visit the various participating blogs and to find out more about a particular topic that the author will be discussing that day (which we announce in our e-mail newsletter and on our public Google calendar). It's like following a band on tour, or an author on a book signing tour, but instead of every venue being similar, they all offer something different. The relationship is a mutual benefit to the author and the bloggers alike.

Apart from our direct audience of subscribers, we write a media release with the author's book info, tour dates, and stops, and post it on social network sites (MySpace, Gather, JacketFlap, etc.) to publicize the tour to the general public and reading groups. I've found Gather to be a great place to announce book giveaways--it draws a lot of traffic to the first day of the author's launch.

And occasionally, if the author's book is so new that it doesn't have any book reviews yet, we contract one of WOW's staff writers to read the book and write a tailored book review that is friendly to women readers.

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From: Elizabeth K.

Email:

Hi!

Thanks for your email about eHow! I signed up and started writing! I loved the quote from Maria. Do you have any more tips about writing for them?

Thanks!
Liz (Elizabeth K.)


From WOW: Hi Liz, thanks for writing in! We'll be posting more tips on The Muffin soon about how to write for eHow. In the meantime, here's another tip from Maria O'Brien, expert eHow writer:

"Current eHow articles can increase their article audiences by making each one search engine friendly through keyword research. (Find out what phrases people are Googling and use those in your article.) Another very important tip is to search eHow before writing an article and make sure your title is unique. It makes a big difference. Yes, knowledge of basic search engine optimization (SEO) techniques is important for eHow success." ~ Maria O'Brien (a.k.a. WriterGig)

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Would you like to send a letter to the WOW Editors? We will answer your questions, post your kudos, comments, suggestions, or anything else you have on your mind. Email us at: [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!


 


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In Closing:

We hope that this issue inspires you to enjoy the creative process! No matter what type of writing you are pursuing, take comfort in knowing that you are not alone. We are all on a similar journey at this point and time of our lives. Let's continue to make an effort by sharing our experiences and lending a hand to those just beginning the writing process. Make this month count! And as always, write on!

Warmest,