Greetings!
January is about new beginnings
and fresh starts. It's about taking what
you've learned from the past year and
applying it to your game plan for 2010. Many
of us are breathing a sigh of relief that '09
is officially over--including me! It was a
tough year, and I'm ready for a fresh start.
How about you?
Starting fresh includes ditching bad habits
for good. Sure, there are those ones we
promise ourselves every year we'll
overcome--things like losing weight or
quitting a vice--but as you know, we seldom
stick to strict resolutions. We may be
gung-ho at the start of the year; but after a
few weeks go by, old habits tend to creep
back into place. Instead, I prefer to create
goals and timelines to get things done. These
include positive actions that will help make
my writing career more productive. Last
January, we had an issue dedicated to time.
Highlights included an interview
with Marla Cilley, a.k.a. the FlyLady, on
time management and organization, an interview
with Julie Hood of OrganizedWriter.com on
how to organize your writing at the start of
a new year, and a great article on writing
deadlines by WOW! columnist Marcia
Peterson. If you need help with time
management and goal setting, view the whole
Time
Issue.
So this year we're doing something
different.
We're introducing you to new ideas and
experiments--everything from finding
happiness in 2010 and revamping your
workspace to starting after NaNoWriMo and
syndicating your work! It's a unique issue
filled with lots of great takeaway. I learned
so much just from putting it together. Even
if there's an article that doesn't quite
apply to you right now--like organizing a
writers' conference--there is still so much
you can learn from the wisdom within. You can
even take some of the suggestions and advice
and apply them to another project. Get
resourceful, indulge in the possibilities,
and enjoy the start of a great year for your
writing.
This is your year to
shine!
----------------
A big, warm, thank you goes out to our
freelancers & staff:
We welcome freelancer Beth Cato to the
WOW! family and thank her for her
fantastic article, Beginning
After NaNoWriMo. Now that the holiday
bustle is over, it's time to start thinking
about what to do with your rough draft. Beth
takes the guesswork out of the process and
walks you through the necessary steps you
must take to begin preparing yourself to
edit, revise, and polish your manuscript. She
includes tips for finding support, editing,
and staying motivated. Take it from a
nine-year NaNo veteran! Beth knows her stuff
and can help you get started. Also, be sure
to check out the resource links from the
WOW! editors at the bottom for
specific articles related to the mechanics of
fiction writing and revision. Good luck!
A big thank you goes to WOW! columnist
and contributing editor Margo L. Dill
for her in-depth article on planning
a writing conference. Margo planned the
three-day annual Missouri Writers' Guild
conference--the year after she got married,
no less--and shares what she learned with
you! Whether you are planning a writing
conference, wedding, or event, this article
will provide you with the necessary tools to
get started. Margo includes tips on
budgeting, choosing a venue, obtaining
speakers, organizing committees, finding
volunteers, and much more. This article is
definitely one to bookmark.
Have you ever thought about syndicating your
work? Want to follow in Erma Bombeck's
footsteps? Syndication is a dream for many
writers because it means that you pen an
article and not only get paid for it once,
but get paid many times over while gaining
major exposure in households across the
nation. But how do you do that? We welcome
freelancer Jill Pertler and thank her
for her ultra-informative article, The
Do-It-Yourselfer's Guide to
Self-Syndication. A couple of years
ago, Jill decided to pursue syndicating her
column, "Slices of Life." Through trial and
error, she came up with a fantastic system
for finding newspaper editors, organizing her
address book, sending introduction e-mails
(including a breakdown of what to include
paragraph by paragraph), keeping in contact,
following up, and landing sales. And she
shares this detailed system with you!
Currently, over fifty papers in five states
publish her column, and the numbers are
growing. By following her system, you can do
it too!
On the other side of the newspaper fence
comes a great interview with Holly
Sherburne--editor and publisher of
Downeast Dog News, a niche newspaper
dedicated to dog owners with a circulation
varying between 14,000 and 17,000 copies per
month. We welcome freelancer Carol
Bryant to the WOW! family and
thank her for her interview with Holly on the
Secrets
of Starting a Niche Newspaper
Business. You'll delight in Holly's
business savvy and learn what it takes to
successfully run a local publication. And if
you love dogs, or are a freelancer who writes
for pet publications, this interview is bound
to have your tail wagging! As Carol says,
"Sit, stay, and read on to learn more about
Holly's success and how to apply her
experiences to your own 2010 (and beyond)
goals."
One of the number one goals on the top of
everyone's list is finding happiness. As
women, there are so many things we
juggle--work, family, friends, domestic
responsibilities--but how do we make our own
happiness a priority? We welcome back
freelancer Annette Fix and rejoice as she
finds out the answers to that question in her
20
Questions interview with Gretchen Rubin,
author of The Happiness Project. When I
received an ARC of the book, I immediately
contacted Annette and asked her if she'd
interview Gretchen Rubin for our
January issue. A
big thank you goes to both Annette and
Gretchen for turning it around so quickly!
The
Happiness Project is a book you'll want
to add to your bookshelf immediately, so you
can start making the most of its
month-by-month challenges. Reading this book
will inspire you to start your own happiness
project!
Another project you can do is hold a retreat
with your local writers' group. "There's no
denying how much you can learn and grow as a
writer when you attend a conference or
retreat; but in today's economy, it's hard to
part with the cash it takes to attend. So
what's a cost-conscious writer to do? Why, do
it yourself, of course!" This is the start to
a great article, How
To Run a DIY Writers' Retreat. We
welcome back freelancer Lisa
Tiffin and thank her for giving us all the
tools we need to do-it-ourselves! Lisa shares
her tips on finding the perfect space,
staying on track and being productive,
cost-conscious lunch alternatives, and saving
money on speakers. After reading her article,
I'm inspired to create my own DIY retreat,
and you will be too!
One big goal on my list for 2010 is creating
a truly functional workspace. I make small
improvements throughout the year, every year,
but it's still not as organized as I'd like.
But where do you start, and what things
should you be looking to improve? We welcome
back freelancer Allena Tapia and thank her
for solving this problem! Allena breaks in
our brand new photo essay column with
Office-ially
Fed Up! One Writer's Home Office
Makeover. When she met a local magazine
publisher last spring and he asked if they
could meet at her home office, she panicked
because she new her space wasn't in shape to
welcome clients. From then on, she was on a
mission to give her home office a much-needed
makeover. In her photo essay, Allena bravely
includes before pictures with captions
of the
problems encountered in each photo and
after
pictures with solutions to the problems. She
also shares some tips on ergonomics, meeting
and work space, and organization. If you've
been thinking about improving your home
office, this is a must read!
And last, but not least, I'd like to thank
WOW!'s contributing editors Margo
L. Dill and
Joanne Stacey for making this issue a
joy to
read!
----------------
Winter 2010 Flash Fiction Contest
DEADLINE: February 28, 2010 Midnight,
Pacific Time.
GUEST JUDGE: Literary Agent, Elise
Capron
About Elise: Elise Capron is an agent with
the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency, an
agency known for establishing and guiding the
careers of critically acclaimed fiction and
nonfiction authors, including Amy Tan,
Lisa
See, Maxine Hong Kingston,
Chitra Divakaruni,
Kate White, Diane Mott
Davidson, Luis Urrea,
Janell Cannon, and many others. The Los
Angeles Times dubbed the Dijkstra Agency "the
most powerful literary agency on the West
Coast" and, in its 25+ years, the agency has
developed a reputation for discovering new
talent and representing quality work with
commercial potential.
Elise has been with the Dijkstra Agency since
2003. In addition to her own agenting, she
assists Sandra Dijkstra and handles first
serial sales. She specializes in debut
fiction, character-driven literary and
offbeat fiction, and short story collections.
She is also interested in selected nonfiction
if it has a literary edge. She hopes to find
fiction with unforgettable writing, terrific
narrative voice/tone, and great characters.
Elise loves novels with an unusual or
eccentric edge, and is drawn to stories she
has never heard before. She hopes to work
with writers who are professional, have a
realistic sense of the market, and who are
getting their work published regularly in
literary magazines.
Some of Elise's recent and
soon-to-be-published books include Jonathon
Keats' The Book of the Unknown: Tales of
the Thirty-Six (Random House), Ali
Liebegott's The IHOP Papers (Carroll &
Graf), Peter Plate's Soon the Rest Will
Fall (Seven Stories Press), and Whitney
Lyles' Party Games (Simon Pulse) and
First Comes Love (Berkley).
Find out more about Elise by reading her
interview on WOW! Women On Writing: 20
Questions Answered By Elise Capron.
Visit The Dijkstra Agency's website: http://www.dijkstraagency.com/
This is Elise's second time judging for
us!
She first guest judged for our Summer '08 Flash
Fiction Contest and was one of our most
expedient guest judges to date. You can read
the winning stories she selected here.
We're thrilled to have him as our honorable
guest judge this season!
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!
----------------
Call for Submissions
WOW! is seeking submissions for their
upcoming themes:
March '10 Young Adult Issue: (Deadline for
queries/subs: January 15, 2010)
We're looking for articles on the craft of
writing for a young adult audience. We're
also looking for interviews with YA authors.
Please review our previous children's writing
issues to see which topics we've covered
already:
Children's
Issue Feb '09
Children's
Issue Oct '07
Contributing editor Margo L. Dill will be
guest editing this issue! Margo
will be handpicking the articles and
interviews for this issue as well as writing
the Editor's Desk Welcome, and anything else
she wants to do! We're thrilled to have her
and can't wait to see what she comes up with.
If you are interested in writing for this
issue, please review her detailed
call for submissions on The Muffin.
May '10 Book to Film: (Deadline for
queries/subs: March 15, 2010)
The majority of films are made from books
these days, so using this as a basic premise,
we are dedicating May's issue to all things
related to words and pictures.
Here are some topic ideas for
articles/interviews:
- Interviews with authors of books that were
made into films.
- Interviews with screenwriters who crafted a
screenplay from a book.
- How to write a screenplay--I know, big
topic, but we can start with the basic
structural differences of novel writing vs.
screenwriting and share some tips for
screenwriting.
- Basics of writing a TV pilot.
- How a book gets optioned for a film: how
does it happen, what steps are involved,
including quotes from experts.
- Book trailers: how to create a captivating
book trailer, types of book trailers,
interviews with experts who make book
trailers, places to get them made, how to
market your book trailer and sites that
promote them.
- The YouTube phenomena: how to effectively
use YouTube as an author or freelance writer,
how to make money from YouTube, etc.
Also, 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 26 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!
----------
On to the issue, enjoy!
 |
|
|
20 Questions: Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project
By Annette Fix
Have you ever wanted to be happier in
different aspects of your life? As
women, there are so many things we
juggle--work, family, friends, domestic
responsibilities--but how do we make our own
happiness a priority? Gretchen Rubin asked
herself that same questions and decided to
conduct an experiment, a happiness project.
She chose 12 areas of personal focus to
coincide with each month of the year:
Vitality, Marriage, Work, Parenthood,
Leisure, Friendship, Money, Eternity,
Passion, Mindfulness, Attitude, and
Happiness. Join Annette fix as she chats with
Gretchen and discover how we can be happier
in our own lives!
MORE>>
|
|
|
|
|
Quotes: Writers Share Tips on Goals
From the WOW! archives
It's easy to set writing goals, but sticking
to them is another story! We can all use a
little help or motivation when it comes to
goals, so I did some digging in the
WOW! archives and pulled some useful
quotes on the topic. Maybe something will
resonate with you and help you achieve all
the goals you've set for 2010.
"Set goals that are meaningful to you. It's
not about keeping up with other writers.
There will always be someone who has received
more accolades, achieved greater financial
success, or acquired more publishing credits.
In the end, reaching your writing career
goals should be personally satisfying to
YOU." ~ Annette Fix
"The key: be flexible while accomplishing a
goal." ~ LuAnn Schindler
"Pick two days each week. One for setting
your goals and one for assessing how you did.
A writing goal partner is great at cheering
you along and encouraging you to persevere
when your needle gets stuck. And you'll
probably get a lot more done on that annual
to-do list if you meet your weekly goals." ~
Christina Katz
"Someday is today. The choices we make each
day are what add up to a year-end result.
Think: What could you give up in the next 12
hours to fit in some writing?" ~ Marcia
Peterson
"Whenever I set my sights on a new goal or
challenging task, I study people who have
done something similar and attempt to emulate
what they do." ~ Kelly L. Stone
"Develop both short- and long-term goals. I
like to plan my week and say to myself,
Okay, here's what I would like to
accomplish this week. But it's also
important to have a direction to work toward.
Otherwise, some pieces of work will stay on
the back burner if you don't self-impose
deadlines." ~ LuAnn Schindler
"Look at what your goals are. Determine what
you are willing to do to accomplish your
goals. Then be willing to invest in yourself
and your business to achieve your goals." ~
Kathleen Gage
"If you have several projects and don't know
which one to work on, use the list method.
List the pros and the cons of starting each
project at this time. The right one will
become evident in your list." ~ Patricia
Fry
"We all have choices as to how we live our
lives. I made the choice to look at the
bright side and to see humor in every day
life. I believe in making up a Life Goal
List. When my husband died, I listed ten
things I wanted to accomplish in the time I
have left. I've already achieved eight of
them and had best start adding more goals.
Some were as easy as snorkeling the barrier
reef off Belize and swimming with dolphins.
Others were more esoteric like seeing my name
in lights on Broadway and writing a book. For
me, goals equal dreams." ~ Sherry
Halperin
"In order for use to grow as writers and as
human beings, the rain must fall. See
adversity as an opportunity to wash away old,
ineffective habits, to refresh your goals,
and to nurture your spirit." ~ Kesha
Grant
"Have patience... There are so many factors
that you can't control; yet, these
uncontrollable factors will impact the goal
process by adding to the time line of
accomplishment. Be prepared for delays. Rome
wasn't built in a day!" ~ Tiffani Amber Thiessen
|
|
|
|
|
Premium-Green Writers' Markets: Give Yourself the Ultimate Gift that Gives Back
Jump Start Your Freelance Career this New Year!
Are you tired of markets newsletters
that simply
"list" a bunch of markets without any personal
guidance?
Get the Guide That Helps You Grow Your
Freelance Writing Career!
PREMIUM GREEN MARKETS
The Ultimate Guide for Freelance Women Writers
Will Show You the GREEN!
Premium-Green isn't just market listings,
it's a guide with community benefits. For
only $4 a month, you get a 100+ Page Ebook
delivered to your inbox every month, and
you'll have access to a private community of
women writers just like you!
We know that becoming a freelance writer
takes more than just market listings. You'll
need the opportunity to network with your
peers and have a support system to help you reach
your goals. And that's exactly what your
Premium-Green Markets Subscription will do.
Here's what you get when you subscribe to
PREMIUM GREEN:
- Monthly 100+ page ebook in friendly
PDF format: Easy to print, easy to save.
No need for storing emails to find links and
articles you missed!
- Articles to grow your Freelance
Career: These are articles not found
anywhere else: More than Your Magic 8-Ball,
I.T.T. In the Trenches, Tips & Tricks, Meet
Your Mentor, Get Writing Mamas!, Project
Workbook, and more...
- Access to the PG Subscribers
Group: Network with your peers through
the Google list-serve, post
discussions, ask questions, and receive
insider tips.
- Documents for PG Subscribers:
Upload, download, and share content with
the group. We put up f*r*e*e* articles,
contracts, and ebooks for the group each
month, so take advantage!
- First Calls from WOW!: We
give you
immediate calls for what we need on the spot
(or when we're in a crunch) to fill each
issue. Get on the ground level and write for
us!
- Pink & Green: Find women's markets
only, and get insight from the editors and
what their needs are right now.
- Markets, markets, and more
markets. We provide markets for all
aspects of freelancing. One example is,
"Niche Quiche," which includes greeting card
markets, slogans, and anything you can write
in a few words and get paid! Check
out our markets
page for more details.
Earn the money you deserve, and get a real
support team
that will help you grow your freelance
career.
Join Now and Download all 26 Premium-Green
ebooks Instantly!
The subscription price is $48 a
year, which is $4 per month. We want to
support
you!
Let's make this a
banner year for all women writers. We can
only do it by helping each other and creating
a strong network and community for ourselves.
Together, we can do it!
VISIT THE MARKETS PAGE >>
|
|
|
|
|
New Classes for the New Year! WOW! Women On Writing Workshops & Classes
invest in yourself, write now
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):
FINDING YOUR WRITER'S VOICE by Alison
Dubois
START DATE: January 18, 2010
DURATION: 6 weeks
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Before you start
trying to write, you should find your
voice and the way to perfect it. Perfecting
your voice can mean the difference between
selling your next article or story idea or
that idea remaining in the editor's slush
pile.
Let's face it. There are literally millions
of writers out there but the ones we remember
are the ones that stand out. They stand out
because they have made an impression on us.
And it is their voice that has
impressed us.
Think about your favorite book or books. What
is it about that book, that writer, you love
so much? Now ask yourself, would you have
gotten it if it had been written by someone
else? Would you love it as much? Hold it as
dear?
If you are being honest, the truth would
probably be no. You can always find other
writers but you cannot find another
Jacqueline Susann, J.K. Rowling or Laurrel K.
Hamilton. These writers have become icons
because their voice etches an indelible
marker in the blueprint of our memories.
Throughout the class I will be your guide,
helping you through exercises and instruction
to help unlock your unique writer's voice.
Limit: 10 students
VISIT
THE CLASSROOM PAGE FOR DETAILS>>
----------
ADVANCED WRITING FOR MAGAZINES by
Linda DiProperzio
START DATE: February 1, 2010
DURATION: 8 weeks
COURSE DESCRIPTION: If you've already
taken an intro to magazine writing class--and
have even had a few of your pieces
published--this course can bring you to the
next level. Not only do I share my real life
experience as a freelance writer and editor
with my students, but I also offer valuable
feedback on all assignments and ideas. My
previous students have been published in such
national publications as Redbook, In Touch,
Woman's World, Cooking Light, Prevention.com,
Vibe, and Ladies' Home Journal.
Limit: 10-15 students
VISIT
THE CLASSROOM PAGE FOR DETAILS>>
----------
SOCIAL NETWORKING FOR AUTHORS: Twitter,
Facebook, LinkedIn, and more! by
Margo L. Dill
START DATE: February 22, 2010
DURATION: 4 weeks
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This class will
teach writers how to use Twitter, Facebook,
LinkedIn, and other social networking sites
such as Shelfari or JacketFlap (students'
choice) to network; to build a loyal
following of fans; to start working on a
brand/image; and to promote books, articles,
magazines, and blogs. Instead of using
Facebook and Twitter to write about your
fabulous dinner or disastrous day at the
grocery store, you will learn to sell
yourslef and your writing!
Limit: 20 students
VISIT
THE CLASSROOM PAGE FOR DETAILS>>
--------------------
SEE YOU AT THE MOVIES: AN INTRODUCTION TO
THE CRAFT OF SCREENWRITING by
Christina Hamlett
START DATE: February 22, 2010
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.
Limit: 10 students
VISIT
THE CLASSROOM PAGE FOR DETAILS>>
--------------------
ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE: AN INTRODUCTION
TO PLAYWRITING by
Christina Hamlett
START DATE: February 22, 2010
DURATION: 6 weeks
COURSE DESCRIPTION: 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 a 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.
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.
Limit: 10 students
VISIT
THE CLASSROOM PAGE FOR DETAILS>>
--------------------
GET PAID TO WRITE: BECOME A FREELANCE
WRITER! by
Nicole LaMarco
START DATE: March 9, 2010
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
Get Paid to Write. A certification will be
given to those who pass the entire class.
Limit: 25 students
VISIT
THE CLASSROOM PAGE FOR DETAILS>>
--------------------
Star the New Year off right! 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>>
|
|
|
|
|
WOW! BLOG: THE MUFFIN
Find out the latest from the Bakers of WOW!
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.
----------
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.
Summer
'09 Flash Fiction Contest 2nd Place Winner:
Noah Pedrini
Interview by Margo L. Dill
Summer
'09 Flash Fiction Contest 3rd Place Winner:
Rebecca Gomez Farrell
Interview by LuAnn Schindler
Summer
'09 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up:
Lori Lyn Greenstone
Interview by Anne Greenawalt
Summer
'09 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up: Amanda
Pettit
Interview by Marcia Peterson
Summer
'09 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up: Evelyn
Addison Ray
Interview by Jill Earl
----------
Blog Posts of Interest:
Chynna
Laird, Author of Not Just Spirited,
Launches Her Blog Tour!
Interview by Jodi Webb
Join us for Chynna Laird's blog tour for her
book, Not
Just Spirited: A Mom's Sensational Journey
With Sensory Processing Disorder
(SPD). In this inspirational
interview, Chynna shares the details of her
family's journey, her process of memoir
writing, as well as the difficulties of
writing a memoir that includes young
children. 31 comments! There are a few
more stops
to go on this tour, check it out! Check
the dates and join in.
Setting
Up a Schedule for Daily Blogging
By Margo L. Dill
When you're starting a blog, you probably
have the best intentions of blogging every
day. And at first, blogging is so much fun!
You share your opinions and thoughts on a
subject you know about, you receive a few
comments, and you're hooked. Then comes month
three and four, and blogging has lost its
newness. Margo's post offers a jolt of
inspiration and some practical advice.
Looking
Ahead to 2010
By Chynna Laird
Chynna shares her Top Ten Writing Goals for
2010. Get inspired by her list, and share
your own!
Should
Tiger Woods' Wife Elin Write a Tell-All?
By Angela Mackintosh
The minute a scandal breaks, editors at major
publishing houses frantically try to contact
the involved parties or find writers to
author books on the subject. In this post, we
ask what you think of celebrity tell-all
books. Are they a waste of time or useful
information? If Elin decides to write a
tell-all, would you read it?
Maintain
Motivation in 2010
By LuAnn Schindler
Sometimes, it takes a village to raise a
writer. Consider these four tips to keep
inspired during the next 365 days.
A
Review of A Change in Altitude by
Anita Shreve
By Jill Earl
Jill discovers a growing appreciation for
books that offer a challenging read. Check
out her review of Anita Shreve's latest
novel.
Premium
Green: A Supportive Network and Markets
Galore!
By Margo L. Dill
WOW's Premium-Green isn't just market
listings, it's a guide with community
benefits. Check out an actual example of a
recent PG discussion, which shows how you can
find support on the PG boards and
knowledgeable freelancers working in the
field. If you have a question or problem,
chances are someone from Premium-Green can
answer it or knows someone who can.
List
of Movies Made from Books in 2009
By Angela Mackintosh
As you're going to the movies with your
family or watching a good flick at home,
remember that a writer just like you
probably had a hand in the film you're
watching. Some of them are obvious, like
Julie & Julia, for instance, but
others may surprise you. See how many you can
pick out!
As
a writer, what battles are you fighting?
By Elizabeth King Humphrey
Do you ever read someone's work and wonder
about how many drafts it took to get to the
rough or smooth finish the author was after?
Do you ever wonder what "battles" needed to
be fought in order to achieve the effortless
read you enjoyed? An interesting musing
prompted by a quote from a famous
painter.
In
the Market for Food Writing?
By Jill Earl
If you're in the market to pursue food
writing, check out some new places to submit
your work. They just might be the recipe
needed for a new direction in your writing
this year.
Beating
Writer's Block
By LuAnn Schindler
Stuck in a rut and unsure of how to get the
creative muses to delight you once again? Try
these surefire sensory tips that will let the
words flow.
Self-Publish
or Not? Advice from Joy Wooderson
Interview by Margo L. Dill
Many writers have this goal on their 2010
list: "Find an agent or publisher for my
novel." Joy had this same goal one year after
working on her memoir for eight years. As
you'll hear in her own words, she'll tell you
why she decided to self-publish her book.
Marketing
Self-Published Books: More Advice from Joy
Wooderson
Interview by Margo L. Dill
Joy discusses how she is marketing her
self-published book. As we all know, whether
you self-publish your book or publish at a
small or large house, the marketing falls on
the author. Get some tips from Joy and
enjoy!
Learn
to Write for Children: Tips from Margo
Dill
Interview by Angela Mackintosh
It must be so rewarding to reach out and
entertain a child through your writing. But
how do you break into the market? Margo
shares some tips on writing for the market
and the differences between writing for
children and adults.
Still
Time to Set Resolutions
By LuAnn Schindler
We're not quite half way into the first month
of the new year, so if you haven't taken time
yet to develop a list of writing goals, don't
worry. There's still time. But instead of
procrastinating (do writers do that?), take a
good look at what you accomplished last year
and where you want to direct your energies
this year. Unsure where to start? Follow
LuAnn's ideas to pump up your productivity
for 2010 and create your own!
-----------
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: marcia@wow-womenonwriting.com.
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!
-----------
Want to get blog posts via email?
Subscribe
to The Muffin with Feedburner and get the
latest delivered straight to your inbox.
Visit The Muffin >>
|
|
In Closing:
We hope this issue will encourage you to make
a fresh start and begin something new this
year. January is the perfect time for writers
to make a game plan for the months ahead. If
you haven't done so already, take a moment to
make a list of your writing goals, your
personal goals, and put your plan into
action. This is your year to shine!
Happy writing!
|
