DIY Warriors!
I've always been a do-it-yourself kind of gal. I sew buttons and hem trousers, make pizza dough from scratch, and preserve produce at the peak of its season--not because canning has recently made a comeback, but because it brings me joy. I've explored my craftier side by making journals and lamps, purses and placemats. I even created an e-zine for women writers when I couldn't find the advice I needed online. It's been that way with many pursuits--if I can't find what I need, I'll make it. If I can't find someone else to do it, I'll do it myself.
As writers, I think we have that independent spirit ingrained in us. We're used to solving problems on the page and creating something from nothing. We seclude ourselves for hours on end, so we can craft our own beautiful, moving, or disturbing worlds. We take in all the writing advice available to us and produce a piece as polished and as real as we can possibly imagine at the moment--until it gets critiqued and reworked into a stronger version. And when we finally get close to finishing our masterpiece, we start thinking about what we are going to do with it. Submit it to a small press? Query an agent? Aim for the Big Six? Pay for a subsidy/vanity publisher? Or DIY and self-publish? It's a lot to think about!
Ultimately, only you can make the initial decision of which path to pursue. And each path has its own unique set of challenges. Some writers I know have always known that traditional publishing was for them. The dream of a New York agent and a Big Six publishing house was something they couldn't shake. But sometimes the market has a different idea of what's on trend; and after years of waiting for an agent to sell their finely-crafted and edited manuscript, they get fed up and decide to get their book into the hands of readers by self-publishing. And then there are those that know they want to self-publish from the start. Maybe they want a bigger piece of the pie and ultimate control over their project. But both quickly realize that there is a steep learning curve ahead of them. There are many things to consider: editing, cover design, interior layout, e-book formatting, ISBNs, copyright, printing, distribution, sales, taxes, and marketing.
Unlike making your own jam and canning fruits and vegetables, do-it-yourself does not mean alone. Just like a writer needs a writing group to help polish her work, those who decide to self-publish need help, too. But which parts do you decide to do yourself and which do you contract? What types of book editors are there and what do they do exactly? What about copyright laws and protecting your book when becoming a self-publisher? How do you create a book cover that helps sell books? Can you write your book a blog post at a time to create a platform? Should you sell e-books on your blog? How can you get the most bang for your marketing buck? How can you track book sales in real time?
This issue answers all those questions and more. We want you to know what's in store if you choose to self-publish; and we want to give you some tools to make the process easier and more efficient. This DIY/Self-Publishing Guide will help you get started. We will also be discussing DIY publishing topics and answering questions throughout the month on our Facebook Page. So saddle up and join us, as we explore the wild world of do-it-yourself publishing!
Visit the editor's desk for thank yous . . .
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Issue Sponsors:
We handpick sponsors that we think will be of interest to WOW! readers.
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Make Your Own Luck: A Remy Summer Woods Mystery
Make Your Own Luck is the unforgettable and moving novel of a young attorney who refuses to believe thirteen-year-old Bonita Pickney killed her father, Patrick Pickney, despite her insistence of guilt. Remy risks her relationship with her own father and her life to prove Bonita's innocence. Along with learning what really happened the night Patrick was murdered, Remy discovers hard truths about her family and herself.
"Make Your Own Luck is one thriller readers will not want to miss. It is filled with action and suspense on every page. The characters are well-created and believable. The plot proceeds with hair-raising suspense, twists and turns everywhere. It is a first-rate mystery thriller." ~ Readers Favorite
"In Lewis' new mystery, a Florida attorney investigating a murder stumbles into a mess.�The book's intelligent storyline makes good use of its strong sense of setting, as plot twists abound amid nonstop action. The book is briskly paced." ~ Kirkus Reviews�
"Make Your Own Luck grabs you from page one and�never lets go. Lewis is a practicing attorney who clearly knows the ins and outs of the�criminal justice system.�She knows people too. Her characters are real in�all their complexities and contradictions. Hang on�for a rewarding read!" ~ Joe Teller, author of the Jaywalker series
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Joanne Lewis makes her living as an attorney and follows her dreams as a writer. She is the author of an award-winning novel called Wicked Good, which she co-wrote with her sister. She is also the author of Make Your Own Luck, a Remy Summer Woods Mystery and The Lantern, a Renaissance Mystery (release date November 2012), as well as other novels and novellas. Please visit Joanne's website at www.joannelewiswrites.com. You can e-mail Joanne at jtawnylewis@gmail.com.
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Make Your Own Luck is available in paperback at Amazon. We highly recommend it!
Read our review of the book, plus our interview with Joanne Lewis on The Muffin.
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Want to publish a bestseller? Hire an editor who has.
USA Today bestselling author Cara Lockwood can help you work toward your goal of becoming a bestselling author. She can improve your manuscript and sharpen your work with insightful editing and copy proofing.
Mention WOW! Women On Writing for 25% Off your first purchase by e-mailing Cara at info@edit-my-novel.com. You can also request a free sample 1-page edit (500 words) by e-mailing her.
Find out more about Cara and her services by visiting her website: www.edit-my-novel.com.
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A Whole New Publishing Option for Women: She Writes Press
She Writes Press is an independent publishing company for women writers. We are a pay-for-service press that is both mission-driven and community-oriented, aiming to serve writers who wish to maintain greater ownership and control of their projects while still getting the highest quality editorial help possible for their work. If you publish with She Writes Press, you will work with editors passionate about writers and writing, many of whom are writers themselves.
Become a She Writes Press author. Submit your proposal today! Visit www.shewritespress.com.
[Also, read WOW's interview with Brooke Warner on The Muffin.]
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Feedback for Your Writing
At FanStory you can get feedback on your writing. Learn from feedback that will be written on everything you write. Enter writing contests with cash prizes. Fun poetry contests with cash prizes. FanStory has been helping writers improve since the year 2000.�
Visit www.fanstory.com.
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Write Children's Books: Learn to write what children's editors want to publish
If you've ever dreamed of writing for children, and creating stories and books that get published, here's your best chance to learn what it takes to convert that writing dream into a bright reality.
If you qualify, one of our nationally published writer/instructors will be your personal mentor on every assignment and teach you how to write the kinds of manuscripts that editors are looking for.
Take an aptitude test and see if you qualify!
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If you'd like to be featured in this section, please contact us about our special advertising rates and discounts that aren't reflected in our media kit.
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Announcements:
We added a new section to this newsletter to highlight you! Be sure to check out the "Success Stories" feature below. If you have a success you'd like to share with fellow WOW! subscribers, please post your story on our Facebook page in the Notes section. We might just pick you to highlight in this newsletter. More details on that below.
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Summer 2012 Flash Fiction Contest
Last month to enter!
DEADLINE: August 31, 2012 Midnight,
Pacific Time.
GUEST JUDGE: Marie Lamba, Literary Agent at the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency
About Marie: Marie Lamba (www.marielamba.com) is author of the young adult novels What I Meant... (Random House), Over My Head and Drawn. Her work appears in the short story anthology Liar Liar (Mendacity Press), the anthology Call Me Okaasan: Adventures in Multicultural Mothering (Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing), and her articles are in more than 100 publications including national magazines such as Writer's Digest, Garden Design and RWR. She has worked as an editor, an award-winning public relations writer, and a book publicist, has taught classes on novel writing and on author promotion, and belongs to the Romance Writers of America, and The Liars Club.
As an agent, Marie is currently looking for young adult and middle grade fiction, along with general and women's fiction and some memoir. Books that are moving and/or hilarious are especially welcome. She is NOT interested in picture books, science fiction or high fantasy (though she is open to paranormal elements), category romance (though romantic elements are welcomed), non-fiction, or in books that feature graphic violence.
Some recently favorite titles on her reading shelf include Searching for Caleb by Anne Tyler, Just Listen by Sarah Dessen, Paper Towns by John Green, The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffeneger, Twenties Girl by Sophia Kinsella, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, Shug by Jenny Han, and Doing It by Melvin Burgess. She also admits to watching many many chick flicks.
Please email a query to marie.jdlit@gmail.com. Put "Query" in the subject line of your email, and please send the first twenty pages in the body of your email, along with a one-paragraph bio and a one-paragraph synopsis.
To learn more about The Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency, please visit www.jdlit.com.
To find out more about Marie, please visit her author website www.marielamba.com. You can also follow her on Twitter, like her on Facebook, and connect with her on LinkedIn.
PROMPT: Open Prompt
WORD COUNT: 750 Max; 250 Min
LIMIT: 300 Entries
Don't wait until the last minute! Enter
Today. Visit the Contest
Page and download our terms &
conditions e-book. Good luck!
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Calls for Queries/Submissions:
The Gatekeepers: Agents & Editors
Issue 54: November/December
Deadline for queries: August 22, 2012
This will be an interesting theme! We will see where we are (and how publishers are faring) at the end of this year. We're specifically looking for interviews with agents and editors. We're interested in industry topics, how to submit/write for articles, and any other creative ideas you can think of. (Note: we are about half full.)
A New Year, A Fresh Take: Editing & Revision
Issue 55: January 2013
Deadline for queries: September 25, 2012
This should be a fantastic issue full of tips and advice on how to edit both fiction and nonfiction manuscripts. Writers and editors: we want to hear from you!
You can review our submission guidelines on our Contact
Page (scroll to the bottom under "Submissions") for info on how to submit. Pay rate is $50 - $150 per article. Also, please make sure you view the blog post above for all of our themes and how to query. We look forward to hearing from you!
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On to the issue . . . Enjoy!
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The Energizing Spirit of Transition: Divergent Paths to Publication
By Kathy Higgs-Coulthard
Recently, I heard about Nan Cappo, an author who decided to break off on her own after being traditionally published. As a writer who has spent several years chasing the Holy Grail of traditional publication, I found it intriguing that anyone who had attained it would choose to walk away. Her choice made me question everything I thought I knew about publishing. My husband would be the first to tell you I can be a bit resistant to change; but soon after I heard about Nan, I stumbled across a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Beauty is the moment of transition." This idea, appearing right on the tail of my conversation with Nan, seemed serendipitous. Maybe there is no Holy Grail, but many paths to publication.
Kathy Higgs-Coulthard interviews four authors--Nan Cappo, Bryan Chick, Susan Kaye Quinn, and S.R. Johannes--who have successfully made the transition from traditional publishing to self-publishing (or vice versa) to help you decide which path to publication is right for you.
MORE >>
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Getting the Most Bang for Your Marketing Buck: Strategies that Word with Today's Readers
By Margo L. Dill
Marketing a book has definitely fallen into the hands of the author. Everywhere you turn in cyberspace, you'll find an author promoting her books-from creating business pages on Facebook and tweeting with hashtags on Twitter to freebies on Amazon and giveaways on Goodreads. The days of traditional book signings are becoming fewer and fewer, as authors create new opportunities to attract loyal readers online or during presentations in classes and at workshops.
But all of these marketing ploys have to cost some bucks, right? Margo L. Dill interviews eight successful authors--Megg Jensen, Cheri Lasota, Darci Pattison, Ruth Hartman, C. Hope Clark, Melissa Ann Goodwin, Suzanne Lieurance, and Chynna Laird--who share which marketing strategies they thought were worth the money spent, which free ones worked the best, and which should find authors running the other way.
MORE>>
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Spring 2012 Flash Fiction Contest Winners Announced!
Drum roll . . .
Congratulations goes to everyone who entered the Spring '12 Flash Fiction Contest. All of your entries were incredible this round, and our esteemed guest judge, literary agent Regina Brooks, did not have an easy job! But with her expertise, she dutifully picked the winners, and we thank Regina!
All of the stories this season were interesting in their own way. It was hard to narrow down the entries to the Top 20 and then the Top 10. All the stories were superlative in subject, content, and style--it really came down to technical aspects and the guest judge's personal choice of which ones made it into the Top 10.
I know you've all been waiting very patiently, so here's the results!
- 1st Place Winner: Just a Number by Dale Sakamoto, Mission Viejo, California
- 2nd Place Winner: The Burden of Living by Lindsey Dryden, Greenville, South Carolina
- 3rd Place Winner: The Event by Sarah Welty, Calhoun, Georgia
7 Runners Up (in no particular order):
-- Blood on Gardenias by Courtney Towery Tucker, Madison, Mississippi
-- The Tetsubin by Linda Chubbuck, West Palm Beach, Florida
-- Mara Cranberry by Lindsey Dryden, Greenville South Carolina
-- Rousseau by Amanda Linsmeier, Reedville, Wisconsin
-- Daddy's List by Harriet Parke, Apollo, Pennsylvania
-- Faceless by Jennifer Baker, Jamaica Estates, New York
-- Dirty Laundry by Patti Cavaliere, East Haven, Connecticut
Read the Top 10 Winners' stories in our contest feature!
10 Honorable Mentions (in no particular order):
-- Tomatoes for Dinner by Juliann Sullivan, Worcester, Massachusetts
-- Helen of Troy by Joan Koster, Whitney Point, New York
-- The Old Red Barn by k. j. w. wilyums, Hempstead, New York
-- Illusions by Elizah Flores, Austin, Texas
-- Instructor Biography by Emily Einolander, Lompoc, California
-- Promenade by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo, Tempe, Arizona
-- Lula Moss by Rebecca Rose (Mooradian) Moody, Nantes, FRANCE
-- Styx and Stones by Eugenia A. Parrish, Lake Elsinore, CA
-- Noon by Susanne Petito-Egielski, Little Neck, New York
-- On Fire by Barbara Baker, Calgary, Alberta, CANADA
Congratulations goes out to all the winners! And congrats to everyone who hit the send button--we know it's not easy, but each season provides a rebirth of opportunity!
Notes: if you purchased a critique for the Spring '12 contest, you will receive it this week. They are being sent out one at a time from our contest manager. If you haven't received your critique in a couple of weeks max (make sure you check your bulk mail), please send an e-mail to anne[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com, and she'll resend. Prizes: all prizes this season are digital, so we will be sending gift cards and cash prizes electronically this week. Thank you!
MORE>>
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Success Stories!
Success Stories from WOW's Facebook Fans
Congratulations to all our Facebook fans on their successes this month!
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"At just five years, my eldest son was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Desperate to help him learn strategies to manage his worry thoughts, I wrote and illustrated two children's books: Go Away, Mr Worrythoughts! and Happythoughts are Everywhere. My business, Happy Hero, is the publisher of my books and other resources eagerly sought after by parents, teachers, and mental health agencies and professionals. The success of my books is nothing short of phenomenal, having sold over 10,800 printed copies, 1000 resource kits, and still going strong. I am currently writing another children's book, also aimed at helping little worriers; and as an advocate in children's mental health, I am active in speaking presentations at conferences, workshops, school visits, and support groups."
~ Nicky Johnston
www.happyhero.com.au
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"For a writer, it is one thing to write stories but quite another to write stories that make an impact in the community and help push for causes that one believes in. I recently broke a story about a young Filipina ballerina who won first prize at the prestigious Helsinki International Ballet Competition, which came at the heels of the losses of Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao and half-Filipino, half-Mexican Jessica Sanchez (American Idol). Before this story broke, people hardly cared about arts and culture, much less ballet, in the country. After this story, the young ballerina gained a lot of attention and support from the community. People are now calling on the government to support the arts. In a world that is increasingly becoming mechanical and de-humanized, art becomes an important tool to reconnect with our creative, human side. Here is the story: http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/6691-filipina-wins-first-prize-at-prestigious-ballet-tilt"
~ Ni�a Terol-Zialcita
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My novel, A New Life, was chosen as a semi-finalist in The Kindle Book Review's Best Indie Books of 2012 contest! I'm so thrilled!
~ Beate Boeker
http://thekindlebookreview.blogspot.com/p/ya-semifinalists.html
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"If you've been following the weather and the news globally, you know that our earth is in trouble. My final book in the Dawn's End trilogy tackles this subject. If you could escape our dying planet, who would you take with you? What would you do to survive? Soon to be released by Noble Young Adult, Dawn's End Outworld Apocalypse. I want to connect with young adult readers, writers, or reviewers. Please check me out on Facebook, and click LIKE to keep in touch."
~ Bonnie Ferrante
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bonnie-Ferrante/
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"I am a former journalist turned freelance writer. Four months ago, I started writing for a business to business publication in Springfield, IL. The Springfield Business Journal is recognized as a leading publication in this area. When I met with the editor and publisher, the editor told me I nailed the gig thanks to my writing credits. She assigns me the tough stories because I've proven myself in four short months."
~ Roberta Codemo
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Would you like to be featured in this section?
We want to hear your success stories! Have you signed with an agent or publisher? Has your self-published e-book become an Amazon Bestseller? Have you placed in a writing contest? Has your blog won an award? Did you sell an article to a magazine or newspaper? Whatever it is, we would like to hear about your success to share with fans on our Facebook page. We may even publish your story in this e-newsletter that goes out to over 30,000 subscribers! All you have to do is go to the NOTES app on WOW's Facebook page. Then find the note that says SUCCESS STORIES. Finally, leave your success in 100 words or less. Make sure you include your full name (first and last) under your success story. Please leave any links that make sense with your story. Let's hear it straight from you...
Join the Fun! Visit WOW's Facebook Page and Click LIKE>>
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WOW! Women On Writing Workshops & Classes
Finish the year strong. Get writing!
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):
Starts every Friday:
INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING: The Definitive Course On Achieving Self-Publishing Excellence and Profitability by Deana Riddle
Starts the First Tuesday of Every Month:
SEE YOU AT THE MOVIES: An Introduction to the Craft of Screenwriting by Christina Hamlett
ALL THE WORLDS A STAGE: An Introduction to Playwriting by Christina Hamlett
HOW TO WRITE A TV PILOT: An Introduction to the Craft of Creating a TV Show by Christina Hamlett
Starts the Third Friday of Every Month:
GET PAID TO WRITE: Become a Freelance Writer! by Nicky LaMarco
Published in 90 Days by Deana Riddle
August 13, 2012
ADVANCED SOCIAL NETWORKING FOR WRITERS: Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn by Margo L. Dill
August 23, 2012
ADVANCED CLASS: WRITING A MIDDLE-GRADE NOVEL PART 2 by Margo L. Dill
September 3, 2012
EMPOWER YOUR MUSE, EMPOWER YOUR WRITING SELF by Kelly Stone
September 5, 2012
MURDER, WE'LL WRITE: AN INTRODUCTION TO CRIME FICTION NEW! by Bonnie Hearn Hill
VAMPIRES OPTIONAL: WRITING YOUNG ADULT FICTION by Bonnie Hearn Hill
THE UNWILLING GRAMMARIAN by Karlyn Thayer
September 7, 2012
WRITING A MIDDLE-GRADE NOVEL by Margo L. Dill
September 17, 2012
BEGINNING SOCIAL NETWORKING FOR WRITERS: TWITTER, FACEBOOK, And LINKEDIN! by Margo L. Dill
CREATING AND BUILDING YOUR AUTHOR ONLINE PRESENCE: WEBSITE CREATION TO BEYOND BOOK SALES NEW! by Karen Cioffi
September 21, 2012
CHARACTER POWER! CRAFTING DYNAMIC CHARACTERS WITHIN FICTION AND NONFICTION NEW! by Melanie Faith
September 26, 2012
WRITING CONTESTS: THE FOCUSED WAY TO WIN NEW! by Bonnie Hearn Hill
October 1, 2012
WRITING YOUR NOVEL FROM THE GROUND UP--In Three Parts NEW! by Diane O'Connell and Renate Reimann, PhD
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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.
VISIT THE CLASSROOM PAGE FOR COMPLETE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS>>
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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.
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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 2012 Flash Fiction Second Place Winner: Dan Gemmer
Interview by Margo Dill
Winter 2012 Third Place Winner: Shannon Lori Parker
Interview by LuAnn Schindler
Winter 2012 Flash Fiction Runner Up: Joyce Finn
Interview by Anne Greenawalt
Winter 2012 Flash Fiction Runner Up: Jennifer Flueckiger
Interview by Robyn Chausse
Winter 2012 Flash Fiction Runner Up: Amy Lewis
Interview by Marcia Peterson
Winter 2012 Flash Fiction Runner Up: Anna Venishnick Shomsky
Interview by Margo Dill
Winter 2012 Flash Fiction Runner Up: JC Sullivan
Interview by Anne Greenawalt
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Blog Posts of Interest:
Interviewing Expert Sources
By Sue Bradford Edwards
You probably already know that editors want you to use the latest and greatest sources in your research. Primary sources in particular catch their attention. One of the best primary sources around is the expert interview.
How Much Does It Really Cost to Self-Publish?
By Deana Riddle
For those who decide to self-publish for the first time, the first question is usually about the cost. An understandable question, but one that's hard to answer in a conclusive way. It is like asking how much it would cost to buy a home.
When a Great Idea Isn't Great Enough
By Cathy C. Hall
There are a few freelance markets I regularly consider, and WOW! Women-on-Writing is one of my favorites. So when I read about the topic for an upcoming issue, I let it rumble around in my brain for a while. And my brain eventually spit out a couple ideas for an article. But my brain also spit out a "Not so fast, sister."
Need to Rekindle the Spark? Tips for Staying Creative
By LuAnn Schindler
At some point, we all need a creative boost. We slide into a routine, thinking the work we produce is good enough, and then BAM! The creative brain waves halt. Know the feeling? C'mon, raise your hands, because it's happened to you, too. (Check out Part 2 and Part 3 for tips, too!)
Is there a Writing Process?
By Darcy Pattison
In a startling report, scientists declare that there is no "scientific method." Scientists do not strictly follow a process in their exploration of the natural world because some experiments may be too expensive, too difficult for current technology, unethical, or various other problems. In fact, the report asserts that some scientists just disrupt a system to see what happens: curiosity wins the day.
Advertising on Facebook
By Margo Dill
You've probably heard on the news that Facebook has made Mark Zuckerberg a ton of money. I used to always wonder HOW? I mean it was free to sign up for an account--for personal and business reasons--free to play a lot of the games and chat with friends. SO, how did he make money?
Find a Writing Support Buddy and Expand Your Writing
By Elizabeth King Humphrey
Do you have a writing support buddy? If not, you might want to consider it as another way to expand your writing. There are several ways you can have a writing friend help you focus and expand your writing.
Middle of the Year Mulling
By Cathy C. Hall
It's a good time to thoughtfully consider where your writing is right now, where you want to end up, and what you must do to get there by the end of 2012. And after you've done all that thinking (and please remember to write down the important stuff!), give yourself a pat on the back. And while you're at it, give yourself another cool drink, one with a little umbrella in it.
What I'm Learning About the "M" Word: Marketing
By Chynna Laird
I realized something very important this week. Just because I have a few books out there doesn't mean readers are finding them. Why? Because I haven't been doing my job at letting them know they're out there.
Writing with the Kids Home
By Elizabeth Humphrey
As summer temperatures heat up, some writers heat up as well, typing like mad until they have to go back to their day jobs as teachers. Yet there are many other writers whose writing comes to a halt because they are Moms. Maybe it's because my family needs my income. I've never said, "I can't write because the kids are home."
Liking Authors
By Cathy C. Hall
Should you click those "Like" buttons on Amazon? What about Author Pages on Amazon? Does it really help our author friends? Weigh in!
How to Create a Different Kind of Antagonist
By Sue Bradford Edwards
The best villain for your story may not be a moustache twirling bad boy. After all, moustache wax is a tad out of fashion. Take a look at this list and see what other options may fit your next work in progress.
Want to Break Into Medical Writing? Interview with Medical Writer Nancy Monson
By Rosrin Wuithiran
Award-winning medical writer Nancy Monson has been writing professionally for the past 20 years. Writing for both consumers and medical professionals, she has covered medical topics for websites, videos, blogs, and more. WOW interviews Nancy about the various types of medical writing a freelancer can do, finding resources, and how to break into the market.
Family vs. Blog: When Do We Overshare?
By LuAnn Schindler
I'm a writer. I write. And, like many writers, the spotlight shines (sometimes) too brightly on my family and their experiences. After all, writers are told to "write what we know" and what or who do I know better than my family. But as my brood grows older, they do not necessarily like their 15 minutes of fame in one of mom's articles or poems or columns. What's a writer mama or grandma to do? How do you find balance between sharing a life lesson or a hearty laugh from one you love and oversharing, risking their embarrassment? Is it an invasion of their privacy?
A Writer's Pet Peeve: Books, Blogs, and Social Media
By Margo L. Dill
Every once in a while, I have to write a post for us writers who have non-writers in our lives that say things that drive us insane and that make us feel like being a writer is a no-good job (and when are we going to actually use our degrees?). What are we to do? Read this post (and the fantastic comments!) and share your best non-writer stories.
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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: marcia@wow-womenonwriting.com.
Please put "Friday Speak Out! Submission" in your subject line. 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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Friday Speak Out! Posts of Interest:
5 Commandments of Creativity by Susanne Brent
Project Green Light! by Jennifer Brown Banks
Scribble Me a Writer! by Cathy Biggerstaff
Truth At Heart by Anju Gattani
Words by Robyn Corum
My First Book Signing--a Fiasco! by Kimberly Rae
Learning a Foreign Language by Anna Martinez
I Am A Writer...Hear Me Roar! by Robyn Corum
4 Things Authors Need to Know About Amazon by Aggie Villanueva
If you haven't read these posts, be sure to check them out. They're so inspiration and motivating. F.S.O.s rock!
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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 >>
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In Closing:
We hope this issue has answered some of the questions you may have about self-publishing, and provided you with some tools to get started. We know the decision to self-publish is a tough one, but if there's one thing I learned from this issue it's there is no all-or-nothing choice. There are only the right choices for the right projects, and there may even be combinations for each project! So learn about the options available and study what others have done successfully. Test the waters a bit and see what works for you, but always keep in mind the ultimate goal: getting your book into the hands of readers.
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