Authors Write

Top of the mornin' to ya!  Think it's obvious that authors write? Think again. We all see it online or hear it at a meeting of writers. I often hear it in Barefoot Writing Academy classes. It goes something like this:

I just don't have the time to write. (look at Kelly L. Stone's book Time to Write)

I can't think of anything to say - from bloggers. (I have a list of 101 ideas I'll send you.)

I've hit a wall - also known as writers block. (write letters, write grocery lists, write a letter to you child/grandchild, write to a deceased friend/family friend, write like you mean it!) I fall else fails, use a sledgehammer on the dastardly wall!

I should have paid attention in English class. (see Grammar Girl online or her book)

And you probably could add items to this list. Today, I'm sharing some sites that I "religiously" read, and I hope they will inspire you as well.

Books and Such - Literary Management

There are 5 agents who blog at the site and each with a distinct personality. Mary Keeley's recent post is "Celebrating Writers", which should you give some idea of why I read it. They have solid information on industry traits that, at best, are confusing. At worst, annoying. Specialize in Christian books.   www.booksandsuch.com

QueryTracker Blog - Helping Authors Find Literary Agents

Excellent source of information. I share something from this site weekly to my clients and other writers.  You can search for agents, publisher info, etc. You might enjoy a recent post, "The Query Process: laughably bad rejections." One of the statements within the body of the post is 

"What if a literary agent is just obnoxious?" http://querytracker.blogspot.com/

Authors Publish - the magazine for writers

Loads of freebies and latest info on publishers. They list publishers accepting submission across all genres. Good source for freelancers. Check out some of their guiding principles and see if it's a fit.

1.  They always pay authors they publish on their site (Yes!)

2.  All the publishers we review do not require agents or previous publications. (Yes!)

3.  We research all the publishers to make sure that they are legitimate. (Yes!)

4.  We do not feature markets who charge a fee for all submissions. (Yes!)

www.authorspublish.com

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This is cj's publisher and they are currently accepting submissions.

Crimson Romance (est. 2012)Headquarters: Avon MA 02322Acquisitions: Tara Gelsomino, Editor Royalties: to be discussed, Current needs: Crimson Romance’s digital-first romance line is open to submissions in five popular subgenres: romantic suspense, contemporary, paranormal, historical, and spicy romance. The publisher is seeking previously unpublished full-length novels (between 55K-90K words) and short stories. All authors—agented or unagented—are invited to submit any works that have not been previously published in whole or in part in any media, including self-publishing. [ submission guidelines ] - See more at: http://writingcareer.com/post/112985561536/10-book-publishers-seeking-manuscripts-from#sthash.CwD7zGLe.dpuf

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Neil's well-written book pulled me right into his fascinating, true story. With descriptive scenes and characters, it was an insight into a subject I knew little or nothing about. Amazing man and author.

Neil White, author of best selling book "In the Sanctuary of Outcasts," and several other books, and professional editor and publisher, will be hosting a workshop at the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center on April 17th and 18th. 

"How to Write and Publish your Book"

 $150 per day, $250 for both. 

Website:  www.NeilWhiteWorkshop.com

2015 Southern Christian Writers Conference

When:  Friday-Saturday, June 5-6, 2015

Where: Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Keynote Speakers:

1) Karen Moore, literary agent and author of more than 60 books and 10,000 greeting cards

2) Cindy Woodsmall, author of 16 books and one of today’s most popular Christian novelists

Excellent lineup of informative and inspirational speakers who will cover a wide variety of topics.  website at http://www.scwconference.com/SCWConference.com/

email: scwcworkshop@bellsouth.net

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The Book Breeze is an online magazine - free - jammed packed with author interviews, info on new books, and book reviews. My book reviews are under, what else? -  Barefoot Book Reviews . This month I started a new column, and you guessed it! Barefoot Writing Academy - Creativity & Craft. www.thebookbreeze.com

24 Great Profiles:  A publication of the Gulf Coast Writers Association, edited by Philip L. Levin, MD, is a tribute to memorable men and women of the Magnolia State - Mississippi. I am delighted that my piece on author, Carolyn Haines, http://www.carolynhaines.com/ the author of over 70 published books in multiple genres, was included in this beautiful book. There are stories about notable Mississippians from the 19th Century forward and include: Eudora Winfrey, Stu Roosa, Walter Anderson, Morgan Freeman, and Ophrah Winfrey. You can email me at mahalachurch@gmail.com if you would like a copy ($15) and I will get it in the mail to you (I pay the postage.)

 

Erin go Bragh!  

Mahala

Do Not Make New Year Resolutions

Ignoring New Year resolutions on January 1 is a growing trend. A sign of our times. A sign that we may be losing that good old American drive. A sign that texting is in; challenging is out. After all, if we’re going to break the resolutions anyway, why make them to begin with. Right?

But if we don’t strive to create new habits - healthy habits, goals for our writing, mountains to climb, how will we achieve anything? We are creatures of habit, enamored with the idea that if we wish for it hard enough, it will come true. And there are a plethora of television shows, movies, and books that endorse the concept loudly and clearly.

So, with that in mind, if I wish to complete my short story book this year, I should hang out in the backyard and wish on shooting stars, while I send into infinity thoughts of peace and light. I guess it couldn’t hurt to try that, but unless shooting stars have a gift for plotting and character development, my book will still be a jumble of ideas at the end of 2015.

On the other hand, if I make a list of goals with assigned tasks and deadlines, then don’t check on the list every day to keep me on track, my book will still be a jumble of ideas at the end of 2015.

Let’s see how this idea works with traditional resolutions. If I promise my family, the stars, my dog that I will walk on the treadmill every day so I can catch my breath while walking through the mall, but I get caught up in “Scorpion” or “Madam Secretary” and forget, I should be a svelte size 20 in no time. If I grab one of Hardee’s deluxe burgers every night and send love and light into the universe on the way home, my muffin top will transform to pleasingly plump by the end of 2015.

Habits of every ilk are infuriatingly difficult to break. If they weren’t, we would all eat baked salmon and asparagus every night followed by 30 minutes on the treadmill. Hitting a fast food place, watching television, planning to write are easy, and Western society says our lives should be easy - filled with plenty. And we’ve mastered that concept. Most of us have plenty: plenty of time, plenty of food, plenty of things to do, plenty of places to go, plenty of plenty.

It’s the follow-through that wears on us. Why is change so hard? Because those "little things" we do are habits

Try changing the way you brush your teeth, the route you drive home, which foot you put forward first when you walk. As anyone who has had an accident and needed to make changes to accommodate a broken bone, surgery, etc. will tell you, those little changes have to be thought through to accomplish them. Why would the big changes be any easier?

Does that mean being a plotter is better than being a panster to write? No, it means that whether you diagram every line of your work-in-process or fly by the seat of your pants, you have to have derriere in chair, pen or keyboard in hand, and brain in motion. If you don’t write it, they won’t come. If you don’t think about it in advance, you will have pages of confusion to sort through. Sometimes, our muse puts in an appearance and our writing magically pours onto the page. What happens 95% of the time when our muse is busy watching TV? See cj's excellent ideas on last week's post: 2015 Writers Resolutions.

We all learned the concept of Delayed Gratification in Psych 101. It’s the ability to put off something mildly fun or pleasurable while anticipating something that is greatly fun, pleasurable, or rewarding later, like being able to outrun your kids at the mall, shocking your doctor with healthy cholesterol levels, or seeing your WIP published and selling like crazy. So, we can watch “Scorpion” (a new show I LOVE by the way) or we can put in one hour writing. Guess what 1 x 365 equals? A lot of words on the page, a lot of editing time, a lot of plotting time, a lot of character development, a lot of words for your critique group to read. A whole lot of feeling good. Are you up to the challenge?

To help get me back on track, I joined the 90-Day Writing Challenge that Kelly Stone runs through a group on Yahoo. It helped me immensely last year, and then nine months later, I got lost in writing for clients and disgusted with my book, and yada, yada, yada. So, I’m back for a shot of reality and enthusiasm from other writers.

The Writing Challenge is free, and you can see what other writers are doing to move their dreams forward, shooting star or not. Check it out in Groups on Yahoo. We started on January 2, so you can join in the first week. Then put big red Xs on your calendar for every day you write (a Jerry Seinfeld habit). Being task oriented, I can’t wait to get my red X on the calendar every day.

Succeeding in writing the story you dream about isn’t good luck, it’s GOOD WORK.

Mahala