The Writer Mama Riffs

The Freelancer’s Phrase Book: “On Spec”

The Writer Mama — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:01:51 +0000

By Abigail Green

Back in my March column, I discussed submitting queries versus complete articles. If you recall, I gave a few examples of when a freelancer might submit a piece to a publication “on speculation” or “on spec” for short. Basically, that means the writer has no contract and no guarantee of payment or publication. Essays will usually only be considered on spec; and for timely travel stories and short pieces, it’s often in a writer’s best interest to write them first and then submit them.

Even though it’s always preferable to have a contract in hand before writing an article, there are perfectly legitimate reasons to write on spec. Let’s say you’ve nabbed an interview with an elusive subject — the Dalai Lama, maybe, or Brad Pitt. Chances are good that you’re going to be able to sell your piece somewhere, so it’s not a huge gamble to go ahead and write up the interview. This scenario brings up another point: always have backup markets in mind when writing on spec.

I currently have an essay under consideration at a national parenting magazine I’ve been dying to break into. I floated my idea past the editor before I wrote it, which is always a good idea if you can do it. She liked the concept, but said I’d need to submit the piece on spec. My essay is now making its way up the chain of editors. Of course I’m hoping it’s accepted, but if not I have at least three alternate markets in mind that might buy my essay.

When is it not a good idea to write on spec? If your piece is so specific to your intended market that you can’t think of another angle or publication that may buy it, it’s probably not worth it. If your op-ed is on a topic that’s going to be old news by the weekend, it may not be worth your time.

Sometimes, though, submitting a piece on spec can actually help you get your foot in the door. I pitched Self magazine a half dozen ideas that were shot down for various reasons. Then I submitted a first-person essay on female friendships. They bought it. Alas, it never ran. But I did get a big fat check for more than $1/word-and at the time, that was worth more to me than the clip.

I firmly believe that Self purchased my essay because I submitted it on spec. After all, the piece was already written, so even as a new-to-them writer, I wasn’t much of a risk. Next time, maybe they’ll even publish my work!

Abigail Green has published more than 150 articles and essays in regional and national publications including American Baby, Baltimore Magazine, Bride’s, Cooking Light, and Health. Her work also appears in the new book, “A Cup of Comfort for New Mothers.” (Adams Media, 2009). Abby holds a B.A. from Vassar College and an M.A. in publishing from the University of Baltimore. She writes the “Crib Notes” column for The Writer Mama e-zine and the “Understanding Personal Essays” column for Writers on the Rise. A mother of two boys, she blogs about parenting, publishing and more at http://diaryofanewmom.blogspot.com. She also teaches the six-week e-course Personal Essays that Get Published.

Blog Tour Interview with Cindy Hudson on Book By Book, The Complete Guide to Creating Mother-Daughter Book Clubs

The Writer Mama — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:58:33 +0000

Time for another happy story. Poor me, I have so many success stories to share at the end of this year!

I’m very pleased to have played a small role in supporting Cindy Hudson in the selection and development of her book concept for Book By Book, The Complete Guide to Creating Mother-Daughter Book Clubs (Seal Press 2009).

There is nothing a teacher loves more than a student who is conscientious, focused, and consistent and Cindy Hudson has been all of those things over the years while launching and raising her writing career alongside her two daughters.

This year, Cindy’s oldest daughter left home for college and guess what happened at the same time? Her years of steady effort and passion for her topic blossomed into the publication of her first nonfiction book.

I’m thrilled to share this interview with Cindy with you. I’ve included a picture of a bunch of us celebrating Cindy’s book deal at the 2008 Willamette Writers Conference and pics from her recent book launch party, including a photo of the wonderful (and delicious) cake that was served there. I hope you will let her example inspire you to achieve your own publication success story.

Q. Why did you decide to start mother-daughter book clubs with your daughters?

A. Even though she loved books, my oldest daughter, Madeleine, came to reading slowly. I was thrilled when she started reading voraciously on her own in third grade. But when Madeleine came to me in fourth grade with the news that some of her friends said it wasn’t cool to read anymore, I knew I had to do something to counteract that. Forming a mother-daughter book club seemed like a great way to keep her reading for fun.

Three years later when Catherine turned nine, she was ready to start her own club too. I know part of her motivation was seeing how much fun Madeleine and I had in our book group.

Q. One of your book groups has been meeting for eight years now and the other for five. How do you think being in these clubs has benefited you and your daughters?

A. While there may be an endless number of small, day-to-day things we’ve gained from being in a book club together, there are a couple of major benefits that I’d say have made a difference in our lives.

One, it was a way for us to spend time together reading and talking about life issues as my daughters grew. I believe we can talk about anything now, from problems with friends and boyfriends to issues at school and more. I think it would have been difficult to tackle some of the topics we’ve discussed, like sex, underage drinking, and using drugs, without the entrée a book discussion provided.

Second, we’ve become really great friends with our book club moms and daughters. Many of them we didn’t know before we started our groups, but now it’s hard for us to imagine not seeing all of them on a regular basis. I’ve enjoyed getting to know my daughters’ peers, and they know they have other moms they can rely on if they need help.

Q. How old should your daughter be when you start a mother-daughter book club?

A. If there’s an “ideal age” it may be nine. That’s when your daughter is probably able to tackle more complex texts when she reads on her own, and she’s beginning to understand more about relationships. It’s also a time when she’s likely to enjoy spending time with you, both the two of you together and in a group with other moms and daughters.

That being said, you can find ways to simplify your group meetings and discussions if you start earlier. And I’d say it’s never too late if your daughter wants to be in a group with you.

Q. Why did you write this book?

A. It was partly born of my own frustration of not finding reliable information to help moms find good, age-appropriate books that appealed to both their daughters and them. And I couldn’t find much advice on running meetings that take in the needs of two generations either. So I started a website first, www.motherdaughterbookclub.com. The site features book reviews, author interviews, and ideas for meetings as well as other resources. But there was so much more helpful information that I didn’t have room for on the website that I knew I could include in the book. And I thought it would be helpful to give real examples from book clubs all over the country as well as feature advice from parenting experts and others.

Q. What advice do you have for moms who have sons?

A. Read together as much as you can, and encourage your husband to be in a father-son book club with them. While it’s true that you can create a mother-son book club, I think it’s more difficult to have in-depth discussions on meaningful topics as they grow. I often hear from librarians who say that lack of interest from dads is the biggest reason there are few father-son book clubs. But sons need time with their dads just as mothers need time with their daughters. And there are so many books that have multi-generational appeal for guys it should be easy for dads to be more on the bandwagon with this concept.

Q. Working moms may be worried that they don’t have enough time to be in a mother-daughter book club. Do you have any advice for them?

A. Every mom but one in my mother-daughter book clubs works either full time or part time outside the home. And most of the moms I interviewed for Book by Book also work. Many shared good ideas on fitting in time for mother-daughter book club. They may do I find that working moms are already good at a bit of extra juggling. Prepping for book club creates a good excuse to schedule precious time just for you and your daughter.

Q. What would you say makes a book a good choice for clubs to read?

A. Surprisingly it’s not the book that everyone likes, even though you may feel pressure to opt for something likeable when it’s your turn to pick. For instance, when we read Twilight in Madeleine’s book club we didn’t really have much to talk about. We all liked it; some of us (mostly the girls) loved it. There was not much more to say. Books that create layered discussions on multiple issues that group members may have differences of opinion on are more likely to keep your discussions lively. These books will keep you talking and thinking about them even after you leave the meeting.

Madeleine, Cindy and Catherine Hudson

Q. Can you give us your top three books recommendations for mother-daughter book clubs?

A. Hmm…it’s so difficult to narrow it down to just three. How about three in each of three age categories?

Nine and 10 year olds:

A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
Boy by Roald Dahl
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Eleven through 13 year olds:

Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
Tangerine by Edward Bloor

Fourteen years old and up:

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Light Years by Tammar Stein

Q. Can you do other fun things in mother-daughter book clubs besides reading the books?

A. Absolutely. Some of the most fun I’ve had with my groups has been on weekend getaways we schedule once each year. Other moms have found it rewarding to volunteer with their book groups or stage a play or write poetry. You may even find yourself meeting with the author of the book you read. There are so many opportunities for enrichment, and you can decide together as a group which ones you want to pursue.

Q. Your oldest daughter is now in college, and your youngest will soon be out of high school too. Do you think your groups will continue even when the girls don’t live at home?

A. I believe they will in some form. The moms in Madeleine’s group all bought tickets to a visiting author series this year, so we can keep meeting together regularly. And we’re hoping to plan two events a year that involve all of us, one over winter break from college and one in summer. I see us being involved in each other’s lives for many years to come, even if we don’t meet in our traditional mother-daughter book club format. And who knows? We may be lucky enough to morph our groups into adult mother-daughter book clubs.

Cindy Hudson is the author of Book by Book: The Complete Guide to Creating Mother-Daughter Book Clubs (Seal Press, October 2009). She is a mother-daughter book club consultant, journalist, and editor. Hudson has more than twenty years of experience as a marketing and public relations professional. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and two daughters. Visit her online at www.motherdaughterbookclub.com and www.motherdaughterbookclub.wordpress.com.

NOW OFFERING ONGOING SUPPORT FOR FORMER STUDENTS!

The Writer Mama — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:01:56 +0000

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With Christina Katz
Prerequisites: 3 Previous Classes with Christina
Destination: Book Deal is a monthly 90 minute accountability group that guides members towards landing a book deal sooner rather than later. Members will check in each month and set monthly goals. Christina Katz facilitates this group by phone as a way to stay in touch with her former students and point out the shortcuts, pitfalls, and career building opportunities available to experienced writers aiming for a traditional nonfiction book deal.
Cost: $150.00 (Intro price)
Dates: January – June 2010
Days & Times of monthly calls TBA
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More/register: E-mail Christina

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Prerequisites: WPSS
The Article Accountability Dream Team is a monthly 90 minute accountability group that guides members towards getting more articles in print in less time than it might otherwise take going it alone. Members will check in each month and set monthly goals. Christina Katz facilitates this group by phone as a way to stay in touch with her former students and point out the shortcuts, pitfalls, and career building opportunities available to article writers, who wish to get published and profit from their writing.
Cost: $150.00 quarterly (Intro price)
Dates: January – June 2010
Days & Times of monthly calls TBA
Space is limited to 12 participants
More/register: E-mail Christina

Invest In Your Writing Career Today
& Reap Greater Rewards Tomorrow.

Writer Mama Success Rhythms: October Thoughts

The Writer Mama — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:01:10 +0000

By Christina Katz

Last month I drew tips from positive examples I’ve seen lately from people I know pretty well, namely, my former students. This month, I’m going to (carefully) point out some of the mistakes I see other writers making that none of us want to repeat.

Craft: A person I really like recently wrote a book that I cannot read because it’s not well written. I have tried on several uninterrupted occasions to plow through this book and I just can’t get through it even though I am genuinely interested in the topic. What a disappointment for both of us.

Would you tell your friends a book was well-written if it wasn’t? I’m sure you wouldn’t. There is no question that I want to support people I know and like who accomplish a task as huge as writing a book and getting it published. But when a person produces a poorly written book, I have a conflict. I can’t put my name behind this person’s book as a “well-written book” if I can’t even force myself to finish it.

So, here’s a lesson for all of us about professional responsibility. If you are going to write a book, don’t expect the editors at the publishing house to make it a well-written book. It’s the writer’s responsibility. Always.

Are there any exceptions? I can’t think of any. The quality of your writing should always come first. High quality writing should be your most important priority, no matter what genre you are writing.

Pitching: This may seem obvious, but I’m going to say it anyway: different genres of writing are pitched in different ways. For example, nonfiction and fiction books are not written or pitched in the same way. A nonfiction book is pre-planned to fill a niche and then a proposal is written to sell the (future) book. Whereas a (first) novel is written in advance and the pitch is fashioned around selling the completed manuscript with the assumption that changes can be made, if needed.

So, it stands to reason that if you want to become skillful at any one genre, you should plan to stick with that genre for a period of time. I’ve been focusing on nonfiction writing for over a decade now and I feel happy with what I’ve been able to accomplish in this genre. Nonfiction is a lot more creative than most people realize, not to mention all the creativity that goes into the work of nonfiction platform development.

The moral of this story is: if you want to succeed, stick with one genre and stay with it for the long haul and THEN branch out after you have achieved success in one groove. You’ll learn valuable lessons about yourself as a writer that will carry over into other genres of writing as well.

Platform Building: When it comes to platform building, only one type of writer is in big trouble. And that’s the kind of writer who thinks that he or she is exempt or too good for self-promotion. I feel sad when I encounter this attitude (but don’t think it stops me from telling that person that they are not exempt) because really what the person is saying is, “I am the exception.” That kind of thinking never got anybody anywhere and it’s certainly counter-productive for writers. The message is getting out: writers need to learn basic self-promotion. Believe it.

Professional Development: One of the primary thrusts of professional development for writers, in my mind, is to get them out of isolation, away from dreams of grandeur and beyond fantasies of being discovered. There’s nothing like a little dose of reality to put a writer’s feet back on the ground where actual concrete steps can then be taken. Because writing careers are not “dreams that come true” (with all due respect to Walt Disney). Successful writing careers are the hard-won result of years of sustained hard work. And that’s good news because it means that success is available to anyone who is willing to put herself through the paces, find her success rhythms, and keep reaching those concrete goals.

Christina Katz is the author of Get Known Before the Book Deal, Use Your Personal Strengths to Build an Author Platform and Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids (both for Writer’s Digest Books). A platform development coach and consultant, she started her platform “for fun” seven years ago and ended up on Good Morning America. She teaches writing career development, hosts the Northwest Author Series, and is the publisher of several e-zines including Writers on the Rise. Christina blogs at The Writer Mama Riffs and Get Known Before the Book Deal, and speaks at MFA programs, literary events, and conferences around the country.

Blog Tour Interview with Kristin Bair O’Keeffe, Author of Thirsty, A Novel

The Writer Mama — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:04:35 +0000

Okay, so this is really, really fun!

You may already have heard me mention (about a hundred times) how happy I am to see my friend and former Columbia College Chicago classmate, Kristin Bair O’Keeffe, out on tour with her newly-published hardcover debut novel, Thirsty.

But here are few things you may not know…I’m being mysterious now.

Kristin and I have known each other for a wicked long time. Like since 1992. That’s seventeen years, people!

Kristin drafted one of the scenes for Thirsty, all those years ago in a class on writing historical fiction we took at CCC taught by Wade Roberts. (That class was a blast by the way. Thanks, Wade.)

I played a role in helping to get Thirsty into print. You can read the story in Kristin’s words over at Editor Unleashed, if you like.

I think Thirsty is a terrific book. In fact, if you examine the cover, you’ll see that I have high praise for the book. But don’t take my word for it (clearly I am biased), check out what Meryl K. Evans has to say about the book instead. She writes a darn good review, too.

Or, you can find recommendations in the November/December issue of Writer’s Digest from Jordan Rosenfeld (on stands now), read the opening line over at Poet’s & Writers, read the first chapter in The Pittsburgh Post Gazette, or watch the book trailer.

And now, without further ado, here’s some of Kristin’s thoughts on the writing process:

What inspired you to write Thirsty?

As a writer, I’m deeply inspired by place so I wasn’t surprised that Thirsty, the town, came to me first. I grew up in Pittsburgh’s steel-making milieu. My maternal grandparents lived in Clairton, Pennsylvania, and my grandfather worked in U.S. Steel’s Clairton Works. This was in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and steel was everything in Pittsburgh. We talked about steel over dinner. My sisters and I chanted, “Rotten eggs, rotten eggs,” every time we took the twenty-five-minute drive from our house to our grandparents’ house and got close enough to smell the mills on the Monongahela River. And from my grandparents’ back porch, we watched flames and big puffs of steam rise from the smokestacks. Later we watched the demise of the steel industry.

Not long after I clearly saw the town of Thirsty in my head, Klara began to appear. Right away I saw the awful marriage she was in. I’m especially sensitive to women in abusive situations. When I began to see Klara both as a young girl and an old woman, I knew I was going to be writing a story with a long arc.

What was the most challenging aspect of writing the novel?

I faced two big challenges while writing Thirsty:

1) I started my writing life as a poet so language and rhythm are important to me. I read everything I write (even emails) out loud…over and over again…until the language and rhythm of every sentence feels right. I must have read Thirsty a thousand times out loud before I felt I could let go of it. And even then…even now…given a few minutes to read out loud and rewrite…I’d probably change a few more words.

2) Telling Klara’s story as fully as possible—including the scene in which Drago cuts off her hair—wasn’t easy. But I knew I had to. It was only fair to see the abuse as vividly as Klara lived it. Domestic violence is an experience shared by many, many women. Too many women. And it’s too easy to turn away from it in fear and shame…too easy to gloss over the most crucial, heartbreaking brutality. No woman escapes domestic violence on her own; Klara has Katherine, BenJo, and Old Man Rupert. I believe if we face it together, there’s hope.

How long did it take you to write Thirsty?

A total of about seven years. I started it in 1992 and completed a full draft as my graduate school thesis in 1996. I worked on it off and on for another three years.

How long did it take you to have it accepted for publication?

I took a circuitous, scenic route to publication. It took sixteen years from the day I wrote the first scene to the day I got the email from David Sanders at Swallow Press that said, yep, we want to publish this book. I’m a big believer in right time, right place. I always knew Thirsty would find its home; I just didn’t know when or where.

Describe your writing habits.

I do a lot of work in my head: subconsciously in my dreams and consciously when I’m walking around the world, taking care of the mundane responsibilities of life. When I write, I am very disciplined. Before I became a mom, I got up every morning before dawn and wrote (for hours and hours). Now that I have a little one, I have to be more flexible. I write before my daughter wakes up, when she naps, and after she goes to bed.

You live in Shanghai, China. What is it like promoting your first novel from halfway around the world?

Creatively cool: The fact that I live in China gets people’s attention, and attention when promoting a novel is (almost) always good.

Logistically difficult: Shanghai is twelve hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the U.S. (except during Daily Savings Time when it is thirteen hours ahead). In some ways this is good because I work when folks in the U.S. are sleeping. That means that I don’t get a lot of emails during my work hours (they pour in during U.S. daylight hours when I am sleeping), thus often I can write without too much distraction. But it works the other way as well. When I’m ready to Twitter about Thirsty (or anything else), many U.S. Twitterers are asleep. If I need to talk to my publicist or the events coordinator at a bookstore, I have to stay up until ten o’clock or eleven o’clock at night to catch them during their morning hours (and often I have to call them back around my midnight or one o’clock a.m.). Not conducive to a good night’s sleep.

You teach writing. Three things you tell students?

1) Sit your butt down. Write.

2) Writing begets writing.

3) Read your work out loud.

4) Sit your butt down. Write. (Did I say that already?)

Note: Obviously there’s more, but this is a strong first draft.

What advice can you offer to writers?

My mantra: Tell the best story you can…believe in your writing…work your arse off.

Favorite authors?

Here’s a sampling, though there are many more:

for language, rhythm, and soul: Toni Morrison and Gabriel García Márquez
for writing about women’s lives in significant ways: Alice Walker and Toni Morrison
for thinking like me: Dr. Seuss and Amy Krouse Rosenthal
for keeping me centered: Thich Nhat Han and Pema Chodron
for writing inspiration: Natalie Goldberg and Anne Lamott
for writing craft: Christina Katz, Wendy Burt, Sage Cohen

Favorite books?

This list changes and grows all the time, but here are a few I love: Anaïs Nin’s diaries, The Time Traveler’s Wife, The Book Thief, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, The Odyssey, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Sula

What’s next?

A memoir about my path to love, marriage, and mamahood (definitely not the usual path). And a second novel (mum’s the word).

Learn More!

http://www.thirstythenovel.com

http://www.kristinbairokeeffe.com

http://www.swallowpress.com

Writing Conference Success: Create High-Impact Bios & Cover Letters

The Writer Mama — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:01:49 +0000

By Mary Andonian

Many people will go into a conference empty-handed, but not you. I have two good reasons why you should walk into the conference armed with business cards and proposal packages (thinly disguised as inexpensive paper folders). First, these items will build your credibility and boost your professional demeanor. Second, at best you’ll get your proposal in the hands of editors and agents for their long flight home, and at worst you’ll be in the enviable position to immediately mail follow-up materials.

Two important elements that will go into your proposal package are your bio and cover letter.

Bio
Your bio page can be made up in any number of ways. You can use a more traditional resume approach, listing all of your writing credits in chronological order, along with relevant educational background, and so on.

Or you may opt for the author’s book flap approach, where you write your bio the way you would like it to be seen on the back cover of your book.

One author I know lists her writing credits, but includes next to each credit a full color photo representing each credit. I used her approach for my last proposal package and ended up using visual icons representing the Contra Costa Times Newspapers (two of my essays were printed in this newspaper) and both an Institute of Children’s Literature logo and a Willamette Writers logo (for my education and involvement in these institutions, respectively).

When it was all said and done, my bio page looked pretty impressive.

Cover Letter
Your cover letter is really a one-page query letter you would send in lieu of meeting your agent or editor. It should be addressed to the agent or editor to whom you’ll pitch, along with her complete (and accurate) company title/imprint, address and phone number.

Your salutation should be addressed to Ms. [Last Name], unless you have met the person before.

The first paragraph should be a one-sentence summary of the book you’re trying to pitch.

The second and possibly third paragraphs should describe your book by first stating the need for such a book and then by telling why your book is the perfect solution to that need.

The last few paragraphs talk about you.

Why are you the perfect person to write this book?

What have you done that’s note-worthy, and why would people buy from you?

This is where you will talk about your platform, if you have one. If you don’t have paid writing credits, then highlight other achievements, such as (relevant) degrees completed or awards won.

Even non-relevant degrees might work if you spin them right: “I have an M.B.A. with an emphasis in Marketing, a skill set that will come in handy after my book has sold.”

Remember: Every interaction should close the sale or advance the sale, so close your letter with an offer to send more: “May I send you the entire manuscript? Thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you.”

Mary Andonian is former agents and editors coordinator for the Willamette Writers conference, one of the largest writing events in North America. In past years, she was also program coordinator and co-chair. Mary is represented by the Reece Halsey North Literary Agency and is a monthly columnist for the hit e-zines, Writers on the Rise and The Writer Mama. She has completed two book: Mind Chatter: Stories from the Squirrel Cage and Bitsy’s Labyrinth and is currently at work on her first screenplay, a romantic comedy. Mary is the mother of two girls and is the Brownie Girl Scouts leader for Troop 1102. Please visit her at: www.maryandonian.com.

Fit To Write Tips: Remember the Good Stuff

The Writer Mama — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:01:01 +0000

By Kelly James-Enger

Remember when that story you worked so hard on got killed? When an editor rejected your pitch after you spent hours on it? I bet you do. But what about the high notes of your writing career? They may be harder to recall.

That’s why I suggest you start an Inspiration File. Mine includes notes, cards, letters, and emails I’ve collected over nine years. There’s a note from an editor thanking me for a “great job” on one of my first stories, fan letters from readers of my novel, and a congratulations card from my husband when I sold my first book.

If I’m struggling with freelancing or having doubts about my choice of career, I take a look through my Inspiration File to focus on my accomplishments instead of my rejections. I suggest you do the same.

Don’t focus on how far you have to go-instead, celebrate the distance you’ve already come.

Author, speaker, and consultant Kelly James-Enger is a certified personal trainer and the author of books including Small Changes, Big Results: A 12-Week Action Plan to a Better Life (with Ellie Krieger, R.D.). Her book, Ready, Aim, Specialize! Create your own Writing Specialty and Make More Money, is aimed at novice freelancers; Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer’s Guide to Making More Money helps experienced writers boost their bottom lines. Visit

www.becomebodywise.com for free articles about freelancing and more information about her.

News Writer Mamas Can Use: A Roundup From My Inbox

The Writer Mama — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:49:27 +0000

Hiya mamas,

I’ve been a bit scarce since the conclusion of The Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway. But never fear because I’m gearing up for our second annual December Sell-a-bration! Not to mention all this other cool stuff that has landed in my Inbox lately that I’d like to share with you. Please feel free to grab and share any news in this post!

Sell-A-Brate Your Year Right Here In December 2009

Remember last year? I invited my students to share their success stories each day in December. Talk about inspirational! So, naturally, we’re doing it again.

If you missed the good stuff last year, click here to bring up all the posts. Happy getting inspired!

I hope you’ll start thinking about your 2009 success stories for this year’s round-up. More to come…

Wendy Burt Thomas Offers Inexpensive Query Feedback for Aspiring Authors

Trying to get your book published?

I offer flat-rate query letter consulting. For $50, you receive:

1. A review of your first-draft, one-page query letter with suggestions/edits

2. A review of a second draft with suggestions/edits

3. Five suggestions for agents/agencies that represent your type of manuscript

Wendy Burt-Thomas is the author of two books for McGraw-Hill and The Writer’s Digest Guide to Query Letters (January 2009, Writer’s Digest Books). Her credentials include more than 1,000 published articles, short stories, personal essays and greeting cards. She has worked as a magazine, newspaper and book editor. Learn more at Ask Wendy – The Query Queen

Call for Submissions for upcoming Anthology

Is your child easy to love, but hard to parent? DRT Press is seeking personal essays written by parents of children with ADD, ADHD and/or other mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders for a book about the experience of parenting children with such conditions, for publication (expected) in January 2011. Compensation includes 10 copies of the completed book and unlimited discounted copies. Payment may be offered. The book will be co-edited by author/editor/publisher Adrienne Ehlert Bashista, Publisher, DRT Press and Kay Marner, a freelance writer who contributes regularly to ADDitude magazine, and blogs for ADDitudeMag.com. Soft deadline for submissions is March 1, 2010. For more information visit http://www.drtpress.com/anthology.html. Questions may be directed to kay@kaymarner.com.

NOW OFFERING ONGOING SUPPORT FOR FORMER STUDENTS!

The Writer Mama — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:01:45 +0000

Invest In Your Writing Career Today
& Reap Greater Rewards Tomorrow.

Busy Parent Writer: Harvest Great Ideas During Hectic Holiday Seasons

The Writer Mama — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:01:54 +0000

By Sharon Miller Cindrich

Boo! No sooner have you nestled into a fall routine when the pressure of the holidays begin to creep closer — and the thought of juggling the responsibilities of seasonal family activities with your own writing deadlines can really give you the willies.

The real treat as this crescendo of activity begins to build is the season’s rich writing material that can be turned into lucrative story ideas and land you lots of juicy assignments. The trick? Be ready to harvest the ideas, experiences and tips you discover in the midst of the holiday chaos by following these simple steps.

Be ready. Carry extra pens and notebooks to the apple dunking, costume parade and pilgrim feast. Jot down your ideas or impressions before you forget them and store them in an easy-to-reference spot.

Take photos. Despite your incredible writing style, a picture is worth a thousand words and might get you some extra attention with an editor when coupled with a query. Use the snapshots of your family’s apple picking adventure or pumpkin patch visit as credentials for your pitch.

Have fun in the name of research. Use the season as an excuse to do something you’ve always wanted to in the name of researching a story, such as: “How to throw a not-so-scary Halloween party” or “Leaf-pile jumping and other free outdoor fun for kids” or “Planning a family feast for fifty dollars or less.” Save receipts to write off expenses if you land an assignment based on your activities.

Take time to reflect. If you’re a die-hard journal-keeper, you already know the cathartic benefits of scribbling down the day’s events. But as a writer, the exercise will serve not only as release of the day’s stress, but also as a reference tool for essays, ideas and anecdotes for future assignments.

Sharon Miller Cindrich is the mom of two, a columnist and author of E-Parenting: Keeping Up With Your Tech-Savvy Kids (Random House, 2007). Her next book, A Smart Girl’s Guide to the Internet (American Girl) debuts in September 2009. Packed with tips, quizzes, and “What would you do?” scenarios, this book helps girls become smart and safe Internet users. Learn more at www.sharonmillercindrich.com.