November is Nanowrimo

Okay everybody, this is my pep talk to those of you who keep saying you want to write a book but you just don’t have the time…

November is the perfect month to get cracking on that new manuscript or finish one of those files tucked away in a drawer somewhere.  Most people are through with vacations, the weather is heading toward winter and it’s darker out for longer each and every day.

But the best reason to get writing in November is a wonderful, FREE online event called Nanowrimo.  Participants vow to write each and every day, approx. 1500 words, for one entire month. 

And guess what?

By the end of November, you can have logged in at least 50,000 words toward a new book or to finish an existing manuscript.

I’ve done Nanowrimo twice before – the first time I did 37,000 words, the second time only 16,000, but, because of the push to write everyday, I wrote more than I would have without participating.

This year I WILL finish my second adult suspense novel during Nano.

Check it out.

http://www.nanowrimo.org/

Why not sign up and give it a try?

Muse online writing conference

 

It’s that time of year again and writers everywhere are gearing up for the Muse Online writing conference.

I still can’t believe this conference is offered for FREE.

Unfortunately, it’s too late to join up for this year but I’ll try to post interesting information once the conference is over.  It runs all next week and I can’t wait to log on and meet agents, editors and fellow writers, all while compiling tons of new information.

Also, I got selected as one of the lucky writers who can pitch their novel to a publisher.  Of course I’m pitching my adult suspense novel.

Keeping fingers and toes crossed that it’s something they’ll be interested in reading.

I’m baaaack!

 

So I needed a new modem.  Go figure!  My DSL provider only took a couple of days to come to my rescue and then my connection was up and running again like new. 

You’d think that would have been it.

But nope – I’ve been having issues with my computer ever since.  After cleaning the drives, defragging them, running a full system virus scan, running a spyware system scan and checking every possible area for problems, I’m convinced that Outlook Express has been the culprit.

For the past three days, I’ve been reading and responding to all my email accounts online, rather than downloading them to Outlook, and voila – no freezing.

I’m still going to get someone to look at my lifeline to the internet and see what can be done, but I’m just glad I’m finally able to get online and stay there.

How do you all handle your internet issues and interruptions?

Oh how I need the internet

 

Well here I am again at the library (thank goodness for their 1 hour of free internet/day access) to write a quick post.

My internet decided to take a hike on Tuesday morning after having worked properly for a while and then…poof…nothing.  I can’t stand it!

With a limited sixty minutes of online time for an entire day, I again realize how much I rely on this marvelous communication tool for my writing.  I could spend an hour a day just doing research, another hour reading ezines and blogs related to writing, another hour sending emails and checking listserves and at least another hour writing.

Okay, so I can do the writing part without being connected to the world wide web.  But I feel like someone has taken away my security blanket or something. 

I need my internet back!

So tomorrow my DSL provider is supposed to come over and figure out my problem and fix it.  I hope it isn’t anything too serious and that I’ll be up and running by tomorrow afternoon.

I’d love to hear how any writers out there cope when they go offline. 

Is the internet as important to your writing existence as it is to mine?

Turning books into movies

 

Just wondering what all you writers out there think about movie adaptations of books?

More often than not I’ve heard the complaints after the movie ends about how the book was “so much better” or how the movie “didn’t do justice” to the book.  I must admit, I have found that disappointment myself, particularly with some of the Harry Potter movies as well as some mad-for-TV movies from several of Mary Higgins Clark’s suspense novels.

As an avid reader, I definitely visualize what I read in books and create my own versions of the characters and settings.  But that doesn’t distract me from what film makers do in the movies.  What I find the most disconcerting is how much of the books often get left out. 

I wonder, if I only saw the movies, and didn’t read the books first, if I would still feel confused, as if important pieces were missing?

Whenever I write, particularly novels, I have such vivid pictures of my characters – where they live, what they wear, how they sound, that I imagine I would have some difficulty with a movie version, particularly if I wasn’t given some creative input.

Yet, I think it must be a real kick for an author to see their stories unfold on the big screen, complete with all the magic of Hollywood. 

Having your book made into a movie does open up a whole other audience for your stories.  Many people will not have read the book, yet want to see the movie.  Many who have read the book will also want to see the movie.

If like me you’re an avid reader, then books, with their beautiful language and distinct voices, can never be replaced by the movies.  You will always choose to transport yourself to other worlds through the prose of your favorite authors.

But…despite the fact that not all movies do justice to the books on which they are based, I still think I would like to see one of mine on the big screen one day.

How about you?

The Secrets of the Cheese Syndicate

I’m so happy to announce that “The Secrets of the Cheese Syndicate”, a book by Donna St. Cyr, was released on August 4, 2009 and is now available at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com.

Published in paperback by CBAY books, “The Secrets of the Cheese Syndicate” is a mid-grade novel following the adventures of Robert Montasio and his sister Janine as they solve a mystery using different kinds of cheeses.

Donna St. Cyr is a colleague, a cyber friend and a fellow writer.  We both belong to an online critique group called the Blue Quills.  I had the pleasure of reading the first draft of the cheese syndicate adventures and am now waiting expectantly for my paperback copy to arrive in the mail.

If you love adventure, great heroes and worlds made up of unique characters, you’ll love “The Secrets of the Cheese Syndicate”.

To order the book:
http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Cheese-Syndicate-Donna-St/dp/1933767103

To find out more about Donna St. Cyr:
http://www.donnastcyr.com/index.html

Pick up a copy of “The Secrets of the Cheese Syndicate” today.  You won’t be sorry.

The Positive Side of Rejection

Okay, I know most of you read the title of this post and said, “come on, what’s so positive about another rejection?”

There’s a positive side to everything, even rejection, if you look for it.  Here are a few I’ve come up with after years of submitting (many acceptances but many more rejections):

1.        You’ve submitted to publishers that aren’t suitable for your piece.
            Read published works by houses to get a feel for the tone/style/
            voice/subject/length etc. already published by them.

2.        What was the reason for the rejection?  I received several rejections
            from a popular national kids’ magazine but when I started getting
           the reason (enjoyed your poems but unfortunately this issue is full),
           I knew they liked my work and resubmitted until I finally got 2
           acceptances.

3.        At least rejections mean you’re subbing.  Many writers write but
            unless you sub, you’ll never realize that dream of becoming published.

4.        Did the editor or agent give you feedback?  Take the hint, revise and
            rewrite and sub again.

5.        If one of your pieces continues to get rejected, perhaps it isn’t ready
            to be subbed out.  These rejections can wake you up to the fact that
            a particular manuscript may need reworking before it’s ready.

6.        Who’s doing the rejecting?  If you’ve subbed to high end publishers,
            try smaller, less known presses first.  You have to start somewhere
            and the bigger the publisher, the harder for a newbie to break in.

7.        Did you follow the guidelines?  Some writers get rejected because
            they didn’t send what the publisher was looking for.  Don’t let that
            be you.  Do your research.

8.        Remember, they aren’t rejecting you, they’re rejecting one of your
            many pieces.  Don’t give up!  Keep subbing.

I will even go as far as to say that rejections can be a good thing.  For me, rejections make me push harder to do my best possible writing and to keep subbing.  If I hadn’t followed that advice, I wouldn’t have many of the acceptances I have managed to receive.

I don’t have a publisher for my debut suspense novel…yet.  But I’ve put it through a critique group twice, hired a professional author, published repeatedly in the same genre to critique it and I’ve revised and rewritten until I’m now certain it’s my best version of this story.  I’ve also researched publishers and agents.  I’m currently tweaking my query.  I’m not taking the chance of getting any unnecessary rejections.

Rejections are tough to handle – some more than others.  But take heart and learn what you can from them.

Are you a summer writer or a winter writer?

This year, in the area where I live, the weather has been unpredictable and summer has been a long time coming.  Finally though, we have had several days of beautiful, sunny weather.  That got me to thinking about writing.

Am I a summer writer or a winter writer?

I can honestly say that it isn’t difficult to hunker down in front of the computer on a freezing cold day in February as the wind blows gusts of ice and snow across the wide expanses of my back yard.  Writing all day is a great excuse to stay cozy in my pjs and drink coffee or hot chocolate all afternoon.

But as I let the bright summer sun warm my skin and as I smell the fresh morning air and listen to the happy, chattering birds, I feel rejuvenated and energized.  The days are long, the breezes cool and the pace can be whatever I choose.

In the winter, I find that I have more deadlines and more projects on the go at times, partly because I write plays for my studio’s drama department and partly because I’m one of those people who gets more accomplished the more I have to do.  In the winter I don’t mind being indoors – in fact, I rather like it when the temperatures outside dip below freezing.

In the summer, I become a different kind of writer. 

On sunny days, I love sitting in a park or on the shore of a lake, notebook and pen in hand.  The tranquill pace and sounds of summer inspire me to create new projects and to revel in all my new ideas. 

On rainy days, I hit the computer and work on revisions, research and rewrites.  I read writing newsletters and blogs.  I do what I call my “indoor” writing work.

So am I a summer writer? 

You betcha!

Am I a winter writer?

Absolutely!

I’m a writer…period.  No matter the weather or the circumstances, I write.  The only way to get those words down on paper is to sit there and do it.

So are you a summer writer or a winter writer?

How much do you rely on the internet?

Well here I sit at the public library writing this short post.

I did the unthinkable and moved this week…yikes!

The phone company won’t be able to install a DSL jack until next Wed. and
it’s amazing how much I need the internet for my writing everyday.

Limited to 1 hr. of free library internet, I sit and wait impatiently for my hook up.

How much do you rely on the internet?

Publication – the waiting game

Writers write for many different reasons.  I’m guessing that one of the most common, however, is to see their work in print…published.

The road to publication is often a long one, filled with many bumps and detours along the way.  But let’s say you’ve finally polished that manuscript and started subbing it out.  You’re now playing The Waiting Game.

I just received my complimentary copy of Hopscotch for Girls, a U.S. magazine.   In it, is a non-fiction poem I wrote called “The Marsupial Family”. 

Now here’s where you’ll see what I mean by The Waiting Game.

I subbed the poem in October of 2005.  It was accepted for publication in November of 2005.  (Actually a quick response) But alas, it took nearly four years before I got the thrill of seeing one of my pieces published.

The publishing business works very far into the future.  Having a turnaround of three or four years between an acceptance and publication is the norm.  In fact, right now, the Bluffton Group, who publishes Hopscotch for Girls, Boys Quest and Fun for Kidz is looking at obtaining suitable material for themes all the way to 2014.

So that’s why, as a writer, it’s important for you to get those subs out there.  And nowadays, most publications understand that you are likely going to sub your piece to simultaneous markets.  As long as you inform everyone that your submission is a simultaneous one, usually they do not need exclusivitiy.  The publishers only ask that you inform them if your piece is accepted by someone else.

A writing friend has a book coming out this year.  She got her acceptance three years ago.  Again, it;s The Waiting Game.  But had she not subbed out her piece, the day of seeing her first book in print would never have come.

So, rather than be discouraged by the long turnaround times in the publishing business, get writing…get revision…and get subbing.

How to set up your own writing group

Maybe some of you would like to create a writing group, but just don’t know how to go about doing it.  Here are a few tips and ideas to get you started:

1.      Pick a location (often local libraries, community centres and
         bookstores have rooms available at no cost for such an activity)

2.     Decide on an itial meeting time (this can change once members get
         together and provide feedback on available times)

3.     Advertise the first meeting.  Make a poster with pertinent information
        (date/time/place/how to contact you/cost to join…free) and hang it
         on any free bulletin boards in your community (malls/library/
         bookstores/local establishments).  Advertise it online for FREE at
         kijiji.com.  Seems most cities in N. America have a Kijiji site.

4.     Make up a name for the group – something catchy & writing related.

5.     Make sure to have contact info. (phone number/email) in case
         people have questions before coming out to the meeting.

6.     Have an agenda for the first meeting – be organized if you want to
        attract others.  Most likely the first meeting will be about everyone
        getting to know each other, telling a bit about their writing interests
        and deciding on what the group wants to get out of the meetings.

7.     Plan how often to meet.  (once or twice a month is probably best)

8.     Set up a free website or blog so everyone can keep in touch in
         between meetings.

Remember, you don’t have to be a writing expert to set up a writing group. 

Some writing groups are very specific, ie, for those who write rhymes for kids or those who write novels.  But remember, if you advertise for only one type of writing, you may not get many (or any) members.  It’s probably best to start out welcoming any styles and genres.  If enough writers join, eventually they might branch off into their own sub-groups.

Good luck with your new groups.

Critique groups-online or face to face

 

Are you a writer?  Whether an aspiring newbee or a seasoned professional, I firmly believe that belonging to a critique group (at least for certain projects), is invaluable.

Where else can you find a group of likeminded individuals, all striving toward the same types of goals, with knowledge and expertise in a wide variety of different areas?

Currently, I belong to two online critique groups.  One is a group that writes everything in rhyme, called “Rhyming Critters 2″.  The group got together years ago on MSN and has become an independant group of ten.  Yes members come and go, but a consistent group has remained.  Most of the members are published and many did not pursue this avenue until they had actively participated in the group. 

My second critique group, “The Blue Quills”, formed on the old BOOST for writers site.  Eventually, the six of us moved to a private group and the same six members have been together since that time.  This group focuses on novels (MG/YA/adult) and non-fiction.  We do, from time to time, also focus on PBs or articles in the kidlit markets as well as playwriting.  One of our members secured a book deal for her MG novel, set to come out in 2009.  Many others have published in recognized children’s magazines and the SCBWI bulletin.  All of us are very actively writing, submitting and publishing.

I have made amazing friends in both of my online critique groups, but I do sometimes feel that being able to get together in person would offer other experiences that I can’t get online, like reading my work aloud and engaging in discussions (although the latter can be achieved through emails quite sufficiently).

My biggest problem, until now, has been that the local writing group meets at a time that I cannot attend, due to my work. 

But an exciting proposition has come my way, through the website, Kijiji.com.  It seems that a new, local writer’s group is about to form, with its first meeting scheduled for the last Sunday of May.  And as luck would have it, Sundays are a great day for me to indulge in such an activity.

How many of you are involved in critique groups? 

Do you prefer “face to face” encounters with local writers or do you find “online” groups your preference?

I’ll keep you posted on my experiences.

Suspense novels – are they really so easy to write?

As I sat working on my second suspense novel, I got bogged down verifying some of the details.  Whenever I hit a hump during my creative writing time, I surf other blogs and articles related to what I’m writing.

I found an interesting, yet over simplified article written by a man who claims that suspense novels are the easiest type to write because they just follow a simple formula:

1:   Decide on your topic

2:    Start at the end, rather than the beginning

3:    Wait as long as possible to reveal the bad guy/killer

Although these ideas are all good ones, I don’t believe that just by doing these three things a writer is guaranteed a great suspense novel without too much trouble.  In fact, I think this is a major oversimplification of the entire process.

Yes, you have to decide on the type of suspense novel you want to write, ie “woman in peril”, “a whodunnit”, “psychological thriller”, “the killer is someone you know and you don’t suspect” etc. etc. etc. 

And yes, knowing how everything should end can be helpful when putting together your plot points and ensuring that you dangle tidbits of evidence throughout the chapters to entice the reader to continue turning the pages.

I had trouble with number three.  Some of the best suspense novels begin with us already knowing the killer.

But I had the most trouble believing that by doing these three things, it would be easy to create suspense novels.

What about the characters?  We have to have a reason to care what happens to the protagonist and we won’t care if that character doesn’t engage us in some way.  We also have to believe that the antagonist is really a source of danger to the protagonist.

Then there’s the matter of the plot.  Just by choosing the type of suspense novel, we do not have a well thought out plot that dangles bits of information cleverly throughout the chapters so that the smart reader can perhaps guess the identity of the antagonist even before we’ve revealed it.  And we do not have a series of events that all move our plot forward.

Anyone who’s ever attempted to write a suspense novel knows that they must research any relevant procedures, ie police, medical, legal etc.  Readers aren’t stupid.  They won’t fall for plots with holes in them because the writer didn’t do the research.

Then, there’s the setting.  Having someone follow your protagonist is suspenseful, however, if it’s in a department store in broad daylight while surrounded by other shoppers it’s not nearly as frightening as if it’s down a dark alley at 2:00 a.m. during a rain storm.

So my advice is this:  Don’t believe everything you read and don’t think that writing a novel of any kind is going to be easy.

But, with hard work, dedication and a great deal of revising, you could be the next Mary Higgins Clark.

If you’d like to read the article to which I refer, here’s the link:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Suspense-Novels-Made-Easy&id=18583
You be the judge!

TAX TIME – don’t forget your writing income

With income tax returns due in North America in the month of April, March is a good time to go over your writing records and see if you have income to claim.

If you freelance full time, then your writing is a business and you claim all income and expenses from it.  But did you know that even if you only earn a small amount from your writing, you must not only claim that income in your tax return but that you can also claim a portion of many of your household expenses?

Many writers, probably the vast majority, write around their actual full-time job.  Or perhaps you’re a stay-at-home parent who writes to supplement your household’s income.

You definitely need to keep records of all “writing related” income and expenses.  And remember, the simpler, the better.

I keep two  files:

INCOME (cheque stubs, paid invoices,deposit slips and any other record of monies I’ve received from writing)

EXPENSES (paper, printer ink, long distance phone calls, postage and mailing supplies, computer/internet costs, and even mileage)

Whenever I receive a cheque from having sold a piece of writing, I tear off the bottom portion, write what the money was from, and pop it into my INCOME file.  After I deposit the cheque, I staple the deposit slip to my cheque stub as a confirmation.  If I’ve done a freelance job that requires invoicing my client, then I staple the payment info. to the invoice.

Expenses are harder to calculate because if you don’t work full-time as a writer, then you can only claim a portion of the items mentioned above.  For example, if you are using your home computer, you can’t claim all of the paper, ink, internet fees etc. because you are only using the computer part of the time for your writing.  Figure out what percentage of your time is actual “working writing” time.  Knowing an accountant or bookkeeper is an asset as they can help you calculate these expense percentages.

All postal expenses you incur for mailing out queries, manuscripts, returning contracts, etc. can be claimed.

Keep a log book in your vehicle.  If you are driving to go interview someone for an article, you can claim that portion of your vehicle expenses. 

I’m not an accountant, nor am I an expert in this field so before you claim any expense related to writing, check with your internal revenue department to make sure that it’s an allowable expense, or better yet, have an accountant do your taxes for you.

Above all, keep impeccable records so that you can defend any inquiries regarding your freelance income or expenses.

Now I’m off to get out my files and take stock of my 2008 writing income and expenses.

Contest entry fees: To pay or not to pay

Sometimes, winning a writing contest can be an amazing way to get exposure, prize money, and if you’re lucky, a contract. 

But more and more contests are charging entry fees…and I don’t mean $5.00, either.  Recently I’ve seen novel contests that were charging as much as $50.00 to enter. 

Now think about it for a minute.  What if you enter four contests a year?  Each one costs $50.00.  Personally, I think the $200.00 in entry fees would be put to much better use buying paper, printer ink, stamps and envelopes for subbing to editors and agents. 

Whenever entering a contest, please do your research.  Paying an entry fee isn’t always a bad thing but there are factors to consider:

• Is it a reputable contest – who’s running it
• Does the entry fee match the prize
• What is the entry fee used for
• Who’s doing the judging
• What are the terms if you win
• How many prizes are there
• Are prizes awarded based on number of entrants
• Do you have to spend more money if you win

Let’s face it, a fifty dollar entry fee for an entire novel, where the prize is a publishing contract with an established, well-known publisher, would be $50.00 well spent.  However, that same fee, where the prize was a vanity press contract, would be, in my opinion, a waste of $50.00.  I wouldn’t even pay $5.00 if I was entering a poem on a site where the winners were chosen by online voting.  The fee has to reflect the prize.

So how do you find out which contests to enter? 

• read everything you can about the contest
• ask other authors if they have participated
• ask your local librarian
• read winners’ manuscripts from previous contests

To get you started, here’s a shortlist of contests.  Some charge fees – others don’t.  You decide.

http://www.writersdigest.com/annual
Writer’s Digest’s contest fees are small in relation to the prizes.

http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/writingcontests/
Both for MG and YA first novels.  NO FEE.

http://www.writersofthefuture.com/rules.htm
For writers of fantasy and sci-fi.  NO FEE

http://www.pioneerdrama.com/stuff/contest.html
Contest for playwrights – doesn’t appear to have a fee.

http://www.writers-editors.com/Writers/Contests/contests.htm
This site lists a ton of contests.  At the bottom of the site they tell you the types of contests they will not list, so they’ve done a bit of the research for you.

TO PAY OR NOT TO PAY.

When it comes to writing contests, that really is the question.