Prepping for NaNoWriMo


The Muse Online Writers Conference recently ended. There were many workshops to choose from to help you be a better writer. The workshops were also helpful for NaNoWriMo participants. Some of these workshops included topics such as: research, dialogue, characters, tension, creating fantasy worlds, and point of view. (Mark your calendar for next year’s conference, which is October 7-13. http://themuseonlinewritersconference.com/)

Some of the things I have been doing to get ready for NaNoWriMo:
 
-Writing down ideas for my novel/outlining for my novel/outlining

-Cutting photos from magazines

-Downloading lists and forms from various writing websites 

-Downloading novel writing software

-Talking to my writers group 

-Stocking up on food, beverages, and lots of chocolate 

-Making homemade meals to fill the freezer 

-Perusing books on fiction writing 

I also have a zippered binder filled with paper, pockets, dividers, etc., where I keep hard copies of anything I want to save. It’s my story bible (something I learned at the Muse Online Writers Conference last year). 

Will I make the 50K word minimum before the deadline? Will I survive NaNoWriMo? Will I write a best-selling novel?

How about you? 

What are you doing to prepare for NaNoWriMo? 

Debbie A. Byrne has a B.S. in Mass Communication with a minor in History. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and is currently working on her first children’s book.



Writing Rituals: An Invitation to Your Muse


I recently taught a week long online workshop on writer’s block.  I asked the participants to share their writing rituals.  I was surprised (though I probably shouldn't have been) by the number of writers who sit down at their computers to write and first check their email and Facebook.  Responding to your emails and checking Facebook before you write is not a ritual--it is a routine. 

A writing ritual is a type of ceremony or rite.  It helps facilitate the transition between your everyday life and your writing life.  It is a specific set of activities designed to signal your subconscious that this is a special time set aside just for writing.  It is a call to your muse. It might be ringing a bell, putting on soft music, or saying a prayer. It does not have to be elaborate, but it should be something done with intent.

My ritual includes a short meditation and filling my writing coffee cup—my “Do North” coffee cup. So, as I sip my coffee out of my DO North mug, I embrace the action or the Doing of my true North and then I start to write.  It’s simple and quick, but helps me slip into the writer in me.


Do you have a writing ritual or is it a routine?  I’d love to hear how you start your writing sessions.



Mary Jo Guglielmo is writer and intuitive life strategist. She helps clients take the action to live their true north.
For more information check out  www.donorth.biz   

Or follow her at:

Watch Out for the U-Turn!

One beautiful, sunny African afternoon in 1997, my life changed forever with the words, "You have cancer." As if that wasn't bad enough, the radiologist followed with the words, "And I don't think they'll be able to get it all out."

How can I describe the experience?

It was like when you are tearing along the road, enjoying the scenery and eager to arrive at your destination, and all of a sudden the road turns back on itself. You jam on brakes and grip the steering wheel in an effort to keep the car under control as you attempt to navigate the U-turn you hadn't seen coming.

It was just like that.

I jammed on brakes, gripped my steering wheel, and sped into battle against what turned out to be an aggressive form of cancer. With the use of a skilled surgeon, an unconventional and courageous oncologist, a supportive family, and a team of praying friends, God pulled me through that dreadful year of treatment. Not only did I survive the U-turn, I found myself traveling, as you do with a U-turn, in a different direction. I went from being an RN to being a published author.

Near the beginning of treatment, I picked up an old notebook and started to journal. Not logically or neatly. No edits. No proper sentences. I just jotted down the good times (few) and the bad times (many). I didn't know why, but I knew that God promises in His Word He will  work all things for the good of those who love him. (Romans 8:28). I couldn't see how He could do this, and I also knew that where He would probably remember the important facts, I probably would not. So I took notes. 

It took me a while to see it. But I began to realise how many invaluable lessons God was teaching me during my "cancer year," and eventually I started to make notes of them as well.

One verse that followed me throughout the whole cancer experience is found in Isaiah 40:31: "They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles."  I started to put my meditations together under the working title, Rise and Soar over the Cancer Valley, based on the picture of the eagle soaring on his strong wings.

I knew my only option for publication was to get the book to an American publisher--but how?

Then unexpectedly I received the incredible gift of a trip to the Florida Christian Writers' Conference in 2010. (If you think that's great, add on the fact that I live in South Africa!) There was one editor I knew wouldn't be interested in my book, but she was. You'll need to read the full story if you want to know more! She wasn't only interested. She took it to Revell Books, a division of the well-known Baker Publishing group, and they bought my book.   

Fast track to 2012. On October 1, Strength Renewed, Meditations for Your Journey through Breast Cancer was launched. It is now available in the U.S. and on-line and will be released here in Southern Africa on November 10. 

It all goes to show that anything--absolutely anything-- can be of value to a writer--provided we remember the facts. Oh yes, and God can use all things for good!

So when life's highway suddenly throws unexpected twists and turns at you, hang onto that steering wheel. And don't forget to journal as you navigate the U-turn ahead!

OVER TO YOU: What U-Turn have you had to navigate in your life? Are you still going in the new direction?

Further Reading:
The Right Editor!
Florida Christian Writers Conference


SHIRLEY CORDER lives a short walk from the seaside in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, with her husband Rob. She is author of Strength Renewed: Meditations for your Journey through Breast Cancer. Shirley is also contributing author to ten other books and has published hundreds of devotions and articles internationally. 

Visit Shirley on her website to inspire and encourage writers, or on Rise and Soar, her website for encouraging those on the cancer journey. Follow her on Twitter or "like" her Author's page on Facebook. 

How to Choose the Right Editor



From a reader’s and reviewer’s point-of-view, books need a professional editor.

Why do books need a professional editor?

Authors are too close to the project to be able to pick up everything, especially if the author is self-publishing their book. Self-editing doesn’t work; many books and author’s sites have errors in grammar and punctuation as books and a web site visited today.

How to choose the right one to work with

  1. Authors need to talk with, and ask questions of the editor they choose to work with to see if the read and understand the genre of your book
·         Have they edited in the genre?
·         Can you and the editor work together?
·         Will the editor accept your input?
·         Are they willing to keep you abreast of how the project is progressing?
·         Does the editor have an estimate of how long it will take to edit?
·         Can you agree on a price that is acceptable to both parties?

  1. The editor should send the author an edited copy for review/proofread.
·         The final say is the author’s responsibility.
·         The editor shouldn’t have changed, but strengthened the sentences.
·         The editor should have corrected any grammar or punctuation errors.
·         The editor should have used Word’s Track Changes.
·         Any questions the editor has should be addressed using Word’s Comment feature.
  1. After the edited copy is proofread by the author:
·         The author and editor should agree on the changes.
·         If the editor suggested a word change, the author and editor should agree.
·         Talking with the editor should be like talking to a friend helping your book be the best it can be.
·         Once the final edits are completed and both parties are satisfied, then the final edited copy is ready for publication.

There should never be harsh feelings about your book with an editor; the editor is there to help the author create a book that is the best copy possible. 

Readers deserve the best book authors and editors are capable of creating. From an ethical standpoint, authors need to offer only their best to their readers.

Robert Medak
Freelance Writer/Blogger/Editor/Proofreader/Reviewer/Marketer

Planning for Success






We are having a big family reunion this weekend to coincide with our son's wedding and our house-warming in our new home. The relocation itself took almost 2 years to plan as we searched for the right location and the right home.The planning for a successful and stress free family gathering has  been in the works for over 3 months.

 In the process of trying to plan a successful family gathering it occurred to me that it is similar to the writing process. There are certain steps that I take in planning any big event that I want to turn out so why wouldn't the process work for a successful writing career.

First, I researched. Research included looking at properties, schools, churches, shopping etc for the relocation and it was detailed. I took notes, made calls, read whatever I could get my hands on, and talked in person with the people who knew what I needed to know. Writing articles, books, poems, or cartoons deserves the same research for market, style, topic, ideas, and anything else that would make the piece reach the heart of the reader. In essence, research is the first part of the writing process.

The next part of the writing process is the planning stage where you lay out all the research and start making decisions about which information is essential and which parts of the research can be kept on hold. Planning is part of any successful action whether it is planning a party or planning an article.

Implementing the plan is when you get down and dirty with action steps that make the plan go from a plan into an event or end product. You clean and cook preparing for guests, you write (cook) your words and then you revise (clean and polish) to prepare your manuscript.

At different stages of any action plan you must take time to assess. The assessment gives you the information you need get the project or event just right. Planning a party or planning a book takes the same assessment at different times to make sure you are still on track. Take a look at what can be added to make your writing piece shine or maybe what you can delete.

Evaluation is the last step. In my case, we will hope the guests have a good time, no one is hurt or sick, and that the house is still standing after three nights of campfires, cookouts, and a wedding. In the case of your writing your hope should be personal pride and satisfaction in a job well done and of course the ultimate goal of publication. You want to reach your readers with a product they love.

It seems that when things don't go as planned we deem the project a failure but in fact it is all part of a learning and growing process. In the case of a party or event, changes can be made for the next time. Maybe less cooking, more relaxing, and fewer expectations. In the case of your writing projects, a revision can change things and make your story or article a success. Killing the character or changing the focus of a piece can be just the right thing. And sometimes the piece is perfect just the way it is but the target audience may need to change. It may take you back to the research step but then you continue with the process until you succeed.

No matter what you do in life, it seems planning will lead to success if you follow the steps and listen to your heart. Don't bypass the research or short change the process and expect success. All successes take a plan and planning is hard work. What is your plan for success?

Maintaining a Work/Life Balance as a Writer


“If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do matters very much” -  Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
I remember reading that quote shortly after I became a father and it stuck with me, mainly because I recognized the truth in it.  With all the demands on my time, it is a terrific reminder to keep my priorities in order.
For me, balancing a full time day job, a family, and my writing career is no easy feat.  I’ve learned how to squeeze every ounce of productivity out of the day.  My morning and evening commutes into New York City and most of my lunch hours are dedicated to writing, whether it’s writing, critiquing, or promotional activities.  I will hash out plot ideas and story lines while standing on the subway platform.  I will check email and social media on my smart phone and tap away on my iPad while riding Metro North Railroad.  I will think about various promotional activities on my mental “to do list” while stopped at a red light during my drive home.  But once I’m home, it’s time to unplug myself from my smart phone and hang up my writer’s hat and spend time with my family.  Though occasionally, I’ve been known to plug myself back in after my daughter is in bed. 
I know that being a writer takes a tremendous amount of discipline, but I also believe that deliberately stepping away from writing actually makes me a better writer.  I’ve found that my time spent with friends, family and even complete strangers, have been directly responsible for at least half of my story ideas that led to publication.  How tragic (and ironic) it would have been if I had been so engrossed in my writing, that I missed those ideas entirely.
I’ve met quite a few writers over the years who would talk about their sacrifices made for the craft.  I heard how they would miss family gatherings and lock themselves away in order to finish whatever project they were working on.  I always thought that this approach to writing was a bit misguided.   I truly believe that as writers we should never be so focused with writing about life that we neglect to live our own.  It’s our interactions with other people (both good and bad) that give us content for our writing, and balance in our lives.  Our experiences provide the foundation for our creativity to build on.   
My latest children’s book, Just for Today, touches upon this thought.  This book is based on the time I have spent playing with my daughter.  In this book, a young boy pleads with his father to stay home and play with him.  Together they will go on a safari, find buried treasure and win the World Series, among other adventures.  All things considered, when I stack this up against the rewards of writing, it’s not a bad way to spend the day.  

Kevin McNamee is a writer and poet who writes primarily for the children’s market.  He is the author of seven picture books.  His poetry has been included in the collection, An Eyeball in My Garden: And Other Spine-Tingling Poems.  To find out more about Kevin, please visit his website at http://www.kevinmcnamee.com or visit his blog at http://www.kevinmcnameechildrensauthor.blogspot.com.   

Collaboration & Lessons Learned From Improv


I am not an actor, my husband is. So for years I have stood in the background and watched and listened and learned - because a writer, as you are aware, never knows what might come in handy at some point.

Enter the Five Rules of Improvisation.

As a co-author of a young adult science fiction series, I've come to find the process a bit different from writing alone. I've also found the Rules of Improv have made the process much easier. So for those of you thinking about testing the waters of collaboration here are some ideas that might help:

Improv Rule 1: Anything is possible. As they say, two heads are better than one. Having someone else who is also creative working on a project just increases the energy. When I open myself to the new ideas, I'm often surprised and pleased at the direction I find we are going.

Improv Rule 2: Listen. Listening is a skill that is much needed and rarely used. Most of the time, each of us only listens long enough to determine where we think the other person is going and then we spend the remaining time of their talk working to form our response. When collaborating, it is critical to listen to your partner and even repeat to make sure you both are in sync.

Improv Rule 3. "Yes, and." In Improv you are also working with someone else. If they say, "I'm a chicken farmer," and you say, "No, you're not," the skit is over. When your collaborator says, "I think she should say something like . . ." and you say, "No," your collaboration is over. Using the philosophy of "Yes, and" creates a building of ideas which will result in a stronger relationship and finished product.

Improv Rule 4. Don't only ask questions. This rule is about making the other person come up with the solutions. If my co-author is always asking why? Or how? I'm doing all the work. If I'm the one asking the questions, it's her that is now in that role. Instead, come together with questions as well as the possible solutions to them.

Finally, Improv Rule 5. Know where you are going. You don't need all the final details, just an idea of where you are heading - remember, if you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there.

Write on!
_______________________________
D. Jean Quarles is a writer of Women's Fiction and a co-author of a Young Adult Science Fiction Series. Her latest book, Flight from the Water Planet, Book 1 of The Exodus Series was written with coauthor, Austine Etcheverry.

D. Jean loves to tell stories of personal growth – where success has nothing to do with money or fame, but of living life to the fullest. She is also the author of the novels: Rocky's Mountains, Fire in the Hole and, Perception. The Mermaid, an award winning short story was published in the anthology, Tales from a Sweltering City.  

She is a wife, mother, grandmother and business coach. In her free time . . . ha! ha! ha! Anyway, you can find more about D. Jean Quarles, her writing and her books at her website at www.djeanquarles.com

You can also follower her at www.djeanquarles.blogspot.com or on Facebook

Beginning Writers Do Get Published

  By Terry Whalin ( @terrywhalin ) Over the last 20 years Greg Stielstra, author of Pyromarketing , marketed hundreds of Christian books inc...