How to Handle Controversial Topics Tastefully and Tactfully (and still earn money)...

A few months ago, a young lovely woman sought my services to edit and publish her book.
In addition to having me to make sure that all her "T's" were crossed and her "i's" were dotted, there was one more personal request.

She wanted me to let her know if I thought that anything she wrote would be considered potentially offensive to loved ones mentioned in her memoir. If so, she would edit it out. It was a tall order.

Yet, it's a fear that plagues many of us as we pen our pieces and share our personal lives in a public forum: how to be honest and authentic without being hurtful, controversial, or sacrificing important relationships.

But, here's where "the plot thickens," folks...

Effective writing,
Powerful writing,
Passionate writing,
Life-impacting writing,
Writing worth reading and remembering,

Often exposes some personal "truth," which leads to a universal message being shared, which leads to important discoveries for the reader. It's how "ah-ha" moments are born. It's how connections are made in the mind, heart and soul.
It's also why autobiographies and "tell-alls" top the New York Times Best Sellers' list.

Your "internal conflict," imperfections, family issues, or inner demons battled can provide resolution, inspiration, hope, forgiveness, (or even comic relief) to those in need.
There may be a MESSage in your "mess!"

With this being the case, here are a few guidelines to telling your personal stories tastefully and tactfully, and still have others respect you in the morning. :-)

1. Consider using a pen name (pseudonym). Many famous writers write under different names to protect their anonymity and to dabble in different genres, (like erotica or fiction) without having to deal with any pre-conceived expectations or even consequences. A few famous writers that have opted to write under pen names, (according to  reports) are: J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, Dr. Seuss, Nora Roberts and Michael Crichton. Another common application for pen names is in writing controversial commentary.
2. If you must air "dirty laundry," use proper discretion, "aliases" and respectful boundaries. People are more important than profit. Especially those we cherish, (who have a right to a certain degree of privacy).
3. Consider that you could be legally sued for libel or defamation of character. When in doubt, consult a qualified attorney and proceed with caution.  
4. Look at the big picture. What is your goal? Is there a lesson to be learned in what you're sharing? Is now a good time to tell your story? For example, I was a huge fan of Princess Diana. Like many, when she died, I was devastated. Which is why it boggles my brain, that years later, former "friends," servants, and those who knew her well, are STILL "digging up" secrets and sharing intimate details about her life. Why now? What's the point? Controversy sells; but that doesn't mean we have to be a "sell-out."
5. When applicable, add humor to heal. On a some-what related side note here, I love to watch stand up comedy. I think there are many techniques and approaches that can be incorporated to make writing more "entertaining." And one of those techniques is to find humor and poke fun at the idiosyncrasies and traditions of families. As creative artists, it's only natural that we would sometimes draw material from what we observe in our immediate environments, right? But be careful; don't be mean spirited or spiteful in what you share. You may even want to run your project or piece by your friends and family members before you "go public."
6. Recognize that no matter how careful or painstaking you are-- sometimes, somebody, somewhere will be offended, or take issue with something you've written. There's not much you can do. It happens to the best of us. 

For more information, here's another forum that tastefully addresses this topic. It collectively features "16 Brilliant Bloggers" talking about Controversy. It's published through Blog World; I'm featured as number 11 on the list---published last year.

Remember that even though "the truth may set you free," it may also "liberate" long-term friendships and cherished relationships, so proceed with caution. The life you save may be your own. :-)
Have a wonderful Wednesday. Until next time...


Thoughts? 
How do you deal with controversial topics in your writing? Would you ever use a "pen" name?
Would love to hear from you on this... 

Image: Freedigitalphotos.net

Interview With Editor, Publisher and Author, Moira Allen of Writing World

 

  ---" It doesn't matter whether your reader is holding a stone tablet or a parchment scroll or a bound book or an iPad -- YOUR goal is to make sure that whatever he's holding, he doesn't put it down."---Moira Allen

Today, it is my great pleasure to share a Sunday "sit-down" chat with Moira Allen. She has been gracious enough to provide her time and expertise for a great interview here, I'm sure you'll find interesting and informative...

 Can you tell us a little about your background?

This question actually stumped me a bit right from the start, because I have such a varied background that I didn't quite know where to begin. But I'm guessing you're most interested in "writing background," so I'll stick to that.

I was one of those kids in school who would say, "Oh, goodie!" when told we had an essay assignment. I've always loved to write. I suppose that's an offshoot of the fact that I've always loved to READ -- and when I wasn't reading stories from a book, I'd be creating them in my head.

I think I always felt certain that I would be "a writer" -- even when I wasn't fully aware of what that meant. A writer was the kind of person who created the books I devoured, so that was what I'd be. It came as something of a rude shock to discover that, after graduating from college, I had to do something ELSE to actually earn a living! Consequently I worked as a secretary for quite a few years. Ironically, that finally got me to my first writing job -- writing computer documentation at the National Institutes of Health. (It was neither exciting nor time-consuming, so I spent a good deal of my time drafting a novel -- which is probably still lurking somewhere in the computer archives of NIH!)

(Actually, brief aside, that was a kick, because in those days, to write on a computer, as opposed to a "word processor," you had to write "line by line." You literally had to put in a line number, then write a sentence, then put in another line number and write the next sentence. If you wanted to change something, you wrote a command to "change X to Y in 330" -- i.e., line 330.)

So. Fast forward to 1985, when I got my first editing job, at Dog Fancy magazine, which is where my writing career really started to get off the ground. I spent about two years there, and really got a chance to learn the editing trade -- and also to discover that I really enjoyed being an editor. After leaving Fancy Publications, I wrote my first book ("Coping with Sorrow on the Loss of Your Pet") and self-published it, back in the day when self-publishing wasn't quite as simple as it was today. In fact, second technological aside, it was only possible for me because the Mac computer had just come out and made it possible for one to design and do one's own typesetting right there on one's personal computer. Typesetting in those days cost something like $10 a page, so "self-publishing" was out of the reach of most mere mortals. I already knew how to do layouts from my editorial work, so being able to do my own typesetting made it possible to produce a book relatively inexpensively. BTW, that book is still in print (and still self-published).

I didn't actually become a serious freelancer until 1996. I "dabbled," and worked on another novel (still in the sock drawer), but wasn't really putting myself out there. How that came about was... My husband had started talking to someone who was trying to get him involved in Amway. (Actually by this time I think it had another name, but that was the base company.) The selling point of all this was that one is only so many months away from being flat broke if one loses one's job, and this would offer so much security, yadda yadda... And I started thinking, OK, if you're worried about needing an extra income, I'd rather start bringing it in by doing something meaningful than by convincing people to buy soap! So I started freelancing, and started doing pretty well at it.

Shortly thereafter I hooked up with Debbie Ridpath Ohi and the Inkspot website. Thanks to Debbie, I became something of the writer's technology guru, investigating the possibilities of this new "Internet" thing. (Technology aside there was, I gave a seminar at a writers' conference in, I think, 1997, on "writers and the Internet" -- and it got bogged down on such topics as "why you need to start out by actually getting a computer...") Eventually I became an editor on Inkspot, editing the "Inklings" newsletter and a new publication we set up called "Global Writers' Ink" (which only lasted about a year). I stayed with Inkspot for several years, freelancing for other magazines like Cats, Entrepreneur, The Writer, etc. as well. And that led to... your next question...

What was the inspiration behind starting Writing-World 12 years ago?

That gets into the old history of "what happened to Inkspot." This was the day of the dot-coms, with companies trying to buy up anything that looked like an Internet business. So Inkspot got purchased by Xlibris. (That's right, THE Xlibris. Go to the Dark Side, Luke...) What Xlibris actually meant to accomplish by this, we never did figure out, and I'm not sure they knew. I think somehow they were hoping to leverage Inkspot's huge community (one thing Inkspot did that I've never done was to have lots of forums and other interactive community sections). But Xlibris was bleeding money. By the end of 2000, we knew that some serious changes were going to be made, and assumed that meant a bunch of us were going to get fired, so I started wondering what to do next.

At that point, my husband asked, if Inkspot was the #1 website for writers, "Who's #2?" I couldn't think of any site, at that time, that was a "close second" in terms of content or popularity. So I thought, hey, why don't I take a stab at creating the "#2 writing site on the Web," seeing as I was pretty sure I was about to get kicked off the #1 site. I started working on a design and a content plan, and was just about to launch in February 2001, when... Wait for it...

Xlibris shut Inkspot down altogether! (I heard that basically someone went through the office and literally unplugged peoples' computers -- happily, I worked from home!) On her way out, Debbie put a notice on Inkspot letting people know that it was shut down and redirecting them to Writing-World.com.

This gave me a double advantage: All Inkspot's regular visitors were looking for a place to find the great articles they were used to, and Inkspot's writers were happy to let me take over their material. So I inherited a huge amount of great writing from Inkspot, and thousands of readers at the same time. And I've just tried to keep going forward from there.

Beyond the general guidelines provided at the site, what are you looking for? What increases a writer’s odds of acceptance?

What I look for most is an article that makes me feel, "Hey, I could do that!" I want to come away from an article with a sense that, if I followed those instructions, I could do something I haven't done before. I could break into a new market, or tackle a new type of writing or article, or perhaps even just reorganize my office in a different way.

I get a lot of articles that have good information, but they leave one feeling that one would still need to know a lot more to even get STARTED on whatever the topic happens to be. I also get a lot of articles that are more along the lines of "I did this, and then I did that, and that's how I became successful" -- but what that person did was very individual and unique, and not something that another writer could apply in their own circumstances.

Another thing that I look for is clear evidence of experience. I get quite a number of articles from someone who wants to tell me how to, say, "write a novel" -- but that person has never written a novel. Or perhaps someone will say that they've written dozens of short stories -- but not one has been published. That tells me you've written dozens of unpublishable short stories -- and doesn't convince me that you're the person to be telling other writers "how to do it."

What would it surprise others to know about you?

It would probably surprise people to know that I do not spend nearly as much time actually writing as people might imagine. I really enjoy being an editor -- and need to remind myself to spend more time composing my own stuff.

If you could have one literary “super power” what would it be?

The power of stick-to-itiveness! Or perhaps I would be "Mighty Second Draft Woman" -- the woman who whips through second drafts as easily as firsts! We won't talk about how long it has been since I've poked at the second draft of my current novel...

Any advice you can offer to today’s writers?

I think the advice writers need to hear has not changed in centuries. I get quite a kick out of reading articles for writers in Victorian magazines, published in the 1890's -- and those writers and editors are telling would-be writers EXACTLY the same thing we try to tell them today.

I think the issue is that the fundamentals of writing have not changed. We've been TOLD that they would change -- that new technologies would "change everything." But they haven't. They simply change the mechanism by which we do the same thing we've been doing for hundreds of years: Tell a good story.

A writer's goal is to capture the reader's attention and imagination. That goal is the same whether you're sitting around a glowing fire roasting a bit of mammoth, or sitting around the glowing Kindle screen. The story has to be good. The reader (or listener) has to get past "Here I am reading a book" and on to "Oh, gosh, how is Jeremy going to get out of THAT?" It doesn't matter whether your reader is holding a stone tablet or a parchment scroll or a bound book or an iPad -- YOUR goal is to make sure that whatever he's holding, he doesn't put it down.

To accomplish that, of course, requires... well, volumes have been written upon what it requires. But if I could pass along just ONE tidbit of advice to writers of any age or era, it's simply this: Don't get too full of yourself. One of the real detriments to writers of this age of easy self-publication is that too many writers are starting to believe that "getting published" is somehow a civil right. Being denied publication is somehow akin to being denied "your voice," your right to express yourself, etc. etc. We no longer think of it as a privilege, or as something to be earned through skill and hard work.

What we forget is that writing is not just about "being heard." It's about being BOUGHT. Books are BOUGHT by readers. We're not doing readers some sort of incredible favor by bestowing upon them our timeless prose. THEY are doing US the favor if they CHOOSE to buy our work. If they don't like it, they won't finish it and they won't buy anything else with our name on it. The writing world is not "open mike night." It's a marketplace, and an incredibly competitive one.

So steer clear of the tendency to suppose, "I wrote it, therefore it is good." If your only answer to the question, "Why is this a good book?" (or story, or poem, or article) is "Because I wrote it," that's no answer at all. A far better approach is to begin with "I wrote it" and then go on to "so now, how can I make it better?" If you can't imagine making it better, because you assume it's already perfect, it has already failed.

Which 9 to 5 job contributed most to your success as a writer, author and editor?

Definitely my two years as an editor at Dog Fancy. I learned so much about editing, and about good writing, during that period. I learned how magazines were put together (with typewriters, BTW) -- how the art was handled, how photos were selected, how one chose what "blurbs" to put on the cover, and so forth. I also learned that one could not afford to wait for the "muse" when one had a deadline. I will never forget my first week in the office, when I was told to "write an article about..." I'd never just sat down at the typewriter with the idea that, by 5:00, I need to have a finished article on something! I always imagined that you thought about it for a few days, and let ideas percolate, and let it gel, and spent a couple more days doing research, and.... Well, by 5:00 I had that article done, and it was probably one of the best learning experiences of my life!

What I loved most, though, was this act of assembling many different pieces into a whole that was greater than the sum of its parts. You might have an article from Writer A, but you needed photos from Photographer B, and then you might need another article to balance the first one... plus all the columns, news items, layout issues... That magazine was also seriously suffering when I took it over -- we had quite a few "dead wood" columnists (some of whom weren't even sending in their columns, and they'd still get paid!). We had a tendency to put cute puppies wearing glasses on our covers. I happily got rid of a bunch of the existing writers, found a bunch of new ones, started putting big dogs on the covers -- and in that first year we won our first-ever "best magazine" award from the Dog Writers' Association of America.

  What is your view on blogging and social media?

Honestly, I know I am going to sound like the dinosaur in the woodshed, but... I believe that for many writers, it is a huge distraction. I know that the prevailing wisdom today is that you must "build a platform" and "gain a following" in order to succeed -- or in order to get a publisher interested in your work. But I think that for many writers, this is doing things backwards. It's saying, basically, that you need to build an audience before you actually produce a work. That has never worked before in the history of writing, and I don't believe that it's going to work today for that many writers.

I think it also ends up, for many, consuming all too much precious time that COULD be spent producing a work. If I'm going to write a novel, I'm not going to spend an hour or so each day talking about it on my blog or Facebook -- that novel will never get done!

I think it's also a part of the growing trend today to assume that we all have to do absolutely everything. The benefits of time-saving technologies are simply that, the more time we have, the more we feel that we must DO. Everyone's single greatest complaint is "being too busy." We're too busy to have a social life, too busy to pursue our dreams -- and we just get busier and busier. Today we can't simply be writers, or writers and promoters -- we have to be performers and social secretaries and constantly chat, chat, chat with EVERYONE. Otherwise, we're neglecting our audience and our "platform."

Oddly enough, writers like Charles Dickens and Agatha Christie don't have these problems. Amazingly, their books still sell very well, but they're not blogging or maintaining a Facebook page or conducting chats. (Or if they are, they're on a sphere that most of us can't travel...) Mind you, I think Cleo Coyle, just as an example, has one of the world's best author pages (though I doubt she maintains it herself, given that she writes novels under at least three pen-names). But I don't buy Cleo Coyle's books because I came across her web page and fell in love with her brownie recipes. I visited her web page BECAUSE I liked her books (and, admittedly, I WAS looking for one of her recipes...) Nothing on her web page, brilliant as it is, would make me buy a book -- which makes me think that too much of social media is putting the cart before the horse.

Me, I want to be Agatha Christie. I can't think of anything more fabulous than having my books sell decades after I'm dead. And if that should ever happen -- if I should become that fabulous a writer -- I don't think it will be because of blogs or Facebook. It will be because of some serious hard work (which, I confess, so far, I haven't put in).

I know lots of folks will disagree -- but I'd really like, someday, to see some hard statistics about just HOW MUCH blogs, Facebook, and other social media really do influence readers' buying decisions. So far, it seems to be largely a matter of people saying, "You must do this because everyone says you must do this." I would really like to see the statistical evidence that doing this actually brings the results that we want!

Readers, please feel free to pose any questions or comments for Moira as it relates to her role as an editor, author, or as a freelancer.  We'd love to hear from you.

To learn more about Moira, as well as garner timely tips on successful freelancing, visit Writing-World.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Use Blogging to Build Your Writing Business and Your Income!

Any writer who has been in this industry for a while, knows all too well the feast or famine cycle. Here’s the script: one month your writing income finances a big flat-screen T.V. with fancy features. The next month, you’re surviving off Ramen Noodles, and praying for loose change under couch cushions. There are more fluctuations than with the stock market.

Inconsistent, sporadic pay can produce stress. And stress can lead to writer’s block. And writer’s block can block your cash flow, which leads to more stress.

There’s a better way.

If you’d like to angst less, and add another income stream to build your writing business and your bottom line, consider the benefits of blogging.

Since I added blogging-related services to the creative offerings I provide to my clients, it has increased my income considerably. And it can for you too.

WHY BLOGGING…?
Today’s savvy writer recognizes the importance of offering ancillary services to remain competitive and “stay in the black.” For this reason, you’ll often find writers who also provide photography, or edit other writers’ works, or do coaching on the side. Of the many creative options available, blogging gives you more “bang” for your buck. Here’s why it makes sense to incorporate it in your writing business.

Quicker pay. Instead of writing feature articles that pay upon publication, (which can be any where from a couple of months to a year), many times blogging gigs pay upon acceptance. In Ghost Blogging, it gets even better. Typically clients pay a deposit before work begins.
It’s less time consuming. Though it varies depending upon the type and scope of project, comparatively speaking, it’s quicker to pen posts than to write articles. Consider that the average blog post is 400-800 words, and requires little, (if any) research. This enables you to “work smarter, not harder” and successfully juggle various creative assignments without detriment.
Blogging “is the new black.” Once considered merely a medium for sharing rants and showcasing creative hobbies, blogging has evolved into a powerful marketing tool used by businesses to expand their customer base; by authors, to build a platform, and by organizations seeking to promote charitable causes. This makes it a skill that’s in high demand.
　
　
Here’s what a few other freelancers have to say about blogging and its impact on their careers.“I have not yet incorporated it into my business, so I can’t give you a bottom line figure, but I do know more and more businesses and not-for-profits are creating blogs, and at a recent business networking meeting, the only writing anyone talked about hiring for was blog writing. So I think it is potentially useful. I do think, however, that one should probably pick a topic one loves or wants to learn about, as I doubt anyone will ever pay enough for blog entries to make it worth the time if you have to start from scratch for every topic — because the research can take a lot of time if you don’t know the subject area.”
Cynthia Clampitt, President of Midwest Writers Association

“As a writer, blogging has helped sharpen my skills, tighten my writing, and connect with
writers and others who I might not have met otherwise. Guest posting on other blogs
has had its benefits as well. Both have generated exposure and work in a number of areas.”
Karen Lange, Author and online writing instructor

Now that we’ve covered “why” professional blogging works, here’s how to work it!
Start at home base.
Construct your own blog. The best way to hone your voice, build your “blogging chops” and establish your expertise, is to create a quality site that enhances your online image and demonstrates your skill to potential clients and editors. In the beginning of my blogging career, I actually set up an “experimental” site where I tested design schemes, gadgets, and functionality. I credit this trial and error experience for the success of my current blog.

Have a strategy plan in place.
How will you create a buzz about your blog? Where will you do guest posts? What type of clients will you target? What kind of services will you provide? The clearer you are, the fewer detours you’ll have on the road to success.

If opportunity doesn’t knock, create your own “luck.”
Though blogging jobs are abundant these days, there’s great competition for the ones listed at popular writers’ sites. For this reason, I have been known to periodically approach companies that I’ve researched online to “pitch” my blogging services. This strategy also works well for your existing client base, if they already have a site, but have difficulty producing quality content on an ongoing basis.

In addition to the benefits outlined here, there’s one more smart reason to add blogging to your business plan: it’s fun. Blogging is a great way to mix business with pleasure, and increase your earning potential in the future.

Questions?
How has blogging impacted your bottom line or your creative opportunities this year?

Image: Freedigitalphotos.net

Social Media Savvy for Savvy Writers--Why you May Not Want to be FaceBook Friends With Clients...

"You have 1 notification" read my Thursday's Email.
Another FaceBook request. Another one from one of my cherished clients.
Initially, I considered it a positive gesture. Very groovy. 
After all, people typically opt to become social media friends with those whom they admire, or want to know more about.

Not to mention, social media has the ability to expand writers' reach and influence exponentially--increasing their fan base and ultimately their bottom line.
A win/win, right?
Not always...

Here's the downside.
Just like medication administered to improve our health, social media must be used under the right circumstances and in the right dosages to be effective and enhance us. I'm sure you've read and heard of people who have lost jobs based upon what they "shared" online; whether it was inappropriate pictures by politicians, rants by disgruntled workers, or corporate secrets divulged. Not being social media savvy can have dire consequences.
Choose carefully.

Or think of it this way. If you were giving an intimate "gathering" in your home, would you invite All the people you know at church, at work, and in the neighborhood?
More than likely you wouldn't.
Of course, it's not that you would have anything to "hide," it's just that you are keenly aware that different groups or "audiences" have different views, different interests, different sensibilities, and different types of associations. If not, you should. :-)

With this is mind, here are a few compelling reasons why you should be selective in "Friending" your clients.

1.  We are judged by the company we keep. Like most folks, I take great pride in my personal friends. Categorically, they are bright, funny, warm, diverse, spiritual people; and I feel blessed to know them. Still, from time to time, these free spirits forget that we have an "outside audience" when they post things via social media. Take for instance my pal "Paul"--- who last year, when going through marital issues with his wife, shared a rather "passionate" view on why he thinks marriage "sucks" and how to avoid being a "sucker." He used profanity and a few provocative images, that unfortunately didn't put him in the best light. I've also had friends to share jokes that were off color, (or controversial) as well. You may not share their views, but it may be assumed by association that you do.  
2. It's usually not wise to mix business with pleasure. Though people use FaceBook for connecting, and to build their platform as writers, I see it as more of a recreational medium than professional. For example, people will "tag" you, share photos, invite you to "beat their scores" with certain games, and even post local events to attend in their area. I've also been stalked contacted by former suitors to re-establish contact. Suffice it to say, that it's not in your best interest to have clients exposed to too much information or too much potential drama. Let's "FACE" it; folks don't always post things to your "wall" that are flattering, prudent, or even true. Can you afford for clients to get the wrong impression?
3. The mentality that "the more the merrier" doesn't always apply with social media. I would much rather have a modest "following" of folks who support my projects, purchase my books or services, and serve as my faithful "cheerleaders," than a high number of random individuals that really could care less about who I am and what I stand for. You don't have to have a big following to have "major" influence.   
4. You may not necessarily want your clients to know that you're vacationing and booze-ing it up in the Bahamas, or that you plan to give them 2 weeks notice because they're a pain to work with. "Never bite the hand that feeds you."
5. The world is smaller than you think.
6. Freedom of Speech isn't always "free." 

Here are a few alternatives to help you to stay connected with your cherished clients in a quality, friendly way:

• Consider including them in your LinkedIn network. It's a great venue for professional associations, that allows you to share your creative resume, join groups targeted to your interests, and connect with others, while maintaining strictly "professional" interactions.
•    Send Email blasts for items of interests or calendar of events. You've written an interesting article that was published on a popular site. Or you'll be conducting a workshop in your area. Or you would like to get feedback on an important project. An Email blast will often fit the bill! Just make sure to bcc (blind carbon copy) to protect everyone's email address and personal information.
• Send birthday cards, personal notes, newspaper clippings, gifts, thank you cards, etc. via snail mail.  In a technological world, a "personal touch" communicates volumes.
• Create a newsletter just for clients. It could include time management tips, birthdays of the month, book reviews, industry happenings, etc.

If you simply must connect via FaceBook, consider adjusting your privacy settings accordingly. Follow these timely tips to preserve your online image, and to avoid "Face-ing the music" with valued clients.

Your turn.
 Agree or disagree? Do you have a personal policy regarding clients and social media?

Image: Freedigitalphotos.net

Thursday's Thoughts...What Will You Do Differently to Achieve Your Writing Dreams?

---"If you keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you're getting."


With so much sports saturating the airwaves these days, my mind naturally focused on an athletic analogy, for today's post.

It's October. We're in the final inning of the freelance "game" for this year.
What will you do to score more? To produce more work? Garner more clients? Pen that novel you've been promising? To get on board with guest blogging?

For each of us, the game plan will be different. As they say: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."

Here are a few of my "11th hour" undertakings and short-term goals for 2013:

• I decided to submit a few pieces to the Chicken Soup anthology. Yet again, (sigh). Keep your fingers crossed.
• I've purchased an excellent reference guide (The Best of the Magazine Markets for Writers for 2010-2011), to identify potential leads and to broaden writing opportunities. Stay tuned for the backstory behind how this purchase also landed a new client the same day!
• Will attempt to craft a query or two to land in some of the more prominent writers' magazines.
• Got another subscription to Writers Digest publication, to keep up with what's going on in the industry.
• Am focusing on landing an agent for two book ideas for publication for 2014. Note: if you are an agent reading my blog, please have your people contact my people. :-)
• Would love to work with more new clients on creating blogs, assisting in virtual tours, and marketing strategies. On the hunt...

     Your turn.
What will you do differently by year end, for greater success in 2014? Do tell.

Image: Freedigitalphotos.net

Q & A With Author and Life Coach, Faith L. Walls

It started off as a senseless tragedy.
Faith's mom died in her sleep. Unexpectedly.
But years later, Faith has found meaning and purpose through penning a touching new book containing her mom's "pearls of wisdom" called Ten Lessons My Mother Taught me Before She Died.
She joins us today to talk about her new role and her new journey. Please join me in welcoming her.

 Q. Can you tell my readers a little about who you are and your background?
　
I was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. My parents were CPS teachers. Although I wanted to become a surgeon, I ended up following in their footsteps. I’ve worked as the Dean of Students at an all-girl school, my former alma mater Maria High School, for two years before moving to Sweden for one year to research relational aggression among girls in Sodertalje, Sweden.

I love the Boston Celtics and hope to one day own part of the team. My favorite foods are American pancakes, Atlantic salmon, and gummi bears. In order to relax, I enjoy watching Spongebob or the golf channel.

Q. What inspired you to write "10 Lessons My Mother Taught Me Before She Died?"

My mother was a writer; she taught me how to write poetry, so writing has always been a part of my life. She and I always wanted to write children’s books together. After she died I felt a pull to work on a project that was both cathartic and a tribute to the memories we shared.

Q. What would you like readers to take away from your book?

Honestly, whatever they choose to take away. Whatever words, ideas, or themes they feel resonate with them, I want them to take and apply to their lives in a positive way. Overall, I do want them to realize that whether you chose to live or to merely exist, you only get one life.
　
Q. Of all the lessons your mom taught you, which would you say has probably been the most rewarding or profound?
　
“You have not, because you ask not”. That lesson has been most profound because I’ve been able to take advantage of so many different opportunities in my life because I wasn’t afraid of anyone’s “no”. Instead, I anticipate the yes.

 Q. Has anything surprised you in particular, in your journey to become a published author?

It’s surprised me that I’ve actually published the book. For the last five years the book has been merely a Word document on my computer. So the fact that I actually have a hard copy of a work that took a half decade to produce is surprising and exciting.

 Q. Can you tell us what it was like to live in Sweden for a year?

Amazing; it took me probably about a month for me to realize that I was actually living there and not just visiting. Since my first trip to Sweden in 2007, it’s always felt like home. Actually I was traveling with Up with People, a global education program in Sweden, when my mother died suddenly. The opportunity to live in Sweden made me feel great because it had been a dream of mine for years.

Sweden is beautiful; although the winters can be cold and dark. On the other hand, the summers are beautiful with long hours of light. It’s very clean and the water and air are so crisp. The language was difficult to master. Most Swedish people are fluent in English, but my host mom wanted to be sure that her host kid could have conversations in Swedish. She’s the best Swedish teacher a girl could ask for.

Q. What would it surprise others to know about you?

Although I’ve traveled to 25 countries on 5 continents, I absolutely hate to fly.
　
　
Q. If you could share one piece of advice to aspiring authors, what would it be?

Your story matters. Don’t let anyone tell you that it doesn’t, especially not you! Sometimes we can be our toughest critics and talk ourselves out of anything. I saw a quote the other day by Queen Latifah. She said: “Over-thinking is a form of fear!” I think the same is true about writing a book. Don’t over think your message. Just write from your heart and the hearts of your readers will be touched.

Q. Speaking of life's lessons, which one has been the hardest for you to master? Do tell.　　
　
"You have not, because you ask not.” It has been the most difficult lesson to master, because it’s the easiest one to remember, but it’s like a muscle. You have to constantly exercise your mastery of the level. There have been hundreds of times that I’ve had to remind myself that a current situation is the perfect opportunity to put that lesson in practice.
　

Q. Can you tell us a little about your life coaching business?
Sure. In 2011, I hired my life coach Kenneth Carlson of Authentic Development. He changed my life and introduced me to the world of life-coaching. After coaching me and mentoring me, he encouraged me to start my own business. Because of my interest in being an expert and advocate for girls and women. I decided to link my two interests together and become a life-coach for girls and women.

Anyone interested in my coaching sessions should contact me via my email address: faithelleenterprises@gmail.com. Initially, we can set up an hour sample coaching session so that potential clients can see if there is a good fit. From there we talk about the ways the person is interested in using coaching to move forward in their lives, and or career.

Order your copy of "10 Lessons" at Amazon.com.

Thoughts, readers?

Pen & Prosper Honors National Poetry Day...

 

"Roses are red, violets are blue."

 

 

In the words of The Pointer Sisters, "I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it!"
Today officially marks National Poetry Day---a day designated to recognize, celebrate, share, and increase exposure to poetry on a national level.

 Originally founded in 1994 by William Sieghart, NPD has produced web-based events, readings, classroom activities, conversations and celebrations world wide.
Organizations like the Poetry Society and the Forward Arts Foundation will sponsor activities and programs of potential interest. For more information, see it here:
http://www.forwardartsfoundation.org/national-poetry-day/

As an author of several poetry volumes, I am honored to give homage to my "first" literary love, and welcome you to do so too.
Accordingly, I am sponsoring a National Poetry Day Contest. Yay!

Game?
Here are the rules.

1. Poem must be an original.
2. Poem must be based upon the theme of water.
3. Poem can be a Haiku, free verse, or rhyming.
4. Poem can not exceed 24 lines.
5. All entries must be received no later than October 10, 2013.
6. Poems may be entered as blog comments or emailed to Gemsjen@yahoo.com.
7. Winners will receive bragging rights, a beautiful badge to display on their sites, and a book of poetry or journal.
8. Winners will be announced at this site on October 11, 2013.
9. Two winners will be selected. 
10. Two entries per person allowed.   
  
I can't wait to see what you come up with!
B/T/W---For those in my readership who are teachers, why not incorporate this as a class lesson or fun Friday event? You can do Acrostic poems, or Bio Poems, or Haikus...the possibilities are endless.

Thoughts? Comments.

NOTE: CONTEST DEADLINE X-tended til 10/17/13.
Image: Freedigitalphotos.net