Contests

In other blogs, I've said that I am a judge in several writer's contests throughout the year, and I am. I feel that this is a way I can give back to all those who judged me when I was first learning the craft. Plus, being a former editor for several e-publishers, I think I bring a level of expertise to the job. I believe I am a first line judge in five or six contests - first line means just that - I'm the first person to read the partials I am sent. I usually receive anywhere from five to eight manuscripts that are from five to fifty pages in length plus a synopsis.

This blog is especially for those who enter these contests, but it's also for anyone sending out submissions.

These partials are supposed to be representative of your best work. With the batch I'm now going through, I can understand why agents and editors get so frustrated. If these are examples of the writer's best works, I can only cringe at what first drafts must have looked like. I can also understand why an agent or editor needs only the first couple of pages to say "Not for me." Unfortunately, as a judge, I have to read the entire piece - and I do, making comments as necessary.

So here are some guidelines for those who want to enter contests or submit their baby to an agent or editor.

1. Check your spelling. Seems obvious, doesn't it? But I'm amazed at the number of spelling errors, missed words, mis-used words, etc. DO NOT RELY ON A SPELL CHECKER!!!!!

2. Check for word usage. This is related to the above. Pique seems to be a popular word, but unfortunately, it's most often spelled "peek" or "peak" - neither of which mean the same thing as "pique". I've also seen "mute" used for "moot", "choose" instead of "chose" (or the other way around), and don't get me started on "there/they're/their". As stated above, DO NOT RELY ON A SPELL CHECKER! None of these words are misspelled. But they are misused. Often. Too often. You need to have someone else look at your manuscript - preferably someone who knows the meaning of words.

3. Check for missing words. The easiest way to do this is to read your manuscript out loud. Word for word. Don't read what you think is there, read what's actually there. Or, if your computer has the capability, let it read it to you and listen. Closely. You'd be amazed at how much this catches.

4. Check for repeated words. I'm not talking about the little things like "the", "and", etc. But words that have impact. Yes, you can repeat some words for emphasis. It's an advanced writing technique, but should be used sparingly.

5. Make sure you vary the way your sentences and paragraphs start. This is related to #4 in that if you start two many sentences with the same word (usually She or He), it becomes monotonous. This can be found by, again, reading the manuscript out loud. It's amazing how bad this will sound.

Okay, that's enough for now. Those five things will help you get started. I can't fix a bad story here, but these will at least make the writing technique a little better.

And good luck!
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Tips and Teasers: It's the end of the year and time to look at your goals that you wrote back in January and revised in July. Did you achieve them? Why or why not? What could you have done differently? Did you set the bar too high? Or too low? Did obligations get in the way? What can you do to rearrange things to get more writing time? This is time to reflect on the past year and think about the one to come.

Thought for the day: "It is best to just remember that sometimes the magic really lasts." – Terry Brooks

Saturday Reviews

I'm going to try a new idea for the coming year of blogs. Each day is going to be geared toward a specific part of writing - with occasional blips as life happens. So to that end, I'm going to devote Saturdays to reviews. Here I'll post opinions on what I'm (or others) are reading - why I like or don't like it and my recommendations. Although I've got tons of books to read already, if you have one you'd like me to read, drop me a line and I'll see what I can do. Some of my other reviews can be read at www.wantzuponatime.com.

Today's review:

"Queen of Broken Hearts" by Cassandra King
Hyperion Publishers
Hardback - $24.95
ISBN 1401301770

4 ½ out of 5 books

"Queen of Broken Hearts" by Cassandra King is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It is poignant, uplifting, tear-jerking and insightful.

When I opened the book to the first page, my heart plummeted. First person point of view – not my favorite. And I'd just finished another review book in first person that I most definitely did not like. Not only was this one in first person, but present tense – a double whammy. To say I started reading with a negative attitude in place would be a truism.

Then the story took over and I forgot about the point of view. While the present tense did occasionally intrude, the story was so well written that I couldn't count that against it. Like "Steel Magnolias" or "Fried Green Tomatoes", this is a story of the deep South, but it touches on themes that affect us all.

The story is set in a small Alabama coastal town and centers around Clare, a therapist who's got her own problems. Clare, a widow, runs group sessions and retreats for women going through divorce. Her work is everything to her, even taking precedence over the two men who want her as more than just a friend. She can dish out advice, but when it comes to taking it herself, Clare has more than a few problems.

Full of quirky characters, "Queen of Broken Hearts" will make you laugh and cry, cheer and boo, but most of all, it will make you keep reading to the very end. The story has a touch of romance and all the angst you can handle as you get a peek at the lives of the inhabitants of Fairhope. This one is definitely a keeper.

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Tips and Teasers: As a writer, you need to develop a writing process that is flexible, yet provides structure. How can you arrange your schedule to provide both?

Thought for the day: "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars." – Les Brown

Christmas Gifts

Although my husband swears I do not need any more books, my family indulged my addiction this year by gifting me with several more for my shelves. They include:

Philip Pullman's Golden Compass series (see story below about this "gift").
Neil Gaiman's "Stardust"
"Techniques of the Selling Writer" by Swain
"No plot? No problem!" by Baty
"The Kid's Book Project" from the Make-A-Wish Foundation (I got this for myself, but it arrived on Christmas Eve so still counts as a present - and my son has to autograph it since he's in it!)

As for the Golden Compass series, several weeks ago when I started seeing ads on TV about the movie coming out, I thought it looked like something I'd enjoy reading. And I was certain I had a copy of all three books in my library so I went searching.

One thing you have to understand is that I have hundreds of books. When we moved to a smaller house, I got rid of 765 (yes, I counted) and that didn't even make a dent. Plus, being a former librarian, my library is divided into fiction and non-fiction. The fiction side is shelved in alphabetical order by author last name. Okay, I'm only a little obsessive about organization. Honest!

Anyway, I went to get the Pullman books out - and they weren't there. So I searched the other shelves (not everyone who gets books off my shelves is as good about putting them back where they belong as I am). Nothing. I searched the house... books tend to end up everywhere. Nothing. Okay, maybe I'm losing it because I was certain I had those books. Finally told my daughter-in-law about the search and she started laughing - because *she* had the books! So I got them back for Christmas (along with two new ones from them.) Gotta love a family who's as much into books as I am.

So I'm starting off the new year with good reads.
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Tips and Teasers: What makes you buy a book? Is it the cover? The blurb? The first pages? Or the writer's name?

Thought for the day: "Always leave enough time in your lie to do something that makes you happy, satisfied, even joyous. That has more of an effect on economic well-being than any other single factor." – Paul Hawken

If you only believe

I found the following in a book and thought it was relevant to a writer's life, so... (from "Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy" by Sarah Ban Breathnach, Warner Books, 2005, December 27)

Many aspirations are just within our grasp if we keep stretching....Many yearnings must be acknowledged so that they can be fulfilled. Many authentic sparks must be fanned before Passion performs her perfect work in you. Throw another log on the fire.
This is not the day you quit.
This is not the day you cry.
This is the day you stare down every naysayer in your life who doesn't get it yet. Because *you* do. Finally.

This is the day you shout, "I believe!"

When you start believing, you'll discover that all things are really possible.

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Tips and Teasers: Imagine you are about to fax your story at $10.00 a word. Now edit.

Thought for the day: "You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm." - Colette

The Year in Review

A we come to the end of this year, I was doing my annual purge of my files and decided to see exactly what I'd done this year. It's been a busy one! But an interesting one. Here it is by the numbers:

2 conferences/writer's retreats attended
2 books published
2 shorts written (60 pages each) - 1 to be published in an anthology in February 2008
3 full length novels written - 1 to be published January 2008
4 contests judged
6 on-line classes or workshops participated in
12 full-length novels critiqued for friends
10 writer's group meetings attended
10 books read just for fun
20 reviews written for books I'd received
25 submissions sent
helped create "bible" for continuity series for Ellora's Cave/Cerridwen Press with over 200 worlds all done from scratch

In addition, I ran for and was elected treasurer of PASIC.

Among myself and four of my writer friends, we wrote over 1,200,000 words this year.

And that's just the writer stuff. And doesn't include this blog or updates on websites or comments and guest spots on other blogs.

As I said - an interesting year. And a busy one.

Here's to the next one being just as productive.

With company coming, I don't know what the next few days will bring, so let me now just wish you all the merriest of Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate). And may your coming year be filled with health, happiness and success.

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Teaser: What was your past year like?

Thought for the day: "Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle

Coming Soon

Cerridwen Press has a "Coming Soon" page, as does Draumr Publishing and as of yesterday, I'm listed on both of them.

From CP, I have a book coming out January 10th. It will be available in e-book formats and is a futuristic romance titled "Danger on Xy-One". I'm really excited about this as it's part of a continuity series with books available both from Cerridwen Press and Ellora's Cave. The heat levels are very steamy to warm and lengths run from novellas to novel length. We had a ball creating the universe in which the stories take place and hope our readers enjoy our stories.

It is called a continuity series in that all the stories take place in the same universe and may have cross-over characters, but each book stands alone with individual stories. So you can buy the first, the third, the tenth, or all of them. You can read them out of order. That's the great thing about a continuity series.

The second book, "The Shape of Love" from Draumr Publishing, was one of the most fun stories I've ever had writing. It is an anthology of three stories (mine's the first one!), contemporary fantasy in that each story centers around a shape-shifter. We have two dog based stories and one cat based. Each story is stand-alone with no continuing theme, but all three are fun, romantic (not hot). This will be coming out in late January or early February - stay tuned for more information. The other two authors (two of my best friends) already have signings lined up. This one comes out as both an e-book and a trade paperback at the same time.

In the meantime, I keep working on my next fantasy - Touching Death - I have about ninety pages to go. I'm really enjoying this story and can't wait to see how it ends. Okay, yes, I have a vague idea how it will end - but the writing isn't done yet. Then the hard work begins - editing and marketing. I've got my work cut out for me in the coming year. And I'm very much looking forward to it all.

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Teaser: What is your favorite holiday movie/music/activity?

Thought for the day: "I look at a book and if something takes me by surprise in a wonderful way and I can't put it down, then we're going to talk to that author." - Charlotte Cook, president of Komenar Publishing

Power Disruptions

Yikes! Due to the recent nasty weather here in the east, we were without power for a while - actually, a day and a half, but who's counting? I went through computer withdraw. Yes, I have a laptop with battery backup. But no power meant the modem wasn't working so no connectivity. So I guess I should say I went through web withdraw. It was horrible, I tell you. Just horrible!

But all kidding aside, we were among the lucky ones. Yes, we huddled under blankets, but we still had water (unlike our previous home where when the power went out, which it frequently did, we also had no water since the well relies on electricity to pump it). We still had the ability to cook and we had a place to go when it got too cold.

But it also brought home a lesson to me. One I try to remember throughout the year, but often get sidetracked from, and that's about those who live this way all the time. The homeless or those who have homes but can't afford to heat them or have no place else to go when problems hit.

So in the spirit of the season, I'm asking you to remember those who are less fortunate than yourselves. Donate to a shelter - whether it's time, money or goods. And take a little time to give thanks for what you do have for it can all change in less time than you think.

Blessings on you and yours. May you be warm, safe, well-fed, and whole in body and mind.
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Tips and Teasers: You wake up one morning, same as usual, and look around. You’re in a strange bed, in a strange room, in a strange city with no memory of how you got there. What happened?

Thought for the day: "First when there's nothing but a slow glowing dream, that your fear seems to hide, deep inside your mind…take your passion and make it happen." – From the theme song to "Flashdance", 1983, "What A Feeling", sung by Irene Cara)

Short and Sweet

This is going to be short and sweet. I got sidelined by an unexpected funeral this week - among other issues. So my blogging and my writing have been on hold. But all is returning to normal. New beginnings.

And to that end, a new beginning here. Yes, I am still going to blog about the writing life, about things to do when you've finished the book, editing, the great agent search, and so on. But tomorrow I will also be starting a new venture. I am going to guest blog at one of my fellow CP writer's sites and she is going to show her stuff here. We are hoping by working with other CP writers who may have different contacts, we can expand our area of readership. I hope you will stop in and leave a comment, if possible, for her.

I've actually started a small group with some of my fellow CP authors in order to figure out how to best promote our works. Promoting e-books is somewhat problematical. We can't exactly go somewhere and have a book signing. Nor can we take a box of books and sell them on a street corner (or wherever you want to go to sell a physical book). Nor are we available through places like Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble or other bookstores.

In addition, those of us who write for Cerridwen Press do not write erotica. We tend to write more mainstream stories. Some may be warm, even adult, but they are not hot enough for the Ellora's Cave side of the house. Which means we have an even harder sell.

So, my teaser to you today is for suggestions. How can we who write for electronic publishers promote our books? Any suggestions welcome.
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Thought for the day: "Writing is a wonderful thing to be able o do. When it goes well, it's fantastic, and when it doesn't go so well, it's only OK, but it's still a great way to pass the time." - Stephen King

The End - So What Next?

On one of my (way too many) lists, a new author asked the ultimate question. "I've finished the book, what do I do now?"

The answer is so involved, I'm going to take the next few days to do so. While nobody wanted to discourage her, after all, finishing a book length manuscript is a huge accomplishment, we had to tell her that the real work begins now. Writing the book is the easy part.

While some people told her to start editing, I disagree with this sentiment. You are too close to the work at this point. You see what you want to see, not what is really there. I know, because I've gone back and looked at my earlier manuscripts - ones I thought were ready to go - and they're not even close. Please note that the following suggestions are for new writers, not someone under a contract deadline. That's an entirely different issue.

The first thing you need to do with that new manuscript is put it in a drawer (you do have a printout, don't you?). If not, put the file somewhere and DO NOT LOOK AT IT FOR AT LEAST A MONTH! Read that sentence again. Go ahead. I'll wait...

Okay, now that you've done that, you're not going to sit back and do nothing for this month. You're going to start learning. And making lists. And I'll even get you started with my top ten. These are in no special order:

1. Write a synopsis.
2. Write your cover or query letter.
3. Research agents and editors.
4. Set up a website, blog, myspace or other on-line presence.
5. Join a crit group or other writer's group.
6. Get organized for the business side of this endeavor - and it IS A BUSINESS!
7. Do your homework as to who is writing what in your particular genre and where your book would fit on the shelves - what do you write?
8. If possible, attend conferences and get to know other writers, agents, editors on a personal basis.
9. Learn about self-editing.
10. Start plotting out and writing your next novel.

Over the next few days - or longer - I'll go into these in more detail. For right now, just take a break and celebrate. You've finished a book! Congratulations.

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Thought for the day: "Composition is, for the most part, an effort of slow diligence and steady perseverance..." - Samuel Johnson

Teaser: Using the following words, complete the scene: sleet, timer, eight ball
"Of all the gin joints in all the world, why did she..."

Happy Anniversary

Zoidland (check link out under my links) published its 200th strip this week! This warm, whimsical, witty, sometimes weird, but always wonderful cartoon is the creation of Jeff Burkholder, an up and coming cartoonist.

Okay, I may be just a little prejudiced, but... his strip has been featured in two books and continues to grow in popularity so it's not just me.

So do yourself a favor and take a walk through Zoidland. You'll be glad you did.

And happy anniversary to all the residents of Zoidland.

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Tips and Teasers: There she stood at the door to the cabin… Finish this using: personal ad, eight ball, velvet cape.

Thought for the day: DO or DO NOT. There is no TRY - Jedi Master Yoda (Star Wars)

Motivation

So what do you do when your motivation has lost its oomph? When writing that next chapter - or word - is the last thing you want to do? When your rejection file is thicker than your mattress?

You go do something else for fifteen minutes and come back. But make sure what you do is something fun. Go run around the house screaming like a banshee. Laugh out loud. Swing on a swing. Eat an ice cream cone and don't think about the calories, fat or sugar. Have a tryst with your significant other.

The thing is, find something to energize yourself, whatever that may be. Don't do something relaxing like a bubble bath - that will just make you mellow and you'll find even more excuses not to work. (Though I will admit, there are some forms of yoga and other exercises that are relaxing as well as enervating.) Do something that gets your blood moving, that gets you excited and happy and full of energy.

Once you're feeling really good, then come back to your manuscript. I'll bet you'll feel a lot more like writing - and your writing will flow better too.

I've been having a couple of bad writing days. Rejections, problems with computer files (back up and print out! Thank goodness I do both!), situations that didn't go the way I thought they would. I was at the point last night where I wanted to chuck it all in the trash and never look at another book again.

So I put it all away for the night and watched a couple of movies, talked with friends, went Christmas shopping (though that tends to depress me more than excite me), and generally did other things. And now I'm ready to get back to it with a fresh perspective. Yes, things may not go my way for a while, but those are situations I can't control. What I can control is how I handle them. I chose to mourn for a little, but just a little. Now, it's time to get back to work.
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"It's essential to distinguish between events that are really beyond your control and events you caused yourself." - Barbara Sher

Movie Music

I caught a little bit of a show last night called "Movies Rock" - basically, it was a concert where different popular personalities sang movie classics. Some of it was really good - some I didn't like very much. But one section I did like was the montage of movie themes the orchestra played while led by John Williams. As I sat there listening to each blurb, it amazed me how many movies I could identify from just a few notes of the theme. Kind of like "Name That Tune" - how few notes does it take for you to recognize what movie the song came from.

Though I can't do the audio here, I know as soon as I name a movie, if you're any kind of fan, you're immediately going to hear the music that goes with that movie. For instance:

Jaws

Did you hear deep "dah-dum" that increased in intensity?

Or what about "Psycho"?

The high pitched "ree -ree -ree" of the knife scene?

Or "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"? - sol, do, la, do, sol (or whatever the notes are).

We associate a certain theme with these movies. Star Wars, Indiana Jones, ET, Close Encounters, Dr. Zivago, Gone with the Wind, Casablanca, or even Shaft - these all have specific music that works very well for them.

So shouldn't it follow that music works well with writing? I know many writers who play specific themes when they are writing certain scenes. Writing a fight scene? Then you need heavy, fast music that reflects the violence of the scene. A love scene? Something flowing and soft. Comic relief? Something upbeat and fun. For those who have MP3 players with hundreds - or even thousands - of songs stored, they have what they need at the touch of a finger. And it seems to make the scene flow better for them. The writing becomes easier.

Music is like that for many people. It soothes or excites, makes you get up and dance, or lay down and nap. It is an interesting tool for anyone to use. Try it the next time you're having trouble with a scene. Put on music that would work for that scene if it were playing in a theater. And see what happens.

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To reach the destination you have chosen, you must follow the path that will take you there. And while diversions and distractions will constantly come along, remember that you are in control of you. - Ralph Marston

Coming Attractions

Yippee!!!!! Our anthology is up on the Coming Soon Page.

Okay, for those of you who don't know, I am 1/3 of a three story anthology coming from Draumr Publishing. This was an unexpected, but much enjoyed meeting of three crazy minds to write an anthology centered around shapeshifters. It all came about very quickly. But there we are! The book will be available in both trade paperback ($14.95) and e-book formats ($6.50). All three stories are contemporary paranormal romance. The three authors are myself (Vicky Burkholder), Misty Simon and Victoria Smith. Though we don't know the exact date, we do know sometime in late January, early February. Stay tuned for more information.

And the other news... though it's not on the "Coming Soon" page yet, my futuristic romance from Cerridwen Press, "Danger on Xy-One" will be out January 10, 2008. It will be e-book format and is the third book in the "Hunters for Hire" series from both Ellora's Cave and Cerridwen Press.

Blurb:

Aleksia Matthews is an asteroid assayer who would like nothing better than to be left alone. Her life is soon turned upside down when a band of ruthless pirates attack her ship. She manages to escape, but fears the worst for her brother. Ali swears revenge. Although well-trained by Fleet Security, she knows she can't do the job alone. When she literally runs into Jason Cole, a blue-eyed, raven-haired stranger, she knows she has met the perfect partner—in more ways than one.

Special agent and Bounty Hunter, Jason Cole has spent the past year tracking the pirates that killed his brother Zack and Zack's family. He's always one step behind; too late to help the victims. There are never any survivors—until now. It is up to him to keep the golden-eyed, auburn-haired beauty alive and out of trouble until the gang can be captured, and maybe longer.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION!

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"The writer expects to be transported into a fictional world and allowed to remain there until the story is complete. The writer's responsibility is not to interfere." - Harvey Stanbrough

Conundrums and Conferences

I've been to several writer's conferences. They are exhausting, frustrating, exciting, noisy, and some of the best places to network and get to know others in this business - from several angles. Depending on the conference, you can connect with other writers, agents, editors, or even just readers. Everyone says they are the best way to get your name out there.

But what of the cost? I am trying to decide if I want to go to several conferences next year. The first would be the RT conference in Pittsburgh in April. It is close enough that I could drive (5 hours, but still drivable), but the cost is prohibitive- close to a thousand dollars for three days. And I'm one of the lucky ones. I don't have to fly half-way around the world to get there. And yet it is one of the largest, most well-attended reader/writer conferences around.

Then in May, there are two events offered the same weekend, both of which I'm interested in attending. One is a four day writer's retreat held by my local writer's group every year. It's a two hour drive and the cost is approximately 250.00. It's a weekend of writing, friendship, writing, laughter, writing, and socialization. Yes, it is writing intensive, but we also have a great time there. There are no families to pull us away, no cooking (all meals provided), no cleaning, just concentration on ourselves and our writing. It is exhausting and exciting and a weekend I look forward to all year. But, for the second year in a row, it is also being held at the same time as a writer's convention that I also enjoy attending. Last year wasn't an issue as the convention was held in a city I had no interest in going to. This year, the convention is almost in my backyard. The hotel is a fifteen minute drive away plus, due to a contest win, I have a free pass to the convention so no fees are involved. Though not an extremely large convention, it is still an opportunity to network with other writers, agents, editors and participate in a booksigning - a way to get my name out there.

The RWA national convention is being held in San Francisco this year so it's not even an option for me. Easy decision there.

There there is the New Jersey convention in October - one I enjoy attending, a three hour drive, and a great weekend.

So the conundrum becomes which one I will attend in May and whether to invest a huge chunk of money to attend the one in April. At this juncture, I will probably not go to RT. I just can't justify spending that much money. Plus I really do not travel well, nor do I handle huge crowds well. But the other two... what to do. What to do?
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Tips and Teasers: Looking for a holiday gift to give to a close friend? Buy a new journal, and use the first page to write a paragraph or two on why you value the friendship so much. Then give the journal as a gift.

Thought for the day: "One cannot consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar." - Helen Keller