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 Monday, July 20, 2009
Turn Your Dragons Into Princesses
Posted by Jane
Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet is one of the greatest writing advice books of all time. You can highlight nearly every passage as an inspirational gem. But there isn't any quantifiable advice in it.
As much as Writer's Digest focuses on the nuts-and-bolts of craft/technique, and beats the drum of marketing and promotion, everyone on staff recognizes that what sets the successful apart from the unsuccessful is rarely quantifiable.
Maybe there are some numbers you can look at, for a vague generalization:
These numbers only point to a larger felt sense that a writer knows in his gut, physically (but may intellectually ignore) when it comes to recognizing the effort or determination required.
But your motivation and desire to write or express yourself doesn't lie in the numbers. Whether you like it or not, it keeps its home in the hopes and fears that go much deeper than the writing goals you might have set for yourself.
One of my favorite passages from Rilke:
Perhaps all the dragons of our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us once beautiful and brave. Perhaps everything terrible is in its deeps something helpless that wants help from us.
We all have some kind of dragon holding us back, and we typically give it a name that obscures its real identity. Maybe your dragon is "not enough time" or "writer's block" or "publishing industry is unfair." But is that really the true, felt sense of what's holding you back? Only you can tell. (And I recommend this book to find out what that true, felt sense might be.)
Every creative person, every artist, needs someone who encourages them, who can see the potential inside, who can see the princess in the dragon. My father told me as a little girl that I could do anything and be anything that I wanted. And I could tell he really believed it. And so I believed it too.
What do you hang onto? What can turn your dragon into a princess?
Note: It's a busy week for me, so I'll have guest blogger Jim Adam here on Wednesday-Friday. (Curious what I'm up to? Check out my live, online class on query letters this Thursday, and the Midwest Writers Workshop.)
Photo credit: james_michael_hill
Craft & Technique | General | Getting Published
Monday, July 20, 2009 4:45:36 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  Trackback
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Friday, July 17, 2009
Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 7/17/09)
Posted by Jane
 I
watch
Twitter, so you don't have to. Visit each Friday or Saturday for the week's best Tweets. (If I missed a great Tweet, leave
it in the Comments, or if you want more of a particular category of Tweet, also comment.) Best of BestWhy do agents turn down good books? Outstanding summary
@jamesscottbell
The Top 10 Blogs for Writers
@MattPenna
43 Helpful and Terrific Blogs for Writers
@DebNg
Conference Prep/Networking In A Bottle--AND What You Can Do If You're Staying Home!
@AnnaDeStefano
Platform 201 for Busy Writers: @glecharles writes about finding 1,000 true fans
@dbschlosser
Stand AloneDon't respond to a query rejection by saying you know you can sell me on your book over the phone. Convince me with your writing.
@agentgame
Tired of seeing coffee, dreams, weather, beds, alarm clocks, screaming in first paragraph. Everyone does this. Don't be that writer.
@kate_mckean
Please don't spend time in your query telling me how much movie potential your book has.
@agentgame
Best of Twitter
Friday, July 17, 2009 5:26:39 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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10 Steps to Put Social Networking Under Your Spell
Posted by Jane
Today's guest post is from content maven Meryl Evans. She helps
businesses build and maintain relationships with clients and prospects
through content. She’s also a long-time blogger who started blogging on
June 1, 2000. Follow Meryl on Twitter.
Do you scream for help in removing the spell that social networking
has cast over you? Do social network sites like Twitter, Facebook,
LinkedIn, and YouTube hypnotize you for hours, stealing your magical
paid work time?
Social networking may affect more people in our industry because we know writing can be a lonely job, especially those
doing it on a freelance basis from a home office. Even introverts
desire to connect with someone and the Twitters of the Internet enchant
us.
Here are some easy clues that signify you're bewitched, bothered, and bewildered by social networking:
- You press "get new e-mail messages" constantly.
- You're always looking for @yourname Twitter replies.
- You check for wall updates on Facebook.
- You watch the latest viral video on YouTube.
Many
folks (me included) are guilty of these behaviors even though we have
loads of work. Our work doesn't fulfill our human need for connection.
Social networking can and does for many of us.
Look all you
want, but you won't find a magical overnight cure. Instead, call upon
common sense, organization, and getting things done (GTD) thinking.
These strategies will help you dip into the social networking cauldron
without double double, toil and trouble—or tracking down eye of newt
and wool of bat.
- Accept that you can't keep up with all of the
social networking sites. You're not the only one struggling with this.
It's OK not to join or use everything. (See #8.)
- Post a profile on
major social networking sites. You don't have to do it all at once.
Notice I've said "major" sites.
- Connect your accounts
with other sites. For example, LinkedIn has an application that imports
your blog entries into LinkedIn. Facebook has the same and can also
import your Twitter feed (may not be a good idea, but that's not in
this recipe). FriendFeed is a pro at integrating your account with
others.
- Pick a few sites to use on a regular basis. Remember writing and reading blogs count.
- Schedule your participation. Twitter isn't about posting one tweet
after another. You could start with five minutes in the morning, again
at lunch time, and do a last check in the evening. Whatever works for
you. Routine turns things into a habit.
- Turn off e-mail
notifications. For sites you don't use regularly, turn off your e-mail
notifications so they don't drive you crazy. (See #7 for another
option.)
- Filter all social media e-mail into a single folder.
If you still want to receive e-mails knowing when someone connects with
you, then set up e-mail filters to send all messages from Facebook,
Twitter, LinkedIn, and so on into one folder. It's less bothersome than
messages in your inbox and in your face.
- Join other networks
as you come across them. Your connections will invite you to yet
another social network site. You never know who uses one site more than another, and you never know what the next big thing in social networking will be
unless you have a crystal ball and an available medium. Be open.
- Do
social networking when stuck. Social networking is a marketing tool for
writers, therefore it should be a no-guilt activity as long as you
focus on building relationships and sharing knowledge.
- Close
the browser or application. Get off the social network site or related
application. Don't leave it open. Douse whatever tempts you.
This
10-step recipe will put you in charge of
stirring bubbles of your social networking time. And be vigilant: networks
can still charm their way back and cause time management trouble.
Photo credit: Steph Gary Evie Jack and Thomas
General | Guest Post | Marketing & Self-Promotion
Friday, July 17, 2009 9:23:46 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Read My Writing and Tell Me What to Do
Posted by Jane
I laughed out loud today when reading a post by one of my favorite bloggers, Derek Sivers, where he describes the single most common request he receives from people.
It's EXACTLY what we experience every day at Writer's Digest—and he offers the absolute right response!
… the single most common request … “Take a listen to my music and let me know what I should do.” …
Most of the time, the music is good. Not the best or worst thing you’ve ever heard, but good. … The music itself usually doesn’t make it clear what someone should do.
What if I was in a different industry and people said:
“I’m trying to find a spouse. Look at my photo and tell me what I should do.”
or:
“I want to be a millionaire. Look at my bank account and tell me what I should do.”
The real answer is “it depends … ”
- What are your goals? Why are you making music?
- What have you done so far? What’s worked? What hasn’t?
- What is your reaction to criticism or setbacks?
- Are you future-focused or present-focused?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What are your habits? Are you growing or coasting?
- How do you measure success? Fame? Money? Emotional response?
- What’s your timeline? 1 year? 3 years? 30 years?
- … and 50 other questions that would make this article too long.
It’d take many hours of conversation to get enough information to
responsibly tell someone what to do.
I receive a lot of phone calls from writers who ask, "Can you please take a look at my writing and tell me what to do?" Or they simply want to be told if they should continue in their efforts to get published.
Without having a deep understanding of the person, it's tough to offer useful information. I usually ask a couple of the questions above, but end up delivering a few of the key business facts: You have to offer something unique and be passionate enough that you don't stop in the face of (years of) rejection.
Do you wonder if you have what it takes? Really only you can answer that question.
But if you're looking for more advice, here are a few places to start:
Photo credit: Stillframe
Getting Published
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 2:50:01 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Monday, July 13, 2009
Love Prompts? You Need PROMPTLY.
Posted by Jane
Creative writing prompts (or finding inspiration) is one of the most popular, evergreen topics at Writer's Digest. So this week we're very proud to launch a new blog called Promptly by Writer's Digest editor Zachary Petit.
Promptly will offer prompts, activities, and inspiration—and a little positive reinforcement in the form of free books that get sent our way—to help you get your pens moving and keep them that way.
For any of you who are fans of our weekly newsletter prompt, or Robert Brewer's Wednesday poetry prompt, you need to check out Promptly!
Craft & Technique | Fun
Monday, July 13, 2009 5:24:34 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Saturday, July 11, 2009
Best Tweets for Writers (week ending 7/10/09)
Posted by Jane
I
watch
Twitter, so you don't have to. Visit each Friday or Saturday for the week's best Tweets. (If I missed a great Tweet, leave
it in the Comments, or if you want more of a particular category of Tweet, also comment.) Best of BestDo Self-Publishing Services Take Advantage of Writers?
(via @selfpubreview)
@thecreativepenn
10 Places to Find Freelance Writing Jobs (via @debng)
@Mediabistro
A MUST read blog post about book sales - quality stuff
@BubbleCow
Want to be a working writer? New blog post about the business of staying published
@AnnaDeStefano
Knowing Characters by using the Proust Questionnaire
@Le_Shack
65 Useful Blog Posts for Brand New (and some veteran) Freelance Writers
@FreelanceWJ
Stand AloneWhen you don't get your calls returned, that doesn't mean you are unimportant - usually it means the other person is poorly organized or doesn't return calls well. The lesson to be learned: Don't let others shape your view of yourself.
@sanderssays
Writers and Bloggers: Finding the time (to write) is not the issue as much as finding the will to do it. -Dave Barry
@DebraMarrs
At ThrillerFest, had intellectual tussle about next 'big thing' w/agent Miriam Kriss. She says 'steampunk.' If u have any, send it her way.
@KFZuzulo
Getting Published, Agents/EditorsWhat Agents Want: The Same Thing, Only Different
@debbimack
What *every* author should know about Bookscan!
@Bookgal
Podcast: author @sethharwood on podcasting to print publishing success
@thecreativepenn
Excellent wisdom on writing children's books [from editor at Arthur A. Levine]
@merylkevans
Craft & TechniqueHow not to start a story (via JA Konrath)
@mariaschneider
10 Tips for Creative Writers by Dennis G. Jerz
@BellaVidaLetty
The Art vs. Craft Gap: a Writer’s Paradox (via @WriteToDone)
@thecreativepenn
A Writer's Number One Mistake
@GodsAngel1
Conflict—start something
@motsjustes
How writing disagreements differs from real-life confrontations by @ElizabethSCraig
@dbschlosser
Snappy, informative post by @VictoriaMixon: all you need to know about writing a novel in 1000 words.
@careyamy
Some ways to figure out the emotional heart of your story
@chavelaque
Editing plastic fake-lip whistles out of your manuscript -- great writing analogy/advice by @ElizabethSCraig
@dbschlosser
Advice on pacing your book's plot
@BubbleCow
A very interesting article on getting your first draft done: First Draft Secrets: Five Simple Steps
@rumberg
Publishing News/Trends & The Future of PublishingFree is wrong for writers; Freemium might not be
@glecharles
The Book Buying Industry is a Mess
@selfpubreview
A very long, but interesting & thoughtful look at the future of print books
@wordywoman
Marketing/PromotionWhy Every Author Needs a Powerful Online Presence by @MichaelHyatt
@AuthorTech
Three steps to building an author platform: Get around, get connected, get online.
@glecharles
Interesting post offering six methods to help promote your novel
@BubbleCow
Good author resource from Berrett-Koehler on managing and using Amazon
@janetgoldstein
Do's and Don'ts of promotional emails, for authors and publishers--good post from Shelftalker blog
@victoriastrauss
Just posted: Marketing is a service, a breakthrough point of view
@sanderssays
Blogging
8 Blog Tips from Tim Ferriss
@BubbleCow
Self-Publishing
Self publishing is not Print On Demand (via @BubbleCow) BUT POD is a fantastic option for people!
@thecreativepenn
Twitter on TwitterHow I Tweet — FAQ by @chrisbrogan. A really awesome guide for Twitter etiquette.
@Mediabistro
Online & Offline Resources/ToolsResources for the Beginning Novelist
@alittlesandy
The Writing Life / Philosophical / Inspirational"Eat, Pray, Love" author muses on creativity. Captivating.
@PowerJourneys
Silencing the Voice That Says You're a Fraud (WSJ --a must read for writers!)
@danyelsmith
Looking for more social networking and updates from Writer's Digest?
Best of Twitter
Saturday, July 11, 2009 5:38:12 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Friday, July 10, 2009
Twitter: Food for the Muse
Posted by Jane
Today's guest post is from monthly contributor Darrelyn Saloom. Follow Darrelyn on Twitter. (That's her not-naked Twitter profile pic above.)
Are there more writers than social media marketing gurus, naked people, or insatiable sex addicts on Twitter? Well, marketing gurus may have us beat. But, at least, there are a few worth following for interesting tweets. But writers do seem to outnumber the naked, insatiable sex addicts, though I continue to marvel when opening an e-mail, and someone’s nipples stare back at me. So-and-so is now following you on Twitter. Really? Then put on some clothes!
My hometown friends are dressed and interesting and have a variety of careers. But for my friend Deirdre, a boxer, they don’t do cartwheels from the mailbox when the Southern Review or Glimmer Train arrives. Or shiver at news of an author’s interview or book signing. Too much talk of writing and my best girlfriends zone out on me. Even my beloved husband rolls his eyes. (He will accompany me to an out-of-town book event, though I’m usually dropped off, front of the bookstore, side of the street.)
So Twitter has become a refuge of sorts, a place to connect with enthusiastic readers and writers. And professionals who appreciate writers enough to post helpful articles and tips. Every week, Jane Friedman compiles Best Tweets for Writers. Every week! Daily, she and others post valuable advice about the business of writing and publishing, a treasure-trove of information.
Information that (before Twitter) was not available to me. I’m too busy scavenging time for my husband, my aged mother, running a household, caring for grown children and grandchildren, two cats and a dog, collaborating with the boxer, Deirdre Gogarty, on her remarkable life journey, editing a novel for a client, and then (if supper is cooked and the house is clean) squeezing out time for my own writing. So, yes—like you—I’m busy!
But as writers we must find ways to feed The Muse. And other than the boxer (she and I spend hours discussing writers and writing), Twitter cooks up The Muse food I need. So, what do I mean by Muse food? Well, let’s look at a sample menu: Poetry. Reading poetry is one of the best ways to stir inspiration. Read poetry and weep, laugh, marvel—and feed. Narrative Magazine floats by in a tweet. I click, I read, I’m inspired. Always. And there are poets aplenty on Twitter, posting astute lyrical treats (@TheDarkEngine).
Still hungry? Feast on comics artist @elizafrye, illustrator/author @CarinBerger, collaborating authors @deberryandgrant, photographer/filmmaker/physician @DocMacaStat, passionate blogger @CodyDaigle, travel writer @holeinthedonut, or bask in the intellect of @DaveWiner. And so many others who stream by, tweeting works of art, brilliant insights and observations, or posting links to their own inspirations, sated and sharing their food.
On Twitter, I’ve befriended published authors such as Andrea Gillies, a gifted writer, who lives on a remote peninsula in northern Scotland. Her memoir Keeper opened my eyes to the hardships and horrors of caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s. And she did so with such gut-wrenching honesty and beauty (and humor), it forever changed me. Made me hold my loved ones stronger; pet my cats and dog longer, and cease taking for granted my memory.
So, for the naysayers, who would argue that Twitter is too time-consuming; that the time spent reading and posting tweets is wasted; I understand your thinking. It’s what I thought at first. But I’m here to tell you that the opposite has proven true for me; because Twitter cooks up a daily banquet, which feeds The Muse, who lives in that inner world of cravings. For me it’s the world of shivers and cartwheels and tweets.
And like anything else in life, Twitter returns whatever you give. If you are positive and kind, that’s what you’ll find. For the life of me, I don’t understand why so many celebrities (and authors) only follow a few people, who are already their friends. In my opinion, they are missing out on a world of cuisine. After all, things didn’t work out so well for Narcissus who only peered into the pool at his own reflection.
If you’d like to share your Twitter experiences, leave a comment below. I’d love to read what impact Twitter has had on The Muse in you.
Best of Twitter | Guest Post
Friday, July 10, 2009 9:49:07 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Thursday, July 09, 2009
Not All Books Need to Be Well-Written to Sell
Posted by Jane
If you're writing a nonfiction book, the first question you need to ask yourself is whether your book is more about ideas/information or art.
If your book is more about ideas/information, it means:
- you need credibility or authority of some kind in your subject area to be taken seriously by publishers and other insiders
- you need expertise and/or experience to understand the conversation/community you're entering into and how to present fresh and compelling ideas or information
- you need an excellent understanding of your audience and their needs
- your platform (or visibility) in a community will be essential to selling and promoting yourself and your book
- you don't do the book first to become an expert; you're an expert or credible source first (with a platform) which justifies having a printed book
- you write a book proposal because you need to present a business plan for why the market needs your book
- your audience doesn't care as much about the quality of expression (artform) as the quality of ideas and information
If your book is more about art, it means:
- you need skill at the craft to be taken seriously, which usually means years of practice
- you may not need any expertise/experience of any kind if your writing evokes strong emotion, passion, or deep meaning
- you often need to write the book first, and write it flawlessly, in order for it to sell (assuming you are not a celebrity or notorious or bizarre person who can garner media attention)
- you might write a proposal, but when it comes to art and making meaning, storytelling is much more powerful than statistics and business plans (of course, remember that even a book about ideas/information needs a mythical story behind it or a way to help people find meaning to stand out from the crowd)
If your book is about ideas/information, that doesn't mean it shouldn't be as well written as possible. In fact, the most powerful books about ideas (by people like Malcolm Gladwell) are works of art.
But when you're pitching an agent or publisher, make sure you know whether your book is idea-driven or art-driven. It makes a difference in your perspective and slant.
When it's about the ideas or the information, you're a salesperson armed with information on the market and your authority. You can do the same with your art, but if the art doesn't match your sales hype, you're back to square one.
Photo credit: Sailing: "Footprints Real to Reel"
Agents | Getting Published
Thursday, July 09, 2009 2:58:18 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Wednesday, July 08, 2009
That Unquantifiable Factor That Helps You Get Published and Succeed
Posted by Jane
Lately I've come across a refrain of advice that gets truer the longer I'm in the business: the strength of your relationships is essential to getting ahead, which means having a network of people who like you and/or trust you.
A few examples:
- I'm reading a yet-to-be-published business book by a woman who was the first female VP of manufacturing at Procter & Gamble. Her entire argument comes down to trust. Are you creating experiences with your colleagues that lead them to trust you, recommend you, and essentially "vote" for you to get the new project, get promoted, or get a new job?
Recognize that by being useful and good to others, you will
eventually build a very strong team of supporters. They’ll lift you up
to new heights and protect you. If you falter they will be there to
bring you back up and support you.
I think it’s one of the most overlooked components of business. Simply, we’re always able to say that at the end of the day, all you have is your friends.
For writers, this is why I advise going to conferences and meeting with people in the industry. Even if you have only a moment to make an impression, if that person likes you or is impressed by you, then it makes your job easier when it comes time to query or submit.
Part of the problem with the cold query or cold contact is that no relationship has been established, and the person on the receiving end doesn't know if you're nice or crazy. That's why referrals are so valuable to writers—because they help agents/editors feel confident and compelled to pay attention if the recommendation comes from someone they trust.
On side note, but related: In my final month of high school, there was a highly unfortunate incident where I unwittingly distributed to the entire school, via e-mail, another student's private and unflattering opinion of an administrator. As a student with a trouble-free record, it was mortifying—and even more mortifying when I got raked over the coals for it. I had to call my mother in front of the head administrator and describe the entire embarrassing incident, then was grounded to my room for a week, except for class time and meals. (It was a residential high school.)
I'll never forget that administrator staring at me squarely and declaring, "I would not say to THIS WALL what I would not say to THE WORLD."
Point being: Your interactions with people—and what you say and do—matter tremendously. When you complain, cast aspersions, or talk negatively about any situation or person, no matter what the setting/environment, always consider the repercussions. Sometimes, even when we think we are confiding privately, it is much more public than we realize. And it can lead to people being wary of us and less trusting.
Think about the kind of person you trust, like, and recommend—they probably make you feel good afterward, not drained. It's like Aunt Josephine said in Anne of Green Gables: "I like people who make me like them. Saves me so much trouble forcing myself to like them."
Photo credit: Sara Lechner
General | Getting Published | Marketing & Self-Promotion
Wednesday, July 08, 2009 6:17:58 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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Tuesday, July 07, 2009
The Secret Weapon Behind Writer's Digest Books
Posted by Jane
Our executive editor of Writer's Digest Books—who has been part of Writer's Digest for longer than I have—is probably the best-kept secret we have around here. That's because she's a little shy, a bit modest, and likes to work behind the scenes.
Starting today, we're gently nudging her into the limelight by launching Kelly's Picks. For those of you who know and fondly recall the Writer's Digest Book Club (which folded last year), Kelly's Picks is meant to offer some of the same personalized recommendations, straight from the person who acquires the 20+ titles per year for our list. Kelly knows writing how-to books better than anyone (plus aspires to get that Great American Novel written).
Kelly works with nearly every author on our list—James Scott Bell, Donald Maass, NM Kelby, and Heather Sellers, just to name a few. She's so endeared to our authors that one of them dedicated her most recent Writer's Digest Book to her:
I hope you'll enjoy this new feature at WritersDigest.com, and both Kelly and I welcome your feedback on what would be helpful to you in selecting the best books to advance your craft and your career.
Follow Kelly on Twitter: @kmnickell
F+W Life | General | New Titles From Writer's Digest
Tuesday, July 07, 2009 11:05:26 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) Trackback
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