Hi Writers,
I've been editing a feature for an upcoming issue of Writer's Digest. It's entitled "Roughing up your First Draft." There's a quote from Ernest Hemingway in the lead:

Hi, writers,

Maria is likely sipping exotic neon cocktails and hanging out with top writers as the Maui Writers Conference wraps up in Hawaii, so this week I’m taking over The Writer’s Perspective and the WD fort in Cincinnati, wearing an old lei from a luau-themed office party.

I originally planned to blog about nationwide newspaper cuts (our local Cincinnati Enquirer mentioned today that 15 newsroom staffers have accepted buyouts), but I’m working on some great material for the January/February issue, so let’s go with a less grim topic—let’s go with some of my overly abused Google writing tools.

Here are five free, simple, nifty writing tricks I picked up as a reporter that can be surprisingly handy when editing or writing.

•    Google Phonebook: Looking to hunt down the phone number of that mysterious source before deadline? Go to Google.com and type “phonebook: John Smith Nevada.” Now you have all the John Smiths in Nevada, and you didn’t need to root through any hulking yellow tomes.

•    iGoogle: My over-checked guilty pleasure. At iGoogle.com, you can set up a custom web page, and you can even tailor it to your own writing and reading ends with a database of free widgets. For instance, mine has both of my e-mail addresses plugged into it, seven news feeds, a word of the day, an artist of the day, a dictionary form, a thesaurus form, a daily literary quote and a strange “Writer’s Idea Bank” tool. Overkill? Probably. Perfect for compulsive e-mail-checking writers? Definitely. (Requires free Google account.)

•    Google Docs: This is a relatively new one in my lineup, but one that I’m increasingly using. At docs.google.com you can find the tech behemoth’s free online word processor, which allows you to write, edit, save and even format your material as you would in a normal program. Upside: You can access your writing anywhere without a flash drive. Downside: No internet connection? Ut-oh. (Requires free Google account.)

•    Google Calculator: I didn’t get into writing because I was good at math, so it’s a good thing search engines are. Simply type “456*993” into the browser and you’re a whiz. If you still remember what square roots are, you can do those, too.

•    Define: The crown jewel, crucial for helping your writing (or settling arguments) when you don’t have a dictionary or Internet connection handy. Text message Google with your cell phone (466453) and write “Define: Athabascan.” Soon enough, your mobile phone is telling you all about Alaska and Western Canada. Texting Google also works for movie times, weather and directions.

For more, visit google.com/help/features.html. What are your favorite writing gadgets and widgets?

Read on and write on,

Zac

--

Zachary Petit
WD Managing Editor

Hi Writers,
Writer's Digest 2007 Annual Competition winner Alegra Clarke has been updating us on her progress to get her novel published. Here are photos of our trip to New York. And here is her last post about her trip to New York to meet with agents.

Alegra's latest entry:

Before I went to NYC the inevitable question, 'So, what do you write?' resulted in one of my best 'Wow! Great day we are having!' smiles and an under-the-breath answer of, 'Oh, you know, I mostly like to write words, I aim for complete sentences, and I really like paragraphs…'

I had not found the genre for the novel and its absence made me feel unsettled, as if any moment my writer status was going to be revoked. During this time my husband tried to reassure me by saying, 'just the fact that you think like this is proof that you are hardwired to be a writer.' I think he was insinuating something about me having 'a tendency towards anxiety' or an 'overactive imagination.' But it wasn't either of these things (really it wasn't!), it was because I understood what having a genre or a solid 'elevator pitch' meant. It meant I had a solid grip on the story.

I have spent the last two months since the NYC trip plotting, testing my plot, researching, plotting again, sending my ideas to Joel Gotler, whose patience and generosity with me is enormous, until finally I could feel it and see it; the plot, the story I wanted to tell. With this came the knowledge of genre. I can now confidently say, 'I am writing a psychological thriller.' And believe me, for the last few weeks I have rolled the words around with obnoxious glee, harassing my friends with, 'Ask me what I write…go on, I dare you!'

It has been a wild journey and I think it is only about to get wilder. In fact, I am depending on it. The original novel I wrote I can now see as a passionate and sincere effort at beating around the bush. That manuscript has become a fertile pile of compost for growing short stories. It might even be gestating a novel or two. But it isn't the novel I am now writing. What I have now is the storyline the other draft was circling around. The learning process has been so accelerated that at times it is unnerving. I look back at something I wrote even five months ago and think, 'How could I have not missed that fatal flaw? Why did I not get something so simple and obvious?' All I can do is reassure myself that this is proof that I am improving and keep on with keeping on.

I am now in the last few months of research and plotting before I dive into the actual writing. I am doing things very differently this time by plotting in advance. I have always admired writers who can sit down with an idea or a question and pour out a novel in one draft, revise it and then be done. I am not that kind of writer - at least not at this stage.  And if I had a penny for every edit I did I would be one wealthy woman.

I personally don’t believe a dark story can be told halfway, it is a world that must be entered into completely. I have been organizing things in preparation for diving into the writing of this novel as opposed to my first attempt that was often written with one or both of my children hanging off of me like a jungle gym or engaging me in a chorus line of “No! Don’t touch that electrical socket! No! Don’t put your sister in the toilet!”

The last few months since NYC have felt like preparing for an extended journey. I was recently stunned by watching Heath Ledger in the Dark Knight because of how he intensely embodied some of the qualities of 'evil' I am hoping to explore in writing. I have always been fascinated by what it takes for an actor to take on a disturbing role and now I am about to embark on finding out what it will take for me as a writer. I think the most obvious answer is, “Lots of chocolate and coffee.” But I might be oversimplifying things.


Alegra will be updating us on her quest to get her novel published so stay tuned for more.

Keep Writing,
Maria

Hi Writers,
Publishers Weekly published an essay last week "Two-Way-Street" by Charlotte Cook.

Cook, an independent publisher of her own book line, Komenar Publishing, was the subject of a short profile in Writer's Digest last year. She writes that she was deluged with queries, phone calls and submissions after that article came out. It seems like attention would be a good thing for a small publishing house.

But here's the rub: Cook writes that even with all of the attention Komenar received for that article in WD, they've seen little impact in the way of sales.

I suppose the implication here is that writers aren't supporting the industry that they're asking to support them. This makes me sad on a number of levels, but especially because I don't believe it's an accurate assumption to draw from one publisher's experience.

I think, if anything, writers are the heaviest readers and the heartiest supporters of the book industry.

So, in the spirit of solidarity with your fellow writers, I'd love to hear your comments on what you're doing to support the struggling book industry.

"A writer is a reader moved to emulation."
-Saul Bellow

Keep Writing,
Maria

Hi Writers,
It's another visual aid bonus day here on the Writer's Perspective!

Here's a short video interview with bestselling author and Writer's Digest marketing columnist M.J. Rose, who knows more about marketing books than anyone I've ever met. She's a true industry dynamo and visionary. Check her out here.

Keep Writing,
Maria

Hi Writers,
If there's one thing I've learned from spending time with all the thriller writers at ThrillerFest 08, it's that the adage, "write what you know" holds little merit.

Here's another short Q&A I did with David Baldacci, in which he discusses the merits of writing what you don't know.

Keep Writing,

Hi Writers,
I'm in the middle of transcribing a lengthy Q&A with Brad Thor (The Last Patriot) for the December issue of Writer's Digest and I thought what he had to say about literary agents was quite interesting for going against the grain of traditional publishing wisdom (this is unedited, direct from a transcript):

I know agents hate hearing this, but the single agent submission process is so un-businesslike, and this stuff about well you should only pitch one agent at a time and wait to hear back—that’s BS. I really don’t believe in that. I tell people, put together the strongest best package you can. Why should you wait months to hear back from an agent only to be told no, and then you have to wait a few more months. It’s ridiculous. I had agents lose my submissions, take forever to get to it and I thought, you know what, this is ridiculous. I’m not doing this just because this is the rules that they’ve set up for themselves. I thought, they’re not going to know if I’m submitting to multiple places. And what happens with agents when they’re submitting you’re book? They try to start a bidding war! They’re not going to wait onesie, twosie, at every publishing house to see what they think. Authors should do multiple submissions to agents. I mean, that’s the way the business world works and whether or not the industry likes it or not, they can’t stop you from submitting to multiple agents and you know what? If an agent misses out on you because they took too long with your query letter, tough luck for them. It will be a smart, savvy agent who recognizes your talent, who snaps you up. And I really believe that.

So, what do you think about multiple submissions to agents?

Keep Writing,
Maria

Hi Writers,
I've been attending a lot of writing conferences recently and in listening to keynote speeches I've noticed an odd correlation in the first-published stories of many writers.

Just off the top of my head, I can name three bestselling authors who cite being fired as the impetus to write and sell their first book.

• Lee Child lost his job with the BBC and soon after wrote and sold his first Jack Reacher novel.

• Sandra Brown wrote her first novel after being fired from her TV reporter position.

• Laurell K. Hamilton was downsized from her job with IBM when she decided to give the writing thing a real crack.

Anyway, don't go off and tell your boss off, this is merely an unscientific observation, but I have started to wonder if "fired" leads to "inspired." What do you think?

Keep Writing,
Maria

Hi Writers,
To follow up on my previous post, I wanted to comment further on the term "literary" as in a "literary novel."

First, I want to say that I love smart, character-driven literary novels. They are what I gravitate to for my own leisure reading.

So please don't get too angry with me when I share that labeling your book "literary" will, in the minds of many agents, brand your book as being dark, depressing, boring, overly intellectual, mid-list, unsalable, (insert your own adjective for not-money-making here), etc.

When our annual competitions winners (see below) called their novel manuscripts "literary" you could almost see the agents' eyes roll up to the ceiling. As Peter Rubie put it: "When you call your novel "literary" you put yourself on a really difficult level—up against Annie Proulx, Philip Roth and the like."

But what did get the agents revved-up were terms mentioned in my post below, for example "crossover novel" (catchword meaning: a character-driven novel that might actually sell to a mass audience), or book club novel (catchword meaning: somewhat intellectual, culturally relevant, might actually sell to a mass audience if it catches on with the book club set). Much of this is industry jargon, but it's certainly worth knowing if you're trying to pitch a novel.

Feel free to share your thoughts on this but please don't shoot the messenger, I've got a busy schedule this month.

Keep Writing,
Maria

Hi Writers,
I met up with one of my favorite WD forumistas this morning at the Joseph-Beth bookstore here in Cincy—the one and only "Ultimate Cheapskate" (aka Jeff Yeager).

Jeff has been pedaling his bike around the country on a book tour to spread his gospel of cheapness. You can read all about Jeff and his amusingly cheap ways on The Ultimate Cheapskate website. You might also catch one of his regular guest appearances on the "Today" show.

Among the ways Jeff is making his booktour extra cheap is by sleeping on the couches of random strangers and he donates the money saved on lodging to local libraries. Not sure I'd recommend this strategy but it seems to be working for him.

Pictured here:
* Jeff handing me the check for our coffee, which I kept, um, forgetting to pay. "You know, you actually have to pay those things when they bring them to you. It's not like a hymnal," Jeff said.

* The Ultimate Cheapskate touring bike (which I think might just be a prop since I saw him load it into the back of his minivan, shhh!) There's a plastic piggy bank strapped to the back that I got to sign.

* Jeff with his ultra-primo display space at Joseph-Beth Bookstore.

As Jeff says, "Stay Cheap!" It's a good way for a writer to live, isn't it now.

Keep Writing,
Maria

Hi Writers,

Is there such a thing as National Editor's Day?

Well, there should be. Maybe I'll send that one in to Chase's Calendar of Events, where I was most recently the primary contact for National Word Nerd Day—January 8 (this is the sort of thing that happens when editors get bored).

If you love—or hate—an editor, please read this amusing, satiric piece by Michael Kinsley, courtesy of Time Magazine:

Writers vs. Editors: A Battle for the Ages

Here's an excerpt:
Like the detectives and the prosecutors on "Law & Order," two very different groups of people are responsible for the words that fill the world's magazines and newspapers. There are the writers, who produce the prose, and the editors, who do their best to wreck it.

Writers are sensitive souls--generally intelligent and hardworking but easily bruised. Treat them right, though, and you will be rewarded. Writers shape words into luminous sentences and the sentences into exquisitely crafted paragraphs. They weave the paragraphs together into a near perfect article, essay or review. Then their writing--their baby--is ripped untimely from their computers (well, maybe only a couple of weeks overdue) and turned over to editors. These are idiots, most of them, and brutes, with tin ears, the aesthetic sensitivity of insects, deeply held erroneous beliefs about your topic and a maddening conviction that any article, no matter how eloquent or profound or already cut to the bone, can be improved by losing an additional 100 words.

Of course, all it takes is a few hours surfing the Internet to make you appreciate the value of a well-edited book, magazine or newspaper.

Please feel free to leave all of your fawning remarks about editors here. You can use all of the exclamation marks you want—I know it's hard to contain your praise. When you're finished commenting, let me know what day you'd like me to submit to Chase for National Editor's Day—and no, Leap Year is not an option.

Keep Writing,
Maria

Hi Writers,
It's National Poetry Month, so I thought I'd offer up an excerpt courtesy of our wonderful new Poetry columnist Dorianne Laux. This is from the June 08 issue of Writer's Digest (on newwstands 4/15), from a column on word choice:

There’s something in the name Romeo—those three sweet, open syllables—that our English-speaking ears have come to love. No one-syllable Fred, no matter how beautiful of mind, body and spirit, will do. Even if we substituted another three-syllable name more fitting to the times, Christopher, for instance, we hear right away what it lacks. Partly it’s the erotic quality of the Italian language and its lilting syllabics and luscious Latinate endings. Benvolio and Mercutio, Romeo’s friends, also have poly-syllabic names that end in that lovely, open “o.” But only Romeo possesses the particular combination of the warm romantic “R,” mellifluous “m” and rolling “o’s,” so sensual to say and hear.

To get your full April poetry fix, check out our write-a-poem-a-day challenge on Poetic Asides.

Keep Writing,
Maria

Hi Writers,
All good writing starts with a goal, either modest or lofty. I issued a challenge last week on this blog—to post your writing goals for 2008.

80 writers answered my goal call. With the help of my editors, I’ve picked 10 of those lists to highlight. The following 10 writers win a Writer’s Digest subscription! And their 2008 goals follow: 


My Writing Goals for 2008:
PUBLISH SOMETHING.
That sounds very simplistic. Like I could step out the door and throw pages into the wind and have them show up at Barnes & Noble printed and bound. I have the stories written, now I need to keep myself in the chair to edit them. Then, terror of all terrors, I have to let go of my babies and let someone else take them, first an agent then an editor. Discipline is the key, it's time to buckle on the armor and toughen my resolve. A good friend told me the other day that I have to play to win. I think she meant the lottery but the statement goes along with writing. So my goals are as follows.
1. Edit
2. Submission
3. Move to the next story.
4. Rinse and repeat.
-Terri Kleinberg


My writing goals for 2008 are:
1. To write like there's no "tomorrow" or "sometime" or "later"
2. To recognize that a writer living in her comfort zone is not experiencing new things and has little or nothing to write about
3. To FINISH the myriad projects that are written, planned or hiding in my desk drawer or imagination
4. To take the advice of my brilliant daughter, whose birthday message to me was, "If you don't write your story, no one will ever read it".
5. To be courageous in the face of my Internal Editor (that picky, over-critical bitch) and write because I cannot not write
-Sandre Moore


My goal to 2008 is to write something non-academic. I've been working on my MLIS for over a year and all I ever seem to write is term paper after term paper. I have 1 1/2 more years to go and wonder if I'll ever write creatively again. I want to find my creative voice that disappeared deep inside somewhere. When I find some free time I love to pick up a WD issue and dream about writing like I used to. I'd like to write poetry again and start a play I have been working on in my head. I love that WD offers writing prompts...If only homework didn't have to come first.
-Kalyn Shubnell


My goals:
1. Finish what I've started! I've let 20+ years of procrastination, another load of laundry, a research question to answer draw me away from my writing. I can't let another 20 years drift. I'm on chapter 7 of my romance novel and oh by gosh, by golly...it's time for mistletoe, holly and me to type THE END.
2. Stop thinking that because I've done research or bought a new journal or picked up the latest How to write book that I've written! It's fun buying that new journal and following research leads, but baby...got write!
3. Keep up my confidence level. I am good. I am good! I have something to say in a unique way!
4. I've asked Santa for a Writer's Digest subscription—winning one would be a great surprise!
Thanks! Happy Holidays!
-Trish Glavin


My goals are more about attitude. I'm already on board with discipline, so I vow not to give materials away or write for free any longer—there must be some quid pro quo with whatever I do.
1. To not be obnoxious with marketing and promotion (I can't stand those pushy authors,) so, be circumspect about self-promotion and use it with the utmost taste whether that is at conferences, online or in e-list groups.
2. Network more but with the intention of making true relationships. I do this now, but this year I will really listen instead of poised waiting my turn to speak.
3. Edit my student's (I teach e-courses) work kindly, by always providing a plus before I stress the minuses and needed corrections.
4. Lower the bitching quotient around my husband and up the "good things" comments about this career. He's making more sacrifices than I am.
-Andrea Campbell


Goals for 2008:
1. Find ten minutes every day to daydream. No pen or paper allowed.
2. Take myself out on a date every Tuesday night. Agenda: explore my creativity in new, interesting and solitary ways.
3. Subscribe to and support the literary magazines I like best, and who I hope will support me.
4. Read every story in the Best American Short Stories of the Century.
5. Begin, fearlessly, to write my novel.
6. Write more letters to friends and family.
7. Call my Gran whenever I think about her, and ask her to tell me her stories.
8. Be mindful of my physical health, and treat my body like the instrument it is: if I feel like crap, I probably won't be writing.
9. When there is a social engagement I *really* don't want to go to, I'll go anyways, and take a pocket size moleskin and a pencil stub with me.
10. Show up at my writing desk every day, keep my eyes open, and try to be useful.
-Christie VanLaningham


My modest goals:
1. Win a Nobel Prize for Literature (for my unpublished works that the Nobel Committee hears about and requests to see)
2. Top the New York Times Bestseller List for the last six months of the year (need to get the book rushed to publication for its brilliance in the first six)
3. Chat with Oprah about how much she loves my book
4. Build my custom-designed writing retreat in Colorado overlooking the mountains.
5. Get a law passed that flays alive anyone who thinks it's okay not to pay writers, claiming they should work for free to get "quality clips." Later amend law to pouring lemon juice on them after flaying.
6. Hire someone to talk to all the people introvert me does not deign to speak to now that I have much moolah from #2. I vant to be alone to create art my dahlings.
7. Pull a J.D. Salinger at the end of the year and refuse all interviews. I need no stinkin' publicity.
8. Allow myself to be coaxed out of Salingerhood to do another interview with Oprah.
-Tricia D. Grissom


Whenever I was depressed in 2007, I would go to the library and pick up Writer’s Digest. Getting a subscription would be a monthly gift of hope for my dream of becoming a writer. My writing goals for 2008 are in two categories, SAFE- writing I know how to do, and RISKS—writing that makes me sigh and scares me.
SAFE:
1. Start a monthly newsletter for my company.
2. Write and Field Test a new curriculum to train direct support staff.
RISKS:
1. Read two bestsellers every month by different authors. Then analyse each for overall plot, character development, surprises, twists, complexity of the storyline, voice (written in first, third person...), dialogue, beginning and closing chapters....
2. Stop rewriting the first chapter of my current novel and either throw it out and start something new, or finish at least chapter two by February 1st and the entire book by May 1st.
3. Lose 50 pounds. Don't laugh! This is a writing goal because I will write for one hour and then actively walk and process for the next hour. Two hours on actively working toward my goals will definitely be therapy for my body and soul.
4. I will actively market my work.
-Mary Ulrich


1. Write regularly.
2. Revise ruthlessly.
3. Release repeatedly (i.e., submit for publication).
-Sherrie Lorance


My writing goal before the curtain closes on 2008 is a rejection letter. Just one simple, beautiful rejection letter and my year will be a complete success. How? That letter would have been made possible by a series of events that started with my organization (finally) of all those seemingly random bits of story and unformed characters in my “Ideas” folder and ended with a completed work of fiction in my hands.

A work of fiction that formed during the course of the year because of a disciplined adherence to a daily writing routine, regular input from fellow writers, and constant revision. A work of fiction that finally appeared “good enough” to send out into the wide world like a kindergartener walking to the bus stop on the first day of school. And like so many hopeful school children making their inaugural school bus rides only to run afoul of the class bully, my work of fiction would have its lunch money stolen and receive its first official black eye.

Then I’ll rework it and put it right back on the bus. And that will be a great success, indeed.
-Karen O'Brien


Feel free to keep posting. And remember to stay true to your writing goals in 2008!
Keep Writing,
Maria
"To thine own self be true" -William Shakespeare

Hi Writers,
I'm on Facebook now, and so is our beloved Writer's Digest, so stop by and say hi if you're a Facebooker!
Maria Schneider on Facebook
Writer's Digest on Facebook

Keep Writing,
Maria

Hi Writers,
It’s Friday and that means it's time to announce my 17th add in my Project 20/20: Build My Blogroll contest (you can find details and many of the nominated writing blogs on the left navigation).

This week’s add is an ambitious young blogger/writer, who focuses on the teen writing scene at:  
Innovative Teen: a word for the wri-teen
by Gabrielle Linnell

Gabrielle posts weekly magazine-style features including interviews with Teen writers—she’s scored some impressive interviews. And she also posts on craft and inspiration for Teen Writers.

Here’s a post Gabrielle did recently on facing burnout:
Burnout is different from inspiration-loss. Look, if you wait to write until you're inspired, you'll be waiting a long time. You won't write, actually. The discipline of writing is writing anyway, always, whenever, however. Burnout is when you are really empty, not just tired.
But fear not! Burnout is neither forever, nor untreatable. The best cures, I've found, are below.


-Take a short break
-Throw yourself into your book or short-term project.
-Listen to lots of music.

-Take long nature walks.
-Read an article you really disagree with

-Eat really good food.
-Watch a lot of cheesy, feel-good movies
-Or watch one gripping drama

And the best way:
Read a really, really, really badly written book.

Gabrielle, I use that last one—reading a really, really really badly written book works wonders for me for some reason (although I will not divulge those books). I think this is counter-intuitive yet practical advice for writers you have here.

Here’s a big Writer’s Perspective welcome to my favorite new up-and-coming blogger and writer—Gabrielle Linnell.

Only 3 more weeks/ 3 more blogs to go so keep the nominations coming!

Keep Writing,
Maria

Hi Writers,

I've never made a secret of the fact that the WD Interviews are my favorite feature in Writer's Digest. It's a rare privilege to get first-hand advice on the craft and business of writing from some of the finest writers of our times.

We've done some amazing interviews over the years, if I must say so myself. When I went back through our archives recently, I compiled a list, and it was like a who's who of the bestseller lists, including:

•Jane Smiley •Jennifer Weiner •Alice Hoffman •Ted Kooser •Po Bronson •Gay Talese •Jay McInerney •Anna Quindlen •Sebastian Junger •Alexander McCall Smith •John Searles •Augusten Burroughs •Mark Winegardner •Fannie Flagg •James Rollins •Melissa Bank •Michael Connelly •Bill Bryson •Jack Kerley •Caroline Alexander •Margaret Atwood •Marian Keyes •Dave Eggers •Jeffrey Eugenides •Michael Chabon •John Updike •Tom Clancy •Joyce Carol Oates •Janet Evanovich •Ann Brashares

The friendly, fearless editors here at Writer's Digest are pleased to offer our newest venture into the digital divide: The Best of WD Interviews CD

A few of my favorite quotes from past WD interviews:

John Updike: "We're past the age of heroes and hero kings. If we can't make up stories about ordinary people, who can we make them up about?"

Jeffrey Eugenides: "Stay in touch with the first impulses that made you start writing—the pleasure of it and the interest of the story, and not so much the professional side of things. Remain close to that—when you began writing and were intoxicated with it. If you do, the rest will come."

Joyce Carol Oates: "I suggest to my students that they write under a pseudonym for a week. That allows young men to write as women, and women as men. It allows them a lot of freedom they don't have ordinarily."

This is an online-exclusive offer. The Best of WD Interviews is just $14.95 and it's the perfect holiday gift for your favorite writer—even if it's you!

Keep Writing,
Maria

...or seeing red in a blue state

Hi Writers,
On this election day, it seemed appropriate timing to make a statement about the so-called political leanings of Writer's Digest. Well, I hereby declare Writer's Digest independent and neutral territory—the Switzerland of the publishing world, if you will.

We've been getting a lot of flack recently about our "On the Edge" column, in particular, and I wanted to clarify a few things.

In the December issue we featured Alternative Fare, an article on Gay and Lesbian writing markets. We're doing, I think, a great job of providing analytical reports on publishing niche markets. In the past year we've covered markets for street lit, erotica and spiritual writing among others. These are potentially heated topics and—depending on what the topic is—we get called right wing wackos, left wing hippies, crazy liberal freaks and on, and on.

These are writing markets, pure and simple. We're not endorsing any lifestyle or religion or political party. We're not taking a stand on any particular issue. There are certainly plenty of places on the Web and on the newsstand to find political commentary. But there aren't many sources for fair, objective reporting on writing markets, and that's what we strive to bring you.

We're reporting on industry trends—sometimes these trends fall within the realm of heated political topics. You have my word that we're going out of our way to maintain fair, unbiased reporting.

If you think we cross the line into the realm of political commentary, I'd like to hear it, please leave a comment here.

Keep Writing,
Maria

Hi Writers,
It's the 10th week in My Project 20/20 Build my Blogroll Project. You can read all about the project and nominate a writing blog in "Project 20/20" in the left navigation.

This week's add is all about the power of friends.

I've been noticing a trend lately, in the form of multiple writers gathering together to form a blog collective. This makes a lot of sense when you realize the time and commitment it takes to put out a quality blog on a continuous and relenteless basis. And when you consider the exponentially increased audience a group of writers can reach, well, a group blog really starts to make a lot of sense.

One of the first writing collective blogs I came across is this fine blog that was nominated at the beginning of my project. Congrats to our friendly writing neighbors to the north:
The Canadian Writers' Collective
hosted by the following writers:

• Melissa Bell
• Anne Chudobiak
• Tricia Dower
• Steven Gajadhar
• Tamara J. Lee
• Antonios Maltezos
• Andrew Tibbetts

I'm guessing with 7 regular writers and specical guests, it's easy to keep the blog fires burning. Not to mention the fun factor of blogging as a group experience.

This blog is a bit of everything you'd want in a writing blog, really. Yesterday they posted a Halloween Haiku contest. There are posts from one writer's "Journal of a Wannabe Novelist" to advice on which writing books to invest in.

I'd love for any or all of the members of the Canadian Writers' Collective to stop in and tell us what it's like to be part of a group blog. I'd like to get into one of those myself!

Keep Writing,
Maria

Hi Writers,
Bless McSweeney's for publishing 90-year old debut novelist, Millard Kaufman, whose novel Bowl of Cherries has been compared (in Publishers Weekly) to the work of Vonnegut, Heller and Camus.

I wanted to line up a forum guest appearance/ live chat with Kaufman, but I'm told technology isn't his friend. I'm trying to get a phone interview, but in the mean time, please enjoy this video of Millard Kaufman discussing his work, courtesy of McSweeney's and You Tube.

Keep Writing,
Maria

Hi Writers,
You may or may not know, I've spent the past nine weeks lurking around the blogosphere perusing writers' blogs, for my Project 20/20, in which I'm spotlighting a writer's blog each week for 20 weeks.

Now, at week #9 I'm almost at the halfway mark and still getting lots of great nominations for my burgeoning blogroll. You can check out many of the nominations—and nominate a blog—on the Project 20/20 Build My Blogroll link on the left navigation.

As I've mentioned several times here on The Writer's Perspective I have eclectic tastes, I read widely and try to not pigeonhole myself into a genre. And I'm really proud of the diverse range of writers assembled so far on my blogroll. So I was looking over the blogroll today and realized, wow, I don't have a poet yet.

Of course, every good blogroll needs its own Poet Laureate. With that, here's my Week #9 add, who I hereby decree the official Poet Laureate of The Writer's Perspective blogroll:

Sage Said So by Sage Cohen

I was charmed by the asthetics of Sage's blog and website, which I think makes such a positive statement about her and her work. It's clean, elegant and makes good use of white space. The simple line drawings add personality and match the graphics on her new book of poetry, Like the Heart, the World. Sage just started her book tour and shares the experience on her blog, which is a wonderful way for writers to promote their work without seeming overly self-promotional.

I loved this recent post: "From Stopper to Striker" in which Sage compares the evolution of her writing career to lessons learned on the soccer field.

Sage, congratulations on being my newest blogroll add, and on your new role as the official Poet Laureate of The Writer's Perspective blogroll.

Have a lovely weekend. And, of course...
Keep Writing,
Maria

Hi Writers,
The December issue of Writer's Digest goes out to subscribers this week, and it will be on newsstands October 16. We're featuring a great collection of articles on how to better tap into your creative side.

I wrote about my own creative rituals in my editor's note:

I realized a while ago that in order to sit down and compose a piece of creative writing, I need to first make myself sick to my stomach.
    Procrastination, anxiety and outward chaos seem to be part of what it takes for me to get into the flow. I pace around my home or office doing busywork: compulsively shuffling papers, doing laundry, wiping down already-clean counter-tops—any mindless task, really. And all the while I’m mulling over the piece I’ll soon force myself to sit down and write. I know when it’s time to start writing when I feel it in my gut—sometimes as a tingling, sometimes as a subtle ache.   
I often wonder what spurs writers on to write when creativity seems to have this prerequisite of anxiety. But maybe these creative rites are necessary to propel us forward, to enable us to shut out the world around us and focus our energies fully on developing our random, chaotic thoughts into a singular piece of writing. We often need these humble rites to harness our creativity, don’t we? 

Your Rites: 
What are your creative rites? Do you pace and clean, like me? Go for long walks? Stare at the ceiling? Paint your toenails? You can bet you’re not the only one. Tell me about your creative rites here in the comments or you can post it on our forum in the Creative Rites thread.

Keep Writing,
Maria

Hi Writers,
It’s week 8 in my Project 20/20 Build my Blogroll contest and yes, it's still hard for me to choose from all the great writing blogs out there.

I came across this week’s pick a couple of weeks ago when I was editing a feature this writer wrote for us on how online dating is similar to editor/ writer relationships (to come in our February 08 issue).

As I mentioned before, I like to get an idea about the freelancers who contribute to us. That’s when I found this charming fellow's blog, my week 8 add:

Wordlustitude by Mark Peters.  

I don’t really even know what to call what Mark does on his blog, which takes a screwball look at modern English usage. I suppose you could say he's building a sort-of dictionary for fringe elements (note: I include myself as a fringe element).

Maybe you could call Mark a loopy linguist? A loony lexicologist? At any rate, check it out, he’s hilarious (note to the sensitive among us: I wouldn't exactly call this a G-rated site).  

Here’s one recent post:

megastitious

noun. This describes you if black cats and other evil portents give you the heebie-jeebies, the creeps, an ulcer, and the wiggins. Boooooooo!

Related term: stitious.

Real citation: “My mom's not just superstitious, she's megastitious. She's emailed my sister and I this chain mail today. My sister has multiple email accounts so mom emails it to her many mnay times...so she gets enough people in so she doesn't end up having bad luck forever, or whatever. Anyway, I thought this one was very funny and had to share.”
(Sept. 3, 2007, Post Punk Kitchen, http://www.postpunkkitchen.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=682545)

Made-up citation: "Despite my atheistic ways, I can be megastitious. If you gave me thirteen cupcakes made of gold and rainbows, I think I'd run the other way."


Mark, I welcome you to my vicious (blog) circle.

Check out wordlustitude, a daily laugh for word nerds everywhere. And I'd like to encourage you all to leave your made-up words here in my comments—I have a feeling that will get Mark’s attention.

Keep Writing,
Maria
P.S. There is some risque subject matter in this blog, so please be advised!

Hi Writers,
Another Friday, another opportunity to add yet another writer's blog in my project to spotlight and add one to my blogroll each week for 20 weeks. So many great blogs, so little time...

This week, I'm adding lucky #7 to my circle of blog buddies. And without further adieu, it is:

Writer Mama: How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids
by Christina Katz

You've probably heard publishing types using the eponymous and somewhat terrifying word "platform." As in, "We're looking for writers with an established platform..."

Well, Christina could write a book on that. She's been brilliant at establishing a grass-roots community for parent/writers through her blog. And great blogs sometimes lead to great books. Christina's book Writer Mama came out this year.

To promote her book via her blog, she's been hosting a Back-to-School book giveaway—a book a day for 31 days. There are still 3 more days left if you'd like to enter.

Also check out Christina's "Creative Manifesto," which I love, and not just because I love to use the word "manifesto" whenever possible (but it's true, I do.).

Here's #4 of the "Creative Manifesto":
"When good things happen, slow down and savor the moment. It takes effort to make good things happen, so you must have earned it!"

Ah, so true. Christina please get on here and tell us a little more about how you've use your blog to build your platform and get a book deal.

Finally, I have a writer mama confession to make. Once, when I was attempting to conduct a phone interview at home, I locked myself in the car with my cellphone to escape my three fighting children.

Oh, the guilt! Nice to know there are other struggling writer/parents out there. Keep up the good work Christina!

Keep Writing,
Maria

Hi Writers,
In the October issue of Writer's Digest, we featured an essay called "Literary Legends." Phil Sexton, who recently wrote the book Legends of Literature, wrote this essay for us based on his experience of combing through the Writer's Digest magazine archives—87 years worth.

Some of the treasures Sexton discovered on his journey: articles by A.A. Milne, H.G. Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Isaac Asimov and Stephen King. An announcement of the arrival of "hot, new writer" F. Scott Fitzgerald. An interview with Ernest Hemingway that hadn't seen the light of day in 40 years. And on and on and on.

I loved reading this piece. Yes, I'm a literary geek so I get into this sort of ephemera.

But the weight of editing a magazine with this much of a legacy behind it can be daunting. A magazine is, necessarily, in continuous evolution. It has to be contemporary in order to appeal to the next generation of readers. And balancing the legacy with the need to move forward is always a challenge.

It's kind of like living in a historic house. If you own an old house, you soon realize the house doesn't truly belong to you; it belongs to the families who lived there before, the families you'll pass it along to, and to the community.

Taking care of a magazine during a tenure as editor is similar. You have to honor it, care for it, and modernize it enough to move gracefully into the future.

So community, tell me: How would you like to see Writer's Digest move into the future? Let me know. I'm the caretaker and I'm paying attention.

Keep Writing,
Maria   
   

Hi Writers,
It's the third week in my Project 20/20. My goal: to add one writer's blog to my blogroll each Friday for 20 weeks.

I have a personal favorite to add to the blogroll this week, because it's a blog I really think you will all enjoy and take something away from:
A Newbie's Guide to Publishing by J.A. Konrath, author of the Lt. Jack Daniels thriller series.

I find a lot of what's on Joe's blog helpful to writers, especially in terms of learning how to market your work. Joe's written several great marketing articles for Writer's Digest and it's really been my pleasure to work with him for the past few years. He's so gracious in terms of sharing what he's learned about the publishing world with other writers, and he does so in a way that's always refreshing, down-to-earth and positive.

Of course, he's figured this whole blogging thing out, too. Joe really knows how to cut to the chase and give you something meaningful to think about at the same time. Here's an especially pertinent post:
Blogging, like newspaper and radio, is often mistaken for a disposable form of information. Yet I get lots of hits from Google on old blog posts, and many of them continue to accrue comments.

Pay attention to what you're posting today, you bloggers of blogland. Because it will still be around tomorrow. If your posts are without purpose, you're not doing yourself a service.

Let me repeat that: Blogging Isn't Temporary. What you do now may one day be surfed by someone who isn't even born yet, and that path will lead back to you. Do you want that path to result in interest or apathy?

Think about why you blog, and what purpose it's serving. Look at your last fifty entries. Will they be of any interest to someone in 2017? If not, why do you think they are of any interest to anyone now?

That's why I don't do memes. That's why I don't blog about personal stuff. That's why I don't push my own books constantly—no one ever seeks out ads. And that's why, except on rare occassions, I don't blog about events, peers, friends, family, or what I watched on TV last night.

Your blog is a tool. But too many people are using hammers to scratch their asses rather than drive nails. If you blog as a form of entertainment, that's no problem—have fun. If you blog to increase your name recognition, you may be doing more harm than good.


A Newbies Guide to Publishing is the 3rd writer's blog to be forever carved into the trunk of my blog tree. I raise a shot of Jack to you, Joe Konrath, on behalf of writers everywhere!

Keep the nominations coming. There are still 17 blogs to add!

Keep Writing,
Maria

Hi Writers,
I just finished interviewing Brock Clarke about his great, funny new novel (cleverly disguised as a memoir) The Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England.

You'll have to wait a few months for the interview. But do check out the website for his book, which features a memoirizer: type in your (real or made up. Probably made up) information and the memoirizer will write your bookjacket blurb. Quite the creative publicity department, you must admit.

To get your own memoirizer blurb go to:
http://arsonistsguide.com/memoirizer.html

Here's the blurb the memoirizer wrote for me: (hee)

In Who I Was, Who I Am, and Who I Want to Be, Maria Schneider tells the almost too- remarkable-to-be-true story of her rise from villain to hero, including her struggle to overcome her sexual voraciousness, her troubled relationship with her partner and children, and her addiction to drugs, all of which lead her to a life of crime and to rehab, where she found redemption and the strength and wisdom to write this cautionary memoir about the power and resiliency of the human condition.


Feel free to post your memoirizer blurbs here, too.
Keep Writing,
Maria

Hi Writers,
Like that headline? Drew you in didn't it? Made your heart pick up the beat a bit, maybe? And your palms got a little sweaty. Money has a way of doing that to people.

The October issue of Writer's Digest is all about writing and money. I've noticed that, for some reason, combining the two seems to make many writers very, very nervous. Guilty even.

I felt like I was being a bit crass, frankly, when I wrote the editor's note for the issue. Here's what I wrote:

The Truth About Money
If there's a dirty little secret in the writing world—it's money.

Who's making it, who's not, how to get more of it and how to act like it's not really that important. We writers often like to pretend that thoughts and worries about money are secondary to our loftier artistic goals.

Well, here's a dirty little truth: Money is important. William Shakespeare wrote for money. Mark Twain wrote for money. Stephen King writes for money. You don't have to feel guilty about wanting or needing to make money from your writing—there's a well-worn path before you.

Even as I was writing this, knowing it sounded somewhat crass and definitely non-ivory-towerish, I felt like a weight was being released from my chest. I knew then this was something that was really bothering me, somehow, and I think it must bother other writers, too.

Why do we feel guilty wanting to make money from our writing? Is this something the world does to writers—or something we do to ourselves? Do you expect to make money from your writing? Do you feel guilty asking to be paid for your writing? Tell me why...

Keep Writing,
Maria
p.s. In case you, like me, slept through high school lit, that headline is a quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby describing his money-loving Zelda-esque character Daisy Buchanan.