Writers Unbound

I’ve loved literature since I could read. Then I learned how to write, and there was no stopping me. I produced a prodigious amount of sappy poems through my adolescence, then moved on with all the maturity of age to college papers.

And I got stuck there.

Oh, I wrote some great papers. And I took as many creative writing courses as I could fit in and I loved them. I sweated words out, terrified that I was somehow immature, still sappy, unable to recognize the abysmal quality of my own poetry and prose. Then I erased and sweated new words out, even more terrified that I was being untrue to myself, fawning to a teacher whose style I could easily imitate, letting myself be molded into some kind of writer I would hate being.

I survived, I got good grades, I got compliments, I graduated. My Mom got sick, and I stayed home with her and Dad for that year after my college graduation. I debated going for my Masters, going for a job, going for success as an amazingly young and mature writer, or going for the man I had wanted to marry for 8 years. (We met when we were 14.)

Dear Reader, I married him, and I have never been sorry. But a funny thing happened; actually, it had been happening that whole year in between college and marriage. I didn’t write. I couldn’t. I wanted to, but I produced nothing…

I was in a strange haze. I had accustomed myself for the last four years to writing for my teachers: producing poetry, short stories, essays, research papers with the goal of getting a good grade. Sure, I tried to be true to myself, too, but I know if it came to a choice of getting an A and compromising my voice a little, or getting a C and saying what I wanted, how I wanted, I would choose the A.

It’s not all bad to write in order to please someone else. I needed to learn a certain control over my expression. The difficult part comes when the control is removed and the freedom replaced. Having been trained to please and appease for those years, it was impossible to immediately produce stuff that was challenging, true, individual, and open.

In fact, I am still learning to produce what I feel and know from my gut and not what I feel from that fearful, placating part of my mind. I love approval. I love a pat on the head, and that’s what every good grade felt like to me. Now I look for things to replace the big red A on my papers: a comment, a place to fit in, a positive response. And I look for ways to get those marks of approval, even if the methods don’t suit my real, long-term goals.

This is a battle for every writer. I am starting to win mine more than lose. But I still wish I could get an A for every post I put up…

I was recently blessed to come into contact with Leo Babauta, who runs a very successful blog, Zen Habits. He started up a new writers blog, Write to Done, and allowed me a guest post. I also interviewed him for About Freelance Writing.

In a recent post at Write To Done, Babauta suggests that one copy the style of other freelancers. He advocates reading great copy (stories, whatever) and then making it your own.

I was also able to get a review copy of Christina Katz’s Writer Mama, which I will also cover at About Freelance Writing shortly (I’m on the last chapter). Christina echoes Leo’s suggestion. She advises those who are looking to get into magazine print to break down the articles of your target publications. For example: how many subheads are standard? Does the author use humour or is the copy completely serious? Does the word count seems standardized across issues, features and departments, or is there some give and take? You are then to use your investigation in crafting your submission.

Finally, I’m thrown back to my undergraduate years, when one of my favorite professors lectured on Ben Franklin and assigned his autobiography. It happens that Franklin taught himself to write by carefully dissecting great works, studying their pieces, and then attempting to reconstruct the text as the original author had. Talk about self taught! Sure enough, Franklin’s autobiography is a piece of precise writing that accomplishes its purpose without self-aggrandizement.

Study the masters. Choose a muse and find out what it is that draws you to that muse. Take the pieces that you will from them, and make those pieces into your own work and styling. Now, go write!  

Today’s Tuesday Tip for novel writers is to read this article and also to subscribe to the New York Times’ book page, as it’s really valuable.

The article talks about purposeful brand placement in your novel. For example, does your teenage male character only wear Adidas? Is your heroine a Marlboros smoker? Where is the line between description and over-selling in the hopes of sponsorship?

One thing that really got me about this practice is that…once again…it’s being aimed at children. HarperCollins Children’s Books is releasing MacKenzie Blue, a book aimed at girls aged eight to twelve. The main character, MacKenzie,  ”loves Converse,” among other product placements. Surprise, surprise, the “author” is a marketing exec.

Ugh. I am so sick of advertisers attempting to covertly brainwash my kids.

Great article…be sure to check it out.

And, moving on to the amusement file, freelance writers will want to take a look at this hilarious posting on craigslist. I guarantee you’ll feel like shouting BRAVO!

Another bravo for writers comes in the form of the proper use of the semi-colon on the number 5 train in NYC. Apparently the marketing writer paid attention in English class. Bravo to him, the usage is one I often have to research/remind myself. (Bad freelance writer!) 

Happy Tuesday- now go back to your writing!

I know I know: I write about freelancing way too much. Let’s veer away from that for a bit, shall we?

On Monday, my 7 year old had the day off school, so it was just her and I here at home, which she doesn’t get a whole lot of. I was helping her fill out her iPOD with song selections from the the video library on cable TV. I was happy with her tastes in music: J. Lo, (Latina) and Ingrid Michaelson (talented writer) among others. (Although I’m a little dismayed with her crush on Justin Timberlake- but, hey, she’s 7, she can’t be perfect. Yet)

I was also pleased that she wanted to read the captions during the videos. Sometimes the words just pop, you know, and you can tell the songwriter is also a poet. People like Tori Amos come to mind here. I was happy to introduce my little to-be writer to the concept.

I was reminded of this one teacher I had in high school who actually got my younger brother interested in poetry by exploring Pearl Jam lyrics (yes it was the 90s).

Another place I’ve found some inspiration lately is from my photo albums. My WIP is set mostly in Mexico, and it helps to access the photos and get me into the right frame of mind.

I’ve mentioned my WIP before, and that it’s set in Mexico, partially, and that I wrote it in Mexico. I’ve talked about this before. I’ve really got to make it come to fruition, so that I don’t reread this post someday and want to kick myself.

I’ve really got to get rid of the IP part of my WIP.

Today’s tip is that grammar counts.

Crap.

Here’s the problem: I write all the time. It can burn a person out. Sometimes when I blog, or comment, or chat on forums, I really could care less about perfection. I get paid for perfection, and unless you’re paying me, I’m not much interested- not 100% of the time anyway. So, if you come across me online and Your wondering why I keep making Acceptions to grammar rules, now you know.

Do you know why people attack such things on message boards? Generally lack of anything better to say.

But, yes, grammar does count in paid writing situations.

Need to work on your grammar?

Here’s some fun grammar quizzes.

Sometimes English grammar takes on a new dimension when you learn a new language. I really didn’t catch grammar until I learned Spanish in high school. So if you’re still monolingual…there’s another impetus for you to cure that.

Of course, you could always kill two birds with one stone and invest in the 15th Edition Chicago Manual of Style. Freelancers and journalists will more than likely run across a need for this anyway, and it can answer many of your grammar questions. Granted, it’s quite an investment, but those who work through a business front can always deduct it!

Last, but certainly not least, Sentence Sence has a grammar textbook aimed specifically at writers.

On a side note, be sure to check out this guest post that I did for the kind ladies at Freelance Parent last week. I explore the question of asking for an extension from freelance clients. Is it ever ok? Be sure to leave your comments.

Novelists, how many times have you hesitated in selecting the next word, the next turn of phrase? Don’t worry- this is a good thing!

Portions of my work in progress take place in Mexico, and although the English language has three times the vocabulary as the Spanish language, I’ve found that some of the character’s sentiments simply cannot be expressed in English. I’ve counted on the surrounding dialogue and context to clue in my non-Spanish speaking readers, and my reading group has been receptive so far.

A reading group is, of course, one of the best ways to deal with word selection. Having a trusted group of individuals to give feedback is tantamount. If you’re too shy or simply lacking in time, try out a virtual writing group! 

Another option when dealing with word selection is to read major works by famous authors for clues. This would be a very academic undertaking, but the results are worth the effort.

For example, I would recommend Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw for word selection hints. In this book, the main character (the Governess) is constantly concerned with her word selection when telling her ghostly tale. In fact, the story has been said to be a story about reading and interpretation of prose. Of course, this is an aspect of the novel I would have missed if I had not studied it (hard) years ago as an undergrad, so be sure to not only read the book, but also some critical essays on the book for hints like this.

Is word selection as important as characterization or plot in your novel? I think so. I strive for a whole package in what I write and what I read. What’s your opinion?

word selection, novels, fiction writing

A couple weeks ago, I asked what you neededto talk/read about that WritersUnbound could help you with.

Two replies I got were cold calling (freelancers/copywriters) and researching markets (magazines and books). First, I’m going to address cold calling, and then you can pop back after that where I begin a series on finding markets (tomorrow)!

I also asked for some blogroll suggestions, and I am working on that, too. So, if you have anyone you’d like to see blogrolled, let me know.

My goal with WritersUnbound is to build one of those great, clickable writing communities where you can once in a while garner those little gems of wisdom that go a long way in your writing career. You have a lot of say in that building, so please do leave your input.

And now……ON TO COLD CALLING:

•  Cold calling isn’t always completely cold. You’ll want to start with your past clients. This will make the task a little easier on freelancers who hate picking up the phone, as you’ll at least have a sense of the customer. Heck, maybe you can pick up enough new work to just stop there. But, if not…
• Another way to warm up that cold call, making it a little easier for the shy freelancer: send some materials beforehand. Warm up your prospect by sending a small press kit, or a cold email with a direction to your website. Your prospect then knows a BIT about you, thus alleviating all those clumsy introductions.
• Get recommendations or introductions first. By using your existing network, you can garner an introduction, or at least some positive word of mouth buzz, meaning that you again avoid the chilliest part of the cold call.

Using these suggestions not only helps you get more business, but moreso, they take the pain out of cold calling, making it an activity that doesn’t drain your reserves.

Best of luck, and be sure to share your cold calling tips!

cold calling, blogroll

I must send out a massive THANK YOU to PGARDAPEE- a super sweet woman I know from the Work At Home Moms forum for this great tool.

Read Me Please is a free download trial software that will provide a (computerized) voice to read any text you paste into its screen. I used it this morning for a final proofread before I sent a project to a client, and I did find one mistake that I had missed from multiple other read-throughs!

Bonuses:

• Reads numerals out loud
• Reading speed is adjustable
• Cost is VERY affordable after the free trial

Some issues:

• Won’t help you with word confusions such as are/our
• Doesn’t get some newer words (example: geocache)
• When you write “and/or” it says “and slash or” (a little distracting)

Overall, I’d say this is a great investment to add to your arsenal of proofreading/editing tools. It’s very important to always send your best work on to the client!

software, proofreading

So you wanna be a travel writer? (Me too!)

While updating my bookmarks, I’ve dug up some some potential markets for your latest travel copy. All of the following sites are currently accepting submissions or queries. I wish you the BEST OF LUCK!

The Cultured Traveler is currently accepting reprints of any travelogues to which you have full reprint rights. Although this won’t work for new writers looking to break into the market, those with previosuly published articles, or perhaps even old blog posts will benefit.

Adventure Journey is looking for the “soul” of your trip. Only features are paid, though.

The Matador Bounty Board is consistently updated, and I can personally vouch for David, one of Matador’s editors- a great guy with a great little addition to his workload ;). The Bounty Board includes postings from Matador and from other travel sites looking for writers. I check it weekly, you should too!

Literary Traveler wants to know if you’ve ever taken a journey inspired by literature. As usual, it’s recommended that you read their current articles to get a feel for tone.

Brave New Traveler isn’t interested in reading your travelogues, but instead seeks current news, travel related reflection and tips. Since they are specifically blog-based, be sure to follow their length and style guidelines.

Looking for a little writing inspiration before you tackle all those queries? Be sure to check out Write Anyway.

writing markets, writing, travel, travel writing

Aspiring writers often ask me about writing workshops. Are they worth the time and money? Can they really help you take your writing (and maybe your publishing) to the next level? And if so, what workshops are the best?

Early in my career, when I left a wonderful job to freelance and all my loved ones thought I was crazy, I did attend writing workshops. One of the most significant to me was the SC Writers Workshop. I had just started freelancing, and I wanted a network. In later years, I’d find myself on the other side of the podium because I conducted workshops for this annual conference. At those workshops, I met people who would be influential in my career, and I won my first significant award for poetry.

I had a déjà vu moment last summer as I conducted the poetry workshop for the Southeastern Writers Association conference. It was the first day of the conference, and I gave a small introduction describing my ideas and attitudes about poetry. One of the workshop attendees raised her hand.

“So you mean it’s okay to rhyme poetry?” she asked.

I told her of course it is. It’s okay to do anything you want. It’s your poem. Form only comes into the picture when you’re marketing your poetry. So you’d want to market poetry that rhymes to a magazine that publishes formal work like sonnets.

Then the participant told me something that blew my mind. She said a poet at a workshop told her to never ever rhyme poems.

By the end of the conference, I was very glad I met the woman who asked me about rhyming poems. She was a very gifted formal poet. Only someone who appreciated diversity in poetry would really appreciate the talent this woman had.

This has happened more times than I can tell you, not just with poetry, but with other genres as well. For some reason—and I’ll never fully understand it—some writers who teach workshops want the participants to write in a single-minded narrow fashion.

I’d say if you run into someone like this, don’t bother with the class.

Constructive criticism is important—it helps us to see our work as others see it. But when a writer critiques the work of another, that work should be judged on its own merit on its own terms. When you offer your work to another for feedback, bear in mind the type of outlook the other writer has. If there’s a narrow-minded aesthetic at work, you’re better off buying a book on writing. In my humble opinion.

If you find a writer who inspires you and who offers positive constructive feedback that helps you to improve your work, then your money is well spent. Conferences also offer great networking opportunities during downtime like receptions and meet-and-greet sessions.

It’s important to view publishing as a different goal than writing. Publishing is about the business; writing is about the art.

Publishing has very little to do with talent. Otherwise, Emily Dickinson wouldn’t have been dead before her poems were appreciated and she was recognized as a cornerstone in modern American poetry.

Links to selected writers’ conferences

http://www.myscww.org/
SC Writers Workshop; annual conference is in October, usually at Myrtle Beach. S.C.

http://www.southeasternwriters.com/
Southeastern Writers Association; annual conference is in June, usually at St. Simons Island, Ga.

http://www.asja.org
American Society of Journalists and Authors; annual conference is in April, in New York City.

http://www.wcupa.edu/_ACADEMICS/sch_cas/poetry/conference/index.html
West Chester Poetry Conference usually held in June, in West Chester, Pa. Application and submission of poems required.

http://journalists.org/2007conference/
Online News Association; this year’s October conference is in Toronto, Ontario.

Word Press, Technorati, Tags, Writers Workshops, Writers Conferences, Writing Seminars, Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Contests, Authors, Workshop Leaders