Along with working on the Projects for my Children's Books, I've sign up for a 7 day Boot Camp. The New Yorker Times Magazine is actively seeking writers for their e-magazine.
They have set up an online Boot Camp for Writer's to show their talents and become certified to write and post articles online for payment!
If you're interested, search Guardian Experss SEO Boot Camp. Go Ahead...Check it out!
If you sign up, let me know how you do. I'm going to be on day 4 tomorrow.
Keep Writing, Keep Smiling and Keep Submitting!
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
What are YOU working on right now?
Over the last couple of months I've been spending most of my writing time working on my Children's stories. I've been revising my Meet Sandy Gull story. I hope to have that available again by the end of this week. I"ve tightened up my Shellby Comes To Visit manuscript and I feel that is ready to go.
In a Celebration of Life tribute to some very special people I loved who are resting in God's arms now, I've been working on a cancer story. This one is going to be especially dear to my heart.
So what are you working on?
Keep Writing, Keep Submitting and Keep Smiling!
In a Celebration of Life tribute to some very special people I loved who are resting in God's arms now, I've been working on a cancer story. This one is going to be especially dear to my heart.
So what are you working on?
Keep Writing, Keep Submitting and Keep Smiling!
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Social Media Marketing For Authors
I'm learning that I've go A LOT to learn about Social Media Marketing! How did I not know how wonderful and important it is to Writer's? It's important to ALL businesses, and let's face it....marketing your writing is a business!
So here I am at 1am trying to hone my new Social Media Skills. There's so much to learn ..., new symbols, new abbreviations, new words! It's like learning to speak or should I say type, a new language.
But it is necessary. So if you are a late bloomer to these techniques as I am, make sure to set some time aside to discover and learn. Get your work and your thoughts out there!
Confession......When I first started this blog I didn't know it was a form of Social Media!
Keep Smiling, Keep Writing and Keep Submitting!
So here I am at 1am trying to hone my new Social Media Skills. There's so much to learn ..., new symbols, new abbreviations, new words! It's like learning to speak or should I say type, a new language.
But it is necessary. So if you are a late bloomer to these techniques as I am, make sure to set some time aside to discover and learn. Get your work and your thoughts out there!
Confession......When I first started this blog I didn't know it was a form of Social Media!
Keep Smiling, Keep Writing and Keep Submitting!
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Self-Publishing
Today I read a Blog Post on the Subject of Self-Publishing. Boy it hurt my heart. My short version is this ..., a very generous Book Store Owner allowed many self published authors into her store to do book signings. It sounds as though this wonderful person did the full out tables, snack etc. for these Authors. She also bought many books and actually had a section devoted to self-published authors. Unfortunately, these books have not been selling. She has lost money taking a chance and is not wanting to continue carrying self-published works. It saddens me for her and for these authors. I would like to say a big THANK YOU to that Book Store Owner for her efforts.
For the authors of those books, (should you by some chance read this blog), if you want a real shot at your books selling get yourself a good MARKETING PLAN. Do it yourself! Don't rely on expensive marketing packages offered by some of these self-publishing companies. YOU need to work just as hard or harder at marketing yourself and your product as you did in creating your wonderful book. Self-publishing is a business. It is only the rare few that become "Break-Out" Authors whether you're self-published or traditionally published. In both instances you have to continuously put yourself out there and sell your work.
KEEP WRITING AND KEEP SMILING!
For the authors of those books, (should you by some chance read this blog), if you want a real shot at your books selling get yourself a good MARKETING PLAN. Do it yourself! Don't rely on expensive marketing packages offered by some of these self-publishing companies. YOU need to work just as hard or harder at marketing yourself and your product as you did in creating your wonderful book. Self-publishing is a business. It is only the rare few that become "Break-Out" Authors whether you're self-published or traditionally published. In both instances you have to continuously put yourself out there and sell your work.
KEEP WRITING AND KEEP SMILING!
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
2013 Revisions Needed?
Hello Everyone! Do you have a wonderful piece of work out there that needs revisions?
I did. Finally my children's book MEET SANDY GULL is at the Publishers receiving the needed revisions. I hope it will be available shortly!
My original plan was to simply have my shop address removed since the shop has closed. But I entered this book into a contest that offered editor/judge's feedback. My book did fairly well but the suggestions I received were completely correct! My book is a rhyming story and there were a few places I broke the rhyme. I didn't realize how important that was until I began doing "readings" at local libraries and schools. Every time I'd come to those particular lines, (that I had felt were cute and necessary), I'd stumble or stutter. As I became more experienced giving readings, I found I would simply skip over those lines. The judges were right! Since I had to make revisions anyway, I've decided to have those lines removed. I feel I will have a much better story.
So I guess the moral of this story is ..., don't hesitate to consider the advice of a reader. You may not always agree, but definitely give it some thought.
Keep Writing and Keep Smiling!
I did. Finally my children's book MEET SANDY GULL is at the Publishers receiving the needed revisions. I hope it will be available shortly!
My original plan was to simply have my shop address removed since the shop has closed. But I entered this book into a contest that offered editor/judge's feedback. My book did fairly well but the suggestions I received were completely correct! My book is a rhyming story and there were a few places I broke the rhyme. I didn't realize how important that was until I began doing "readings" at local libraries and schools. Every time I'd come to those particular lines, (that I had felt were cute and necessary), I'd stumble or stutter. As I became more experienced giving readings, I found I would simply skip over those lines. The judges were right! Since I had to make revisions anyway, I've decided to have those lines removed. I feel I will have a much better story.
So I guess the moral of this story is ..., don't hesitate to consider the advice of a reader. You may not always agree, but definitely give it some thought.
Keep Writing and Keep Smiling!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Write and Submit 2013
Happy New Year! I can't believe we are nearing the end of January 2013! I hope many new Authors were discovered in 2012!
I really enjoyed the contests and online conferences I participated in during 2012. I've made some new friends and learned much!
This year, I am going to get my Children's Book edited and put back out there for sale. I had the address of my Ice-cream Shop in the book and when I closed the business I had to stop pushing sales of the book until I edited out the address. So, yesterday I submitted the edits and I hope to have the new version released some time next month. I'm very excited about it. The next manuscript is complete and I plan to show it to someone important in early February!
I also plan to publish my YA novel as an e-book this year. I need to do another round of edits on it and hopefully it will be ready. They say you can NEVER edit enough but you know.....at some point it's time to set it free, otherwise we won't get any feedback or get published ....right?!
Let me know how YOUR plans are going ....
Keep Writing and Keep Smiling!
I really enjoyed the contests and online conferences I participated in during 2012. I've made some new friends and learned much!
This year, I am going to get my Children's Book edited and put back out there for sale. I had the address of my Ice-cream Shop in the book and when I closed the business I had to stop pushing sales of the book until I edited out the address. So, yesterday I submitted the edits and I hope to have the new version released some time next month. I'm very excited about it. The next manuscript is complete and I plan to show it to someone important in early February!
I also plan to publish my YA novel as an e-book this year. I need to do another round of edits on it and hopefully it will be ready. They say you can NEVER edit enough but you know.....at some point it's time to set it free, otherwise we won't get any feedback or get published ....right?!
Let me know how YOUR plans are going ....
Keep Writing and Keep Smiling!
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Round One Public Voting for Writing Contest Is Over
Whew! I'm glad the public voting is over for now. I really enjoyed this process. The next step is finding out if I've gotten enough votes to make it into round 2. Right now the Editors will be going over the 25 with the highest amount of votes and picking the 3 Wild Card entries. Then those 28 will have to submit our full manuscript which will be judged by the Editors. They will pick 3 to be put online for public voting again.
The winner will be given a contract.
But never say never...The Editors may contact any author "after" the contest ends to possibly buy. They've stated that last year they purchased 6 stories after the contest ended.
So tonight I will get a good nights sleep. I've stayed up until 3am every night for a week editing and polishing my manuscript in hopes of a request!
Sweet Dreams Everyone! Keep Writing and Keep Smiling!
The winner will be given a contract.
But never say never...The Editors may contact any author "after" the contest ends to possibly buy. They've stated that last year they purchased 6 stories after the contest ended.
So tonight I will get a good nights sleep. I've stayed up until 3am every night for a week editing and polishing my manuscript in hopes of a request!
Sweet Dreams Everyone! Keep Writing and Keep Smiling!
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