Writer to Writer - July 2008 - Issue Two

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You Can Create Wonderful Characters, Build Great Worlds, And Plot Like A Fiend, BUT...

If You Can't Write Page-Turning Scenes, You Don't Have A Book.

Click here to learn more!

EDITORIAL:

My computer all but up and died.

So a week ago we went out and bought a new one. Of course nothing goes to plan, so Alan (hubby) has spent the best part of the last week getting it up and running.

Finally I'm working on my new, you-beaut, does-everything-you-can-think-of, super-fast-and-powerful computer.

It's been pretty uneventful from my perspective, since I was trying to work on a piece of equipment that's seen better days. Shutting down in the midst of whatever I was working on did not make me a happy little vegemite, so I all but gave up.

It did give me the opportunity to catch up on some reading, so I guess that was a bonus.

I am not the sort of person to sit around doing nothing, so I did a bit of hand-writing work too. Transferring it into the computer is another story. (I've had two copywriting jobs since I last wrote, so having an extremely sick computer did not help!)

A few people emailed to say they've purchased XsitePro and are loving it. It can be a bit confusing, or even overwhelming, to start with, especially if you've used another program, but I've got to a skill level now where I've been able to conquer a few of the more complicated techniques. (I'm a 'build-it-from-scratch kinda gal, so I do make things a little more difficult for myself instead of taking the easy way out.)

I'm really enjoying this software but wish I had more time to play around with it.

Moving on, there are two articles in this issue. Roy Barnes has contributed to this newsletter on a number of occasions, and his articles are always full of useful information. This one is no different. Roy talks about the business side of writing - something we all need to know, but tend to veer away from.

Judy Bagshaw's article How to Use Reviews Effectively shows us a variety of ways to garner additional publicity by using reviews to their best potential.

Okay, that's it from me - time to sit back and enjoy this issue.

Til next time…

Cheryl

p.s. I just found out the $100 discount is still applicable for xsite pro. But be quick - it could disappear fast!

You can also read this issue online here:

http://www.writer2writer.com/Newsletter_2_July_2008.htm

If you missed the last issue, you'll find it here:

http://www.writer2writer.com/Newsletter_July_2008.htm

Tired of Earning Peanuts from Your Writing?

If you want to break into non-fiction magazine writing but don't know how, this ebook is for you. You'll learn all the concepts that are essential for all magazine writers.

Whether you are a novice or experienced writer, Cheryl Wright will teach you how to boost your income writing for magazines.

Click here now to learn more!

To avoid non-delivery of your newsletter, please whitelist write_cheryl@optusnet.com.au - otherwise your spa^m filters may reject any correspondence sent.

Quote of the Month:

This month's quote comes from a very dear friend of mine, and it is soooo true:

Don't worry about the finish line, worry about the next line.

- Iris Leach

Have you ever wondered why some writers seem to sell any story they write, while others seem to collect rejection slips?

Do you know what makes an editor buy one short story over another?
*Now includes an EXTRA BONUS

For answers to these questions and more, check out Lee Masterson's fantastic book for short story writers.

Please support Writer2Writer.com and the Writer to Writer newsletter by purchasing through the affiliate and advertising links in this newsletter. This keeps the newsletter and other information (such as fr*ee courses) at no charge to subscribers. Some similar publications are now charging a yearly fee - I'm constantly fighting against that trend.

Approaching Writing With
Discipline and Focus
© Roy A Barnes - All Rights Reserved

The cares of this world like family, job, household, and shopping obligations often bog down writing to where it’s harder for writers to be effective in this craft. Writing is a difficult endeavor to be involved with, especially when people want to make money at it. Without discipline and focus, the chances at success in this field are drastically cut. Here are some things to keep in mind in order to pursue writing with more discipline and focus:

Discipline Yourself to Set Aside Time

Whether it’s a determined period daily or weekly, if you want to build up your writing career, time needs to be set aside to research material, create articles, and find markets. People often complain about the lack of time in a day, but 24 hours in a day is sufficient. The reason is that it puts us into the position to where we have to prioritize our time for work, play, sleep, and taking care of our basic needs. Many wannabe writers who claim there isn’t enough time to write can miraculously find several hours a week to watch mindless television shows or type nonstop drivel in internet chat rooms! Did you know that many writers and editors are parents and spouses who are attentive to their families, but manage to build successful writing careers? If they can find time to write while raising children, which is the toughest job in the world to do effectively, then very few people have a valid excuse to not discipline themselves to find some time during the week to complete the tasks that go with writing for money, even if that means sacrificing an activity or activities!

Focus Your Writing as a Business

Writing a piece via drafting and re-drafting is only the first step in the process of growing as a writer. Think about a successful non-writing business. How did it get that way?

Read the entire article here

55% of ALL Fiction Sold World-Wide is Romance - Why not CA$H IN on that Market?
	Lynette's Rees e-book Crafting the Romance Story is an interactive workbook for aspiring romance writers, as well as containing useful information and links, it also contains character and plot worksheets. Check it out here

Are You Knowledgeable about
One or More Subjects?

Would you like to turn that knowledge into cash?

Cheryl's brand-new book teaches you how to use your current knowledge, or some strategic research, to earn a good passive income by writing for niches.

Click here now!

Subscriber News:

No news this week.

**If you have any news, please send it along.

Click here to email Cheryl

How to Use Reviews Effectively

“It's fun. It's fantasy. It's reality. It's a darn good read.”

These were the first sentences of the first review I ever received for my very first book, and you can understand, I’m sure, how pleased and excited I was to read it. It went on to say:

“Lady Blue by Judy Bagshaw is a smashing good story, taking you away from your everyday, humdrum, boring existence into a world of blues singers and high powered music executives.”

I got chills and butterflies, and read the review over and over. I phoned my mother and read it to her. Heck, I read it to anyone I’d ever known!

“This book is a dream to read. Dramatic, bold with those characters in living color you want to gulp it all down in a single sitting, at the same time regretting and fearing the end of the story.”

I wanted to find this reviewer and give her a great big hug! The review did so much of build up my confidence as a writer.

Once you have your romance written and your publisher found and the contract signed, you and your publisher will be sending your book out for reviews too. It’s still one of my favourite parts of the publishing process.

Read the entire article here

Contests:

No new listings this month.

Outside the Square Fiction Workshop

This best-selling ebook consists of 17 chapters that will allow you to "trick" your brain into allowing your pen to become the creative-writing juggernaut it was meant to be!

Read more here!

The Writer's Answer Book will save you from making many of the common mistakes that writers make, letting you jumpstart your career. It will also answer both questions you have, and questions you should have but may not know to ask.

Click here to learn more

Anthology Calls for Submissions:

This is a paying market:

The bestselling A Cup of Comfort book series is now seeking submissions for new anthologies. Stories must be true, original, positive, narrative essays (creative nonfiction), and 1,000-2,000 words. Entrants pay no fees. Writers' guidelines: http://www.cupofcomfort.com/share.htm

SHARE SOME COMFORT

A CUP OF COMFORT FOR FATHERS

The connection between father and child can be as deep as the ocean, as strong as a mountain, and as uplifting as fresh air. For all its rewards, though, fatherhood is not without its challenges. And for all the gifts dads bring to their kids' lives, dads sometimes falter and fumble. Yet, the father-child bond forms, holds, and grows. A Cup of Comfort for Fathers will feature inspiring and insight true stories about the life-defining and life-enriching relationships and experiences shared by fathers and their children. These personal essays will be of varying topics and tones (heartwarming, humorous, poignant, provocative, etc.); about fathers and children of all ages and varying circumstances; and written by fathers, daughters, and sons.

Submission deadline: August 1, 2008

A CUP OF COMFORT FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

For this very special collection, we seek uplifting true stories about the ins and outs, ups and downs, blessing and challenges of parenting children with special needs. The stories will cover children of all ages (birth to adult) and a wide range of developmental, physical, and mental delays/disabilities. No matter how difficult the experiences/emotions conveyed in a story might be (we want them to be authentic, after all), the story must reveal a positive aspect, resolution, or outcome and must be of comfort to parents of children with special needs. Stories may be serious, humorous, insightful, heartwarming, or inspiring. The majority of the stories will be written by parents of children with special needs; we will also consider stories written by adult children with special needs. (No articles or commentaries by clinicians, please.)

Submission deadline: September 15, 2008

A SECOND CUP OF COMFORT FOR DOG LOVERS

Oh, how we humans love our canine companions -- for so many reasons and in so many ways that one Cup of Comfort collection of uplifting dog stories just wasn’t enough. So we’re giving all you dog-loving writers another opportunity to share your personal stories of canine comfort with a growing legion of dog-loving readers. This volume will feature both serious and humorous anecdotal stories covering a wide range of topics and perspectives and varying breeds of dogs. We do NOT want sad stories about a dog’s illness, injury, or death, though we will consider stories that weave a beloved pet’s illness or death into an otherwise positive story. The story should focus on the dog’s remarkable attributes and/or actions as well as on the special relationship between the dog and his/her human(s).

Submission deadline: December 15, 2008

A CUP OF COMFORT FOR THE GRIEVING HEART

When a loved one passes away, comfort is often fleeting and hard to come by. Yet, even a small comfort, like a personal story of how someone has faced a similar loss, does help to ease the sorrow. This volume will feature uplifting personal stories that reveal the special relationships and extraordinary experiences shared by the deceased and his/her loved one(s) immediately before, during, and after the loved one’s passing; it will also includes stories about the internal and external processes by which one deals with and heals from the loss of a loved one. The stories will vary with regard to subject matter, circumstances of death, and the relationship of the author to the individual who has passed away. The book will not include eulogies, profiles/memoirs of people who have passed away, or clinical depictions of death and dying.

Submission deadline: February 1, 2009

Please note that deadlines are sometimes extended by one to four weeks.

BASIC GUIDELINES

All Cup of Comfort stories must be original; true; appropriate for mainstream Americans (adult, primarily women); inspiring, comforting, and/or uplifting; and 1,000 to 2,000 words.

Creative nonfiction and narrative essays preferred (that is, incorporating such fictive elements as scene, dialogue, character/plot development, imagery, and literary word usage). Whether serious or humorous, the story should be authentic and engaging.

Electronic submissions preferred. One submission per email. Copy and paste (or type) into body of email. No formatting (no indents, centering, doublespace, bold, underline, etc.). To: wordsinger@aol.com.

Mailed submissions are acceptable. Standard typed manuscript (double-spaced, indents). Send as many submissions per envelope as you’d like, but include one SASE per submission. To: Colleen Sell, 71563 London Rd., Cottage Grove, Oregon, 97424, USA.

Each submission must include: author’s full name, mailing address, email address, phone number, story title, story wordcount, and theme of volume for which it is being submitted (i.e., Grieving Hearts).

For more detailed writers guidelines: http://www.cupofcomfort.com/share.htm

How Do I?

No questions this month.

If you have a writing-related question, send it here.

FEEDBACK:

If you have any feedback about this newsletter; comments, criticisms, (praise!) sections you'd like to see added, tell me

Submissions:

We are a paying market. Full guidelines are available here, along with current needs. *Note: We are again open for submissions, but waaaay behind in responding. (So what's new? lol)

Disclaimer:

Inclusion of a market, contest, anthology or similar is not necessarily an endorsement. It is strongly suggested that you do your own legwork in checking out any markets etc you decide to approach. If you feel wary or uncomfortable, there's probably a reason!

Advertising:

Guidelines for advertising, and ad rates can be found here

Legal stuff:

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