Home Really is Where the Heart is

First, the photo today was taken by my Aunt Georgie many years ago in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. I have it posted over my writing desk as a reminder of Canada, a simple place that holds memories of a place I still call "home."

Though this past two weeks I've been in Houston, Texas, Atlanta, Georgia and just in and out of Bridgeport, Connecticut between last night and today,  home is where I want to be.

Travelling can be tough on you as a writer. Working, trying to hit deadlines and still have a clear mind to read and write isn't easy, but I am so blessed to have a supportive husband and family and a great job, so I'm not complaining.

But somebody should feel a bit sorry for me. I got the the airport in White Plains, New York, now come on, there's one thing, New York! Anyway, I'm standing behind a grown man who's wearing pajamas. No joke! Pajamas!  And he's got on Birkenstocks with red socks. Who dresses him?

I go through security and a woman takes off her jacket, because security tells her she has to. She only has a bra on! Now for those of you not well travelled, you don't have to do that. You just tell them you only have a bra on and they'll let you keep your coat on... that's if your a woman. So there I am, following a woman with only a bra on. The guard is slack-jawed, but by the time he closed his mouth she was through security and didn't even blink an eye! 

Next, I get on the plane and wedge myself into the ever-shrinking seat and wait for the door to close, hoping that the seat next to me will go empty. By now, most of you know my luck. Here he comes, all 437lbs of him and jams himself into the seat next to me. I'm trying to be polite and ask him if it might be more comfortable for him if I put up the arm rest between us. Dirty look. I do it anyway. Big mistake. He oozes into my seat, pressing me into the window. Literally.

Long story short. Try flying 2 hrs with your face pressed against the dirty window of a small plane, (no choice of your own) all the while, the big man continues to spead like oleo over the seats .Then  he pretends that its NOT him sending an odor like an old dog who ate rotting sausage into the air. I take it as long as I can, watching him bob up and down every time he had to poof, then finally said to him, "Hey! I can smell you over here, you know!" It was ugly. No it didn't stop.

Anyway, made it home safe. Got the manuscript out to the book club and am awaiting comments. It's a good day!

Trying to Get Published?

  Maybe you're like most writers and have some short stories,  a completed manuscript, play or poetry and you want to get it out into the world. Some of the good advice I've received so far is simple and I'm happy to share it!

1. Send a query letter BEFORE you send a complete project. A query letter is a short introduction to your story to ask if the publisher is interested in taking a look at the complete project. (We'll speak more of this at another time,)

2. Address the query to a particular person. No one wants to receive a query addressed to "Dear Sir or Madam". Do your due diligence in finding out who the right person is.

3. If the publisher has an 800 number, don't use it. Call directly. Most 800 numbers are for subscription information only.

4. Be brief. One page will do.

5. Don't brag. Just offer up the product and ask if they'd be interested.

These are just a few of hundreds of good tips for your first journey into the publishing world. Try taking a poem or short story or even a good blog you've written and then go to your favorite bookstore and look at magazines that might fit the type of story you have. Most magazines publish stories from 300 to 2500 words. Find your fit. Look for the editor of the magazine, then try to pitch it in one page to the editor.

You might even surprise yourself by getting published!

What's a Protagonist or an Antagonist?

In any story there is a good guy and a bad guy. That's the easy definition to the question posed to me by an acquaintance. More than that the protagonist is the main character of any story, the one the reader learns to sympathize with (most often). But protagonists can be depressing, flawed or troubled as well. They can be the person we love to hate. No matter what, they tend to be the lead character in our stories or plays. They can be the narrator or storyteller of the book as well.

On the other hand then, the antagonist is the person or thing that opposes the protagonist. They are the enemy of sorts, the one who puts up the barriers for our main character.

Just learning the simple terms like this helps a writer understand where his character is coming from. In my book, Emily Evans is my lead characer or protagonist.  There are several antagonists. Her father, Denny, her mother Maureen and her own anger which all unite to keep her from giving in to her faith.

Hope this helps a bit! Have a good week!

A Place to Be

One thing I have learned during the past year is the importance of having a "place" to write. Before we moved into the spacious condo we have lived in since last July, we lived in a very small historic home in the center of town. The town we live in is Dutch, complete with windmills and tulips and canals.

In the little house my husband made me a space at the top of the stairs in a nook originally used for acloset. The walls were pine, the ceiling was slanted and very small. But there was a window that looked to the bustling sidewalk below and a desk with a wall in front of it I had plastered with photos and scriptures and  sayings that encouraged me to write.

Now I have a spacious loft, all in white with four huge bookcases and two desks that houses two computers and two leather chairs and overlooks a street where people pass every few minutes.

What difference does it make? None. Just carve a space out of somewhere where you make a committment to write whether it is in a journal, your bible or on your computer. Its about making the committment to read then write.

When I go to my writing place, my sweet husband knows I mean business and gives me the quiet time I need. So today, carve out the place you need to read, to write or to study.  Now get to it!

Have you thought about a Book Club?

For those of you who have read a lot or even a little, do you realize that your local library is a wealth of information for Book Clubs? After a little prodding from one of my writing buddies, I got ahold of our public library and found out there are four local book clubs where I live! I've joined one. We meet the first Monday of the month and discuss a preassigned book.

It's a wonderful time to get to know other readers and for writers it can be one of the greatest outlets you have for your work! I'm taking my completed manuscript to a Book Club in Des Moines on Wednesday for their unbiased critique! They don't know me, but ar excited to be part of this process, so I know I'll get honest ideas to make the story even better!

If you're not open to mixing it up with a group, try this website for an online Book Club!
http://www.WritersDigestBookClub.com

Scholarship for Creative Writers

I'm deviating from my daily "list". I found this scholarship for Creative Writers. It has a deadline, so want you to have a chance at it! This goes for some of you who never though you'd ever write anything! Come on, give it a go! Have fun!


The Peter K. Hixson Memorial Scholarship for Creative Writers
http://www.writersrelief.com/peter-k-hixson-writing-scholarship.aspx


How The Scholarship Will Be Awarded

Three writers will each receive two rounds of A La Carte PLUS submissions valued at approximately $450 per scholarship (cannot be redeemed for cash value).

Our A La Carte PLUS service includes cover or query letter creation and targeting to 25+ literary agents or journals. If you are not familiar with our A La Carte PLUS Service, click here. Winners will receive two rounds of A La Carte PLUS submissions, with the creation of ONE cover or query letter to be applied to both rounds of submissions. We hope to make Peter proud in our commitment to his artistic ideals and dreams.

Three awards will be made, one in each of the genres that Peter submitted with Writer’s Relief:

•Novel and Memoir
•Short Prose (Short Story or Creative Personal Essay)
•Poetry
No other genres are applicable.

Winners will be selected by the Writer’s Relief Review Board based on 1) strength of writing sample, 2) strength of personal statement, 3) financial or other need.


Who Is Eligible To Apply

All writers are welcome, but early- to mid-career writers are especially encouraged to apply. To honor Peter’s too-brief career in creative writing, preference will be given to writers who have not necessarily been widely published, but who demonstrate exceptional technique, voice, and perspective.

Here's an upcoming contest!

Right now, I'm not involved with as many contests as I'd like to be, due to the editing process of my manuscript. Everyone who's gone through this process understands when I say that I'm at the "I just want this thing done!" stage. I'm being pretty picky right now with my time, but here's a contest that is due on April 11 you might be interested in!

5th Annual Warren Adler Short Story Contest
www.warrenadler.com

Stories can be no longer than 2500 words. A $15 entry fee is required.
Subject matter is open to the author.
1st Prize $1000
Peoples Choice Award $500
Three finalists: $150 each

Go on! Give it a chance!