tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89280417059682758192024-03-14T03:54:46.741-04:00Bemused Writersgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.comBlogger270125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-57122830193603842472014-08-22T02:50:00.000-04:002014-08-22T02:50:41.415-04:00Maybe There’s Something to Those Things!<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As I mentioned in previous post, I know several authors who almost sound like they can’t write without listening to music, and Have to spend a lot of time putting together just the right playlist of music for them to write by.</div>
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I take it back, they don’t almost sound like it, they really do sound like they can’t write without listening to music, and specific music.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>James River Writers has even suggested a playlist for you to check out for the Conference in October. [See previous post.]</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I never wanted to spend that kind of time looking for music, let alone specific ‘write by’ music. But I thought what the heck.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My book I’m working on hasn’t exactly been flowing along with words, the characters have been either ignoring me or just belligerent with attitudes.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I really don’t need that. Especially from characters, in my head.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So as I was sitting looking at a blank screen and fussing at characters in my head, that it was their fault anyway, that I was starting back at Chapter 1.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I started pondering about if I did put some music together, what would it be.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Well, all that came to mind was </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Christina Aguilera’s ‘Say Something’ </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I don’t listen to music much, but I have heard the song a couple of times.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Say something, I’m giving up on you”</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Okay, so I really wasn’t, but apparently my characters didn’t know that. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Yay.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Since I’m back up in Chapters again. And beyond where I was, before it became their fault it wasn’t working in the first place.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Well, some of the writing is pieces that I had written before, just tweaked now with the new developments and all.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And I haven’t hit double digit Chapter numbers yet, but that’s okay. For now anyway.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So maybe there is something to it after all.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And maybe you can learn some new things too. New ideas. New ways to write. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>New ways to get your book written, published, or get it written or published better.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>All that and more will be at the <a href="http://www.jamesriverwriters.org/what-we-do/programs/annual-conference" target="_blank">James River Writers Conference</a> coming up in October.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>With Workshops too!</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So check it out, and learn something new. Or better.</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-22656015139652092032014-08-18T22:05:00.000-04:002014-08-18T22:05:58.652-04:00Meet Agents! Take Workshops. Learn all kinds of things Writing! Have a Great time!<br />
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The James River Writers Conference things are Hoppin’ !</div>
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If you’ve had your eye on one of the one-on-one talk with / pitch the Literary Agents, you might not want to wait -</div>
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One agent’s time slots are already filled - Gone. Sorry, you missed it.</div>
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Others are still open — but filling fast!!!</div>
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David Henry Sterry is almost filled up!</div>
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Time’s a-awastin’ people! </div>
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Need to sign up for the JRW Conference Soon! Especially if you want your pick of one of those Agent one-on-one slots!</div>
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Well, the ones that are left.</div>
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But if that’s difficult for you this year check out the Friday Workshops. </div>
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There are Really great Workshops! Really!</div>
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You don’t have to come to the <a href="http://www.jamesriverwriters.org/what-we-do/programs/annual-conference/friday-master-classes-2014" target="_blank">Conference</a> to sign up and take the workshops.</div>
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Of course we’d like for you to sign up, and come to the <a href="http://www.jamesriverwriters.org/what-we-do/programs/annual-conference" target="_blank">Conference</a>. We’d REALLY Like it!</div>
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But you’re going to want to come to a Workshop.</div>
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Just take a Look! </div>
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Choices and help for your writing, your writing career. All Kinds.</div>
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Publishing help. Query Help. If you’re a writer trying to get your work out to agents to get published (hopefully) then you’ll know what that means. And how valuable that is.</div>
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Uh-huh. See. You can learn a lot from them. More if you come to the Conference too. *Grin*</div>
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James River Writers has been kicking off our conference for several years now with Pre-Conference Master Classes. Absorb the wisdom of the experts and gain hands-on experience, whether you want to discover that perfect angle to get published or explore nuances of your craft.</div>
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The Pre-Conference Master Classes take place on Friday, October 17, 2014, at the Virginia State Capitol, Capitol Sq., Richmond., from 9:00-11:00 a.m., 11:15 a.m.-1:15 a.m., and 2:00-4:00 p.m., with two options in each time slot. You must be a registered conference attendee to sign up for the Conference Master Classes. After October 1, if space remains, classes will be available to those not attending the conference.</div>
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<b> Friday, October 17th, 2014</b></div>
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<b>9:00 am – 11:00 am</b></div>
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Literary Agent<br />
Jody Rein</div>
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<b>To Self (Publish) or NOT to Self? How to Decide! with Jody Rein</b></div>
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A personalized step-by-step workshop on the key decision every writer working today must make. What is the best publishing path for you, your book and your writing career? A self-published ebook or an agented, traditionally published hardcover? Or something in-between? What are the options? What are the real costs–in time, in money, in reputation, in sales?</div>
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Author<br />
Kelly O’Connor<br />
McNees</div>
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<b>Point of View: Who’s Telling and Who’s Listening? with Kelly O’Connor McNees</b></div>
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Fiction writers have to make choices about how and why our narrators tell their stories. Does your novel call for a first-person point of view with a strong voice but a limited scope? Or an omniscient narrator to tell the story of a whole town, allowing us to peek in the windows? Through exercises and short readings, this class will explore the role of point of view in crafting compelling fiction, and how to find the perfect storyteller for your tale.</div>
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<b>11:15 am – 1:15 pm</b></div>
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<img alt="Author-Hugh-Howey-JRW14.jpg" src="webkit-fake-url://A6EB04C6-3411-4409-8CA8-347B5238E90C/Author-Hugh-Howey-JRW14.jpg" /></div>
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Author<br />
Hugh Howey</div>
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<b>Author Platform: What You Need to Know with Hugh Howey</b></div>
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With so many books competing in the marketplace, how do you get your fair share of attention? An effective platform has never been more important for authors than it is right now. Learn how to build your author platform by increasing your discoverability, extending your network, and reaching your target audience.</div>
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<img alt="Editor-Jane-Friedman-JRW14.jpg" src="webkit-fake-url://A6EB04C6-3411-4409-8CA8-347B5238E90C/Editor-Jane-Friedman-JRW14.jpg" /></div>
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Editor<br />
Jane Friedman</div>
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<b>How to Get Your Book Published with Jane Friedman</b></div>
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This class covers all the basics on how to get your book published. Topics include how to research markets and contact agents; how to capture the attention of a New York publisher; what expectations you should have when it comes to the marketing and promotion of your work; and how to analyze publishing options.</div>
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<b>2:00 pm – 4:00 pm</b></div>
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Author<br />
Sheri Reynolds</div>
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<b>Speed Up, Slow Down, Cast Forward, Flash Back: A Multi-genre Exploration of Pacing with Sheri Reynolds</b></div>
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Update your writer’s toolbox with a firm understanding of tempo. What makes a narrative speed up and slow down, zoom in and zoom out? How does a writer shift gears smoothly from scene to summary to scene again? Analyze excerpts from fiction and nonfiction to see how successful writers manipulate time. Get hands-on experience with techniques to control the tempo of your narrative.</div>
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<img alt="Editor-Jane-Friedman-JRW14.jpg" src="webkit-fake-url://A6EB04C6-3411-4409-8CA8-347B5238E90C/Editor-Jane-Friedman-JRW14.jpg" /></div>
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Editor<br />
Jane Friedman</div>
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<b>How to Write a Query That Gets Manuscript Requests with Jane Friedman</b></div>
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If you’ve written your query like a pro, then you should be getting requests for your manuscript (or proposal) about 50% of the time. Learn the five key elements of every query, what it means to sell the sizzle, and how to avoid problems that plague (and sabatoge) queries.</div>
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<a href="http://weblink.donorperfect.com/jrwc14"><img alt="Registertodaydiscounts-300x116.jpg" src="webkit-fake-url://A6EB04C6-3411-4409-8CA8-347B5238E90C/Registertodaydiscounts-300x116.jpg" /></a></div>
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- See more at: http://www.jamesriverwriters.org/what-we-do/programs/annual-conference/friday-master-classes-2014#sthash.LaZNxAbM.dpuf</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-11536383592527097302014-08-14T16:58:00.000-04:002014-08-14T16:58:46.609-04:00Writer's Playlists<br />
Most writers have playlists. Music. What did you think I was talking about. Really?<br />
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Some writers like Maggie Stiefvater and new-book-coming-out Kat Spears apparently spend Loads of time constructing said playlists and Very carefully looking for Just the right music to write their books by.<br />
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Yeah. Okay. So, not me. But that's the great thing about writers, and readers, we like different things.<br />
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So if you are interested in Playlists check James River Writers Conference 2014 list.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 32px;">Conference Fever</span>: </span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 32px;">JRWCon 2014 Ultimate Playlist</span></span></h1>
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<tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 9px 18px;" valign="top">By Lana Krumweide<br />Music makes everything better. Learning, working, socializing, healing—everything goes more smoothly with the right song. Why should the James River Writers Conference be any different? <a href="http://jamesriverwriters.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=79fd3928340b7b7849d67061e&id=7dee2c3018&e=a3db5a599a" style="color: #3f6b78; font-weight: bold; word-wrap: break-word !important;" target="_blank">We’ve put together a playlist to help you get ready for the conference:</a><br /><br />Track 1: Madness (Muse)<br />You write because you can’t not write,<img align="right" height="184" src="https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/I60f92Xo0lhuU8u_4lVHK2k3EkOY-blB4Be20-V1fMmYgDHq7XW32euLEMLHS8U6SHf09lhLnYBwywFC3K04MmwnuyZTWZSFEdnQUfc70rKw-CJdlprf6JUfu27QzmNbZdByLs2m1mQetHNajwGyUilLPo1Q_yrGT26mCJc=s0-d-e1-ft#https://gallery.mailchimp.com/79fd3928340b7b7849d67061e/images/92075b20-909c-424a-930b-f14233604cc7.jpg" style="border: 0px; line-height: 12px; margin: 5px 5px 5px 10px; min-height: 184px; outline: none; width: 140px;" width="140" /> and we get that. Spending a weekend with people who share this peculiar sort of madness will make you feel sane again (results may vary).<br /><br />Track 2: A Little Less Conversation (Elvis Presley)<br />Start off the weekend with our<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1317418523" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Friday</span></span> hands-on Master Classes taught by top-notch writing instructors and publishing professionals. For example, if you find that your writing needs a little less conversation and a little more action, Sheri Reynolds’s class on pacing can help you with that. </td></tr>
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If you have signed up for the JRW newsletter, then this is in it. So you might have seen it. But you might not have opened it yet, so that's why I posted it here. </div>
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In case you needed another chance to see it. You know. Cause we're all different.</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-69920029220105587982014-05-12T23:56:00.000-04:002014-05-12T23:56:24.895-04:00Reasons to Come to a Conference<br />
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Well, reasons to come to the James River Writers Conference in October.</div>
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I keep hearing more and more people talk about they’ve been thinking about writing or they have thought about writing. Or variations along that theme.</div>
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Literally Everywhere I go, there are people talking about writing. </div>
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In all it’s forms.</div>
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If you - or Anyone you know - has expressed those sentiments, thoughts, or dreams, Or anything of the sort. Or near it.</div>
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Now would be the time to have them sign up for the <a href="http://www.jamesriverwriters.org/what-we-do/programs/annual-conference" target="_blank">2014 James River Writers Conference</a></div>
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Why, you say, the James River Writers Conference - So Glad you asked!</div>
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There’s the <a href="http://www.jamesriverwriters.org/what-we-do/programs/annual-conference/friday-master-classes-2014" target="_blank">Friday Master Classes</a> -</div>
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Where you can learn from agents, and writers, and ….</div>
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Hugh Howey !!</div>
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Yes - you read that correctly ---- The Hugh Howey !</div>
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If you are still scratching your eyebrow then just google him </div>
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- and check him out on the JRW site</div>
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To give you brief teaser of why you should google ….. </div>
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He self published and went on to make Big deal with publisher.</div>
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Yeah, thought you’d want to google him. </div>
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Just as I am Sure you are going to want to some see him and hear him at the JRW Conference.</div>
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And even check out the <a href="http://www.jamesriverwriters.org/what-we-do/programs/annual-conference/friday-master-classes-2014" target="_blank">Master Class</a> he’s doing for the Conference on Friday.</div>
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At the Conference you can Meet Hugh, and have one-on-one talk with <a href="http://www.jamesriverwriters.org/what-we-do/programs/annual-conference/agents-2014" target="_blank">Literary Agents </a>!</div>
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No matter where you are in the writing journey, even if you are just thinking about it, the Conference will have something for you.</div>
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Working on your writing, whether characters, pacing, etc…. </div>
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Thinking about self publishing and if that’s going to be right for you. </div>
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How to get yourself noticed and build a platform.</div>
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Need some help with query letters and pitching?</div>
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Or even want all the above.</div>
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You’ll find it all at the JRW Conference.</div>
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And More.</div>
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A Whole Lot More.</div>
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So check it out. Registration is open now.</div>
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<a href="http://www.jamesriverwriters.org/what-we-do/programs/annual-conference" target="_blank">James River Writers Conference 2014</a></div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-38135570272182532952014-04-08T01:23:00.002-04:002014-04-08T01:23:39.558-04:00Writing Process Blog Tour<br />
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So, I’ve been tapped.</div>
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For those not knowing about this — I admit, I’ve been focused…. Okay, so Trying to focus on getting the current book I’m working on actually done. You know, quasi finished.</div>
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So I’ve not been keeping up with blogs and all - sorry.</div>
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There’s a lot of things I’ve not been keeping up with, but we’ll not go into that part.</div>
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Anyway, when a friend asked if I would do this blog tour thing for a friend of his….. Well, this is a person that is hard to say no to. </div>
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Then I got up the next morning and realized what I’d agreed to. [Talk about shades of the late writer Emyl Jenkins who could do this in spades.] </div>
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Like everyone these days, especially writers trying to actually write and, well, live at the same time, I have a lot going on in my life. So there was probably a lot of mental arm flinging involved. Literal arms were too busy typing up notes on all stuff I’m supposed to be working on. Except for the actual book I’m supposed to be actually working on… hmmm….</div>
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Then as I was thinking of three writers I was supposed to tag to take this on, I looked around my circle of writers. Many of them had already been tapped for this, but the really great thing about being a part of a great writing community - James River Writers, in case you aren’t a part of it yet - is that I have contact with a whole bunch of writers.</div>
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So I got to thinking about some of the writers I know, and since this is not exact questions we ever talk about, I got to thinking about some of the ones that I would really like to know the answers to these questions.</div>
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And so here I am.</div>
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The person who tagged me is : <span style="color: #232323;"> Libby. </span></div>
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Be sure to check out her answers to the questions over at her blog. <a href="http://www.subourbonmom.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: #1855cc;">www.subourbonmom.wordpress.com</span></a></div>
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And you Know that’s what we like to do, right? Check out what other writers say about how they write, and what works for them, so we can see if we can find better ways to handle it all.</div>
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Like I said, great thing about being part of James River Writers, you get to meet a lot of writers. </div>
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So, now, on to the questions everyone answers:</div>
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<b>Answer the 4 questions below about your writing process. (I didn't choose these questions!) </b></div>
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<b>1) What am I working on? </b></div>
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<span style="color: #232323;">I am currently trying to finish a YA (young adult) novel about </span>a girl named Kelpie struggling with the aftermath of Celtic legend’s clash with strong southern women, and facing the past secrets that those southern women carry around in their lilting accents.</div>
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I read eclectically, and usually am reading more than one book at a time. Apparently that’s how my mind wants to write too, since I’m constantly fending off characters and conversations from other books that are sitting in my file folders in various stages of ‘dress’ and ‘undress.’</div>
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So the other book I’ve been trying not to work on at the same time is a commercial fiction novel, that I’ve titled “Running with Fire” about a woman dealing with her health and her marriage reaching the end, having to make a trip back home to settle her past after the death of her parent, and being shocked at what she finds.</div>
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<b>2) How does my work differ from others of its genre? </b></div>
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The biggest way I can think of is that it is written in my unique voice. We all have a unique voice as writers, although I’ve heard of some teachers and other writers wanting to change and ‘helpfully’ mold other’s into images of their voice. I have worked hard and waited until I felt comfortable in my own voice to begin to put my writing out beyond my own computer.</div>
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Like this great Neil Gaiman quote says - </div>
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<i>Start telling the stories that only you can tell, because there’ll always be better writers than you and there’ll always be smarter writers than you. There will always be people who are much better at doing this or doing that — but you are the only you. </i><b><i>― Neil Gaiman</i></b></div>
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<b>3) Why do I write what I do? </b></div>
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Short answer: self-preservation and sanity.</div>
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My stories just pop up in all kinds of weird ways and places. Characters show up and want to natter on and on about their stories. Often it feels like I’ve been dropped into a viewer port into someone else’s life. Although, I’ve also had them show up and not want to talk, just hanging and lurking around all mysterious like. They just seem to want me to somehow write it out They don’t give me a category or genre or anything. I don’t really like those characters.</div>
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So really to me, the question is Why I write at all. And I have heard a few writers say it better, like author Kyle Mills at the 2007 James River Writers Conference, and I don’t have the words exact but basically it’s that you Have to write for some reason it’s hard for even you to fathom. If you could do something else and not write, it’s much easier.</div>
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Something along the lines of this quote -</div>
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<i>Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout with some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand. </i><b><i>— George Orwell</i></b></div>
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Enough said on this?</div>
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<b>4) How does my writing process work? </b></div>
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I have a process? </div>
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Yes, of course I have a process. I really should. I know I should. Of course, phhhffft, shoot yeah, I have a process. Of course.</div>
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Uhm. Well. Right now I have a process that involves a lot of mental arm flinging, and physical word flinging every chance I get.</div>
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Does that count?</div>
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Really, I seem to have thoughts about stories and characters almost always rolling around in my head. So I always try to keep some kind of documenting instrument around to use - phone, computer, pen, some scrap of paper, to jot them down before they get trampled under by the other thoughts and story ideas rampaging around.</div>
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Scrivener Software has Really helped me a Lot! It helps my ‘process’ tremendously!</div>
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It helps me keep my thoughts and stories and ideas at least somewhat organized.</div>
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I can jot down any thoughts and ideas that come to me and put in the files and folders where they belong. Or where they seem to belong at the time.</div>
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I don’t write in a linear fashion to start with, and I’m a very visual writer. The thoughts and ideas are like in snippets of film segments that I have to try to describe and bring into form with the best words I can. With Scrivener I’m able to put all this in a place where I can go into to work on the detail, and I can look at them as a whole and move them around if they came to me out of sequence.</div>
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Yeah, still working on making the characters do that nicely.</div>
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I work on writing as I can. When I’m not able to sit and type things into Scrivener, and when I am in lull times of being out doing other things, I am thinking and plotting and coming up with more details and facets on the story and characters I am working on.</div>
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Okay, so that’s my process I guess. Needs more tweaking?</div>
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Well, while I’m dong that, and trying to get back to work writing with Kelpie and her problems, be sure to check out the answers of the writers that will be posting next week on April 14<sup>th</sup>.</div>
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<b>J. T. Glover</b> has published short fiction in <i>Fungi</i>, <i>Handsome Devil: Stories of Sin and Seduction</i>, and <i>Underground Voices</i>, among other venues, and he has a co-written story, "Pale Apostle," forthcoming this summer in <i>The Children of Old Leech</i>. He is currently shopping one novel to agents and drafting another. In 2014 he joined the Board of Directors of James River Writers. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, he lives in Richmond, Virginia with his wife and a not inconsiderable number of fur-bearing friends. By day he is an academic research librarian specializing in the humanities. You can find him online at <a href="http://www.jtglover.com/"><span style="color: #1855cc;">http://www.jtglover.com</span></a>, where he blogs about reading, writing, publishing, libraries, and everything in between.</div>
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Bill Blume discovered his love for the written word while in high school and has been writing ever since. His debut novel Gidion's Hunt (originally titled Tales of a 10th Grade Vampire Hunter) was published this past August by Fable Press. His short stories have been in many fantasy anthologies and various ezines. Just like the father figure in his first novel, Bill works as a 911 dispatcher for Henrico County Police and has done so for more than a decade. He also served as the 2013 chair for James River Writers in Richmond, which produces one of the nation’s best annual conferences for educating and connecting writers. You can learn more about Bill and his stories by visiting his website: www,<a href="http://billblume.net/"><span style="color: #1855cc;">billblume.net</span></a>.</div>
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Check out his answers on his blog: <a href="http://billblume.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: #1855cc;">http://billblume.wordpress.com/</span></a></div>
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Cynthia Price has been telling stories her whole life. She started off as a newspaper reporter and then turned her focus to media and public relations and strategic communications. She writes a blog called Cynthia's Communique: http://cynthiapricecommunique.com/ about communications and leadership.</div>
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She is active in communications groups and enjoys mentoring young people as they launch their careers. She's also an avid traveler/explorer of the world and is currently on a quest to visit all 50 states.</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-2598373360950477952014-04-01T01:32:00.000-04:002014-04-01T01:32:01.567-04:00Why I’ve been a Part of ….. for Years.<br />
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I’ve been a part of, and a long time volunteer with, James River Writers for years. </div>
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Many years.</div>
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This is why we’ve chosen to be a part of James River Writers for so long.</div>
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<br />this great video taken at the wonderful 2013 James River Writers Conference shows why</div>
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- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U15K1uEgdFw&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">JRW 2013 Conf Video</a></div>
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We’d welcome you to be a part too!!!</div>
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Come find a place where you belong. </div>
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<a href="http://www.jamesriverwriters.org/" target="_blank">James River Writers</a></div>
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There’s always room for you.</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-17327270429572776932014-03-29T19:35:00.002-04:002014-03-29T19:35:35.351-04:00Drowning in Social Media Or Really, the Freaking Thing Stole all my Words<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So. Does Absence Really make the heart grow fonder?</div>
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You must be Really fond of me by now.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Yeah.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I do have a whole lot of reasons for being ‘gone’ from here. I really was gone from here with family emergencies and things that life throws at you that there’s no choice but take care of.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But life goes on, doesn’t it.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So. Anyway. I will try to do this better. Especially given the Social Media class we recently spur-of-moment attended. — More on that later.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> But I am, like most writers I know, trying desperately to get the book I am working on Finished.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Well, as I keep telling some other writer friends, give up on waiting until you get it perfect, it’s never going to happen. You are constantly growing as a writer - at least I sure hope you are!</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So get it as good as you can today. As good as you can, at this moment, make it.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Everyone is stretched in so many different directions these days. As a writer trying to write, And do social media things, puts even more tasking on us and our time.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Maybe even on our words?</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Does anyone else feel like that? </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>That you’ve used up all your words either in writing on your manuscript or on your social media stuff.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I was going to name this post something simple - I admit it - bland. </div>
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Social Media and Writers</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> But somehow the title just came out.</div>
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Drowning in Social Media Or Really, the Freaking Thing Stole all my Words</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Maybe it’s just all the other life stresses but felt like there were only so many words crammed in my head and, well, once I had used them, nothing was left over for anything else. I had to choose.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Which makes me think of a great tweet I saw -</div>
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@<span style="color: #376299;">janetzipper</span>: What you choose to do everyday will either move you forward or keep you where you are. <span style="color: #376299;">#motivate</span> <span style="color: #376299;">#success</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So today I moved forward a little. I think. But then I haven’t written anything on my book today either.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>How ‘bout you?</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Any tips on how you balance it all? How you manage to move forward?</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-81708624935926950752014-02-24T12:39:00.005-05:002014-02-24T12:39:47.224-05:00 Why Writers Are the Worst Procrastinators<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; min-height: 16px;">
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So, as I was ‘writing’ recently. Yeah, so I was ‘preparing’ to write. Okay, I guess I was procrastinating.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We call it many things, don’t we? Research. Thinking. Although, sometimes it really is research, and thinking, mulling, story lines and characters. And it’s all legit and all. Other times, we know it’s more of avoidance of the blank page. Never does blankness hold such nervousness, or downright terror, than a writer facing a blank page. And feeling like you have a blank mind to go with it. Or is it worse to have an overfull mind teeming with all sorts of things and having difficulty getting them all down on that page in a way that constitutes not just a story, but a good one. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Since we all want to be good writers, right?</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So as I was looking at things to make me a better writer I came across this on writers procrastinating.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Of course I had to read it. Research, you know.</div>
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<b>Forced into a challenge we're not prepared for, we often engage 'self-handicapping': deliberately doing things that set us up for failure.</b></div>
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……..Whether you are more fixed or more of a grower helps determine how you react to anything that tests your intellectual abilities. For growth people, challenges are an opportunity to deepen their talents, but for “fixed” people, they are just a dipstick that measures how high your ability level is. Finding out that you’re not as good as you thought is not an opportunity to improve; it’s a signal that you should maybe look into a less demanding career, like mopping floors………..</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In reading the article I found some people I have met and know.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I’ve actually heard someone say they had trouble writing because they felt like an impostor.</div>
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I haven’t heard them talk about writing anything in a long time. Sad really, since they had gotten quite good.</div>
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<b>The fear of being unmasked as the incompetent you 'really' are is so common that it actually has a clinical name: impostor syndrome.</b></div>
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This fear of being unmasked as the incompetent you “really” are is so common that it actually has a clinical name: impostor syndrome. A shocking number of successful people (particularly women), believe that they haven’t really earned their spots, and are at risk of being unmasked as frauds at any moment. Many people deliberately seek out easy tests where they can shine, rather than tackling harder material that isn’t as comfortable……</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I’ve heard even some very driven seeming authors talk about their procrastination, and after reading this article wonder if this is what applies -</div>
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[Bolding / highlighting is mine]</div>
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<b>…..“Work finally begins,” says Alain de Botton, “when the fear of doing nothing exceeds the fear of doing it badly.”</b> For people with an extremely fixed mind-set, that tipping point quite often never happens. <b>They fear nothing so much as finding out that they never had what it takes. …..</b></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I Really liked this part - </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>All the highlight bolding is mine, since I think it is true that we, perhaps, have a whole different view of other writers. Perhaps a bit of an unrealistic skewed one. Especially the very published ones that we would like to join the ranks of.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And this is hard to consider when we are in the midst of our own struggles with words and characters and plot lines and all.</div>
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<b>…..Students are rarely encouraged to peek at early drafts of those works. All they see is the final product, lovingly polished by both writer and editor to a very high shine. When the teacher asks “What is the author saying here?” no one ever suggests that the answer might be “He didn’t quite know” or “That sentence was part of a key scene in an earlier draft, and he forgot to take it out in revision.” …..</b></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So this part is very helpful to remember -</div>
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Again, bold highlighting is mine. Because I probably do fall into this.</div>
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<b>……“You never see the mistakes, or the struggle,” says Dweck. No wonder students get the idea that being a good writer is defined by not writing bad stuff.</b></div>
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<b>Unfortunately, in your own work, you are confronted with every clunky paragraph, every labored metaphor and unending story that refuses to come to a point. “The reason we struggle with"insecurity,” says Pastor Steven Furtick, “is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.” …….</b></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Boy, does this make sense! Right?</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I won’t say I resemble any of this, but I’ll just say I recognized some people I know.</div>
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Maybe some more than others.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You might find some too, so if you want to read the whole thing rather than just the few excerpts here’s the <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/02/why-writers-are-the-worst-procrastinators/283773/" target="_blank">link </a></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do you see anyone you know here?</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do you see yourself here?</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Let me know and maybe we can help each other.</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-70019794223162099902014-02-17T20:29:00.001-05:002014-02-17T20:29:56.494-05:00Books for Different Reasons<br />
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I thought everyone read different books for different reasons.</div>
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Apparently not.</div>
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Huh.</div>
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I’ve heard some people read Only one genre, Only one author, Only… well, I’ll just put …etc…</div>
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I was recently asked questions that I didn’t have answers to. Or good answers. </div>
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I don’t have a Favorite author. I know a lot of great writers so I have lots of favorites. *Grin*</div>
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I pick up a book for many different reasons.</div>
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Sometimes I want to be entertained, so I want something fun and ‘ligtht.’</div>
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Sometimes it’s I want to see an author’s writing, or their take on their subject, or how well they do with it. </div>
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There’s research reasons to pick up a book, all kinds, from wanting to know about something for curiosity reasons, to research for writing projects, or interviews, or…. Well, like I said, Lot of different reasons to read, a Lot of different books.</div>
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Come on, at some point doesn’t the pressure of the buzz of the new ‘it’ book ‘everyone’ is talking about make you curious about it?</div>
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I’m an eclectic reader. </div>
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There are some books I really like. For different reasons, of course. Some I’m not sure exactly why. I haven’t bothered to sit and even articulate it to myself.</div>
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I will at some point need to reread them to see if they are still going to be a fave.</div>
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As I’ve mentioned in previous posts here - </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jay Asher’s <i>Thirteen Reason Why</i> is a book I think Everyone should read. If you read it come talk to me. It’s …well, I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone. So just read it. And we’ll talk.</div>
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I like Steve Berry’s novels for his what if takes on history. And his research and taking us ‘traveling with him.’</div>
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As a writer, if you get a chance to take his workshop he gives, especially if his wife is giving her session too - DO IT!</div>
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I like Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden novels for his … well, there are several reasons to like his books. One of the things I admire, is you can pick them up anywhere in the series and you aren’t lost, you can enjoy reading the book even if you weren’t a part of it from the beginning.</div>
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You might not enjoy as much, maybe. If so, I recommend starting with #12 <i>Changes</i>. </div>
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Very action packed. And makes you want to know more about these characters.</div>
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So I went back to the beginning, after reading the later most recent books, and got a whole different appreciation for the characters and his development of them and all their relationships with each other than I would have otherwise.</div>
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As a writer, I can admire all the clues and setups he did back in the previous books. </div>
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Plus I hear he, and his wife, are really nice people.</div>
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I am still working my way through Patricia McKillip books for her wonderful descriptive writing.</div>
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I have bought all I have been able to get my hands on, and can stuff on my book shelves.</div>
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From what I’ve read, I will always make room for them somewhere.</div>
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I’m not sure all the reasons I exactly liked <i>The Elegance of the Hedgehog</i> by Muriel Barbery, Alison Anderson but I did.</div>
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So if you know why, let me know.</div>
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As mentioned in previous post, a recent favorite book is <b><i>Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand</i> by Helen Simonson</b></div>
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It’s also has become a favorite of my husband, and he hasn’t even finished reading it. </div>
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We checked it out from library - Thank You Public Libraries! </div>
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He even thinks we should buy it. For those of you who know him, you Know what a Big recommendation that is!</div>
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So we will be buying it. For many reasons. It’s a compelling story. Even though it’s in some ways a quiet type story. It keeps you turning pages wanting to find out what happens.</div>
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But also, from a writer’s perspective, this book has Wonderful descriptions but she makes them do several different things, so the writing is not overtaken and bogged down by all the descriptions. Multi-layered nuances.</div>
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As my husband put it, this book is a great example of How to Show instead of just telling. The bane of writers everywhere.</div>
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So that’s my suggestion if you want to read a good book, and as a writer get some ideas of nuanced descriptive writing.</div>
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So, what are the books you like to read / are reading? And why?</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-20270417069475458872014-02-15T14:41:00.000-05:002014-02-15T14:41:51.885-05:00A New Year, Or Staying warm<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
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Yeah, yeah. What blog. Certainly not what most would consider this broken down abandoned-lookng……. Well, I’m sure you get it…. </div>
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So I’ll take the writer’s advice of ‘Don’t dumb down your reader” …. </div>
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If there are any left….</div>
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Ok, so now that’s done I can dust my hands off and continue. </div>
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I will Try to do better with this. Yeah, yeah, heard it before. Well, I have lots of reasons, even some excuses I can dredge up I’m sure - more than enough to want to read. I’ll just say that last year was rather a fast moving blur. Especially the last half. And don’t even talk about the holidays that tinsel wrapped itself around all my time and dragged me out. We didn’t even get decorations up on the tree!!!! Luckily it is one of those pre-lighted ones. </div>
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Really, if not for notations all over our calendars I’m not sure what I would remember of last year. Not that last year was bad necessarily just really, really busy. Makes me tired now just thinking about it.</div>
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Course that could be helped along by All the COLD and SNOW we’ve been having.</div>
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Okay, Okay, I might just be a smidge grumpy. And tired. Did I mention that?</div>
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I am thankful that the electricity hasn’t gone off with all this snow and mess. Not like inexplicable times before that!</div>
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So at least I’m not grumpy And cold right now.</div>
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Hey, things to be thankful for.</div>
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Another thing to be thankful for …. Altho’ come to think of it I think I Still haven’t caught up on sleep and not being tired…. I did get a bad cold …okay, I don’t remember how long ago it was, a few weeks. I think. That’s a blur too. Not because of medications, but because I couldn’t sleep and breathe at same time. So I chose to breathe. I like to breathe you know. So there I am sitting bleary eyed and trying to breathe a lot. Of course I turned to my book piles. It’s a great thing you know. Of course not as great as when you aren’t sick and bleary eyed and trying to breathe a lot. But helps take you mind off such things anyway.</div>
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I read some good books, some not so good -will-never-read-again ones, and some middling books, or ones that just don’t stand out as being really good, or really bad. Is that a good thing or not?</div>
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One of the ones on the good side .. Or I guess I should say, some of the books on the good side is by Florence King, [another Virginian!], since I read and am reading a few of her books.</div>
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I enjoyed the humor so much in her <i>When Sisterhood Was in Flower</i> that I am rereading it in her book <i>The Florence King Reader. </i>Which has a few of her stories in it. I had read ‘Flower’ as a stand-alone book but since it’s in the ‘Reader’ book too, can’t help myself from reading it again.</div>
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This helps explain why a little… but not even by half. </div>
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Briefly this scene - is preparation of 2 opposite ‘room’ mates - yeah, you must read how That happens. And one cat, named by ex-boyfriend…. :::snicker::: ….. moving…</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“A few minutes later, or so it seemed, the alarm went off and it was time to get up. I lurched like a beached seal and tried not to throw up; this was what Polly meant by “getting an early start.” The room was pitch black. For a moment I thought I had gone blind from shock, but then Polly switched on her light, swept back her blanket with a d’ Artagnan flourish, and rose.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Or she tried to. Quadrupet was slung across her neck like a hairy albatross, determined to thwart what he knew was to be a violent uprooting. She tried to push him away but he rolled over on her face and tried to smother her. I waited hopefully, listening to the struggle.”</div>
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And you’ll have to read the book for the the rest of it. Who survives, etc…. *Grin*</div>
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Trust me. You’ll want to read it. If you like to smile at all you will. Which with the winter weather we’ve been having, don’t you want to?</div>
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By the way, writers might want to check out the book for her comments on editing her stories before they were republished here. Even though she was considered a careful and tight writer when she first published them.</div>
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A book I read and still sticks with me, not for humor so much as ….well, I’m still thinking on that….</div>
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<i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Counting by 7s</i> by Holly Goldberg Sloan</div>
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<span style="color: black;">But my fave book I’ve read ‘recently’ is </span><span style="font-size: 13px;"><b><i>Major Pettigrew's Last Stand</i></b> </span>by Helen Simonson</div>
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It does have humor. A more ‘quiet’ humor than Florence King’s perhaps. But it’s there. As a writer though, the descriptions she uses……</div>
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Even my husband likes the book and says we should buy it. For those who know my husband is there any higher praise? </div>
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For those that don’t know him, he is Great, but he thinks I have too many books. Course he does have tendency to mingle his books into my stacks somehow. Or is that me reading some of the ones he bought? …. I do agree that We do need to go thro’ and decide on books….. Which means I need to read more!!!! </div>
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Sigh.</div>
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Alas, not today. That ‘free’ time has gone to the making of this blog post.</div>
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I shall now drag myself on to doing other needed things.</div>
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Oh, and if you want me to follow you back on Twitter, do Not post about sitting out enjoying the warm sun and weather, writing. No, I will not follow you back today. Maybe on Thursday when we’re supposed to get warmer temperatures.</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-40096323911660448322013-11-01T00:20:00.000-04:002013-11-01T00:20:39.341-04:00We are stories <br />
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A good story, no matter what form it takes, </div>
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will touch our hearts, our minds, and our emotions.</div>
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A good story reminds us of our humanity </div>
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and yet invites to rise above it.</div>
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We are a humanity linked by stories. </div>
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Stories of all kinds and all types feed into our psyche from all cultures, </div>
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binding us into one humanity.</div>
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Storytelling seems to have existed in some form or another since the dawn of time, </div>
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helped in part, until most recent times, by the immortal words, “Tell me a story.” </div>
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Does any child, or anyone for that matter, utter those words anymore? </div>
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Are we the poorer for it?</div>
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We are a varied collection of experiences</div>
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held together by memory and stories.</div>
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When we stop being part of the memories and the stories,</div>
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is that when we stop existing?</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-20928475550175529972013-10-17T11:36:00.000-04:002013-10-17T11:36:04.001-04:00Take a Step from your fear <br />
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Take a Step from your fear</div>
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Come out from your fear,</div>
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Make that one small step that starts. </div>
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It’s all right if it’s a stumbling one</div>
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As when you started as a child</div>
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The walking gets easier</div>
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And just as then, there can be tumbles.</div>
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But you didn’t stop there either</div>
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Regardless of what others were doing</div>
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Or saying.</div>
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Even if then they were encouraging</div>
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And now they aren’t</div>
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You still kept on</div>
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Perhaps we are always still keeping on</div>
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Walking step by step</div>
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If not away from our fears</div>
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Then away from the hold on us</div>
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That keep us locked away</div>
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From all that we really want</div>
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Do we see ourselves in others,</div>
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In their fears for themselves?</div>
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The beauty that only sees herself as not,</div>
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not like whatever the current flavor.</div>
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Or the talent that crumbles from low self-worth.</div>
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And walks over dreams that were once shiny and bright.</div>
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Are these reflections?</div>
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Mirrors reflecting back what we see in ourselves?</div>
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Can we change what we see in those reflections?</div>
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Maybe if we have the right people.</div>
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Come give it a try.</div>
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Take that step.</div>
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That step toward a dream.</div>
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There are others here too.</div>
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Are you ready fly?</div>
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To take the first jump</div>
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And give your wings a try.</div>
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They get stronger with use.</div>
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If you are a writer. You want to be a writer. No matter what kind. I bet we have something for you.</div>
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This weekend.</div>
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Or even if you’re a graphic artist. We have someone for you!</div>
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Are you just a reader? We have Lots of someones for you!</div>
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Whether you want to meet a much liked author. Or discover some new ones.</div>
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Come check out the James River Writers Conference this weekend.</div>
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You can even get a one day ticket if that fits you better.</div>
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But I wouldn’t be surprised if the two days fit just fine.</div>
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And you’ll meet a lot of fine people who can reflect back whatever you want.</div>
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Here’s a link for <a href="http://weblink.donorperfect.com/jrwc13" target="_blank">conference registration</a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">You Gotta HURRY tho' - the Great Workshops are tomorrow! Some you still might be able to go to.</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="color: #222222;">And the Conference is THIS Saturday, and Sunday.</span></div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-7218674277116054282013-10-16T10:37:00.000-04:002013-10-16T10:37:05.521-04:00The Conference is Coming! The Conference is Coming!!! <br />
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The Conference is Coming!! The Conference is Coming!!!</div>
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Okay, so I’m not Paul Revere.</div>
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Paulette Revere? </div>
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No, not that either.</div>
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But wanted to warn you, not that the British are coming, we don’t have any of those this year. That I know of.</div>
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But we do have someone that grew up in New Zealand.</div>
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Not exactly British, but there is a British connection there. ;)</div>
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No, I am not going to tell you. You should come to the Conference and figure it out.</div>
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The Conference is coming!!!</div>
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We Kick off with some GREAT Workshops on Friday. THIS Friday!</div>
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THIS FRIDAY.</div>
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In case you missed that.</div>
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Let’s see, since today is Wednesday, depending on when you read this - and if you read later then you better move Quickly, Cause the Conference is Coming! </div>
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Which means the DAY After Tomorrow The Workshops are Coming!</div>
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Really Great Workshops!</div>
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And there still are some Openings! Only in a couple, but NO they are NOT the dreg leftovers! </div>
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The Workshops were SO popular they added space to include YOU! </div>
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No, I didn’t ask how they did that. Maybe had something to do with the British? Maybe not.</div>
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But you can still get in to Some Workshops! Great ones! I should know, I signed up for one of the ones still open. I jumped in quickly! I wanted to go to more. No one wants to clone me though. Sigh. But hopefully someone from each will share notes!</div>
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Here is a link for <a href="http://weblink.donorperfect.com/jrwc13" target="_blank">conference registration</a></div>
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And be sure to check out the Workshops that are still open!</div>
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And be sure to share your notes with me.</div>
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Cause The Conference is Coming!</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-57780414062534224172013-09-24T17:46:00.000-04:002013-09-24T17:46:33.551-04:00Fabulous Interview with Literary Agent Coming to JRW Conference next Month!!! <br />
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First of all, a Tremendous Thanks and Shout Out to Literary Agent Paige Wheeler for this Fabulous interview!</div>
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And to add to the excitement here in Richmond at James River Writers -</div>
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We've just found out that the amazing graphic designer <b>Chip Kidd</b> will be available for both a TED-style talk during the conference AND for an interview-style panel on <b>Saturday afternoon, October 19</b>. If you know any graphic design folks, they will certainly recognize his name, and they might be interested in the one day ticket for $170.00.</div>
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Additionally, thanks to our partnership with the Library of Virginia, <b>Lee Smith</b> will also be doing an interview-style panel on<b> Saturday, October 19</b>.</div>
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So, there will definitely be a lot happening on Saturday of the Conference, but don’t forget all the things happening on Sunday at the Conference [Including I am moderating a great session on Sunday!]</div>
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Just cause to come to the Full Conference.</div>
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Not to mention, you should Definitely check out the Friday Workshops, the ones still open, Especially after you finish reading the great interview below with Lit. Agent Paige Wheeler who promises some Tip Sheets, References, and Tricks up her sleeve! [Need to go see if that’s full yet!]</div>
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Here is a link for <a href="http://weblink.donorperfect.com/jrwc13" target="_blank">conference registration</a></div>
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And if you can’t wait till October, check this out, while you are waiting -</div>
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<b>This Thursday, September 26</b>, we have Dean King, his New York editor, and his History Channel producer from California on stage for <a href="http://weblink.donorperfect.com/writingshowsep2013" target="_blank">The Writing Show</a>. It is the last one of the year, and we're trying to end with a bang and a big crowd. Tickets are still $10 in advance and $12 at the door: the best deal in town! </div>
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For the first time ever, we have <b>JRW t-shirts</b> for sale through <a href="https://www.bonfirefunds.com/james-river-writers/?r=9305" target="_blank">Bonfire Funds</a>. It's a great logo that promotes writing in RVA, so there might be people beyond James River Writers who will be excited about it! We need to sell 50 shirts by October 6 in order for them to be printed. You can't tell from the picture, but long sleeve shirts and hoodies are available as well.</div>
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And Now On to the Great Interview ! .........</div>
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<b>Interview with Literary Agent Paige Wheeler:</b></div>
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I see from your bio’ on the James River Writers website that you represent fiction and non-fiction.</div>
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“Currently she represents international and award-winning authors in commercial fiction, and upscale fiction, which includes women’s fiction, mysteries, thrillers, psychological suspense; as well as narrative nonfiction and prescriptive nonfiction including self-help, how-to, business, pop-culture, popular reference projects and women’s issues.”</div>
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<span style="color: #232323;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><b>Question:</b></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Is there something you are really wanting to see from new authors that might be pitching and querying you?</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>[Other than studying all the great links and resources you have on the FolioLit website!]</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Answer: For fiction, I’m looking for an intriguing plot that makes me wonder, “how is the author going to successfully pull this off?” I’m also drawn to incredibly fresh and vibrant voices, stories in which the character just sucks me in and I can’t possibly put the manuscript down. If an author could combine the unique plot with the vibrant voice—then I’m all over the manuscript. </b></div>
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<b>For nonfiction, I’m looking for thoughtful proposals on fascinating subjects that make we want to talk nonstop about the project. This can be anything from a intriguing memoir or historical nonfiction or pop culture. Ultimately, I want to learn something or be transformed in some way after reading the manuscript. Some examples of this would include Jim Minick’s THE BLUEBERRY YEARS (a VA college professor attempts to homestead his land, living off an organic blueberry farm); Mary Cantando’s LEADING WITH CARE – How women around the world are inspiring Businesses, Empowering communities and Creating opportunity; an upcoming title, Deborrah Himsel’s BEAUTY QUEEN, a book about the reign of Avon CEO Andrea Jung’s rise and fall; IN THE BELLY OF THE ELEPHANT by Susan Corbett is the story of one woman’s journey to Africa to work for the peace corp and how she was transformed by the experience. </b></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Could you give us your definition, and some examples, of what you are looking for in fiction? There is mention of commercial fiction, and upscale fiction. Can you give us some helpful examples to go by?</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>A: Commercial fiction is generally plot-driven or character-driven material that is entertaining and well written. Some examples are David Baldacci, Nora Roberts, Sue Grafton, Nicholas Sparks, etc. Upscale fiction can also incorporate a unique plot or engaging character but the writing is as much the focus as the plot or character arc. Some examples would include Adriana Trigiani, Elizabeth Strout, Khaled Hosseini, Jhumpa Lahiri. </b></div>
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You give a good description of what you call prescriptive nonfiction. [And Thank you for that.] For those that aren’t exactly sure what narrative nonfiction is, would you give us a couple of examples. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>A: A couple of examples of popular narrative nonfiction would include DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY by Eric Larson; IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS by Rebecca Skloot; and SEABISCUIT by Laura Hillenbrand. I love narrative nonfiction—it tells an intriguing story in an entertaining way. IN COLD BLOOD by Truman Capote is probably one of the best examples of narrative nonfiction, but I also bring up INTO THIN AIR by Jon Krakauer as another great example of narrative nonfiction. </b></div>
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What would you like people coming to the James River Writers Conference in October to know about meeting, pitching, and / or querying you?</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>A: First, I’m really not threatening at all, so don’t be nervous! Second, you should feel comfortable enough about (and with) your project that we can converse easily about it. You should be THAT familiar with it that any questions I may have can be easily answered. Finally, if I happen to pass on your project, realize that I’m passing on that PROJECT and not you as a writer. I welcome queries for new projects from authors who have previously pitched to me. </b></div>
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<b>I really want to fall in love with a project! What that means is that I’m looking for material that I am willing to spend a lot of time on—even if it takes longer to make a sale than anticipated. </b></div>
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<b>I have 40 titles coming out in 2013 and most of my authors have been working with me for years. I’m selective about who I represent, but it usually means that we will work together for many, many years and develop a lasting relationship. </b></div>
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<span style="color: black;">You have a workshop scheduled for the </span>Friday before the JRW Conference, on October 18, 2013, can you give us some teasers of why everyone’s going to want to sign up for it? [Or already has. Workshops are going Fast.]</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>A: I’m focusing on Career Novelists because that’s the dream of so many fiction writers. Who doesn’t want to quit their day job and write mega hit after mega hit? In my workshop, I’ll outline the Essential Elements of Career Novelists and the skill set that writers need to acquire in order to have a long and successful career as a published author. I have tip sheets, references and tricks up my sleeve to share with the audience. </b></div>
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The publishing world has been in such turmoil and flux for a few years now with agents and writers trying to figure out their roles with each other.</div>
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And the choices and decisions facing authors, such as, to self-publish or look for agent representation. Or to keep looking for it.</div>
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Would you give us some of your thoughts on this changing world, and words of wisdom? </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>A: It’s an exciting era to be in publishing! I think I will look back on this and be proud that I’ve navigated these tumultuous times and have been a part of such change!</b></div>
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<b>I think that an author needs to decide what is best for him or her. We all have different goals and skill sets, so the course that may be right for one author may be entirely wrong for another. I have many authors who are established and enjoy the role that traditional publishing plays in launching and maintaining their career. I have other authors who have hit a list and have decided that they want more control over publishing decisions, so have opted for a hybrid career. Some authors really want and need the editorial and stylistic support that traditional publishing entails and others do not. Of course I think the role of an agent is vital---and I’ll give some tips during my workshop on why I think it’s critical to have an agent on your side. Ultimately, the industry is definitely experiencing dramatic change and I think authors, editors and agents are eager to embrace the changes if it means better access to wonderfully written books and an increase in readership. </b></div>
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Any predictions or thoughts on possible trends coming that we as writers might be able to take advantage of now?</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>A: I think the only trend that I can really predict with any accuracy is the importance of an author being able to create a platform. This is true both in fiction as well as nonfiction. The concept of platform has changed, though, over the past few years. A few years ago, platform meant name recognition that was already established within households. Now, it’s the ability to quickly create that recognition—usually through a network of well-placed friends and social media. So, what can you do now? Lay the groundwork and create a network that’s ready to promote your book. </b></div>
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Here is a link for <a href="http://weblink.donorperfect.com/jrwc13" target="_blank">conference registration</a></div>
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I Know you are ready for it now!</div>
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Thanks again to Paige Wheeler for the wonderful interview. See you at the Conference, and hopefully your Workshop, in a few short weeks!</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-81939993205420585842013-09-23T18:52:00.004-04:002013-09-23T18:52:56.759-04:00When to put away childish things<br />
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Okay, so I’m taking a little license with that title. I mean, after all, we are writers, we don’t exactly have to. Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t, but that’s for a whole different discussion. One that you should probably have with a professional. Know what I mean?</div>
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Yes, you do.</div>
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But sometimes it does make you wonder about dreams, you know? If your dream is to be a writer, is that something you should put away for the ‘real world?’</div>
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Only you can really answer that. Being a writer is not easy. Or perhaps I should say being a Good writer is not necessarily easy.</div>
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It’s a lot of hard work. Least it is for a lot of writers I know.</div>
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Which some people who just decide they are going to be writers and crank out that book to sell, find out. </div>
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Or maybe they don’t until they try to sell it. And make enough money to take themselves to dinner maybe.</div>
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I’ve seen that a lot.</div>
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Especially once you’ve gone beyond selling it to all your family and friends. And sometimes maybe their friends. If you’re lucky.</div>
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And do you want to do more than one book? Are you going to force them to buy it too? </div>
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With the world the way it is today with self publishing so easy, and cheap, it’s so easy to be a writer. Or think of yourself as one. Or tell everyone.</div>
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But are you a Good one?</div>
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And working all the time to be better?</div>
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These days there’s still a lot of discussion about self-publishing. </div>
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Or no discussion, just publishing that way.</div>
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Which gets mixed feelings.</div>
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There can be good out there that is self-published.</div>
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And as a lot of us have seen, there’s a lot that ….isn’t.</div>
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There’s a lot of feelings, on both sides of the issue. For self-publishing, or for going the traditional hunting down an agent [yes, that rather does sound like a sport, huh. Hmmmm…] and going with the traditional publishers. </div>
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And to contort the issue even more — there’s the ‘traditional’ agents who will help you self-publish. Uh…. ???</div>
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Or even the small publisher route, which I know a few authors who are extremely happy with that option.</div>
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Recently Hugh Howey did a really great post. If you don’t know who he is, do a quick google. He’s one of the Great success stories of Self publishing.</div>
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“This past week, my latest self-published book debuted at #7 on <i>The New York Times</i> bestseller list. Crunching some numbers, it appears that I’ve sold a million books in the last two years.”</div>
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But I met Hugh this year, and I can tell you, he’s not the ‘normal’ writer, that I’ve met anyway. Including me. </div>
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Yes, writer friends kid around with each other about not being normal, but I think the most normal thing about most of us, is the tendency to not be super social outgoing people. In the computer jargon of the past, people like that were referred to as ‘back roomers.’ </div>
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Most of the writers I know and have met are not the tops of the social outgoing personality scale. </div>
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There are exceptions to that of course, the Great Adriana Trigiani is one of the big exceptions. But she is one of the traditionally published authors.</div>
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Hugh Howey is one of the other Big exceptions. And Successfully self-published. He’s a success for part of the reason, is his wonderful outgoing personality. He’s nice. And very personable.</div>
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So if you are going to self-publish, it wouldn’t hurt to read his blog. </div>
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And interviews he has done.</div>
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Like <a href="http://indiereader.com/2013/09/the-best-days-of-my-life/" target="_blank">this</a>.</div>
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If you are a writer. Or thinking about it. Or even dreaming of it. You should read it.</div>
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He gives you some great perspective and thoughts.</div>
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Told you.</div>
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And after you finish reading Hugh’s great post, take a look at this one I found about looking at your writing and knowing when to put it away.</div>
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Gulp.</div>
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Yeah, Hard one, Huh?</div>
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It came to mind because of all the self-published books out there - and no, I’m not saying some aren’t good. Maybe they could have been better.</div>
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Maybe they should have read<a href="http://www.publishingcrawl.com/" target="_blank"> this</a> first.</div>
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All I’m saying.</div>
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<a href="http://www.publishingcrawl.com/2013/09/11/writing-inside-the-drawer/"><b>Writing Inside the Drawer</b></a></div>
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I’ve put away a few of my own stories.</div>
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*Ahem* quite a few.</div>
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I don’t consider my ‘drawer’ a never-never land of ‘lost things.’ </div>
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I am always growing and learning as a writer. </div>
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The things that made me spend time with those stories are still there, but maybe I wasn’t the writer I needed to be to do it justice. Right then. Doesn’t mean I can’t get there. Someday. I’m working on it.</div>
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And if this is all getting you down — or making you think too much.</div>
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If you need encouragement — I mean, Really, are you a Real writer? Then you need encouragement.</div>
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At least some time you are going to need it.</div>
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Join up with James River Writers.</div>
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We are great people.</div>
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And if you really want encouragement and an atmosphere of it, come the <a href="http://www.jamesriverwriters.org/what-we-do/programs/annual-conference" target="_blank">JRW Conference</a> in October.</div>
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There’s still openings, and openings in some of the Terrific Workshops being offered the Friday before!!!!</div>
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We have Literary Agents coming. So you don’t have to go safari game hunting. They’ll be right there for you to talk to. And if you move quick, even get one-on-one pitch time.</div>
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We make it easy. Or easier.</div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">Hey, I'm a writer, I take all the help I can get.</span></div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-80831902955661519582013-09-13T16:32:00.000-04:002013-09-13T16:32:03.264-04:00Why We Should Support Our Independents <br />
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In Whatever form they take?</div>
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But Especially our Independent Bookstores.</div>
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Such as <a href="http://www.fountainbookstore.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">Fountain Bookstore</a> in Richmond, Virginia. They do shipping too! Like they ship Art doodled, Signed Maggie Stiefvater Books! Like Maggie’s new book in the Raven Boys series coming out Soon!!!</div>
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Just saying - the Maggie doodled, signed books are Pretty Nifty looking!!</div>
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In the <a href="http://fountainbookstore.shelf-awareness.com/?issue=154#m2595" target="_blank">current issue</a> of Shelf Awareness, a great interview with Cynthia Voigt about writing this book.</div>
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<i>Mister Max: The Book of Lost Things</i></div>
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<b>by Cynthia Voigt , illust. by Iacopo Bruno</b></div>
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Which the Interview has some great insight -</div>
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Max's knowledge of theater overall and of Shakespeare in particular often leads to the solutions he seeks for the dilemmas he's hired to fix. As Max says, "You can't know a lot of plays well, some of them written by William Shakespeare, without getting a good understanding of how and why people do what they do." </div>
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Sounds like a great book.</div>
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But also she has some Great information on how she wrote it, in which she has some great interesting tips on things that might help all writers with their writing.</div>
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Such as this:</div>
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<b>The "Lost Things" apply to things large and small--Max's parents being the large thing--to something as small as the Baroness's spoon, and yet the spoon's significance is large. Did you have fun coming up with what would be lost and how Max would "find" it?</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;">I</span> went about it not directly, because, as I say, I'm not a good plotter. Originally, the first paragraph of the first chapter read, "When Max was 12, he lost his parents." Then I thought about, "What does it mean to be lost?" You lose your mind, you lose your way, your sense of direction, your watch; you lose track, you lose an idea. I thought about the kinds of things you can lose and the variety of ways in which you lose them. Things like the dog that wasn't lost but ran away.</div>
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Check out the great full interview <a href="http://fountainbookstore.shelf-awareness.com/?issue=154#m2595" target="_blank">here</a>:</div>
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<b>Sometimes you think you have the answers, but the answers change as you change.</b></div>
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You need to accept that, too, that the answers change as we go through life. There are so many things that any sentient adult wants to plant with kids, there's no room for them to think for themselves.</div>
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We also learn things about pirates. Or being a pirate. Or pirating… or, …..okay, your choice in how you write. *Grin*</div>
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Thanks, Kelly, <a href="http://www.fountainbookstore.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">Fountain Bookstore</a>! <span style="color: #666666; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 13px;">@FountainBkstore </span></div>
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Arghhhh!!!!</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-64488485819104853652013-08-15T12:34:00.001-04:002013-08-15T12:34:40.260-04:00For those that haven’t yet read. <br />
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Or heard about the new book that’s out.</div>
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That has some recognizable names to it. *Grin*</div>
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Here’s your chance to read some excerpts. </div>
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Or as one of the authors has cleverly called it - #buzznuggets</div>
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Here’s one - *grin more*</div>
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"Andrew moved restlessly in his chair as he bit his lip to remind his mouth to speak carefully. He knew things were changing, even here in this backwoods. Things were changing, but apparently being able to choose your own path wasn't one of them. -- from Hearing the Past (River Town anthology book) by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/shawna.christos"><span style="color: #3c5998;">Shawna Christos</span></a>"</div>
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For more to read, including from James River Writers Exec. Dir. Katharine Herndon, go <a href="http://essediemblog.com/2013/08/14/river-town-buzznuggets/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<b><a href="http://essediemblog.com/2013/08/14/river-town-buzznuggets/" target="_blank">River Town #buzznuggets</a></b></div>
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You also get a look at the nifty cover of said book.</div>
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And if you happen to want to order it and read the rest of it -</div>
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Here it is at <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/river-town-eric-l-douglas/1116399331?ean=9781491295083" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble </a>-</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/River-Town-ebook/dp/B00EEKPNWM" target="_blank">E-book - Kindle edition</a> - Amazon -</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/River-Town-Eric-L-Douglas/dp/1491295082/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376499104&sr=1-5&keywords=river+town" target="_blank">Paperback Book</a> on Amazon -</div>
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Okay, so that’s all for today. Go buy and read.</div>
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And helpful reviews are appreciated. ;)</div>
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And for all those friends who have already purchased, Thank You!!</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-24564622065989876812013-08-14T16:00:00.002-04:002013-08-15T12:36:11.599-04:00Short Story is Out There! Out Here <br />
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Well, not here, here.</div>
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But the short stories that ‘new’ James River Writers Executive Director <a href="http://katharineherndon.com/" target="_blank">Katharine Herndon </a>@kaherndon </div>
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and I worked on and talked about are here -</div>
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Well, out. There. Not "Out There' as 'out there, man' ...</div>
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Oh, just keep reading.</div>
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To find and order the book — ;)</div>
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Here it is at <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/river-town-eric-l-douglas/1116399331?ean=9781491295083" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble </a>-</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/River-Town-ebook/dp/B00EEKPNWM" target="_blank">E-book</a> - Kindle edition - Amazon -</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/River-Town-Eric-L-Douglas/dp/1491295082/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376499104&sr=1-5&keywords=river+town" target="_blank">Paperback Book on Amazon</a> -</div>
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It is getting pretty good reviews.</div>
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The book and all. </div>
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Up on Amazon and various places.</div>
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Like <a href="http://kristyfgillespie.com/2013/08/07/book-review-river-town/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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And <a href="http://elizabethgaucher.com/river-town/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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Yes, so now you can hear us go on about it being out now.</div>
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Well, as we distractedly ponder our new writing projects in our heads.</div>
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So now go and read ‘em and weep.</div>
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Well, not weep. Not those kind of stories. I think.</div>
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Oh, just buy and read.</div>
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And :::foot shuffle::: if you feel so moved you can come back here and tell me about it.</div>
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Or put a good review out There [or Here] for us.</div>
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Now I’m off to listen to the new characters and book that’s yammering in my head. Yes, my head is a very crowded place. Why do you ask?</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-79123234312882329292013-08-05T16:47:00.000-04:002013-08-05T16:47:41.299-04:00The James River Writers Conference is Coming! <br />
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The James River Writers Conference is Coming!</div>
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Registration for it is open now!</div>
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I keep thinking things, life, is going to slow down, you know. You too?</div>
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It isn’t. </div>
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At least for me.</div>
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For some reason it just keeps barreling along. Either taking me with it. Or mowing me under. Yeah, that happens. Hey, I have bruises! No, you can’t see.</div>
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So go over and check out all the happenings for the JRW Conference.</div>
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And I’ll try to stay on top of the barrel. Hopefully I’ll be posting here a bit more.</div>
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Go <a href="http://www.jamesriverwriters.org/what-we-do/programs/annual-conference" target="_blank">here</a> and check out all the happenings for the Conference. </div>
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Check out the Workshops on the Friday before.</div>
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And The Agents that are coming.</div>
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Speaking of which, stay tuned here for more on that…..</div>
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…….And also about a certain new anthology coming out soon that has some stories in it by <a href="http://katharineherndon.com/" target="_blank">people</a> you have met and know. </div>
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Uh, yes, that’s a Hint. </div>
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Okay, okay, I’ll give you another hint. It will be out Soon. *Grin*</div>
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Y’all stay tuned, ya hear.</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-15010545793194861862013-06-20T16:33:00.000-04:002013-06-20T16:33:04.762-04:00How do you deal with rejection? <br />
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Everyone has to deal with it at some point in their lives. Either professionally or personally, or perhaps both, and some of us seem to have to deal with it more than others. Why is that? </div>
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Given the artistic fields, whether art, music, writing, etc… is all about people’s likes and dislikes, seems like people in those fields have to deal with a big share of it. More than most? Or does it just seem like that?</div>
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So how do you gird yourself to not let the rejection not destroy your creative ability?</div>
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Or at least damage it to the point you really falter at it. Or at least your belief in it, and yourself.</div>
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And yes, I can understand how to do it when it is an impersonal thing. But I have seen more than one writer severely damaged by another giving ‘helpful critiques’ that were, if not meant to be personal, certainly came across as such. And not in a good way. Which was certainly damaging. Very damaging. I also know how that can be cloaked as blame of someone taking it too personally. Well, yeah, since that is the way it was meant, isn’t it. No? Maybe everyone needs to take an honest look at themselves before they say anything.</div>
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I’ve seen way too many passive aggressive people to believe that everyone means you well.</div>
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So how do you determine?</div>
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How do you sift the good stuff from the personal jealous or attacking type?</div>
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I saw an interesting take on it I hadn’t seen before.</div>
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From Chuck Sambuchino.</div>
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He talks about rejections, how they can be demoralizing and hard to decipher.</div>
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Yeah.</div>
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A lot of us know all about those.</div>
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Interestingly though, where most of what I’ve read talk about mining the rejections to see what you can take away - looking at it objectively….. Uh, yeah, perhaps some of us can do that, and most can eventually. Maybe.</div>
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But Chuck Sambuchino’s take on it is to not try to analyze them, but to just push through them.</div>
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Huh. I can see the wisdom of looking at rejections from the point of view of if everyone is telling you the same thing then perhaps you need to take another look at something. Even if it’s just not the right timing or market right now.</div>
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Which is sort of like what he says.</div>
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So for all of you who are losing faith in your skills, read this. And keep on writing.</div>
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If nothing else, in the comment section below. Hey, it’s writing. *Grin*</div>
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<b>From the Editor</b></div>
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Rejection is a part of writing -- even if you're an agented writer or have some credits under your belt. No matter what you write, it will likely get rejected, possibly many times. What makes rejections frustrating is that oftentimes they are vague or even contradictory. They can be demoralizing and hard to decipher. </div>
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The most important thing you can do concerning rejections is not try to analyze them, but rather simply <i>push through them </i>. Plenty of times, when editors say no, they are simply saying "This particular piece of material is not for me personally at this moment in time." In other words, it's up to you the writer to keep composing new works and submitting them. </div>
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Case in point: Back in 2008, I wrote my first two children's books. Both got rejected by every agent I queried. I didn't fret, because I got busy writing humor books and reference titles. I believed perhaps the kidlit writing world was just not for me. But something strange happened recently. I submitted another picture book on a whim that was co-written with a friend. Within a few days, we got multiple offers of representation and had signed with a children's book agent (Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary). Quite the whirlwind weekend. </div>
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I tell you this because I had basically given up on that realm of writing. I had lost faith in my skills and let the rejections get to me, and I'd stopped moving forward. When I finally started again and focused on a goal, an amazing thing happened. Move past rejection. Keep writing! Good things will happen.</div>
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Until next time, good luck writing, agent hunting, and building your <a href="http://click.writers-community.com/?qs=e36b118b2e0c536b4e000d026b3b8d4f71d13597f77e45579e91bf4f7910f5c2"><span style="color: #1855cc;">writer platform</span></a>!</div>
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<b>Chuck Sambuchino</b> </div>
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<span style="color: #454242;">Editor, <a href="http://click.writers-community.com/?qs=e36b118b2e0c536bb0ea7839fbec0767490a12c12f085cb315a2db5457e92c8b"><span style="color: #1855cc;"><i>2013 Guide to Literary Agents</i></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454242;">Editor, <a href="http://click.writers-community.com/?qs=e36b118b2e0c536b820e6da54b090cf33886039475d3b8a9a7d5055fab07c1f3"><span style="color: #1855cc;"><i>2013 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market</i></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454242;">Author, <a href="http://click.writers-community.com/?qs=e36b118b2e0c536b571ae101b9fa3e8e2c9e1298605eadb3a9cc0a5e85bfbbe0"><span style="color: #1855cc;"><i>Red Dog / Blue Dog: When Pooches Get Political</i></span></a> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #454242;">Author, <a href="http://click.writers-community.com/?qs=e36b118b2e0c536b8063907127cb501cb3c81fb10f680968442d169b8db71263"><span style="color: #1855cc;"><i>How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack</i></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454242;">Author, <a href="http://click.writers-community.com/?qs=e36b118b2e0c536b0829d2a9e4ec8096708a5e256af9a14760395a0ff2159563"><span style="color: #1855cc;"><i>Create Your Writer Platform</i></span></a> </span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="mailto:literaryagent@fwmedia.com">literaryagent@fwmedia.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://click.writers-community.com/?qs=e36b118b2e0c536b3f3aa929eb785fdc485d588d74b0b0a18cef61b2d33044ff">www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog</a></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://click.writers-community.com/?qs=e36b118b2e0c536b0b24fe8ae375408a144ed5830655f27dab95a6a30d36d619">Twitter: @chucksambuchino</a></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://click.writers-community.com/?qs=e36b118b2e0c536b9b5bdc8028cc985ef808918a6315ec5aff597b661c42a953">Chuck on Facebook</a></span></div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-63905443881629584672013-06-11T15:39:00.003-04:002013-06-11T15:39:32.262-04:00Legacies and What We Leave <br />
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As I mentioned in previous blog post, this year I was Chair of the committee for the James River Writers Emyl Jenkins Award. [And if I didn’t mention, I Meant to. Maybe.] The awards were presented at the JRW June on the James fundraiser event last week. [Get the James River Writers newsletter so you can put on calendar to some join us for all the fun next year!] </div>
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I was requested along the way to write up my thoughts about Emyl, and it of course, brought up thoughts about Emyl. That I’ve not thought of in a long time. Or perhaps tried not to.</div>
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Her stepdaughter Erika and I were talking about Emyl. And of course we were laughing. That’s the legacy I think Emyl wanted to leave - as Emyl’s husband Bob said in his great remarks the other night, ‘Tinkerbell’ Emyl wanted everyone to smile and think happy thoughts.</div>
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Erika and I were laughing at our remembrances of Emyl, always bustling into places with her hair flying around her, and patting it into place when she stopped to take a breath to speak to someone.</div>
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And talking about how she always seemed to able to talk Anyone and Everyone into …well, into anything and everything. [I have only met 1 exception to that] I remember standing with a couple of people one time and we were talking about Emyl … probably, if I remember it right, at all the stuff we had going on, and what all Emyl had managed to talk us into doing, and one of them said, It is like an out of body experience. Emyl is so charming and lovely and then you wake up next morning going ‘NO! I agreed to do What!” There wasn’t even any hangovers involved that I knew of, even though Emyl certainly believed in ‘spirited’ writers fluid.</div>
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Erika was laughing about what all Emyl had talked her into. And yet there’s always a tinge of sadness in our eyes I know when we talk of Emyl. Of a too abrupt parting. And someone leaving our lives too soon. To open up the memories, or emails, too much is still too painful. </div>
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And yet, we still remember and talk of her. And there is always laughter. Even if the eyes are tearing up, there has to be laughter. So Emyl is still getting her way. ;)</div>
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I’ve read somewhere that as long as we speak someone’s name and remember them that they will continue to live.</div>
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I know Emyl still does for a lot of people.</div>
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Beyond her writing, numerous fiction and nonfiction books, she lives on as a vibrant person that meant something to the people she met. And more importantly, she make people feel they meant something. And that they, and their writing, was important.</div>
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She had such a talent for reaching out to writers and pulling, or pushing, them out of their self-imposed aloneness, to encourage, support, and challenge. For all her interests, and she had Many, from working with the Governors Mansion committee with their antiques, to gardening, to loving and working with the Library of Virginia, and to luckily, being a part of James River Writers, she always seemed to find the time somewhere to encourage another writer.</div>
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To make them feel that they had a voice. And one that should be heard.</div>
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Thankfully there are others that, though they might not be Emyl, and not quite fill the gap she left, they are at least doing something to help writers. To encourage. To support. To hear their voices.</div>
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James River Writers certainly tries to do all that, and recognizes such people, and organizations, each year that do such things for writers. JRW does that with the Emyl Jenkins Award to honor the woman that did all that and more.</div>
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And is still missed and thought of. And spoken of.</div>
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Not a bad legacy to leave, huh.</div>
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More than all her wonderful books, she leaves a part of her that will always be remembered. And talked of.</div>
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You’ve got time to think of someone, or an organization, that you can nominate for the Emyl Jenkins Award for next year.</div>
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So start jotting notes now.</div>
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As Emyl’s husband said, she would be embarrassed by all this hoopla with her name on it, but she would also be pleased.</div>
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And I hope, very very proud, of all the legacies she’s left behind with and in all of us.</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-87277453276011088072013-06-10T17:01:00.000-04:002013-06-10T17:01:13.033-04:00Getting Out and Just Going<br />
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The James River Writers June on the James fundraiser event was Thursday night. Even the rain held off for the event.</div>
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I really appreciate the Charlottesville supporters from WriterHouse braving the pouring rain they had to drive through to come.</div>
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Course they needed to come accept the Emyl Jenkins Award from me, but I’m still really glad they came.</div>
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For a lot of reasons.</div>
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As the nominator said when nominating Hampton Roads Writers for the Emyl Award, writing is such a solitary endeavor……writers need support…..</div>
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I think the days of the reclusive hermit writer in the cave or turret, and staying there, have ended. To get people to see and notice your book there has to be Some kind of presence out in the world.</div>
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So you Are going to have to Do IT - Do Something in the world - even if you never quite get used to it or even like it.</div>
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And that is not at All easy for us solitary writers.</div>
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But I can tell you it gets easier. A little anyway. Sometimes. You might still have days that are better than others. But that’s true of your writing life too isn’t it?</div>
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I keep hearing it again and again, from writers at James River Writers Writing Show, to the JRW casual meet up of writers, that we wittily call Writers Wednesday — coming up This coming Wednesday at Capital Ale House downtown Richmond </div>
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- to the other night at JRW’s June on the James fun event. </div>
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This getting out and actually having to meet and talk to Real people is difficult. To some people that might include a lot of things more than what I am talking about here.</div>
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I am talking about getting out and going to writers events. </div>
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Places where you can meet, and even — gulp --- actually Talk to others about writing. Or about anything really.</div>
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We writers are uncomfortable with all this. </div>
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Although it appears Some obviously aren’t. Or do they just seem that way?</div>
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Are some just better at hiding it?</div>
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What do you think?</div>
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I know that I was one of those typical ‘hiding’ writers. [And still am, believe it or not.] Compounded by coming from a computer background, of being, well, in the background. Or at least not known for the wonderful skills of interacting with real people.</div>
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I have talked about, and probably will talk more, about Emyl Jenkins.</div>
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Her legacy to me was an indirect one. I watched her every chance I got. I realize I’m not any way close to being her. And she had a charm that I certainly don’t have. Irritatingly she passed away before I could quite figure out how she managed it all. ESPECIALLY how she could talk people into such things! And they were Always so Delighted! Course as some of her lovely friends and I have talked about, it was almost like an out of body experience… to wake up next morning and realize what we had agreed to! And hangovers weren’t even involved! At least I’m pretty sure.</div>
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Emyl always seemed to have time for writers, encouraging and urging them on. Sometimes fussing them on.</div>
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Most of all, she made the mingling and talking seem like it was effortless for her. And she was a Writer!</div>
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Maybe there are people out there that it is effortless to them as well?</div>
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[Am thinking about whether I really want to hear from you if it is that easy for you. ;) Sorrtta. Ok, half-hearted grin.]</div>
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Well, I’ll tell you it isn’t effortless for me to get out there and mingle and speak to you. </div>
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Regardless of what it Looks like!</div>
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Yes, I have friends that I have apparently fooled very well.</div>
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But I don’t lie, and it is still very difficult for me.</div>
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I can say, it does get a bit easier each time. Or at least not as cringing stab-in-the-eye painful. Mostly.</div>
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Yeah, some people might not speak to you. But just as they say to don’t take the writing critiques so personally, and that’s still hard, the same thing applies to talking with other writers. They might just be jerks. But they might be also panicking just as much inside as you are and coming across as stuck-up jerk. </div>
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As the President of Hampton Roads Writers, Lauran Strait, and I stumblingly talked about the other night, [see I told you. Most writers don’t have an easy time at this socializing / mingling thing] that we both like writing a whole lot more than, you know, actually having to talk to people. And being President, you know she must have to talk to a lot of people. </div>
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Having volunteered for JRW for a few years now, I know that doesn’t just involve talking to writers. Double gulp to the throat…and sometimes even the tummy.</div>
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But we can survive it!</div>
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I mean Come on, when you speak to your characters they are just as big a jerks sometimes too.</div>
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And they don’t speak to us at times either.</div>
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Yeah, we threaten them with the power to kill them off. [Bwahahaha, we gloat.] They laugh at that too you know. </div>
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So pull up your big girl / big boy pants and take a chance on us. Start coming to a JRW event. We’re pretty friendly. Remember we all have our bad days and most probably are scared just like you.</div>
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You can try it out casually Wednesday, June 12, at the downtown Richmond Capital Ale House, where JRW Writers Wednesday is meeting this month.</div>
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And then the JRW Writing Show at the end of the month.</div>
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Start working up to the JRW Conference in October. It’s certainly worth it. And you have time.</div>
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While I’m talking about James River Writers, I want to give a shout out to the 2013 winners of the JRW Emyl Jenkins Award!</div>
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Congratulations Hampton Roads Writers ! </div>
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Thanks to President Lauran Strait for coming to get the Award</div>
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Congratulations to the team of Sophia Volpi and Louise Ball</div>
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It was so great to meet you all! Even if we didn’t get to talk all that much. **Sheepish grin**</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-88181418025386171342013-06-04T16:44:00.001-04:002013-06-04T16:44:26.462-04:00Writers Doing Social Media in 7 Minutes<br />
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The 7 Minute Rule - so says David Henry Sterry, other half of The Book Doctors and Arielle Eckstut.</div>
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‘How to build your social network/platform without getting lost in the time suck’</div>
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The 7 Minute Rule for Social Media</div>
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How to build your social network/platform without getting lost in the time suck</div>
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That’s what he <a href="http://bit.ly/10jygVk" target="_blank">says</a>.</div>
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And for those who have met them, heard them, at the James River Writers Conferences [in Richmond, Va.], you know how smart they are.</div>
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And I Think they are coming back to the Conference this October too!</div>
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Just saying you might want to sign up and come.</div>
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The Conference registration opens in June — so coming up soon.</div>
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I do admire David and Arielle both, they are savvy and smart, and dynamic. <span style="color: #222222;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">[Not to mention raising a Great daughter.]</span></div>
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I also have bought both a print version and an e-book version of their book, </div>
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<a href="http://www.thebookdoctors.com/our-book" target="_blank">The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published - How to Write It, Sell It, and Market It…Successfully</a></div>
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And my print version is marked up and filled with post-a-notes. And resides in stack of books on my night table.</div>
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Doesn’t mean I still won’t whine about all this.</div>
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I mean I Do Try to do everything! And know I should be doing more. But if I get less sleep than I do now I believe my husband just might revolt. Not that he’s not somewhat right that I should get more sleep. [No, he is not correct that we do not need more books, have no room for more books.] But there just seems to be so much that Needs to be done, Should be done [you Know those are the Awful voices in your head], Has to be done, and then of course, there’s the ones you want to do. Sigh.</div>
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There’s the whole of that list that applies to the personal part of life, as well as the whole of that to apply to the professional side of trying to be a writer. Double sigh.</div>
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And I’m behind on things that I have to get done before Thursday’s James River Writers June on the James. If you are in the Richmond, Va. area buy a ticket and join us. Fun event. And helps JRW bring all the great things to writers.</div>
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For more casual meeting of your tribe as David talks about in his post, come to the JRW casual meet up of Writers Wednesday, June 12.</div>
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For more info’ on Thursday’s June on James and / or Writers Wednesday next week, or even the JRW Writing Show at end of month — not to mention information on the great Conference in October, be sure to check the JRW web <a href="http://www.jamesriverwriters.org/" target="_blank">site</a>.</div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">And now I think that's been more than 7 minutes, so gotta go!</span></div>
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Find us. Find your tribe. Come out and connect. We can all whine about David’s 7 Minute Rule for Social Media</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-87715289641174972052013-05-18T18:50:00.003-04:002013-05-18T18:50:49.211-04:00Surprises<br />
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So, it might not be a big surprise to those who know me, that I’m not a big fan of surprises. </div>
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As there was a discussion today at an author event — A Fabulous Event !!! At Fountain Bookstore — Disappointment is the emotion that’s hardest, or mostly impossible, to mask. </div>
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So, don’t try to surprise me. Fair warning.</div>
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But I do like it when Happy things happen spontaneously. Like today. Running errands, things to do, happen to go have Great Fish and Chips at our fav. place for that - <a href="http://www.sineirishpub.com/" target="_blank">Sine Irish Pub</a> [hey, I didn’t realize there was one in Arlington, Va. as well as Richmond!] [they also have other great food too.]</div>
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But since we were down there in that ‘neck’ of Cary, we Had to stop in at <a href="http://www.fountainbookstore.com/" target="_blank">Fountain Bookstore</a>.</div>
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Uh, yeah. GREAT Independent Bookstore. ‘Nuff said. If you haven’t tried, you absolutely Should!</div>
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And Kelly happened to be having an author event with the lovely and lively <a href="http://www.deannaraybourn.com/" target="_blank">Deanna Raybourn.</a></div>
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Well, as a ‘writer’ myself, who am I Not to support an author. Right? [Yes, I have a Great husband that has been around writers and writer talk so many years he has picked it up also. :::Evil grin::: ]</div>
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I had ‘heard’ of and seen Deanna Raybourn’s books around, I just hadn’t picked up any to read yet. Yes, I have a great husband but he does give me looks when he sees me around books, especially when they are coming home with me, since home is perhaps a ‘bit’ overcrowded with books.</div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">[and no grief on writer not knowing what was going on with fellow writers and book events, I've been sick for over 2 weeks, said great husband sick over a week, so I'm sure we can manage a few hacking coughs still, in your direction.]</span></div>
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But even he was captivated by the author talk today. It really was a Great talk. And even though there was ‘reader’ talk about her books, there was also great writer insight talk as well. We all sat, enjoyably I think, for couple hours. And it was Great! Deanna was great! She talked about her agent, her editors, publishers, her books, as well as her favorite books. I was happily reminded of favorite books from my reading past, as well as happily jotting down new books to look at that she particularly liked.</div>
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I was surprised by our similar reading lists.</div>
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So, yes, no surprise, I bought two of her books.</div>
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Had to you know. Someone that enjoys So many of the same books you do, you have to get theirs to read as well. That’s just the way it is.</div>
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It was a great time of talking about books, and learning of new books and authors.</div>
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And I made promises to send couple of my favorites that hadn’t been introduced to her yet.</div>
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For all those that I have met recently and wanted the information - </div>
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The Really Great World Building info’ from a JRW Conference panel session I did is in this <a href="http://bemusedwriter.blogspot.com/2012/11/james-river-writers-conference-part-3.html" target="_blank">blog post</a>.</div>
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With the Terrific information from authors Malinda Lo, Lana Krumwiede, and Christina Lewis Halpern</div>
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The Great post of Terrific historical writer Lucia Robson, and her list of references and resources is here on this <a href="http://bemusedwriter.blogspot.com/2011/10/lucias-ready-reference.html" target="_blank">post</a>.</div>
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And be sure to look at posts couple days around those posts cause I did post other nice information and sources from other panelists!</div>
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And because I aspire to write beautifully and descriptively I did a blog post on Patricia A. McKillip’s wonderful writing <a href="http://bemusedwriter.blogspot.com/2010/07/tasting-your-words.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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So, the only thing better on a rainy dark cool day like today than all this, is curling up with one of the new books bought. :::Grin:::</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8928041705968275819.post-62397169849075877152013-04-26T11:49:00.000-04:002013-04-26T11:49:08.102-04:00First Pages, Prologues, and Agents Pet Peeves, Oh My<br />
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Or as has become a most popular panel at the James River Writers Conference each year, First Pages Critiques. </div>
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The Conference is in October - here’s the blurby from the JRW site, if you want more info’ and to keep up with all the news and latest happenings - yes, we have them! - Check in at the JRW <a href="http://www.jamesriverwriters.org/what-we-do/programs/annual-conference" target="_blank">site</a> </div>
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And Sign up for the James River Writers Newsletter.</div>
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The 2013 James River Writers Conference will be held Saturday & Sunday, October 19-20, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Attendees can also register to attend pre-conference master classes Friday, October 18, at the Virginia State Capital.</div>
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The First Pages session has also gained ‘other’ names over the years such as ‘Simon Cowell / Idol for Writers’ depending on which agents we get to the Conference, but Really it isn’t That bad. Really. And the comments are always helpful to everyone! It really has been one of the most popular sessions for several years.</div>
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So put the Conference dates on your calendar, start saving your money, and while you are waiting check out the authors who are coming to the Conference in their JRW Twitter Chats - #JRWC13 -</div>
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And check them out on the JRW Goodreads ‘book club’ </div>
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These thoughts on First Pages has been brought about by a Writer Unboxed blog post.</div>
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The post is titled What NOT to do when Beginning your novel.</div>
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But as we at the James River Writers Conference call it 1<span style="font-size: 9px;"><sup>st</sup></span> Pages </div>
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- the importance of those First Pages, and all after that really, cannot be emphasized enough.</div>
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You think you’re busy trying to write the dang great novel, agents are inundated with ‘great novels’ all the time.</div>
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So get real. I am Not going to be doom and gloom though, it might take some time, and a Lot of hard work. But I read something recently that surprised me, several well known writers were saying they knew they weren’t the best writers, that often it’s not the greatest writers that get published, it’s the ones that are driven and never give up. Does explain some books though doesn’t it. </div>
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The writers and writing teachers were saying that the most gifted extraordinary writers often gave up, rather than persevere. Rather than figuring out what was going to sell or even making themselves better perhaps. And it’s a Lot of work! Not just always trying to write better and be a better writer, but also understanding that books are a business. And these days it’s even more important to do your research to know what your options are - and what your limits and tolerances are, and to figure out what’s right for You.</div>
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Since no matter how much time it takes you to research and write your book, your work isn’t over. You have to research agents as well. Not to mention the business of promotion and marketing. But that’s another discussion.</div>
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And since this one is about how Critical and Important those First Pages of your books are, the post on Writer Unboxed gives many agents giving their pet peeves.</div>
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One of the things I saw that was probably not intended was what we’ve been told and shown at James River Writers over the years — agents are human. They have their likes and dislikes and pet peeves just like the rest of humanity.</div>
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Which is why after you Finally get your book finished to the Complete best of your ability, done the best you can, you Have to research agents to try to figure out the best ones you think would be the best ones for your precious work. Course you do realize that They see Lots of people’s precious work so as anything in that much abundance, it loses it’s preciousness in those kind of quantities. Right? Yeah, yeah, not what we want but if you can embrace that, even a little, it’s helpful, believe me.</div>
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After you have researched your group of agents to send to, and Perfected your Query letter [another discussion] [and after perfecting your book, remember] and sit and anxiously wait, and perhaps get the dreaded Reject letter, it’s okay to sit and blink a moment. Then dust yourself off and research and send to more. Remember the surprising comment above about great versus persevering writers. Persevering writers who are working to get better we hope.</div>
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As the Writer Unboxed post highlights, agents are human, likes, dislikes, bad days and all the rest. Just because one thinks your precious stinks and sucks the universe, doesn’t mean every one will. </div>
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Remember, Every reader is different too. We all don’t like the same books so why would agents.</div>
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Hang in there. Believe me, most writers have been where you are - wherever that is!</div>
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Keep at it. </div>
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The post I keep talking about on Writer Unboxed is <a href="http://writerunboxed.com/2013/04/22/april/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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sgchrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05038524299486692350noreply@blogger.com0