Breathe...Just Breathe...
I'm a bit fried...hence my LOSER status in the POSTING department.
I'll spare you the gory details for now. Instead I'll torture you by telling you about them one by one.
Let's start with contest entries.
I just finished the score sheets and comments for 5 Gotcha Entries. They were due...today. I made it--with about an hour to spare.
Phew.
I've done this a few years now. Every year after I spend hours upon hours judging and offering comments, constructive criticism and kudos, I swear I'm not doing it next year. And the next year the contest rolls around and they ask for volunteers, and I say, "Sure, I'll do it."
**smacking my forehead**
Man, done right, that is a time-consuming, draining exercises.
Have you/do you judge contests? Which ones? How much time do you put into them? Do you love it, hate it or are indifferent to it but do it to pitch in?
I'll spare you the gory details for now. Instead I'll torture you by telling you about them one by one.
Let's start with contest entries.
I just finished the score sheets and comments for 5 Gotcha Entries. They were due...today. I made it--with about an hour to spare.
Phew.
I've done this a few years now. Every year after I spend hours upon hours judging and offering comments, constructive criticism and kudos, I swear I'm not doing it next year. And the next year the contest rolls around and they ask for volunteers, and I say, "Sure, I'll do it."
**smacking my forehead**
Man, done right, that is a time-consuming, draining exercises.
Have you/do you judge contests? Which ones? How much time do you put into them? Do you love it, hate it or are indifferent to it but do it to pitch in?
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 10:33 PM
4 comments
:~: Wednesday, December 26, 2007 :~:
Holiday Hibernation?
Has your laptop keyboard seen more of the screen than you have lately? (In other words, has it been closed more than open?)
Holidays, whether filled with joyous family or barely tolerable in laws (or even vice versa) are busy. Visits, dinners, parties, cooking, cleaning, shopping, decorating...it can be both exhilarating and exhausting.
I haven't been as sluggish with my writing this holiday season as I usually am. I attribute that to my new Alphasmart. Maybe because it's portability is working for me. Maybe because it's still a new toy I like to play with. Maybe because I've been working on breaking through my creativity blocks and pushing past the apprehension of writing new.
Whatever it is, I'm writing.
Has your holiday this year been hectic or harmonious? Productive or futile? Mine's been both hectic and productive. I can't say there's been anything harmonious about it, although I'm home for New Years with 4 days off. The bedroom-slash-office is going to get cleaned and organized even if it kills me...which it might.
Next week I'll talk about goals/resolutions for the coming year...put on your thinking caps so we can chat about it.
Wishing everyone a published new year. :-)
Holidays, whether filled with joyous family or barely tolerable in laws (or even vice versa) are busy. Visits, dinners, parties, cooking, cleaning, shopping, decorating...it can be both exhilarating and exhausting.
I haven't been as sluggish with my writing this holiday season as I usually am. I attribute that to my new Alphasmart. Maybe because it's portability is working for me. Maybe because it's still a new toy I like to play with. Maybe because I've been working on breaking through my creativity blocks and pushing past the apprehension of writing new.
Whatever it is, I'm writing.
Has your holiday this year been hectic or harmonious? Productive or futile? Mine's been both hectic and productive. I can't say there's been anything harmonious about it, although I'm home for New Years with 4 days off. The bedroom-slash-office is going to get cleaned and organized even if it kills me...which it might.
Next week I'll talk about goals/resolutions for the coming year...put on your thinking caps so we can chat about it.
Wishing everyone a published new year. :-)
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 7:09 AM
4 comments
:~: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 :~:
Procrastination cures?
Procrastination cures?
I picked up a used Dana on Ebay a couple weeks ago. I was interested in an alternative writing source to my laptop for several reasons, but what made me finally decide to try out the Alphasmart was my recent bout with procrastination. I found myself avoiding the hard business of writing through the tough spots and knew I needed to make some changes. The Dana was only one of the many alterations I’m trying out, and I have to say, I love it.
A few reasons I wanted to try the Alphasmart:
~ My laptop is heavy. It’s actually one of the lighter models, but when you’re lifting it from the floor of a car or tugging it in and out of it’s case a dozen times a day (or more)…it really does get heavy.
I picked up a used Dana on Ebay a couple weeks ago. I was interested in an alternative writing source to my laptop for several reasons, but what made me finally decide to try out the Alphasmart was my recent bout with procrastination. I found myself avoiding the hard business of writing through the tough spots and knew I needed to make some changes. The Dana was only one of the many alterations I’m trying out, and I have to say, I love it.
A few reasons I wanted to try the Alphasmart:
~ My laptop is heavy. It’s actually one of the lighter models, but when you’re lifting it from the floor of a car or tugging it in and out of it’s case a dozen times a day (or more)…it really does get heavy.
~ My laptop has wireless internet. It also has other software. Way too easy to get distracted and find yourself 3 hours later thinking, oh, crap, I’ve got to pick the kids up from school already and I haven’t written anything new yet.
~ My laptop was taking a beating for the very same reasons stated in the first point.
~ I liked the thought of having a limited amount of material on the screen in hopes of keeping my auto-editing brain focused on creating.
Anyway…although I was skeptical about the value of the Alphasmart, it seems to work for me. I’m procrastinating less and writing more.
What works for you?
Anyway…although I was skeptical about the value of the Alphasmart, it seems to work for me. I’m procrastinating less and writing more.
What works for you?
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 8:00 AM
13 comments
:~: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 :~:
Monsters of Chaos
I'm a forward movement kind of person. A go-out-there-and-get-it-done type. So slowing down to reflect or regroup amps my stress levels.I decided not to plot out my current WIP. I had a couple of scenes churning in my brain for a while, let them bubble to the surface until they were about to boil over and then started writing. Works great--for those scenes. Then I sit back and wonder...what now?
I've learned--the hard way--that is way too stressful for me. I need to know where I'm going. Even if I veer from the path along the way, I need to have a path set out before me when I start. That's not to say I need to know every nuance, every thread. My characters don't develop into someone I identify with until I'm about 1/2 way through the first draft. My plots sprout subplots along the story journey. Theme grows with each layer of detail, with each weaving of internal and external conflict, with the upward and downward slope of character arcs.
So...here I am, 210 pages into this WIP and my pantster britches have finally fallen off. I need to regroup, rethink and plan. Man, I hate that. Not the planning part, but the stepping back part, the slug of forward motion part. Makes me grind my teeth at night and wake up with a popping jaw. And after going over the ms from the beginning and looking at everything happening in each scene, I realized my work is just too complex and intricate to work without a net.
As if to conspire against my attempted writing freedom, the universe is sending messages.
I watched part of a KCET (channel 9) seminar the other day: Change your thinking, change your life. Happened to turn to it at the point where the doctor/instructor was talking about accepting your location in life, realizing it is where you're meant to be. My creativity coach, a psychologist who is tutoring me along for free via one of Eric Maisel's coaching programs, encourages me to embrace my conflicts and work with them, not against them. Today, in my email, I received this message from the author of Blockbuster Plots, a woman I recently took a plotting course with via Silicon Valley RWA:
Winter solstice, December 21st, is the shortest day of the year.
Celebrated among the ancients as a turning point -- this day, when sunrise and sunset is at a minimum for the year, marks the return of the sun. The Mesopotamians were first with a 12-day festival of renewal, designed to help the god Marduk tame the monsters of chaos for one more year.
I hope during the season you might find time to use candles, evergreens, feasting and generosity as a way to tame the monsters of chaos for 2008.
This is also a good time until January 30, 2008 to withdraw and regroup, examine and rework the way you express, experience, and integrate new information in your life.
This is a time of magic.
I'm listening, I'm listening! I'm backing up, slowing down and developing a plot for my complex WIP. I'm taming my monsters of chaos.
What monsters are you taming for 2008?
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 10:19 AM
9 comments
:~: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 :~:
Gifts for Writers
I'm blogging a bit late to give Charlotte's post a bit more "face" time. So great of her to stop by. Thanks, Charlotte!I'm rather wound up in Christmas shopping. Normally, I'm stressing at the last minute. For whatever reason, I'm more on the ball this year and it feels so much better. I'm also going simple--one largish present instead of a hundred little ones. And conservative--thoughtful, but not overboard. I have to say...it's nice. I'm enjoying the season a lot more, stressing a lot less and generally feeling happier.
I'm still debating over what to get the members of my RWA chapter board. Flip flopping between a few ideas, which had me surfing around the Internet looking for good gift ideas for writers. They seem to come in three categories: intangible, big or little. I kinda wanted something different, but thought it would be good to list the various ideas I found and hopefully have you all add to them.
- Time, space and support--of course every writer needs those things, but how do you "give" those? I think a coupon book would be a great way--homemade coupons for "Ready to cook lasagna for the family" in lieu of "time"; "Two hours of organization" in lieu of "space"; "Three brainstorming sessions at Starbucks" in lieu of support. You could get really fun and creative with a coupon booklet. Unfortunately, none of my writing friends live close enough for me to use this one. :-(
- Pens, pencils, notebooks--these are ... okay, but I probably wouldn't use them. I've got pads and writing utensils all over the dang house. Maybe a special journal. Better yet, a journal with guided writing prompts or self-discovery techniques you've put in yourself. Or a journal that accompanies a book such as Simple Abundance or one of Eric Maisel's creativity books or any other of the enlightening works out there.
- Books--of course, this one is rather obvious. But maybe look at it from a little different angle--the newest release of a best selling author from the writer's genre, the newest release from one of their favorite authors, a craft book related to that genre, or something that writer has been struggling with.
- Gift certificates--no, not necessarily to B&N, although I'm sure lots of writers would like that too, but maybe for an online class or workshop. Be creative!
Lots of other suggestions come to mind:
- Computer software
- Flypen (this is what I've asked for)
- Alphasmart (looking into this too)
- Scrapbook of story ideas collected from newspapers and magazines
- iPod
- iTunes
- Inspirational notes or signs
- Calendar
- Magazine subscription
- Online subscription (i.e. autocrit, Publishers Weekly, etc.)
- Bookclub subscription (i.e. Writer's Digest)
- Netflix subscription (they've got great documentaries, too)
Okay, I'm dry. Help me out here -- what are your ideas for great writer gifts?
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 5:21 PM
4 comments
:~: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 :~:
Gratitude as a Tranforming Life Force
Most of you will recall the blockbuster book Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach. Oprah rocketed the book and the author through the atmosphere several years ago. This was my first introduction to the concept of gratitude as an adult. As a child, I was drilled with the concept of gratitude via Catholicism, but…I was a kid. Kids never listen.
My personal practice of gratitude has brought me comfort and perspective in the most stressful times in life. But instead of torturing you with my “take” on the concept, I’ll gift you with the words of those far more knowledgeable and poetic.
My personal practice of gratitude has brought me comfort and perspective in the most stressful times in life. But instead of torturing you with my “take” on the concept, I’ll gift you with the words of those far more knowledgeable and poetic.
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. ~ Melody Beattie
Paraphrased from Day 14, Simple Abundance, regarding the Gratitude Journal:
Paraphrased from Day 14, Simple Abundance, regarding the Gratitude Journal:
After consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life, you simply will not be the same person. You set into motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.
As you recognize and give thanks for the gifts in your life, and inner shift in your reality will occur. Soon your will be delighted to discover how content and hopeful you are feeling. As you focus on the abundance rather than the lack in your life, you will be designing a wonderful new blueprint for the future. This sense of fulfillment is gratitude at work, transforming your dreams into reality.
A French proverb reminds us that “Gratitude is the heart’s memory.” Begin to explore and integrate this beautiful, life-affirming principle into your life, and the miracle you have been seeking will unfold to your wonder and amazement. ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach
Do you employ gratitude in your everyday life? Can you share the benefits or transformations you’ve experienced because of it?
Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday.
As you recognize and give thanks for the gifts in your life, and inner shift in your reality will occur. Soon your will be delighted to discover how content and hopeful you are feeling. As you focus on the abundance rather than the lack in your life, you will be designing a wonderful new blueprint for the future. This sense of fulfillment is gratitude at work, transforming your dreams into reality.
A French proverb reminds us that “Gratitude is the heart’s memory.” Begin to explore and integrate this beautiful, life-affirming principle into your life, and the miracle you have been seeking will unfold to your wonder and amazement. ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach
Do you employ gratitude in your everyday life? Can you share the benefits or transformations you’ve experienced because of it?
Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday.
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 10:11 AM
2 comments
:~: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 :~:
Taglines
Boiling a 400+ manuscript into a one line pitch is a killer. That's why we write 400+ page manuscripts -- it's easier than writing one line that encompasses an entire book.
But, as with everything in life, practice makes perfect. The more you do it, the easier it gets. The more of them you read, the better idea you have of how to do it.
The best place to get examples -- NYT Bestsellers List -- after all, they must know something about it seeing as they made it this far.
How about these tag lines from the top 20:
1) A retired F.B.I. agent has a chance to track a rapist who may have murdered his wife.
2) A princess is challenged by work at an African Red Cross camp.
3) N/A
4) A woman vows to punish the wealthy American man who lured her mother into a prostitution ring.
5) A woman elevated by inheritance to the ranks of London high society navigates her new world with the help of a handsome socialite.
6) A divorce lawyer may be murdering his clients’ spouses.
7) The members of the Camel Club reunite to solve a murder at the Library of Congress.
8) Two Boston P.I.’s investigate the disappearance of a 4-year-old girl they assume is dead.
9) A comic police procedural involving a jewelry store robbery, a Russian nightclub and an undercover operation gone wrong.
10) A marine archaeologist hunts for the lost golden menorah of Jerusalem.
11) The young couple from “True Believer,” who are now expecting a child, get a disturbing message.
12) A green-skinned girl grows up to become the Wicked Witch of the West.
13) A “haze of terror” descends on a small town; originally published as a novella in the collection “Skeleton Crew.”
14) Two friends as close as sisters share a deadly confidence.
15) Murder, arson and lust surround the building of a 12th-century cathedral.
16) A human surgeon cares for a wounded vampire.
17) Two novellas about two murders, one in the world of politics, the other in the world of music.
18) A dead detective once suspected of murder reaches out through a Ouija board to clear his name.
19) A Victorian woman, promised by her father to a man she’s never met, assumes a false identity to spy on her intended.
20) A chess champion keeps a protective eye on his hairdresser wife after receiving veiled threats from a Russian opponent.
Some are better than others. Those I find most compelling: 1, 2, 6, 10, 14, 15, 18, 19. These contain some element of intrigue...lead me to want to know more, to pick up the book and read the back cover.
How about you -- which of these interest you and why? How do you squeezy your manuscript down into a sentence?
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 6:46 AM
2 comments
:~: Saturday, November 03, 2007 :~:
Fun Stuff On Tap
Romance Worth Killing For has decided to sweep into fall with some exciting changes.
1) Guests every Tuesday
2) Excerpts (translation: free reads) every Thursday
Of course, we'll still have our regular postings: Monday-Elisabeth, Wednesday-Joan and Friday-Linda.
On tap for November:
11.6 -- Cynthia Lea Clark, Forensic Psychologist
11.13 -- Bonnie Hearn Hill, multi-pubbed author and writing instructor
11.27 -- Charlotte Cook, President, Komenar Publishing
Published/debut authors: interested in a little free promo? Submit your excerpts to us for consideration at ultraswan AT hotmail DOT com. Each week, either Elisabeth, Joan or Linda will evaluate submissions and post the most compelling each Thursday with an author bio and cover art (if available).
1) Guests every Tuesday
2) Excerpts (translation: free reads) every Thursday
Of course, we'll still have our regular postings: Monday-Elisabeth, Wednesday-Joan and Friday-Linda.
On tap for November:
11.6 -- Cynthia Lea Clark, Forensic Psychologist
11.13 -- Bonnie Hearn Hill, multi-pubbed author and writing instructor
11.27 -- Charlotte Cook, President, Komenar Publishing
Published/debut authors: interested in a little free promo? Submit your excerpts to us for consideration at ultraswan AT hotmail DOT com. Each week, either Elisabeth, Joan or Linda will evaluate submissions and post the most compelling each Thursday with an author bio and cover art (if available).
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 11:43 AM
0 comments
:~: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 :~:
Lighter Side
I've been submerged in character development all morning and when I come up for air after that, my brain is always a little fuzzy. So, let's talk about something else...something fun.
Have you all seen the FlyPen? It's been out for a few years, but, as all technology, has advanced and morphed into a multi-element power tool.
I saw a commercial recently that caught my interest -- you can write with the FlyPen on the FlyPaper (in notebook form) and then upload that to your computer...digitize it. This includes graphics/images you draw.
How cool would it be not to tote a laptop around with you 24/7? To utilize a pen and paper and not have to retype your progress into the computer? To jot notes, develop theories, draw associations or a map or even a flow chart with plot points and upload them into your computer?
Do you know how many tablets and random pieces of paper I have floating around with nuggets of information on them--character traits, plot ideas, names, location information? Or how hard it is to keep them all together, find the time and organization to get all those elements into a binder for current or future use? Or how hard those notes are to read days, weeks, months later?
It sounds like the FlyPen might be a really fun and useful, even potentially sanity saving, little toy for a writer. Not to mention the fact that our kids can use it for homework and we can write it off on our taxes. :-)
Does anyone have one? Have you seen it? There may be (probably is) drawbacks I'm not aware of. I mean, you have to use their products -- their paper, their software, their ink...but none of it is outrageously expensive. Even the main Fly Fusion Pentop Computer is only $80 bucks, and comes with lots of software already loaded. And if I wanted to add French for my high school aged daughter, it's only $15.
Christmas is coming...might want to take a look at it for your kids, your writer friends or, of course, for yourself! I think it will be on my list.
What's on your Christmas list? What cool writer's toys have you found?
Have you all seen the FlyPen? It's been out for a few years, but, as all technology, has advanced and morphed into a multi-element power tool.
I saw a commercial recently that caught my interest -- you can write with the FlyPen on the FlyPaper (in notebook form) and then upload that to your computer...digitize it. This includes graphics/images you draw.How cool would it be not to tote a laptop around with you 24/7? To utilize a pen and paper and not have to retype your progress into the computer? To jot notes, develop theories, draw associations or a map or even a flow chart with plot points and upload them into your computer?
Do you know how many tablets and random pieces of paper I have floating around with nuggets of information on them--character traits, plot ideas, names, location information? Or how hard it is to keep them all together, find the time and organization to get all those elements into a binder for current or future use? Or how hard those notes are to read days, weeks, months later?
It sounds like the FlyPen might be a really fun and useful, even potentially sanity saving, little toy for a writer. Not to mention the fact that our kids can use it for homework and we can write it off on our taxes. :-)
Does anyone have one? Have you seen it? There may be (probably is) drawbacks I'm not aware of. I mean, you have to use their products -- their paper, their software, their ink...but none of it is outrageously expensive. Even the main Fly Fusion Pentop Computer is only $80 bucks, and comes with lots of software already loaded. And if I wanted to add French for my high school aged daughter, it's only $15.
Christmas is coming...might want to take a look at it for your kids, your writer friends or, of course, for yourself! I think it will be on my list.
What's on your Christmas list? What cool writer's toys have you found?
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 10:11 AM
2 comments
:~: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 :~:
The Daunting Agent Search
You’ve all heard the writer’s mantra: No agent is better than a bad agent.
Great concept in theory, but the truth is you don’t know you’ve got a bad agent until you already have the bad agent.
Beyond the recommendations on Predators and Editors, the heresay or experience of other authors, an article or two on the Internet giving you a few basic rules of thumb, you’re on your own when it comes to choosing an agent. Even if you land the big one—the one everyone raves about and covets, he/she may not fit your personality, may not have the same big picture for your author career as you have.
In my humble unpublished opinion, it’s a daunting task. Here you are, busting your ass everyday—writing, revising, developing, dreaming, growing, stretching, learning—and at the end of the day you have to choose another human being to garner you compensation for all your sweat and frustration and creation.
With mantras out there like no agent is better than a bad agent, it’s no wonder so many writers cringe, balk and procrastinate when it comes to securing a professional to represent their work.
And here I am again. After two years, I parted ways with my agent. Wonderful gal—personally, I adored her. Unfortunately—for both of us—I didn’t sell with her, and at some point you have to decide to move on.
I’m going at the search a little differently this time. I’m two years more experienced with several contest finalist credits to my name and a much better understanding of how the industry works.
My style has always been to cast a wide net. As a new writer without one writing credit to provide credibility, that’s what I did the first time around. I researched agents and sent queries to any and all agents whose profile stated that they accepted fiction. I figured my work fell into the category of fiction. I figured if they repped suspense they might be interested in romantic suspense. I figured romance wasn’t that far a leap from women’s fiction, etc.
After three manuscripts and 300+ rejections, I found an agent who loved my third story and saw some degree of potential in me. After talking with her over the phone and finding we had similar aspirations for my career, similar working styles and similar personalities, I accepted her offer of representation. She was young and new to the industry, but then so was I. I felt it was a fair risk-taking adventure for both of us.
This time around, I’m doing a different kind of research. I’m cross-referencing the agents who accept romance fiction with how many romance fiction they’ve sold, whether they’re taking on new clients or accepting unsolicited queries, what comments I can find about them via Predators and Editors and their general reputation within the romance community.
And I’ve created a tiered system to which I’ll submit, wait and continue to the next tier, most likely before I’ve heard back from the agents from the prior tier—we all know this industry moves like cold lava.
I’ll be posting my tiered agent list on my website when I get around to the redesign—probably over the holidays—with the criteria used to develop the placement.
Tools I’ve found useful in my search:
Great concept in theory, but the truth is you don’t know you’ve got a bad agent until you already have the bad agent.
Beyond the recommendations on Predators and Editors, the heresay or experience of other authors, an article or two on the Internet giving you a few basic rules of thumb, you’re on your own when it comes to choosing an agent. Even if you land the big one—the one everyone raves about and covets, he/she may not fit your personality, may not have the same big picture for your author career as you have.
In my humble unpublished opinion, it’s a daunting task. Here you are, busting your ass everyday—writing, revising, developing, dreaming, growing, stretching, learning—and at the end of the day you have to choose another human being to garner you compensation for all your sweat and frustration and creation.
With mantras out there like no agent is better than a bad agent, it’s no wonder so many writers cringe, balk and procrastinate when it comes to securing a professional to represent their work.
And here I am again. After two years, I parted ways with my agent. Wonderful gal—personally, I adored her. Unfortunately—for both of us—I didn’t sell with her, and at some point you have to decide to move on.
I’m going at the search a little differently this time. I’m two years more experienced with several contest finalist credits to my name and a much better understanding of how the industry works.
My style has always been to cast a wide net. As a new writer without one writing credit to provide credibility, that’s what I did the first time around. I researched agents and sent queries to any and all agents whose profile stated that they accepted fiction. I figured my work fell into the category of fiction. I figured if they repped suspense they might be interested in romantic suspense. I figured romance wasn’t that far a leap from women’s fiction, etc.
After three manuscripts and 300+ rejections, I found an agent who loved my third story and saw some degree of potential in me. After talking with her over the phone and finding we had similar aspirations for my career, similar working styles and similar personalities, I accepted her offer of representation. She was young and new to the industry, but then so was I. I felt it was a fair risk-taking adventure for both of us.
This time around, I’m doing a different kind of research. I’m cross-referencing the agents who accept romance fiction with how many romance fiction they’ve sold, whether they’re taking on new clients or accepting unsolicited queries, what comments I can find about them via Predators and Editors and their general reputation within the romance community.
And I’ve created a tiered system to which I’ll submit, wait and continue to the next tier, most likely before I’ve heard back from the agents from the prior tier—we all know this industry moves like cold lava.
I’ll be posting my tiered agent list on my website when I get around to the redesign—probably over the holidays—with the criteria used to develop the placement.
Tools I’ve found useful in my search:
- Agent Query: Great beginning, but not an all-encompassing list of agents representing a particular genre.
- Internet Lists: In conjunction with Agent Query and research, I’ve discovered a few additional prospects.
- Publishers Marketplace: Invaluable to know who’s selling what. I’ve discovered several agents working in romance who are not considered “romance agents”—some selling more romance than other well-known romance agents.
- Predators and Editors: I believe this site gathers information via other authors, which can be biased, but over time I’ve come to realize it’s eerily accurate and depend on it when culling my lists.
- Internet: A search on an agent's name can bring up a wealth of information as posted by other writers and authors who have dealt with that agent. Just remember, it’s all personal opinion—consider the source before basing a decision on their account.
Share your personal agent stories with us. How do you conduct your searches? How do you decide who you send your work out to? What successes or failures have you had?
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 9:14 AM
6 comments
:~: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 :~:
Keeping It Fresh
Look at any RS book and what do you find? Cops. Whether that be city, county, state, federal, you find cops. It makes sense. Law enforcement is an inherent part of meaningful conflict and tension when we’re writing about murder, rape, drugs, assault, theft, conspiracy, etc
I suppose there doesn’t have to be a strong LE presence in such situations—Elisabeth does a fine job of creating suspense using these elements with no cop in sight.
For me, the cop always takes the lead, elbowing their way into the spotlight. Hence, I write a lot of cops.
To keep things fresh, I’ve stretched into different rolls for my cops—sheriff, F.B.I., C.I.A. (I know—C.I.A. aren’t really cops, but you know what I mean.) I also do tweak my characters to make the story unique—or at least I try.
One of my detectives is a people reader. He has the highest case closure rate in the department because he’s studied body language, honed his intuition and used it to gather and uncover information.
In my current WIP, I’ve pitted the F.B.I. against the C.I.A. with my F.B.I. heroine dedicated to rules, regulations, step by step investigative techniques, never coloring outside the lines, and my C.I.A. hero entrenched in lies and aliases and manipulation as a way of life. How will they ever solve a case? How will they ever fall in love? How will they find a way to live together? I don’t know. I’m still waiting for them to tell me.
Of course this has all been done before. Jeffrey Deaver has a new novel out where the heroine interrogator is a kinesics specialist, and the way he depicts his heroine reading people through the story is both educational and entertaining. And pitting the hero against the heroine is surely nothing new—it’s called conflict.
Something I’ve been toying with lately is switching roles—take the male role and put it on the female—not all that difficult, but taking the female roll and placing it on the hero? When I attempt that, I’ll be taking on another challenge in my writing.
I’m coming to realize freshness is more a combination of elements rather than just one—character afflictions, conflict depth and origination, plot complexities and, of course, voice.
How do you keep the freshness and originality in your writing? What have you seen other writers do to attain their uniqueness? Which writers do you feel do this well?
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 12:02 PM
1 comments
:~: Thursday, October 04, 2007 :~:
A Day Late & A Dollar Short
...but maybe some good information none-the-less.
I've been looking at demographics lately, something I never thought would interest me.
I sought wisdom from a marketing professor for 30+ years at a nearby university, also a friend of mine, when I was putting together a website design presentation for my local RWA, and he turned my perspective on the topic 180 degrees.
I've always designed websites from the inside out, meaning I take what's inside me or inside the company or person I'm designing for and project outward. I create an image of the person or that company on that website from my (or my client's) perspective.
My professor friend urged me to look at it differently. He asked me all about my visitor--who he/she was, how old they were, their economic status, their health, their family life. He wanted me to know who would be coming to my site and suggested that the more I know about them, the more equipped I'd be to provide them with something that would satisfy as well as keep them coming back.
We all want that, right? For our visitors to come back to our website? That's the "stickiness" quotient everyone talks about.
And in looking at the demographics of my audience then, considering what that audience thinks about, worries about, needs, would appreciate, the way I looked at designing websites was forever changed.
My current website doesn't reflect these new-found kernels of wealth -- I have to redesign when I find time. But IMHO this is valuable information and put to use, a powerful tool that with "draw" people to your site rather than the common idea of "driving" traffic there.
Food for thought. What do you think? What are some of your favorite sites--ones that you return to for information? Why do you go back?
I've been looking at demographics lately, something I never thought would interest me.
I sought wisdom from a marketing professor for 30+ years at a nearby university, also a friend of mine, when I was putting together a website design presentation for my local RWA, and he turned my perspective on the topic 180 degrees.
I've always designed websites from the inside out, meaning I take what's inside me or inside the company or person I'm designing for and project outward. I create an image of the person or that company on that website from my (or my client's) perspective.My professor friend urged me to look at it differently. He asked me all about my visitor--who he/she was, how old they were, their economic status, their health, their family life. He wanted me to know who would be coming to my site and suggested that the more I know about them, the more equipped I'd be to provide them with something that would satisfy as well as keep them coming back.
We all want that, right? For our visitors to come back to our website? That's the "stickiness" quotient everyone talks about.
And in looking at the demographics of my audience then, considering what that audience thinks about, worries about, needs, would appreciate, the way I looked at designing websites was forever changed.
My current website doesn't reflect these new-found kernels of wealth -- I have to redesign when I find time. But IMHO this is valuable information and put to use, a powerful tool that with "draw" people to your site rather than the common idea of "driving" traffic there.
Food for thought. What do you think? What are some of your favorite sites--ones that you return to for information? Why do you go back?
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 7:01 AM
1 comments
:~: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 :~:
You Know You're a Writer When...
I've compiled these comments from various sources, including my own head. Are you a writer? How many of these do you do? Can you add to the list?
You know you're a writer when...
You know you're a writer when...
- An idea strikes you while driving on the Los Angeles 405 freeway and you traverse 4 lanes of traffic to get to the side of the road to write it down so you don't lose it.
- You spend more time with your characters than your family and friends.
- You'd RATHER spend more time with your characters than your family and friends.
- You have relationships with fellow writers you've met over the internet than you do with flesh and blood friends who've been around you for years.
- You stop talking about writing subjects with non-writers because their level of misunderstanding and underestimation is painful to you.
- You've given over an entire wall of your bedroom four your latest WIP storyboard.
- When in public, you listen more to everyone around you than the person you're with.
- You have a momentary reality lapse and mention your characters’ situation as a prayer request in Sunday school.
- You find yourself punishing your characters for bad behavior -- "Well, if you're going to act like that, I'll go clean the bathroom. You won't get that love scene today."
- You analyze the look, dress, mannerisms and speech of everyone you come in contact with.
- When talking with others, you mentally edit their dialogue and compose tags and beats.
- While observing, you constantly shake your head and mutter to yourself, "Truth is stranger than fiction. I could never get away with writing that in my book."
- When you're "in the zone" you forget to pick up your kids from school/practice/friend's house.
- A stint of not writing makes you harder to live with than the worst bout of PMS.
- Your characters start altering your plans and changing your destinations in real life.
- You start a fight with your husband just so you can study the body language of anger.
- You know the research librarian’s office, cell, and home phone numbers but can’t remember your own.
What are some other signs that you're a writer?
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 6:32 AM
8 comments
:~: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 :~:
Musing on the Muse
Just back from a mini-conference over the weekend where I took a course called Mining the Muse from Mary Hershey.Confession: I don't have a muse. I've never had a muse. I don't even understand the terminology or ideology or any other ology to it.
Okay, I actually do understand the mythology behind it because Mary explained that the word muse comes from Greek mythology and relates to a sisterhood of goddesses who embody the arts and inspire the creation process.
So, now I know where it comes from, but not much else. And I still don't have one -- not a solid depiction of one in my mind anyway. Evidently, most people have some sort of mental image of their muse--one that typically develops organically without much effort on the author's side.
Linda's muse is a Cheetos-eating, sweatpants-wearing...um, I'm not sure what it/he/she is actually. And I believe it/he/she changes depending on mood. (Lin, you'll obviously have to expand on this and fix my blunders.)
Elisabeth's muse is a cargo pant, army-boot clad woman who kicks ass and takes names. (E, you'll obviously have to expand on this and fix my blunders.)
Me...zip.
Mary explained the muse-author relationship, where the author does the heavy lifting--creates and sticks to a schedule, honors the creative process, feeds him/her/it, while the muse kicks back with a glass of wine, spewing inspiration when the mood strikes. Mary also gave tips on how to cultivate your muse, then connect with it regularly.
I'm trying. Not seeing much in the way of results yet, but I'm still trying.
Do you have a muse? What does he/she/it look and act like? When does your muse come to you? How do you tap into it? Give us the scoop on your muse!
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 8:12 AM
7 comments
:~: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 :~:
Websites for Authors...Part II
Okay, I'm on my other computers where my bookmarks are, so I can point out some author sites I really like and tell you why I like them. Then you can give me your opinion -- on those or others.
(And, no, I don't know any of these authors. I found their sites by surfing.)
Lorie O'Clare
(And, no, I don't know any of these authors. I found their sites by surfing.)
Lorie O'Clare
- The color scheme is soothing yet intriguing
- The design is sharp and clean
- Dual navigation is nice
- Book cover within sight right away--no scrolling needed
- The popout menu is interactive and interesting w/o being annoying
- Easy, direct link to more book info and purchansing direction
- The color scheme is pleasing, the swirling designs romantic
- Appreciate how the design is prominant at the top of the page but fades as more content comes in -- keeps the page crisp
- Her author photo is professional and small
- Her book covers fanned across the top tell us she's prolific, successful
- The touch of Flash is just enough to be fun but not overwhelming or problematic for browser issues
- Navigation is clear
- Books (subsequent pages) are organized by genre
- Love the little FYIs in the margins on various pages
- Love that her photo album relates to her writing, not something completely out of the blue, like her pet hampster
- Talk about theme and branding -- this is an excellent example. She carries the NASCAR theme through in her color scheme, her style, her design elements, her navigation, even right down to her checkered shirt
- Her navigation is idiot-proof
- Her pages are clear, simple and crisp
- And, damn, they load FAST
Those are it for now. I'll add a few more tomorrow.
Post links to your favorite sites in the comments and be sure to tell us what you like about them.
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 7:51 PM
2 comments
Websites for Authors
I’m creating a presentation for my local RWA on website design for authors, and I could use your input.
My life has been steeped in design from art in high school to a design major in college and a career as a designer after college before changing careers to the medical field. Then when I needed to indulge my artsy side once again, I trained in website design.
I worked as a web developer for four years with large corporations and many years, before and after, independently creating more freestyle sites for various companies and individuals.
My life has been steeped in design from art in high school to a design major in college and a career as a designer after college before changing careers to the medical field. Then when I needed to indulge my artsy side once again, I trained in website design.
I worked as a web developer for four years with large corporations and many years, before and after, independently creating more freestyle sites for various companies and individuals.
So, while designing and implementing website style and content comes naturally to me, when I sit down to define the steps of the process so that someone without a technical background can grasp the big picture, I feel like I've slipped on a straight jacket.
Creating an author website is multi-faced, far more complex than creating a business website because while you're selling a product--your book--you're also communicating your personality, your genre, your brand. And I'm struggling to get that big picture and all there is to consider into a helpful snapshot for a 90 minute workshop.
Since those of you who visit here are web-savvy and so many of your either have your own website or blog, I'd love to get your input. If you can answer any of the questions I've listed, I'd appreciate it and will weave your information into my presentation. Once completed, I'll also post the presentation on my website for all to access.
What are some big DOs for an author website?
What are some big DON'Ts for an author website?
How did you create your website (yourself or hired help)?
If yourself, what program did you use and how did you learn it?
If you hired out, what service/company did you use?
If you hired out, what DOs and DON'Ts can you offer regarding the process?
Do you think agents/editors look at author's websites? Can you give examples?
Which author websites do you love? What do you love about them?
Please feel free to offer whatever other information, thoughts, opinions, examples you'd like on the subject.
I'll be adding links to some of my favorite sites and explaining why I feel they are effective in the comments section as well -- so check back for more info.
Thanks for your help!
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 10:45 AM
11 comments
:~: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 :~:
Pornography vs. Romance?
Picture the setting: Ninety five degrees, just starting to cool down with the sun setting, four couples (friends for many, many years) sitting around eating pizza and salad, all our kids, ranging in age from 18 to 8, in the pool.
There are about 3 different coversations going on at any one time, conversations that shift direction like the wind, drawing in different participants and tossing out others.
Something along the lines of..."That's great book material. Joan, you could write a story around...blah, blah, blah". Of course what always happens in this situation is that others piggyback onto the idea. "Oh, yeah, and then blah, blah, can blah, blah." Etc., etc.
Somewhere in the merry-go-round of ridiculous ideas my friend says, "blah, blah, like that porno scene in your first book, blah, blah...etc."
Whoa! I say, "Porno? I don't write porno. There is no porno in any of my books."
She laughs it off and says, "Well, pretty close."
And then the wind blows and the conversation shifts in a completely different direction.
Now, more than 24 hrs later, I'm still smarting from that completely unintentionally offensive comment. I know her, and I know it was just something that came out in relation to whatever bizzare, unimportant conversation we were having at the time in which nothing really mean anything. (Although I often wonder if "slips" like that mean more than not.)
And it got me thinking...I am rather descriptive in my love scenes. (I'm feeling the need for a little justification here -- is my insecurity showing?) Not more descriptive, mind you, than some of my peers. Definitely not more descriptive than some published RS authors I've read.
And that thought quickly digressed into, am I writing porno? When my friends read my books (when my books get published, of course) will they think it's porno? Will I be known around town as the woman who writes those porno suspense books? (That's going to be a new genre by the time I get published.)
I guess I never considered this topic because I don't write erotica -- and erotica novelists are typically the ones fighting the battle over perception of erotica vs. porn.
There's that typical argument among writers that "if the characters grow and change during a love scene, it has a purpose and is therefore not gatuitous sex (i.e. porn)". But what about a reader's perspective? They aren't pulling scenes apart and analyzing them for the character's emotional growth. They're seeing sex. They might think it's "meaningful" sex, but still...
I don't know. I'm a little confused on the topic.
What's your view? Have you ever had to justify the level of sexual content in your novels so you didn't look like some sex addict using writing as a hobby to fulfill your strange fantasies? Or is that something you've never even considered?
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 8:00 AM
7 comments
:~: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 :~:
The Process
It varies for every writer. And, I'm discovering, it varies within each writer.
This was the Talk Prompt topic for my local RWA group at the last meeting. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to cover it. I'm hoping some of the girls will pop in and offer their comments here. *nudge*
Everything with this story is different.
- I'm allowing myself to write a shitty first draft--something I hadn't been able to do in the past.
- I'm writing without a clear picture all the way through--it gets murky around the 2/3 point.
- I'm engaging my CPs (and anyone who is interested) in a writing challenge--I've always wrinkled my nose at any kind of imposed writing goals.
- I'm making it up as I go along--I'm typically an avid plotter.
- I'm mixing POVs with third person h/h and secondary characters, but first person villain--I've never even considered writing first person.
And as I see all the differences I'm employing with this book and as I discussed with Elisabeth recently, I've discovered that process changes as we change, as our writing changes, as our goals change.
What changes have you seen in your process over the years? Or do you have a tried and true method that you love--or hate? Share with us how you get from concept to completion.
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 9:49 AM
17 comments
:~: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 :~:
Write-offs for Writers
It's not tax time. In fact, it's not even close. But at our last chapter meeting, a member who owns three small businesses with her husband, generously offered her valuable knowledge about taxes and how they can and do benefit those who take deductions. Never too soon, right?
I was very interested because I don't write my writing off. I was under the impression that I wasn't making any money, so I couldn't write anything off.
She set me straight right away...about that and about a lot of other things. So I thought I'd share those thoughts with you and hopefully, you can share your knowledge and experience in this area with us. So when April rolls around, we'll all be well ahead of the curve.
Here are some highlights:
- As a writer, you run a business—the business of writing. And as a business, you are entitled to write off expenses related to that business.
- If you treat your writing as a business, that attitude will carry over into your life and affect how you view your writing, how others view your writing and ultimately how successful you are as a writer.
- Some of those expenses may include:
o Paper
o Ink
o Office supplies
o Writing magazines (i.e., Writer’s Digest)
o Writing related subscriptions (i.e., netflix, Publishers Marketplace)
o Writing related memberships
o Craft books
o Books in your genre
o Movies
o Camera and film
o Digital recorder
o Software programs
o Travel to locations for research
o Meals during travel for research
o Mileage for auto travel for research
o Depreciation of office equipment (i.e., computer, fax, copier, camera)
The list is as personal as your writing. Anything that touches your writing life is potentially deductible. Start watching where you spend money and what you could write off your taxes…you’re giving your money away to the government if you don’t. - The home office caveat
o This is an IRS red flag for audit
o When deducting a home office, the space must be a separate room in your house.
o Several other restrictions fall in a gray area
· A bed is not allowed, but a daybed is okay.
· A closet is reportedly not allowed, but probably okay anyway
· The space cannot be used for other purposes - Keep records.
o Jodi uses Quicken, which allows her to scan her receipt for attachment to her records.
o IRS says keep your records indefinitely
o Jodi keeps hers for 10 years - Mileage
o There is a great article on deducting mileage in the July 07 RWR.
o The mileage allowance is currently 48.5 cents per mile – that adds up quickly.
o Get a mileage record book and log any driving that relates to your writing (i.e., book store, group meetings, critique partner meetings, writing location, research trips, etc.) - IRS typically allows a small business to show a loss for 3-5 years, but Jodi cites a recent case involving a racehorse owner who showed a loss for over 5 years. The IRS took her to court and lost because it was ruled that she couldn’t make her horse win (like we can’t make a house publish our book).
Moral of this story: If you can show you are actively trying to become a published writer, you have a better chance of saving yourself money in taxes for a longer period of time. - Track your writing time, including your research time. This shows a consistent work effort. (Jodi uses TraxTime—a software that allows you to punch in and out, and one that will produce reports.)
- Track your submissions and rejections and contest entries. This shows your continued efforts to become published.
- Miscellaneous points
o Everything is subjective
o Everything is arguable
o Level of deductions taken relates to a personal level of comfort
o If you are audited, only take one year of back taxes. The IRS will tell you to bring more, but by law you are only required to take one.
o According to industry professionals, the IRS audits more people in the lower economic levels and more self-employed individuals.
o Deductions have to be taken in the same calendar year as income/no-income (meaning you couldn’t deduct expenses from 2001 against income made in 2005).
Do you have anything to add here? Do you take deductions?
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 8:00 AM
2 comments
:~: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 :~:
The Benefits of Being Involved
I posted a comment in response to Elisabeth's post on Monday but somehow it disappeared into the ether. Now I'm thinking that might be a good thing because the thought has expanded and grown tentacles, as many things in my life tend to do.
Elisabeth wrote about being involved in RWA. As she mentioned, I'm starting a local chapter, and, Lord, I didn't realize how detailed and time consuming it would become. I mean, I knew. But I didn't know. It all feels so manageable from the start. Then it develops and takes on a life of it's own.
Mid-way through our first chapter meeting, when I realized my vision for the group was not the vision the group had for the group, one of the women said, "This is a little like a runaway train, isn't it?"
Yeah, I thought. A runaway train I'm trying to slow with a yank on the reins and my heels dragging through the dirt as I get pulled along.
Things don't always turn out the way you plan or expect. Sometimes that's good, sometimes not so much. Despite my Eeyore tendencies, there is an underlying optimism lurking inside, one that prods me to analyze the benefits that will arise from the path I've embarked on--maybe some in lieu of the ones I anticipated, maybe some in place of.
Because the chapter is small and so many members live quite a distance away, most of the duties typically shared among a group have fallen back on me. It's okay. For now. I tell myself I'm learning valuable skills--cultivating speakers puts me in touch with skilled, published authors, A.K.A. networking; scheduling media coverage of their visit teaches me promotion technique; organizing a book signing for them after their presentation to our chapter puts me in touch with key bookstore personnel who could be valuable allies in the future.
Those are just a few things I try to focus on when the load gets heavy--the perks never anticipated or even wanted, but ones I can see value in.
What are some things you've done that reaped unexpected benefits?
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 3:22 PM
6 comments