From the Mailbox
Therese here with a quick dip in the mail box…
Near Manhattan? The New York Writers Workshop will be hosting a 1 Day Intensive on Sunday, February 13th, 2011 at 11 am, called “I Wrote a Book…Now What? 10 Things You Need to Know to Get Published.” Some deets:
This information-packed workshop will focus on approaching agents, plus how best to work with an agent once you’ve been signed. What is reasonable to expect–and what isn’t? The second part of the day will question the whole basic premise of the first, offering five alternative routes to publication that could make you more successful, faster, than the traditional path. Discussion and frequent opportunities for Q&A will enliven every hour spent on this very lively topic.
For further information, click HERE.
For people who can’t make it to the Intensive, Jenny Milchman, who will be lead it, will share the Top 5 Questions asked in class with WU readers on February 20th.
“Expect to see more than 5 A’s to accompany the Q’s, though!” she said. “The one thing you can count on when the publishing industry is discussed, is that for every writer present, there will be multiple paths to success.”
I’d also like to give a shout out to a newer site in the blogosphere, The Happy Writer. THW is a positive, inspirational site, meant “to remind writers why we started writing in the first place.”
Until next time…
Photo courtesy Flickr’s House Of Sims
Read MoreHave I driven everyone nutzoid changing the background on the site? Should it be purple, mauve, gold, blue? (I think I’m nesting–or procrastinating; I’m working on the last chapter of my 2nd book.)
So it’s been a while since we dipped into the WU mailbox. Here are a few of our most recent and valuable letters.
Diane Holmes wrote in to tell us about her new site:
Pitch University is a site (no cost) where writers can go to learn in-person pitching from experts, agents, and editors.
Instead of asking other writers (who are either naturals, which isn’t helpful in teaching us, or are not salespeople and are just repeating what they’ve heard), it’s time for us to learn from the experts who make their living at this.
Let’s ask the literary agents and editors who must sway an often jaded audience to say YES. Let’s talk to marketing experts who LOVE what they do and are filled with passion about pitching.
If you follow marketing topics in general, you know we’ve entered the era of building relationships with our audiences (target markets) and “telling them stories” that lead to sales. Marketing and writing are linked in a very philosophical way.
So what we will be doing at Pitch University is learning how to Speak Our Story, the story of our books. This is the key to meeting ordinary people and turning them into our readers. Even if the ordinary people are agents and editors.
Seems like a site to watch, no?
Editor Dave King wrote to say:
I’ve just set up a fan page for Self-Editing for Fiction Writers on Facebook. I thought it might be worth a mention somewhere on WU.
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers is one of our favorite books. You can find its fan page on Facebook HERE.
Speaking of Facebook, author Catherine McKenzie who runs the “I bet we can make these books best sellers” page, just added The Last Will of Moira Leahy to the group’s official reading list (w00t!). Once the list reaches 3k members, she’s going to do a 30-book giveaway, so click to join if you’re interested. Catherine also has a new novel out, Arranged, which is a great, twisty read. Highly recommended.
Back to mail…
Geoff Kravitz wrote to say:
I was recently visiting staging-writerunboxed.kinsta.cloud and wanted to introduce you to FoldingStory, a social storytelling game that can help writers tune their craft and earn them a loyal following of readers, one line at a time.
Read MoreKit Dunsmore asked: How do you deal with the different stages of a writing project, especially the ones that are least natural for you?
A: At the personal level, what stops me from pushing through the unfamiliar is always fear. Fear that I’ll fail, that I’ll be mediocre, that I’ll be mocked, irrelevant.
But I understand that these same issues follow and inhibit me wherever I go — whether it’s in the classroom when I advocate for my child, at a car dealership when I’m making a purchase, or when standing before the mirror and deciding between white and vermillion blouses. (My advice is to ditch them both for the Mr. Bean t-shirt. You can’t go wrong with Mr. Bean.)
I don’t like to be afraid or to mute myself. Frankly, it pisses me off. And since I can’t escape the desire to break from safety into something bigger, why not face it down in the one place I’ve always yearned to be: writing?
Let writing serve as life’s crucible.
With this orientation, no matter how long I flail — and trust me, I could teach a PhD-level course in flailing — I seem to return to proactivity and action.
Now, in case that’s way too deep and personal of an answer for you, below are more concrete suggestions. I used them to babystep myself through medical training, family practice, and twenty-six years of marriage to the same, long-suffering man. So far they’re helping me in this world, too.
You’ll notice I’m explaining through extended metaphor. If you’re like me, you’re an overthinker; story can hit a different part of the brain, closer to where fear originates.
~~~~~~~
You’ve entered a gourmet restaurant in pursuit of the ultimate dessert. You’re prepared for the prices and snooty waitstaff, but not the plate that’s set before you. This chef is eccentric, your waiter informs you. You may have your cake — possibly — but you must first eat the octopus. Every last bite.
How do you cope?
Read MoreLibby from Author Exposure dropped us a line to let us know that WU blog mama Therese Walsh’s book The Last Will of Moira Leahy is being considered for the December reading selection at the online book club Author Exposure. Vote for Therese and help spread the word about her terrific book (vote HERE)!
Author Exposure is an online club dedicated to reading debut authors and spreading the word about these new voices in literature.
Congratulations on the nomination, Therese, and good luck with the voters!
Read MoreWe’re getting a bunch of goodies in our inbox these days.
Aggie Villanueva dropped us a line about the American Library Association’s Banned Books Week. She has a request:
“Hello all. I’m doing a live interview with Angela Maycock, Assistant Director at the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom about their annual Banned Books Week and year-round work. The interview is next Wednesday, September 23, 2009, at 1 pm US Mountain Time. All questions/comments welcome live at this call-in number: (646) 595-4756. Or e-mail them to me beforehand at: myaggie2 at gmail dot com. I would love it if you could attend by phone, or even e-mail me a question/comment. Thanks so much for your time.”
Banned Book Week is September 26 through October 3 this year:
Banned Books Week (BBW): Celebrating the Freedom to Read is observed during the last week of September each year. Observed since 1982, this annual ALA event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted. BBW celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them.
My contacts with the Libarian Mafia sent me the Twitter address for Merriam-Webster’s lexicographer. Peter Sokolowski has the most fascinating job in the world if you are a word junkie, and his Tweets are addictive. Check out Peter’s Twitter page: https://twitter.com/PeterSokolowski
Also, the head Library capo sent me the link to a study about why the New York Times’ readers need more than a seventh-grade education to read it:
If The New York Times ever strikes you as an abstruse glut of antediluvian perorations, if the newspaper’s profligacy of neologisms and shibboleths ever set off apoplectic paroxysms in you, if it all seems a bit recondite, here’s a reason to be sanguine: The Times has great data on the words that send readers in search of a dictionary.
The article lists the 50 most frequently looked-up words in the NYTs databases. I’ve always wondered why the word louche often ends up in stories about contemporary culture, and now I know I can blame Maureen Dowd.
This isn’t from the WU mailbox, but the Washington Post has a insightful article about Oprah’s latest book club pick, and the secrecy and hoopla surrounding it.
Winfrey’s picks are hush-hush in a big-time, spy-level way. Execs at book companies sign affidavits affirming they won’t breathe a word about the chosen title, and publishing companies send off the books in discreet boxes tagged with fake ISBN numbers.
Safe to say, if Oprah picks your book, you can be guaranteed of a bestseller, as much as this business guarantees sales.
Write on, my friends.
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Recently, we received an e-mail from a reader who wrote the following:
I received a note from an agent today saying: ‘…Nor do I think harking back to one of the oldest fairytales of all time . . . is right for contemporary fantasy readers.’ To give this comment context, one of my characters escaped with the help of a genie. Just like Aladdin. The genie had a direct context within the novel and returns in a further novel. I am surprised at this agent’s belief, because I can think of some of my favourite fantasy writers who use fairytale, sometimes directly, sometimes with a slant. It is perhaps as logical as it can be. Was not literature in the first instance legend, then fairytale and then by extension fantasy? I was wondering if you were interested in opening this up for a discussion in the future with some of your excellent published writers.
It was a great question, and deserved a great answer. Or two. So we asked our resident fantasy authors Sophie Masson and Juliet Marillier to share their perspectives — and they had a lot to say about it! Below is Sophie’s response. We’ll have Juliet weigh in at a later post. Enjoy!
Fairytales, from European, Asian and Arabic traditions, have always been a rich source of inspiration for me, and those of my books for young people that are based on fairytale elements seem to have struck the strongest chord with readers. And that includes books which have been set in contemporary times!
Read MoreWhat’s link-share day? It’s a day to open the floor to you, our learned WU readers. What are your favorite blogs and websites for writers? What’s your personal url? C’mon, don’t be shy. Pimp all in comments.
I have a happy announcement: This past week my agent called to say, “Good news! You have a film agent!” As of now, not only does Elisabeth Weed represent my literary work, but Sarah Self with the Gersch Agency represents The Last Will of Moira Leahy’s film potential. What does this mean, really? It means someone can now go to film makers on our behalf and pitch our book. We’re excited to have the chance!
In other news, Independent editor, WU friend and former interviewee Lisa Rector wrote recently to let us know her new website is up and running. It’s fab; check it out — www.thirddraftnyc.com.
In other mail, we heard from an assistant to author Warren Adler (The War of the Roses) to let us know that Adler is holding his annual short story contest with a grand prize of $1000. Details:
The Warren Adler Short Story Contest is fast becoming the most prestigious online short story contest thanks to the extraordinary literary quality of our submissions. We are pleased to announce our next contest. The theme is simply short fiction in all of its varied genres. We are looking for original, imaginative pieces featuring compelling characters and creative plots. Whether you specialize in mainstream fiction, romance, horror, fantasy, science-fiction, satire, mystery, or any of their subcategories, we want to read your work.
Entries must not exceed 2,500 words. Stories from all the points of the globe will be considered provided that they are written in English. It’s a great opportunity for aspiring writers, who will receive direct exposure, not only to two acclaimed authors, Warren Adler and Thane Rosenberg, but also to the literary agent, Kirsten Neuhaus. Mr. Adler will select which story will be awarded the Grand Prize of $1,000. Although Mr. Adler will have already chosen the winner, the five finalists’ stories will be posted on the Warren Adler website in July. The People’s Choice winner will be determined by public voting.
Submissions will be accepted through July 13, 2009. The entry fee is $15. Five cash prizes will be awarded.
– 1st Prize: $1000
– People’s Choice Prize $500
– Remaining finalists receive $150 each
Authors retain worldwide publishing rights.
Contest Rules:
– Contest is open for worldwide entries through July 13, 2009
– A $15 fee in advance is required for each story submission.
– When you are ready to submit your story, make your payment below to proceed to the story submission form.
– Each story can be no longer than 2,500 words and must be written in English and previously unpublished
To submit your story please visit www.warrenadler.com
Who do you love? Where do you blog? It’s share time.
Read MoreKen sent us the following question:
“What’s the difference between a prologue, a foreword and a preface? Also, I’ve heard that fiction writers should avoid prologues and incorporate it into the backstory. Thoughts? Thanks in advance.”
Great question, Ken.
Prologues, I’ll tackle in a minute as there is a bit of disagreement over a prologue’s usefulness in fiction.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t have an easy answer for the difference between a foreword and a preface, but Google came to my rescue and I found a handy cheat-sheet at writersandeditors.com. I’ll steal from them thusly:
The foreword, says the Chicago Manual of Style, is usually written by someone other than the author or editor, usually someone eminent (to lend credibility to the book), and although the title page may say “Foreword by X,” if the foreword is only one or two pages (which is normal), the name of the foreword writer normally appears at the end of the foreword.
A preface, according to writersandeditors:
Read MoreValued contributor Sophie Masson sent us this message, introducing a site called Richard Harland’s Writing Tips:
Thought this would be of interest to readers of Writer Unboxed. Richard Harland, who compiles it, is a very good writer–and a friend of mine! It’s a great free service he’s doing..
Richard Harland: “So far, I’m a middling-successful author with 15 published books of fantasy, SF and horror, some for adults, some YA and some for younger readers. I reckon that makes me luckier than most, so this is my way of getting good karma and giving something back.”
Richard’s tips are fantastic! Check out them out HERE.
Thanks, Sophie!
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Award-winning YA author and WU friend K.L. Going dropped us a line about a contest she is holding for her latest release:
I’m thrilled to announce that I have a new book out this month! It’s a teen novel called King of the Screwups, and it’s already gotten starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and School Library Journal, plus a rave review from Kirkus. The early buzz has been great. This book has a little glam rock, a little high fashion, and a big dose of humor as the sexy son of a supermodel tries to reinvent himself as a nerd.
To celebrate the book’s release, I’m running a contest… *Confess your screwup and you’re entered to win a $100 gift certificate* to the independent bookstore of your choice, Borders, or Barnes & Nobles, plus a complete set of signed KL Going teen novels. Just e-mail me one paragraph or more describing your most heinous screwup. Must be at least twelve years old to enter. The contest runs from April 1st through June 30th, 2009. Entries will be posted on-line, but I won’t use your last name or any other identifying information.
E-mail your entries to kl at klgoing dot com or visit her website for more details.
This question isn’t something I could answer for Joyce Thomas, but I’m hoping that our readers might:
I wonder if Writer Unboxed is able to suggest the best online school for
writers who are serious about learning their craft? Also, what course would be
more beneficial to them?
Has anyone had experience with online writing courses? Let us know in the comments.
Write on!
Read MoreCan I get a squee! Valued contributor Sophie Masson’s latest release THE MADMAN OF VENICE has released and is available NOW!
The London home of Matthew Ashby is visited by the beautiful, famous half-Venetian musician, Emilia Lanier, begging him for help. A young Venetian girl, Sarah, has been accused of witchcraft by a wealthy merchant’s wife, and has since disappeared. Is she in hiding? Or worse – kidnapped or murdered? So with his daughter, Celia, and his clerk, Ned, Matthew Ashby sets off for Venice and into a greater mystery than could ever be imagined. They must draw on all their wits and ingenuity to find allies in unexpected places.
Congratulataions, Sophie!
Read MoreLook. Ain’t it purty?
This is the cover of my forthcoming CONFESSIONS OF A FIRST DAUGHTER, which releases September 1. My editor at Working Partners LTD sent it over a few months back, but we’d only gotten permission from HarperTeen to release the image last week. I’m thrilled. The image is sophisticated yet fun, just like the book, and I’m hoping the teen market will gobble it up.
Allow me to share tidbits from our mailbox. As always, we do not endorse any promotions, contests, or services that land in our webmail box, but we pass them along to you in the hopes that you might find them useful.
Nina Alexander left this message:
I recently came across your website while looking for writing sites, and I think your blog would be a great fit for WEbook.com’s new free writing tips widget!
The widget is easy to add to your website, and offers free daily writing tips to your users written by authors, professors, etc. They are quick, fun and witty, and will definitely help your readers get out of their next writing block! https://www.webook.com/landing/Writing-Tips-Widget WEbook is a revolutionary online book publishing company, which does for the industry what American Idol did for music. (Modestly speaking, of course.) The home of groundbreaking User-Generated Books. It just makes logical sense that if you create a dynamic, irreverent, and open place for writers and people who like reading to meet, write, react, and think together, the results are bound to be extraordinary. Cue WEbook.com, an online publishing platform that allows writers, editors, reviewers, illustrators and others to join forces to create great works of fiction and non-fiction, romance novels, thrillers and essays, short stories, children’s books and more.
Julia Boehm alerted us to the following:
Read MoreExcellent news from valued contributor Sophie Masson:
Demigods and Monsters, the essay collection on Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series for children, in which I have an essay called Language of the Heart, is now out in a general trade edition with Ben Bella Books. Amongst other things, the essay is about how the childhood reading of myths can influence you. The Teen Libris site is running a competition to win copies of the book. Go to the Demigods and Monsters page at teenlibris.com for more info and a link to the competition.
Fans of YA fantasy fiction will love the book.
Thanks for passing the contest info, Sophie!
And this is my bad, but the trade paperback edition of Rosina Lippi’s fantastic women’s fiction novel The Pajama Girls of Lambert Square released on March 3. Cozy up with a cuppa tea and prepare to lose an afternoon to Rosina’s effortless storytelling, acute sense of place, with drama up the wazoo.
Read MoreWe’ve recently received a couple of interesting tidbits we’d like to alert WU readers to. Please note that we’re not necessarily promoting the product/contest/opportunity, we’re just passing the information on in the hopes that it might prove useful or entertaining.
Stacy Schlicht wrote:
Hi,
I wanted to let you know about Bookrix.com, a first-of-its-kind social network for aspiring authors. I thought the readers of Writers Unboxed would be interested to learn about this useful site.
BookRix.com offers writers a free new platform to have their works reviewed and distributed online. The traditional publishing world can be extremely hard to navigate, and BookRix offers aspiring authors easy social media tools for creating, sharing and getting feedback on their creations. Authors can create their own profiles, communicate with other writers, and collaborate to improve their work. Using a proprietary platform called ViewRix, members can upload, share and comment on original content – whether it’s a novel, manga or even a CD or DVD cover. ViewRix enables easy upload from PDF or Word format and each “book” can be easily embedded for distribution to other sites and blogs.
Additionally, Bookrix.com is hosting their “Web Your Book” contest for one more week. Writers can submit their works on Bookrix through February 1st and registered readers can read and vote on their favorite pieces from February 1st-15th. The first place winner will receive $2,000, second place will receive $1,000 and third through fifth place will receive the Amazon Kindle (e-book reader), which is sold out after being featured on Oprah! Registered users who vote will also be entered to win $100 through a drawing, so even if you do not have a story to submit, you can get involved by voting on your favorite pieces.
Tom Lopilato wrote:
Dear Kathleen,
I wanted to take a minute to introduce newfiction.com. We think it is of interest to the audio book and podcast enthusiasts.
We have developed a new platform that’s fun and entertaining. It akin to the radio-play, where a story comes to life with actors, music and sound effects.
Please take a moment to look at our site at www.newfiction.com.
Write on!
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