E-reading: Are you doing it yet?

Kindle E-publishing

A few years ago, when Kindle came out, I was hurt.

It sounds absurd, but as a writer, we view books as the actual evidence to verify our profession. How in the world was a writer supposed to be an author if their books were virtual? Did it count? Did it invalidate all the authors out there? What about the wanna-be authors who think they too can be authors all because their work is out there as a "book"?

Now that we've all gotten a chance to deliberate over it, buy our Kindles or Nooks or Ipads or other e-readers, it seems that none of that matters. My thinking that e-publishing debased authors and their platforms was incorrect. Why? Because good writers, whether physically published or virtually published, still need the readers -- the public -- to consider their work good in order for it to fare well.

I also used to think that e-pubbing was a cop-out; that this wasn't "real" publishing because an editor or agent or publisher didn't pick it up. I'm wrong on that too. How many books have you read, that once finished -- if you even got that far--you wondered how it happened? How fate lined up their work -- their awful work-- and had it published?

And how many e-books have you read that are absolutely mind-blowing, inspirational -- stories that go beyond average-- and wonder how they weren't picked up by an agent or editor in the first place?

Truth is, e-publishing is perfect for everyone. It's great for those who want to write, and can't seem to catch that big break into the actual book-publishing world. This is a new outlet; a way for them to see their words in (virtual) print. Which to me, is better than nothing -- and also better than lining your walls with rejection letters.

E-publishing is good for those who think they can write, but insist on throwing it into the e-pub arena even though their work is absolute trash. If your work isn't good, it won't sell. Word-of-mouth sales are an enormous issue with e-books too. If the reviews are disastrous, the book won't sell. If the reviews are decent, chances are good one person will tell another, who will tell another, who will tell another and so on.

E-publishing is also great because it's worldwide from the comfort of your own home: for those doing the reading or the selling. To think someone from the opposite side of the world can read your book and like it, is amazing! And that it happens instantly, and inexpensively, is just another two cherries on the top of this e-publishing sundae! Who wouldn't want to pay a $1.99 for a chance that the book is good rather than $24.99 and then regret not having spent the $24.99 on a pair of shoes?

If you refuse to e-read, it's okay. There's a lot of people out there who still love to feel the pages in their fingers or inhale the smell of the glue and cardstock, or take in the vivid colors of the jacket flap. Me included. Books will never go away. And if you're one of the lucky that has been published "for real", then kuddos (or extra chocolate on your sundae) to you.

But, I also don't think e-publishing or e-reading with go away for a very long time either. As long as we have writers, we will have readers. And if the reading can be instantaneous, in an instantaneous-driven world, we will have e-publishing. I think it's here to stay. I think it can be a great, great thing. And I think, it might just be what so many writers have wanted without needing to spend thousands on self-publishing (and boxes of unsold books in the years to follow.)

It may not be for everyone, but it might just be for me.

What about you?

Get your writing on! (even on the cover of a card)

I've been down-for-the-count with a cold I caught from

my youngest son. The irony of this all is that I assumed I would

get even more writing done now that he's in school, having just begun all day

kindergarden. While I do have uninteruppted time, being sick is not

condusive to writing, especially when all I want to do is lie down.

So, yes, it's an excuse. But hey, it's legitimate.

Now, something for you: Have you heard about Hallmark's card contest?

They have one or two contests every month devoted to great pictures

-- and most importantly, well placed and perfect writing to go with it --

by people like us, and NOT their in-house writers.

Here is an example, as I won one of their contests last year.

If you're like me, you have a ton of pictures on the computer that are

going to waste. And if you're a writer,

 then this is the perfect contest for you.

Go to Hallmark today and find out the latest contest. Enter it

and you never know ... the whole world may see your writing!

The Gift of Goals

So, here I am, turning 35 today. Haven't accomplished what I thought I would accomplish, and have already accomplished what I never thought I wanted. Life is sort of like that.

Now that the hill approacheth --that yucky-ish one with the big 40 on the top of it-- I've begun thinking about what I want for the next milestone year-- what it is that I want to have done, or helped, or begun. Here's a small list.

1. Trip to Holy Lands: Okay, so I know this is sort of a really vulnerable area right now, but it doesn't change the fact that I want to go. I've wanted to visit for the past five years, and figure I have another five to get there. It is rather difficult trying to scrape the cash to get there with children's private school tuition, a college education savings fund, and pay cuts, but I'm not giving up. Mark Twain wrote fondly of Israel. And if the witty and cyncial author loved it, no doubt I will too. Someday, I will get to Jerusalem.

2. Book: So, I'm going to be really vague here, but I want to have a book published. That is to say, one of my own. Yes, I sort have been published already. And that's super cool. But, I want a book that I'm not only proud of (with my name in small letters), but one that says something great. Again, I'm being vague. And I'm sorry. Let's just say, that as the years have passed with the desire to be published, all I can really think about now is making sure that what is published is worthy, helpful ... and semi-coherent. I really don't care if it doesn't makes a dime, as long as someone gets something valuable from it. Having said that, I wonder if any publisher would ever take me on with that kind of goal? Sort of "not their type of client," I'm thinking.

3. To be Happy: Wow, this is a broad goal, isn't it? But it's true. We all want to be happy in our work, in our family and in our living. This is extremely possible, and all the time too - despite the bad economy, despite the miserable mess I feel our America is turning into, and despite the fact that the very people we should protect are being targeted by others all over the world. To be happy means that I give up what I think I want for what I actually need (or what God wants to give to me.) And right now, I have everything in the world that I need: husband and kids. Don't need that published book or the trip to the Holy Lands to be happy. (But, it sure would be nice.)

Getting older does make one think more ... at least it should. And listing out goals, as I've mentioned in a previous post, means we want to do something meaningful with our lives- even if it's, say, losing five pounds. I only hope that my thinking --and goals--will eventually help others and myself, every day. And this is a perfect gift for me, today.

New Road for Writers

Authonomy

I found this crazy cool website, called Authonomy. It's not a website I've ever seen before. Not only does this site allow you the opportunity to submit your work -- work that other writers, bloggers and professional editors will read and possibly critique -- but you gain feedback from all of these groups, thereby increasing your chances of being published.

Oh, and did I mention that this site is a part of the HarperCollins company? Wow! This site reminds me of Amazon's Breakout Novel Award competition, only much more hands-on and ... friendly. It reminds me of submitting manuscripts to an agent, (which it is!) only this site is much more hands-on and ... friendly. You see where I'm going with this? And who can't use this?

Though I haven't actually created an account or submitted a chapter or two, it might be just want we need to get that book published. Check it out! http://www.authonomy.com/

Boundaries

So, I was talking to a writer friend of mine this week, and she mentioned that she was having a problem getting everything done that she needed to do. This included work, home, marriage and kids; everything she wanted to do, and everything everyone else wanted her to do.

I sympathized with her because I, like most people, find myself in this situation frequently.

But for once, I felt like I could actually give her some sound advice. Just that week, I had turned down two rather important offers-- one dealing with my kids' school, and another with more editing-- and I actually felt fine about it.

There are times to say yes, and moments when we have to do more in 24 hours than should be legally allowed. But because writing is important to me, I've learned to say no in order to focus on just that. I understand we are here to love, give and serve. I get that. But, we’re also to do what’s in front of us to the best of our abilities. If we’re overburdened, how then does this really work?

This is all so easy to write and not actually do though. Believe me, I've been there... and being a people pleaser, for me saying no can be hard. However, it does get easier. When someone asks something of us, we have to ask ourselves, “To whom does it benefit?”

If it is to help people, well sure, I'm all for that. Yet, realistically, one person can only do so much! And if it in turn burns out the very person whom everyone is so intently relying on, that does absolutely no one no good.

My answer to my writer-friend was to learn to say no. Not because she has to, but because she needs to in order to feel like her head is above water! If writing is my passion, or being published a goal, then my thoughts and actions should focus on that.

Of course, life is full of things we have to do that have nothing to do with our immediate goal. But to get to that destination, there are times when we need to be selfish; where we need to say no for our own good.

Boundaries are there to serve us. But it's up to us to implement them. Your blog, article or book will thank you. And you’ll thank yourself too.

What would Jessica Fletcher Do?

Sometimes, just saying this question outloud -- "What would Jessica Fletcher do?" --can be the absolute best way to work through a scene, or maybe in the extreme case, your entire novel.

I know, it totally sounds hokey ... at best. But, it's true!

If you've never watched an episode of Murder She Wrote, or really an episode of almost any crime/drama, then you need to. It can help to focus in on what it is you're trying to explain, reveal, hide or introduce in your story.

In reality, detectives -- or in her case, unofficial detectives -- rarely solve a murder case within the time frame that these shows take place in. However, that's because the show is limited to an hour or two. If it isn't short and quick, our attention wanes, we get up for a snack, or we will change the channel. In our writings, even if things don't move quite this quickly, we too need to move the plot along. Otherwise, no one will want to read our words either!

Watching J. B. Fletcher go through the murder, find the suspect, pick up clues, and of course, exonerate the wrongly accused, is sort of like watching a ball go from point A to point B. We know, as writers, that we want our "ball" to sail through the air from point A, and make it to point B.

However, it is easy to get hung up on back stories, unnecessary chit-chat, or excessive characterization. And our "ball" ends up dropping very short of the goal, hole, or basket. By cluing in (excuse the pun) on what we need to focus on (moving the plot to the climax, or revealing more necessary aspects to the sub-plots), watching a crime/drama unfold, play its part, and close within about 52 minutes, can really exemplify what we should be doing in our stories as well.

Think about how every episode opens up with a problem, how characters flaws and attributes appear in all the suspects, and how at least two subplots appear in the story as well. Watch how the protagonist learns from her mistakes, uses her knowledge and small-town cuteness to keep us entertained and charmed - along with the other characters whom we like just as much.

This, in turn, keeps us watching the show, wanting more (I think), and amazingly enough, thoroughly satisfies us with the quaint and perfect wrap up. We even anticipate the mandatory smile at the end.

Yes, Jessica Fletcher's role, and detective work, remind me how to keep those literary loose ends at bay, and keep the story moving. While the gooey-perfection of the show doesn't have to show up in our work, just thinking about the story aspect to it while watching it on television, can remind us to keep that "ball" moving for our benefit, and the reader.

It also makes me wonder how in the world we live without pantsuits, blue eye shadow, and feathered hair today. Okay ... not really.

The Awesomeness of AgentQuery

I don't know if any of you are looking to be published, or need a great agent, but if you've tried to find the right agent, it can be grueling. All those requirements, or quirky specifics, and every agent is different. Some are big-timers, and some are small-town folks.

And if you're like me, and you don't feel like shelling out 30 bucks for an agent book -- the kind that list all the agents all of America, along with their info, in really small print -- then you have to check out AgentQuery. They are a database of agents, and yes, I'm warning you, it's overwhelming!  But, really, AgentQuery is like finding a gold mine.

Oh, and did I mention that most of it's free? Jackpot!

I've been casually going to their website for a couple of years now. The agents' info --all thousands and thousands of them --stay relatively current, you can specify to the city what you are looking for in an agent, or an find agent by genre or category; those who specialize in what you want to have published.
They also list whether the agent prefers online queries to snail mail queries.

AgentQuery is a wealth of information and all-around amazing. If you haven't checked them out, then you need to. It could be the difference between wanting to be published or actually being published. And AgentQuery has made it all too easy not to find the agent of your dreams.

Go there today, peruse, shop around. Then, make sure your manuscript is top notch, your query is perfect, and get busy finding an agent!