Gifts for Readers & Writers

It’s that time of year again! I’m a big lover of the holidays and gift giving. I like gift getting too, but there’s nothing quite like finding the perfect gift. So, just like every year, here are some of our best selling gifts for readers and writers. Some are brand new and some are favorites that just keep making a come back.

If you see a design you like but it’s not on the product you want it on, let me know and we’ll hook you up.

Happy Holidays!
Bria and MG

PLUS a whole boatload of other great stuff for readers and writers at The Yardsale! Stop by 🙂

Playing With Your Process

I’ve blogged before about knowing your process and using your process and even what my process is (which I get much slack for…but it works for me)…But, today I’m going to talk about playing with your process.

The problem with a process is that it can become a barrier. When a tool becomes a set of superstitions, you’ve got a problem.

One of the cardinal rules of my process is that for that initial 9-12 days I do my Disaster Draft (the first run through of putting my story on the page) I do only writing. There’s no other incoming source of story. No TV. No books. No movies. No radio. No music outside that story’s playlist. Nothing. Nothing that’s going to place something beyond my story inside my head.

This ahs been a point of annoyance for some friends. Especially if we’re writing together somewhere during that time. They want to take breaks and watch movies or chill in front of the TV and I’ve always said, I’m sorry. I can’t. If you want to though, go for it.

The past book, I began to wonder if maybe that part of my process had become a superstition. That I was holding so hard to that idea that maybe it wasn’t even valid now… or maybe it wasn’t even valid before.

This DD I allowed myself to do all those things. My writing was getting finished on my commute, so by the time I got home, not only was my writing brain exhausted, but I’d managed to hit my page count as well. It seemed I deserved a reward.

The question I bet your asking yourself is: Did it work? Were you able to write your DD as well as usual breaking that rule?

Well, the answer isn’t a clean yes or no. Yes, I got my DD done in my normal amount of time. Yes, it’s a full story and has all the key stuff a DD should have. Yes, it’s a great base to work from. But there’s a little bit of no in there too.

I feel like the whiteboard is a little more crowded with “go back and”s — I feel like some of the characters growth is in jumps instead of seamless straight line. Maybe there’s a few more extra small scenes that need to be added or pumped up.

Granted, if you’re following this book’s progress, it’s had more than its fair share of set backs (lost pages, a downloading issue, the idea that its very different from what’s going on in the YA world right now)… but in the long run, I have to stop and ask: What’s different in the “no” way because of the change in process? What did I lose by testing this rule? Did I gain anything?

And so, if you’re not testing y our process — or maybe if you don’t even know what your process is — it’s time to do that. It’s time to learn how you work, because if you’re not testing the process, you’re not growing the process.

kk,
Bria

Solid Gold: So You Want To Freelance

One of the questions I get asked all the time is how to get started as a freelance writer. I make no secret that I earn my living not by writing delicious sex scenes and witty dialogue, but by such glorious things as SEO articles, white papers, press releases, and product descriptions. It’s not always pretty, and it’s not always fun, but this makes me a professional, paid writer. Which, if you ask me, is the next best thing to being a professional, paid author. 

 Because the sad truth is, even with all the revolutions in self-publishing, ebook publishing, and traditional publishing these days, making money as a fiction writer is hard work. It takes time, perseverance, and time. And perseverance. And time.

Amidst all this perseverating and waiting, a girl’s still gotta eat. So if you’ve ever wondered how to get started with all this freelance writing stuff, here’s the path I took.

Note: I’ve been doing this for about four years now. The first year was rather lean; the year after that only slightly less so. It took me awhile to build up a stable client list, so pretty please don’t read this and immediately quit your day job.

Where to Find the Jobs

FIRST RULE OF THUMB: Do not follow any of those links that say you can earn a gazillion dollars as a freelance writer. You can’t. If, like me, you work super hard and land a few big clients, you can earn several thousand. Which, I’m told, is substantially less than a gazillion.

SECOND RULE OF THUMB: You are going to compete for writing jobs no matter where you look. So have writing samples, a website (if you can), a non-cutesy-or-romancey email address, and a resume handy at all times.

I started on Guru, which is a bidding website for freelancers of all shapes and sizes. To use it, you sign up, pay a fee, create a profile, and start placing bids for jobs that have been listed by companies (also of all shapes and sizes). Some of the jobs on here are perfectly legit and worth your time; others are not. Learn to weed. Also, until you’ve built up some feedback on the site, expect to have to work twice as hard to convince companies they want to hire you. You also have to give a percentage of all your earnings to that noble organization, so price accordingly.

(I no longer use Guru, but 80 percent of my current clients either originated there or are referrals from clients who originated there.)

(Oh, and remember that bit about referrals. I’ll come back to it.)

There are other job bidding sites, most notably Elance. I’ve never used that one, so I can’t give you my personal experience, but I understand it’s fairly similar to Guru.

Another place to bookmark is Freelance Writing Jobs. In the old days, they used to scour Craigslist, picking out the four or five writing jobs that weren’t a front for prostitution and posting them for all twenty million writers online to apply for. I believe they still do a little of this, though they are also approached by clients who specifically want them to advertise their positions. Competition here is stiff, people, but the jobs tend to be really good ones.

THIRD RULE OF THUMB: Make friends with people who matter. Now, here’s the real trick to freelance writing, if you ask me. Like any business, it’s who you know that really matters—and in this case, you want to know other freelance writers and SEO development companies. Why? Thank you for asking.

Established freelance writers (Like me! Hi there! How are you?) are good because we typically have lots of clients already in place. Sometimes, these clients are quiet for a long time and don’t need any work done. Other times, they come out like it’s some sort of zombie apocalypse and it makes sense for everyone to run the streets rather than stay sensibly (and anticlimactically) at home. This can sometimes cause established freelance writers (like me!) to need help getting it all done in time. When that happens, we turn to other writers we know and trust. Let me tell you, I have a handful of freelance writer friends like this, and we are often shifting our work around on each others’ shoulders. For a price. It’s good stuff.

SEO companies are great, too, especially if you can learn enough about writing SEO (search engine optimization) to really know what you’re doing. Most of the SEO companies I work for are incredible at what they do—which is graphic design, web programming, and marketing their services. What they aren’t always so good at is writing. Sometimes, they can’t string two words together unless they’re Lorem and Ipsum. Other times (and I think this is usually the case), they’d just prefer not to have to do it themselves. This is where I come in. There are several SEO companies out there who advertise having a writer on staff to handle all the content needs. That’s me. I offer the companies a great deal (since they’re doing all the work as far as client communication and marketing go), and they go ahead and package and mark up my services. It’s win-win all around, and I find that working with them is one of my favorite things to do. We have a good relationship and a solid system, and they almost always come back for more.

FOURTH RULE OF THUMB (does this phrase even mean anything any more?): Those lovely little referrals I mentioned before are your bread and butter. That’s because people who need freelance writers know other people who need freelance writers.

That’s pretty much it.

Do a good job and never hesitate to mention that you love referrals. I’ve got a pair of clients in D.C. who are brothers (and who have two totally different companies), and they are hilarious. They recommend me to everyone they know, and never fail to bestow highly floral and lavish praise. One of them even asked me to marry him. (Though I think he just wanted a discount.)
Oh, and There’s Other Stuff, Too

While I would say, without a doubt, that getting the clients is the hardest part of freelancing, the rest of the whole work-for-yourself stuff is pretty tricky, too. I try to limit my freelance hours to 20/week, but if I’m not careful, I can spend an extra 10 or so handling administrative tasks.

I’ve also learned the hard way how to price my services, the importance of having clients sign a contract, and how to handle invoicing and billing and (sad, sad face) what to do when a client won’t pay up. I do my own taxes and keep my business license current and have multiple payment options set up. I offer occasional discounts and promotions and create proposals and learn new techniques in web writing. Sometimes (okay, a lot of times), I write about things that are so boring they make my eyeballs bleed mind-numbing tears of sadness.

Basically it’s, you know, work.

But it’s also a lot of fun, and most of my clients have been with me for years. I know their kids’ names and they send me boxes of grapefruit at Christmas. Some of them also follow me on Twitter, which means they know all about my romance writing and regularly read my (often inappropriate) tweets.

So…That’s My Story

There you go. That’s what I did. I did that. I do that.

There are many different ways to get started freelancing, and there are certainly other areas to explore than those listed above. I do about 95 percent ghostwritten web content, but there are possibilities in print writing and in getting an actual byline, if that’s more your thing. You can also look into writing mills and PLR, though I am opposed to both on moral grounds, so I try to steer clear.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me in the comments section, or, if you’d like to remain mysterious, you can email me at tamaramorganwrites (at) gmail (dot) com. I’m also on Twitter more than I should be at @Tamara_Morgan. I will do my best to share the information I have, but please be aware that I don’t know everything. (There, husband. It’s in writing.)

Happy writing!

Added by Bria: Tamara has sold! Love is a Battlefield a really fun contemp (I may be partial, because I adore Tamara, but I’ve read it and you haven’t so trust me) comes out on Valentine’s Day! Check her site out HERE.

Don’t Dis Other Writers

This is your fair warning: As I write this, I am exceedingly angry.

This week, I had three people who have lived in the writing world mock me (or just the group in general) for being a member of RWA — Romance Writers of America.

How dare you? How dare you, another writer, mock any group that is working hard to perfect its craft.

Mock those putting out bad prose, weak stories, plagiarizing, repeating the same plot over and over… mock anyone not doing the work, but don’t you dare – don’t you DARE – mock hard-working writers who are perfecting their genre.

As an aside: You want to mock Romance? Fine. Go find me ten books you love (with protags old enough) that have no sign of romance or relationships in them. I”ll wait… Oh, you know what? No. I won’t.

Relationships are one of the key driving forces behind humans, humanity, life and thus characterization. Even if those relationships don’t become a heated love affair, they still play out the same way. The steps are the same, even if in the end the characters don’t end up together.

So, I’m not much for mocking romance either… SFF, Mystery, Humor, Literature, Fiction, YA… All the greats have some type of relationship in them. That’s what makes us (and then our characters) human: Relationships.

Let me lay it out like this: When I wanted to start writing, there were no groups around me that were willing to take on unpublished beginners….except RWA. Those other groups? Snobs, all of them. I asked for help finding something from a specific group and was literally told, “Come back if you get published.” Um, yeah. And I’ll need you for what exactly then? was how I felt.

I ended up in RWA by default…with the same fears about “those romance writers” until I got in there and saw what they did. Then, I was blown away.

And here’s what RWA taught me. When I say “taught” I mean just that. I don’t mean a brief mention or overview, I mean meat and potatoes taught me. Monthly workshops and conferences that were more than just author love-fests (don’t get me wrong, I can fan girl with the best of them, but I also need to learn from the best of them):

1. Plotting v Pants
2. Using both those tracks to write
3. The hero’s journey
4. Character v Plot driven writing
5. Professionalism
6. Absolutely everything I know about the writing industry
7. Querying
8. How to write a synopsis
9. Pitching
10. Story arc
11. Conflict
12. Conflict development
13. How to find an agent
14. Basic agent contract knowledge
15. Write-ins
16. Brainstorming
17. Networking
18. Pacing
19. Formating
20. Worldbuilding
21. Building a world bible
22. Self-editing
23. Working with crit partners & beta readers
24. Story Structure
25. Writing life structure
26. Reading for growth and knowledge
27. Building a platform
28. Writing a hook
29. The importance of the first 5 pages
30. The importance of carrying that importance thru the whole book

I’m sure the list is longer. That’s just what I wrote in about a minute off the top of my head.

What amazes me even more, these same people who look down on RWA and all its members (which has a fair split of romance & non-romance writers) is that when I discuss 1/2 the things on the list, I first have to explain what they are.

I had a lovely chat with one of the top agents in the English writing world. We were in a car together for about an hour. She’d needed a ride and I had a car, so hop in! We’d just spent a weekend at an RWA conference and she spent the first 15 mins telling me how nice it was to not have to worry about etiquette and people who didn’t even know what a pitch was.

She literally said that the best conferences — the ones that were most professional and  with the most informed members — was RWA. She said the next group out was mystery writers.

What if I went around saying, Oh, you drawn cute little pictures..how nice. OR Oh, look more magic and swords… I’m sure that will be something substantial when you write about grown up stuff?

No, I don’t do that. One, because I don’t believe that (I envy illustrators their talent and I also write fantasy)…but that’s what everyone who knows nothing about Romance, Romance writers or RWA does every time they turn their nose up at the group or me for being a member.

We’re all writers just trying to get our best foot forward. Dont’ stomp on someone else’s foot. Be a good citizen of the writing world. Just like every aspect of life, be polite, treat others as you want to be treated and don’t judge something you only know through sterotyping.

In the end, does it matter? No. You can be insulting all you want. But, of those 3 people this week, 2 of them asked me a favor. Amazing how I was just to busy to commit.

Writers: Get Over Yourself

I’m about to write one of those posts that I fear every person I know is going to end up thinking, Omgosh, she’s talking about me!

Let me start by saying, I’m not talking about any specific person.

I’m a writer (ok, no newsflash there) – I’ve been writing for a few years now with the intent to get published.

Going further back in time, I’m a certified English (Lit and Writing degrees) teacher who didn’t teach very long. But I’ve tutored and covered a writing group and helped friends…and then I came back to writing and started my own journey.

That said, I’ve been pondering something for several months and I want to discuss it.  I don’t know if it’s ego or stubbornness or being blind to other’s abilities or blind to your own work, but I’ve seen something happen a lot. Something that kind of shocks me to be completely honest.

I’m going to start with myself (and one of the few things I did right) and move on:

When I started writing I was begging the world for mentors or leaders or teachers. I took classes, joined groups, went to readings, commented on blogs, went to seminars/workshops/retreats – anything where experienced writers would be and I might get the chance to learn from them. In the meantime, I watched so many friends get taken under the wing of writers I loved and respected and still, not one writer in my genre ever offered that hand.

I sent emails to people I’d met asking follow-up questions. I stayed to the “just social” rule at outings. I listened. I wrote it all down. I learned.

I sought out knowledge, correction and help wherever I could.

I’ll be honest. I never found a writing mentor. No one ever took  a shine to me and wanted to help my writing and career along. I know, it sounds horrible just saying it out loud. As I look at my friends and all the amazing people I know (and many of them DID have authors scoop them up to help along the way) I really am blessed, but as a new writer I wanted something more… Not the answers, just someone willing to help me read the map.

And yes, I’ve offered to do my ‘teaching crits’ for several people. I even had two people email and ask me to do them. (Please don’t everyone do that!)

My point: I’m a huge believer in getting as much knowledge from as many places and testing then utilizing what works for you. (I’ll do another blog post on how this can go wrong if you’re not careful later.)

If you are not doing that, you’re building your own barrier to success. If you believe you know all the answers, that you’re writing is good enough (or worse, it’s great and you don’t have to listen to anyone else) you might as well quit now.

Yes. I just said that: If you’re not willing to search out knowledge, listen to others, and utilize what you learn, QUIT WRITING FOR PUBLICATION.

Ok, I’m picturing all the angry comments now. That’s fine 😉

There are several goals a writer should have:

• To continue to get better
• To have a clear voice
• To learn to judge and utilize input

I know what you’re saying: Bria, “To be published isn’t on there!”

Nope. It isn’t. And here’s why: If you’re not doing those three things, being published isn’t going to happen. Those three things need to start immediately and continue forever.

Working with betas and/or crit partners, then taking agent rejections an agent, then an editor, then writing the next book, then working with betas or crit partners then starting the publication process all over again… those three goals need to stay in the front of your mind. Always get better. Keep your voice clear. Learn & utilize new info.

And so, here’s some advice people don’t say often enough:

If you want to be a writer, GET OVER YOURSELF.

Yes, it’s your story. Yes, you have a vision. Yes, you don’t want that diluted. But, here’s the deal — How often have you heard someone do something amazing (inventions, cures, discoveries, etc) and they basically say they were able to achieve it because they were standing on the shoulders of giants?

If you’re not willing to do that, you’re going to be recreating the wheel. Good luck with that.

kk,
Bria

PS – this totally makes me want to do another SYTYCW contest, which happened about 5 MONTHS before Harlequin stole my hashtag in the last 2 weeks (Yes, I’m still ticked off about that. Come on Harlequin marketing group – don’t steal from other smaller groups – it’s rude and bad business)

One Practical Way to Honor the Military

I am completely pro-military. There, go ahead and get whatever knee-jerk reaction you have to that out of the way.

Generations of my family have served. My father was a two-tour Vietnam vet. It definitely influenced how I was raised and the views I have.

What I’m saying is this: I understand watching a dad deal with having been to war.

I am still, 10000% pro-military.

I may not be pro-politics, but that is a different story.

Today is Veterans Day. In the last few decades this day has gone from a day to honor veterans to just a day to remember to honor them.

I cut a bunch of things I think and feel about America’s views of our military and I’m just going to throw down my gauntlet.

Do you know what we pay those men and women who risk their life, limbs, sanity, and family’s emotions?

I’m pasting this right off the Army’s website:

BASIC PAY FOR ACTIVE DUTY SOLDIERS*

Chart reflects Basic Pay only and does not include bonuses, allowances and other benefits. Learn about total Army compensation.

RANK	<2 Years Experience	4 Years Experience	6 Years Experience
Private (E1)	$17,611**	—	—
Private (E2)	$19,739	$19,739	$19,739
Private First Class(E3)	$20,758	$23,400	$23,400
Specialist or Corporal (E4)	$22,993	$26,770	$27,911
Sergeant (E5)	$25,081	$29,380	$31,442
Staff Sergeant (E6)	$27,374	$32,742	$34,088

 You’re reading that correctly. A Staff Sergeant with years active duty can expect to make $34k.

 

And so, I’m going to take this moment (since it’s my darn blog) to say something I’ve wanted to say for years:

 

If you own a store and don’t give a military discount, shame on you. Please consider it. Those 10%s add up.

 

And now, for a little public shaming.

THESE STORES DO NOT GIVE MILITARY DISCOUNTS:

• Walmart
• Target
• Costco
• BJs
• Whole Foods
• Stop & Shop
• the list goes on…

Email the company and let them know you want them to support our families supporting our troops.

Interested in where to find military discounts? HERE’S a good place to start… because, remember, honoring our military men and women is not a one-day-a-year thing.

 

Is Your Manuscript Golden Heart Ready?

The Golden Heart is huge. It’s a big, big contest for those of you who haven’t heard of it before. It’s the little sister of the Ritas (the end-all-be-all of romance contests). It’s the unpublished version.

I was lucky (and hopefully talented) enough to have finalled last year. I will never point and laugh again when an actress says “It was just an honor to be nominated” because after finalling in the GH (and sharing that final with 7 amazingly talented women) I know that there are times that’s true.

If you’re seriously considering entering, you may want to look (not so seriously) at my Should I Enter The Golden Heart flowchart as well as this weeks Golden Heart Checklist.

But, for now, let’s just focus on the details.

Is your manuscript ready? That’s a hard question. If I could challenge you, it would be to this: ASSUME IT’S NOT AND WORK FROM THERE.

I know. You’re all supremely insulted. But, this is the fastest way to success. If you’re assuming your ms is good to go, opportunities will be more difficult to spot. And, let me start by saying, of course there are exceptions.

So, here we go:

If you have just finished writing this ms, you’re not ready. It needs to sit. To get out of your head so you can see it fresh. There’s still time. Set it aside and fill your head with other stuff.

Read. A lot. Watch movies. Write something else. Try not to think about it. If you do think about it, make notes. Do not go back to the ms.

Let it become fuzzy. Let yourself come back to it with fresh eyes.

If no one else has critted ms, you’re not ready. I’m already hearing allll the people shouting about how they don’t need a second set of eyes. How there are brilliant people who never get input or feedback. I have a friend on her 9th book who doesn’t have them critted. It happens.

But, you’re not looking for an agent or editor who will think, “Oh, I ADORE this and it’s almost there! We can have her do so-and-so in revision rounds.” You’re looking to judges who are going to mark down entries for everything because you make — or don’t make — the finals by less than a point.

Don’t believe me? I had two entries last year. One finalled. One didn’t. By less than one point. ONE point. Can you spare that one point? I couldn’t.

Also, even if they don’t make suggestions about the story, the fewer typos or poorly structured sentences it has – the easier the read – the less places to lose points.

If you’re not sure where to cut off your pages, you’re not ready. Where you end your partial is not a matter of how many you can squeeze in, but where your best hook is. If you haven’t stopped and put a lot of thought in to that for pages 45-55, then you’re just not ready to send it.

You need to leave the judge excited, sucked in and a little annoyed to be on the last page. You need it to make sense. You need enough questions answered to have the judge — the reader — involved and enough raised to have them asking for more. You need there to be a little Dun Dun DA going on when that last word drops.

If you haven’t put a lot of work into your synopsis, you’re not ready. So, the judge is hooked — HOOKED — can’t wait to read more. So much so that she snatches your synopsis off the desk so she can find out what happens…and reads a meandering, non-sensical crammed story that doesn’t seem to line up with what she already read OR doesn’t give that “satisfied” feeling she expected. I know. It’s not fair. Synposizing is hard. Sooo hard. But, they have to do the trick here.

Just like when an agent or editor reads your partial and syno.

Best advice? Ask someone who hasn’t read your story and doesn’t know anything (or almost anything) about it to read it. Ask them to mark it up with questions about clarity, annoyance, wording, etc.

Also, ask someone who has only read the partial and someone who has read the full to do the same thing.

 If you haven’t cut, you’re not ready. Let’s be honest, most of us need to cut stuff out of the beginning of our . Whether it’s entire chapters, scenes, info dumps, descriptions, extra walk-on characters…whatever it is. Most of us need to cut.

Why is that so important here? You have roughly 50 pages to SELL this book to the judge. You have roughly 1 page to convince them you’re worth looking at.

There was a blog (and darned if I have the link) I saw last year. Someone asked judges to score the first page of several entries and then later, score the first 50 pages.

Over 90% of the time the scores were remarkably close. Almost never did the scores go up. If anything, the scores went down.

Make sure you have sucked them in, kept them hooked and sold them…starting with page one. Cut anything that doesn’t do that.

If you ever find yourself say, “Yeah, but…” during a conversation about a crit (or to yourself when you get one), stop. Think. If it’s because “the reader needs to know this” you’re probably doing it wrong…or not well… or overdone…or telling them something they already figured out… or, or, or.

We’ve all done it. But, let’s be honest, this is 100000% the time not to do it.

This isn’t an opportunity where your editor or agent can say, “Can you add something in the beginning to make this part at the end make a little more sense?” This a time when no one is going to see the end. They’ll assume you did it well when they see the synopsis…if you’ve convinced them you do it well in your pages.

Cut till it’s clean.

If you’re taking this advice personally and are insulted, you’re not ready. If you’re looking at this and telling yourself all the reasons why none of these apply to your book or your writing or you in general, you’re not ready.

No one on the defensive can see her ms’s flaws.

No one on the defensive can fix after she’s entrenched.

Let go of your preconceived notions about your ms, your writing and yourself and there’s nowhere to go but up… and up, with your talent (and maybe that luck I was talking about) is the direction to head for finalling…and selling!

KK,
Bria

Setting Up Your Golden Heart Entry – 2011

My first year entering the Golden Heart I had A LOT of questions around the rules and guidelines for packaging my YA Fantasy. Every year since, I’ve started posting this blog with updated information… Every year someone comes up with a question I haven’t laid the answer out to yet.

It shouldn’t have surprised me after doing this for 3 years — And finalling last year with my YA Rom Com Issue ms, Secret Life — that I’d be getting more traffic even earlier. So, here it is! The 2011 updates for entering your Golden Heart entry!

THIS YEAR’S DEADLINES:

Entry fee and form must be into RWA before 5pm Central, NOVEMBER 15, 2011  (Tuesday)

Entry pages and full MS on CD must be to the RWA offices by DECEMBER 2, 2011  (Friday)

Romance Writers of America
Attn: Golden Heart Contest
14615 Benfer Rd.
Houston, TX 77069

 

1. Do I have to be an RWA Member to enter?

NO. The entry fee for members is $50 per manuscript and the cost for non-members is $100 per manuscript, so you might want to consider joining first. But anyone can enter.

2. Line count? Word on the street is your entry doesn’t have to be exactly 25 lines. Is this true?

Ok, I would love to add an extra line to every page and squeeze in to that last good hook before my page deadline, but the suggestion was to ignore this impulse. While the rules don’t state each page MUST follow the 25 lines guidelines, judges can often be, I believe the term was “Old School” about it. Avoid doing anything outside the standard formatting we’ve all come to know and love. If you need to brush up on formatting a page, check out my post: HERE

Beyond that, it isn’t about amount. I cut my finalling entry off at page 48. It was where the closest hook was. Stick with the old saying, sometimes too much of a good thing is just too much.

SHORT ANSWER: Try to stick with the 25 lines per page.

3. FONT. Standard font means either Times New Roman or Courier. Size either at 12. HINT: TNR will squeeze in more pages if you’re trying to push out to a good hook. And the reverse, if you’re trying to push your hook closer to the end, use Courier.

4. Do you need to include a query letter?

I’m not going to point fingers, but someone “reminded” me not to forget my query letter when sending in my entry. Talk about misinformation creating PANIC – no query letter is needed.

5. How long should my entry be?

The total pages given to the entry is 55. This includes the synopsis (which can be no longer than 15 pages – see below).

6. How long can/should my synopsis be?

Lots of differing opinions on this. Your synopsis can be UP TO 15 pages – but for every page you give to your synopsis, you take one from the 55 pages you have eligible to send in. I’d rather send more of my story.

The general consensus I received was to keep my synopsis between 3 and 5 pages.

Need help on your synopsis? Check out: http://www.charlottedillon.com/synopsis.html OR http://lisagardner.com/writers-toolbox

This is another place where maybe less is more. My finalling entry had a 2 page synopsis. It’s the same one I used for a short version for my agent’s summaries.

7. Numbering your pages. This excerpt is from the RWA Golden Heart FAQ:

Golden Heart contest rules state, “The synopsis can be no longer than 15 pages. When numbering, begin the synopsis with Page 1, and also begin the partial with Page 1. (For example: If you have a five-page synopsis and a 50-page partial, number the synopsis 1–5 and the partial 1–50.)”

SO: Manuscript page numbers: 1-whatever
Synopsis page numbers: 1-whatever BOTH START AT *ONE*

8. Does the cover page count as a page?

NO. No cover page is needed. Actually, don’t add one. Your name can’t be anywhere on the doc, so this will just have to be removed at the office.

9. Do I have to use my real name?

Yes. When you enter the contest you, all contestants must use his/her real name. But, there was a place for your pen name, that’s typically the info used.

10. Do I have to / Should I put my name on the entry?

I didn’t think to ask this question, but I’m glad someone else did! I’ll admit to being surprised to the answer. The overwhelming answer was “no” – but someone gave a reason and that’s where my surprise came in. Rumor (more writing rumors) has it that occasionally judges perceive entries with names on them as having something to prove. Go figure.

SHORT ANSWER: Don’t put your name in the header.

11. What should I put in my header?

The title of your manuscript should be lined up on the left hand side and the page number should be lined up on the right hand side. The font and font size should be the same as the body of your work.

12. Can I send more than one entry together?

I emailed RWA (in 2010) to verify this one. YES! If you put everything in big separate envelops for each entry and then put each envelope in one box (to save on the cost of shipping) that is fine. THEY MUST BE SEPARATE OUT. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE THE LOVELY, KIND, TALENTED, INTELLIGENT, AND DEDICATED CAROL RITTER WORK HARDER.

SHORT ANSWER: Yes, in separate envelopes.

13. Should I send my entry as a certified entry?

No. Don’t create extra work by making someone stop work to sign for it. Imagine if they had to sign for all 1,500 entries.

BUT, do get a tracking number. You can tell when it arrives that way.

14. Full Manuscript: The full manuscript must accompany your entries since the Golden Heart is only for completed projects. You can (of course) send a printed out version, but a CD is prefered.

15. categories: There are 10 categories. Make sure you pick the one your ms most closely fits into as there is a box on the score card to check if you’re inappropriately placed.

GOOD LUCK – and congratulations on seeing this through – that in itself is a huge accomplishment!

KK,
Bria

Here is the checklist RWA had on its website. Check it out before you mail it in:

• Double space:
     Synopsis
     Partial Manuscript
     Full Manuscript
• Manuscript title in header on:
     Synopsis
     Partial Manuscript
     Full Manuscript
• Page numbers in header on:
     Synopsis
     Partial Manuscript
     Full Manuscript
• Six copies of :
     Synopsis
     Partial Manuscript
• One copy of:
     Full Manuscript on either floppy disk or CD (preferable) or printed out
• Each synopsis is placed in front of a partial manuscript and bound together by binder clip (preferable) or rubber bands
• No personal information in header other than name (name is optional) on any materials.
• Materials must be received in the RWA office by 5 p.m. Central Time on December 2, 2011.

FWIS: How I Got Where I Stand

Hi there everyone!

First off, let me tell you about this new idea I’m involved in (I know, I know. It’s always something with me, right?)

I’m doing a new series called From Where I Stand (FWIS) with @abbymumford and @jessicacorra – two of my twitter friends! If you saw my blog a few weeks ago about how the two of them had inspired me to start blogging again, you saw the beginning of our new adventure… talking about how writers see things differently at different points in their career.

So, to kick us off, we decided to do a round-up of how we got where we are today… So, Hello to all my usual readers (and again, don’t you have anything better to do than point and laugh at my foolishness) and Welcome! to anyone coming over from Abby’s and Jessica’s blogs!

ONWARD!

I was that girl always writing things down and telling stories, but it never dawned on me to want to be a writer (yup, oblivious to my own dream) — but in college, something horrible happened. We had a fire and I lost all my work… not to mention several other things that I was editing hardcopy for other writers — And I stopped writing.

Flash forward a whole bunch of years. I’d lost my job and someone handed me a Julia Quinn romance. I (being the snotty English major) said, Oh, thanks, but I don’t read romance. But the person talked me into giving it a try — and I loved it. I went in search of the next one. At the library, they didn’t have it, but the librarian said, You sound like a writer, are you part of RWA.
ME: What’s RWA?
HER: Romance Writer’s of America
ME: No. I don’t read romance.
HER: Glances at book in my hand
ME: This is my first one. Plus, I’m not a writer. *goes on my merry way*

I got to the book store and asked for the next book. We talked about it and had a conversation… just to keep things simple, read the conversation above. It’s pretty much the same one here word for word… I’m a little MORE sure I neither read romance nor write tho.

I get on the bus to go to a job interview….and sit next to a girl…who has obviously talked to both the librarian and the book store clerk.

HER: What are you reading?
ME: Shows here
HER: Oh, romance. I love romance.
ME: Really?

<Insert conversation about romance and books in generals here>

HER: You should totally write. My roommate is a writer and she’s in this group…
BOTH OF US: RWA.
HER: Yes! You should totally join!
ME: *smiles and tries to ignore the universe*

Only that night I went out with a very good girlfriend who eventual gave me a lecture about telling myself stories in my head that ended with: Would you please start writing again so that you’re with people when you’re with them.

I made a deal with myself, if this supposed RWA existed, was near-by and there was a meeting soon, I’d go. *Googles* Oh. Wow, there’s one tomorrow… 10 mins from my house. Fine Universe, fine. I”ll go.

I went. Then went almost immediately to the conference. I met some great writers, a very encouraging agent at her first conference too (Shout out to the fabulous Jenn Schober),  and really got bitten to start writing those things in my head down.

I made a deal with myself: I’d give myself 3 years to see if this was doable. Everything — free time, money, conferences, focus, learning time, etc — would go toward writing.

I wrote my first book…and made EVERY querying mistake out there… got an offer of rep by the time it was over but passed. Wrote my second book, a totally different style, voice and genre… and got five offers of representation. Had my first agent (a very nice, very smart lady) but we didn’t fit… and that’s when I luckily ended up with my gut agent… Lauren MacCleod (@bostonbookgirl) at Strothman… the agent I talked myself out of the first time around.

This year, after fighting so hard to not be a writer OR join RWA, I finaled in the Golden Heart, the most prestigious unpublished writer contest for people who write books that contain a Romance of some type (whether it’s straight romance genre or just has romantic elements). WOW!

I’ve been actively writing 3.5 years now and have 2 books with Lauren, 1 book I’m reworking for her, one in the it-needs-to-start-edits-and-revisions-stage and notes for several next things.

So, how do things From Where I Stand? Pretty darn good! I’m amazingly excited to be working with the MacLeod laird and writing books I love. I’m relearning some things right now and readjusting back to my success line. My goals got a little squishy this year, but I’m getting them firmed up for 2012. 2011 has been an amazing year and I can’t help but hope that 2012 will be even better.

And that’s how I got right here *points at spot on ground* But don’t expect me to stay standing here long. I’m looking for my next spot as we speak!

kissy-kissy,
Bria

Being a Writer for Halloween

IF YOUR NAME IS LAUREN MacCLEOD, PLEASE REPLACE “writer” WITH “zombie” THROUGHOUT THIS BLOG POST:

For many of us, being a writer isn’t real. We do the work and we do the research and we put the time and effort in, but sometimes we feel more like we’re playing dress up.

I have a lot of friends in the arts world… more than just writers… and one thing has become abundantly clear to me: Being a writer has less easily defined… and it’s our own faults.

Let’s say you’re a painter (Note to sell, M’s open studio show is Saturday), you work on your craft, honing it until it’s ready for the spotlight and then you look for places to gig it (or whatever painters call it). Let’s say you can’t get in a studio or a show or a month run at the local coffee-house, what do you do? Maybe you vend it on the streets of Boston or ask a friend to host a party (went to one of these, brilliant) – but, whatever it is, you get out there.

How about musicians? Same deal. You get out there. Not only do you all get out there, but you get feedback. Instantly. YOU.ARE.AN.ARTIST.

Now, let’s say you’re a writer. You write a novel. You think it’s ready. You’ve worked your hiney off to get it where it needs to be for consumption…but no one’s buying. Where do you go? Stand on the corner and read your entire novel? Maybe not. A show? A house party? What?

Mostly no (ignoring that self-publishing thing)…and that leaves writers feeling… less? Not professional? Underrated? Something else and all of the above?

It leaves us often feeling like we’re not really a writer. We’re just, you know, writing. Or, it’s a hobby. Or we’ll be a real writer when we’re published. Or when we have a multi-book deal. Or when we can quit our day job… Or… Or… Or…

We feel like we’re wearing the Writer Halloween Costume allllll freaking year.

But here’s the thing about costumes: they’re hot and sometimes the start to smell (just like zombies…see Lauren, I knew I’d get it in here) – that’s your soul rotting.

Ok, not really.

But, there comes a time, just like for that kid on the subway playing for quarters, that you need to stand up and shed the “costume” and call yourself a writer. If you told him he wasn’t a musician, he’d probably give you the finger (gotta love those Berkley kids).

There is only one path to success… I don’t care what branch you take (traditional publishing, epublishing, self-publishing, whatever)… but that path it starts with one thing. It starts with being able to stand up and say, I’m a writer.  No one is going to do it for you. No one is ever going to sit you down and say, “Ok, it’s time to start claiming this.”

You’re going to have to take that claiming step on your own.

And so today, while everyone else is dressing up as their fantasy or dream, you take the costume off and live yours.

KK,
Bria

Setting Forward

I try to stay positive here. I really do. MG Buehrlen makes fun of my “rants” on twitter, but I’m typically snarking when I’m ranting – lots of laughter is involved.

 The negative stuff? That’s for girlfriends. Or a journal. Or for burying deep down and saving for therapy later when my tortured writer’s soul can’t take it any longer.

But today I want to talk a little about set backs. And I’m going to get a little personal. Don’t worry, not TMI personal.

When I first started writing, it was all I could do. It was like I was a story junkie. All I wanted to do was write, write, write. It was a high. Nothing mattered. Word count, deadlines, audience. Nothing. What mattered was telling the story.

Ahhhhh, it was a simpler time.

Sometimes I long for that time. I long for the chance to write nonsense for no one. Just tell my story. I long for the days when making sure everything was solid wasn’t part of the plan. The plan was just to sit down as often as possible and write till I was too bleary-eyed to write any more.

That time shifted. Writing become more focused.  I set aside my first genre – I glance at it longingly from my new genre.  I turned down an agent for genre 1.  I worked diligently at genre 2…while still glancing longingly at genre 1.  I got an agent.  I left the agent.  I felt down because it seemed like I lost a year.  A YEAR.  I got my new agent — Lauren, Laird of the Clan Macleod — I rewrote for the Laird, I rewrote the second book of the series.  We plan to do everything for book 1.  Book 2 finals in the Golden Heart.  Brakes screech.  What does finaling mean?  Wait.  Wait.  Wait.  Wait.  But, don’t wait passively, work on the next thing.  Don’t think about the contest, just write.  Wait.  What do I write?  Something new or something part of that series?  Write and wait.  Ok, that was fun.  Now write more stuff.  But stay focused.  And wait. I joined a group.  The group did not work out. I rethought all that.  I kept writing. And waiting. Passively waiting (which would be acitvely doing something else.)

Of course, I said it last week. I said it before. I’ll say it until someone makes a bumper sticker and plasters it everywhere (Note to Self: design bumper sticker) –> There is no waiting in write.

Period.

If you’re looking at that list and seeing the waiting and the changes in direction and the “having” to focus on one thing when something else may be calling you… then you’re seeing the wrong things.

There are enough ways to be a writer that don’t involve planning or game changes.

If you want to do that – publish in a straight line – you’re probably going to have to self-publish. It’s the only way to have 100% (or close to that) of the process in yoru hands. My friend Mel has started a great site, Author Rescue, where this is part of the ongoing discussion.

If you don’t want to do that, then you need to learn to adjust your thinking.

These are not set backs. They’re set forwards. Every time – every time – you adjust something to make your writing career more viable, you’re setting forward.

Monday I talked about books that are your “stone in the water book — that may have shifted your writing stream” – today I’m telling you about events that do the same thing.

If you’re not setting forward, if you’re allowing those things to be set backs, barriers, road blocks, stop signs, etc, then all you’re going to do is pound your head against that stream shifting stone.

Don’t ignore the stone. Learn to flow. Set yourself forward.

What’s My Genre?

Most of us have our reading and writing preferences shaped when we’re young. Personally, I was very lucky. While I lived in a really small town nowhere near a bookstore (or mall even), I had to generally rely on the library and the once a year book sale at the school for my books.

It was a one room library, but was run by one of the most amazing librarians ever. So what if each section of the library was actually only one bookshelf? It was packed — packed–with good stuff.

But, good stuff that was limited no matter how you look at it.

My librarian loved two things for young people: Realistic Fiction and light Traditional Fantasy.

Oh, what a surprise! I write contemporary fiction (the rom coms) and light TF… whoever would have seen that coming? *gasp*

But now, as an adult, every once in a while I read a book that just…forces a change of view. Makes me stop and think, Wow! I get it. I get why this genre is hot/big/passionately followed.

One of those books is Blood and Chocolate. I’ve talked about it before, but while I was thinking this week about my influences (I wasn’t just sitting around pondering myself, I’d been asked for a survey.. I swear!) I realized that my passion about my one paranormal idea all comes back to B&C. That book… wow. It’s done so right. I feel like it should be a guidebook of how to write paranormal.

And so, here I go, reading it again! This time with a marker and post-its.

I’d love to hear about your influences now and when you were younger – And about that book — that stone in the water book — that may have shifted your writing stream.

Should You Enter The Golden Heart?

It’s that time of year again. RWA’s Golden Heart entry time!

Every year in November I repost my Last Minute Prep for the GH. It gives a run down of reminder and last second panic questions people need.

But, this year is a little different. This year I’m getting a ton of questions. Okay, I’m getting two questions, just really, really, really often.

Question One: Bria, are you entering the Golden Heart this year?

Answer: Probably not. The book I’m working on now isn’t what RWA would consider a Romance. Does it have a strong romance? Yes. But, beyond that, it breaks just about every Romance and YA rule out there.

For that reason, I probably won’t enter. It doesn’t make sense to send in something that gives judges too many excuse to check the “This doesn’t meet the category guidelines” box.

Question One A:  What about Secret Life? It didn’t win so you could enter it again.

That’s true. I could enter it again. I’m just not sure I’d want to.

Don’t get me wrong. I love (adore)  that book and feel really confident about it. It is, still, my favorite thing I’ve written. I still cry when I read it.

But, right now, it feels like it did its GH thing. Could I change my mind? Maybe. I know Certain People are pushing for me to enter it again.  Never say never I guess.

Question Two:  Well Bria, should I enter?

To that I give you a resounding, Maybe.

So, because I’m always thinking about my darling friends and followers, I created a handy-dandy flowchart (during a conference call) for you to follow to your very own answer. It was either that or buy you all Magic 8 Balls.

So, without further ado, your path to the Golden Heart….or not:

When Blogging is…

If you follow me on twitter (@briaquinlan) you know I hang with two lovely lasses: Abby Mumford and Jessica Corra. Both rock. Seriously. Go follow them. I’ll wait.

Ok, welcome back.

Now, if you spent any time at all checking them out (aren’t they hot?) you know they both have blogs. Not only do they both have blogs, but they both have really good blogs. Reading their blogs made me wish for something.

It just took me a little while to figure out what that wish was.

Then I realized. Sadly, it wasn’t pretty.

Abby’s blog is about those first steps — those wonderful moments as  you realize things about writing and crafting and editing and reading and all the wonderful first discoveries.

Jessica’s blog has a lot to do with what’s it like as you grow into a published writer. Her first book comes out in about a year, and there’s a lot of new discoveries happening for her.

Me? I’m in the middle. The shine, as they say, is off the apple.

Don’t get me wrong, I love love love writing. I’m currently in school getting a Copyediting Cert to freshen up my undergrad Creative Writing minor but at the same time, I’m missing writing horrible. The only thing keeping me going is knowing that three months is a small amount of time to only get to squeeze writing in between work, commuting, homework and school. In a few months it will be all about the writing again.

But, at the same time, I’ve done all the blogs about first discovery. I’ve moved into the new realm of  now-I-have-an-agent-and-stuff-out-in-the-world.

There is, of course, a joy in this. But I do wonder how many of us find our blogs (and maybe ourselves) a little adrift in this new spectrum of the world.

People warn you about so many things getting out there and getting started. They warn you about all the stuff to be aware of when a deal is on the table and prepping for release.

Who talks about that in-between time.

I hesitate to call it a “waiting period” because, to be honest, I know my wait to get to this point even was not much. I know getting an agent in 1.5 years and having 2 books done, 1 a Golden Heart finalist, 1 getting polished and 1 more waiting for it’s turn to be attacked is a lot of writing at this point.

And, you know that I’ll tell everyone one thing over and over again. There is no waiting in writing.

There is always another project to be worked. So, where does that leave the blog?

I don’t know. I guess we’ll find out together… Look, a new discovery!

What’s in a Star?

When my Kindle crashed and I had to reload all my books, I decided to go with different categories.  After some thought, I decided to do a ranking system.

Who knew that would be so complicated. Here’s what I came up with:

5 Star: Loved it. LOOOOVVVEEDDDD it! Why have you never read it? I’m going to reread it. You know what. I need to hang up because I’m going to go reread it right now.

4 Star: This was great. I would 100% recommend it. I may reread it again some day. But, definitely, if you haven’t read it you should.

3.5 Star: This got added after a month. It means Wow, it’s almost a 4 star. I’d recommend it to a lot of people, but maybe not everyone. There was just something holding me back from making it a 4. I’m not sure if I’d reread it when there’s so many great books out there, but I might.

3 Star: Good read. Not a waste of time. I wouldn’t not recommend it and I definitely would pass it on to the friends I know it’s up their alley.

2 Star: This book was a total waste of time. It probably didn’t hold together, or broke its implied promise to the reader, or was poorly written. I would tell people NOT to read this book.

1 Star: OH DEAR GOD! Did I even finish it? Probably because I was trying to figure out why in the world anyone would write…let a lone publish… this book. It was horrible. There’s no coming back from this one. I might actually recommend this book as torture or for a laugh.

So, I’d love to hear how you rate books OR sort your kindle.