Wrapping It Up

We’re winding down the month. We hope our comments on conferences have been beneficial to you.

Let’s kind of recap the month.

1. Conferences DO NOT guarantee an editor will pick up your work. To go to a conference with that attitude will leave you discouraged instead of uplifted.

2. Conferences DO open doors to editors that have houses not accepting unsolicited material. Most often, editors will allow you to send material to them for a period of one to three months.

3. Conferences provide networking experiences. It may be some day in the future someone you met at the conference can connect you with a person who will promote your writing career.

4. Conferences give an opportunity to be part of the writing community. It’s always great to be with people who “get” what you do.

5. Conferences can develop close friendships. Many people who attend conferences develop relationships with other attendees. Some of these friendships last a lifetime.

6. Conferences help us hone our craft. Heeding information editors and fellow authors share can expand our chances of publication.

7. Conferences can jumpstart your wriitng. After attending a conference you can be rejuvinated, inspired and excited about what you do. It can be just the boost you need to really get down to the business of writing.

8. Conferences can give direction to your writing. Some speaker may stir you to consider other genres that you have never considered before. In doing so, you may find the niche you were created for.

9. Conferences can be expensive . . .or not. Large and out-of-state conferences do cost more than some can afford. But, local and regional conferences are much less expensive. Although the larger ones may have more speakers and editors, the smaller conferences are still a great way to learn and connect with editors and writers.

10. Conferences do not have to be attended to become a published author. Many talented writers started attending conferences AFTER they had been published. Maybe the funds were more readily available then! If location or finances exclude your attendance at a conference, don’t become discouraged. Work at learning your craft. Submit! Submit! Submit! Maybe after you have been paid for a few publications you can join with your fellow writers at a conference. It will be money well spent!

Happy conferencing, Gloria

Conferences, Yes or No

My apologies to all for posting so late. I forgot! Those who know me well will not be surprised at this. I will try to somehow be better.

This month is about conferences. There are pros and cons. I saved up and spent big bucks to attend an out-of-state conference. It was there I made contact with an editor who published a series of four books. That is really a God thing. It does not turn out that way for most.

I have attended less expensive, local conferences and gotten a wealth of information. I’ve made contacts, even won a contest. But, I have never had one of the attending editors accept anything I sent. Still, it was worth the time and mininal amount of money. Networking is important to a writer.

I suggest you avail yourself of conferences in your area. Go for the “biggies” if you have the time and money. Just don’t think attending one will guarantee publication. New friendships, increased knowledge of your craft and connections that may be valuable in the future are usually a given. That in itself makes it worth the effort to attend a conference!

Hoping all your conferences are productive, Gloria

Why Bother Writing in Rhyme?

Although I write in rhyme, I do not profess to have it conquered. Often I will struggle with a line for days, sometimes weeks, trying to get it just right. Even after that, I take it to my critique group and let them help me hone it even more. Often times they see and hear things I miss.

So, since it does not come easily for me, why do I bother trying to write in rhyme? Because I think it is a fun way to tell a story. Children love rhyme! Which of these two appeals to you?

Ten little tiny rabbits
hopping down the row.
One rabbit wants to stop but
nine say, “No! Let’s go!”

Now read the story without rhyme.

Ten rabbits hopped down the row.
One rabbit said, “Let’s stop.” The other rabbits didn’t want to so they said, “No!”

Which do you think a child would prefer reading?

Note there are seven “beats” in the first and third line and five “beats” in the the second and fourth.

Here’s how it looks. I=hard beat, += soft

I++I+I+
I+I+I
I++I+I+
I+I+I

So, even if you struggle with writing rhyme as I do (you can’t imagine how many times I went over the few lines above!) it will be worth it when children delight in reading your story over and over!
Still learning about rhyme, Gloria

Don’t Believe Everything You Hear

I love to write in rhyme! However, everywhere I go and everything I read says don’t send things in rhyme. Still, I see lots of books on the market that are rhyming books. What’s going on here? Do I believe what I hear or what I see? Both!

Rhyming books are some of the most difficult to write. I’m sure many editors have received rhyming books that make their ears hurt, like scratching across a blackboard (you do remember blackboards, right?)

Never, never try to write a rhyming books without studying how it is done. Read books on the market to get a feel for them. Read books about rhyming. Get a rhyming dictionary. I have several! Last of all, let your critique group or other writer friends help you hone it more. Right now I have a rhyming book being held for possible publication. Apparently they think rhyming books are still printable!

Don’t give up if you want to write in rhyme. Just be sure an editor is going to be delighted that you sent your manuscript instead of cringing (remember that blackboard).

Trying to rhyme right, Gloria

A “Best Seller” Spot?

I got a swing for Mother’s Day. It arrived last week. It came from Louisiana, not too far from where I grew up in Mississippi. The man made it of cypress. It will last forever.

I’ve put a nice soft pad and a pillow on it. I plan on spending many peaceful hours there swinging and writing my best seller :D. Of course, I must be careful that the soft cushion and pillow don’t lure me into a prone position and I find myself snoozing instead of writing!

I hope your summer has been productive and you, too, have found some new places to create your masterpieces.

Enjoying the last days of summer on my porch swing, Gloria

Where I Wrote This Summer

It’s hard to believe summer is almost over. Where did it go?!!

I’ve always worked alone, secluded in my office, because I felt outside things or people distracted me from my writing. I never listened to music as I wrote because I thought I would pay attention to it and not write. This summer I have found my assumptions were not completely true.

I have worked at Burger King, in the Pizza Hut at our Super Target, at the library and in my garden. The garden was the only truly quiet place, if you don’t count the buzzing of bees, fluttering of birds wings and whining of our neighbor’s dog begging to get in and visit me.

The interesting thing is that I have been more productive when I have been outside my home. And, unlike I thought, I was able to tune out the noise around me.

I think I will set up shop in those places this winter and see if I can’t crank out more work. We’ll see.

Whether you took the entire summer off or found special spots to write, I hope you are geared up and ready to be productive after summer has slid into the past.

Hoping to be productive wherever I write, Gloria

Trusting God With My Writing

One tip I would give to writers is trust God. Sounds really simple. We can do that, right? Sometimes it’s easier to mouth the words than live the truth.

Can you trust God when you receive rejection after rejection from editors?

Can you trust God when no agent wants to represent you?

Can you trust God when you feel you are wasting your time, that you’ll never be published?

Can you trust God if what you hoped for is never fulfilled?

If God has called you to write, write. Just like it is only our responsibility to share the message of salvation and trust God to save a person, it is our responsibility to write and trust him to open doors.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t do all you can to see your work gets “out there.” I am saying you must trust God to do with your writing and your life what he wants. It may not necessarily be what you want!

Hoping to trust God in all areas of my life, Gloria

Just Do It!

One of the best tips about writing I’ve ever had is not really profound. But, it does guarantee a measure of success as a writer. The advice?
If you want to be a writer you have to WRITE! You have to write regularly.

Many people say they want to be writers but do everything else but write. They attend conferences about writing. They buy magazines about writing. They read books about writing but they never get around to writing!

It’s great to learn all you can about how to be write but one of the best ways to become an accomplished writer is to write! At some point you have to take all the things you’ve studied and apply them. No amount of learning can make up for simply sittting down and writing those words!

How much do you write? How often do you write? Like the Nike commercial says, Just do it!

Trying to JUST DO IT, Gloria

Filter

Another thought on dialogue.

1. Use a filter.
Just like you put a filter in your coffee maker before you make coffee, you need to filter dialogue.

Example of No Filter
Joe: “Hi. How have you been?”
Mary: “Actually, I’ve been sick. Had a flu bug and wound up in the hospital.”
Joe: “I’m sorry to hear that. I work at a local hospital. Which one were you in?”
Mary: “St. Anthony’s. Nice people there. They really took good care of me.”

Example of Filtered
Joe: “Hi. How have you been?”
Mary: “Actually, I’ve had the flu.”
Joe: “Sorry to hear that.”

You may not want to eliminate as much as I did but you see my point. We got the “basics,” she had the flu and he’s sorry to hear that she did. Unless the hospital has something to do with the story, it is only “fluff,” filler that can be filtered out.

Like a filter makes for better coffee, filtered dialogue can make a better manuscript. So filter!

Hoping to filter my coffee AND my manuscripts, Gloria

Put Sizzle In Your Manuscript

Dialogue is like icing on a cake. You can do without it but it surely makes the cake more palatable!

Dialogue can reveal location.

“How are ya’ll doing today?”

Dialogue can reveal learning.

“I ain’t never done nothin’ to you.”

Dialogue can reveal emotions.

“I love you!”

Dialogue can give description.

“The red roses growing around that dilapidated house give it a kind of beauty.”

Dialogue can add drama.

“If you don’t stop right now, I’m gonna tell Mama.”

Dialogue can reveal relationships.

“So, you’re Jason’s fiancé.”

You could TELL us all the things listed above. But, your manuscript will sizzle when you use the right dialogue to get your message across.

-Adding dialogue so my manuscript sizzles, Gloria