Edited by Karen Cioffi Published by Writers on the Move

Writers on the Move Spring 2011: A Compilation of Writing and Marketing Articles Edited by Karen Cioffi Published by Writers on the Move Copyright 2011 Writers on the Move Smash ords Edition http!"" # ritersonthemove#$om" EBook Digital Publishing Site/s Coordinator: Heather Paye Welcome to the first Writers on the o!es eBook" We decided to create and offer this eBook as a gift to thank you for follo#ing our authors and #riters$ for commenting$ and for follo#ing and subscribing to our site" We #ill %eriodically offer ne# informational eBooks that #ill ho%efully hel% you on your #riting and marketing &ourney" 'n addition$ Writers on the o!e no# %ro!ides monthly #orksho%s focusing on #riting and marketing$ and #ill feature #riting and marketing articles on an almost daily basis on our site: htt%://#ritersonthemo!e"com Wed lo!e to see you there.

For yo r convenience! this e"ook is divided into five sections:

Writing (i%s and )d!ice *+ ,ules (o -ee% in ind When Writing for (eens by Dallas Woodburn (i%s to Writing a .irst Draft by /S 0renier Solidifying a 1ogline by 1ea Schi2as Perfecting Poetry: *3 (i%s for the Beginner by Carolyn Ho#ard45ohnson (HE S6PE, W,'(E,S .76, 'S 7. 0,E)( S(7,8(E11'90 by 5"," (urner (heme Writing by -e!in c9amee Create Emotion$ 9ot Sentimentality$ in .iction by /i!ian :abel Write 7n; 0oal Setting < Producti!ity by Debra Eckerling$ creator$ Write7n7nline .inal Stages of Self4editing: = (i%s by -aren Cioffi ,e#riting a .olktale: Walking (hrough Walls by -aren Cioffi arketing (o arket to arket by artha S#ir2inski Ho# to Coordinate 8our 7#n /irtual Book (our by ayra Cal!ani SE7 and arketing: Basic (i%s and Definitions by -aren Cioffi Book Promotion: (he .oundation by -aren Cioffi ,esources ) Bit )bout Writers on the o!e >uotes Feel free to share this eBook with others, but PLEASE BE SURE that it stays intact.

Writing %ips and &dvi$e

*+ ,ules (o -ee% in ind When Writing for (eens by Dallas Woodburn (i%s to Writing a .irst Draft by /S 0renier Solidifying a 1ogline by 1ea Schi2as Perfecting Poetry: *3 (i%s for the Beginner by Carolyn Ho#ard45ohnson (HE S6PE, W,'(E,S .76, 'S 7. 0,E)( S(7,8(E11'90 by 5"," (urner (heme Writing by -e!in c9amee Create Emotion$ 9ot Sentimentality$ in .iction by /i!ian :abel Write 7n; 0oal Setting < Producti!ity by Debra Eckerling$ Creator$ Write7n7nline .inal Stages of Self4editing: = (i%s by -aren Cioffi ,e#riting a .olktale: Walking (hrough Walls by -aren Cioffi

10 'ules %o Keep in Mind When Writing for %eens

"y #allas Wood$ rn *" S%end time #ith teens" /olunteer at a high school" Peo%le4#atch at the mall" )sk ?uestions" Build relationshi%s" 3" ,ead 8) lit" Some of my fa!orite authors: Ellen Ho%kins$ Sarah Dessen$ 1aurie Stolar2$ 5oan Bauer$ ike 1u%ica$ )nn Brashares$ 1ibba Bray$ ,andy Po#ell$ 5ohn 0reen$ Carl Hiaasen$ )nn ,inaldi$ Sonya Sones$ arkus :usak @" ,ecruit a Ateen ad!isory boardB of readers" any teens #ill be ha%%y to hel% you" )sk them to be honest abo!e all else; =" )!oid being A%reachy"B 9othing turns off a teen reader more ?uickly than a condescending tone" C" Be authentic" 'nhabit your characters" 1earn their details and ?uirks" What do your characters lo!eD HateD .earD 8earn forD Dream aboutD E" 'f you use slang$ use it correctly" Same for technology references" Be sure to consider: #hat is ne# and %o%ular today is tomorro#s Aold ne#s"B Do you #ant to date your materialD F" 0rab em from the first sentence" Ha!e teens read the first %age of your manuscri%t$ and then ask them if they #ould kee% reading" G" Dont be afraid to be dark; 8ou dont ha!e to hold back" (eens can take #hat you #ant to thro# at them" any of our adult AclassicsB such as Catcher in the Rye and To ill a !ockin"bir# #ould be considered 8) if %ublished today" H" Create acti!e$ !ibrant characters who ha$e so%ethin" at stake" (eens #ant to read about characters #ho are #oin" things$ rather than &ust ha!ing things done to them" *+" ,ead your old diaries I theyre treasure tro!es; ,econnect #ith your teen self" Some of my most #ell4recei!ed 8) lit has been based off my o#n %ersonal eJ%eriences;

B&'( )allas *oo#burn is the author of two collections of short stories+ her latest, , a.%., was feature# on the PBS book talk show -Between the Lines- an# is a$ailable at A%a.on.co%. /er short fiction has twice been no%inate# for a Pushcart Pri.e an# the ).anc Books -Best of the *eb- antholo"y an# she has written stories, articles an# essays for %ore than 01 2ublications inclu#in" Fa%ily Circle, *riter3s )i"est, The Los An"eles Ti%es, an# the Chicken Sou2 for the Soul series. *oo#burn is the foun#er of *rite 'n4 For Literacy, a non2rofit or"ani.ation that e%2owers youth throu"h writin", an# *rite 'n4 Books, a youth 2ublishin" co%2any. )ancin" *ith The Pen( a collection of to#ay3s best youth writin" features the work of %ore than 51 ki#s an# teens fro% aroun# the worl# an# is #ue for release in early 6177. Learn %ore at htt2(88www.writeonbooks.or"8

%ips to Writing a (irst )raft

"y: %S &renier Writing a first draft for a book$ short story$ article or e!en this guest %ost has al#ays been the most grueling %art of #riting for me" WhyD Well$ its not because ' dont ha!e any ideas floating around in my head" ' can also tell you its not because ' cant find anything to say" (he trouble ' find #ith #riting a first draft is #here to begin and/or #hich idea to start #ith" 8ou #ould think the first draft #ould be the easiest %art of #ritingK ho#e!er$ ' find it re?uires the clearest mindset in order to finishLmaking it one of the hardest %arts of #riting" With this in mind$ the ?uestion is #here do ' begin in order to #rite my first draftD (he ans#er is sim%le" .irst$ ' do research on the to%ic ' %lan to #rite about" 7nce ' ha!e the research finished ' outline Mloosely outlineN my thoughts and information" .rom here$ the first draft should be a sim%le creation of the #ords that con!ey the ideas ' #ish to eJ%ress" 't sounds sim%le$ but the truth is this is only the beginning" ' still need to choose !ie#%oint$ tense M%ast or %resentN$ de!elo% sub%lots or additional ideas/to%ics for nonfiction and clarify my theme" ' find the best #ay to do this is by brainstorming or doing some free #riting until an idea$ e!ent$ %iece of dialogue$ character inter!ie# or a setting s%arks my muse" (hese first glim%ses of story elements hel% to stimulate my imagination" 9o# ' am ready to start #riting the first draft" 'm a huge fan of finishing a first draft as fast as %ossible" (he main reason$ ' #ant to get my ideas and thoughts do#n before ' forget them" ' do not s%end time editing as ' #rite my first draft" ' do that later and ' may need to #rite a number of drafts in order to get to my final %olished manuscri%t$ but the first draft isnt about that and it is best not to eJ%ect too much or too little from it" 7nce ' ha!e #ritten my first draft$ ' make notes of %ossible themes and any uni!ersal elements that may a%%eal to a readershi%" ' also note my reasons for #riting the story" (his may hel% me find a hidden theme or e!en sub%lot ' can de!elo% later in my re!ision stage" 't is !ery im%ortant at this time ' dont make any changes or do any editing" WhyD Because its time to gi!e myself a break" ' let my first draft sit for at least a fe# days and %referably for a fe# #eeks" (his #ay$ #hen ' come back to it and begin the second draft$ ' #ill ha!e a fresh eyes$ more understanding and control o!er my story" (he thing so remember about #riting your first draft is the #ord OfirstO" Dont make the mistake in thinking that once a first draft is #ritten$ the manuscri%t is done" (he first draft is only one %art of the #hole #riting %rocess that leads to a finished$ %resentable and ho%efully %ublished book" Bio( 9S :renier is an awar#;winnin" author an# e#itor who learne# how to hone her writin" skills at the &nstitute of Chil#ren<s Literature, an# has been a %e%ber of the Society of Chil#ren<s Book *riters an# &llustrators =SCB*&>, the ?ational Association of Professional *o%en =?AP*>, the Lea"ue of Utah *riters =/*: cha2ter>, an# !usin" 'ur Chil#ren. /er works inclu#e Babysittin" Su"arPaw, the Best of Stories for Children aga2ine /olume * antholo"y an# o$er ,1 short stories, articles, an# crafts for chil#ren alon" with newsletter articles for writers. @ou can learn %ore about 9S :renier at htt2(88$s"renier.co%.

Solidifying a *ogline
"y 'ea Schi(as 9o# #hat the bla2es is a loglineD Sim%lePa logline is your storys heart and soul summari2ed in one or t#o sentences #hen asked$ ASo$ #hats your story all aboutDB Writers$ at times$ ha!e a hard time %in%ointing the core of the story and end u% rambling on and onPa logline #ill hel% %erfect the ans#er to the ?uestion abo!e" )lthough loglines are usually associated #ith screen%lays$ e!en no!elists #ill find them a tremendous hel% in shar%ening their res%onse" Pinning your story do#n to only a line or t#o is not easy but #ith %ractice you #ill be able to gi!e your reader a true account on #hat your book entails" (hink of loglines as flash fiction: a need to %ick and choose #ords carefully to gi!e a com%lete %icture" 'n order to figure out the elements to %lace in a logline think of your book se%arated into three scenes: the beginning$ the middle$ and the end" .rom each scene take the essence$ or high %oint$ and #rite it do#n" When this eJercise is done look o!er your Qscenes and sim%lify them by someho# combining them into one or t#o cliff4hanging sentences" .or eJam%le$ lets take Harry Potter: Beginning: Harry Potter disco!ers he has magical %o#ers and recei!es an in!ite to enhance these %o#ers to a school hes ne!er heard of" iddle: He disco!ers his %arents #ere killed and he is in the %ath of /oldemorts anger" He befriends t#o students #ho become his sidekicks" End: With the hel% of his t#o best friends they riddle out the %u22le of the Stone and Harry faces /oldemort for %ossession of the Stone" 9o# lets %lace the abo!e info into a Qhooking logline: ) young teens #orld is turned u%side do#n #hen a seemingly innocent in!itation to a school soon re!eals a magical #orld %ossessed #ith a dark force #aiting to take re!enge on him" 8oull note ' didnt mention the best friends since they are secondary to the %lot and not as crucial to entice a reader" /oldemorts name and the Stone #ere also omitted but gi!en a darker o!erall image by %lacing Qa magical #orld %ossessed #ith a dark force" )lso$ by seeding Qthe re!enge into a reader it u%s his curiosity to find out #hat #ill ha%%en and ho# the teen #ill deal #ith it" Here is a basic and sim%le outline to follo# #hat a logline should contain: Who your %rotagonist is$ #hich #ill also ans#er the ?uestion #ho the story is about His goal$ #hat he/she is stri!ing to achie!e Who/#hat stands in his/her #ay ) logline #ont eJ%lain the #hole storyline nor any of its sub%lots but #ill gi!e a good im%ression of its genre and #hat the main characters stri!e is all about" When setting u% a logline instead of gi!ing a name gi!e the descri%ti!e detail of your character$ for eJam%le: 5ohn Smiths adamant belief a #itch li!ing in his neighborhood is the cause of his recent bad luck$ begins to hound the old lady into submission until she suffers a fatal heart attack and no# haunts his dreams to the %oint he takes a family as hostage to %ro!e his sanity and her eJistence" 9o# re%lace his name #ith Q)n eccentric lonersP and it gi!es the reader the im%ression of no one coming to his aid since he isolates himself from e!eryone" 7r e!en Qa lonely mansP

no# im%lies a man #ith nothing better to do than to come u% #ith his o#n de!ices to gi!e himself something to do" EJam%les of fictional loglines to study: ) %air of !igilantes #ho belie!e they are cleaning u% the streets in their neighbourhood only succeed in riling u% the #rong gang" (hree musicians are on the ride of their life #hen they sign on #ith an agent #ho ends u% embe22ling all their money$ lea!ing them back on the %oor side of the track to make the comeback of their life" ) #ealthy #oman %uts her life on the line #hen she sets herself u% as bait to catch her husbands killer" (he logline for my o#n soon4to4be4released %aranormal/thriller ADoormans CreekB isB ) young teen and his friends disco!er a ca!ePand an entity that %uts them in the %ath of a serial killer they must track do#n before he murders another family member" ) logline is your ad$ your hook to cause a reader to %ick u% your book and %urchase it" 7ffer enough of the essence of your %lot to intrigue them$ build their curiosity le!el to such an eJtent they Qneed to find out #hat ha%%ens" 8ou only ha!e those fe# %recious initial minutes to im%ress an editor/reader #ith your storyline so make it count" Lea Schi.as is the foun#er of The !use 'nline *riters Conference an# 2ublisher of !use&tU2 Publishin". To a## to Lea<s %o#est byline, she is also an awar# winnin" 2ublishe# author.

Perfe$ting Poetry! 12 %ips for the +eginner

"y Carolyn )o*ard+,ohnson ' belie!e in %oetry" 9ot &ust for %oets$ but for #riters of e!ery ilk" (he essentials of %oetry are often the essentials of other great #riting" So$ e!en if you!e ne!er thought about #riting a %oem$ you might try this #ith some of your other #riting" (ake a short %rose %iece and think of it as a %oem" Break it into lines and then a%%ly these t#el!e ti%s" 8ou may find the %rocess informs your other #riting" *" (ry free !erse Mno intentional rhymingN" 2# Write dense, poeti$ prose, then divide it into lines or not# -f you don.t, you.ll have a prose poem# /# +rea0 lines after important ords# -f you s$an do n the last ords in ea$h line of a poem, you should have a good sense of hat the poem is about# 1# Eliminate as many ad2e$tives and adverbs as you $an and strengthen your verbs# 3ou poem ill be more po erful# 4# Eliminate as many of the $lutter ords as you $an# &rti$les, $on2un$tions, even some prepositions# 5# %ry ma0ing different pi$tures on the page ith the ords# 3our poem $an be in triplets, $ouplets, indented unusually, even be set up in shapes# %ry to ma0e the design fit ith the sub2e$t of your poem# 6# &void long, *atinate ords# 7# 8se images rather than e9plaining# :# Kno metaphors, similes, assonan$e and alliteration# Play ith them# )on.t strain# 10# -f you ant to rhyme, try to use un$ommon ones# ;o <moons= and <>unes=# 11# 'ead and rite poetry even if you don.t thin0 you ant to# 3ou may be surprised at ho mu$h you li0e it# -t=s $hanged a lot sin$e your high s$hool English *it days# 12# +uy a poetry boo0 or $hapboo0 at least on$e a year# -t=s a ay to support the arts and your learning $urve? Here is an eJam%le of #hat can be done #ith sim%le$ e!eryday sub&ects that you eJ%erience or imagine" ' imagined this #hile riding the #heel on the Santa onica %ier #ith my husband: #eath $y Ferris Wheel -. ) #oman #ho might be me$ #atches roller bladers #ith su%%le bones and toddlers #ith careless balloons from her seat in the gondola" .ar$ far do#n on the %ier" She o%ens the doors 44mini saloon doors of %ur%le44 or she cra#ls o!er acrylic barriers" Either #ay she hesitates a moment" (he lurch of the #heel as it sto%s at the to% finishes the &ob" 9o scream" E!en the %lane floating a cam%aign trail of %lastic behind it$ silent" Soundless #a!es$ too$ that far u%" She floats as if %osing

for her close4u%$ delicate fingers$ %oised toes$ her red sunhat a .risbee against sky of %ulled taffy clouds on blue" Sea like scallo%s of )lenRSon lace belo#$ sand stretched a#ay to#ard the Palisades$ the smell of sugary churros her last sensation" Carolyn @o ardA>ohnson# Briginally published in Pear Noir Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the author of the %ulti awar#;winnin" Celebration Series of cha2books with !a"#alena Ball, #irector of the re$iew site htt2(88www.co%2ulsi$erea#er.co%8ht%l8 Co%e tweet with Carolyn at www.Twitter.co%8Fru"alBookPro%o These 76 ste2s are a$ailable in a little #ouble;fol# flier for use as han#outs at your neAt book si"nin". Bust e;%ail Carolyn at hoConewsDaol.co% an# ask for the e;co2y. Learn %ore about her 2oetry at www.howto#oitfru"ally.co%82oetryEbooks.ht%. Carolyn )o*ard+,ohnson 'nstructor for the reno#ned 6C1) EJtension WritersT Program Web site: htt%://###"Ho#(oDo't.rugally"com E4mail: Ho5o9e#sUaol"com

%@E S8PE' W'-%E'=S (B8' -=S B( C'E&% S%B'3%E**-;C

$y ,./. 0 rner Su%erman sees through lead$ Batman has the biggest bag of techno4gadgets in the business$ and Wonder Woman fights for &ustice #ith a fe#$ #ell %laced$ bits of &e#elry" Su%er Writers see e%ic ad!entures in the smallest details$ de!elo% their indi!idual tricks and techni?ues$ and #ith a fe#$ #ell %laced #ords and %hrases$ make the intangible$ tangible" (o be a Su%er Writer$ ho#e!er$ one must first understand the nature of their %o#er" 12S31/A0142: 1ets face it$ #ithout ins%iration$ our muse is as eJciting as the Hulk on a good hair day" 7ur muse &ust sits there$ brooding and inscrutable$ big and #ell " " " hulking$ but o!erall$ dull and useless" 6ntil suddenly$ ins%iration strikes$ goosing the muse into action$ shaking the earth #ith the %ounding thunder of creati!ity" 'ns%iration is a tricky thing$ ho#e!er" 7ne sim%ly cannot say A)h4ha;B and begin #riting at #ar% s%eed" (here must be a sound basis to %ursue this idea" We must ask: can ' make this uni?ueD is it interestingD #ill ' be able to sustain this %remise for an entire no!el or is it better shared through a shorter mediumD and most im%ortantly$ am ' %assionate about this ideaD 'f theres no %assion this idea is likely not an o%tion #orth %ursuing" Published authors are often offered ideas from non4#riters" (hey are ins%ired and belie!e the idea so fascinating and titillating$ the author #ill be honored to #rite the book" (he author usually res%onds #ith a chuckle and a shake of the head" AWrite someone elses bookD 'll ne!er li!e long enough to %ursue my o#n ideas"B 'n this regard$ #e are lucky" 9ot many other %rofessions create so many o%tions you can dis%ose of one sim%ly because its lacking emotional a%%ealIor %assion" Choose to eJ%and on the ideas that grab you #here you li!e$ let the others %ercolate some#here out of sightIin a folder$ in a com%uter fileIuntil the day the idea$ %erha%s combined #ith another$ has the %o#er of high !oltage gamma rays" 120510142: 7kay$ you!e chosen to #ork on that ins%ired story" 'ts timely$ uni?ue$ and youre %assionate about the idea" (his is going to be one heck of a ride; 8our intuition is kicked into high gearIyoure o%erating on feeling$ on the emotional im%act that %assion has on your %riorities" Suddenly$ you dont care if the (asmanian De!il eru%ted in your li!ing room$ it doesnt matter if the kids are %laying #ith (hing 7ne and (hing (#oIyou are on a roll; But #ait$ #hats thatD )n e!il$ ugly force dri!ing a#ay your ability to create" 'ts taller than your muse$ its faster than your ty%ing s%eed$ and it can lea% %ages in a single bound" 'ts your internal editor" Wheres the kry%tonite #hen you need itD Belie!e it or not$ its lurking inside youIits that ringing bell that &angles #hen something is #rong$ but %erforms #ith sym%honic beauty #hen all is #ell" 1isten for the tone$ not the internal editorIthats the bad guy$ the one trying to kidna% your muse$ tie him to the railroad tracks of your %lot$ and run him do#n #ith a freight train of grammar$ %unctuation$ and s%elling" (hat first draft is an eJclusi!e %arty" 7nly your muse and intuition are in!ited" Who cares ho# many mistakes you makeD (his isnt going to be %ublished as is$ there is no one #atching o!er your shoulder saying$ Ayou missed a s%ot"B 'ts a &oyous time of creati!ity" 'f youre one of those eJtraordinarily disci%lined souls #ho #ant e!ery %aragra%h %erfect before mo!ing onto the neJt and end #ith a com%lete manuscri%t that needs no re!isions$ count

yourself lucky and blessed" .or most of the #riting community$ ho#e!er$ #riting is a struggle to balance creati!ity and technical kno#4ho#" 7f course$ one is &ust as im%ortant as the other$ but to focus on technical kno#4ho# at the muse stage$ can be as frustrating as getting Su%erman to #ear a kry%tonite necklace" 1M3'1CA0142: ASho#$ dont tell"B We hear that %hrase as often as Ca%tain ar!el hears the #ord ASha2am;B 'ts more than a mantra$ more than a symbol of mystical$ magical transformationIits the heart and soul of great storytelling" 'm%lication defines this notorious %hrase" (o im%ly$ rather than state$ is a mar!elous tool" 't lends de%th$ humor$ and realism to our characters" By im%lying a reaction$ emotion$ or descri%tion$ rather than stating the facts$ #e must dig dee%er into our characters$ understand each of their %ersonalities$ and choose the #ords that are %art of that characters leJicon" .or EJam%le: Buffy sna%%ed her gum and eyed the guy in the red ca%e" AWhere can ' get me someDB A5inkies$ Buffy" (he last thing the uni!erse needs is offs%ring from that union"B (helma sho!ed her glasses higher and dragged Buffy back into the mall" )bo!e$ its im%lied$ rather than stated$ that Buffy finds the guy in the red ca%e attracti!e$ follo#ed by the im%lication that (helma belie!es their children #ould be dangerous" (hrough this ty%e of #riting$ you sho# much more than the #ords tell" We can infer abo!e that Buffy is a bit of flirt$ a little boy cra2y" (he guy in the red ca%e must be good looking" (helma is more straight4laced and disa%%ro!es$ likely based on %ast eJ%eriences" 'ts sho#n$ in this short eJchange$ that they are friends #ith differing %riorities$ but en&oy each others com%any" 0reat storytellers$ such as Ste%hen -ing$ fill their books #ith catch4%hrases and anecdotes that build rich #orlds for the reader$ a hint at the life these characters ha!e li!ed off the %age" (hrough these #ord choices$ these small re!elations$ youll gi!e the reader a story they #ont #ant to %ut do#n$ and #ont soon forget" 1M3'6M620A0142: AWith great %o#er$ comes great res%onsibility"B 'f S%iderman ne!er used his %o#ers$ the bad guys #ould get a#ay" 'f Su%erman took the bus$ instead of flying$ chances are$ hed miss sa!ing the day" ) #riter #ho doesnt #rite$ doesnt get %ublished" Writing the #ords$ im%lementing the %o#er of your muse$ your ins%iration$ through im%lication$ can hel% you achie!e successI#hate!er ty%e of success you choose" (his may mean sim%ly com%leting a book$ or hitting the 9e# 8ork (imes bestseller list" Setting goals$ #hiche!er ones they are$ is the first ste% in im%lementing all you!e learned" Be s%ecific$ but be realistic" 'f the goal is to #rite e!ery day$ take the concrete ste%s you need to make that ha%%en" Pre%are ahead of time$ set the alarm on a clock or your #atch$ #arn your family or friends that this time is off limits" Whiche!er %rocess #orks best for you$ follo# through" Prolific #riters are dra#n to their books$ unable to resist immersing themsel!es in the #orld theyre creating" By taking the ste%s abo!e$ youll find yourself caught in the same hy%notic s%ell" 'n fact$ you may find its going to take a heck of a lot more than the 0reen 0oblin of real life or the 1eJ 1uther of distractions to drag you a#ay" ,emember the Su%er Writers .our 's of Storytelling: ins%iration$ intuition$ im%lication$ and im%lementation the neJt time you fli% on the com%uter$ click o%en that %en$ or shar%en that %encilIyou &ust might disco!er the %o#er inside you"

Awar#;winnin" author B.R. Turner li$es in Central *isconsin with her husban# an# three chil#ren. She be"an writin" in hi"h school, an# after a #eca#e workin" as a co%%ercial artist, starte# her first no$el in 7FFF. Asi#e fro% crafts, ca%2in" an# cookin", she lo$es holi#ays. A fa$orite is /alloween, a co%bination of s2ooky su2ernatural fun an# chocolate. 9isit her at htt2(88www.Cennifer;turner.co% to learn %ore4

%heme Writing
"y 7evin Mc2amee )ny #riter #ho has e!er researched the maga2ine market has noticed the maga2ines theme re?uirements" (his is usually included some#here #ith the submission guidelines" ' #rite mainly for the childrens market" Some of the most %o%ular themes include the seasons and holidays" (hese themes are also !ery %o%ular in the trade book market as #ell" Walk into any book store at any time of the year$ and you are bound to see a dis%lay #ith holiday or season themed books" Some of them are treasured classics" Some of them are brand ne# to the market" But all of them re%resent the continuous demand for these ty%es of books" 9o# #riting to fit a theme is not easy" 't may be a little easier than #riting a story from scratch though" )t least you kno# the sub&ect matter" 8ou #ouldnt submit a story about trains #hen the theme is summer" But 'm sure that there are editors out there #ho could tell stories other#ise" (he real challenge of theme #riting is trying to come u% #ith a fresh a%%roach to the sub&ect" What can #e do differently to a sub&ect that has been co!ered thousands of timesD (he ans#er: Plenty and you can ha!e a lot of fun in the %rocess too" ) fe# years ago around Hallo#een$ my %oetry criti?ue grou%$ (he Poets 0arage$ got together and decided to %ut together a %oetry collection based on the theme As%ookyB" >uite a fe# of us had #ritten Hallo#een themed %oems and #ere %lanning to submit them to maga2ines for the follo#ing year" (he idea of %utting together a %oetry collection intrigued us" .or about siJ months$ #e #rote$ criti?ued and re!ised As%ookyB %oems" (he %ro&ect #as s%earheaded by fello# 0arage members$ 1aura Wynkoo% and 5ennifer 5udd" (hey assembled and submitted the collection to !arious %ublishing houses" (he end result #as )n Eyeball in y 0arden: )nd 7ther S%ine4(ingling Poems" So #hat does this ha!e to do #ith taking a fresh a%%roach to themes$ you might askD Well$ as long as a %oem had anything to do #ith something considered s%ooky$ it #as a #elcome addition to the collection" )s a result$ #e had a great miJ of the humorous$ interesting$ cree%y and do#nright sinister" (here are %lenty of %oems about #itches$ but ha!e you e!er #anted to take a %eek at a AWitchs Sho%%ing 1istBD Same goes for #ere#ol!es$ but ha!e you e!er heard the A1o!e Song of a Were#olfBD Did you e!er really #ant to find out AWhere 9ightmares D#ellBD )ll of these %oems are s%ooky and all of them are !ery different" Ha!ing trouble thinking of a ne# a%%roach for a monsterD 9o %roblem$ make one u%" (hats ho# the Winking Wot came to be" We also created an assortment of s%ell casting gargoyles$ ghosts$ ghost fish$ and goblins on %arade" (he %ossibilities are endless" (heme #riting does %resent its o#n set of challenges" But it also can be !ery fun and re#arding to lea!e your o#n uni?ue stam% on a to%ic that has been co!ered numerous times" (heme #riting is a little like coloring in a coloring book" 'ts better #hen you stay inside the lines" But choose any colors you #ant and make it your o#n" e$in !c?a%ee is a writer an# 2oet li$in" in @onkers, ?.@. /e is the author of se$eral chil#ren<s books an# is a contributin" author to the 2oetry collection, An Eyeball in !y :ar#en( An# 'ther S2ine;Tin"lin" Poe%s.

To fin# out %ore about e$in, 2lease $isit his website at www.ke$in%cna%ee.co% or his blo" at www.ke$in%cna%eechil#rensauthor.blo"s2ot.co%.

Create Emotion, ;ot Sentimentality, in (i$tion

$y %ivian 8a$el Cood riting reDuires the use of emotion, both in the riting and from or in the riter# WhatE Emotion in the riting itself and the authorE 3es, good riting does reDuire emotion from the ords and from the riter# &$tually, good riting reDuires $reative and effe$tive use, not overuse, of emotion# Preparing fi$tion, hether in a short story or novel, ithout emotion results in telling rather sho ing# %elling a story may provide the readers ith ne$essary information, but sho ing allo s the reader to FseeG the events, a$tions, and plot unfold# Sho ing emotion ithout resorting to sentimentality is a ma2or $omponent in riting vivid, po erful stories that readers $an visualiHe# -n high s$hool and $ollege, most $lasses $on$entrate on thought, on the mind## %ea$hers and professors en$ourage, even reDuire, students to use big ords, figures of spee$h, literary devi$es, and long, dense senten$es to $reate emotion in riting# 3es, figures of spee$h and literary devi$es have a pla$e in poetry# 3es, if used sparingly and $reatively in fi$tion, figures of spee$h $an $onvey $ompli$ated emotions# @o ever, hen overused or misused, figurative language, a$$ording to Stephen King, in Bn Writing, Fthe results are funny and sometimes embarrassing#G 3et emotions are ne$essary in fi$tion riting# &$$ording to )ianna )orisiAWinget in F*et=s Cet Physi$al? Writing Emotion in (i$tion,G sin$e emotions are su$h an integral part of the human $ondition, FI fi$tion riters must employ des$ription that a$$urately e9presses a $hara$ter=s feelings#G @o ever, she $ontinues, simplisti$ and overused des$riptions leave the reader unmoved# 8sing $li$hJs Kthese simplisti$ and overused ords or phrasesL results in sentimentality# When e tal0 or read about highlyAemotional sub2e$ts li0e roman$e and death, e are tempted to use $li$hJs# &fter all they are found every here and represent the short$uts e use in song and ord# Kristen Williams, in F;o Pla$e for @allmar0,G stresses this need to avoid these short$uts in items e rite# Williams defines sentimentality as the e9aggerated and affe$ted use of emotion in riting# &ffe$ted is further e9plained as being most often $onne$ted to $li$hJs and melodrama, hi$h Faffe$tG emotion, sho ing only the surfa$e ith no substan$e or 2ustifi$ation, no foundation# %hese types of riting emotion no ne perspe$tive on the e9perien$e but are short$uts# Writers, espe$ially beginners, use sentimentality be$ause doing so is easy# &dmitting or des$ribing $ompli$ated situations is hard# 8sing sentimentality means presenting things in bla$0 and hite, not delving into the $ompli$ations that a$tually e9ist# FCood riters,G Williams says, F ill dive right into this $omple9ity instead of staying on the surfa$e#G >ames S$ott +ell e$hoes this thought in his arti$le F*eave %hem With @opeG! F)elve into your $hara$ter=s heart# &s the author, you must feel the big emotions as mu$h as your fi$tional $reation does#G &uthors $an avoid sentimentality ithout losing emotion needed to rea$h readers# %he riter simply has to deal ith the emotion in an original and $omple9 manner by trying to avoid abstra$t ords and ideas# %his is a$$omplished by staying ith $on$rete des$riptions# &s +ell stated, the author must e9perien$e the emotion

and des$ribe it ith the five senses, rite it as he FfeelsG it# &bstra$t ords and ideas $an be interpreted by others in different ays, relying on the readers= definition# )etails are reDuired to ma0e the emotion live# @o $an riters avoid FsentimentalityGE Bne e9er$ise is to list $ommon rea$tions to an emotion# %hen the author e9amines those physi$al rea$tions that emotions produ$e, and simple and overused des$riptions are physi$al rea$tions to emotion# @o ever the idea is to find other ays to e9plain those rea$tions so that the reader isn=t left unmoved# F%he tri$0,G )orisiAWinget says, Fis tapping into your <emotion memory#= Cet beyond the pounding heart and $len$hed fist#G -f des$ribing fear, the Fsi$0 stoma$hG might be$ome the tilting li0e the time seasi$0ness $aused lun$h to ant to es$ape# %he details tell the taleM if used $reatively and ell, the details Fsho G the tale# Writers don=t have to abandon abstra$t thoughts and ords $ompletely, but the ma2ority of des$ription should be $on$rete# Williams says she uses no more than t enty per$ent abstra$t and at least eighty per$ent detail hen using emotion in her riting# &voiding sentimentality allo s the riter=s perspe$tive to be used, not someone else=s# Writers then $reate the emotion reDuired in FgoodG pie$es of fi$tion# NNN Sources: 1# +harti Kir$hner, F-t=s sho time?G %he Writer &ugust 2004# 2# )ianna )orisiAWinget, F*et=s Cet Physi$al? Writing Emotions in (i$tion,G +y*ine (ebruary 2005# /# Ellen Ma$aulay, F&$ting *essons,G %he Writer &pril 2004# 1# >ames S$ott +ell, F*eave %hem With @ope,G Writer=s )igest )e$ember 2004# 4# Kristen Williams, F;o Pla$e for @allmar0,G http!"" # o A s$hools#net"hallmar0#htm# 5# 'obert Blen +utler, F%he )ynami$s of )esire,G %he Writer B$tober 2004# 6# William C# %apply, F)on=t be a S@BWB((,G %he Writer ;ovember 2004# NNN 9i$ian Gabel is an author an# 2ublisher of chil#ren<s books. Check out HR9 Publishin" =htt2(88Hr$2ublishin"llc.co%> for sub%ission "ui#elines an# for Iuality chil#ren<s books"

Write Bn? Coal Setting O Produ$tivity

"y #e$ra 6ckerling! Creator! Write4n4nline Coals are an essential $omponent of produ$tivity# -t=s important to 0no hat you are striving for if you ant to a$hieve it# CoalAsetting is not 2ust an a$tivity for the beginning of the yearM it=s a yearAround ne$essity# Coals should to be loo0ed at daily, and revised and restated ee0ly, monthlyP hatever it ta0es to get to your personal finish line# Setting Goals: A Set a personal goal, as ell as a professional one, espe$ially hen you are setting your annual goals# 3es, arti$les, short stories, pages, outlines, et$#, are important# +ut so is selfAimprovement# 3ou are more li0ely to a$hieve your riting goals if $ertain things in your personal life are in order# -f your des0 is a mess, then organiHing it should be on the top of your goalAlist# A *oo0 at your goals every day# -t=s easy to negle$t your goals hen you do not bother to loo0 at them# Conversely, if you loo0 at your goals freDuently, they stay in your mind, and you are mu$h more li0ely to a$$omplish them# Post your goals in a pla$e you go to freDuently! the bathroom mirror, the fridge, your $omputer F allpaper#G - 0no one person ho puts her goals as the allpaper on her $ell phone# %hat ay, henever she goes to ma0e a $all, she has to loo0 at them# A Set realisti$ goals# -t=s o0ay to overshoot and to even $hange them if your pro2e$t goes in another dire$tion# -f you ant to rite an hour a day, but you thin0 /0 minutes is more doable, then that=s the goal you should set# When you are under less pressure, you are more li0ely to sit do n and rite# Accomplishing Goals: A >oin a riters support group or have a goalAbuddy# Set ee0ly or monthly $he$0Ain times# &$$ountability is a 0ey motivational element in getting your goals done# -f your buddy and"or the people in your riters group ma0e their goals, you $ertainly ill ant to do so, as ell# %here=s a huge in$entive in feeling if your friends and peers $an ma0e their goals, so $an you? A Set a plan# +rea0 do n your pro2e$t into doable parts, and put deadlines in your $alendar# -f you are riting a boo0, set due dates for the outline, ea$h $hapter, and re rites# -f you are trying to sell your boo0, novel, or s$reenplay, $ome up ith a number of Dueries to send every ee0 to agents and publishersQand sti$0 to it# -f you $heat on your goals, you are only $heating yourselfQand prolonging your potential su$$ess# A Ma0e ritingAtime a priority# -f you $an$el a do$tor=s appointmentQor hair appointmentQ ithout noti$e, hat happensE 3ou get $harged# -f you $an$el ritingA time be$ause something else $omes up, you are only negle$ting yourself# %here are e9$eptions! si$0 $hild, day 2ob, emergen$y# 3et, for the most part, riters tend to forgo their personal pro2e$ts for other priorities# 3ou $an start penaliHing yourself for missing your goalsQhave a money 2ar and pay yourself for missed ritingAtime# Br better yet, 2ust sit do n and rite?

Celebrate Wins: %he biggest in is finishing your passionApro2e$t, hether it=s an essay to submit to a magaHine, a boo0 proposal, or fullAlength manus$ript# +ut there=s nothing rong ith treating yourself to a fan$y meal out, a ne )R), or that s eater you have been eyeing for ee0s# Set goals, a$$omplish them, re ard yourself# %he biggest re ard is the pride in a$$omplishment? Congratulations in advan$e? VVV

Debra Eckerling is the creator of *rite 'n4 'nline J www.*rite'n'nline.co% J a website an# co%%unity for writers, which focuses on networkin", "oal;settin", an# 2ro#ucti$ity for writers in all areas. *riters can 2ost weekly "oals on the *rite 'n4 FaceBook 2a"e J www.FaceBook.co%8*rite'n'nline an# %onthly "oals on www.*rite'n'nline.co%8:oals )ebra has written for national, local, tra#e, an# online 2ublications. A co%%unications s2ecialist an# K2ersonal trainer for writers,L )ebra trains in#i$i#uals, eA2erts, an# entre2reneurs, so they can or"ani.e, articulate, an# co%2lete their writin" 2roCects. www.*rite'nTrackLA.co%.

(inal Stages of SelfAediting! 1 %ips

"y 7aren Cioffi (here is so much in!ol!ed in self4editingK the lists and check%oints can fill a book" (he !ery first ste% is to be %art of a criti?ue grou% and ha!e your manuscri%t criti?ued in its !arious stages" When youre sure its in good sha%e$ then you mo!e on to %roofreading and self4editing" Be sure to check grammar$ storyline$ %unctuation$ sho#ing !s" telling " " " you kno# the deal" 9o# its time to do a fine tuning self4edit" 1. /ead yo r man script ,ead it again" (ry to read it slo# and #atch for all the self4editing ti%s you!e learned and think you!e a%%lied" S%otting our o#n errors is difficult since #e kno# #hat #e #rote and intended" Some of the other ti%s here #ill hel% #ith this %roblem" 2. Change the font and read it again" Sur%risingly$ you #ill s%ot errors you &ust gla2ed o!er before" 8ou #ont run through it the same #ay you did #ith the original font" 9. /ead each paragraph from the last sentence to the first (his is an interesting method for an additional self4edit" 'ts hel%ful because your brain #ont be on auto4%ilot" 8ou #ill s%ot glitches #ithin sentences that you #ould gla2e o!er #hen reading normally" 9ote: ' dont mean reading each sentence back#ardK read each sentence as you #ould normally$ but read the last sentence first and #ork your #ay to the beginning of the %aragra%h" :. 3rint yo r man script 7kay$ ' kno# #hat you en!ironmentalists are thinking " " " 'm one also" ' try !ery hard not to #aste %a%er in order to %rotect and sa!e our trees" But$ there is a difference bet#een reading on a com%uter and reading %a%er co%y" 'll be honest$ ' dont kno# #hy our brain %ercei!es it differently$ it &ust does" )s youre reading your manuscri%t$ use a colored %en or %encil and mark the teJt you find errors in" 7nce you finish$ go back to your com%uter document and correct the errors" (he other %ractical as%ect of this %rocess is its a good idea to ha!e a hard co%y of your manuscri%t near its final stage" 6nless you ha!e an offsite backu%$ you cant be too careful M'd be ske%tical of this also I you ne!er kno# #ith any online systemN" '!e lost a number of files #hen my com%uter broke" )nd$ '!e e!en lost files on 2i% dri!es #hen the dri!es failed" So$ from eJ%erience 'm cautious #hen it comes to sa!ing my #ork" 'f you do actually utili2e Ste% = and %rint your manuscri%t$ be sure to recycle it if you no longer need that co%y" ' reuse %a%er ' %rint by using the back for notesK #hen it can be discarded$ ' recycle; 8ou can either ri% it into %ieces or shred it so your !aluable content isnTt usable to others" aren Cioffi is an author, "hostwriter =for businesses an# in#i$i#uals>, an# freelance writer. For writin" an# %arketin" infor%ation $isit aren at htt2(88karencioffiwritin"an#%arketin".co% an# si"n u2 for her free newsletter, A *riter<s

*orl#. @ou<ll "et 6 free e;books on writin" an# %arketin" in the 2rocess, an# two %ore free e; books Cust for sto22in" by.

'e riting a (ol0tale! Wal0ing %hrough Walls

"y 7aren Cioffi When a #riters %use seems to be on !acation$ she may be at a loss for story ideas" While there are a number of sites and tools online to hel% get the creati!e &uices flo#ing$ one tool that #riters might o!erlook is studying folktales" ,eading folktales is a great #ay to s%in a ne# yarn$ es%ecially for childrens #riting" ' recently did a re!ie# of a childrens %icture book %ublished by Syl!an Dell that #as based on an )merican 'ndian folktale" (his sho#s they are %ublishable" .olktales$ also kno#n as tall tales$ and folklore$ are stories s%ecific to a country or region" (hey are usually short stories dealing #ith e!eryday life that come from oral tradition that is %assed from generation to generation" ost often these tales in!ol!e animals$ hea!enly ob&ects$ and other non4human entities that %ossess human characteristics" (here is eJican folklore$ 'rish folklore$ Chinese folklore$ as #ell as folklore from many other countries that ha!e tales uni?ue to their area" (here is also )merican folklore that encom%asses stories from each of the C+ states" (here is a huge su%%ly of stories to s%in and #ea!e" 'n addition to re!ie#ing a cou%le of %ublished childrens books that #ere based on folktales$ ' #rote a childrens fantasy story based on an ancient Chinese tale" 'nterestingly$ %rior to recei!ing an outline of the tale from a Chinese nonfiction #riter ' kne# from one of my #riting grou%s$ ' ne!er thought of re#riting folktales" But$ once gi!en the outline$ ' lo!ed the story and the message it %resented" (he outline itself #as !ery rough and #ritten #ith an adult as the main character M CN$ #hich is often the case #ith !ery old folktales" )fter reading the story ' kne# the C #ould need to become a child" ' think e!ery childrens #riter is a#are that children #ant to read about children$ not adults" )nd$ the C needs to be a cou%le of years older than the target audience the author is #riting for" Based on this$ ' decided to make my C a *34year4old boy" )nd$ since ' liked the ancient Chinese fla!or of the story$ ' ke%t it and made the story take %lace in the *Eth century China" )fter this #as set$ ' needed to come u% #ith a title and the Cs name" When choosing a title for your book$ its im%ortant to kee% it in line #ith the story and make it something that #ill be marketable to the age grou% youre targeting" ' chose *alkin" Throu"h *alls" )s far as the characters name$ you #ill need to base it on the time %eriod and geogra%hic location of the story$ unless the character is out of his element" Since my story #as to take %lace in China$ ' used a Chinese name$ Wang" (o kee% the fla!or of your story consistent$ you #ill also need to gi!e it a feeling of authenticity" (his #ill in!ol!e some research" Ho# did the %eo%le dress during the time of your storyD What names #ere usedD What did they eatD What ty%e of #ork or schooling #as a!ailableD What locations might you mentionD What ty%e of cro%s and !egetation #ould be %resentD What ty%es of homes did they li!e inD (here are many as%ects of the story that you #ill #ant to make as authentic as %ossible" )nd$ it does matter$ e!en in fiction storiesK it #ill add richness to your story" (he neJt time youre in the library$ ask the librarian to sho# you a fe# folktales" (hen imagine ho# you might re#rite one or more of them for todays childrens book market"

aren Cioffi is an author, "hostwriter =for businesses an# in#i$i#uals>, an# freelance writer. For writin" an# %arketin" infor%ation $isit aren at htt2(88karencioffiwritin"an#%arketin".co% an# si"n u2 for her free newsletter, A *riter<s *orl#. @ou<ll "et 6 free e;books on writin" an# %arketin" in the 2rocess, an# two %ore free e; books Cust for sto22in" by.

Mar0eting
(o arket to arket by artha S#ir2inski Ho# to Coordinate 8our 7#n /irtual Book (our by ayra Cal!ani SE7 and arketing: Basic (i%s and Definitions by -aren Cioffi Book Promotion: (he .oundation by -aren Cioffi

%o Mar0et to Mar0et
"y Martha S*ir(inski We #rite because of our %assion for #ords or maybe #e #ant to educate others$ moti!ate$ or &ust entertain" Whate!er the reason$ #e #rite because #e lo!e it" Some %eo%le may #rite for their o#n %ri!ate en&oyment$ but most of us #ant millions to en&oy our hard #ork" 6nfortunately$ that means #e ha!e to get out there and market our books and oursel!es" 't #ould be great if they all lined u% around the block at our book signings or %acked the house at one of our book readings" Ho#e!er$ if you are &ust starting out there is a good chance thats not going to ha%%en" 8ou are going to ha!e to %ush u% your slee!es and get busy" 'Tm not on the 9e# 8ork (imes bestseller list""" &ust yet$ but ' ha!e %icked u% a fe# ti%s along the #ay" Dont think &ust bookstores for signings" Who are your charactersD Do they like to cookD Ha!e a book signing in a kitchen store or the grand o%ening of a ne# restaurant" ' sell childrens books" 8oull find me at childrens bouti?ues$ festi!als and grand o%enings of any ty%e of com%any that caters to childrens acti!ities" )re your books geared to#ards female readersD Pair u% #ith #omen #ho do home sho#s" (hink Pam%ered Chef$ ary -ay and so on" )round the holidays your books may be &ust the last minute gift they #ere looking for" Ho# about a #orksho%D Ha!e something you can teach your readersD y books are geared to#ard getting children to mo!e during the story$ to use their imagination and their bodies to bring the story to life" ' gi!e #orksho%s on health$ eJercise and nutrition" ' sell most of my books at these e!ents" E!en if you dont feel like you could gi!e a #orksho%K you could %air u% #ith an eJ%ert" ,omance no!els your nicheD Pair u% #ith a marriage counselor for a free #orksho% on building a better marriage" urder mysteries your %assionD Pair u% #ith a %olice officer or marital arts eJ%ert to gi!e a free seminar on %rotecting yourself" aybe %oems are your thing" Pair u% #ith a chocolate sho% and ha!e a tasting and a reading around /alentines Day" (he only limitation is your imagination" A(here is no use trying$B said )liceK Aone cant belie!e im%ossible things"B A' dare say you ha!ent had much %ractice$B said the >ueen" AWhen ' #as your age$ ' al#ays did it for half an hour a day" Why$ sometimes 'T!e belie!ed as many as siJ im%ossible things before breakfast"B 1e#is Carroll By( !artha Swir.inski, author, 2resenter an# teacher www.!o$e%ent2lus.co% www.*holeChil#Publishin".co%

@o

to Coordinate 3our B n Rirtual +oo0 %our

"y Mayra Calvani

/irtual book tours$ also kno#n as blog tours$ are an effecti!e #ay of book %romotion" ) !irtual book tour %uts your name and book in front of hundredsLsometimes thousandsLof readers" 'f you hire a %ublicist to coordinate it for you$ the %rice can go from a fe# hundred to se!eral thousand dollars" Ho#e!er$ if you do it yourself$ its %ractically free" Best of all$ you dont need a car or an air%lane to tra!el through the blogos%here" 8ou can do it in your %a&amas from the comfort of your o#n home" )ll you need is a com%uter$ internet connection$ and a basic kno#ledge of blogs" Ho#e!er$ be %re%ared to s%end a lot of time at the com%uter for the duration of the tour" ) !irtual book tour is time consuming because the bloggers #ho host you #ill ask you to #rite guest %osts$ articles$ and ans#er inter!ie# ?uestions for them" any ne# authors often ask if !irtual book tours guarantee book sales" (he ans#er is 97" ) !irtual book tour doesnt guarantee sales but it does guarantee a certain amount of !isibility and eJ%osure for you and your #ork" (he follo#ing ste%s #ill hel% you coordinate your o#n !irtual tour: Start %lanning at least @ months in ad!ance" (his #ill gi!e you enough time to research blogs$ contact bloggers$ send re!ie# co%ies Mif re?uestedN$ and #rite guest %osts or ans#er inter!ie# ?uestions" 8ou #ant readers to be entertained #hen they read about you and your book$ so youll ha!e to gi!e them something ne# in e!ery inter!ie#" Writing the same ans#ers in the different inter!ie#s doesnt #ork and youll only be turning readers a#ay" Decide ho# long youll #ant the tour to be and ho# many sto%s youll make" /irtual book tours can be as short as one #eek Mmini book tourN or as long as se!eral months" 't de%ends on your schedule and on ho# much time youre #illing to allocate for it" (#o4#eek and one4month tours seem to be the most %o%ular" 6sually$ there are @ sto%s for each #eek and many authors %refer the sto%s to be on onday$ Wednesday and .riday" (he choice is really u% to you" 't all de%ends on ho# much time$ #ork and commitment youre #illing to gi!e" Decide #hen your tour #ill take %lace" 'f you ha!e a holiday book$ like a Christmas childrens book or a horror no!el$ youll #ant to schedule your tour during December or 7ctober$ res%ecti!ely$ in order to maJimi2e your books marketing %otential" S%end some time online researching blogs and make a list of those that match the content or theme of your book" 'f your book is a mystery no!el about a !iolinist$ for instance$ youll #ant to make a list of mystery and !iolin blogs" (hats #ere the %otential readers and buyers of your book are" (hats #here your au#ience is" 'f you choose general blogs$ then make sure they get a decent amount of traffic a month" 8ou can check ho# many hits a blog or site gets on )leJa"com" Write a tem%late for contacting hosts$ this #ay you #ont ha!e to #rite indi!idual ones for each one" (he message should include a brief intro$ full information about your book Mblurb$ link to co!er art$ %urchase %age$ re!ie#s$ etc"N$ and a %olite re?uest to be hosted on their blogs" ention that youre a!ailable for an inter!ie# or a guest %ost" )s an alternati!e$ you can re?uest a book re!ie#$ but you must be #illing to send them a re!ie# co%y" 'f youre lucky$ the blogger #ill acce%t an eBook co%y$ sa!ing you the eJ%ense of a %rint co%y and %ostage" Be a#are$ ho#e!er$ that not all bloggers are #illing to read electronic co%ies unless they ha!e eBook4 reading de!ices" -ee% in mind that re!ie#s are one of the most effecti!e #ays of book %romotion$ and #hen you com%are it to ads$ theyre reasonably chea%" 1et the bloggers kno# youll be aggressi!ely %romoting the tour$ thus bringing traffic to their blogs"

Pre%are a schedule" 0et a #eekly or monthly calendar #ith enough s%ace for notes" (his #ill hel% you !isuali2e the entire tour" )s the bloggers res%onses start flo#ing in and you agree on s%ecific tour sto% dates$ record the follo#ing information on the calendar: blog name and 6,1$ hosts name$ #hether its for a guest %ost$ article$ inter!ie# or re!ie#" 'n case of re!ie#s$ send the book to the blogger as soon as %ossible Mat least t#o months in ad!anceN$ gi!ing him or her enough time to read and re!ie# the book" Dont lea!e #riting guests %osts and ans#ering inter!ie# ?uestions for the last minute" (ake your time" ,emember readers #ant to be entertained and informed" 0i!e them !aluable information$ add a touch of humor and kee% your !oice fresh and interesting" )lso$ dont #ait until the last day to send the material to the host" Send it at least a #eek in ad!ance" ) fe# days before the tour starts$ double check your calendar to make sure all is in order$ then %ost the com%lete schedule$ #ith the correct hosts links$ on your #ebsite and/or blog" )lso$ send a reminder to all your hosts" (o make this easy$ %ut your hosts contact info in a se%arate email folder and email them together #hen needed" ake sure you u%date your tour schedule on a daily basis in case of last minute changes" 7nce the tour starts$ %romote it; )nnounce it to all your friends$ colleagues and relati!es and in all forums$ grou%s and lists you belong to" 8ou can also send a %ress release for eJtra eJ%osure" .or the duration of the tour$ be sure to !isit your tour sto%s to #rite comments or ans#er ?uestions !ia the Q1ea!e a Comment feature on the blogs" 'nteracting #ith readers #ill make your !irtual book tour more interesting and entertaining" .inal ti%s: Consider offering a %ri2e at the end of the tour to one lucky #inner" (his #ill encourage !isitors to comment on your tour sto%s and follo# you all through the tour" (he %ri2e could be a gift certificate$ a goody basket$ or e!en a free criti?ue" 'ts not recommended to offer a co%y of the book youre %romoting as gift" 'f %eo%le think they might #in it$ they #ont buy it" 7nce the tour is o!er$ dont forget to thank your hosts and offer to return their fa!or in the future" (his makes for good internet net#orking and %rotocol" Awar#;winnin" author !ayra Cal$ani writes fiction an# nonfiction for chil#ren an# a#ults. She<s ha# o$er ,11 re$iews, articles, short stories an# inter$iews 2ublishe# in 2rint an# online. 9isit her website at www.%ayracal$ani.co%.

SEB and Mar0eting! +asi$ %ips and )efinitions

"y 7aren Cioffi 'n its sim%lest form$ %romotion is a tool or strategy under the marketing umbrella" (he marketing umbrella co!ers the creation or manufacturing of a %roduct or ser!ice$ ,<D$ distribution$ and any other elements needed to get a %roduct from creation to the consumer" Promotion creates !isibility" 6tili2ing online %romotion means you #ill be using the internet$ search engines$ and SE7" SE7 is the %rocess of getting the search engines to find and rank your content" 8ou ob!iously #ant a high ranking so #hen a searcher M%otential customerN ty%es in a search term Mkey#ordN your site may be one of those on that first SE,P" arketing and es%ecially SE7 can be confusing and seem like a daunting task to undertake$ but once you understand the basics it becomes less intimidating" S64 and Marketing #efinitions 1. S64 I search engine o%timi2ation: Athe %rocess of creating and ad&usting #ebsite content #ith the goal of im%ro!ing search engine rankings"B Maccording to Com%endium"comN 2. S6/3 I search engine results %age I the %age results from a search ?uery" 9. 7ey*ord I Aany #ord or %hrase a searcher might use to describe or identify a desired resource on the 'nternet"B When using key#ord in your title$ its im%ortant to use the key#ord in the beginning of the title" ,ather than use AHo#4to40uide for SE7$B o%t for ASE7: ) Ho#4to40uide"B Maccording to Com%endium"comN :. 4rganic 0raffic or Marketing I free strategies$ such as (#itter$ blogging$ article marketing$ etc" ;. 3aid 0raffic or Marketing I utili2ing %aid/s%onsored ads$ such as 0oogle ad#ords$ etc" <. /anking I your %osition Mho# high u%N on the SE,P: the higher the better" 'n other #ords$ you #ant to be on the first SE,P$ or at least #ithin the first fe# %ages" =. Anchor te>t I linking to other #ebsites and/or %ages directly from teJt #ithin your content" (his strategy should be used to bring the reader to your %roducts$ to other related articles you!e #ritten$ to another site that has useful information %ertinent to your %ost$ and/or to link to a site youre mentioning" Pro!iding readily accessible information and links through anchor teJt #ill gi!e your readers more Abang4for4the4buck"B 't #ill gi!e the reader a broader reading eJ%erience$ and she #ill definitely a%%reciate it I this builds a relationshi% " " " and trust" 6sing anchor teJt links #ill also hel% search engines$ such as 0oogle and Bing$ relate your content to other rele!ant content$ and create a target for searchers to hit"

7ne last note about SE7$ kee% your key#ords sim%le and concise" )nd$ often its of greater benefit to use long4tail key#ords" (hese key#ords may not get as many search hits$ but they do get a much more targeted audienceK this lea!es you #ith less com%etition" )n eJam%le of a key#ord might be$ Aallergy relief"B )llergy relief is a !ery generic and hea!ily used key#ord" 'n order to make it more s%ecific and hone in on a narro#er audience/searcher$ you might use$ Aallergy air cleaners$B or maybe$ Aremedies for allergies$B or$ Aallergy sinus medications"B 8ou #ant to narro# the %laying field" (here are free tools to test out and analy2e key#ordsK here are three of them you might try: htt%://freekey#ords"#ordtracker"com/ htt%://###"key#orddisco!ery"com/search"html htt%://###"#ordstream"com/key#ords/ aren Cioffi is an author, "hostwriter =for businesses an# in#i$i#uals>, an# freelance writer. For writin" an# %arketin" infor%ation $isit aren at htt2(88karencioffiwritin"an#%arketin".co% an# si"n u2 for her free newsletter, A *riter<s *orl#. @ou<ll "et 6 free e;books on writin" an# %arketin" in the 2rocess, an# two %ore free e; books Cust for sto22in" by.

+oo0 Promotion! %he (oundation

"y 7aren Cioffi E!ery author has thought it$ said it$ and heard it: %romotion is the roll4u%4your4slee!es$ and dig4in %art of #riting" 'ts the much more difficult and time consuming as%ect of #riting that e!ery author needs to become in!ol!ed #ith " " " if he #ants to sell his books" (o actually sell a book$ you need to ha!e a ?uality %roduct" (his is the bare4bottom$ first rung of book %romotion " " " the foundation" 0he Fo ndation Create a ? ality 3rod ct (he !ery first ste% in book %romotion is to create a ?uality %roduct" Ho%efully$ you noticed ' said create a Iuality 2ro#uct$ not &ust a good story" What this means is that all as%ects of your book need to be to% notch" A. The Story (o start at the !ery beginning$ the first factor to be dealt #ith is to be sure your story has all the essential elements" )ccording to 8ale49e# Ha!en (eachers 'nstitute$ there are fi!e ma&or elements of a story: characters$ setting$ %lot$ %oint of !ie#$ and theme" )ll the elements of a story should com%lement each other$ should mo!e each other for#ard$ dra# the reader in$ and end #ith a satisfying conclusion" (hey should #ork together to create a story that #ill be remembered" Su%%ose your story is action %acked and %lot dri!en$ but it lacks belie!able and sym%athetic characters$ it #ill fall short" (he same holds true if you ha!e a belie!able and sym%athetic character$ but the story lacks mo!ement" )gain$ it #ill be lacking" )s #ith all things in life balance is necessary$ the same holds true #hen #riting a story" B. Join a Critique rou! 8es$ this is %art of creating a Iuality story" E!en eJ%erienced authors de%end on the uni?ue %ers%ecti!e and eJtra eyes that each criti?ue member %ro!ides" (hey #ill hel% find: grammatical errors$ holes in your story$ unclear sentences and %aragra%hs$ o!eruse of %articular #ords$ and #eak !erbs$ among other elements" (hey #ill also %ro!ide guidance and suggestions" Check out this article for more information about &oining a criti?ue grou%: Criti?ues are Essential htt%://###"karencioffi"com/3+*+/+G/criti?ues4are4essential/ C. Editing 8es$ again$ this is a necessary ste% to take to ensure your manuscri%t is in the best sha%e %ossible before it becomes a book" 1ook for an eJ%erienced and ?ualified editor to hel% t#eak your manuscri%t" But$ before you send it off to be edited$ self4edit it first" (here are a number of

articles out there in cybers%ace on self4editing" (ake the time and read a fe#$ then go o!er your manuscri%t" D. Co"er and Design (his ste% is more rele!ant to those #ho decide to self4%ublish$ or use a Print4on4Demand MP7DN" (he co!er is the first im%ression a reader #ill usually ha!e of your book$ neJt is the interior design" (hese as%ects are &ust as im%ortant as the story itself" 'm sure youre familiar #ith the eJ%ression that you only get one shot at making a good first im%ression" Well$ you can relate that to your book co!er" Dont skim% on time$ effort$ or money #hen coming u% #ith your books co!er and design" 0ip: 'f you are #riting a childrens book$ do not do your o#n illustrations unless youre a %rofessional illustrator" aren Cioffi is an author an# "hostwriter =for businesses an# in#i$i#uals>. For writin" an# %arketin" infor%ation $isit =htt2(88karencioffiwritin"an#%arketin".co%> an# si"n u2 for her free newsletter, A *riter<s *orl#. @ou<ll "et 6 free e;books on writin" an# %arketin" in the 2rocess, an# two %ore free e;books Cust for sto22in" by.

'esour$es

Writing
The #rugal Editor $ %ut &our Best Book #orward to A"oid Hu'iliation and Ensure Success )uthor: Carolyn Ho#ard45ohnson (his book takes you through the #riting %rocess from start to finish" 'ts %ro!ides easy4to4 understand and !aluable ad!ice$ ti%s$ information$ and resources" The reat ra''ar Book )uthor arsha Stramek (he book %ro!ides information about grammar" 't includes eJ%lanations$ great eJam%les$ and re!ie#s" 't focuses on only those grammatical terms #hich are necessary to a!oid mistakes or to im%ro!e #riting skills" Children(s )riters )ord Book )uthor: )li&andra ogilner and (ayo%a ogilner (his book lists #ords in grou%s by gradesK %ro!ides a thesaurus of those #ordsK %ro!ides detailed guidelines for sentence length$ #ord usage$ and themes at each reading le!elK and more" 'ts a !ery hand book to ha!e if youre #riting for children" @esA @o can 'earn )o* to Write ChildrenBs "ooks

)uthor 9ancy '" Sanders (his is the ne#est of the best4selling and a#ard4#inning authors G+W %ublished books" (he book %ro!ides ste%4by4ste% instructions for becoming a successful %ublished author" Bird by Bird )uthor: )nne 1amott Heres a ?uote from the 9e# 8ork (imes Book ,e!ie#: ASu%erb #riting ad!iceP hilarious$ hel%ful and %ro!ocati!e"B Ste!hen *ing $ +n )riting, A -e'oir o. the Cra.t )uthor: Ste%hen -ing (his book offers insight and instruction on the craft of #riting"

Self-Publishing and Promotion

Self+3 $lishing Man al )uthor: Dan Poynter: (his book goes into great detail about ho# to #rite$ %rint and sell your o#n book" 0he Fr gal "ook 3romoter C )o* to #o What @o r 3 $lisher WonBt )uthor: Carolyn Ho#ard45ohnson (his book is &ammed %acked #ith ad!ice$ ti%s$ and information about %romotion" /ed )ot 1nternet 3 $licity C An 1nsiderBs & ide to Marketing @o r "ook on the 1nternet )uthor: Penny C" Sanse!ieri (his book %ro!ides an in de%th look at internet marketing"

& +it about Writers on the Move

'f you!e been a reader at our site o!er the last cou%le of years$ and ha!e !isited lately$ you kno# #e!e made B'0 changes to the grou%s format$ site design$ and logo" 7ne thing about marketing$ its an ongoing &ourney thats constantly changing" 9e# technology$ ne# sites and ser!ices$ and ne# strategies create an e!er4changing marketing #orld" Writers on the o!e #as founded in 3++G by -aren Cioffi" 'ts original %ur%ose #as to %ro!ide a !ehicle for authors to !irtually tour each other in a uni?ue ongoing %latform Since then$ #e!e t#eaked our %romotional strategies here and there and ha!e e!ol!ed into a marketing grou% of authors and #riters #ho #ith combined talents$ kno#ledge$ and eJ%erience are able to offer #riting and marketing hel% to our readers and !isitors through articles$ features$ book re!ie#s$ #orksho%s$ and other formats to come" 'n addition$ #e continually stri!e to increase our indi!idual !isibility" We ho%e to offer additional eBooks on s%ecific to%ics$ %odcasts$ and other forms of informational tools to hel% guide you through the #riting and marketing &ungle" 'f youre interested in becoming a Writers on the o!e member or #ould like to offer suggestions on #orksho%s$ %lease email me at: karencioffi MatN ymail MdotN com

Suotes
A8ou must be the change you #ant to see in the #orld"B M!. :han#i A0od doesnTt re?uire us to succeedK he only re?uires that you try"B M !other Teresa A'ts not #hat you!e done that matters 4 its #hat you ha!ent done"B M !ark Twain A0i!e #hat you ha!e" (o someone$ it may be better than you dare to think"B M/enry *a#sworth Lon"fellow, 701N;7006 A-no#ing is not enoughK #e must a%%ly" Willing is not enoughK #e must do"B M:oethe A) %rofessional #riter is an amateur #ho didnt ?uit" A M Richar# Bach OEasy reading is damn hard #riting"O M ?athaniel /awthorne ODonTt tell me the moon is shiningK sho# me the glint of light on broken glass"O M Anton Chekho$ O'f you #ant to be a #riter$ you must do t#o things abo!e all others: read a lot and #rite a lot" (hereTs no #ay around these t#o things that 'Tm a#are of$ no shortcut"O

MSte2hen in"

Re%e%ber( ?othin" 9enture#, ?othin" :aine#