Jen's Writing Journey

Let’s start by re-checking our goals for the month. Did you achieve them? If not, what can you do next month to reach your goals?

Blogging

How to Devalue Your Blog and Burn Yourself Out
Men with Pens have done it again. This post about the need to find a blogging schedule that works for you is golden.

The Business of Writing

On Submissions Guidelines
Agent Nephele Tempest discusses the need to find and actually follow each agent’s submission guidelines. If you submit to her on paper, it gets trashed; she accepts electronic submissions only, as it clearly states in her submission guidelines. Really, if you can’t follow the directions to submit, how can an agent feel confident that you have done your due diligence in studying and perfecting your craft? And how will an agent know you will be able to follow revision instructions?

Agents = People. Not Fish
Don’t try to land an agent, says UF/PNR author Stacia Kane. Find an agent. Sign with an agent. But don’t engage in some sort of battle of the wills to master an agent. I will take it a step farther. Whenever someone “lands” a person, it implies to me that they picked the person up in the bar and sealed the deal that night. In the immortal words of Jeremy Piven in PCU, Don’t be that guy.

Publishers Rewrite Book
Matthew Flamm has some less than pleasing news for we writers: Book advances are dropping. However, the big boys are finally seeing that ebooks are the future of reading. They are funneling more resources into ebooks and looking at ways to mine their backlists and employ more freelancers to do the work. I remember reading about cool, futuristic readers who used a variety of electronic means to read their books and news publications. I am excited to see how that future will actually play out.

What Are Your Goals for Writing?
Why do you write? What motivates you to keep writing when everything seems stacked against you? Victoria Janssen explores her motivations.

Craft

Rejuvenating Writing by Not Writing
Feeling overworked and overwhelmed seems to be a theme this week. Here, erotic romance writer Michelle Hasker talks about her vacation from writing. Instead of BICHOK, she is playing tennis. And, the time away from the keyboard has rejuvenated her and made her want to the write again. Maybe the next time you feel overwhelmed, you should take a break rather than forcing yourself to write when you don’t want to. Of course, don’t give yourself too much time off; you don’t want to get out of the habit of writing. But remind yourself that a vacation every now and then is definitely a good thing.

Everybody Wants to Teach You to Write
Sue Lick provides some insight into the mind of the serious writer–and those who want to profit from them.

Fiction

Eight Questions for Writers
These guiding questions can help shape your story into one that people actually want to read. Use them in early outlining stages to ensure that you hit on the important points and have fleshed-out characters. Use them in revisions to make sure you know how to fix what doesn’t work and what to leave alone.

The Anatomy of a Book
Rose City Romance Writers member Genene Valleau explores the process of plotting a book. For some, the idea of plotting takes away all of the spontaneity of the writing process. For Valleau, though, plotting provides the structure she needs to follow the story from beginning to middle and end. She still finds all of the fun discoveries along the way, but she also makes sure she doesn’t get lost.

Freelancing

A Beginner’s Guide to Freelance Business Processes
Lea Woodward lines out some of the basics to get your business going and keep it running smoothly. I mean, how can you stay in business if you don’t have a process to invoice your clients and ensure payment is received on time.

How In-Depth Should Your Business Plan Be?
We know that new businesses need a plan. But we just want to write. Jennifer Mattern discusses the ins and outs of creating a business plan that meets your needs and helps keep you on the right track.

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