The Write Stuff at Christmastime

Merry Christmas, everybody! (And y'know what? My Jewish, Buddist, and Muslim friends tell me it isn't in the least bit offensive, and none of them understand why the media has made it a politically incorrect wish, either.)

I should begin by admitting I'm not a "Christmas person". I go through the motions, because my kids and grandkids love all the hooplah. And my husband? Good grief. He's a bigger kid this time of year than the kids are! So I decorate (and people say "Has Martha Stewart been here?"), and I bake (and they ask "Did you inherit Julia Childs's secret recipes?".

One of my least favorite 'get ready' chores is the shopping, because for cryin' out loud, stuff's expensive. And what if I forget somebody? (I believe the whole Hatfield-McCoy feud started cuz somebody forgot to give a Christmas present.) Then there are rude, poorly-raised children who don't even bother to say thank you, even when you've handed out gifts in person. The stores are noisy and crowded with scowling, in-a-rush people who've forgotten The Reason for the Season. And the roads and parking lots? Don't even get me started.

But y'know what I hate worst? Not being able to write!

Even if I don't have a deadline hanging over my head (which is rare), it seems the computer is made of iron, and I've got an invisible magnet inside me. While I'm addressing Christmas cards, running errands, wrapping presents, and performing any of a dozen other mindless chores, my over-fertile imagination is hard at work. Ideas percolate and, like one of those old-fashioned camp coffeepots...

...and all too often fizzle out as they bubble onto my overheated brain.

So I guess in addition to the 14' tree that looks surprisingly like Laura Bush's, and home baked goodies, and gaily-wrapped presents, and a house that glitters and shines like a silver ornament, I'm giving the gift of love. Cuz let's face it: If I didn't truly love these people, no way I'd stay away from my computer this long!

Strange, but during those long, harrowing days between Thanksgiving and New Year's, martyrdom becomes a truly pretty thing. HOHOHOHO!

Seriously, now that I'm 95% ready, I've joined the ranks of those who are looking forward to a big fat stocking, hung by the fireplace with care. (Oh, who am I kidding? I'll settle for a sloppy one with a hole in the toe.) I'm looking forward to Christmas Eve, when my beloved and I attend Midnight Mass, and come home to a peaceful and pretty house to share a cup of mulled wine (and whatever it might inspire ).

Then we'll both settle down for a long winter's nap, knowing centuries ago, during those same hours, the world's most holy miracle took place.

Merry Christmas, everybody. I look forward to hearing from you all soon. Meanwhile, take care of yourself and those you love, and here's hopin' the new year will bring you health, happiness, peace, and prosperity...and a few Dreams Come True.

All my best,

Loree

P.S. I just finished a terrific novel, written by Sharlene MacClaren. Courting Emma is going straight to my Keepers shelf!

Writing IN SPITE of the US Postal Service

Well, good grief. It's late November already. Thanksgiving is over, and it's time to drag the Christmas decorations out. How did this happen, when only yesterday, it seems, I was making potato salad for our big July 4th shindig?

It's also time to address and stamp Christmas cards. (Yes, I said Christmas cards. My Jewish or Athiest pals know that I respect their religious beliefs--or lack thereof--so they don't have a problem with my choice, either.)

But I digress. My beef today is with the US Postal Service. It bugs me no end to pay nearly fifty cents of every hard-earned dollar to mail cards that, in all likelihood, won't end up where they're supposed to, thanks in no small part to the US Postal Service. (Seriously, there's so little 'service' attached to that once-grand institution that using the word is akin to false advertising.)

If I listed every complaint, why, I'd run out of blog pace. And if I listed the complaints of my neighbors, friends, and relatives? Cyberspace ain't that big, m'friends!

Example: Went to get my mail the other day, and found my across-the-street neighbor's stuff in the box. I opened theirs, thinking mine in there by mistake...and found mail belonging to the people two doors up. And in their box? Mail intended for people who live two streets over, and in theirs, the mail for someone who lives in another zip code!!!

Example: My 85-year old uncle makes one-of-a-kind fishing rods for a living, and sent one to my husband, overnight via the US Postal Service. Two weeks later, he called to see why his ungrateful niece hadn't acknowledged receipt of the gift. He put a tracer on the package that showed up two months later...in a different box.

Example: My royalties check was due May, '07. June rolled around...still no check. Super-suspicious of the post office, I called the publisher's bookkeeping department, and learned they'd mailed the money on May 1, 2007. While they were busy cancelling the check, I filled out direct-deposit forms. And wrote my congressman, the Postmaster General, the Better Business Bureau, and just about any other agency I could think of. Again. Wasting not only my time, but postage, as well, because nothing was done to improve the situation.

Example: This one was 'big news' in Baltimore a few years ago.... A substitute mail carrier dumped every bag, sack, and package in a Columbia park, where she sat munching Fritos and sipping Coke instead of delivering the mail. Rumor had it she opened every envelope that resembled a greeting card, and kept the cash and gift certificates. And what didn't blow away was ruined by the driving rain. When caught, she received some sissified wrist-slap as a punishment. My idea of 'reap what you sow'? "No more mail delivery for you, m'dear, ever!"

The settlers of the Old West received better service from Pony Express riders, who had to contend with robbers, wild animals, and angry Indians! Whatever happened to the duty-bound postmen of our childhood, who lived by their "Neither rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night will keep me from my appointed rounds" motto?

Everybody I talk to, here in Maryland and across the country, has experienced numerous problems with the US Postal SERVICE. Complaining accomplishes nothing. Writing letters gets us nowhere. So what are we to do?

We stop leaving Christmas gifts for our letter carriers, that's what. We quit standing in those long lines, waiting our turn to be treated with disrespect and impatience by the so-called professionals behind the counter. We pay a dollar or two more, and send all our packages through UPS, FedEx, Parcel Plus, MailBoxes, Etc. We tell our publishers to direct-deposit advance and royalties checks into our savings accounts. And when the US Postal Service ceases to exist because other companies are doing their job--and doing it better--we'll applaud!

So next time you're wondering why you haven't received a paycheck, or an envelope full of reader mail, don't blame your publisher's bookkeeping department. Don't blame your agent. Blame the high muckety-mucks who run the US Postal "Service". And don't be shy when listing your grievances with them, because at nearly half a buck for each stamp we stick to the upper right corner of every envelope, we have a right to experience the SERVICE promised by the post office.

Merry Christmas, y'all.

Loree

Book Signings...blaaaa

Good morning, y'all!

This somewhat blurry image to the left was taken at a book signing. (From the right: Anne Knoll, Robin Bayne, Mary Jo Putney, and yours truly.) I plugged it into today's Blog Post because lately, one question keeps coming up at the conclusion my workshops:

What about book signings? Is there any point to them? Do they help 'move' books?

(Okay, so that's three questions, not one, but the theme is the same.)

Book sales are most definitely the result of author signings, but that isn't the main reason we put subject ourselves to such torture. And make no mistake: Book signings can be humiliating, painful, boring, lonely functions where, if we're lucky, we'll sell a dozen books. Unless of course, we're NY Times best sellers like Mary Jo. And since most of us are mid-list unknowns....

We agree to participate in these so-called selling campaigns because it's a great way to meet book lovers, face to face. You can lure a few browsers to your table with Hershey Kisses and M&Ms, and when they grab a handful...all's fair in love and sales.

While they're happily munching free sweets, common decency compels them to make eye contact, participate in a moment of idle chit-chat, prompted, of course, by you. Your charm and wit and friendly personal will inspire even die-hard (insert your genre) haters to pick up one of your books, and pretend to read the back jacket blurb. And half of those will purchase an autographed copy.

Admittedly, the eat-and-buy customers are few and far between. Unless you're a big name like John Grisham or Dr. Phil, they didn't come to the bookstore to meet you. But even if the purpose of their spree that day was to snap up Bill or Hillary's latest tell-all tales, there's the ghost of a chance your book might end up in their take-home stack.

So how do you ensure that at least a few copies of your books will end up on readers' shelves?

You do your homework. And then you just plain work.

Set up signings on dates that makes sense. If your genre is romance, the Friday-through-Sunday prior to Valentine's Day is a smart choice. Horror, on the other hand, will sell better around Halloween. Books with beachy settings sell well to anyone planning seaside vacations. Try to get your author friends to sign with you. Worst case scenario, it's a great opportunity to catch up with what's been going on in one another's personal and writing lives.

Whether you're arranging a group event or a sole-signing, let the bookstore manager know you're willing to help market the event, that you'll set up and clean up and ham it up to help move as many copies of your books as possible.

Then, scope out the space, to determine the best spot for your table. Dress the thing up with a tablecloth, freebies like book marks, magnets, pens and pencils, a vase of flowers or a plant, and of course, the ever-important bait-and-hook baskets of goodies. Photocopy articles written about you, and provide samples of your author's newsletter or blog posts, a stack of business cards.

Make a couple of signs, announcing two-for-one sales, where you can provide one free copy of an old title with the purchase of your latest release. And by all means, display your books in fancy-schmantzy ways, to catch the attention of passers-by.

And unless you broke a leg or sprained an ankle, or were just released from the hospital following major surgery, DO NOT SIT DOWN. Stand at the end of your table, or better still, in front of it. Smile at people as they attempt to walk past you. Say a friendly "Hello!" and if their footsteps hesitate, even the slightest bit, shake their hand and invite them to have a piece of candy, grab a cookie.

Most of the time, I set up a smaller table, equipped with napkins and cups and stirring utensils, an urn of hot water, hot chocolate, instant coffee, tea bags, powdered milk, and sweeteners or, if the weather outside is hot and humid, chilled bottles of water. And while they're preparing their beverage, I explain that, since liquids and books do not good partners make, they need to stand with me while sipping.

And while they drink, and munch, we chat. Never about my books! I make a point to comment on what they're wearing, that cute baby in the stroller, the book(s) they've already decided to buy. Conversations that start with "My but it's hot/cold/wet/dry" will inevitably lead to questions about you, the author, and comments like "I've always wanted to be a writer...."

From that point on? Be your happy self and enjoy their company. When others see you, gabbing and laughing with a bookstore patron, they'll be more likely to step up, find out what all the hub-bub is about. And before you know it, you'll have a small cluster of folks, standing around your table.

If they all buy book, well, that's great. But if only one does? You've still made a sale, because they'll remember the friendly gal or fella who chatted with the day they went shopping for their nephew's birthday gift.

Book signings? Scary?

You bet!

But like Psycho and The Birds, excitement is good for your heart, so by all means, set one up.

Happy writing and successful signing to you all!

P.S. If you aren't published yet, rest assured, you will be.

P.P. S. If you're a reader with no intention of ever writing for publication? Attend your favorite authors' book signings. Even if you don't buy a book, they'll thank you for your support.

...for all the Write reasons

Hey, you guys!

Remember how, as kids, we'd wrinkle our noses and frown when our parents and grandparents said "My, how time flies!" Time, back then, seemed limitless. The days went on and on, no matter the weather...which is how it should be for children today, and for ourselves, too.

I cited the old 'time flies' adage yesterday. Twice! No surprise, really. Life demands that its residents cram 3 days into one. Or try to, at least.

When I get into 'rush mode', I'm reminded of the chipmunks' frenzied scramble to gather enough nuts to see them through the winter. You'd think once spring arrived, they'd slow down a tad, enjoy the fresh new scents and sights that go hand-in-hand with the season.

But they don't.

I can't help but wonder how joyless their little lives must be, with their attentions so acutely focused on staying one step ahead of Mother Nature. It's as if they believe they'll starve to death if they stopped racing, just long enough to absorb the beauty, budding all around them.

How different are we from the adorable rodent-cousins, as we rush hither and yon, driving children to and from school, athletic events, practice, lessons, church activities. We hurry to get the laundry done. Do the grocery shopping. Deposit that check. Put meals on the table (and eat 'on the fly'). Race to 9-5 jobs. Rush through our exercise programs.

The list goes on and on, and it's a rare day when we manage to check every item off our to-do lists. But what price are we paying for our 'get it done, quickly' lifestyles? Are we, like the chipmunks, missing the glory and wonder of our own little corners of the world?

A dear friend passed away very recently. Like the chipmunks, she spent her days (and far too many nights) in a flurry of activity, trying to turn 24 hours into 48. She managed to earn a Masters degree while working full time, performiing volunteer activities for a dozen organizations and charities, while keeping her house in pristine condition and her person the model of perfection. Do you know what this she said on the morning she died? "I should've taken more time to smell the flowers." She didn't say had more time, she wished she'd taken more time. She regretted that, in her drive to get things done, she'd missed important moments in her daughters' lives, in her husband's life, in her marriage.

Time is our most precious commodity; once it's gone, it's just gone, and we can never, ever get it back. Is it important to do the 'things' that keep us healthy and clean, organized, on time? Yep. No doubt about it. But skipping one step, omitting one chore--once in a while, anyway--won't banish us to the Dirty-Tardy time-out chair!

So let's make it a point to slow down today. Just a little. Do something out of the ordinary: Leave one errand un-run, omit one task. Our little corner won't disappear into The Black Hole of Space if we take a brief flight of fancy.

Grab a book, any book, then make yourself a soothing cup of your favorite tea, and savor the words as you sip its comforting brew.

It's my hope that when you step away from your R&R Station, you'll feel refreshed and renewed, energized in a way that enables you to see your loved ones in a new and different light, so that when you say "My, how time flies!", it will be a happy declaration, uttered in joy...not exasperation.

And the added plus: The invigorated new you can import these amazing and wonderful insights into your manuscripts!

Be good to yourselves. You've earned it.

All my best,
Loree

When Y'Wanna Write EVERYTHING

If you're like me, you hate sitting idly while editors and/or agents consider the merits of your latest work. And, if you're like me, you troll the Internet in search of freelance-type writing jobs that'll net enough in spendable cash to keep the wolf from the door.

So you write a snazzy cover letter to send out with your resume. You include your bio, clips of published articles, or a list of your books' ISBNs. Not just a handful, mind you, but a big fat stack of stuff that nearly gets stuck in the mouth of the mailbox.

And while you're waiting for these guys to call and say "Holy moley; the writing gods are smiling on me, cuz you're exactly what we were looking for!", you pace. Stare out the window, wondering where in heaven's name that confounded mailman is. Count the tiles on the kitchen floor. Maybe even try your hand at math: If there are 127 dots on every ceiling tile in your office, and there are 253 tiles, how many spots really are before your eyes?

Then, finally, it happens. The phone rings, and while you're writing fast and furious to keep up with the assignment Editor A is doling out, the mail truck rolls up. Lo and behold, an acceptance in the mailbox, too. Elated, you call Editor B to thank him for the assignment, and promise to get the story in-house well before the deadline.

You get busy, instantly, setting up interviews and researching the topics you'll turn into full-blown articles. And when you lay our weary head down that night, the last thing on your mind is the manuscript that's been idling on Editor C's desk.

Next day, you get two more calls. And another "Hey, give us a jingle, we'd love to work with you" letter. By the time every "i" is dotted and every "t" is crossed, there are five assignments on your desk. You do some more math: If each article takes 8-10 hours, you've easily racked up 50 hours of work ahead of you. Which wouldn't be a problem...if the articles weren't all due in the same week. And wouldn't ya know, that's the same week your college pal is coming to town, and your spouse scheduled dinner with co-workers, and you promised to bake cupcakes for the White Elephant sale at the volunteer fire company.

So why did you accept five articles, anyway? Why not say 'yes' to one or two, and beg off on the other three?

I'll tell you why. You took 'em all because freelancing makes Tom Cruise's risky business seem like a park walk; if you'd said no, the big fear is, those editors may move on to the next freelancer on their 'whom to call' list and cross you off, literally and figuratively.

Would that really happen? Probably not. Editors aren't stupid. They know a hard-working schmo when they see one. And being among the un-stupid, they also know that if you're too busy to say 'yes' this time, there can be only one reason: Some other smart editor has snapped you up. But it's the 'probably' that hangs us up, that hangs us, if we're not careful.

Having juggled a couple dozen personal and professional balls in a week is something I've done far more often than I care to admit. Doesn't seem to matter that I've established myself as a pro in this wacky industry, that fiction and non-fiction editors alike made it possible for me to make that claim. My schizophrenic brain is convinced that saying no is...well, if not career suicide, then certainly a pellet to the toe.

All-nighters? Survived hundreds of 'em! (Flavored coffee beans really do the trick, and for zero calories!) Is it worth it the dark circles even Maybelline can't hide as I dragging myself to the store to grab the lastest issue of Whatever Magazine, so I can snip out my article and add it to my clip book? Is it too high price to pay to sorta-kinda nod off during the drive to the bank to deposit my paycheck?

Yep. Uh-huh. You bet. Absolutely.

Do I say "Never again!" each time I file a story, then slam onto the mattress like a recently-felled tree? Yeah. I sure as shootin' do. Do I promise to quit beating myself up this way, to practice saying a firm but courteous "no" when editors pile assignment atop assignment? Mmm-hmm, I most certainly do.

Do I turn right around and say "yes" to the very first editor who calls on the heels of some other editor? A-yup. Indeedie. I do.

Am I that insecure? Well, yeah...and so is anybody who believes they're only as good as their last success. Actors, singers, comedians, artists...we all stared into the face of the hideous "But what have you done lately" monster. Doesn't matter if others believe you're sittin' pretty, got it made, reached the top. In your own head, the word NO rhymes with HAS-BEEN.

They don't call me a crazy writer for nuttin'!

Writing Despite (you fill in the blank).

Warning: This post contains stomach-turning words like puke and poop!

Yeah, so I'm yawning. Just be glad my dry heaves have passed. Quite a feat, considering I was awakened at 4:30 a.m. to the unmistakable sounds of Pet in Distress. Anyone with a cat or dog knows which noises I'm talking about...starts somewhere deep in their gastrointestinal system and works its way toward the throat, where it gurgles and sputters before becoming a smokin', stinkin', foaming mound beside the bed.

So I fling back the covers and gingerly set one foot, then the other, on the carpet. Experience has taught me to step lightly.... I tip-toed around warm landmines long enough that my success made me cocky. Haha! thought I, not a drop of the stuff between my toes! No sooner had I put the dot under the exclamation point of my boastful thought than squish. Which led to some pretty colorful expletives, whispered between my tightly-clenched teeth.

I'll spare you the remaining gory details. Suffice it to say that half a roll of paper towels and a couple dozen squirts of Resolve later, all was well. Even the dog. But my early-morning wake-up call got me thinkin':

When your day starts out this way, how do you write 'happy'?

It's tempting to finger-stomp around the keyboard, banging out angry scenes and snippy dialog. But gosh darn it, the stuff I'd saved yesterday doesn't call for narrowed eyes and snarling lips, let alone heated words.

I re-read all the adages and cliches stuck to my monitor. To the wall above it and the shelves around it. You know, stuff like "Good enough never is" and "What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure." But in my mood, they made a bad mood badder. Until I got to the one that goes "Do or do not; there is no 'try'." Happens to be one of my all-time favorites. I use it a lot when things aren't going my way. I find myself wishing, often, that others in my life used it more, too. ("Don't tell me you'll try to remember to wipe peanut butter off the kitchen counter when you make a PB&J sammich, just DO it." "Don't try to blow grass clippings away from my rose garden, just DO it.")

Easier said than done, to cite another oldie. Cuz my fairy godmother ran away from home, decades ago. Sad but true. Packed up her sparkly magic wand and glittery wish dust, and hit the highway, leaving me alone with my wall of 'sage-isms'. Much as I sometimes hate to admit it, Nike's "Just do it" works.

Deep breath, shoulders squared, spine straight, chin up. (That's my "Just do it" posture.) "I don't want to be in this bad mood. Wasn't the dog's fault, after all, that he ate god-knows-what and it didn't agree with him. So get over it, already. The mess is cleaned up. Heck, the house even smells good, thanks to the fresh scents built into the carpet cleaner. So look for the bright side":

I did wake up alive, for starters. The coffee pot didn't leak. Computer fired up, instantly; ditto the Internet. The file I'd saved yesterday popped up on command. And no one was injured while cleaning up doggy vomit.

Suddenly, my strange mind conjured ways I (or the dog) might have been harmed, cleaning up the...well, know.... The image of me, being eaten alive by a pulsing, growing blob of former stomach contents flicked the 'bad mood' switched to 'good mood'. And all is now well with my world. Mostly. If I choose to look for it.

So when you sit down to write and the mood you're in doesn't match the stuff going on in your scenes? Flex your 'picture this' muscles. See your world as it isn't.

Funny stuff, I tell ya.

Now my challenge is, how to get out of this mood before I go to the post office. Those people behind the counter never take the 'service' part of their corporate title seriously if you go in there with a smile on your face.

Happy writing, folks. And may your days be free of doggy...well, you know.

Loree

When Writers Write Wrong

Hey, y'all!

This post will be short (and I'll be back later today to add a real one).

First, I apologize to anyone who has visited, to read, write, or pose a question on a writing-related topic, only to find a long and unweildy list of disgusting comments. Let me stress that these stupid and inappropriate remarks were UNINVITED.

A few health and personal issues have kept me from popping over here to add new blog material, and until this morning, I had no idea! Well, I've just spent a couple of hours deleting some of the comments posted to this blog. Not the nice stuff, not even the stuff that disagrees with my stuff. Just the uninvited, inappropriate trash kinda stuff. It's gone. Ka-put. Erased. Deleted. And I've made changes to what people are allowed to post, to make it more difficult for these wackos to leave their nasty calling cards behind.

But you know the Internet: If there's a way to tear down a protective wall, some sick and twisted pervert will find a way. And y'all know ME...so if you drop by and see anything you think I wouldn't approve of, let me know, and I'll speed right over here and axe it from the blog.

Again, my sincere apologies for any offensive garbage you saw here. I intend to visit daily now, so I can slam the door on those obtrusive cyber-bullies. Maybe, if I do it often enough, their fingers will hurt too much to type!

Take care, and stay in touch!

All my best,
Loree

Writing through the holidays

Howdy, y'all!

If you've been as busy as I have, you've probably asked Santa to bring extra hours in every day. But just in case he doesn't come through, I have a plan:

First, I went through my files. Yes, ALL my files. Almost a hundred story ideas, all at various stages of development. If a manuscript had no hope of selling, even if it hadn't been submitted and rejected, it took a short flight straight into the trash can.

That left me with about two dozen stories, some fully-fleshed out, others just topics I felt could be turned into salable novel plots. I gave each a thorough read, to determine which might sell in today's market...and which cannot...and a few more files sailed into the already-full garbage pile.

Next I sorted through the remaining six story outlines, and put them in 'easiest to complete and submit' order, so that on January 2, 2007, I can perch on my purple exercise ball, fingertips curled above the keyboard, and dig in on 'the story of my heart' (working title "Defiance").

Make no mistake: The "Defiance" characters and storyline fits today's publishing trends. I see no point in making a difficult job even harder. I mean, why put time, effort, and energy into a book nobody but me wants to read! (The fact that I can write about a couple of my favorite topics, and wrap character traits around my favorite (and least favorite) personality types is a 'plus'....)

Yeah, I'll put my 'all' into "Defiance", and when I believe it's ready, I'll submit the synopsis and first three chapters. And before editors' fingers ever turn the pages, I'll be hard at work on the second story in my short-stack, "Tuxedo Bend".

I'm organized to a fault. If things aren't in order, I can't get anything done. Chaos--even a small amount--puts me into a never-ending tailspin of 'fix this' and 'do that'. In order to concentrate on a task at hand, my tiny brain needs to see and feel (and believe) all the ducks are in a row, all the T's are crossed, all the I's dotted.

There's no turning back; I dragged pounds of paper to the curb and cringed as two big guys hefted the can into the back of the trash truck. Maybe the rats and roaches at the landfill will enjoy reading what no agent or editor ever had.... As the squealing, grinding gears of the vehicle moved down the road, I found myself relaxing. Smiling at my new-found freedom....

Each manuscript DISproved the 'out of sight, out of mind' adage. I thought of them every day, sometimes more than once a day: Could a few be rewritten? (If so, which?) Could I weave elements of one novel into the plotline of another? Might 'this' character perform better in 'that' story? Knowing they were as gone as last year's Christmas fruitcake opened my mind in a brand new way.

As an avid gardeners, I know that sometimes, when a plant malingers, harsh pruning is in order. Lopping dead stuff off, whacking back to the original plant is the only way to get back to healthy green chutes and big fragrant blooms I once enjoyed.

I'm sure you see where I'm going with this.... Cutting those dead, never-salable stories from my files made room for stronger ideas that will bear publishable fruit.

My advice to you? Instead of asking Santa to deliver more hours in the day as your Christmas gift, ask for 3 uninterrupted hours you can use to prune YOUR files. I promise...it'll be a gift that keeps on giving, for the space you'll create in your office will cry out to the Universe "Fill me!"...and new ideas will appear like magic beneath your Christmas tree....

I'll close by wishing you a merry Christmas, a happy Hannuka, a wonderful 'whatever you celebrate' during this holiday season. And may 2007 allow you to meet all your goals, and let you see at least a few of your dreams come true.

All my best, Loree

NY AGENT Featured Guest Speaker 11/11

Here's hopin' all's well with you and yours!

I'm still dryin' out from a long, soggy weekend at our early-attic-furnished cabin in the Allegheny Mountains. Fortunately, the cloud cover didn't interfere with our satellite signal, and we were able to watch hours of Discovery Science and Animal Planet. (Don't tell my hubby, but I've fallen in love with Survivorman. )

First, let me tell you how much I've enjoyed (and learned!), reading your posts here at The Lough Down. Please, please, please...keep it up. Your ideas, comments, and suggestions are a source of inspiration...and the foundation of many articles. And remember: Posting qualifies you to attend one of my Leading Edge Writers' Studios workshops at a discount...or absolutely free...simply by reminding me you've posted....

Speaking of which, the next Leading Edge workshop takes place on November 11th. As always, we'll begin the day in Kahler Hall's Marchand Room at 9 and hit the road at 4. (If you've submitted 5 pages for a free critique, I'll meet with you at day's end.)

Our guest speaker this session is New York's own Jan Kardys, whose years of experience in the industry have prompted her to open the doors to her own literary agency. She's willing to meet with you, one-on-one, during the workshop...provided you've registered by November 3rd...for a 15-minute interview.

FYI: The past few workshops have been such a hit that plans are in the works to host weekend and week-long writing retreats at Caribbean, U.S., Canadian, and European locations. (More information on cities and hotel/B&B will be available soon, so check back to find out if your home town or dream destination is on the list.)

The Leading Edge practice of featuring industry experts as guest speakers will, of course, remain intact. Nationally renowned best-selling authors, NY editors and agents, a handsome Britain-born leading man, and a gorgeous Hollywood starlet are but a few examples of 'featured guests' who will participate in the retreats. Each 'star' will address specific areas of the industry (PR/marketing, taxes, securing agent representation, copyrights, contracts, etc), and will be availble for private interviews, autograph and photo sessions, and ordinary conversation during sit-down meals. Sign up for as many how-to sessions as you please, use the time to tour our host cities, or just 'shadow' your favorite guest speaker! (Naturally, I'll deny making that last suggestion....)

Until those plans are a little more 'firmed up', the Leading Edge Writers' Studios continues to provide students with day-long nuts-and-bolts workshops that promise to meet the needs of writers, regardless of genre or skill level. As always, breakfast, lunch, and beverages are provided for you, along with numerous handouts and all writing materials. (Visit www.loreelough.com or ShawGuides Writing Workshops (type Leading Edge Writers' Studios into their 'search' block for more details).

Oh...and remember: A percentage of your registration fee is earmarked for The Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania, so you can feel doubly good about signing up, since your hard-earned dollars will do far more than help you excell as an author, but will provide much-needed help to the magnificent residents of Speedwell Forge, as well.

Hope to see your shining faces on November 11th. (Pssst...did I mention that if you mention this blog posting when you register, you're automatically eligible for a 10% discount to the workshop of your choice?)

Meanwhile, take care!

All my best,
Loree

Writing workshop

Yes, Virginia, there's still time to register!


Loree Lough's (that's me! hehehe) popular Leading Edge Writers' Studios intensive, all-day workshop (Sept. 16, 2006 in Columbia, MD) has just a few openings left, so get your registration in soon!

For those of you who don't know, I founded The Leading Edge in 1999, in response to numerous requests from students and mentees.

Built on 15+ years' teaching experience (which includes my very own "Build a Better Novel", "The Elements of Fiction", and Writer's Digest classes, to name just a few, The Leading Edge is dedicated to one clear-cut objective: Helping you launch or enhance your writing career.

WHAT YOU'LL GET WHEN YOU SIGN UP:

Meals and beverages,

writing materials,

detailed handouts,

in-class exercises,

free one-on-one critiques (submit 5 pages by 8/15/06),

guest speaker (entertainment attorney this time!),

discounts (early registration, senior citizen, student, referrals),

the benefit of my 20+ years' writing and 15+ years' teaching experience,

and a whole lot more!

The Leading Edge will teach you how to turn your ideas into salable proposals. Learn what agents and editors want--and why--thanks to powerful tools and step-by-step instructions structured to de-mystify the write-to-sell process.

For more information, or to print a downloadable brochure and/or registration form, visit http://www.loreelough.com and click the Lectures/Workshops tab.

Hope to see you there. Meanwhile, keep those fingers on the keyboard!

All my best, Loree

Writers Beware....

For going on twelve years now, I've been invited to speak to writers' (and other) groups in the U.S. and abroad, discussing a wide variety of writing-related topics. From the hundreds of questions I've answered, I can always count on hearing one:

"Has anyone ever plagiarized your work?"

The simple answer is, a-yup. And if there's time during the Q&A period, I delve into the more complicated issues surrounding this thorny subject....

First, to tweak Bill Clinton's now-famous quote, everybody needs to be on the same page regarding exactly what the definition of plagiarism is. Fortunately, my dearies, it's waaaaaay simple: Plagiarism is stealing. It's taking another author's work and passing it off as your own.

The law specifies how many words, lines, paragraphs you can "borrow", and sets forth clear-cut rules outlining how. (Footnotes, quotes, identifying the true author and the source of the material you're "using".)

Okay, sure...there are lotsa times when it's sorta kinda almost necessary to borrow another author's work, say, in a history-type book. I say 'almost' because I've written lotsa non-fiction-historical-school-type stuff, and managed to find numerous ways to state facts and cite examples without taking the 'borrow it' shortcut: I did my own research.

Then there's the matter of "Do I need the authors' permission to quote 'em?" If you've given proper credit, followed the 'how much borrowed' rules and regs to the letter, the answer is usually 'no', but if the author is living and breathing, it'd sure be an Emily Post kinda thing to do....

Still...there's more to this prickly subject than first meets the eye. Borrowing other authors' written words and giving proper credit has long been standard policy for writers. Reporters do it all the time. Why, more'n'a few of 'em have quoted me. And to be truthful, if somebody thinks I'm good enough to quote, and they're honest enough to give me proper credit, I'm honored. Flattered. Heck, I welcome the free publicity!

Unfortunately, that particular practice isn't what I'm getting at here.

Taking somebody else's property--whether it's written/published words, or a jacket from a restaurant coat room--is stealing. And stealing is a crime. And in the eyes of most God-fearing human beings, it's a sin.

Since plagiarism is taking someone's words and tucking them amongst your own (maybe even amongst words you've...ahem..."borrowed" from other authors) without getting permission and/or giving proper credit? That's PLAGIARISM.

Having experienced first-hand what it's like to have my hard work stolen and passed off as A Thief's, I understand only too well the frustration, anger, and helplessness plagiarized authors feel.

Yeah, living by The Golden Rule is a great idea, and it's long been my motto. But it's a scary world out there; what choice do I have but to face a cold, ugly fact of life: Today's world is overpopulated by parasites who don't feel even a twinge of guilt when they take what isn't theirs and claim it as their own, no matter how many favors you've done for them, no matter how many years you've dedicated to helping them launch their writing careers.

So what do I do about it? Oh, I could sue The Thief...and fritter away my hard-earned money. But that could take years (and at my age, I don't wanna waste one precious minute!). I could confront The Thief, yet again, and see if maybe this time, I'd get some inner satisfaction upon hearing an admission of guilt. But narcissists don't change, and I couldn't stomach another chorus of "I'm an innocent victim, and you have an overactive imagination!"

Surviving a go-round with this "The world is my oyster and I'm entitled to all the pearls" leech taught me a very valuable life-lesson: I can't let stuff like this get to me, cuz another cold, hard fact of life is...if I let it get to me...I pay for The Thief's crime.

Instead of vengeance, or wasting even one precious second wondering why The Thief feels no tug of conscience, taking what's mine and passing it off as her/his own, I take comfort in the old "What goes around, comes around" adage....

All criminals think they're above the law, smarter than the rest of us, able to avoid being seen for who (and what) they are, indefinitely, with no price to pay...and "my" thief is no exception. But that smug, superior mindset is precisely what tripped up other scumsucking narcissists like Ted Bundy and that Enron bastard. And sooner or later, it'll trip up "my" plagiarist, too.

When it does, that's when I'll get my satisfaction.

Some advice to anyone who's considering the plagiarism route:

Live by The Golden Rule. Don't take something that cost someone else countless hours of blood, sweat, and tears...then pretend it's yours. Because no matter how cleverly you disguise it, or how cautiously you attempt to explain it, or how many times you try to rewrite and rework it, the words will never truly be yours. And even you can't hide from that cold, ugly fact of life.

Instead, trust your own instincts, have faith in the talent God gave you, and use your own stuff! Yeah, it might take a little longer to "get there", doing things The Right Way, but when you arrive, you'll be able to look yourself in the mirror...and genuinely like who you see. And if, upon arrival, you're greeted with applause, awards, admiration (money!)...you'll enjoy the kudos, because you'll know it was earned, not STOLEN.

If you steal, you're a thief.

If you're a thief, you're gonna get caught.

And when you do, I'll be front and center, whistling and clappin' when the world learns the truth...

...about YOU.

Business Management

Yeah...crazy as it sounds, artsy-fartsy types like us hafta dig in our heels and make the business of writing an important part of our daily lives. To do otherwise is career suicide.

Why is savvy thinkin' so critical? Well, consider the fact that there were almost 200,000 different titles published in 2005. The guys and gals who authored those books are your competition.

To succeed--and continue on the road of success--you have to understand readers, publishers, editors, booksellers and buyers, agents, royalty and advance rates, copyrights, and yourSELF.

Do you have what it takes to come up with salable ideas? If so, do you have what it takes to turn those ideas into salable manuscripts? Can you KEEP ON creating salable stuff for publishers by massaging editors with stories so fantastic that they not only trust you, but come to count on you for 'more of the same' as well?

You need a business email address. A web site. A blog...and if you're really savvy, a video blog (vlog). You need to belong to the 'right' writers' groups. Make smart alliances, because networking is important for a dozen different reasons. Get to know booksellers, so you can beg and plead, when your next book is about to hit the shelves, for some 'special handling'.

You need to consider writing a 'break-out book'. Sequels. Series books. Fiction and non-fiction. Teach some classes. Say 'yes' to some speaking engagements. Make yourself 'different', and do it now!

Will you write 'the book of your heart', or the book publishers are clammoring for? (Or will you figure out a way to combine the two?) Will you hire an agent? Change agencies? Work without a net?

I could go on (and on and on), but you get the point: There's waaaaaaaay more to being a multi-published author than writing books. Publishing companies don't have the budget any more to 'hawk' their authors. That's a job we have to do, ourselves. If we aren't willing to dive in, head first, and do the dirty-gritty-shameless self-promotional stuff, we'll end up one trick ponies.

Maybe.

If we're lucky.

(I can name a handful of writers who will ride those ponies to the grave, and be perfectly content with one, very old success. Not me! I don't have the personality to beat a dead horse, over and over, year after year. It'd make me feel like a complete and utter failure, cuz I'm the type who wants RECENT success...the more recent, the better. Why? Well, cuz it's affirmation--not just to my readers and students (that I really AM everything I claim to be), but to editors and publishers, as well. And THAT is what keeps my nose to the grindstone, year after year, series after series.

Sounds hard, doesn't it? Well, it's supposed to be hard. If it was easy, every numbskull would be doing it...and succeeding in your place.

If you haven't already written up a business plan, give it some thought. You'll be pleasantly surprised what a difference it'll make in your mindset...and your success.

So what're ya sittin' here reading for, when you could be writing Your Plan!



Until next time, stay safe and healthy!

Loree

Writers' Conference Preparation

So you've registered to attend a writers' conference, and signed up for a private meeting with an agent or an editor...or both....

Having sat through a couple of each myself, I know it can be a knee-knockin' experience, especially if you go unprepared to 'the den' .

I sat through enough of 'em that I many have moved from my 'mere acquaintences' to my 'writing pals' list. So now, when we get together, it's to discuss the ways this wacky, ever-changing industry has affected us personally (well, and professionally, too, of course)...lately.

When I'm invited to lead conference workshops or give speeches for writers' organizations, question about these meetings often crop up. So I decided to add tidbits gathered from my own agent/editor sessions to direct questions I've asked them over the years. The result? A one-hour workshop entitled "Those Critical Ten Minutes".

Let me abbreviate that hour for you, here:

1. You need to decide whether a meeting with an agent, editor, or both will best advance your career, and schedule a session as quickly as possible so you won't be forced to decide "if your first choice isn't available, who else would you like to meet?"

2. Figure out long before the meeting what type book you'll pitch. If it's fiction, is it genre fiction or mainstream? Whether fiction or non-fiction, you need to be very comfortable with your THEME.

3. Who's your audience...or...who will read your book?

4. Is the book a one-time-only deal, or do you hope to write sequels or updated editions?

5. Can you describe the entire book in ONE SENTENCE?

6. What's your writing experience and/or what credentials make you the best person to write this particular book?

7. How is your book different from others like it?

8. How much do you know about the company 'your' agent or editor works for (or owns)?

9. Dress as though you're going to a job interview...because you are.

10. Bring a 3x5 card with you, and if you have one, a business card. On the 3x5 card, write:

a. your book's title
b. your book's THEME
c. a brief overview of your story (major characters only, conflicts, how you'll resolve them, and how the book ends)

Some direct quotes from my agent/editor pals:

Don't be intimidated. We belch after a hearty meal, same as you!

Understand your own story well enough to sell it. Don't meander around the theme. If you can't describe your plot in a sentence or two, you're doomed.

Don't tell us it's a viable story, show us!

Know what we're looking for, and for the luvva Pete, don't try to talk us into buying something we can't publish or represent.

Know what other books, similar to yours, are selling...and why.

Know how we prefer to receive submissions.

LISTEN! Everything we tell you during one of these meetings is free advice, so take advantage of it!

So there y'have it, boys and girls, from the experts, themselves. No reason not to sign up for a meeting with an agent or an editor...now that you know what's expected of you!

Here's hoping you'll sell whatever you pitch! Meanwhile, write on!

Writers Gone Wrong

So here it is, the month of May already. How's that possible, I wanna know, when it seems only yesterday I packed up the Christmas decorations!

So lemme tell ya a story....

A pal called me yesterday, in tears over what someone she'd considered a friend had done to her. Brokenhearted, she didn't know how to react to what she called 'blatant betrayal'.

"I held her hand through every stage of her career," my pal said, "took her under my wing, introduced her to others who helped advance her writing career. And what did she do? She stole an idea I'd been working on for years and passed it off as her own. Now, if I use it, it'll look like I stole it from her." On the heels of a shaky sigh, she added, "If not for me, she wouldn't even be a published author!"

I didn't have the heart to tell her she was dead wrong: This so-called friend would have found a way to get into print even if she had to fork over tens of thousands of bucks to do it. She's the type who'd have taken advantage of anyone, anwhere, willing to help her. It's a darned shame it had to be my pal but, as the sages say, if it quacks like a duck, it's a duck...

...or a seasoned hunter, tootin' a duck call to lure prey....

No doubt about it. If this "friend" hadn't abused the kindness and generosiy of my pal, she'd have screwed somebody else. I'd bet my next book contract she has abused somebody else...probably dozens of somebody elses. Why am I so sure? Simple: Narcissists and parasites both bleed their hosts white, then drop off once they've had their fill. (It's no accident that when we whisper the words "narcissist" and "parasite", they sound kinda similar....)

Most writers are by nature giving, sharing, helpful people. We remember all too well the hard-scrabble struggle it took to get our books on the shelves. If we can spare somebody a few bumps and bruises as they make the same trek, we're gonna do it, even though there's a chance we'll get our butts kicked up 'tween our shoulder blades in the process.

My pal? Oh, she'll cry a while, grieve at the loss of this so-called friend. She'll cuss a little, beat herself up a bit, call herself a sap. Stupid. Naive. Say stuff like "I'm not as mad at her as I am at myself, for letting her take advantage of me!" But in time, she'll get over it.

And y'know what? Next time a fledgling writer asks for her help, she'll willingly, happily give it. I've known this gal for a couple of decades. She's not the type who'll allow "a deliberate knife in the back" to turn her sour on would-be authors. She'd be the first to say it wouldn't be fair to judge 'em all by the behavior of one narcisstic parasite.

In a few months, when she's feeling stronger (less stupid, naive, and sappy), I'll tell her about a similar experience I had not so long ago, and how I consider myself doggoned lucky, because in nearly twenty years in this wacky business, I've only been kicked in the teeth once. Amazing, considering I've mentored literally hundreds of hopeful writers.

'Lucky' is the operative word here. I didn't get all savvy and sophisticated because that one painful event taught me something about myself, about human nature, about parasites and narcissists. Like my pal, I went right back to doing everything in my power to help new writers; I have their decency to thank that I bear just one scar from a painful 'backstabbing incident'.

Those of us who've been fortunate enough to write the right story at the right time, submit it to the right editor under the right circumstances are, for the most part, gonna keep right on sharing learned-the-hard-way writing and publishing lessons, because that's they kind of people we are. And the writers with whom we share those lessons are, for the most part, good and decent people who wouldn't dream of biting the hand that's feeding them helpful information.

My pal learned a tough lesson this week, one of the toughest: There are a few bums out there who'll don whatever costume is required to get 'em what they want. Some will need to honk duck their calls quite a while before they can walk away, backpack fulla limp foul in tow. Others are such masterful 'honkers' that they'll lure their prey in no time at all.

One thing's sure: The narcissistic parasites out there have built-in radar that leads them to straight to suitable hosts. So here's hopin' when they zero in on us--my brokenhearted pal, you, me--we'll have so much information in reserve, there's no way they can bleed us white.

A word to all you narcissistic parasites (and you know who you are), I hear your life cycle is frignteningly short. Enjoy your phony balonie success while it lasts, cuz it's only a matter of time before the publishing world realizes what you already know: If not for your lies and thievery, you couldn't make it on your own.

The rest of you? Write on!

Writing Research

In this installment of The Lough Down, we'll tackle a problem that has confused and distracted writers since, well, since the dawn of writing...research:

Q: Loree, please help me! How much research is sufficient in preparing to write a novel? I mean, if one of my characters is Chinese, do I need to visit Moscow?

A: Well, gee. Of course you don't have to go to Singapore just cuz a guy in your book is a former citizen. There are dozens of ways to research for accurate details without going straight to the Asian's mouth:

Surely someone you know knows somebody who's from Asia. Set up a lunch date with that person and enjoy some lively, one-on-one discussions about the homeland.

Visit your local library and/or bookstore, and read everything you can get your hands on about Asia, its history, climate, customs, etc.

Call a nearby college or university to set up an interview with a professor of Asian language or history.

Did someone you know visit Asia lately? Ask them to share photographs, memories, maps, etc., of the trip. Find out what s/he liked and disliked about the place...and why.

Rent some videotapes. Visit a travel agency. Get online and find out about the country's folklore, lullabyes, clothing styles, food. Experience the culture and the people any way you can. And if you can afford it, by all means, book passage on a Asian-bound 747 (keeping in mind, of course, that I'm handy with a travel iron, should you need a valet...).

And when you have a tidy stack of information available to you, sprinkle some of those facts and details into your story!

One thing you do NOT want to do: Put everything you learned into the story.

I know a writer who did a ton of research for a novel. I'd have to guess after several years, there was a couple hundred pounds of paper in her office, all related to South America. Trouble was, she felt obliged to show off all she'd learned about the continent by inserting every shred of the stuff into her story. So much so that the characters stopped talking like real people and started sounding like history professors. BORING history professors. The plot slowed to a plodding, hum-drum pace. (I remember one scene in which her characters were walking through a museum, listening to the drone of an overhead speaker; "much-needed" information wafted down to her readers appearing in italics....)

Would you be surprised to learn that, although she 'shopped the book around' to dozens of agents and at least as many publishing companies, she didn't sell the story...and ended up shelling out $30,000 of her husband's hard-earned money to have it self-published? Would you be shocked to know that she can't give copies away fast enough, and that of the 2,500 books delivered to her garage five years ago, nearly 2,000 still sit in their original packing cartons in her basement? (Her husband, sons and daughters-in-law claim to love the book...when she's within earshot. But I've been present on many occasions when she isn't near enough to overhear what people say about "that so-called novel". All I can say is, God bless her friends and family [myself included] for protecting her from the ugly truth!)

Research is like makeup: Too much and you just look silly; too little, and you look, well, flat. And it's a little like medicine: "If one pill works in 20 minutes, FOUR will work way faster and better...." The end result of nonsense like that is...you get sicker. You might even die!

The bottom line is simple: When we over-do research, we end up with dreary, meandering plots that, even when self-published, disappoint and/or bore our readers. (And remember, our first readers are agents and editors!)

So exercise extreme caution when positioning research...or prepare to wonder what unspoken thoughts lie between the parantheses when your friends and family say, "Great story (that reads like a high school history book)!" or "I couldn't put it down (fast enough)!" or "I had to wait my turn to read it (thank God!)."

Now, off with you, and may your own writing be 'research perfect'!

A Little Altrusim Never Hurt Anybody

So how do you like my friend, here? Gorgeous, isn't he? He's part of my computer's desktop, and I look forward to having his eyes meet mine every time I sign on.

I've been enamoured of wolves since the early 90s, when I researched them for a novel I was writing. Started collecting 'wolf stuff' back then...a plaque here, a statue there...an over the years, I've accumulated more than 100 'wolf things'.

Quite by accident, I found a wolf sanctuary in Pennsylvania, about a two hour drive from my house. What a place! You can find similar organizations near you online. Doesn't hafta be wolves. Maybe your wildlife 'love' is tigers, or monkeys, or bald eagles. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how many individuals and organizations are out there, dedicated to the protection and preservation of many species.

You'll also find it satisfying and fulfilling, doing something positive that will help your chosen critter. Yes, I fully support every effort being made to improve the lives of The Wolves of Speedwell Forge. And yes, I've made a vow to dedicate a portion of my income every year to The Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania. Of course, those magnificent animals benefit from my donations.

But I have to be honest: What my contributions do for my soul can't be bought with dollars and cents. If I could, I wouldn't just write checks, I'd buy a little house nearby, so I could see the results of my so-called good works.

If you aren't already involved with a similar project, try one on for size. I guarantee you'll love how it makes you feel. (And just imagine how your readers will react when you put those emotions into the stories you're crafting!)

Well, that's it for now. Until next time, take care, keep those keyboards clackin'!

All my best,
Loree

Should You Attend Conferences?

I received so many questions on this topic that, despite having posted today, I decided to post again.

Q: Loree, I've read so much about the benefits of attending writers' conferences, but even the local ones are expensive. How do I know which to spend my money on?

A: Start by asking your writer pals, those who are veteran conference-goers. Talk to writing instructors who routinely lead workshops at writers conferences. They'll direct you to the most popular listings...and the gatherings that provide the biggest bang for your buck.

At first, you'll be overwhelmed with the list that accumulates. Never fear; you can abbreviate it by sorting out the meetings that don't require air or train transportation, and reduce the list yet again by selecting gatherings whose advertisements promise to deliver what you're looking for:

Agent and editor appointments
Networking
Workshops
Food
Contests
Critiques
Etc.

If you have a partial or complete manuscript, you might be ready for a face-to-face meeting with an agent or editor. Most times, these pre-scheduled appointments are included with your registration fee. If you're asked to pay (and the fees vary) for this service, make sure to check out the credentials of the person you'll sign up to meet. (Does this person represent a recognized publishing house or literary agency? If s/he is a published author, getting paid to evaluate the salability of your work, what qualifications have been provided [# published books, teaching and/or editing experience, etc.].)

Networking is an invaluable thing. Writing, by its very nature, is a solitary profession. For the most part, authors work alone, so it's a wonderful thing, meeting with folks who have the same needs, ambitions, problems, and lifestyles. I can't say enough about the added potential of meeting people who can literally move your career to 'that next stage'. Writers are generous (sometimes to a fault), and will happily share learned the hard way lessons with you.

Workshops range in skill level, providing how-to information for a brand-new writer...or someone who's been in the business a long time. You can usually tell by workshop descriptions whether or not the material is tailored to meet your needs.
Whether you'll buy your own meals or the writing organization provides food as part of your registration fee, take advantage of every opportunity to commune with your peers. Laugh, share experiences (the good, the bad, and the ugly), and leave with a full stomach, a satisfied soul, a happy heart, and a few new friends.

You'll decide well in advance of a conference if you'll submit your work as a contest entry. The prize could be monetary...and it might be the glorious experience of having your submission reviewed by a professional editor or author, and the feedback can be invaluable! (Most contests do require an entry fee, usually between $25 and $50.) If the contest judges are members of the writing organization, there's nothing wrong with asking that your entry be read by someone with experience...rather than 'just another member' who is no more qualification to know a salable piece of writing than you are!

One-on-one critiques, like meetings with editors and agents, can also be a very good thing...provided your critiquer has the experience and the qualifications to give a thorough assessment of your work. If it seems I'm repeating that theme a lot, it's because I am. Too many authors have been led far afield by "teachers" who fabricate or exaggerate their credentials. Consequently, the information they provide is faulty, at best. I know writers who have literally lost years trying to fix the mistakes that were the result of bad advice from faux instructors. DON'T BECOME ONE OF THEM!

How do you check out instructors' credentials? Demand proof they are who and what they claim to be! If they say they've been teaching for years, find out where, and then check it out! (Too many so-called teachers are running their own private programs--some out of their own homes!--and are not unaffilitated with an accredited college, organization, etc. Still others claim to be members of legitimate faculties, but because of lack of enrollment, they've never actually taught a course at that school! You owe it to yourself, your future writing career, and your wallet to investigate the validity of instructors' claims.

Conferences can be entertaining and educational, and well worth any expense associated with them. If you do your homework carefully and completely, you'll come away satisfied that you met some cool people and learned a few things...which means your money was well spent.

I've been invited to speak at several conferences this summer, starting with the PennWriters annual get-together near Harrisburg, PA in May, 2006. For all they're offering, attendees will surely get their dollars' worth. I've seen the speakers' list, and except for a name or two, the faculty passes even my rigorous muster. PennWriters is one of those 'not too small, not too large' conferences, great for a first-timer who might fear getting lost, with an anticipated attendance of about 150.

For a more intimate setting, try my mini-conference: The Leading Edge Writers' Studios. Maximum attendance is 40...perfect if you prefer a quiet, one-day event. (Visit http://writing.shawguides.com/TheLeadingEdgeWritersStudios/ for more information, and if you mention this Blog when you sign up, you'll get a discount!)
See you next time, when I'll go into more detail about what to do (and expect from) those important editor/agent meetings. Meanwhile, take care, and happy writing!