Saturday Edition – What We’re Writing and Reading

Welcome to this Saturday Edition of What We’re Writing and Reading.

We’re taking a little detour on the weekends now to share some of what we’re up to with our writing (when we’re not here) and what we’re into with our reading (around the web). We’ll also pull back the curtain a little to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what went into a piece.

We hope you enjoy this little diversion and encourage you to share your own posts and picks in the comments.

Happy writing! Happy reading! 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Lisa J. Jackson: I’m away on vacation this week, exploring “the Cape”. It’s been quite enjoyable and relaxing (once I convinced myself I didn’t *have* to do anything except fun stuff). I haven’t been online much (yay, I can cut the online umbilical cord!) Amazing that I’ve been a lifelong New Englander and never explored the Cape until now. On Tuesday morning there were 2 rain clouds in all of New England — guess where I was? Yep, right under them. Ah, well, it’s vacation.

What I’m writing: I’ve enjoyed getting back to journal pages and exploring my thoughts. I’ve had a lot of downtime and quiet time, and there’s something about sea air that rejuvenates my soul. I have notes for new story ideas written down, and I’ve written a lot in my planner – steps to achieving goals.

What I’m reading: I brought a copy of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine with me. It’s been fun to read short mystery stories. I’ve heard writers and authors say they can’t read in their genre when they are writing, but I think it’s like catnip for my muse. So many twists and turns for her to play with so when it comes to my stories, she can surprise me. I’ve also (finally) finished the novel  ”Precious Blood” by Jonathan Hayes. Definitely dark, and the main character is a medical examiner, so, well, you don’t want to read it while eating.

And this post caught my eye and is worth the time if you’re seeking to build an audience: 12 Ways to Delight Your Social Media Community & Audiences.

Or if you’re considering starting a blog, here’s a post with 5 top tips for Starting Your Business Blog.

I hope you’ve had a great week and have found ways to get your writing projects done while also enjoying some personal reading time.

Jamie Wallace: Hello, fellow writers! Happy Saturday.

Work has been a little wonky this week, but managing to keep busy with some website copy for an architect and continuing revisions to a B2B ebook. I haven’t managed any personal, creative writing other than my morning pages and a column I’m working on for next week’s paper. Mostly, I’ve been focusing on continuing to work on some critical business development projects. I’m working with a lovely coach (who I’ll write more about soon) and starting to really unpack where I’m going next with my marketing business. I’m pretty excited, especially because part of what I’m going to be doing will be geared towards writers. Finally!

What I’m Writing:

This week I posted another seriously from-the-heart post on my marketing blog. I wrote Do you know why you do what you do? after several disparate things clicked into place in my head and told me a story about the importance of knowing – really knowing – why you do what you do. The post was a little bit of a departure for me because it came out in a series of fragments that are loosely connected. I’m wondering if that was because I’ve been thinking a lot about creating a series of linked short stories. Perhaps my subconscious brain picked up on that vibe and tried to replicate it in some way in the blog post. I don’t know. What I do know is that I definitely got a little emotional on the recording.

What I’m Reading: 

Though I’m still working on Alice Hoffman’s The River King, I also picked up and began reading the first short story in a book that’s been on my bedside table for longer than I care to admit, Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clark. I’m becoming very interested in the idea of writing short stories, so I’m looking for good examples to study. (If you have any recommendations, I’d love to hear them!)

In addition, I enjoyed a few great blogs posts:

• 101 Tweetable Quotes For Authors by @AuthorMedia
• Kindle Singles and Why You Want One by @brooke_warner via @shewritesdotcom
• 6 Tips to Grow Your Twitter Followers by @DanielSharkov
• Your Platform is Not a Stage You Stand On  by @DanBlank

 

photo: M. Shafer

Deborah Lee Luskin: Finished another chapter of Ellen! And started the next! Recorded a commentary on Tuesday that was broadcast on Wednesday. All reading this week was work-related research, and free time was spent with visiting children. Bliss.

 

Read Full Post »

Run, don’t walk, to listen to Inside Creative Writing

If you’d like, you can listen to this post.

I am a writer, but I am not yet the writer I want to be.

I have had very little in the way of formal training. I do not have a college degree or an MFA. I have taken a few, scattered writing courses (most recently a class on writing fantasy at the wonderful Grub Street in Boston), but mostly I’ve cobbled together random bits and pieces – like a magpie collecting shiny things to adorn its nest.

Though my journey has followed a somewhat circuitous path, I believe that I have made progress. From a seven-year-old scribbling in a notebook that I pilfered from the supply closet at the bank where my dad was a VP, I have evolved into someone who makes her living with words – crafting content for my marketing clients, writing a column for my local paper, and even occasionally penning a feature piece for a regional magazine.

But, I am still not the writer I want to be.

I ache to write fiction, but as a single mama workin’ this gig, I can’t easily afford time to play in the speculative and financially unstable world of fiction. The writing that pays my bills takes precedence. Making time to practice and study the craft of fiction is a challenge for me, to say the least.

Enter the power of the podcast.

Those of you who’ve been hanging around here awhile already know that I am a huge and unabashed fan of audio books. If it weren’t for audio books, I’d probably only manage to read a handful of novels each year. But with Audible in my pocket, I am able to “read” while I walk, drive, do the dishes, run the vacuum, etc. It’s a beautiful thing.

Podcasts are another audio format that allow me to connect with content while I’m doing something else. I have been listening to several marketing podcasts for a while, but only recently decided to investigate writing podcasts. Long story short, I struck gold with a brand new podcast called Inside Creative Writing.

Brad Reed is the writer and educator behind this podcast. As a frequent podcast listener, I can be a bit of a critic, but this guy is doing a fabulous job. His shows are highly informative, entertaining, and actionable. I frequently pause in my walk to jot down a note so I don’t forget what he’s said about a particular technique or insight. He has put a lot of thought into his format – alternating one-man shows with interviews and always including a couple of closing elements – “Wise Words” (inspirational and thought-provoking quotes) and a writing assignment (not a prompt, but an assignment on applying the techniques discussed in the show). His production quality is great, his show notes are thorough, and he even has a way for listeners to participate in the show by leaving him a voicemail with a quote for the Wise Words segment, which he then edits into the actual show. (You can hear my debut appearance in Show #8.)

Can you tell I’m a bit of a fan?

The thing is, we’re only eight shows into this podcast, and I have already learned SO much. Reed covers topics in a way that is clear and non-threatening. He makes great use of examples to bring each of the concepts and techniques to life. He isn’t afraid to take deep dives on a topic, making sure you – as the listener – really have a chance to fully absorb and process the idea. Also (and this counts in my book), he’s a really nice guy. I emailed him a quick note of appreciation and wound up having a very pleasant email chat. I can tell that Reed is doing this with his community firmly in mind.

I really can’t recommend the show enough. I was talking to a group of writer friends earlier this week about our favorite writing resources – the go-to books, blogs, and magazines that help us get a handle on what the hell we’re doing. All the usual suspects came up, but then the conversation took a turn as one of the writers sputtered, “They’re all great, but I never have time to read them!” Too true.

I subscribe to Poets & Writers. It’s an excellent magazine (probably one of the very best on the topic of writing). I always learn something when I read an issue, but – like my friend – I can’t always find time to read them. As a matter of fact, I have four unread issues sitting in a pile next to my desk right now. I feel guilty and frustrated and a little defeated when I think about how long those magazines have been sitting there, waiting for me to find a few minutes to crack their crisp covers. Alas, I don’t see that happening in the near future. However, the Inside Creative Writing podcast is filling that gap in my education quite nicely. I can honestly say that I am learning as much (if not more) about good story writing by listening to Reed as I would poring over the pages of Poets & Writers. (And, that’s saying something!)

I guess the most telling thing I can say about how much I like the show is this: I’m willing to pay for it.

In the most recent episode, Reed invited listeners to become supporters by making a voluntary donation to help offset show costs. He called it the “public broadcasting model.” I immediately went to www.insidecreativewriting.com and clicked the “Donate” button. I plunked down $36 – what I might pay for a year’s subscription to a quality, writing magazine – and was happy to do it.

After all, I can certainly forego a few lattes in the name of becoming the writer I want to be.

.

Jamie Lee Wallace is a writer who also happens to be a marketer. She helps her Suddenly Marketing clients discover their voice, connect with their audience, and find their marketing groove. She is also a mom, a prolific blogger, and a student of voice and trapeze (not at the same time). Introduce yourself on facebook or twitter. She doesn’t bite … usually.

Read Full Post »

Saturday Edition – What We’re Writing and Reading

Welcome to this Saturday Edition of What We’re Writing and Reading.

We’re taking a little detour on the weekends now to share some of what we’re up to with our writing (when we’re not here) and what we’re into with our reading (around the web). We’ll also pull back the curtain a little to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what went into a piece.

We hope you enjoy this little diversion and encourage you to share your own posts and picks in the comments.

Happy writing! Happy reading! 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Lisa J. Jackson:

What I’m writing: This week I managed to get short journal entries completed. Woo hoo! Yay me! I’m working on a magazine article and a business case study — I got the interviews done, now I have to transcribe them and get the papers written and submitted quickly. Have I ever mentioned that I love variety? I do!

What I’m reading:

I’m catching up on a couple of copies of Runner’s World. After walking my last 5K (I swear it was up hill both ways, sideways, and backwards), I’m determined to run my next one in a couple of weeks, and the motivation I’m finding in the stories in this magazine is amazing.

Here are couple blog posts that caught my attention this week:

• Here’s a video interview with a literary agent posted to a university’s (one that holds a special place in my heart) blog for creative writers. What a Literary Agent Does and How They Help You.
• Here’s a post with a fabulous picture of a momma and baby crane that leads into a post on Content Marketing: Are You Sharing Your Best Stuff? I think I’ve shared Pam Moore’s (1/2 marketing, 1/2 geek, 100% social nut) blog link with you before – it’s great.

Diane MacKinnon:

What I’m Writing: I submitted my short story last week so I spent the last month working on it every chance I got. It feels great to have it completed and out of my hands, but I do feel a little lost as I consider what my next big writing project will be. In the meantime, I’m journaling more, and I’ve been keeping up with blog posts for my blog and for WTL-LTW. I just saw a call for submissions for a shorter piece, so I may write an essay for that.

What I’m Reading: I’m currently reading two of Brene Brown’s books: Daring Greatly, her latest book, and I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t), her first book. I just started a book for my book club, but I’ll wait to mention the name until I get a little further into it.

Jamie Wallace: Oh, what a week I had last week! I missed being here on Saturday, but I had two really good reasons for my absence. (I don’t have a note from my mom, so you’ll just have to trust me on this.) Reason #1: My trusty MacBook Pro needed an emergency triple bypass. No joke. The Genius at the Genius Bar almost couldn’t get the diagnostics to run, and when he did he gave me a thumbs down on my battery, my fan, AND my logic board (whatever the hell that is). When he asked me to sign the release, and I asked if I had to leave my computer with him right then, at that moment, he said, “This isn’t elective, this is an ER, all-hands-on-deck situation.” Um … riiiight.

Happily, my computer is now (knock on wood) back up and running. Hooray!

Reason #2: I spent Saturday attending the Grub Street writers’ conference in Boston. This annual event (called “The Muse”) is fabulous. There is nothing so exhausting and so exhilarating as spending a whole day immersed in a crowd of rabidly literate and creative writers. The sessions were great, the camaraderie was heartwarming, and the keynote speaker was the one and only Amanda Fucking Palmer. I have SO much to share from the event, but I need to sit back and regroup before I do that. So – consider this a “coming soon!” notice.

What I’m Writing:

Work, work, and more work. Continuing to hammer away on one client’s ebook while just wrapping up first drafts of another client’s case studies. I also wrote a rather long post for my marketing blog on the topic of knowing (really knowing) who your competition is. (Hint: It’s not who you think it is.) I’ve been continuing to experiment with including audios with each of my blog posts, but still don’t feel 100% comfortable behind the mic. I’m guessing that comes with practice. Lots and lots of practice. Anyway – here’s the blog post: Your competition isn’t who you think it is.

I also posted a reprint of a column I wrote for my local paper on the ups and downs of house hunting. You can read Looking for love in the real estate section on my blog. Love to hear your  house hunting stories!

What I’m Reading:

The joy of novel reading has taken a backseat to a crazy schedule, but I still always seem able to make time for the blogs. Here are a few of my faves from the week:

• Lessons Learned From Bestselling Indie Authors On Writing, Publishing & Book Marketing by @thecreativepenn
• 22 Staples And The State Of Two Internets by @RichBecker
• THIS IS WATER. A must-see, if you haven’t already. <– This was the tweet from @SusanOrlean. I’m so glad she shared this poignant piece from David Foster Wallace. Writers have to see the water … and help other people see the water.

 

photo: M. Shafer

Deborah Lee Luskin

What I’m Writing: I finished my 330-word commentary for Vermont Public Radio’s annual Commentator’s Brunch, where thirty of us each deliver a 2-minute story on the same prompt. This year’s prompt: Lost and Found. Nothing is harder than writing this short! I also submitted a 500-word piece for the regular series; I hope to record it next week. My piece about storytelling, The Need That Sets Us Apart, appeared in my column for the local independent newspaper this week. And I continue to make progress on Ellen, the novel. What I’m Reading: Because I spend so much time in front of the computer for work, I tend to read books and magazines. This week, I’ve been reading The Bluebird Effect by Julie Zickefoose, and Prime by Pepper Schwarts. My great indulgence is to read The New Yorker while soaking in the bath.
 What Else I’m Doing: Spring chores and gardening! And the 2013 rowing season has officially begun!

 

Read Full Post »

Different ways to get your story started

Writers (of fiction, non-fiction, online, print, and so on) know that beginnings are important. Without the right beginning, the chance for retaining a reader declines rapidly.

So, what type of beginning is best? There’s no perfect answer, of course, but do you have a habit of starting stories, articles, or blog posts the same way? If so, or if you’re unsure, now is a good time to evaluate your writing and see if there’s a way to refresh your beginnings.

Exercise: Pull out a few stories, articles, or blog posts you’ve written recently. Note how you started them. Did they start with the same part of speech? Do you lean on nouns, verbs, pronouns, or adjectives every time?

If not, you already have variety in your beginnings. Bravo!

But if you notice a tendency to open with a certain part of speech  (I favor starting with ‘The’), consider trying something new with the next piece you write.

Here are some examples of ways to start a sentence:

• Adjective – Bright lights can show more than you want seen.
• Article – The best way to manage your time is to schedule it.
• Adverb – Sometimes clients know what they want, but not what they need.
• Conjunction – But you may not find the answers if you don’t ask the questions.
• Gerund - Crossing your arms is a sign of disagreement.
• Noun - Jess made her way to the stage to accept her award.
• Preposition - On the ropes, the boxer glanced at his girlfriend and winked.
• Pronoun - She bought the antique clock after taking its measurements.
• Verb - Start now and celebrate the milestones.

Practice opening your sentences in different ways to see if anything new works for you.

Give it a shot, there’s nothing to lose, and only refreshed writing to gain.

Lisa J. Jackson loves working with words in her own work and with businesses. She also loves New Hampshire and is focused on completing several 5Ks in 2013 as a way to get off the couch consistently. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, Biznik, Facebook, and Twitter. 

Read Full Post »

Saturday Edition – What We’re Writing and Reading

Welcome to this Saturday Edition of What We’re Writing and Reading.

We’re taking a little detour on the weekends now to share some of what we’re up to with our writing (when we’re not here) and what we’re into with our reading (around the web). We’ll also pull back the curtain a little to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what went into a piece.

We hope you enjoy this little diversion and encourage you to share your own posts and picks in the comments.

Happy writing! Happy reading! 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Lisa J. Jackson: Time flies by so quickly! Another Saturday already? Well, okay.

What I’m writing: I put the final touches on a short mystery story and subbed it to an anthology on Tuesday. Why I waited until the last minute to submit it, baffles me since subs opened in January for this particular book. I hope to get better at submitting in general and submitting before the last minute going forward. Speaking of last minute submissions – I better get my sub in to my crit group!

What I’m reading: The user’s guide to my new DSLR. So many features and things to learn about this fabulous camera. It’s a Nikon D600 and will keep my happy for many years to come. I’ve been saving and planning to get a nice camera for years. A goal accomplished!

In other reading – Terry Whalin posts a lot of great information for writers through his Twitter account. He’s a former literary agent and is now an acquisitions editor and author, so knows what writers need to know about. A recent post by Toby Neal caught my attention, Women and the new entrepreneurship. She talks about what it’s like to be a small business owner. Her site is focused on writing, creativity, and Hawaii (where she lives). And while I’m on the topic of small business ownership – Intuit has a lot of great articles and resources on its Small Business Blog.

 

photo: M. Shafer

Deborah Lee Luskin: Great progress on Ellen, the novel; wrote and submitted a column on storytelling for the Commons; started a commentary on the prompt “Lost and Found” for the VPR Commentator’s Brunch on June 15; wrapped up the special project I’ve been doing for VPR and submitted my final invoice (fun!). I also set up three meetings to learn from others about starting a very local newsletter for my small town. Wednesday evening, I attended a lecture about William Wadsworth and Robert Frost given by Vermont’s Poet Laureate, Sydney Lea, and I’ve been  rereading Robert Frost ever since. I also sat down at the piano twice!

Read Full Post »

Saturday Edition – What We’re Writing and Reading

Welcome to this Saturday Edition of What We’re Writing and Reading.

We’re taking a little detour on the weekends now to share some of what we’re up to with our writing (when we’re not here) and what we’re into with our reading (around the web). We’ll also pull back the curtain a little to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what went into a piece.

We hope you enjoy this little diversion and encourage you to share your own posts and picks in the comments.

Happy writing! Happy reading! 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Lisa J. Jackson: The week started off intending to go one way and it turned out to be a lot different! The joys of freelancing – and why I still ‘pencil’ things into my day planner instead of writing them in pen. But it all works out in the end, every time.

What I’m writing: Blog posts and short stories ruled this week in the writing arena. Editing marketing collateral made up the bulk of my work, which is more reading than writing when it goes smoothly. And it did. Ahhh.

What I’m reading: I love this post by Pam Moore that touches on how important it is to just “be” sometimes – The Power of Focused Passion in Business and Life. I’ve found a blog that is inspiring for fitness goals – Train-Eat-Sleep - it’s insightful, motivating, and most important, real. And Lou Bortone has oodles of experience to share regarding video marketing and he makes it fun and easy to learn. Definitely a blog worth reading.

In other news: I’m enjoying my first-ever visit to New Jersey this weekend and attending a concert that’s pulling me back to my teen years. Pat Benatar still knows how to rock and roll, oh yeah. Even better, though, is I’m spending some awesome quality time with my brother. Fabulous.

photo: M. Shafer

Deborah Lee Luskin: I’ve had a perfectly lovely week with “nothing” exciting to report, save steady progress on my novel, steady progress on a special project for Vermont Public Radio, and a proposal to a prospective client regarding manuscript development. I’ve come to appreciate the magic of such “ordinary” weeks where all I do is forge ahead without fanfare but with concentration and delight. Part of me loves having one day much the same as another – until I hit a wall, and then I want everything to change. This has been a lovely week of diligent work. Hooray!

Diane MacKinnon: I’m working to cut 1000 words from a short story I’m getting ready to send off to a contest. I’ve been rewriting my story for the past couple of months and I think it’s a lot better than it was–but it’s also a lot longer. I’m going to see how many words I can cut without cutting the meat of the story. I’ve saved the long version because maybe it’ll end up being a novella–who knows?

A blog I read regularly is The Health Care Blog. It’s about all aspects of the health care field and I find it fascinating. While it’s aimed at health care professionals, many of the topics are important to health care consumers.

Jamie Wallace: Morning, all! It’s a cheerfully sunny, not-quite-warm day here on the north shore. I’m getting ready to hustle through a quick breakfast with my daughter so we can arrive early at an equine expo and sale where I hope we’ll be able to pick up some quality riding attire on the cheap. (Wish us luck!). Meanwhile – here’s what’s been cookin’ in my writerly corner of the world:

What I’m Writing: 

Again – not a whole heck of a lot. I’m in week two of a nasty cold that took me out at the knees at the start of my daughter’s April vacation. My energy level has been very low, but I’ve been trying to resist the urge to beat myself up about it and indulge, instead, in some sensible TLC. I have been working on client projects (an ebook for a software company and some key website copy for a friend and local architect). I have also been doing some discovery work on rebranding my marketing business. This is a fun but intense process that is helping me discover and define the “why” that drives my business.

Inspired by this work, I wrote a post for my marketing blog on the importance of Marketing From Your Core. I am an unapologetic branding geek and champion. In this post, I get back up on my soapbox to talk a little bit about why getting a handle on the core values and mission of your brand are so critical to your long term success. Even for writers (and perhaps I’ll put together a post on this soon), developing a brand is a smart and powerful way to set yourself apart from the competition. I know many writers balk at the idea of “being a brand,” but if you think of a brand as simply a “defined story” about who you are and why you do what you do, perhaps it won’t seem like such a foreign idea.

What I’m Reading: 

Affiliate Link

Last weekend, I bought a used copy of Alice Hoffman’s novel, The River King (affiliate link). I’ve only just started to read it, but I’m enjoying her characters and the setting which is a small New England town much like the one I live in. Magical Realism is probably my favorite genre, and Hoffman is one of the best-known writers in that category. The movie Practical Magic (which I adore) is based on one of her novels, but I’ve never read the book. I’m surprised at how slowly The River King starts, though. All the advice I’ve heard tells us to get things moving quickly – grab the reader’s attention, start the story in the middle. Hoffman seems content to spend quite a long time just introducing the characters and the setting. She is, I think, doing a little foreshadowing, but there aren’t any page-turning elements in play just yet. We’ll see how things develop as I continue deeper into the story.

And then there were the blog posts – lovely, lovely blog posts:

• How to Publish an E-Book: Resources for Authors by @JaneFriedman – A comprehensive wrap-up of posts on the topic of ebook production & publishing
• 2 Strategic and Compelling Reasons to Keep Blogging by @DanBlank – A head-clearing post on the value of a blog for a writer trying to develop a body of work
• Lean Sideways by Stacia Duvall – A beautifully written piece inspired by the maelstrom of controversy around Sheryl Sandberg’s book, Lean In
• What’s the Best Way to Backup Your WordPress Website? by @JerodMorris – Technical tips to protect your blog
• Slash: Not Just a Punctuation Mark Anymore by Anne Curzan – A word nerd’s look at the evolution of language
• Art exists everywhere…. – via @NPR – Art in your coffee (for all you cafe-loving writers)
• The Bookstore That Changed My Life by @joshhanagarne - A beautiful, booklover’s story

Happy reading! Happy writing!

Read Full Post »

Saturday Edition – What We’re Writing and Reading

Welcome to this Saturday Edition of What We’re Writing and Reading.

We’re taking a little detour on the weekends now to share some of what we’re up to with our writing (when we’re not here) and what we’re into with our reading (around the web). We’ll also pull back the curtain a little to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what went into a piece.

We hope you enjoy this little diversion and encourage you to share your own posts and picks in the comments.

Happy writing! Happy reading! 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Lisa J. Jackson: I missed posting my update last week, but time got away from me (due to work and because I hadn’t finished up my taxes, yikes!) and I couldn’t gather my thoughts in time. Glad to be able to do it this week!

What I’m writing: I’ve been working on solution overviews and solution-in-detail documents which are marketing documents to promote, well, solutions. I’ve also written a couple of case studies and I did that short story submission for the 24-hour short story contest I mentioned on Monday. This weekend I’m putting the final touches on an anthology submission that has to be mailed within the next few days.

What I’m reading: (1) Too many e-mails! I have to get a better handle on my inbox. When I go even a day without checking it, I’m buried. That’s just crazy. (2) Does learning a new database count? I’m the registrar for a conference and I have to learn how to add in and change details so we can open registration in a few weeks. It’s fun and I have great support, but still, a lot to ingest. (3) Precious Blood, a novel by Jonathan Hayes. He’s a medical examiner in NYC and I met him a few years ago at a fantastic writer’s conference in NC – Writer’s Police Academy (this year’s conference sold out in a few days). The novel features and ME, and it’s hard not to think of him as the character, (4) the newest editions of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine.

In related news: Tomorrow night (Sunday, April 21) from 7-9PM EST, I will be moderating a live chat with Don McNair – a professional freelance manuscript editor (Editor-Proof Your Writing) and novelist at The Writer’s Chatroom. Feel free to stop by anytime during the 2 hours. Questions are taking in a queue and there’s a giveaway at half-time (and you have to be present to win). No registration necessary, just enter a username and click ‘sign on’ and you’ll be in!

Deborah Lee Luskin: I’ve had a great week of work, spending my mornings with Ellen, the novel I’m drafting. Afternoons were spent writing scripts

photo: M. Shafer

for two live gigs this week. Yesterday, I delivered a keynote address to the nascent Vermont Chapter of the International Association of Administration Professionals. I talked about ways caregivers need to care for themselves. The meeting was held at the Corporate Headquarters of National Life Group, in Montpelier, and was a jaw-dropping glimpse of the swank corporate world for me. Tonight, I turn storyteller for a local fundraising event to benefit the South Newfane Schoolhouse. In addition, I posted I Am My Own Boss, Part One, and queued Part Two to go live on Tuesday, April 23 – Shakespeare’s Birthday.

I finished listening to Bill Bryson’s At Home. All other reading has been research related. Still trying to figure out how to read more – but have also started on spring chores outdoors. So much to do . .  .. A good week all around.

Jamie Wallace: Well, I’m late to our Saturday get together. Yesterday, the day I usually take some time to add my two cents to this post, turned out to be full of chaos, crisis, and concern for many people in and around the Boston area. My sister lives in Watertown as does a friend and colleague of mine. In addition, my daughter was too close to the epicenter of activity for my comfort, being with her dad in one of the neighboring cities. Needless to say, it was a nerve wracking day.

Thankfully, this part of the horror is over, but I fear there is much more to come and more ugliness (of all kinds) will reveal itself. Still, as writers, we write. And, we read. So … here’s what I’ve been up to despite the awful week we had.

What I’m writing:

Freeform Friday: In the Company of Cats : This is a re-publishing of the column I write for my local paper and a piece that I had a dickens of a time writing. I naively thought, going into it, that the process would be a piece of cake. I love my cats. I love writing. how hard could it be to bring the two together and get 600 – 700 words down? Turns out – very hard. I made five false starts before I found an approach that felt like it was working. I almost abandoned the whole effort, but I’m glad I didn’t. The piece isn’t perfect, but it garnered me my first official piece of personal fan mail. Kind of cool.

Because my daughter was on school vacation, I didn’t spend much other time writing. Instead, I played hooky. And I’m glad I did.

What I’m reading:

(Affiliate Link)

Partly in honor of April being poetry month, and partly because my daughter just loves a funny book, she and I read Shel Silverstein’s fabulous Runny Babbit. I just love the way Silverstein plays with ideas and language. It was a delight to watch my daughter figure out what was going on and then laugh as though she was in on a private joke. We read part of the book at bedtime one night, and the next morning she got up early and phoned my mom to read a few of her favorite selections aloud. Priceless.

I’ve never been too much for poetry, and I know next to nothing about it, but I have begun to appreciate the way the form boils down an event or idea into its most concentrated self. As a chronically busy person, poetry  gives me a nice way to fit some reading in even if I only have a few minutes in my day.

And then there were the blog posts. Here are a few of my favorites:

The Short Story on Structuring Your Short Story by @storyfix

6 Pillars of a Successful Blog via @SEJournal

Here’s What Makes Stories So Powerful by @bweyi via @write_practice

3 Ways to Improve Your Author Website Today by @JaneFriedman

Say It Out Loud: How David Sedaris Makes His Writing Better by Kristin Hohenadel

25 Rare Photos of Famous Authors 

Read Full Post »

5 Things to Consider When Writing Webcopy

When I write for someone else’s website, the first thing I do is hold a face-to-face meeting. I want to be able to hear the owner’s actual voice and figure out what it is about their business that makes them stand out from the competition. Some of the information I’m specifically looking for is:

What is the voice? I talk about voice a lot in my marketing writing. It’s something you hear about all the time with regard to internet writing. People want to hear your voice. But what does that mean? You, as the writer, need to gauge whether the client’s voice is friendly, authoritative, funny, or motherly to name just a few examples.

A company that offers services to declutter someone’s house is going to have a far different voice than a company that offers international shipping options. When I sit down with the client, I listen to their physical voice when they explain what it is their company does, and that gives me an idea of how they want themselves represented on the internet.

What benefits do they offer the customer? I recently saw a client who showed me his introductory slide presentation for prospective customers. It started with how his company got started (30 years ago) and continued until today. That’s clearly a presentation that was designed for a person who is very proud of his company. It was not designed for someone who wants to know what it is you can do for them. Find out what the benefits and then use that information in every piece of writing you create.

What are the Keywords? I always ask my clients, what words would I use to describe your business? Those will often be the SEO words you’ll use for much of the documentation. I then ask, what words would I use to describe you? Those are often the words by which the company wants to be known  - trustworthy, intelligent, competent, etc. It will be those attributes that you’ll  be showcasing in your writing.

What’s the best way to present the information? Is what the company does visual? If so, like in the case of a decluttering service, perhaps before and after photos would be effective. Is the company more results oriented, as in, they save the customer money? Then charts and graphs might be effective. . Does the company showcase or teach skills? Well now, there’s a case for video clips.

Figure out, based on the product and services, how best to represent that information on the web.

To whom are we targeting the information? In almost all cases, it starts with a blog. That part is easy, what becomes a bit trickier is figuring out how then to broadcast that blog material.

Figure out who the company typically sells to? Is it the CFO? If so, then don’t spend a lot of effort on Facebook and instead concentrate on sending articles and blog posts to LinkedIn groups and out on Twitter. Does the company have a more “friendly” community? If so then go guns blazing to Facebook. Get those blog posts up and invite discussion in a community format.

Not all web promotion is created equal. It’s up to you to match what you hear and understand from your discussions with the client to what is available out there and that would bring the most bang from their investment dollars.

***

Wendy Thomas is an award winning journalist, columnist, and blogger who believes that taking challenges in life will always lead to goodness. She is the mother of 6 funny and creative kids and it is her goal to teach them through stories and lessons.

Wendy’s current project involves writing about her family’s experiences with chickens (yes, chickens). (www.simplethrift.wordpress.com)

An important part of being a good writer is being a good listener.

Read Full Post »

Special Edition: WordPress Under Attack

Hello, fellow writers and bloggers. Happy Sunday!

Posting a quick missive today to make sure that you are all aware of the current hackfest that is going on with WordPress. We know that many of you have WordPress blogs and we’d hate to see anyone’s site compromised or posts lost.

Here is a great post from Forbes that outlines the top 6 precautions all WordPress users should take:

WordPress Under Attack: How to Avoid the Coming Botnet

Most of these fixes are simple and quick. I’ve been meaning to do many of them (including deleting my default “admin” account and installing a backup plugin as extra insurance even though my hosting company also does backups).

If you have a WordPress blog, please do take a look at this and then take the fifteen to twenty minutes to implement these recommendations.

Better safe than sorry!

Now, back to your regularly scheduled Sunday activities which hopefully include writing!

 

AUTHOR UPDATE:

Here is a helpful article about some of the backup plugins that are available: 6 Top WordPress Backup Plugin Recommendations for 2013

And here’s a quick post on how to delete that default “admin” user: WordPress Security Tip: Remove the Admin User

 

 

 

Background Image Credit: Louise Docker

Read Full Post »

Saturday Edition – What We’re Writing and Reading

Welcome to this Saturday Edition of What We’re Writing and Reading.

We’re taking a little detour on the weekends now to share some of what we’re up to with our writing (when we’re not here) and what we’re into with our reading (around the web). We’ll also pull back the curtain a little to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what went into a piece.

We hope you enjoy this little diversion and encourage you to share your own posts and picks in the comments.

Happy writing! Happy reading! 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Wendy Thomas: I’ve hesitated joining these Saturday posts because I’m not sure of what I can add.

Hi, my name is Wendy and I write.

On a weekly basis I have 3-5 newspaper/magazine articles that need to get out and I write 5-9 blog posts a week. I’ve recently started blogging for GRIT and Mother Earth News magazines. I also teach classes and workshops.

On an average weekday I spend 6-7 hours with my butt in the chair. However, I try very hard to not be connected on the weekends so that I can spend time with the family and chickens. (You won’t see me replying to any specific comments until Monday.)

Because of my involvement and experience with internet marketing, I’ve recently partnered with two marketing firms and am now providing web content for various clients including web site overhauls, brochures, white papers, presentations, newsletters, and blog posts in the form of client success stories.

I write enough to get paid enough so that I can write enough of my own material to make me happy.

What am I reading?

Always a big fan of Larry Brooks’ Storyfix blog for writers. What he says resonates so deeply with how I view story writing.

I don’t have much time to read too many other writing blogs but I do read books. (With kids, I’ve learned to always carry a book, you never know when you are going to have to wait.)  I tend to focus on non-fiction and have recently read “Salt, Sugar, Fat”, “Pandora’s Lunchbox” and “The Heavy” – food/diet books seem to be trending right now- hmm, maybe I should write a post about that.

Jamie Wallace: Hey, Saturday readers! I missed you last week!

What I’m Writing:

Like Wendy (who, btw, can bring PLENTY to these Saturday posts!), I’ve been pretty darn busy lately. I’m currently working on an ebook series and website assessment/content update for one client and a new business pitch deck for another. I’ve also been (hooray!) finding some time to work on rebranding my own business (something I’m pretty excited about).

I did manage to get a post written for my Suddenly Marketing Blog. It has relevance for writers as it addresses some of the fears we have about putting ourselves out there in our writing, particularly blogging: Write drunk; edit sober. How to blog like you mean it

From the post: Blogging can be scary. Some days, it feels like you’ve been pushed on stage and asked to do stand-up. The guy who was on before you totally killed it. The crowd was laughing in the aisles and people were repeating his catch phrase. Now you’re up there, peering through the glare of the floor lights, trying to catch a glimpse of the audience, sweating under the deep and awkward silence of a crowd waiting to see what you’re going to do.

Yeah. Sometimes, blogging is like that. (… read the rest at Suddenly Marketing)

What I’m Reading:
I just finished Chris Guillebeau’s book, The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future.  Guillebeau is a little difficult to define, but I really admire his entrepreneurial spirit and activities. First known for his travel hacking prowess, he has expanded his empire to embrace a diverse audience of self-employed artists, adventurers, and business ingenues. His World Domination Summit was one of last year’s most talked about events.

The $100 Startup is a pretty quick and easy read that is chock-full of interesting stories about people who have found unique ways to earn a living by building businesses that require little or no capital investment. From the book’s description: “Here, finally, distilled into one easy-to-use guide, are the most valuable lessons from those who’ve learned how to turn what they do into a gateway to self-fulfillment.  It’s all about finding the intersection between your “expertise” – even if you don’t consider it such — and what other people will pay for.”

As a writer, I found the case studies (and there are a lot of them!) fascinating. Many writers need to supplement their writing income with other kinds of work. The $100 Startup provides a boat load of inspiration for different types of business models and niches. The stories also got my writer/publisher brain thinking about writing-related business ideas.

This is definitely a book I’ll be referring back to as I revamp my marketing business and branch out into other, non-marketing projects.

I bought The Cats of Tanglewood Forest for my nine year-old daughter, but I’ve been the one curling up on the couch with my own kitties to enjoy this feline fairytale. I love Charles DeLint’s work for adults – Widdershins, and The Onion Girl are two of my favorites – his mixture of urban fantasy and magical surrealism, flavored with folklore is right up my alley. These are stories you can disappear into … for hours at a time.

It also doesn’t hurt that The Cats of Tanglewood Forest is illustrated by one of my favorite artists, Charles Vess. Vess is a frequent collaborator with Neil Gaiman. They did two picture books together: Instructions and Blueberry Girl.

Each of these beautiful books is like an invitation to dream.  Though I haven’t had time to work on any stories of my own, spending time inside the worlds of other writers I admire helps me keep my own imagination lively.

[Disclosure: All the above links are Amazon Affiliate links. I just joined. I think if someone buys something through my link, they put a quarter in a cup labeled "tips" and eventually I'll earn enough to buy a cuppa at my favorite cafe.] 

photo: M. Shafer

Deborah Lee Luskin: I returned from a week-long vacation on Sunday and spent Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday playing catch-up, including filing my tax returns. But the time away was all that a vacation should be, and I’ve returned recommitted to working daily on Ellen. So far, so good.

My radio commentary Other People’s Clothes broadcast on Thursday, and I’m (still) reading Slow Democracy for a community discussion on Sunday. My husband and I put the 2117-mile road trip to good use by listening to Team of Rivals in advance of our visit to Gettysburg en route to Louisville, and we enjoyed Bill Bryson reading Home: A Short History of Private Life on the way back.

Read Full Post »