I Love to Write Day

 

                                                                                                            Image credit: Pexels                                 

I Love to Write Day

Hello friends! Hope this finds you all doing well. I decided to step out of "blog retirement" to share about an important upcoming holiday for writers.

You may already be aware that November 15 is I Love to Write Day. But did you know that 2022 is this fabulous holiday's 20th anniversary? 

Author and freelancer John Riddle, founder of this great celebration, had a light bulb moment in 2002 and started a movement to encourage everyone to join in on the fun. 

John says,

"My goal for I Love to Write Day is simple: people of all ages are encouraged to write something: a poem, a letter, an essay, start a novel, finish a novel...the possibilities are endless!"

For more I Love to Write Day details, history, and fun facts visit the I Love to Write Day site. You can also connect with John on Facebook and Linkedin, and if you're so inclined, share about I Love to Write Day on your blog or social media. Feel free to use the ILTWD site link and #ilovetowriteday in your posts.

 

A Special Book to Celebrate

Since celebrating a 20th anniversary is a must, John decided to write the I Love to Write Day Creative Journal. This book is packed full of writing advice and tips to get those creative juices flowing. It contains 30 fun and inspiring challenges as well as contributions from 87 creative experts from around the globe. They include writers, authors, musicians, artists, and photographers who share about their creative journey and/or their favorite creativity tips. 

(I'm excited; I had the privilege of being one of the contributors!)

 

This book was released on November 1, 2022 and reviews are starting to come in. One reviewer called it a “fidget spinner for the creative mind that will inspire you to move from dreaming to doing…more than once!”

For more info on the Creative Journal, visit Amazon.

Speaking of Creative Boosters

What do you do when you're frustrated with your writing or the ideas don't seem to flow? Or maybe I'm the only one who has this happen sometimes? 

There are a few things I do to refresh the creative process. Maybe they're your go-to solutions too.

• Take a break - I exercise or go for a walk, get a snack, do laundry, call or text a friend, or watch a movie. It helps to get out of the writing zone and change my perspective.
  
• Read - In addition to being a great distraction, reading generates ideas, gives opportunity to observe other writing styles and teaches us new things. It takes us places that we otherwise might not go, and that can be such a refreshing change of pace.
• Create - Whether cooking, gardening, home improvement or small decorating projects, or crafts and experiments with my grandsons, it's always nice to feel creative along other avenues.
• Just write - When a deadline looms, I push through to get something down. Easier said than done, right? But it has to happen sometimes. Then I step away for a bit and upon returning, there's something to work with. Usually it's not as horrible as I think, and I can revise and work from there. 

 

What Have You Been Up To? 

What does November 2022 find you doing? How have you been? I'm certain that you've all been writing and creating and doing wonderful things, and I would love to hear about it.

Still writing here, primarily creating content for a web designer. Since much of that is in-house, I can't always share. But I do have a bit of advice about couch covers on the Bob Vila site, and a recent article on freelancing at Writers Weekly. Spending more time on LinkedIn lately too, so if you're there and I'm not among your connections, please feel free to connect with me.

What will you be doing for I Love to Write Day? How do you push through those sluggish writing stretches and get creative again?  Don't forget to share what you've been up to in the comments! 

Happy writing,

Karen

 

 

New Writers: 5 Tips for Answering Their Questions

Every so often I get the "Questions". You've probably gotten them too. You know, when someone asks,

"How do I get started in writing?" 

or, 

"How can I get my writing published?"

So us writers, we're thinking, this isn't a question that can be answered in 5 minutes. Or even 5 hours. These are "tip of the iceberg" questions. There is no brief answer, and the response is multi-faceted. There's always something to learn, and just about the time we think we've got a grasp on things, the market changes.

And since we're busy with writing and life, we don't always have the time necessary to share all of this with the wide eyed newbie asking the question. Since I've been asked these questions many times, I decided to compile a list of 5 basic tips.


1) Take writing courses.

From webinars, workshops, and seminars, to correspondence and online classes, free and paid options abound. Just because we like to write doesn't mean we have all the necessary knowledge and skills. Good courses teach things like how and where to submit our work, how to approach an editor, and so on.

I experienced this firsthand, learning valuable skills and information from the Institute of Children's Literature courses I took years ago. They were comprehensive, lending direction and cutting the learning curve down in regard to how to write what publications want.

Here are a few recommended sites that offer great courses.

Coffeehouse for Writers
Faith Writers
Poynter's News University
Institute for Writers
Institute of Children's Writers
Writer's Digest


2) Join a writer's group.

Groups offer fellowship, support, resources, courses, workshops, conferences, and more. Find local ones through friends and colleagues, regional papers, or an online search. Organizations such as the ones above also offer online support and/or critique groups.

Other groups include The Insecure Writer's Support Group, which addresses writers of all genres, the American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.


3) Attend a writer's conference.

Conventions, conferences, and workshops are offered year round. National, state, and local groups sponsor ones of all sizes. Don't discount smaller offerings; just because the keynote speaker's name isn't a household word doesn't mean they don't have much to share.


4) Take advantage of great resources. 

Books, magazines, newsletters, websites, blogs - there are great resources everywhere. A few favorites include Funds for Writers, Pen and Prosper, Writer's Digest, and Writers Weekly. These types of resources  offer links, articles, forums, contests, and other great features.


5) Keep learning.

Educate yourself. It's hard work, but keep at it, learning the craft and sharpening skills. There's always something to learn. Always.


While these tips are helpful for newbies, they're also a reminder of the wonderful tools available to all writers, no matter where we are on the journey.

What do you think? Did I miss anything? What advice would you offer? What was the most helpful advice you had when starting out?

Happy writing,
Karen



Photo image: Free Images

The Publishing Journey: Reflections & Lessons

Most of you know that I left my publisher this summer. It's not a journey I regret, for I learned much through the process, from signing the contract and publication to the hard decision to part ways.

Reflecting on the experience - it's had its benefits. These three things stand out:

• New friends - I had the privilege of meeting talented writers from around the globe. (You've met a few through interviews here.) These lovely people are kind and smart, and a great testimony to the wonderful writing community. Best of all, we're still friends.

• The importance of a good contract - While I thought the one I had was good, it did have items that I'd be more mindful of next time. It'll be worth the investment to have my lawyer's input before signing on the dotted line. 

• Better social media skills - I'm no social media pro now, but I gained insight and helpful tips through the necessary promotional activities. These skills continue to be an asset. 

In the big picture, this event was but a blip on the screen. I'm grateful for what I've gained and learned. Looking forward to the next chapter of the adventure. That said, I have a few suggestions for anyone seeking a book publisher. These tips can also apply to freelancers who write for websites, magazines, and other publications.

1) Heed the legal and other details. Review guidelines and other paperwork thoroughly. Get a lawyer familiar with publishing to review the contract. When in doubt, ask - the publisher and staff, the lawyer, etc. There are no stupid questions here.

2) Do your homework. Talk to authors published (past and present) through the company. Ask about their experience with royalties, payment terms, promotional requirements, response time and ease of communication with staff, etc.

3) Read books published by the company. Is it quality material? What do the covers and formatting look like - are they polished and professional? Would you be proud to be associated with this firm?

4) Check their reputation. From the Better Business Bureau to sites for writers like Writers Weekly and Preditors and Editors, research the company's history, status, and integrity. Google not only the company, but its key staff members. Have they had complaints or lawsuits against them? Heed the red flags.

While these tips aren't a guarantee for success, they can help prevent a difficult situation later.


Do you have any related tips or advice to offer? What have you learned through challenging situations?  How do you keep a good perspective?

Happy writing,

Karen