Writer to Writer October 2008

Writer to Writer - October 2008 - Issue One

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EDITORIAL:

While eating breakfast yesterday, I sat and watched a local current affairs program. They were interviewing Dr John Irvine, a child psychologist who is quite well known here in Australia.

He was discussing children with Asperger's (or Autism as it's more commonly known).

Since I have two grandchildren with this affliction the information interested me greatly.

As I listened, Dr Irvine mentioned parents need to be more concerned with their children's strengths and what they do well, rather than worry about the things they can't do.

I thought about that and realised this is the same for writers. We often reflect on the things we can't do, and dwell on those. What we really should do is rejoice in what we have accomplished and use those to our advantage.

As I mentioned in the last newsletter, many writers contact me to help them earn more from their writing. They tell me about their past experiences, and want to know how to proceed. Some have told me they've had only one or two non-fiction pieces published, so feel this is not something they could pursue.

The wonderful thing about non-fiction writing is that provided your writing is good, you don't necessarily need to be published previously. Your talent is what will forge your career - not your experience.

I'm a great believer of creating your own destiny. Our lives are in our hands; we simply cannot allow other people to make our life decisions. Especially those that may change the course we're currently on, or are aiming for.

As a small child, I wanted to be a writer. But as a great singer (at the time) I allowed other people to convince me that singing was my destiny. So I pursued singing - and acting - for many years. The moment the opportunity arose, I dumped it.

Why?

Because although I liked it, singing wasn't the destiny I wanted for myself. But writing was.

As writers we have so much at our fingertips. We can practically decide when and where we will earn income, and how we will go about it.

The best example I can give you is the ebook industry, which is huge. Those of us who have grabbed this opportunity are prospering. Those of us who repeatedly produce quality ebooks, are earning consistent income. And those of us who have turned our writing into a business, are the ones that will continue to earn consistent income.

There are hungry buyers out there waiting to buy your product. Why aren't you producing?

Many writers tell me they don't know what to write about. They don't know where to start. They don't know what's involved.

Find out. Do something about it.

Earlier this week I sent an email with an opportunity that many of you took up. I hope you are already working on your ebook empire. Those who accepted the challenge and work on their business will prosper. But without action, you won't succeed.

Here's the crunch: most people don't do the one thing they must do to succeed -

Take action.

Make your decision to succeed, and take action today. Or don't take action and you'll be in exactly same position three, five, or even ten years from now.

In case you missed the email in question, and would like to look the information over, you can grab it here. I've also included a link to my list of recommended resources, which will help many of you whether you produce ebooks or not. (Click the above link to get both - this is a pdf file.)

My mission is to help as many people as possible earn income from their writing. But you have to take the first step, I can't do that for you.

If you've been with me for any length of time, you'll know I'm not one to suggest you do anything I haven't done myself. So just to prove to you I do practice what I preach, you can check out one of my non-writing-niche books that will go on sale shortly - just in time for the Christmas rush:

http://www.kidschristmascooking.com

I'm in the process of adding more Christmas-related ebooks to my arsenal, and intend to use these to ensure even more income with Christmas-related products.

You see, I've been watching this niche for a while now, and I've discovered where there are major holes in the available products. And of course, I'm acting on that.

This is the sort of thing you need to do if you want to earn a good income writing for niches.

Apart from the Christmas-related ebooks, I currently have five available books in the writing niche, with more to be released soon. I earn an excellent residual income from these on a regular basis. It's basically automatic and hands-free income once you've done the writing and initial setting up.

Okay, I've written much more on this than I'd intended, so I'll change the subject!

If you're interested in copywriting, and would like to read what I have to say about pricing, please go and read my latest post on the Writer2Writer Blog since I've really hogged the editorial space today!

Now for the current issue: We all suffer from stress in some form. Cheryl Malandrinos is our resident stress-relief go-to gal. She specialises in helping writers get more organised, and ultimately reduce their stress levels. Cheryl's article this issue 'Banish Stress with Three Easy Solutions' will get you on the right track.

Okay, that's it from me - time to sit back and enjoy this issue.

Til next time…

Cheryl

p.s. Check out today's motivational quote - it is very appropriate!

p.p.s. I have a couple of fr^ee books for you to download today. There's nothing to sign up for, just click and grab!

Click to download Simple Solutions to Stress Management

Click to download Copywriting for the Web

Current and Past Issues:

You can also read this issue online here:

http://www.Writer2Writer.com/Newsletter_October_2008.htm

If you missed the last issue, you'll find it here:

http://www.writer2writer.com/Newsletter_2_September_2008.htm

To avoid non-delivery of your newsletter, please whitelist write_cheryl@optusnet.com.au - otherwise your spa^m filters may reject any correspondence sent.

Motivational Quote:

To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.

-- Bruce Lee

Please support Writer2Writer.com and the Writer to Writer newsletter by purchasing through the affiliate and advertising links in this newsletter. This keeps the newsletter and other information (such as fr*ee courses) at no charge to subscribers. Some similar publications are now charging a yearly fee - I'm constantly fighting against that trend.

Banish Stress with Three Easy Solutions

Your editor is screaming for the changes to the article that you promised her two days ago; the kids are yanking on your arm so that they’re not late to soccer practice again, and you still haven’t figured out what’s for supper tonight.

Is it any wonder you have a tension headache?

According to a National Health Interview Study, abut 75% of the population feels stress every two weeks. Stress can affect your eating habits, sleeping patterns, blood pressure, skin appearance, and weight. And in some cases it leads to death.

So, what can you do about stress? More than you think.

Stress Trigger #1: I can never accomplish everything on time.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed then you’re probably spending too much time thinking about what needs to be done instead of doing it.

Solution: Create a to-do list. Write down everything you have to do over the next week and view it with a critical eye. Does everything on this list really need to be accomplished next week? Is there something that could wait another week? What tasks have deadlines that can’t be changed?

Focus on the tasks that must be completed and prioritize them. (See my article on setting priorities - http://www.writer2writer.com/to-do-lists.htm) Then work on them one at a time. Don’t think about the next thing on your list. Concentrate only on the task at hand.

And if you’re going to miss a deadline, don’t pile on additional stress by waiting until the last minute to let the editor know. This will keep you from wasting time worrying over what she’ll say.

Read the entire article here

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Subscriber News:

Cheryl,

My first book Pennsylvania Trivia: Weird, Wacky and Wild was released by Blue Bike Books on September 15. Readers can order copies at

http://www.lonepinepublishing.com/cat/9781897278406

Jodi

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The second edition of Threshold Of CONSCIOUSNESS has been released (ISBN: 978-1-4327-3217-2). Quality in the manufacturing arena requires talented people. At times, they have been forgotten. Threshold Of Consciousness covers a small segment of their life. Quality people accept the challenge to guide the manufacture process. The media for the most part does not cover the average professional in quality until there is a major crisis. Here is an opportunity to mirror the life of Clay as a typical Quality Manager. He represents a Quality Manager that drives his determination and integrity to the point of frustration. The working environment has its own mixture of greed and politics regarding management direction vs. quality of production. It might be fiction but it has the background of what life has offered in the field of manufacturing. Check out my website www.outskirtspress.com/joe_vojt

and for bio background, short stories, articles and events check out http://www.authorsden.com/joevojt. I am a member of The Connecticut Authors & Publishers Association (CAPA) and the Connecticut Muse Literary Society.

Joe Vojt

----------------

Hi Cheryl! I’m really excited to announce the publication of an anthology that I edited for the Maryland Writers’ Association. For over twenty years, the MWA has nurtured and supported the Mid-Atlantic literary arts community. Now, for the first time, select MWA members deliver a riveting introduction to the region’s writing community in MWA Books’ debut anthology, New Lines from the Old Line State: An Anthology of Maryland Writers (ISBN: 978-0-9820032-0-6).

New Lines features 36 pieces of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry—a rich and varied selection of contemporary literature from 29 stylistically and culturally diverse writers who have been featured in publications such as Potomac Review, the Baltimore Review, Christian Science Monitor, Chattahoochee Review, Slow Trains, the Arabesques Review, Poetry Online, Chesapeake Life magazine, the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, Writers Weekly, and Scribble and have been winners of the Maryland Literary Arts Award, the Maryland Individual Artist Award, and awards from the Atlantic Monthly, among others.

New Lines celebrates and continues Maryland’s literary legacy—one that stretches as far back as America’s written history. For Maryland’s cities and shores have long inspired literary greats such as Edgar Allan Poe and Gertrude Stein, as well as more contemporary writers such as Madison Smartt Bell and Laura Lippman. The bombardment of Maryland’s Fort McHenry was even Francis Scott Key’s inspiration for America’s national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner.”

With seven essays, fourteen poems, and fifteen short stories in genres ranging from mystery to fantasy to literary fiction, New Lines from the Old Line State has it all. For more information, check out www.marylandwriters.org.

Best,

Ally E. Peltier

www.ambitiousenterprises.com

----------------

Congratulations everyone. Very well done!!!

**If you have any news, please send it along.

Click here to email Cheryl

	Tired of Earning Peanuts from Your Writing? If you want to break into non-fiction magazine writing but don't know how, this ebook is for you. You'll learn all the concepts that are essential for all magazine writers. Whether you are a novice or experienced writer, Cheryl Wright will teach you how to boost (or start!) your income writing for magazines. Click here now to learn more.
...Or Download the FREE mini-ecourse now!

Contests:

The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to anyone who loves to arrange words into the beautiful art of poetry or to write a short story that is worth telling everyone! And to all who have the ability to dream... Write a poem or short story for a chance to win cash prizes. All works must be original. http://www.dreamquestone.com

Guidelines:

Write a poem, thirty lines or fewer on any subject, style, or form, typed or neatly hand printed.

And/or write a short story, five pages maximum length, on any subject or theme, creative writing fiction or non-fiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries and screenwriting). Also, must be typed or neatly hand printed.

Multiple poetry and short story entries are accepted.

Postmark deadline: December 31, 2008

All winners will be announced and published on January 31, 2009

Prizes:

Writing Contest First Prize is $500. Second Prize: $250. Third Prize: $100.

Poetry Contest First Prize is $250. Second Prize: $125. Third Prize: $50.

Entry fees:

Writing Contest entry fee: $10 per short story submitted.

Poetry Contest entry fee: $5 per poem.

To send entries: Include title(s) with your story (ies) or poem(s), along with your name, address, phone#, email, brief biographical info. (Tell us a little about yourself), on the coversheet. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for entry confirmation. Fees payable to: “DREAMQUESTONE.COM”

Mail to:

Dream Quest One

Poetry & Writing Contest

P.O. Box 3141

Chicago, IL 60654

Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com for further details or to enter!

No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude. “And remember, in whatever you do, it’s okay to dream, for dreams do come true.” –Dream Quest One

Anthology Calls for Submissions:

This is a paying market:

The bestselling A Cup of Comfort book series is now seeking submissions for new anthologies. Stories must be true, original, positive, narrative essays (creative nonfiction), and 1,000-2,000 words. Entrants pay no fees.

Full guidelines, terms, and conditions can be found here:

http://www.cupofcomfort.com/share.htm

SHARE SOME COMFORT

A SECOND CUP OF COMFORT FOR DOG LOVERS

Oh, how we humans love our canine companions -- for so many reasons and in so many ways that one Cup of Comfort collection of uplifting dog stories just wasn’t enough. So we’re giving all you dog-loving writers another opportunity to share your personal stories of canine comfort with a growing legion of dog-loving readers. This volume will feature both serious and humorous anecdotal stories covering a wide range of topics and perspectives and varying breeds of dogs. We do NOT want sad stories about a dog’s illness, injury, or death, though we will consider stories that weave a beloved pet’s illness or death into an otherwise positive story. The story should focus on the dog’s remarkable attributes and/or actions as well as on the special relationship between the dog and his/her human(s).

Submission deadline: December 15, 2008

A CUP OF COMFORT FOR THE GRIEVING HEART

When a loved one passes away, comfort is often fleeting and hard to come by. Yet, even a small comfort, like a personal story of how someone has faced a similar loss, does help to ease the sorrow. This volume will feature uplifting personal stories that reveal the special relationships and extraordinary experiences shared by the deceased and his/her loved one(s) immediately before, during, and after the loved one’s passing; it will also includes stories about the internal and external processes by which one deals with and heals from the loss of a loved one. The stories will vary with regard to subject matter, circumstances of death, and the relationship of the author to the individual who has passed away. The book will not include eulogies, profiles/memoirs of people who have passed away, or clinical depictions of death and dying.

Submission deadline: February 1, 2009

Please note that deadlines are sometimes extended by one to four weeks.

BASIC GUIDELINES

All Cup of Comfort stories must be original; true; appropriate for mainstream Americans (adult, primarily women); inspiring, comforting, and/or uplifting; and 1,000 to 2,000 words.

Creative nonfiction and narrative essays preferred (that is, incorporating such fictive elements as scene, dialogue, character/plot development, imagery, and literary word usage). Whether serious or humorous, the story should be authentic and engaging.

Electronic submissions preferred. One submission per email. Copy and paste (or type) into body of email. No formatting (no indents, centering, doublespace, bold, underline, etc.). To: wordsinger@aol.com.

Mailed submissions are acceptable. Standard typed manuscript (double-spaced, indents). Send as many submissions per envelope as you’d like, but include one SASE per submission. To: Colleen Sell, 71563 London Rd., Cottage Grove, Oregon, 97424, USA.

Each submission must include: author’s full name, mailing address, email address, phone number, story title, story wordcount, and theme of volume for which it is being submitted (i.e., Grieving Hearts).

For more detailed writers guidelines:

http://www.cupofcomfort.com/share.htm

How Do I?

No questions this month.

If you have a writing-related question, send it here.

FEEDBACK:

If you have any feedback about this newsletter; comments, criticisms, (praise!) sections you'd like to see added, tell me

Submissions:

We are a paying market. Full guidelines are available here, along with current needs. *Note: We are again open for submissions, but waaaay behind in responding. (So what's new? <g>)

Disclaimer:

Inclusion of a market, contest, anthology or similar is not necessarily an endorsement. It is strongly suggested that you do your own legwork in checking out any markets etc you decide to approach. If you feel wary or uncomfortable, there's probably a reason!

Advertising:

Guidelines for advertising, and ad rates can be found here

Legal stuff:

This ezine is commercial in nature, and by subscribing you consent to receiving the advertisements contained herein, and any additional 'solo' advertisements that may be forwarded to you.

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I will never, ever, (even under torture, threat of eating seafood or having my chocolate supply revoked) give-away, sell or divulge your details.

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