Writers Chatroom

It's back!

2008-05-07T15:53:00.002-04:00

Yes, the forum is finally back. Our "quick and simple upgrade" didn't go well. It put our board out of commission for nearly two weeks, and had Kim, Renee and I tearing our hair out.

The backup got corrupted, so we lost all the old posts and the old member list. The only option left was to start from scratch.

So now the three of us are bald, but the new forum is bright, shiny and new! Go register, and start annoying Renee. She lives for that, ya know. ;)

The forum is at http://www.writerschatroom.com/forum
See you there!

Audrey

The Writer's Chatroom Forum

2008-05-03T08:52:00.002-04:00

You know how nothing ever goes exactly as planned? Maybe we should plan the other way first? Wink.

I want to say, Thank You, for your patience during the discussion board upgrade. The bugs are not yet worked out. We're working on it and hopefully, they'll be ready to go in the next few days.

In the mean time, I encourage you to check out the chats on Sundays and Wednesday evenings. They're still great places to hang out with your writing buddies and exchange thoughts or silliness.

What do you want?

2008-04-30T17:39:00.003-04:00

Here at TWC we do our best to educate, inspire and support all our members. We bring you authors who are enjoying success at different levels, so you can find out how they did it. We discuss topics that are important to all writers. We provide links to things that we think you will be interested in, or that you should know more about.

What we need from you is FEEDBACK.

What parts of our website do you use? What could work better, and how?

Do we bring in the guests you want to talk to? What genres are we missing? What other guests would you like to see? (Yes, we'd all like to chat with an agent. I'm still working on that one.)

Do you miss our topic chats? Would you like to see more of them?

What topics would you like us to workshop in chat?

The Writer's Chatroom is for your education and edification. We can only provide what you need if you tell us what that is.

You are a writer, right? You have something to say, don't you?

The Comment link is right below this post. Use it and...

SPEAK UP!

Audrey

Comic books to end the war on terror!

2008-04-23T16:23:00.004-04:00

Okay, that might be pushing it a bit. But there is a new comic series out there that could make a difference. (Reference Newsweek story)

"The 99" is a new superhero comic series. (Download the first issue here.) Just like any other superhero series, some are good and some are bad. One side wants world peace, the other wants world domination. "The 99" is X-Men or Justice League, Muslim style.

Yes, I said Muslim. "The 99" is based on Muslim history and traditions. The superheros are based on the 99 attributes of Allah. Examples: Jabbar is a Hulk-like figure of enormous strength; Noora has power over light; Darr is the inflictor of pain; Raqib is the watcher.

"The 99"'s website says : "When the Tigris River turned black with ink from the books of Baghdad's greatest library, 99 mystical gem stones were used to absorb the knowledge... and then were thought to be lost forever. These mystical gems -- known as the Noor Stones -- have now been discovered centuries later, as 99 heroes unlock the powers within them. A lone scholar dedicates his life to uniting these gem bearers as a force for good: THE 99! But is he up to the challenge when the first gem bearer has the power to level a city with a sneeze?"

Personally, I think anything that helps the east and west understand each other better is a good thing. And all lasting change begins by changing the ideas children grow up with. Maybe there is a Noor Stone to end Jihad. Let's hope so.

Audrey

Free Online Writer's Conference

2008-04-16T18:37:00.003-04:00

TWC member Karina Fabian (one of the conference organizers) said you don't have to be Catholic to attend this conference. You don't even have to be religious, as long as you respect other attendees' rights to be religious.

Conferences can be vital to a writer's career, but the time and expense of traveling to distant conferences, hotel rooms, meals, etc, make it impossible for a lot of writers to attend. You can't beat the price of this one...FREE!

PS: I will be presenting my Branding Workshop at the conference.

Catholic Writers to Hold Online Conference

World Wide Web--Writers, editors, agents, and other publishing professionals from around the world are gearing up for the first annual Catholic Writers’ Conference Online, which will be held May 2-9, 2008, and is sponsored by the Catholic Writer’s Guild and Canticle magazine. The online conference is free of charge and open to writers of all levels for those who register by April 25.

Tim Drake, veteran journalist who will be presenting at the conference, says he thinks the conference is worthwhile for all faith-based writers. “I think writers of every stripe, from beginners to seasoned veterans, can always stand to learn something new. This conference provides an opportunity to learn a few tricks of the trade, without having to spend an arm and a leg to get there.”

Author and editor Carolyn Howard-Johnson, who with conference chair Karina Fabian will be conducting seminars designed to help authors put their “Best Book Forward,” concurs. “It's never too early to learn more about what we love…. When we put ourselves out there, the universe seems to bring us exactly what we need. When we close down on opportunity for whatever reason, we miss getting what we should.”

New seminar and chat topics are being added constantly, including seminars on character and dialogue development, virtual book tours, how to get grants and other money with your writing, trends in fiction, world building, and connecting with a secular audience. Presenters and chat hosts include Vinita Wright (Loyola Press), Maya Bohnhoff, Tim Powers, Mark Shea (Catholic Exchange), Hope Clark (Funds for Writers), Sr. Maria Grace Dateno, FSP (Pauline Books & Media), Bert Ghezzi (Word Among Us), and Brian Saint-Paul (Crisis/Inside Catholic).

“We’re very happy with the caliber of publishing professionals who have volunteered to participate in this first conference,” says event co-chair Heidi Hess Saxton, editor of Canticle magazine. “There is a nice mix of fiction and non-fiction as well as book and magazine publishing represented here. Something for everyone … and you can’t beat the price!” Although the conference is offered free of charge, donations are accepted; proceeds will go toward future conferences.

Hope Clark, author of “Funds for Writers” is also optimistic about the event’s success. “I see writers … unable to run from conference to conference, seated before a computer soaking up information, taking notes, excited about finding answers to questions they didn't even know they had. I see writers walking away from this conference excited again about being writers.”

Early registration is recommended, as some courses will have limited openings that will be filled on a first-come, first serve basis. To register or for more information, go to http://www.conference.catholicwritersguild.org/.

Free Books!

2008-04-09T18:27:00.003-04:00

You don't become a writer if you don't enjoy reading. If you want to be an effective writer, you must read both good and bad writing, so you learn to tell the difference. But where do you get all this reading material? Buy it? Libraries? Trade with friends? All good ideas.

Or you could get free books.

The first place I want to recommend is our Sunday chats. Our guests nearly always give away a free book. All you have to do to be eligible is show up. It doesn't get much easier than that.

There are other places to get free books, and I hit them all. You can too. Most involve signing up for a mailing list. But what's wrong with receiving an email saying "Come over and win a free book!" I welcome emails like that.

If you're into ebooks (and who isn't, especially if they're free!), Tor is sharing. Sign up for their Watch the Skies newsletter, and you will get a free ebook download every week. Yes, EVERY WEEK! A free ebook and book wallpapers you can download to your computer.

This is for a limited time, so don't wait. Go get what they're offering. I got a kick out of their statement on the site: "This program will end when the site launches, but you can keep the free books; we won’t be erasing them with our orbital attack electromagnets. (Yet.) Did we mention, watch the skies?"

Harper Collins is getting into the act too. "Eos is 10 years old! To kick-off our yearlong anniversary party, we're giving away free e-books! Every two months for 2008, we'll give away a new free e-book at www.harpercollinsebooks.com/eos10 ." I just got a new novel by Raymond Feist.

I haven't found anyone who gives away thousands of print books, but there are contests where you get a chance to win them.

Every week, Great American Book Giveaway does exactly what it says it will...it gives books away. All you have to do is visit the website, choose one of the five books they are spotlighting that week, type in your email address and click a button. You will receive an email thanking you for registering. At the end of the week, you will receive an email telling you if you won or not, and inviting you to check out the next week's selections. I haven't won there yet, but I've added a lot of books to my want-to-read list.

Every month, BookBitch offers dozens of free books. All it takes is an email to enter. I just received "Slip of the Knife" by Denise Mina, because I was a winner in February!

A lot of authors have contests for their newsletter members. I've won several books that way too. Found a couple guests for the chatroom by winning free books. Wrote a lot of reviews too.

So there are a few places to start with. Where do you go to get free books?

Audrey

Are We Ready to P-A-R-T-Y!?!

2008-03-30T18:06:00.001-04:00

The "Show--Not Tell" Virtual Book Tour is almost a wrap and we've been gearing up all month for the "Launch P-A-R-T-Y!" for debut author Jordan Dane. Be here Sunday March 30th at 7:00 p.m. Eastern US time. (The virtual bar will be open, but feel free to BYOB.) The place: The Writer's Chatroom, of course!

Since March 5th, "newcomer" Jordan Dane has been the guest of honor at 7 virtual book tour stops sponsored by The Writer's Chatroom. She's been open to all questions and has shared personal and business information with anyone who stopped by. The last stop on the tour is hosted by Glenn Walker, founder of TWC, on March 29th at http://www.monsura.blogspot.com/

There will be prizes galore up for grabs at the P-A-R-T-Y. Every person who interacted with Jordan at the VBT stops, except for the host at each tour stop, is eligible to win one of FIVE gift cards to B&N bookstores. (If the hosts stopped by at other tour stops, they are eligible and entered there.) The more comments left by each person, the more chances to win. So far, Tina M. Russo holds the record for having the most entries. Her prize for that? Just click on her name/hotlink to her website. It's all about the marketing, folks. (Tina has a very nice website, btw.)

More opportunities to win prizes:
The Browse Inside Link: http://tinyurl.com/28nd9x
Jordan's contest page: http://www.jordandane.com/contest.php

And ... there will be even MORE prizes given away during the P-A-R-T-Y!

Jordan sold SIX books to Avon/HarperCollins before the first one, No One Heard Her Scream, was released on March 25th. She has back-to-back releases in April and May for the next two! And, she's currently at work on her next series.

Don't know about you, but I wannabe like Jordan! I want to learn just how she managed to do that, how she markets, how she plans her stories, how she sells them, and how she plans to get to the top of the New York Times Bestseller list! If you're a Jordan wannabe like me, check out what she had to say at the VBT stops:

Billie Williams at http://printedwords.blogspot.com
Linda J. Hutchinson at http://reviewhutch.blogspot.com
Kim Richards at http://kim-richards.livejournal.com/
Lisa Haselton at http://lisahaselton.tripod.com/reviewsandinterviews/
Cricket Sawyer at http://www.Cricketshearth.blogspot.com
Diana Castilleja at http://dianacastilleja.blogspot.com
Renee' Barnes at http://msqtpi.livejournal.com/
Glenn Walker at http://www.monsura.blogspot.com/

See you at the "Launch P-A-R-T-Y!" on March 30th at TWC!

Linda J. Hutchinson
TWC team member/moderatorFreelance writer/copywriter
www.lindajhutchinson.com

WHAT A TRIP!

2008-03-26T18:36:00.002-04:00

If you’ve been reading these announcements you’re aware that we have been conducting a Virtual Book Tour for debut author Jordan Dane for over a month.

We’re down to the final stretch—and who better to bring it home than The Writer’s Chatroom’s own—Renee’ Barnes and Glenn Walker!

Stop by these last two stops on the tour to find out even more about our featured author—who sold SIX books to Avon HarperCollins before the first one hit print.

Jordan is a dynamo! She not only writes well but understands the publishing industry and knows how to market herself. Learn from her while imagining yourself in her position. She is one to watch, one to learn from, and one to emulate if you want to be a successful novelist. “If you can see it and believe it, you can achieve it!”

Every comment you leave at a tour stop enters you to win one of many fabulous prizes!

March 26 Renee’ Barnes at http://msqtpi.livejournal.com/
March 29 TWC founder Glenn Walker at http://www.monsura.blogspot.com/

More opportunities to win prizes:
The Browse Inside Link: http://tinyurl.com/28nd9x)
Jordan’s contest page: http://www.jordandane.com/contest.php

And then GET READY TO P-A-R-T-Y! Sunday, March 30th is the date and you are invited! The party starts at 7:00 p.m. Eastern US time. http://writerschatroom.com

If you’ve missed any of the tour stops, please stop in before the P-A-R-T-Y! to read the interviews with Jordan. Be ready to L-A-U-N-C-H your burning questions at her this coming Sunday.

Billie Williams at http://printedwords.blogspot.com
Linda J. Hutchinson at http://reviewhutch.blogspot.com
Kim Richards at http://kim-richards.livejournal.com/
Lisa Haselton at http://lisahaselton.tripod.com/reviewsandinterviews/
Cricket Sawyer at http://www.Cricketshearth.blogspot.com
Diana Castilleja at http://dianacastilleja.blogspot.com

Win! Win! Win!

2008-03-18T12:10:00.003-04:00

Visit each stop of the Jordan Dane Virtual Book Tour and leave a comment (with your name). Each stop enters you into the drawing to be held at the live “Launch P-A-R-T-Y!” on March 30th. (Up for grabs are FIVE $20 gift cards to B&N bookstores.)

Stop by Jordan’s website: Jordan Dane says, “By going to my website contest page, you get an exclusive sneak peek inside my book-up to 20% of it. And to celebrate my first release, my publisher is giving you three different ways to WIN MY BOOK or OTHER BOOKS from HarperCollins. Click on the links below for more details.”

The Browse Inside Link: http://tinyurl.com/28nd9x)

Visit Jordan’s contest page: http://www.jordandane.com/contest.php

Show up for the live “Launch P-A-R-T-Y!” on March 30th! Who knows what might be up for grabs there! After all is said and done, this is TWC.

Next up on the tour:
March 19 Cricket Sawyer at http://www.cricketshearth.blogspot.com/
March 22 Diana Castilleja at http://dianacastilleja.blogspot.com/
March 26 Renee’ Barnes at http://msqtpi.livejournal.com/
March 29 TWC founder Glenn Walker at http://www.monsura.blogspot.com/

Jordan has had plenty to say in our TWC interviews. If you haven’t already done so, visit these previous stops for some first-hand info on how to succeed as a novelist:

Billie Williams at http://printedwords.blogspot.com/
Linda J. Hutchinson at http://reviewhutch.blogspot.com/
Kim Richards at http://kim-richards.livejournal.com/
Lisa Haselton at http://lisahaselton.tripod.com/reviewsandinterviews/

Do You Wannabe Like Jordan (Dane, that is)?

2008-03-16T12:54:00.001-04:00

We’ve certainly had some great comments during each stop of the Virtual Book Tour for Jordan Dane.

Why was she chosen to be our first vic … I mean featured author? Because she has a very professional website. Because she has a very professional blog. Because she has a presence on MySpace and other networking sites around the ‘Net. Because she attends every writer’s conference she can possibly get to to network with successful writers, editors, agents. Because she promotes herself as a professional writer.

She isn’t resting on her laurels after having sold SIX books to Avon HarperCollins before the first one hit print.

If you’re like me and wannabe like Jordan, take a look at how you’re promoting yourself. Does your website look like a novice put it together? Do you remember to blog more than once a month? Do you network with other writers?

Or do you do like too many very good should-be-published writers … and hunker down in the corner pretending that you’ve done everything you can and the publishing world and all its agents are against you?

Think about that as you visit the next stops on The Writer’s Chatroom’s “Show—Not Tell” virtual book tour featuring debut author Jordan Dane. Jordan and Avon HarperCollins are offering opportunities to win great prizes all along the tour.

Next up:
March 19 Cricket Sawyer at http://www.Cricketshearth.blogspot.com
March 22 Diana Castilleja at http://dianacastilleja.blogspot.com

Give yourself every advantage to learn from this marketing dynamo—who just happens to also be a very good writer—and read the interviews and comments at previous stops:

Billie Williams at http://printedwords.blogspot.com
Linda J. Hutchinson at http://reviewhutch.blogspot.com
Kim Richards at http://kim-richards.livejournal.com/
Lisa Haselton at http://lisahaselton.tripod.com/reviewsandinterviews/

And don’t forget to come to the “Launch P-A-R-T-Y!” on March 30th! There are prizes galore!

Now She's Gone and Done it!

2008-03-12T15:51:00.002-04:00

As if offering up five $20 gift cards to B&N bookstores for the drawing on March 30th (from those who leave comments on TWC’s “Show—not tell” Virtual Book Tour) wasn’t enough ...

As if giving away hot-off-the-presses copies of NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM at the live “Launch P-A-R-T-Y!” on March 30th wasn’t enough ...

Ohhhhhhh, nooooooooooooooooo. Not good enough for debut author Jordan Dane—who is teaching us all how to launch ourselves into the world of “published author” status.

Now she’s got her publisher, Avon HarperCollins, involved in it. And they’re giving away books, too!

This just in from Jordan under the heading of “More Fun Stuff”:

New 3-Ways to Win Contest

“HarperCollins has graciously offered a wonderful incentive to promote the debut of my suspense novel NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM, upcoming release March 25th.”

“By going to my website contest page, you get an exclusive sneak peek inside my book-up to 20% of it. And to celebrate my first release, my publisher is giving you three different ways to WIN MY BOOK or OTHER BOOKS from HarperCollins. Click on the links below for more details.”

Well … there was a big ol’ hurkin’ link inserted, but our very first Virtual Book Tour host Billie Williams shortened it for us. Here it is, The Browse Inside Link: http://tinyurl.com/28nd9x

And here is a link for a contest on Jordan’s website to promote the Browse Inside post, listing the three ways to win: http://www.jordandane.com/contest.php

Jordan adds, “No obligation of course, but feel free to forward or post. I'd appreciate it.”

This VBT just gets better and better! The next stops on the tour:
March 15 Lisa Haselton at http://lisahaselton.tripod.com/reviewsandinterviews/
March 19 Cricket Sawyer at http://www.Cricketshearth.blogspot.com

Jordan has had plenty to say in our TWC interviews. If you haven’t already done so, visit these previous stops for some first-hand info on how to succeed as a novelist:

Billie Williams at http://printedwords.blogspot.com
Linda J. Hutchinson at http://reviewhutch.blogspot.com
Kim Richards at http://kim-richards.livejournal.com/

Recap of the First Two Stops of Jordan Dane's Virtual Book Tour

2008-03-09T12:50:00.004-04:00

What a wonderful time we've had interviewing and visiting with Jordan Dane on The Writer's Chatroom's virtual book tour!

Her first stop was at the blog home of Billie Williams at http://printedwords.blogspot.com. Yesterday, Jordan was my guest at http://reviewhutch.blogspot.com.

If you'd like first-hand information on how to write the query that gets noticed by an agent--and several publishers--visit Billie's and my blogs to read the interviews and comments. Jordan shares information freely on how to get it done!

Next stops on the tour:

March 12 Kim Richards at http://kim-richards.livejournal.com/
March 15 Lisa Haselton at http://lisahaselton.tripod.com/reviewsandinterviews/

Not only are the interviews with Jordan very large nuggets of gold, but she interacts "live" with those adding comments on the blogs. AND, everyone who comments during this tour is entered to win in Jordan's contest. The winners will be announced during the live chat at The Writer's Chatroom on March 30th.

Keep writing--and learning about the publishing industry.

Linda

Next Virtual Book Tour Stop of Debut Author Jordan Dane

2008-03-06T10:38:00.000-05:00

Debut author Jordan Dane was in top form at the first stop of The Writer's Chatroom's "SHOW--NOT TELL" virtual book tour at the blog home of Billie Williams. http://printedwords.blogspot.com

Next stop? My own blog: http://www.reviewhutch.blogspot.com on March 8th.

Please feel free to leave comments. Since Jordan has thrown a contest into the fray, your comments automatically enter you into a drawing for one of FIVE $20 gift cards to—what else?—a great bookstore. Winners will be announced at the live “Launch P-A-R-T-Y!” on March 30th at THE WRITER'S CHATROOM. We'll also be drawing for those valuable first copies of NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM at the party.

Here's my review:
Title: No One Heard Her Scream
by Jordan Dane
Avon Harper Collins
ISBN: 9780061252785

Dani Montgomery is but one of the missing, and presumed dead, young women from around San Antonio, TX. She is the focus, and the force, of tough homicide detective Rebecca Montgomery. When Becca is told to stay away from the investigation into Dani’s disappearance, her boss puts her on another case—that of a body found behind a brick wall in an old theater that has been torched.

As Becca investigates the crime scene she realizes she’s being watched by more than one stranger, but one is deliciously tall, dark and dangerous. When she visits the former owner of the theater, a notorious mob boss, she is loathe to find her stranger is his enforcer.

Becca trusts her gut to tie it all together, with the help of one watchful stranger and without the help of the other.

Piecing together evidence at the theater gives rise to the title. NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM by debut author Jordan Dane is a romantic thriller with all the great elements; intrigue, debauchery, retribution and redemption—with libido to match.

Reviewed by: Linda J. Hutchinson http://www.lindajhutchinson.com

2008-03-03T16:29:00.003-05:00

WE KNOW HOW TO P-A-R-T-Y!! AT TWC!

And here is where we start a month-long celebration of "Show, don't tell!"

One year ago Jordan Dane’s name popped up on my MySpace friend request list. She had already sold three novels to a major publishing house. A few months later, she sold three more to the same house.

Her FIRST novel, NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM will be available April 8th.

Jordan Dane is “one to watch” if you’d like to see how the marketing and networking part of being an author is done—and done well.

We’ll be hosting a live “Launch P-A-R-T-Y!” on March 30th at The Writer’s Chatroom. Plan on stopping by to meet Jordan. The virtual bar will be open and you're welcome to BYOB. Come on by to "meet" Jordan after you've read all of her interviews.

In the meantime, please visit this week’s Virtual Book Tour stops as Jordan visits with Billie Williams at http://printedwords.blogspot.com on March 5th.

The next stop will be at my review site, http://reviewhutch.blogspot.com on March 8th.

And … just to whet your whistle, here is the first of our reviews, by TWC founder Glenn Walker.

NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM
by Jordan Dane
Avon Harper Collins
ISBN: 9780061252785

When her teenaged sister disappears and is assumed dead, homicide detective Becca Montgomery is obsessed with finding out what happened. When given a different case to divert her attention she falls into the arms of a charming mob enforcer and soon they find both cases may be related.

Jordan Dane is a mistress of the metaphor and a sorceress of the simile. She uses words as a weapon and the pace never stops. Her characters and their personalities seem as if drawn by a modern day Chandler. Her sense of place is delightful as the flavor of San Antonio comes alive within the pages. This romantic suspenser is a must-read for the genre.

By Glenn Walker http://www.monsura.blogspot.com and http://www.comicwidows.com

DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE US A COMMENT AS YOU VISIT EACH STOP OF THE TOUR. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU AS YOU LEARN HOW JORDAN IS GETTING IT DONE.

Linda
(aka J'linn Kramer)
www.lindajhutchinson.com
http://reviewhutch.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/lindajhutchinson

Scams, Lynchings, and it's Time to P-A-R-T-Y!

2008-02-26T18:50:00.001-05:00

If you’ve been reading this blog, you know I’ve been having an on-going exchange with the Australian publisher of a certain so-called newsletter for writers. A few days ago—after having heard from me several times about the deplorable practice of attempting to scam writers—he had the gall to send me yet another invitation to participate in his grand scam/scheme.

I have unsubscribed rather than make more attempts to stop his money-making schemes while he continues to operate under the guise of “helping writers”. This, to me, is more akin to a raging moose in full rut, than a helping hand to the less experienced writer. Rob Parnell and your Easy Way to Write; you have lost my respect, my patronage, and will forever be included on my list of disreputable sources.

Since I’m already on the soapbox:

Well, here we are with yet another scam to take advantage of newbie writers and/or those who think self-publishing is a good way to break into print.

Wearing the good-guy hats: “Writer Beware, a publishing industry watchdog group sponsored by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, shines a light into the dark corners of the shadow-world of literary scams, schemes, and pitfalls,” according to the heading on their blog. They are taking on the latest multi-level marketing scheme to hit the self-publishing industry.

Wearing the bad-guy hats: WriteWise, BookWise, Richard Paul Evans, and Robert G. Allen. SHAME ON YOU!

Wait! Is this the same Robert G. Allen of real estate infamy? Maybe, maybe not. I don’t know. It’s a common name.

I’m thinking these folks should be lynched along with the thieves who stole my beloved old truck. Just my personal opinion and not that of TWC! However, I’m more than a little fired up over thievery and share the same ideals Toby Keith and Willie Nelson bestowed upon us with their song Whiskey for my Men and Beer for my Horses. With a 460 engine, my ’77 F-250 Super Duty truck had a lot of horses!

(Lynching seems to be on my mind since finishing Brant Randall’s ARC of BLOOD HARVEST. Great read! Due out in May.)

At the very least, vanity and subsidy publishers and hawkers who take advantage of writers are thieves and should be subjected to the same punishment afforded to bank and convenience store robbers and especially to those who steal beautiful old trucks from defenseless women; a huge fine AND prison time. L-o-n-g prison sentences. They are con artists and, often, stalkers. But--
maybe--I’m not so defenseless.

Check out this link and then bookmark it, subscribe to it, and make sure you listen to what they post:

http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2008/02/victoria-strauss-bookwise-branches-out.html#links

Here is a “Thumbs Down” list of literary agencies of ill-repute:

http://www.sfwa.org/beware/twentyworst.html

Finally, here’s some good stuff! We’re geared up for the kickoff of Jordan Dane’s month-long “launch”, culminating in a P-A-R-T-Y on March 30th!

You’ll get all the details in TWC’s March Spotlight. Watch for it in your email inbox in the next couple of days.

What? You haven’t subscribed to the newsletter or announcements? How are you to know what’s going on in the writing world? How else will you get a front row seat to watch a debut author reach for the stars? A debut author with SIX sold books!

It’s much more fun to write about the good stuff.

Linda
www.lindajhutchinson.com
www.myspace.com/lindajhutchinson
http://reviewhutch.blogspot.com
http://livingwithfmandoa.blogspot.com

Buyer Beware--Even if it's Free--or Nearly Free--at Least Appears to Be!

2008-02-20T14:16:00.001-05:00

(I promise, there’s a positive note at the end of my rant.)

Yes, I’m still gritching and groaning … and trying to save the newbie’s money! Saving the newbie-writer from heartache and mis-spent monetary currency is one of the reasons TWC exists, so please bear with me while I vent once more. Please also note that I’m speaking for myself and not for anyone else.

I promised an update to my February 6 post regarding Pay to be Paid Scams: Even though the newsletter owner promised to quote me in his rebuttal, his next edition stated that he did not wish “to incite”, and the issue was dropped altogether. HOWEVER, he is still pushing sales of the Pay to be Paid Scam. Please do not fall prey by paying $50 for absolutely NOTHING on this “Opportunity”!

I repeat: Rob, “SHAME ON YOU!” A scam is a scam no matter where on earth it is formulated or perpetrated.

On to other issues:

Over the years I’ve gotten hundreds—if not thousands—of newsletters and e-zines written by the top writing gurus. Most started out good or even almost great, and then denigrated to pushing the latest e-books or courses written by the editor/writer and/or his/her buddies.

(Please note this does not include those writers/editors who put out quality electronic publications to, honestly, help other writers—usually at very reasonable prices. This bitch session is aimed mostly at copywriters … this time.)

Seems when they go from sending out one quality newsletter or e-zine per month, as Peter Bowerman does, or once a week, as John Forde and Trent Steele do, to filling up your inbox with time-wasters carefully worded in their best emotion-grabbing copywriting to buy this and buy that to turn you into a $600K per year Bob Bly or Clayton Makepeace wannabe, they’re in it not to make money from copywriting, but off you and me. Why else would Mr. Bly have spent the time to write 70+ books? Why else would his books be shilled in nearly every copywriter’s e-zine?

Then there’s self-proclaimed reformed lawyer—and spam king—Shawn Casey, who will sell you his business in a box, complete with all the copywriting … for you to sell to others, who will sell to others. Honestly, just what the hell is being sold here?

Even though I enjoy Forde’s weekly e-zine, and Bob Bly and Clayton Makepeace are two of the best copywriters on the planet, the constant push to sell the latest and greatest from either of them is a turnoff. However, Forde’s e-zine typically contains enough substance to keep my finger off the unsub link.

End of rant. On to the positives.

This week Forde offers up a link to test how your webpage looks in 21 different browsers. This tool is a keeper: http://browsershots.org/

In COPYWRITER'S ROUNDTABLE #349, he also goes on to explain “How to Tell the Difference Between a "Good" Idea and a "Great" One”.

“Are You Thinking Too Hard” answers the question of why our best ideas hit us when we’re in the shower or driving down the road. Definitely worth a read. Subscribe at CopyRoundtable@jackforde.com

Also on a positive note: A few months ago our guest here at TWC was Dr. Bruce Cook. I loved his first book, “Philippine Fever”. I’m now about two-thirds of the way through his second, “Blood Harvest”, published under the pen name Brant Randall. Why the name change? He’s done exactly what we’ve addressed here many times and used one pen name for each genre.

“Philippine Fever” is all action/crime, written in one voice. “Blood Harvest” is historical, based on a true story related to him by his grandmother, and told in nine first-person narratives, where “dumb clucks” becomes “dumb Klux”. A lynching, political aspirations and moonshiner’s greed, combine to make one fine read. “Blood Harvest” is due out in May.

Will you make it as a writer?

2008-02-13T19:28:00.002-05:00

Holly Lisle's name comes up often in chats. She's one of those people who knows the business, and gives good advice. I ran across an article on her site that I just had to share.

How to Tell Who WON'T Make It in Writing

"And I've discovered something important. I couldn't in a million years tell you who among those thousands of hopeful writers will eventually succeed. But I can tell you in about five minutes which writers are guaranteed to fail.

"The guaranteed failures among writerdom carry their amateur beliefs and attitudes and methods like a bad perfume - an ever-present cloud of Eau de Doom that rolls off of their bodies and wafts into the noses of publishers and editors who might otherwise be interested in the writer's work, sending the pros fleeing to green rooms and bathrooms to escape."

That's not the perfume you're wearing, is it? If you're not sure, better run at full speed to Holly's site and read the rest of the article!

Audrey

Pay to be Paid Scams and Other Stuff

2008-02-06T18:54:00.000-05:00

I’m having a disagreement with another writer—the owner of a newsletter for writers—
about what programs to promote to our respective memberships/subscribers, and which ones to tell our members to run away from as fast as they can.

It started a little over a week ago when I received his weekly newsletter. It usually has some good information for a wide audience.

This edition, the whole content was devoted to selling his subscribers a “lifetime” membership to freelance markets for only $49.95, with a $10 discount if we “were clever”. What we would get from our $50 included the opportunity to earn $10 each for articles, and a bunch of assorted “freebies”.

I should add that the owner of the newsletter made it clear we would be buying this wonderful opportunity to work from home from someone other than himself.

I gave it a few days to fester before responding.

See, my view, and one shared by the TWC team is that if we are to hold ourselves “out there” as providers of “help” to writers of all genres and writing aptitudes, we have a responsibility to provide good information; to attempt to prevent our members/readers from being led down a rosy path of publishing heartbreak; and to, generally, be good guys even if we aren’t wearing white hats.

Ask any of us. Depending on who you ask, the wording will be different, but the message will be clear. TWC exists to help writers write.

By “help”, I certainly don’t mean to offer up another “Pay to be paid” scam. And … while it’s perfectly all right for the newbie writer to write for peanuts (at first) to gather up those all-important publishing clips, seasoned writers don’t work for $10 an article—unless it’s for a good cause—or for a friend (and sometimes they’re one and the same).

Well, I didn’t like his first response. I emailed back. I didn’t like his second response either. I emailed back.

He’s been offered the “opportunity” to quote anything I’ve said in said emails. He’s promised to do so in Friday’s newsletter. He’s also been asked to justify just why in hell this is a good “opportunity” for anyone.

If he fails to deliver as promised: he will be named, all copies of the back and forth emails will be posted right here, and another article will be written about this “great opportunity” and the person or persons behind it.

I’ve got my gloves on. Stay tuned.

Linda
www.lindajhutchinson.com

Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Good Writing

2008-02-06T18:50:00.000-05:00

I've always believed that the best place to get info is from those who have traveled the road before us. (Which is what made last Sunday's chat with Maya Reynolds so great.) When people who are further along the road want to advise you, why wouldn't you want to listen?

I had never heard of this book before, but it's now on my to-buy list. Simply reading this short article gave me the feeling that this one may affect me as deeply as Stephen King's "On Writing" did.

Has anyone else read Leonard's book? What did you think of it?

How Much Should I Charge?

2008-01-23T19:15:00.000-05:00

Does your writing fall outside the short story/novel field? You're a freelance writer, but brochures, web content, advertising, etc, are what you write. You charge by the word, the page, the project or the hour...but are you charging enough?

Writer's Market did an extensive survey to find out what freelance writers charge for various jobs. Now lucky You can download all this information for free!

Head over to http://www.writersmarket.com/assets/pdf/How_Much_Should_I_Charge.pdf to see if you should give yourself a raise.

Remember, working cheap may keep you busy, but it won't make you rich. Earn what you deserve to make.

Review of Demon: A Memoir

2008-01-20T17:10:00.000-05:00

My review of "Demon: A Memoir" by Tosca Lee is up at The Review Hutch.

If all references to religion in general, and Christianity in particular, were removed from Ms. Lee's debut novel, the plot would stand on its own as spellbinding.

Linda
www.lindajhutchinson.com

Time

2008-01-16T19:39:00.000-05:00

What would you do if you could devote the next three months to doing nothing but writing?

What if you packed up your personal items, some clothes, your laptop, and maybe your favorite pillow and headed off to a writer’s retreat? A retreat where you didn’t have to cook or do laundry or clean up after yourself or anyone else. A place where the other residents are like you, all sharing a need to write, paint, sculpt, create.

You could finish a novel in three months. You might even get into the first or second re-write in that amount of time. You could write a poetry chapbook. You could create new worlds to explore—and be the hero in every one. After all, your great written work has been rattling around in your head for a long time. All you need is the time to get it written down. Time … that has been slipping by without a word having been written.

What would you write if you could find the time? How would you break up your day to be the most efficient and effective? Would you rise at dawn to get as much writing done as possible? Would you stay up until daybreak, allowing every thought to be recorded?

Or, would you shower (or not), eat a leisurely breakfast, gaze out the window at the variegated colors of flora and fauna and daydream? Would you think about friends, neighbors, and family fending for themselves back home? Would you worry about the dog’s next vaccination?

Writers are notorious for kidding ourselves. Sure, a job and kids, a dog or cat (or two), the spouse or significant other, all expect certain things from us. Especially our time.

That’s really why you haven’t completed your great written work, isn’t it? Lack of time.

So, as you’re finishing the task of writing your goals for the remaining 11 ½ months of 2008, decide whether you have the time to spend three months at a writer’s retreat or if you’ll have to squeeze writing in between other life events.

And then? Quit kidding yourself and plan accordingly. This is real life and time will not always wait.

(Linda wrote this post, but couldn't get in to post it.)

The Art of Thankfulness

2007-11-25T18:52:00.000-05:00

Even my daddy, always quick with a negative comment delivered with his trademark pessimistic attitude, was thankful for certain things.

He thanked "JC" often for not allowing it to rain while he was fishing ... on the rainy side of Washington state ... as the clouds gushed forth.

While in the throes of end-stage cancer, he was thankful for someone to drive him to his favorite watering hole, to have "one last" Canadian Club and water--no ice.

He was thankful for all of the mistakes he'd made in his life and made every attempt to repeat some as often as possible.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to have had our home full of family and friends for the last four days. We celebrated: Thanksgiving on our schedule--on Saturday--and son's birthday on Sunday.

I'm thankful for a wonderful husband, children, grandchildren, and our ten-year-old one-eyed cat who seems to be slipping into senility. If only there could be some sensibility in senility.

I'm thankful to have been given the ability to form letters of the alphabet into words worth reading. Writing has opened a new world for me to explore with new friends and acquaintences.

I've learned to take the opportunity--OFTEN--to list what I'm thankful for. Reading these lists sometimes makes the more harsh times easier to withstand. A positive attitude may be just what we need to make those times happen less often. I happen to believe that we draw to us what we believe we deserve.

Attitude is a state of mind. Only I can change my attitude. Being thankful keeps me grounded.

Linda

Where do you find a publisher?

2007-11-25T18:48:00.000-05:00

When you do a search for publishers, what do you find? Subsidy and vanity presses. That's not what you are looking for! What you need is a list of traditional publishers. But where do you find that?

One place is http://www.bookmarket.com/newnovels.htm .

According to their website: "If you're looking for a real book publisher for your novel (not a POD publisher, vanity publisher, subsidy publisher, or other pay-for-it publisher), you have found the right place."

On that page, (for free!) you will find a list of over 400 publishers who have at some point bought rights from first-time authors. Make sure you study each market before submitting, but this is a great place to get started.

Good luck on your quest!

http://www.bookmarket.com/newnovels.htm

Secret Agents

2007-11-14T10:34:00.000-05:00

To get published, you need an agent.

To get an agent, you need to already be published.

Writers get this conflicting information all the time. The good news is that there ARE agents who accept new authors. How do you find them?

Chuck Sambuchino has done your research for you. Not only does he give valuable advice on contacting agents, but he shares a list of 23 agents who are actively looking for NEW authors.

Read his article and check out the list at http://www.writersdigest.com/articles/sambuchino_secret_agents.asp

Audrey