Tuesday, February 26, 2013

7 Tips on How to Write a Book



This article was first published here several years back, but we felt it could find new life to some readers who missed it the first trip around!

1. Write your book. Whether it’s non-fiction or fiction, Fantasy, Autobiography, Crime or Mystery, just write what you feel. Never worry about editing as you go; as that will bury your creativity.

2. Find a quiet place to write. An extra bedroom, office, or even a garage (preferably heated), are all good places “away from it all.” Never look for your muse where friends or family are always interrupting you.

3. Set time aside to write. It takes time to find your inspiration to write. It’s not likely you will write well or accomplish much in a ten minute session. Allow yourself at least two hours to work on your writing project.

4. Choose you books topic according to demand. Are there a million books already written which follow the path of your story or subject? Is there even an audience out there who will buy your book? With nearly 30 books being released in the U.S. every hour of every day, the competition is fierce. If you plan to sell your book to the reading public, make sure you will have a customer base before you put your time and money into publishing a book.

5. Draw an outline for your book before you begin. A well drawn out outline will keep you focused on your total project. Outline your story or information. For fiction book writing, an outline of your plot, when to introduce your characters, and path of the story, that is, the beginning, middle, and ending placed into chronological order. For non-fiction book writing, the same applies. Organize your information into a logical and useful order.

6. Choose your title carefully. Not only is a catchy title a must, but for non-fiction and some fiction books, your title words will most likely be used as “key words” when a potential book buyer searches the Internet for a book similar to yours.

7. Once your book is complete, find a professional editor to fix your mistakes. Spell Check in your writing software is not enough to handle the job.

Carol Denbow is the author of five books, including A Book Inside, How to Write, Publish, and Sell Your Story, available at Amazon.com. She is also a regular contributor to numerous writers’ websites and newsletters and has been a featured guest on radio and television.

Please visit Carol’s Websites at Author’s Box at http://www.authorsbox.com and Books By Denbow at http://www.booksbydenbow.weebly.com.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

How to Find an Illustrator When Writing a Children’s Book with Author Ryan Cunningham

Today we are interviewing 2-time Oregon author Ryan Cunningham. Ryan has recently released a children’s book titled Gary’s Gray World. The book is filled with beautiful artwork which attracts the child’s eye with great interest. But Ryan is an author, not an artist, so how did he find and hire the perfect artist for his illustrations? Let’s chat with Ryan and find out.

Carol Denbow: Welcome Ryan, we’re very happy to have you here on A Book Inside.
Let’s start by finding out where the idea for Gary’s Gray World came from?

Ryan Cunningham: My inspiration for writing “Gary’s Gray World” came from watching my nephew, Dan grow up without his biological father being there for him. Dan is now thirteen years old, but he has no contact with his real dad. When Dan was born his father wasn’t in the picture very much. My sister raised him by herself except with the help of our parents and myself.

Carol Denbow: Did you have an idea in your mind as to what your characters would look like before you wrote the book?

Ryan Cunningham: No, I actually did not.

Carol Denbow: Many of our blog visitors are currently working on or are planning to write a children’s book. Where did you locate “the perfect artist” for Gary’s Gray World?

Ryan Cunningham: I found the artist, Chrissy Fanslau, through a networking website for writers and illustrators called jacketflap.com. Chrissy’s artwork stood out from others I researched with her descriptive and life-like facial expressions in her characters.

Carol Denbow: If you don’t mind my asking, what did you need to pay for each illustration?

Ryan Cunningham: I'd rather not say. You pay for quality and her talented artwork just felt right for my story.

Carol Denbow: In your search for an artist, did you find that all artists charge about the same, or did they vary in cost?

Ryan Cunningham: They do vary in cost depending on how long the artist has been in the business and if they have a good reputation.

Carol Denbow: Did you get a sample of the illustrations before committing to an artist, or was it a crap-shoot on the final submission?

Ryan Cunningham: Chrissy sent me each finished illustration and if I wanted any changes she would make the changes before going to print.

Carol Denbow: Where would you suggest a writer begin their search for a good artist?

Ryan Cunningham: Maybe the best way is to check out the local art gallery or museum for local artists who display their art in these places regularly. If that doesn’t work then I suggest look up artists on line and check out their web sites.

Carol Denbow: You have also written a book of poetry, can you please tell us a little about it, title, and subject matter?

Ryan Cunningham: The title is “Hearts, Hopes, and Halos.” This is a book of inspirational poems, love poems, and poems about angels.

Carol Denbow: Ryan, thank you for taking the time to be here with us. Is there anything you might like to add before we finish?

Ryan Cunningham: I am grateful that I was given the gift and ability to write poetry and stories. I want to bring hope and inspiration to people who read them.

Carol Denbow: Where can our blog visitors learn more about your books?

Ryan Cunningham: Through my web site; http://imagination-inspiration.webs.com. There are links on my site to where the books are sold; amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

Ryan recently completed a Virtual Book Tour online. Follow his tour, or get some ideas on how to do a tour of your own:







Gary’s Gray World; The Story: When Gary's father is too busy to play, a scary moment at the baseball field brings his dad rushing to the park to rescue him. But instead the two discover that making time for each other is the most important thing in a father and son relationship.

Excerpt for Gary’s Gray World:

“What are your plans for today, Son?” asked Dad, putting on his coat and hat.

“Today’s the annual father and son baseball game.” Gary brightened. “Don’t you remember?”

His father abruptly stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Gary with an apologetic expression on his face.

“I’m sorry, I can’t be there. I’ve got too much work to do at the office. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

“Sure. That’ll be fine,” said Gary, trying not to sound too disappointed.

Bio: Born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1972, Ryan J. Cunningham discovered his passion for writing poetry and children’s stories at an early age. Throughout his high school and college years, he took writing courses to enhance his writing abilities. Ryan became a member of the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.) He published two inspirational books of poems titled “Angels Near and Far” and “Hearts, Hopes, and Halos.” His poetry and stories have been published in anthologies and magazines. Ryan presently resides in Coos Bay, Oregon where he spends his time hiking the trails, spending quality time with family, and working on his personal web site, (http://imagination-inspiration.webs.com) to share his poems and stories with the world.

Tweet about it: Twitter URL: https://twitter.com/rinopoet72

Share it: Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/ryan.cunningham.3760

Buy it: Purchase paperback copy at http://www.amazon.com/Garys-Gray-World-Ryan-Cunningham/dp/1463670168

Purchase Kindle copy at http://www.amazon.com/Garys-Gray-World-ebook/dp/B005BYJLMS/



Tuesday, November 20, 2012

There’s More Than One Way to Write a Book!

As with many tasks in life, there is more than one way to achieve the goal of writing a book. But what if there are numerous contributors to the book; two, three, or even four people working on it at one time? These may include a couple different authors cooping, a person in charge of design, Introduction, Indexers, and even a different person who is not a writer, but came up with the original idea for the book. How do all these people successfully work together?

One of these instances is a new release titled, Gal Pal Poker. With a whopping 13 authors and contributors, it’s amazing this project could come together at all—and successfully!
Gal Pal Poker is a fun-filled book with unique poker games, poker trivia (you must read about Poker Alice, WOW!>>>>), and delicious food and drink recipes. And while there was only one primary “writer,” all 13 had a part to play in the composition of the book. In addition to the actual writer, there was an art contributor, a chef for recipes, and ten 60 and 70 something “mature” women adding their original home-made poker games to the mix.

A Bit of History…
Over a ten year period (and counting) the woman of the Gal Pal Poker group have been meeting twice monthly for a fun-filled night of laughter and camaraderie. Gal Pal Poker is an accumulation and explanation of standard poker games the woman have tweaked and re-created to add to their already good time.

So how did they get this project together with so many contributors?—it wasn’t easy! The “players” first began by writing out each of their “unique” games on scratch paper and handed them over to the primary writer. The “writer” edited the games and put them in order under in categories, i.e., games played with 3, 5, or 7 cards. Then they were laid out into Stud or Draw games. Once this process was done, recipes were created and added. The trivia was researched and added to fill in the gaps. Sound easy? Nope. When you’re working with so many contributors, things get added at last minute and other things need to be moved and rearranged like crazy! After each rearrangement was finished, the script then had to get into the hands of each of the contributors for approval; then came the editing. With each person having their own ideas and perspectives on how the book should be laid out and read, the changes and adjustments were tremendous. And with this one off visiting family this week, and that one on vacation next week, all in all, this process took nearly two years to complete. The Gals sadly even had one of their own die suddenly from a massive heart attack during the process.

The Gals suggest that if you are contemplating co-authoring a book with others, set a plan and designate each contributor to their own job—and stick to it! Make a schedule of when you will meet as a group and use that time to cover all the issues that arise with book production.

Since the Gal Pal women are mature and not necessarily in need of extra income, they decided as a group to donate proceeds from the sale of this book to The Women’s Safety and Resource Center in Coos Bay, Oregon. The Women’s Safety and Resource Center exists to contribute to a violence-free community by providing a safe haven and life-building empowerment for abused women and children and inspiring the community to new levels of cooperation, thoughtful effort, and action.

No money? So why did they write it? After speaking to each of the women, it seems they just wanted to share the enjoyment they’ve had for so many years and encourage other women to keep bonded and spend special time together. “Gals need to stay close to their Gal friends, especially after marriage.” The donation part was actually an afterthought.

Gal Pal Poker is available through all the normal sellers including Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Nook, and Kindle. Or simply ask your local book seller.

The Gal Pals do have a new website (still under construction) at www.galpalpoker.webs.com and even a gift shop at galpalpoker

This book would make a wonderful Christmas gift or “bachelorette” party gift! It’s a really nice book and I think I’ll order it and put together my own Gal Pal Poker night!!

Let’s help the Gal Pals get the word out about this great book and support this wonderful charity by posting this article to your Facebook page or Tweet about it! Thanks!


Friday, November 9, 2012

Writer’s Digest celebrates NaNoWriMo

Writer’s Digest celebrates NaNoWriMo with free giveaways all month long!

Check out http://bit.ly/RFgQkA every Monday - Friday in the month of November to access the content.

Writer’s Digest will spotlight subsequent weekly themes that aim to guide the NaNoWriMo participant through the novel writing process. The schedule includes:

Nov 1-2: Creativity / Idea Generation

Nov 5-9: Story Structure / Plotting

Nov 12-16: Character

Nov 19-23: Inspiration

Nov: 26-30: Endings / Revision

Have fun everyone!

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Author Robin Murphy Talks About How to Write a Book Series?

Today we’re talking to 2-time author Robin Murphy about how she planned and is
executing her new book series. Robin is the author of Sullivan’s Secret and the saga, Secret of the Big Easy. Robin’s website can be seen at www.robinmurphyauthor.com.

Carol Denbow: Robin, I really enjoyed Sullivan’s Secret and am looking forward to reading your newest book, Secret of the Big Easy. It must be hard to write a series of connecting books. Can you please start by telling us if when you first dreamed up Sullivan’s Secret, did you plan on a continuing saga for the book?

Robin Murphy: Hello Carol, thank you for having me here today. I will admit I didn’t decide that in the beginning of Sullivan’s Secret. I think it came to me when I realized there was so much more to tell about Marie and the SIPS team and at the end of the first book, I needed to have the characters continue on.

Carol Denbow: For a book series, do you think breaking up a complete story into segments and finding a cut-off point to start a new book would be best, or wrapping one up and then dreaming up a new “similar” storyline for the next book (similar to yours)?

Robin Murphy: As a reader I like to have a finale that leaves a hint of another story to be told. So I pulled that theory into my writing. I wanted to satisfy the reader in Sullivan’s Secret, but left it linger enough to hint there was more to come. It was natural to carry the similar storyline into Secret of the Big Easy but added a new setting, plot, and some interesting new characters.

Carol Denbow: I recall that for your first book, you traveled around to find a location to base your story from. Did you do the same for Secret of the Big Easy?

Robin Murphy: Yes I did. My husband and I took a trip to the French Quarter in New Orleans. Some of the story was already written so it was fun to have dinner at a restaurant that was mentioned in my book. I felt as if I had literally stepped into my book which helped me bring every sight, scent, and sound from N’awlins into the story.

Carol Denbow: Do you have plans to continue on with a third book?

Robin Murphy: Yes, I do. This story is going to take place in Washington, DC and explore more spirits, ghost investigations, a little dab of politics, and of course…murder.

Carol Denbow: In your opinion, how many books in a series are reasonable before a reader might “lose interest” in that story and you need to start something new?

Robin Murphy: That’s the age old question and I’ve asked myself that many times. I think it’ll be when I’m possibly tired of writing the series. It’s very clear if my writing feels flat or stale it’s going to come across to a reader. Readers are intelligent and they want to read great stories.

Carol Denbow: Writers speak about a fiction book having a beginning, the central story, and an ending. When writing a series, do you still focus on that, or is there a different recipe for writing?

Robin Murphy: I can’t speak for other writers, but for me, as I said earlier, I like to have a finale. So I incorporate those elements, but at the end leave that hint of there being more in the next book.

Carol Denbow: How long should a writer pause before releasing a new book in the series?

Robin Murphy: I don’t know if there’s a definitive answer for that. If you have an agent or a traditional publisher there may be deadlines you need to meet. Some say you don’t want to wait more than a year so the reader doesn’t forget about you or the story. For me, it was just a year since my first book was published and with working full time, that’s about all I can produce without losing my joy for writing.

Carol Denbow: Did you start working on the newest book immediately after publishing the first one, or was it already “in the works?”

Robin Murphy: I already had the ideas floating around in my head and jotting them in my journal while the first book was being published. I need to write, it doesn’t stop for me, so it continues on with lulls here and there…depending on what’s going on in my life, lol.

Carol Denbow: What advice would you give a new writer who is entertaining the idea of writing a book series?

Robin Murphy: You really need to be sure you have enough of a storyline to carry through for a series. A few tips I can offer are to be sure to bring enough back-story into the next book, but not too much as to bore the reader. It’s a bit of a fine line, but you can incorporate back-story through dialogue instead of having a detailed paragraph. I would also advise to keep notes on everything because you will inherently be re-using descriptions of characters and/or places, and you certainly don’t want to confuse the reader because you’ll lose them in a heartbeat. But one important key is to have each book worthy to stand alone. I received a great review from a reader stating that when she read Secret of the Big Easy she had enough back-story to understand the book and couldn’t wait to go back and read Sullivan’s Secret.

Carol Denbow: Robin, as always, it’s been a pleasure and we thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us today. Do you have anything you would like to add in closing?

Robin Murphy: Thank you Carol, as always it’s been fun. For writers, just have fun with your writing and don’t let anyone steal your joy. For readers, if you love paranormal mysteries go out and purchase Sullivan’s Secret and then Secret of the Big Easy. You won’t be disappointed.

Robin Murphy’s books can be found at all the usual places and on her website at www.robinmurphyauthor.com.


Monday, August 13, 2012

What 50 Famous Authors Want Us to Know About the Writing Process


1. “…a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.” -Virginia Woolf, A Room of One’s Own
Honestly, this advice could apply to authors across the gender and gender-identity spectrum. But when Virginia Woolf published her seminal book-length essay, it stood as a strong feminist statement empowering fiction-writing women who wanted to succeed despite the odds.

2. “If we can’t understand it, then it’s formidable. And we understand very little. We don’t understand the weak nuclear force, galaxy formation … so one should be humble.” – Martin Amis, interview with Prospect, Feb. 1, 2010
The London Fields author considers his closed-minded and rigid peers, particularly those with absolute opinions regarding religion, “crabbed.” He advises a more all-embracing outlook and enough self-awareness and humility to admit that you might not always get your facts right.

3. “I’m not advocating disobedience to authority in general — because that doesn’t necessarily lead to anything — but knowing the difference between your own intelligence and somebody handing you a set of things you should believe. It’s important to understand their motivations, their intentions, where those beliefs derive from and then having a set of questions to make sure that what they give to you is equally important and meaningful to you.” – Amy Tan, interview with Academy of Achievement, June 28, 1996
Rebellion and questioning propels literature and other creative pursuits, but they ultimately yield empty results when only posed for posing’s sake. Bestselling brain behind The Joy Luck Club Amy Tan believes the best writers know how to make the distinction between genuine establishment challenging and its more self-congratulating counterpart.

4. “The artist is distinguished from all other responsible actors in society — the politicians, legislators, educators, and scientists — by the fact that he is his own test tube, his own laboratory, working according to very rigorous rules, however unstated these may be, and cannot allow any consideration to supersede his responsibility to reveal all that he can possibly discover concerning the mystery of the human being. Society must accept some things as real; but he must always know that visible reality hides a deeper one, and that all our action and achievement rest on things unseen.” – James Baldwin, “The Creative Process,” Creative America
Both artists and writers, according to the celebrated author behind the revealing Go Tell It on the Mountain, are responsible for serving as mouthpieces for social commentary. Without them, the insight necessary for change cannot take place.

5. “It never gets easier; it’s always hard, it’s always a test. I’ve reached a point in my life where if a sentence seems easy, I distrust it.” – Amitav Gosh, The Wall Street Journal, November 13, 2009
Acclaimed authors always seem to make the whole penning and publishing thing seem effortless, but in reality the process is painfully, sometimes cripplingly, grueling. Amitav Gosh of The Glass Palace and Sea of Poppies fame thinks readers and writers should realize just how grueling the literary arts can be — and that they’re really in for a nasty shock if they think hammering out manuscripts will get better with experience.

6. “The scariest moment is always just before you start.” – Stephen King, On Writing
Quite possibly the most intense anxiety an author in any medium, any genre will face is his or her own anxiety about launching a brand new project.

7. “… I kind of look around and see what’s going on and take it a few steps further.” – Octavia Butler, “‘Devil Girl From Mars’: Why I Write Science Fiction”
One of the most groundbreaking writers in the science fiction genre considers an openness to education (formal or not) and the ability to synthesize ideas from real-life scenarios essential to the creative process. This advice quite obviously transcends the science fiction and fantasy genres.

8. “Out of the neglected riches of this dream the poet fetches his wares. He dips into the chaos that underlies the rational shell of the world and brings up some superfluous image, some emotion dropped by the way, and reattaches it to the present object; he reinstates things unnecessary, he emphasizes things ignored, be paints in again into the landscape the tints which the intellect has allowed to fade from it. If he seems sometimes to obscure a fact, it is only because he is restoring an experience.” – George Santayana, “The Elements and Function of Poetry”
Poetic types will no doubt find this lyrical distillation of their craft an at once romantic and realistic depiction — and one they might very well find inspiring when the words just don’t seem to properly flow.

9. “Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.” – Kurt Vonnegut, “8 Rules for Writing Fiction,” Bagombo Snuff Box
All of Kurt Vonnegut’s straightforward bits of writerly advice offer something to the reader, but they obviously lean more towards the fictitious end. His very first tip, however, applies to pretty much every medium and genre out there.

10. “I think the philosophy training, four years of reading really dense, difficult things, where the statements, the information packed within these words is not so obviously stated, but it’s available if you know how to dissect it…that’s been very useful in doing the type of comedy that I find myself doing and doing the type of writing that I find myself doing, which is reinterpreting the world and restating some things that people may be loosely aware of but with your own additional twist and perspective and joke.” - Baratunde Thurston, interview with Stay Out of School, April 18, 2011
What makes comedian, political commentator, and of course writer Baratunde Thurston so piquant doesn’t exclusively come from a terrifically enjoyable philosophy class. But it still led him to realize that the most effective works come when tweaking and perceiving the world in some interesting, insightful new ways.

11. “Writing fiction is like being a god.” – Sharnush Parsipur, interview with Pars Arts, Jan. 2, 2008
God complexes are never not gauche, but this controversial Iranian author certainly makes a point about the role fiction writers play in their own imagined worlds. Just keep the deity play to the page and not real life.

12. “If you try hard to listen, to like them, to love them, then their stories become interesting. Everyone has his own story.” – Haruki Murakami, University of California at Berkeley, Oct.10, 2008
Despite stemming from a discussion of the nonfiction work Underground, this soundbite from one of the world’s preeminent postmodernists encourages writers to pay close attention to the people around them; they just might inspire all kinds of interesting tales.

13. “I mean, if I’m not writing for the audience, if I’m not writing to make it easier for them, then who the hell am I doing it for? And the way you make it easier is by following those tenets: cutting, building to a climax, leaving out exposition, and always progressing toward the single goal of the protagonist. They’re very stringent rules, but they are, in my estimation and experience, what makes it easier for the audience.” – David Mamet, interview with The Art of Theater, Spring 1997
Whether whipping up plays, screenplays, or something else entirely, writers should always keep asking themselves what they want readers and viewers to carry away from their works.

14. “I like a certain amount of randomness. The truth, in my opinion, is unavoidably strange.” – Zadie Smith, Tufts University, March 27, 2012
All of Zadie Smith’s novels, from White Teeth to On Beauty, stay firmly grounded in reality. She doesn’t feel the need to include anything fantastic, as she thinks the world as we know it is crammed with enough oddities.

15. “You read what you have written and, as you always stop when you know what is going to happen next, you go on from there. You write until you come to a place where you still have your juice and know what will happen next and you stop and try to live through until the next day when you hit it again…When you stop you are as empty, and at the same time never empty but filling, as when you have made love to someone you love.” – Ernest Hemingway, interview with The Paris Review, Spring 1958
This famous discussion with one of America’s most beloved writers yielded numerous points of advice for aspirant authors. One of the more useful snippets warns against using up too much creativity and ideas in a single sitting.

16. “And though the rewriting — and the rereading — sound like effort, they are actually the most pleasurable parts of writing. Sometimes the only pleasurable parts. Setting out to write, if you have the idea of ‘literature’ in your head, is formidable, intimidating. A plunge in an icy lake. Then comes the warm part: when you already have something to work with, upgrade, edit.” – Susan Sontag, “Directions: Write, Read, Rewrite. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 as Needed.” The New York Times, Dec. 18, 2000
Reframing the often nerve-shattering process of editing manuscripts and pieces as a wholly refreshing — even invigorating — necessity certainly makes it far more palatable! Keep Susan Sontag’s words in mind when painstakingly changing your work starts growing a little too overwhelming.

17. “… what I have read is far more important than what I have written. For one reads what one likes — yet one writes not what one would like to write but what one is able to write.” – Jorge Luis Borges, This Craft of Verse
Long-standing writing advice posits reading as a fundamental activity for anyone hoping to see their work land on the shelves, and one of the most celebrated Argentine writers of all time eloquently summarizes why.

18. “Be ambitious for the work and not for the reward.” – Jeanette Winterson, “Ten Rules for Writing Fiction.” The Guardian, Feb. 19, 2010
Don’t jump into a writing project expecting to wind up on bestseller lists and showering in Pulitzers and Bookers and Nobels. Write because you have something to say and want to share with the world; you’ll be a whole lot happier keeping that in mind as the end.

19. “Keep human! See people; go places, drink if you feel like it.” – Henry Miller, Henry Miller on Writing
Work hard, but don’t allow it to completely swallow up your entire existence. Considering how notoriously difficult creative industries are to break into, getting entirely lost in a project proves far too easy sometimes.

20. “Most writers have certain things that they decide quite consciously, and other things they decide less consciously. In my case, the choice of narrator and setting are deliberate. You do have to choose a setting with great care, because with a setting come all kinds of emotional and historical reverberations. But I leave quite a large area for improvisation after that.” – Kazuo Ishiguro, interview with The Paris Review, Spring 2008
The details may change, but most writers’ processes typically follow the structure Never Let Me Go and The Remains of the Day author Kazuo Ishiguro outlines and subsequently illustrates, using himself as an example.

21. “As for writing, most people secretly believe they themselves have a book in them, which they would write if they could only find the time. And there’s some truth to this notion. A lot of people do have a book in them — that is, they have had an experience that other people might want to read about. But this is not the same thing as ‘being a writer.’ Or, to put it in a more sinister way: everyone can dig a hole in a cemetery, but not everyone is a grave-digger.” – Margaret Atwood, Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing
In keeping with the importance of humility, wannabe writers need to know their limits — some might just not work out in a commercial or literary sense, and they have to face that possibility and try anyways. Alternately, this quote makes an excellent rebuttal when your parents start complaining (and if they aren’t complaining, they’re thinking about complaining) about how you shouldn’t even bother because the industry is flooded with others just like you.

22. “i. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.ii. Never use a long word where a short one will do.iii. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
iv. Never use the passive where you can use the active.
v. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
vi. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.”
- George Orwell, “Politics and the English Language”
Like all of the arts, writing’s core tenets are often far more flexible than composition teachers will admit without a few drinks in them. No less than George Orwell himself stuck to this tenet when crafting classics such as Animal Farm and 1984.

23. “… the rhythm thing is important, that you have to just get into the rhythm of it and not get out of it. Because you can’t just jump back in — it will take you several days if you break the stride.” – Salman Rushdie, interview with About.com, March 3, 2009
Every writer’s rhythm differs, but the consequences of letting it fall away remain pretty much the same across the board. Try to work in an environment conducive to keeping up the pace as long as possible.

24. “As a teacher I realize that what one learns in school doesn’t serve for very much at all, that the only thing one can really learn is self understanding and this is something that can’t be taught.” – Laura Esquivel, interview with Salon, Oct. 4, 1996
Through novels such as Like Water for Chocolate and The Law of Love, Laura Esquivel hopes her readers will learn a little something about the tenderer emotions out there and slough off “social rules that do not pertain to them.”

25. “I perceived that to express those impressions, to write that essential book, which is the only true one, a great writer does not, in the current meaning of the word, invent it, but, since it exists already in each one of us, interprets it. The duty and the task of a writer are those of an interpreter.” – attributed to Marcel Proust
Michelangelo often considered his lush sculptures as already sitting inside blocks of marble — all he had to do was free them from their rocky prisons. Centuries later, the reclusive, celebrated author of In Search of Lost Time is said something similar about the art of novel writing.

26. “The successful novel, on the other hand, has a shape much like a bell. We begin at the top of the bell, its tight curve. Every detail has purpose here: the way a woman tilts her head, the slant of light as one exits the subway, the repetition of a phrase. As soon as we have gained our bearings, we notice things beginning to open up, flaring outward the way a bell does.” – Chitra Divakaruni, “New Insights Into the Novel? Try Reading 300.” The New York Times, Feb. 12, 2001
After downing 300 books while sitting on the National Book Awards judging committee, poet and novelist Chitra Divakaruni took painstaking notes on what makes a great read great. Keeping this particular form in mind might help current and future writers better plan their literary output.

27. “… in all my books, [every single line] has a starting point in reality. I provide a magnifying glass so readers can understand reality better.” – Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Conversations with Gabriel Garcia Marquez, ed. Gene H. Bell-Villada
Regardless of whether or not a writer hopes to utilize this Nobel recipient’s signature magic realist style, he or she might benefit immensely from keeping with his advice about staying grounded in familiar concepts. Giving readers something to relate to maintains their interest and attention.

28. “I try to change my superstitions with each project. Working in fountain pen is good because it slows me down just enough to keep my handwriting legible. Often I use two pens with different coloured ink, so I can tell visually how much I did each day.” – Neil Gaiman, interview with Time Out London, Oct. 5, 2006
Sometimes, even established writers like to experiment and mix things up in their own writing processes — so never fear experimenting with new strategies!

29. “If something is on my mind, writing-wise, I have do it and do it in the instant. I have to at least put down a first draft. Otherwise, I am so afraid I will lose it … Writing is also the way I process things and when I am done with a piece I feel a lot closer to understanding the subject.” – Edwidge Dandicat, “Junot Diaz.” BOMB, Fall 2007
Ideas almost always prove so fleeting and immediate that writing them down as soon as they materialize is a very popular bit of advice.

30. “Still, in the very fact that people will recognize me wherever I go, and know all about my life, as far as its follies go, I can discern something good for me. It will force on me the necessity of again asserting myself as an artist, and as soon as I possibly can. If I can produce only one beautiful work of art I shall be able to rob malice of its venom, and cowardice of its sneer, and to pluck out the tongue of scorn by the roots.” – Oscar Wilde, “De Profundis”
The great Irish wit had plenty of to say of writing (and pretty much everything else) but his essay-length letter from his stint in Reading Gaol reflected a renewed sense of urgency. He considered success a way to take revenge on his critics and a way to refresh himself after incarceration.

31. “Much of contemporary art today is about branding. You see this a lot in visual art, where the painter will create many works of art that look the same. It’s because they know that kind of work sells. In fiction you see this happening a lot as well. But that can be a death trap for writers, just putting out what they think readers want to read. I could never do that. I need to make sure I’m always engaging my reader as well as engaging myself with new material. Think of it this way. My kids want candy for breakfast, but I know it’s not good for them, so I don’t give it to them. When I write, I know I have to write for a reader, but it’s important for any writer to also write for themselves. Will I write about some of the same themes? Sure, but I won’t do it in the same way.” – Mat Johnson, interview with TINGE Magazine, Spring 2011
Never fear repeating concepts, but make sure to tweak them each appearance to make them fresher and offer up a different perspective. And, of course, make sure to do so in a manner that pleases you in addition to your audience; many writers do not find pandering a satisfactory strategy.

32. “I would say that the main favor I ask of the serious critic is sufficient perceptiveness to understand that whatever term or trope I use, my purpose is not to be facetiously flashy or grotesquely obscure but to express what I feel and think with the utmost truthfulness and perception.” – Vladimir Nabokov, interview with The New York Times, April 23, 1971
For the Pale Fire, Lolita, and Pnin scribe, veracity reigned as far more important than ostentatiousness and shock tactics common to far too many writers. Strive for authenticity and honesty in your work. The words will probably flow easier that way, too!

33. “Quality is always more important than quantity. This is true for everything. Even if you write only one line in your life, if it stays in someone’s mind forever, it is satisfactory.” – Banana Yoshimoto, interview with Bookslut, August 2005
We so often mistake prolificacy and verbosity as indicative of talent, so it’s important to always keep this age-old maxim of simplicity and conservation in mind when starting a new literary project.

34. “Delay is natural to a writer. He is like a surfer — he bides his time, waits for the perfect wave on which to ride in. Delay is instinctive with him. He waits for the surge (of emotion? of strength? of courage?) that will carry him along.” – E.B. White, interview with The Paris Review, Fall 1969
Yes, you’re going to experience your lazy moments when you’d rather be “straightening pictures on the wall, rugs on the floor” than sitting down to that poem, essay, novel, short story, or play. Don’t let minor distractions completely override productivity, but don’t chastise yourself when they happen, either.

35. “At the end of the day I feel like the office should be a battlefield with my blood splashed across the keyboard, dripping from the monitor.” – Laurell K. Hamilton, “Bleeding on my Keyboard”
Like a method actress, Laurell K. Hamilton of Anita Blake fame throws a piece of herself into every one of her popular protagonist’s adventures. Not every writer will necessarily forge this deep empathic connection with their characters, which isn’t a good or bad thing, but rather a matter of personal preference — although those who do should know they aren’t alone.

36. “… I still remember the exact moment when I first understood, with a sudden clarity, the purpose of a paragraph. I didn’t have the vocabulary to say ‘paragraph,’ but I realized that a paragraph was a fence that held words. The words inside a paragraph worked together for a common purpose. They had some specific reason for being inside the same fence. This knowledge delighted me.” – Sherman Alexie, “Superman and Me.” The Most Wonderful Books: Writers on Discovering the Pleasures of Reading, ed. Michael Dorris
Reading and writing come inextricably intertwined, and harkening back to the magic and wonder of experiencing words for the very first time might prove a fertile starting point when seeking inspiration.

37. “I don’t have any theory of rhetoric, but what I have in the back of my mind is that one should not try to persuade; rather, you should try to layout the territory as best you can so that other people can use their own intellectual powers to work out for themselves what they think is right or wrong. For example, I try, particularly in political writing, to make it extremely clear in advance exactly where I stand. In my view, the idea of neutral objectivity is largely fraudulent.” – Noam Chomsky, “Language, Politics, and Composition.” Interview in Journal of Advanced Composition, 1991
Never talk down to your audience, in other words, and don’t use political writing as persuasive writing. Assume nonfiction readers are smart enough to glean your meaning and be straightforward about your beliefs so they don’t assume you’re trying to subtly brainwash them.

38. “Different books arrive in different ways and require different strategies. Most of the books that I have written have been questions that I can’t answer. In order to actually put down the first word — I don’t really have a plan — I sometimes have a character, but I can’t do anything with it until the language arrives.” – Toni Morrison, interview in Time, May 7, 2008
Practice flexibility in your writing process, as rigidity might hinder progress; going with what feels natural earned Toni Morrison both a Pulitzer and a Nobel Prize in Literature, after all.

39. “The point is getting it all down, even if it’s crap or incomprehensible to anyone but you, so you can see it outside your own head. And then you can start adding to it. Expanding it, putting new layers on it, winding a new plotline around it, moving bits of it around. Just get it down.” – Warren Ellis, “Rough Work”
Editing exists for a reason. What matters more than immediate coherence is making sure ideas hit the paper or screen as quickly as possible.

40. “This me that is you, for I cannot bear to be simply me, I need others in order to stand up, giddy and awkward as I am, for what can one do except meditate in order to plunge into that total void which can only be attained through meditation…What troubles my existence is writing.” – Clarice Lispector, The Hour of the Star
In the preface to one of her most well-received modernist novels, Clarice Lispector attributed her literary success to the classical composers whose music placed her in the calm, reflective state necessary to get writing done. Plenty of writers, famous and nonfamous, find this technique an absolute essential.

41. “I never could get too much out of classes except discipline. I had to have papers in on time, but with my fiction, I just sort of did it. I couldn’t just change one section because then the whole thing would unravel.” – Leslie Marmon Silko, “Stories and Their Tellers – A Conversation with Leslie Marmon Silko.” The Third Woman: Minority Women Writers of the United States, ed. Dexter Fisher. Reprinted in Conversations with Leslie Marmon Silko, ed. Ellen L. Arnold
You don’t have to major in English or creative writing in order to pen and publish great literary works. Just get your ideas out there and weave together intricate stories from them, which each word building off the ones that came before.

42. “Even if I work very little, I work every day. It’s not work: it’s a style of life.” – Marjane Satrapi, interview with The Telegraph, Dec. 12, 2004
Make writing part of your daily routine and, over time, it’ll become easier and easier to sit down and get productive.

43. “Good writers are often amazing actors, I think, because they’re very good at dialogue … One good way for — and I always tell this to my students — is to read it out loud after you’ve written something.” – Gary Shteyngart, interview with NY1.com, Aug. 30, 2010
Many a famous and obscure writer consider reading out loud an excellent way to check for flow as well as spelling and punctuation errors. For even more input, wrangle in a trusted friend to help out.

44. “And the nice thing about writing a novel is you take your time, you sit with the character sometimes nine years, you look very deeply at a situation, unlike in real life when we just kind of snap something out. And it allowed me to be more generous than me the person. The author is always much more compassionate than Sandra Cisneros the human being.” – Sandra Cisneros, interview with News Hour with Jim Lehrer, Oct. 15, 2002
Poet and novelist Sandra Cisneros explains how her writing process nurtures far more empathy for characters than she experiences in real life. She believes this phenomenon results from being able to chew over fiction for years and years and years rather than forced into improvisational situations.

45. “When I first met Joyce, I didn’t intend to be a writer. That only came later when I found out that I was no good at all at teaching. When I found I simply couldn’t teach. But I do remember speaking about Joyce’s heroic achievement. I had a great admiration for him. That’s what it was: epic, heroic, what he achieved. I realized that I couldn’t go down that same road.” – Samuel Beckett, interview in Beckett Remembering/Remembering Beckett: A Centenary Celebration, ed. James and Elizabeth Knowlson
While not necessarily explicitly about the writing process, one of Ireland’s most celebrated playwrights notes how integral inspirational people and mentors can be when launching a literary career.

46. “In the writing of novels there is the problem of how to shape a narrative. And though the search for new ways of telling goes on – I’ve written about this at terrible length – I don’t think there are going to be any new discoveries. For one thing, literature is not a science. There is no new formula.” – Gore Vidal, interview with The Paris Review, Fall 1974
Literary experiments are grand, but writers will just have to understand that it’s entirely likely that what they try may have already been tried before. Just relax. You might not write anything groundbreaking, but you can still write something great.

47. “Our salvation, to the extent that we have one, will come out of people realizing the crisis of our species and of the planet and offering their deepest dream of what’s possible.” – Alice Walker, interview with Writer’s Digest, Aug. 31, 2010
This beloved Pulitzer recipient is another proponent of the writing arts as a window into reality, encouraging authors to push humanity towards positive change.

48. “The way I write is, I listen to things in my head and then I copy them down. I memorize conversations and things like that; I seem to be able to do that pretty well. I suppose in that respect there’s some improvisation, although I work over the stuff after I’ve got it down on paper.” – Harvey Pekar, interview with Random House
Slice-of-life underground comics form the bulk of Harvey Pekar’s most popular writings, but he actually enjoyed quite a career as a jazz critic as well. Here, he analyzes the role music may have played in shaping his writing process and style.

49. “Write something every day. Sit for a few minutes, and write the word of the day.” – Maxine Hong Kingston, interview with Sonshi.com
Another quote from the enormous cadre of respected authors who swear by dedicating at least part of the day to writing — although she goes so far as to suggest that only one word still equates to productivity. Many a fellow practitioner of the literary arts will obviously quite appreciate this sentiment!

50. “You have to get to a very quiet place inside yourself. And that doesn’t mean that you can’t have noise outside. I know some people who put jazz on, loudly, to write. I think each writer has her or his secret path to the muse.” – Maya Angelou, interview with O: The Oprah Magazine, April 2011
Maya Angelou sums up the writing process better than anyone — in most ways, it’s completely subjective and reliant on the comfort levels and creativity of the writers themselves. Amazing snippets of advice no doubt exist, of course, but in the end there is no genuinely “one size fits all” strategy

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

12 Marketing Skills Every Writer Now Needs

Article contributed by http://www.accreditedonlinecolleges.org

In a world of blogs, tweets, website comments, and Facebook status updates, everyone is a writer. That is, they are in the sense that they are communicating through the written word. But you're a writer: you know what a gerund is, and you would never mistake "it's" with "its." Of course, the proliferation of social media has only served to flood the market with content producers. If you want to make it as a writer, you will have to separate yourself from the crowd so your work can be appreciated. Here are 12 marketing skills to help you become the next Hemingway.

The ability to…

1…make friends with Twitter.
As a good writer, you already have the ability to write concise, interesting, and funny prose. That's all Twitter is. It should be a breeze for you to build a following of people that includes literary agents and book editors that can assist you in getting the word out about your work, or offer you a deal if you don't have one. Don't use this as a chance to hit them over the head with your book; just demonstrate what a good writer you are and they will want to read it on their own.

2…network.
Recommending Twitter is really just a way of saying you need to be able to network. As aspiring author Julie Cantrell found, there are accomplished writers out there who are happy to give you advice on marketing your work. Email them, Facebook them, or add them on LinkedIn, just don't be too pushy or stalker-ish.

3…create your own .com.
You could go the blog route, but you'll look far more professional with your own website. Pick up a copy of Teach Yourself Dreamweaver and download a free, fully-functional trial version of the software from Adobe. Consider making large chunks of your writing available for free on your site, and don't give in to the temptation to sell ads.

4…e-publish.
Giving your work away may not seem like a great marketing strategy, but even the pros do it, because it works. And for an unknown like you, it might just be the best way to get your work in front of people. E-publishing is one way to get your material into a professional, digital format that can be downloaded. Learn how to use Adobe Acrobat or similar software to have your work listed on the Kindle Library, for free or for royalties, if you prefer.

5…maximize web traffic.
There is an entire field of professionals who work at optimizing companies' and individuals' web traffic. Since you don't have a personal SEO employee, you'll need to learn how to maximize your visibility on search engines by using clear and accurate keywords in your site title, description, and body. The way to move to the top of the search list is to have lots of other sites linking to your page, so you'll have to submit your stuff to various sites that deal with your topic and encourage them to link their readers to you.

6…speak in public.
Traditional media outlets like radio and TV are turning more and more towards the new class of internet writers and bloggers. If a major TV show or radio program comes calling wanting to interview you, you'll need to be prepared to be beamed into millions of homes around the world. Do your homework and watch how other authors and writers handle different interviewers.

7…make videos.
Don't wait for the TV cameras to come to you. Pick up an inexpensive camcorder or just use your laptop webcam. Shoot an introductory video of yourself for your site and your latest book project, or upload a highlight reel to YouTube of key points in your work. You don't have to be Steven Spielberg, just keep it simple. Don't zoom in and out, don't use any lame screen wipes, and don't sound like you're reading from a script.

8…know the industry.
Even after they get a book deal, many authors are surprised to find the majority of the marketing depends on them. Know going in what kind of writing sells and can be marketed and you will save yourself a lot of time and effort in the long run. Keep up with what's hot by reading Writer's Market or Script.

9…brand yourself.
Establishing yourself and your writing as a brand involves knowing what your core strength is. It's the one thing you know more about or write better than anyone else. Take Perez Hilton: he turned a love of celebrities and gossip into a website with millions of views each month. His name/pseudonym is now synonymous with the subject. Find what you're passionate about and become laser-focused on that subject, and eventually you'll be branded as a respected authority.

10…make a media kit.
Microsoft Publisher is all you need to make a professional press kit to send out to agents or publishing houses. Include in your materials the market research you've done to show how the writing can be profitable, and include the best bits of material from the work. You'll have to find the right balance between providing enough pertinent info and overwhelming the audience with data.

11…be available.
If you really want to make a living by writing, you're going to have to make it your top priority. Don't be too busy to turn anything down: an interview for a blog or a neighborhood weekly, a "local authors" day at a small bookstore, or a speaking engagement across the country. It make not sound like a skill to be available, but being upbeat and on your game at all times requires work, plain and simple.

12…sell online.
Financially-speaking, the most important aspect of marketing is knowing how to sell your products. With all this attention you've drawn to your website, you have to know how to operate a digital store. Paypal is the industry standard for accepting payments, but you'll also need to make arrangements to accept the major credit cards. To protect your customers, you'll have to know how to use https.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Free Press Release Sites

Just a quick note to let you know of a few websites that will post your press release and submit it to various search engines for free. These have been helpful in getting the word out about new book releases. Just wanted to pass it along to you, in case you hadn't heard of them. Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comment section.

http://openpr.com/news/submit.html
http://pr.prlog.org/
http://www.pressbox.co.uk/cgi-bin/links/add.cgi

Sorry for my recent absence, I had to go back to a "real" job for awhile! LOL!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Oscar Wilde’s Birthday: How About a New Book?

Today in celebration of Oscar Wilde’s birthday, I am interviewing Joy Shannon, author of The First Counterculture Celebrity: Oscar Wilde’s 1882 North American Tour released this past September.

Carol Denbow: Welcome Joy. Please start by telling us a little about your book.

Joy Shannon: I wrote this book originally as my thesis for my masters in American Studies at Cal State Fullerton. I am primarily an artist and musician but I have always been fascinated by cultural history and how the arts influence culture. I am especially interested in how the arts are often associated with countercultures that are ahead of their time and affect cultural shifts in the mainstream often years later. I chose Wilde’s 1882 tour as the subject for my thesis because Wilde was a perfect example of an artist who deeply influenced culture and was part of the Victorian countercultures which influenced the 20th century mainstream.


Carol Denbow: Statistically, most people who write “biographies” write them about themselves or a family member. Why Oscar?

Joy Shannon: Oscar Wilde wrote in the Picture of Dorian Gray that “Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.” This is very much true for my book. I chose to write about Oscar Wilde because he has so deeply inspired and influenced me in my development as an artist. I chose to write about his 1882 tour which was at the very beginning, devlopmental stage of his career when he was 27 years-old, because I am at that stage in my own career and I was 27 when I wrote the book. I really wanted to learn more about him and his humanity and learn from him in how he handled his career.

Carol Denbow: Oscar Wilde; what a character of his time! Why did you choose in particular, his North American Tour?

Joy Shannon: This tour has not been researched and written about as much as the rest of Wilde’s career, especially the sad end of his career. Additionally I chose to research the 1882 tour for practical reasons; it is a contained period of time with a contained amount of primary source evidence, so I could wrap my head around it. As a musician who has performed and worked on tours, I also found the idea of Wilde going on a tour of North America fascinating. When we think of tours, the general image that comes to mind are 1970s rock bands touring during the height of the area rock era, so thinking of Wilde going on a Victorian-era tour was so interesting!

Carol Denbow: Did you find it difficult to write an entire book about one celebrity?

Joy Shannon: May be it would have been a challenge if I wrote about anyone else, but Oscar Wilde just abundantly inspires and makes me laugh. Continually while I researched, I found hilarious moments that I just wanted to share with everyone I know! In the end, I could have written a book twice as long!

Carol Denbow: Your book is loaded with some amazing photos and trivial stories; where did you find all these?

Joy Shannon: Most of my research was from the interviews of Wilde during his 1882 tour and the letters he wrote that year. I started with those primary source materials and then would research people Wilde wrote to or mentioned in interviews and just expanded my research from there. As there is not a comprehensive book written solely about this tour, only articles and books about certain aspects of the tour, I found my research all over the place. I also found a great deal of information online, at university archives and the online historical archives of various cities that Wilde travelled to. The Oscar Wilde Society of America has a website that helped me a great deal too. They are continually working to compile a comprehensive archive of research about Wilde’s 1882 tour, so if I ever found references to Wilde doing something or going somewhere that I only found in one source, I double checked with OWSOA to see if they confirmed it. Some of the writing about Wilde in 1882 was like reading a gossip magazine, so I wanted to make sure I figured out what was really true. This tour had rumors and legends built up around it-- and I did not shy away from reporting on these legends-- but I wanted to make sure I did so in an historically responsible way. What this research taught me is that in the end, we might never know about certain moments of history. Like the much speculated-upon meeting between Walt Whitman and Oscar Wilde in 1882-- we know it happened but we do not know much more about it! Oh to have been a fly on the wall!

Carol Denbow: This is a pretty extensive book; may I ask how long it took to write it?

Joy Shannon: I researched and wrote the book in one year between 2010 and 2011. I did most of my research in the first 6 months and then wrote for the next 6 months. I had loved Wilde since I was 13, so I already knew a lot about him and was not starting from scratch. The first chapter was the hardest to write and took me about two months, and then after that, I wrote about a chapter a month. Since I wrote this as my thesis, I had the additional help of a committee of three professors who read the first drafts of my chapters and gave me feedback. This book really owes a huge debt to my professors John Ibson, Michael Steiner and Joanna Roche at Cal State Fullerton. Ibson and Steiner are professors in the American Studies department and Roche is an art historian in the Visual Art department, and they each lent their unique expertise and questions to challenge me in my research and writing.

Carol Denbow: What can readers learn from this book?

Joy Shannon: Readers can learn an interesting way to look at history from this book. I applied my American Studies background, which focuses on tracing cultural trends and beliefs back to their historical sources, to Wilde’s counterculture attitudes and the mainstream reaction to him. In order for readers to fully understand why Oscar Wilde was so revolutionary, I detailed the mainstream fashions and gender- role ideals of the Victorian culture that Wilde was defying. I also traced where the counterculture beliefs, that Wilde was expounding upon in his 1882 interviews, were coming from and what they were reacting to in mainstream society.

Carol Denbow: Do you have any advice for writers who are writing a biography, either about their selves or someone else?

Joy Shannon: If I can give any advice to other writers, artists, musicians, or dreamers of all kinds, it is to go for it! If you have the desire to do something- whether it is writing a book or traveling the world- seriously do it! I believe we are given our desires like maps to our own fulfillment in life. The greatest fulfillment I have felt in my life is from dreaming up something, feeling intimidated or scared to take the risk to do it, and then actually doing it! I have learned my greatest lessons and grown most as a person this way. Researching Oscar Wilde reminded me to keep going on my path of doing my music and art, because I saw how human Wilde was and how the creation of his career was a choice he made to believe in himself and just go for it! I guess we are all most afraid of failing when we pursue our dreams, but Wilde is a great role-model in this, because he totally fails in lots of very human ways, and he still makes such an important mark on this world by being himself. I think we love him more because of his humanity and ultimately his “failures” are not necessarily failures at all. The only thing about Wilde I could criticize is his not writing more plays, poetry or novels in his lifetime. So my advice to all aspiring writers or dreamers of any kind, is go for it!

Carol Denbow: Joy, you are also a very talented musician. Does this tie in with the book in anyway? Including marketing your book?

Joy Shannon: Thank you! I think that everything I do ties back into my music, as it’s my main career. All I know is that researching and writing this book personally inspired me and thus inspired my music. I have received a lot of interest in this book from the fans of my music, which has been an interesting surprise! From that, I can deduce that my music attracts history nerds like me! Perhaps this means I need to market my music to the band “the Decemberists’ ” crowd?!

Carol Denbow: May we ask where we could find this book to purchase?

Joy Shannon: You can order the book in paperback or Kindle most readily online from amazon.com.

Carol Denbow: As long as I mentioned your music, where might our visitors learn more about that?

Joy Shannon: My band Joy Shannon and the Beauty Marks is on itunes.com, bandcamp.com and of course my official website: www.joyshannon.com. You can also see our music videos at our youtube channel: “http://www.youtube.com/user/joyshannon?feature=mhee” and find us on facebook here: “http://www.facebook.com/#!/JoyShannonandtheBeautyMarks

Carol Denbow: Well Joy, all I have to add is “Happy Birthday Oscar!” Thanks for joining us!

Friday, October 7, 2011

Research Your Book with Doreen Pendgracs

Today we have the honor of interviewing Doreen Pendgracs, the editor of Wizard of Words at http://www.wizardofwords.net, author of Before You Say Yes, and Chocolatour (to be released soon!).


Doreen has agreed to talk to us about the importance of researching for your book. I’ve heard fiction writers state they “don’t need to research anything” because their book is fiction; but that can be far from the truth. Let’s chat with Doreen and find out just why every writer may need to do some searching before they complete their book project.

Carol Denbow: Welcome Doreen! Thank you for taking the time to answer some important questions for us. But first, please tell us a little about your books.

Doreen Pendgracs: THANKS CAROL. I’VE CO-AUTHORED 2 TRAVEL-RELATED BOOKS: A FROMMER’S GUIDE, AS WELL AS THE MANITOBA BOOK OF EVERYTHING – WHICH IS A CANADIAN BESTSELLER. MY FIRST SOLO PROJECT WAS BEFORE YOU SAY YES … A BOOK DESIGNED TO HELP ANYONE WHO IS CURRENTLY VOLUNTEERING FOR OR CONSIDERING VOLUNTEERING FOR A NON-PROFIT GROUP OR ASSN. MY CURRENT PROJECT IS CHOCOLATOUR, A BOOK THAT COMBINES MY PASSIONS FOR CHOCOLATE, PEOPLE AND PLACES.

Carol Denbow: Okay, let’s get down to the basics. Please tell us what you needed to research to complete your book Before You Say Yes.

Doreen Pendgracs: THAT PROJECT WAS FAIRLY EASY FOR ME TO RESEARCH AND WRITE AS I WAS SPEAKING FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. I DID INTERVIEW 20 UBER VOLUNTEERS AS WELL, TO AUGMENT THE INFO FROM MY OWN BOARD EXPERIENCES AND FOR INFO ON SITUATIONS I HAD NOT PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED.

Carol Denbow: Where did you find your information for the book?

Doreen Pendgracs: I’VE VOLUNTEERED FOR NUMEROUS ORGS OVER THE PAST 25+ YEARS AND SO I HAD EXTENSIVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE TO DRAW FROM. BECAUSE OF MY MEMBERSHIPS IN VARIOUS ORGS AND EXTENSIVE NETWORK, I HAD ACCESS TO NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE INVALUABLE INUT FOR MY BOOK. I ALWAYS ADVISE WRITERS TO LOOK WITHIN THEIR OWN NETWORKS FOR SOURCES AS THEY’RE OFTEN RIGHT UNDER THEIR NOSES.

Carol Denbow: How about your upcoming release Chocolatour? What kind of research did you need to do for that book? Was it more difficult to accomplish, and were your contacts different from your first book?

Doreen Pendgracs: RESEARCH FOR CHOCOLATOUR HAS BEEN EXTENSIVE AND IS ONGOING. I’VE BEEN TRAVELLING THE WORLD IN SEARCH OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE CHOCOLATE MAKERS AND BEST CHOCOLATE. I MUST SAY … IT’S QUITE THE FUN PROJECT, BUT IS A LITTLE TOUGH ON THE WAISTLINE. IT’S AMAZING THE KIND OF SACRIFICES WRITERS AND AUTHORS MUST MAKE FOR THEIR READERS.

Carol Denbow: I realize you have not written a fiction book (yet), but in your opinion, does a fiction writer need to research for their book? Any why?

Doreen Pendgracs: FICTION WRITERS DEFINITELY NEED TO CONDUCT RESEARCH FOR THEIR BOOKS IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM REAL AND BELIEVEABLE. I KNOW MANY AUTHORS WHO HAVE TRAVELLED THE WORLD TO GET HISTORICAL FACTS AND INTERESTING ANECDOTES TO PUT INTO THEIR NOVELS.

Carol Denbow: Doreen, I am so pleased you agreed to do this interview and your information is extremely important to other writers. Thank you for joining us and please close by reminding us where visitors can learn more about or purchase your books.

Doreen Pendgracs: THANKS CAROL. IT’S BEEN A PLEASURE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE AT http://www.wizardofwords.net/.