Writers--Follow Submission Guidelines Carefully

Looking for Guidelines

Since yesterday's post addressed finding Calls for Submissions, I thought it prudent to talk about Writer's Guidelines today. In order of importance, they should rate 4 or 5 stars. At least, that is my opinion.

They are just what the word tells you--a 'guide' to what you must do in order to submit to a publisher. You need to know how to send your submission and more. Some of the things to look for in Guidelines are:

• how to send--email, submittable, or snail mail
• attach the submission to the email or must it be pasted in the body of the email
• maximum number of words; sometimes a minimum number, as well
• send reprints or only unpublished work
• only certain groups can submit; like women, those never published, LGBT, people of color, certain age groups and more
• story needs to be true
• story must be your experience, not as told to
• deadline dates
• fiction only, memoir only, horror only
• specific topic
• format
• your personal information--name, address, phone, email
• possible short bio including publication history
• payment

I have often suggested that writers not only 'read' the guidelines but actually 'study' them. When you're ready to submit, go back to the Guidelines and check each item stated to be sure you've done everything correctly. If you ignore a few items, all the time and effort you've put into the writing, finding a place to submit to, and reading the Guidelines, will be for nothing. Your submission will probably be tossed out with yesterday's take-out leftovers. You may or may not get a rejection notice. Dark silence for many weeks is the only notice you'll receive.

Another part of the Guidelines topic is the kind of Guidelines a publication offers. 

• Some are very extensive
• Some are minimal
• Some give none

When a publication offers extensive Guidelines, they mean what they say. They also want to help the writers to know what kind of story, poem etc they are looking for. In other words, these publishers are being as helpful as possible. 

The ones whose Guidelines are minimal will usually be pretty flexible with what you send them, how you send it, and more.

Those that have no guidelines at all are open to pretty much anything you send, any way you send it, 20 words or 2000. 

Regarding Guidelines, my advice is to read and study them carefully, then follow in the same manner. It will be to your advantage to do so.

Finding Calls for Submissions

Call for Submissions

 

We talk about writing day after day, but what happens when you've done the writing part and want to find a market for what you've written?

It takes time and effort to find the right fit for your work. Years ago there were market catalogs that you either purchased annually or perused at your local library. So big you could hardly lift them, but one could find a lot of information. The negatives were the amount of time it took to go through the pages and then write down the information and they became quickly outdated. Enter the world of the internet!

Now, we have the gift of being able to use a search engine to find places where you can submit your writing. If you are interested in a certain publication, put the name in the search engine you choose to use. If you want to get ideas of several places, use keywords about whatever your topic is for google to bring up numerous fits. For instance, if I have a historical fiction story, I would use something like 'submissions for historical fiction' or 'historical fiction submission guidelines.' If you write narrative poetry, put in 'submission calls for narrative poetry.' You'll get many to choose from, but in going through the list, you might eliminate some immediately. 

Writer's newsletters often have Calls for Submissions as one section. That's one reason I frequently suggest you find a few newsletters that are writing-related and sign up to get them regularly. Again, use a search engine to find them. Read several and then choose the ones you where you want to sign up. One that I receive is Authors Publish. Take a look at it and see if it appeals to you. Erika Dreifus has a newsletter for Flash Fiction with calls for submissions, including contest submissions.

You can even find places to submit your work on Facebook. One that I follow is Erica Verillo, an author who posts new Calls for Submissions each month. If you're on Facebook, type her name in the search box at the top to go to her page, then check to Follow and you should get her posts on your page. If you're not on Facebook, why not? You don't have to spend hours a day scrolling unless you want to. You can use it to help you with your writing. There are untold numbers of groups for writers. Again, use the search box at the top of the page. 

Many times I post calls for submissions to Chicken Soup for the Soul books. They have a specific page on their website with the calls that change periodically. They give details as to what type of story they are looking for. 

Mine the minds of your writing friends for recommendations, too. If you're in a writing group, members might give you tips or possible places to submit. This is one more reason to join a writing group, whether in person or online.

There is no need to say I don't know where to send my story. There are plenty of places and lots of ways to find them. 

Write About Memorable Moments

We do not remember days,

we remember moments

We do remember the special moments in our lives with a clarity that I find amazing. I've had special moments that have stayed with me for the many decades I've walked this earth, and it's been those moments that have created those memoir stories that seem to be perfect for many anthologies.

Family Stories can come from your own memory or from what other relatives have told you about themselves or others in the family. Thus, those stories also come from memories.

We write both kinds of stories one at a time just as a jewelry designer creates a necklace one pearl at a time. Each pearl has worthiness all its own, but when strung together, it is a lovely creation.

When we write those memoir pieces that come from moments in our lives, then put them together in a binder or in your files, we're also making something to be admired and appreciated. The same goes for writing Family Stories one at a time, then gathering them in one place.

How do we trigger those memories from childhood, teen years, and the rest of our life? Sometimes, we'll see something or someone that suddenly brings a flashback. If I read about or attend a circus, I always remember going to a circus in Chicago as a girl of around 10 or 11 and meeting Hopalong Cassidy, cowboy star of that era. It was a never-to-be-forgotten experience. It happened around 1949, but I remember it clearly.

We remember the things that impressed us or frightened us. Or ones that brought great joy. I wrote a story about a memory that I have treasured all my life. My grandmother took me to Tea at Marshall Field's Walnut Room in 1943 when I was four years old. The place itself was worth remembering, but seeing my grandmother, who worked hard all her life, dressed up in a suit and a splendid hat left a lasting impression, as well. That story ended up in a Chicken Soup book.

I occasionally give you photo prompts to help jumpstart your writing. My friend, Marlene Cullen, of The Write Spot gives writing written prompts on her blog. Many will act as a trigger for long-buried memories. For those who have trouble getting story ideas, these prompts, both photo and written ones, can be very helpful.

The quote today, "We do not remember days, we remember moments." is anonymous. It's a lovely thought, isn't it?

Take those moments you remember, write about them, and string them like pearls as you move on your writing journey.

Writers--Watch Introductory Phrases

Summer 2020

One of the nicest parts of summer is the abundance of flowers. So many kinds. So many colors. So many amazing scents. The photo for today has nothing to do with the topic. It seemed to be one to share. So enjoy the flowers sent from me to you.

As many of you know, I am in an online writing group that asks members to commit to submitting at least two times a month and critiquing a minimum of four times. For each additional submission, we are asked to do two more critiques. Consequently, I read and critique a lot of submissions. When you do this month in and month out, you begin to see certain patterns, grammatical errors, and more. 

Lately, I have noticed a grammatical error that is being committed quite often, even by seasoned writers. It's a very small thing, but I do believe in learning and using the rules of grammar and punctuation. 

What I have been seeing over and over is this: When a sentence opens with an introductory phrase, a comma should be placed at the end of the phrase. After that, the main body of the sentence continues. 

Examples:

A.  When John left the studio, he walked faster and faster until he hit a running pace. 

B.  As Susan finished dressing she preened before the mirror in Grandmother's room.

A is correct and B is wrong. When you start a sentence with a phrase like these two above, you're adding something. The rest of the sentence can stand alone. Therefore, you place the comma between the initial phrase and the main body of the sentence. 

Why? Try reading the sentences aloud. You probably came to a slight pause after the intro phrase in each sentence. That comma shows a pause. When there is no comma, the sentence runs together. Sentence B has no break, so you read it all in one big gulp of air. 

Is adding that comma a matter of life and death? A matter of your story being accepted or not? No, but it is one of those rules we should have learned in school, and the rule was made for a reason. 

Here are a few more examples of the correct way:

A.  For instance, you can take a bus or train to get downtown. 

B.  On the other hand, there is nothing lost by driving downtown.

C.  Besides all that nonsense, going downtown is important to Harry.

In each of the sentences, the intro phrase is an extra. The rest of the sentence can stand alone. The term 'introductory phrase' tells us that this is an addition to the main sentence. 

As I said earlier, it's a very small part of overall mechanics a writer uses, but I see it done incorrectly so often that I felt it might be worth pointing out in today's post. 

Writing Rule One--Begin!

I am a believer in thinking out your stories, essays, and poetry before ever writing that all-important first draft. While I do my everyday household tasks, I might be thinking about a story possibility. Even when I am watching tv in the evening, my mind often dwells on writing in some manner. 

Even though I've not written a single word, I consider it a beginning. The idea has to precede the first draft. If you sit in front of your computer with no thoughts about what to write, what will happen? Nothing! You'll continue to sit and stare at the screen. 

What every writer must learn is to pay attention to those writing world thoughts that dip and swirl through your mind like a dancer. What if you lose those thoughts? The best way to keep them is to jot down a note or two which will trigger your memory later.

Sometimes, I read something in the newspaper or a newsletter that triggers a writing possibility. I've learned to write myself a note, to write the phrase that reached out to me.  One phrase jumped out at me the other day in an article by a writer. I copied that phrase and wrote an entire post on it. It was my beginning.

There are writers who let those story ideas run through their minds over and over and over but never start writing the first draft. However and wherever, do start writing before the idea in your mind is so old and decrepit that it is rather meaningless.

Do some writers put off beginning out of fear that the result might not be very good? I'm sure that happens. Those first drafts are merely the start of something better. A first draft is never meant to be the final version of your idea. A few lucky people will only need to make minor adjustments to that first writing, but they are in the minority. Most of us write and rewrite a number of times before we consider our story ready for submission. 

The idea is to begin. You cannot have a finished piece unless you do.

Writers Need to Tend to Their Files

NOTE:  This is a post from a few years ago that works just as well today. It's about something we all think about but often don't get around to addressing the situation. 

Friday, I had a small disaster in my kitchen. I pulled out a shelf in my pantry cupboard and a small recipe box flipped over backward onto the bottom shelf. Recipe cards were scattered all along the shelf and the floor in front of it along with the alphabetized dividers. I muttered to myself as I retrieved all the cards and the box. It's one I don't use all that often but there are some old tried and true recipes in there that I've collected over the years--many from friends and family. It still gives me great pleasure to see and use those handwritten by my mother. 

I tossed the whole mess on the kitchen counter after deciding I couldn't deal with it at that moment. Today, while I was watching a basketball game on TV, I put the dividers in order, then began sorting through the recipe cards, many faded with time. Ones I knew I'd never make again, I tossed and refiled the others. The box is now organized and lighter--ready to be put in a new spot. It will definitely go somewhere that the disaster will not repeat.

As I worked my way through the dozens and dozens of index cards, I started to think about the stories, articles and poems in my writing files. They aren't going to fall off a shelf and scatter hither and yon. Nope. They just sit quietly in my Documents file until I pull them up for one reason or another. 

It might be a good idea to go through your own file to see what you want to save and what you may want to dump. Some writers would never get rid of anything they've written. Not ever! Even if it is nothing more than an opening paragraph to a story. I would never delete without careful calculation. I'd need to ask myself if I've written something already to replace it. Or if it is so godawful that it doesn't deserve to be kept. I might wonder if revision and editing could save it. There could be a few things that I truly hate. I might wonder if I'd written it on a bad writing day. Yes, I do believe there are things not to be kept. But, if you just cannot destroy the words you've written, so be it. Make a folder with those stories in it. 

But what about those that merit staying in the file? There are plenty of completed stories that have already been published. Should I keep those? Yes. Why? There are plenty of places that take reprints and maybe the story can be published once again. I might possibly use it as a base for another story. I might want to use it as an example in this blog. I like it--which is as fine a reason as any other! An editor might ask for a sample of my writing and those published stories come in handy. 

Others might need to be kept for revision and editing. It seems like no story is ever completed. Even those published works are open to revision when submitting as a reprint. 

You know what else most of us have in our files? Unfinished pieces. I have some that are nothing more than a paragraph or two. I once wrote an opening scene for a children's story that was great. But once I set the scene, I didn't know where to take it. And so it sits--waiting for me to continue. I bet you have some of those, too. 

Spend some time with your Document files. You may discover some hidden gems--like me today with the recipes. Some of them made me want to start cooking on a bigtime scale. Maybe some of those forgotten stories will give you the itch to start writing to bring them to a submittable stage. 

It's all too easy to forget what is in our Document file so do check through it every now and then. 

Search Through Yesterdays to Write Today

I started reading books by Pearl S. Buck in my teen years. Her stories, mostly set in China, were memorable and impressed me a great deal. As a young adult, I continued to read her books and follow her life. Born to missionary parents in China, she was able to write about her adopted country with knowledge and insight. 

Today's photo quote is her version of a thought given to us by other writers, too. The quote holds good advice for all but especially for writers. Delving back into history helps us with what we write today. Not only our country's history, or that of the world beyond, but also our family history. 

If you want to write about an older member of your family, you need to learn about that person's personal history. For instance, you might be trying to write a personal essay about an encounter with an elderly aunt who has a sharp tongue and an unforgiving nature. To understand why she is that way, you would need to look back at her early life. What happened to make her bitter? She probably is not going to tell you, but other family members might. 

If you want to write about the civil unrest going on in our country today, you'd better do some homework and look at the history of the Civil Rights movement and farther back to the times prior to and during the Civil War. All of that has a definite bearing on what is going on today. 

I've heard more than one person say that they really don't like history; they'd rather worry about today. Or they really detested it as a student. Boring some would say. Maybe learning the dates of this war or that war, or memorizing the Preamble to the Constitution is boring. Even so, to understand much of what is happening today, we need to know what went on in the early days of our country. 

I have always enjoyed historical novels, not only because of the stories but it's such a painless way to learn some history. Recently, there have been many novels published that are set in the WWII era. There are those who fear another such war and perhaps looking back at that period will help understand present-day circumstances and hopefully, avoid a recurrence.

Getting back to writing about a friend or relative or even a well-known person:  We are a sum of all our parts. What you or I am like today may be totally different than the kind of person we were 20, 30, 40, or more years ago. We move through phases. We live through sorrows and joys, each one of which affects us in some way. 

Write for today but search through many yesterdays to do it well.

Writing Personal Essays

I was reading an essay recently when one phrase made me stop and ponder. Do you ever do that? Stop right in the middle of reading a book or an essay if something the author wrote stands out for you? When it happens to me, I usually read the sentence or phrase two or three more times. Sometimes I write it down so I won't forget it.

The woman in the essay I read was writing about writing as a way to help heal when we're bowed down with grief. The phrase that stopped me was '...not a story but an experience.' 

That's exactly what we're writing about when we put hundreds of words together to form a personal essay. We write this form to relate an experience, but it must be one that teaches us something or changes us in some respect. We want the reader to take away a universal truth from what we experienced or to see what the writer learned or how he/she has changed. 

Those changes need not be of gigantic proportion. Small changes are still important. They move us a step further in this journey we call life. 

Let's move back to the idea of a personal essay detailing an experience rather than a 'story.' You might look at it as the 'story' is a part of the 'experience' you're relating. The moment I see the word 'experience,' I think of emotions added to the story itself. What happened could have made you sad, or angry, or devastated with grief, or filled with joy. So, emotions play a big part in writing the personal essay. 

Maybe keeping the word 'experience' in mind along with making sure you show a universal truth or something you learned or a way in which you were changed will make writing the personal essay a lot easier. Give it a try soon.

Selecting Your Writing Name

Toss them in the air and see what you get!

The following is a post from a few years ago. I recently was reminded about the importance of the writing name one chooses, so I thought it was worth repeating this post. I started reading a book last week, turned it over to see if there was a photo of the author. Sure enough, there was a photo of a nice-looking man whose author name on the book was a woman's name. Many write under an assumed name, but I wondered why this person wrote as a woman, then added his own photo. On to the post on choosing your writing name.

Have you ever given serious thought to the name you use in your writing world? If you haven't, you should.

Are you thinking All I care about is being a good writer? Or I want my work to be published. Maybe My name is not as important as what I write. The first two are what most writers consider to be important. It's that last one that many slide right by.

So, why is your name that's tacked onto your writing of importance? It's your identity in the writing world. It's what you will become known as by your readers.

In my non-writing life, I am Nancy Kopp. In my writing world, I am Nancy Julien Kopp. I didn't start using my maiden name in the middle until the day I discovered that there was another Nancy Kopp who was a writer. She wrote mystery novels, completely different from my kind of writing. Even so, I didn't think there should be two writers with the same name.

I had some choices. I could have chosen any of the following:
N. Kopp
Nancy J. Kopp
Nancy Joyce Kopp
N. J. Kopp
Nancy Julien Kopp
I spent some time writing the different versions of my name and finally settled on the last one in this list. I decided it might stay with readers more than the others. And I felt like it had a little more sophistication.

I always use the full three names when I submit work to an editor. You would think that they would automatically use that name when publishing my work but that's not always the case. I recently had a story published in a magazine with a large circulation. I was thrilled to be in this publication. When my author's copies arrived, I turned right to my story, and there was my name Nancy Kopp. Why? I used all three names in my correspondence with the editor which entailed several letters, also under the title of the story I submitted. You would think that it was obvious what name should be used with the story. Sometimes, I will mention that Nancy Julien Kopp is my writing name, so please use it. This time, I did not but wish I had.

When I attend my state authors convention, I am listed as Nancy Julien Kopp and I am introduced with that name when conducting a writing workshop. When you register for a conference, use your full writing name.

Take some time to think about the name you will use in your writing world. Make a list of all the possibilities and then select the one that appeals to you most. Consider the pros and cons of each.

If a woman is writing for a magazine geared to men or boys, she might consider using just initials. That should be the decision of the writer but perhaps discussed with the editor. Other than situations like this, be consistent with the name you use when writing.

Your writing name is important. If you've been using one form for a long time and fear changing it now, go ahead and do it. Once a little time has gone by, your 'new' writing name will become familiar to your readers.

July 20, 2020

Everyone Has a Story--Will You Write Yours and Others?

A number of years ago, I ran across a website where writers and non-writers could post their stories and thoughts free of charge. Our Echo had a slogan that said "Everyone has a story." I posted regularly and found new writing friends over the several years I spent there. Like many things, we drift away. There is no longer a website manager, but people are still posting stories. It's an interesting place to visit. You'll find it at www.ourecho.com Like many sites, you do need to create an account, but it's easy and painless. If you put my name in the search box, a list of my stories will pop up.

The quote for today adds to the idea of everyone having their own story. "Everyone has gone through something that has changed them." That change can be for the better or for worse. Nearly every experience we have in life changes us in some way.

When we write a personal essay, one of the key ingredients is to show your readers how whatever you experienced affected you. How did it make you a different person than you were prior to what happened? It need not be an earthshaking change. Even a change in your attitude is fine or how you came to a new understanding.

For a writing exercise, make a list of five of your friends whom you've known for at least several years. Write a paragraph or two (or more) about each one. What is their story? How have they changed in the years you've known them? You can use family members for this exercise, too.

Famous folk have biographies written detailing their lives. Everyday people have life stories that could be of interest, too. How many of us have written about one of our parents with emotion and telling a great deal about him/her? Every member of our family has a story--your grandparents, your own parents, your siblings, cousins, and more. It's why we encourage writers and non-writers to pen those family stories.

A Writer's Second Chance

Once again, we have a photo poster that has simple words that are laced with wisdom. As I've gotten older, I am happy to spread household tasks across the week. There was a time in my early adult life that I felt like I had to do all the chores in one day. Sure, it looked great at the end of the day, but exhaustion had claimed me. 

Those old enough to be fans of the Civil War novel, Gone With the Wind, will remember the line Scarlett O'Hara repeated many times. "I'll think about that tomorrow." She also said, "After all, tomorrow is another day." She was a top procrastinator, but moving onto tomorrow in our writing life is not procrastinating. It's often a smart move.

If what you're working on today doesn't seem to be falling into place like you'd hoped, it's alright. Tomorrow, you have another opportunity to try and sort it out. There's nothing wrong with admitting that today is not the day for you to be writing. I've written on this blog many times that you're better off leaving the writing for a short period. Tomorrow, it may look completely different. The big problem of yesterday can sometimes find a clear solution on another day.

When those rejections come in, and you're feeling deflated, stop thinking about it. Tomorrow, you have another chance to either submit to another market or revise your earlier submission. 

We were given yesterday and today, and we're promised tomorrow. What happened on your writing journey yesterday is gone, no changing whatever occurred. What goes on today might work out or maybe it won't. That's why we're given tomorrow. It's another chance to build upon what happened today or to change it in some way. 

If your writing isn't working out well today, you're given a second chance tomorrow.

Writers, Weeds, and Wishes

'Some see a weed, some see a wish.' It's all in how you look at the dandelion. We could equate it to the some see a glass half-empty while others look at it as being half-full. Our perspective on all things is of great importance.

How do you see your writing journey? Do you look at all the potholes and ignore the waving flags that signify the positives in your writing life? Or, is it a mix of both? Maybe that last one is the healthiest. 

Looking only at the potholes will do nothing but drag you down, make you wonder why in the world you ever thought you could be a writer. On the other hand, if you skip over all those problem areas and see nothing but the good parts of your writing life, you could be stunting your growth. I'm doing fine, there is nothing I need to improve on--that's a risky attitude. It's better to aim at checking the good and the bad. That's the way you'll learn and grow as a writer.

When you flip a coin, you know there are two different sides to it just like our writing life. We flip from the good side to the not-so-good one from day to day. The whole coin signifies our writing self. It's up to us to see the good side and the maybe-a-problem side. 

You have a choice as you progress on your writing journey. Will you ignore all the potholes and never get them fixed? Will you be so happy over all the good things that happen that you'll never even notice the potholes? Like so many things in life, we need to reach a happy medium. 

So, what will you see the next time you pass a field of dandelions in their final stage? A weed or a wish? 

When It's Time for a Writer to Walk Away

Don't you love it when the advice you've given others coincides with that of a great mind like Albert Einstein? Many times on this blog, I have told writers that, if they reach a trouble spot, leave the area where you've been writing. Go for a walk, or clean the kitchen, or read a book. 

When you're having difficulty with a chapter in a fiction story or making something clear in an article or not being able to bring enough emotion into a personal essay, it's far better to leave it alone than to sit and stew, get angry or dissolve into a muddled mess. 

For some reason, when we leave the scene of our misery and stop thinking about the problem, the answer floats through the atmosphere and drops right into our lap. It can happen at strange times. You might be in the shower when the solution hits. You could be sitting at an outdoor cafe having coffee with a friend when her conversation seems to move to the background as your mind is concentrating on the idea that arrived a moment ago. You could be doing laundry or taking the dog for a walk. It's when you're doing the everyday things that the way to fix your writing problem is apt to come to you.

As Professor Einstein says in today's quote, we should '...stop thinking, swim in silence, and the truth comes to me.' I love the phrase 'swim in silence.' Just forget about it and suddenly the answer comes.

Many years ago, I sewed a lot, and inevitably the directions on the pattern would look like a foreign language to me as I could not figure out what they were telling me to do next. It wasn't a matter of being able to skip over to the next step because they built upon one another. I learned to walk away and come back hours later or even the next day, and suddenly those directions were clear. It's the same with our writing, except there is no step by step directions. It's up to us to figure out the how-to. What I learned in my sewing life, I carried over to my writing journey. 

I find that so many of the quotes we see pertaining to our writing are merely several words, but they contain strong advice. When a quote is particularly good, it's worthwhile to read it multiple times. The more you go over the words, the better the advice becomes. With the one for today, if it's good enough for Einstein, it should be worth something for us, as well.

Writer's Block--Real or An Excuse?

Writer's Block! Is there such a condition, or is it a poor excuse for writers who don't want to work very hard? I'd probably answer no to both those questions, with reservations. 

Like all arguments, there is rarely an 'all no' or an 'all yes' answer. There are definitely times when we lack inspiration or don't feel like writing. That isn't necessarily 'writer's block.' The dictionary defines it as: 

the condition of being unable to think of what to write or how to proceed with writing.

If that's how the 'condition' is defined, we've all experienced it, some of us more than others. When did it first hit? Maybe when you had an essay test in high school, and you sat there staring at the question for so long that you felt your eyes beginning to cross. Now, in your writing life, there are moments comparable to that. 

Another term for writer's block is Blank Page Syndrome. I rather like that one because it is not so cliched as writer's block. We've seen WB over and over again. There are those who staunchly believe that there is a condition that keeps writers from doing what they do--write! Others think it is merely an all in the head situation and that lazy writers use it as the perfect excuse. I suppose there are a few who exercise the excuse but very few. 

We've all had times when writing something new is hard, Terribly hard. The question is not "What is writer's block" but rather what causes writer's block?"

I think the majority of the reason is one small word that carries great weight. Fear  Do you think it's silly for adults to have fears? It isn't a bit silly or foolish. It's quite real for some writers. They can harbor several. To name a few types of fears writers have:

• rejection
• not being good enough
• failure
• not having enough time
• lack of structure resulting in fear

Exhaustion can result in being unable to write. When that happens, give in to the fact that you need to take a break. Whether it's a day, or a week, or more is up to you. We're aware that walking away, whether from exhaustion or something else, is a good way to get back to writing the way you want to. One situation to be aware of and avoid is to walk away for so long that going back to writing feels like climbing Mt. Everest. 

Look for inspiration wherever you go. If a story idea comes to you, jump on it and start writing the first draft. Don't only think about it. Act. 

Maybe if you talk yourself 'into' writer's block, you can also talk yourself 'out of it.'

5 Tips for Success in Chicken Soup for the Soul Anthologies

Note: The first part of today's post is a repeat, but I feel it worthwhile to offer it again since the editors have added some new titles to books they hope to publish. The second part of the post will have the book titles. 

I have been published twenty-three times in Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Is there a magic formula for getting your story selected? No, but there are some things to pay close attention to that will make the odds of being selected tip in your favor.

1. Read their books. The more you read, the better understanding you will have of what the editors are seeking. You’ll get a feel for what the editors want as you read numerous Chicken Soup stories and you’ll be entertained, as well.

2. Send only true stories that are humorous, inspirational or illustrate a life lesson. There should be something for the reader to take away. Make sure they are actual stories with a beginning, middle and end. An essay or a sermon will not make the cut.

3. Study the Guidelines. Note the word ‘study’ because scanning quickly through the lengthy page of Guidelines is not going to help you at all. Go to www.chickensoup.com and scroll down to the bottom of the page. On the far right column of the section titled More Chicken Soup for the Soul, click on ‘Submit Your Story.’ You will find three titles at the top of that page—Possible Book Topics, Story Guidelines and Submit Your Story. Check out the Possible Book Topics, then study the Guidelines and finally, submit your story via the online submission form. When the Guidelines say 1200 words, they mean 1200 or less, not anymore. The editors are quite serious about every one of the Guidelines so you should be, too.

4. Start your story with action, not a long explanation of what you are going to write about. Jump right into the story and hook your reader. Make them want to continue reading.

5. Use dialogue, sensory details and emotion. If you have none, your story becomes a dull report. Keep in mind that too much of any of these overpowers the message of your story. Humor is great but don’t let it take over your story. Finding a happy medium is key.

If you do all of the above, the odds of being accepted will be in your favor. Even though I’ve been published in this well-known anthology many times, I’ve also submitted numerous stories that were not accepted. Keep the submission Ferris wheel going and see what happens.

Note: If you have not heard from the editors two months after the story deadline date, you can consider it a rejection. They do not send rejection letters which is my one and only complaint of this fine series.

I recently checked the Possible Book Topics page on the Chicken Soup website. There are seven titles listed. They are:  Angels, Cats, Counting Your Blessings, Eldercare, Making Me Time, Miracles and Divine Intervention, and Tough Times. Seven titles, seven different topics. Do you have a story for one? Maybe you have a story idea that would fit one of the topics. Read the topics carefully to see if you have a fit. Then, check the Story Guidelines page--read it, then study it.

Writers--Too Much Detail is Defeating

Get your ducks in a row!

Do you remember Frank Sinatra's hit song "Little Things Mean a Lot?" If you're of a certain age, you will. Whether you remember the song or not, it's the message in the title and lyrics that are important.

The frustrating thing about writing is that there are so many of those 'little things' that we need to address. We've got to get out ducks in a row, just like our photo today shows.

One 'little thing' writers need to pay strict attention to is putting too much detail into a story. Another term might be 'over-explanation.' There is no need to go into extreme detail when writing a story. For instance, look at the paragraph below:

Hunger pangs hit Jane after she'd been working on her resume for hours. She stood up, walked to the fridge. She opened the door and looked for the ham and cheese. She put them on the counter, then walked back to the fridge and retrieved the mayo and mustard. She closed the door and returned to the counter.  She opened the breadkeeper, removed the loaf, and opened the wrapper......and on and on it goes until the sandwich is made and Jane walks to her chair and sits down again.

Do you see where this is going? All that needed to be said was:

Hunger hit Jane after she'd been working on her resume for hours, so she made a ham sandwich.

Nobody cares that she stood up, walked to the fridge opened the door etc. That information does nothing to move the story along. 

We know that description brings the reader into the scene, that it can give a sense of place. The problem is that some writers get carried away with too many details when describing a place, a building, a garden, or whatever. Remember that old adage 'less is more' which often holds true. We don't need every tiny detail about the garden you're describing. An overall description is fine. 

If you've told your reader that your protagonist has a physical handicap of some sort, there is no need to keep saying it over and over throughout the story. Small allusions are fine but to continue to point it out in detail is unnecessary. 

Why do a few writers overwrite details? For some, it is a matter of insecurity in their writing. They don't trust the reader to 'get it' so they keep repeating the same information, or they put in mundane details like the step by step making of a sandwich and why they do that is a mystery to me.

For others, they love the words they write so much that they can't seem to stop the flow. Sounds funny, but there is truth in that statement. 

Another reason is poor editing. When proofreading, they aren't tuned in to looking for the overwriting or too much detail. Make that part of your checklist for proofreading your drafts and final version.

I've written here many times about cutting words. If you're a writer who uses too much detail, you may have to cut large sections. 

So, get your ducks in a row and sharpen your cutting blade. Pare that lengthy detail. Instead of three paragraphs describing the garden that figures greatly in your story, toss in bits and pieces of detail as you move through the story. The reader will 'get it' just fine. They don't need three consecutive paragraphs of what that garden looks like, smells like, and more.

Writers--Read Your Drafts Aloud

Once again, I am going to urge you to read your work aloud as part of your proofreading/editing process. You will hear errors that your eyes might slide right over as you read silently.

Only yesterday, one of the women in my writing group critiqued a new essay I'd subbed. She pointed out the number of 'was' and 'had' words I had used. I tell you all the time to get rid of as many passives as you can. Then I did what I preach not to. In my defense, this was a first draft. so I'll claim that as my excuse. 

If you use Word to write your stories, essays and such, look at the top bar, go to the far right side. You will see Find with what looks like a magnifying glass next to it. Cllick on the Find, and a box will pop up on the left side of your document. Type in any word that you want to check in the box given. That word will then be highlighted throughout your document. It can be quite a shock to see the number of times you used a particular word. Try it with the passive verbs like 'was, were, is, are' to see if you're overloaded. Also, if your document is about a particular thing, perhaps 'government,' check to see the number of times you used that word. Then try to use different words for some of them. I didn't take time to read this one out loud, and if I had, I'd have had the problem corrected before subbing to my group.

If you read your work aloud, you'll discover some sentences that are way too long. Ones where you had to stop and take a breath before finishing. Have several of those, and you're in trouble. Overly long sentences are easy to fix. They can almost always be easily separated into two, or even three, sentences. You won't lose the meaning, just the extreme length.

Read with your voice, and you could discover words that your readers might stumble over, even though they are reading silently. 

You might also find spots that don't make much sense to you. It's far better that you discover them in the editing process so you can revise or rework those areas. 

One writer said she thought she'd feel silly reading her own work out loud in an empty room. Why? You're there alone, and the practice is to help you create a better piece of writing. I wouldn't advise standing in the kitchen while dinner prep is going on and reading your story over the conversation of others. Do it on your own. Close the door to the room you're in if necessary.

It is especially important to read poetry you've written out loud. You'll quickly see places where the rhythm is a bit off, or a word doesn't fit. Or a rhyme doesn't work very well. 

So, silly or not, try this the next time you finish the first draft and again when you have done all the revisions you felt were needed. 

Wise Word Choices for Writers

Some days my post revolves around generalities, and others it comes down to specifics. Today, I want to highlight the word choices we make when we write. It seems like a small thing, but it can make a difference in your final story, essay, or article.

Sometimes we:

• repeat words to excess
• use a utilitarian word when another would be better
• don't give thought to the verb choice--too often passive
• use words that are unfamiliar to our audience
• toss in an unnecessary word that does nothing to help the sentence

Repeating words is a common error we make, and one we don't catch when we proofread. Look at the paragraph below:

     Susan visited the museum on Tuesday afternoon. The museum was one of her favorite places to visit. She liked Tuesdays because it was a free day. 

I've highlighted each double use of three words. If you read that paragraph aloud, you'll see that it's a bit boring with repeated words. You might rewrite it like this:

     

     Susan visited the museum on Tuesday afternoon. The Art Institue was one of her favorite places to spend time. She chose to go then because it was a free day.

When you proofread, look for repetition of words. Watch for using words like 'to, it, was, or pronouns like he, she, him, her' too frequently. You can't change every one, but even replacing a few will help.

Utilitarian words are ones we seem to pluck out of the air because they are familiar to us, but they might not offer much in the way of showing a reader what something is like. For instance, why use a word like 'shine' when 'glisten' means the same but gives a different feeling. Why use 'the leaves moved' when you can say 'the leaves shimmered' or why say 'the wine tasted good' when 'the wine danced on my tastebuds?' I admit that the last one is a bit of a stretch, but it does illustrate the point.

Verb choices are not always what is on our minds as we write. It's the story that is important, especially in that first draft. When you proofread, be very aware of an overuse of passive verbs. We all know that an action verb is better, but there are writers who figure if they can't swap one for the other in the same place in the sentence, then forget it. Sometimes, the only way to replace a passive verb with a better one is rearrange the order of the sentence. 

     A.  Jack went to the football field so he could put in some extra practice time. 

     B.  Jack sprinted to the football field so he could put in some extra practice time.

     C.  Jack needed some extra practice time, so he raced to the football field.

There are writers who like to showcase their excellent vocabulary. That's fine, but there are times when the readers don't have the same kind of word knowledge as the writer. A few seldom-used words are fine. It's one way readers learn new words, but if you pepper your entire essay with lengthy, little-used words, most readers will wander away in a hurry.

We all use those 'unnecessary' words in our everyday chatter, but we should be careful when writing not to toss them in as if they were vastly important to the meaning of your sentence. Words like 'very, just, really' don't add a great deal to your writing. In fact, they may detract the reader at times. Using these words becomes a habit. I recently critiqued a fine essay for a friend. One glaring problem leaped out time and again. She had a habit of beginning many sentences with And... I suggested deleting every one of them. They added nothing to the sentence. Some writers think that it puts emphasis on the sentence, but the sentence can stand alone quite well without the And...

Word choice seems like a small thing in the huge overall world of writing. In my mind, making fine word choices can make a good piece an excellent one. 

     

Writers Must Also Be Readers

Flowers and a Book--Happiness

Today's photo shows us two things that make me happy. I love flowers, as do most of us, but I also love books. Reading is my favorite pastime. Why it is referred to as a 'pastime' is beyond me. I don't read to 'pass the time' but for pleasure and to increase my knowledge.

All writers should be avid readers. The more you read, the more you soak up ways to write. I've often said you should not copy the style of other writers, be yourself. However, being a sponge to what others write is not necessarily meant for you to copy the way they write.

Instead, it is a way of learning the different styles of writing. When you read with a writer's eye, you decide very quickly which kind of prose you like best. Some people adore flowery, poetic prose while others prefer plain, get-to-it writing that still offers a good story. 

When you read novels, you learn what kind of dialogue you like and the type you don't care for. You figure out whether you like stories with flashbacks, ones with prologues, and/or epilogue. Descriptions in books help you know what type of description you want to use in your own stories. Long detailed ones, or short and snappy but giving a definite image to the reader.

All your likes and dislikes in your reading help you with your own writing. 

Of course, there is one more good reason to be a reader. You should be reading books about writing. Beginning writers sometimes think that they've read one reference book on the craft and that's all they need before diving into the writing pool. Wrong! I don't think you can read too many how-to books to help you learn to write like a pro. I'm not suggesting that you read one a week, but new ones come out on a regular basis, and the best old ones stay in print. Some cover all aspects of writing while others might be directed at one type. 

Here's yet another reason for a writer to be a reader. You set an example for others. Writers want others to read their work, so we should be the first in reading. 

Have you read a good book lately? How about putting a recommendation in the Comments section below? I'm reading The Giver of Stars by JoJo Mayes and enjoying it immensely. Last week I read The Last Train To London by Meg Waite Clayton, heartbreaking story about the early days of the Nazi regime and a Dutch woman who helps bring Jewish children to England. A tough subject but well-written and absorbing. 

How Did You Celebrate Fourth of July Years Ago?

Fourth of July of Yesteryear

It's a holiday weekend. Whether you call it the Fourth of July or Independence Day, we are celebrating the time when the colonists declared their independence from Great Britain. It wasn't a mere matter of writing the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and having significant men of the day sign it. That was only the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Despite losses and heartache of many kinds, America became its own country. Something we celebrate to this very day.

Yesterday's post addressed family stories. The photo for today shows what the Fourth of July might have looked like many years ago. Someone who knows old cars better than I might be able to pinpoint the year. 

We celebrate with parades, ceremonies, fireworks, picnics, and barbecues with family and friends. This year, many of the usual festivities have been canceled due to the pandemic we are living through right now. There will still be some small family gatherings with precautions taken, I hope. We plan to watch A Capitol Fourth on tv on Saturday evening.

For a weekend writing exercise, write about how your family celebrated. What were the things that they always did? Was there one special year when something really great happened? Was there a year when some family members were not there? Maybe overseas fighting, or away on a job, or had just moved to a distant place? Did your family talk about the reason for the celebration?

What were the special foods your family had on the Fourth of July? What did kids do that was special? Decorate their bikes? Have a pet parade? 

My brothers and I wove red, white, and blue crepe paper between the spokes of our bikes. Then we rode around the neighborhood with all the other kids who had also decorated bikes. I remember the day feeling mighty long as we waited for darkness to fall over our large apartment building. Then, many families met out in the alley to set off fireworks. My dad did ours. He never let us light any of them as he feared we'd get hurt. Bugged my brothers more than me. Sparklers were the last thing we did, and how I loved them. As soon as one burned out, we grabbed another or two. I also remember my brothers making lots of noise with a roll of caps that would normally be used in their cap pistols. On this holiday, they squatted on the concrete area in the back of our apartment building and set off the little powdered dots of the rolls of caps. They didn't make all that much noise, but the boys had fun. 

Once you've written about what happened and how you felt on the Fourth of July, add it to your Family Stories Book.

A Checklist for Writing Family Stories

I recently ran across a checklist for a workshop I gave on writing family stories a few years ago. It seemed like it would be worth using it for a post today with a little bit added. 

Families are forever, even when there are warring factions within. Families are the base of who you are. Families are for good times and bad. Families make you laugh and sometimes cry. Families can bring both pride and shame. 

We write family stories to preserve the history of the group of people who we claim as 'ours.'  Whether happy, funny, or sad, these stories should be written and passed on to future generations. The list below will give a little guidance on how to write your family stories. Remember, though, that there is no 'all right' or 'all wrong' in doing this. Use this as a guideline but put your own personal mark on the stories. 

DO:
1.  Tell one story at a time
2.  Give praise where it is due; consider skipping anything that might prove uncomfortable to others
3.  Concentrate on the important part of the story rather than small details
4.  Revise and rewrite (A first draft gets you started, but rewriting will make it stronger)
5.  Include dates when possible
6.  Give your story a personal touch by including your feelings
7.  Read your story aloud (This helps catch many small errors)
8.  Put the story aside after you’ve written it. (In two or three days, read it again. You’ll see it through different eyes and errors will become apparent)


DON’T:
1.  Tell too much in one story.
2.  Use too many passive verbs like was, is, and are (go for strong active verbs)
3.  Use too many short, choppy sentences (Balance them with longer sentences)
4.  Try to always tell a story in chronological order. (Sometimes rearranging makes for a more interesting story)
5.  Worry about how good it is. (It’s for you and your family; they love you no matter what)
6.  Start with “I was born on _________,19____  (A blow by blow description of a life isn’t necessary. Somewhere within your stories, you will be able to mention birth date and place. Within each story you write will be many tidbits of information. When put together, the bits and pieces will give a complete picture of you and other family members)
7.  Forget to set the story aside for a few days, then revise it.
8.  Use unnecessary words when writing (Part of revising is getting rid of those words that don’t add anything to the story. Watch for words like just, then, you know. We use them in speaking, but they deter from the important part of your writing)
9.  Use too many adjectives (A lot of flowery adjectives weaken the story. One adjective is descriptive, two or three becomes sickeningly sweet)
10.  Forget to enjoy what you’re doing


Helpful HInts: 
1.  Make a Memory Book, add to it each month of the year. Tell the stories that fit into that month
and keep adding to every year
2.  Make a list of questions to trigger your memory
3.  Go through old photo albums to bring back memories
4.  Interview older family members


   
   
   

An Author's Presentation on Writing Her Novel

A radio announcer in Chicago back in the '50s used to tell listeners that on the first day of each new month, you should say Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit for Good Luck. Silliness, but it made people remember him, and to this day, I often see Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit flit across my mind on the first day of the month. So, this morning, I turned the page on the calendar and guess what I thought?

On June 18th, I posted a book review here for a brand new YA novel written by Julie Stielstra. The book, Opulence--Kansas--is one even adults can enjoy. As writers, we often wonder what prompted a story, how it was researched and drawn together, finding a publisher, and marketing. This past Saturday, Julie gave a presentation on all those things to a Kansas Authors District meeting. Happily, she has a PowerPoint presentation now on YouTube.  You can watch it on your own time schedule. It takes about 50 minutes.

I had planned on attending the Saturday via Zoom, but there was a snag and I couldn't get into the meeting. Writer friend, Jim Potter, came to the rescue yesterday with the link to the presentation on YouTube. 

I watched it at my leisure and thoroughly enjoyed hearing how one author moved through the process of writing a book, finding a publisher, and the marketing situation. Even though the book is YA, the process is basically the same as for any novel. I think you can learn something if you watch. 

Julie Stielstra has a website that might also be of interest to you. One thing I love about moving through an author's website is that, while I learn much about the writer's professional life, I also end up thinking that they are ordinary people like you and me, but who have an admirable talent for writing.

Spend some time today watching Julie's presentation. Consider it a writing exercise.