Okay, okay. Fortune may be a bit of an over-statement. But hypothetically speaking, the Fame and Fortune are there for the taking, if you know how at ehow.
I just couldn't resist trying ehow. Or rather, I couldn't resist experimenting with this how-to website. So I pulled on my scientist lab coat and produced an article. Click on "How To Trick Out Your Bike Ride with Paint"and let me know what you think. Because frankly, I don't get paid if you don't click. And what's the good of an hypothesis if I can't prove it?
I'll see how the clicks go this week while I'm on vacation. Come to think of it, I'm taking a few how-to books with me, to catch up on my reading. My how-to children's books are packed, as well as my how-to make big bucks as a freelancer book. And of course, my notebook's packed because I have a few ideas I want to jot down. And a story I want to finish writing.
Hmmm. That sounds like a lot of work going along on vacation. But can you really call it work when it's something you love? How Fortune-ate can you get?
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Finding Something Friday: Unleash your Writing Spirit
Looking to unleash your writing? If you're into romance, I found an interesting way for you to unleash your story and help a good cause while you're at it!
Take a look at this site to find out how you can participate in a fundraiser marathon, whether you're a writer, reader or just interested supporter. These romance writers are getting together this September to raise money for cystic fibrosis. But you can pick up your pen wherever you are and raise money, too.
And after you've done your good deed for the day, pick up your pen and raise money for your own cause. I found that I just couldn't resist the call of ehow one day longer, so I signed up! I haven't actually submitted any articles yet; I want to attract a particular market, so I'm still in the seriously-thinking-of-ideas stage.
But when I think of something, I'll let you know. I'll be unleashing some serious how-to writing!
Take a look at this site to find out how you can participate in a fundraiser marathon, whether you're a writer, reader or just interested supporter. These romance writers are getting together this September to raise money for cystic fibrosis. But you can pick up your pen wherever you are and raise money, too.
And after you've done your good deed for the day, pick up your pen and raise money for your own cause. I found that I just couldn't resist the call of ehow one day longer, so I signed up! I haven't actually submitted any articles yet; I want to attract a particular market, so I'm still in the seriously-thinking-of-ideas stage.
But when I think of something, I'll let you know. I'll be unleashing some serious how-to writing!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Tooting My Horn Tuesday about Children's Picture Books (Again!)
As promised, I received THREE books in the mail, courtesy of ICL and Eve Heidi Bine-Stock! Also as promised, here's what they look like:
And I'm sure they're wonderful, though I haven't had a chance to read them yet. So how do I know they're wonderful? I know because Eve's analyzed structure from such great children's books as Where the Wild Things Are and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. And Eve's using such classics as Frog and Toad are Friends and Harold and The Purple Crayon to investigate the building blocks of word, sentence, scene and story. And though it's not pictured, Eve's taking a look at figures of speech in such favorites as Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile and Caps for Sale.
Now, honestly, how can you possibly not learn wonderful things about How to Write a Children's Picture Book from those perfectly wonderful books? (And the wonderful Eve Heidi Bine-Stock, too!)
Friday, July 18, 2008
Finding Something Friday: Voices, Paper, Scissors
No, I'm not hearing voices...yet. But I do enjoy reading the different voices over at New Christian Voices. And I'm not just saying that 'cause I found my latest, "The Really Important Things," playing on the Relationship Channel. If you get a kick out of laughing at the beneficent Mr. Hall's antics, you'll want to check it out here. Did I say laughing at? I meant with. Really.
I'm not sure that Mr. Hall's antics can cheer me up when it comes to what I found at the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Come August, the AJC will no longer provide the sections that cover other parts of metro Atlanta. Sadly, one of those sections happens to be in my corner of the metro Atlanta world. And I'm not just saying that 'cause that's where you could find Cathy C. Hall's occasional opinions. I love reading the paper. I love sitting at the kitchen table, first thing in the morning, with a hot cup of tea and my newspaper spread out in front of me. Yes, I know I'll still have my paper. But I won't have my special section. And honestly, what with all the cutbacks and the Internet taking over the world, I can't help worrying that my paper's days are numbered. I mean, I love the Internet as much as the next guy. But it's just not the same, sitting at the kitchen table with a laptop in front of me. And before you know it, my grandkids will be dragging me to Show and Tell and asking, "Gee, Grandma Cathy, did you really read an actual newspaper??? And by the way, how do you manage to look so gosh-darn young, Grandma Cathy???"
Anyway, I'm in a bit of a funk. But if I could win the Pocket's Fiction Writing Contest, that might cheer me up tout de suite! I've written my story; I just have to submit it. If you're interested, you'd better start writing. Submissions won't be accepted after August 15, 2008. Or I should say, submissions postmarked after August 15. That's right, folks. You have to send your story the old-fashioned way. No emails allowed.
Ironic, huh?
I'm not sure that Mr. Hall's antics can cheer me up when it comes to what I found at the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Come August, the AJC will no longer provide the sections that cover other parts of metro Atlanta. Sadly, one of those sections happens to be in my corner of the metro Atlanta world. And I'm not just saying that 'cause that's where you could find Cathy C. Hall's occasional opinions. I love reading the paper. I love sitting at the kitchen table, first thing in the morning, with a hot cup of tea and my newspaper spread out in front of me. Yes, I know I'll still have my paper. But I won't have my special section. And honestly, what with all the cutbacks and the Internet taking over the world, I can't help worrying that my paper's days are numbered. I mean, I love the Internet as much as the next guy. But it's just not the same, sitting at the kitchen table with a laptop in front of me. And before you know it, my grandkids will be dragging me to Show and Tell and asking, "Gee, Grandma Cathy, did you really read an actual newspaper??? And by the way, how do you manage to look so gosh-darn young, Grandma Cathy???"
Anyway, I'm in a bit of a funk. But if I could win the Pocket's Fiction Writing Contest, that might cheer me up tout de suite! I've written my story; I just have to submit it. If you're interested, you'd better start writing. Submissions won't be accepted after August 15, 2008. Or I should say, submissions postmarked after August 15. That's right, folks. You have to send your story the old-fashioned way. No emails allowed.
Ironic, huh?
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
What Not to Do Wednesday: What's the Buzzzz?
This morning I received a nice email from one of the editors of Wow! Women on Writing to let me know about some buzzzz at The Write Spot. Anne-Marie Nichols blogged about saving money at conferences and shared a link to my article The Cheap Writer's Guide to Conferences at Wow!
Wow! You never know who's reading your words, huh? Which brings me to our What Not To Do Wednesday. It's all about our words zipping back and forth out there in Internet Land and how we should take care of the words we write.
Remember that article you dashed off and forgot to proofread? Now it's floating around with a few errors that make you cringe every time you see it. Or what about that post on your blog? You know you misspelled a few words, and maybe a link doesn't work, and heck, it might not even make sense. Oh, grasshopper, never put off til tomorrow what you can correct today.
Because you never know who might be reading. A potential employer, editor, or publisher might just be taking a peek at your work. Don't let those mistakes come back to sting. You want the buzzzz about your work to be bee-autiful.
Wow! You never know who's reading your words, huh? Which brings me to our What Not To Do Wednesday. It's all about our words zipping back and forth out there in Internet Land and how we should take care of the words we write.
Remember that article you dashed off and forgot to proofread? Now it's floating around with a few errors that make you cringe every time you see it. Or what about that post on your blog? You know you misspelled a few words, and maybe a link doesn't work, and heck, it might not even make sense. Oh, grasshopper, never put off til tomorrow what you can correct today.
Because you never know who might be reading. A potential employer, editor, or publisher might just be taking a peek at your work. Don't let those mistakes come back to sting. You want the buzzzz about your work to be bee-autiful.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
A Freelancer's Time and Money
When I first read Mr. Bob Bly's comments re: how a freelancer's time is divided, I thought that can't be right. Now I know better.
Mr. Bly, you may recall, is the freelance guy who makes mega-bucks in the industry. I'm reading his book, Getting Started as a Freelance Writer, trying to play a little catch-up in the freelance business. Anyway, according to Bly, a freelancer can expect to spend 25% of her time on business stuff (invoices, research, filing, mailing, and all those other jobs that eat up your hours). That seemed reasonable.
But 25% on marketing? Leaving only 50% for actual writing? Nahhhh, I said. I write more than that. And I do. But I write an awful lot of query letters, and cover letters, too, trying to get my articles and stories into new markets. Which is um, marketing.
Shazam! So Mr. Bly had a point. Since he also mentioned setting a financial goal of say $200, 000 (That's exactly what he nonchalantly threw out there), I thought why not set $200,000 as my financial goal? That's quite a Fortune, I know.
But hey, he was right about the time percentages.
Mr. Bly, you may recall, is the freelance guy who makes mega-bucks in the industry. I'm reading his book, Getting Started as a Freelance Writer, trying to play a little catch-up in the freelance business. Anyway, according to Bly, a freelancer can expect to spend 25% of her time on business stuff (invoices, research, filing, mailing, and all those other jobs that eat up your hours). That seemed reasonable.
But 25% on marketing? Leaving only 50% for actual writing? Nahhhh, I said. I write more than that. And I do. But I write an awful lot of query letters, and cover letters, too, trying to get my articles and stories into new markets. Which is um, marketing.
Shazam! So Mr. Bly had a point. Since he also mentioned setting a financial goal of say $200, 000 (That's exactly what he nonchalantly threw out there), I thought why not set $200,000 as my financial goal? That's quite a Fortune, I know.
But hey, he was right about the time percentages.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Finding Something Friday for Book Lovers
I just love it when I find an email titled Book Winner! in my inbox!
Remember that chat link I posted? From the ICL newsletter? The one that entered me into the contest to win free books? I won! I won! I won! I won a whole series of books (How to Write A Children's Book) by Eve Heidi Bine-Stock. And when they come in the mail, I'll give you the whole scoop on Eve Heidi Bine-Stock's books. Three books are on their way right now; three wonderful books, which I think fits rather nicely with Eve's three names.
I love books...tiny, little books, big, coffee-table books, skinny books, and fat books. The fat ones take me forever to read, but I love 'em anyway. I love old, musty-smelling books, new, crisp books, hardbound and paperback books. I love books with lots of tabs and pop-ups and books with wild artwork. So when I found this book at Patina Stores I knew I would order it:
It's full of crazy tattoos that I can't wait to wear. Temporarily, of course. The beneficent Mr. Hall is rather unbeneficent when it comes to tattoos. In fact, he's downright hysterical about the whole tattoo business. But that won't keep me from putting some of these hysterically funny tattoos on various body parts. I will, however, keep a huge supply of band-aids handy.
Remember that chat link I posted? From the ICL newsletter? The one that entered me into the contest to win free books? I won! I won! I won! I won a whole series of books (How to Write A Children's Book) by Eve Heidi Bine-Stock. And when they come in the mail, I'll give you the whole scoop on Eve Heidi Bine-Stock's books. Three books are on their way right now; three wonderful books, which I think fits rather nicely with Eve's three names.
I love books...tiny, little books, big, coffee-table books, skinny books, and fat books. The fat ones take me forever to read, but I love 'em anyway. I love old, musty-smelling books, new, crisp books, hardbound and paperback books. I love books with lots of tabs and pop-ups and books with wild artwork. So when I found this book at Patina Stores I knew I would order it:
It's full of crazy tattoos that I can't wait to wear. Temporarily, of course. The beneficent Mr. Hall is rather unbeneficent when it comes to tattoos. In fact, he's downright hysterical about the whole tattoo business. But that won't keep me from putting some of these hysterically funny tattoos on various body parts. I will, however, keep a huge supply of band-aids handy.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Tooting My Horn Tuesday: Being Cheap Pays off
Just for the record, I did not start out as a cheapskate. It took years of molding by the beneficent Mr. Hall before I achieved that goal. But all I can say is that when I perused the latest issue of Wow!, it made my penny-pinching days worth it!
My article, "The Cheap Writer's Guide to Conferences," was a feature! Now, here's the funny thing. As I eyed the list of articles, I thought, Hmmmm, didn't I submit something about conferences? Then I saw the title of an article, "The Cheap Writer's Guide--" and I thought, Hold on a minute! That's the title of the article I wrote! Someone stole my title! Then I started reading the blurb about the article and thought, Dang! I had the EXACT SAME IDEA! Seriously, someone stole my title AND idea! Then I saw my name and thought what an idiot.
But not such an idiot that I didn't write a darn good article about how to save money and attend writer's conferences. So check it out here. A little Fame for me. A small Fortune in savings for you. Just another day on the Road to Publication.
My article, "The Cheap Writer's Guide to Conferences," was a feature! Now, here's the funny thing. As I eyed the list of articles, I thought, Hmmmm, didn't I submit something about conferences? Then I saw the title of an article, "The Cheap Writer's Guide--" and I thought, Hold on a minute! That's the title of the article I wrote! Someone stole my title! Then I started reading the blurb about the article and thought, Dang! I had the EXACT SAME IDEA! Seriously, someone stole my title AND idea! Then I saw my name and thought what an idiot.
But not such an idiot that I didn't write a darn good article about how to save money and attend writer's conferences. So check it out here. A little Fame for me. A small Fortune in savings for you. Just another day on the Road to Publication.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Children's Lit Bits: Sites You Don't Want to Miss
You know how I like to win stuff. And I can win a few children's books just by telling you about this great transcript: http://www.institutechildrenslit.com/rx/tr01/binestock.shtml. But I would have told you about it eventually 'cause it's jam-packed with lots of great info about children's picture books.
Now that I think about it, when it comes to jam-packed great children's info, you can't beat the weekly newsletter from the Institute of Children's Literature. Check out their website to see how you can sign up for the free e-news.
Then you'll get transcripts like this all the time. You'll also get tips about kid lit websites. Like this great blog I just spent the morning reading: Editorial Anonymous. It's penned by a children's book editor who reminds me a little of Miss Snark. Maybe she's just carrying on the tradition of telling it like it is from the editor's perspective. So don't expect rainbows and teddy bears. But do expect to laugh.
And expect to learn a little something about children's writing. Just that one little bit might make all the difference!
Now that I think about it, when it comes to jam-packed great children's info, you can't beat the weekly newsletter from the Institute of Children's Literature. Check out their website to see how you can sign up for the free e-news.
Then you'll get transcripts like this all the time. You'll also get tips about kid lit websites. Like this great blog I just spent the morning reading: Editorial Anonymous. It's penned by a children's book editor who reminds me a little of Miss Snark. Maybe she's just carrying on the tradition of telling it like it is from the editor's perspective. So don't expect rainbows and teddy bears. But do expect to laugh.
And expect to learn a little something about children's writing. Just that one little bit might make all the difference!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
What Not to Do Wednesday: Been There, Done That
I got involved in a bit of a group online discussion today (probably should have been writing, but I'll write about that WNTD next week) and realized that a writer friend had taken a classic WNTD and turned it around into a What Exactly To Do.
First, the WNTD: Don't go counting your money for the manuscript 'til the check comes in, grasshopper. But, honestly, is there a writer out there who hasn't fallen for that? You send your article or story or essay off and weeks later the contract lands in your inbox. Wheee! Before you can say, "I just sold another one!" you get an email saying that you are not, unfortunately, one of the finalists. Or that the magazine will not, unfortunately, be using your article. Or the webzine's gone belly up. Whatever.
The bottom line is the same. You spoke too soon. And now you feel like, well, I think we've said enough about that. Best to move on to the What Exactly To Do, as my writer friend did ever so promptly.
Take that glowing piece of writing and immediately send it back out again. If there's not a market available now, keep checking back...there will be. Because here's the thing. If it was good enough to be a finalist, or considered for a magazine the first time around, it's still good. It's still saleable. And don't you forget it. Or the article.
First, the WNTD: Don't go counting your money for the manuscript 'til the check comes in, grasshopper. But, honestly, is there a writer out there who hasn't fallen for that? You send your article or story or essay off and weeks later the contract lands in your inbox. Wheee! Before you can say, "I just sold another one!" you get an email saying that you are not, unfortunately, one of the finalists. Or that the magazine will not, unfortunately, be using your article. Or the webzine's gone belly up. Whatever.
The bottom line is the same. You spoke too soon. And now you feel like, well, I think we've said enough about that. Best to move on to the What Exactly To Do, as my writer friend did ever so promptly.
Take that glowing piece of writing and immediately send it back out again. If there's not a market available now, keep checking back...there will be. Because here's the thing. If it was good enough to be a finalist, or considered for a magazine the first time around, it's still good. It's still saleable. And don't you forget it. Or the article.
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