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Guest Post: Victoria Treder

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What Makes a Writer?

We’ve all heard the line, “If you want to be a writer, then write,” but what kind of writing counts? If you want to write novels, but you spend your time posting to a blog, does that count? Sure, you are practicing your craft, but are you “writing”? Is writing in the eye of the beholder or the pen holder?

What if your penchant is for poetry, but your rent requires writing articles. Of course, you can say that you are a writer, but are you a “writer”? You know, the kind who gets asked at cocktail parties, “What have you written? Have I read it?” If your answer is, “I extolled the virtues of Jenny Craig over Weight Watchers in the latest issue of Glamour,” you’re liable to get a blank look in response. If you can at least say, “In last month’s Cosmo, I raved about this little known island in the Pacific. Have you ever heard of Atuitaki?”, you’ll get a bit of wide-eyed interest back. Travel is fun and exciting. Dieting is not.

The only way to get respect for writing how-to’s on mundane subjects is to squeeze out an entire book. An article on choosing the right college elicits only yawns, but a book on How to Get the Most Out of Your College Experience rates oohs and aahs. Making a living explaining the dull, everyday stuff pegs you as in it just for the money, unless you can manage to cobble together a sufficient number of words for independent publication, a feat that immediately elevates you to the status of “author”. But what if you’ve published your How-To book? Are you then a “writer”, if your dream is to publish a novel? Or are you just a hack with a knack for stringing together a lot of words?

What makes a writer? Is it the content, the length, or the aspirations of the person herself? If you are making a living writing articles for magazines, a job that others only dream of, are you a writer if you really prefer to pen poignant short stories on the meaning of life?

Is the definition of writer determined by you, or by others? Is there a difference between calling yourself a “writer”, and saying that you write for a living? There are millions of words that surround us every day; someone has set them down in a particular order; someone has put some thought into their placement. Is it the thought that makes a writer? Or the ultimate goal the writer seeks to attain?

Is writing just another skill? Or is it a calling? Is it the level of discourse that determines, or the mechanism through which writers choose to communicate?  I don’t know about the rest of you, but I chose to call myself a writer when I first decided to write fiction, even though so far I have been paid only for my non-fiction work. I have a streak of romanticism that refuses to be subdued.

Guest blogger Victoria Treder blogs about politics, education, and the state of our nation at http://tredalong.com/

Author, Blog, Book, Creative Writing, Emotions, Guest Blogging, Lissette. E. Manning, Published, Short Story

Guest Post- Lissette E. Manning

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Dreams Are What We Make Of Them

By: Lissette E. Manning

Success in the literary world is sometimes defined by how many books you sell and how fast/how far you climb across the charts. Word of mouth helps and the fans you accrue along the way help in getting the word out on what you do. Not to mention your friends and family, those that are supportive, anyway, will be there with you every step of the way. They’ll be there with you throughout your triumphs and your failures.

Every step you take will determine how you far you take your dream and the success it’ll net you. Mind you, success doesn’t happen over night. It takes time to get there so that you can reap the rewards from the efforts you’ve put out.

Keep in mind that in order for us to enjoy those benefits, we have to actively work for what we want. If you want to rise to the top, you’ve got to put in the hours and the effort to get yourself there. No one else is going to do it for you.

Sure, you can have someone else do the work for you and scream to every part of the world that you exist, but I’m going to be honest, unless you make that effort yourself and show people you really want to make things happen, there aren’t a good many that will take you seriously. Dreams are what we make of them but we have to strive and work whole-heartedly to achieve them.

If you believe in what you do, show it. If you know you have what it takes to make things happen, strive to make your dream possible. Don’t sit around waiting for someone else to try to do the work for you. The more you show others you’re determined to succeed, the more they’ll see you’re ready to take the next step.

Your book is like your baby. You want it to grow into something beautiful – something you’ll be proud of. You want people to see you took the time to make your work shine to the best of your ability. You’ll be taken more seriously that way, in all honesty.

Don’t let your work go out into the world half-assed. Edit, revise, re-write, and proofread your work until you think it’s ready. If it’s not, keep at it until it is. Listen to suggestions and feedback. Implement as many of them as possible. Keep working until your book is completely polished. Make it shine in the eyes of your readers and your followers.

Make use of beta-readers in order to make sure every base is covered when it comes to the above. Beta-readers are your eyes and ears when it comes to editing and revising your work. They’ll always see things you don’t see in the first place. Trust them and thank them for the work they do for you. Find a way to show them your appreciation in every way possible.

Always take the time to polish your work before you release it out into the world. The product you put out will make or break you. The more your work shines, the better things go for you. Poorly edited manuscripts tend to put off your potential readers. You’re pretty much killing your career, then and there.

Never settle for second best in all you do. Strive always for the best. Make your books shine. Make your readers, fans, and followers believe in your work. If you truly believe in it, they will too. They’ll shout your praises to every part of the world once you’ve shone you’re willing to give them great work for every penny they shell out.

Dreams are what we make of them. Our success is defined by the quality of work we put forth. It’s defined by the belief that we believe in ourselves and the products we give to those who seek to immerse themselves in the books we write. Believe in yourself and strive for your dreams. They do come true but only if we truly work to achieve them.

Broken

By Lissette E. Manning

Genre: Romance, Drama, Short Story

The past is hard to bear, but sometimes, we must face it, no matter the cost.

Displeased with the life she’d led, Ellie Morgan walked away from it all in hopes of finding happiness amidst all the turmoil. She knows it’s only a matter of time before she has to face the bitter reality of the repercussions caused by her past actions.

Broken and bereft, she tumbles head first into her despair. Yet there’s always a silver lining to every cloud, a certainty she knows is there if she’ll allow herself to see it. To do that, she must let go of the past and put her ghosts to rest, once and for all.

Available for purchase via the following retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords.

Author, Blog, Books, Cassandra's Roadhouse, Creative Writing, Guest Blogger, Laid back, Life, Publication, Published

Free Writing

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A friend of mine, Ami, asked me to guest blog at her website. When my two short stories got published recently I did a big proclamation in email to a few people. She thought it would be a great idea to share my reason behind letting some of my writings be free to the public. Well I finally wrote something down for her and it is up and running on her blog.

The link:

http://museinks.blogspot.com/

I would like to thank Ami for asking me to do this. Maybe someone will read it and feel “Hey, that makes sense.”

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Free Writing (by Guest Blogger Sharon C. Williams)

Jasper, one of Sharon’s Muses.

MuseInks welcomes Sharon C. Williams (@NewEngland_Muse)! Sharon is a sports fan, chemistry buff, novice crocheter, and animal-lover. [Just ask her about her birds!] She blogs at The Musings of a New Englander. 

Sharon & I exchanged a series of emails about her decision to publish some of her stuff for free — a decision I supported, but which many writers frown upon. I asked if she’d share her reasons for “giving it away.” She very graciously agreed. Thanks, Sharon!

I have been seriously writing since the Fall of 2009. It had not occurred to me to write as a  career. After all, that was for people who were serious, who had talent and skill. That was surely not me.  What did I know about writing?   Then a friend told me that my husband had told her he felt I wrote rather well (a fact he had not shared with me). This thought rattled in my brain for a while. A few months later a story started forming in my mind. I kept telling myself I was going to put down, but just never did — until the Fall of 2009 when I had two surgeries, unrelated to each other, within 3 weeks of each other. 

Since I had some newfound time on my hands, I started to write.  Once I started, it seemed the words would not stop flowing.  The more I wrote, the more confidence I felt in what I was putting down on paper. Joining a writer’s group in town motivated me to write more on the things I came across.  I varied from children’s book, memoirs, personal essay, mystery and drama. I did not define myself to just one set box.  What happened soon was notebooks filled with short stories that ranged as wide as a rainbow with its colors.   

Then came my subscription to Writer’s Digest. That magazine changed my life, for in one of its articles was an author who talked about social media and how to use it to further one’s writings.  She  left her Twitter name and that was my road to an amazing new world. A world where authors, editors, publishers, printing houses met, chat, supported and helped each other in the facets of writing.  I was blown over. 

I was not an unknown writer to them. I was someone who reminded them of where they once were (or where they were right now).  It compelled me to write more than ever. But with writing comes editing something that I am not good at.   

The great part of social media is the people you meet. If they don’t know the answer, they know someone who just might. At that point I had written 3 books which required editing of some nature. I had written the second part of my children’s book as well as a collection of short stories.  This was all well and good, but not when they needed some editing.


During the early part of last year, I contacted a publisher to ask about his pricing for editorial services. Even when I knew I could not afford it, we stayed in touch.  A few months ago, he approached me requesting the use of some of my work. He was putting together an ebook of short stories. He would pay for the art cover, the editing and all of that. The book would be offered for free to download as a promotional gig, so there would be no money made on this for him or for me. I would maintain the copyrights to my stories; he would just get to use them this one time. In return for my involvement, the book would include my bio, mentions of my WIPs (works in progress), and ways to contact me.

I was ecstatic, to say the least, until a person told me that if I was not getting paid then it was not worth my participation.  I was miffed at first, for I could not understand how anyone could view this as anything but good. I tended to think a different way:

 
Download the free ebook.

l have 4 short stories in print. To say I am giddy is truly an understatement.  This all happened the week of Thanksgiving and still, when I think about it, I just smile from ear to ear.  I refuse to let the naysayer bring me down. I am proud of myself. It just shows that even if you are unknown it does not mean your work won’t find an audience. It is all how you view it.

Eooks are opening a whole new venue for artists across the board  Making our mark is not easy when we are new and exposure, exposure, and exposure is what is needed. So I say poo poo at that person who thinks it is not worth it for me to allow my stories to be put into print. I refuse to let the negativity of that remark stop me. I have to start somewhere. I view this opportunity from the publisher as my first step. 

At least now, when I do my query letters, I can now say I am published here and there.  Furthermore, there will be a few publishers who will be able to see my stories learn about my next project. Maybe they will see something they are interested in or maybe they will know someone that might be interested in my works. 

Where I stand, this is win, win, and a win.

What do you think? Should a writer EVER allow his or her work to be published without payment? How valuable is exposure? What has your experience been? Chime in below and let me know

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