Chico Writers Group: 

If You Write It, They Will Read It

Welcome to the Year 2010!

Did you ever watch Conan O’Brien and his sidekick, Andy, doing their skit “In the year 3000“? Fun stuff.

So here we are in the year 2010. Resolutions are being made. Changes and revisions are being pursued. Now’s your chance to get in a squeal of a deal at any of the gyms in town. And since the introduction of the fantasmagoric CSUC Associated Students gym, there will be some incredible deals.

And how about you, as a writer? What does this mean for the likes of us? Maybe this is your year to take your writing to a whole new level. To dust off a few manuscripts, spend some one-on-one time and polish it up, see if it will fly. Try your hand at a different genre, perhaps, maybe even a completely different style or just work on improving what’s tried and proven already.

Whatever your resolutions are, your goals, your dreams and aspirations, may the year 2010 be yours! And to help kick off your year, we bring to you the very first issue of the CWG Yet To Be Named Newsletter, a monthly publication for all current and former members of the Chico Writers Group. Enjoy!

Kathie Leung
Founder & Organizer
Chico Writers Group

January 2010 Newsletter Article                                                     Vol#1, Issue # 1

What’s your poison? Linked-In? Facebook? Twitter? What social network are you using to connect with others? Are you doing the network thing in hopes of creating a marketing base when it comes to publishing your work? What are the upsides of social networking? Etiquette? Precautions to consider? Here’s the scoop!

The very first thing to remember – anything that goes out into cyberspace is there to remain forever.

This is a concept not a lot of people understand. And yet we must. Think about it. The Internet is a network of computers. It’s always on. It’s always gathering information. If you delete a spiteful post, remove a rather questionable photograph, upload the rough draft of a manuscript then delete it when you realize you have a best seller – it’s all out there. It’s resident on someone’s computer, squirreled away on a server.

The purpose of this article is not to sell books. It’s not on how to market you, your novel, or even to make money using a blog. It’s about looking down the road, off into the future to that day that you finally sell your manuscript, it goes into publication and you’re ready to hit the circuit peddling your finest work.

No, you might not be going for a political position or that big corporate job or off to track down serial killers with the Behavioral Analyst Unit at Quantico. But yet what you say, what you do, how you react could potentially become your enemy down the line. So it’s important to keep in mind what your ultimate goal is here and now. Focus on that when you are interacting out in the public eye.

Pictures: Be very mindful of any picture you upload anywhere on the ‘net. Even if you’re in the biz of selling sex (erotica and the like), social media isn’t the place to be posting sexually explicit photographs. Suggestive, yes. Explicit? Absolutely not.

Leave the kids out of it. And family, too. Cherish their privacy and safety. In the public eye, it only takes one deranged person to bring your world crashing down upon you. Be mindful of this in the here and now.

Connecting with family: Again, privacy is imperative, especially when it comes to minors. You’re looking at a business proposition, a viable source of income, a money maker. Unless you are engaging your entire family in what you’re writing, say a non-fiction piece on the importance of volunteering within your community, leave your family at home and focus on your work. There’s no need to make them accessible to your public.

The dividing line: If you opt to use social media to keep in touch with family and personal friends, consider a secondary account and keep the two separate. Still be very careful of what you post. Even when your settings might initially be very private, remember, nothing is every a constant on the ‘net and anything that goes out, stays there. We saw this happen with the recent (12/09) changes in privacy at Facebook. Suddenly the personal, private information folks were putting on their pages was made public and very accessible to others. To those who forgot the golden rule of not putting personal, private information out on the ‘net, the fallback was tremendous.

Stay focused: Even if you don’t have a salable manuscript in the works, even if you don’t see yourself publishing anything in the next three to five years, it’s still important to maintain a social network profile that shows your head is in the game. Going off topic now and again is perfectly acceptable, even good practice. Remember that saying, all work and no play makes Jack a very dull boy? But keep the majority of your interactions about  your writing, your intent to publish, making contacts and rubbing elbows with those in the industry and those that contribute to the industry by buying books, where your focus is at least 90% of the time.

Cheat Sheet:

• Do not publish pictures that you wouldn’t have on your jacket flap.
• Do not publish pictures of family members.
• Use a business or post office box address, not your personal residence. Same applies for phone, instant messaging, any other form of contact.
• Fudge on your location, especially when you live in a rural area. Select a larger area or omit it entirely.
• Never use your family member’s real names.
• Don’t say online what you wouldn’t say in person at a book signing.
• Keep your private life separate from your online business persona.
• Stay focused on the prize. At least 90% of the time.
• Write!

January 2010 Newsletter Article                                                     Vol#1, Issue # 1

Benjamin Franklin wisely advised, “By failing to plan, you are planning to fail.” What are your dreams, your goals, your desires when you write? Have you taken the time to think of it or are you afraid to because you’re afraid you won’t be able to fulfill them? If you do take the time to think about where you hope to go with your writing, are you shooting it down with excuses, pointing the finger at reasons why you won’t be able to achieve your goals? Here are some tips and sage advice from authors and professional writing coaches that might help you reevaluate and take the stand in setting writing goals.

Bonnie Hamre (www.bonniehamre.com), a multi-published author of fiction and travel, has several pages worth of resources for writers including one about setting and making goals. As with any type of goal setting, it’s all about the path you choose to follow. And to get to the big goal, of course, you should take small steps.

Bonnie sets out an easy-to-follow plan that takes you from looking at the big picture and then breaking it down into smaller, more obtainable and palatable ways to get there. To learn more about her method, visit: www.bonniehamre.com/goalsetting.htm

Joe Konrath (J.A. Konrath, author of the Lt. Jack Daniels series) has a wonderful website (several, actually) built to help writers learn from his 600+ rejections to best selling author experiences. At his blogspot site (http://jakonrath.blogspot.com), he shares his insights and wisdom with his “Newbie’s Guide to Publishing”. Most notably, and the most worthy for any burgeoning writer to read, is his very recent “to sum it all up for you” post dated Sunday, December 27, 2009: What I Know (http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2009/12/what-i-know.html). It’s hard not to be inspired to set down on paper your writing goals after reading this post.

Linda Sellers (L.J. Sellers, author of the Dect. Jackson series, professional editor, journalist) is a big proponent of setting writing goals and does this often as she progresses with the various phases of her own noveling ventures. The art of setting goals has fueled Sellers as she has made some phenomenal changes in her career path over the years, all of which have been hugely rewarding on both a personal and professional level. While she doesn’t exactly spell out the process of how to develop personal goals, she does offer some insight with a very candid post regarding her goals for this past year. Take a peek here: http://ljraves.blogspot.com/2009/01/goals-for-2009whats-really-important.html

And then there’s Holly Lisle who’s profession is fiction noveling and has fed, clothed and housed her family solely from the proceeds – which is quite a feat! She maps it all out for you in one of her free workshops, all on one page. Definitely worth visiting and reading what she has to say. Get started here: http://hollylisle.com/fm/Workshops/setting_goals.html

FAQ:

1. Q: Should I be setting up goals for daily writing or long-term goals, more lofty, like being a best-selling, multi-book author?
   A: Up to you. Both, one or something entirely different. These are your goals.
2. Q: What are some daily writing goals?
   A: Setting a minimum number of words/pages to write; setting aside so many minutes/hours to write in a day. One author elected to learn a new word a week and try to weave that new word into the manuscript!
3. Q: In the ever-evolving world of publishing, is it even worth developing a long-term plan?
   A: Of course! But it would be wise to update the plan more frequently in light of these changes.
4. Q: How often should I revise my goals?
   A: As you reach your goals or if there are influences directly related that would alter them.
5. Q: Is there a site that I could use to help me be held accountable for the goals I set?
   A: Try www.43things.com. You can set your goals, find others with similar goals who may be on their way to achieving them or already have and get advice from them. You can also set up the free service to email you periodically to “check up” on you.
6. Q: Is there any software out there to help me keep track of my progress when it comes to writing?
   A: There are many. Next month in our newsletter there will be a spreadsheet that you can download that can help you keep track of and watch your progress with your manuscript.

January 2010 Newsletter Article                                                     Vol#1, Issue # 1

From this month’s newsletter:

• Setting Goals, Deadlines, and Rewards http://ejourn.net/cwg/2010/01/02/setting-goals-tytbnews/
  • Multi-published author, Bonnie Hamre’s website: http://www.bonniehamre.com
  • Bonnie Hamre’s method of setting up writing goals: http://www.bonniehamre.com/goalsetting.htm
  • J.A. Konrath’s website: http://jakonrath.blogspot.com
  • “What I Know” by J.A. Konrath: http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2009/12/what-i-know.html
  • L.J. Seller’s Goals for 2009: http://ljraves.blogspot.com/2009/01/goals-for-2009whats-really-important.html
  • Holly Lisle’s Free Workshop for setting up goals: http://hollylisle.com/fm/Workshops/setting_goals.html
• Writing Prompts and Ideas http://ejourn.net/cwg/2010/01/01/writing-prompts-and-ideas/
  • Ideas Think Tank: http://ejourn.net/cwg/2009/12/10/idea-think-tank/
  • Urban Dictionary entry: immaculate congestion http://list.urbandictionary.com/t/8547176/59948095/26447/0/
  • Creative Writing Solutions www.creative-writing-solutions.com
  • Rock-a-Bye Lullaby lyrics http://parenting.ivillage.com/newborn/ncrying/0,,b6wt,00.html

Agents

• Nathan Bransford (Curtis Brown Ltd.)
  Tons of information abounds at this full-service site. If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up to receive a copy of his daily blog posts. Becoming a member (for free) of the forums at his site and making regular stops is always beneficial.
  Bookmark Nathan’s site: http://www.nathanbransford.com (also on Twitter and Facebook, links at his site)
• Colleen Lindsay (Fine Print Literary Management)
  Sharp-tongued, Colleen won’t go down without a fight. But she knows her stuff and isn’t afraid to pass that information along to her followers. She can be followed on Twitter as well. Good luck getting your foot in the door, though, at Facebook. Be sure to bookmark her blog as there is a plethora of information to anyone looking at becoming published.
  Bookmark Colleen’s site: http://theswivet.blogspot.com
• Janet Reid (Fine Print Literary Management)
  Another sharp shooter, Janet’s better known as the Query Shark in most tide pools and as Miss Snark. Great place to start if you’re looking for an agent. At least with her, you get feedback and a response to your query. Not all are as nice as the shark!
  Bookmark the following sites:
  Query Shark:
  Twitter – www.twitter.com/queryshark
  Website – http://queryshark.blogspot.com/
  Miss Snark: (officially stopped blogging as Miss Snark in 2007, but website is still worth perusing)
  Twitter – www.twitter.com/misssnark
  Website – http://misssnark.blogspot.com
  Janet Reid (also on Facebook)
  Twitter – www.twitter.com/janet_reid
  Website – http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com
  Agent website – http://jetreidliterary.com/
• Jessica Faust (Book Ends LLC)
  Bookmark Jessica’s site: http://www.bookends-inc.com/
  Agent’s blog: http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/

Critiquing Critiques – an excellent post to help anyone reviewing a fellow writer’s work on how to go about providing a constructive critique http://openquery.blogspot.com/2009/08/critiquing-critiques-revision-1.html

The Public Query Slushpile – a reader driven support site that helps fellow writers hone their query. Having trouble finding one you’ve submitted? Just type in a very specific phrase from your query into the search bar at the top left of the page and voila, you should find it in a snap! http://openquery.blogspot.com/

Contests: (Start by reading Dana K. Cassell’s article Writing Contest Cautions http://www.writers-editors.com/Writers/Contests/Contest_Tip_Sheet/contest_tip_sheet.htm#Cautions )

• http://www.writers-editors.com/Writers/Contests/contests.htm
• Duotrope’s: (http://duotrope.com/themecal.aspx) Here you’ll find hundreds of contests. Also over at http://duotrope.com/index.aspx you can search to your heart’s content to find literary publications accepting articles and stories. Definitely worth searching and definitely worth signing up for newsletters from as well as joining (which is free).
• California’s Writer’s Club Spring 2010 Writing Contest (due Jan. 15, 2010) Poetry and Short Story Winners Published and $500 Prize! Further information: http://centralcoastwriters.org/2010-contest-rules.htm
• Free Writing Contests for when your wallet is empty : http://www.writer-on-line.com/content/view/868/66/~Articles/Articles-About-Contests/Free-Writing-Contests-for-when-your-Wallet-is-Empty.html

Conferences:

• Writers’ Conferences & Centers – a resource for conferences and the like. Searchable. Not always up to date, however, so carefully check out all information, including the individual websites. http://writersconf.org/index.php
• San Francisco Writers Conference
  Website: http://sfwriters.org
  Dates: February 12-14, 2010, President’s Day Weekend
  Application deadline: February 12, 2010
  Tuition/Cost: sliding scale from $425 to $695
  Scholarships: Yes. For H.S. & MFA students and others
  Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Children’s Literature
• Algonkian Writer Conferences – San Francisco / Corte Madera
  Upcoming dates: Write and Pitch in Corte Madera Feb. 19 – 21 and Fisherman’s Wharf Workshops (limited number – 15 people) May 12 – 16
  Website: http://algonkianconferences.com/
• Friday Seminars – California College of the Arts
  Website: http://www.cca.edu/academics/graduate/writing/writerseries
• Mendocino Coast Writers Conference
  Website: http://www.mcwc.org/
  Dates: July 29-31, 2010
  Application Deadline: June 15, 2010
  Tuition/Cost: $495 ($540 after June 15)
  Scholarships: Yes
  Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Children’s Literature

The Yet-to-be-Named Chico Writers Group Newsletter guidelines for authors interested in submitting articles for consideration:

Currently any Chico Writers Group member-in-good-standing is eligible to submit an article for newsletter publication consideration. There is no fee for this on either side. The writer will not be charged and the editor will not pay for any articles submitted. The copyright is retained by the author.

All content must be approved by the editor. Any edits to the submitted article will be returned to the author for the author’s approval. No article will be printed without the author’s consent when edits have been made to content.

Articles should be germane to the newsletter’s purpose: about the craft of writing. They must be tasteful, spell checked, and proofed prior to submission. Articles which do not adhere to this policy might not be considered if the editor is required to undertake fixing mechanics. Any article which provides information, including but not limited to facts, must be researched and evidence must be supplied with the submission.

Authors should submit a short biography along with their first submission. The bio should be at least 250 words in length but no more than 500. The same rules of edit apply to biographies as do article submissions. Authors are encouraged to provide a link to their web site, blog, and/or social networking accounts. A digital photograph of the author is encouraged. Author biographies will be maintained on a separate page and linked to all articles submitted and published from the point they are received, forward (in other words, should the author submit the biography after other articles have been submitted and published, the prior articles may not be edited to include the biography link).

Regrettably the YTBN Newsletter is unable to pay authors for the articles submitted as the Chico Writers Group is a no-fee, no membership dues group. However, a letter of reference is always available to the author at the author’s request. Please allow 10 business days to accommodate the request. A verification of the author’s submitted and published articles will be provided, links as appropriate, and any information regarding increased number of hits specifically to the article of mention, feedback received via the site, comments left, etc. will be included.

Suggested articles: Any element of the craft of writing, in depth, always with references; author/agent/editor/publisher interview; upcoming writing contests, writer workshops/symposiums/retreats/conferences (always with links directly to web site page with further information and preferably with detailed information including dates, fees, registration deadlines, etc.); short stories/poems/poetry/prose/essays up to 1500 words in length; writing prompts; photos for visual writing prompts; announcements of write-ins, readings, book signings, etc. All information should be tailored to the intended audience which are members of the Chico Writers Group, therefore local (conferences, workshops, symposiums, and online writing contests would be an obvious exception).

Letters to the editor are always welcome from anyone (regardless of membership, locale, experience). A biography is not required and will not be published along with the editorial pieces. Any letter to the editor which is defamatory, denigrating, slanderous, or otherwise derogatory in a way intended to inflict harm on another person will never be published. Letters up to 250 words will be considered.

Comments to posted articles are not considered “letters to the editor”. Comments submitted will be reviewed prior to being published in conjunction with the posted article. The editor reserves the right to not release comments. Allow up to 2 business days before inquiring about the status of your comment should it not appear within that time frame. Comments requesting information about the Chico Writers Group, membership, meetings, etc. may not be released to the site,

Deadlines: The following is a list of deadlines. Please consult this list prior to sending in an article as it may change as the newsletter continues to develop and grow. Please note that even if the article is submitted within these guidelines, this does not guarantee the piece will be published.

Announcements: For announcements of contests, upcoming workshops, conferences, etc. articles must be submitted by the fifteenth day of the month (or last business day prior should the 15th be on a weekend day) no later than 7 p.m. Pacific Time to appear in the upcoming issue. Announcements may be submitted up to six months in advance of the date of the event. However, the editor reserves the right, based upon space, not to publish the announcement until the one issue prior to the date of the event.

Informative Articles: Six-weeks prior to publication.

Human Interest Articles: Reviews, author interviews, etc. – two weeks prior to publication.

Fiction Stories/Prose/Poetry/Essays: Eight weeks prior to publication for 800 words or more. Three weeks prior to publication for 799 words or less.

Letters to the Editor: Two weeks prior to publication.

Classified/Personals: At this time we are not accepting classified advertisements or personal ads.

Format: Please refer to the following information on how to properly format your article.

Announcements:

Body of email must include -

• word count,
• copied text,
• full name of contact
• mailing address (physical)
• phone number, including area code if outside of 530 area
• best time to reach contact
• list of documents attached to email (just in case one doesn’t attach or is corrupted/infected)

Only *.rtf or *.txt are accepted. Graphics, html coded pages (*.asp, *.shtml, flash, *.swft files, etc. are never accepted) may be submitted as an attachment but only when accompanied by the aforementioned properly formatted file.

Informative Articles, Human Interest Articles, Fiction Stories/Prose/Poetry/Essays:

The body of email must include:

• word count
• full name of contact
• physical mailing address
• phone number, including area code if outside 530 area
• best time to reach contact
• list of documents attached to email (just in case one doesn’t attach or is corrupted/infected)

Articles/submissions of 799 or less words: also include in body of email – copied text.

All articles/submissions must be in *.rtf or *.txt format attached to the email.

Graphics must be in *.gif, *.jpg, or *.png format.

Written copy will never be accepted in graphic format.

No other types of files are accepted.

Letters to the Editor:

Only emails will be accepted, no attachments – ever.

Include in email:

• word count (up to 250 words will be published)
• full name
• name other than full name to be used (initials are allowed, nicknames/screennames/usernames, however, will not be)
• phone number, including area code if outside 530 area
• best time to contact (authentication and verification may be required)
• request not to have email address published in conjunction with posted letter

For further information or questions, please send an email to: TheChicoWritersGroup@gmail.com with the subject line: Article Submission Information. Please allow 2 business days for a response.