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Oct 12

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Query letter or book proposal? The answer may surprise you

In the process of submitting my memoir to agents, most advice I’ve been given led me to believe that I should treat the submission process as if my book were fiction. Specifically, I should send a query letter. But at the Pacific Northwest Writer’s Conference I attended in August, the agents who wanted to see my book requested a full book proposal. And I’m glad they did.

By writing the book proposal, I was able to put together an outline of my promotional plan and other information I’ll need to market my book. In the process, I discovered some good information about the core of my book. (It’s most helpful if you write your proposal before you actually finish the book and then tweak it as needed. I wish I had).

Below are some guidelines for creating your own nonfiction book proposal. Read more

Oct 11

Put your pen down and take a power hour

Have you considered going on a “power trip?” Not in that wild, crazy, dictator sort of way, but in a crazy good, creative idea way.

Todd Henry, author of the book, “The Accidental Creative: How to be Brilliant at a Moment’s Notice,” writes about how to maximize the creative process to solve problems or maximize ideas in the work place. I like to use his advice to build out ideas for my writing projects.

One of his tips: Make time for periodic power hours.

He suggests stopping once a week, or whenever it feels right, to spend an hour generating ideas. I use the time to write out details about characters and where my story could go next. Power hours are also good for brainstorming ideas for book titles, considering possibilities for story structure, or drumming up character names. Read more

Oct 10

What do famous writers snack on?

Writers have all kinds of little habits and quirks. Some won’t allow themselves to read or check email until they’ve completed their word quota. Some write in their pajamas, straight out of bed. Some dress as if they were going to an office. Some do go to an office. But have you ever wondered about the eating habits of famous scribblers?

Take a look at Wendy MacNaughton’s post for the NY Times to see what famous writers like to snack on. I can relate to Marcel Proust’s need for espresso but I’m not sure I could stomach Walt Whitman’s oysters for breakfast. My own preferences depend on the time of year and the time of day but some of my staples include: coffee, tea, water, green drink, almonds, apples, peapods, carrots, a bowl of cherries, or a small plate of gourmet cheese and healthy crackers. And, if I need a sugar buzz, a bit of dark chocolate on the side.

Are you a snacking writer or do prefer to eat away from your desk? What do you like to snack on while you write? Please share!

Oct 7

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Writing assignment: Make your character do something for the first time

We all get into ruts and patterns. What we eat, what routes we take to get to work, and what we do once we get there — routines for going about each part of our day.

Routines have their place. They forge discipline and efficiency. They provide security and order.

But when was the last time you did something for the first time? Read more

Oct 6

Steve Jobs: Love what you do & you can change the world

Even though we braced ourselves for it, the entire world is stunned and saddened by the passing of Steve Jobs, the visionary co-founder of Apple. In Brandon Grigg’s CNN news report, Jobs is referred to as a modern-day Leonardo Da Vinci. And he was. What I admire most about Jobs was his passion.

To the 2005 Stanford graduating class, Jobs said, “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on.” Read more

Oct 5

Fuel your writing with creative anxiety, part 2

The fear at the root of creative anxiety can be powerful writing fuel if you manage it. In part one of Five fixes for creative anxiety, I revealed reasons writers experience anxiety.

Here are five more:

  1. You’re writing about something very personal. Much of writing, whether it’s a memoir, essay or even a novel, contains autobiographical elements. It can be wrenching to write about personal events. But write you must, because that’s where the emotional truth lies, and that is what makes your story connect with readers. Read more

Oct 4

Knowing what motivates you will help you succeed as an author

What motivates you to succeed? Years ago, when I first started working from home, I was motivated by several things: the need to eat, the need to keep my home out of foreclosure, the need to keep the lights and heat on—the need to provide for myself and my son.

To do this, I set my sights on reaching the level of manager in the company I had joined. I had plenty of motivation. But something was missing. Months went by and I didn’t seem to be making much progress toward my goal. What was wrong? Read more

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