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Tuesday November 11, 2008
Get Your Writing R-E-A-D
Reading - Read your article thoroughly before your audience does.
And since we're on the topic, I also want to mention the importance of reading other works as well. It's one of the best exercises to help us develop our skill.
Edit - Have the courage to cut.
I was recently involved in a writing contest, in which I was confident that the second place winner had a good chance. I suspect that she might have won had the piece been cut to about half the length. It was well written, but unfortunately the unnecessary elements, bored a few of my fellow judges.
I often find that an article would read so much better if the first paragraph were cut out completely. In fact someone suggested I do that this week, and I was pleased with the end result.
I took a 1,000-word article the other day, and cut it down to 200 words for an assignment I was working on. It was a challenge, but the end result was few words that packed emotion. It's amazing what a little--or a lot--of slimming down can do.
Audience - Speak to your target audience.
When putting together a book proposal, one of the questions we answer is this, "Who is your target audience?" Should it be any different for an article of 1,000 words? Nope!
McDonalds doesn't provide the quiet atmosphere I look for in a fine dining establishment, nor do they prepare the finest prime rib--if any, but I do know that if I want to take the kids someplace fast and fun, McDonalds is our first choice. That's the power of reaching a target market.
Discipline - Discipline yourself to work at the craft.
I've had countless people tell me, "I'm writing a book." You might have even said that yourself, but after one year...two years...three years or more, one has to wonder--where is this book? Did I step on some toes, here?
Thinking about writing, and putting pen to paper is the difference between a dreamer and a writer.
Maybe you're not interested in writing a book--perhaps it's short stories or articles that you'd like to get published. What are you doing to make that dream happen? As a writer we need to discipline ourselves to write, to build our profile, to make contacts, and to submit articles.
There's a lot of work to be done. And you can bet your pocket protector that those who are getting it done, stopped merely "dreaming" and started "doing" a long time ago.
©2008, Darlene Schacht Get Published at Art Bookbindery -"Empowering Writers to Self Publish."
Friday October 10, 2008
Get Noticed!
I recently received a letter from a woman telling me that her friend was a very talented and inspiring writer, she said:
Good question! Since I AM internet savvy, the web is where I started, and I've seen that the internet has helped many other writing friends get noticed as well. In fact I'm teaching a class next May at the Northwest Christian Writer's Renewal, which teaches writers ways they can use the net to get noticed, and move their way up the publishing ladder.
Something I learned long ago is that in the two minutes a reader is on your site, you should have answered their question "What's in it for me?" Why is your writing unique, what can your writing give them that a billion other blogs out there can't? Friendship? Biblical insight? Humor?
Contests are one way of being involved in community; blogrolls are another. I host the world's largest blogroll at Christian Women Online, which includes something like 4,000 bloggers (haven't counted lately), who can all surf through each others sites and get noticed. What they can also do is request an interview so readers can further get to know them.
That's a bit about the net, but what if, like the reader above, the author isn't internet savvy, yet wants to be published? A publisher wants to know how YOU will promote your book. I haven't seen a book proposal that doesn't ask this question yet. So if you are not on the web, what can you do?
Speaking is the obvious for most of us. However as an author we would be expected to speak when promoting our book, so we need to give them a little more of a reason to publish us. Being "an award-winning" speaker, or a "frequent speaker at conventions" may give you that needed edge. That type of platform will not only get readers to notice your book, but it will also help in getting a publisher to notice you. In order to build up my speaking platform, I joined Toastmasters International. My legs are as shaky as the next person, but I'm doing it because I know it's a necessary part of being an author. And guess what? I just won my first speaking award this week! Every little step we take toward our goal adds to our resume, and brings us that much closer to a publishing contract.
If you aren't a speaker, then consider putting your writing to work by producing a "zine." A zine is like a magazine, but smaller. You can often find them at bookstores or at coffee shops, where they are free. Those are the kinds that I like, because you can produce them inexpensively, and have advertisers pay for the print run. Writers have had to get creative to get theirs
Here's another idea, which happens to be one of my all-time fav's! Get involved in projects such as anthologies. I occasionally post opportunities here, such as Chicken Soup for the Soul. I have two friends who have been published in Chicken Soup. One is a published author; the other is a stay-at-home mom who thought she'd give it a try. Both have a great addition to their resume, which helps in getting them up the next rung of the ladder. Always keep the ladder analogy in mind--each rung gets us closer to the top!
I'll close with one last thought, which can double as a shameful promotion. I don't believe that an author sells books as much as a book sells an author. Once an author has a book in hand, that person can use the book to further promote themselves by sending it out for review, having online blog tours, and book signings. It also looks better if you can approach a publication with that book on your resume. So consider getting a small print run done at a place such as my husbands company www.artbookbindery.com There are other short-run publishers out there, but I'll let you Google those!
Print-on-demand is different from short-run. It doesn't cost the author anything, since readers order direct from the printer, it's difficult to have books on hand without spending a fortune. Without books on hand, you can't approach local bookstores, hold a book signing party or send several out for review. With short run publishing you can order 50-200 books, make a profit on the ones you sell, and get your work out there into the public eye.
There are a few ideas to get you started--just take one rung at a time. With talent, patience and creativity, we'll get to the top!
©2008, Darlene Schacht Get Published at Art Bookbindery -"Empowering Writers to Self Publish."
Saturday October 4, 2008
Writing Contests!
Do you remember the first time you truly felt your heart flutter for our savior? Do you remember how excited you became and how amazed you were when you began to see how his fingerprints encompassed every moment of your life? Was there a particular time during your walk with Him that you felt His love and presence more than you ever had before?
Visit Internet Cafe Devotions for details:
And here's another...
Fiction or not, tell them an animal tale. As long as it's 750 words or less, and your own work, they want to see it and share it with the world on their website!
For inspiration, read this story "Sweet Tart," about one parrot, and what happens when animal instincts take over a marriage...
Writing Contest submissions open Oct. 1, 2008 and close December 31, 2008. The prize is a $25 gift certificate to BarnesAndNoble.com or Amazon.com. Click here to read the rules and submit your work.
©2008, Darlene Schacht Get Published at Art Bookbindery -"Empowering Writers to Self Publish."
Monday September 22, 2008
Chip off the Old Block...
Writer's block is something we all struggle with from time to time. Even bloggers can be faced with the pressure of wanting to post something--anything, but nothing comes to mind. Let's take a chip off the writer's block by examining one way to fight it!
Choose an article that you've written before, that you like for some reason. You might not even know why you like it--you just do. Got it? Now copy the first paragraph (or two if they're short) into a word document, like this:
Now choose a topic--any topic that has been on your mind this past week--maybe it's pizza pops, maybe it's your children, maybe it's cooking... whatever it is, trust yourself to write on that topic and the article will fall into place.
Here's where the recipe part comes in. See my paragraph above? I snagged it from a post that I liked at Live Well Wednesdays; I'm going to use it as my fire starter. I'll dissect it, carefully following the recipe, which is this:
Once you have the first paragraph or two done according to the recipe, the creativity will usually flow on it's own from there.
Here's what I came up with:
That's just off the top of my head, but as you can see I opened the article up and once I did I was on a roll. Now that I started, I want to talk about a child's need for cuddly days, and our need for them too. When it's just me and he, or me and her--home for a day. "Homesick" might be every bit as stressful as a tummy ache, for little ones who are gone all day. Ah, maybe I'm too soft!
When I use the recipe idea to get started, I sometimes find that I don't even keep the first paragraph at all, but that it was helpful in getting me off to a good start.
I have a sick kid at home today that needs juice and a cuddle, so I guess I had better run. :)
©2008, Darlene Schacht Get Published at Art Bookbindery -"Empowering Writers to Self Publish."
Thursday September 18, 2008
Have you toiled with the idea of stepping out of the box, and into a new style of writing? There's no time like the present, nor is there a style quite like it!
When I consider writing in the present tense, Ann Voskamp comes to mind. Few have grasped the skill as well as she has, time and time again:
You've got to love Ann Voskamp. I have no doubt that this woman is destined to be a best-selling author. She's already my favorite writer of all time!
Writing in the present tense is different, and it can be difficult. It doesn't come natural to me, but I do look at it as a creative way to break out of the writing box that I often cozy up in.
The present tense illustrates action as it happens. Look at it as a narration of sorts. Imagine yourself in the scene, while speaking the narration aloud.
I was at a loss for words one Tuesday evening with my Wednesday deadline fast approaching, and so I took the opportunity to give present tense writing a shot. I just began by describing my thoughts from the evening in present tense. I enjoyed the change, and really like the way the entire piece turned out.
Although entire novels have been written in the present tense, it is rarely done. It appears most often in short stories.
Next time you have writers block, give present tense a try. Or on second thought, why wait for the block, when you can write it today!
©2008, Darlene Schacht Get Published at Art Bookbindery -"Empowering Writers to Self Publish."
Wednesday September 10, 2008
The Doer (for lack of a better word)...
A few weeks ago I wrote about using fewer words. You may remember the trashcan, and the comparison that I made of making a room breathable by throwing out junk. "When in doubt, throw it out." That's the motto I used.
There are various ways through which we can eliminate unnecessary words, and one of those ways is by using the active voice. Don't worry, it doesn't involve the treadmill or the ThighMaster, but it does involve mastering our skill as a writer.
What is it? Wikipedia defines it this way:
See how many words we were able to save in that one sentence? We traded "was coughed up by" for the short and simple "coughed up" saving us two words. When editing sentences, imagine that each word is one dollar spent, and before you know it, you'll be working to save a bundle. Imagine they're pounds, and your books will turn into short stories! ;)
However, when you want to tilt the discussion in your favor, you might use the passive voice. Say for example, a little kid down the street throws a rock at you, and this is the umpteenth time that he's done so, you may want to point at the rock in your forehead and say, "This rock was thrown by your son!"
There are times when you want to make the object the star of the sentence rather than the doer. In that case you'd want to deliberately use the passive voice.
Another way--in fact my favorite way--to save words is by choosing stronger verbs to replace the weak ones. Shannon Woodward gave me a leg up when she suggested that I be cautious of the "ly" words. These words are often a sign of lazy verbs that need to be firmed up.
Here are a few examples of "ly" words and some muscular alternatives:
When I wrote The Mom Complex I looked at every single "ly" word to see if it should stay or be removed. Most of the verb/adverb combinations were replaced with one strong verb, but in some cases I had my reason to keep it.
Of course not all "ly" words are adjectives. One can say, "I'm lonely," but there is no reason to say, "I'm terribly lonely," is there? Unless your kids went off to school this past week, and you're left alone at home writing in cyberspace. :(
But I digress. The "ly" words are the easiest ones to spot, but after a while we learn to spot other lazy verbs too. Take for example a sign reading, "Do not go
Strong verbs are a sign of a strong writer, so whip those lazy verbs into shape, and firm up your prose!
Have a
©2008, Darlene Schacht Get Published at Art Bookbindery -"Empowering Writers to Self Publish."
Wednesday September 10, 2008
And the Winner is...
Shane was randomly chosen by using the randomizer tool from random.org.
Congratulations, Shane! Please contact me at: darlene @ darleneschacht.com (remove spaces).
And I'll get that prize sent out to you.
Now, head on over to Laurel Wreath's site to see who all of the other winners were in the Fall giveaway! I'm going there right now myself. :)
©2008, Darlene Schacht Get Published at Art Bookbindery -"Empowering Writers to Self Publish."
Friday September 5, 2008
Pete and Repeat
Pete and Repeat were in a boat. Pete fell out, who was left?
You don't want to answer that, unless of course you'd love listening to me repeat myself over and over again, which as a writer I try desperately to avoid.
I look at each paragraph much like a bowl of gourmet jellybeans, which contains a wide variety of flavors. As I'm writing, I like to pick different colors, rather than saturating my paragraphs with one. (Note: I could have used the word "colors" twice here, but I changed the first to "flavors.")
Here's an example of repetition:
And here is that same paragraph less the unnecessary repetition:
Notice how the second paragraph is more colorful?
If you don't see repetition at first, have no fear—you can usually spot it when you read your writing out loud. I read out loud often enough at home, that my family doesn't take notice anymore, but I still get the odd look from their friends every now and then.
Avoiding repetition forces us to spread our wings as we use different words than we usually do, such as "hushed" and "serenity." I'm not the type of person to say "nature itself was hushed," but seeing it typed out, I do like it much better than "nature itself was silent." The differing words add layers to the piece, so that it's not as flat as it was.
A word of caution here: don't take this opportunity to find words that are bigger than you. I made the mistake a few years back (I cringe at the piece now) when I used "clandestine" in place of "secret." It just didn't sound right. I even used the word in the title, because I thought it was so cool that I had learned and applied this new word. The piece will flow better if you use words like "hush-hush," or "private," since the reader can relate. Who says "clandestine" anymore?
©2008, Darlene Schacht Get Published at Art Bookbindery -"Empowering Writers to Self Publish."
Thursday September 04, 2008
More on Dashes
We talked about the em dash in detail the other day, but there are so many other dashes out there that can't be ignored. Rarely do we see a piece of writing without a dash of this or a dash of that, but it's important—and more than that, it's fun—to learn when and how to use each.
Let's discuss the tilde (~). It's usually pronounced TILL-duh, some pronounce it TILL-day, but I just call it the squiggly dash. Bloggers around the world generously pour out the squiggly dash like they do salt on a fry. As in "~ LOL!" or "~wink~," but the sad fact is that Mr. Squiggly dash doesn't have much of a presence in writing at all.
In some other languages it's used to mark a change in letter sound:
You'll also see the symbol appearing in some math equations and web addresses. That's pretty much it.
Note that en dashes are not the same size, nor do they have the same function as the hyphen.
Compare the difference: en (–) hyphen (-) As with the em dash, most keyboards don't have the en dash and so you need to edit the html or "insert character" (if your program allows). Therefore most writers just use the hyphen, and we turn a blind eye--but not today! :)
Some of you word nerds may find more uses for the en dash, but that's all I can think of for now, so let's move on to hyphens.
When do you hyphenate words, and when don't you? That's a whole other not-to-brief article that I'd have to write another time. So if you aren't sure, you can always Google to find out, or--dare I say--"pull out the dictionary."
And of course we all remember that hyphens are used to "hyphenate" words that need to be broken, should they be too long on a line. We hyphenate between syllables--that I know, but the honest truth is that I'm really bad at hyphenating words, so I won't even begin to give you examples. However, I do remember a funny thing that I learned when studying page layout. I was warned to be cautious. Do not hyphenate a word like "therapist" or it becomes "the-rapist." And I did get a chuckle from that lesson!
Closing note: do not add a space before or after your en dash or hyphen, and that's it for dashes, y'all!
And if that doesn't make your pen spin, maybe this will: Christian Women Online, along with Premiere Christian Cruises, is holding a contest through which you and a friend could win a Girl's Getaway Cruise for 2, and meet actress Candace Cameron Bure in person. Is it a writing contest? Well, sort of...details can be found by clicking the button below:
©2008, Darlene Schacht Get Published at Art Bookbindery -"Empowering Writers to Self Publish."
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I'm a forty-something-year-old Christian mother of four whose children range in ages from seven to sixteen. My husband, Michael, and I l live in Manitoba, Canada, where we run a company that empowers writers to self-publish.
I'm also the founder and editor of Christian Women Online Magazine, where I write a monthly column inspiring women to a Christ-centered journey through weight loss.
My articles have been published in print, online, and in my own humorous book:  I'm also a contributing author in:  (Tyndale Publishing)  (Thomas Nelson)
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My audience is Stephanie. Her writing mind works much like mine does, as does her humor, and she's the one that will say, "Okay--that line made me cry." There are many days I smile while writing, thinking Steph is gonna love this line! And of course I'm thrilled when I'm right.
I like blogging, but I do think that the majority of the time a blog goes unnoticed unless the author of that blog is involved in the blogging community. That and the blog should be kept up daily. There was a time when my little "What Would Jesus Blog" was collecting up to 85 comments/post, but I was commenting back and forth in those days. Once I got busy with CWO, my little blog on the prairie slowed down accordingly. If however, the blogger has a high profile elsewhere, such as a speaking platform, then her audience may already be built in, and the need for community online is eliminated. 
noticed. I have started seeing them for seniors, parents, etc. What about for SAHM's or Christians? What about for singles?
If your dog (or cat, bird, hamster, gerbil, fish, frog, chicken, monkey, snake, turtle, ocelot, giraffe, kangaroo, water buffalo, horse, or three-toed sloth) is your best friend (or your worst nemesis), share the story with TheNovelette.com, and their readers.
Grab a recipe. Writing is filled with recipes all around us, waiting to be scooped up, whipped together, and mixed with a blend of our personal ingredients. But where do you find them? You don't need to purchase a book or search writer's sites to find them, you only need to look as far as your own writing. 
No Time Like the Present... 
Let's look at an example: 
in here," it would sound stronger if it read, "Do not enter," or "Keep out."
A few years back, my son wrote an article for school, and while it was written well for the most part, we noticed quite a few places in which he repeated his words with items such as "then he..." Once we noticed and corrected this in his writing the piece was so much better, and so I began to apply that same correction to mine. 
En dashes (–) got their name from their size. They are approximately the width of the letter "n," or so they are on typesetter's machines. And yes, people still do manual typesetting in fact at my company, 
