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CREATIVE CONNECTIONS>
CREATIVE CONNECTIONS
September 15, 2007
CREATIVE CONNECTIONS
September 15, 2007
IN THIS ISSUE:
• Note from Cindy Kenney
• Article: Secrets of Earning a Living as a Writer
• New Course: Make Sense Out of Your Writing
• Writer’s Resources on the Web
• Writing Tips
• Article: Why a Writer’s Conference is Important
• Movie Reviews
• Writer’s Job Source
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Dear Subscribers:
At last – I am delighted to present to you my very first
Creative Connections Newsletter! This monthly newsletter
will be filled with great information for writers. I have
been doing a lot of research over the past year in
preparing to launch my new site – offer a monthly
newsletter – and create online products that will be a
tremendous benefit to you or may just simply enjoy.
That was the good news! Alas, I have also discovered how
much work all this will take to do right. I don’t want to
provide you with just “any other newsletter”. I want this
to be the newsletter that you look forward to receiving
each month because of the top-notch quality, helpful
information, and educational opportunities that it will
provide. Because of that, things have taken longer than
expected to get up and running. But I decided it was time
to get the ball rolling despite the fact that everything on
my sight isn’t quite where I want it to be yet. So in the
future, you'll find better and better newsletter and a few
more things already in process on my site that you have to
look forward to:
• E-books on a variety of writing topics (some free!)
• Fun products for the entire family!
• Interviews with other writers, agents, and marketers
• Excellent writing resources you can reference any time
• Writing courses
• Educational Webinars
• Weekly online radio show
• Writer’s devotions, prayers, and other inspirational
material
In the months ahead, you will see each of these categories
come to life on www.KenneyCreative.com. Please feel free to
jump on and sign the guest book, ask a question, suggest a
resource, or make any other requests. I will do my best to
provide these to you by way of the newsletter or website in
the months ahead!
In the meantime, may God bless your writing. Remember to
wait on God's timing in all you do and don’t give up! Talk
to you again next month!
-- Cindy Kenney
www.KenneyCreative.com/Welcome.html
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Secrets of Earning a Living as a Writer
Whenever I get asked what I do for a living, the answer of
being a writer evokes two main responses. Either I get a
polite nod, which means they consider my answer somewhat
above "bank robber" but below "actually employed" or I get
an eager look from somebody who wants to know how to become
a writer. This is usually followed by a request to read
something, often a poem.
Being a writer is a form of gainful employment. Would-be
writers generally ask me questions about writing. I am
almost never asked questions about the business of writing.
The business of writing separates the sheep from the goats.
A writer who sees her writing as a business can actually
make money in the field, even pretty decent money. A writer
who sees her work as her passion, her creative outlet, or
her hobby generally does not make money.
Writers who want to support themselves writing need to stop
thinking and talking about writing and focus on the
business.
If you want to earn a living as a writer, you have to sell
what you've written. One way to do this is to get a job at
a corporation as a writer. Believe it or not, most large
organizations (and even many smaller ones) have full-time
staff positions for writers. You may wind up writing
manuals or reports or brochures or web content, but you can
write for a living.
Click here to read more:
http://www.kenneycreative.highpowersites.com/Articles.html
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NEW COURSE AVAILABLE SOON!
Make SENSE Out of Your Writing
This five week course will be offered to writers starting
Monday, November 5th, 2007. This is a great course for any
writer as it will help you to breathe life into your
stories and help them to spring into action.
We’re all familiar with the most common writers rule: SHOW,
don’t TELL. Making SENSE Out of Your Writing will help you
to do just that. Each of the five weeks writers will focus
on how to engage readers by incorporating one of the five
senses into their manuscripts. We’ll cover sight – sound –
taste – touch – and scent.
For more information, go to:
http://www.kenneycreative.com/News.html
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WRITERS RESOURCES ON THE WEB
- SFWA (Science Fiction Writers of America)
- American Society of Journalists and Authors
- Internet Writers and Artists Guild
- National Writers Union
- Authors Registry
- Copyeditor.com
- Guide to Grammar and Writing
- Editorial Eye
- Children’s Writing Resource Center
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But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not
grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 4:31
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WRITING TIPS:
Best Resource for Writers: Writer’s Conference!
Glorieta Writer’s Conference
October 17th – 21st
http://www.classervices.com/CS_Glorieta_Conf.html
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Lee Strobel’s A Case for Christ is coming out on DVD
September 11th. Or check out Lee’s new book: A Case for the
Real Jesus. Available now!
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Have you read Phil Vischer’s Me, Myself and Bob? It’s an
outstanding story about how Phil created the most
successful children’s brand in the Christian Industry –
VeggieTales! Phil discusses the difficulty in growing a
business, and then relates his struggles as his company
went into bankruptcy and was ultimately sold. It’s a
must-have for everyone. This touching, yet witty book, will
make you laugh and cry. Most of all, it will show you that
even little guys can do big things, too!
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CBA's New Winter Show in Indianapolis
CBA's new winter show will be held in Indianapolis, the
site of the canceled Advance 2008. CBA Industry Conference
is set for Jan. 28-30 at the Indianapolis Marriott, the
booksellers' trade association said.
The event won't include an exhibit floor or training
sessions, but retailers will be able to shop a New Product
Gallery as well as visit numerous hospitality suites hosted
by suppliers for meetings and product presentations, CBA
officials said.
The schedule for the conference is still being finalized,
but the event will include sessions about retail issues and
facilitate networking to discuss applications for Christian
retail industry growth.
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WHY A WRITER'S CONFERENCE IS IMPORTANT
by W. Terry Whalin
It's a personal investment to attend a writer's conference.
Whether you attend for a full day or spend several days in
another state, it will involve investing your time, energy
and money. In these pages, I will explore some of the
reasons to attend these meetings, links and helps to find
information about where to find these gatherings along with
other resources to help you improve your writing skills.
Like many other kinds of businesses, the writing business
is relational. Talent, craft and skill does enter the
consideration but it's also who you know. Possibly you are
new to this field and you are crying, "I don't know
anyone." That's OK. Everyone has to begin somewhere in this
journey. You don't have to stay in that situation. Through
writer's conferences, you can begin to form some editor
relationships.
Almost twenty years ago, I began attending these
specialized meetings. I worked on a magazine staff and we
understood the benefits and accordingly we used our slim
financial resources to send staff members to meetings. It
helped their professional development and also helped
improve their ability to work on our magazine. I've
attended conferences for my own personal development and
professionalism.
In recent years, I've represented publishing houses as an
acquisitions editor at these gatherings. Now I'm going to
these conferences as a literary agent. As an editor and an
agent, the experience has been eye-opening to me and
changed some of my perspectives. I've got some amazing
stories about pushy conferees trying to convince me to
purchase a particular manuscript. A pushy attitude usually
backfires and makes the editor or agent want to run instead
of listen carefully to your idea. Always remember that you
want to make a good impression on the editor or the agent.
Even as an agent, I continue to select at least one
conference a year that I attend as a regular conferee--i.e.
a paying participant and not someone who attends to
represent a publisher or magazine and teach workshops. One
conference that I regularly attend for my own development
is the annual conference for the American Society of
Journalists and Authors in New York City. The schedule is
posted on their website and it is a broad reaching event.
I've met editors at Ladies Home Journal, Woman's Day,
Modern Maturity, Money magazine, and numerous mainstream
book editors. Several years ago at the ASJA member meeting,
President and Mrs. Carter came to the session. One of the
ASJA members wrote a book with Mrs. Carter and they were
invited. I managed to give President Carter a copy of my
then new book, Lessons From the Pit. Such a connection came
from attending a conference.
Conferences have been a large part of my writing career.
Often at these conferences, editors and agents are
inundated with the wrong material because writers haven't
done their homework. So often writers will send the wrong
material to the wrong place and wasted everyone time--the
writer and the editor or the agent. At a writer's
conference, you meet the editors face to face and realize
that they are also real people. This process begins to form
your relationship. Then when you send in your material,
they recall your name (or you can recall it to their
attention saying, "It was great to meet you at ______
conference..."
Three Pieces of Advice
1. Do your homework. Know who will be attending the
conference and read in advance what a particular editor
needs and acquires (even the Writer's Market Guide is a
good place to start). Then craft an idea, a proposal or
something to start the conversation with this editor. Give
them something they need. Editors read lots of stuff that
they don't need at these conferences. Why? Because they are
looking for the jewel in the stack, then they can publish
that manuscript. It could be your writing if you do your
homework.
2. Make a point to get to know different editors--even
outside of your particular genre. What you write this year
may change next year. Even if you've never written a book,
get to know the book editors. Sit at their tables and talk
with them about your dreams and hopes. And throughout the
week, make little notes of things which strike you--then
read your notes when you get home and follow through. You
would be surprised how few people actually execute the
necessary follow through work.
3. Learn your craft but also look to expand your writing
horizon. This advice would be for newcomers but also for
the veteran. I'd encourage everyone to take a class outside
of what they normally take. If you don't write for
children, take a children's workshop. If you have never
written a personal experience article then take a one hour
workshop on this topic. It might open a new door of
opportunity in your writing life.
I've made some dear friends at writer's conferences and
that's why I look forward to going to various conferences.
It's my opportunity to help others and give back. I'm
constantly learning new things as a writer--and a writer's
conference is a place to soak it in.
Let's check on some key conferences around the nation. Use
the button below:
Also check out these articles about conferences:
Four Keys For Success by Marita Littauer
Networking: The Writers' Conference Edge by Ellen J. List
From my perspective, writer's conferences have been
life-changing events and have been critical in my
professional and personal development. I recommend you take
the time, energy and resources to get to a conference.
________________________________________
W. Terry Whalin understands both sides of the editorial
desk--as an editor and a writer. He worked as a magazine
editor for Decision and In Other Words. His magazine
articles have appeared in more than 50 publications
including Writer's Digest and Christianity Today. Terry has
written more than 60 nonfiction books and his latest is
Book Proposals That Sell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success
(Write Now Publications). You can learn more detail about
his background at: www.right-writing.com/whalin.html. For
more than 12 years Terry has been an ECPA Gold Medallion
judge in the fiction category. He has written extensively
about Christian fiction and reviewed numerous fiction books
in publications such as CBA Marketplace and BookPage. For
five years, Terry was a book acquisitions editor for Cook
Communications and Howard Books. Now he is a literary agent
for Whalin Literary Agency, LLC. Terry and his wife,
Christine, live in Scottsdale, Arizona.
© 2007 W. Terry Whalin
Check out: www.KenneyCreative.com/Articles.html for more
articles!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MOVIE REVIEWS . . .
M = Moral C = Some Caution Considered EC = Extreme
Caution W = Warning
- The Case for Christ ***** M
- 3:16 Stories of Hope ***** M
- In the Shadow of the Moon ***** M
- Mr. Bean’s Holiday **** M
- Resurrecting the Champ ***** C
- The Nanny Diaries ***** C
- December Boys **** C
- September Dawn ***** EC
- Mr. Woodcock *** EC
- Illegal Tender ***** W
- Death Sentence **** W
- Delirious ***** W
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WRITING JOB SOURCE:
THIS ROCK
Catholic Answers
P.O. Box 199000
San Diego CA 92159
Phone: (800)291-8000
E-mail: editor@catholic.com
Web site: www.catholic.com
Contact: Cherie Peacock, editor.
Format: Magazine covering Catholic apologetics and
evangelization.
Frequency: Monthly
"Our content explains, defends and promotes Catholic
teaching."
Nonfiction Needs:
• Book excerpts
• Essays
• Religious
• Conversion stories
• Length: 1,500–3,000 words.
• Pays $200-350
Columns & Departments
• Columns open to freelancers: Damascus Road (stories of
conversion to the Catholic Church), 2,000 words.
• Buys 10 columns/year.
• Submission method: Send complete manuscript
• Pays: $200 minimum for columns.
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E-BOOK STORE is Looking for Authors (comp: TBD) (Not
Stated) job-421636667@craigslist.org:
http://newhaven.craigslist.org/wri/421636667.html
Date: 2007-09-13, 4:02PM EDT NueVer is a new online
publishing house created by writers and artists. We are
looking for authors of fiction, children’s literature,
political satire and graphic novels. Our mission is to work
individually with authors to distribute their work to a
diverse national audience. We are run by artists and
strongly believe in the power of literature. To learn more
about NueVer visit our site at www.nuever.com If you have a
finished manuscript and feel you would be a good
contributor to our e-book library please submit a resume,
cover letter and summary of your story to: Nuever
Publishing Attn: Rose Kelly 2509 N. Campbell Ave. #342
Tucson, AZ 85719 Emailed submissions will not be
considered. We will contact all authors whose work meets
our needs and will request the full manuscript at that
time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DIAL BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS
Imprint of Penguin Group USA
345 Hudson St.
New York NY 10014
Phone: (212)366-2000
Web site: www.penguinputnam.com
President/Publisher: Nancy Paulsen. Associate
Publisher/Editorial Director: Lauri Hornik.
Acquisitions: Submissions Editor
Non Fiction
Needs:
• Children's/Juvenile
Fiction Needs:
• Adventure and Fantasy
• Juvenile and Picture Books
• Young Adult
Tips
"Readers are preschool to teens. Picture books must have
strong plots, action, unusual premises, or have freshness
and originality. Humor works well. A very well-thought-out
and intelligently presented book has the best chance of
being taken on."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ghost Writer and Editor Needed for Non Fiction Book (comp:
project/negotiable) (Dallas):
http://dallas.craigslist.org/wri/421292264.html
Date: 2007-09-13, 8:45AM CDT Ghost writer & editor needed
for non fiction book. An inspirational story of a woman's
recovery from domestic violence. 200+ pages of the
manuscript has been written, but final shaping (substance,
etc) of the book is needed, then onto editing for
punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure, as well as
word choice, phrasing, and flow. If you are local to the
Dallas area, and have an interest, please email
DallasHosting@Yahoo.com with your details. Thank you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Write Greeting Cards (comp: $300/$50 if published)
(Anywhere): http://denver.craigslist.org/wrg/420798168.html
Date: 2007-09-12, 3:16PM MDT Blue Mountain Arts is
interested in reviewing writings for publication on
greeting cards. We are looking for highly original and
creative submissions on friendship, family, special
occasions, positive living, and other topics one person
might want to share with another person. Submissions may
also be considered for inclusion in book anthologies. We
pay $300 per poem for all rights to publish it on a
greeting card and $50 if your poem is used only in an
anthology. To request a copy of our writer’s guidelines
(which include contact/submission information), please send
a blank e-mail to writings@sps.com with “Send Me
Guidelines” in the subject line. You can also visit our Web
site at www.sps.com.
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Check out Cindy Kenney's website for more articles, news,
and other information! Website is being updated all the
time! And new features will continually be added in the
next few months! http://kenneycreative.com/Welcome.html __________________________________________________________________________________
NEW WEBSITES COMING SOON!
IF YOU WANT TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN THESE SITES WILL GO LIVE, SIGN UP UNDER THE NEWSLETTER TAB ALONG THE TOP! THREE NEW SITES:
* WRITERS
- Great NEW site for writers! Newsletter, articles, E-books and fun writer's products.
- Excellent resource for writers of fiction, non-fiction, children's, curriculum and church products.
- Ask your questions and Cindy will answer them!
- Regular courses offered, writing exercises provided, market insights and tons of information!
* CHRISTIAN EDUCATION (For Parents and Churches)
- Fantastic NEW site for Christian Educators and parents! Newsletter, articles, E-books and many excellent tools.
- Downloadable curriculum samples, advise on how to adapt or write your own curriculum, advise on new products coming out on the market and more!
- Excellent family and parenting resources to help share God's Word with your children. Fun-to-do activities, meaningful family devotions and more!
* KENNEY CREATIVE
- Updates on what's happening with Cindy.
- Find out information about her new books!
- Samples of Cindy's Writing.
- Speaking Updates: Workshops & Story telling Cindy offers, and where she is speaking next.
- Course Information. What Cindy will be offering and when.
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