• 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
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WRITING TIPS:
Best Resource for Writers: Writer’s Conference! Glorieta Writer’s Conference October 17th – 21st http://www.classervices.com/CS_Glorieta_Conf.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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!
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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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. ________________________________________
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
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
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."
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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.
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
