Would you like to be inspired? Pushed to be a better writer? Motivated to free yourself from attitudes about publishing that hold you back?
For free?
It’s not too late to SUBSCRIBE (for free) to the Write Free e-newsletter. The June, 2009 issue is going out late–Monday. This month features Editor Unleashed’s Maria Schneider. Getting (Your Writing) Back in Gear. Forming Writing Partnerships..and more!
An item in my Funds for Writers newsletter today suggested that Twitter might actually be a forum to promote quality writing. I like to think that anything “published” on Twitter would be condensed down to a perfect essence, therefore encouraging quality. We’ll see, though.
The following forums are paying for writing on Twitter:
Nanoism (@nanoism)
http://nanoism.net/submit : $1.50 for unpublished literary
fiction; $1 for reprints; $5 for serials
Thaumatrope (@thaumatrope)
http://thaumatrope.greententacles.com/submissions : $1.20
per science fiction/fantasy/horror entry and currently needs
serials
Tweet the Meat (@tweetthemeat)
http://tweetthemeat.blogspot.com/2009/04/submission-guidelines.html
Horror/weird/speculative, pays $1 per tweet
Many a time I’ve stared at the ungainly draft of a novel wishing I could just slap on a can of “instafix” and be done. Since that’s not how writing works (and why didn’t I choose to become a painter rather than a writer?), sometimes one needs to reach out beyond the written word to the paint store for inspiration.
Today I painted my office. I’ve been living with institutional gray and wondering why I didn’t feel inspired sitting down at my desk!
My husband and I knuckled down for the weekend and painted, while our 1 year old boy was surprisingly patient, playing by himself for many hours, as if he understood that his parents would be much happier when this job was done.
The result is spectacular. The color alternates between peachy and yellowish tones, and is warm and inviting no matter what time of day. You can’t be in a bad mood in this room anymore–if you are, you’ve really got problems! And what’s better, it’s an instant improvement, unlike the muddy world of my novel.
I am not lying when I say I spent the rest of the day in here pretty much with ideas pinging around my brain like the hummingbirds in the tree outside my window. I scribbled a bunch of new ideas on post-it notes for articles, the novel and future classes. Painting refreshed my creativity!
So I want to recommend it to anyone who has the ability to paint their office. You might be amazed what it can do for your creativity!
Even though I know that holidays like Mother’s and Father’s Day are hallmark creations inspired to sell more goods and services, I like them. I like rituals, opportunities to give, and themes that help direct and organize me.
In fact, these “arbitrary” holidays are great for freelance ideas, too. If you can’t think of a timely article, you can always work to craft ideas for one of the holidays on the horizon. This gives you time, too, and you can bank on there always being a tie-in of some kind.
Of course you need to think in terms of lead-time. The average publication needs anywhere from 3-6 months, but if you start digging around for next year now, you might have an armload of ideas ready to pitch.
I like to think in terms of human interest stories as often as possible–cool people doing cool things that relate to the holiday. But you can also go for gift guides or instructional type pieces; “how to cope” stories; “where to eat”: and “fun things to do.”
Make the holidays work for you! (And this means all of them: 4th of July, Memorial Day, Secretary’s Day and so on).
From my essay “Confessions of a Plot Junkie” in the July/August 2009 issue of Writer’s Digest magazine. That and your “publishing survival guide” in this chock full issue:
“Perhaps plot scares writers because it demands precision and care and some really hard work. And as a writer, I know there is nothing more exhilarating than the gloriously messy process of spilling out the first rough beauty of my muse.
“As a reader, however, I have similar expectations for the journey of a book as I do for when I travel. I want someone to be at the desk of the hotel to check me in (the narrator), and some sort of guide to places where I can find food, sights and entertainment. I want to know where I am and where I’m going and be assured that everything’s going to work out in the end because someone thought about all the details. In fiction, plot is the map that helps us wind in and out of alleys but eventually leads us back to lighted streets.”
Yesterday I saw my youngest sibling, my 18 year old sister Amanda, graduate from high school. The same high school I graduated from 17 years ago.
I will admit that rather than finding all those forward-looking sentiments about the future and destiny endearing, I can’t help but feel a little cynical. It’s not that “following your heart” and “seizing the moment” are bad pieces of advice. They’re important and I sure as heck did my share of both. But I think the most honest lesson of high school graduation is really: you’re free now to finally claim all your mistakes as your own, and that, my dear, dewy-eyed friends, takes a long time and isn’t always a lot of fun. No more blaming the folks (well, you can in therapy), your siblings, the limitations placed upon you by school and so on. You may not be old enough to drink but you’re old enough to face your demons.
So I hope that all those kids will find an outlet like writing. Whatever writing is for them. White water rafting or visual arts, or being a mime. Because that (and some good friends) is the only thing that makes growing up easier.
Learn Fiction’s Magic Ingredient. Online Class with Jordan E. Rosenfeld.
In this self-paced online class Jordan E. Rosenfeld, author of Make a Scene and Write Free: Attracting the Creative Life will teach the “magic” ingredient to creating powerful, page-turning fiction. You’ll take your writing to a whole new level. Begins August 3rd, 2009. Four weeks. In this class you’ll learn how to: make your writing active and alive. Create a powerful emotional punch. Design an easy to follow “map” for your plot and much more. Each week you’ll write new material and receive feedback.
Register by July 15th for the incredibly discounted rate of $99. After July 15th, the price goes up to $149. Space is limited. Participants will also receive a 50% discount on copies of Make a Scene and Write Free purchased through the author. jordansmuse(at) gmail (dot)com.
Assuming I have any readership left, I’m sorry, folks, for disappearing. In the past two months my husband and I have been on what I am affectionately calling the “hellride to homeownership.” It’s a story I’m working on how to express, but woo-wee, let me tell you it was not a straight path. Labor might have been easier, in fact.
And in that time, though I’ve managed to continue working, that’s about all. Blogging, fiction writing, personal time-all that has one out the window. So I hope to have more for you here soon!
Author of FORGED IN GRACE, Jordan E. Rosenfeld learned early on that people prefer a storyteller to a know-it-all. She channeled any Hermione-esque tendencies into a career as a writing coach, editor and freelance journalist and saves the Tall Tales for her novels. She lives in Northern California with her superhero-obsessed son, Psychologist husband and their tuxedo cat, Elvert.
