Tag Archives: writers groups

Creative Connectivity

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“Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are.”   ~Bertold Brecht  

As I was raising a teenager, I heard parents commiserating that even after they had given their child curfews, “grounded them” and made requests to no longer have relationships with certain others, their child still found creative ways of  fulfilling  their need to connect with others. So it comes as no surprise that a trio of students – Zuckerberg, Hughes and Moskovitz created Facebook. Other young entrepreneurs are responsible for various other social media marketing channels, too.  Young folk think differently then those who came before them – all thirteen year olds will tell you that! 

What opportunity social media marketing has brought to our world! It has given us the ability to connect with communities of people that otherwise the odds of connecting to them, would have been slim to none! No matter how much money and effort is put into print advertising and direct mailing(even with the help of targeted lists) you can not beat the scope of  internet marketing.The  chances of reaching people that have similar interests is multiplied many times over through e-marketing. It is the best way of reaching large numbers of people for the lowest cost! 

Simply having a website is just not enough these days. If you do not have an e-marketing component to go with it, you are not maximizing your internet visibility. Now, there are many more ways, than one, to become visible over the internet. Need help with expanding your web presence? Use the worldwide web to find a company that specializes in both e-commerce and e-marketing. With the New Year approaching, rethink your business’s website presence – are you maximizing on your visibility? 

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Weekend Indie Publishing News

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Free education on “Cover to Cover” Radio Show www.wnzf.com every Saturday with host Frank Gromling – former Board member of the Independent Book Publishers Association! Tap into a great opportunity to learn from professionals in the independent publishing industry. Tune into this radio show from all areas of the country, because it is brought to you through the internet every Saturday morning.

  • 11:30 AM Eastern Standard Time
  • 10:30 AM Central Time
  •  9:30 AM  Mountain Time
  •  8:30 AM Pacific Time

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Looking for a winter writing retreat in a beautiful historic seaside town?  Enroll in a Poetry and Prose Get-Away in Cape May, New Jersey. This three day workshop is scheduled for January 14-17, 2011 at the Grand Hotel. Graduate credits are available through Rutgers University.

Be sure to register prior to December 15 to avoid the late registration fee.

For more information, visit www.wintergetaway.com

Genres: Memoir, creative non-fiction, children’s writing, song writing, poetry, novels and short story.

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Tap In! Tune In!

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“All the world is a laboratory to the inquiring mind” ~ Martin H Fisher 

At lunchtime yesterday, the monthly Brown Bag Lunch Series of seminars began at Colorado Mountain College. http://bit.ly/dpcfHy  I was pleased to present “On the Fast Track: The Independent Publishing Industry.” I mentioned current trends in the publishing industry, in general, and the robust growth of independent publishing. 

At the end of the presentation, I answered questions, and even handed out a little advice. “If you are considering independent publishing, begin to learn all you can about the industry.” I said. I suggested “tap into as much free information as possible by speaking with others who have independently published, attend writers groups, brush up on your writing skills by taking classes at Colorado Mountain College.” I also advised it would be wise to  join the Colorado Independent Publishers Association www.cipabooks.com and tune in and listen to “Cover to Cover” Radio Show.’ For those of you that are unaware, it is broadcast on Saturday mornings on www.wnzf.com over the internet and it provides free education and valuable information on the independent publishing industry each and every week. 

The old adage “Knowledge is Power” applies to the independent publishing industry. Writing and publishing are businesses. Start with a  business plan that includes a solid marketing approach. Before you put pen to paper, identify your market and map out a plan of action for reaching it. If you need help, there are freelance professionals that are available and can help you through every step of the independent publishing process. Don’t forget to tap into all available resources, there is no need to go it alone.

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Reading in the Boat

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“Develop an interest in life as you see it; the people, things, literature, music – the world is so rich~ Henry Miller 

Count me in! The City of Steamboat Springs, CO is embarking on an all-city reading program. One of the classics of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, will be the subject of much discussion over the coming weeks. Added to the already jam-packed schedule of events at the Bud Werner Library will be an official 50th birthday party kickoff with cake and tea, a scavenger hunt to find 10 free copies strategically placed throughout the city, discussions and a culminating event which will include the screening of a documentary about this book, with filmmaker Mary McDonagh Murphy in attendance. 

My first reading of this classic was in high school, and it has been on my list for decades  for books I MUST READ AGAIN. Here is my chance! With age, wisdom and a better appreciation for good literature, I can’t help but think my second time through will be even more rewarding than the first. 

People in communities travel in the same circles, and many of this city’s citizens will be in the same company – with Atticus, Scout and Boo! Want to learn more about our city’s One Book Steamboat program? Please visit http://onebooksteamboat.wordpress.com and while you are at it, check out www.steamboatlibrary.org, too.

  

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Old Concept, New Location

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“The thing I would encourage you to do is go where your love is. Go where your heart tells you to go.” ~ Bill Billachick 

Are you one of the many who has been traditionally published but for one reason or another wish to do things a little differently this time around? Perhaps you are disillusioned by the way the integrity of your writing can be changed by your publisher. Maybe you are interested in being more directly involved with the sales and marketing aspect of your publication. Is it that you would like to earn a higher percentage on your sales or do you wish to find out for yourself why, according to Bowker, independent publishing grew a whopping 181 percent between 2008 and 2009? All of these are good reasons for making a switch. 

One of the most valuable skills you will need to know as an independent publisher is how to reach communities of people, through social media marketing, who will purchase your book. 

Although the concept of social media marketing may sound “new age”, it really is an old concept, in a new setting. Instead of locating people that share the same interests as you do at church, at PTA meetings, in gyms, in bars, at knitting clubs or through fraternal organizations – you meet them over the internet and communicate with those like minded people. By building relationships, you will locate potential buyers. 

Don’t know where to start? Help is readily available. Search the internet for  e-commerce and e-marketing for independent publishers. Professionals can assist you in becoming more visible over the internet, which will increase the potential for sales of your independently published book all over the world.

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Weekend Indie Publisher News

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Hurry and Register! October Writers Conferences are coming up, soon! Writers Conferences are beneficial to all writers – seasoned and first time publishers! Click on the links to get all of the details of these popular conferences:

Emerald City Romance Writers – Greater Seattle Area October 1-3, 2010  www.gsrwa.org/conference.

James River Writers Conference – Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA  October 8-9,2010   http://bit.ly/bQ6Aph

Fisherman’s Wharf Conference, San Francisco, CA  October 13-17, 2010 www.fwalgonkianconferences.com.

Florida Writers Conference, Lake May, FL  October 22-24  www.floridawriters.net.

Can’t attend these conferences? You can always tune into “Cover to Cover” each and every Saturday on-line at www.wnzf.com.  There is a wealth of information free for writers and publishers on this radio show.

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Saved by the Book

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“We need to be pro-children and pro-literacy of all kinds.” ~ David Booth

Saved! By former First Lady, Laura Bush! All was not lost when my wishes for a weekend full of literary enjoyment began with a bomb of a book that did nothing to fulfill my expectations. Determined to immerse myself in some good reading, I switched gears and delved into a wonderful  journey that was entitled “Spoken from the Heart.”

From the time Laura Bush was a little girl, literature has been an all encompassing part of her life. As an only child, she found a treasure trove of good times with characters and places to escape to all by herself.  Later on in her life, her positions as a mother, teacher, librarian and First Lady allowed her to share her passion of reading with her twin daughters, students and  others, around the globe. She made stories come alive for children in disadvantaged areas so they could also escape into worlds beyond their own environments,.  She taught students how to make handmade books and  former students became subjects of her own first published book “Read All About It.”

As first lady of the United States, she traveled to many countries, like Zanzabar to spread the good news that private and American funds would place 20,000 books in 16 schools for underserved children.

Laura Bush has always been at the top of my list for favorite First Ladies.  Her book “Spoken from the Heart” gave me even more insight into the wholesome Texas values she was raised with, the fact that she is deeply aware of how blessed we are to have children in our lives and our responsibility to do all that we can to spread the value of literacy around the world.

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Weekend Indie Publisher News

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ATTENTION INDIE FILMMAKERS!!! There is an all new film festival on the calendar beginning, February 2011. The New Mexico International Film Festival being held in Jemez Springs, NM in the Land of Enchantment! Read the mission statement of this festival to find out how they strive to be the best film festival you have ever experienced! http://newmexicointernationalfilmfestival.com/mission/

Submission Catagories:

  • Short Films: Documentaries (15 minutes or less)
  • Short Films: Narrative (15 minutes or less)
  • Feature Films: Documentaries (80 min or longer)
  • Feature Films: Narratives (80 min or longer)
  • Screenplays (90 to 120 pages  .pdf only)

Enter Early! Beginning October 29, 2010 submissions will be accepted. The earlier you submit, the more you will save.

The best part we have saved till the last – if your film is accepted, you will become a partner, and receive a portion of the box office take!  Assistance with travel expenses will be available and your submission fee will be returned! New concept, new attitudes and an exciting group of people to showcase your film with.  Submit now!

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Weekend Indie Publishing News

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Heads UP!!  A lot coming up on the docket on the independent publishing scene. Put all the events on your calendar, so you won’t be caught unaware! 

***The NEIBA Fall Conference (New England Independent Booksellers Association) is October 1st and 2nd at the Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI. For a small fee, your publication can be displayed at the Independent Publishers of New England display table, whether you are a member or not. For more details, visit http://www.ipne.org/Events. 

***Between now and September 15th, there are 20 writing contests you can enter. Time is running out, so act now if you are interested. For more information on the contests, requirements and entry fees, go to http://www.pw.org. 

***Don’t miss this article in American Artist Magazine – “How to Build An Art Business You Can be Proud Of.”  Subscribe now, and you will receive six (6) free issues! Every month this magazine provides a wealth of articles, features and stunning images from some of the most prominent artists around. Order Now! www.interweave.com 

***The Museum of Modern Art in NYC will be screening during a 10 day period, The March of Time. There are 40 different episodes in this series of films that have never been screened before! Opening Night will be September 1st and panel discussions will follow all screenings. For more information, visit: Facebook.com/themarchoftime. 

***PLAN NOW!!! The 7th Annual Palm Beach Poetry Festival is scheduled for January 17-22, 2011 in Delray Beach, Florida. Six days of workshops, events, poetry readings featuring notable poets. Deadline to apply November 2, 2010! For more information on this festival www.palmbeachpoetryfestival.org. 

Check in again next weekend – there will be more to share!!!

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Fulfillment from Books and Art

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“Joy is but the sign that creative emotion is fulfilling it’s purpose.”                   ~ Charles DuBos

The other day, I read an article in the Artist Daily www.Interweave.com/Magazines  titled  “Why Does a Painting Move Me?” I began to think of the similarities between the points made in the article and how they apply to the question “Why does a book or film fulfill me?” 

I came up with a list of questions that I ask myself when I am looking for a book on the shelf that will strike a chord within me. Many of these questions are also asked when books are being considered for book group discussions: 

  • Is there psychological intensity to the subject?
  • Are there multiple ways of reading into the content?
  • Can I connect with the writer?
  • Will the style of writing immediately draw me in?
  • Can I relate to the subject matter or genre?
  • Will the story evoke an emotional response from me? 

These questions, when considered throughout the process of writing of a manuscript, can be useful tools for evaluating or critiquing one’s own writing. Successful writing means taking these points into consideration when crafting a story. As a writer, you must fulfill the needs of the reader, otherwise you have no audience.

 

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