Navigation

Archive | Write Awesome

REJECTION: The Real Story by Barbara Bretton

By on April 5, 2011 in Write Awesome

No uplifting thoughts on the importance of a handwritten rejection letter, no pious sermons on how rejection is good for the soul.

I’m going to give it to you straight.

Truth #1: Rejection stinks.

Truth #2: You are going to be rejected.

Rejection, unfortunately, is the flip side of writing for publication. Only writers who write solely for pleasure and consign each of their efforts to the lower left-hand desk drawer can manage to avoid rejection.

If that description fits you, congratulations. You’re a lucky person. You’ll never know how awful it feels to be rejected.

And you’ll never know how wonderful it feels to be accepted.
Continue Reading →

3

Down Memory Lane with Susan Elizabeth Phillips

By on March 21, 2011 in Write Awesome

Susan Elizabeth Phillips This night owl got up early Saturday morning and drove two hours to attend the Southwest Florida Reading Festival sponsored by the Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library in the riverside district of Fort Myers, Florida.

Parking on the top deck of a nearly full parking garage, I paused to enjoy the bright sunshine, comfortable 75 degree weather and lovely view of the Caloosahatchee River, bridges and distant ocean. Stepping out of the elevator onto a busy street and street fair atmosphere, I accepted the schedule handed to me by a library volunteer. Although Alice Hoffman, Nelson DeMille and Linda Fairstein were some authors listed on the program, I knew who I wanted to see.
Continue Reading →

7

3 Tips from American Idol for Writers

By on March 15, 2011 in Write Awesome


As one of the many millions of viewers who watch the American Idol selection process, I think that much of the advice given by judges Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler or Jennifer Lopez to aspiring singers applies equally to writers.

Here are three tips from Season Ten:

#1 Find Your Lane.

Love this phrase, don’t you? Judges frequently counsel a singer to find his/her “lane.” From a writer’s perspective, it means write what best suits your voice, style and interest. Don’t force yourself to write in a genre that’s uncomfortable to you just because it’s currently what’s popular or you feel you’ve a better chance of making a sale. An old axiom is “write what you read.” That’s a good indicator of your “lane.” Of course, it’s not always this easy because it might–like many of the American Idol singers–take more time and experimenting before you settle into a genre or writing style that best suits you. Take a risk, don’t hold back and keep pushing yourself to experiment with your writing until you do find this lane. If you keep this wonderful phrase–Find Your Lane–foremost in your mind, it will help you to know when you’ve found it.
Continue Reading →

5

Powered & Created by TalkInk