More on occupations
Category: Writing and Poetry

Hi Everyone,

Need an idea on usual occupations? Find shows on PBS or RFD televison that cover a state and their people like Dakota Life, Texas Country Reporter or California Country. I've watched episodes that hightlight a wax figurine sculpter, horse breeder/trainers, various kinds of  fruit, vegetable and flower gardens "farming", not to mention wine and cheese making.

Once you start researching the occupation, you may also find you'll have a setting for your story. And if none of the profiles work for an occupation for your character, perhaps it would work for a hobby to add interest to your story line.

Wishing you a productive week,

Rose

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Romance Character’s Occupations
Category: Writing and Poetry

Hi Everyone,

Recently, I read that a romance book publisher was looking for character's with "different" or "interesting" occupations. Since interesting can be subjective to each individual tastes, how can you know that the occupation you've chosen for your character is interesting?

I think the answer to that question relies on the story line of your book. For example, I've had secretarial experience and this is probably an over done career for women in books and really not that exciting, unless of course, you're writing a suspense and your character is actually the assistant of the president of the company and had incriminating evidence against him! Or needs to get the incriminating evidence, then this career choice would make sense.

The same is true with the male character. Does you plot line call for the hero or heroine to be trapped somewhere, like out to sea on a boat that won't start with the villian approaching? It wouldn't be very believable (or to me anyway) to have an oil tycoon suddenly able to fix the boat's engine and take off in the nick of time. However, a mechanic or engineer would be able to do that...

Another thing to consider is where your character's live. Would there be a need for that occupation in the area they live in?

Once you chose the occupations for your characters, would it make your story more interesting to switch them. Perhaps a single dad trained to be a teacher wants to spend more time with his children and opens a day care center and your heroine steps up to run her father's well digging company. By switching the sexes from traditional occupations, you can give your story more conflict.

Here's a couple of different occupations I came up with while writing this blog: Amusement Park ride designer and wind energy consultant.

Please share any occupations you'd think would make interesting choices with me!

Wishing you a productive week.

Rose

1:56 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Attention Romance Writer’s
Category: Writing and Poetry

Hi Everyone,

Here is a free contest sponsered by Harlequin. It's for their Modern Heat line. All the details are on the link below.

www.iheartpresents.com/?p=235

Good luck with any entry you may submit!

Wishing you a productive week,

Rose

5:20 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Attention Children’s Non-fiction Writer’s!!!
Category: Writing and Poetry

Hi Everyone!

This week instead of blogging about writing, I'm going to share a work for hire lead. I believe this is a book packager and I have never worked directly with them so I can't give any more information other than their website. The call for writer's is in the top left hand corner.

www.bowpublications.com

If you decide to "apply", I wish you good luck!

Wishing you a productive week.

Rose

5:05 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Fear’s Confronted
Category: Writing and Poetry

Hi Everyone,

I've been fleshing out character traits for an online class. One of the most important trait a writer should know about their character( IMHO)is what are they afraid of and how does that effect your story line?

For many years I was afraid of the dark and still today I can get "creeped" out easily in an unfamiliar setting after dark. Hmmm....would this make an interesting scene in a book...you bet! What would make this more interesting is if it was a male character feeling this way.

What if your character is very independent but has poor eyesight so they are always taking extra care with their eyeglasses. This is a fear: What would they do without them? Have to rely on someone else for EVERYTHING...hmmm that'd make a good story line. What if they'd were in a rural area with no optical stores close by? Or what if it was after hours and they had to rely on the other person for a few hours. What would that character learn?

Fear doesn't always have to be overwhelming but it can obsess your character, like a mother who fears something bad will happen to her child, so she is overprotective to a ridiculous point. A man whose college roommate was killed making a left turn in front of traffic, so he refuses to make an unprotected left turn.

If your character's fear doesn't evoke a story line, perhaps it does give your character a flaw that sets them apart of others in your story.

Don't be "afraid" to face your character's fears!

Wishing you a productive week.

Rose

3:12 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Writer’s Organizations
Category: Writing and Poetry

Hi Everyone,

Do you belong to any national, regional, local writer's organizations? If not, consider joining one. I belong to two national organizations. The Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators (SCBWI) and The American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). These are only two of many organizations targeting specific kinds of writing.

There are many benefits to belonging to a writing organization. Being a member of the SCBWI allows you a discount on SCBWI sponsered conferences, access to updated marketing publications and answers to legal questions. They have a webiste: www.scbwi.org.

The ACFW offers several loops that writer's can join. One is a course loop. For the price included in my membership, I can participant in an on line course from a published author who actually responds to your posts personally! They also have a great newsletter and general loop, where once again published authors are willing to answer "newbie" questions. Their website is: www.acfw.com.

Feel free to leave a comment if you belong to an organization that would benefits another writer.

Wishing you a productive week.

Rose 

5:25 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

"Article" Market
Category: Writing and Poetry

Hi Everyone,

In case I inspired any one to write a "how to" article on any aspect of the writing craft, here is a short list of possible markets. Please check their guidelines and needs before submitting. All these markets are paying markets.

Cross & Quill                                  www.cwfi-online.org/crossquill.html

Institute of Children's Literature       www.institutechildrenslit.com

SCBWI Newletter                         www.scbwi.com

Spirit-led Writer                             www.spiritledwriter.com

Writing World                                www.writing-world.com

Does anyone have any markets to add?

Wishing you a productive week.

Rose

5:17 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Make Extra Income
Category: Writing and Poetry

Hi Everyone,

How can you make extra income in your writing career? By writing what you know...how to do that is! If you're a fiction writer, have you ever considered composing an how to article and sending it off to a newsletter, online or print writing magazine? I've bumped my writing income up each year by writing these how to or why articles, plus many times I can sell the same article to several publications.

Now, you're saying to yourself, but other fiction writers already know how to plot or anyone who writes non-fiction can organize their research. But that's not necessarily true. First there are always newbie writer's that are eager to learn and any established author worth their salt, is willing to admit, they can always learn more about their craft. Peruse your local bookstores magazine racks and you'll find quite a few writing related magazines. Google for online writing magazines and newsletters and lists will come up (although they're not always paying markets). All these magazines need content.

I've sold how to or why articles on writing in the Christian genre, business letters a writer needs, retelling Bible stories, showing conflict through action, goal setting and how to write craft articles. Just as my writing voice is unique, so it the way I go about writing. The same is true for you!

So while you're busy writing that picture book or short story, think about your methods, jot down notes and type up an article and send it out to publishers. You may just be cashing a check before you know it!

Wishing you a productive week.

Rose

12:12 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Semi-Annual Goal Review
Category: Writing and Poetry

Hi Everyone,

Eight days left of the month of June. Do you know what that means? Half of the year is over. Are you meeting those yearly writing goals set in January?

Well, I'm not! Quite frankly I forgot a few of them. That happens when you get busy with a project so it's a good idea to take this time to review them. Especially if there was one certain writing goal you really wanted to accomplish this year. If you thought the first six months of the year flew by, just think of how fast the second six months will go. There are more holidays in the second half of the year. Summer is usually the time for vacations...you see where I'm going with this, right?  More things/events/commitments to eat up your valuable writing time.

Looking back at my goals, I set one that I will NOT be completing this year. Why? Because I learned that in the Christian Romance genre it's frowned upon to write "other" types of romance (with the exception of "sweets"). So, from six set goals I'm down to five. Of the five, I've worked on completing three. Which isn't bad but now I know where I stand in terms of "success" or "failure" in my writing accomplishments this year. AND I know I have to work harder in the next six months than I did the last six months.

Review your goals and let me know how you're fairing!

Wishing you a productive week.

Rose

2:54 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

What’s Your Problem?
Category: Writing and Poetry

Hi Everyone...

Like my blog title? It's a question you should be asking your characters, whether you're writing a stand alone or a series.

What IS there problem? You need to figure that out because that's the motivation behind your character's actions and is what moves the plot along. The problem can be huge, like an adopted child in search of their birth parents because they're sick and need to find a tissue match with parents or possible siblings. However, a small problem, like a character overcoming shyness, can also make an interesting story.

Can your character's have mutliple problems? Sure but choose the main problem for the main plot line and cover the rest of the problems in subplots. The main problem in my first example above is finding a match, sub-plot problems maybe reluctant adoptive siblings and/or blood siblings, finaces for travel involved in finding birth parents or records.

So don't be shy, it might be a matter of life or death, ask your characters: What's your problem?

Wishing you a productive week.

Rose

7:43 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment