Advice for Writers: 020

Straight from the best blogs for writers to read, here's the best advice for writers I could find online this week. Enjoy!

10 Questions to Ask Before Committing to Any E-Publishing Service, by Jane Friedman. As usual, Jane offers a very thorough analysis, along with plenty of links. Definitely worth checking out if you're considering the e-book route.

How to Find Clients Without Clips, by Carol Tice. Carol explodes a common misconception of wanna-be freelance writers that you already have to have clips to get assignments. Not true. Carol shares some sound advice on how to get started.

A Writer's Guide to Punctuation, by K.M. Weiland. In this post, Weiland teaches and/or refreshes writers on the subject of punctuation, which makes a big impression on editors and agents (and grammar-sensitive readers).

A Tale of Two Ebooks, by Alexis Grant. Alexis analyzes why one of her e-books did well, while the other completely flopped. I think her conclusion is spot on.

Trust Your Eye: On Ordering Poetry, by Sandra Beasley. Sandra tackles a subject I get asked about a lot by poets: How do I go about ordering my poetry collection? For Sandra, it appears to come down to either having a lot of floor space in your home or a lot of wall space in your arts colony.

Five Publishing Hurdles (And How to Clear Them), by Michael Hyatt. Most writers think the process of getting a book accepted for publication is a simple matter of impressing an agent or editor. Not quite. Even if an agent and editor love your book, there are many other hurdles to clear before you can hope to secure publication.

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Connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Plus, sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.

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Check out these other Not Bob posts for writers:

• 25 Ways to Increase Traffic to Your Blog.
• 11 Tips for Writers to Find Success.
• The 8 Jobs of Modern Writers.

Things That Scare Children (Blissfully Series)

Throughout 2012, I'll be sharing stories about myself on Sundays as part of this Blissfully series. My life has already had its share of good and bad moments, but these are the ones I consider the most important.

The Vacuum Cleaner of Doom

Today, I've been cleaning and organizing a bit. My mind often seems to mirror my surroundings. If they're cluttered, so is my brain. When I got out the vacuum cleaner, Will started telling me not to run it. I told him I had to run the vacuum. So he went to his room and closed the door until I finished.

You see, Will is afraid of the vacuum cleaner. Since we live in an apartment building, he's also afraid of the noises upstairs (especially heavy walkers), leaf blowers, and lawn mowers. Reese is also spooked by normal noises. It can get difficult as a parent to explain that there's nothing to be afraid of, while trying to help them overcome their fears.

But then again, I think such fears are part of living. After all, I had (still have from time to time) my own set of fears. I remember my brothers and I would run for cover whenever the dump truck came by for its weekly collection--and we did the same when the street cleaner came 'round.

I can't remember if I was ever afraid of the vacuum cleaner, but the sounds caused by flushing a toilet always terrified me. It almost sounded as if a ghost or demon was ready to reach up and snatch me. The sound was not just unpleasant, it made me fear for my life.

Of course, these things are foolish fears, though I'd be lying if I said I haven't created new things to fear as I've grown older. And some of these new fears are foolish. I know it. Silences when I'm alone. Talking to strangers. Imagining people hiding behind corners and bushes in the evening. Expecting to see ghosts (or burglars) appear behind me when I look in mirrors.

After all these years, I realize I can't just dismiss the fears of another person, because the things that scare children are the things that scare me as well. Foolish as they may seem to others, fear is very real for those who suffer it.

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Check out these other posts from the Blissfully series:

• The Good Side of My Father.
• I Began as Eyelashes Blocking the Sun.
• When Everything Changed.

Poetic Saturdays: Spelling List

I hope everyone is having a cozy Saturday morning. Here in Duluth, Georgia, we're having one of our few "cold" days of winter this year. As a person who grew up in Southwestern Ohio, it still feels nice for February. My offering this week is actually a found poem. Reese, who's in second grade, does these spelling-related homework assignments every week, and one of them is to put his spelling words in alphabetical order. While I was checking his work earlier this week, I saw a poem emerge.

Spelling List, by Robert Lee Brewer

about
are
away,
because
different.
find
help
here
only.
put
there.
think
too.
use
way.
why?

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Newer Book:

Pitch: Poems
by Todd Boss (Norton)

Last year, I learned about Motionpoems and tried to get Boss involved with Poet's Market. Unfortunately, it didn't work out, but it did lead me to learn more about his writing. Pitch is an interesting collection, because some of these poems look like they shouldn't appeal to me, but as I get caught in them, there's a music to nearly all of them that swings me through the poems--and causes me to want to read more. But they also beg to be considered--each one--through a second and third reading and then always wondering if the poem doesn't mean something else. That's the real pleasure of reading poetry--being swept up by the music and then left puzzling--and Todd Boss delivers in Pitch.

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Poems Found Online:

• The Mail Order Bride Attempts a Letter Home, by Molly Spencer from Linebreak
• Best Wishes for a Perfect World, by Jamie Bruno from Stirring
• Gone, Gone, All the Stones I've Thrown Out to Sea, by Michael Mlekoday from Juked
• from Sorrow Arrow, by Emily Kendal Frey from Pax Americana
• Sorry Was in the Woods, by Michelle Taransky from jubilat

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Older Book:

View with a Grain of Sand: Selected Poems
by Wislawa Szymborska (Harcourt Brace)

Earlier this month, the poetry world lost an amazing voice when the Polish poet Wislawa Szymborska died of lung cancer at 88. Winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize for Literature, Szymborska's poetry is both very readable and also penetrating. For instance, one of my favorite poems from this collection is "Going Home," in which a man comes home and curls up in his bed. There is something very basic about these poems and raw and still magical. As with most great collections, this book is filled with sorrow, doubt, but also an unrelenting joy.

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Note: Links in this post to books are affiliate links. However, I do not mention these books to make a profit. They are either books I'm connected to or ones I truly love. All other links in this post are not affiliate links.

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Check out previous Poetic Saturdays posts:

• Now This Is How We Roll.
• The Kids Must Know Something.
• Until Further Notice.

How I Spent My Winter Break (8 Brand New e-Books for Writers)

Around the end of 2011, I fell behind on several print projects in order to get together some great e-books as part of our company's digital initiative. While I'm still digging myself out of a hole, I did notice recently that these e-books are now available on Amazon. So I thought I'd share them.

My first book of poetry prompts!

Write Poetry Now: 366 Prompts for Inspiring Your Poems
by Robert Lee Brewer (Writer's Digest Books)

In this e-book, I collected 366 poetry prompts that I've devised over the years over at my poetry blog along with a few new ones. Plus, some of the prompts are form-related, so it's an instructional book in that sense. But mainly, this e-book is meant to act as a spring board to poeming.

2012 Mystery Writer's Market: Where and How to Submit Your Novels and Short Stories for Publication
by Robert Lee Brewer (Writer's Digest Books)

In this mini-market book, writers of mystery fiction can find scores of listings for book publishers and magazines that consider mysteries, whether in long or short form. The listings include information on how to contact, what to submit, and more.

2012 Romance Writer's Market: Where and How to Submit Your Novels and Short Stories for Publication
by Robert Lee Brewer (Writer's Digest Books)

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, romance is definitely in the air. In this mini-market book, writers of romance can find plenty of listings for book publishers and magazines that consider romance novels and/or short stories. As with the Mystery Writer's Market, these listings include contact and submission information and more.

I love the little skull on this cover.

2012 Horror Writer's Market: Where and How to Submit Your Novels and Short Stories for Publication
by Robert Lee Brewer (Writer's Digest Books)

If romance horrifies you, then maybe this mini-market book is more up your dark alley. The 2012 Horror Writer's Market offers plenty of listings for magazines and book publishers looking for fiction that frightens. As with the other mini-Market Books, these listings include how to contact, what to submit, and more.

2012 Science Fiction & Fantasy Writer's Market: Where and How to Submit Your Novels and Short Stories for Publication
by Robert Lee Brewer (Writer's Digest Books)

Of course, if all of this sounds alien to you, then this may be the mini-Market Book for your needs. In it, there are plenty of out-of-this-world listings for book publishers and magazines who are on a quest for great science fiction and fantasy fiction. As with the other mini-Market Books, these listings include how to contact, what to submit, and more.

2012 Guide to Writer's Conferences: When and Where to Pitch Agents, Meet Editors, and Master the Business of Being a Writer
by Robert Lee Brewer (Writer's Digest Books)

Sending cold queries is one thing, but the best way to make meaningful connections with editors, agents, and other writers is by attending writing conferences. This guide collects listings for writing conferences. Each listing includes information about when and where the conference is held, as well as what is offered at the events.

Looking for a good contest? This guide should have it.

2012 Guide to Writing Competitions: Where and How to Enter Every Major Writing Competition in the United States
by Robert Lee Brewer (Writer's Digest Books)

Contests are a great for writers who want to find fame and glory for their writing. This guide to writing competitions includes hundreds of contest listings for nearly every genre of writing. Each listing includes contact and submission information and more.

2012 Guide to Professional Services for Writers: Comprehensive contact information for freelance editors, proofreaders, self publishers, and other service providers used by writers
by Robert Lee Brewer (Writer's Digest Books)

Sometimes writers just need help from a professional. If this describes you, then you'll be interested in the 2012 Guide to Professional Serivces for Writers, which includes listings for freelance editors, self-publishers, and other professional services. This guide is packed with hundreds of listings for services that some writers need.

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Connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Plus, sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.

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Check out these other Not Bob posts for writers:

• 25 Ways to Increase Traffic to Your Blog.
• 11 Tips for Writers to Find Success.
• The 8 Jobs of Modern Writers.

Finding the Courage to "Go for it" (Life Changing Moments Series)

Sage Cohen is a great poet and author who I first "met" through my involvement with Poetic Asides and her involvement with Writing the Life Poetic (Writer's Digest Books). We started communicating then about poetry, but she's also turned into a great freelancer for both Writer's Market and Poet's Market. Plus, she sends out really amazing cards and poems from time to time, which make me think using mail in the right way is still a great method for deepening connections with others. In addition to Writing the Life Poetic, Sage is the author of The Productive Writer, also from Writer’s Digest Books, and the poetry collection Like the Heart, the World. Visit Sage at pathofpossibility.com.

Sage Cohen, writer of notes and rider of bikes

Early in high school, I became infatuated with Ronnie McCord. He was in my gym class, a 40-minute reprieve from the caste divides of who is smart and who is popular and who is a stoner and who is a goodie-two-shoes. Ronnie was kind in an enigmatic sort of way, and he had those sad, looking-beyond-me eyes that would become my holy grail of fumbled romance for many years to come. Everyone knew that the people you talked to in gym class weren't the people you talked to in the halls–when you had your real clothes on and your real friends in reach.

For a week or two, I biked past Ronnie's house in Woodcrest every day after school, back and forth, back and forth as the leaves papered the streets with their departure. I don't know what I thought would happen if he actually came out and found me out there; but there was really no other choice. I'd been sucked into this boy's orbit. I needed something from him that I couldn't understand.

Finally, even the bike was not enough to impress my yearning for Ronnie in the pavement around his house. I became shy and strange in gym class. And then I decided. I must tell Ronnie the truth–I must unburden myself of its weight. I wrote this boy a letter. The words knew what they wanted to say; I wrote and carefully folded the notebook paper and shoved the wad at him one afternoon, overcome with hope and shame, as we headed out into the halls of our respective identities.

Ronnie never mentioned the letter.

Though I was fairly certain my feelings would not be reciprocated, being entirely ignored felt pretty awful. But that was only part of the story. Underneath the burning embarrassment was a more settled feeling of what in retrospect could only be called triumph. I had been brave. I had something to share and I shared it. And in doing so, I was released from my compulsive need for reciprocation. Just owning what was true for myself–and reaching for it–was enough.

The Importance of Going for It
This is the first memory I have of coming to awareness of the pleasure of "going for it," as distinct and independent from "getting it." I told myself that now I didn't have to wonder what could be possible with Ronnie. I had done my part and gotten my answer in his non-answer. Now I could move on.

A decade later in a city across the country from our south Jersey high school, Ronnie (now Ron) was dating a friend of mine–someone else from high school who had not been in my social caste at the time. I don't know how it happened but somehow, in this new context, we were all friends.

One day out of the blue, Ron thanked me for my letter. He told me that its honesty and straightforwardness had terrified him at the time, that he had been far too immature to know how to respond, and that he had always been ashamed of his lack of courage when I had taken such a risk. I was surprised and moved to hear that my letter had affected him at all. And was reminded that even when you don't get what you want, you can never presume to know why other people do what they do (or don't do.)

I think of Ronnie when I need to remember that it's ok to be clear about what I want, even if I'm not likely to get it. In fact, I have come to believe that it is not just ok, but in fact essential to my happiness. It's a rather efficient process, if you think about it. Had I not written Ronnie that letter, I might still be circling his house on my 10-speed. Instead, I got my answer and moved on to my next crush–Mark Holder, who pulled arrows out of my chest in a dream shortly thereafter.

The Power of Wanting and Reaching
I have come to appreciate reaching-and-missing as the best possible kind of psycho-social yoga there is. And, there are not many people who agree with me on this. Seth Godin suggests that we let go of expectation. Pema Chodron advises that we give up hope. But I think not-expecting and not-hoping makes things pretty darn confusing. If you don't know where you're headed, how can you know if you have arrived? In my experience, the most pleasurable part of moving towards a goal is the moving towards part.

The sticky part for us humans is how bad we can feel if and when we don't arrive.

What if we were to consider reaching for what we want the triumph, and anything that comes after that gravy? What if we were to be grateful to know certain things are out of reach, so we can hone in on what may be better suited for us in this moment? When we feel satisfied with how we hold our choices, the outcomes of those choices matter far less.

I didn't get Ronnie the boyfriend, but I got Ron the friend—it just took us a decade to get there. But really what I got when I wrote that letter was my very first glimpse of myself as a woman of clarity, a woman of truth, a woman who could live with no for an answer—and even be satisfied with no answer at all.

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If you think you have a great life changing moment to share (and you probably have several), click here to learn how to get the conversation started. I'm sure if you think it's important, I may too.

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Connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Plus, sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.

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Check out previous posts from the Life Changing Moments Series:

• When I Learned to Actively Pursue Happiness.
• You Look Like Your Mama Mated With a Rhino.
• Flying Solo: Traveling to London Alone.

Best Blogs for Writers to Read in 2012

As I said in last year's best blogs list, there are so many blogs out there by and for writers. The list below identifies blogs that I personally think are the best blogs for writers to read. If you don't agree with any of the selections (or think I missed a spot), then share your faves in the comments below. That way, I can check them out for next year's list.

Brian Klems, blogger/father/Reds fan

Writer's Digest Blogs
Many of you probably already know this, but I'm employed with F+W Media as a senior content editor. As a result, I'm rather partial to the blogs on the WritersDigest.com site. In fact, my poetry blog is hosted there (see below). So let's get these out of the way first.

• Guide to Literary Agents, by Chuck Sambuchino
• The Writer's Dig, by Brian Klems
• There Are No Rules, by Editors of Writer's Digest
• Questions & Quandaries, by Brian Klems (also)
• Poetic Asides, by Robert Lee Brewer

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Build an Amazing Author Platform!

Whether you're just starting your writer platform or looking to push it to the next level, check out the Author Social Media Kit from Writer's Digest. This heavily discounted bundle of platform-building tools, includes webinars on blogging, social media, and earning money with Twitter, in addition to a copy of Get Known Before the Book Deal, by Christina Katz.

Click to continue.

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My All-Star Blogs for Writers
These are the best of the best as far as I'm concerned. They post frequently, offer great content, and have been around for a while. In my opinion, everyone should be able to get something of value from these blogs.

• WriterUnboxed, by several contributors (including some bloggers mentioned above and below)
• Jane Friedman: Being Human at Electric Speed, by Jane Friedman
• Rachelle Gardner, by Rachelle Gardner
• WordServe Water Cooler, by several contributors
• Red Lemon Club, by several contributors
• Silliman's Blog, by Ron Silliman
• Harriet, the Blog, by the Poetry Foundation
• A Newbie's Guide to Publishing, by J.A. Konrath
• Copyblogger, by several contributors
• Make a Living Writing, by Carol Tice

Debbie Ohi, aka InkyGirl

Great Blogs for Writers
These blogs may not be on my all-star list, but that doesn't mean these blogs are any less valuable to the writers who read them.

• Nathan Bransford, author, by Nathan Bransford
• Wordplay, by K.M. Weiland
• terribleminds, by Chuck Wendig
• Writer Beware blog, by Victoria Strauss
• InkyGirl, by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
• Book of Kells, by Kelli Russell Agodon
• ProBlogger, by Darren Rowse
• Modern Confessional, by Collin Kelley
• Best American Poetry blog, by the BAP team
• The Traveling Writer, by Alexis Grant

Blogs That Rock for Writers
Okay, I overuse the word rock, but oh well... These blogs do rock. If you can check them out regularly, you won't be disappointed.

• Baggott Asher Bode, by Julianna Baggott 
• Chicks Dig Poetry, by Sandra Beasley
• Evil Editor, by an evil editor (not all of us can be good)
• Jessie Carty blog, by Jessie Carty
• dbqp: visualizing poetics, by Geof Huth
• Freelance Writing Jobs, by several contributors
• Wordgathering, by Margo Roby
• Kris Writes, by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
• How a Poem Happens, by Brian Brodeur
• Kill Zone, by several contributors
• Write to Done, by several contributors
• Michael Hyatt, by Michael Hyatt
• Jody Hedlund, by Jody Hedlund
• The Writers Alley, by several contributors

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Connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Plus, sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.

*****

Check out these other Not Bob posts for writers:

• 25 Ways to Increase Traffic to Your Blog.
• Best Tweeps for Writers to Follow 2011.
• The 8 Jobs of Modern Writers.

Advice for Writers: 019

My blog is only one of the many that offers advice for writers around the Internet. Here is some more advice for writers from some of these other sources:

3 Numbers That Matter to Your Platform, by Jane Friedman. Friedman breaks down some of the important online platform numbers that book publishers look for in book proposals. These numbers can also be helpful in general for tracking the effectiveness of your online platform building efforts.

Don't Even Think About Using First-Person Unless..., by K.M. Weiland. In this post, Weiland shares the main criterion a narrator must meet if a writer wishes to tell a story in first person.

Comic: The Bad Date, by Debbie Ohi. I love Ohi's writer-related comics.

Research vs. Observation, by Donald Maass. Great post by literary agent Maass on the importance of research and observation. When both work together, the story benefits. This post includes examples and questions for writers to ask themselves.

7 Crucial Tactics for Writing a Radically Successful Guest Post, by The Blog Tyrant. For writers trying to grow their online platform, this is a great read. (And if you want a place to share a guest post, click here to see how you can do so on My Name Is Not Bob.)

When to Call an Agent, by Rachelle Gardner. Literary agent Gardner shares when it is okay to call literary agents on the phone. Of course, everyone has their own tolerance levels.

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Connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Plus, sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.

*****

Check out these other Not Bob posts for writers:

• 25 Ways to Increase Traffic to Your Blog.
• 11 Tips for Writers to Find Success.
• The 8 Jobs of Modern Writers.