When I write, I want to keep the mundane world out while I'm creating new worlds. In a sense, it's creative sleep. I have carved out space and time for my craft – privacy, comfort – similar to the way I like my bedroom. I write at the same time each day for around two hours, and it doesn't matter to me what I work on (well, there is a little guilt when it's not the WIP). Stories pretty much grow themselves, and my job as a writer is to give them a place to grow.

When a story comes to me, I type fast, not worrying too much about grammar or spelling. I can tighten up everything else later – the main goal is to get as much down "on paper" as possible while it's still fresh in my mind.

Writing can be cyclical in a sense. Some days, I'll write furiously, then others, I will avoid it, even procrastinate. I like to give some stories a chance to rest, so that I will develop a new perspective on them later.

It's hard to punch out a complete sentence when you've got two toddlers running around, screaming and wreaking havoc. I usually do my best work late at night, when the house is quiet. It can be difficult to keep myself from pulling up a web browser and visiting my favorite blogs or writing sites. I have to train myself – and retrain myself – to stay productive.

It's more appealing to write when you create a space conducive to peacefulness without disturbance.  Remove clutter, and balance the space, removing distractions.  Carve out that special time for yourself, no matter what the hour, and stick to the same routine.

Posted April 25, 2006; 9:55am EST

I have been working on my ever-growing listing of writer's markets in my Markets Section of this website.  I have posted both paying and non-paying markets, popular print magazines, and eZines.  As time permits, I will go through (all of them?) and review/organize.  It always amazes me how much work is available for writers - much of it not seen or overlooked.

Posted April 24, 2006; 11:05am EST

Writers encounter good story ideas all the time.  Radio, television, and media are all obvious inspirations.  Nature, family, and work can also be forms of muse.  From news stories to biographies, ideas for character, setting, and plot unveil themselves in large and small pieces.  Beyond that, your friends, their acquaintances, and even your own experiences are fertile ground to till for ideas.  Look for the winners and losers in life.  Hunt for interesting details and intriguing circumstances.  Listen to life - don't be afraid to eavesdrop every once in a while.  Learn to interpret life without judging it, and you just might be able to walk away with a good story.

Posted April 22, 2006; 12:05am EST

Posted April 19, 2006; 11:38am EST

I love the website Overheard in New York.  I get so many ideas just reading all the conversations overheard and cataloged in this wonderful site.  It's amazing how an idea will pop into my head for a story when I just sit back and watch/listen to people.  When I was free (before kids), I would go to coffee houses and kick back and eavesdrop.  Couples arguing, students talking about their dramas, women exchanging secrets.  If you ever have writer's block, all you have to do is go out and observe.

Posted April 17, 2006; 11:55pm EST

So what's the deal with writers?

A writer is a student of the human condition.  We eavesdrop on conversations at restaurants, people watch, and take in as much as we can to uncover the unique experiences of people around us.  Forever searching for a muse.  Instead of a paintbrush, we use a pen (or keyboard nowadays) to paint pictures and hold a captive audience.

Writing is a solitary art.  Writers tend to socialize less than most people and spend hours alone with their craft.  Socializing for writer has only within the last ten years, expanded to message forums and chat.

A writer writes daily – even if it's a simple journal entry, a writer will write.  Writers are voracious readers.  Every art form is built upon that which came before it.  We vacuum up vast amounts of information on a daily basis – we're compelled to read.  Reading is an exercise for the mind and keeps us less-social creatures up to date on the world's happenings.

For serious writers, it's not about the potential of a fat royalty check or the interview with a talk show host for our bestseller (though those would be nice) – we write as a form of creative expression, in hopes that we will be understood through our art.

Posted April 16, 2006; 10:05am EST

A good way to build up your portfolio of writing clips is to write for your local newspaper or small magazines.  Many are grateful for the contribution, and though they may not pay well (or at all) it's a good way to get your presence as a writer established.  Many larger magazines won't even look at you unless you have a substantial amount of clips behind your name.  They want to see repeat business, to know that another company thinks your writing is special.

Find local travel and tourist-related magazines and contact the publisher to see if they need contributions.  Checkout your local paper and think about what it might need and how your talents could make it better.  Write editorial clips on current hot topics.  Be careful about messy political subjects as your opinion could brand you in a negative way.

Think about syndication.  This sounds, to the average writer starting out, to be an untouchable market.  It's not.  With research and a commitment to your work, you can be very successful with syndication.  There are several informative articles about syndicating your work on Moira Allen's site at:
http://www.writing-world.com/freelance/index.shtml

Posted April 12, 2006; 11:35am EST

Oprah Winfrey is one of the world's most influential women in the world.  I wonder, if twenty years ago, what she would have said if someone had told her where she would be today.

Many people dislike Oprah.  I see a lot of comments ranging from She's got all that wealth now and her head is in the clouds to Her shows annoy me.  I admire Oprah, and I still like most of her shows when I can catch them.  I love her magazine, and her promotion of women's interests.  I look past all the wealth she's earned - and yes, she did earn it.  I see her as a caring, giving individual who wants to relate to people on a real level.

Every writer's dream would be to get an interview with her - in my opinion James Frey blew it.  What an opportunity and he disappointed her.  She would be the last person a writer would ever want to disappoint.  Her book club is responsible for making unknowns into bestsellers.

Posted April 7, 2006; 11:05am EST

Amazon.com recently came out with a new program for writers called Amazon Shorts.  In order to be a part of this program, you must already have something published that they carry in their online catalog.  They sell your short stories for 49¢, and take 60% of that as their cut.  This leaves a royalty to the writer of about 19¢ per story sold.  They accept fiction and non fiction, poetry - whatever you want to write.

This program seems like an good way to get unknown writers more publicity, and it should be interesting to see how the program works out over the next year.

Posted April 4, 2006; 12:26pm EST

As a writer, you're probably like me and read everything.  I read many blogs and forums.  I read local newspapers, online news, books, magazines - hell I even read food cartons.  I am an avid reader.  I believe that the more a person can read, the more educated and connected to society they will be.

I am doing some market research on eZines.  Besides writers, what types of people read them?  What makes a good eZine?  Do you read them?  How often do you read them?  If you look through the Markets Section of my site, or even simply Duotrope.com, you'll find hundreds of eZines filled with countless stories.  What makes one stand out over the other?  What makes a good writer feel compelled to sub their work?  Feel free to contact me if you want to comment.

Posted April 3, 2006; 11:41pm EST

On one of the writer's forums in which I participate regularly, we are having a discussion on what makes art.  What is art?  Can it be defined?  Does it have to evoke positive emotion in everyone?  Who decides what art can be?  If it is good?  Writing is an art form.  So is photography, music, cooking, painting, decorating... the list goes on.  Things that are a result of inspiration.  Some feeling to create.  What makes it good can only be determined by the viewer, reader, or in many cases, the consumer.

It's kind of a slippery slope when you're trying to submit your work to editors and agents.  The people that sit in those all-important seats are the ones who get to decide what makes for good writing or art.  Typically, it's based upon what they feel their audience will like.  But then that leaves the writer "writing to the market" most of the time if they want to get anywhere.

Artisans have always had an uphill battle when it comes to pleasing their audiences.  Some artisans only go on to be famous posthumously.  I certainly don't want that for myself, but I hate the idea of writing to the market all the time.  I want to write what I feel, and have someone be able to relate to those words in some way.

I've done quite a bit of research to help the writer find suitable markets for their work.  Check out the ever-growing Markets Section for ideas on where to submit your work.  Contact me if you have questions, know of a reliable market not listed, or need help finding a market.

Posted April 2, 2006; 11:46pm EST

OK, so I order in Chinese food tonight.  Gawd, I love Chinese food.  Anyway, I always crack open the fortune cookies.  They rarely ever have anything to do with me - kinda like my horoscopes (like, your boss will give you a promotion - well I don't have a boss...).  Tonight's fortune was, "Your wealth is your reputation."  I thought, oh great, no wonder I'm poor, I have no reputation.  So when I'm on the Top-10 Times Bestseller list, then I will delete this post. 

Posted April 1, 2006; 11:33pm EST

OK, you had to know they were coming... kid pics.  Actually, only one for today.  Can you tell  my oldest loves her little sister?

Posted April 1, 2006; 11:16pm EST