Write at Home Moms - Page 7

[Intuition]

I'm going to join this thread, if you don't mind. I've had a few of you look over and edit some of my work, and you've given me the confidence to continue writing. Your advice was invaluable.

Last night, I plugged in my headphones to iTunes, downloaded a program called Bean, and wrote about 2600 words. I am writing a story about my son's life, and how his special needs have affected every one of us. I don't know if it will eventually be something I want to put out there, but right now I am writing it for myself. It's very cathartic.

Anyway, hello!

[fullofgrace]

Hello & Welcome! I love the idea of writing your family's story.

Has anyone done C. M. MAYO's Daily 5 Minute Writing Exercises? Felicia Day (love her!) wrote about using them when writing The Guild to spur her creativity. I'm thinking maybe I should commit and stick to that before I sign up for a class.

[allgirls]

Originally Posted by fullofgrace

I know you can't share too much about the course, but can you give an example of a homework assignment and how much time each week it took? I'm wondering if I should add it to my plate or not.

I can't tell you what the exact assignments are but I can give you some details.

There is one assignment a week...some are shorter...some are longer...I spent no more than one hour per week on each assignment average...some took me ten minutes, some took more than an hour...however...I write very fast....my first assign was almost 1000 wds and took an hour...and I don't proof much.

You get the assignment..then you post it to your "study group" which is a bulletin board

Then the other students critique and they are kind...for the first lesson the mentors also critique but after the first the students have learned how and it's up to them.

The final lesson is a short story...the others focus on different aspects of writing..characterization, dialog etc. I found it very helpful...for example one of the first assignments I actually used characters from my novel so I could work out an issue I was having..nothing I wrote made it into the novel but it helped me work out things in my mind as to my character and her motivation etc.

There are chats on Sun and Wed nights which are optional..they are pretty informal..we talk about the assignment but we often digress...it's fun

I've gotten great story ideas out of there and one spawned a short story that will be published in a literary journal

I found the biggest advantage for me was using it to either work out something for my novel OR get my mind off my novel and clear out space in my brain.

It is all FREE though you can upgrade to full mentor support...I did that and found it helpful.

Though one of her critiques made me laugh a little...I used "shut up" in a dialog and she commented that she preferred "be quiet" because shut up was so rude sounding...I was going for rude

Anyway..I found it very worthwhile..tons of people didn't finish..but it was good

Carolyn

[fullofgrace]

Oh that is GREAT info. Thank you!

[allgirls]

Oh...and you should keep word count to around 500 or less except for the last one...I asked and was told 500-1000 by someone from another study group who had more time on her hands to read...so...500 wds week basically

[allgirls]

Here is the LINK again if anyone is interested

[allgirls]

Originally Posted by Intuition

I'm going to join this thread, if you don't mind. I've had a few of you look over and edit some of my work, and you've given me the confidence to continue writing. Your advice was invaluable.

Last night, I plugged in my headphones to iTunes, downloaded a program called Bean, and wrote about 2600 words. I am writing a story about my son's life, and how his special needs have affected every one of us. I don't know if it will eventually be something I want to put out there, but right now I am writing it for myself. It's very cathartic.

Anyway, hello!

Yay and welcome! I find writing makes my life so much better

[midnightwriter]

Originally Posted by Intuition

I'm going to join this thread, if you don't mind. I've had a few of you look over and edit some of my work, and you've given me the confidence to continue writing. Your advice was invaluable.

Last night, I plugged in my headphones to iTunes, downloaded a program called Bean, and wrote about 2600 words. I am writing a story about my son's life, and how his special needs have affected every one of us. I don't know if it will eventually be something I want to put out there, but right now I am writing it for myself. It's very cathartic.

Anyway, hello!

So glad you are writing!

[midnightwriter]

Originally Posted by allgirls

ENNE Imprints. It's a Canadian company.

Oh, this is cool! I missed that your novel is going to be published! Congrats!
Is it a new press? I can't find any info on it.

[Intuition]

midnightwriter, I took your suggestion and purchased that book, Stein On Writing. I also got copies of The Elements of Style, and On Writing by Stephen King, as recommended by the guy in the bookstore. While not a fan of Stephen King's books, I found that I really enjoyed this one. I am going to get into the others soon.

It feels really good to be writing about all of this stuff. I think it's doing me a lot of good, actually. Even if I never show it to anyone, it helps a lot to write it down and then look over it all. It's been a long journey for us.

[allgirls]

Originally Posted by midnightwriter

Oh, this is cool! I missed that your novel is going to be published! Congrats!
Is it a new press? I can't find any info on it.

It's not new(I don't think, you know I never asked lol) but it's a small division of a larger company. It's online, that's how I found it, well that's how I submitted, they do have a website. They have several different divisions. They published my poetry book as well. My division is for new and emerging authors and they only accept Canadian work.

I just submitted for a new anthology they are doing as well. It's focus is "old loves." and I'm excited. It's poetry, short stories and essays on loves that didn't work out or died or whatever. It's a year away though.

The editor I'm working with is amazing. She was up front. This is not the American publishing scene but we will get you published and find you a fan base. That's all I want. I'm happy with them.

On to the next thing. My novel is due to be out on August 1. It's crazy how fast this is moving after stalling for so long. I was told it would take two years from acceptance to publication but it will be just under one.

And I'm writing a screen play next!

anyone else doing script frenzy in April?

[allgirls]

Originally Posted by Intuition

midnightwriter, I took your suggestion and purchased that book, Stein On Writing. I also got copies of The Elements of Style, and On Writing by Stephen King, as recommended by the guy in the bookstore. While not a fan of Stephen King's books, I found that I really enjoyed this one. I am going to get into the others soon.

It feels really good to be writing about all of this stuff. I think it's doing me a lot of good, actually. Even if I never show it to anyone, it helps a lot to write it down and then look over it all. It's been a long journey for us.

Stephen King's On Writing is the best writing book I've ever read. I am a King fan but that's not the reason. It's just easy, straight forward and makes sense. There's no bull in it. And it's extremely well written

[midnightwriter]

Originally Posted by Intuition

midnightwriter, I took your suggestion and purchased that book, Stein On Writing. I also got copies of The Elements of Style, and On Writing by Stephen King, as recommended by the guy in the bookstore. While not a fan of Stephen King's books, I found that I really enjoyed this one. I am going to get into the others soon.

It feels really good to be writing about all of this stuff. I think it's doing me a lot of good, actually. Even if I never show it to anyone, it helps a lot to write it down and then look over it all. It's been a long journey for us.

I'm also not a fan of King, but I do hear everywhere, it is an excellent book. I kind of resisted buying it early on, and right now I feel I got my favorites to inspire me.

The one I find really inspiring, though it is not a strictly craft book, is Making a Literary Life by Carolyn See.

[midnightwriter]

Originally Posted by allgirls

It's not new(I don't think, you know I never asked lol) but it's a small division of a larger company. It's online, that's how I found it, well that's how I submitted, they do have a website. They have several different divisions. They published my poetry book as well. My division is for new and emerging authors and they only accept Canadian work.

I just submitted for a new anthology they are doing as well. It's focus is "old loves." and I'm excited. It's poetry, short stories and essays on loves that didn't work out or died or whatever. It's a year away though.

The editor I'm working with is amazing. She was up front. This is not the American publishing scene but we will get you published and find you a fan base. That's all I want. I'm happy with them.

On to the next thing. My novel is due to be out on August 1. It's crazy how fast this is moving after stalling for so long. I was told it would take two years from acceptance to publication but it will be just under one.

And I'm writing a screen play next!

anyone else doing script frenzy in April?

Cool! I still can't find anything by googling, but I suck at googling. I'm so interested because of my friend, she is a wonderful poet, just had some poetry published in a mag, and she would love the opportunity to query ENNE. Especially for an anthology!

If you don't feel sharing this publically, I'd appreciate a PM! Thanks!

[allgirls]

I pm`d ya!

[fullofgrace]

So, I have decided that I need some sort of waterproof notetaking system because I keep getting my best ideas in the shower.

[midnightwriter]

Originally Posted by allgirls

I pm`d ya!

Thank you! Though for the life of me I still can't figured out who they are with. I forwared the info to y friend, she will have to decide what she thinks of them. I told her that I know one person (you) who is having great experiences with them.

[fullofgrace]

Originally Posted by allgirls

It's not new(I don't think, you know I never asked lol) but it's a small division of a larger company. It's online, that's how I found it, well that's how I submitted, they do have a website.

Oh cool!! What is the larger company name? Linkage? I'm interested to see what else they've published.

ETA: I forgot my other question! Were you able to skip the whole agent part because you had published with them before? Agents are pretty much required here in the U.S. to print with major publishers. (partly why I follow so many on Twitter and read their blogs)

[allgirls]

Originally Posted by fullofgrace

Oh cool!! What is the larger company name? Linkage? I'm interested to see what else they've published.

ETA: I forgot my other question! Were you able to skip the whole agent part because you had published with them before? Agents are pretty much required here in the U.S. to print with major publishers. (partly why I follow so many on Twitter and read their blogs)

No agents. Ever. Direct submission to the publisher.

googling my heart out..can't find a thing either...odd..I have it bookmarked on my computer...but it's disconnected and I"m on hubby's...if the royalties stop coming I'll worry

[midnightwriter]

Originally Posted by allgirls

No agents. Ever. Direct submission to the publisher.

googling my heart out..can't find a thing either...odd..I have it bookmarked on m my computer...but it's disconnected and I"m on hubby's...if the royalties stop coming I'll worry

How do they send royalties, quarterly, or more frequently? Yeah, I only found the name in connection to your poetry book.