WOW! Women On Writing

Issue 36- January 2010: New Beginnings

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:24:46 -0800

Issue 36
January's issue is about new beginnings and fresh starts. Articles include Beginning After NaNoWriMo, How to Plan a Writing Conference, The DIY Guide to Self-Syndication, How to Run a DIY Writers' Retreat, and One Writer's Home Office Makeover. Interviews with Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, and Holly Sherburne, editor and publisher of Downeast Dog News, a niche newspaper... MORE >>

Editor's Desk: Welcome: New Beginnings

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:24:49 -0800

January is about new beginnings and fresh starts. It’s about taking what you’ve learned from the past year and applying it to your game plan for 2010. So this year we’re doing something different. We’re introducing you to new ideas and experiments--everything from finding happiness in 2010 and revamping your workspace to starting after NaNoWriMo and syndicating your work! I’m ready for a fresh start. How about you? ... MORE >>

Feature: Beginning After NANOWRIMO

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:24:49 -0800

Congratulations! You took part in November’s National Novel Writing Month and committed endless hours to your manuscript within a mere thirty-day span. Now it’s January. Those dishes are done, along with most of that clearance-sale Christmas candy. Your manuscript languishes somewhere in your word processing program. Even though there are a few plot holes the size of semi-trucks, a stereotypical character or two or twelve, and enough typos to make your computer groan for five minutes as the document loads, you still have hope, or at least, blissful ignorance. Where do you go from here? Beth Cato, a nine-year NaNoWriMo veteran, takes the guesswork out of the process and walks you through the necessary steps you must take to begin preparing yourself to edit, revise, and polish your manuscript ... MORE >>

Feature: What? You're Planning a Writing Conference? No Sweat!

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:24:50 -0800

You've always been the kind of person to get involved and volunteer where writing and writers are concerned. So, you may eventually find yourself as a writing conference chair or on the board of directors of your writing group, planning a writing conference. Planning a conference is'’t as hard as it looks if you find volunteers, learn from past conferences, and start planning the year before (like a wedding). Besides, you will have a great item for your resume, meet fabulous speakers and talk with them one-on-one, and feel like you can do anything after you've planned a conference. Margo L. Dill provides you with the necessary tools to get started, including tips on budgeting, choosing a venue, obtaining speakers, organizing committees, finding volunteers, and... MORE >>

Feature: The Do-It-Yourselfer's Guide to Self-Syndication

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:24:51 -0800

You are on the threshold of fame and fortune! You have decided to self-syndicate your column of (fill in blank) and will soon be read in households across the nation. All that stands between you and your dream is this business of self-syndication, or in other words: a whole lot of hard work. Self-syndication certainly is that, but it can be a satisfying and successful way to take your writing career to the next level. But how do you do that? Jill Pertler shares her step-by-step system with WOW! readers. Her in-depth article shows you how to find newspaper editors, organize your address book, send introduction e-mails (including a breakdown of what to include paragraph by paragraph), keep in contact, follow up, and land sales. By following her system, you can do it to!... MORE >>

Feature: Secrets of Starting a Niche Newspaper Business: An Interview With Holly Sherburne, of Downeast Dog News

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:24:52 -0800

Holly Sherburne is the Editor and Publisher of Downeast Dog News, a newspaper with a circulation varying between 14,000 and 17,000 copies per month. Ironically, being a writer was never a goal for Holly. She’s been a microbiologist, working for the U.S. EPA and answering their pesticide hotline. Ever the Renaissance woman, she even worked as a web designer and developer for several years prior to starting her newspaper. As WOW! readers will learn, each of Holly’s experiences contributed significantly to the skill set required to launch and run a successful niche newspaper business. Sit, stay, and read on to learn more about Holly’s success and how to apply her experiences to your own 2010 (and beyond) goals... MORE >>

How 2 Run a DIY Writers' Retreat

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:24:53 -0800

There’s no denying how much you can learn and grow as a writer when you attend a conference or retreat; but in today’s economy, it’s hard to part with the cash it takes to attend. So what’s a cost-conscious writer to do? Why, do it yourself, of course! In this article, Lisa Tiffin shares her tips on finding the perfect space, staying on track and being productive, cost-conscious lunch alternatives, and saving money on speakers. After reading this how-to, you’ll be inspired to create your own DIY retreat!... MORE >>

20 Questions: Gretchen Rubin, Author of the Happiness Project

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:24:56 -0800

Have you ever wanted to be happier in different aspects of your life? Maybe pursue a new interest? Turn your writing into a career instead of a hobby? Find more leisure time for reading or crafts? Or focus on getting into shape and staying healthy? As women, there are so many things we juggle--work, family, friends, domestic responsibilities--but how do we make our own happiness a priority? Gretchen Rubin asked herself that same question and decided to conduct an experiment, a happiness project. She chose 12 areas of personal focus to coincide with each month of the year: Vitality, Marriage, Work, Parenthood, Leisure, Friendship, Money, Eternity, Passion, Mindfulness, Attitude, and Happiness. Join Annette Fix as she chats with Gretchen and discover how we can be happier in our lives... MORE >>

Photo Essay: Office-ially Fed Up! One Writer's Home Office Makeover

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:24:57 -0800

One jolly spring, I met a local magazine publisher at a printer’s warehouse not 2 miles from my home to proofread some mock-ups of an upcoming issue. Imagine my chagrin when he asked if we could meet afterward at my home office--a space I knew wasn't in shape to welcome clients. Although I was able to convince him I needed a macchiato, it was still apparent to me that I could make great use of an office that would welcome clients. Thus, the home office makeover project was born! In her photo essay, Allena Tapia includes before pictures with captions of the problems encountered in each photo and after pictures with solutions to the problems. She also shares some tips on ergonomics, meeting and work space, and organization... MORE >>

Review: Must-Have Gadgets For Bloggers

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:01:55 -0800

With so many gadgets out there, it can be tough deciding which ones will fit your needs. And if you’re a blogger, you know gadgets are an essential part of your career. But which gadgets are worth the purchase and where can you find some good freebies? Don’t worry! Anne-Marie Nichols has answers. In this article, she shares her must-have picks for smartphones, netbooks, blog editing software, video cameras, video editing software, and online photo editing tools—just in time for the holidays... MORE >>

Resources For Writers

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:01:58 -0800

Resources on the 'net - everything you need to get your writing career in gear.

Author Sites, Books for Writers, Character Research, Contests Critique Groups, Editorial Services, Grammar Style and Usage, Literary Agencies, Literary Guilds/Book Clubs, Newsletters Organizations. Prompts. Writer Retreats. and Writing Sites.

Articles

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:02:07 -0800

WOW! Women On Writing highlights a Woman Writer, Literary Agent, or Publisher each month in our articles page. Recent updates on craft of writing and freelance writing articles from Jenna Glatzer, Sheri McConnell, literary agent Wendy Keller, Christina Katz, Lisa Silverman, Sandy Tritt, and much more!

The Muffin Blog: Fresh news daily from the bakers of Wow-WomenOnWriting.com

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:02:07 -0800

Never stale! The Muffin provides daily writing tips, inspiration and updates from the bakers of WOW!

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Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:02:08 -0800

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Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:02:09 -0800

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Markets: Get The Green With Premium Green

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:02:09 -0800

Let WOW! help you start and grow your freelance career! Premium-Green isn’t just markets listings, it’s a guide with community benefits. As a subscriber, each month you receive a 100+ ebook filled with articles not found elsewhere and markets for writers of every genre and profession: freelance gigs for editors, copywriters, ghostwriters, bloggers; fiction markets; anthology calls; magazine markets; writing contests; niche markets; and... MORE >>

WOW! Classes

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:25:04 -0800

Whether you are looking to increase your income or work on your craft, we know that education is an important part of a writer’s career. That’s why WOW! Women On Writing handpicks qualified instructors and targeted classes that women writers will benefit from. The instructors are women we’ve worked with on a professional level, and these ladies offer high quality courses with one-on-one feedback.

Contest: Winter 2010 Flash Fiction Contest

Wed, 9 Dec 2009 01:23:43 -0800

WOW! hosts a (quarterly) writing contest every three months. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, communication, and well-rewarded recognition to contestants. The contest is open globally; age is of no matter; and entries must be in English. We are open to all styles of writing, although we do encourage you to take a close look at our guest judge for the season and the flavor of our sponsor, if you are serious about winning. We love creativity, originality, and light-hearted reads. That's not to say that our guest judge will feel the same... so go wild! Express yourself, and most of all, let's have some fun!

OPEN PROMPT! That’s right, this is your chance to shine, and get creative. You can write about anything, as long as it’s within the word count and fiction. So, dig out those stories you started way back when and tailor them to the word count. We’re open to any style and genre. From horror to romance! So, get creative, and most of all, have fun.

WINTER: December - February 28 Midnight (Pacific Time) - NOW OPEN!... MORE >>

Contest: Summer 2009 Flash Fiction Contest Winners!

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:01:48 -0800

The results are in! After careful deliberation our honorable guest judge, literary agent Melissa Jeglinski, of The Knight Agency, has made her final decisions. Read the winning entries of the 750 words or less open prompt Summer ’09 Flash Fiction Contest... MORE >>

Contest: Spring 2009 Flash Fiction Contest Winners!

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 10:37:07 -0700

The results are in! After careful deliberation our honorable guest judge, literary agent Wendy Sherman, has made her final decisions. Read the winning entries of the open prompt Spring ’09 Flash Fiction Contest... MORE >>

Issue 35- December 2009: Agents and Authors

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:40:50 -0800

Issue 35
Are you looking for a literary agent to represent your manuscript? In this issue of WOW! we interview literary agents Noah Lukeman, Melissa Jeglinski of The Knight Agency, Jenny Bent of The Bent Agency, and Kim Lionetti of BookEnds Literary Agency. We also show you how to pitch to a literary agent at a writers’ conference, and interview authors Julie Powell, Anita Shreve, and Marcia Muller...... MORE >>

Issue 34- November 2009: Writing the Web

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:01:47 -0800

Issue 34
Writers depend on the Web for research, resources, work, networking, and self-promotion. Some savvy writers use the Internet as their sole source of income--whether through freelance writing, blogging, podcasting, or website ownership. So how do we tap into this resource and utilize it to our advantage as a writer? That’s what we explore in this month’s issue..... MORE >>

Issue 33 - September-October 2009: Follow the Leader

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:26:08 -0800

Issue 33
Some of the best writing advice I’ve received over the years has been from interviewees. There’s something about sitting down and engaging in an intimate chat with a fellow writer that can’t be replicated in any other form. So in celebration of our three-year anniversary, we’re doing what we do best: chatting with successful women authors!.... MORE >>

Issue 32 - August 2009: The Wings of Self-Promotion

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 09:43:06 -0700

Issue 32
With the growth of online media and the current economic climate, many publishers have begun to cut costs, and one of the first things to go is an author’s marketing budget. This means authors and authors-in-waiting are expected to do the lion’s share of their book promotion. This issue explores ways to promote yourself and your book through branding, social networking, Twitter, teaching, websites, email lists, and online marketing.... MORE >>

Issue 31 - July 2009: The Process

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:33:55 -0700

Issue 31
"The creative process is a process of surrender, not control." ~ Julia Cameron. No matter what type of writing you do, there is a process involved. It can be a step-by-step process of creating something - from seed to fruition - or it can be a small, but necessary, part of a bigger picture-like communicating with an editor. This issue examines various processes of writing... MORE >>

Issue 30 - May-June 2009: Finding Your Genre

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 03:23:02 -0700

Issue 30
Do you ever wonder exactly where your genre fiction falls? In this issue, we explore many of the genres we haven’t tackled yet (Horror, Southern Gothic, Magic Realism, Fantasy, Mystery/Thriller, Historical Fiction) and break down their subgenres. The experts in this issue also provide you with the tools you need to write for these genres and market your work. Winter Flash Fiction Contest Winners are also announced! ... MORE >>

Issue 29 - April 2009: Money Matters for Writers

Wed, 20 May 2009 16:57:24 -0700

Issue 29
This issue tackles many of the tough money questions many aspiring and professional writers need answered. How do you set up a retirement plan? What about health insurance? What are some of the mistakes other writers make when planning a fulltime career? What are some of the tax issues to consider as a freelance writer? How can you survive as a writer during a recession? What is the best way to make money online? ... MORE >>

Issue 28 - March 2009: What's Romance Got To Do With It?

Sun, 5 Apr 2009 02:05:16 -0700

Issue 28
Romance is the wide brushstroke under which a colorful palette of subgenres lie. Suspense, Paranormal, Historical, Inspirational, Chick-Lit -- that’s some of the rainbow. Considering the flexibility of the genre, it’s not surprising that Harlequin’s North American retail group had their strongest year, despite the economy and the news of other publishers biting the dust. It appears that readers want to escape and fall in love. The thing is, most of the authors in this issue don’t even consider themselves "romance writers." So what’s romance got to do with it? That’s what we’re going to explore ... MORE >>

Issue 27 - February 2009: Picture Perfect Children's Books

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:39:58 -0800

Issue 27
Picture books were our first experience with the printed word. They introduced us to delightful new adventures and taught us to read. It’s not too surprising that, even as adults, we still remember some of our favorites. Even if you’ve never had the inkling to write for children, this issue will change your outlook and provide you with solid take-away tips... MORE >>

Issue 26 - January 2009: It's About Time

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 23:51:43 -0800

Issue 26
Happy 2009! The start of a new year provides us with the wonderful opportunity to reevaluate ourselves and reinvent our lives. Remember that any goals you set can be realistic, but they must come with an action plan for success. These include organization, time management, balancing your life and your career, and setting deadlines... MORE >>