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WIWA NEWSLETTER
Issue No. 003 June -- July 2001
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CONTENTS
Message From the Editor
Letters to the Editor
On the Island
Smile, You're a Writer by Eva Shaw
Cheers
Markets and Contests
A Dairyman's Guide to Self-Publishing by Murray Anderson
Cyber Surfing
Quotes
To Contact Us
To Unsubscribe
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MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR
"Grandma Moses was a visual storyteller." Lynda Roscoe Hartigan, Chief Curator,
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Anna May Robertson Moses, better known as Grandma Moses, is proof that creativity can flourish at any age. A dairy farmer's wife, she was known for her bootstrap ways as well as her landscape paintings of "old timey things." In an interview with Edward R. Murrow, Moses once said, "If I didn't start painting, I would have raised chickens."
Moses took up oil painting at age 75 when her arthritis became so bad she could no longer make worsted needlepoint pictures. She sold her paintings in a pharmacy and later in Gimbel's Department Store along with her pickles, canned fruits and jams. At age 80, this self-taught artist had a show in New York's Museum of Modern Art for contemporary folk painting.
Murray Anderson has a head start on Grandma Moses. At age 73, he has completed his first novel. Like Grandma Moses, he knows plenty about dairy farming and about self-reliance. After receiving numerous rejection slips, Murray decided to self-publish his novel "Breederman." He thought some of his experiences might be helpful to other writers considering self-publishing. We hope you enjoy reading "A Dairyman's Guide to Self-Publishing."
Some of you may know Murray. Born in Oak Harbor in 1928, he is among the few who can call themselves true islanders. In 1950 he left Whidbey to earn his fortune, but returned when he retired. Murray is taking writing classes from Marian Blue, WIWC presenter and co-owner of Blue & Ude Writers' Services. We wish Murray success in his writing and publishing adventures.
We wish you success, too. Remember, it is never too early or too late to take up writing or any creative venture. As Brenda Ueland wrote in her book "If You Want to Write," "Everybody is talented, original and has something to say."
Write us. We want to hear from you,
Candace
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Thanks so much for sharing that newsletter! As a college student, it's very easy to get discouraged; sometimes I'm afraid that my real writing will never revive from the suffocation of term papers and short, flippant "response papers." The newsletter reminded me of the wonderful conference this year and all the inspiration it gave me. Thanks for keeping "the spirit of writing" burning for all of us!
Melanie Childers
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ON THE ISLAND
Writers' Group
The July meeting of the WIWA Writers' Group has been changed to Tuesday, July 10. In August, it will return to its normal schedule of the first Wednesday of the month. Meetings are from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Freeland Library. Anyone interested in writing is invited to attend. It is a place to discuss writing techniques or problems you are having with your work. Informal brainstorming and support are encouraged. If you would like, bring something you have written and read it aloud to the group. For more information, contact Michele Griskey at 331-6099, or smwatson@mail.whidbey.com.
Seniors' Creative Writing Class
Senior English Creative Writing (SRENGL051) will be taught Thursdays, June 21 - August 9 from 12:00 - 2:00. For more information, contact instructor Wayne Ude at: "Wayne Ude" blueyude@whidbey.com.
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SMILE, YOU'RE A WRITER
by Eva Shaw
Can you make it as a writer? Yes. Anyone with tenacity and a measure of creativity can. If you happen to be a survivor, an overachiever and a worrywart, that makes it easier.
How can you make your career "happen"? If you weren't born into a family that owns a huge publishing conglomerate, then you do the work and hone your craft. You become a wordsmith. How much work? Whatever it takes, but first answer this: Are you happy, exhilarated, challenged and determined when writing? If you've answered yes, then you'd be crazy to give up something that makes you feel this way.
Today, it's cool to be in a critique group. If that's true, I'm not and I'd like you to be uncool with me. Sharing work too soon can destroy the creative process. Instead learn the craft and take classes (online, on the campus and at conferences). More so, don't tell anyone what you're doing. Okay, tell your spouse or partner, but keep writing for yourself until you're ready. You'll know when.
Ignore anyone who says, "You've got to be born with it." With practice, you'll improve. Sure you could fail, but as that great philosopher Wayne Gretzky said, "You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take."
Here's a plan. 1) Write everyday, in your journal, during lunch break or while waiting for the kids. 2) Read books by writers on writing. My favorites are by Ralph Keyes, "The Courage to Write," "On Writing Well" by Zinsser, and "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers" by Browne and King. Read my books, too. They're written in plain English for us plain English types. 3) Give yourself time to evolve. Odds are you crawled before you walked.
Now here's the final part. Look in the mirror. Smile. That's a writer facing you. Can you see it in the eyes? Could you tell this person that writing is all a bunch of foolishness? Not if you're honest.
Really now, what alternative do you have? If you have the heart to write, you must.
Eva Shaw, Ph.D., is the author of 60 books and more than 1000 magazine articles, including "Writing the Nonfiction Book" and "The Successful Writer's Guide to Publishing Magazine Articles." She teaches writing online through colleges and universities worldwide. Visit www.ed2go.com for a class. "Shovel It: Nature's Health Plan," Eva's latest book, is stirring huge amounts of publicity. She'll be on tour and giving lectures beginning in August. Check out the book and her tour schedule at www.writeriffic.com. To receive a free "Creativity Zone" door hanger, visit www.evashaw.com.
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CHEERS
Your good news cheers us on, please share!
WIWC participant, Molly Swope, recently published her book "You Were Here Today, A Daughter's Legacy From the Other Side." This is the true story of a remarkable young woman who lived her short life with grace, love, acceptance and forgiveness. It's also about a mother's healing from the unthinkable loss of her child to cancer. You can learn more about this book and the author at www.Legacypress.net. Molly writes, "The Whidbey Island group gave me the heart to continue and to believe in myself and my work. . . I have been doing radio interviews and book signings. What an angst, joy and wonder this writing is! My very best to you each and all . . and I look forward to seeing you next year or sooner!"
WIWC instructor Sheila Bender's most recent book, "Keeping a Journal You Love," was released in April by Walking Stick Press. The book motivates readers through inspiration and beautiful writing to keep personal journals about travel, emotions, hobbies, thoughts and experiences. The final chapter explains how to turn a journal entry into a publishable piece. Sheila is the author of five books on writing and two collections of poetry. She is also a contributing editor to Writer's Digest Magazine where you can find her articles about writing poetry and personal essays.
Fans of WIWC instructor Nora DeLoach won't have to wait much longer for a new release from the popular Mama Mystery Series. "Mama Cracks a Mask of Innocence," Nora's eighth book about an African American mother/daughter sleuthing team will be out June 26 from Bantam Books. For more information see http://home.att.net/~noral/index5.html
Weslayan University's Office of Communications recently published John Knoepfle's chapbook of poems, "The One Instant and Forever." John, a recent WIWC presenter, is the recipient of the 1995 Illinois Literary Heritage Award and the 1986 Mark Twain Award for Distinguished Contributions to Midwestern Literature.
Gabrielle Danielles, an instructor at WIWC 2001, was accepted to the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts for the month of June. During July and August she will reside at Yaddo, a Saratoga Springs, New York community whose mission is to nurture the creactive process so that artists may work without interruption in a supportive environment.
Pamela Goodfellow, founder of Goodfellow Press and presenter for WIWC 2002 announces the release in June of four novels by northwest authors. All are first time novelists. "Diamond Lies" by Johann Sorenson is a romping adventure, with treasure maps, trips to Paris, Africa, Amsterdam and San Francisco. The tale involves a legend, poachers and a lover's triangle. "Altar Stone" by Robert Hackman is a thriller about ancient entities inhabiting humans for their own gain. It is set in the Amazon Rain Forest and is a fascinating tale. "Howl at the Moon" by Polly Blankenship is a family saga, a tale of passing the wisdom on through generations. This is a story of coming home, healing, facing disaster and finding one's roots. It is set in Texas and is very Texas. "The Girls From Hangar B" by Kristin Campbell Nail is about four women who hold down the home front during WWII in Seattle. These girls work in the Boeing factory, making planes and learning about life. A touching and thought provoking tale that is also very funny.
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MARKETS AND CONTESTS
Elizabeth Engstrom, author of six novels, including LIZZIE BORDEN and LIZARD WINE writes that Triple Tree Publishing will introduce MOTA, an anthology of fine fiction November 2002. In conjunction with its debut, MOTA is sponsoring two short fiction contests, one for emerging writers and one open to all writers. Non-contest submissions are also requested. For details about the contests and submissions, see www.TripleTreePub.com.
Celeste Mergens, WIWA Director, writes that the Moondance International Film Festival invites screenwriters, film makers, playwrights, short story writers, TV writers, dramatists, lyricists and more to participate in the annual film festival and contest. Information and entry forms are available at: www.moondancefilmfestival.com
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A DAIRYMAN'S GUIDE TO SELF-PUBLISHING
by Murray Anderson
My novel "Breederman" is about the struggles of a young couple who own a dairy farm in the 50s and 60s. Most of the story line involves the farmers I met when I was an artificial inseminator in Skagit County.
I have sent out query letters, manuscripts and synopses to many, many publishers and agents. Most of the time I received the standard, "Your manuscript does not meet our immediate needs." Very rarely, I received a hand written note thanking me. One agent asked, "Who wants to know about someone putting his arm up a cow's a--?"
I decided to self-publish, and since I just sent my final camera ready manuscript to the printers, I thought it might be helpful to others if I put down some of my ideas and feelings about the process. First, publishing your own book is frustrating, time consuming and costs money, but it is also exciting and an ego boost to know that you are a publisher and the one in control. Second, publishers, agents and distributors take a large portion of the revenue from the sale of books. When you self-publish, though, aside from the expenses you incur for publishing and promoting, the money is all yours.
Even if you have an agent or a publisher, that doesn't mean you don't have to become a salesman. Talk up your story whenever you can. People are interested in what your story will be. Start developing a mailing list even as you are still writing the story. I kept a small pocket notebook available and when someone showed interest in the novel, I had them write their name and address in my book. I used the attendance list of my 50th college and high school reunions. I pestered friends and family for names and addresses. Currently, I have a list of 1,500 people who are prime candidates to buy my book.
Originally, I thought my book would be listed as literary, and it may still be listed as literary, but then I looked at the potential market and the people who showed the most interest. They were from this geographical area and they were involved in dairying or farming. I begged a list of all the dairymen in the state and added them to my mailing list. I reviewed name by name the phone books from the Skagit, Island, Whatcom and Snohomish Counties for names of friends and associates who might be customers and added them to my mailing list. This is just a beginning. After all, there are dairymen in all the 50 states and in Canada who could be customers. I already have mailing lists from Canada.
I will be mailing news releases to the local papers, and I have been interviewed by a reporter of the coast's largest weekly agriculture newspaper.
Knowing the value of a good cover, I contacted Bonnie Mohr, the most renowned painter of dairy cows in the nation and purchased the right to use her paintings for the cover. As a former dairyman, I know that the picture of a beautiful cow to a dairyman is like the centerfold of Playboy to a teenage boy.
I will keep the readers of the newsletter informed on how the book is selling. And, following my preaching about authors being salesmen, here is my address if you are interested in ordering the book. The price of the 450-page book is $18.95. Requests for order forms can be sent to:
Gull Rock Publishing
470 SE 4th Ave #312
Oak Harbor, WA 98277
(360) 2408334
lollypop80@juno.com
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CYBER SURFING:
Have you encountered some helpful Internet sites? Send us the address and your brief review?
www.all-story.com/index.cgi
Wendy Lestina says, "My favorite site for writers is: Zoetrope, Francis Ford Coppola's "studio" for artists. The short story building, the one with which I am familiar, is filled with smart and helpful people."
www.lawrencegray.com
Wendy Lestina also like this Hong Kong writer's forum "that is especially good for humorous fiction."
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QUOTES
"Write hard and clear about what hurts."
-- Ernest Hemingway
Submitted by Melanie Childers who wrote, "If you're looking for quotes, here's one that gave me the courage to be an honest writer."
"Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary sentences for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell."
-- William Strunk, Jr
from The Elements of Style
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TO CONTACT US
To contact the editor, email: candace@whidbey.com
To contact the Whidbey Island Writers' Association, email : writers@whidbey.com
Whidbey Island Writers' Conference:
March 1 through 3, 2002
The Spirit of Writing
http://www.whidbey.com/writers
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TO UNSUBSCRIBE
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