Writing Coaches and Mentors: Do you need one?

I've been writing for about 9 years now. I gauge it by my oldest son's birthdays. He was 9 months old when I decided "I could write better picture books than I was reading to him." Turns out, I can't. But, I am pretty darn good at dialogue, and action scenes. Now, to put it all together in a novel and get it published...well, I'm still learning.

I have 1 novel done and revised many times over. I have a second one almost finished, working on it's last two chapters now. And, I have a third. The idea hit me hard, and I have about 4 chapters done.

After I finished my first novel, REDWOOD BLOOD. I shopped it around at a few retreats. I read the first chapter at Big Sur 2011, and one of the agents told me to send it to her. It got rejected a few weeks later.

I shopped it around at Tahoe's SCBWI Ellen Hopkins mentor retreat. I was again asked by an agent to send it. I did....it was again rejected after a few weeks. 

Both rejections were personal, and helpful. But, I shelved the project. I got down. I got nervous. What if I couldn't pull it off? I started writing my second novel, THE LINK, ....nothing to do with the first one.

I shopped it at the Big Sur 2012 writer's retreat. And, I again have been asked, once it's finished, to send it....and I will, but at this point in my writing career. I need help. I need professional help. I'm getting nibbles, but not the bite. 

I know sending my work out to only two agents is not going to get me anywhere, but I've decided I want a portfolio of work before I jump in with both feet and send to fifty.

I've been doing okay writing alone, and using my SCBWI critique group to help me when I get stuck, but now, I need someone in the business above me and my colleagues. I need a mentor, or a writing coach.

Luckily, I met such an author at the Big Sur retreat in December. His name is Lewis Buzbee. He's been teaching writing for 19 years at the master's degree level. He's also a published writer many times over, and an award winning author. And, the best part, he believes in my work. 

We started our coaching just last week in January 2013. I'm marking it on my calendars, because in 6 months time I do believe that my novels will be polished and really, really ready to be sent out to agents and publishing houses.

I'll keep you all posted as the months go by. 
But for now, here's how it's set up:

• 50 pages will be critiqued per month by Lewis
• once a month we will meet, along with 3 other writers at the same level and we will discuss our manuscripts
• Lewis will give talks, and guidance on a personal level, as well as a group level
• When needed, there will be phone conversations to help propel my ms forward
• I can email him anytime with a question
• this is paid coaching / we discussed fees and all 4 writers agreed on pricing
• the meetings will be scheduled so that all of us can make them / no one will be left out
• At the end of 6 months, Lewis will help us decide on who is the best match for our work and help with query letters
• We can also decide then if we want to continue with a new project

Suggestions to you:

If you are a seasoned writer, and you have at least one novel completed and revised, look into hiring a mentor or writing coach.

Today, most writers, who get published, have paid an editor to help them. Competition is high, and agents don't have the time to read 50 pages of your work to see if there's something there. They may read 10, usually they read the query and the 1st page. There's no way they can see what a writer is capable of, but the facts are the facts.

Check out your local colleges for writing teachers. You may also find someone through writer's associations, like SCBWI or Mystery Writers. See if any of them have personal websites, and send a message. Also, check the going rates in your area for mentors and coaches. 

And, if you thrive on a critique group setting, see if any of your writing friends want to get coached as a group. The rates will drop, and you just might all get published together. 

Good Luck!
And as always,
Write~on
 Angie

Margaret Farnsworth: Author of Rise and Shine It's Easter

 I met Margaret through Facebook. She's self-published four children's books, and I wanted to know her process. 

Margaret grew up on a farm, and because of that she knows hard work. She's working on her craft, making connections, and reading to children. 

If you are relatively new to writing, fear not!  Margaret's got some great advice for you.

Below are the questions I asked her:

1. Describe your writing process:

I do it in steps…..

A. Decide what I want this book to be about. 

B.  What I want to happen in the story. 

C.  The ending (how I am going to get the book there) 

D.  Then I am ready to do my plot of my book getting it from the beginning to the ending. 

E.  Then I do my illustrations and pick a Title. Edit for errors save as a doc. Place book onto a flash drive and take to my editor at the print shop.

2. Why children's books?

Children learn at a very young age to either love books and read or they hate reading. I remember as a child the book mobile coming every Thursday out into the rural area that I lived in. I would get so excited. I want children to be excited about reading one of my books. 

When I dress in character for the book that I am reading I love to see the smiles on their faces, and the twinkle in the eyes of a child as I read to them. That is why I write children’s books. That is my reward to myself.

3. How many children's books have you published and what are their titles?  

I presently have four books on the market that I have self-published. 

My first book Mrs. Claus and her Magical Pillowcases can be bought individually or comes in a package with the magic pillowcase and a letter from Santa along with the book. These are sold only through schools, book signings and craft and book shows. 

The second book Oh No! Santa’s Grumpy can be purchased by its self or it comes with a CD with a little song about Santa being Grumpy. The book is on Amazon.com in both paperback and kindle versions and can be purchased through schools, book signings, and craft and book shows.  

The third book Rise and Shine its Easter is on amazon.com in the Kindle version and may be purchased through schools, book signings, craft and book shows. 

The fourth book Santa’s Christmas Surprise just came out before Christmas this year, and can be purchased through schools, book signings, book and craft shows.  

I presently am working on two new books to publish later this spring.

4. What time do you get up and what do you eat for breakfast?

 That depends. Four days a month I work in the Intensive Care Unit at one of our two local hospitals and have to get up at 5:00 A M. If I get a chance to go to the cafeteria I will get gravy and biscuit and bacon. The rest of the time I get up around 7:30-8:00 AM and have various breakfasts of things like cereal and fruit, cream of wheat or oats, maybe just toast and sometimes scrambled eggs and meat.

5. How has being born, and raised on a farm molded your writing and ideas?

Being raised on the farm you are placed right in the middle of green fields and blue skies, out in the open to see nature at its best. Raising the food that you eat with all your hard labor, watching the birth of an animal and looking out across row after row of snow white cotton, soy beans, rice and corn and we tend to write what we know most about.

I was raised an only child, so to play games and such I had to invent imaginary friends so thus the love for writing about fantasy was born. 

On a farm you are surrounded by so much nature that in my writing it comes easy for me to pick up on writing about animals and life in a Simple way. 

My parents were God Fearing people but gentle as a baby lamb. They did not have easy lives coming up against Mother Nature to get a crop out of the field and harvested.  They taught me the traits of hard work, an honest day’s work for an honest  day’s pay, that even if we work hard, we must except the fact that this does not mean that every day will be a good day but that we have to pick our self up and try again tomorrow. 

That has helped me to accept that all my ideas and stories will not be good ones and not be accepted, but as long as there is a tomorrow there will be some that will be accepted and to be thankful for those that are and to place God in everything that I see or attempt to do.

6. What are you reading right now?

I have just finished a book by Author Debbie Macomber Titled: Thanksgiving Prayer, and have started on a Sherl Woods book Titled:  Where Azaleas Grow. 

I like reading books written by several different Authors but these two are my favorites.

7. How did Rise and Shine It's Easter come to you?

My home town each year has a huge Easter Egg Hunt so that children from all around can get a chance to find eggs and prizes. An airplane flies over our fair grounds and drops over a thousand plastic eggs. Some of them have candy in them and some of them have prizes with one big prize as the lucky egg donated by the town merchants. 

This is done so that children who would otherwise not have a chance to hunt eggs can participate. We have huge turn outs each year. The Easter Bunny is always there and available for pictures. 

I thought this would make a great story line with Mr. Rabbit being the Hero in the story. So that is how Rise and Shine its Easter came into being.

8. Where do you promote your books and why?

What better place than schools, that’s where the children are at so I take my books to them. 

Dressed in character the children, teachers and parents love it. I read them a story and they buy the books. Also Hastings book store has been great about placing my books on their shelves and on allowing Book Signings. Two of my books are on Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle versions. Amazon has been a disappointment to me but hopefully things will get better.

9. Do you belong to any writer's groups or associations? If so, which ones, and why?

Yes, SCBWI is an excellent org. that offers grants, writing contests and writer’s awards that you or your books may be entered in. It has all sorts of helpful information. 

I am also a member of the Northeast Arkansas Writers group. It is a critique group where we are all fairly new writers and we strive to help one another with the various problems that we need an answer to. I find that if a problem comes up usually someone in the group has had the same problem and can help with it like encouragement for one another and help with illustrating, and just too many helpful ideas to list them all.

 I also attend NOLA STARS Workshops in Shreveport, Louisiana these are usually held twice yearly in March and June. They have a lot of award winning authors there who can assist with a book from start to finish. You may attend which ever session you need assistance with. They usually have and agent and a publishing company there to inform you what is required to submit manuscripts and if they accept them with or without an agent representing you. I was asked last year to write an article for the workshop that would be used for advertisement of the event, I was quite honored.

10. Where is the best place for a cup of Joe or tea in your hometown?

We have a Starbucks and also the Cracker Barrel and Ryan’s Restaurants have great tea.

11. What are you working on now?

 It is a children’s book about A Little Princess whose birthday is just a few days away. Her Father the King is surprised at what her birthday wish is. Will he grant it? We shall see.

12. Who is your biggest cheerleader?

I am one of the lucky ones who have six cheerleaders. I absolutely could not attempt to do my books without their expertise. 

My husband Lee is number one; he just smiles and goes along with all my silly ideas. 

My Granddaughter Cheyenne and my sister in law Sonya are my computer whiz when I need extra help which is quite often. 

Then my daughter Crystal and son in law Joel are my sounding blocks for my books. They are great about telling me if something does not sound or look as it should. 

Then when I have the book finished and ready to send to the printer Debbie Grimlich is the one that I owe the life of my book to. She makes sure it looks great, sizes it, makes the cover and prints the books. What a team.

13. Have any teachers now, or in your past helped you on your creative path to writing?

My senior high school literature teacher Mrs. Rosalyn Carlson was determined that we leave her class knowing how to structure a story. Literature was always one of my favorite classes because of her desire to see us succeed. She taught me so much and increased my love of writing.

14. Give 3 rules for newbie writers wanting to get published:

One... would be to know how to use a computer extremely well especially if you are self publishing your books.  

Two... Research really well for the best publishing company with the best prices for you buying copies of your books as well as royalty pricing and in some cases package deals if you are in the need for those services. 

Three... Make sure you understand all the rules and regulations and be sure and read and read again your book to make sure it is just as you want it before you send in your pdf to be published and become public.

15. Do you have an agent? Explain why or why not.

No, I have only been in the business of writing for 2 years.  I have been so busy just learning the ropes.  At the Louisiana Work Shop last year I met an agent and was told when I got ready, send her my manuscripts.  I just have not felt the need at this point.  If I am accepted with this publishing company I am talking with, I will then feel the need for one.

16.  What do you think about critique groups?

I think they are great.  When you are learning the ropes, you need plenty of help from more experienced writers.  They can help you from their past experiences.  Sometimes they can see things you did not and they are great sounding blocks.  Maybe they’ve had a similar experience and they can tell you how they worked it out.  Everyone encouraging each other and talking up your books for you is great advertisement for each other.  Great people coming together to support each other.

17. Where does your cat hang out when you are at your writing desk?

She usually lies at my feet under my chair or somewhere in the room I am in.  If the sun is shining, she loves to lie in the windowsill and let the sun come in on her. 

18. How can my blog readers help you to become an even bigger success?

Hopefully this will make them want to know more about me and the books that I have to offer.  It is great advertisement for the author and the books.  If an author and their books are new, people have to get acquainted.  If they know nothing about an author, they probably will not by that author’s books.  A good book may set on the shelf and not sell.  This blog will let more readers know more about me which is great.

19. What one word best describes you?

Multitasker

20. Any big news?

I am working on an inspirational book hopefully to be coming out soon. I am stepping up a notch from writing children’s books to writing an adult book.  We will see how that goes, but whatever; my first love is children’s books.

In Need Of Interesting Characters: Where to find them!

Question: Where are the interesting sidekicks?

So I've been reading for a literary agency for little under a week now. Yes, I'm a 40 year-old intern. (Well, getting close to forty...And, when I'm 60, I'm going to look and act just like this woman in this picture!) Anyway, in this short amount of time I've noticed a trend in the manuscripts coming via email. The main characters might be interesting, but the sidekicks....not so much.

Writers, we are in need of Interesting Characters. My mind started wondering where to find them? And why would I want to spend any time with them? 



So, I went to a park in San Francisco...

Guess what I saw? That's right, interesting people. I sat there for a while and asked myself:

• Who would I want to hang out with and why?
•  Who would I switch places with for a day? 
• A week?

My Answers:

• The man in silver: He's a sideshow one man act. He moves like metal, looks like metal, and acts like a robot. I want to hang out with him for a while. Where's he go when he's done? How long does it take to remove that paint? How did he learn his act? Does he make a good living doing it?

• The Tai Chi woman in the park: She's an older Chinese woman. Grey hair, but healthy and long. She moves so gracefully to her own inner rhythms. How long does she do this? Why? Does she feel odd on display like this for everyone to see? Where does she live? 

• Hippie Group: A threesome hippie group, ages around late teens, early twenties. All have instruments - guitar, drum, some kind of flute. They seem so happy, smiling at each other through their filthy clothes and brownish teeth. Hair in dreads. Where are they from? Where are they going? Is this there home town or have they traveled far? Who have the met? What's their plan in life?

• Naked people/Dressed up people on bikes:Yes a whole slew of mostly naked people dyed all sorts of odd colors sped by me. I wanted to join them!! Unclothe, dress up - paint myself blue. Why not? What got them to do this? Why? Is this an every month thing, or something special? Where do they go after their ride? Are they students or just took the day off to be a bit nuts? How's it feel to ride a bike mostly naked?

• Guy with dog dressed in cowboy hat: This dog could do tricks. And it loved its hat. How long did it take this guy to train this dog? Why a cowboy hat because he's dressed normal, no cowboy in him? Does he make any real money with this act? How much attention does the dog get? Ever get a date due to the dog?

• Clean up Crew: They look rough around the edges. They laugh with each other but don't engage with park goers. How have they landed this job? Is is some kind of punishment or paid? What things do they find in the park? What secrets do they know about the park? 

• Old Men Playing Chess: They seem really serious about their game. They smoke, have coffees, rarely laugh. How long have they been coming here? Are their wives alive? Is this what they do all day? What lives did they lead before this? Are they happy? What have they seen in this park that they've ignored? 

• Homeless young person sleeping on a bag against a tree: Where is his family? Does he have any? How can he sleep with all this noise and kids running around? When was the last time he ate? What's his plan? Is he crazy or just done with people? What's he do all day? Does he have any friends?

• Old woman with dolls: It looks like this woman is having tea time with her dolls. Kids come over to watch. They like her immediately. She's one of them, still playing in her fantasy world. I think I'm more like kids and her than a regular adult too. I'm still playing in my fantasy world. I want to have tea with them. Is she crazy or just fun loving? Does she do this everyday? What do kids tell her? What secrets does she know? Which doll is her favorite? When did she start doing this? Where does she go? 

What I learned:

• There are many interesting characters out there
• I could totally end up a sideshow
• Don't make side characters predictable
• No one wants to hang out with someone like themselves in a book - they want new, different, odd, fun, weird, crazy
• I have to research these people and what their lives are like

What you should do as a writer:

• Go to a city park where there's a lot going on
• Pick 5 people or groups you'd love to know more about
• If not dangerous - approach and ask questions
• If maybe dangerous - ask other park goers about them
• Research your new side character / main character
• What would you do if you were that person? 
• Ask questions to yourself about possible outcomes of that person's life or choice.

And...have fun in the process!

Good Luck

Write~on

Angie