Find Resources at FirebornChronicles.com

My future website was to have a writers’ resource list. I started it, but I’ve since met Mary Andrews. My list is like a paper glider; Mary’s—a space ship. You’ll find that space ship at www.firebornchronicles.com.

She lists some of my favorites:

• www.nanowrino.org. If you’re not familiar with it, look it over. It’s the site that turns writing into a game with hundreds of participants. The idea is to create a novel in one month—specifically November 1^st to 30^th.
• Dictionary.com will give you a definition and list of synonyms in a snap. My problem with the site is its fun factor. I always want to explore enticing activities when I cannot afford distractions. If word games and recreation are synonymous with you, don’t wait until you need a definition or synonym before you put it in your search box.
• Onelook.com deserves exploration, too. Click on “Browse” to find rhyming dictionaries, glossaries on numerous subjects, a visual dictionary, and more. I particularly like its flip dictionary. Often, when you have a fuzzy concept, One Look’s reverse dictionary will supply you with the specifics you need. For example, suppose you want the name of the doll similar to Mattel’s Barbie, but designed for Muslim girls. “Muslim Barbie style doll” in the search box brings up 100 terms, most not remotely close to dolls for young girls. The very first one, though, is right on target.

Mary lists search terms for common problems. “Show Not Tell Writing,” “Active Verb Lists,” “Active VS Passive Writing,” “Grammar,” “Writing Action Scenes.” Each of those searches will net you thousands of sites. Certainly they are not equal in content or teaching clarity, and are too numerous for one person to evaluate. But the numbers tell you help is out there.

A couple of entries in the space ship intrigued me simply because of their titles. Look What I Found in My Brain is a blog site that contains hundreds of articles about writing. Lee Lofland’s, The Graveyard Shift, described in 2008 as one of the best blogs for suspense and crime writers, covers more police procedures than I knew existed. Titles can be deceiving, but in this case, both blogs are first-rate resources.

The two main aspects of business are production and marketing. It makes little sense to produce what you cannot sell. Mary’s space ship is so stuffed with the business aspects of writing, there may not be room for its pilot. Included are instructions for the short elevator speech to creation of web pages and trailers.

Bottom line—if you have a great writing idea, produce it. If you need help, now you know where to find it. Then check out the social media marketing sites, and learn how to make a bundle.

© 2012, Bernice W. Simpson

Writing Conferences: Your chance to pitch

Daylight Saving Time. Although it's not yet spring officially, DST reminds us that summer days are just ahead. As you changed your clocks this weekend, did that activity signal "time to plan for summer?"

Writers conferences and summer go together like symphony galas and winter. For writers, especially those who need a push to finish a project, the thought of an upcoming conference is as welcoming as spring's first buds.  Perhaps looking forward to an exciting event is all the impetus you need to complete your book.

Imagine the opening social. Imagine conversing with an established author, who, like you, decided to write for publication, set goals,and invested in them. You can relate to the author who persevered and made it. Imagine that well-known author's blurb on the back cover of your book. What if that author invites you to rehearse your pitch to his or her empathetic ear before you must jump in with the real thing to an agent or publisher the next day?

The pitch. That's often the main reason authors attend a conference. The pitch is one of the most important pages of writing you'll ever do. Now is the time to prepare the pitch: to write it, read it, time it, polish it, memorize it, and then rehearse it until your two-minute speech sounds natural.

Perhaps you are months behind on the schedule you set for yourself, and have noting to pitch. If that's the case, and your writing group is hosting an annual workshop, plan to pitch in. It's your chance to make friends with members you're barely acquainted with. It's your chance to be a friend to the committee that has worked on behalf of your organization to make the event a success.

Years ago, a writer told me, "if you have nothing to pitch, you're spending money on a glorified pep rally. That's a good enough point--if you don't like pep rallies. Glancing back to school days, however, if you weren't part of the "in crowd," here's your chance to be a cheer leader.

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Panhandle Professional Writers hosts an annual weekend conference, Frontiers in Writing. Unlike that of previous years, 2012's Frontiers in Writing will not feature agents or publishers in its speakers' line-up. With self-publishing a growing option for writers, this year's emphasis is on learning. Regardless of how authors plan to publish their work, Frontiers in Writing will help them produce well-crafted prose or poetry, and offer information on copyright law and the publishing industry.

For information of the June 29-30 conference, see Panhandle Professional Writers' website www.panhandleprowriters.org.

(c) 2012, Bernice W. Simpson