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JUNE 2009
WAHMZONE.COM
Where Business and Motherhood Meet
So summer is almost officially upon us! As challenging as it is to get work done when the kids are home all day, every day, I love it, don't you? The break in the routine, spending quality time with the kids without worrying about homework and after school activities, and taking "sick days" to go to the pool. I hope you take some time to enjoy your kids this summer!
But just because school's out, it doesn't mean the studying has to stop, too! Why not take the summer to learn something new? WahmZone offers great articles on business and family issues. Print out a few to read while you're basking in the sun or sitting outside on a warm summer evening. Click here to access all of the articles, which are updated weekly: http://www.wahmzone.com/Business/index.php and http://www.wahmzone.com/Family/index.php
And, speaking of articles, this month's Featured Article is titled, "Ten Ways to Write Short Stories that Sell." If you're a writer, this article is for you! Also in keeping with the writing theme, the June Featured Wahm is Nicole O'Dell, a Christian author and mom of triplets! Be sure to catch her in-depth interview about her writing and trying to balance work and motherhood times three.
So let's get to it…
JUNE FEATURED WAHM
As mentioned above, Nicole O'Dell is a Christian author and full-time mom of triplets (I don't feel so busy anymore). If you've always wondered what it takes to be an author or have questions about breaking in to the world of book publishing, check out what Nicole has to say. Feel free to contact her with your thoughts through the links at the end of the interview.
WAHMZONE: WHEN DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR LOVE FOR WRITING?
NICOLE O'DELL: When I was in the fourth grade, I entered a district-wide literary contest. I had to take a blank, white, hard-cover book and write a story, with illustrations, to fill it. My book, The Girl on the Runaway Pogo-Stick, took first place. It was printed and placed in the school libraries in my district. I was hooked from that moment.
WZ: HOW DID YOU BREAK IN?
N.O: It took me a long time to actually attempt any kind of formal publishing. I mainly took classes and wrote for myself through those many years. Finally, a few years ago, I dabbled with a few queries for some ideas that I now see were never going to work--and they didn't. But, once I had an idea that I couldn't let go of (Scenarios) and a far better understanding of how the industry works, I gave it a real try. I actually only sent out one query for the Scenarios series. That query eventually led to a two-book contract...and...here we are.
WZ: TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR NOVELS.
N.O: In the Scenarios series, the main character is faced with many choices and moral dilemmas in each book. Eventually, she finds that her choices have led her into a situation that requires her to make a very difficult and potentially life-altering moral decision. When the story has fully unfolded, and the main character arrives at that moment of truth, the reader makes the big decision for her and then turns to the corresponding section in the book where the resulting circumstances unfold. This places the responsibility for those decisions squarely on the reader's shoulders, in hopes that she will learn from her personal experience as she lives it through the eyes of the book's character. She will learn the importance of good decisions as well as the truth about forgiveness and grace.
WZ: WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
N.O: I have infant triplets, so my day consists of a lot of diapers, bottles, rocking, burping, playing, etc. In between all of that, I write, email, edit, sort, query, research, edit some more...etc. I'm usually awake by 6:00am and in bed by 12:00am.
It has only been recently that I finally claimed the title of WAHM. Immediately, I felt more free to work. For me, it's a far better choice to be home with my kids and fit my work day in and around their needs than it would be to work outside the home and have them in day care. Can you even imagine the day care costs for three eight-month olds?
WZ: IF YOU DON'T MIND, SHARE A LITTLE ABOUT THE INCOME ASPECT OF YOUR WRITING. DO YOU ONLY EARN FROM WRITING BOOKS OR DO YOU FREELANCE, AS WELL?
N.O: Right now, I'm only writing books. I have done freelancing, though. My first foray into publishing were contributions I made to six devotional books for Barbour Publishing. That was a neat experience because I learned so much about the industry and I got paid to write for the first time. Plus, it really beefed up my resume' in a very short time. Since then, I've only been working on my books, though.
At this time, my family isn't dependent on a full-time income from me. If they were, it would be difficult because there's no way to count on a steady flow--at least not yet. Eventually, we hope that it works out that way, but we're giving it a couple of years. There are some great resources out there for people who need to do financial planning in order to make a writing income spread out over the year and cover the family budget as well as a marketing budget-because that costs money, too.
WZ: SO HOW DOES THE CONTRACT/INCOME THING WORK?
N.O: With the two contracts I've signed, I was paid an advance. Half was given to me upfront, before I wrote the books, and the other half was paid to me upon the delivery and acceptance of the final manuscripts. I don't have an agent, so 100% of the monies were paid directly to me. After the release of the books, and after my advance is repaid, I'll receive royalties on the sales of the books four times per year. Worst-case scenario, should my books not sell well enough to repay my advance, I don't have to pay it back.
WZ: HOW DO YOU BALANCE WORK AND FAMILY TIME, ESPECIALLY WITH TRIPLETS!
N.O: I just make sure that I have time to set aside and dedicate for each thing that I need to do. I have my work/writing time and then I have my family time--never the twain shall meet!
WZ: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB?
N.O: I love my coffee in the mornings--coffee and creativity go hand in hand! I love when I get that burst of energy and the creative juices are flowing.
One other aspect that we haven't talked about yet is that I see this as a ministry. More than anything, I want to use my writing-speaking-teaching-whatever skills as a way to reach people and lead them toward a more fulfilling and truth-filled life.
WZ: HOW ABOUT THE MOST CHALLENGING PART?
N.O: Writing can be a lonely job. It's quiet and introspective; I'm a social butterfly. It requires silence and privacy; I can't stand missing things that are happening in my home. Writing full-length works requires sacrifice and hours of time; to have friends, you have to be a friend. Sometime, I have to force myself to break away from my solitary work to make sure I meet my own personal needs, and especially to ensure that I'm the best wife, mom, daughter and friend that I can possibly be.
WZ: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS AN IMPORTANT THING TO UNDERSTAND WHEN IT COMES TO BEING AN AUTHOR?
N.O: It seems to me that the place where writers run into the most trouble is with the query and the proposal. Because of that, I wrote several blog posts that describe my earliest experiences in detail as well as a series of posts about writing A Quality Query and another series about the Perfect Proposal. They are all viewable from the home page of my blog: www.nicoleodell.blogspot.com.
WEBSITE/BLOG:
Website: http://www.nicoleodell.com/
Writer's Blog: http://www.nicoleodell.blogspot.com/
JUNE FEATURED ARTICLE
Continuing right along with the author/story theme, here is a great article on writing short stories.
Ten Ways to Write Short Stories that Sell
By Theodora Cochrane
First, research your target market. Do they use the type of story you want to write? And stick rigidly to the word counts they accept. Don't think they will make allowances for you. Remember that you are just one of a great number of hopefuls. Ensure that you give your manuscript the maximum chance of success. If it's outside the guidelines busy editors will probably return it unread.
1. The most difficult part of being a successful writer of short stories is NOT writing them - it is selling them. Short stories can be of any length from a few hundred to several thousand words. Make sure you aim at the length required by your chosen publication.
2. Before you start, decide whether you are going to write this piece in the first or third person. It doesn't matter which as long as you are comfortable with your decision, but don't switch from one to the other. It is important to remember that if you write in the first person you can only include what that person sees, thinks and feels. Don't switch about from one to the other in the same scene, don't do it too often and only do it when it is essential to the plot.
3. Don't bother too much about length in your first draft; you'll lose spontaneity. You can edit down to the correct word count when you've finished. It is better to do this than try to pad out a piece which is too short.
4. Having written the story, the first thing you should do is read it out aloud. This will show you words and phrases that you have used too often.
5. Limit the number of characters in your story. Two or three are perfect. Four is acceptable but any more are too many unless you are writing a long short or a novel.
6. Most editors love humour. (That is humour - not slapstick comedy.) They also like a work which ends on a hopeful or upbeat note. They like the main character to win out in the end because readers tend to identify with that person. The reason for this is that editors of magazines want their readers to go on buying the publication. They are not going to do this if, after reading it, they are left feeling miserable, deflated and depressed. Readers are not particularly interested in your skill as a writer. They are only interested in how the result makes them feel. Of course you have to be skilful but the important thing is how it leaves them feeling.
7. Now you need to start editing for length. At this stage it is better if it is too long rather than too short. Your end product will be better if it is pruned not padded. Look for long sentences and paragraphs.
8. Print out your story. On the cover page, put the title and word count and your name, address, phone number and email address. Write a brief covering letter.
9. Now, address it to the fiction editor of your chosen magazine. Use the correct postage and a SAE. Then you wait - and wait. Don't expect a quick answer.
10. Get back to the computer and start work on your next submission.
About The Author
Theodora Cochrane has been a published author for many years. She writes using different pen names to maintain her privacy. To see more tips for writers visit http://www.BAwriter.co.uk - Tips for writers which is a page designed for writers and small and self publishers. Also visit http://www.percydale.com for ideas to increase your income.
THANKS FOR CHOOSING WAHMZONE. MAY YOUR BUSINESS SIZZLE ALONG WITH THE SUMMER SUN!
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