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For those that have tried to post comments, I think that I fixed the problem. Comment away. The more interactive the better!!

Writer’s Block Meanderings

I just recently did some testimonials for a new mediation book and CD set that is supposed to help with writer’s block. I listened to the CD and fell asleep. It was a nice sleep, but not sure about its effectiveness as a cure for writer’s block on just one session.

Thank goodness that in this point in my career that I do not suffer from writer’s block. My trouble is not having trouble writing, it is not having enough jobs to write about. This economy is even hurting writers- both mainstream authors and freelance writer’s.

For many, buying a book is a luxury and one of the first things cut from people’s budgets- although I have noticed a great increase in the number of people going to the public library. Books for free- Genius!

I did take my trip to the Biltmore, thanks to my lovely editor Kim. It was awesome, and I took a lot of great pictures. Here is one of them. They created a carpet out of flowers.

Time Suckers

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LiveJournal Tags: time sucker writing writer

Technorati Tags: time sucker writing writer

As a writer I have to spend a lot of time online researching, updating blogs and utilizing social networks in order to get people to buy my books. It is like walking through a field of land mine time suckers. Maybe I have ADD but there are some many things that attract my attention that it is hard to stay on task. I have to remember this simple formula:

Time=work=money

If time is being sucked into an online application, then there is no work being and therefore no money being paid. As someone who relies totally on the revenue generated with writing this can be a deadly trap. Lets look at the top offenders:

1. Online games- World of Warcraft and the type. Don’t even download these games or go to the sites. You will be sucked in.

2. Facebook- There are two areas that can just eat up time. One is the applications (games, quizzes ect) and the other is reading and commenting on all your friends posts about what happened last night. You can use facebook as a powerful networking and marketing tool, but if you like these other applications limit yourself until AFTER you have gotten your work down.

3. Twitter – Like facebook , twitter is a great networking tool and has marketing potential. However limit tweets to relevant things and use it to direct traffic to your web site and blog. If you spend time looking at updates, it can eat your time before you know it.

4. Shopping- Even if you are just browsing online- do it during specific non work times.

5. News articles- You can spend hours looking at interesting articles- don’t be sucked in.

 

Set time for work and play. It is hard to do when you are self employed but creating a calendar and set work hours will help you stay on track. If you are just too tempted, turn off the internet during periods of writing time in which you do not need to research the internet.

Writing Book #8

As I was negotiating my newest book- I added some travel and a higher price. At this point I figured I had nothing to lose and you never know unless you ask.

 

I got the higher price without so much as blink and while I did not get exactly the trip I asked for, I did get a trip. They would have never offered it unless I had asked and so my suggestion to you new and seasoned writers is do not be afraid. The worst they can say is “no”. Think through it first and do not ask for the moon. You will have a gut feeling if the timing is right, but if it is – go for it. I am really glad I did.

 

Slush Pile

I went to a workshop yesterday called the slush pile. Each participant printed one page on an overhead and a local publisher critiqued it. They were all anonymous. Thank God!

I was so nervous and when mine hit the screen, I tried so hard to pretend that it was not mine. I made notes as he talked and did not look down on the page. I was terrified.

Needless to say he shredded it, but in the end I was thrilled. FINALLY some criticism that I could work with and all of it made sense. I intend to begin rewrites immediately. I realized that there is so much I don’t know and I need to keep learning.

When I read a good book, I just read it. I never thought about tag lines and flow. Now- for better or worse- I am becoming highly attuned it. I am looking for elements that make a great story.

The main areas- I am too wordy (who would have guessed) and I need to work on the flow a lot more. I need to SHOW rather than TELL.

 

Proof

This is the blog post for the first submission. I thought about everyone’s comments and concerns and let us just work on this for 2 weeks and see how we do. I just read through it and loved it. I do not want to give anything away right now though.

 

While we are doing our critiques let us ge to know each other by posting comments. I will begin.

 

My name is John Peragine. I have been writing full time for almost two years and it has been a hell of a ride. Before that I was a child protective services worker and not a day goes by that I don’t say” Why didnt I leave sooner?”

I have written and  had published 7 books ( some are on the shelves some are in various stages of print) I have written articles for a number of magazines and do other freelance jobs daily.

I am also a classical musician and play the flute/piccolo in the Western Piedmont Symphony (North Carolina). I am happily married and have two daughters 11 and 14.

So that’s me. I wanted to start this group after having some mixed results in some that I have attended. (see my previous blog notes.) I am very excited about this, and Sarah has started us off with a winner. So use the the guidelines and post your critiques.

Amendment Writer’s Group

There was a suggestion that if you post your material online even on a blog that some publishers will not accept the work. SO, instead I will need people to send me their email addresses. I will collect submissions and then email the submissions to everyone in the group. The critiques can still take place on the blog however- I will start a new topic with the name of the submission and each person in the group can still use comments to add their critiques. Again if you would like to send a corrected copy of a work I will send that copy to the author. I would like submissions this week so we can get started. I have a short story ready to go.

 

Thanks!

 

John