The Fabulist Flash

Issue 57

Hint of Autumn Mouse Pad

In This Issue:

1. This Week
2. Feature Article
3. Feature Article
4. A Writer Tidbit
5. About The Fabulist Flash

1. This Week

Welcome to Issue 57 of The Fabulist Flash.

My week has been about reevaluating my goals. Was that overdue! I'd been racing around, getting involved in as many projects as possible, and making my life a chaotic mess. I had dinner with some writing friends and they pointed out a few things to me, namely, that I was a out of control and a little crazy.

I've been fearful that this book might be my chance, maybe my only chance, and I've been afraid I'd miss something. In the process of trying not to miss anything I wasn't having any fun and frankly, I really wasn't getting all that much done. I'd forgotten to step back, relax, pat myself on the back for a job well done, and enjoy a few of the moments I'd created.

With this realization of chaos meant it was time to make some changes and set some new goals. I understand what the chaos stemmed from, why I'd created it: I'd run out of goals and therefore had no focus for my work. I brainstormed, mind mapped, and bubbled. The result, I have two basic goals at the moment. The first is to promote my upcoming book, 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live, in any way possible. The second is to use this promotion to not only sell books, but also to brand myself to my market audience and turn that branding into a speaking platform.

Next, I sat down and created a list of all the things I've been working on. Anything that wasn't fun and also didn't apply to my goals I scratched from the list. I cancelled some unnecessary plans and scrapped a few that, while excellent in concept, aren't currently going to make the best of my time. My list was short and focused. Now, I was ready to get to work.

My time is once again productive. I've been writing press releases, creating promotion materials, and brainstorming new ideas. I've been having fun and getting a lot more done. If you find yourself floundering, take a step back, look at what you're doing and how it relates to your current and long-term goals, and see if these things meld. If not, it may be time for you to set some new goals and scratch a few things off your list, too.

On Friday, October 14, 3:30-5:00 PM, I'll be participating in a workshop with members of the Las Vegas Quill Keepers called "Benefits of Writer's Groups" at the Paseo Valley Library (280 S. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson, NV). The workshop is part of The Vegas Valley Book Festival (http://www.vegasvalleybookfest.org) running October 13-22. Hope to see many of you there.

Until next week,

Gregory
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Gregory A. Kompes is a writer, photographer and professional speaker. Learn more about Gregory and his work at www.kompes.com

2. Feature Article

Attitudes and Gratitude
by Brook Noel

"Gratitude turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." Melody Beattie

Once with a group of women, we were discussing why it is that some children who seem to "have it all" are pleasant and friendly while others become spoiled. After sharing our stories, we drew the conclusion that the difference rests in the attitude and teachings of the parents. Some children "expect" to have certain things, and they soon become spoiled and unwavering. Other children remain thankful and appreciative.

Think of adults you know that fit these descriptions. Whom do you know who has a chip on their shoulder or feels the world owes them something? Whom do you know who greets each discovery with appreciation? It is easy to guess who is happier and more fulfilled.

Developing a thankful attitude goes a long way toward developing a more resilient and appreciative self. Here are a few ideas for spreading the attitude of gratitude:

• Think about the whole process. When you receive anything, be it a child's drawing or an expensive purchased gift, focus on how much time, effort, and thought went into the gift. Taking the time to realize how much work, caring, and thought a person has given you, is a wonderful way to deepen your appreciation of both the giver and the gift.

• Realize each day is a gift. There are so many things that we take for granted. Many times we don't realize how much we actually take for granted until tragedy strikes. For example, I always enjoyed my brother and never imagined we would lose him at age 27. It wasn't until after this tragedy that I learned each day and each moment we have is a precious gift. Don't be wasteful or unappreciative of these moments.

• Lower your expectations. I knew a woman who felt that she had such a series of bad luck that the world surely owed her something. I couldn't stand being around her; she complained about everything. If it rained, it seemed the sky was out to get her. When we quit expecting the world (or people) to give us things, we can become more focused on enjoying the gifts that do come our way.

Sarah Ban Breathnach in her best-selling book, Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy, advocates the use of a gratitude journal. She cites this as "a tool that could change the quality of your life beyond belief." I completely agree. The premise of the gratitude journal is to record five things that you are grateful for each day. Some days you might have to be creative to find five. Other days you might have ten or twenty! Value the little things. Value the person who sincerely smiled and asked how you were at the grocery store checkout. Value the soft touch of a child's hand on your shoulder. Value a new song that you hear on the radio.

Create your own gratitude journal and list five things that you are grateful for each evening. Notice how this deepens your appreciation for life and helps to maintain a positive outlook. You may also want to start a "Family Gratitude Journal" where each night you think of five things that you are grateful for as a family.

About the Author
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Brook Noel is an international best-selling author and has written over 10 books. Her works include: I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye: surviving, coping and healing after the sudden death of a loved one; Grief Steps; The Single Parent Resource and her newest book The Change Your Life Challenge: A 70 Day Life Makeover Program for Women

To learn more about the challenge that thousands of women have used to improve relationships, finances, home management, self-esteem, fitness, self-care, stress and depression you can go visit the website at http://www.changeyourlifechallenge.com/.

3. Feature Article

It's Good To Be A New Writer: Breaking The Myth That Experience Is Everything
by Shelley Wake

There's a rumor out there in the publishing world that an editor won't even look at the work of a new writer. It might be true for certain types of writing, but after interviewing hundreds of editors, I've found that most are more open to new writers than you might think.

And there are a few major benefits to being a new writer too. So before you spend too much time trying to work out how you can appear to be a published professional writer when you're not, consider taking advantage of your current position as a newcomer.

What are the advantages? Here are four positive points of being a new writer that will help you get work -- and they all come direct from editors.

1. It's Easier to Impress

Editor says:

"I really don't mind new writers at all. If you're new and act professionally, I'm usually willing to give you a go. I'd suggest that new writers just be honest about who they are.

If I get a fairly good article by a new writer, I'll be impressed. To me, that's my chance to discover new talent. That's when I'll contact the writer and try to help them. If I get a fairly good article by a new writer pretending to be an experienced writer, I will probably just issue a standard rejection." --Evelyn, Magazine Editor

If you claim to be a professional and experienced writer, an editor is likely to expect a lot. That means it will take a lot to really impress them. Even a good article might not be enough to get their attention. But if you tell the truth and admit that you're a new writer, it takes a lot less to impress. A new writer with a professional approach is something special -- just sending a professional quality submission might even be enough to impress.

2. There's Room to Grow

Editor says:

"When I get a good article from a new writer, I'm always very happy. Why? Because new writers with the right skills and attitude are wonderful for our magazine. They can be shaped to suit our style, they listen to instructions, they usually have a positive attitude. That's the kind of writer I like to take on and mentor." --Stephanie, Magazine Editor

If an editor knows that you're a new writer, you're giving them the chance to spot new talent. If you're new and right for their publication, you might be taken in and mentored until you suit their style.

The same isn't likely to happen if the editor thinks that you're experienced. Instead of looking at your work and thinking that it shows potential, they'll be assuming it's the best that you can do.

3. Anything Else, And You Risk Losing Their Interest

Editor says:

"I would tell writers to be careful if they're going to exaggerate. I know everyone does it on resumes. But if someone claims to have been a writer for twenty years and is pitching my low-paying mag, I'm going to wonder two things. First, I'm going to wonder if they're lying. Second, I'm going to wonder why they're not working for a higher paying magazine if they really have that much experience. If they're not lying, then I have to assume that they're just a bad writer. Either way, it doesn't look good for them." -- Danielle, Magazine Editor

If you're a new writer, you need to be targeting the right kinds of markets. And if you are targeting small markets, claiming years of experience is only going to make editors suspicious.

4. Attitude Matters

Editor says:

"It's simple. Many seasoned writers pitching me have a bit of an attitude, a hint of suspicion, and often a streak of boredom. Fresh writers pitching me tend to have nothing but positive energy and enthusiasm. I'll take the enthusiastic writer, please." --Sam, Editor

If you can't go in with experience, go in with enthusiasm. That might be the big advantage that gets you the job.

About the Author
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Shelley Ann Wake is the editor of 30 Clips in 30 Days: A Crash Course in Getting Published. This practical guide has successfully launched hundreds of freelance writing careers in record time. Link: http://www.writingstuff.com/books1.html

4. A Writer Tidbit

The Little Owl Mentoring Program is a joint effort between Hope Clark, editor of FundsforWriters.com, and Elisabeth Wilhelm, editor of Absynthe Muse. We connect young adult writers (13-22) with experienced adult writers who mentor their younger counterparts in some aspect of writing for a set period of time in an all-volunteer program that will never charge a fee. Whether the young adult writer's interest is poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or drama, he or she will be paired with an approved mentor who will work with him or her on accomplishing an agreed upon goal. This goal can be big ("I want to pitch my poetry collection to a New York literary agency!") to small ("I want to learn how to write authentic-sounding dialogue that fits in a murder mystery novel set in 30s Chicago.").

Get a mentor. Get knowledged. Get published.

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5. About The Fabulist Flash

ISSN: 1554-0804

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Gregory A. Kompes, editor
The Fabulist Flash
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Las Vegas, NV 89157

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Make plans now to attend the 2006 Las Vegas Writer's Conference March 30-April 2, 2006, in Las Vegas, Nevada.