The Fabulist Flash

Issue 102

Mexican Chili Peppers

In This Issue:

1. This Week
2. Sit Down and Make It Happen
3. Writing Opportunities
4. Jack Miller takes the 18Q
5. About The Fabulist Flash

1. This Week

There are so many distractions and avoidance techniques we writers use to avoid writing. We call just about everything research, even those stolen moments of Spider Solitaire. Instead of chastising, try setting goals and limits. Give yourself permission to play and you'll get more writing done.

There's been an ongoing debate among a few of my writer friends about the "best" way to write. We haven't been talking about grammar or style, but rather daily writing goals and the best way to achieve them. The debate is time vs. word count. We haven't resorted to fisticuffs, although a few of the conversations have grown heated as group members defended their positions vehemently.

I don't consider myself Sweden. I like taking sides. But, as in most debates, I've spent time on both sides. How can we understand any issue unless we figure out both sides and determine which works for us? In this debate I find that it depends on the project.

Where fiction is concerned, I like a daily word count. This keeps me from over editing on first draft writing. Whether I decide to get into the editing process or not, I still "must" create my new word count for the day. This keeps the story flowing. Yet, for nonfiction, I find that time limits help me achieve my writing goals. I like to work on multiple projects. If I know I only have an hour to work on something it keeps me from getting lost in research, forcing me to get words on the page. These time limits also allow me to work on multiple projects at one time without feeling "guilt" about leaving off of one to move on to another. Each project gets its allotted time, no more, no less, unless there's a pending deadline.

So how do they work? Setting word counts is pretty obvious. You decide what you can comfortably accomplish and add a little. My daily count is 1000 words for fiction. And, no matter where I am in the story, I finish my 1000 words and stop. I do allow myself to finish a sentence, but not a section, chapter or even a paragraph.

When it's a time count I literally set the kitchen timer that resides on my desk for the block of time. Writing time is usually an hour, but I also set research time limits of fifteen minutes. That keeps me from wandering around the Internet willy-nilly. And, when it's time for a break, I also set the timer, giving myself five or ten minutes of solitaire or Scrabble play time.

The bottom line is deciding what works for you, what keeps your butt in the seat and your fingers on the keyboard. Try setting a few goals and limits and see if it works for you.

This week, Diane Sonntag is back with advice from Gloria Estefan and Dora the Explorer in Sit Down and Make It Happen. We've also got a few writing opportunities and Jack Miller, an old investigator and new writer, takes the 18Q.

Until next week,

Gregory
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Gregory A. Kompes (www.kompes.com) is a writer, photographer, professional speaker and author of the bestseller 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live, The Endorsement Quest, and Your Intensive Care Unit Stay.

2. Sit Down and Make It Happen

Sit Down and Make It Happen
by Diane Sonntag

Last Saturday night, I took my four-year-old daughter, Julia, to see Dora the Explorer's Pirate Adventure. It was a great show and it was very entertaining to watch Julia, along with hundreds of other preschoolers, singing, dancing, and jumping up and down in excitement. Dora and her gang performed all of their usual songs, along with one very interesting choice. The last song of the show was Gloria Estefan's "Get on Your Feet." Over the next few days, Julia hummed those lyrics almost constantly. "Get on your feet," I heard while she took her bath. "Get up and make it happen," she sang while playing with her dolls. Julia sang the song so often that I became curious about the rest of the lyrics. After a quick Internet search, I had a hard copy of the song's words.

I know it sounds silly, but the lyrics inspired me. Estefan sings that we sometimes feel like there's no use trying, but we're scared that life will pass us by if we don't take some action. Like so many things I encounter, those words made me think about my writing life.

You see, I have a dirty little secret. There is an editor in London who is very patiently waiting for my book manuscript. And I'm ashamed to admit that he's been waiting for some time. Sadly, the majority of the work is done. I just need to tweak it a little bit and my baby will be ready to send across the ocean and into my editor's hands.

But what if he doesn't like it?

Call it fear of failure, or maybe fear of success. But my novel is safe on my jump drive. Nobody has told me that it isn't good enough or that my writing isn't ready for a "big time" publisher. Right now, my novel can be as great as I want to believe it is. Only my own opinion matters.

But what good is it, stored on a jump drive, where no one but me can read it?

As writers, most of us judge our work by the number of times we are published, as well as which publications accept what we write. Acceptance means that our work has value. Right now, no one -- and if I'm really honest, not even me -- has accepted my novel as something of value.

If my book is so great, why can't I send it out? I ask myself. Why can't I allow someone else to judge my work?

Because I'm scared of what they might say. Not because I don't believe that it's good, but because, in our world, editors' opinions count more than writers' opinions. And if my editor says my book is no good, how can I continue to believe in it?

The old adage "If you don't believe in yourself, no one else will" comes to mind. And also, "How will you know if you don't try?" These simple truths haunt me as I procrastinate the inevitable.

But the inevitable what? Rejection or acceptance? Failure or success?

There's really only one way to find out.

So rather than "getting on my feet," I'm going to get in my chair and finish my novel. I'm going to sit down and make it happen.

About the Author
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Diane Sonntag is an elementary school teacher and freelance writer. Her work has appeared in print publications and on the web. She enjoys writing about parenting and family issues. She lives in Indianapolis with her husband and two young children. She can be reached at Rydeej@sbcglobal.net.

3. Writing Opportunities

Writing Opportunities

Boundoff
http://www.boundoff.com/

Boundoff produces stories for podcast.
250 to 2500 words. pays $20.00

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Inkwell
http://www.inkwelljournal.org/

Inkwell accepts unsolicited submissions in poetry, prose and artwork. Inkwell is dedicated to discovering new talent and bringing the work of writers and artists to a wider audience. We encourage diverse voices and have an open submission policy for both writing and art. Reading Period August 1 – November 30. Fiction: Previously unpublished work only. Manuscripts must be typed, double-spaced, and not exceed 5,000 words. Multiple submissions up to 2 stories. Poetry: Previously unpublished work only. Must be typed, 70-line limit per poem. Multiple submissions up to 5 poems. Pays up to $350.

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Association Book Exhibit
http://www.bookexhibit.com

Association Book Exhibit offers a craftsman-like approach to every exhibit. ABE remains focused on its original stated objective - to take the experience of many years and hundreds of exhibits and put it to work for publishers. Our goal: to create the standard against which all other publishers' cooperative exhibits are judged. Look to ABE to open new markets or assist you in reaching existing ones for a fraction of the cost you would spend to reach them on your own. ABE has the proven approach, commitment, experience and personnel to become your first choice in publishers' cooperative exhibit services. Give us a call whenever your ongoing marketing demands require the best exhibit service your promotional dollars can buy.

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Chicken Soup for the Soul Submissions
http://www.chickensoup.com

Teenage Soul - The Real Deal on Self Esteem
Self-esteem is a huge topic for teens. Reading stories of other teen's experiences will inspire teens and let them know that they are not alone. The book will also contain tools and skills to guide teens through the teenage years. The deadline for submissions is October 15, 2006.

4. Jack Miller takes the 18Q

Website: www.authorsden.com/jackmiller

Bibliography:
Cold War Warrior
All Crooks Welcome
Master Cheat!

Biography:
John "Jack" Miller applied his first career in Law Enforcement and Criminal Investigations to his second career of Casino Games and their protection. Jack was a Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) conducting investigations of felony crimes. These investigations also included counter-intelligence and counter-espionage investigations. After retiring from the military, he joined the Clark County District Attorneys office as a Special Investigator of "white collar" and conspiratorial crimes. He worked with undercover teams from the local Police and the FBI conducting burglary stings. He then joined the Nevada State Gaming Control Board (GCB) as an Enforcement Agent. He was certified by Nevada State and Federal Courts as an Expert witness during trials of gambling cheats.

1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you?
It absolutely chose me. I was taking care of my ill wife. I could not take any more of the Soaps. When I got to know the Forresters by name, I knew to keep my sanity, I had to do something.

2. What is your background? (education, work, etc.)
Lucky to have graduated from high school and fortunate to get a couple of hours in college. My real education came from that school, Hard Knock Univ.

3. When did you 'know' you were a writer?
I don't think that I will ever "Know" that I am an author or a writer. At least not a good one. Happy one yes, a good one, I don't know. There is so much to learn and so little time.

4. How would you describe your style of writing?
I write fiction based on factual situations I have been involved with. I try to tell a story and have to lie a little to keep it interesting, that is the fiction part.

5. What is your writing process?
I write when I can. I know I need more discipline to be better but life is short.

6. What was your path to publication?
I got one rejection letter and my best seller dream went out the window. That was when I went to the industry of "You want to see your book in print, open your wallet." Would I do it again, a resounding NO!

7. What is your favorite self-marketing idea?
I wrote a letter under an assumed name to a media reporter. The letter announced the publication of a new book about espionage in the Nevada desert. The title appeared in the reporters column. Don't know if it sold any books but the title got out there. Cost $0.37.

8. What are the biggest surprises you've encountered as a writer?
The whole process astonishes me. I thought the author only wrote, and of course cashed the checks. What a surprise to learn that I had to have it edited, book covers designed, edited again, rewrites, editing, printing, marketing, marketing and more marketing. My first book signing, what a disappointment.

9. How do you inspire yourself?
What are your sources of creativity? See number one. I do not want my brain to become mush. I feel good when I can take an idea and put in on paper and make it interesting.

10. What is your proudest writer moment?
Seeing my first book with its color cover. It was like having a fourth kid, then a fifth, sixth and who knows, I might be pregnant again.

11. What's the best advice you were given about writing?
Edit, edit and edit. Then rewrite and edit some more. But more important was what I learned. See #12.

12. What is your most embarrassing writer moment?
I had completed my latest book Master Cheat! I knew I did everything right on this one. I even paid to have it edited. I told my printer to print a thousand copies in order to get the best price. I had given away about 50 copies and sold another 50 when the daughter of one of the purchasers, a friend, called and said on page 116 you are describing a woman and her orgasms. Unfortunately you are describing her as having organisms. The visions or the moaning and writhing went away and the scratching began. I immediately reduced the price of the book and told buyers that there are some spelling errors.

13. What business challenges have you faced as a writer?
Getting some of the book stores where I have had signings and provided the books to be sold to pay in a reasonable period of time. I would suggest to anyone doing this to sell the books to the store, conduct the signing and if necessary buy back the remainder. This really simplifies accountability as well.

14. What is your writer life philosophy?
Have fun with it. Let your mind go. Pull it from its restrictive scabbard like a saber and engage in a mock battle as you did when you were a kid. Use your imagination as you did in front of the radio on saturdays listening to the Green Hornet and his trusted valet Kato. Our minds were the television. Bring it back, Have fun.

15. When you're not writing what do you do for fun?
I like to BS with buddies, drink coffee, tell war stories, and of course Television. Favorite shows are Survivor, Big Brother and of course NCIS and CSI.

16. Who do you like to read?
Tom Clancy and John Grisham

17. What's your advice for new writers?
Stick with it but don't take life so serious. None of us are going to get out alive.

18. What are you currently working on?
The sequil to my first book "Cold War Warrior." This has the working title of "Cold War Defector." I anticipate it will be completed and released in 2007.

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Are you a published writer? Take the 18Q today!

To read all the 18Q responses or take the 18Q visit EighteenQuestions.com

5. About The Fabulist Flash

ISSN: 1554-0804

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