I’m not suggesting that you go shopping before you start writing although it’s wise to stock up on the bare necessities. Like chocolate.

There are many targeting questions to think through. At least an entire Cadbury bar’s worth. Are you going to self-publish? Will you submit your manuscript to specific publishers or lines? If so, what kind of stories do they buy?

Besides those questions, have you considered who your potential readers are? Do they want a story with angst or humor? Or both? How is the story going to fulfill your readers’ needs and wants? Knowing, refining, and remembering this information can help you stay on target as you write, but it won’t prevent the chocolate morsels from dropping between the computer keys.

Who are your potential readers?

What’s your favorite kind of chocolate or treat?

1. Coupons and Giveaways Who knew sites were offering coupons? Search the hosting site or email an inquiry. Instructors often promote their workshops with contests for a free registration.

2. Payment methods Read the information carefully. One of my favorite sites discounts fees if you pay by check.

3. Labels and Product Description Don’t believe everything you read. If the information doesn’t include the lesson format (lecture, feedback, etc.) and a brief outline of the topics to be covered, contact the host site or instructor for details.

4. Help Wanted! Only experienced applicants need apply.
Check the instructor’s website, social media, interviews, and publishing history. Does the presenter have successful experience in reading or writing your genre? Ask other writers if they’ve taken the instructor’s class(es).

5. One Size Fits All! Know your comfort zone. Find out what the class size limit is. Large classes can result in delayed feedback and overwhelm the instructor and participants trying to keep up with lessons and responses.

6. Refund policy Most sites do not refund your money unless they cancel the workshop.

LINKS:

Romance University workshops (periodic coupons)
http://romanceuniversity.org

*WriterUniv.com / ($5.00 off for check payments)

http://www.writeruniv.com

First I tried being a panster. Not a good look on my manuscript or me. Squishing color-coded scenes in a spreadsheet gave me a headache. The thought of storyboards and detailed charts terrified me. Where would the dust bunnies sleep? What if they got stuck to the post-it notes overnight?

Next I settled on writing an outline and received great feedback at a brainstorming session with my critique group. I found this process very useful when the story idea was just a plot of my imagination.

Then I took Laurie Schnebly Campbell’s online workshop, Writing Your Synopsis “Mad Men” Style. My favorite tool from that class was the strategizing worksheet which was great for synopses and plotting.

Yes, you read me correctly. PLOTTING. By the time I completed the strategizing worksheet, I repaired potholes and sinkholes, raised the stakes, rearranged the scenes/chapters, and had a four-act structure for my revised plot. The worksheet was a quick, compact, and flexible reference and stayed in a dust bunny free zone on my computer as I worked on my second draft.

Do I know all there is about plotting? No, which is why I tweak my process with craft book and workshop tips from plotting gurus and published authors. The next stop on my quest is Laurie’s upcoming class, Plotting Via Motivation. I promised her I’d leave my dust bunnies at home.

What’s your perfect plotting strategy?

LINK:

Laurie Schnebly Campbell

PLOTTING VIA MOTIVATION (March 4-29) $40 ( $35 if paid by check)

http://www.writeruniv.com/plotting-via-motivation

http://www.booklaurie.com/

Disclaimer: I am not a tax expert, so please consult one and the IRS links below.

Before I started my writing business, I took two tax courses for writers. Neither instructor mentioned the Feb. deadline and forms, so I am fortunate I didn’t need to file the forms until now. (Huge sigh of relief) I can only tell you about my situation and what I recently learned from a writer friend, my web guru, and the IRS website.

During 2012 I paid one person at least $600.00 for writing related services, web work for this site. Anyone who pays $600.00 or more for materials and / or services related to their business must file Form1099-MISC per recipient (person paid) and one Form 1096 Annual Summary and Transmittal of US Information Returns. If I had paid with a credit card, payment card, or through some 3^rd party transactions, I’d have to submit Form 1099-K.

The purpose of Forms 1099-MISC (copies A-C) and 1096 are to ensure recipients report the proper amount of income on their tax returns. Filing the forms is also important to me, because I want to claim the fee as a writing business expense. The forms have laser bond OCR heat resistant ink, which can’t be reproduced. My web guru orders the free forms from the IRS and provides her required identification number (SSN). I also have a extra set of forms my writer friend purchased at an office supply store.

Did you pay someone $600.00 or more for materials and / or services related to your writing business in 2012? If so, please consult a tax expert and the IRS links below. Remember the deadline for filing the forms is Feb. 28, 2013.

LINKS:

1099-MISC:

Form: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Form-1099-MISC,-Miscellaneous-Income-

Instructions: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1099msc.pdf

1096-Annual Summary and Transmittal of US Information Returns:

Form: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Form-1096,-Annual-Summary-and-Transmittal-of-U.S.-Information-Returns

General Instructions: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1099gi.pdf

To obtain scannable forms:

Call 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676)

Or go to this link: http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Online-Ordering-for-Information-Returns-and-Employer-Returns

LINKS:

What the Amazon Best Sellers Rank Means

http://www.theresaragan.com/p/sale-ranking-chart.html

Royalties and Commissions

http://www.nadialee.net/blog/2010/06/writers-math-is-your-friend/

Earnings of Self-Published Authors

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/24/self-published-author-earnings

Most people think of baseball when they hear the word “pitch.” Writers spend hours creating and practicing what they hope is a perfect pitch for their manuscript, book proposal, or screenplay. Pitches come in different lengths, and the methods vary. (See links below.)

When you’ve finished pitching, don’t toss that pitch away. Reduce, reuse, and recycle it. A great pitch can be fashioned into part of a back cover blurb, query, and/or synopsis.

What’s your favorite way to create the perfect pitch?

Links:

Video: Michael Hauge pitch method 21min. 9 seconds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZrvgU10hA0

Literary agent, Rachelle Gardner: http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/secrets-of-a-great-pitch/

Multiple methods: http://newkidonthewritersblock.blogspot.com/search?q=pitch

Harlequin: The Heart of the Matter: How to Find the Essence of Your Plot in Two Sentences

http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/2012/09/the-heart-of-the-matter-how-to-find-the-essence-of-your-plot-in-two-sentences/

Carrie Lofty The Tiny Art of Elevator Pitches: http://ffnp.blogspot.com/2012/02/tiny-art-of-elevator-pitches.html

Sept. 2012 Pitch Opportunity:

http://www.castlesandguns.com/2012/09/pitch-contest-with-entangled-publishing.html

Some editors recommend it. Some published authors swear it’s the way they learned to win contests and obtain contracts. Savvy Authors and writing groups sponsor workshops on deconstructing individual novels. But how do you actually deconstruct a novel?

I prefer to combine the romance novel method (Link 1 below) with a brief outline of the chapters. Warning: My method is time-consuming but well worth the effort.

How many novels have you deconstructed? What method did you use?

Links:
1. Romance Novel method: http://howtowriteshop.loridevoti.com/2012/08/ten-steps-to-deconstructing-a-novel-or-how-to-learn-from-great-authors/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HowToWriteShop+%28How+To+Write+Shop%29

(Thanks to my friend and fellow writer, Ana Farrish, for recommending this link.)

2. Scene method: http://suzanne-johnson.blogspot.com/2010/12/deconstructing-novel-patricia-briggs.html

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Thomas A. Edison

As a writer, I don’t have time for the Edison approach. That’s why I like brainstorming in a group. However not all groups are created equal, so here are some tips that work for me.

1. Size matters. Less is more. More time for each person to have a turn. More time for recording ideas, asking questions, etc. No more than five people in a group.

2. The secret is in the sauce. Brainstorming with other authors who read or write in your genre or time period creates the best blend of ideas and resources.

3. Location. Location. Location. Find a convenient place, which is private with few distractions.

4. Be prepared. Bring copies of a one-page double-spaced overview of the premise and tone of your work and your specific area(s) of concern. I provide spaces for comments and collect the pages at the end of the session in case I missed any suggestions.

5. In the nick of time. Two hours is a reasonable amount of brainstorming time for each person to receive twenty to thirty minutes of ideas from the group. Someone needs to be the timekeeper and reign in the group if they lose focus on the premise, tone, or specific concerns. Gentle reminders. No whips or rulebooks are required.

What do you think about brainstorming groups? What other suggestions do you have?

Three links from The Writer Fairy:

NYT Best Seller List

Beta Readers

Copyright

Happy Labor Day weekend!

Jillian

Artwork © Crystal Bannin  http://thequeenoftorts.blogspot.com/

Birth of the Writer Fairy