https://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2017/02/14/youre-too-smart-to-go-down-stupid
Conferences
Invaluable Advice from a PRO
What day is it?
Oh’ snap!
It is the first Wednesday of the month and do you know that means? Posting for Insecure Writers Support Group, now why would I be party to such a crowd? Well let me tell you why, writing in general …
A ghastly, not gassy, career choice indeed! And yet an affliction plaguing many. Everyone is a writer, but not everyone has support – so let’s hear if for the club! Open to one and all just skip on over!
Last month, on Wednesday 1 of April, I was honored to be attending a workshop in Portland, Oregon with Larry Brooks and a great number of talented authors. His tutelage should, absolutely, be the 1st letter in the alphabet when thinking about sitting down and penning a spectacular piece of literary art.
There are many considerations to navigate. Putting one word in front of the other is not the only talent for success. Excitement and common sense have a tendency to cross in the night and end up on Pluto.
#Save Yourself #Your Friends & Family, too #Am Writing
Oh’ good morning my sappy writer friends and to all those who know better, lol!
What a day, what a life, what it means to surround yourself with those of a similar, twisted, like mind. Do you remember the wild ride? Yes, the nauseating thrill that beckons us forward, casting a voodoo spell until we vomit from excitement and exhaustion.
I would imagine the same can be said in all of our passions, albeit I speak of mine, writing, scribbling, dabbling with a pen, chewing the lid until plastic shards fill your mouth and your lips become covered in an explosion of red.
(Pencils, I know, dream with me, my people)
It is that gnawing creature inside inking its way out.
This week has encapsulated Sandi and me with a solid core, a safe zone of inspirational minds who have left their egos at home. (hallelujah) Portland has welcomed Larry Brooks an amazing story coach and writer, and you would almost say, friend. He is hard-core, yet genuine in his honesty, speaking those nasty words you truly need to hear. Logic, structure, placing a skeleton behind the myriad, fleshy jumbled literary maze, that would be our mind, and asking in simple plain terms,
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Simple questions, like, “What is conceptual about this?
What is your core dramatic thread? Your premise?”
And you stop and say, yah, I just wrote 20,000 beautiful, pain-staking words of… let’s be honest, not much, equaling a chalk board void of scribble. What he lays out may seem simple to some, but this is complexly clear and offers…
FOCUS…FOCUS
Substance, sprinkled appropriately, given straight.
The beauty of dissecting our thoughts saves us time and sanity.
As a glorified rambler, babbler, pantser, sitter down and jumper in, I recognize the need in myself for this framework, before.
If I am truly serious, this I will do.
Insecure Writers Unite –arm yourselves with the appropriate weapons to slay these inner gremlins, ultimately, holding us back, allowing clarity of our vision to be seen, when planned appropriately.
Skip the 18 drafts and cut that time in half, reach for the light!
Write on! ❤ Jessica
Want to Change Your Life? Join Us in Portland 4 a Writer’s Workshop with Larry Brooks #IWSG #PINCHME #AMWRITING
http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html
Calling all my INSECURE WRITING FRIENDS
Are you kidding me? We are so there! Done and done says Sandi and me!
After the two of us have attended Writing Conferences and Webinars and Many Other Costly Programs and Writing Events … We assure you this is MONEY WELL SPENT! I don’t know how you are going to get there, but get there and BE afraid to learn more about writing and who you are as a storyteller than you would have ever imagined possible and expect to cry. Yes, happy, sad, mad, life-changing tears of reality!
(hey, it’s all a part of the experience-it’s NOT going to kill us-
JUST make us stronger-BOOyah, Baby!)
We have seen Larry at our Portland Conference for the last two years and like frightened newbies hid in the back afraid to be called upon or looked at for too long, shrinking in our seats if his gaze came too close. This past year we did edge closer to the fourth or fifth row, but our hands remained glued to our chairs.
Go to, NO, run to http://www.novelintensives.com to sign up ASAP! Initially, we were told the class would be well over our price bucket – it is more than 50% OFF the pricing quoted in August 2015.
Do you want to know how serious I am about this? I will forgo my morning Americano, take back the 800 bags of bottles lining my back shed, get a part-time job at McDonalds (might be an exaggeration), run to the blood bank, re-evaluate my Dyson addiction (sorry James) and make my husband dinner at least 3 2 of the 7 nights in a given week. Write On! ❤ Jessica!
365.24 Days of Living Selfishly
It is true. For the past 12 months, I have dedicated almost every single day to follow my individual pursuits. I have finished another manuscript while redrafting my first. I have lived from great highs to deep lows in encouragements and frustrations. My steadfast team has held my hand, pushed me forward, relished in my accomplishments, and attempted to wipe away my blubbers of disappointment. I have been lifted up and let down. I have won as I have lost and for the first time in – ever, I speak in first person.
My life as a dreamer has earned me less than I have made since I was 13 years old. But I did get paid and that, in itself, was a moment of triumph. Not as a novelist, per se, but in copy editing and that is okay.
So what is it I have learned to pass on to others who dream of this fantasy that does not leave us, penning words of whimsy or knowledge?
If it is your passion, do it, whether it is in the dark or on the back of an envelope. If you have five minutes or five hours, it is all the same. Thoughts overflow and find their way to a page, a habit we cannot quit. Allow this voice to find you and guide you. Do not question ‘the Rules’ or allow well-placed advice to deviate you from your course.
Just Write. That is what makes us a…writer.
More time leads us to more self-pressure, self-doubt, and self-deprecation. And everything hinges on the same word, you.
At my 2nd writer’s conference, the question was asked, “What is it that keeps you from writing?” And 90% of the room raised their hands to answer, “Time.” Last year, this was my answer, too. Today my response is, “ME.” While I have found my individual freedom to speak, I have also found a plethora of excuses or outside intrusions limiting me from my potential.
“You are living your dream.” A statement from one of my very best friends. He is right. When dubiety and disappointment flood my brain, I remind myself, hearing him speak. The strong voice of one who does not write but knows me for the person I am. It matters not if I am a Plotter or a Pantser, an Amateur or Accredited, I am a writer, and I will forever tell stories as I see them told.
As Always, WRITE On! ❤ Jessica
Gravatar-Part Deux
I have to admit I quite enjoyed my original post on the importance of Gravatars (it was the 80’s hair band collage) in this world of cyber-space. The importance of bringing a personal perspective to what is almost impersonal. And because of a writer’s conference class I attended speaking specifically on the importance of online presence and peppering that miniature baby everywhere you went. Especially, on your blog/website and making an appearance on others.
It’s like BAM here I am! BAM here I am again, and suddenly we feel like we know each other and vise-versa.
When we make ourselves seen, and our presence felt enough, our voice can be heard without using any words.
And the biggest reason I wanted to write Part Deux, forgetting the most important point that I wanted to make originally, (I somehow got caught up in all that hair) is that I look for you by that tiny representation. Your image whatever it might be when you hit the like button, and there you are — making me smile. It is a refreshing, breathtaking reminder of the time you have taken to say hello.
And I will admit…I fall in love a little with each of you.
Write On! ❤ Jessica
To Tweet or Not To Tweet
Social media is one of the biggest questions writers seem to be asking…Should I? How necessary is it? What are the steps? After Oregon’s largest writers’ conference last summer the answer could not be clearer – an online presence is a must.
I, personally, did not even have a Facebook account and that quickly changed. There is so much support for writers through communities and groups that your experience will be everything you put into it, within sane reason. To be successful is not an illusion it takes time, effort and energy. To have a following, you must be an involved follower, an active participant in building your platform.
If you don’t know how to put it all together; Google it, the needed information is out there if you are willing to look. WordPress has blogging courses for beginners or freshen it uppers. Do not be afraid. Work for the recognition you deserve and have labored for. But, you must be mindful. You will no longer be anonymous.
The most beneficial information for me has come from; Twitter.
My favorite widget application on WordPress is About Me.
I have Pinterest, LinkedIn and Tumblr accounts but do not spend the necessary allotted time to make these equally successful. Reddit is my biggest mystery. And this, for now, is okay with me.
These entities link together and before you know it the magic slowly becomes reality. I attended a webinar recently where a traditionally published author explained she became solely independent. All marketing while being represented was her exclusive responsibility.
The course also mentioned in the next 10 years the industry will be called “publishing,” period. We must get comfortable with the notion of being “Hybrid” if anything, a bit of both, traditional and self-published and get over the misplaced idea of being One or the Other.
If we want to be read, we must not only put our professionally polished work out there, but be willing to step forward on the internet stage and take a bow. One year ago I would have never been able to do this…Hi, my name is Jessica Edouard and I write historical romance novels.
Much <3! Keep writing! Jessica
To Be Remembered
To be remembered is a piece of advice that Sandi imparted upon me, and while at our big writer’s conference this past summer, I learned first hand the appropriate, not bumbling, ways to make an impact with the proper approach…
1. Dress the part: Case in point…there was a lovely young woman who wore a bold striped skirt of various colors, with a geometrical patterned blouse that clashed on every account. Now even I do not own Garanimals, but instead of her trend choice being a fashion faux pas, she did what? Exactly, she stood out and even today is being remembered. If I can’t get her out of my mind, think of the agents she sat in front of to pitch. Her outfit was not obscene in any way shape or form, just far from ordinarily boring.
1a. Play the part: Characters from your book? Different culture? use it to your advantage, make your characters work for you. Sell your story. When was dress- up ever boring?
1b. As a dithering and enthusiastic entrepreneur of the written word, I will not be one to make such an emboldened choice when it comes to my apparel, but there is another option that could make a lasting impression: added stand-out, look-at-me jewelry, scarves, belts, man bags. These are choices for the faint of heart.
1c. If you opt out of colorful clothing possibilities then have an intriguing personal bio, make your background a great story of its own. We all can make a great impression by being professional as we demonstrate endearing traits of our personalities.
Another awesome case in point…the first night of our stay a beautiful woman stated in our peer group, in front of a panel of agents, that she was a retired Disney Princess. Now how does one compete with that? It should have been my cue to exit stage right.
2. Pitching to agents at any conference is a huge piece, if you so choose, but the last thing I would like to say about our first experience is to take advantage of all the great information and classes offered at these events. It is invaluable, and you have paid for the information, do not leave short. Network with other authors and enjoy this amazing experience.
3. As in all things of life, be wary, there are still those nasty individuals who are busily looking to take advantage of our delicate egos and complete inexperience in the industry.
Keep writing,
Jessica 🙂
Just in Case, this is Your FIRST time
“You are living your dream.” One of my best friends just recently reminded me of this and they are 100% correct. This is my dream. Writing is what I have always wanted to do, and I am now 6 months into my journey. I have journals since I was a teenager and college creative writing course papers’ that commend my passion, but remind me, I have a lot of work to do in polishing my energies. My Nana used to have a stone polisher?
In my own environment, I am not a shy girl, but when it comes to writing EVERY insecurity possibly known to mankind comes to the surface; shortness of breath, shaking, slurred speech, cold sweats and talking faster than a speeding bullet.
Here comes my first big piece of advice, something I even taught my kids, “Life is an acting job.” This comes in handy when you are at your most vulnerable. And, I learned this again after this past summer’s conference. The second snippet of wisdom is, “Be Remembered.” Thank you Sandi!
I think I accomplished this in all the wrong ways…wah, wanh, wah! I promise… my second time, I will be sooo much better. 🙂
And so…here we go…My first experience pitching to agents…Need I remind you, I have never had a problem making a fool of myself and owning it like a true professional.
- 10 minutes is a long, painstaking time to make a complete ID 10 T of yourself. Even if your acting is polished where your writing is not.
- Know your genre. You must know this so you can pitch to the right agents of that subclass and as Sandi has explained can be a difference of agency opinion. I, unfortunately, believed my genre was Romantic Fantasy, GONG! I was quickly informed it is Paranormal Romance, that trended to be the going theme, and so, I am running with it.
- Do your research on who you are pitching to and what they are specifically looking for. You must go beyond the conference bio’s. I had the pleasure of sitting with a nice gentleman whose genre base could not have been further from that of my manuscript, (Has anyone heard of graphic novel? Yeah, me either until that most unfortunate moment.) F M L, serious typo in the conference documents. Too bad for slimy handed, good smelling, stuttering moi’, but I did remember to bring my best smile and polite exit. No, I didn’t get my money back.
- If you are writing romance and seeking representation from an agent, your manuscript must be a minimum of 80,000 words, or they will blankly wonder why you are sitting in front of them, mine was 65,000, much better to have to add to a story, than to trim off. I think I threw up in my throat a little.
- Self-publishing has a completely different rule book. 1 stumbling step at a time.
And all this, only 30 minutes of a 3 day event. Life is good.
American Writers Exposed 
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