Meet Me! And Thoughts on Giving Back

First . . . if you live in the Richmond, Virginia area or driving distance from it, consider coming to the Writers Workshop held by the library. I'm giving a presentation on writing for Young Adults next Saturday. Apparently, you get a box lunch. I forget what lunch choice I picked, but . . . lunch and ME . . . how can you beat it?

Second, a quote for your Sunday morning pleasure:


Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
~Tenzin Gyatso

With a handful of exceptions (in many years of writing) that I can think of, I have met only writers who are more than willing to give back to fellow writers. The few exceptions, oddly enough all youngish women, I just consider an indication of their personal character or the fact that they haven't grown yet, and I consider them the exception not the rule.

In general, what you usually see are writers who are willing to stop and talk craft, and stop and talk the agonies of trying to get published, who share their insider knowledge--whether that's the intricacies of publishing or where to stick a comma. The blog world has its share of negativity--and I avoid those places--and I tend to hang with the positive folks. I will be updating my blog roll this week with all the new, great writers I've met.

Mark Terry, for instance, wrote a 10-piece blog series on freelance writing that should be a BOOK (have you thought of that, Mark?). But it's not just published authors, but writers who just want to share the journey. Share their passion. If you're been crazy enough not to visit SpyScribbler's blog . . . well, then haul your blog-hopping a** over there today.

As for me . . . I always feel what goes around comes around. Lately, I've had a personal patch of roughness, but my pals--both in real life and online--have been nothing but good to me.

So take a hint from the Dalai Lama. No matter if you get the million-dollar contract or not . . . your success will be measured by your character.

Thoughts? Has the comraderie of writers helped you?

Peace,
E

Topics?

So I was asked to speak in June at a wine and cheese gathering at the local country club--a fundraiser for a library. When I speak to writers, I naturally gravitate to certain topics. Characterization. Breaking out of a rut. Making your manuscript stand out. Plot. Theme. Getting your hook in the manuscript early. Writers, I get.

But when you have a group assembled that is not comprised of writers, the topics shift. I have a few ideas . . . but . . . I would love to hear from you all--writers, readers, lurkers (you know who you are because you occasionally email me!), bloggers, etc. If you went to see an author speak, what would you want to hear about? If you went to see ME speak, what the heck would you want to learn?

Side note: Wine will be involved, so . . . that makes everything immediately more interesting.

Now . . . discuss!

Peace,
E