July
marks the fifth anniversary of my home-based business, InkSpotter
Writing and Editing -- and, coincidentally enough, my birthday. How
will I celebrate? Besides the traditional night of drinking martinis and
ogling cute Greek waiters, I've decided to start my first newsletter.
InkSpotter
News
provides information and support to other creative writers -- whether
they're into fiction, poetry, personal essays, creative journalism, or a
little bit of everything. This will also provide a forum for me to share
my successes -- I might even be so bold as to highlight a few of my
failures from time to time -- and those of other writers.
Speaking of successes, I just returned
from an eight-week residency at the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New
Mexico. Thefolks at the foundation couldn't have been nicer. The altitude in
Taos, however, was a little daunting at first. Having lived at sea level
my whole life, I found the air a little rare at 7,000 feet! A walk across
the parking lot the day I arrived left me feeling like I'd just run a
marathon.
My
writing turned into a marathon, too. I wrote my first novella and enough short stories, essays,
and poems to fill a book -- and a few of those pieces gained quick
acceptance in the real world. The poem "Window on a Taos Day" appeared in the May issue of Sol Magazine (see
Free
Contests), and the essay "Amazon Queen" was accepted for the
July issue
of Betty Magazine.
Looking
for a little writing inspiration and camaraderie? Join
the Literary
Lapse mailing list.
Advertise
your writing-related product or service in the next issue of InkSpotter
News. Contact the editor
for details.
Not to be outdone, one of my
"older" stories also did well. After I spent much
of May blackmailing friends and offering to kiss babies and pets,
"Simply Irresistible" won 1st prize in Donard
Publishing's first short story contest of 2003. My thanks to everyone
who took the time to read and vote for my story.
But
enough about me for one month. Grab a coffee (or an herbal tea), relax,
and enjoy the first issue of InkSpotter News.
Linear Reflections
Within our virtual pages you will find comprehensive reviews of as many of the world's art forms as possible. Our staff works hard to bring you a mixture of reviews - on music, literature, art, movies,
stage, concerts and even video games. Our reviews are not only for adults, but also for the kid in everyone. Come visit us at:
http://www.linearreflections.com and sign up for our FREE newsletter. If you have something you'd like to submit, or are interested in
reviewing, please contact us.
As it turns out, these competitions
seem to like me, too. That's why I thought I'd return the favour and
introduce them to a few more writers.
Entry
fees can drain your wallet, so I'm going to concentrate on the no-fee
variety.
Sol
Magazine - In the words of Mary Margaret Carlisle, Managing Editor, Sol
Magazine is "an international membership comprised of volunteers
and poets interested in the promotion of poetry and the education of
poets. Competition poetry, poetry websites reviewed, poets
interviewed." Prizes usually consist of Barnes and Noble electronic
gift certificate and sometimes include books, journals, and other items.
The top poets compete each year for the Poet Laureate title.
The
Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico
- This one isn't a contest, technically, but rather a fellowship. What
sets them apart from most fellowships is the fact that there's no
application fee. The Foundation provides two- to three-month residencies
in beautiful Taos, New Mexico, for writers and other artists. Request an
application form by writing to the foundation at P.O. Box 1891, Taos NM
87571. Annual postmark deadline for completed applications is
January 18th.
Toasted
Cheese Literary Journal
- This rather unique online journal runs three contests throughout the
year: Three Cheers & a Tiger, A Midsummer Tale, and Dead of Winter.
Prizes vary according to the contest and include publication, e-awards,
surprise gifts, and Amazon gift certificates. Look out for Snarks, and
beware "the wrath of the cheese."
July
1st is Canada Day, so it seems only proper to focus on Canadian markets
this time around. Also, since I've lived my whole life in the Atlantic
Provinces, I narrowed down the choices to markets based in New Brunswick,
Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland & Labrador. (Try as I might, I couldn't
find online guidelines for a literary journal based on Prince Edward
Island).
The
Antigonish Review - "Canada's Eclectic
Review" publishes poetry, short fiction, articles, and reviews from
emerging and established writers.
Reading period: Open (except fiction,
which is only read September 16-May 31 each year)
Editor:
Allan Quigley
Rights: Not
stated, but no simultaneous subs
Pays:
$50-$200 (copies only for poetry)
Submit
to:
The Antigonish Review
PO Box 5000
St. Francis Xavier University
Antigonish NS B2G 2W5
Canada
Nova
Scotia
The
Fiddlehead - Canada's longest-running literary
journal (since 1945) publishes fiction and poetry from writers all over
the world.
Reading period: Open
Fiction
Editor: Mark A. Jarman
Poetry
Editors: Lynn Davies, Sharon McCarthy
Rights: First
serial rights
Pays:
About $20/published page, plus one copy
Submit
to:
The Fiddlehead
Campus
House
11
Garland Ct
UNB PO Box 4400
Fredericton NB E3B 5A3
Canada
New
Brunswick
TickleAce
- Newfoundland and Labrador's respected literary journal publishes poetry,
fiction, reviews, and interviews from local writers (with a dash of
national and international talent for flavour).
Writing
is a business -- and where would business be without a little competition?
The following newsletters are terrific sources of information on markets,
contests, and writing advice.
The
publishers (all women) speak for themselves here.
FUNDSFORWRITERS
(C. Hope Clark) is a serious writer's resource for funds delivered in four
newsletters, a website, and occasional ebook. The newsletters are our
mainstay:
TOTAL
FundsforWriters - $9 / year for 26 issues with 90+ markets in each
FundsforWriters -
free weekly ezine with 15+ paying opportunities for seasoned writers
FFWJunior - free
ezine for the novice and hobby writer with about a dozen markets
WritingKid
- free newsletter
for the young writer seeking
places to publish
WriteSuccess
(Mary Ann Hahn)- "WriteSuccess" is a free biweekly ezine of ideas, information and inspiration for people who want to pursue SUCCESSFUL full-time writing careers. Each issue contains articles on new or tried-and-true places to find writing work, useful Web sites, writers markets, information on workshops and much more!
Writers
Manual
- Promoting fellow authors and freelance writers by detailing their
successes in traditional/ online publishing and freelancing. Learn the
tricks of the trade and expose yourself to 'tried and true' methods of
success! Contact Krista
Barrett.
EbooksCafe
- Bringing you a wide variety of quality fiction and non-fiction ebooks
and POD books, and providing authors with the opportunity to promote and
sell books worldwide. Authors: List ALL your books on our site for FREE!
Webpages for each book included! Contact Krista
Barrett.
Writer
Gazette
- A writer's resource site that provides tips, techniques, resources,
articles, job postings, and more to help induce, improve, and promote your
writing career. Writers: get a webpage hosted at Writer Gazette for
$1.25/month with free promotion! Check out the "Webpages" link
at our site! Contact Krista
Barrett.
This
month's spotlight shines on Shery Ma Belle Arrieta, the woman behind The
e-Writer's Place and countless books and products for writers.
InkSpotter:
When and how did you realize that you were a writer?
Did
you feel like you had a choice?
Arrieta:
I realized I was a writer when I was ten -- when I joined an essay writing
contest (I was a last minute replacement) and won. I was into art at that
time and I wanted to be a painter; I had made up my mind that I would be a
Fine Arts student once I step into college. The first time I won that
writing contest, I couldn't believe how I did it. Up until high school, I
joined writing contests and kept winning. Eventually, writing and poetry
overcame my love for drawing and painting so in college, I took
journalism.
Did
I feel like I had a choice when I realized I wanted to be a writer? Yes, I
did. At 10, I had a choice between art and writing. I chose writing. At
16, I had a choice between a degree my parents wanted and the journalism
degree I wanted. I chose what I wanted. At 21, I had a choice between the
career path my father wanted and the career path I wanted. I chose the
career path I wanted -- writing. I did have several jobs that were not
related to writing but I took them all on my terms -- that the jobs were
not jobs my father 'recommended', that the jobs served the purpose of
'funding' my writing career and establishing contacts, that the jobs
didn't tie me down. All in all, my decisions, including the decision to be
a full-time writer, were carefully thought out and executed.
InkSpotter:
Was
there ever a time when you thought,
"I'll
never make it as a writer. I should give up."
Arrieta:
Back in high school, I wasn't chosen as editor-in-chief for the school
paper. I was winning writing contests but for some reason, my English
teachers didn't seem to think I was good enough; they preferred someone
else. (It is interesting that the person they chose is now one of my
closest friends; we've been that for nearly 10 years). I didn't even get
to be the English editor. Instead I got appointed reporter and cartoonist.
I
considered resigning from the school paper, and I thought if I couldn't
even be EIC of my high school paper, what were my chances of even being a
professional writer? I thought it might be better for me to go back to my
first love, painting.
After
a week of moping around and drowning in self-pity, I had an idea. Call it
ego or pride -- or maybe I did it just to spite my teachers -- but I sent
some of my work to a local community newspaper and they got published and
I got paid. It was a big accomplishment for me at that time and I couldn't
wait to show it to my teachers -- the teachers who didn't appoint me EIC.
I
wasn't in the least humble about it back then. I made sure everyone knew I
was a published and paid writer at 16, and well, I admit, it was a move
that told my teachers, "Now you know you made the wrong choice!"
Rather than be impressed, my teachers merely looked at my publishing
credit and said, "That's good, that's good. Now where's the editorial
cartoon you're supposed to have turned in last week?" or "Nice
article, but I think it would have been better if you had written it this
way..."
It
deflated my ego, crushed my pride, and that event taught me something
valuable. It taught me to be humble, and it taught me never again to seek
validation as a writer from someone else. To do so would be to set myself
up for disappointments, because if I make it a practice in my life, I will
never think myself good enough as a writer; every word I'll put on paper
will be written with the approval of other people in mind -- "Will
they like what I write?" or "Are they going to think I'm one
darn good writer after reading this?" I will never be satisfied with
myself. And that, I think, is the most destructive I can do to my writer
self.
There
were other times I felt I'll never make it as a writer. During those times
I allowed myself to be depressed. I usually give myself a day or so to
wallow in self-pity, and then I make a list of things I have done as a
writer and the self-doubts disappear. I can be hard on myself, but over
the years, I've learned to be gentle with myself. If an article gets
rejected, I let myself be sad over it, or I let out my anger and
frustration by exercising (a treadmill can be a writer's very good
friend!).
At
the end of the day, no matter what other people think, I'm a writer. And
no matter what my critical self thinks, I am a writer. And as far as I
know, I've made it as a writer. All 17 years I've spent writing validates
my being writer.
InkSpotter:
What
would you consider your "big break"?
Arrieta:
Currently,
I have a couple of big breaks. One is the publication of my story in A
Cup of Comfort for Inspiration (September 2003) and being a
contributor in the revised edition of Moira Allen's book, WRITING.COM
(April 2003). The biggest break for me, I would say, is getting online in
1997. It paved the way for more writing credits and accomplishments for
me.
InkSpotter:
Do
you follow a strict writing schedule
or
wait for the muse to strike?
Arrieta:
I mostly follow a writing schedule, although from time to time, I give
myself a break from writing so I can get back to writing. I don't think
that is waiting for the muse to strike - but rather it's an attempt at
rejuvenating myself -- trying out other things, storing experiences,
letting the ideas settle or percolate for a while instead of attacking
them head on. Sometimes it's good to write down ideas and stories as they
present themselves, but sometimes it's also better to let them stay
unwritten -- let them incubate, so to speak, because after a while I'll
know when they're ready to be written. It is a balancing act, and it takes
a lot of commitment -- both to oneself and the craft. I am basically an
impatient person. I like to do things right away and get things done. I
tend to work on something until I can barely type or keep myself awake,
not take any breaks in between because to do so would break my
concentration and my working/writing frame of mind. I am still wrestling
with the balancing issue, but I think I am getting the hang of it, and can
identify writing activities that need my immediate action and which ones
need to be put on incubation.
There
are days I catch myself waiting for my muse -- I'd be staring at a blank
screen and my fingers would be hovering on my keyboard for the longest
time. And then I'd just tell myself, "Oh well, I can't write right
now. I better go check my e-mail while I wait for something to come
up." Whenever I find myself doing this, I immediately stop and walk
away from my computer. After a few minutes, I'll come back and write
myself an e-mail. It always starts with: "What are you supposed to
write about today, Shery?" Then I'll send it (yes, you read it right)
to myself. I'll check my e-mail, read the one I sent to myself, and reply
and answer the question. It may be weird, but it works for me. The next
thing I know, I'm writing down ideas I'm supposed to write about; I'm
listing things relevant to what I should be writing. By the time I'm done
with my reply, I've written things I can use for my writing.
InkSpotter:
Which
author is your guilty secret?
Arrieta:
I
think those who've known me online for years might raise an eyebrow or two
-- I don't exactly project the mushy, sappy or romantic image, but I'm a
sucker for Judith McNaught's books. I read her books if and when I can get
away with it. And I cry my heart out. A good story and good writing do
that to me. They push all the right buttons and make me drop my writer
self. There's something about the way she writes that just lets me enjoy
her story. And speaking of her books, I re-read one of her books, Whitney,
My Love, a few days ago. I needed a feel-good cry after all the pressures
of school (I'm in an MBA program) and work last week, and her book was a
welcome escape for me (never mind that I've read it more than a dozen
times).
InkSpotter:
If
you couldn't be a writer, what would you do?
Arrieta:
I'll probably paint and be a starving painter ;o). Seriously, though, I
would probably do computer programming if I couldn't be a writer. I like
structure, and I like creating something. Even as I tell you this, my mind
keeps turning towards writing, so I guess I lied about what I said at the
beginning of this interview -- I don't seem to have any choice on the
matter. I can only imagine myself doing non-writing things in less than 10
seconds :o)
InkSpotter:
What's
the best advice you can give to the novice writer?
Arrieta:
The
same thing I learned and what brought me up to this point --
self-validation. Validate yourself as a writer. Don't seek validation from
someone else -- not from your family, your friends, your spouse, your
teachers, other writers (and that includes me). Don't expect me to measure
your worth as a writer based on the work you let me read. Don't expect me
to tell you, "I don't think you're ready yet" or "Your
writing sucks, you need to do something you're good at." You're the
only one who can validate yourself. Validating yourself is also honouring
yourself. It isn't an egotistic act. It's an act of respecting yourself
and valuing the choice you've just made -- the choice to be a writer, the
choice to write. If you choose to be a writer, then the least you can do
is respect yourself and write for yourself first and for others next, not
the other way around.
