Southern Writing

Wendylbolm.com is down

My webhosting expired today. The domain redirected to this blog, but now it shows an account suspended page. I'm currently looking into my webhosting options, since I really just need to set the account to send everything back to Typepad.

This is definitely a great time to start handing out my business cards.

Wolfe blurb

In a post-apocalyptic world, more than 90 percent of the earth is run by the dictator Govi, an immortal who has built his empire for countless generations. His only adversary is Wolfe, the son her never knew he had, who was raised with the sole purpose of opposing his father.

The final showdown will pit Wolfe against his father for humanity's last chance at freedom. Wolfe can choose to fight or give in to his father's legacy.

I've been thinking about the query I will eventually write for my unfinished novel. This is what I have so far.

The Wil Wheaton model for freelance writers

I've been following Wil Wheaton's blog for a few months now, and his business as a freelance writer is pretty impressive. In fact, I've been following him to try to capture his secrets and use them in my own writing.

His most recent feat is with the book Sunken Treasure, which is a compilation of his favorite pieces from his books and blog.

Here's the short version of his success with the book:

Wheaton self published the book and automatically started marketing it, especially on his blog. He backed it up with tweets on Twitter and offered limited special offers for the book.

Then, last night Saturday afternoon, he started asking around on Twitter if his fans would like to buy a PDF version of the book for $5 a download. With an overwhelming demand and a few clicks of his mouse, he made the download instantly available. He saw both his digital and print sales rise, and as of the last update on sales, he said he was 17 digital sales away from overtaking the print sales he's amassed in the weeks since the print version went on sale. (You can check out Wheaton's version of events here.)

There are quite a few things beginning (and weathered) freelance writers can take away from his story.

• Diversifying content is a good thing. Write for a number of print and online publications and blog and tweet as much as possible, even if it's just to amuse yourself. This will build up a fan base. (Although, having a built in fan base of people who have watched your TV shows and movies doesn't hurt.)
• Write personal stories in your blog (as much as you feel comfortable) because people like feeling connected to who they're reading.
• If you blog and have a large readership, flirt with print on demand (Wheaton used Lulu), whether it be a book or 'zine. You don't have much to lose, and you can play around with marketing and readership to see if a print product is viable.
• Ask your readership what they would like to see. If you ask around and don't get any bites for your pet project, you might want to rethink your approach. But, if you find an enthusiastic response, you might want to take a risk.
• Look for services that will make your life as easy as possible. Wheaton could easily convert his book to a PDF format and offer it up on the Lulu website.

In a media environment where professionals from newspapers to book publishing are screaming loudly about a falling sky, it's refreshing to see someone taking advantage of digital outlets and making a living. Any other pointers about digital publishing and marketing are appreciated.

Spring: A time of conventions

Starting Friday, I will (hopefully) be liveblogging from Megacon, a convention held every year in Orlando, Florida. Every year Megacon (or, Hollacon, as my friends call it) is a gluttony of gaming, comics, low budget horror (usually provided by Troma), scantily clad Anime fans, and sci fi.

I'm hoping to do the same thing for FX Show in April, which is strongly contending with Megacon. While Megacon offers up a number of games, vendors, and guests (the big names this year are from Battlestar Galactica), FX is catching up and in many ways surpassing Mega.

Take, for instance, that this year's big draws at FX are stars from the Whedon-verse. James Marsters (Spike, from Buffy), Jewel Staite (Kaylee from Firefly and Serenity), and Morena Baccarin (Inara from Firefly and Serenity) are going to draw in Whedon's fans in big numbers, who will almost certainly shell out big bucks for pictures with the stars.

Last year, there were some conflicts with Mega's staff over the gaming schedule, which was clearly printed in the booklets provided to attendees. I watched Megacon security try to strong arm the staff of a game I was playing (One World by Night's Tampa and Bradenton staff, who were hosting) into leaving a few hours early, which disrupted the game and angered players and staff alike. I also had a hard time getting information from Mega staff when I needed it.

In contrast, the FX staff was helpful, and took me by the hand and set up interviews for me with Nicholas Brendon and other attendees.

I'm hoping Megacon can get it together this year, because for the last three years, it has been one of my favorite events. With the quality and big names at FX, I might have to take a hard look at where I spend my time and money in future years.

February progress report

I've been doing a lot of writing for the St. Pete Times, so that is going well. I redesigned my blog earlier, and I'm going to make some modifications to some general blog things like the categories.

I haven't submitted the paperwork I need to get my passport, and I haven't traveled anywhere this month (but, I'm going to be in Orlando for Megacon).

The big reason I'm posting a progress report is my resolution to be more active this year. Until today, I've earned a big "F" for fitness.

I sit at work nine hours a day, three days a week with only a ten minute walk on my lunch break. On my days off, I'm driving around like mad and writing like mad, so I alternate between sitting in my car and lying while typing in my bed most days.

I've done two or three yoga sessions and taken a few walks in the last two months, but other than that, there's been no physical activity to speak of. Worst of all, I haven't even gone out dancing.

Since I've started writing for the Times, I've eaten at my mom's two or three times a week. This means more meat, fat, salt, and sugar have been added to my diet than I've experienced since 2000. On top of that, I drink about two cups of coffee with sugar and cream every day I'm at the office. And, when I go out, I've started drinking sodas again. And, fast food has been sneaking back into my diet, although it could be worse. A few years ago, I was at Taco Bell or Burger King three or four times a week. Now, my bad fast food choices usually consist of Chipotle (too much sour cream, cheese, and guac, but I stay vegetarian) and Byblos, a local pita place (where I usually eat falafels with lots of veggies, garlic sauce, and a thinned yogurt sauce).

I've also been frequenting Starbucks and the local chocolate store.

All of this has resulted in me feeling uncomfortable in my own skin for the first time.

My response for all of this is to start Gym-a-Thon '09. I am going to check out four or five gyms in my area and make a decision some time next month about where I'd like to land.

Tomorrow I'm starting a seven day free trial at Shapes Total Fitness, an all-women gym a few blocks away from my house. There is also a Shapes moving in next to the Pasco office for the Times, so Shapes is one of the front runners in this competition, thanks to its proximity to my house, my day job, and my writing gig.

Shapes also advertises on its website that staff members call and email members when they haven't shown up for a while, which is another draw. And, on the website, they are advertising a $24.95 stimulus package for these hard economic times.

Freelance writing tips: Essential writing gear

If, two years ago, you told me I would one day see a cell phone as an essential writing tool, I would have chewed you out. In fact, up until a few years ago, I saw cellphones as pretentious status symbols that made everyday people forget common sense and etiquette. But, the reality is that in 2009, smartphones have become equipment every freelancer should have.

They are expensive, especially if you're buying one from your cell phone provider and need it before a couple years into your current plan.

Data plans cost more than regular phone plans, which is another expense you will have to incur.

But, smartphones have too many necessary features to ignore.

• You can use a smartphone as a cellular modem in a pinch, if you're facing a tight deadline.



• You can access your email accounts from smartphones, which means can write articles directly into the phone if you're facing a dead computer battery or other glitches.

• You can usually move files from your computer to your phone, giving you another option if you need to email an editor an article on deadline.

• With some phones, you can create, open, and edit Word documents from the phone, which is a good feature if you need to work on a story.

• You can keep in touch with sources and networks while you're away from your desk.

• Some smartphones have special apps that connect you to your social networking, blogging, email, and photo album accounts.

• Most smartphones also include cameras that can capture pictures and video.

The hard question I have is which phone to buy. Right now, it's between the G1 and the Blackberry Curve. I'm going to test out the G1 this week, and if it works with my Mac, I should have my answer and move towards the next step.

What phone would you suggest I buy?

Finding the inspiration to write

I've had many conversations with failed writers, and I've found a trend in why many people don't write.

Writing can be seen as a holy act, and many writers lose momentum because they can't find the inspiration or their muse has been silenced. Or, they can't do what they want to write justice, so instead of practicing the craft of writing, they silence their pens and keyboards.

When I write, I don't wait for inspiration or an act of God. I sit down and plow through the words until I'm done or need a break. This approach has served me well for fiction and nonfiction alike. However, I realized there is one motivational factor that determines how likely I am to finish, or sometimes even start, a project.

This factor is money.

When I'm getting paid, I have a terrific turnaround rate. The same was true in school, when I was turning stories in for a grade. I'd have my work done in no time and move on to something else.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, there are different currencies to worry about other than money. For beginning writers, having a body of clips and experience are important in an industry that judges writers on past publications.

I write all week long, but when it comes to writing articles I'm not getting paid for or writing fiction stories I have to submit on spec, my ability to churn out a few thousand words dips into the negatives.

Here are a few pointers I have for writing stories when the incentive to do so isn't as motivational as cold, hard cash.

• Find a website or magazine that publishes reviews, then write in exchange for free stuff. (Publications often receive special copies of books, DVDs, and CDs just for reviews, and live venues from concerts to plays and even films at the movie theater offer special tickets for the press.)

• Write for links back to your personal or professional blog. It will drum up traffic to your site.

• If you network,find a prospective publication and talk to a representative about a project you would like to work on. You'll be more likely to finish it if someone is expecting it.

• Trade a press release for special discounts or services from a local business.

These are just a few of the ways you can trick yourself into being productive. Does anyone have other tips?

First rejection of the new year

I received my first rejection of the new year yesterday- it was for "Seeing God" from Necrotic Tissue. So, tonight I plan on rewriting it and submitting it somewhere else as soon as possible.

I think what really sets successful writers apart is that they face rejection every day still decide to send out their material over and over again.

Answering questions on editorial writing and headlines

At some point along the way, people started following me in the different publications my words frequent. Every once in a while they'll add me on Facebook or Myspace, and even rarer I'll find bits of fan mail or a question in my inbox.

Sarah, who found me on Mookychick and then my Myspace page, wants advice on editorial and headline writing.

My advice for editorial writing is simple. Read Howard Troxler and Leonard Pitts, my favorite editorial columnists. (To be transparent, Troxler and I both write for the St. Pete Times. Although, that definitely doesn't put us on the same playing field.) Take note of their style and how they take timely issues and delve into the subject matter. Make sure you know how to report news, because that's the backbone of editorial writing. And, don't spit out what everyone else is saying. There's no point in writing an editorial piece if it says what's been said thousands of times before.

Writing good headlines is a thornier issue. I took a copy editing class that focused on headlines as part of the curriculum. We even had to count out the number of characters a headline would take up and fit into a specific space, which I think is a good exercise even for web writers. Add search engine optimization, web readers' habits and the difference between print and web headlines, and the topic becomes a tangled mess.

When writing for print, I would suggest playing with words as much as possible. Try to be punny.

When writing for the web, try to fit in key words about the editorial.

For example, if writing a headline for a piece on a fictional senator's double life, "Brennon Exposed" in giant letters would work. But, on the web site, "Senator Brennon under investigation for leading double life in St. Claire" would work better, because it gives readers a better idea of what's in the story.

If anyone else has suggestions for Sarah, please feel free to weigh in.

January in review

Nonfiction Submissions: 12
Sales: 12
Rejections: 0
Publications:12 (four city council stories for the St. Pete Times, two enterprise stories about city government for the St. Pete Times, four events listings for 411 Magazine, and two On the cheap columns for Tampa Bay Arts Network)
Approx Word Count: 7,000 words
WIP: two stories about city government, one story about congenital heart defects, and one restaurant review for On the cheap
New Subscriptions: The New Gay, Knit for Your Life, and Grace the Spot

Fiction Submissions: 2
Sales: 0
Rejections: 0
Publications: 0
Approx Word Count: 3,500 words
Stories out in submission land: 2
WIP: An untitled sci-fi story about a lesbian rabbi on a space ship and my wip novel.

I wrote one new short story: "Seeing God," which turned into "Looking for God."

That's about it for January. I stole this monthly review survey from Catherine Gardner at The Poisoned Apple, one of my favorite blogs out in blog land.