On Writing and Promotion: Let's Get Organized!

Mindy Philips Lawrence writes "An Itty-Bitty Column" for my Sharing with Writers newsletter. I'm reprinting it here to help ring in the New Year. As you can see, she always includes pertinent links, some that are such vital resources you'll be inspired to get right to work doing better writing or better promotion. I'm talking about links like the one for the Diane Rehm show below.



On with the Show, This is IT!

 By Mindy Phillips Lawrence

When the Bugs Bunny Show began each week, it started with the song, ”On with the Show, This is IT!” that signaled the beginning of the performance. The end of this year is coming up fast and it’s time to do some planning for 2011 while we buy those online gifts and deliberate over where to hang those decorations. It’s time to plan for our 2011 showstoppers.
Here are some challenges to take on to begin your approaching writing year:
• Make a list (and check it twice) showing ideas that you would like to write on. These can be nonfiction or fiction ideas (or a combination).
• Learn more about the different ways to publish your work (check this issue for wonderful information on traditional, indie, and other methods of publication).
• Figure out how you will edit what you write. Hopefully, you can find someone REALLY GOOD (ahem, like Carolyn? www.howtodoitfrugally.com/editing_&_writing_services.htm ).
• Make a flexible writing schedule that will allow you to get work done.

• Figure out what contests you want to submit to long before their deadlines and read their submission requirements early on. For leads check www.howtodoitfrugally.com/contests.htm .
• Begin!

Helen Simonson, Author of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, said something intriguing to several writers who called in while she was being interviewed on the Diane Rehm Show (http://thedianerehmshow.org) on NPR. She instructed the callers to make SURE and find a good editor, or editors, and to LISTEN to what they had to say. Let the editing be harsh. One's writing gets much better that way.
So make some plans, have your Rohatsu/Christmas/Chanukah/Kwansaa celebrations, and then begin your writing year with some well-planned direction.

LINKS

Bugs Bunny: http://looney.goldenagecartoons.com/tv/bbshow/



Helen Simonson: http://helensimonson.com/index.php



Diane Rehm Show: http://thedianerehmshow.org/



Working Writers Daily Planner http://www.amazon.com/Working-Writers-Daily-Planner-2011/dp/1931520674#reader_1931520674


Free Homemade Calendars: http://homemadecalendars.blogspot.com/2010/07/free-homemade-calendars-2011-printable.html


~ Mindy Phillips Lawrence, www.freewebs.com/mplcreative,  is the author of the poetry collections One Blue Star and Above and Below. She is co-author of The Complete Writer and a publicist and literary agent. She is in the process of researching a novel titled Alone is Where We Begin. Blogging at: http://mplcreative.blogspot.com/ .Her specialty is helping writers with their media releases. Reach her at mplcreative1@aol.com .

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and how to books for writers including, The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't; The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success; and Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers . The Great First Impression Book Proposal is her newest booklet for writers. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor . If your followers at Twitter would benefit from this blog post, please use the little Green widget to let them know about this blog: