November 2014 archive

Short Story Anthologies

November 28, 2014

Short Story Anthologies: Opportunities for Writers

There’s something particularly satisfying about seeing your short stories published in an anthology. Not only do you get to share your work with readers, but you also get to see your writing alongside the work of other authors, each bringing a different voice and perspective to the collection. Short story anthologies offer excellent opportunities for writers to publish.

And speaking of which: Congratulations to Gerry Wolfson-Grande! Her short story “Lillian McNab and the Gerbil of Doom” and Christmas short, “Gabriel,” have both been included in Fireside Publications’ HOLIDAY TALES ANTHOLOGY 2014, now available in paperbook or e-book from Fireside Publications and from Amazon.

Themed anthologies, like Fireside Publications’ Holiday Tales Anthology 2014, can offer especially interesting opportunities for writers. A shared theme gives contributors a starting point, but leaves plenty of room for imagination. After all, two writers can approach the very same subject and come up with completely different stories!

The value of submitting to a short story anthology

For writers interested in publishing short fiction, anthologies are worth exploring. Literary magazines and independent publishers sometimes issue calls for submissions centered on particular themes, genres, or occasions. These opportunities can provide an incentive to finish a story, polish it carefully, and send it out into the world.

And short stories are a wonderful way to practice the craft of fiction writing. With limited space to develop characters, establish a setting, introduce conflict, and bring a story to a satisfying conclusion, every word has to earn its place.

Writing short fiction can also help novelists strengthen their storytelling skills. A short story offers an opportunity to experiment with point of view, dialogue, pacing, or narrative structure without committing to an entire book-length manuscript.

Of course, publication isn’t the only reward. Every completed story represents another step forward in a writer’s development.

Still, seeing two stories accepted for the same anthology? That’s certainly worth celebrating!

Congratulations again, Gerry!

Short story anthologies can offer wonderful opportunities to share your writing with new readers. If you’re working on a short story or a book-length manuscript and could use some editorial guidance, visit my contact page, and let’s connect. You might also be interested in my books: Plotting Your Novel with the Plot Clock and Jamie Helps Mel Write a Novel.

Authentic Voice in Website Writing

November 21, 2014

Find Your Authentic Voice in Website Writing

Writing about your own work can be surprisingly difficult, especially when that work involves deeply personal experiences and sensitive subjects. How do you communicate your expertise without sounding overly formal? How do you convey warmth and compassion while still explaining clearly what you offer? Finding your authentic voice in website writing is more powerful than you may realize.

For professionals whose work centers on helping others, finding the right voice is especially important. The words on a website may be a potential client’s first introduction to the person behind the practice. They need to communicate not only what that person does, but something of who they are.

That’s where working with a writing coach or editor can make a real difference.

Sometimes the challenge isn’t knowing what to say. It’s finding a way to say it that feels natural, honest, and true to your own personality. A good writing collaborator doesn’t impose an unfamiliar voice on your words. Instead, they help you recognize and strengthen the voice that’s already there.

I recently helped counselor Melinda Laus in finding her authentic voice in her website writing. Melinda focuses on helping others work through their grief and loss. Widowed young, herself, she supports her clients through the mourning process with heart and grace.

Authenticity is the key to writing effective website copy

And when you’re writing about subjects like grief, loss, and healing, like Melinda, authenticity matters enormously. Readers need to feel that there’s a real human being behind the words, someone who understands the emotional weight of what they’re experiencing.

That’s what made working with Melinda such a meaningful experience for me. Helping her find the words to express her compassionate approach to counseling was both a privilege and a pleasure.

As she worked on her new website, Courageous Mourning, I was honored to help Melinda create web copy that truly reflects her beautiful voice and the depth of her understanding. And I was so proud to receive this note from her: Jamie, I am so excited to be able to work with you again! You bring out the best in my writing and help me to define and discern my own voice. What a gift you are!

Learn more about Melinda at Courageous Mourning.

Finding your authentic voice can make all the difference when you’re writing about work that matters deeply to you. If you’re struggling to find the right words for your book or other writing project, I’d love to help. Visit my contact page, and let’s connect. You might also be interested in my books: Plotting Your Novel with the Plot Clock and Jamie Helps Mel Write a Novel.

The Emma Press Poetry Submissions

November 15, 2014

The Emma Press Poetry submissions are open.

The Emma Press, whose charming subtitle is “Small Press, Big Dreams,” seeks submissions of poems about “urban myths and legends,” for a new anthology inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses. For The Emma Press poetry submissions, poets are encouraged to send in poems which tell new stories and include some kind of transformation, as a nod to the original text.

Publisher Emma Wright says, “The Metamorphoses is often considered Ovid’s masterpiece. The requirements are quite exacting, but I think poets like a challenge and will hopefully come up with some brilliant stories.”

Writing Poetry Inspired by Myths and Legends

What a wonderful invitation for poets! Myths and legends have been inspiring writers for centuries, and there’s no reason those ancient stories can’t find new life in the modern world.

Ovid’s Metamorphoses is filled with tales of transformation, in which people and other beings undergo extraordinary changes. But transformation doesn’t have to mean turning into a tree, a bird, or a constellation. It can also be emotional, psychological, or spiritual. A character might emerge from an experience with an entirely different understanding of themselves or the world around them.

And what about urban legends? Every city has its mysterious stories, whispered warnings, and peculiar local lore. These contemporary myths offer fertile ground for poets who enjoy combining the familiar with the fantastic.

If you’re looking for inspiration, start with a story you’ve heard but never quite believed. What if it were true? What if the person at the center of the legend experienced a remarkable transformation? How might you tell that story in a poem?

You might also experiment with retelling a familiar myth from an unexpected perspective. Give a minor character a voice, move an ancient story into a modern setting, or imagine what happens after the original tale ends.

The possibilities are nearly endless. And sometimes an intriguing writing prompt is all it takes to send your imagination somewhere entirely unexpected!

The Emma Press Calls for Poetry Submissions

The deadline for submissions is December 31st, 2014. To submit, you must be a member of the Emma Press Club, which involves buying a book, ebook, or set of postcards from the publisher’s website. Find full submissions guidelines at the Submissions page.

Have poems to share? Among many other publishers, The Emma Press calls for poetry submissions this year. If you’d like support as you complete or polish your poems, visit my contact page, and let’s connect. You might also be interested in my books: Plotting Your Novel with the Plot Clock and Jamie Helps Mel Write a Novel.