Wow, our anniversary tour is going amazing. Fun, great information, promotion, and daily prizes. And, don't forget our $25 Gift Card to Amazon for the Mystery Site Winner!
This post is an update of our winners:
1. Katie Sender (Dianne Sagan's site) - Katie didn't respond to receive her prize.
2. Kristi Bernard (Kathy Stemke's site) - chose a guest spot on the VBT site.
3. John Huges (Margaret Fieland's site) - chose Day's End Lullaby, he has 5 kids!
4. Abigail Beals (Crystalee Calderwood's site - chose The Self-Publisher's Guide.
5. Terry Johnson (Katie Hines site) - chose guest spot on the VBT site.
6. L. Diane Wolfe (Carolyn Howard-Johnson's site) -chose a guest spot on the VBT site.
7. Maureen Hume (Mayra Calvani's site) - hasn't responded yet.
The tour is still in full swing, so please be sure to check out the schedule - just scroll down to the schedule post.
We have new, famous, and award winning authors, so there's great information to be reaped from the posts. And, you have a chance of winning a wonderful prize, right in time for the holidays!
Talk to you soon,
Karen
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Avoid Negativity
Yesterday I blogged about No Sugar-coating. Today I want to discuss something personal that you may connect with in your own lives: dealing with negativity.
Everyone gets bogged down at some point in their lives with negative energy from others. Whether it's put downs, 'smarter than thou' attitudes, it doesn't matter. It happens to all of us and actually to be totally honest with you I had a spell this summer where I almost tossed my writer's pen in the can and was about to email and say the muse conference was not going to happen ever again. I was in so much stress, had so many writers emailing me with nasty remarks about the conference I sat down, cried, and asked myself why I bothered spending so much time when it wasn't even appreciated...and it's free to boot!
A few days later I remembered why I bothered with one particular email from a lady who is disabled who wrote me to say how much she was looking forward to the conference because it's the only one she can attend not only because she's disabled but one she can afford. That was my turning point where I realized those who don't get what I'm trying to do don't deserve the time of day from me.
So don't allow negativity to ruin your writing passion the way I almost did. Only one other writer knew what I was about to do and she emailed me several times to see how I was doing. So telling others how you feel at times is the best thing a writer can do. Wish I could have done that and avoided the stress and close to a nervous breakdown this summer.
Even though I try 99% of the time to avoid any negativity to enter my life, it's that 1% that does manage to enter your bloodstream and cause a 'bad' ripple effect to your Muse.
For those curious what emails I was getting:
1- Why don't you have the conference all year round. I think you're being unfair to writers.
2- I'm not registering because I know I'm going to get what I paid for.
3- You say you're doing this for writers as I've heard so many blogging lately but I'm sure you're lining your pockets with dough.
4- Why do you offer so many workshops? You're really giving me a headache. I can't choose and I think next time you should only offer maybe ten.
Are these disgruntled writers? Whatever they are I can assure you they are out of my system and I'm back to my old self. This post was simply offered to let you know that many of us might seem as though we are untouchable but that's not so.
So avoid negative energy and always look toward the positive as much as possible.
Everyone gets bogged down at some point in their lives with negative energy from others. Whether it's put downs, 'smarter than thou' attitudes, it doesn't matter. It happens to all of us and actually to be totally honest with you I had a spell this summer where I almost tossed my writer's pen in the can and was about to email and say the muse conference was not going to happen ever again. I was in so much stress, had so many writers emailing me with nasty remarks about the conference I sat down, cried, and asked myself why I bothered spending so much time when it wasn't even appreciated...and it's free to boot!
A few days later I remembered why I bothered with one particular email from a lady who is disabled who wrote me to say how much she was looking forward to the conference because it's the only one she can attend not only because she's disabled but one she can afford. That was my turning point where I realized those who don't get what I'm trying to do don't deserve the time of day from me.
So don't allow negativity to ruin your writing passion the way I almost did. Only one other writer knew what I was about to do and she emailed me several times to see how I was doing. So telling others how you feel at times is the best thing a writer can do. Wish I could have done that and avoided the stress and close to a nervous breakdown this summer.
Even though I try 99% of the time to avoid any negativity to enter my life, it's that 1% that does manage to enter your bloodstream and cause a 'bad' ripple effect to your Muse.
For those curious what emails I was getting:
1- Why don't you have the conference all year round. I think you're being unfair to writers.
2- I'm not registering because I know I'm going to get what I paid for.
3- You say you're doing this for writers as I've heard so many blogging lately but I'm sure you're lining your pockets with dough.
4- Why do you offer so many workshops? You're really giving me a headache. I can't choose and I think next time you should only offer maybe ten.
Are these disgruntled writers? Whatever they are I can assure you they are out of my system and I'm back to my old self. This post was simply offered to let you know that many of us might seem as though we are untouchable but that's not so.
So avoid negative energy and always look toward the positive as much as possible.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
No Sugar-coating
I want my book on a bookshelf. That’s great, however, is your book finished? Is it contracted? Are you prepared to work your butt off to get it on a bookshelf with tons of legwork? No? Hmm…not going to happen then.
But before you get your tutu all wrinkled with worry there are other things to consider, like:
What’s your genre? Have a clue?
Who’s your target audience?
Have a particular publisher in mind? Checked their published books? Their guidelines?
Have you read several books in the genre you’re writing? Studied famous authors? Picked up on what makes their books tick?
Have you prepared your ‘pitch’ in case you are ever stuck in an elevator with a publisher or that agent you are hoping to get a contract with?
Have you prepared your query and synopsis?
Now comes the biggie: have you fully fleshed out your characters, plot, and edited to the hilt?
Answer all of the questions above and perhaps you are now ready to submit.
The next step in a writer’s life is patience. When you send out your manuscript don’t twiddle your thumbs or wait around. Begin your next writing project.
One thing before I wrap up – be patient when you do get a contract. Some publishing houses don’t release until a year, even two years, down the line. That’s why I wrote begin your next project asap because once a book is contracted comes the other fun…marketing and promotion. Tons of legwork but necessary steps in order to get the buzz about you and your book out to the general public.
But before you get your tutu all wrinkled with worry there are other things to consider, like:
What’s your genre? Have a clue?
Who’s your target audience?
Have a particular publisher in mind? Checked their published books? Their guidelines?
Have you read several books in the genre you’re writing? Studied famous authors? Picked up on what makes their books tick?
Have you prepared your ‘pitch’ in case you are ever stuck in an elevator with a publisher or that agent you are hoping to get a contract with?
Have you prepared your query and synopsis?
Now comes the biggie: have you fully fleshed out your characters, plot, and edited to the hilt?
Answer all of the questions above and perhaps you are now ready to submit.
The next step in a writer’s life is patience. When you send out your manuscript don’t twiddle your thumbs or wait around. Begin your next writing project.
One thing before I wrap up – be patient when you do get a contract. Some publishing houses don’t release until a year, even two years, down the line. That’s why I wrote begin your next project asap because once a book is contracted comes the other fun…marketing and promotion. Tons of legwork but necessary steps in order to get the buzz about you and your book out to the general public.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Two More Winners
From Margaret Fieland's site, John Hughes won. He choose the children's bedtime picture book, Day's End Lullaby.
From Crysalee Calderwood's site, Abigail Beal won. We're still awaiting her response!
Prizes are flying away - be sure to follow the tour and leave comments!
Karen
From Crysalee Calderwood's site, Abigail Beal won. We're still awaiting her response!
Prizes are flying away - be sure to follow the tour and leave comments!
Karen
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Kristi Bernard, Another Winner!
Yippee! VBT - Writers on the Move has another winner in our November Anniversary Blogaversary!
Kristi Bernard commented on November 3rd, on Kathy Stemke's site and chose being a guest on the VBT blogsite as her prize. Kristi will be hosted here some time mid-December.
Don't forget we have daily prizes through November 23rd! And, the mystery site gift is a $25 Gift Card to Amazon!
The schedule and details are below.
Come join us in our celebration!
Karen
Kristi Bernard commented on November 3rd, on Kathy Stemke's site and chose being a guest on the VBT blogsite as her prize. Kristi will be hosted here some time mid-December.
Don't forget we have daily prizes through November 23rd! And, the mystery site gift is a $25 Gift Card to Amazon!
The schedule and details are below.
Come join us in our celebration!
Karen
Monday, November 2, 2009
Anniversary Tour November 1st Winner!
WE HAVE A WINNER!
Dianne Sagan hosted November 1st and the winner is Kate Sender (Kate2world). I'm trying to find a way to reach Kate to let her know.
Karen
Dianne Sagan hosted November 1st and the winner is Kate Sender (Kate2world). I'm trying to find a way to reach Kate to let her know.
Karen
Saturday, October 24, 2009
VBT's November Anniversary Tour Schedule
To celebrate this accomplishment, we will have a SUPER-DUPER Anniversary Tour!
The number before the host's name is the day in November that he/she will post in the tour.
But, before I explain more about it, here's the schedule:
1 Dianne Sagan is hosting Heidi Thomas
2 Harry Gilleland is hosting Karen Cioffi
3 Karen Cioffi is hosting Martha Swirzinki
4 Kathy Stemke is hosting Brigitte Thompson
5 Nancy Famolari is hosting Deborah Weed
6 Margaret Fieland is hosting Elysabeth Eldering
7 Crystalee Calderwood is hosting Harry Gilleland
8 Katie Hines is hosting Heather Paye
9 Helena Harper is hosting Steve Tremp
10 Liana Metal is hosting Crystalee Calderwood
11 Carolyn Howard-Johnson is hosting Marvin Wilson
12 Gayle Trent is hosting Dianne Sagan
13 Mayra Calvani is hosting Carolyn Howard-Johnson
14 Marvin Wilson is hosting Gayle Trent
15 Linda Asato is hosting Mayra Calvani
16 Heather Paye is hosting Katie Hines
17 Steve Tremp is hosting Helena Harper
18 Elysabeth Eldering is hosting Linda Asato
19 Darcia Helle is hosting Liana Metal
20 Deborah Weed is hosting Nancy Famolari
21 Brigitte Thompson is hosting Margaret Fieland
22 Martha Swirzinki is hosting Darcia Helle
23 Heidi Thomas is hosting Kathy Stemke
Each day there will be prizes offered. All you have to do is leave a comment on the host's site on the day he/she is posting for their guest and you may be a WINNER!
The Winner will have a choice of ONE of 2 or 3 books of our members or other related gifts, OR a one day guest spot on THIS site!
Prizes being given away EVERY Day from November 1st through November 23rd!
OH! Wait a minute! That's not all! We are still having our Mystery Site Giveaway and the SUPER-DUPER PRIZE is a $25 (US) GIFT CARD to either Amazon, Target, or an American Express Gift Card. I'll know for sure by the end of this month.
Winners will be notified the day after each posting. The Mystery Site Winner will be notified Sunday, November 29th.
Come celebrate with us and have the chance of being one of the WINNERS of a great gift in the process.
Talk to you soon,
Karen
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