What is it?

This is the monthly newsletter newsletter

I write to find out what I'm talking about. --Edward Albee

I have a confession to make. Since completing Flash Writing, I've been lazy. I've averaged less than 10 pages of writing practice each month since July. And it shows. I have to work hard to motivate myself to write. I put off writing on many days until I am too tired to do it, and then make fervent promises to myself to do better the next day… and repeat the cycle all over again.

I had almost two weeks off during the holidays this year. So what did I do? 1. Did Michael: A) Write a detailed book proposal and sample chapter for his next book; B) Write an article for a major writing magazine to help promote Flash Writing; or C) Reorganize my closet, taking old clothes that I don't wear to Goodwill. 2) Michael spent a couple of hours each day of his vacation: A) Writing up a detailed marketing plan for Flash Writing; B) Adding content to Flashwriting.com; C) Trying to figure out how to avoid getting killed by the cops in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City on the new PlayStation 2 his family got for Christmas. 3) The spontaneous project that Michael began over the holidays was: A) Writing the manuscript for his next book; B) Began working on Benjamin's Pinewood Derby car, to spare him the humiliation of coming in LAST place last year, again this year; C) Began tearing out the ugly, smelly, Berber carpeting in our basement.

If you picked answer C for all three questions… don't get too excited, it was pretty obvious… Wasn't it? The point that I'm trying to make here is that every writer has these lazy times. The times where the writing just doesn't happen even though we know that we feel better when we write, even though that guilt piles up and sometimes even sours those other fun things you do while not writing.

Bottom line: You have to forgive yourself for your sloth, and make today the day you turn things around and write 250 words, write for 15 minutes, edit that 10 page article, or mail off that query letter. I forgive you. Now it is time to forgive yourself and get back to work!

--Michael

FLASH WRITING IS IN PRINT AND ON SALE!

Get your own signed copy online by ordering it www.flashwriting.com It costs $13.95 ($1.00 off the cover price) plus $3.50 shipping and handling (and for Ohio orders, add $.91 sales tax). You can also order it at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, or Virtual Bookworm (the publisher). If you are going to be at one of the fiction writing workshops or attending one of my classes and want to avoid paying shipping costs, just send a note to michael@wilson.us and I'll send you a PayPal invoice for $14.86, and bring the copy to event that you will be attending.

FLASHWRITING.COM IS UP AND ACCESSIBLE

Although the site is still under construction, I do have it up and it does have some basic content. I'm also going to use the site to collect old Grist for the Muse issues and content. As well as an extensive library of writing-related links mentioned in the newsletter, my books, and recommended by others. Flashwriting.com will be the premier portal for flash fiction and non-fiction and all other things that flash.

Sign up for the Write(Now) Newsletter

Nita Sweeney's wonderful monthly newsletter lists events of interest to writers in the Central Ohio area, including book signings, writing classes, writer's groups, writer's conferences, poetry readings, and more. To subscribe click on this link: http://www.nitasweeney.com/id4.html

Shameless Self Promotion

Barnes & Noble at Easton Town Center- Fiction Writer's Group

January 13, 2005 - 7:00 p.m. To 8:00 p.m. - Mezzanine: Fiction Writers Group: MOTIVATION-WHAT MAKES YOUR CHARACTERS TICK

Learn how to create characters with powerful motivation which launches them into the story. Discover the techniques that create motivation and make it powerful for your fiction. A copy of Marc McCutcheon's Roget's Super Thesaurus will be given away to one lucky attendee.

The Fiction Writers Group is a facilitated writing group that meets at Barnes &
Noble at Easton Town Center on the SECOND Thursday of each month at 7:00pm and is hosted by writer and teacher Michael Wilson. This event is free of charge!

LOCAL AUTHORS NIGHT AT THE BARNES & NOBLE @ EASTON TOWN CENTER
February, 15th at 7:00pm

This is a night where you can meet me (and other local authors) and buy a signed copy of Flash Writing, or just say "hi!" I don't have any other details on this event yet, but hopefully I'll have them in time for the February newsletter.

Classes at Upper Arlington Lifelong Learning

IF YOU THINK IT, YOU CAN WRITE IT

Tap into your mind to generate interesting and unusual writing ideas, prevent writer's block and think creatively through all stages of a writing project. Through discussion, writing exercises and fun activities, explore the creative process by utilizing brainstorming, mind mapping and including play and humor in your work. Experience this class to expand your imagination and make writing easier and a lot more fun. A workbook is included in the registration fee. The class schedule includes a one-hour lunch break.

CLASS #: 441896
TIME: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, Saturday
DATE: February 12
LOCATION: Lower Level Conference Room, UA Municipal Services Center, 3600 Tremont Road
COST: $45.00(R), $49.50(NR)
DEADLINE: February 7

WRITING FLASH FICTION

Writing Flash Fiction is an eight-hour workshop where you learn to craft stories that are under 1,000 words long. This class teaches you how to generate ideas, write the draft of a story, and polish and shape it for publication. The goal is to have a flash fiction story ready for publication by the end of the course. The class features lots of in-class writing using selected topics generated by the group and is fun, self-contained and motivating. The class textbook, Flash Writing: How to Write, Revise and Publish Stories Less Than 1,000 Words Long (ISBN 1589396375), can be purchased at the class for $14.95.

CLASS #: 441891
TIME: 7:00-9:00 PM, Wednesday
DATE: February 16 - March 9, 4 sessions
LOCATION: Council Committee Room, UA Municipal Services Center, 3600 Tremont Road
COST: $45.00(R), $49.50(NR)
DEADLINE: February 9

There are three ways to register for classes at UA Lifelong Learning:

• Register online using your MASTERCARD or VISA, click the following link: https://parks.uaoh.net/VSIWEBTRAC.HTML
• Fill out a registration form here: http://www.ua-ohio.net/parksrec/lifelong/registration.pdf and mail it to or drop it off (with a check or money order) at Lifelong Learning & Leisure, 3600 Tremont Road, Upper Arlington, OH 43221
• Call (614) 583-5333 between 9:30am and 3:30pm weekdays to register using your VISA or MASTERCARD

MUSE REVIEWS

The Well-Fed Writer: Back for Seconds A Second Helping Of "How-To" For Any Writer Dreaming of Great Bucks and Exceptional Quality of Life by Peter Bowerman. Fanove Publishing, 288 pages. Paperback; $19.95, ISBN: 0967059852.

This is a book that I've been waiting for ever since Mr. Bowerman wrote his first book: The Well-Fed Writer: Financial Self-Sufficiency As a Freelance Writer in Six Months or Less and thankfully it focuses on the stuff that writers like me, have many questions about and are intimidated by: sales and marketing. Mr. Bowerman gets in-depth about how to build your business (through the techniques of cold calling, networking, and email and web marketing).

Those looking for writing tips will not be disappointed. Peter gives us plenty of tips on how to write in Chapter 12, Write Better, Earn More, he discusses some of the keys to better writing, by losing weak words and tone, making every word pull its weight, and (my favorite) avoid $50 words. This chapter also includes a good section of tips on writing for the Web.

But the true strength of TWFW: Back For Seconds is the power of testimonials and profiles of other writers who have made the break from full-time indentured-servitude, to freelance business owner. He provides scenarios and anecdotes that support all kinds of different markets and situations: How to get started in smaller markets, competitive big cities, handling a part-time start-up, etc.

If you are considering making a break into the world of freelance business writing, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of TWFW: Back for Seconds for your bookshelf. It is an essential resource packed with examples and resources to launch your writing career into the success that you've always dreamed of.

Rating: ***** (Well Worth it at Full Retail Price)

About Ratings:

***** -- Well Worth it at Full Retail Price

**** - Buy on Sale/Discounted

*** - Buy Used

** - Borrow It from the Library

* - Waste of a Good Tree

******************************************************************************
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OR - If you do not want to join Topica, send an email to michael@wilson.us with the word SUBSCRIBE in the header. Make sure that I am added to your address book or your "safe" list.

SUGGESTIONS or COMMENTS: Please feel free to e-mail me with ideas, suggestions, questions, or smart alecky remarks. I love to get feedback, and I do give all comments serious consideration. Send them to michael@wilson.us

TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Please click here: http://topica.com/u/?a2jb2H.bm2Kjt.bWt3aWxz Or send a BLANK email to: Grist_for_the_Muse-unsubscribe@topica.com

SUBMISSIONS: Do you have an event you want to promote? Do you want to see yourself in print? Send me a short article or writing exercise ideas. I can't pay you anything yet, but maybe someday soon. Please send an e-mail with date, time, place, cost and contact information to wilson_writer@netzero.net with SUBMISSION in the subject line. Editor reserves the right to revise submissions.

ABOUT THE EDITOR: Michael Wilson has been teaching creative writing classes and facilitating writer's groups for over 7 years and was an award-winning Contributing Editor for The Writer's Block at Suite101.com. He has a BA (with Honors) in English from Ohio University, and has been a featured guest speaker at the Thurber House, the Maumee Valley Writer's Conference and the Columbus Writer's Conference. He is also the publisher and editor of Grist for the Muse a monthly creative writing newsletter. His first book: Flash Writing: How to Write, Revise and Publish Stories Less Than 1000 Words Long, will be published during the Summer of 2004.

Copyright 2004 Michael L. Wilson. All rights reserved.

 

Amazon

Virtual Bookworm

Barnes and Noble

Writing Exercises

Write down a writing goal. It can be anything. Keep it simple and focus on it. For example: Write 250 words a day, 5 days a week; Write for 15 minutes a day, 3 days a week; Or finish and submit 3 pieces for publication this year. Write it down in an obvious place where you will see it often (the front inside cover of your planner, on a Post-It note stuck to the monitor in your cubicle or writing workspace, etc.)

Quick Topics

For more information about and how to use these, go to the Writing Prompt Page:

• Burying
• Fast
• Superman
• On ice
• Part-time
• Skirts
• Buckle up
• Watch
• Embedded
• Man beater
• Doubts
• Cheeks

Story Starters

For more information about and how to use these, go to the Writing Prompt Page:

• If you want to make…
• There's only one…
• I'm not listening to you…
• You really need to know…
• How did she do this?
• Has your boyfriend skipped town?