I have been fortunate in my writing career to be able to write what I love and still enjoy publishing success. Despite strong protests from agents who wanted to market me as strictly a mystery writer, in just a few short years I have been published in many literary genres, including fiction, nonfiction, historical, poetry and children's. That is why I feel so passionate about encouraging other writers to follow their dreams, wherever they may lead.
My mini-workshop, "Write What You Love and Get Published," gives aspiring writers the tools and information they need to achieve their own publishing success. It starts with a simple idea . . . a writer should write what he or she reads. For example, if your favorite writer is Larry McMurtry and your bookshelf is lined with western novels, you might take a shot at writing a story with a western backdrop.
By contrast, it would not likely be a good idea to struggle with writing a "chick lit" manuscript simply because book sales in that genre are sizzling. I found this out the hard way, when I labored and frustrated myself trying to write a horror story for a prestigious writing competition. I don't read horror, thus my story was absolutely horrendous. So you can learn from my experiences, good and bad. Choosing to write a book like those you'd purchase from the bookstore is a smart place to start. I invite you to visit my Bookshelf page to see some of my books.
However, because there are so many wonderful courses and books available about the how-to process of writing a good story, my workshop primarily focuses instead on the road to publication. I cover such topics as To Agent or Not to Agent; Self-Publishing, Print on Demand and Traditional Publishing; and After the Sale.
I have had the pleasure of sharing my publishing experience at booksignings, Career Days, Family Nights and with civic organizations.
And I would love to hear from you. Perhaps you jotted down some ideas for a children's book a few years back when your children were small. Or maybe you've got a dozen pages written for a How To book that could provide valuable information to readers. Or maybe you're a high school Humanities teacher looking for a new way to engage and inspire your students. Whatever your writing ambition, I can help.
Please contact me if you or your group would enjoy and benefit from a "Write What You Love and Get Published" mini-workshop. My fees are affordable for even the tightest budget.
All my best,
Sandy