Writers in the Storm

by Piper Bayard

Sshh! I have a secret. I’ve never said it out loud, but I’m going to share it with you – because you need to know.

I’m an author with two books out. Both books made the top ten of one bestseller list or another. I also post at over 60 websites nationwide that reach four million Twitter followers, give or take a few. Some people would say I’m doing okay. Some of those people will never look at me the same way after they know this about me . . .

*deep breath*

I have never taken a creative writing class, I have never read a book on creative writing, and I neither have nor want a critique group.

*exhales*

Are you still with me?

Here’s another secret. I’m not the only one.

Some of us writers shut down when we have too many voices in our heads, and we have to be very picky about who we allow into our creative process. Some of us must fight off the compulsion to write with perfection, and we know that if we ever stray into the Tide Pool of Over-Analysis, we will never find our way back to the Ocean of Get it Done and Move On. Some of us give too much weight to the opinions of others when we should be listening only to select professionals and ourselves. And some of us become addicted to the weekly strokes of a loving critique group that has never published a novel between them, choosing the short-term ego gratification over the desolate wasteland of years of trampled self-esteem in exchange for crumbs of opportunity. Some of us need to run as lone wolves if we are to run at all.

 

 

But here’s another, more practical reason some of us writers avoid writing classes and books . . . THEY ARE FLAMING EXPENSIVE!

Let’s face it – we’re writers. That means we are probably working some other day job, or someone in our lives loves us enough to feed us while we play with our imaginary friends. Most of us aren’t rich (yet), but even we lone wolves need to nurture our craft.

Here’s good news! We can do that and become excellent authors without paying through the nose. This is how . . .

Write.

Do it now. Some writers want to wait until they “know how” to write. That’s like waiting until we know how to walk before we stand up and move. Every art, every career, has an apprenticeship. For writers, that’s our first million words, so the earlier we start, the better.

“But I suck! I need to learn what I’m doing.”

Of course, you do. We all do. Even if our final product doesn’t suck anymore, at some point in every WIP every writer, even NYT bestsellers, looks at the page and says, “This sucks!” But the act of writing is an indispensible component of learning to write well. Maureen Johnson says it best.

 

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyhv80HDSj4[/embed]

 

Blog.

Yes, blog, especially if your novels have not yet been published. Blogging is like lifting at the gym to build writing muscles, and it has multiple benefits, particularly for newer writers.

• Blogging counts toward the million-word apprenticeship.
• It fosters good work habits by requiring us to meet weekly deadlines for polished product.
• It teaches us to organize and condense our thoughts and eliminate excess words.
• It gives us a mostly safe space to get the worst of our sucking out of the way. (See above.)
• It fosters a professional writer attitude because we ARE writing, and we have a product to show for ourselves. When people ask if we are published, we can give them a business card with a website and articles they can read. When we take ourselves more seriously, so does the rest of the world.

Locate online writing jedis and follow their advice.

Writers are generous people, and there are some brilliant writers and editors who are gracious with their knowledge and experience. Find a FEW of them who resonate with you, and read their posts regularly. Don’t read too many, or you’ll get caught up reading all day instead of writing. (See above.)

A good way to locate writing instruction that resonates with you is to check out the Writer’s Digest 100 Best Websites for Writers. These are a few of my personal favorites that have helped me the most over the years:

• Writers In The Storm -- A Blog on Writing
• Kristen Lamb's Blog
• Angela Ackerman -- Writers Helping Writers
• Jami Gold's Blog
• Marcy Kennedy's Blog

I also highly recommend following Hiro Hattori mystery author and publishing attorney Susan Spann’s #PubLaw series every Wednesday at noon Pacific on Twitter.

Befriend authors on social media.

All writers need friends. All writers have questions. Friends help us with questions. Those of us writers who do not take writing classes or read craft books need more friends and may have more questions.

Keep in mind that, while writers are generous, they are busy. A good rule to follow is that almost everyone, even the busiest, most famous author, is good for ONE question. Solid friends are good for two questions. Only people who love us or who are taking our money are good for three or more questions. If we remember that when we start asking questions, we won’t impose, and friends will be happy to help us.

• Twitter and Facebook are great places to make friends. Look up authors whose work you admire. Follow them. Talk to them. They usually like to make friends, too.
• Read the comments at the writing posts you’re following. If you like a comment, reply to it. Look up the person on Twitter and Facebook and follow them.
• Join writers groups in Twitter and Facebook. On Twitter, #MyWANA is a great place to chat with other writers. Also, many local writers organizations have groups on Facebook.

Remember, we have to BE friends to MAKE friends. When we give what we have to give, which on Twitter and Facebook means likes, retweets, and shares, people appreciate our support, and most of the time, they will reciprocate – and they will answer our questions.

Go to a conference.

Wait . . . What? You just said writing classes are too expensive, and now you want me to pay for a conference? Don’t blame me. Nothing worth having is free. Except love and sunshine and walks in the rain, yada, yada. You know what I mean.

The good news is that one conference each year is plenty.

Good writers conferences are the best deals in the publishing world. Many are reasonably priced, and they provide opportunities for irreplaceable face time with fellow authors, agents, and editors, as well as short classes on everything from character development, to plotting, to forensics. They inspire and encourage us to keep going once we’re back in our writing caves, and they help us make lifelong author friends.

 

 

Research and ask friends which conferences they recommend for your budget, your location, and your genre. Some conferences keep agents and editors isolated from attendees. Others, like the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Conference in Denver, intersperse editors and agents with attendees throughout the conference. I highly recommend the latter model. These conferences tend to be less elitist and more welcoming to newcomers. Save pennies, choose wisely, and make the most of the abundant opportunities for growth and connections.

Online conferences also provide some interaction with other authors and some short instruction, but for the lone wolf writers, the annual gathering in person is indispensible.

Edit and beta read.

Once we have a grip on novel structure and character development, one of the best things we can do to further our own craft is to edit and beta read for our author friends. It's always easier to spot issues in someone else's manuscript than it is to spot them in our own, and it's always easier to spot our own manuscript issues once we've seen them in someone else's. It's also a great way we can give back to our friends. (See above.)

Read. Read, read, read.

Whether a lone wolf or not, reading is the best way to study writing. Read books you like and think about why you like them. Read books you hate and think about why you hate them. Identify your own writing challenges, and study authors who have mastered them. While reading great writing can be depressing when we are still in the suck stages of our own process, if we do it enough, it will rub off on us.

So now my deep, dark secret is out. But baring our hearts is necessary to connect, and connecting is the most essential part of the journey, even for the lone wolves.

Are you a lone wolf writer, or do you take formal classes and participate in critique groups? What are your budget-friendly tips for nurturing a writing career?

*  *  *  *  *  *

About Piper

Piper Bayard is an author, a recovering attorney, and the managing editor of the Social In Worldwide network. Her writing partner, Jay Holmes, is an anonymous senior member of the intelligence community and a field veteran from the Cold War through the current Global War on Terror. Together, they are the bestselling authors of the international spy thriller, THE SPY BRIDE. You can find Piper at BayardandHolmes.com.

by Susan Spann

A “nondisclosure” agreement (or “NDA”) is a contract or contract clause in which one or both of the parties promise not to discuss certain subjects, facts, or contract terms.

In business, NDAs are common, but they generally only apply to legally protectable “confidential information” belonging to the parties who sign the contract. In publishing, NDA clauses are problematic for many reasons, and sometimes publishers use these clauses as “muzzles” to restrict an author’s ability to talk about problems with the publishing house.

Today, I want to shed some light on these clauses, and why they're often bad news for the author.

While some forms of confidentiality are appropriate in carefully-tailored circumstances—for example, when limited to discussion of confidential subjects like advance amounts or contract negotiations—authors should never sign a contract with a nondisclosure or confidentiality clause without first having the contract reviewed (and negotiated or removed, if necessary) by an agent or publishing lawyer.

NONDISCLOSURE IS DIFFERENT THAN “CONFIDENTIALITY”

"Confidentiality" clauses prevent the contracting parties from using or disclosing the other party's legally protectable confidential information without permission.

This kind of clause is more common in business contracts than in publishing, and in business it normally protects valuable “trade secrets” like business methods and customer lists. In publishing, the author's manuscript is supposed to become public (when published) and the publisher doesn't share trade secrets and other confidential information with its authors. Thus, there's really no need for confidentiality in a publishing contract.

However, sometimes publishers’ contracts do include a confidentiality clause. If you see one, it should be mutual (binding both author and publisher) and should restrict discussion and use of legally protectable trade secrets and proprietary information only.

Alternatively, the clause should apply only to the actual terms of the contract, and possibly to the contract negotiations. (Some publishers want to avoid their authors sharing information about the advance amount or concessions made in the contract. This isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, but it’s a dangerous clause and must be narrowly-tailored.)

Never sign a contract containing a confidentiality clause without an attorney or an agent reviewing the contract on your behalf and either negotiating it out or ensuring the clause is not a trap intended to prevent you from speaking honestly about your experience with the publishing house.

NONDISCLOSURE CLAUSES ARE DANGEROUS FOR AUTHORS

Unlike confidentiality clauses, "nondisclosure" clauses prohibit one or both parties from any public discussion of either: (a) the terms of the contract, or (b) the parties’ experiences and relationship with one another.

General "nondisclosure" provisions do not belong in a publishing contract.

Good publishers don't want to stifle the author's ability to talk about the publisher and the publishing process. Obviously, publishers don’t want their authors slamming them in public, and authors should behave professionally regardless of what the contract requires. However, it's dangerous for authors, and for publishing, when publishers to try to stifle an author's freedom of speech through nondisclosure clauses.

Some publishers  try to use contractual nondisclosure clauses as a “muzzle” to stop an author from speaking out in ways or on topics the publisher wants to prevent. For example, a publisher might threaten legal action to prevent an author from telling others (including new authors considering an offer from the publishing house) details about the way the publisher does business.

Clauses that allow a publishing house to threaten an author into silence are dangerous, and authors should never agree to let the publisher “muzzle” their ability to speak honestly in public about their experiences.

If you're offered a contract containing a nondisclosure provision, ask the publisher to remove it. If the publisher refuses, seriously consider walking away from the deal. At a minimum, refuse to sign until you’ve arranged for an agent or a publishing lawyer to review the contract and ensure the clause is not a “muzzle” designed to prevent you from exercising your right to speak.

NONDISCLOSURE CLAUSES ARE NOT INDUSTRY-STANDARD

Most publishing houses do not attempt to muzzle their authors or stop them from talking about the publishing house in public. Some contracts do contain “non-defamation” clauses, which require the author to behave in a professional manner. Again, these can be dangerous, depending on who gets to determine what is and is not “professional.”

When evaluating your publishing contract, insist on industry-standard contract terms that don't prevent you from speaking honestly about your experiences. Have your contract reviewed by an agent or publishing lawyer, and remember: having no deal at all is better than signing a deal you later regret.

Keep your business wits about you and insist on a contract that respects your legal rights as well as the publisher's interests.

Have you ever seen a nondisclosure or confidentiality provision in a publishing contract? How do you feel about these contract terms?

*  *  *  *  *  *

About Susan

Susan Spann writes the Hiro Hattori Novels, featuring ninja detective Hiro Hattori and his Portuguese Jesuit sidekick, Father Mateo. The fourth book in the series, THE NINJA’S DAUGHTER, will release from Seventh Street Books in August 2016. Susan is the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ 2015 Writer of the Year, and a transactional attorney whose practice focuses on publishing and business law. When not writing or practicing law, she raises seahorses and rare corals in her marine aquarium. Find her online at http://www.SusanSpann.com, on Twitter (@SusanSpann), and on Facebook (SusanSpannAuthor).

 

We always try to bring you information on the most useful technologies here at WITS and there's a gaping hole in the Google+ category. We hope to rectify that with this post! Google Plus is an incredibly valuable social media platform, especially when it comes to making you (and your books) searchable.

Unfortunately, a lot of people say "Google What?" when they hear about the platform. Here's an excerpt from T5A.com that gives you a high-level view:

What is Google+?

Google Plus acts as a “social layer” for Google, the world’s largest search engine company, and is integrated into its every product and service, such as Search, Android, YouTube, Chrome, Local and Drive.

At its core, Google Plus is an interest-based platform where like-minded individuals communicate, collaborate and create as a community. Unlike other social media networks, this platform gives you an unparalleled opportunity to forge meaningful, long-term relationships by consistently engaging with peers and other industry experts.

As far as just a quick "Getting Started" tutorial, I like this Mashable guide. The post is from a few years ago, but the information is solid and accessible.

Here's how I compare it to the other social media platforms rounding out the Top 5:

• Twitter is renowned for it's speed and it's great for writers, but the feed is quick and you need to have an understanding of hashtags and lists to get the full benefit. Most people depend on the "Top Tweets" feature to find content.
• Facebook is super fun,  and really good for your Klout score, but very chat-focused so plan to spend thirty minutes or more whenever you go there. Facebook is wonderful for group discussions and events but the sheer amount of time required by Facebook is daunting to many, many people.
• Instagram is a blast, easy to scroll through and great for visual marketing, but not so easy when it comes to finding links to visit sites. Twitter and Google+ excel at the learning-via-links search results feature.
• Pinterest is creative and visual, and my number one go-to spot when I'm decorating anything. It's way too easy to get sucked into Pinterest and begin to pin like mad. I can spend hours there once I get started so I set a timer whenever I open the app. Here is a search result for Pinterest for Writers if you're looking for cool writing-related pins. Plus our own Laura Drake is a Pin-a-holic, so you should definitely follow her.

5 reasons why I'm a Google+ fan

Reason #1

The number one most important benefit of Google+ is that it's owned by Google. "Likes," called "+1's" in Google+, will help your search rankings. A lot.

Your social media posts on this platform act like rocket fuel when someone Googles you: the Google Plus results leap to the top. That means if you are aiming to spend as little time as possible on social media, while still getting a big bang for your time, you should add G+ to your repertoire.

Here are two articles that break this down in more detail:

• 3 Ways To Use Google+ To Increase Search Rankings
• Google's 200 Ranking Factors: The Complete List

If you really really super-duper care about all search ranking stuff, you should follow SearchEngineLand on Google Plus - they have tons of articles on the nitty gritty of SEO.

Reason #2

The search features inside Google+ are faster (and better) than most of the other social media programs. This goes back to being owned by Google.

You have a sidebar in Google+ that will help you navigate around quickly. You can click on the sidebar to move around between your feed, your profile, your contacts, collections and communities. There's a search bar at the top to browse through all of Google plus, or you can search inside any of the areas located along that left sidebar.

Reason #3

My favorite part of Google+ is the Communities. You can join almost any community you want and they are a quick way to get the info you need from inside Google+ (so you can get in and out quickly).

If you decide to search when you get to the Communities section, be sure to click on the "More" link in your search results. Your mind will be blown.

There are hundreds of amazing communities waiting for you, many in niches that are underserved elsewhere: all the usuals are there, PLUS screenwriters, voiceover artists, women of comic books, musical composers, LGBTQ writers. You name it, there is a thriving community on Google+ for it. If it isn't there yet, you can start your own.

And the access to cool quotes? Mercy. There are a gajillion types of quotes for all you quotaholics. (Yes, I'm talking to you, Laura Drake.)

As if all that magic wasn't enough, the content of these communities is searchable. Yep, you heard me. They are super searchable. It's Google.

If I'm looking for quinoa recipes in my gluten free forum, I just search for it. It will come up immediately, even if it was posted a few years ago.

I need an inspirational quote on success? A quick Google+ search.

Reason #4

Last year Google+ added Collections, which makes finding information even easier. Collections also allow you to position yourself as an easily searchable expert on a topic (and get followers who are interested in your stuff). 

Here's Google's summary of Collections:

Google+ Collections, a new way to group your posts by topic. Every collection is a focused set of posts on a particular topic, providing an easy way for you to organize all the things you're into. Each collection can be shared publicly, privately, or with a custom set of people.

Once you create your first collection, your profile will display a new tab where other people can find and follow your collections.

Posts in collections you follow will appear in your Home stream, with a link to easily jump right into the collection so you can get to similar content from that author. Collections give you a great way to find more of the stuff you love from the people you follow.

Reason #5

Google Hangouts can revolutionize your family time, online critique groups and business meetings. They're free and are a lot like Skype or Facetime, but they are integrated into Google and have some fun features. Try Hangouts the next time you're in Google+ or Gmail - I think you'll like it.

Here's a summary from the "Get Started with Hangouts" guide:

You can use Hangouts to send messages, make voice and video calls, and share photos.

Hangouts are synced automatically across devices, so you can start a Hangout on your computer and continue on another device, like your phone. 

What you can do with Hangouts:

• Send Hangouts messages: You can start a Hangout with only one person or have a group chat with several people.
• Make video calls: You can have face-to-face video calls with up to 9 other people.
• Make phone calls: Almost all calls you make to the U.S. and Canada are free from all countries where Hangouts calling is available. A few U.S. and Canadian destinations will cost 1 cent per minute (USD), or the listed rate for your local currency.
• Send text messages: You can send text messages using Hangouts with your Android device or your Google Voice phone number.
• Share photos, locations, and stickers: You can share photos, stickers, and emoji in conversations. On mobile devices, you can also share your location with other people.

For the visual learners, here's a video on it - about four and a half minutes worth. (The guy is a bit stiff, but the video is informative.)

There is also the ability to record Hangouts, but only if you launch them in a specific manner. If I wanted to have an author discussion with 10 people or less, I would totally use this feature to record it and post it on my G+ page and YouTube.

 

There you go...my "Fab Five" on Google+.

This post doesn't even mention all the other coolness I like, such as the ability to easily group who sees what via Circles. I really like being able to control this without having to dive deep into the settings for the program. *trains evil eye on Facebook Team*

Let's open the floor to all of you! I want to hear all your thoughts down in the comments.

Do you use Google+? Why or why not? What feature do you find the most intriguing (or frustrating)? Do you have any questions for me?

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About Jenny Hansen

By day, Jenny provides training and social media marketing for an accounting firm. By night she writes news articles, humor, memoir, women’s fiction and short stories. After 18+ years as a corporate software trainer, she’s delighted to sit down while she works.

When she’s not at her personal blog, More Cowbell, Jenny can be found on Twitter at JennyHansenCA or at Writers In The Storm.