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When we write a true story, such as our memoirs or the details of an event that occurred, is it always necessary to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth? I don’t think so. In fact, I advise my clients to fudge a little. I often tell them to eliminate some of the facts. Why would I suggest they deviate from the truth and even, in some cases, tell a bald face lie? Why? Because sometimes the truth is BORING.

I’m not proposing that you compromise your story with untruths, but that you enhance it by NOT sharing so much truth. We probably don’t need to know every detail that led to the event you are writing about. But if it is a true story, sometimes you feel obligated to tell it exactly like it was. Leaving out a detail or glossing over something seems to you like you’re cheating the reader. On the contrary, if the detail is mundane and unimportant, you are doing us a favor by keeping it to yourself.

The best writing is tight writing. Sure, you want to use interesting phrases and imagery to tell a good story, but not to the point where it becomes a burden to the reader. By way of example, here are two phrases that come to mind. Both could have been elaborated on, but would they have been as poignant? One is, “Jesus wept.”

These two words say volumes. How this statement would have been ruined by an elaboration. We don’t care where he was, what he was wearing, how many times he stubbed his toe as he walked in his sandals, who else was with him. We don’t need to know any of this, do we? Not at this moment.

Another statement I’d like to use as an example is from Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner. He opens the book by saying, “I became what I am today at the age of 12, on a frigid, overcast day in the winter of 1975.” Of course, we want to know more and we’re going to learn much more as we read through this story. But imagine this opening statement cluttered by unnecessary details.

Your reader probably doesn’t care to know the exact positioning of the houses on your block&#8212that the one two doors up sits back further than the rest and you’re not quite sure why, but you feel it was a deliberate attempt at being a nonconformist, etc. They probably don’t care that Pumpkin was your 8th kitty friend. Why would you even tell them about the rickety back steps into the house, unless it relates somehow to the story?

Be careful about including unnecessary detail in your true story. Use only what is prevalent to the story&#8212those things that move the story along or make it more interesting.

Some of you already have finished books that you are currently marketing. Don’t forget that, if you need help with promotion (and most of us do), I’m offering my 6-week online Book Promotion Course starting tomorrow&#8212Friday, October 24, 2008. Learn more about it and sign up at
http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookpromotion.htm

Here I am in Scottsdale&#8212just over the border from Phoenix. I attended the WOW Wizards of Words Writers Conference yesterday. It was a full day of back-to-back workshops, networking, meals, more networking AND I participated in a lively panel discussion along with four other authors including David Morrell, author of the Rambo series. He was also our keynote speaker.

It was a friendly group of conference attendees who were eager to learn and receptive to new concepts. I told my audience that I might be bursting some bubbles with my facts, recommendations and ideas. I asked them to do their part during my presentation and listen with an open mind. I believe that most of them took my advice because they asked good questions.

I seemed to leave one young woman behind, however. At the end of my 2nd hour with them, during the question and answer period, she asked me, “Why do you say we have to write a book proposal? What’s the purpose of that?” It was a rare moment for me&#8212I was speechless. I had just spent nearly two hours giving a carefully orchestrated and organized presentation explaining What, Why, When and How. Everyone else seemed to “get” it. How did I fail this one hopeful author?

I guess we all learn in different ways and at different speeds. While one hopeful author may be ready to soak in the material and act on it, another might be completely resistant to new concepts at the moment and simply not ready to accept the information.

I can’t wait to share with you some of the ideas I picked up at the conference. These include such things as why this may be a good time to go ahead and complete your book, how to take advantage of the economic downturn to sell books, what I learned from representatives of large and small publishing houses about how they do business&#8212what they expect from their authors, how major PR people recommend you sell books without spending a dime, little-known facts about the Kindle, Amazon Shorts (what is it, how can you benefit monetarily), how publishers feel about authors with a platform (no big surprise here), explanation of “Viral Marketing,” how to work with a writing buddy, and more.

Stay tuned. And, while I’m traveling, do yourself and me a favor by ordering my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book from my website,
http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

If you are thinking about writing a book, you are in the process of writing a book or you are promoting a book, this is a must read. In fact, you will continue to benefit and your book will spiral into greater success if you will refer to this book often. How do you get involved with distributors and wholesalers, do you need an agent, what is the best publishing option for you, what can you do to establish a platform for your book, what’s the best way to market a book, what’s the best way to ship books, how do you get your book on Amazon, how can you improve your speaking skills, where can you find out about book festivals and writers conferences, how can you watch out for scammers and sharks, how do you choose a good editor? You’ll learn all of this and so much more.

I used to present a program in local schools called, “Write for Life.” I wanted to instill in students the importance of learning how to express oneself through writing. I would ask students if they could think of any profession, job or lifestyle that didn’t involve writing. It didn’t matter what they came up with, other students and I could give reasons why a person in that situation would need to know how to write.

Think about it, householders/parents need to know how to write excuse notes to their kids’ teachers, a note to the neighbor or deliveryman, letters of complaint to companies, an inquiry about an invoice they received, and so forth. Any employee in any sort of job will have reason to communicate in writing at some time with employers, administrators or customers. And even the most simplistic jobs often require written reports.

I think we all agree that it is imperative that we can communicate through writing in order to get by in society today. However, there are still people in America who cannot read or write and they fake their way through life under this handicap. Amazing. If these individuals would put the same energy and effort into learning to write that they put into hiding the fact that they can’t write, they could become more successful people, don’t you think?

And then there are those of us who can’t not write. Some of us were born with pencils in our hands and stories in our hearts. Others discovered the joy of writing along the life trail. Still others simply wanted to express themselves and developed a love of the written word along the way. I am one of those people. Well, I am a little of each of these people. While I don’t create stories in my head hoping to entertain and charm readers, I am every bit as much a hopeless writer within the nonfiction realm. I want to teach and share. I love finding new ways to report, inform and educate people through my writing. Sure, there is an entertaining element in some of my writing, as well&#8212at least, I hope so.

I guess for me, the driving force is the concept of communication. Some writers live to tell stories. Their muses work overtime whispering in their ears. So what we have are communicators and storytellers. Of course, there is often a little storyteller in the communicator and a bit of a teacher’s heart in some of the storytellers.

But the universal truth for writers is that we love the process. Whether we write prose or instructions, children’s stories or rhymes, memoirs or self help, journals or romance novels, there is something that drives us. And each of us, no matter our genre or topic of choice, understands that passion.

That’s why, when we’re not focusing on a writing project, we love to gather together with other writers online, at writers’ group meetings and at conferences. Only another writer understands our passion and our challenges, the work that we put in and the joy that we generate from within as well as the sacrifices we make in order to pursue our writing dreams.

Writing can be lonely. Most of us like the solitude&#8212that’s another reason why we pursue this career (or hobby). But it also does our hearts and our writing quality wonders when we know that there are others out there who can relate.

So take time this week to connect with another writer or several other writers in a meaningful way. Share a piece of writing or the story of a unique writing experience. Pass along a resource that you found helpful.

One such helpful resource might be to join SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network)
http://www.spawn.org

If you’ve purchased one of my books and found them useful, tell others to visit my showcase of books for writers and authors at http://www.matilijapress.com

And don’t forget to sign up for my online book proposal course which started last Monday. It’s not too late to sign up. The second class lecture and assignment go out tomorrow (September 22). http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.html

I wonder sometimes if writers read what they write. Not according to some of the manuscripts and query letters I receive for evaluation or editing. The author usually tells me that he or she has done a complete edit. They’ll say, “I’ve gone over it ten times, so it should be in good shape.” Or, “I just need you to do a quick edit&#8212my wife, my college student son, my daughter’s teacher and a friend have already proofed it.” Or, “I’m an English major, but I just want to have another set of eyes see this before I send it to the publisher.”

But what do I find when I receive their carefully edited/proofed letter or manuscript? Here are a few examples:
• Words missing or misplaced. “I want to you see this,” instead of “I want you to see this.”

• Words misused. “I walked right passed James,” instead of “I walked right past James.” Or, “I past him in the hall,” instead of “I passed him in the hall.”

• Using the wrong words. “I’d like to get abut a dollar for that vase,” instead of “I’d like to get about a dollar for that vase.” Or “Jerry can here quit well,” instead of “Jerry can hear quite well.” Or “I don’t know were I pet my goat,” instead of “I don’t know where I put my coat.”

• Misused apostrophes. “I borrowed my mothers’ vase,” instead of “I borrowed my mother’s vase.” Or, “It’s his parent’s car,” instead of “It’s his parents’ car.” Or “He was born in the 1970’s,” instead of “He was born in the 1970s.”

• Misuse of capitalization. “I took my Mom and Dad to dinner,” instead of “I took my mom and dad to dinner.” Or “Mom said that she would tell dad,” instead of “Mom said that she would tell Dad.”

• Using the passive instead of the active voice. “The pink bicycle was being ridden by Mandy,” instead of “Mandy rode the pink bicycle.” Or “His resume was passed over by the committee,” instead of “The committee rejected his resume.”

• Mixing up tenses. “I want to attend the reception with Corky after I was making an appearance at the wedding with Jeff,” instead of “I will make an appearance at the wedding with Jeff and then attend the reception with Corky.” Or “I rode into the night on my paint and have fallen from the saddle after stopping for water,” instead of “I rode into the night on my paint. When I stopped for water, I fell from the saddle.”

• Using unnecessary words. “There was a time, many years ago, when Brenda had walked down the aisle and had said her vows,” instead of “Many years ago, Brenda was married.” Or “The last time he had gone to the movies, Lassie was playing,” instead of “The last time he went to the movies, Lassie was playing.” Or “James had thought about that for some time,” instead of “James thought about that for some time.”

• The subject doesn’t correspond with the action. “Barney and I walked down to the lake with lots of ripples because of the wind,” instead of “Barney and I walked down to the lake. The wind was blowing and creating ripples across the surface of the water.” Or “Susan’s dog jumped into the car carrying a bone with a luggage carrier on top,” instead of “Susan’s dog carried a bone as she jumped into the car with the luggage carrier on top.”

• List-sentences or bullets that don’t work. “I have 5 rules for safety while traveling, always: use a GPS, wear your money inside your clothing, don’t go out at night alone, do not make eye contact with strangers and never open your hotel room unlocked.” Can you see what’s wrong with this sentence? The last 3 items do not correspond.

And these are some of the editorial problems I’ve seen just this week.

I used my power point projector this morning during a presentation for a group of Cal Tech administrators meeting at the famous Ojai Valley Inn. Even though I don’t use the projector very much, everything went well. Everything worked correctly and the group seemed to enjoy my presentation. I spoke on the history of the Ojai Valley. I also pitched my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. You never know when you’re going to meet a hopeful author who needs this information. If you want to become educated about the publishing industry and learn how to navigate successfully within it, purchase this book here:
http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Sign up today for my 8-week Book Proposal Course. Your book isn’t completed, yet? You haven’t even started writing it? There is no better time to write your book proposal that NOW&#8212before you write the book or at least before you complete it. Writing the book proposal&#8212your business plan for your book&#8212should be the first thing that you do. Learn more about the course at:
http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm

The new online course started Monday, but it is not too late to sign up. Sign up now and I’ll send you the first lecture and assignment. Monday, September 22, you’ll receive lesson number 2 in your email box. Contact me with questions: PLFry620@yahoo.com.

I read once where you should never apologize for being a lax blogger. But I can’t help it. I promised you a daily blog and here I am lagging by two days. I must apologize and I do.

It’s not fair for me to invite you to my “informative” blog site every day and then not post something fresh and meaningful every day. So what’s my excuse? I’m working on the SPAWN Market Update this week. That takes a lot of my attention and time for anywhere from a three to seven days. It’s not easy coming up with new and significant news bites, opportunities, resources and perspective every month&#8212enough to fill nine to eleven single-spaced pages. I am always on call for my clients who often have questions and want me to look over chapters, etc. I spend time a couple of days a week with my mom in another city. I’m also working on 3 different presentations. We have workers here this week doing some painting and other upgrades around the house. But the biggest distraction, of late, involves the frustration of shopping for a grandmother of the groom dress. Have you been dress shopping, lately? It’s downright laughable.

I have been to no fewer than a dozen stores in five cities (some of them twice) and I still haven’t bought a dress.

By the way, there will probably be no blog entry tomorrow because Edison company employees will be working on the lines in the neighborhood and we’ve been told to expect up to eight-hours without power. We’re still trying to decide what to do with ourselves all day with no computers, television, microwave…

The last blog entry was all about freelance writing. I thought I’d follow up with some resources for you.

Here are some blog sites that give guidance and resources for those of you who are seeking freelance writing work.
http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com
http://www.allfreelancewriting.com

Locate jobs as a blogger, magazine writer, copywriter, proofreader, screenwriter, etc. at Online Writing Jobs. http://www.online-writing-jobs.com

And be sure to visit Sun Oasis at http://www.sunoasis.com

Let me know if you land a job through one of these resources. PLFry620@yahoo.com. I’d also be interested in the other sites, resources and techniques you use to locate paying writing jobs.

And always be careful what you put in your SUBJECT LINE. If you write to me with something like “question,” “hello,” “Help,” “from Joe Schmo” or “just wondering,” I probably won’t open it. For one thing, it will, most likely, show up in my SPAM box. Unlike many people, I do check my SPAM mail every day. Often, I’ll find a legitimate email from a legitimate individual among my SPAM. But if it looks too generic, I will delete it. So be cognizant of this anytime you send an email to anyone who doesn’t know you. If you want your email to be read, be specific in your email Subject Line.

Say, for example, “Regarding your Publishing Blog entry 9/10” or “Your Freelance Writing Job Resources,” or “How can I purchase your Right Way book?” or “Need your Editorial Services.” If you wonder why your emails are being ignored, it could be that you are not appropriately communicating in your Subject Line.

I make a trip to the post office almost every day. So it is no problem to ship your copy of my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, tomorrow or Saturday or any day next week. If you are thinking about writing a book, you’re in the process of writing a book or you have a published book that isn’t selling very well, order your copy of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book TODAY. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html

Also, my next online Book Proposal course starts Monday, September 15. Be there or be square. But you really need to sign up first.
http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm

As some of you know, I started out in the writing/publishing business as a freelance article writer. But I didn’t just launch out into unknown territory without first charting my course.

I spent about 10 years thinking about it and studying the industry. While I recommend that you study your chosen field of writing or publishing before diving in, 10 years is a bit extreme. In my case, I was raising small children and playing Dolly Domestic in my home (cleaning, decorating, sewing and such). I was waiting for the opportune time to start my writing career. You, on the other hand, can pick up a few good books on the subject of your career interest, spend a lot of time at appropriate websites, subscribe to related newsletters and magazines, snoop and participate in forums and discussion groups with other writers and you’re good to go.

For article-writing, here are the resources I recommend:

• A Writer’s Guide to Magazine Articles by Patricia Fry http://www.matilijapress.com/writingpage.html
• Six Figure Freelance Writing by Kelly James-Enger.
• Take Patricia Fry’s online Article-Writing Workshop:
http://www.matilijapress.com/course_magarticles.htm
• Wooden Horse Publications site and newsletter:
http://www.woodenhorsepub.com
• Writer’s Weekly newsletter:
http://www.writersweekly.com
• World Wide Freelance Writer site and newsletter:
http://www.worldwidefreelance.com
• Working Writer site and newsletter:
http://www.workingwriter.com
• Writer’s Market: http://www.writersmarket.com.
• Freelance Writers Report:
http://www.writers-editors.com
• Join SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) and read the incredibly meaty monthly SPAWN Market Update.
http://www.spawn.org
• Articles at my website and the SPAWN website on article-writing:
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.spawn.org

Locate others by doing a Google search.

Once you determine your choice of topics, you’ll want to study the magazines you hope to write for. Get copies of each magazine’s Submission Guidelines. Study them and adhere to them when making your submission.

Tip: Choose topics with which you’re familiar or those that fascinate you. And be realistic when you select the publications you want to approach with your ideas. OR choose the magazines you want to write for, study several editions from cover to cover and carefully choose an appropriate article idea for them.

In order to succeed in this business, you must conform while also thinking outside the box. You need patience like you’ve never exhibited before. And you must be committed to the process and the goal and you, too, will succeed.

I’ve always been one to get bored easily. But I can quickly find something interesting to do. It’s imperative, to my sense of well-being, that my days are filled with variety. I had that variety while I was raising my three daughters. I enjoyed practically every aspect of homemaking&#8212caring for my girls, preparing healthy meals, decorating the house, gardening, sewing (I did a lot of sewing) and so forth. When I took a job outside the home (once the girls were grown), I made sure that my life included elements that involved family, home, learning, stretching, growing, creativity, people, laughter, activity and animals.

As many of you know, I’ve been writing for publication for 35 years. Even my choice of careers allowed me variety, for I started out writing articles for magazines. I wrote on family issues, relationships, animals, self-improvement and many, many other topics. My published (and yet to be published) books are on an eclectic array of topics requiring diverse research tactics. Of course, the process of promoting books also affords the opportunity for variety. An author might find herself writing articles to promote her book one day, speaking to a group the next and conducting an online interview the following day. She will write press releases, research distributors and the library market and attend book festivals, for example. There’s no lack of variety when it comes to book promotion.

Now that I work with other people on their projects through teaching, conducting workshops, editing, consulting and so forth, I find that my days are still all about variety. Just this month, for example, I’ve been editing a middle school children’s book. I helped a client design her book cover, scrutinized some author changes in a book that’s ready to go to press, edited a few chapters for a long-time client, edited another client’s book proposal, taught a book proposal workshop, practiced a speech for the Wizard of Words Writers’ Conference coming up in Phoenix in October, negotiated for books to give away with SPAWN memberships, wrote the 13-page September edition of the SPAWN Market Update, wrote an article for SPAWNews, reviewed a book for SPAWNews, posted my daily blog almost daily, shipped books almost daily and did the necessary bookwork, wrote and submitted a handful of articles on writing/publishing, fought to get Borders Books to pay on an outstanding invoice, taught the last two classes in my online article-writing series, agreed to two speaking engagements and I’ve responded to a dozen or so questions. And this was a fairly slow month.

People ask me how I manage, at my age, to put in such full days. I think it has something to do with the fact that I thrive on variety. Plus, outside of my work, I strive to eat 5 to 10 fruits and vegetables per day (that takes a bit of creativity in itself), I walk 2 to 3 miles every day, I garden, I’m caretaker to two formerly feral cats and I maintain a home, a family (I’m part of 4 generations of women) and a social life (I saw Mama Mia a few weeks ago, visited the zoo with a friend and participated in planning a major class reunion this month and I’ll tour a dahlia garden this weekend.)

Do you arrange for variety in your days? Or are you stagnating? Do you write regularly and enjoy the process? Maybe you’re promoting a book. Vary your promotional activities and see how much more fun it can be. And don’t forget to take care of yourself.

This is the last day of my discount offer. Sign up today and get $20 off of the 8-week online book proposal course. Sign up TODAY at http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm The online classes begin September 15, 2008.

Contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com with your questions.