down the writer's path

City Blogging: A new media trend in travel writing

I've resumed posting over at blogHOUSTON, a weblog dedicated to “Houston politics and current events, local media, and thoughts on the city’s cultural and entertainment options.” My niche is primarily arts and entertainment with a strong literary slant, of course. Not being up to date with the local music scene and being that rare individual in today's visual society who does NOT go to films, I generally leave those reports to the others. Thankfully, Houston is a big city with a large appetite for culture and entertainment so there’s plenty of venues and subject matter left. It's nice that all that Houston research for the travel books continues to pave the way for additional writing projects even today. Five years ago I would never have said I'd be part of a group blogging about Houston. I had barely heard mention of writers providing content material for major online corporate sites such as MSN City Guides or Expedia. For me, blogHOUSTON is a great fit. No pressure in posting, and I can share info about places and events that catch my attention.

Kevin Whited, editor and web guru for blogHOUSTON, has done a great job in executing his idea for a blog about the city. He cites the now-defunct LAexaminer.com (run by blogger/journalist/musicians Ken Layne and Matt Welch) and LAobserved.com as inspiration. Of course, Kevin's own highly praised PubliusTx personal blog had to have provided some creative sparks. I ran across his earlier blogs several years ago and we exchanged a few emails prior to the launch of bH. I followed the blog’s early days and appreciated it when he linked to this site and mentioned my work. Eventually he suggested I join them. Trust me, I was flattered. It took a while but eventually it happened. Then life became a bit more complicated and postings everywhere dwindled. But recent events have opened up new writing time and I’ve keyboarded my way back to his blog. Here are the links for last week's posts. Read ‘em and comment if you’ve a mind to.

Surprise! Gas prices are up.
Have a bloomin’ buggy weekend at BUGstravaganza!
Murder by the Book hosts a triple header that ends with Lee Child

Writing prompts and exercising your writing muscles

Spent the weekend exercising my writing muscles. I worked up a piece for blogHouston on the Houston museum that is featuring the dog in art exhibition. Museum exhibitions offer some good opportunities for Artist Dates (in the vein of Julia Cameron), spontaneous writing exercises, and old-fashioned inspiration. Why not check your local calendar and see what opportunities are available right now at your local venues? Plan an Artist Date with your creativity and go alone. Another option is to call up a few fellow writers/artists and wander through the exhibit; then, separate for about 15-20 minutes of free writing before you share your experience and your impressions.

I also wrote up and posted another book review at Blogcritics.

Have to say it feels good that I'm starting the week with two short pieces under my belt and at least 1500+ words published.

Association of Authors and Publishers wants to know more about the blogging life

Houston has an interesting writers group known as the Authors and Publishers Association (AAP), and they want to know more about the blogging life. They have asked yours truly to speak about my experiences as a blogger the past couple of years and how I've integrated them into my writing life. I've known about the group for a number of years and every meeting I've attended has been informative as well as interesting. The group aims to cover as many facets of being an author and publisher as possible. It doesn't hurt that they meet in a great place, either: the Houston Museum of Printing History.

A non-profit association based in Houston, AAP is composed of authors (and would-be authors), editors, designers, artists, printers, publishers, self-publishers, marketers, distributors, booksellers, Internet professionals--anyone associated with the production, development, marketing, and distribution of books. According to the website, APA exists to assist writers, authors, publishers, and tradespeople, in keeping the literary craft alive and seeks to encourage tomorrow's Hemingways, Vonneguts, and Sagans. APA is a Publisher's Marketing Associate (PMA) and a Small Press of North America (SPNA) partner. In addition to the regular meeting, the group also has an informal meet-and-greet at the nearby Cafe Express (1422 W. Gray) from 5:00 pm - 6:30pm. Here's the press release they were kind enough to send out.

Authors and Publishers Association

Thursday, September 15, 2005
Registration -  6:30 pm  Meeting starts at 7:00 pm
Meeting is free to members, $5 for non-members.
Museum of Printing History

1324 W. Clay, Houston, TX     Phone: 713-522-4652
See AAP for more info and a map.

THE BLOGGING LIFE
Vikk Simmons

Thinking about starting a web log, otherwise known as a blog? Or are you already blogging, but anxious to know how you can get more out of it? Vikk Simmons will talk about her experiences as a blogger -- how she has incorporated this versatile form of communication into her writing life, and has used blogging to further her writing goals. Don't miss this entertaining, informative presentation.

Vikk Simmons, is an avid reader, writer, blogger, and photographer who is passionate about writing and traveling and loves to combine the two. Co-author of three travel books and two young adult novels, Vikk recently learned that she and her co-author, Elaine Galit, have been invited to the 2005 Texas Book Festival. The two were also honored to be named Barnes and Noble Authors of the Month. A certified Journal to the Self instructor, Simmons facilitated Artist Way groups for six years. She spent four years coordinating book events and promotions for Borders Books, Inc. and during that time she received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from Vermont College.

Vikk often speaks on creativity, the publishing industry and the business and craft of writing. After a two-year stint as communications director for a local church, Vikk recently returned to Borders Books to work in the corporate and educational sales program. She maintains a blog where she comments on the writing life and the publishing industry at Down the Writer's Path and has a web site dedicated to teens at TeensTakeAction.com.

Press releases, marketing and booksignings

With the advent of a new book, booksignings are inevitable and creating press releases is the norm. I spent most of last night emailing press releases to various local print media outlets. I already have bookmarks, postcards and business cards as a result of the TLA and IRA conferences, so that's a major task already out of the way. The booksigning posters in various sizes have already been created, so one more task is marked "done." I'm actually a little late on these local press releases due to my recent traveling. These should have gone out seven to ten days earlier. In addition to my efforts, both Elaine and I have sent out email announcements to friends, online groups, and local event announcement lists to spread as wide a net as we can.

Some of you may be wondering why I'm doing all this marketing. You may think the bookstores should be doing this. In fact, Blue Willow has included our signing information in their monthly newsletter, put up announcements on the website, and graciously sent out 200 or so very nice invitations. (You should know that it's not the norm for stores to spend their money on mailouts, so when they do authors are delighted.) I know Borders has included us in their monthly newsletter and will be putting up a display and signage to remind in-store customers. These are two bookstores that really work at their events and we know that; however, authors should not rely or suppose that the necessary publicity and marketing efforts will be made on their behalf. Sometimes the stores are busy and inventory may fall at the same time as the event; sometimes the staff isn't as up to speed on publicizing their events as authors would like; sometimes there simply isn't enough manpower and/or knowledge to get the job done and done right. My policy is that anything the store does is a plus and will be on top of what I do. I can only control my own publicity efforts, plus, I will publicize the book, the event, and me--the author--in the way I want to be portrayed.

I had the same policy when I was a community relations coordinator for four years and handled the events and promotions for a local chain bookstore. I learned early on not to depend on publisher's--or authors, I'm afraid--to do any publicity. In those rare times when actual publicity was done by a publisher it was to focus on the book and the TV and print media, etc. with, if I was lucky, a mention of the signing. Obviously the store's event was a priority for me; the book was a priority for the publisher. So if the author wants to have any publicity and marketing done for the "author," it follows that he or she must get the word out. An extra plus is that most bookstores are grateful that you take the time to promote.  But the biggest plus comes in sales on the day of the event and during the next several days after when your signed stock is available and when folks come in to buy the book after having missed the event.

But isn't marketing and publicizing the book the same as publicizing the author? Not necessarily. I have two travel books published, but I also have a blog on writing and two young adult novels I'm promoting, so it's up to me to get the word out about me.

That said, I have two signings that fall on the next two Saturdays. If you're in the neighborhood, please stop by and say hello.

EXPLORING TEXAS HISTORY: WEEKEND ADVENTURES

Blue Willow Bookshop

14532 Memorial Drive at Dairy Ashford

281.497.8675

http://www.bluewillowbookshop.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp

Saturday, May 14, 2005

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

and

Vikk Simmons and Elaine L. Galit

EXPLORING TEXAS HISTORY: WEEKEND ADVENTURES

Borders Books - The Fountains (Stafford/Sugar Land area)

12788 Fountain Lake Cr, Stafford, TX 77477
281.440.6666

Saturday, May 21, 2005

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Mystery Short Story Contest Deadline Approaching

If you have a mysterious bent, you might consider entering the Mystery Short Story Contest sponsored by the Southwest chapter of Mystery Writers of America (MWA) and Murder by the Book, Houston's celebrated mystery bookstore. The entry must be postmarked by April 23, 2005. The $100 prize will be awarded at the Hardboiled Heroes and Cozy Cats 2005 mystery writing conference being in held in Houston on June 17 and 18. Writers do not have to attend the conference to enter the contest. The contest fee to enter is $15 per story. You can receive an optional written critique of stories for an additional $25. For complete details on the contest and the conference, check the MWA/SW website.
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Of Edgars, Ravens, and other mysterious stories and events

Well, as Lee Goldberg attests on his blog A Writer's Life, Mystery Writers of  America (MWA) has announced the annual Edgar nominations. The Edgars derive their name from Edgar Allen Poe, long considered the father of the detective story. Houstonions might enjoy knowing that our own Murder by the Book's owner Martha Farrington will be honored with a 2005 MWA Raven Award. This award is given to individuals and institutions who have made significant contributions to the mystery genre or to MWA. Murder by the Book is a great independent bookstore and the folks there do a wonderful job; they really know their mysteries. If you haven't had a chance to wander around the bookcases filled with mystery stories that range from cozies to psychological suspense, shame on you. The folks at Murder by the Book are often quoted in Publisher's Weekly, the publishing industry's number one trade magazine, because they know what's going on in their corner of the book world. All that said, they're good people, too.

You might not know that Houston is home to MWA's Southwest Chapter, a great group with monthly meetings on the third Wednesday of the month. The group will have their main annual event this year, the 2005 Hard-Boiled Heroes and Cozy Cats Conference, on June 17 and 18. They'll also be holding a short story contest sponsered by Murder by the Book. Last year's winner, Joyce Gibb, recently sold her entry to Alfred Hitchcock Magazine. The contest will be judged by Texas author and MWA/SW Vice President Michael Bracken and will feature cash awards and recognition during the awards ceremony at lunch. The short story should be between 1,000 and 5,000 words. Check their website (scroll down) for more details as it gets closer to the event.

I'm telling you now about the contest so you can have plenty of time to write and submit your entry. If you'd like to read a few short stories to get your creative juices flowing, pick up a copy of the Alfred Hitchcock Magazine or Ellery Queen Magazine. I'm sure they'll stimulate a few ideas. Or order a copy of The Best American Mystery Stories 2004 .

Poets and Writers Alert: Once again Houston hosts the CLMP Southern Literary Magazine and Press Fair

This morning the announcement for the 2nd Annual CLMP Southern Literary Magazine & Small Press Fair arrived in my email. CLMP is the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses and once again the event will be at Houston's Brazos Bookstore, a place that makes roaming through bookstacks and bookshelves a delight. I made a point of attending last year and found the event to be all it promised and then some. My advice: arrive early, stay late. (And don't give up if the front parking lot is full; there is nearby on-street parking available.) While boxes and boxes of literary magazines are available and issues can be picked up for a song, they move fast and furious. For the best assortment get there as soon as you can. If you haven't looked lately, the price of a single issue of any literary magazine is fairly high, usually ranging from $8-$15. Annual subscriptions are the best way to go--unless you are lucky enough to attend this conference. Bookstores generally have a limited title selection, with Brazos being the exception. For writers, who want to be sure and select the best target market for their material, this can prove to be a frustrating and expensive process. Being able to pick up recent issues for only $2 or $4 is like a gift from heaven. I confess I left last year with two very full boxes--and then I bought a couple of books from the bookstore.

Each magazine has its own distinct style, needs, and wants. Sometimes they're subtle but they are there. Being able to collect material from a wide range of publishers allows a writer to read them critically and compare one against the other. Understanding the differences is crucial when submitting. A writer who can demonstrate a familiarity with the magazine when submitting a manuscript is someone an editor can appreciate. This year 75 publishers have signed up to be represented--a big increase over last year's good turnout of 50.

The panel discussions last year proved informative and I'm sure this year's, Beneath the Covers: A Look Inside Literary Book Publishers at 11:30 AM and Lit Mags 101: How Lit Mags Work And How to Submit at 2 PM, will be even better. If you are interested in submitting material to any literary magazine, you'll want to attend this event for a rare opportunity to meet editors who are more than willing to talk to readers and writers and who are eager to share their likes and dislikes and offer their take on the literary journal and small press industry.

Gulf Coast, the local literary journal published by the University of Houston, will be well represented. Some other literary magazines I enjoy include Fourth Genre: Explorations in Creative Nonfiction, Mars Hill Review, Creative Nonfiction, Ploughshares, Belleview Literary Review, Tiferet, and The Missouri Review. In addition to the fiction and creative nonfiction pieces, many issues contain great interviews with writers that offer a glimpse into the ways they work and think. Most websites offer online archives and selections from current issues, but I do think that actually having a bound issue in your hand allows you to take in the variety of the offerings and gain some sense of an overall impression that helps you gain the subtle understandings of the individual journals and magzines.

So mark your calendars and plan to attend this free event:

Houston, Saturday, January 29, 2005: 11:00 am- 5:00 pm
BRAZOS BOOKSTORE GALLERY
2425 Bissonnet Street

For more detailed information, a list of participants and contact information, keep reading:

New resolutions, new opportunities, new writer events

Well, it's a new year and I'm sure we all have brand spanking new resolutions. Perhaps one of them is to wade a little deeper into the realm of writing. If writing for children interests you, then the SCBWI-Houston chapter has a couple of events that range from a solid getting-back-to-basics Academy 101 to a special Editor's Day with five New York editors and a rare opportunity to submit your material t these closed houses to an actual cruise that you might want to try. The Houston group is a great writing group and they put a lot of time, energy and talent into their events. Yours truly will be at Academy 101. Sign up early. I won't be at Editor's Day but I've signed up so that I can submit some manuscripts. :)

ACADEMY 101

	SCBWI-Houston's ACADEMY 101
Location:	North Harris College
When:	Saturday, February 5, 8:30am
Phone:	713 840 7625
It's time to fulfill your NEW YEAR's RESOLUTION--do something for yourself--Sign up for ACADEMY 101: Part 2 SATURDAY FEB. 5, 2005! This all day event, designed to compliment Academy 101 features more of Everything you ever needed or wanted to know about writing and illustrating for children. Presentations by published authors will focus on writing, cover letters, plotting, picture books, magazines, non-fiction, fiction and more. Afternoon sessions for illustrators will focus on creating art for children's literature. Portfolio and manuscript critique sessions will give you an opportunity to have your work reviewed by seasoned professionals. SCBWI-Houston's website: www.scbwi-houston.org is a registration form. ___________________________________________ Editor's Day February 26, 2005 North Harris College   •   2700 W. W. Thorne Drive   •   Houston, TX 77073 Map – 2700 WW Thorne Blvd, Houston, TX 77073 Here's a rare opportunity to meet editors and submit to closed houses. Amy Hsu-Editor, Books for Young Readers, Little Brown--Picture Books Susan Van Metre, Sr. Editor, Abrams Books for Young Readers-Mid Grade & Teen Lit Doug Sanders, Editor, Marshall Cavendish Benchmark--Nonfiction Kay Olson, Editorial Director, Capstone Press--Educational nonfiction and fiction J. Elizabeth Mills, Associate Editor, Scholastic, Cartwheel--Very young fiction and novelties The speakers will explain the focus of their houses and will each accept one appropriate manuscript or proposal from those registered for the event. Submissions in unsealed 9x12 SASE will be gathered the day of the event and shipped to the editor. Manuscripts are limited to 10 pages regular format, unless specifications of an editor indicate otherwise. Art samples can include 10 letter-size copies. Nonfiction may be in the form of proposals. Catalogs and complete instructions will be provided at the January meeting for those who register. Seating is limited and has sold out each time for Editor Day. Cost includes a box lunch. Optional dinner Saturday night will be at attendee’s expense. Click here for the registration form. ___________________________

SCBWI Texas chapters present  Writin’, Drawin’, and Cruisin’ TEXAS Style
An All You Can Eat Workshop For Anyone Who Can Swim!

From:	SCBWI-Houston
:	Where The Sharks Live From Galveston and, hopefully, back,Galveston,TX
When:	Thursday – Monday, April 14 –18, 2005 Deposit deadline is Friday, January 21, 12:00pm
Phone:	1-800-bring a Life Raft
Carnival Cruise Line sailing out of Galveston on the ship Ecstasy (refurbished October 2004)! Texas style defined = You can eat your weight in lobster and they'll still give you dessert. The 4 day cruise cost begins at only $495 per person The conference fee: $120 per person for SCBWI members $170 per person for non-members Prices are per person double occupancy/inside cabin, all port fees & taxes included. Upgrades available. For Writers: 2+ days of writing workshops, small group critique sessions, manuscript reviews, and the opportunity to submit a manuscript to an acquiring Agent and Editor. For Illustrators: 2+ days of craft workshops, a portfolio display, portfolio review, breakout sessions for illustrators, and the opportunity to submit your work to an Art Director and Editor. To register go to http://www.priscillaburris.com SUBMISSIONS Writers: Submit either one picture book, one article, or one chapter from a longer work, in double spaced format. Include a cover letter with a short summary of your manuscript. Illustrators: Submit no more than 5 copies (8”x10” maximum size) of artwork (do not send originals). Include a cover letter with a short summary of your work. Submission deadline: February 15, 2005. SPEAKERS Jane O’Connor, Vice President/Editor at Large, Penguin Children’s Books Priscilla Burris, Illustrator & Author, SCBWI Board Member Sharene Martin, Agent - Wylie-Merrick Literary Agency Robert Brown, Agent – Wylie-Merrick Literary Agency Debra Sfetsios, Art Director, Simon & SchusterFaculty

New poetry reading group to meet in coffee house in NASA/Seabrook area.

I frequently get information from Sol Magazine, an international membership of poets and volunteers interested in the education of poets based out of Clear Lake City, Texas in the Houston area. They run competitions and will be changing their monthly online magazine to a quarterly publication in 2005. They also send out information about poetry-related events such as the following.

A new poetry reading group will begin to meet soon in Seabrook at a coffee house on NASA Parkway.  If you'd be interested in reading your new work on a regular basis in the Clear Lake City area, email Mary Margaret Carlisle at Sol.Magazine@prodigy.net and she'll be happy to share the particulars.

If you are interested in being a featured poet or short story writer in 2005 at an established poetry reading series in Clear Lake City, please contact her with your full name, preferred e-mail address, and a brief resume, including where you've read your work before and what you'e published, if anything.

If you would like to have a booksigning for a new chapbook or poetry book (published in 2004), contact Carlisle and she'll be happy to set up a date in the Seabrook, Webster, or Clear Lake City area.