Greetings;
Years ago, I judged writing contests for adults, and while entering a contest this week, it brought back memories of the most common errors entrants made. If sending a piece to a writing contest, consider the following: When the rules state, “1000 words or less,” the judges mean it. One disqualified contestant argued, “It’s only twenty-five words over.” Didn’t matter. Another sent in his story, single-spaced, when the rules clearly stated, “Double-spaced,” Most contests asked for “Times Roman font” because it’s easier to read, especially when there are many manuscripts. (Eyestrain is not fun.)
Before considering a contest, READ what is acceptable. If asking for fiction stories, one doesn’t send an obvious, non-fiction account. The same applies for a non-fiction contest. I heard one judge at a conference tell a perspective author, “I’m not saying this piece is fiction; just that it is so unbelievable it can’t pass as real.” Professional judges read myriad manuscripts, and they CAN tell the difference. Remember, when your piece is being judged, you normally won’t be there to defend it, so it must be clearly written to portray what you really want to say. When there are several grammar and/or spelling mistakes, it takes away from the content, even if it’s a great theme. Another piece will win because it’s more “readable.”
When a contest states, “Must be post-marked by October 1,” don’t bother to send it on the second. In addition, if the contest chair wants the piece sent as an “attachment via e-mail,” send it that way. If you don’t know how to do it, find someone who does to show you. It’s worth the time and learning spent. A few, newer contests are stating, “…must be sent, single-spaced, within the body of the e-mail.” Did you catch the exception to the spacing rule? Because one contest has certain rules, they may not apply to another one. Another new rule popping up lately, is “Electronic submissions must abide by the same rules,” which means, “entries must be submitted on white, 8 ½ by 11-inch paper, typed, (the days are gone when hand-written entries were accepted.) double-spaced, and kept to 500 words or less.”
When there is more than one category of prose and poetry, the rules will be clear whether you can submit only one piece to each category or one to each, or more than one. (The more-than-one contests are usually charging a fee and want as many as possible to keep their business going, and, yes, that type of contest is a business. (There is often a book offered to you at a large sum because your story or poem will be in it. The fact that every entry is in it is the business side. Too many new writers fall for it and pay $50 or more to see their work in print. Vanity is costly. Be patient and keep correcting your work. There are many free contests available. Ask your librarian which writers’ books include a section on available contests, and copy their rules. Good luck. Our goal as writers is to publish, and that happens when we keep learning how to perfect our craft.
I enjoy working with young children because they say it like it is. One morning, I was listening to my two nieces play together in the yard. (Listening to children is often how I obtain ideas for future children’s stories.) Five-year-old Anna was complaining because Mom wouldn’t let her go into the pool right after lunch. Without looking up, her three-year-old sister, Gia, murmured, “Those the rules.” Right on, Gia.
Until next week, take a leap and enter a contest this week. It’s good practice for future contests you will win.
Be well. Linda

Greetings;
If published, are you setting up book signings at area stores? If you have friends or relatives in other parts of our state, or in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, or Maine, have you checked out their bookstores for one or two possible signings? Take a ride with your books in the trunk for a day or so and canvass their areas. I have found that friends and relatives without writing skills really enjoy being a part of traveling to signings and such–a novel experience to share with their non-writer friends and family. The saying, “People want to know,” is accurate. One dear friend even paid her own way on a cruise ship to accompany me to Bermuda for book signings there. It’s great to have a cohort to discuss how the signings are going, to keep you company while you drive, and to gauge what participants at your readings are saying to one another during children’s school classes or workshops, library visits, and senior centers writing workshops that YOU have arranged. Writers can’t count on publishers to do any of it anymore. Those days have passed into history along with old re-runs of the television mystery writer, Jessica, in Maine, who made being an author appear so glamorous.
To see your book published, you must do the work. Contact radio stations for an interview to announce what towns and bookstores you’ll be in for signings. Prepare ahead of time something special for the children, who will attend with their parent. One of my friends, Melinda Lancaster, author of GRANDMA, TELL ME IF YOU CAN, is excellent at this. Her story centers on the seaside, so she made seashell necklaces and provided plain shells so the children could decorate them themselves while she sold her books. With one of my books, I provided black and white reproductions of the story pages and provided crayons to keep the children busy and to keep the group there. People are naturally curious, and will stop when there is a crowd gathered. More customers mean more book sales.
Keep in mind that the average percentage of book sales is 40% to store owners and 60% to the author. One author complained to me that she had done all the work, and why should the owner make almost as much as she did. When apprised of the owner’s costs to keep the store open (where would we sell our books without a store?) she understood. A most important point to remember is that if a store has accepted your book, either as an outright sale (not many of those stores left.) or on consignment, DO NOT sell books on your own in those areas. The owner was good enough to take your book. Cutting into her or his sales is unprofessional.
I recently sold my books at a book fair (no store in that town was selling my books.) where the couple selling beside me were more than unprofessional in their marketing tactics. Each time a person stopped at my display, the husband jumped up and brought his book over, standing between my display and the customer to extol the virtues of his book saying, “If you like those books, you’ll love this one.” I couldn’t believe his rude behavior. After the second time, I insisted he move away to his own table because he was blocking my display. Then his wife began talking to people she knew, and also stood in front of my display. I had to ask her twice to move to her own table so customers could stop. When I mentioned what was happening, the coordinator replied that they’re very pushy people. It’s how they sell books. I’m not alone in making sure to never sit near them again. My point is, stay in control of your business. If a book store owner has your table set in the back of the store–this happened once–suggest you need to be near the front of the store, or if a warm day, right outside the store to draw people. The owner readily agreed. Over the years, I’ve found store owners and fair coordinators to be wonderful people, and always willing to help. I so respect their professionalism.
Finally, when each signing, interview, or reading is over, be sure to write a thank you to the people who made it all possible. It’s the right thing to do.
Until next week, keep writing. Children are waiting to read your creative thoughts. Be well. Linda

Greetings;
I rose at four this morning (my usual writing hours are four to nine.) to write a Wednesday blog, but, guess what? My mind, which has a creative bent all its own, switched gears, deciding instead to finally write the query I’ve been putting off to an agent. My 300-page cookbook, COOKING WITH CASSIE, was a labor of love, written for my granddaughter, Nicole, and took a year-and-a-half to write. Subsequently, the project mushroomed-to ten copies, one for each child and grandchild, (didn’t want to play favorites.). Thereafter, when given as a wedding shower gift, some relative or friend inquired if it were possible to buy one as their gift to some other friend or relative. That’s a big mushroom. Over two-hundred copies later, I’ve decided it’s time to see if someone else will consider publishing CWC.
In these modern times, there is no longer the process of simply writing a manuscript and sending it to a publisher. The economy left many editors without jobs, and many small publishing companies were swallowed by large companies. One doesn’t need a math degree to know there are now fewer people to read manuscripts, even though the work of writing hasn’t decreased. Yes, it takes courage to send one’s “baby” off to some stranger, who probably receives hundreds each week, and it’s understandable those few, harried editors will look for any excuse to be rid of one more manuscript. Therefore, the first sentence and paragraph in your e-mail query (no attachments, please.) is so important. I’ve taken more time writing queries than in writing a whole story, and decided to place the query on a back burner.(sound familiar?) Also, more and more editors and agents are refusing snail-mail submissions or SASE. They have neither time nor man-power to return them anymore. So, today, I’m connecting blog and query work.  Here’s a sample query. I’d appreciate any thoughts on the modern process and the query. Until next Wednesday, be well, and do consider writing your own back burner query this week, making sure it is sent to an editor who accepts your genre.
Query: Subject box: Q. COOKING WITH CASSIE 300 pages
Dear
CWC contains easy-to-prepare recipes; each tested by learned cooks, and laced with my grandmother’s wisdom. In 1919, Cassie was twenty-nine, and had given birth to ten children, learning young about survival in a hectic life. She taught me, when I was a child, short cuts and hints for cooking and life in general. Cassie’s philosophy: Modern cooks are so busy they don’t always want to know the whys of successful happenings. Provide something that works and is simple to do; if inexpensive figures in all the better.
The recipes are listed in order of preparation. Other cookbooks list ingredients and then prep work. Even as a ten-year-old, it made no sense to me. Why not together? It was frustrating going back and forth to connect the two. Contents include: Kitchen hints, Equipment needed, Oven settings, Definitions, Seasonings and uses, Equivalents, Substitutions, Shelf foods, General hints, Stain removal, and Foods and Survival methods with a sick child.
Chapters include separate sections: Appetizers & Dips, Breads & Muffins, Breakfast meals, Casseroles, Sauces, Fish, Beef, Pork, Poultry, Salads & Dressings, Side dishes, Soups, Stews, & Chowders, Vegetarian dishes, Candy, Desserts, Toppings, Pie crusts & fillings, Drinks & tips. There is a section on how to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner for twelve beginning with what to purchase with amounts needed, and how to ease work. Eg; Set table a few days before, including all serving dishes and spoons for each food item. Gently cover set table with a clean sheet to keep dust away. Other hints: Refrigerated celery lasts longer wrapped in foil, one ounce of dark chocolate contains more anti-oxidants that a strawberry, and a paper towel set in an ice cream box prevents frost. Should you encounter hints for improving your kitchen, your home, or even your life, it will make my efforts worthwhile.
I’m a children’s author with adult stories published in JOURNEYS, an anthology of short stories, Primetime , and Reader’s Digest. Thank you for your consideration. Linda E. Williams, RN

Greetings;
Hurricane Irene has written its own story of destruction, which we won’t soon forget. Lights out, no cable, and stoves unlit for days, while trees, leaves, and branches shattered once pristine landscapes. Jack and I live eight minutes from the ocean, so fascination adds to the mix of Mother Nature’s strength. Without regard to race, creed, or financial security, she is capable of causing havoc to anyone, who doesn’t respect her ability to destroy. But, what each of us remembers—and writers hopefully will record– will be how the hurricane personally affected the individual that is you and me.
At eight o’clock on Sunday morning, enveloped from head to ankle in my well-worn, canary-yellow, rubber raincoat looking much like Big Bird walking, I headed out into wind-driven rain. Normally, I walk where the waves meet the shore, but today, that would be foolish. Danger lurks on stormy days, and its best to stay on the walkway away from the pull and force of the ocean. That early morning scene daily draws me with its constant color changes in hues of blue, green, gray, and during its more fierce storms, black. (I sometimes wonder if my great-grandfather’s genes have something to do with my love of the sea.  He went to sea as a cabin boy when he was eleven.) On dark days, when the sun hides, whitecaps scramble in all directions to escape the depths of their ocean home. That’s how it was on Sunday, and I shook my head in despair as a group of four teens stood out on a rock jetty while waves crashed all around them. Later in the day, two people were spotted on wave-runners. Before our electricity–our power–went out, there had already been news of deaths attributed to hapless surfers in North Carolina. Too many people needlessly die because they believe they’re invincible. In a life fully lived, there is always something new to safely experience, without traveling far from home or risking one’s life. When writers remain open to discovery and keep paper and pen handy to record those fleeting experiences, some great stories have been written.
If asked, ”What affected you most while in the midst of Hurricane Irene?” would you write about physical situations and resulting limitations, or would you as a writer perhaps record more profound feelings of fear—those “what-ifs”–or fascinations, when writing your next storm story.  Have you taken enough writing courses to aptly describe your feelings so they reach the page intact? When you see a certain color, can you utilize similes and metaphors to make a clear impression on the reader? After all is said and done, a serious writer writes so the reader can experience what has been seen and felt. Good luck with that.
Until next Wednesday, be well. Linda