About MFA's in Writing

From Gabriela Pereira's page on Twitter, I linked to the article  "3 Myths About theMFA in Creative Writing" by Jane Friedman. A must read for those thinking about an MFA in Creative Writing. 

I value education but resent the push into MFAs or PhDs as the Holy Grail for publishing or winning contests and by most writing media. Ok, so I wouldn't want a surgeon to operate on me without a Medical degree but have books become notable only if written by those with a degree?  I have read amazing books and taken fabulous courses from teachers without an MFA or Ph.D. and some awful by those with degrees.

Although I wanted a degree in Parapsychology, Anthropology or History almost all my college was job advancement motivated. Dyslexia and that English is not my first language exacerbated my insecurity.

So, why do I write?  It’s a passion. Stories, poems, and screenplays come to me, not just in dreams but also to live in me. I write regardless of whether I publish or not. I have published some poetry and articles and wrote for Examiner.com as Sacramento Populist, and CBS-Sacramento Arts&Entertainment.

Once you read "3 Myths About the MFA in Creative Writing" by Jane Friedman, I'd love to know what you think on Facebook, @mma Twitter, LinkedIn or Google.

Some writer's conferences are worth attending

So, last week I attended the RWA conference in San Diego. The hotel was so cold it made me ill but I learned a lot from the presenters and attendees! Here are a couple of photos. The lady in red I'm standing next to is the famous and fabulous author Nora Roberts. 
The one I am sitting next to was my wonderful roommate.

After doing some edits to VIRGINS I will be ready to publish and the date I am setting for publication is 7/29. I will most likely offer VIRGINS for free to my followers.

https://www.facebook.com/Virgins.web/?fref=ts

Virgins - alternate tillite - Kicked Out Of Heaven

Hi friends, I thank you all for your support from the bottom of my heart. I have completed my book Virgins - the first book of my Sylphs - beings without a soul - Paranormal/Fantasy Series. I will be posting the first few pages in the next few days right here and on my blog and on my Facebook page for Virgins https://www.facebook.com/Virgins.web/

Photo: courtesy of Bob Keck, Owner/Photographer/Artist at Digital Dreams

Do the never ever end?

http://pin.it/RwU7M13

Slugging on blogging

It's not so much that I have a full plate, and not just with food. It's not that I am a social media (sm) glutton - Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Stumbleupon (forgot one or two?) I might engage in some more than others but gosh, golly, gee what the heck and whatnot. 

I am actually writing and submitting a lot!

But this whole media thing is like the biggest boomer, hippie, flower child, gossip circle, club, and what-have-you, and with millions online someone is always posting.

A woman said, not long ago, "social media is evil." "Well," I said, "you mean like when TV, phone, cars and airplanes first started?  Should we go back to smoke signals or?" I think her husband uses sm for porn; who knows.

The very next thing I will blog will be, I hope, is to announce the publishing of my book! Drum roll anyone???

I wish you all a happy 4th of July; stay safe and grateful to be safe.

Virgins starts with Ayekah, the antagonist

How to Plot a Book: Start With the Antagonist - Helping Writers Become Authors

helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com

Struggling to plot your book? Good things happen when you focus on figuring out how to plot your book by first examining your antagonist's goals.

How to Clean Your Nags Head Hammock

Ever wondered what makes a novel great?

Here is a collage from Kami Garcia, on the structure of Killer Plot Twists and what makes and are great novels!

Smashwords Survey Helps Authors Sell more eBooks (Smashwords tutorial se...

Poem: Women Rise

Our wombs thunder

with spirits of steel

a steady pace and hunger

for healing.

The stars,

our hallowed ground,

call us to fight

with tender hearts

and wise minds.

From priestess

to prostitute, sacred all,

made to conceive

not be torn apart.

We must rise

against edicts that imprison

lies and pass evils
from dark to light.

by ©Marta 6-12-2016

Inspired by Hillary Rodham Clinton, first woman presumptive nominee for President of the United States of America.

Submitted to: The United State of Women

A very cool Dragon Kite

Giant Octopus Kite (720p HD)

A Sampling of Karen's Work

One AMAZNG short story

An eerily fascinating and fabulously written short story by Jacob Appel:  Invasive Species Copyright 2010 by Jacob Appel, First Place, Fiction, Awards 32 for New Millennium Writings NMW

Gregory Colbert, thank you for moving my soul!

On editing

You know that feeling? 
The one after you announced your book is done, and you will publish in a week or so, but then you feel you need another eye or two and a couple of trusted friends accept to read it - and then full of confidence you will put that baby out. However, as you wait you wonder: is egg on your face or patience better? 
"Patience is not simply the ability to hold on - it's how we behave while we're waiting." Joyce Meyer
But then! You read your email and find, on a trusted site such as K. M. Weiland's, the perfect article on how to get your edits done once you get your feedback! 
6 Tips for How to Organize Your Novel’s Edits
http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/tips-organize-your-novels-edits/

Looking to publish?

If you are looking to publish here is a comparison of information that might help you.



8 Ebook Discovery Services Compared http://selfpublishingadvice.org/ebook-discovery-book-promo-services-review/?utm_campaign=shareaholic

Was taught to never say "can't."

FREE, screenwriting teleconference

Think about writing a screenplay or just want information? 

Or thinking about selling to Hollywood? Learn strategies.

"In this 2 hour teleconference, you'll learn:

• 5 Keys to Getting Your Script Sold.

• How To Light Up Hollywood -- From Anywhere.

• Your Most Important Screenplay Marketing Decision.

• How To Get Your Network To Sell You.

• What To Do If Producers Aren't Biting!

• Your Direct Paths To Studios.

Saturday, April 23rd, 2016, 12pm (noon) Pacific Daylight Time"

Reserve Your Space  

Free info on effective publishing

I love to share freebies because as I prepare to publish my novel Virgins, the first of my Ayekah series, I find an abundance of sites that want $$$ to publish and or sell my work. So, I am learning how to be more effective and that is how I came upon The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi)

In the April 15, 2016 email are several free speaker sessions and today I watched the video: The Future of Publishing: 7 things an Author MUST Know. Jane Friedman explains: domain names; mobile friendly URLs; how to describe myself and key words in bio; what gets the most visits, and much more.

Yes, it can be mind-boggling not just the publishing aspect but also the marketing, because a published book can just gather dust on your publishing site's shelf. 

Jane Friedman's video is also on YouTube: The Future of Publishing: 7 Things an Author Must Do