Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts

Thursday, 26 October 2017

Publish Yourself Here

It's a long road to getting published. Especially if you want your writing to gain a substantial audience.
It's amazingly hard to get your writing out there to the masses of people all over the world, let alone your own country.

If you want to give yourself and your writing a good leg up, then why not publish your work and your profile on the World Writers Collective site!

The site has only been running for a short time, so it's easy right now to join as a member and get noticed. And it's cheap!

Even if you have only written one or two short pieces, that's enough to share with your audience. No experience necessary.

You'll not only get your own personal profile page, but you'll also be able to enter the free competitions that allow your writing to be:

1) On the HOME page at the top so everyone can see it, read it, buy it.

2) Added to the top readership list if you rank high within the competitions.

3) Be added to the anthology at the end of each year.

4) Be edited for free by other writers within the collective by simply dumping your project into the member DropBox.

5) Included in much more to come!

Check it out now:
https://www.worldwriterscollective.com

The website is still under construction, so add yourself to it ASAP so you will be ready for the launch.

More:
JOIN AS A WRITER.

Your membership will give you these amazing opportunities:

1) Your own page on the website. See the Jane Doe and John Doe Sample Pages.

2) Your achievements announced on our webpage.

3) Your book launch announced on our webpage and emailed to all our subscribers.

4) Your chance to have your best writing piece at the top of our main page to draw in hundreds of readers.

5) A valuable network of writers that help each other edit, write, throw ideas around, and discuss writing techniques, as well as publishing techniques.

What are you waiting for? This is it!

(The introductory price of $15 P.A. is definitely worth it. Membership is free for 2017. You can still pay now, and that will cover you for all of 2018.)

What you need to provide:
As you can see by the sample Jane Doe and John Doe page, lots of information is provided.
You can provide whatever information you like. However, so the author pages are at least mostly similar, we will keep to the basic format that you see on the sample profiles.
Check out Mat's, Melka's, and Jane's pages and you will see how different each is in their own way.

-A short blurb will be at the top next to your photo, so I'll need both of those supplied via email as soon as you can.
-A short paragraph of news about you is next to that again. Please send me an update regularly so I can keep your readers informed - minimum of once a month - maximum of once a week.
-What have you written? If you have books as hard copy or online, send me a link, or how people can buy them (Smashwords is great for online sales and easy to link to). If you are not selling them, send me a Word Doc or PDF, and I'll list them for free for people to read.
-A great bio about you. Editors, writers, authors, literary agents, all have bios online. Check them out and do something similar. Generally a bio is about your writing. However, at the end of the bio many authors add a little something personal about themselves which helps their readers relate to them better.
-Everything else is all about you, which is again so readers can connect with you. It's the same as if you were an actor or a musician, your fans want to know about you as well as about what you write. Ensure you add photos too.

Further Information:
A world of writers have come together to create the Writers Collective. It is here that everyone can become fully immersed within a writer’s work and learn all about your developing career. This is your first step to becoming a paid writer. No, you are not a sell-out. Instead, you will be recognised for the work you already do.

However, it is not an easy road and requires lots of time and even more patience. But this is what appeals to literary agents, publishers, and editors: being ready to pitch a finished written piece that already has a readership base.

For now, offering up free samples as well as free full-length stories (if you wish to), is the way you are going to build up a large readership.

All writing welcome. Novels, poetry, non-fiction, scripts, everything.

To help with the running of this website there is a small cost of $15 for an entire year (free for 2017). At present, this will not need to rise. However, it is best to call this the introductory amount while author numbers are building.

As well as notifications on this website regarding everyone's work, such as book launches, being a winner or runner-up for writing competitions, being published (traditional and self-published), and other successes, you will also have your own page to post up work, add links to your blog, links to your website, links to where you are selling your books online and hard-copy, and much more. For only $15, it is a good deal.

Even if you have other creative things you want to show off or sell, you are welcome to list these as well. Maybe you paint, maybe you have an EBAY store, or maybe you host roll playing games. Feel free to list these as well!

Check out the website and the author pages that are already populated and see what you think. If you like what you see, then please get in touch.

Monday, 27 July 2015

Writing in New York City

This mornings writing spot. I'll never get used to the amount of squirrels in New York!

Although, beware, sometimes you think you see one but it's a rat. On the upside, they seem just as friendly as the squirrels.

At Madsion Square Gardens

Monday, 13 July 2015

So you think you're a writer

It's like the old saying: Sixteen and never been kissed. In this case it's writing but never been published. Sure, we may have had something small published here or there. And maybe even a few dollars came our way, but essentially our work is still not on he shelves via a traditional publisher with the potential of making a real living as an author.

What do we do about it?

Some of us shrug and decide it is the way it will always be. Some will self publish via ebook or print on demand. Both of these unfortunately will almost always never make you money. They're sometimes costly, and often no better than advertising that only your friends and family will ever see, as well as the odd enthusiast, and the people who wait for books to be for free when you are promoting.

Others that want to get into the industry will go to writing conferences. And although that is great, and good for getting to know other writers, as well as authors that either have made it or are trying to make it, it still probably won't get you over the line to becoming a published author. In my hometown, Australia, Melbourne, this is especially the case.

What else to do?

There are other options. And they involve writing conferences - but only the ones that allow you the chance to pitch your work to multiple agents/editors/publishers. That's what you want. That's what you need. That's really your only way in. Anything else and it's like trying to grab warm air with your hands from the heater and put it into your pockets for later (or cool air if you're in summer somewhere like me).

At these conferences there will be many authors and other writerly people that are giving talks, and you will dutifully listen and possibly write some of it down to apply to your work later once your mind returns to normal following the mass of information glogging up your head. And all this is great, but the real part starts on the following day when you are able to pitch your work to the agents/editors/publishers. This is where it will be decided if you at least have a concept they might be interested in. That's right, might, is the operative word. Just because they listen to your pitch, ask a few questions, and then find out there could be a story there they potentially might be interested in, it does not mean they WILL like it. In fact, once they have read the first sentence, or if you're really lucky; the first page, they will probably decide they do not like the way you write, or maybe your story, or something else turned them off. It needs to tick many many boxes before they say YES. Regardless, it's still the best chance you have!

I attended Thriller Fest last week and luckily had six agents and two publisher/editor people ask me to send them my manuscript. It was a great day full of great people. Made some new friends, although most will only be online friends because I live in Melbourne and they live in and around the US. I also got some good information from the people attending and talking, and realised a few things about my own writing, writing style, and my pitch.

That's another thing, usually at the good conferences they will teach you how and what to pitch, as well allow you to practice on someone with experience.

At the end of July 2015, I will be attending Writers Digest. It's very similar to Thriller Fest, with even some of the agents that will attend both. I'll meet more good people and hopefully have more agents that will say yes.

Lastly, I will leave you with my one pager, which was also basically my pitch with some adlibbing (improvisation).

Before I do, why did I choose the title?

Well, when I was in the US last time I met with an established author, who was introduced to me by a friend. He was drunk and obnoxious, so yeah, good times. His first words were: "So you want to be a writer?"

I think if you write, you are a writer. Whether it be for fun, for blogging, or to make money. Being a published writer, is another thing again.

For the next ten minutes he was condescending and rude. His first name was Brad, but that's not much to go on. Regardless, what I would like to ask of every one of you who eventually become published, please treat the up-and-coming writers with just a little respect and remember what it was like for you when you were still trying to make it.

Here's my one pager. Hopefully it will help some of you:

Author: Mat Clarke

Title: Mad Gun

Genre: Psychological Thriller.

Thumbnail: An unstable professional killer begins seeing things that aren’t there and develops problems with wet-work, and the law.

Synopsis: The US Federal Government has stopped training new agents. They instead lease them from a central company and insert them into each agency and into specific roles depending on their training. During a botched mission, Tingrin, watches on as his team is killed. He blames himself, and his superior (Julie) also blames him. Tingrin drinks to forget and creates a fantasy world in his mind where his colleagues, who were also his friends, are safe. Julie has not forgotten, and so when Tingrin is finally let go from the agency, she is free to hunt him down and take her revenge. By this stage Tingrin has created a second imaginary world so that he can punish himself further. He has taken on a kill for money persona, despising himself each time he murders for money. As his unstable mind begins to unravel, and Julie attacks him, what is real and imagined collide.

About the Author: Mat has completed two other separate novels, one of which is also being currently pitched. A selection of short stories, and non-fiction are currently online. Selected editing was undertaken by Suraya Dewing, of, The Story Mint. His short story work has been published with The Story Mint and the Melbourne Writers’ Group Anthologies. He runs a writing group in Melbourne where they meet and talk writing, as well as write and read out their work. His trade was pre-press with printing companies for 20 years within a desktop publishing role.

Contact Information:

etc.....

Thursday, 14 August 2014

A few tips from published authors - enjoy!

We are trying our hardest to get an idea to write a story.
We are then trying our damnedest to finish the blasted story.
Later we try to get the energy to edit... then eventually rewrite that story that has now changed into something quite different.
Then, last of all we want that story somewhere that people can read it. Well, it's this last past that is the hardest.

Read on to find out what rules authors set for themselves.

Tips for writers x20:

http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/there-are-no-rules/the-rules-of-writing-according-to-famous-writers

Friday, 8 August 2014

Need a publisher?

Black Opal Books, a small publisher is currently looking for submissions and are much more willing to take on new clients. However, they do not pay advances, and advertising from them is limited. Still, they are helpful and transparent in all their dealings. And of course, there are no charges to the author!
http://www.blackopalbooks.com/

Also, here is an interesting little bit about a thriller writer in Australia... not me, someone else, in case you were wondering. He went to NYC to try his luck there. Still sounds like me, but I assure you it isn't. Truely:
http://thrillerfest.com/success-from-down-under/

Mat Clarke
matclarke.wranga.com.au

Sunday, 27 April 2014

Writer meet in Melbourne Tuesday night!!

Tuesday the 29th from 6pm at the Wharf Hotel (also every fortnight therefore after):

Maria has just self published her book,

"Everyday Stories from Ten Remarkable Women"

Maria will be here tonight to talk to us about her book and the process she has gone through to get it to the public. An important night for those of you who also wish to self publish one day!

We have a Meetup sign on the table to find us. Also you can ask at the bar for the Writers Group. Or I can give you my mobile number if you prefer.

From 7pm-7.30pm you can read out or show off your work to the rest of the group (for up to 5 minutes). You can ask for feedback - others may freely give it. Please leave a note in the comments below if you wish to read out or show off your work. Also, remind your event host on the night. Thanks

Come on out and meet some like-minded folks who enjoy writing and other entertainment and creative outlets. We'll hang around until at least 8.30pm, but often later.
Wharf Hotel membership for cheaper drinks and special deals:
http://www.myguestlist.com.au/mgl/showForm.php?id=515af90ea60e7

Sunday, 13 April 2014

Writers group Melbourne

For anyone in the Melbourne area who writes, reads, or wants to write or read more, or even just likes to be around creative people, come along to the Wharf Hotel in Melbourne at 6pm on Tuesday the 15th of April: http://www.wharfhotel.com.au/
Here is the link to RSVP: http://www.meetup.com/The-Melbourne-Writers-Meetup-Group/

There will be chatting, drinks, $15 steaks if you're a meat eater, and people reading out their work.
Noel Anderson, director, writer, actor, will be reading out some of his work from an upcoming performance, which is a Audrey Hepburn musical.

We meet every second Tuesday and once a month on the weekend. So come and say hi! We're a friendly bunch of people happy to talk to new people.

See you there!

Mat Clarke
http://matclarkeauthor.wix.com/novelist

Friday, 20 September 2013

My Blogs in list form

Monday, 9 September 2013

Working with an editor, Melbourne, September 16, 6.30pm

Monday night Sept 16 is a talk on working with an editor.
Run by Writers Vic. Free if you become a member of Writers Vic. Otherwise, $15.
http://www.meetup.com/The-Melbourne-Writers-Meetup-Group/events/130906342/

Wednesday, 7 August 2013

Wheeler Centre this Tuesday, August 13 2013 - Manuscript assessment

It's worth coming to the Wheeler Centre on Tuesday August 13.

Clare Allan-Kami will speak briefly on the benefits, fears, expectations and results of having your work professionally assessed.

See more at:
http://writersvictoria.org.au/what-s-on/event/the-salon-august/#sthash.JQNXr0GY.dpuf

Also:
http://www.meetup.com/The-Melbourne-Writers-Meetup-Group/events/133657792/

Sunday, 19 May 2013

Editing services

Hi, if you've edited your work as much as you can and friends have given you all the information they are capable of, you can look at being professionally edited. The costs vary and the quality of editing varies as well.

I've had my work edited through The Story Mint and find them to be of very high quality:

" Appraisals and professional feedback on your writing

If you would like a proven professional writer to do an appraisal of your novel or short story our rates are below:

Scripts up to 5,000 words - $100US
Scripts up to 10,000 words - $175US

Scripts up to 25,000 words $375US
Scripts up 85,000 words - $600US

Our next monthly newsletter will feature one of our assessors.

Please Note: This service is for members only.

www.thestorymint.com

Contact The Story Mint for more information "

I suggest, however, you also take a look at the book mentioned below via the link and edit yourselfusing it as a excellent guide. I've read it four times and it is one of the best books around on editing. Reading it and putting it into practice will reduce your editing costs in the long run:

http://matclarke.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/recommended-reading-for-anyone-trying.html

The author, Renni Browne, also has an editing service. But since I have never used it I can not vouch for it, but take a look anyway and decide for yourself:

http://www.editorialdepartment.com/

Hope all this information helps all you writers out there!

Mat Clarke

Wednesday, 24 April 2013

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers

See the image below.

What NOT to Do When Beginning Your Novel: Advice from Literary Agents

Here's some information on writing I found interesting. Basically it's literary agents pet peeves on the manuscripts they receive from writers:

http://writerunboxed.com/2013/04/22/april/?et_mid=614266&rid=191146100

I also suggest you read Self-Editing for Fiction Writers which covers all this sort of thing in detail:

Thursday, 11 April 2013

Are your eyes failing you?

Once upon a time I was told my eyesight excellent by an optometrist. Far and near objects. I tested this years ago by reading the text on a ten dollar Australian note next to Banjo's head and next to Mary's head. At first it looks like shading, but it is actually text.
Recently I picked up the note to read it and found it blurry. Damn, I says. The next few days every morning I tried to read it again and again, spending 5 mins on it each time. Three days later and I've retrained my eyes to see small print again.
Woohoo!
Can anyone else read it without glasses or other magnifying instrument?

Monday, 28 May 2012

Write fiction the right way

I recently posted to LinkedIn regarding the way we are currently being taught to write (succinctly, no over-writing, less adverbs, less adjectives, less similes, less metaphors, trimming fat, don’t use the same word over and over, shorter condensed descriptions, stronger verbs and nouns, delete not required backstory, don’t repeat yourself, use active voice the majority of the time, increase action, express don’t explain, show don’t tell, etc.) and asked other writers if they know of any professional published authors that write this way. There aren’t many. It seems that most people break the rules.
One thing I heard was; learn all the rules, then once you have done that and you are proficient in writing the way you are suppose to, only then are you allowed to break the rules as you see fit. Probably good advice. Still, how can we learn from ‘good’ authors if everyone breaks the rules?
Ernest Hemingway seems to be one of those well known and respected published authors that does write the way we are suppose to write. There are probably others, I just haven’t read their novels yet.
It is annoying, though, that we continue to pick up and learn supposedly bad habits from almost every single novel that's on the shelves today.

Here’s the link in case you’re interested: http://www.linkedin.com/groupItem?view=&gid=1780627&type=member&item=113801448&commentID=82456442&report%2Esuccess=PdmtybENV2mnc3t3p8JpWuFiB1ZhaD9OnKUphCsu7LRNRYTOK1wrHHO_rcDN0rVBb1wuxUyPL-SZ#commentID_82456442

*The group is private, so you will have to join to see the posts. Only takes a second and it's through LinkedIn, so it's safe. If you're already a part of LinkedIn then it will take even less time.

My LinkedIn Profile: http://au.linkedin.com/pub/mat-clarke/21/bb6/982

Saturday, 24 March 2012

Writing in New York City

So I headed out for a drink. As you do on Friday after working. Took my mini laptop and did some writing at a bar - this was after being at another bar that charged me $5 for strongest margarita I’ve ever had.
So, as I said, I’m at this other bar. Then I’m talking to a friendly girl that says well, hey, come to a photo display art thingy tonight with me. So, why not I says. Thanks River!
So now I’m at the penthouse of some guys house looking at photos and drinking his wine. No, it didn’t turn into a Hugh Hefner night, but it was fun.
Then met with more ppl, Angela a co. and went for a couple more drinks elsewhere. Almost went to a sour place but Angela said it would be bad for me to go to this place in Brooklyn - bad area. Glad I was pulled from that car-wreck!
Out again tomorrow and next day :p
Also, it’s my bday on Sunday! In Australia that is. Monday for here.

Tuesday, 21 February 2012

How are your editing skills?

I wrote my first novel, WAKE, in the first half of 2010 and edited it over the next few months. This is after having a skilled person look over it and give me feedback. At that stage I thought I had done a pretty good job, so off it went to publishers and literary agents.

Then the rejections came.

I did get a favourable response from a publisher in NYC but then never heard back from them.

Did I follow it up? No I didn't.

Why? Because I then found a publisher that looked through my work and found that I needed to make a lot of changes.

I suddenly found that I didn't know what I was doing. It's crazy. How can a writer be so bad at editing? That's what was going through my mind.

After a few months study and writing and reading, I improved. But not long after I found that I had slumped again and had to go back to the drawing board.

It seemed that when I was concentrating on one aspect of editing I was forgetting about the rest. For me it was like juggling while driving a car with a double clutch.

After you manage to edit so well that your work comes alive, then you have to make sure what you're writing fits into the category you are trying to write for. This part is tricky and not necessarily required, but it will make it easier for you to break into the market.

I discovered that my words were too big for the general public, that I had too many similes and metaphors and that my writing may have been a little too descriptive/flowery. I have therefore had to dumb down my work to make sure the general public will understand what I write and also not find it slow.

It reminds me of old detective shows. 'Just the facts, Mam.' That’s what I have been told is required for genre/popular fiction.

I recently sent off another chapter to the publisher and made the required alterations, as mentioned above. It will be interesting to see what she thinks.

On a side note, I have read many books that do not adhere to these 'rules', but they have been published and some made into movies. It makes me wonder if these rules were created by publishers for publishers, not readers. Maybe they created theses rules so it was easier for them to categorise our books/stories? Hmm, I wonder.

Maybe they just like making rules?

Have you read The Road by Cormac McCarthy, or No Country for Old Men? They are written so differently to all the rules taught to me that it's like I'm reading something that came from another planet. But they’re great stories.

Lastly, I don't understand why publishers have such a big thing against 'ly' adverbs. It's weird. I never noticed 'quickly', 'slowly', 'crazily', etc before I was told not to use them. They say it’s lazy writing, I disagree. I still cut them because when I edit I have to stick to the rules, mostly, but I don't like it.

I actually never noticed these 'ly' adverbs before. But now that I know about them and have been told that they are evil, I see them everywhere. It's actually annoying that I was told about them. Let the ‘ly’ adverbs go back to being part of the story rather than sticking out like weeds.

It's like when you're told about weeds and how they’re taking over your lawn. Before I was told they were weeds I just thought dandelions were part of the lawn, not evil things that need to be pulled or poisoned. True story. Hey, I was only young. It was all grass as far as I was concerned.

Maybe it's just me?

At any rate, happy writing.

I'll be interested to see if I change my ways once I have been accepted into the world of published writers.

Wednesday, 28 December 2011

Are you writing for you or others?

If writing can be judged from 1-10, I use to work on a 2-3 level: Lots of emotion, lots or raw text. No spell check. No semblance of order. No proper sentences. I wrote for me, no one else. I didn't correct my work. I actually didn't know how anyway. And didn't want to know or learn. My short stories needed so much work that they were more ideas rather than stories.
After writing and correcting my first novel through 4 drafts I entered level 5.
Then a friend studying writing, ripped through my work, I was then at level 7, and stayed there until I received feedback from a NZ publisher and Stringybark. After that I had to study and learn how to write even better. Now I believe my work ranges around 8-9 and sometimes dips into 10. And I think that anything below 8 isn't publishable. However, even 8 is touch and go.
My advice to anyone and everyone is to get some 'real' critiquing done so that you approach even a 5-7 standard, at this level people can enjoy your work when they read it rather than stumbling over the faulty mechanics of your writing.

Friday, 23 December 2011

Pressie, Christmas present, not absent

I just looked up the word present; so many meanings behind that little word. You can also see how the word present came to mean gift.
Consider: Present a person to your King. (Interesting to note that that also makes them present for that day, as in not absent). Then you present a gift to your King. Then dumb it down to, Here's your present.
There is a chance I just wrote all this on a whim because I am procrastinating over fixing up a part of my novel that has been said have too much dialogue with too much geek info. Publisher included.
I guess I better get to work.

Wednesday, 2 November 2011

Commas before a name (or sir, buddy, mate etc) and after a salutation

Long ago I didn't understand the idea of placing a comma before a name, such as: 'What are we doing here, John?'
It's why I tended to easily forget to add it. I still don't really understand why it is needed all the time, however I have come across a few instances where it would be confusing to leave it out. Therefore, I have realised that the comma is somewhat a necessity in these situations.

For example:
'That's a nice pen Dick.'
Be better if you did this:
'That's a nice Pen, Dick.'

I know, Dick, is not a name that is used often these days, but even if the name was Bob or Rod or Phil, it would still sound a little odd.

Check out this post by Rachel:
http://www.grammarerrors.com/punctuation/commas-in-direct-address/