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C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

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If It’s Wednesday, It Must Be #IWSG Time

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It is #IWSG Time again!

And there’s some excitement. 

Drum Roll Giphy

 

You now have a chance to enter an anthology contest! Here’s all you have to do and all you have to gain.

The 2018 Annual IWSG Anthology Contest

  • Word count: 3500-6000
  • Genre: Young Adult Romance
  • Theme:
    Masquerade
    A Masquerade can be a false show or pretense, someone pretending to be someone they aren’t. It can be a ball, a fancy dress party, it can be a mask. Open to interpretation.

Submissions accepted: September 5 – November 4, 2018

  • How to enter: Send your polished, formatted (Double spaced, no page numbers), previously unpublished story to admin @ insecurewriterssupportgroup.com before the deadline passes. Please include your contact details, your social links, and if you are part of the Blogging, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter IWSG group.
  • Judging: The IWSG admins will create a shortlist of the best stories. The shortlist will then be sent to our official judges who will be announced September 5.
  • Prizes: The winning stories will be edited and published by Freedom Fox Press next year in the IWSG anthology. Authors will receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will have the honor of giving the anthology its title.

August 1 Question – What pitfalls would you warn other writers to avoid on their publication journey? Remember, the question is optional!

I suppose I’d caution writers not to rush to publication. I did that the first time tried my hand at Indie publishing. I’d always had excellent editors in my corner with my other books, so I was over-confident and thought I’d created a “perfect” manuscript. I hadn’t. How embarrassing! Save yourself that embarrassment by hiring a good editor. It’s worth the time and the money.

The awesome co-hosts for the August 1 are Erika Beebe, Sandra Hoover, Susan Gourley, and Lee Lowery!

News Flash!

IWSG and WEP are teaming up!

 


ENTER TODAY

Now that all of the really new news is finished, here’s my hello to bloggers and writers and friends. I’m missing our contact, and I’m trying to sort out all of the business side of my life so I can return and be more engaged in the community again. I didn’t think it would take months, but I was really wrong. Every day there’s something that has to be taken care of–usually past due–and every day there’s a learning curve involved. I am, however, much better at reading legalese than I was before. I think I’ll make a quick glossary of terms for surviving spouses if there isn’t one already.

Quote of the Month: “I do not think much of a [person] who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.” Abraham Lincoln

Comments

  2. Hope things are getting better for you, Lee. If only there was an advocate who handled the legal stuff after someone has lost a spouse so the widow could grieve and heal without immediately having to tread through unfamiliar territory and paperwork. Hugs.

    I second your advice about hiring an editor. A great editor is worth their weight in gold.

  3. No rushing! Yep, I totally agree… 100%.
    But taking one’s time can be taken to the other extreme, in the sense of taking tooooo much time trying to get the story close to perfection. When is the ms actually ready?
    How to find the balance? That’s the question. I suppose trusting the gut plays a role, as well as hiring of that good editor, as you pointed out above.

    (I hope you get to sort out the business side of your life… just take it a step at a time.)

  6. So much good stuff 🙂
    I agree 100% about the importance of a good editor. The new anthology sounds really cool, and I’m looking forward to reading it already.

  7. This sounds like a pretty cool contest! I think I’ll see if I can use any of my existing ideas for it. Might come up with something. 🙂

    That’s one thing I’ve always been concerned about when it comes to publication: whether or not I’m rushing into it, whether or not I’m actually ready. So, thanks for the advice, that it’s okay to take it slower and wise to make sure you have everything in place with your manuscript before you launch. 🙂

    I’ve been out of the loop on most people’s blogs this summer, but I still just want to give a late sorry for your loss and I do hope that you continue to get better and to heal. You have a really incredible and honest attitude about your struggles, and I pray that things do get better for you. Hugs and love. <3

    Alexa
    thessalexa.blogspot.com
    verbosityreviews.com

    • Hi Alexa,

      You have a huge decision each time you’re ready to submit a manuscript, and sometimes you just have to bite that bullet and say, “It’s ready.”

      Thank you so much for your thoughts. Some days I’m not sure what my attitude it, but keeping it honest is always a priority.

  8. This sounds like a pretty cool contest! I think I’ll see if I can use any of my existing ideas for it. Might come up with something. 🙂

    That’s one thing I’ve always been concerned about when it comes to publication: whether or not I’m rushing into it, whether or not I’m actually ready. So, thanks for the advice, that it’s okay to take it slower and wise to make sure you have everything in place with your manuscript before you launch. 🙂

    I’ve been out of the loop on most people’s blogs this summer, so I just want to give a late sorry for your loss and I do hope that you continue to get better and to heal. You have a really incredible and honest attitude about your struggles, and I pray that things do get better for you. Hugs and love. <3

    Alexa
    thessalexa.blogspot.com
    verbosityreviews.com

  10. Great advice. Hopefully, I will find my patience when I finally am ready to publish. I hope you feel more like yourself and doing better. I know its still tough, but agree with another poster you a wonderful attitude. Hugs and Belated IWSG day.

    • I still remember the saying–trite, but true–“The only thing you have control over is your attitude.” I’m heavily committed to adjusting mine. These days it’s pretty much every hour. 🙂

      Thanks, Juneta.

  11. I wish I had learned more about the publishing industry before I had published my first book. I’ve learned a lot since them, and am still learning.

    • I tell myself that there’s nothing wrong with learning by doing. We all do to an extent. The problem I have with learning about the publishing business in this way is that it’s so slow and others are on the fast track while I’m still doing 55 in the slow lane.

  12. Glad to see you back with us, and all my best as you struggle through this challenging time.

    I totally agree about not rushing. Everything I have regretted in my writing career has come from hurrying.

    Paying editors is another issue. If you can’t afford it, finding good critique partners or (assuming you have some editing skills to offer in return) and exchange of editing can go a long way. Not every writer is much good at editing, though, so it can take some looking. One thing I did that really helped was I paid an editor for help with my first mystery, then took away what I learned from that to give me some skills to help others, and thus get help. I hope it’s been good enough!

    • It’s a great idea to pay for that kind “teaching” and then not repeat the mistakes. It’s like taking a college course and then applying what you learn when you’re out in the world.

      Thanks for the visit, Rebecca.

      • The challenge, of course, is to not repeat the mistakes 🙂 It was more a case of learning what to look for and how to look at the MS and visualize the changes it needed. I think I’m due for a refresher course 🙂

  13. I have just scanned back through your more recent posts. What can I say? No words do it, do they? I’m humbled by your attitude. And you still find time to pop over and say hello! The glossary of legal terms sounds a brilliant idea – use pithy, vernacular, explanations. And I loved the drum-roll. You take care. I’ll give the young love thing a miss, though… 🙂

    • Hi Mike.

      Thanks for the comment and the kind words. Pithy and definitely in the vernacular for any gloss I manage. I think a touch of humor’s essential, too.

      I’m passing on the young love anthology submission as well. I’m leaving that to others this time, but I think it will be an interesting group of submissions.

      See you on the other side of the pond soon.

  14. So true about not rushing. I certainly could’ve used advice like that when I was younger!

    And I can’t even begin to imagine how big of a headache it must be to deal with legalese like that. Putting together a glossary of terms sounds like a fantastic idea!

  15. Adjusting to living alone – that’s a tough one. My sympathies. And cooking for one – yeah. It took me a while to learn the trick.

  16. Editing is so important, especially in the self-publishing world. Authors who are excited to get their work in print don’t seem to understand the need to spend the time (sometimes a lot of time) polishing the work to excellence.

    Love the Lincoln quote!

  18. I agree with that advice absolutely. I think it was Chuck Wendig who said the best work is never rushed.

  19. Hi Clem!
    I feel for you learning all this lawyerly stuff. Certainly would take its toll. Look after yourself, won’t you?
    Excited to see the way the partnership turns out.

    • I’ve upped my yoga, and that’s helped a lot. Now I need to master cooking for one.

      As to our new effort, I’m sure it will be wonderful to work as a team.

  20. Yes, I can totally relate to how long all the details take to sort out. Even as a lawyer I procrastinated on some. And now I’m in that situation again taking care of all my mom’s business. We’ll both get through it.

    Great advice on waiting to publish. Early on, I got a request to send a manuscript to Little Brown, which I took my time on but was too quick. Amazingly it went to acquisitions but I wouldn’t do it again.

    • We did this in the opposite way, Natalie. I dealt with my mom’s death first and now am dealing with my husband’s. I’m not a lawyer, so maybe this was the best order for me because I did learn a lot from having to manage my mom’s estate. I had Jim at my side for some of that, and it put me on alert. I knew what I had to do first and what I could put off until later. The lists are endless, but I have made some very challenging decisions and those are done. Onward.

      The story about Little Brown is darned impressive in today’s publishing business. I’d say you scored very big!

  21. Not rushing is good advice for all of us. I just picked editing back up on a book I thought was finished enough to send out to agents. Boy, was I wrong. Sometimes, we just can’t see our wok clearly.

  22. Dear Lee, my heart goes out to you every day. I can only imagine the healing and the swing of emotions you feel at any time. I just want you to know you are amazing and are so very strong and I send you lots of thoughts and prayers. Huge hugs.

  23. Hi Lee – the glossary idea sounds such a good one – and you could collaborate with bloggers in other countries re the words they would use … great thought.

    Isn’t it wonderful that WEP will tie in with IWSG … and that it will happen next year – which suits me.

    I can believe all the legalese is challenging … but well done for persevering – cheers Hilary

    • Thanks for cheering me on, Hilary. And, yes, the joining up of WEP and IWSG is very exciting for both of us.

      I have lots of stories now about the legal part of death in the family.

  24. The glossary sounds like it would help a lot of people. I am sending hugs- though I wish I could send you some kind of magic decoder ring so you could figure everything out without the curve. 🙂

    I agree with you about not rushing things. It can be hard- but taking our time is definitely worth it in the end. Thank goodness for great editors!

    • Thanks as always, Stephanie. I do wish we had decoder rings that could straighten out the curves in our lives. Guess it’s up to us.

      Long live editors.

  25. I think a list of legalese definitions would be greatly appreciated by many. In the mean time, just like with publishing, this transition takes time. Go at your own pace. We’ll be here for you and you’ve been here for me.

    • I’m wondering if writing and publishing has been my training ground for this? It bears a similar frustration. Love that you’re out there. It helps more than you know.

  26. I would read that glossary. I don’t have a spouse, but I imagine there would be a lot of useful terminology that applies to parallel situations. It’s encouraging to see that you’re moving forward. I wish I could take some of the weight of it off of you.

    • I know. Publishing can seem so simple. Click here. Send there. Viola! You’re an author. However, I’d had some experience, just not in Indie publishing. I should have known better.

  29. In this day and age, with self-publishing as easy as a few clicks, rushing is a pervasive problem among those who take this route. Not rushing is good advice. Thanks for the post, and happy writing to you! 🙂

  30. Hope you’re doing well – take all the time you need. Yeah, we only get one chance at a good first impression so there’s no point rushing out a sloppy manuscript. That’ll cost more in many ways.

  31. Rushing through never works. I tend to go through a ms multiple times after the author makes suggested changes.

  33. Sometimes straightening everything out seems to be a never ending circle. One day at a time. The anthology sounds great. And I’ve learned about the editing. There is no rushing it. Have a restful evening. Hugs.

    • I know you understand those circles. Just when we think all is full speed ahead we run into another “interesting” curve. Here’s to your restful evening as well.

  35. Lovely to see you posting.
    And no don’t rush – with publication or anything else.
    More haste less speed is one of those phrases which irritated me when I was still wt behind the ears. And is now another mental apology to those who have gone.

    • It seems strange, actually. I’m so used to not posting anymore that it has the feel of returning to my hometown after being away for years–familiar, but different. I hear those voices of people who knew so much when I knew nothing. Sorry is the lamest of words, but I offer it up to them in absentia and to me for being such a dolt.

    • I think you are most considered writer I’ve engaged with online. Very impressive, Pat, and congratulations on your request from that publisher. Excellent news.

    • I love sci-fi and high literary fiction, but I couldn’t write either one. They say you should read the kind of work you write, but I say piffle. Just read good writing and find out why it’s good.

  40. Good upcoming anthology. Sadly, not my genre but I’ll keep my eyes open for the next.

    Since getting back from my trip, I have gotten little writing done, trying instead to catch up on blogging etc. I really miss my characters. Soon…

  42. I think everyone tries to publish too early. We think we’re done when we’re not nearly. It’s a newbie mistake, and I think it’s pretty common amongst any creative endeavor.

  43. Excellent advice about always having your work edited. Glad you’re getting a handle on things. Anything to do with legalese can be a painful process. Hang in there.

  47. My pitfall advice is basically the same as yours. Edit, edit, edit and then edit some more. You can’t rush it.

    Hang in there, Lee. Give yourself all the time you need. It’s a process. *hugs*

  48. I’ve used more than one copy editor (and recommended) and yes there are still mistakes that I’ve found. Going back through it after you’ve been away from the manuscript and after the editing often helps show you the mistakes.

  49. That cat really knows how to build excitement! Understanding legalese is something I think we all hope to avoid if we’re not lawyers. Blessings on getting the “business side” under control.

    • I loved that cat’s enthusiastic tempo. It spoke to me. The legalese will never be totally clear, but all I need is enough of a grasp to move on to the next step in the process.

  52. I’m definitely not rushing – although I’m hoping to pick up the speed soon. We’ll see if Life lets me 🙂
    Love the theme for the anthology – sounds fun!!

  53. Hi, Cheryl-Lee!

    It’s great to see you again, dear friend! I am not the least bit surprised that it takes months to handle the myriad details on the business side before you can get back into the groove and have fun with your blogging buddies. I admire your honesty in admitting that a good editor can improve a manuscript you might think is perfect, and thereby save you from embarrassment. I also appreciate the quote of the month from Abe Lincoln. Strive every day to learn from experience, good and bad, and become wiser.

    I want you to know that, in the time we were apart, I switched to a new website. Today’s final post on SDMM will direct you to it. I hope you will bookmark and follow me there. Thank you, dear friend Cheryl-Lee!

    • I wish I could come up with a brilliant and original quote that went straight to the heart of our humanity. I’m always so appreciative of the quotes plucked from the minds of others.

      Of course, I’ll follow you to your next blog. I really enjoyed the DJ day today.

    • I hear you. When my mother died, I knew I was in for a long haul, but I managed it. This is different. I think because when I lost my mother, I had my husband to talk to and help me make decisions. Now, I’m making all of the decisions on my own, and there are so many.

  55. I love the WEP gang and I think it’s wonderful that the IWSG and WEP have joined forces.

    Take care and I hope you are able to get everything taken care of in due time. Will be thinking of you.