Monday, December 21, 2015

rejection dejection

 

 

Discouraged about publishers &/or literary agents rejecting your writing? Publishing guru Molli Nickell recently, generously shared her insights online. You can read them at:

http://media2.fwpublications.com/WDG/Z6915_WhyAmIGettingRejected.pdf

 

Elma Schemenauer CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS: 1940s-era novel about love, Mennonites, faith, & family. Set in Vancouver & rural Saskatchewan. Order from Chapters online http://tinyurl.com/ny8smwk or Borealis Press http://tinyurl.com/lfdo9pf  . More info at http://elmams.wix.com/sflwrs  . Book trailer at https://youtu.be/sBRuhh1xX7Y .

 

opportunities in journals

Opportunities for writers in new journals: http://www.authorspublish.com/10-new-and-exciting-journals/

 

Elma Schemenauer CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS: 1940s-era novel about love, Mennonites, faith, & family. Set in Vancouver & rural Saskatchewan. Order from Chapters online http://tinyurl.com/ny8smwk or Borealis Press http://tinyurl.com/lfdo9pf  . More info at http://elmams.wix.com/sflwrs  . Book trailer at https://youtu.be/sBRuhh1xX7Y .

 

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

THE PERFECT WRITE & sunflowers

Editor & writing guru Robert L. Bacon kindly said the following in the latest issue of his newsletter THE PERFECT WRITE, which I recommend to anyone interested in writing & publishing. You can sign up for it at the bottom of this page: http://www.theperfectwrite.com/about-us/ . Here's Robert:

 

I discussed longtime Newsletter subscriber Elma Schemenauer's mastery of writing exposition within dialogue--and notice I'm no longer lumping everything together as "interior monologue," ha ha--and I've posted her opening to CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS on my Critique Blog, and in January or February I'll repost this material on my personal blog.  I ask subscribers to my wild ravings to please take a moment to read Ms. Schemenauer's opening.  It's brief but in my opinion offers a wealth of knowledge, as she effortlessly takes the reader through a scene with both clarity and purpose.  When most of us start out writing seriously, we break our runs with trites such as "he looked," or "he scratched his chin," or "she moved around in her chair," or "she tossed her head," and the world-renowned "he/she turned."

 

Certainly there are times when characters perform mundane actions that add to the fabric of a vignette.  But these trites tend to become overworked and morph into tics in a hurry.  Developing a proficiency at writing exposition integrated into dialogue, which advances the characterization, in large measure separates text that might be considered amateurish from that which is deemed professionally designed.  Again, please read Elma's brief opening--it's that good as it relates to what I'm discussing.  In a separate note to me while we were discussing another matter, Elma mentioned what I'll refer to as a "trick of the trade" that I want to pass along.  She said she inserts the exposition after she writes her dialogue. I find this works best for me as well, and for any subscriber who is considering the best places to use exposition either for necessary pauses or to impart information to advance a scene, I fully support this approach.  And if you should like to read more of CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS, you may do so via Chapters Indigo online http://tinyurl.com/nb2jtu7 or Borealis Press http://tinyurl.com/lfdo9pf.  More information is also available at http://elmams.wix.com/sflwrs .

 

Elma Schemenauer CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS: 1940s-era novel about love, Mennonites, faith, & family. Set in Vancouver & rural Saskatchewan. Order from Chapters online http://tinyurl.com/ny8smwk or Borealis Press http://tinyurl.com/lfdo9pf  . More info at http://elmams.wix.com/sflwrs  . Book trailer at https://youtu.be/sBRuhh1xX7Y .

 

Monday, December 14, 2015

appealing to a publisher's or agent's emotions

“People want to FEEL something.” The well known literary agent Chip MacGregor once said that to me and I’m sure it’s true. Here’s an article about appealing to a prospective agent or publisher’s emotions. [Actually I’m not crazy about the example given in the article. Maybe you can write a better one.]

http://writersrelief.com/blog/2013/12/query-letter-must-do-to-get-literary-agent/

 

 

Elma Schemenauer CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS: 1940s-era novel about love, Mennonites, faith, & family. Set in Vancouver & rural Saskatchewan. Order from Chapters online http://tinyurl.com/ny8smwk or Borealis Press http://tinyurl.com/lfdo9pf  . More info at http://elmams.wix.com/sflwrs  . Book trailer at https://youtu.be/sBRuhh1xX7Y .

 

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Justin Martyr, Deb Elkink, & The Third Grace

The following words remind me of @Deb Elkink's inspiring Mennonite novel The Third Grace: http://greenbrierbooks.com/greenbrier-fiction/contemporary-fiction/the-third-grace-by-deb-elkink .

"We do indeed proclaim ourselves atheists in respect to those whom you call gods, but not in regard to the Most True God, the Father of righteousness and temperance and the other virtues, who is without admixture of evil." St. Justin Martyr, writing about 150 AD, quoted in The Faith of the Early Fathers selected by William A. Jurgens.

 

 

Elma Schemenauer CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS: 1940s-era novel about love, Mennonites, faith, & family. Set in Vancouver & rural Saskatchewan. Order from Chapters online http://tinyurl.com/ny8smwk or Borealis Press http://tinyurl.com/lfdo9pf  . More info at http://elmams.wix.com/sflwrs  . Book trailer at https://youtu.be/sBRuhh1xX7Y .

 

Monday, December 7, 2015

book trailer Consider the Sunflowers

When Consider the Sunflowers, my 1940s-era Saskatchewan Mennonite novel, was published in October 2014, I didn’t know what a book trailer was. I heard about them & worried about not having one, but had very little idea how such things are created. A few months ago my publisher, Borealis Press of Ottawa, suggested I have one made. I asked a kind Kamloops friend to do it. Here, thanks to his hard work, is the result: https://youtu.be/sBRuhh1xX7Y . If you feel like it, leave a comment or let me know personally what you think. Thanks a lot.

 

 

Elma Schemenauer CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS: 1940s-era novel about love, Mennonites, faith, & family. Set in Vancouver & rural Saskatchewan. Order from Chapters online http://tinyurl.com/ny8smwk or Borealis Press http://tinyurl.com/lfdo9pf  . More info at http://elmams.wix.com/sflwrs  .

 

Friday, December 4, 2015

flourless poppy-seed cake

Here’s an interesting recipe for poppy-seed cake. It’s especially suitable for people who avoid flour. It can also be dairy-free if one uses almond milk. Rice milk would probably be OK too.

 

FLOURLESS POPPY-SEED CAKE

 

10 tbsp (5 oz) butter or margarine, room temperature

5 egg yolks

½ cup cream, milk, or almond milk

2 tsp vanilla

2 cups poppy seed

¾ cup sugar, brown or white

pinch of salt

5 egg whites

 

Heat oven to 350 F. Prepare a 9 inch round pan by greasing lightly. A spring-form pan is best but a regular cake pan would work as well.

 

Put the first 4 ingredients in a blender. Blend well. Add the poppy seed about ¼ cup at a time, blending well after each addition. The idea is to get the poppy-seed somewhat ground up. They don't need to be completely ground.

 

Put the contents of the blender into a bowl, add the sugar, and mix well.

 

In a different bowl, beat the egg whites with pinch of salt until moderately stiff. (Make sure your beater is absolutely clean. Otherwise the egg whites won't beat.)

 

About ½ cup at a time, fold the egg whites into the contents of the first bowl. Fold just enough to get the egg whites evenly mixed in. Don't beat the batter.

 

Spread the batter evenly in the pan and bake until the cake is puffed and golden brown, 30 to 40 mins. Makes about 12 servings.

 

 

Elma Schemenauer CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS: 1940s-era novel about love, Mennonites, faith, & family. Set in Vancouver & rural Saskatchewan. Order from Chapters online http://tinyurl.com/ny8smwk or Borealis Press http://tinyurl.com/lfdo9pf  . More info at http://elmams.wix.com/sflwrs  .

 

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

tips on selling a self-published book--or any book

http://selfpublishingrelief.com/self-published-book-isnt-selling/

 

 

Elma Schemenauer CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS: 1940s-era novel about love, Mennonites, faith, & family. Set in Vancouver & rural Saskatchewan. Order from Chapters online http://tinyurl.com/ny8smwk or Borealis Press http://tinyurl.com/lfdo9pf  . More info at http://elmams.wix.com/sflwrs  .

 

EXCITING NEWS from Janet Matthews: New CS Title: Stories Needed!

From: Janet Matthews [mailto:janet@janetmatthews.ca]
Sent: December-01-15 4:19 AM
To: elmams@shaw.ca
Subject: EXCITING NEWS from Janet Matthews: New CS Title: Stories Needed!

 

You may have a great story - and get published!

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

EXCITING NEWS FOR
WRITERS!
From Janet Matthews

Canadian Co-author of

 Chicken Soup for the Canadian Soul



We need your stories for a

brand new Canadian title...

 

Announcing:

Chicken Soup for the Soul

The Spirit of Canada!!

 

I'm excited to let you, as writers, know about this great opportunity to get published. It would be so great if you would forward this to your members, include it in your newsletter or blog, and/or post it on your website. Here's why:

The folks at Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing LOVE our Canadian stories, so Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Spirit of Canada is being compiled to help celebrate

the 150th anniversary of Confederation, which is Canada Day 2017. For both our most recent titles - Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Wonders of Winter, and Christmas in Canada we received submissions from writers across Canada that belong to groups like yours, and many of them were published!

Do you have a great story?
If so, it could get published, and yes, you would get paid.
 

 

We`re looking for true, personal, dramatic, heartwarming or inspirational stories that celebrate our unique  Canadian Spirit.

As always, we`re seeking stories that inspire and open the hearts of our readers; that make them laugh or cry, give them goose bumps, or cause them to gasp and say,  "I`m so glad I read that story!"   

 
The best stories are written in the first person, and might be founded on traditional Chicken Soup themes of:   

  • Overcoming Obstacles 
  • Living Your Dreams 
  • Triumphing in the face of adversity 
  • Love and Sacrifice 
  • Kindness, family, community 
  • ...and making a difference

  Here are a few suggestions to get you thinking:

  • Tell a story about a local hero that inspired you, or one of our greatest Canadian heroes that impacted your life.
  • Do you live in a community that has suffered a challenge - and experienced the kindness of neighbours or first responders who showed up to make a difference?
  • Are you, or is one of your family members in the Canadian Military? Do you have a story you can share?
  • Are you an immigrant, or the child of immigrants, who came to Canada for a better life? Is there a moving story that might involve courage or sacrifice?
  • Share your favourite holiday stories from our precious summer long weekends, including Victoria Day and Canada Day, the Civic Holiday and Labour Day.
  • Share your story about Thanksgiving and other holidays, and how we do them in Canada.
  • Tell a great story that happened at the cottage - any time of the year!
  • Do you have a great story about camping or canoe tripping, or hiking in the Rockies, water skiing of snow skiing or skating? And we LOVE hockey stories!
  • Tell a story that comes to life in the region you live - from the west coast to the Maritimes, the prairies, the Rockies, our hundreds of lakes and rivers, the far north, and everything in between.
  • Did you travel the world with a Canadian Flag on your back pack?
  • Feel free to include our unique Canadian expressions eh, (use our unique Canadian spellings,) and don't forget how we obsess over the weather!

This book is scheduled for publication in May of 2017, right before Canada Day, but we need a steady flow of stories to create and edit the book, so the first deadline is March 31st 2016.   

 

**Please keep in mind - a heartfelt nostalgic remembering of your childhood summers at the cottage is not a Chicken Soup story, no matter how well written. We need a single dramatic story - told in the 1st person, that unfolds like a movie - to engage and inspire our readers. Try and keep it to 1200 words or less.  

 

For full writers guidelines, sample stories and how to submit your story, visit

FYI - If you have a great story, but are not sure of your writing - I can always help out. 
I wish you great success, and I look forward to seeing your stories! 

 

Love to you,

Janet Matthews

Co-author of

Chicken Soup for the Canadian Soul &

Chicken Soup for the Soul O Canada

The Wonders of Winter &
Chicken Soup for the Soul,
Christmas in Canada 

janet@janetmatthews.ca

PS: One more thing. Could you please pass this message along to your to your friends and family  and other writers  who may have a story? EVERY bit of help is really appreciated!        

 

 

 

Stay Connected

  

   

 

 

Janet Matthews | | janet@janetmatthews.ca |

 

 


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