Thursday, October 10, 2019

Writing Questions for the Experts


            


By Margaret S. Hamilton



On September 14th, I attended a writers’ event at the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Main Library. Novelist and Writer-in-Residence Jessica Strawser was joined by Zachary Petit, a freelance journalist, copywriter and adjunct college professor, and Maija Zummo, Editor-in-Chief of Cincinnati CityBeat, a weekly arts and issues publication. All three panelists have a background in journalism and editing.


Audience members spent ninety minutes asking questions about writing-related topics: Do I need an agent? How do I get out of a vanity press contract? Can local authors donate a copy of a new release to the library? I gave up querying after I read Janet Reid’s blog.



Former Writers Digest colleagues Strawser and Petit described both the traditional path to publication and royalty distribution, and touched upon indie publication. Strawser encouraged authors to join organizations specific to a writer’s genre: Sisters in Crime, Women’s Fiction Writers, and SCBWI for children’s book writers and illustrators.




Zummo and Petit discussed freelance writing—which publications, including CityBeat, hire freelancers, and how to become a reliable member of an editor’s “stable” of writers. Internships at local publications are for registered students, though writers can gain experience and add to their professional clip file by volunteering to write press releases and blogs for a non-profit agency. CityBeat considers 1000-word spec features on all topics except theatre and restaurant reviews. Zummo suggested that authors promoting books write short feature articles on some aspect of their fictional world (travel, interior design and home renovation, gardening) and encouraged aspiring freelance writers to contribute to or establish their own blogs.



Querying writers expressed their discouragement. They’re doing “the whole Query Shark thing” with no response. Strawser mentioned several resources available to the Cincinnati area: Writer’s Digest hosts querying workshops, and the upcoming Books on the Banks event offers panel discussions. In January, I attended an Author’s Guild publishing bootcamp and continue to participate in their on-line programs.




Strawser will continue her ten minutes-per-person-once-a-month-office hours at the Sharonville library, recommending sources of information for writers, advice, and encouragement.



Cincinnati is full of writers anxious to learn their craft and publish their work. I commend the public library for establishing a writer-in-residence program and hosting workshops and seminars.



Writers, what community resources have you used during your path to publication? Readers, have you attended writing workshops or lectures?






















6 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great program.

    I like to attend events like workshops, lectures and conferences that I find very helpful and enlightening. I haven't had been to any lately, but I will keep an eye out for opportunities.

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  2. That sounds good. After I started writing, I went to an event with romance writers and they told me about Romance Writers of America. I joined and am happy I had the workshops, grew friendships through the national and local offerings.

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  3. It's so cool that this library has a writer in residence! I wish more libraries did that (off to propose it to my neighborhood library). I've been to author panels and interviews at libraries - it's so nice to meet authors in a more comfortable setting.

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  4. Kathleen, it was a great program. I hadn't considered writing articles to promote my stories and books.

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  5. Vicki, thanks for dropping by! I've attended several small group Romance writers workshops. The writers are talented and hard-working, despite their fondness for shirtless cowboys in leather vests.

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  6. Shari, it's been a great year with Jessica Strawser as the writer-in-residence. She visited many library-based book clubs to lead the discussion on her latest book, gave two large public lectures, and held office hours. And guess who turned up the next day at the downtown library? Rosemary Wells of Max and Ruby fame! She loaned the library her noisy Nora illustrations and participated in a kids' workshop.

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