Category Archives: Cait Collins

Why It Failed

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Outtakes 50 Release

Why It Failed

I listen to writers complain about not getting an agent or editor; no one appreciates their style; the big houses are not interested in new writers. The answer may be the writer didn’t do his homework. That’s right. The writer did not take the time to investigate the genre, the agent or editor, or have his work reviewed by another writer or a professional editor. He relied on his gut and his baby sister to provide feedback.

A young writer approached me regarding her children’s picture book. “Please read my story. I spent a lot of time doing the illustrations and writing the story, but my lazy agent couldn’t seem to sell it. I had to self-publish the book.”

“How are your sales?” I asked.

“Well, I’m still working here, aren’t I?”

I learned quite a bit from this exchange. Her expectations were not reasonable; the failure was someone else’s fault; and she was too good to be working a menial job. Oh, well, I could read the story and give her an honest opinion.

The book had a number of problems.  The title had nothing to do with the story. The antagonist was addicted to drugs. She sold drugs to pay for her habit. She abuses her little dog. Not something I would want to read to a four or five year-old. The story did not flow from beginning to middle to end. The illustrations were not professional.

Were there any good points? Of course, there were. The elderly family member was perfectly portrayed and she loved the puppy. The journey home had good descriptions. Take out the drugs and animal abuse, tighten the structure, find a professional illustrator, and the story had potential. The writer refused to listen. This was her story and she was sticking with it.

Here’s my advice.

  1. Make sure your themes are appropriate for your genre. Search the web for criteria and the guidelines and stick with them. At some point you will be able to break the rules, but you have to know and understand the rules before you can break them.
  2. Find a good critique group and listen to the comments. You don’t have to accept everything, but valid criticism can help you avoid costly mistakes.
  3. Write. Rewrite. And rewrite again. Once through is not enough. I do at least a rough draft in longhand and a rewrite as I enter the story into the computer. Finally, I take the critiques and do a final edit. Then I proof read the entire work. Other writers have different methods, but I don’t know one successful author that stops with a single version of the story.
  4. If you don’t want honest, constructive opinions, don’t ask someone to read the work.
  5. Yes, it’s your story, but a little help from friends could make all the difference.
  6. Don’t blame others for your lack of success. Agents and editors don’t survive if they don’t sell or acquire. Make sure you, the author, have done everything in your power to provide the best product possible.
  7. Market your product. You may find you have to do the advertising and marketing for your book. You don’t have to spend a ton of money, but you do need a website, social media account, and maybe a blog. Post cards, book marks, and business cards are good too.
  8. Remember, you have the final say in the story. Make sure your voice is heard in a positive manner.
  9. Readers remember. If your work is sloppy, they probably won’t buy the next book.

Cait Collins

The Five

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Outtakes 49

 The Five

The 2012 Frontiers in Writing conference was a success. Maybe the numbers were down, but the attendees received more one-on-one time with the speakers. We had a number of first time conference attendees, and that’s always good. Seasoned writers need to encourage and support the new blood. I was blessed to have the opportunity to renew acquaintances and catch up with friends. I also picked up some good advice from award winning writers.

  1.  Writing is a business; treat it as such. Most of us have full time jobs, families, personal commitments; yet we manage to get the kids to school on time and clock in by 8. The same rules apply to our writing jobs. Dress for your writing hours. Go into your office and shut the door. Answer your writing email and ignore all other messages. Write until quitting time, and then go home.
  2. Set your writing goals. Not every writer wants to be widely published. If your goal is to write your family history, that’s great. Are stories for your children and grandchildren your dream? Go for it! Just write it correctly. Learn proper grammar and punctuation. Read books on style, structure, and characterization. But if you want to see your books on the shelves, you must work toward that goal. Spend time educating yourself on publishing law, publishing trends, and genres. Find a writer’s group, a critique group, and attend a conference. Write and rewrite to make your work the best it can be. Do your homework before submitting to agents and editors.
  3. Accept the possibility you will be rejected. I hate being negative, but there’s a lot of competition out there. Agents and editors are looking for sales and acquisitions, and there are just not that many spots. DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED. Listen to multi-published authors regarding rejection. They’ve been there and can sympathize. Just remember that you are in good, talented company.
  4. Know when to say no. I listened to John Erickson talk about his HANK THE COWDOG series. He recently released the 59th book in the franchise. With HANK, he has created a character that appeals to children and adults. He will not allow his character to be trashed or turned into something less than it is now. He has turned down good money in order to protect his creation. I applaud his integrity. As a writer, you must decide whether the financial gain is worth compromising your work. You must be sure you can live with the consequences of your choice.
  5. This lesson comes from a bubbly, witty, lady. Talk about someone who juggles writing, her entertainment journalism job, family, and commitments! Candace Havens has more deadlines than I could manage. She’s well qualified to make this statement. “No excuses. Put your butt in the chair, your fingers on the keyboard, and write.” Enough said.

Cait Collins

Stuck

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Outtakes 48

Stuck

There are times when I reach an impasse when writing my novel.  My brain will not engage and allow me to move from one scene to another. I’m stuck now. I know where the story needs to go, but where do I start? Should I continue with the heroine’s crisis, or is it time to toss the antagonist into the mix? Unfortunately, I have no idea. I may be stuck, but I still need to write something today. Therefore, I will pull out my handy Journal Jar and grab an assignment.

Describe a perfect autumn day. What kind of activities would you do on that day?

A perfect autumn day would be a day one I spend in Bar Harbor, Maine. I’m staying at a bed-and-breakfast developed from an old sea captain’s home. The three-story clapboard house was built during the whaling days. The owners have invested considerable time and effort in renovating and modernizing the structure while maintaining the charm of beauty of the whaling days. Brass lanterns decorate the book shelf in my room. A sea green dust ruffle kisses the pine floors. The matching hand-quilted sea-green patterned quilt covers the bed. White eyelet curtains shade the room from the bright morning sun.

The crisp air greets me as I sit on the balcony enjoying a cup of fresh-ground Columbian coffee and a wild blueberry muffin.  The inn overlooks the rocky Atlantic coastline. Sand beaches are not common in Maine. Instead, the beaches are composed of large boulders weathered smooth by centuries of ocean tides and storms. I finish my coffee and head indoors to dress for a day of exploring.

I climb over the boulders as I approach the Thunder Hole. The rushing tides crash into the rocks and crevice in the cliff wall and are forced back out, creating a thundering noise. The spray wets my face. I glance up and allow the sun to dry the salt spray from my cheeks.  I back away from Thunder Hole, and find a flat surface for my tripod.  Focusing on Thunder Hole, I set the timer on my camera in hopes of catching the perfect shot of the waves against the rocks.  (Yes, I still prefer 35mm photography to digital.) I shoot a roll of film before retracing my steps down the beach toward the sea anemone cave. The tide is too high to explore the cave, so I decide to go for a drive.

I cross the bridge linking the island to the mainland. The orchards are heavy with ripe McIntosh and red Delicious apples. A sign advertises the opportunity to pick your own apples. I pull into the lot and pay my fee.  Climbing the step ladder is a challenge as I try to balance the peck-size basket and not fall. A young man steadies the ladder as I fill my basket. I move from the McIntosh section to the Delicious trees. Once again, I climb up the ladder and search for the best looking fruit.

I stow the baskets in my car and return to the island. I have just enough time to drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain to watch the sunset. Poised on a pink granite outcropping, I snap another roll of film as the day darkens to night. When the sun is gone, I return to the town. Stopping at a seaside restaurant, I order lobster bisque and fresh-baked bread for dinner. The evening breeze chills me. I wrap my thick sweatshirt tighter around my body. It’s time to go home. I need my sleep as tomorrow I drive to Camden to board a windjammer for a three-day cruise. Nothing beats autumn in Maine.

This is my day. Why not take a few minutes and describe your perfect autumn day. One more thing; my heroine needs to confront the ghosts from her past. I wonder what she will find in her grandmother’s journal.

Cait Collins

Clean Out the Clutter

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Outtakes 47

Clean Out the Clutter

Looking around my apartment right now is pretty depressing. I’ve not had a free weekend since mid-May. My living room is cluttered with Vacation Bible School material; the left-over decorations and party memorabilia from my sister’s 50th birthday party occupy my dining room; and conference paperwork, promotional announcements found a home in my office. West Texas dust litters every flat surface and I’m two weeks behind on the laundry. Thank heavens I have a free Saturday to play catch-up.

There are times when my writing life feels as cluttered as my apartment. Deadlines approach, but I stare at the computer screen begging for inspiration. It’s difficult to keep the priorities straight when the characters in my novel keep pounding on the door of my brain demanding attention. I need a break and a reality check. I’ll get that at Frontiers in Writing.

Writers’ conferences allow the writer to associate with like minded individuals; folks who understand the distractions and loneliness of the writing life. It’s a chance to renew friendships and learn new trends and techniques. I always come away from a conference with new energy and new ideas. It’s worth my time to attend.

Amarillo, Texas may be too far from your home, but I feel certain you can find a writers’ conference in your area. A Google search takes only minutes, and you will be surprised what you will find. And for those of you in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles, Kansas, New Mexico, and Colorado, there’s always room for one more at FiW.  We look forward to meeting our fellow writers no matter where you are on your writer’s journey. Come join us June 29-30, 2012, at Amarillo College in Amarillo. Conference information is available on our website, panhandlleprowriters.org.

Cait Collins

Picture This

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Outtakes 46

Picture This

I love writing. Putting words on paper is a joy and a frustration. When the words come, it’s a joy; but when I stare at a blank screen and nothing comes, it’s horrible. But beyond that, I enjoy the variety of writing genres. I never thought I could write a screenplay until I typed “Fade Out” on the last page. It’s a rough first effort, but maybe I can polish it and find some enterprising soul to produce it. Thing is, the screenplay, commercial, or picture book requires more than polished words on paper. The whole project hinges on the visions of producers, directors, cinematographers, photographers, and artists. The trick is finding folks you can trust to bring their special talents to the project and incorporate the written words to create something special.

I am fortunate to have worked with such a person. In my broadcasting career I’ve had the opportunity to write commercials and even documentaries. It’s always frightening to hand the script over to someone and hope it works. But whenever I’ve given Kris Matejko a script, I knew he’d take my words and my video suggestions and come up with something I never imagined. I’ve never been disappointed.

Kris has produced PSA’s for Frontiers in Writing on several occasions. Our budget is never very large, and we have to cut corners to bring the project in within budget. Kris is a genius. He can take nothing and make something really good that sells the product.

I had trouble coming up with a script idea and supporting video for this year’s PSA. Kris didn’t need my video. He had ideas that he could marry to my words. I think our 2012 FiW PSA is an excellent example of words mated with pictures. I hope you’ll check it out on the Panhandle Professional Writers website panhandleprowriters.org. While you are visiting the website, check out the FiW conference scheduled for June 28-30 on the Amarillo College Washington Street campus in Amarillo, Texas.  We look forward to meeting you.

Cait Collins

Jodi Thomas

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Outtakes 45

Jodi Thomas

I met author Jodi Thomas in 2001 when I enrolled in an Amarillo College continuing education creative writing course.  I had no idea what to expect from a multi-published, award winning novelist. As far as I knew, she would lecture on how great she was and how little chance we had of making it as writers. What I found was a warm, encouraging, and informative teacher.

Jodi has thirty-five novels to her credit; four Romance Writers of America RITA awards, is a New York Times and USA Today Best Selling author; and member of the Romance Writers Hall of Fame. Her early publications were historic western romances set in her home state of Texas. In 2003 she published her first main stream novel THE WIDOWS of WICHITA COUNTY.  She became an advocate for the homeless while researching FINDING MARY BLAINE (2004).  As Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University, Jodi spends much of her time visiting with and encouraging young writers.

Jodi is a popular speaker at writers’ events. In order to promote writers’ education, she sponsored

a week-long writer’s academy on the campus of West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas every June. She continues to meet her avid fans at book signings and luncheons. One year, a group of ladies on a bus tour of Texas, dropped by the Frontiers in Writing bookstore in the Ambassador Hotel. The ladies politely asked if they could come in and look around. We were happy to have them come in to shop. One lady purchased a couple of Jodi’s books. I asked her if she would like to have Jodi autograph them. She sweetly thanked me but suggested the author had more important people to meet. “Nonsense,” I said. “Jodi would be happy to visit with you.” I walked her over to the signing and introduced her to Jodi. A few minutes later, the lady returned to the bookstore. “Thank you,” she gushed. “Ms. Thomas is so nice. She’s a real person!” I cannot imagine a better description of Jodi Thomas.

Jodi is the keynote speaker for the Frontiers in Writing banquet on Friday, June 29th. FiW attendees have a wonderful opportunity to benefit from her writing experiences and her road to success. We invite you to register for Frontiers in Writing Let’s Write Weekend June 28-30, 2012 on the Amarillo College Washington Street campus. We look forward to seeing you.

Cait Collins

An Invitation

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Outtakes 44

An Invitation

I believe in writers’ conferences. A conference is one of the best ways to meet fellow writers, catch up on publishing trends, and network. I would like to extend an invitation to all of you to attend Panhandle Professional Writers annual Frontiers in Writing conference to be held June 28-30, 2012 in the College Union Building on the Amarillo College Washington Street Campus in Amarillo Texas.

The Let’s Write Weekend kicks off on Thursday evening, June 28, with a first-timers orientation from 7:30-8:30 PM at Barnes & Noble Booksellers I-40 West and Soncy Road.  Barnes and Noble will also host a book signing from 7:30-9:30 PM on Thursday.

Registration begins at 8:30 AM on Friday, June 29. The Friday “Get Down to Business” seminars focus on the business of writing.  Topics include Story; Self-editing; Publishing 101; Copyright and Publishing Law; Research for non-fiction writers; How to get noticed; Plotting; and Rejection.

Sessions on Saturday, June 30 center on the Craft of writing. Topics include fast draft;  Perfect crimes and Real police procedure; Person, tense and depth; Poetry; Social media; Characterization; Plotting from A to Z.

Arizona author, freelance editor, instructor, and poet , Harvey Stanbrough will keynote the Friday luncheon as well as conduct sessions on Friday and Saturday. Harvey will conduct a bonus session from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Sunday, July 1 at the Ambassador Hotel I-40 West and Paramount. Cost for the workshop is $45.00.

Jodi Thomas, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of 35 books keynotes the Friday night banquet. A popular speaker, Jodi is the winner of 4 RITA’s from the Romance Writers of America. She currently serves as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A& M University in Canyon Texas.

Keynote speaker for the Saturday luncheon is entertainment journalist, Candace Havens. Her columns appear in more than 600 newspapers. She is the author of six novels for Berkley, and currently writes for the Blaze line for Harlequin. She will present workshops on both Friday and Saturday.

John Erickson, Texas Panhandle rancher and author of HANK THE COWDOG series, will close Frontiers in Writing with a session at 3:30 in the Ordway Auditorium on the Amarillo College campus. The session will be open to the public. Conference registrants and children will be admitted free of charge. Cost for adults is $10.00. Erickson wrote short stories, novels, articles, plays, and essays before starting his own publishing company in his garage in Perryton TX. HANK THE COWDOG has sold well over 8 Million copies and is still going strong.

Other speakers for the Let’s Write Weekend include:

Former acquiring editor turned ghost writer, Hilary Sares

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Phyliss Miranda

Intellectual properties attorney, Christ Stewart

Former criminal investigator, now author, Jeff Campbell

Barnes and Noble Public Relations manager, Jim Gleason

Web designer and social media guru, Billy Goforth

Song writer and award-winning author Joe Douglas Trent

Teacher, nurse, and author Mary Lou Cheatham

Inspirational writer Craig Keel and horror author Nancy Keel

Additional information, schedules and registration forms may be found on the Panhandle Professional Writers website panhandleprowriters.org. Registration fee for the two days includes 2 lunches and the Friday banquet. Special pricing is available for single day attendees.

Our conference chair, Natalie Bright, and her committee have planned a great event. We hope you will make your plans to attend the Let’s Write weekend. We’d love to meet you.

Cait Collins

 

Trivial Pursuit

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Outtakes 43

Trivial Pursuit

I love Trivial Pursuit. It seems I can recall tons of irrelevant facts, but forget the important information. I have come to realize that I never want to quit learning these little bits of information. Will I ever need to know the name of the most decorated soldier in World War II? Probably not, but it is a Trivial Pursuit question,  and Audie Murphy is the answer. And who can forget losing a tournament to two guys who missed every literary question, and then come up with Tom, Dick, and Harry in response to a Dickens question. That’s the fun of the game.

If, like me, you have a head full of trivia, use it! I pulled old ad slogans for HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW.  What’s wrong with deserving a break today? Or taking a licking and keep on ticking? It’s simple and the reader can relate to the slogans.

Famous quotes also work. I keep my copy of BRTLETT’S FAMOUS QUOTATIONS  handy when I’m working on difficult scenes. I can research by key words or author. It’s not always necessary to use a whole quote. “My dear, I don’t give a…” will always make me envision a dashing Rhett Butler. “I’ll think about it tomorrow…” brings thoughts of Scarlett O’Hara. The point is to use whatever you have to enhance your writing. And when you borrow, don’t use the quotes in a derogatory manner. Respect the original author.

Cait Collins

Eleven Commandments

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Outtakes 42

Eleven Commandments

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be telling you about some of the speakers and what to expect when you attend Frontiers in Writing’s Let’s Write Weekend June 28-30 in Amarillo, Texas. We have a very talented faculty and a comfortable facility. The Amarillo College administration, faculty and staff go out of their way to welcome us and make sure all our needs are met. I would like to express my appreciation to AC President, Dr. Paul Matney and the staff for their hospitality.

While the planning committee has worked hard to prepare for the event, and the speakers are working on their presentations, there is an unknown element—the attendees. Many of you will be attending your first conference. Perhaps you are unsure about who you will meet. Will you make mistakes? What do I wear? What do I need to bring? I hope the Eleven Commandments for conference attendees will help you have an enjoyable experience.

  1. Be on time. You want to arrive with sufficient time to locate the meeting rooms and the rest rooms, grab a cup of coffee or bottle of water, and find a seat. No one likes walking into a session that has started.
  2. Be prepared. Check out the speakers’ websites. Decide which sessions you want to attend. Don’t forget paper, pens, and a bottle of water. Don’t forget your business cards.
  3. Dress appropriately. While three piece suits are not required, business casual is the best guideline. Jeans are okay, but they should be clean and pressed. Comfortable footwear is a must. Just remember that writing is a business and you want to present yourself as a professional.
  4. Clean up after yourself. Don’t leave empty cups, plates and such for someone else to pick up.
  5. Volunteer! Help is appreciated. Whether it’s decorating tables or distributing the speaker’s handouts, offering assistance sets you apart from the pack.
  6. Network! Network! Network! A conference is your opportunity to make new contacts and learn from others. Don’t sit on the sidelines and hope someone will approach you. You might miss out on an opportunity.
  7. Comment cards are available for your input. Please fill one out. Your comments help us improve our conference. Don’t forget to say thank you to the planning committee and the speakers.  A hand written note to the college administration will be greatly appreciated.
  8. Do not monopolize the conversations or the question and answer sessions. You are not the only one with something to say.
  9. Respect the speakers’ need for a break. Do not follow them into the rest room to shove your business card in a hand. You can be sure we still giggle over the story of the writer who followed an agent into the bathroom and pushed her manuscript under the stall door.
  10. Do not bad mouth your fellow writers. The writing community is a small one, and word will get out.
  11. Do not drink to excess. It’s not unusual for a group to go for a drink at the end of the day. Remember your image and the safety of yourself and others. Above all, we want to see you next year

We look forward to meeting you during the Let’s Write Weekend June 28-30 on the Amarillo College Washington Street Campus, Amarillo, Texas. Ya’ll come!

Cait Collins

We Have an App for That

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Outtakes #41

We Have an App for That

I admit to being technology challenged. I did not grow up with calculators, Smart Phones, computers or tablets. In fact I thought an abacus was a pretty neat gadget. I could calculate math problems or count money on one. My electric typewriter was a huge step up from Dad’s Olivetti Underwood clunker. Becoming computer literate has been a challenge. And should I decide to buy one of the tablets, I’ll probably have to get my seven-year old nephew to help me download everything.

The thought of figuring out what I will need for my tablet boggles my simple mind. I’m not a gamer, so that’s one idea off the list. But what if I want to track my portfolio? Or keep track of church activities? Nook, Kindle, IPad, Android? What’s a Cloud? Wi-Fi or telephone plan? Yes there are apps for all of it. But how to I know what’s best for me? That’s where the nephew comes in. Unfortunately, he’ll load the system with Angry Birds and other games, and then I’ll have no room for the good stuff. Such is the life of the technology challenged.

Many new writers are equally confused regarding the process of becoming a professional writer. Too bad there’s not an app to guide us from inspiration to publication. Well, there is. Sort of. On June 29-30, Panhandle Professional Writer’s will host Frontiers in Writing Let’s Write Weekend. Do you have questions about copyright and contracts? Drop in on Intellectual Properties attorney, Chris Stewart’s Friday sessions. Former acquiring editor, Hilary Sares hosts workshops on current trends in the publishing world; how not to get published; and writing for the editor. Harvey Stanbrough teaches self-editing and poetry. Jeff C. Campbell offers tips on research, police procedure for mystery writers, and perfect crimes. Jim Gleason speaks on electronic publishing. Candace Havens presents workshops on getting published. Joe Trent, Phyliss Miranda, Billy Goforth, and Mary Lou Cheatham provide insight on framing stories, characterization, social media and blogs, and handling rejection.

Need more? Get inspiration from banquet keynote speaker, Jodi Thomas. Jodi is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of 35 books and winner of 4 RITA awards. She is the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University, as well as a friend and mentor to newbie writers. Writer and entertainer, John Erickson, closes the weekend with a lecture and book signing on Saturday afternoon. John is best known for the HANK THE COWDOG series.

For more information, visit our website panhandleprowriters.org. We look forward to seeing you on Friday and Saturday, June 29-30 at Amarillo College in Amarillo, Texas. You’ll enjoy the great information, good fellowship, food, and fun. See you in June.

See I told you we had an app for writers. Sort of.

Cait Collins