Today at my writer’s online forum, an interesting discussion ensued on Vanity vs. Print on Demand Publishing. I have since learned that Print on Demand is the method by which books are published, and that the real issue is between Vanity and Self Publishing. Many people believe they are one in the same because books are not published by traditional means. However, I have come to believe that Vanity and Self Publishing are not the same.

Vanity Publishers are often masked as a traditional publishing avenue. For example, we have all heard about markets where your poetry is accepted, but only if you buy the book. If you don’t buy the book, your poem is thrown into the garbage. My friend once wrote the worst poem possible, which got accepted only if she purchased the book. Her point proven, she did not buy the book. These vanity publishers really know how to talk an author up and, if you are not in careful check of your own need to be immediately published, they will reel you in.

On the other hand, I believe that a legitimate self publishing company is straight forward. An internet search of Self Publishers brought up many companies. From what I see, most Self Publishers are up front that the writer will pay to have their work published. They often list out their packages and costs. Others ask that you tell them about your book first. I believe the honesty of what they offer is what separates them from Vanity Publishers.

Of course, this all seems black and white, but I’m sure there are some grey areas in between. I suppose that Vanity Publishers can indeed be legitimate and honest about their services, just as Self Publishers can be sneaky and underhanded. I would say that, whatever avenue you choose, whether it be an adventure in vanity or a journey in self, be sure to keep your eyes open and explore all the avenues and alleys. Ask yourself why you are choosing your particular path and be completely honest.

I have had some poetry and two short stories published. I am nowhere ready to publish my novel. So, all of what I have written is based on a little experience, lots of research and some introspection. I guess that does not make me an expert in the publishing business, but it does show how well I can reason this all out.

When it’s time to publish my novel, I have decided I will…..

Never mind. No time to think about it now.

Happy writing.

I am excited about living in the year 2009, especially with our New President, Barack Obama. I heard on CNN this week that the White House website has been revamped and is now an open and interactive venue for all interested in politics and reading about our leader’s plans and policies. They even have a blog, and yesterday’s entry is a video and print copy of the President’s inaugural address. If our president runs our country anything like he ran his campaign, all I can say, “Look out America! Change is in the here and now!” Stop by and check it out for yourself! http://www.whitehouse.gov/.

On the writing end, I have just finished a short story that I plan to submit to a few magazines soon. I have started another short story, perhaps a novel, which is loosely based on a current personal experience. I have found that I write best when drawing from the deep emotions of my life events.

Last year I wrote a short story based upon two childhood experiences: when I was in eigth grade, the most popular boy in school asked me to be his girlfriend, and when I was a kid, I could never catch a baseball. Once the story was published in an anthology, I was asked to read before the group. A few people afterward asked me if my character was actually me. All I can ever say is that there is a little bit of me in all of my characters.

Saturday while Don is at the Fiddle Contest in Cloverdale, I will be at a writer’s workshop in Petaluma entitled Where Does a Fictional Story Start? After an hour introduction, participants choose between Point of View or Character Development. I have already made up my mind to attend the session on character development, since point of view is basic to me. I know I need to learn to flesh out my characters more, give them more depth, and realism.

On a final note, life has been delivering some interesting gifts these last few weeks. I have been running into old friends I have not seen in years. Recently, someone gave me a spiritual gift without her knowing that it was exactly what I needed. No matter what life delivers, the glass is always half full, never half empty.

Until next time…happy writing!

I have had this blog for about two years now,and I honestly thought few people read it- maybe my writer friends, Don, some family members. After all, I am not a well known novelist or someone who has accomplished great things that make people stop and say, “Ooooh, Aaaahhh.” But, today I believe someone from work dropped a subtle hint that she has seen my blog. Now, the questions come barging through! Does she read it? Has she shared it with other coworkers? What does she think? What do they think? I can hear you asking, “Why do you care?” My answer is, “I care about what they think because I care about them.” I work with some really neat people. What more could a girl ask for?

Which brings me to the New Year. I have decided not to make any resolutions, because I end up getting sidetracked, or I simply choose not to follow through. But, if I decide on the spur of the moment to do something, such as taking knitting up after a 20 year dead spell, or I decide to write a story today, then I will follow through. I am just not good at keeping lists, or trying to decide what I want to do in the next year. All I want is to be a better person, to show compassion, and to have a great time at life.

Our Christmas was wonderful this year- we spent it with Don’s family. I had not made yeast bread since I was a teenager, maybe even a young adult. But, I made a loaf of bread, cinnamon rolls and dinner rolls. Everybody at the dinner said the rolls were wonderful. If Mother were alive today, she would be proud of me!

It seems strange that it will be 2009 in a little over 24 hours. When I was a kid, 2000 seemed so far away that it gave me chills just thinking about it. I recall being ten years old and figuring out that in the year 2000 I would be 39 years old. Now, it’s almost 2009, and I will turn 48 in November. In the year 2020 I will turn 59…I think. Kind of eerie, if you ask me.

I have been writing, but not as much as I would like. I submitted a memoir to the California Writer’s Club annual anthology, but I have not heard back yet. I just completed a short story and need to find a market for it. As for my novel, I have put editing on the back burner. Sometimes I wonder if I am a better short story writer than a novelist. I don’t know. All I know is that I love to write.

I wish a happy and safe new year to all. See you next year.

I have been a lazy when it comes to writing. During the summer, I turned cable off and signed up for Netflix in hopes that an episode or two of my favorite TV shows on DVD would be a nice reward for writing. Well, as it turns out, Netflix is a distraction.

I came up with another plan this last week; I decided to take up knitting again after a 25 year hiatus. My plan is to write an hour per day, and then watch Netflix while I knit. Right now, I am working on a scarf for Don. My next project will be a sweater for me. Maybe I’ll knit a beanie and slippers. So far, the knitting plan has been more successful than the Netflix plan. I like rewards for writing. I just need to stick to the reward system.

Some would say I am blocked. I don’t believe this because when I sit down to write I actually put sentences on the paper that make sense and move the piece forward (like now). My problem is that I would rather be doing something else, because that other activity is never as difficult as writing.

Writing is hard work. Not writing is easy. But, if I don’t write then I won’t be able to submit for publication. I have been published at least six times- four poems in magazines years ago, and two short stories in the last year. But, these publications only happened because I wrote, edited, and submitted. In addition, I maintain my blog and my website, and writing is about 90% of my day job.

I need to treat my writing like a second job. When I work at my paralegal job, I am in my office working away except for breaks and lunch. I try to stay focused and shut out distractions. There is no reason that I should not be doing the same things for my writing.

Happy writing to all…and happy Thanksgiving!

Don and I have been busy with family events this last month. A few weeks ago, we drove to Paradise, California for his cousin’s fiftieth wedding anniversary. Once we reached Paradise, we were shocked at the devastation of the fires from earlier in the year. Many people lost their homes.

Don’s family is quite a large crowd spread throughout California, and they all try to keep in touch with one another. Thus, while many of the Sonoma County family had traveled to attend the party, so had family and friends from other areas. The evening was filled with music, laughter and a lot of dancing. Don’s cousin, Betty, is married to Louie, who has made his living playing Saxophone. Louie was on stage quite a bit with the band, even at one time playing two Saxes, one out of each side of his mouth. Don even joined and played his mandolin, and piped in with a few songs of his own.

This last weekend, Don’s nephew, Brandon, got married. Brandon’s mother, Shari, officiated the ceremony. Brandon was a handsome groom, and Carolina’s could not have been more radiant. The ceremony was beautiful, and the dinner and dancing afterward a blast! Since both Brandon and Carolina are young, I expected some current rock and roll at the dance. Instead, we danced the night away to 70’s and 80’s music where one song blended right into another!! I was pleasantly surprised when Staying Alive blared from the speakers, as the Bee Gees was one of my favorite bands when I was younger.

On the writing front, these last few weeks I have been making excuses not to sit down and write. No, I don’t have what is commonly known as writer’s block. Not a bit. I am just finding other things to do instead of writing. Okay, the last six days I have had that awful cold/cough thing that has been going around. Today was the worst. When I called into work today, the first thing the receptionist said was, “Uh, oh, it got you didn’t you?” Yep, the bug got me full force today. But, after sleeping it off and taking the cough medicine the doctor prescribed, this evening I can truly report the worst is over.

This weekend, I am off to see Grandpa. I told Grandpa lunch is on me- he picks, I pay. I have no doubt he will chose Taco Bell, his favorite place. Don is gone to LA during this week for some gigs and then to Phoenix for the Folk Alliance Annual Conference. His band, The Hot Frittatas, will be the main showcase this year.

I really do plan to get some writing done now that I am feeling better. Actually, the around five hundred words that I am writing now count as writing. Thus, I have found writing more important than the something else I have been replacing writing with- if that makes sense.

Happy writing all!