Punctuation matters

Gosh, this was a shock to read in today's Chicago Tribune.

The president of Southern Illinois University (SIU), Glenn Poshard, is accused of numerous counts of plagiarism in both his SIU doctoral dissertation and his SIU master's thesis.

To make matters worse, Poshard is is quoted as having publicly stated that he was, and I quote:

"too busy with other things to type quotation marks."

One of the first things writers learn is to get attribution absolutely correct. At a writer's workshop this weekend, I reminded the audience of this, when a panel was discussing research. Today, especially with the wealth of resources online, it is critical not just to double-check facts and sources, but to make absolutely certain you are quoting original material from an original or highly reputable source. New social web sites, such as Wikipedia, that allow contributions from the public are fraught with errors and deliberate mis-statements about politics, religion and more. So today and always "Check your research," and you may quote me on that.

Helen

From blog to web site

Now that Release Your Writing is launched, this little bloggie is getting tired of handling the full load. If you look at www.releaseyourwriting.com, you'll now see a full web site, with a link to this blog, an event list, and loads of other material about the book.

Thanks for supporting this effort, and ... keep writing!

Helen Gallagher

Book Launch: "Release Your Writing"

Yes, Release Your Writing: Book Publishing Your Way is out. Six months from concept to publication. That's the benefit of self-publishing. While I was formulating ideas for a sequel to Computer Ease, as a book tentatively titled Computer Ease for Writers, I collected material, and wrote an outline, but knew something was lacking.

In March of this year, I gave a presentation to Off-Campus Writers Workshop, (OCWW.bizland.com) and I titled my talk "Release Your Writing." As soon as I entered the room, connected my laptop to the projector, and saw that title on the screen, I knew I had the book's focus. A few weeks later, at the American Society of Journalists & Authors (ASJA) conference in New York, there was a palpable excitement over self-publishing: with packed sessions on the topic, self-pub firms present, and self-published authors on panels.

So, I went up to my hotel room during lunch and bought the domain name www.releaseyourwriting.com. Now I'm pleased the book is available for all. This is it: One book that explains options in publishing, technical aspects of coping with technology, dozens of shortcuts to write better and faster with your computer, and an entire section on book marketing, targeted specifically to those of us who do not have agents, marketers, and publicists steering out books toward an audience.

Keeping a book alive is very much an author's responsibility these days. Release Your Writing shows you how to do it, and how to have fun along the way. Enjoy your journey!

You can purchase Release Your Writing here

Inspiring quotes

In this age of text messages and cell phone chatter, who will be quoted 100 years from now for their wise and thoughtful statements?

I doubt there is a sound bite today that can match this quote from Samuel Johnson, an 18th century essayist"

"What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure."

Another of my favorites, attributed to Henry Ford is:

"Think you can or think you can't. Either way, you're right."

So, don't let the pace of today's multimedia lifestyle keep you from quiet time with pen and paper, or with your computer. Capture your thoughts. There are always new markets for our writing. Let's not waste any opportunities.

NOLA story: It's Oprah's way or not at all....

I am a big supporter of New Orleans, before and after the Katrina carnage. Here's a chance for me to promote a journalist's book about the experiences, and for you to have some fun. Imagine if you, as a fresh author of a new book, were asked to speak about the topic on Oprah!! But - you couldn't mention your book! You'd be frustrated too.

Read the New Orleans Time-Pic story by Chris Rose here. Chris is the author of 1 Dead in Attic.
http://www.cclarity.com/ryw/NOLA/NOLA-oprah-not.html

I put the link on my site since news stories move off the top pages online very fast.

Helen

Writing: The last week of August

It's Monday morning, and the last week of August. For many, it starts the end of summer: hot nights, porch swing, luxury of time to read. Oh, and write ! If you're a writer, make the most of this week, and get back into the habit of daily writing. Take a bit inspiration from Isaac Asimov:

“If the doctor told me I had six minutes to live, I’d type a little faster.”

Don't give up on ebooks ...

Here's a brief comment from a New York Times article from August 9, 2007:

"WHEN Paul Biba, a lawyer in Bernardsville, N.J., finds himself stuck waiting, he likes to pull out his Nokia E61i cellphone and read one of the 20 or so books he usually stores on it.

The virtual bookshelf in his pocket currently has science fiction like “Falling Free” by Lois McMaster Bujold, all of the novels of Anthony Trollope and Charles Dickens, “Eminent Victorians” by Lytton Strachey and the September issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction.

“Once you get use to having books with you, you get use to reading in places where it never occurred to you. If I’m waiting in line at the supermarket counter, why not read one of my science fiction magazines?” he said. “Believe it or not, I’ll sit down in my chair at home, pull out my phone and read a book.”"

So, whether you read ebooks on your laptop screen, desktop, Palm, Life Drive, iPod or iPhone, they are a convenient, trouble-free way to read wherever you are.


The full story is posted on their site (free registration required).

Book Launch Events

For your convenience, you can now receive a weekly email of author events, including my own, in your area. Sign up free at booktour.com:

 http://booktour.com/signup?referrer=2371

Events for "Release Your Writing: Book Publishing, Your Way"

Oct. 14, 2007 Uptown Writer's Space, Chicago, IL
Fee-based workshop, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Contact Uptown Writer's Space at: 773-275-1000 or email susan@uptownwritersspace.com

Oct. 20, 2007 National Assn. of Science Writers, Spokane, WA
"Taming the Digital Office" panel
nasw.org

Jan. 28, 2008 Mt. Prospect Public Library
Free workshop & Q+A, 7 p.m.
mppl.org

May 3, 2008 Chicago Dramatist's Guild
details to follow


Click here for photos from the book launch party 9/29/07 at Mario's Mondo Cafe.

Prior author events:


Sept. 15, 2007 Prose In the Park, Taylorville, IL
Two workshops: New writers - a.m., Advanced writers - p.m.
More info: Prose In the Park

Sept. 19, 2007 Women's Exchange author night
Generational issues in technology
reservations: Womens-Exchange.org

Oct. 1-6, 2007 Speaker at global Momference teleconference
Don't know what a Momference is? Learn more here:www.momference.com

Writer's Digest blog

I've had the pleasure of writing a few articles for Writer's Digest, and am pleased to see some of their best people are moving into blogs. Maria Schneider handles technical and publishing concepts at hers: http://www.writersdigest.com/writersperspective/default.aspx

Make it a regular stop on your "paper route."

Cheers,
Helen

Advance praise for Release Your Writing

In workshops and appearances this Fall, I'll speak as much about marketing and promoting your work as I do about writing or technology. Endorsements are one of the best ways to show credibility and give readers a reason to look further into your book. I've received two stunning endorsements and am excerpting them here for your reference and inspiration:

• "...I took her blogging class, which is the only reason I have a blog today. The obscure was made clear, and fun. I would trust Helen’s expertise in any of the new technologies, and I would recommend her to anyone who needs to know how to take advantage of the digital world’s tools.”

Cynthia Clampitt, author of
Waltzing Australia

• “Helen Gallagher's new book Release Your Writing has just stripped you of your last excuse for not writing that book that's inside you and waiting to be released. She has an answer for every question you've ever had about birthing a book into the world and covers every step you need to take it from beginning to end."
  
  
  Jan Phillips, author of
  The Art of Original Thinking,
  Marry Your Muse
  
  
  

Could Jane Austen get published today?

One of the tenets of Release Your Writing: Book Publishing Your Way is the need for writers to self-advocate.
No one believes in your work more than you do, and its unlikely the glint of your perfect prose will be shine in an agent's or editor's eye.

We hear that mainstream publishing is harder to achieve than ever. It rejection is a frustration for you, take heart in this recent news story:

I frustrated writer, David Lassman disguised Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice and sent it off to 18 publishers. One well-read editor spotted the fraud, but the other 17 publishers all rejected or ignored it. Lassman submitted the manuscript under a female pseudonym, and changed only the title and character names. Odds are he's now a big fan of self-publishing.

One month to release date

When Your Muse is Calling

I've never needed a push to get started with writing. My muse is always speaking to me, putting a pen into my hand, or flying across my keyboard.

Yesterday, before sending Release Your Writing off to the publisher, I received a wonderful endorsement for my book from Jan Phillips, author of the outstanding book: Marry Your Muse.

So imagine my surprise when I went to dinner with a friend last night and she presented me with this adorable gift -- a real muse!

The quote on her skirt is from James Michener:

"I love writing. I love the swirl & swing of words as they tangle with human emotions."

Inspiring, isn't it? Strike while the pen is hot !

Helen

Release Your Writing: Book Publishing Your Way

ANNOUNCEMENT:
Release Your Writing: Book Publishing, Your Way will be available in Autumn 2007.
Author: Helen Gallagher

Self-publishing continues to grow as a productive alternative to traditional publishing where:
book proposal + agent + publisher = about a two year time frame.

With self-publishing and more specifically Print-on-Demand (POD) you have another option: You handle the writing and publication process, with editorial input and design under your control. You use a POD firm to assist with print production, formatting, printing, distribution, obtaining ISBN, online sales, credit card processing, and fulfillment. Yes, you pay for that service, but if your choice without it is to remain unpublished, it's worth it.

Sound good? You bet. Send an email to books@releaseyourwriting.com to learn more about the book and POD. You can also add comments, questions and suggestions here about what you want to see covered in the book.

Helen Gallagher
author Computer Ease
and Release Your Writing