Great News!

Queen City Writers Group is now "The Charlotte Writing Academy". The move allows us to bring better opportunities for all writers. To see what great things we are doing check us out: www.thecharlottewritingacademy.org

Thank you !

The 2014 Queen City Writers Conference was a huge success. Many thanks to every participant, sponsor, vendor who helped in our project. We could not have done it without you!

2015 promises to be even greater. Stay tuned.......there is much more to come!

Breast Cancer Fundraiser

We are asking for your support. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We are supporting the cause. Will you join us? Proceeds will benefit local families that need immediate assistance.

Delbert Earle's Window of Opportunity

by Robert Inman

Late Summer always brings thoughts of a new school year about to begin, and for my friend Delbert Earle, that always brings thoughts of Miz Pirtley.  She was his senior English teacher, and Miz Pirtley’s favorite saying was, “Delbert Earle, if you ever stop acting the fool, you might amount to something.”

Delbert Earle thought he was quite the dude in the Fall of his Senior year.  He was playing halfback on the football team, going steady with a girl so cute she made him blush every time he thought of her, and headed toward graduation.  Well, hoping he was headed toward graduation.

Delbert Earle was the class cut-up, always the center of attention, and something of a practical jokester.  Whenever Miz Pirtley found something in her desk drawer that wasn’t supposed to be there, she knew exactly where it came from.  She found a good many strange things in her desk drawer that Fall, many of them alive and wiggling.

One afternoon, a warm and lazy Indian Summer day begging to be enjoyed, Delbert Earle was standing on top of a desk in study hall, leaning out the window, talking to his girl.  Miz Pirtley passed by in the hall, saw Delbert Earle, and moved faster than anybody had ever seen Miz Pirtley move before.  She grabbed him by the ankles, gave a mighty shove, and threw Delbert Earle clean out the window into a nandina bush.

Then Miz Pirtley got up on the desk and looked out the window at Delbert Earle.

“What did you go and do that for?” he asked, his pride more damaged than his body.  (The worst part was that his girlfriend laughed.  Loudly.)

“Delbert Earle,” Miz Pirtley said sweetly, “I was just acting the fool, and it was too good an opportunity to pass up.”

Delbert Earle turned out all right.  He’s got a good job and a nice family now, pays his taxes, never misses voting in an election, and speaks pretty good English.  He’s acted the fool a few times in his life, as we all have.  But a few times he’s started to and didn’t, and the reason he didn’t was that he thought of Miz Pirtley.

One of these days soon, as Summer becomes Fall, Delbert Earle plans to go by the school and thank Miz Pirtley.  But he plans to stay clear of the windows.

Robert Inman has written screenplays for six motion pictures for television, two of which have been “Hallmark Hall of Fame” presentations. His script for The Summer of Ben Tyler, a Hallmark production, won the Writers’ Guild of America Award as the best original television screenplay of 1997. His other Hallmark feature wasHome Fires Burning, a 1989 adaptation of his novel. He is also a Keynote Speaker at the Queen City Writers Conference, October 18, 2014, Charlotte, NC.

Lisa Heidrich's Radio Interview

Speaking Confidence: An Interview with Lisa Heidrich

AUGUST 27, 2014 BY ANGIE BRASHEAR 1 COMMENT

Today we welcome Lisa Heidrich, author of Speaking Confidence. For a chance to win an ebook copy of her motivational book, comment below.

Hi Lisa! Tell me a bit about where you’re from.

Angie, I was born in Manhattan, NYC and lived there for a short time, just two young years, so I don’t remember what it’s like to live in the “Big Apple.”

I grew up in south Florida—call it home—lived there, went to school there, and had my children there. Moved to North Carolina about fourteen years ago. I remember we moved in the fall of 1999, and I would drive up and down I-77, to see the pink, plum, red, orange, and yellow leaves. I never knew anything but Palm Trees! I love the four seasons this state offers but miss the ocean near my home town.

I can relate to a love for the ocean and autumn. My hometown, Rockland, Maine has both. So you’ve journeyed to very different place in the United States. Now tell me a bit about your journey to salvation.

I grew up thinking I was a Christian. I thought I knew all about God. I had learned all the dogma and had obligation down pat. Nearly two decades ago I experienced grief, loss, and real life trauma. I was maxed out and at the end of my rope. I had lost all hope for this life. Someone invited me to a small group Bible study. I thought I was going to a coffee social. That’s where I found Jesus, and truly understood what it was to be given grace and have a one-on-one relationship with the Lord of this universe who loved me with a lavish love. I finally found my Hope. Jesus. My life verse is, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). I learned that religion never saves us from ourselves, but relationship does. That’s my official salvation quote. I love sharing my testimony and take every opportunity to share it, and have across eight states for the past six years seeing women give their lives to Christ. It’s been a blessing and truly a journey with Jesus.

What an incredible testimony! Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.

I am an introvert. I hate shredded coconut. I am Mommy to a Harlequin Macaw named Matilda and Great Dane named Mercy. [giggle]

Well, I know your favorite animal. What’s your favorite book? Why?

The Bible, I love non-fiction. Truly the only REAL READ that leads to life change. Every time I read the Bible I learn something new no matter how many times I read it. For example, just recently I read Isaiah 14:14, in short, “God doesn’t need our advice”. That’s powerful. I love being moved by what I read.

So, I *think* I already know the answer, but…what is your favorite genre to read? Write?

READ & WRITE: Non-Fiction. I love true stories, autobiographies, biographies, stories about authentic people, and learning new things.

I wish I had the desire to read more nonfiction. I’m a fan of speculative fiction, especially fantasy and dystopian. Who does your intended audience include? Believers and nonbelievers? In what ways do you believe your story reaches each?

Believers and nonbelievers. At heart I consider myself an “evangelista,” a female version of an evangelist! [smile] My book reaches both audiences because glossophobia is the #1 FEAR in our universe. The dreaded FEAR of PUBLIC speaking. My conviction is: there are bigger topics and scenarios to be afraid of, like dying without knowing Jesus. I am also passionate about connecting people with their public voices and sharing their story with confidence. My favorite story is from Jeremiah chapter 1, where Jeremiah makes all kinds of excuses about speaking, how he’s just a child, he doesn’t have the words, and he is terrified. Similar to excuses one might argue when they have to speak in public. My advice—my word, God’s word to them is stand up and say your piece—HE will give the words and anoint your lips. It’s our nature as people to speak, there is no point letting it hold anyone back from their potential. In many cases, I am finding it is a generational strong hold, a fear passed down from generation to generation.

How long did it take you to write this book?

My book, Speaking Confidence was birthed in three AMAZING months. This is a miracle story and was a Divine appointment for me. I originally thought I was going to write a devotional/gift-type book, so I attended a writing conference and booked an appointment with a publisher who wrote in RED pen all over my manuscript and asked me seemingly difficult questions. I left the appointment dejected, READY to go home. I would have IF I didn’t have a roommate who came all the way from Cincinnati, and I was her RIDE back to the airport in three days. She arrived at our room to find me in bed at 3:00 PM, crying. She agreed “so & so was a REAL JERK” because she had talked to him too. Girlfriends know how to cheer us up. The next day I ate an orange for breakfast in our room and had quiet time, prayed and cried out to God. I left the room around noon and walked toward the cafeteria for lunch. In my peripheral vision I could see two women coming up on my right. Inside I shuddered and secretly hoped they wouldn’t “talk” to me. Thankfully they did and I met my publisher (and her sister) at that lunch date. I pitched a verbal idea about Speaking Confidence and she said, “Send me the first chapter.” I was too terrified to pitch the devotion/gift book again! That was May, my book was written, edited and published late fall. It was a God thing and I give Him the glory for the book.

Lisa, thank you so much for venturing to other worlds with. I truly hope your writing endeavors glorify God.

Thank you, Angie, for allowing me to share with you! May I give a “shout-out” for the Queen City Writers Conference in Charlotte, NC on October 16th-18th?

Of course.

I am excited to be on faculty and hope to meet some new friends! Catch the $99 early bird registration till September 15 at http://qcwritersgroup.blogspot.com/.

Purchase Speaking Confidence on Amazon.

Lisa Bongiorno-Heidrich, RN,CCM,CHP, asserts writing unsurprisingly exists hand-in-hand with speaking. An International speaker, Ministry Director, Global Conversationalist, and author of Speaking Confidence, Lisa enjoys helping others find their niche through their unique voice, message, and mission. Contributor for monthly web-based articles, along with blogs at www.LisaHeidrich.com. A real social butterfly, you’ll catch daily on Facebook and Twitter @LisaCHeidrich. With twenty years experience teaching, speaking, and coaching, she offers a compilation of vital information for speaking and writing trepidation. She grew up in Florida, now resides in North Carolina, and holds degrees in nursing and vocational education.  She is currently the Publicity Director and Faculty Member of Queen City Writers Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Are You a Lone Ranger?

By Rachelle Gardner

In publishing, we’re constantly asking writers—typically a rather introverted bunch—to get involved, to engage, to network, to join groups and go to conferences. I often find myself wondering how many of you cringe every time you hear that kind of advice.
 
Maybe you’re not into the whole publishing “scene.” Maybe you don’t enjoy being in a critique group where people discuss your work.
 
Maybe you don’t want to be part of a crowd, you don’t want to go to workshops, you don’t think of writing as a group activity. 
 
Maybe social media is not your thing. The thought of promoting your book gives you hives. You don’t want to be a speaker or a blogger or a Facebook expert.
 
Can such a person find success in publishing?
 
Yes—but these days it’s rare.
 

Stuck in Traffic - Freeing Yourself from Writer's Block

Stuck In Traffic

Freeing Yourself from Writer’s Block

latanmurphy.com

Being trapped on the interstate in bumper-to-bumper traffic is not the way I like to spend my time!  Can you relate to being stuck in traffic at the most inopportune times?  It usually happens when under a deadline of some sort, or when running late for an important meeting, right?

Once stuck, it’s difficult to move over to an exit ramp. No one is paying attention to your predicament regardless of how fast and furious your rear blinker flashes.

I have often felt this way when it comes to writing. Finding myself ‘stuck in traffic’ time and time again as my fingers are held hostage on the keyboard. Creative flow is suddenly forced to stop in the midst of bumper-to-bumper plots and storylines trafficking through my head.  With my creative flow stuck, clarity of content becomes crippled, threatening to block the message I am trying to convey.

Being ‘stuck in traffic’ is metaphorically something familiar to most writers.  There is nothing worse than being on a good roll in your writing only to find yourself suddenly STUCK mid-stream with writer’s block.
I am excited to share a few ideas that have helped me move beyond writer’s block.  Each of the following will equip and help to avoid being ‘stuck in traffic’.

A Writer’s Guide to Stop Panicking and Get the Most from a Critique

by Emily Wenstrom

Even when you ask for it, when people critique your writing it can feel like a dagger to the gut. It can knock out your confidence and even cause you to question whether you should ever bother picking up a pen again.

Photo by star5112

When a group of beta readers critiqued the manuscript for my first novel, I felt like I was on the cusp of a true panic for days. Was my manuscript too problematic to be fixed? Was I a terrible writer? Maybe I wasn’t really a writer at all and should just give up.

But critique feedback can also help you make your work even better—not just in this manuscript but in general. Once I calmed down, I realized that there was a lot of positive in the feedback I’d gotten, too. My manuscript was definitely fixable, perhaps even pretty good—it just had some areas where it could be even better. And then I actually excited to make those improvements and started coming up with even more creative ideas to add into it.

You can get past critique panic too—what makes the difference is how you handle it. Here’s some tips on how to move past the fear and get the most from it:

Accept the critique

The worst thing about feedback is what we imagine it will be. Don’t let the fear of your feedback stop you from moving forward. Bite the bullet and read it through all the way. It’s okay if at first it makes you angry or if you don’t agree with any of it. Just read and take it all in.

Take some space to think about the critique

Once you've read through all your feedback, step away from it for a few days and just let the feedback marinate. It’s hard to hear criticism and alternate ideas about something you've created. During this time, remember the positive comments you got, too–just because there’s ways to improve doesn't mean you’re not a good writer!

But if you let yourself have the time to mull on that feedback, you may be surprised to find you agree or that it triggers new creative ideas. Other suggestions you may decide not to take.

Get a game plan on how to act on the critique

Even when you you've had the space to calm down and decide what to do with your feedback, it can be overwhelming to think about the work required to execute on them. What you need is a game plan.

Write a list of all the things you want to address, and order them from the biggest plot-level changes to the smallest detail changes like word choices. Addressing changes in this order will eliminate some unnecessary effort fixing things that need to change anyway.

Butt in seat.

Then, the only thing left is to put in the work and plug through your to-dos. Stay focused and don’t let this last stage of hard effort get you down. You’ll be working your way into the publishing stages soon.

Receiving a critique on your manuscript can be deeply personal and extremely difficult. But don’t let that fear or insecurity hold you back from getting all you can from constructive feedback. Keep a cool head and a critique can make your manuscript even stronger.

About Emily Wenstrom

Lit addict, movie junkie, geek. Emily Wenstrom is a professional writer working in PR. She blogs about creativity at Creative Juicer and is editor of short story zine wordhaus.

Good Writing or a Good Storyteller?

Good Writing or a Good Storyteller?

by Peter Quinn

Shakespeare was a good writer, “Her flesh barren and pure, his desires it did beckon.” Jackie Collins is a good storyteller, “She stood before him her bare shoulder begging his attentions.”

Okay, I made the quotes up. I didn’t want to deal with copyright laws and, yes, I am being lazy.  My point is that both are successful in their genres, selling millions of copies and starting just as many conversations.  Both are good writers and storytellers, but I am certain that we will probably never see a Jackie Collins novel on a high school summer reading list where, to the chagrin of many students, we do find William Shakespeare. 

Why isn’t Jackie on the summer reading list?  The PTA banning her books for high school consumption is not the answer I’m looking for. What makes the difference between a classic and a best seller?  Not all best sellers are classics and not all classics are best sellers.  Case in point, “Snookie” from Jersey Shore wrote a best seller that no one read and is in no danger of becoming a classic.

Is a good writer necessarily a good storyteller?  Can every good writer set a scene and draw out emotion through only the written word? Does every good writer spin a good tale that makes the book a page tuner? How many writers inspire people to read their whole book in one day?

I believe that given the opportunity both Will and Jackie would attend the conference, although  “Snookie” wouldn’t, to share their thoughts on what makes a good writer versus what makes a good storyteller.  Are the two totally separate, like Ms. Collins and Mr. Shakespeare who seem to live on different ends of the writing spectrum?  Or, do they meet somewhere in the middle?

5 Exercises For Your Write Brain

5 Exercises For Your Write Brain

by Lisa Heidrich

  As writers we are sometimes cooped up, prisoners to a keyboard and computer screen for hours… resulting in muscle stiffness, fatigue, decreased circulation and the possibility of other health issues. Prevention is easy if we keep the following in mind. Our bodies are engineered to move, crave refreshment, (washed, filled with good nutrients and water, moisturized and massaged) and require exercise (stimulate muscle growth, circulation and strength). Incorporating an EASY exercise program that fits into our writing schedule entails one decision,DO IT. Exercises for writers begin from the top down and here are a few suggestions to push you in the WRITE direction.

#1) POSTURE how is your body alignment as you sit at your favorite writing place?It is critical to insure proper body alignment and posture. Shoulders back, feet flat on the floor, knees at ninety degree angle, chest up and out. Take a deep breath in via the nose and count to 5, exhale through your mouth 5 seconds with eyes closed. Feel better? This breathing exercise expands your diaphragm, stimulates abdominal muscles, and rests your eyes. Lift your shoulders up toward your ears and hold for 10 seconds, release and repeat. Turn your head from side to side looking over each shoulder and hold for ten seconds, repeat keep stretching and rotating your neck and awakening every tense neck muscle.

#2) SMILE and hold. Did you know that exercising your facial muscles is important? Lift your eyebrows up and open your eyes WIDE and hold for 3 seconds, release and repeat. Pucker your lips as far out as you can then draw them back wide and over your teeth lifting your neck muscles, making an “OOO” and then “EEE” movement with your mouth repeat 10 times. No more wrinkles, just smile them away.

#3) LIFT your arms over your head and stretch fingers as far as you can reaching for the ceiling, hold for 5 seconds, repeat. Extend your arms out to the sides at shoulder level and make 8 big circles in a forward motion and 8 big circles in backward motion.

Rushing To Publish

Rushing To Publish

Advice to New Authors

By Craig Faris

So, you are writing your first novel. That's quite a goal and best of luck with it. You may be a natural at storytelling and technique, but most of us are not. If this is your first attempt at writing, my best advice is to set the novel aside and try your hand at short stories or something easier like poems, essays, or articles. Writing is a lot like singing… we all think we know what we are doing, and some of us might be pretty good at it, but like singing, writing takes practice. Lots and lots of practice!

If you have already completed a book or a short story and feel that you already have all the practice you need, don't rush to publish. Make sure you find a "professional" editor to go through it with a nit comb before you put it out there. Why? Because people will read it and they will find and point out all of those tiny errors that you missed. My biggest errors are missing words... not important words, just those little extra words like “a” or “of” or “is.” Nothing ruins your day like seeing all of your wonderful 5-stars reviews, spoiled by that nasty one-star review that points out all of our ignorance in grammar and spelling. Unfortunately those reviews are the one's people seem to read the most and remember.

Believe me when I say that I'm not trying to throw cold water on your writing efforts. By all means, we need to write more because practice makes perfect. I’m just speaking from my own experience, so perhaps you can avoid my mistakes.

The Perfect Pitch

The Perfect Pitch: Pitching to Agents at a Writing Conference

by Sue Fagalde Lick

Your heart pounds, your hands sweat, your knees shake on your way to what could be the most important meeting of your life: a 10-minute session with an agent or editor.
Is it worth the stress? Yes.
Many conferences allow writers to schedule short face-to-face meetings with agents and editors. It's a great opportunity to pitch one's book. It's also terribly nerve-wracking. After all, most of us are more effective on paper, and a bad meeting can ruin your chances with that person forever. But one successful meeting can make your book-publishing dreams come true. It can also save months of mailing queries and waiting for answers.
Preparation is the key. David Hale Smith of DHS Literary, Inc., attends six to eight conferences a year looking for "that one diamond in the rough." Smith urges writers to prepare a three-minute pitch in which they boil their project down to three to five sentences. Practice that pitch until you can deliver it smoothly. The whole point of the meeting is to get your writing read. You're not there to chat, make a new friend or list the problems you're having with your writing but to convince the agent to give it a look. "You're sitting there and the door's open."
Pitch sessions are obviously stressful. Smith admits he still gets nervous pitching books to editors, but he can handle his nerves because he is prepared. "Think of it as a business meeting," he says. "You're coming to a business meeting with a product." The writer must be able to describe his book clearly and briefly. If he can't, how is the agent going to describe it to an editor, who in turn has to pitch the book to his superiors and ultimately to the publisher's sales force, which has to pitch the book to the buyers?
Agent Jillian Manus, who spent several years as a development executive in the movie business, knows the importance of a pitch. She bought movie scripts solely on the basis of the writers' pitches, then turned around and pitched them to her production team. These days, the book publishing industry has also adopted the pitch as an essential sales tool. Writers who can't describe their work in four or five lines don't have a clear idea of what they are writing, Manus says.
For fiction, Manus suggests dividing the pitch into three points: the setup, hook and resolution. For nonfiction, the title should convey the main concept of the book. Explain what the book is about, why you are qualified to write it, who will read it and what you can do to promote it.

The Difference Between Bad Writers and Good Writers by Jeff Goins

The difference between good writers and bad writers has little to do with skill. It has to do with perseverance. Bad writers quit. Good writers keep going. That’s all there is to it.

Photo credit: Flickr (Creative Commons)

What good writers do

Good writers practice. They take time to write, crafting and editing a piece until it’s just right. They spend hours and days, just revising.

Good writers take criticism on the chin and say “thank you” to helpful feedback; they listen to both the external and internal voices that drive them. And they use it all to make their writing better.

They’re resigned to the fact that first drafts suck and that the true mark of a champion is a commitment to the craft. It’s not about writing in spurts of inspiration. It’s about doing the work, day-in and day-out.

Good writers can do this, because they believe in what they’re doing. They understand this is more than a profession or hobby. It’s a calling, a vocation.

Good writers aren’t perfectionists, but they’ve learned the discipline of shipping, of putting their work out there for the world to see.

Motivating Monday

What motivates you as a writer? Is it the people you come in contact with each day, or the lessons life teach you? or maybe it's the beauty of nature- the flowers in bloom or the rustling of the wind through the trees.

We are all motivated by something. What we choose to do with the motivation is the difference between the true writer and the procrastinator. Find your rhythm, don't be afraid to tap into it and move with it, just don't hear it and ignore it. Write, write and then write some more. Before you know it, you will have a page, before long, you will have a chapter, and if you really listen to the rhythm, you will have a book.

You never know what your words will do for someone who is just waiting to read them. Who knows, it could change a life.

What are you waiting for?

What are you afraid of?

As I continue to meet people on this writing journey, there are many who have great stories, great story ideas, but are afraid to move forward in the venture. So I ask the question, "What are you afraid of?"

We all have some degree of fear, that's part of being human I think but is it holding you back from success? As writers I believe we have to stop and assess ourselves from time to time on our progress. Does it do anyone any good if you have all these manuscripts and no one ever reads them?

You have to tell yourself daily that you have a voice and it matters. That's part of an affirmation we use in our monthly meetings. It is hard to be vulnerable to the world,or your audience, but sometimes we have to look fear in the face and in spite of it continue to persevere.

Four things to practice to overcome your fear of success in writing:

1.  Define it - Give it a name. Is it lack of self-esteem, fear of failure, self sabotage, etc. You can't deal with it if you don't know what it is.
2. Set a goal each day. Just one to start, then as you accomplish the goal add to it. You will eventually reach the ultimate goal.
3. Join a group of writers - You will get the support and encouragement you need to succeed.
4. Celebrate the Accomplishment- Whether it is completing your book, getting it edited, or even getting it published, you have overcome the thing that was holding you back to succeed.

We have to remember no man is an island. The more support you have on this journey, the more likely you are to succeed. At least once a year invest in yourself financially by attending a conference. You will get to see the fullness of it all when you do. It will encourage to dream bigger, be encouraged by others stories and their accomplishments.

The 2014 Queen City Writers Group's annual conference is scheduled for October 16th -18th. What better way to allay the fear than to get connected with a great group of writers.

What are you afraid of?

Are you writing everyday?

Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.
- Jane Yolen

Why Attend the 2014 Queen City Writers Group Conference?

Charlotte is the place to be this fall. The 2014 Annual conference is power packed and full of fun, excitement and more. 

If you are a writer looking to advance your career or just wanting to know more about the field of writing, then spend October 16th-18th with us at the Hilton Executive Park.

The highlight of this year's conference is our Keynote Speakers:  Robert Inman, Francene Marie, Cathy Pickens and Torry Martin.

We also will have the following:

1. Interactive workshops
2. Evening Bonus Features
3. Dinner and Awards Banquet
4. Breast Cancer Awareness and Fundraiser

And so much more!

Our early bird registration is going on now for $99.00.