Pens of Praise Christian Writers Agenda for February, March, & April

GOALS AND ORGANIZATION -TIME IN A BIND?
GOALS – What is your target for success?
Susan Fink did a wonderful presentation on Writing Goals in February. She gave us handouts and inspired all who attended the meeting! Thank you Susan Fink!

Research Resources & Your Library by Susan M. Menk, Youth Librarian 
 
Speaker Susan M. Menk, Youth Librarian from Manitowoc Public Library taught “Research Resources @ Your Library.” This expertise is useful for sharpening the validity and accuracy of whatever we write, be it historical, contemporary, non-fiction, or fiction. Our libraries are true resources that will be valuable for us to make use of!

Prompt: “One cozy character!”  What type of cozy murder mystery character would you wish to read about? Yes, you may write a blurb or scene for this prompt if you like.
Bring your WIP (work in progress) to share a five-minute read. We are a safe place to share and grow. 

Pens Novel Readers: Susan Marlene is putting together a group email for those who want to join in picking novels and discussion meetings. (We want to respect those who are too busy or who are uninterested in a reader’s group.)

GOALS AND ORGANIZATION -TIME IN A BIND Continued by Susan Marlene
ORGANIZATION – Does it really matter? At what cost? 
 
CISION PR NEWSWIRE: Lost & Found: The average American spends 2.5 days each year looking for lost items collectively costing U.S. Households $2.7 billion annually in replacement costs. (Millennials {40 - 28} are the biggest losers being twice as likely as boomers to misplace possessions.)

The average American will waste more than a year over a lifetime looking for something to watch on TV. By Ashley Rodriguez Nov. 6, 2016 (23 minutes per day flipping channels.)
Time is precious. The information above may vary per person significantly, yet the point is made concerning lost time.  How many of us keep our records filed concerning expenditures and where you send articles? Knowing where we have information stored will minimize wasted time, so you can be more productive with those gems called minutes, hours, and days. I know I’ve been meaning to improve in this area and have made only a half-hearted attempt until now.

FILES BY THE MILES:
What are excellent items to file? If you wish to build your writing business so that it flows like a well-oiled machine file—millage, expenses—materials and conferences costs and mailings, research, historical research, where you submitted articles, short stories and or manuscripts etc., as well as confirmation of acceptance and rejection information. Contracts. Contact information per item and dates submitted and also when or if that piece is free to resubmit. An excellent time saver on the computer could be Excel –the date that would alert you to when your work is available to resubmit. Conditional Formatting. 

WHAT AMOUNT OF TIME IS NEEDED TO ORGANIZE:  Most of you may have a half-hearted start to organizing your writing information. I personally took a day and worked on my book shelves. One shelf for writing information and how-to, one section for Bible study and another for Civil War. The next book case is for research books of a variety of subjects with upper shelves being used specifically for Revolutionary War topics and memorabilia. I also purchased a magazine holder where I put like magazines together.
My file organization was started, but need a ‘do-over’ to work efficiently. It took me one hour to organize and add files that I needed and take out the ones that didn’t logically belong there. This will especially be excellent for tax time information gathering. (Expenses and money made.)
CORKBOARD – Pin up your plotting info and inspiring or research photos and anything else that can assist your productivity. You can keep it on an easel or slip it behind a piece of furniture when not in use—your choice. Its usefulness is limited only by your imagination.

KNOWING WHO TO PURSUE: Don’t wait for the last minute to choose an agent, editor, or publishing editor. Take a bit of time each week or month to look into who sells your genre. Keep a watch over them. Jot down what would work or not work with each one. Join their social media or email list. Check the acknowledgements to see who is appreciated in your chosen genre? (If you write similar to time period and style with an author who praises their agent and editor—you may wish to look elsewhere. This may be a conflict of interests for that agent or editor to have two authors so alike in genre to represent.

SUGGESTED ORGANIZATION I’M TRYING:

• Portable file organizer – This helps with the notes I’ve taken at conferences and from WEBNARS on legal pads. Usually, I’ve lost notes from conferences and teachings posthaste, but now I can sort them by subject immediately and efficiently.
• Keep like subjects together–Label with brief, easily read, and understood titles.
• Keep small notebook handy for ideas. (Journal books work well or hard back notebooks with binding elastic. Anything that protects the pages from ripping or folding.)
• Place information you need inside the labeled file ASAP. The sooner the better!
• Three ring binders with divider tabs and clear sleeves.
  

ORGANIZING CHARACTER INFO: Have you ever read about or even wrote a character into a story where somehow the hair, name, eye color, or age changes? This is distracting for the reader and kills believability and trust for that story and the authors future labors. Here are some record keeping suggestions…

• Recipe holder with recipe cards with character by character or location information.
• Make a file chart in your computer with character descriptions: physical appearance, temperament, talents, goals, weaknesses, love language or anything else important.
• < >https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview  I’ve heard great reviews and some criticisms about Scrivener. This is an ‘all together’ organizing tool, which is reasonably priced. $45.00. You are allowed a 30-day free trial. File, recipe card system, to note sources and information about the research you acquired for your piece. (Yes, agents and editors do require your sources.)
  
• Anyone that you quote—the legal amount of words and individuals quoted. It is the law.