June 14, 2005
A WriterOnLine Publication

My dearest readers,

It's summertime here in upstate New York – 92 degrees yesterday. And is the living easy?? That depends on your point of view.

I just got back from a week of wonderful, relaxing, luxurious vacation in Martha's Vineyard, MA. Every day – I got up when I wanted to, went to the beach and rested, read all sorts of great stuff, ate way too much, and succeeded in completely rejuvenating my spirit. This is the first summer vacation I've taken in more years than I can count, and though there is more work than I can possibly deal with this week, I remain in this rather Zen-like, one-step-at-a-time mode as I deal with the avalanche.

Summer is a funny time for writers. For those of us who are not so worried about income, it is a wonderful time for exploring new techniques and genres, or for making headway on that novel that's been languishing all winter. On the other hand, for those of us who must keep steady money coming in, summer can be a nightmare as many clients go on hold, or at least into major slowdown mode during the summer months when their own staffs are out on (paid) vacation. It's easy to say to take that down time and work on your writing, but it's hard to stay focused and motivated when you are panicked about from where the next check is going to come.

I've always been one of those for whom summer was a bummer, especially the last 5 years or so. The main reason for this is in addition to my own writing, I've been adjuncting at a couple of local colleges. Quite frankly, when you teach college, you work your butt off. Last year, spring semester, I taught two classes, tutored in the Writing Center, and mentored several internships, which when all added together came to a tidy little sum each week. But while working hard at school, I had no time to line up summer work. Suddenly, the semester ended, and I was left high and dry, with no income! Never, ever, ever again. Thank God, in spite of myself, some work came along, though barely enough to survive. We eked by until fall semester when I sought a better balance between adjunct and outside work. I learned a big lesson that summer, and that is to take care of yourself, especially your financial self, because if you don't, no one else is going to come along and drop money from the sky into your lap.

Speaking of adjuncting, are any of you out there interested in it? There are a couple of us on staff who do so, so let me know and we can put together an article for you on the pros, cons, and how-to's.

Last, don't forget about the following programs. Summer is certainly a good time to work on your writing, so consider either a course in the WriterOnline Learning Center or take advantage of our one-on-one Writers' Mentoring Service.

WRITERS' MENTORING SERVICE

Read more about it.

SUBSCRIBER INCENTIVE PROGRAM

Here's your chance to get a wonderfully delightful piece by Mark Twain free for recommending subscribers to WOL. Receive a copy of How To Sell a Story and Others when we get a new subscriber who you recommend. Instruct your writing friends, neighbors, and colleagues to send an email to editor@writer-on-line.com requesting to be added to our mailing list. And also tell them to be sure to include your name and email address.

LEARNING CENTER SUMMER SESSION

Remember – we are offering some great savings on our Learning Center courses for the months of June, July, and August. Sign up for any one course and save 10%, two courses – 15%, and three courses – 20%! What a way to spend the summer, brushing up on your writing skills or learning to do a kind of writing you've never done before. Go for it!

Read on, my friends, enjoy, and until next issue, keep that ink flowing and those keyboards a'clacking

My warm regards,
Mary Anne Donovan

P. S. Have you seen Writer Online Learning Center lately? Just like here at WOL, the Learning Center has a whole new look, not to mention a new name. We have 25 courses, covering a broad range of interests and subject matter. New to the line up is Fiction Know-How, taught by Deborah Sutton. Check out the course description. Another cool course is Writing Poetry Inspired by Landscape or Place, taught by Jodi Rowland. Then, on the other end of the spectrum, check out Digital Communication Methods and Introduction to Technical Writing taught by yours truly.

IN THIS ISSUE

 

Gearing up for vacation?  If you’re planning to take a few days to get away, yet you’re worried about that lack of income, make sure you read “Travel Writing: From a Bloggin' Byline to a Payin' Byline” by Roy A. Barnesfor some tips on turning a leisurely vacation into a golden Mecca. 

In case you are working hard to make it through those long, dry summer months, Peter Bowerman offers some insight on how to “brand” yourself so offers keep flowing your way in “THE BASICS OF “BRANDING” Discover Why Clients Keep Hiring You and Build Your Brand!”

If you’re aching for something to quench your thirst in Summer’s heat, the images and fluid language used by Wanda Schubmehl in her poems, will surely refresh and revive you. 

Susan Nickerson in “WHITE PETALS” and William Starr Moake “In the Torrid Zone” craft unique character voices throughout their short stories. 

It’s raining . . . it’s pouring.  It’s pouring showers and showers of weddings, that is.   Pamela Beers speaks out against Summer-time showers in “The Curmudgeon Speaks: Summer Showers: The Dreaded Wedding Variety.”

Have you wondered what it would be like to be wanted?  Wanted . . . by the police?  If so, then this is your chance to tell all in this issues contest, What If. 

Tried of thinking about exercising?  Well this issue’s Puzzle offers a different style of exercise: using the left brain. 

Make sure to read the News by Shelley Bueche to cure your case of the Summer-time Blues. 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SAVINGS: LEARNING CENTER SUMMER SESSION

They're back! Those infamous lazy, hazy days when many of us writers tend to languish on our front porches sipping mint juleps and scratching at mosquito bites. Instead, this summer, swat those mosquitoes, switch to iced tea, and hone your writing skills with a course (or two, or three) from the WriterOnline Learning Center. And take advantage of our special Summer Session pricing:

• Take 1 course, save 10%

• Take 2 courses, save 15%

• Take 3 courses save 20%

Decide which courses you want to take, and we'll be back with sign up details in our next issue!

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Let us guide you on your writing path

We have a cadre of wonderful writers and teachers who are available to work with you whatever your writing need or problem. If you need advice on what direction to take your writing, we can help. If you have a manuscript that needs a good edit, we can help. If you need someone to brainstorm article ideas with, we can help. And if you have any other issue with your writing, we can help.

Contact us with a description of your need and desired service. We will then contact you so we can find the person who will best suit your needs. The cost of our service is $35 per hour. For more information email editor@writer-on-line.com

Contest

 

What If?

As writers, we dread this time of year. This is the time of year we all have to face the dreaded summer work slump. Instead of pulling your hair out or throwing your computer out the window, try this. Read more

Puzzle

 

Exercising the Left Brain

One of the ways to beat the summer slumps is to get the left brain in gear, and you can do that with a Soduko. These puzzles are really hot, so we thought we'd get away from the words for one issue, and give you a crack at one. Read more

News

By Shelley Bueche

Fiction—A Thing of the Past?

Cause There Ain’t No Cure for the Summertime Blues

With Literary Lemons You Get Lemon Aid

Beware, Authorgeddon is Coming!