Chicken Soup for the Soul - Seeking Submissions

Calling all writers!

A friend of mine and kick-ass 20-something author, Christine Hassler, is seeking submissions for her Chicken Soup for the 20-Something Soul book. It's a great opportunity to share a story/lesson from your 20's, get a pub credit and make a couple hundred bucks off of your life. Not bad, right? I definitely recommend you send in a story. Check out the guidelines below. Oh and be sure to let Christine know that Heather sent you. :)

Guidelines for a Chicken Soup for the Soul^® Story
1. Tell an exciting, sad or funny story about something that has happened to you or someone you know in 300-1200 words. Make sure that you introduce the character(s).

2. Tell your story in a way that will make the reader cry, laugh or get goose bumps (the good kind!) Don’t leave anything out — how did you feel?

3. The story should start with action; it should include a problem, issue or situation. It should include dialogue and the character should express their feelings though the conflict or situation. It should end in a result, such as a lesson learned, a positive change or pay-off.

4. Above all, let it come from your HEART! Your story is important!

Story Specifications
1. It is preferred that all submissions are sent via our website at www.chickensoup.com. To prepare your inner author, go to www.chickensoup.com and read the story guidelines there.
2. Think of your awesome, incredible, tear-jerker, laugh out loud, tug at the heartstrings, message with passion, coincidental, life lesson, or just really juicy story.
3. Write your non-fiction story – approximate word limit is 300-1200 words (but I’ll edit it for you so don’t worry about being exact!)
4. Go to www.chickensoup.com, click on “Submit a Story” and be sure to select Twenty Something as the book title. Fill out the info and just paste your story in the appropriate box.
5. No anonymous or author unknown submissions please.
6. Submit only one copy of each submission.
7. We do acknowledge all submissions, but you will be notified if yours is selected.
8. DEADLINE January 15th!!!

Please contact Christine directly at christine@christinehassler.com with any questions.

Happy Submitting!
Heather :)

Thanksgiving Wishes!

Happy early Thanksgiving to all of you in the blogosphere!

While Thanksgiving is a fabulous time to stuff yourself silly, it's also, more importantly a time to stop and appreciate all of the wonderful opportunities and people in our lives.

Have you made your Thanks-giving list yet?! If not, I encourage you to do so. It's a great way to start any day and puts you in alignment with attracting more fabulous assignments and editors/clients.

Here's my Thanks-list (in random order of appreciation):

-My cat, Beatrice - she keeps me entertained throughout the day.
-Jennifer Powers - a great business partner who I can bounce any challenge off of.
-Heather - a fabulous soul friend who I am so grateful to know!
-Jessie - editor at DDI Magazine. An editor who really gets it and keeps me laughing.
-All of the awesome editors/assignments I'm currently working with/on. You rock!
-My agent who has diligently sent my proposal to dozens of publishers - who will soon be fighting over me, offering up the best book deal ever. :)
-My writing. It has been there for me through it all and I am so grateful to have it as a gift.
-Anatomy of the Spirit/Health Intuition - Caroline Myss & Karen Grace Kassy inspire me to tap into that place within me where I just know.
-All of the yummy food I get to eat, even with food intolerances.
-Feng Shui (10K Blessings is the Best!) and all of the abundance it brings.
-Portland, Ore. - The best place on earth to live.
-Lynnette - coolest friend ever and a fabulous travel buddy!
-Jim - For always making me laugh.
-Amanda - The best sis' a girl could ask for.

I could keep going, but I'm sure I would bore you all to tears. Anyway, you get the point.
Please be sure to share your thanks list.

With love and wishes for a truly abundant Thanksgiving!
Heather

Wordstock: Writer Heaven

For those of you that made it to Wordstock in Portland, Ore. this weekend, you already know - it rocked. The house. I spent a luxurious few hours there on Saturday and was inspired and impressed. Here are some of the goodies I uncovered:

-Kathleen Flinn has my dream life. This amazing writer was laid from her corporate job and, instead of languishing in a pool of self pity, transformed it into following her dream. She moved to Paris, studied at Le Cordon Bleu and then wrote a book about it. LOVE it. Her passion for food and writing is captivating. You'll fall in love with The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry.

-Less really IS more. I caught the tail end of the Magazine Writing panel, perfectly poised to hear the words that I needed from Peggy Orenstein, when she encouraged writers who are not based in New York (with access to editors of major pub's) to focus on a few target publications and form relationships with those editors. Yes! I've had this very thought multiple times, but her words reminded me that a haphazard query approach is a waste of time. Yay Peggy!

-Oregon Humanities - lovely literary journal.

-University of Oregon's Turnball Portland Center is working on a Masters in Journalism program to be released in the very near future.

-Simon Fraser University in gorgeous British Columbia offers Summer Publishing Workshops on book proposals, editing, cover design, as well as magazine and software topics. Another reason to visit the fabulous B.C.

-VoiceCatcher 2007 is out! And the submission deadline for the 2008 book is March 31st.

Did you attend Wordstock or have pearls of wisdom from a writing event somewhere else in this glorious world? Would love to hear all about it - post your comments right here!

-Heather :)

Take an Artist Date

Being a self-employed writer means you have the joy of making your own schedule, wearing whatever you want, only taking assignments that you enjoy and working from home. It also means you often don't turn off your computer until 10pm, only to wake up at 2am thinking about work.

While I don't advocate working 24/7, often, it can happen before you know it. And then, again, before you know it, you're struggling to write even the simplest of pieces, convinced that your creativity has left, never to return.

Thus, the importance of artist dates. I first learned about them in Julia Cameron's amazing book (which if you haven't read, you must do so soon!), The Artist's Way.

An artist date is your time to get in touch with your creativity, in whatever way you would like. For me, this translated into seeing the racy play, Cabaret, starring Portland's Storm Large, going to watch Jim Gaffigan perform (hilarious comedian - a must-see!), reading trashy tabloids at Barnes & Noble and window shopping at a variety of high-priced retailers.

So, as you can see, an artist's date is simply taking time out for whatever inspires you. Even if it's only for a brief amount of time - like the 15 minutes I spent reading about Britney Spears latest drama or browsing through aisles of five-inch stiletto heels. I then return to my computer - refreshed, excited and with plenty to say.

Do you have a favorite artist date? Do tell!
With love,
Heather