ReBlogs via Indies Unlimited: Almost Everything You Need to Know about ISBNs

Are you considering self-publishing your book? 

Laurie Boris, a freelance writer and indie author, is a regular contributor to IndiesUnlimited.com and she recently discussed the how-to's and what-for's about ISBNs.




One of the most frequent questions I’ve heard lately from self-publishing authors is about ISBNs. Do you really need them? Do you really need to buy them? What are the pros and cons of buying an ISBN versus using the free or inexpensive ones offered by CreateSpace, BookBaby, Smashwords, and other online partners? Let’s see if we can clear that up some.

First, a little background

ISBN stands for “International Standard Book Number.” Early iterations began in the 1960s as a system for booksellers to better organize and track their inventory. Books published before 2007 have ten digits in their ISBNs. Books published after January 1, 2007 have thirteen digits.


Read the remainder of Laurie's article.

Reblogs: The Writer's Circle: 5 Famous Authors and Their Strange Writing Rituals

(This article by Stephanie Ostroff originally appeared on The Writer's Circle.)

Routines keep us focused when we start drifting off course. They snap us back to reality and remind us that yes, we can do this. The words will come to us. Turning to a familiar writing ritual can help us find balance. Most authors have that one thing they do, even subconsciously, that sets the tone for a solid writing session.

Sometimes it’s as simple as creating the right lighting in a room or hearing songs from a favorite album. It’s the difference between churning out pages of your best work and wasting an afternoon staring at a blinking cursor.

At times, these rituals are taken to an extreme. Some of history’s most celebrated authors swore by unusual and bizarre rituals. It’s possible we owe many great pieces of literature to the fact that they were so meticulous in maintaining these strange habits.

In honor of the writers who embrace their quirky routines, the Writer’s Circle is highlighting a few of the oddest rituals practiced by famous authors:

1. JAMES JOYCE

Crayons, a white coat, and a comfy horizontal surface. These were Joyce’s essentials. The author of Ulysses found his words flowed better while lying flat on his stomach in bed. Since he was severely myopic, crayons enabled Joyce to see his own handwriting more clearly, and the white coat served as a reflector for light onto the pages.

2. MAYA ANGELOU

Most writers can’t afford to check into a hotel when the urge to scribble hits, but for Angelou, it’s the key to great writing. In the wee hours of the morning she’ll book herself a room with a special request: all distracting wall décor must vanish. Armed with a bottle of sherry, a deck of cards, some legal pads, a thesaurus and the Bible, she’s spent hours crafting prose in this carefully constructed environment stripped of almost all inspiration.

3. TRUMAN CAPOTE

The creative genius behind In Cold Blood, Capote was a superstitious man. His writing rituals often involved avoiding particular things. Namely, hotel rooms with phone numbers including “13,” starting or ending a piece of work on a Friday, and tossing more than three cigarette butts in one ashtray.

Read the remainder of Stephanie's article.

One for the Money, Two for the Show, Three to get Read, and Four to go, go go to SWA

Time is pushing forward. Slackers will fall behind. Don't be like THOSE kind of writers. Join SWA for the June workshop.

Register HERE

What do you get for your money when you 

sign up for  

SWA's 40th Annual Workshop 

June 19-23, 2015 

at Epworth by the Sea on scenic St. Simons Island, Georgia? 

One: Full conference tuition includes entry to all sessions, 3 FREE manuscript evaluations with one-on-one feedback from our faculty, and access to an agent and two publishers.

Two: A total of 15 contests with CASH PRIZES! 

The Awards Ceremony is June 23.

Three: An educational experience that will enhance your career with this faculty:

Agent-in-Residence: Sorche Fairbank – Fairbank Literary Representation - http://www.fairbankliterary.com/ 

Publisher: Maria McGaha – Dancing with Bear - http://www.dancingwithbearpublishing.com/

Publisher: CreateSpace - https://www.createspace.com/

Novel: C. Hope Clark - http://chopeclark.com/

Nonfiction: Don Vaughn – http://www.donaldvaughan.net

Poetry & Flash Fiction: Chris Tusa - http://christophertusa.net/wp/

Young Adult: S.R. (Shelli) Johannes - http://www.srjohannes.com/

Columns: Darrell Huckaby - http://www.darrellhuckaby.net/

Memoir: Dana Wildesmith - http://www.danawildsmith.com/

Four: Networking with a group of respected authors, poets, writers of all genres, agents and publishers. The impact on your career? Priceless!

It's your time to grow and shine!

One for the Money--Cash prizes for contests

Two for show--win awards for showing off your writing. 

Three to get ready--Register NOW

and 

Four to go, go, go!--Reach a higher level of craft by investing in yourself. The results are priceless!

Follow the path to Publication

The path to publication is a journey of many steps. A marathon, not a sprint. 

What can you do to ensure you're on the right path? 

Invest in yourself. 

Southeastern Writers Association is the perfect ticket to help you reach your destination. 

Want proof? 

Meet H.W. “Buzz” Bernard

Award-winning Author 

and SWA board member. 

This is Buzz's story journey with SWA: 

2005: first workshop; Buzz’s novel, The Koltsovo Legacy, is sliced and diced rather severely by international, best-selling author Steve Berry.

2007: Buzz’s novel, Eyewall, wins Honorable Mention.

2008: Eyewall (rewritten) wins First Place.

2010: The Koltsovo Legacy (rewritten) wins First Place; Buzz signs a contract with Sullivan-Maxx Literary Agency.

2011: Eyewall is published by Bell Bridge Books, goes on to become a number-one best seller in Amazon's Kindle store; Buzz joins SWA Board of Directors.

2012: Plague (formerly The Koltsovo Legacy) is published by Bell Bridge Books, goes on to win the 2014 EPIC eBook Award, Suspense/Thriller category.

2013: Supercell (Buzz’s third novel) is published by Bell Bridge Books, goes on to win the 2015 EPIC eBook Award, Suspense/Thriller category.


2015: Blizzard (Buzz’s fourth novel) is published by Bell Bridge Books; he continues work on my fifth novel.

Buzz is dedicated in his service to SWA and bringing writers quality educational opportunities. 

There are many success stories of SWA members and you could be one, too. 

Register now! Click Here. 

What do you get for the price of admission? 

Contests that pay money. Critiques. Networking. Plus, direct interaction with two publishers--  

Publisher: Maria McGaha – Dancing with Bear 

Publisher: CreateSpace 

An agent: Agent-in-Residence: Sorche Fairbank 

of Fairbank Literary Representation 

A well-rounded faculty for all your writing needs: 

Novel Writing: C. Hope Clark 

Nonfiction: Don Vaughn 

Poetry & Flash Fiction: Chris Tusa 

Young Adult: S.R. (Shelli) Johannes 

Columns: Darrell Huckaby 

Memoir: Dana Wildesmith 

AND there's more! Scholarships!

★☆★ WRITERS ★☆★

Win one of two scholarships to the SWA Writers Workshop!

SWA is offering two scholarships. 

One for the Fiction mini-workshop (June 20-21) and one for the Non-Fiction mini-workshop (June 22-23)

Just submit a 300-word essay on why you should be selected to attend the Fiction mini-workshop or the Nonfiction mini-workshop. You MUST state which mini-workshop

you want to attend.

The entry deadline is midnight on April 15th. The scholarship pays for tuition only. 

Please email your entry to DebraAyersBrown@gmail.com with a subject line

of SWA Fiction Scholarship or SWA Nonfiction Scholarship.

Want to know more? 

Check out SWA on Facebook

and on Twitter. 

Will we see you at SWA in June?  

Quiz time! And Connections for YOU!

Hey there! 

2015 is moving so fast. The SWA workshop will be here before we know it. Are you ready?

Quiz Time!

First question: How can you win a scholarship to the SWA 40th Anniversary Writers Association Workshop? 

To start things off on a good note, here's the answer to that question:

Submit a 300-word essay on why you should be selected to attend the Fiction

mini-workshop or the Nonfiction mini-workshop. You MUST state which mini-workshop

you want to attend--Fiction mini-workshop (June 20-21) 

or the Non-Fiction mini-workshop (June 22-23)

The entry deadline is midnight on April 15th. The scholarship pays for tuition

only. Please email your entry to DebraAyersBrown@gmail.com with a subject line

of SWA Fiction Scholarship or SWA Nonfiction Scholarship.

Are you ready? Take the quiz and let’s see!

 What is the deadline date to ENTER TO WIN a scholarship to the fiction or nonfiction portion of the workshop?

How many manuscripts of yours can be submitted for FREE for critique after you register for the workshop?

What contests that pay MONEY are open for entries? 

Name as many faculty members for 2015 as you are able.

What is the name of the beautiful island where the workshop is held? 

This is an open-book quiz. Here’s where to find the answers: 

Contests

Manuscripts Evaluations

Faulty

Registration 

Lodging

Investing in your craft and your career will give you the inspiration, support, and knowledge to keep on the path of writing success. Who knows better than another writer the pitfalls, potholes, and even sink holes along the way? Other writers. Connecting with other writer is an enjoyable part of a writer's journey. 

                                                     

Check out SWA on Twitter

Southeastern Writers

@SWAwriters

OR on FACEBOOK  

One of the best things about SWA? You learn and grow in your craft, which leads to success! Every week, we share our member's success. 

SWA Members SHINE!

Patrick Hempfing’s moMENts column titled “Leprechauns, Pots of Gold, and Clovers” was published in the March issue of eleven regional parenting magazines, spanning seven states (NY, OH, NC, SC, TX, ID, and CA).  About Families (PA), South Florida Parenting, and four newspapers (Capital Gazette, Carroll County Times, Orlando Sentinel, and Sun Sentinel) published “Happy Reading.”  His moMENts column has now reached 20 states and two Canadian provinces.

We hope to see you at the SWA workshop in June!

Don't miss this opportunity! Scholarship Deadline closing in fast!

APRIL 15th! It's more than a tax deadline. 

It's also the deadline for scholarship entries! 

★☆★ WRITERS ★☆★

Win one of two scholarships to the SWA Writers Workshop!

SWA is offering two scholarships. One for the Fiction mini-workshop (June 20-21)

and one for the Non-Fiction mini-workshop (June 22-23)

Just submit a 300-word essay on why you should be selected to attend the Fiction

mini-workshop or the Nonfiction mini-workshop. You MUST state which miniworkshop

you want to attend.

The entry deadline is midnight on April 15th. The scholarship pays for tuition

only. Please email your entry to DebraAyersBrown@gmail.com with a subject line

of SWA Fiction Scholarship or SWA Nonfiction Scholarship.

JOIN US FOR the 40th SWA Writers Workshop!

Register here: http://southeasternwriters.org/Writers_Workshop.html

Faculty for 2015

Agent-in-Residence: Sorche Fairbank – Fairbank Literary Representation - http://www.fairbankliterary.com/

Publisher: Maria McGaha – Dancing with Bear - http://www.dancingwithbearpublishing.com/

Publisher: CreateSpace - https://www.createspace.com/

Novel: C. Hope Clark - http://chopeclark.com/

Nonfiction: Don Vaughn – http://www.donaldvaughan.net

Poetry & Flash Fiction: Chris Tusa - http://christophertusa.net/wp/

Young Adult: S.R. (Shelli) Johannes - http://www.srjohannes.com/

Columns: Darrell Huckaby - http://www.darrellhuckaby.net/

Memoir: Dana Wildesmith - http://www.danawildsmith.com/

SWA Members SHINE!

Buzz Bernard's newest book is making headlines! Here's an excerpt from Buzz's blog: 

SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN WOLVES

There are no wolves in the southern Appalachians.  There probably haven’t been in over a century.

They do, however, make a guest appearance in my most recent novel, Blizzard.  In the book, I think I adequately explain their presence.  What’s more interesting, perhaps, is how the animals made their way into the story in the first place.

It started in Germany. 

Read more here: http://buzzbernard.com/2015/03/southern-appalachian-wolves/ 

Also, 

Southeastern Writers Association vice president, Buzz Bernard, has won his second "Eppie." SUPERCELL is the winner of the 2015 EPIC eBook Award, Suspense/Thriller category.  Buzz's novel PLAGUE won in the same category last year.

Buzz Bernard, author EYEWALL, PLAGUE, SUPERCELL, BLIZZARD

Don't forget to send in your scholarship submission!

Commitment * Contest * Critique

What's in it for you when you register for 

the Southeastern Writers Association Workshop? 

Your commitment buys you Contest opportunities and Critiques. 

2015 SWA Workshop Contests & Guidelines 

Full information here: Contests

The Hal Bernard Memorial Award for Novel

- The first 10 pages (double-spaced)

- 1-page synopsis

- 1-paragraph "elevator pitch."

- Any genre, literary or mainstream

The Past Presidents’ Romance Award

- The first chapter and a five-page synopsis

- Romance novels only

The GT Youngblood Short Fiction Award

- Complete manuscript not over 3000 words

- Any genre, literary or mainstream

The Microcosm Award

- Fiction of at least 100 and not more than 500 words

The Vega Award for Speculative Short Fiction NEW

- Complete manuscript not over 4000 words.

- Stand-alone novel chapters also accepted

Lines of Worth Award

(in honor of Dorothy Williamson Worth and all she did to encourage poets at SWA)

- Each entry should be a collection of three poems, each up to thirty lines, not

including the title.

- Awards will be made to collections.

The Harry Rubin Award for Limericks NEW

- Submit 3 Limericks in standard form

The Julie L. Cannon Award

- Writing which exemplifies the southern spirit preferably in a subtle, nuanced, and

non-stereotypical manner

- 1,000 words or less

- Fiction or nonfiction, NO poetry

The Bill Westhead Memorial Award

- Complete manuscript not over 3000 words

- For the best short story with a subject matter of an event occurring during the

writer's childhood that shaped his/her life.

And about the Critiques: 

For Full information, click critiques.

Guidelines for Manuscript Evaluations (Authors must be registered for at least 2 days to submit manuscripts for evaluation.) 

GENERAL 

1. There are 7 evaluation categories: 

• Poetry (Evaluator: Chris Tusa) - No more than 100 lines (one long poem or several short poems) - Poetry can be single-spaced 

• Novel (Evaluator: C. Hope Clark) - The first chapter and a five-page synopsis 

• Flash Fiction (Evaluator: Chris Tusa) - Complete manuscript of at least 100 and not more than 500 words 

• Nonfiction (Evaluator: Donald S Vaughan) - The first chapter and a five-page synopsis –OR– Complete manuscript not over 1500 words 

• Columns (Evaluator: Darrell Huckaby) - A 1-paragraph description of the column, including the intended media and the target audience, and a 750-word sample column manuscript. 

• Memoir (Evaluator: Dana Wildsmith) - The first chapter and a three-page synopsis 

• YA Fiction (Evaluator: SR Johannes) - The first chapter and a five-page synopsis 

2. Each conference member can submit up to 3 manuscripts for evaluation, but ONLY 1 entry per member per evaluation category. 

3. Each manuscript may be submitted to ONLY 1 evaluation category. 

4. Manuscripts must be submitted by EMAIL ONLY. 

5. The submission DEADLINE IS May 15, 2015. NO extensions. 

6. Manuscripts must be previously unpublished, including cell publication, Web publication and blogs. If your work is openly available to readers online on a blog or article directory (i.e.: ezinearticles.com, gather.com, associatedcontent.com), it is considered PUBLISHED. If your manuscript has been critiqued online through membership website that requires members to login to see the work, it is considered UNPUBLISHED. 

7. Simultaneous submissions are OK.

Faulty for 2015

Agent-in-Residence: Sorche Fairbank – Fairbank Literary Representation 

Publisher: Maria McGaha – Dancing with Bear 

Publisher: CreateSpace 

Novel: C. Hope Clark 

Nonfiction: Don Vaughn 

Poetry & Flash Fiction: Chris Tusa 

Young Adult: S.R. (Shelli) Johannes 

Columns: Darrell Huckaby 

Memoir: Dana Wildesmith 

This week we are featuring author S.R. (Shelli) Johannes

S.R. is the award-winning author of the Amazon bestselling Nature of Grace thriller series (Untraceable, Uncontrollable, and Unstoppable). She also is a winner of the IndieReader Discovery Award in YA, an IPPY, a Silver Medalist for YA Fiction, a Finalist in The Kindle Book Review's Best Young Adult Fiction, and a Finalist in US Book News Best YA Book. Since leaving Corporate America, she has followed her passion for writing and conservation by working with The Dolphin Project, the Atlanta Zoo, other animal rescue organizations, and by weaving conservation themes into her books. S.R. will teach 3 classes about a YA fiction and evaluate YA fiction manuscripts.

Connect with S.R. Johannes here: S.R. Johannes

SWA Members Shine

Patrick Hempfing had five moMENts  columns (February column Tails of Love and four different reprints) published in the February issue of 13 regional parenting magazines and as a web exclusive for 2 others, spanning 10 states— NY, PA, NC, TN, SC, FL, TX, ID, UT, and CA. 

Erika Hoffman’s article entitled “Why Mindfulness Matters” will be published in the winter 2015-2016 edition of Mature Years.

Information

Roswell Reads 2015: The Distance Between Us

The Roswell Library, a part of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System, The City of Roswell, the Friends of the Roswell Library and the Roswell Reads Committee announce that the novel The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande has been chosen for the Tenth annual Roswell Reads Community Read program. The award-winning author will talk about this book and her writing at the Roswell Reads Literary Luncheon on Saturday, March 14, 2015, at 11:30 a.m. at the Roswell Adult Recreation Center, 830 Grimes Bridge Road, 770-641-3950. 

Luncheon tickets are $20 each and are available online at  http://roswellreads.eventbrite.com or may be purchased in person (no mail-ins) at the Friends of the Roswell Library Bookstore at the Roswell Library. Reserved seating for groups of six or more. 

****Purchase Tickets by Friday, March 6th****  

Will you be ready? Set? Go!

Only 17 weeks until the best writing workshop in the southeast!

Registration is now OPEN. Click HERE

Keep up with all the latest news through the Purple Pros. New information comes weekly, every Wednesday.

Southeastern Writers Association presents a wonderful faculty for the 40th Ruby Anniversary. There's something for every genre of writer.

The weekend workshop (June 20-21) is dedicated to fiction writing. The weekday workshop (June 22-23) is focused on nonfiction writing.

Full conference tuition includes entry to all sessions, 3 FREE manuscript evaluations with one-on-one feedback from our faculty, and access to an agent and two publishers.

Lodging is available at a group rate at Epworth By The Sea. Epworth is on the American Plan, which includes all meals. Make your reservations HERE or contact Epworth By The Sea, 100 Arthur J Moore Drive, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522, (912) 638-8688 and mention you’re with Southeastern Writers.

Plus 

15 contests with CASH PRIZES!  AND   An Awards Ceremony on June 23.

Already published and want to sell your work during our conference? Register then email us and our bookstore manager will help you set that up!

Here's the faculty list for your perusal. 

Agent-in-Residence: Sorche Fairbank – Fairbank Literary Representation 

Publisher: Maria McGaha – Dancing with Bear 

Publisher: CreateSpace 

Novel: C. Hope Clark 

Nonfiction: Don Vaughn 

Poetry & Flash Fiction: Chris Tusa 

Young Adult: S.R. (Shelli) Johannes 

Columns: Darrell Huckaby 

Memoir: Dana Wildesmith 

This week, we're featuring Chris Tusa. He's teaching Poetry and Flash Fiction.

Chris Tusa was born and raised in New Orleans. He holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Florida. 

His debut novel, Dirty Little Angels, was published by The University of West Alabama in March of 2009. His debut collection of poems, Haunted Bones, was published by Louisiana Literature Press in 2006. His work has appeared in Prairie Schooner, Connecticut Review, New South, Texas Review, The Southeast Review, New Delta Review, South Dakota Review and others. His second novel, In the City of Falling Stars, which was recently awarded First Runner-Up for the Faulkner Wisdom Novel-in-Progress Award, will be released by the University of West Alabama in 2015. 

Aside from acting as Managing Editor of Fiction Southeast, Tusa divides his time between teaching full-time in the English Department at LSU and acting as Writer-in-Residence at Southeastern Louisiana University. He is currently working on his fourth book, a novel set in New Orleans in 1898, tentatively titled More Devils Than Hell Can Hold. 

Want to know more about Chris? Check out his website: http://christophertusa.net/wp/  

DON'T Forget: Scholarships available!

This year, Southeastern Writers Association is offering 2 scholarships for the summer workshop. How might you win? 

Submit a 300-word essay on why you should be selected to attend the fiction writing sessions on June 19-21 or the nonfiction writing sessions on June 21-23. Be creative. Show your personality. 

The entry deadline is midnight on April 15th 

Please note: 

The scholarship pays for tuition only. The scholarship recipient will be responsible for their accommodations. 

Please email your entries to DebraAyersBrown@gmail.com with a subject line of SWA Fiction Scholarship or SWA Nonfiction Scholarship. Good luck!

 

  SWA Members SHINE! 

THERE’S A BLIZZARD COMING!  

Please join best-selling, award winning author Buzz Bernard for the launch of his fourth novel, BLIZZARD, on March 7th, 3 p. m., at the Country Club of Roswell. 

Everyone laughs at what Southerners call a “snowstorm.” A half-inch

of the white stuff, and Atlanta panics. 

No oneʼs laughing this time. 

For Atlanta executive J. C. Riggins, the epic storm is only one of the

killers heʼll have to face as he undertakes a desperate journey.

(The event will be hosted by Buzz Bernard with books supplied by BOOKS For Less and George Scott. The Country Club of Roswell is located at 2500 Club Springs Drive in Roswell. Since it’s currently undergoing remodeling, please enter at the far right of the main building.)

Don't forget to sign up for the newsletter to get ALL the news from SWA delivered right to you! 

Exciting Member News!

One of our very own amazing writers, Lola Schaefer, was just featured on Kate Messner's Blog as part of her Mini-Lesson Monday series. Lola provides some extremely valuable information regarding non-fiction leads and how to draw readers in with catchy, well-written leads. For more information and to read the blog post, click here for a direct link.

Congratulations, Lola! We'll definitely be putting your lessons to good use.

Lola Schaefer is the author of several non-fiction books, including Just One Bite and Lifetime. She is also a teacher and writing consultant who is passionate about helping children learn to express themselves through the written word.