2013: The Year of the Writer

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine


Okay, 2013 is actually the Year of the Snake, but isn't it time we claim it for ourselves?

I'm not the first to say it, and I won't be the last: What a great time to be a writer!  We have opportunities and tools that weren't available to us even a decade ago.  Now, as 2013 gets underway, we're especially excited to celebrate the joy of writing with you.  For example:

THE NEW JANUARY ISSUE

Helping us ring in 2013 is an exception group of authors and publishing experts who you'll find uniquely inspiring, including multiple award-winning romance great Colleen Coble. The very clever and insightful Robin Perini shares her secrets of blending love with murder, and we visit with Joshilyn Jackson, who ignites her characters with personalities that jump right off the page. For a complete list of the bestselling wordsmiths who'll spark your creativity, visit the Southern Writers website. As always, the new issue is available in the colorful print edition, or online for immediate reading. Karen Kingsbury

THE NEW FICTION SHORT STORY CONTEST

Last year we held our first short story contest, and published a bonus publication featuring the 13 winners. Response was so great and we received so many requests to do it again, that we're starting the new year with an all-new contest just for fiction. We've doubled the prize money (Grand Prize is $250) as well as amped up the additional perks. The contest begins today, and entries will be accepted through March 1st. For full details, check out the contest web page.

THE NEW YEAR

Like you, we have goals for the new year, and they include continuing to bring you even more bestselling authors and more useful information to help you achieve your writing resolutions and sell more books. Since our first issue we've featured over 300 successful authors, some who are familiar names at the top of the bestseller lists, others who have just broken through with their first novel. One thing they all have in common is a love for writing and a willingness to share their expertise with their fellow wordsmiths. We're grateful to them all, proud to promote their works, and committed to keep bringing you a content-rich magazine that's never boring and ever empowering.

We encourage you to resolve to take advantage of the free promotional platforms available to Southern Writers subscribers. Announce your latest release on Mic Nite. Read an excerpt on Take Five. Plug your book trailer on Must Read TV. Or, if you're simply a fan of good writing, those are great places to discover a new book, so check them out regularly. We'll also be talking to more of your favorite authors on the next Southern Writers Radio Show, coming your way later this month.

Writers, join me in making this our year.  Best of luck to you in 2013.  May this be the year your writing dreams come true.

The Gift of a New Year: Have You Prepared for New Year's Eve?

by Susan Reichert, Editor-in-Chief

I don’t know about you but it is time for me to prepare for New Year’s Eve.  It’s a night of mixed emotions. 

One part of me is wondering if I finished everything that I planned for 2011 and if not, to make mental notes to carry over to the New Year. I think about how fortunate I am to have such great friends.

I am anticipating with much excitement the new year and the roads waiting to be mapped out.

With time and age comes the realization that I want to spend my time productive not only in my career but also and most importantly with my family and friends and give back to my community and help others.

New Year’s Eve is also special because that is my ‘Wedding Anniversary’; this night I will wink at my sweetie and toast with champagne grateful for a blessed 2011 and lift again wishing for 2012 to be a special New Year for all of us.

I thank all of you for being part of Southern Writers' family this year and look forward to our new year together.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU FROM ALL OF US!

The Gift of Goals

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director



Whether we’re out with friends ringing in 2012 this Saturday night, or staying home hoping Dick Clark doesn’t catch a cold, when the ball drops at midnight we’ll be treated once again to that moment of encouragement when we know we have a fresh start. New Year’s Eve is the most universally shared demarcation point between what was and what can be.

If we even remember what our resolutions were at the beginning of 2011, there’s a pretty good chance they’re the same ones we have for the coming year. We start with the best intentions and 365-day commitments, which often manage to fizzle out long before January is through. We might even hesitate to set goals for the new year because of past experience with them. But we can change that with a little know-how.

Many of our resolutions tend to involve breaking a bad habit, which is why they are so prone to failure. Being creatures of habit, we’ve already taught ourselves to do things the opposite way. Like Pavlov’s dog, we salivate whenever we hear our bell. Suddenly requiring a new pattern of ourselves is highly irregular and something our entire being resists. 

Experts tell us that the key to success is “really wanting” to change. Of course, we do “really want” to lose those pounds, or get up early to write five pages a day. The problem is, we also “really want” that piece of Chocolate Sin Cake, or that extra sleep; sometimes even more.  How do we make our chosen want win the battle over our habitual want?

• Reward yourself for the little victories – Each time you resist temptation or accomplish part of your big goal, celebrate! What little treat for yourself will retrain you to keep up the good work?
• Be specific – Set goals that allow you to measure your progress. “Write a screenplay in 2012” is vague. “Write three scenes every day” is easy to track.
• Set achievable goals – You can’t write a novel in one weekend, though you can sure do it in 52 weekends. Shoot for the moon, but remember that it takes a while to get there.
• Creative visualization – Nothing succeeds like success, or even a good mental image of it. Create a vivid picture of where you want be, and dwell on the benefits of being there. I’ve known some people who make a scrapbook filled with success images and words specifically meaningful to them.
• Don’t let one failure ruin everything – That first time you slip or fail to meet your daily goal, don’t decide that all is lost. Why waste your good efforts so far? You have just as much ability to start again as you did on New Year’s Day.

That last one is especially worth remembering if you have many goals you’re working on simultaneously.  Disappointing yourself in one area mustn’t become your downfall in all of them.  Always focus on your successes, not on your failures.

Some of the more popular New Year’s Resolutions, and free resources to help you achieve them, are offered by Uncle Sam at the Usa.gov website.

As a writer, your 2012 goals may include writing more articles or chapters, sending out more submissions, entering more contests, or all three.  Don’t be surprised if we have a special contest just for our readers this year.  In fact, we have many surprises in store for you, because inspiring you to write, network with other authors, and sell more books is our continued goal.

Zig Ziglar said it well: “A goal properly set is halfway reached”.  I wish you luck this week choosing the resolutions worthy of your talents, and invite you – paraphrasing Captain Kirk – to boldly goal where no man has gone before.