Frequently Asked Questions
Ask Me a question. I'll email a response to you & may post the answer on this page.
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What do you mean by “emerging author”?
“Emerging author” describes the writer who dedicates time and energy to actively publishing in print/digital media and has a growing platform for her/his work. Unlike the aspiring writer, who is learning the mechanics of craft and ‘finding her voice,’ the emerging author is refining her skills and is successfully selling articles or stories to magazines, literary journals, trade publications, syndicated blog. (It all depends on what the writer’s goal is for her or his work.) The emerging author may also be pursuing traditional and/or e-publishing for larger works of fiction or nonfiction. The emerging author has established name recognition for her work and is building an audience, i.e. potential readers who will buy her books.
I consider myself an emerging author because I have a record of sales to established print and digital magazines and journals. I have several short stories in the queue with various publications, and I am actively working on a novel. My platform is growing and I have a degree of “name recognition” for my work among audiences where I want my work to be known.
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How long have you been writing for publication? Is writing your primary job?
Writing has always been a part of my life. In 7th grade, I wanted to be a “rock journalist.” I wrote my first short story when I was in 9th grade—about a broken-hearted maiden’s journey through a magical forest to discover her true self. I’ve always kept a journal. Every twist in my career path has involved writing – from manuals to manuscripts, from newsletters to marketing communications. I'm good at it but none of this fulfilled me the way writing articles and stories does. I’m sad to say, somewhere along my life’s journey, I had “forgotten” my heart’s desire—to write and publish stories. (Read more here.)
I rediscovered my writing dream soon after my first daughter was born, in 2006. It struck me: How could I say to her, "follow your heart and believe in your dreams" if I was not living by these words? Within a year of her birth, I was writing for local papers, building my clip file and I was actively researching the premise for The Gathering, a novel I am still working on. Is writing my primary job? Writing is my job, my passion; a part of who I am. Every day, I dedicate time to writing and to selling my work. Writing is second only to raising my daughters and giving my best to my family.
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I write so that my daughters will learn, by my example, dreams are worth pursuing no matter how old you are when you start down the road. And, if the journey doesn’t lead you quite where you expected or wanted it to—that's okay, and maybe it's even better! On the flipside, if I don’t write, it’s like not getting exercise; I get very grumpy. No one likes a grumpy mommy! A very big part of why I write has to do with my purpose as a writer: To enrich, enlighten and entertain: This is the experience I hope to bring to a reader for the time they spend with me and my words. Learn more about the 3-Es
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Where do you find ideas for stories and articles?
Ideas for stories seem to get a choke hold on a few neurons and, until I dedicate energy to it, I get quite the headache. Other times a character chatters in my ear: Reveal Me. Does this mean I have imaginary friends?!
Seriously, many of my ideas emerge from the nonfiction article writing I’ve done on ancient and frontier sciences— alternative medicine, energy healing, metaphysics, shamanism. Other times, a place (object, person or event) casts a spell on me it doesn't let go-- that's what happened with the Gillette Castle book I'm working on, now. Just because ideas come easily doesn't make the writing easy. Also, one of the challenges I face in the writing process has to do with how my mind works: I generate ideas like a superconductor! The problem? This is not efficient or practical if I want to actually develop any one idea into a story or an article. An idea does not a novel make! I’ve learned to accept this as part of my process while also finding ways to better manage all those ideas so I am less likely to get distracted by the sparkle of a new idea.
Related Q&A: "What are you working on now?" "What is your writing process?" "What are your fears and challenges?"
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I love these words I see on your website: Enrich, Enlighten, Entertain. What do they mean to you?
~ submitted by Danielle Crisafuli ~ East Hartford, CT
Thank you! Enrich, Enlighten & Entertain are the soul of my writing and why I aspire to share my work with readers. Whether you are reading my nonfiction or fiction works, my intention is to provide you, the reader, with a meaningful reading experience (enrich) by providing greater knowledge or insight on a subject (enlighten) and to bring joy and pleasure (entertain) to the moments you spend reading. Different types of writing (fiction vs. nonfiction) and the type of publication written for, may fulfill this intention in different ways. Here is an affirmation, part of my writer’s statement, on the 3-Es:
I create written works that enlighten hearts, minds and souls, enriching readers’ lives in a meaningful and entertaining way during the moments they spend with my words and me.
Karen M. Rider
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What is your writing process?
If you mean a routine, I wish I had a solid routine. The reality of writing for me is at any moment, I am navigating a sea of responsibilities along with my goals for writing and publishing: being a parent of two young children, my husband’s work/travel schedule, community and family commitments. Oh, and let’s not forget taking care of the dog, the house and (last but never least) myself! I also have a part-time job. Two things I usually don't write without are tea and a timer. I do use The Writer’s Six Ps to help me focus my energy, maintain progress toward my goals (i.e., discipline) and balance my life: Passion, Priorities, Perspective, Process, Present-mind and Perseverance. I teach the Six Ps in a workshop- learn more here
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What are your writing challenges? Your fears?
This is a great question and tough to answer in a short space. Challenges and fears are very different from one another, although fear often creates challenges and perpetuates a sinister cycle that works against a writer. Challenges, for me, are problems to be solved. I use The Writer’s Six Ps (see above) to navigate challenges in the writing process; to find time to get my butt-to-the-chair regularly; and even to write my way out of problem with a story. I'm very aware of my, let's say "vulnerabilities"-- and so should every writer be. For example, I’m an extroverted person with diverse interests so I can become sidetracked quite easily. One of my previous careers was in psychological research- so I'm always looking for the "best" information. Once I get my focus, I fall into the zone - things go well from there.
Fears: I believe fear lives deep within every writer. Afraid of success? Afraid of failure? Is nothing every good enough? These fears, and many others, manifest in the form of Self-sabotage, Procrastination, Making Excuses, etc. You’ve got to do a bit of digging to unearth what a fear is all about for you: Try to understand the source of your fear (e.g., critical parent voice!). How does it interfere with your writing? Brainstorm ways not only to confront Fear, but to tame it. I have wrestled with the critical parent voice and fear of success by procrastinating and thinking small about where my work could be publ
ished. I have confronted my fears by personifying them in the form of the “Demon Burglar” who robs me of my energy and passion to write; it steals my joy and stifles my creativity. The Demon Burglar usurps my power and silences my voice. Making my fears a concrete entity that I can visualize and “talk to,” empowers me to recognize and confront fear when it creeps up on me. As a result, I am able to tame the Burglar, harnessing its ‘demon energy’ to my advantage. Make your fears your allies is the best advice I can offer you. That way, you’ll never give up. Book Program: Tame Your Writing Demon: Kill Writer's Block.
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What was it really like to interview Caroline Myss, Judith Orloff and all the other visionary teachers?
Every interview was awesome! Caroline Myss was the first interview I did; I remember being so nervous when I dialed her number. Each interview was unique but one thing still stands out among all of them, how “grounded” these people are. They are on the frontier of the healing arts and sciences, yet what is most important to them is having their work/message make a difference in people’s lives in meaningful yet practical ways. On Soul of a Writer blog, I have posted “behind-the-scenes” details about interviewing Caroline, Joan Borysenko and Judith Orloff among others. View Blog.
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What are you working on now?
Too much! I am actively reworking the premise and rebuilding characters for my novel, The Gathering. I am revising a short story, The Circle Garden, for publication and writing plot points for two other short stories. The Energy Healer Series is outlined and I regularly contribute to the research files for each novel.
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When will your first novel be available? Will you self-publish?~ submitted by Heather Cassidy ~ Manchester, England
My goal has always been to have a novel finished and ready for purchase before the end of 2012. Click here to subscribe to my e-newsletter so you can be first to hear about the release of my published works. I had always envisioned my book in my hands; that is changing rapidly and it is most likely that my first novel will be an e-book. But, you never know what may happen!
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Do you offer workshops or other services for writers?
Yes, I do offer workshops on Taming Your Writing Demon, Starting a Writer’s Circle, Building a Writer’s Website: The Events Page shows my current offerings and schedule. I am a certified mind/body wellness coach and I use holistic methods to help writers face their writing challenges and find their way toward their writing dreams. Contact Me for details.
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Why do you have a logo? What does it symbolize?
Marketing has become incredibly important in publishing—sometimes marketing does more for a writer than the quality of the writing! When you see my emblem on a book spine or in other media, you’ll recognize it as my work. But that’s not why I created it. I surround myself with images and icons that inspire me or hold personal meaning. The emblem, or logo, is a representation of what is important to me as a writer. It first came to me in a dream as three quills spiraling out of dark mist. I started playing it—again, just to create something that would represent the essence of my writing—why I write, purpose, process. The spirals represent energy moving through words from writer to reader to enrich, enlighten and entertain. It’s interesting the image appeared as a triskele (triskelion), which has many layers of meaning and is prominent in Celtic folklore (which I just love!) The feathers symbolize the quill—tool of scribes, and for me, the feathers represent divine inspiration, the Source of Creativity. As a whole, it represents the esoteric concepts that figure prominently in my stories and articles. There are other layers of meaning the emblem holds, but I like to keep a little bit to myself.
Writing is Alchemy.
Ideas transform into words ~ Words transform into story ~ Readers transform story into meaning.
Karen M. Rider
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Are you on Facebook or Twitter? Do you have a blog?
Subscribe to my e-newsletter* to receive the latest social media updates: Blog is here. Please follow me or subscribe! I have a FB personal page; I will have a fan page soon. Twitter coming soon. * Receive a free gift story when you subscribe!