Voices of Fiction - Traditional or Self-Publication - Part Two

Welcome to Voices of Fiction.

We continue our discussion on publication choice, traditional or self-publication.

Please welcome our authors.

Karen Cioffi is a multi-award-winning author, freelance/ghostwriter, editor, and online marketer, as well as the founder and manager of Writers on the Move. - Website, Website, Website

Jade Varden is the author of the Deck of Lies series, a collection of YA mystery books that show what happens when dark family secrets are exposed. Jade also provides professional writing tips to other indie authors on her blog. - Twitter, Blog, Amazon

Thea Landen writes erotic literature, frequently in a sci-fi/fantasy setting. When she's not writing, or thinking about writing, her hands and mind are occupied by either yarn crafts or role-playing games. Blog, Amazon, AllRomanceBooks

Author and editor, Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz has published more than 100 articles, 75 stories, six e books, a chapbook, one MG novel, a short story collection, and her stories have been included in two anthologies. She writes for both adults and children. She edits for two small traditional publishers. Website, Blog, MuseItUp


Welcome Authors! It's wonderful to have you back.

What is your publishing method choice: Traditional or Self-Publication? Why?

Karen Cioffi - I prefer traditional publishing, but like and use self-publishing also. The reason I prefer traditional publishing is the advantages it offers: a team and a bit more clout for some other avenues. Self-publishing on the other hand offers speed.

Jade Varden - My experiences with self-publishing have been more positive than what I’ve had with more traditional publishing. Both have merits, both have drawbacks, and the two are remarkably similar for the majority of authors. But with self-publishing, at least you know what you’re getting and you know how you’re doing.

Thea Landen - I'm somewhere in the middle, as my books are published by an e-publisher. Not having to worry about formatting, cover design, and distribution is a HUGE relief to me - those are probably the biggest reasons I don't think I'd ever self-publish.

Penny Ehrenkranz - I have never tried self-publishing. My first published pieces were all short stories and non-fiction articles. I now have three novelettes published by MuseItUp Publishing: Love Delivery (contemporary romance), Lady in Waiting (historical romance), and Mirror, Mirror (time travel romance). I have a collection of short stories published by Sam’s Dot Pubishing, A Past and A Future. 4RV Publishing has contracted with me to publish my two middle grade novels, Ghost for Rent (a newly edited version of a previously released book) and Ghost for Lunch (the sequel). I am also under contract with 4RV to publish two picture books, Boo’s Bad Day and Many Colored Coats.

While MuseItUp, Sam’s Dot, and 4RV are not big houses, they are all traditional. There are no fees to the author, nor do I as author have to purchase the books to sell to others.

While I still need to do my own marketing with a small publisher, there is a lot of guidance, helpful tips, and encouragement, not to mention excellent editors.

Thank you all for joining us today.

Readers and Authors, feel free to ask questions and leave comments concerning this topic in the comment section below. You may also send questions to chergreen@chergreen.com

(Disclaimer - Bios and photos submitted by authors.)

Voices of Fiction - Traditional or Self-Publication - Part One

Welcome back to Voices of Fiction.

The world of publishing changes with each passing day. Self-Publication has become easier than it was in the past. And many authors are jumping on board for this new direction, while many steer toward the traditional route.

Which direction will you choose? Join us over the next few weeks as our group of authors discusses their preferred method and reasons for their choice.

Please welcome this week's group.

Reno Charlton works from home as a full-time copywriter, providing clients around the world with content for websites, magazines and other media. She’s also the author of three children’s fantasy novels. Under the pen name, Emily Ho, she’s published two short stories, winning the Curtis Brown Short Story Competition with ‘The Journey Home.’ - Amazon UK, Amazon, Goodreads

Catrina Barton is a licensed Kung Fu Instructor of the Black Dragon style and draws on that experience to make her fight scenes both realistic and action packed. She enjoys being surrounded by the stark beauty of mother nature, such as a moon lit starry sky, or a picnic by a peaceful waterfall cascading from the mountain side. - Amazon, Blog

Karina Kantas is the author of six titles, In Times of Violence, Lawless Justice, Road Rage and Huntress (which is published by MMP.) She's also the author of Stone Cold a YA supernatural thriller and Heads & Tales, a short story collection. Karina originates from the UK but now lives in Greece with her husband and two beautiful daughters. - Amazon, Barnes/Noble, Website

Cherie Reich is a writer, freelance editor, book blogger, and library assistant living in Virginia. - Website, Blog



Welcome Authors! It's wonderful to have you back.

What is your publishing method choice: Traditional or Self-Publication? Why?

Reno Charlton - Although I would love to get the advance that sometimes comes with traditional as well as the publicity, self-pub means that you have greater control and do not have to cope with huge amounts of rejections. There are pros and cons to both in my opinion.

Catrina Barton - Self-publication. I love a good challenge, always have. Plus, after putting so much blood, sweat, and tears into my novels, I'm not about to have someone else tell me my best scenes have to be cut out because of word counts.

Karina Kantas - I work with both, but I've started a new scheme where readers can pay me direct. I'm making more money this way than I ever did with my publisher.

Cherie Reich - Right now, it is self-publishing. So far, I have novelettes and novellas published as well as a flash fiction collection and a short story collection. Some small publishers accept that length, but the bigger publishers don't, unless you're an established writer. I work as a freelance editor, so I do feel with my ability to edit and having some of the best critique partners around that I can edit a story as well as most publishers. Formatting wasn't too hard to figure out (Smashwords Style Guide is wonderful!), and one of my critique partners has a good eye for designing covers for me. So right now, self-publishing works best. But I'm not against trying more traditional publishers when I get ready to submit my novel-length works for the fact that they have a better ability to gather reviews and could help me contact book bloggers that don't accept self-published novels.

Thank you all for joining us today.

Readers and Authors, feel free to ask questions and leave comments concerning this topic in the comment section below. You may also send questions to chergreen@chergreen.com

(Disclaimer - Bios and photos submitted by authors.)

Voices of Fiction - Can Creativity Be Taught - Wrap Up

Welcome to another edition of Voices of Fiction.

Over the last few weeks, we've heard the opinion of numerous writers on whether creativity can be taught or not. The overwhelming majority answered this question with a 'no', while further explaining their positions on the matter.

Many believe everyone is creative in some way, and the ability only needs to be nurtured and developed for the individual to reach his/her creative potential.

Can creativity be taught?

I agree with the authors who pointed out the trickiness of this question. The answer can vary quite widely based on the person's perception of the meanings of the two main words - creativity and teach.

In my mind, creativity is the ability to create. If you think about this, most of us create something every single day - whether it be dinner, a written-letter, a journal entry, a paper plane, a crochet sock, etc. This list could go on forever.

My personal thoughts, on teaching, are that it is the act of sharing with someone the knowledge of or instructions on how to accomplish a task.

So, by changing the question slightly to, can someone be taught to create? Most of our guests would have probably answered with a 'yes.'

Most of our authors probably went with the most logical, impulsive meaning of creativity, which for me, would be imagination. Can imagination be taught?

Absolutely not! But as most of the authors pointed out in their answers, this is an area where everyone can get on the playing field. It is also a gift which can be squashed easily during one's childhood. We are all born with an imagination, but if it's not allowed to be nurtured, it can go away. *smile* - Think of all the movies which point this little aspect out - Peter Pan, The NeverEnding Story, Toy Story. There are many more to go with those three.

I don't believe you ever lose your imagination, but once you've pushed it away for so long, you would have to learn to get it back. And this loops us back to teaching - I believe you can be taught to reconnect with your imagination through meditation, visualizations, and such.

If you find yourself saying, "I can never do that, I don't have the imagination," think again. It's there.

Now that's not to say you would be able to write a book or even prepare a gourmet meal strictly from your mind's thoughts. Imaginations differ from one person to another, and creative talents vary. Ask yourself - did you play cops and robbers as a child, did you make mud patties, did you doodle on the bedroom walls, did you create? I believe the majority would answer such questions with a 'yes.' If so, this is proof of the existence of your imagination.

On writing: While writing lessons can improve your skills for presenting your imagined story, it is your imagination which will create your story.

My final answer to the presented question - Can creativity be taught? No. We are all creative in our own ways. The imagination isn't something that can be taught into an individual. But, one can be taught to harness this wonderful gift and to present it in the best possible form.

Thank you all for joining us as we explored 'can creativity be taught.' Next week we'll be exploring another topic on "Voices of Fiction." Feel free to join us.

Blogging - What's it all about?

My blogging journey began in August of 2009. My purpose was to chart my way as a writer, from aspiring to publishing. As I moved through this journey, I’ve shared disappointments and accomplishments, reached out with writing advice, interviewed wonderful writers and reviewed their works, and have made it to publication.

But above all, I’ve met people I would not have otherwise. It’s been an amazing journey, and continues forward. I’m grateful and excited to have you all share this life and my journey with me.

found this on a few blogs, not sure who to give credit, for now - Ghost Stories and Haunted Places

As we move from day to day, our steps take us in many directions. I’m finding myself at a point of decision. Overwhelmed by my day job, I find it hard to get in my writing and keep up with all of my external duties. Over the years, I’ve whittled my blogging down a little at a time, from daily to weekly. A new change is upon us, as I carve a slice from around the edges once more.

As most of you know, I also run a tarot blog – Tarot Guidance, and a monthly article as the National Tarot Examiner. This part of my journey is just as important to me as my career as a fiction author. It pains me to pull away from any of my endeavors, but there are only so many hours in the day and so much energy to give.

Therefore, I’m cutting the Footsteps of a Writer postings down to twice a month. You will not see much of a change here for a while, for the Voices of Fiction series will continue on Tuesdays, for a few more months. Announcements of publications and such will continue to be posted as they come about.

For those of you who follow Tarot Guidance, it will also be cut back to twice a month. There will be many changes in this area, as I move forward. Many ideas for furthering my tarot journey sprout daily, including tarot-based fiction. So, some of this cutting back is not only to allow for more writing time, but also to allow my creativity more room to grow.

As I move into a new phase of this great journey of life, I thank you, my followers, friends, readers, and supporters, for sticking with me over the years and continuing to stand at my side.

Opportunities appear daily, but only the few paying attention will grab them. Have the time and courage to reach out and claim yours.