submission tracking

How do you track or keep records of your submissions? In the past, I have just used a word doc to create a table and I kept track of publishers/manuscript/dates/replies. Tonight I did a search online for submission tracking. I found a neat site where you can keep track of your submissions. It creates graphics and organizes your submission information so you can see where you have been sending your manuscripts and where you may want to focus on sending some. I have only messed with it a little tonight. But from what I saw, it seems pretty cool and it is a free site (from what I saw). I registered and recorded my first submission. I am excited to play with it a little more. I guess I will have to send out more submissions so I can add more to it! Let me know if you are familiar with this site and your thoughts on it. Happy writing!
~B The Writers Database(click here)

featured author at round table discussion

Today, I had the pleasure to attend a meeting of Delta Kappa Gamma, which is a professional organization for women teachers. I was invited to be a featured author for their meeting. There were three local authors present. I have to say that I really enjoyed being there and getting the chance to share my writing experiences with the group. The organization's membership consists of both active and retired teachers from a 6 county area. There are about 25 active members.
We had a nice brunch and talked about what inspired our book topic, the first step in publishing our book, and finished with giving any advice to members of the group that may be interested in submitting work.
My first published credit was a personal experience piece in Relate Magazine about seat belt use. I was involved in a serious car accident when I was 18 and I wrote a piece to help educate teen girls the importance of seat belt use. After this round table discussion, I was approached by a member (an active teacher). She was very interested in my personal experience story and asked if I had ever considered talking to teens in schools about it. After we talked she asked if I cared if she spoke to her administration about having me come and speak to their students. How cool is that? We exchanged emails and phone numbers and will be in touch soon.
I've never done anything like that before but I know I could do it. I had often thought about doing something like that in order to help others to not make the same mistake as I did, by not wearing my seat belt. After thinking about this, I have decided to rewrite my personal experience article on seat belts/car accident and turn it into a brand new article. Then try to get it published in a different magazine.
If you ever get the chance to talk at an author event or a round table discussion I encourage you to do it. No matter how small the group is or no matter how many books your have had published or no matter how few. People are interested in your work and want to hear about how you achieved what you have. And it can open new doors.
~B

....trendy, holiday, or traditional stamps....

I am getting ready to send out some submissions and interested author information for educational pubs and I noticed the only postage stamps I have at the moment are "The Simpsons". I have to wonder. Should use those stamps or not on my submissions? In the past, I have wondered that same question. At Christmas time, do you put Christmas related stamps on your submissions? And what would a publisher think about a stamp in February that reads, "I love You"?

I have always caved in and went out and bought traditional USA postage stamps that usually merely contain a US Flag to stick on my submissions but do we really have to do that? Does it really matter? Who knows if the pubs even notice the postage stamps on all the submissions they receive? And maybe, just maybe, a submission with a trendy, or unusual stamp would grab their attention and maybe they would look at your submission as from someone that is unique and willing to be themselves.

What's your opinion?
~B

My little Zoey

My Miniature Pinscher, Zoey is very lovable but I am sure she has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. Here are some "people" symptoms that she has of the disorder:

* Often fidgeting with hands or feet, or squirming while seated. (fidgeting with paws)
* Having difficulty remaining seated. (lays down but jumps up anytime someone else gets up or walks out of the room)
* Having difficulty awaiting turn in games or group activities( difficulty waiting her turn for treats and food)
* Having difficulty in following instructions. (doesn't listen when asked to stop barking, or to quickly go potty, or . . . )
* Having difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities. (loves to play, but gets distracted and leaves before we've played very long)
* Often shifting from one uncompleted task to another. (she leaves her toys everywhere and never picks them up!)
* Often talking excessively. (barking)
* Often interrupting or intruding on others. (our other dogs)
* Often not listening to what is being said. (doesn't always like to listen to what we have asked her to do. She will look away when we are having a discussion with her)
* Often forgetting things necessary for tasks or activities. (takes her toys outside and forgets to bring them back in)
* Often engaging in physically dangerous activities without considering possible consequences. (running too far in the yard, running to the woods, darting outside)
* Being easily distracted by extraneous stimuli. (going outside to potty and getting distracted by everything before she gets her "job" done. It can take 15 mins for her to potty)

Of course this is all in fun and I don't even know if dogs can suffer from ADHD or not and I'm not making light of the disorder. But regardless, little miss Zoey is a piece of work and is one of a kind. But we wouldn't have her any other way! I love you Zoey!

ABCs

I wanted to share one of my favorite videos to use with young children. I have used it in my preschool class and the children love it. I think this video is also a reminder how I have to think the next time I am writing a picture book or early reader. KEEP IT SIMPLE! This video is nothing special but yet, it is creative and keeps our attention. Sometimes as writers, it is easy to loose your audience if you make it too complicated. My goal for the week: start working on a simple, yet creative picture book or early reader.
~B

Vote for Me!! (everyday until Oct. 30)

I applied for the Nature Made SAM-e Complete Good Mood Gig! I need your votes to help me land an awesome job blogging about my good mood. Please bookmark my SAM-e profile site and vote for me everyday. You can vote again each day until Oct. 30. Please tell all your friends. This writing gig would be AWESOME to get!!!

Thanks!!
~B

click here to vote

http://www.FlashlightWorthyBooks.com

I have to let you all know about a site that I love! It's called Flashlight Worthy Books. They give book recommendations on every topic you can think of. One article I really liked was the "10 Great Books on Writing" I thought it was very helpful. They gave me a list of books that help writers in the writing process. I also like how Flashlight Worthy doesn't list the "best selling" books, but rather they list the "best" books for the topic. They do the work for you. I recommend this site to anyone that needs to find books on a topic but doesn't have time to search the internet for all the books. They are all right here in a list for you! I also follow them on Twitter. You can follow them too: https://twitter.com/FLWbooks

Check them out!!!
Flashlight Worthy Books