Thanks to everyone who listened to the January Write On Meeting. Our guest was entertainment writer Jane Louise Boursaw, Reel Life With Jane, who writes Write On’s Based on the Book series. We talked about starting the year out on the right foot, creating the life you want through writing …. no matter where you live, writing a mission statement, embracing a theme song, and more!

1. Be accountable to someone.

2. Do one thing every day to move forward on your goals

3. Train yourself to ignore the negative voices in your head.

To join Jane’s entertainment email group, email jboursaw@charter.net.

Listen to our entire conversation:

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Post your February Goals on Write On Online and be entered in a drawing for an iscript.

Share your 2011 accomplishments and post your 2012 goals on Write On! Online.

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January Challenge: Let’s kick off 2012 with a fun contest: Write Your Dream Bio. Write a 200- to 400-word bio, describing yourself with the life and accomplishments you want/plan to have. Submit your 200- to 400-word Dream Bio in the body of an email to Debra@WriteOnOnline.com by Tuesday, January 31st.

The 1st Place winner will receive a copy of  Save the Cat!® Story Structure Software 3.0. The 2nd and 3rd Place winners will receive a copy of Save the Cat! Strikes Back by Blake Snyder. Prizes are courtesy of Blake Snyder Enterprises, LLC.

Winners will be announced on Tuesday, February 7th, on Write On! Online, and in the February Write On! Newsletter. Read more about the January contest.

What a fun December Meeting/2011 Wrap Up we had on Blog Talk Radio yesterday! Missed the show? Listen online.

We talked about our proudest accomplishments for 2011 and setting goals for the new year. I always encourage writers to set one to three  personal and professional goals at the start of the new year. It’s important to know what you are working towards, even if that changes during the course of the year.

Please post your 2012 Goals in the comment section below. Feel free to check your Goals from 2011 and, whether you posted them or not, comment on your 2011 successes.

Also, post your January Goals on Write On! Online for a chance to win an iScript. The January Write On! Meeting on Blog Talk Radio will be January 11 at 1 pm Pacific/4 pm Eastern.

Thanks again to all who commented and called during yesterday’s show. Mark Niu is the winner of the drawing for The Story Solution: 23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take by Eric Edson, thanks to Michael Wiese Productions.

Happy Writing! And Happy Holidays. Let’s all have a fabulous 2012! Write on.

Thanks to everyone who listened to the November Write On! meeting on Blog Talk Radio. In honor of National Novel Writing Month, we welcomed guest Rochelle Melander, writing coach and author of ten books, including Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It).

Listen to our entire conversation on Blog Talk Radio.

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Remember, post your December Goals on Write On Online to be entered in a drawing for an iscript.

Enter the November Screenwriting Challenge.

Read the November Write On! Newsletter on Write On! Online.

Author Julie Spira, The Perils of Cyber Dating and The Rules of Netiquette: How to Mind Your Manners on the Web, joined us Wednesday for the October meeting on Blog Talk Radio.

Some of Julie’s recommendations …

1. Connect with people in real life. Take the time to network offline with other writers and show your support at their booksignings. Reciprocation is always appreciated.

2. Prepare to promote. Start promoting your book through the use of social media at least five months before the book launch. Create a facebook page for your book, follow people on twitter who you admire, and comment on and subscribe to blogs within your genre.

3. Remember the Rules of Netiquette. Use spell-check for spelling and grammar. Don’t correct someone’s spelling or grammar unless they’ve asked for a critique.

Listen to our entire conversation -and learn more about Julie’s writing process and experience – on Blog Talk Radio.

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Remember, post your November Goals on Write On Online to be entered in a drawing for an iscript.

Read the October Write On! Newsletter on Write On! Online.

On Wednesday, screenwriter and author Paul Sinor joined us for the September meeting on Blog Talk Radio.

Some of Paul’s nuggets of wisdom …

1. Before you start a new project, ask “Who cares about the topic?” If the the answer is “Nobody,” write something else.

2. Don’t spend your writing time preparing to write. Know what you’re going to write, when you sit down.

3. Decide how you are going to market your work, as you are writing it.

4. Be prepared to break the rules … just decide which rules to break!

5. If you write a page/day, at the end of a year you will have a novel or three screenplays.

Listen to my conversation with Paul Sinor on Blog Talk Radio.

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Remember, post your October Goals on Write On Online to be entered in a drawing for an iscript.

SEPTEMBER CHALLENGE – FALL: Write 200 to 400 words on the topic: Fall. Three winners will receive their choice of one of two books, thanks to Michael Wiese Productions. Submit your 200- to 400-word short story or essay on the topic Fall in the body of an email to Debra@WriteOnOnline.com by Friday, September 30. Please also include your name and the type of writing you do along with your submission. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, October 11, on Write On! Online, and in the October Write On! Newsletter.

Read the September Write On! Newsletter on Write On! Online.

Pen Densham, author of Riding the Alligator, was our guest for the August Write On! Meeting.

During the show, Pen talked about:
- The value in writing what your nature is, what you are passionate about
- How the first draft is something to be celebrated.
- The benefits to writing genuine letters of inquiry and asking for advice from people who are willing to share
- And more!

Listen to my conversation with Pen Densham on the August Write On Meeting on Blog Talk Radio.

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Remember, post your September Goals on Write On Online to be entered in a drawing for an iscript AND Post your Summer Goals and Goal Progress for entries in the Summer Goals Challenge.

Read the August Newsletter on Write On! Online.

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Pen Densham will be leading a panel during The Future of Story:. Get access to some of the greatest screenwriters and filmmakers – plus a screening of new film – in Los Angeles on August 27th. Click here for details and pricing on this Michael Wiese Productions event.

On Wednesday, columnist, speaker, and author Bruce Sallan, A Dad’s Point-of-View, was the July Write On! Meeting guest.

Here are a few of Bruce’s tips from the show:
1. Find your niche—be sure it’s focused, original—and follow and create it!
2. Set your goals. Follow Up. Be persistent.
3. Embrace new technology—don’t be frightened by it.
4. Follow your passion. Let it lead and guide you.

Listen to my conversation with Bruce Sallan on the July Write On Meeting on Blog Talk Radio.

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Remember, post your August Goals on Write On Online to be entered in a drawing for an iscript AND Post your Summer Goals for your first entry in the Summer Goals Challenge.

For even more on goal-setting, read my posts on She Takes on the World, a top blog for women entrepreneurs, career women, and young women professionals.

Read the July Write On! Newsletter on Write On! Online.

What a fun show! I was thrilled to have author/entrepreneur Ja-Naé Duane (@TheSunQueen) guest on the  June Write On! Meeting. We talked about goal-setting, writing, and Jeff Pulver’s 140 Character Conference – where we are each presenting in New York next week.

Ja-Naé’s #140conf Opera is on Wednesday, June 15, and my Writer Panel is on Thursday, June 16. Read the complete schedule and register here. If you are not in New York, you can watch the live streaming video.

Here are three of Ja-Naé’s tips from the show:

1. Work smarter, not harder.
2. Decide how you want each day to look.
3. There are no wrong ways to do something.

For more advice on writing, productivity, and following your passion, listen to the show.

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Watch my video interview with Ja-Naé Duane from SXSW.
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Remember, post your July Goals on Write On Online to be entered in a drawing for an iscript.

Read the June Write On! Newsletter.

Enter the June Tweeting Contest: Describe yourself in 140 characters or less. On Twitter it is essential to get the most information out in the least amount of words. This challenge will help you hone that skill. Three winners will receive a book from Michael Wiese Productions. Submit your 140 Character Bio in the body of an email to Debra@WriteOnOnline.com by Thursday, June 30. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, July 11, on Write On! Online, and in the July Write On! Newsletter.

Happy Writing! Write On!

The May Write On Online Meeting featured freelance writer and Blog Talk Radio host J Blair Brown. If you missed the show you can listen here.

For more of Juice’s tips, listen to the show.

Listen to J Blair Brown’s interview with me on her Blog Talk Radio show.

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Thanks, by Michael Lee, author of My Frankenstein, for calling in to the show. Read Michael’s guest column on What Writers Can Learn from Actors.

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Remember, post your June Goals to be entered in a drawing to win an iscript.

Read the May Write On! Newsletter.

It’s Query Contest Time! In our continuing effort to help writers jump-start their careers, Write On Online is pleased to announce the 3rd Annual Write On! Query Contest. Categories are: Fiction Book, Non-Fiction Book, Teleplay, and Screenplay. Email your one-page query to Debra@WriteOnOnline.com by Tuesday, May 31. Details and prize info here. Submit your query today!

Happy Writing! Write On!

The April Write On! Meeting on Blog Talk Radio featured guest Pilar Alessandra, the director of the Los Angeles writing program “On the Page” and author of The Coffee Break Screenwriter.

This is how Pilar Alessandra recommends writing a Quickie Outline: Write the logline. Expand into 4 paragraph synopsis. Elaborate with 8 sequence beat sheet. Add scenes. Done.

And here are her 3 Tips For Making The Most of Your Storytelling Time:

Scene: Keep yourself from overwriting by focusing on the main intentions of
your scene or event. Write toward the:
- Physical intention (what we have to see)
- Verbal intention (what has to be said)
- Emotional intention (how a character is going to feel because of the scene … or how the reader is going to feel)
- Story intention (how this scene or event moves the story forward).

Character: Don’t distract yourself with long biographies or backstory. Instead, think of one repeated behavior we read about or observe in the character. Call this your character’s “rule.” When character applies the rule,
it’s entertaining. When character breaks the rule, he’s usually changing.

Main Idea: Your logline, one-paragraph synopsis, or query letter speaks to the heart of your story hook or main idea. Make sure that you’re staying on point with your story by referring to it every once in a while.

Read Pilar Alessandra’s Author Q&A for The Coffee Break Screenwriter.

For more of Pilar’s tips, listen to the show.

Here are Pilar’s upcoming events:

Script Frenzy Day, Saturday, April 23, 12pm – 4pm
Chairs and desks for up to 25 people. Come in and write!
Pilar will be on hand to give a once-over to first pages and to help with any
story issues.

The Coffee Break Screenwriter, Thursday, May 12: 7pm – 10pm
Get your script “on the page” in three hours!

All events take place at On the Page Writers’ Studio: 13907 Ventura Blvd. Suite 101; Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 (upstairs, left corner office). Sign up through: www.onthepage.tv.

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Remember, post your Goals for May to be entered in a drawing to win an iscript.

Read the April Write On! Newsletter. Also, take part in the April Challenge Pilar’s book is one of four prizes from Michael Wiese Productions.

The next meeting will be on May 11 on Blog Talk Radio.

Happy Writing! Write On!