Laurel House’s fourth book, QuickieChick’s Cheat Sheet to Life, Love, Food, Fitness, Fashion and Finance on a Less than Fabulous Budget, is being released today by St. Martin’s Press. In this Write On Q&A she talks about her writing process, getting published, mixing up mediums, and more.

What inspired you to start writing?
I have always been a writer, but I used to just write for myself—in my journal—and I would write cards for people. Whenever it was a holiday or special occasion, or just because I was thinking of someone, I would write these long novelic notes to people, letting them know exactly what they meant to me and how they touched me. I never considered actually being “a writer” until my mentor—Hollywood’s Michael Ovitz—told me when I was 19 years old that, instead of my goal of being “the most powerful woman in Hollywood,” I should be a writer. Now that I’m a writer by trade, my cards just day, “xx Laurel.”

Why did you write Quickie Chick’s Cheat Sheet?
Like many women, I have always been a “do-everything” chick, but I don’t always have the time to actually do EVERYthing. So I am constantly challenging myself to figure out the most effective and efficient ways to get things done. As a magazine writer covering lifestyle (basically everything from fitness to diets, travel to sex), I have had the opportunity to pack a lot of life into my 34 years, essentially being paid to experience, test, and write about how to be a fit, well-fed, awesomely traveled chick. Beyond writing, I am a collector of knowledge—experience-based knowledge to be exact. From getting married (and divorced) at a young age to leaving the corporate world at 23 to become an entrepreneur, I have never been afraid to push the limits, take risks, prove myself and others wrong (or right), and make mistakes. For years I have said that the great thing about the mistakes I have made is that there is always a lesson! Finally, I am taking those lessons and living… But, one of the things I also love about learning is then teaching- paying it forward. QuickieChick’s Cheat Sheet is like the Cliff Notes version of life for chicks.

The very first quickie, however, was my own personal workout: a Quickie Workout in Bed (yes, a real workout that’s just done on a bed), that I shot, uploaded onto YouTube, and got a million views on in a couple of days. I expanded the “Quickie” concept into videos about Bites with Benefits (recipes), Refrigerator Facials (beauty tips), and dating advice… there’s a quickie for everything. Soon it was sold into a book and now my videos have over 7 million views!

What was your writing process? In what way was it different from writing your previous books?
QuickieChick’s Cheat Sheet is my fourth book! But this is the first one that is really mine. The first was a book about stress reduction that I wrote with my mom. The second and third were fitness books that I wrote with personal trainers … in their voices. This is really all me. It is sassy and fun and tongue-in-cheek, but still informative and actionable. It was actually much easier to write than the others, because it was coming straight from my head. I would have an experience, then I would write it down. Or I would talk with my friends and recall old experiences or delve into a topic that other chicks struggle with and it would spark a new section in the book. I would see how fans were responding to YouTube videos, what types of comments they were leaving, what types of videos they were requesting, and that would give me another idea. This book was so much fun to write because it was active. I feel like it had a life of its own. I never felt like it was work.

What was your favorite part of writing this book? The greatest challenge?
My favorite part of writing this book was when I would read certain parts to other chicks—or send it off to my 26-year-old sister—to read, and they were immediately engrossed, asking more questions and telling me how relevant it was in their life at that exact moment. Seeing the possibility of it inspiring, helping, igniting passion, and even changing the lives of other chicks… I loved it!

The greatest challenge was probably editing myself. I have a lot more to say, but this book covers so many different topics that I couldn’t dig quite as deeply into any one. Hopefully there will be more QuickieChick books, each with a specific focus so that I can really dig into the topics without having to cut myself off. It may be about “quick” but there are LOTS of tips that are quick.

How did you get a publisher?
I have an agent who is amazing—Marcy Posner! She is actually my fourth agent. I have had a different agent for each book. But I am sticking with her. She gets me as an author, as opposed to as a book. She also helps to focus, and, yes, to edit me. I tend to be an idea machine. She encourages my ideas, but, like a dam, keeps them from getting spastic and flowing all over the place. I wrote a book proposal, then Marcy sent it off to editors and various publishing houses. Several houses wanted to have meetings, so I flew to NY and met with the houses that seemed like the best fit, and I loved St. Martin’s. Like Marcy, they were interested in me as an author as opposed to just a one-off book. I also loved their enthusiasm. They really got the book.

How do you blend video with your writing? In what ways does it help you reach more people?
I let the writing and videos feed off of and inspire each other. Not everyone wants to read, so I will often “talk a post”—in other words, take the concept of the written post and do a video of me talking about it. Of course social media is also a big part. I tweet, facebook, pin, and tumble my posts and videos. I also have developed relationships with other bloggers who will post about me. Being a writer isn’t just about writing anymore. It’s about being an entrepreneur. I wear a lot of hats and I am constantly juggling. It’s my full-time job.

What are your three favorite tips from the book that relate to writers?
Sell yourself. Being good at a trade is one thing. Letting people know that you’re good at a trade is another. There are SO MANY writers out there. Sometimes a writer doesn’t have to be anything but a writer (in other words, they don’t have to do the social media or the videos or publicizing and marketing) and they will get a lucky break. But it’s easier to draw attention to yourself, tell people that you can write and then prove it.

Swallow Your Ego. So I said that it’s “easier” to draw attention to yourself. Easy isn’t exactly accurate. In fact, it’s often counter-intuitive to the traditionally hermit-ish, introspective nature of a writer. You have to make the decision to put yourself out there. I say that you need to “fake it” or “divorce yourself from yourself.” Create a persona who is outgoing and isn’t afraid to stick her neck out. That’s what QuickieChick is. She has the 3Gs that are essential to success: Gumption, Grace, and Guidance. She has the Gumption to stick her neck out, but she tempers it with Grace, then she Guides other people and teaches them the way.

Diversify. I still write for blogs for free. I always have. I write about a lot of different topics in a lot of different styles. I also do, as I mentioned, the social media, the videos, the guest posts on other people’s sites with links back to mine—all for free. If you want to get noticed, you have to get out there.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started writing?
I wish I had honed my focus and ran with a concept years ago. I feel like I am running a race right now, building the QuickieChick brand and getting attention to it. I wish I had figured out the QuickieChick concept 8 years ago and ran with it, building a following gradually, digging roots into social media at the beginning. But… QuickieChick is all about live and learn. So I guess I still had experiences to collect that I could then translate into quickie tips.

Any additional advice?
Right now, start thinking about who you are, who you want to be, where you want t your career to go, what you’re good at, what you know, what our destination is. Then start taking the steps to get there—now. Create brandable name. Buy the domain, sign up for it on all of the social outlets and start getting that name out. You will develop it as you go, as you get feedback, as you grow. If you end up not liking it, no problem. Start over. Just start.

As one network TV season winds down and the schedules for next year’s are announced, the prevailing thought in my mind is: “Where do we go from here?”

Each year, it seems harder and harder for networks to find something that sticks.

Knowing that Desperate Housewives would end this season, ABC tried putting out shows like Pan Am and GCB to reach the same female demographic. Neither lasted. In the end, ABC will move one of this year’s surprise hits, Revenge, to that DH timeslot instead. Now, instead of having a virtually guaranteed win on Wednesday, the network is gambling on two nights of the week.

That’s not to single out ABC, however. Each of the networks has had a devil of a time trying to find shows that stick. Who knew that two series based on fairy tales of all things—ABC’s Once Upon A Time and NBC’s Grimm—would be two of those networks’ most successful shows this season?

Female-oriented sitcoms fronted by big names—Whitney Cummings and Chelsea Handler—did not perform as well as similar sitcoms without an A-list name, namely Two Broke Girls and Don’t Trust the B– in Apt. 23.

Though still the ratings’ champ in the coveted 18-49 demo, Fox has to be worried. Established shows like Glee, House, and American Idol saw significant audience dropoff, while highly buzzed shows like Alcatraz, Terra Nova, and X-Factor severely under-performed—the first two were canceled while the latter will be retooled with new judges Britney Spears and Demi Lovato next year.

And, while most networks would love the numbers generated by a new show like Unforgettable on CBS, it’s an also-ran, so it’s gone.

In Hollywood, nobody knows anything, and it seems that’s twice as true for network TV execs.

For example, one of the most critically divided new shows this year was Prime Suspect. While many critics found it to be a compelling cop drama, I and many other critics found it to be a very-watered down remake of the original British masterpiece. While some argued that a comparison is unfair—after all, virtually anything with Dame Helen Mirren will be brilliant, almost by definition—I would argue that by doing a remake of anything, you invite comparison no matter what.

CBS apparently hasn’t learned that, because it’s rolling out Elementary next season with Jonny Lee Miller as a modern Sherlock Holmes with Lucy Liu as his Watson. That might be OK, but it follows on the heels of PBS’ brilliant Sherlock, with a mesmerizing Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role and a wonderful supporting cast, and created by the always-terrific Steven Moffat. With Sherlock also being set in modern times, Elementary has an unusually tough standard to live up to.

I try not to judge any of next year’s crop of shows, at least until I see the DVD screeners for them. While I’m skeptical of Elementary’s chances, it’s hard to judge it by itself without a viewing.

So I won’t put the whammy on any of the announced shows for next season, but I will point out a few that I’m looking forward to, based on either the talent involved or the show’s central premise.

ABC: Last Resort has Andre Braugher as  the captain of a nuclear sub who decides to go rogue with his crew and declare itself a new nation; Nashville has Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights) in a family soap set in the backdrop of the city’s country music scene.

CBS: I feel almost compelled to give Elementary a chance, even though I share the same feelings about it as I did Prime Suspect. Vegas, set in the 1960s, has a great cast with Dennis Quaid, Michael Chiklis, Carrie Anne Moss and Jason O’Mara.

NBC: Maybe the most buzz-worthy show of next fall will be the JJ Abrams-produced Revolution, set in a future in which the world has run out of power. It’s got a great pedigree, with Eric Kripke (Supernatural) writing the pilot and Jon Favreau (Iron Man) directing it. Interestingly, the struggling network passed on sitcoms starring the likes of Roseanne Barr, Martin Lawrence, Sarah Silverman and Zachary Levi.

Fox: Because I think she’s brilliant, I’m definitely looking forward to Mindy Kaling’s (The Office) new sitcom in which she plays an OB/GYN, called The Mindy Project (for now). On the drama side, The Following has Kevin Bacon as an FBI agent trying to track down a cult of killers that a Hannibal Lecter-style monster (James Purefoy, Rome). (It’s scheduled for mid-season, currently).

CW: Arrow, much like Smallville, examines the origins of the DC Comics hero, Green Arrow. Viewers should note that it’s a new series, and not a spinoff of Smallville. Also of note is The Cult, featuring Prison Break’s Rob Knepper as the leader of a weird religious cult.

What  show are you most looking forward to this fall?

Read more from The TV Guy.

We had such a fun – and informative - May meeting on Blog Talk Radio with author Ja-Naé Duane, How to Create a Revolution: A Step-by-Step-Guide to History’s Social Influencers. If you missed it, be sure to listen to the replay.

We talked about Jeff Pulver and 140conf, networking by connecting both online and in real life, and, natch, starting a revolution!

Ja-Naé says:

- The people who love what you do – they are your biggest fans. Write for yourself first and write for them second.

And

- When you start your outreach, start with people you know, and ask them to become your advocates.

With that in mind we even challenged the audience to start creating their own buzz … Writers, ask 5 friends/fans to spread the word about your book, fan page, etc. Reward them with a free chapter, an article, or a mention of their page/project on your page.

Let us know if you accept this challenge … and keep us posted on how it goes!

Listen to our entire conversation:

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The June meeting will be on June 13 at 1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern.

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

WRITE ON!
Join us for the May meeting on Blog Talk Radio at on May 16 at 1pm PDT, 4pm EDT. Special guest will be author Ja-Naé Duane, How to Create a Revolution: A Step-by-Step-Guide to History’s Social Influencers. Listen online or call in: 646-381-4910. RSVP on Facebook.

Post your June Goals on Write On Online and be entered in a drawing for an iscript. Congratulations, Jeffrey Westhoff, May  winner of an iscript for posting goals.

Write On Online has regular, ongoing content: Write On! Reviews, Author Q&As, Write On! Wednesdays, Expert Columns, Special Features, and more! You can also listen to the April meeting with author Beth Howard, author of Making Piece: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Pie, on Blog Talk Radio.

Writers, please email Debra@WriteOnOnline.com if you have a 2-3 line news item or event and/or if you are are interested in contributing a Write On! Review, writing an Expert Column, or participating in an Author Q&A. Write On!

APRIL CHALLENGE WINNERS
Thanks to everyone who posted goals/commented on their progress on Write On Online and Facebook during the month of April. Three winners were chosen at random. And the winners are …

- Stephanie Olivieri
- Warren Paul Glover
- Winona Bennett Cross

Each winner will receive one of these books, thanks to Michael Wiese Productions:
- Bankroll: A New Approach to Financing Feature Films (2nd Edition) by Tom Malloy
- Hollywood Game Plan: How to Land a Job in Film, TV and Digital Entertainment by Carole M. Kirschner
- The Complete Filmmaker’s Guide to Film Festivals: Your All Access Pass to Launching Your Film on the Festival Circuit by Rona Edwards and Monika Skerbelis

NEWS & INFO
From member Beth Davis Cato: May is Writo de Mayo, an annual challenge that began on the NanoLJers community on LiveJournal. Participants use the month of May to establish their own personalized writing goals; some choose to recreate NaNoWriMo and write 50,000 words, but the targets are really quite diverse, ranging from daily word counts to submissions goals to revising work. Anything goes. The ultimate goal is to stop procrastinating, and to encourage each other as they achieve their writing goals, whatever they may be.  (Kinda like Write On Online, yes?)

The LA Times ran Tom O’Connor’s romantic/funny essay about how he met his girlfriend. Worth a read. P.S. Roger Ebert retweeted it – how awesome is that!

Dawn Metcalf’s debut novel Luminous is a Top 40 Pick for the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association! Read the full fiction list for 2011. Congrats!

Abigail Lewis: Whole Life Times regularly hires writers for FOB, shorter pieces (± 350 words) on our topics and with some kind of LA-area angle. Pay is modest. We also are regularly looking for stories on yoga and education and of course always welcome queries. For more information email Abigail.

Write on Members: Let me know if you have a book being released or some awesome news, so we can include it in the next newsletter.

EVENTS
May 19: Looking for real success in a changing industry and changing world? Attend Patrick Horton’s “Mastering the Power of Story” full day seminar in West LA. Details here. Listen to Horton on Write On Online’s March Meeting on Blog Talk Radio.

May 20: Danny Manus is holding a live, interactive webinar from 11am -1pm pacific, called “The No B.S. Guide to Pitching & Pitchfests.” For pricing and more information check the event listing. Writers who are pitching at Great American Pitchfest should definitely consider this webinar.

May 22: Laurel House’s fourth book, QuickieChick’s Cheat Sheet to Life, Love, Food, Fitness, Fashion and Finance on a Less than Fabulous Budget, will be released by St. Martin’s. This first e-tease “QuickieChick Guide: Fit to Flirt: Get the Body You Want and the Guy You Deserve” is free to download.

June 1 – 3: Great American Pitchfest in Los Angeles.

June 5 – 7: Blog World & New Media Expo takes place in New York.

June 19 – 20: The 4th Annual State of NOW/#140conf, “Sharing and Finding Meaning,” is set to take place at New York City’s 92nd Street Y. Register today.

Sundays: Scriptchat, a twitter chat for new and seasoned screenwriters, has two chats each Sunday: 8pm GMT is EURO #scriptchat, moderated by Mina Zaher (@DreamsGrafter) and 8pm EST, moderated by Jeanne Veillette Bowerman (@jeannevb). All transcripts are posted on the blog, as well as tons of screenwriting resources.

FRIENDS OF WRITE ON!
Campus Explorer is an online resource that helps students of all ages plan for college. “Like” Campus Explorer on Facebook and follow on Twitter. Students, enter Campus Explorer’s $1,000 Monthly Scholarship Giveaway. Students and grads, review your school, and you will be entered in a drawing for $2,500. And check out the new Campus Explorer Connections Facebook App, which locates where your friends went/are going to college.

Need a transcriber? CLK Transcription can help! CLK employs more than 30 highly trained transcriptionists … and has great rates. Email carollee@clktranscription.com for more information.

Dream It, Then Do It!: Tools and inspiration to turn your dreams into reality. Become a Fan on Facebook.

iScript.com has added a new audiobook component to their offerings. Now, you can get high-quality audiobooks made of your writing!

Check out the New Media Film Festival for screenings, giveaways, and more!

Purple Pencil Adventures: Teen and Tween writers, a new Purple Pencil Adventure is posted every Friday!

She Takes on the World is a top blog for women entrepreneurs, career women, and young women professionals.

Write On! Track LA Personal Training for Writers! Writing coach Debra Eckerling trains individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses, so they can organize, articulate, and complete their writing projects. Email Debra@WriteOnOnline.com or call 310.908.8980 for more information!

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If you’d like to support Write On! Online and promote your business or service, email Debra@WriteOnOnline.com.

Thanks to everyone who posted goals/commented on their progress on Write On Online and Facebook during the month of April. Three winners were chosen at random. And the winners are …

- Stephanie Olivieri
- Warren Paul Glover
- Winona Bennett Cross

Each winner will receive one of these books, thanks to Michael Wiese Productions.

- Bankroll: A New Approach to Financing Feature Films (2nd Edition) by Tom Malloy
- Hollywood Game Plan: How to Land a Job in Film, TV and Digital Entertainment by Carole M. Kirschner
- The Complete Filmmaker’s Guide to Film Festivals: Your All Access Pass to Launching Your Film on the Festival Circuit by Rona Edwards and Monika Skerbelis

Congrats, writers. And congrats to everyone for challenging themselves in April. Remember, post your June Goals. And write on!

Congratulations, Jeffrey Westhoff, May winner of an iScript for posting goals.

Post your June Goals on Write On! Online and be entered in the monthly drawing to win an iScript. (An iScript is a professionally recorded audio version of a screenplay or novel read by professional readers, similar to an audiobook.)

The May 16th Write On! Meeting will be on Blog Talk Radio at 1 pm Pacific/4 pm Eastern.

Post June Goals in the comment section below. Thanks! Write On!

May 14: Deadline to submit items (news, contests, events) for the May newsletter to Debra@WriteOnOnline.com.

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

May 16: Join us for the May meeting on Blog Talk Radio at 1pm PDT, 4pm EDT. Special guest will be author Ja-Naé Duane, How to Create a Revolution: A Step-by-Step-Guide to History’s Social Influencers. RSVP on Facebook.

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Through May 10th: Our Revolution Week: Ja-Naé Duane’s book, How to Create a Revolution: A Step-by-Step-Guide to History’s Social Influencers, was released May 3rd. To celebrate Our Revolution is launching Our Revolution Week in an attempt to raise 50K for 5 charities: Invisible People, Social Media Club, Kids Need to Read, Big Damn Fan Films and Forward Arts. Learn more about these charities and how to take part in Our Revolution Week.

May 19: Looking for real success in a changing industry and changing world? Attend Patrick Horton’s “Mastering the Power of Story” full day seminar in West LA. Details here.

May 22: Laurel House’s fourth book, QuickieChick’s Cheat Sheet to Life, Love, Food, Fitness, Fashion and Finance on a Less than Fabulous Budget, will be released by St. Martin’s. This first e-tease “QuickieChick Guide: Fit to Flirt: Get the Body You Want and the Guy You Deserve” is free to download.

June 1 – 3: Great American Pitchfest in Los Angeles.

June 5 – 7: Blog World & New Media Expo takes place in New York.

June 19 – 20: The 4th Annual State of NOW/#140conf, “Sharing and Finding Meaning,” is set to take place at New York City’s 92nd Street Y. Register here.

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The April Challenge wrapped on Monday, April 30. So how did you do? Post your success in comments for a final entry. Three winners will be chosen at random to receive one of these books thanks to Michael Wiese Productions. Like MWP on Facebook.

- Bankroll: A New Approach to Financing Feature Films (2nd Edition) by Tom Malloy

- Hollywood Game Plan: How to Land a Job in Film, TV and Digital Entertainment by Carole M. Kirschner

- The Complete Filmmaker’s Guide to Film Festivals: Your All Access Pass to Launching Your Film on the Festival Circuit by Rona Edwards and Monika Skerbelis

Winners will be announced on Tuesday, May 15, on Write On! Online and in the May Write On! Newsletter.

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Am looking for reviewers, experts, and authors to interview in 2012. Please email Debra@WriteOnOnline.com if you are interested in contributing or participating in an Author Q&A.

Thanks to everyone who attended our April Write On Meeting with author Beth Howard, Making Piece: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Pie. If you missed it, be sure to listen to the replay. Remember, post your May Goals to be entered in a drawing for an iscript.

* * *

The April Challenge wrapped on Monday, April 30. So how did you do? Post your success in comments for a final entry. Three winners will be chosen at random to receive one of these books thanks to Michael Wiese Productions. Like MWP on Facebook.

- Bankroll: A New Approach to Financing Feature Films (2nd Edition) by Tom Malloy

- Hollywood Game Plan: How to Land a Job in Film, TV and Digital Entertainment by Carole M. Kirschner

- The Complete Filmmaker’s Guide to Film Festivals: Your All Access Pass to Launching Your Film on the Festival Circuit by Rona Edwards and Monika Skerbelis

Winners will be announced on Tuesday, May 15, on Write On! Online and in the May Write On! Newsletter.

* * *

May 3 – 10: Our Revolution Week: Ja-Naé Duane’s book, How to Create a Revolution: A Step-by-Step-Guide to History’s Social Influencers, is coming out May 3rd. To celebrate Our Revolution is launching Our Revolution Week in an attempt to raise 50K for 5 charities: Invisible People, Social Media Club, Kids Need to Read, Big Damn Fan Films and Forward Arts. Learn more about these charities and how to take part in Our Revolution Week.

May 19: Looking for real success in a changing industry and changing world? Attend Patrick Horton’s “Mastering the Power of Story” full day seminar in West LA. Details here.

May 22: Laurel House’s fourth book, QuickieChick’s Cheat Sheet to Life, Love, Food, Fitness, Fashion and Finance on a Less than Fabulous Budget, will be released by St. Martin’s. This first e-tease “QuickieChick Guide: Fit to Flirt: Get the Body You Want and the Guy You Deserve” is free to download.

June 1 – 3: Great American Pitchfest in Los Angeles.

June 5 – 7: Blog World & New Media Expo takes place in New York.

June 19 – 20: The 4th Annual State of NOW/#140conf, “Sharing and Finding Meaning,” is set to take place at New York City’s 92nd Street Y, and Early Bird registration ends May 4.

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Am looking for reviewers, experts, and authors to interview in 2012. Please email Debra@WriteOnOnline.com if you are interested in contributing or participating in an Author Q&A.

I don’t know about you, but for me April just flew right on by!

So what was your April Challenge? Did you write a screenplay this month for Script Frenzy? Did you participate in the Poem-a-Day Challenge for National Poetry Month? Or did you come up with something spectacular on your own?

So, how did you do? Inquiring writers want to know …

Post in comments for a final entry. Three winners will be chosen at random to receive one of these books thanks to Michael Wiese Productions. Like MWP on Facebook.

- Bankroll: A New Approach to Financing Feature Films (2nd Edition) by Tom Malloy

- Hollywood Game Plan: How to Land a Job in Film, TV and Digital Entertainment by Carole M. Kirschner

- The Complete Filmmaker’s Guide to Film Festivals: Your All Access Pass to Launching Your Film on the Festival Circuit by Rona Edwards and Monika Skerbelis

Winners will be announced on Tuesday, May 15, on Write On! Online and in the May Write On! Newsletter.

Congratulations for all of your hard work in April. Write On!

Thanks to everyone who attended our April Write On Meeting last week with author Beth Howard, Making Piece: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Pie. If you missed it, be sure to listen to the replay.

Here are some of Beth’s tips from the show:

- If you are stuck, write as though you are writing a letter to a friend
- Don’t feel the need to be tied to a computer: take walks, meditate, bake
- Life is short, go for it!

Listen to our entire conversation:

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The May meeting will be on May 16 at 1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern.

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

Check in on your April Challenge.