The World According to ChickLitGurrl™

Yes.  It is true.  I have officially decided to start my own company, still offering my editorial services, but to branch out and offer more online writing classes, podcasts, and eventually books (both print and electronic) on writing-related topics.

The new site is CLG Entertainment, and you can find it here:  http://clg-entertainment.com.  The site contains the blog still; everything that’s HERE is THERE.  CLG-E will officially go live with all of its components June 1st, but for now, the blog is activated and information regarding me and my editing services are live.  Information regarding classes will go live within the week.

Please take the time to bookmark the new site!

Thanks for being interested in CLG; I’m always interested in YOU and anything about writing, so if you have news you’d like to share, e-mail me at sdb6812@hotmail.com, and I’ll work to post it to CLG-E’s blog.

SisterDivas Magazine – Where REAL Women Congregate
http://www.sisterdivasmagazine.net

Because our MEDIA column is jammed full of great features with individuals whose talents move through words, through song, through acting, and through faith: authors Laurie Viera Rigler, Marilynn Griffith, and Paulette Harper; musician Brent Ellis of The Brent Ellis Group; singer/actress Alexis Grenier; and R&B star Shanice.

Because in our TOTAL BODY column, Dr. Cherry talks about why being “high maintenance” may not be such a bad thing, and entrepreneur Beverly Davis talks to SD about her business SundayCosmetics.

Because in our feature, LOVE BYTES, we bring you episode seven, where Destiny must decide if she’s going to move forward in her feelings for Devon or let her past dictate her life.

Because in our LIFE column — no matter the celebration – new year, Inauguration, Valentine’s Day, The Sipping Sommelier L. Denise Jackson has the perfect wine for you, and Lindsay Price – playwright for Theatrefolk – stops by to talk to us about her company.

Because in our RELATIONSHIPS column, authors Eternity Philops and Portia Rainey show you the importance of friendship and self-love and faith.

Because over @ BUZZWORTHY, we show you our top pics for hot TV shows, CDs, movies, and books for the first quarter of ‘09.

To contact SisterDivas regarding submissions or other inquiries, please e-mail us at info@sisterdivasmagazine.net .

We work hard to answer ANY and ALL e-mails as quickly as possible.

For the month of February, All the Blog’s a Page (AtBaP) is taking it to the streets – urban and street fiction, that is.

We conclude our features on urban/street fiction with Markeise Q. Washington, author of Entrepreneur and owner of 5ive Star Publications!

For February, I asked the following set of questions:

**What does urban/street fiction mean to you? Is there a distinction between urban and street?
**Of all the genres present, what drew you to write urban/street fiction?
**What has been – if any – some of the positive and negative comments you have received from readers?
**In the branch of Black literature, what do you think urban/street fiction brings to the table?

In answering the question, What does urban/street fiction mean to you? Is there a distinction between urban and street, Washingston stated, “There has been so much debate over these two little words that it’s utterly ridiculous. I hate that we get put in a category, period. I was in Borders the other day looking for the African-American section. The reason I couldn’t find it was the black slots that say African American were taken down. I guess they classify street as dealing with drugs, prostitution, hustling, slang, etc. Any neighborhood can be considered urban. Here’s the definition- “characteristic of or accustomed to cities; citified.” So that means anybody that has lived in a city for a period of time is-you guessed it-urban. To me there is no distinction because literature is literature. Another thing that bothers me is that question that black authors get asked: “Do you plan to write that genre forever?” It has yet to be answered honestly. I haven’t heard an author say well no I plan to write street lit until my arm falls off. Authors should write what makes them happy and hope they build a fan base that sticks with them. I don’t want to read a romance novel by Teri Woods. I love the style she already has.”

To read the rest of Markeise Q. Washington’s thoughts on street/urban fiction and to read an excerpt from Entrepreneur, head to All the Blog’s a Page!

ALL THE BLOG’S A PAGE (AtBaP) – Where everything relates to writing
[http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

Do YOU have a mission statement for your writing?

Come check me out at BLOGGING IN BLACK [LINK] today for my short piece, WHAT IS YOUR MISSION STATEMENT?

Every company has a mission statement that identifies who its goals and purposes.  Any writer who wants longevity, who wants a career in writing should have a statement, too.

@ BiB today, read more about what a mission statement should do and also get a peek at the rough draft of my mission statement for writing.

Head to Blogging in Black [http://www.blogginginblack.com] now and LEAVE YOUR OWN THOUGHTS!

WRITERS BOOT CAMP AT A $30 DISCOUNT!

Every year presents people with a set of new resolutions. Is one of yours to write a novel? Do you have an idea for a story? Have you been visualizing the story and can literally see and hear your characters? Are you unsure where to go now that you have this idea? Because of this seemingly Herculean task, would-be writers put their literary dreams on the backburner, promising to return to them once they have time. Well, guess what? Things will always arise that will keep you from pursuing your dreams. Because of this, the time is NOW, and the literary dream you hold onto can be envisioned within four weeks with WRITERS BOOT CAMP.

What is Writers Boot Camp?

It’s a four-week, intensive program in which you’ll work one-on-one with author, editor, educator, everywoman Shōn Bacon to develop your story idea into an outline and get you geared up to finally sit and WRITE.

What does Writers Boot Camp entail?

*Four weekly exercises on topics such as story description, plotting, scene visualization, and scene outlining; each exercise will be read and critiqued by Shōn.

*Opportunity to talk with Shōn via e-mail or Yahoo IM to discuss assignments and strategy for story development.

*A bonus fifth week in which you, with Shōn’s assistance, will plan your writing in order to finally get a FIRST DRAFT COMPLETED!

I am teaching my online WBC course through the university I work for – McNeese State University. There, I’m offering the course for $70!

The course runs the following Mondays in MARCH: 2, 9, 16, and 23.

There are two easy ways to register for the class:

Pay with a Visa, MasterCard, Discover by phone, 475-5616, 475-5130 or 800-622-3352, ext. 5616.

OR

Fax the [Registration Form] to 337-475-5172.

If you have ANY questions, [e-mail] me.

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About Shōn Bacon

Shōn Bacon is an author, editor, and educator. As an author, she has published both in the creative and academic arenas. As an editor, through her ChickLitGurrl™ brand name, Shōn edits manuscripts for individual clients and small publishing houses. As an educator, Shōn is an English Specialist and mass communication visiting lecturer at McNeese State University in Louisiana. There, she teaches freshman composition, writing for radio/TV, introduction to mass communication, and media writing. In 2005, 2006, and 2007, she contributed and co-edited three academic textbooks that are currently being used as the official textbooks for freshman composition at the university. Occasionally, she teaches fiction writing and fiction workshop through the university’s continuing education department. As a devoted helper of those pursuing creative endeavors, Shōn also writes columns on the writing craft for several online outlets.

Dedan Tolbert, author of the award winning novel, The Love We Had… and the critically acclaimed advice book, Ask Dedan” Sex, Dating & Relationships-Vol I wants you to come check out his radio show, “The Dedan Tolbert Show,” which airs week nights @ 9 p.m. EST.  The show features advice on dating and relationships as well as talk with celebrity guests!   You can learn more about Dedan and his show @ http://www.askdedan.com!

If you have an unpublished romance novel or novel with a romantic theme, then get it out and dust it off because…

THE “CHASE THE DREAM” CONTEST IS BACK!

Author Leigh Michaels [link] and Rachelle Chase [link] are co-sponsoring the third “Chase the Dream” contest for writers. Details on how to enter can be found at http://chasethedreamcontest.wordpress.com; however, here are the highlights:

SUBMISSIONS: The first 1,000 words of an unpublished romance novel/novella or novel/novella with a romantic theme.

JUDGING: Each week, Rachelle Chase will choose one finalist and post the entry on the web site. Then, at the end of the contest, agents and editors will post comments, and readers will vote for their favorites to determine the top three winners. Each week, Leigh will also choose one entry to win a mini-critique, which will also be posted on the web site.

PRIZES: There are fantastic prizes for winners and entrants [link] alike. In addition, editors and agents [link] will read all the finalist entries. While there are no guarantees, last year, all the finalists received requests from editors and agents, some of which resulted in book sales.

DEADLINE:  Submit from December 1, 2008 to March 3, 2009

NEW FOR 2009: You can now get advice from the agents/editors on what they look for in the first 1,000 words. Click here to listen to what the agents/editors have to say: [link]

It’s *FREE* to enter! Check the site for rules, last year’s winners, and more.

Enter today at http://chasethedreamcontest.wordpress.com/rules/!

And, speaking of contests, enter to WIN AN iPOD SHUFFLE at: http://rachellechase.com/2008/11/27/cast-your-voteand-enter-to-win-an-ipod-shuffle!

Becoming a Lifelong Learner of the Craft of Writing
By author, editor, educator Shon Bacon aka ChickLitGurrl™

Building Character

If you’ve been around since the inception of TWL4U, then you have thought about your story’s genre and description, you’ve considered your writing style, and you’ve examined the plot of your story.

Let’s move on to the most important component of your story: CHARACTER.

Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/character], there are over twenty definitions of “character”. Here is one that is particularly important to us writers: “the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.”

Throughout the course of a story, your character [main character(s)] will undergo change(s), and it is through his/her features and traits (the things that make up the character) and his/her actions and speech that will illustrate the change(s) for the reader.

Want to learn MORE about character, to include how to differentiate between main and minor characters and how to develop them both?

Then head to APOOOBOOKS.COM to read my latest article in The Write Life for You series!

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