"Don't Just Phone It In"-Getting Published Online, Watching Another Online Poem Go into Print, and Push to Publish 2013

[One of my promotional canvases I painted for my steampunk novel, Madame Lola's Marvelously Amazing Medicine Show 
Bonnie the Human Butterfly 

Cathy T. Colborn 2013]

First of all, new hairdo (what can I say, I'm human). More importantly, a poem I got published online has now made its way into a Print Anthology: Big River Poetry Review, Volume One, Edited by John Lambremont, on LuLu.

This has inspired me to write and speak about "just phoning it in" and not doing your best at submitting to online journals and E-zines. Believe me, years ago, I got a lot of eye rolls when I said I self published my chapbooks and my writing credits were mostly online. Today, self publishing has lost its bad juju, but I feel there is still some on the online journals. My bio now says otherwise.

Let me be clear, I am not saying to go willy-nilly and start posting your best work on Facebook or Twitter. No, I am not even saying get on your author blog everyday and post everything you got. I am saying, however, if you have nothing in your bio yet...to try online journal submissions. You can still submit the work to print and otherwise (if the words"multiple submissions accepted"are in the guidelines). Good things happen from this, I swear.

Several of the poems I have sent online have made their way into print anthologies. Also, some editors may have read your work and may want to reprint with permission into their own collections. I am going to be hypocritical again, sorry it is my split personality, and say that one day, I did post a poem (not one of my best but a decent one) on Facebook with a rant. Next thing I knew, I had an editor from a mutual writing group asking me to submit some things. I got published in two of their upcoming print anthologies. Still, I wouldn't post the poem I had been grueling over in five poetry workshops and have stayed up until three in the morning for several nights onto FB. No way!

Ugg! I am tired talking about me (and this is my blog) and lecturing (you probably are also), so I am going to tell you somewhere I will be appearing as an Editor of Philly Flash Inferno (my online, but soon to be print journal;), BUT more so you can have an opportunity to push your own work (with me or otherwise).

Last October, I wrote a blog about my newbie adventures at Push to Publish, a conference created by Philadelphia Stories. This year, I am honored to be one of the Editor Speed Daters! Since I am not a book publisher, I cannot consider a book-length work, but I can give advice on getting published online (or print now that I have a few under my belt), and maybe even comment on your work and consider those items for Philly Flash Inferno. If not my journal, explain how I made my way into the scene and what benefits and problems you will face. I am considering having a few handouts of really edgy, and cool markets for both poets and fiction writers. I will have a list of writing groups in the area. I promise to make your five minutes count, go over your work, listen to your concerns, but leave you with the basic rules and current news that would otherwise eat up your promotion time. I hope it works. I guess we will hear if it doesn't haha.

So I am going to give you the link to Push to Publish again, because if you do have a book-length work and get there early enough, you will find several popular editors who will take you on a writing speed date. Please go back and check out my blog for tips and troubles you may encounter as a newbie! There are tons of great things going on at P2P and you can blink and opportunity is lost. Also, go to the Philadelphia Stories website to keep updated on the poetry and fiction events and contests for prizes (more cool and current opportunities to get your name out there). Here are your links:

Push to Publish:http://www.philadelphiastories.org/push-to-publish
Philadelphia Stories (main page): http://www.philadelphiastories.org

Thanks for stopping by...keep those computer/typewriter keys and camera shutters clicking,
Catt Colborn

Azraela: Death is a Woman, Coining the Phrase: "Chick Pulp" Collection: First Series Manuscript Completed

Cover Art: Steve Sistilli

Azraela has been everything: a soldier, a lover, a street fighter, and a mafiaosa's wife. It seems like her choices are crazy, but it's all a part of her plan for revenge. Her first manuscript is finished and in true Azraela fashion...she is waiting for you to submit to her. Fall in love with this strong female character. Sample readings from the manuscript coming soon around Philly and South Jersey.

Contact: Cathyt.colborn@gmail.com for more manuscript details.

Bio: Cathy T. Colborn is a published author with flash in Writers' Bloc, Flashfiction.net, and poetry in Transient Magazine (Issue Two), Outrider Press Anthology, and Big River Poetry. Cathy's artwork has been published in phillyflashinferno.com, Hoot Online (March), SPECS Journal, OVS Magazine, on the cover of The Four Quarter's Magazine, and in Pirene's Fountain. Cathy has a short Historical Fiction piece published in an upcoming anthology (November 2013) and also some new published poetry (coming out soon). Cathy is currently working on a living dead dark humor-type zombie collection and also a Steampunk series. 

Art Up At Hoot Online March Issue

It is not this drawing....

                                           ....but one just as CREEPY=)
New art up at Hoot: http://www.hootreview.com/onlineissue18/.

Go visit Hoot Online and see my friend, Tori Bond's flash, Exoskeleton along with one of my skeleton and anatomy sketches. It is a series I am doing for t-shirts and tattoos.
Thanks,
Cathy T. C.

Top Five Writing Tips: Abandoning the Tired New Year's Resolution and Unrealistic Bad Habit Abstaining in Exchange for a Worthy Writing Rebirth

[Jackson Square, B&W, New Orleans, Cathy T. Colborn 2010]

If you are an avid writer, I can almost bet that at one point, your New Year's resolution was to write more, submit more, or get that award winning book published. Nothing wrong with that, for a few years. I'm not saying give up. However, I can bet (being a non-practicing Catholic that still feels guilt) that many like me, have tried to also abstain from submitting too often, or give up luscious eye-opening coffee during Lent. Wouldn't be the least bit surprised, if you admitted pressuring yourself instead, to give up something else you enjoyed, so you could better push to get that book published. Again, good for a few tries, but I don't recommend going without coffee (or chocolate) during a heated plot every year. Your family and friends are secretly "plotting" your death when you do this, believe me. It's better to be realistic and use the gifts given to your best abilities, than to fail miserably and be miserable towards your loved ones the whole time (this defeats all purpose of sacrifice and being a better spiritual person).

However, if you want to take a better approach to both of these things and not set yourself up for failure (not all of us can be lucky every year), then you can try my Writing Rebirth Approach (It does have a Nola-type theme of course, but you're covering the resolution, the abstaining/Lent, and being less mastochistic with a lover of all things good for the soul. New Orleans, Home of Rebirth, enough said.

Here are my top five suggestions:

1) Make a Short Term Writing Goal
Short term...meaning just that.
Example: "Within the next few months I'd like to have at least one acceptance letter."
Start with a low number, this way, if you pass it (or even reach it), you'll really savor the reward.
2) Make a Long Term Goal for the Year
See, you don't have to abandon the idea of the Award Winning, Accepted Movie Rights book. Instead, you can make other things happen, while the Big Hit awaits. If it doesn't happen, you'll find you've made many small successes (also, added to that art/writing bio they always ask for).
3) Don't Throw in the Writing Towel if You Immediately Make Your Short/Long Term Goal
Okay, so maybe it's getting close to the end of the year, and you didn't get that book deal, but in February, you made a spread in "Insert Some College Review Here." That doesn't mean sitting around the rest of the year without rebirthing the rebirth. Don't just sit on the couch watching Real House Wives of Atlanta marathons with a feedbag of Doritos. Keep submitting and see how far you can go past the original number of goals you set.
4) Don't Sellout to Make Your Goals
Just because we have them down on paper, electronically, or sworn to a friend over a holy book, don't just sell yourself short and check (or overwrite) it off the list. If you don't like what the company that's taking your submission is about (or editing in your piece), then why sellout for the sake of credit or chore setting? Sometimes it's just about the writing and not about making a buck. The buck is nice, but there are a lot of places that you'll be lucky if you get a PDF copy of your work (let alone small cash), and changing the message of your piece to "get writing street cred" is totally not the way to go.
5) Prepare for Next Year's Writing Rebirth in the Fall
I did very well last year with going beyond my short term goals in both my writing and art. I think in ten places I submitted each, I received four acceptances in each category. I didn't sit on the couch and eat a hefty bag of caramel popcorn with Saturday cartoons. The Submitting Machine kept working on surpassing my short term goals. When the Fall leaves slowly started to let go, so did the fierce submitter, and I started to reflect and make a rough list for January 2013. That didn't mean I abandoned the writing tree I planted, just watched its color fade and let go...piece by piece. I checked my inbox diligently and tried to get an idea of who was looking for Spring submissions (Remember: editors are always a season ahead).

So there you have it (I hope). It's a few days into Mardi Gras, and I'm feeling the inspiration fueled by  my colorful King cake and cafe ole. No abstaining from life's sweet rewards needed;)

Keep those keys and shutters clicking,
Cathy T. Colborn "Catt"

Photos Published and Online at SPECS

["Hired for the Day,"Cathy T. Colborn, Canon G11, 2010]

Hello,
I have a longer blog entry in the works, but this is just a quick announcement for my published photos at SPECS Journal. The theme: Outsourced. I made it to the last cut and the three photos came great. You can view them at this link: http://specsjournal.org

For followers of my writing suggestions and accomplishments, SPECS Journal also accepts poetry, fiction, personal essays, and book reviews. Please give them a try for your submissions, but first, read the current issue (so you know what they want and if you are a good match).

***Bonus Hint: They usually have a theme, but the next issue is considering all themes. This opens up a few more art and writing doors. Go through your Electronic Limbo and see what's sitting there.

Thanks again, and keep those keys and shutters clicking,

Cathy T. Colborn