First Word

I was talking to a fellow writer about character development, and she said the funniest thing: "Sometimes I almost feel embarrassed to be a voyeur in my character's lives." Many writers talk about how their characters take on lives of their own. I always chuckle and think we're a bunch of crazy people with imaginary friends. It's true. My characters imbue their lives in my mind with all the facets of who they are. As I tell a story it unfurls much like life. In this case, I typically have an end in mind while most of us don't know our "ever after". It's like sitting as fortune teller and seeing the future in the crystal ball of my computer. You know where the story is going but what happens in-between is a bit of an enigma until you actually get to that point in the story. Writers write stories in different ways. A friend of mine uses note cards and says his desk looks like a serial killer's shrine. I write stories straight from my mind...

Whenever I network, I swear I always have some tale to tell about someone who says something so darned inappropriate it blows my hair back and curls it, too. What is wrong with people? Didn't their mothers teach them the old adage, "if you don't have something nice to say don't say it all?" Today's offense comes from a writer who had zero capability to put a censor between her brain and mouth. We're having a perfectly nice meeting with my group, and she suddenly says how she investigated the group, and thought "what a greedy lady" to bring in business by forming a writers' group. She got the "Michelle stare" for sure. This after I specifically launched the meeting by telling the group our mission: t o educate writers about the competitive publishing business so they can make informed choices, and to give first and share always" (which is an eWomen mantra). Our meetings are either led by myself or by a speaker who we invite in ...

Are you a writer in the greater Sacramento area? I run a monthly writers' group titled Writers Who Mean Business . I wanted to blog about the group today. We have a meeting tonight that starts at 7pm at the Raley's on San Juan. I like to educate writers not just about craft, which is truly only 50 percent of the effort. The other 50 percent is the business side. Many writers are artists. They don't understand or "want" to understand that to publish a book requires a concerted business effort that involves public relations and marketing. The inner artist in them gets a little befuddled and offended to focus on business. The reality is that publishing is a business, period. It is a fun business, and I'm passionate about it; but it requires a business head. I started my writers' group to promote the business aspects of writing and help writers navigate the publishing world, which is diverse. If you would like to attend a meeting, it's free. All writers ar...

Michelle Gamble attends the Northwest Book Festival in Portland, Oregon. I just came in off the road after traveling to the Northwest Book Festival and speaking to authors. I've realized the no. #1 thing every author should know ... writing a book means you are becoming in a sense an entrepreneur. "How is that?" you ask. Writing a book is only 50 percent of the work. Most authors get into the craft and forget that they are really embarking on a business endeavor. I named my writers' group Writers Who Mean Business to teach authors the "business of publishing" not just the craft of writing. Authors get so involved in their "craft" they often forget that the next step is for people to actually read their work -- and to get people to read their work it requires "business" activities and more specifically public relations and marketing. No one will know about your work without these business endeavors to publicize it. Marketing and publi...

Bo Bradley discussed how to set and achieve your goals at our meeting of Writers Who Mean Business. Last night we held our monthly meeting of Writers Who Mean Business , 3L Publishing's regional writer's group. My boyfriend Kirk Donnelly attended with me. Afterward he made an important comment that resonated and made me nod. When the meeting ended, the members approached me to ask questions about my company. He was astonished how this generated so much interest in business. He said, "You give them a free service and loads of information -- and then they feel indebted to you and want to do business." He is right. Over the years, I have many people comment about "giving away the farm," and I always laugh. I'm one smart cookie, and I understand the value of education-based marketing, which is what organizing and managing a writer's group is really about. We host and manage the group, and we bring in interesting and provocative speakers to provide i...

(L-R) Bo Bradley, operations manager, Michael Perrotta, author, and Michelle Gamble-Risley, CEO Michael Perrotta, author of Under the Sycamores published by 3L Publishing , spoke at last night's Writers Who Mean Business meeting. The key discussion involved the use of a book coach to mold and shape your manuscript into a valuable final product that will entice readers -- but most importantly publishers to want to work with you. If you are considering using a book coach, here are three valuable reasons why you should: You will receive customized feedback and guidance to improve the story, characters and writing. You will be guided to strengthen to strong points and eliminate the weak points. You will receive unbiased and necessary critical feedback to help you write a five-star book. If you are interested in book coaching services, please call us at 916-300-8012. We respond to all requests and queries within 24 hours. 

For the most part, writing is not a group activity. Most writers write alone and sometimes even in their basements (not me, though). When you write your best friend is often your computer or laptop. I have two best friends -- a desktop and laptop. Human beings are social creatures. We need interaction with more than our daily digital date with our computers. We need to get out and meet people. Writing also is supposed to be done for other people to read (even though some writers hide their work), so even if all you're doing is showing a few friends, it's still an audience. By joining a writer's group you are getting out and showing other people your work. You are able to talk about the experience. You can share that experience and get feedback. You can get fresh perspectives and ideas. You can commiserate on the experience and the like-minded journey. As artists, we have a collective unconscious about the experience and why we do what we do. I personally enjoy discussing an...

Are you an aspiring screenwriter eager to learn from a real professional how to transform your ideas into words that eventually light up the silver screen? Scott D. Roberts, writer, producer and co-director of the award-winning documentary, “Gas Hole,” narrated by Peter Gallagher among his dozens of other screenwriting credits, is coming to Roseville to host a screenwriting workshop titled “How to Write Screenplays that Sell.” The workshop is scheduled for May 10 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., 3721 Douglas Blvd., Roseville, CA 95661. Roberts will walk the class through an information-packed workshop designed to help writers adapt books into scripts or write original screenplays. “How many times have you said, ‘I have a great idea for a movie?’ This workshop will allow you to take it from idea to reality,” he said. “There is definitely a blueprint that studio executives follow, and I will help map out your blueprint.” Roberts’ workshop will cover: •     ...

Sorry Friend-Os ... I have been offline moving my office to Marina del Rey, home of beautiful spring weather and cool ocean breezes! I am one block from the marina and ocean -- pretty cool! I have just moved through yet another reinvention. I would say this reinvention is my third major change in six years. Some people resist change and think it's scary. Not me! Once I form a bold, clear vision (see my book Second Bloom on the 3L website under books ), I go for it. Sometimes it just takes a little bit of time to formulate how I want to go forward. Both my personal and professional lives have been drastically altered! I am moving forward full steam ahead, and I intend to network and dig in deep in Southern California. One thing I'll share is that the process of change can be unpleasant, but then the net results are often well worth it. Now 3L Publishing can expand its reach even further. We still have our operations manager Bo Bradley running the Sacramento office and doing h...

Hello all of my loyal followers. It's Saturday morning and I always like to be entertaining on the weekends. So, I'm going to keep it sort of light this morning ... well, sort of light. Anyway, my writer's group Writer's Who Mean Business hosted an erotic writer named Rosalia, who has written innumerable erotic stories for dozens of books and publications. Rosalia was incredibly frank and interesting. While some of the material she held up would have made the typical author blush and perhaps let out a giggle (and this coming from the author of California Girl Chronicles , which is highly charged and erotic), Rosalia let it go with an utter frank, unaffected pride. I marveled as she held up blush-worthy titles and admitted with steady frankness that and I quote, "I like to write hardcore. It's what I like." She didn't even blink! Even if that were the case and I wanted to write hardcore like that, I know for certain a smile would creep across my face a...

"Oh such hyperbole Michelle!" you gasp at my brazen hustling for business. Well, I am a hustler (in a good way) there is no doubt and when the going gets tight the tough loosen up ... their tongue! I am so grinning right now. Actually, I am super excited. We are running our blazing hot, sizzle, sizzle! summer sale of 20% OFF all publishing and editorial services. Need your book coached? Want to clean up a manuscript and make sure it's has its Ts crossed and i dotted? Interested in publishing the great American novel? Or maybe you just need a white paper or collateral piece cleaned up. Pick a service -- it's all 20% OFF until June 30, 2011. Oh you gasp! Wow! That's awesome! I need a service Michelle! Of course you do ... you literate, writing champ you. Send an email to info@3LPublishing.com. We will take care of you. Now off to a meeting with (guess) an author! Now go on take on the day!! Writing Tip: Always use a proof reader when creating a professional docume...