Make Time to Write: 10 Tips for Daily Writing By: Courtney Carpenter

We were hoping to create a blog entry that would help you get motivated to write more often. While searching the WWW we found this article by Courtney Carpenter. Instead of taking the time to recreate the wheel and the notion, we figured it would be just as effective to just share what Courtney has already said. We hope that you find this helpful. 

Make Time To Write: 10 Tips For Daily Writing 

by Courtney Carpenter

Writing takes commitment, self-discipline, and desire. Don’t let other distractions get in the way of your writing goals–set aside time every day to write. When you are tempted to make up an excuse as to why you can’t write today, stop yourself. Only you can write the rest of that chapter you’re working on or meet your deadline. Remind yourself why you are passionate about writing. Plus, look at these 10 tips for writing motivation from Writer with a Day Job by Aine Greaney.

10 Tips For Daily Writing  

1. Make a date with yourself. Yes, I know your schedule is jam-packed. But you deserve a writing rendezvous with yourself. We owe ourselves some creative, meaningful time in our lives. So make a date and keep it. Oh, and show up on time.
2. Right brain. Right time. Is there a time of day when you’re naturally more whimsical, more in tune with your inner or imaginative self? First thing in the morning? Last thing at night? Right after your morning yoga? Immediately after your lunchtime jog? Sitting at your son’s hockey practice? If there’s a time when you believe that writing will come more easily, make this your daily writing time.
3. A clean, well-lit place: It doesn’t have to be a custom-designed artist studio with an ocean view. But your daily writing spot needs to make you feel comfortable and happy, and it needs to match your personality. Even if it’s just a table in the corner of your shared bedroom, this spot should make you feel free to be yourself. It should fit the creative you. At a minimum, make sure that your writing spot is free of any negative associations or memories.
4. Tell your family or friends. You may want to be a mystery writer, but you don’t have to a mysterious writer. Because it’s a new surprising side of you, because it’s a new person that your family may not have encountered before, you may be shy about saying to your family, “I’ve started writing.” Quite simply, it may make you feel vulnerable. Or you may feel that it sets some kind of expectation for blockbusters or huge advances, or that you’ll start to walk around talking to yourself. Or you may fear that your friends and family will see this as time away from them or a set of shirked household duties. Actually, it will. Beginning a writing life means sacrificing or cutting back on other things, including your social life. But share your writing dream with your family, friends, or roommates. A real friend will support you. A fake friend will laugh, tease, condescend, or try to discourage you. Or worse, these friends or family will make it all about them (“but what about our Thursday night movie?”). Believe me, every writer needs a cheerleader or two or three. Also, rearranging your schedule to find some writing time will require the support and cooperation of the other people in your household.
5. Same time. Same place. Set up a place where the writing is going to happen. By going to that same spot with the same view and smells and general feel, you give yourself some sensual and spatial prompts to start writing. Yes, we’re Pavlovian creatures, and this is especially true in writing. “Oh right,” you think, as you sit in that plastic seat inside your usual window at McDonald’s. “I’m here. So it must be time to write.”
6. Switch off all electronic communication. Take this as fact: email, iPhones, Blackberries, text messaging, and any other electronic-messaging system are the enemies of writing. First, all that time spent reading and responding to messages eats into your precious writing time. And second, those bleeps and pings and newsy emails distract you into completely different mental space—a place far away from your writing mind. However hard it is, even if you are chained to your work or personal electronic device, switch it off. All those messages will be there when your writing time is over and complete.
7. Write naked: Say a prayer to the writing gods. Develop a pre-writing ritual that works for you—even if it means wearing a Stetson hat or writing naked (not in McDonald’s, please!).
8. Set a daily quota or word count. As you look at that calendar or day planner, you may automatically allow a time to writing—a half hour or fifteen minutes or an hour. This works in terms of finding and assigning a regular writing time. But when I’m starting a new project or a first draft, this never works for me. Quite simply, it’s just too easy to say, “I spent a half hour at my writing desk today.” But that half hour doesn’t count if half of it was spent checking the online headlines or just gazing at the computer screen. Make your writing slot work. Set a word quota.
9. Praise! Alleluia! Keep a little calendar about your desk or, at the end of your writing session, open up your online calendar or online to-do lists to record today’s completed word count. It will serve as a time sheet—and a rewards system to praise yourself for your excellent discipline.
10. Allow yourself to write badly: At least for the early drafts, you need to just write. If you stop to judge, edit, delete, and rewrite, you will be spending all your time playing reader or critic, not a writer. Trust me, you and your work will have enough critics later when you finish your final draft and put it out there for public consumption. But for now, for these early drafts, be gentle with yourself. Love your writing. And above all, trust where it’s going.

As writers, we are horrible, and horribly hard on ourselves. We stop too often to censure, edit, and worry what the readers, the publishers, or the critics might think. Love yourself. Give yourself a break. Keep writing.

Guest Blogger - Brit Chism - The Generative Life of LGBTQ Pinellas

The Generative Life of LGBTQ Pinellas

Cindy Lauper's "True Colors Fund" is a national pioneer in raising community awareness of homeless LGBTQ kids. Florida has 5,700 of these "throw away kids" who face homelessness after their family of origin threw them out. It is estimated that nationally 1.6 million kids sleep in the streets. Forty percent of these, a disproportionately high number at 640,000, are LGBTQ. In Pinellas County, a cooperative effort is now addressing this problem.

Christopher Clawson Rule of Breaking Rules Publishing,(www.breakingruleswritingcompetitions.com) and his husband, artist David Rule are leaning into the work by offering educational opportunities in the development of language and writing skills. It is shocking that if a child cannot read and comprehend by the time they are nine-years-old (leaving the third grade) they have little chance of success in traditional schools.

The effort, on a local level, brings together Metro Wellness and Community Centers, and Family Resources, Inc. with Prism Transitional Living to offer transitional housing, clothes, food, learning opportunities, and other services, including some basic medical care, to this vulnerable population.   

Buddhism encourages its practitioners who try to follow the Noble Eightfold Path to work for the good of others and to respect life. Erik Erikson, the developmental psychologist, calls it "generativity" when adults strive to produce and rear the next generation and to be creative in one's life and work. John Kotre, a Buddhist practitioner, and writer translate the Japanese sedai-keisho-sei that you receive something from the past, you create something out of it, and you pass it on to the future. Or, in the words of Erikson, "I am what survives me." Generativity plants an orchard or vineyard that one farmer may not live to enjoy the produce from, but generations that come after them will eat the fruit of their labor. It includes any activity that contributes to the development of others and to the life of the generations. Like Moses, who wandered and toiled in the desert, did not live to enjoy life in the promised land, but his efforts rewarded later generations.

This activity, according to Erikson, gives rise to the ego strength called, "virtue of care." If we are successful with this, we are generative, not stagnant and self-absorbed. At the end of our life when we look back and ask, "Is it OK to have been me?" we can answer, yes. We have ego integrity, and we are not in despair.

In the words of an African proverb, "The world was not left to us by our parents. It was lent to us by our children."

They need money to support the work, and they need volunteers to donate some time. Telephone numbers: Stacy Welton @ 727 521 5203, and Nicole Leslie @ 727 552 1011. More information: http://www.watermarkonline.com/?s=prism+program.

Guest Blogger Wendell Whitney Thorne - A Cooperative Endeavor, A Solo Journey!

A Cooperative Endeavor, A Solo Journey

A lot of people I know are not writers. They think I'm supremely gifted and talented and boy, how do you come up with this stuff?

I wish I knew. That said, in a way, I have some idea.

Everything I see--every event, every collision of people and acts, every minute observation--sends me on a pathway in my own mind. For instance, while stopped at a traffic light a couple of weeks ago, my son and I noticed a beat-up bed pillow at the base of a pylon sign at the bowling alley. There was also some shrubbery on the little parking lot island. That's it. I asked my son what he thought about that? I asked him, Do you think maybe a homeless person spends his or her nights there? Or, Did some guy smother his wife with that pillow and then chuck it out of his car? That kind of pathway.

If you're a writer, you probably do the same thing. You see something mundane to most; but to you, it's a story, and you get to make it up. I don't even know if I like that about myself. But there is no way out of it. I've been this way since early childhood.

Now, after half-dozen novels, a few pieces of non-fiction, hundreds of blogs and newspaper columns, I'm finally zeroing in on that story-making thingy in my mind. I'm now a screenwriter. Ugh, who isn't, right? And every one of them (us?) want's the same thing, to a degree: Get our words magically transformed into something people just might want to watch.

But it's more than that, really, isn't it? We have something meaningful to convey about this life and this world and its inhabitants, replete with lessons and head-scratching moments and laughter and tears. It touches us. And we want it to touch others in either the same way or in a way that stirs an emotional response in them, whatever that amounts to for them. Right?

So, after a year and a half of working with a splendid script coach, I have Ridin' On The Rim, a dark comedy that pits a teenager, somewhat psychopathic short-order cook against the observed injustice in his tiny realm. Okay, the log line is more like this:

"An idealistic teenaged short-order cook, in denial over the suicide of his pregnant girlfriend, snaps during the breakfast rush and slaughters a complaining diner. Four years in the psyche ward--and a teacher who won’t give up on him--promise an optimistic future. But an arrogant lawyer and the lad's own naive sense of justice stand in his way."

It came to me--mostly--in a dream, and I wrote the short story by pairing my dream with an actual event that occurred in Florida nearly 20 years ago. People said it read like a movie. Of course, it did; it's a dream, and a dream is nothing more than a movie. One observer who read the screenplay said it's like Slingblade meets Natural Born Killers. I'm glad somebody can be that succinct.

We've done a table read and I've had a dozen or more people read the work. If it ever gets made into a film, the services of scores of other people will be required. Many of them will have to embrace the story as I do. The end result will likely look somewhat different than the film in my mind, and even though that thought initially brought consternation, I'm good with it now. In fact, I'm kind of excited to see what talented people who "get" the story will do with it.

Somebody once said that you can do anything, but you can't do it alone. I think it was a ballplayer, probably a pitcher. I can't remember. But it's good advice for those of us in the creative arts, you ask me.

So now I have this idea that's become a bunch of words on an actual page. I feel like I did when I was coerced into writing the story into a screenplay in the first place. I opened up the template in Final Draft--even gave it a name--and then took a deep breath--and stared at the screen. Where the hell do I start? Well, that's how I feel now. I have some potential investors and that's it. Where does one begin to assemble a team of talented people to make this film?

I've reached out to a number of people, both locally and in the target-rich environments of New York and Hollywood. I know it's an uphill climb and I know it's a serious long shot. Meanwhile, I'm working on two more, because screenwriting is seriously the most enjoyable writing I've ever done.

Which means that, no matter what, I'm going to keep on doing it. My friend Doug would utter the word "persistence" at this point.

That's one of the reasons I like him.

You can find Wendell on Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2972958.Wendell_Whitney_Thorne

or on his website at http://www.wendellthorne.com

5 Things You Wish You Had Been Told About The Design Industry - Guest Blogger - Loius Martin from Invictus Studio

Welcome Loius Martin,

and thank you for this very informative presentation. 

You can find a link to Loius Martin and his company, Invictus Studio, via our website at www.breakingruleswritingcompetitions.com

5 Things You Wish You Had Been Told About The Design Industry

The design is the art of practicing the ideas and experiences with visual and textual content. The process starts with an idea and ends with execution. Designs that get noticed in an instant are the easiest to recognize and lasts for long. Depending on the business context and career level, designers can find themselves with some different job titles and with the ongoing years, they realize that they could have done work in a better way.

Let’s share few insights of what could have been told earlier to the designers about the design industry. It could have been much easier for the designers if they were told to,

    1.    Learn To Ask Questions:   

You never know it all nor your client does and not every project you take will be defined clearly and is easy to start. The designers these days accept the importance of asking questions from the customers. If you do not proactively ask the questions, you will not be able to head correctly particularly in the case of a non-designer client. A project at the start is entirely ambiguous and can mislead if clarification is not done from the customer. Ask questions, clear your queries, and head correctly. Questions can be like,

·         What does your product/business do?

·         Tell us about the unique story behind the name of your business or your logo design?

·         Share some qualities that describe your company?

·         What timelines are you looking for the project?

·         What is your budget?

There are many questions like the above ones which every designer must ask to clear all the queries before executing a project.

     2.    Learn To Say Yes And No:

At times, saying yes is not correct. Not all the requirements of your client need to be implemented. You must have faced clients with unreasonable expectations which may end you up in a difficult situation as to how to synchronize your skills and ideas with the client’s requirements. Learn how to please customers but within an achievable frame so you may not end up frustrating your work and your clients.

    3.    Never Miss Your Deadlines:

Being up all night to complete a project was all that you had been doing for quite a few time of your beginning as a designer. Don’t carry the misconception that being a designer, no matter a professional logo designer or a web designer means to work all day and night. When you are into a project, the only thing that creates a balance between you and your work is the deadline. Set deadline a little ahead so you may be able to complete your task promptly.

    4.    Build Up Your Portfolio:

Promote yourself by making up an online portfolio on your website or other social media platforms.You have been doing projects for a time; it is time to create the best of you by showcasing your abilities, skills and design projects online for your prospective clients.

It will head you towards a more professional way of sending your links and portfolio to your clients to assess your work.

     5.    Initial Deposit:

You must have been cheated on your earlier times when you did not get paid for your work. There are clients looking more towards getting a design for free. So, what to do? There is nothing wrong if keeping the initial deposits compulsory before executing a design project.

It will help you in identifying your legitimate clients from the ones trying to deceive you. The safer you play, the higher you reap and so is for your betterment.

Conclusion:

A designer has an unlimited domain to work in, explore it, learn from your mistakes and step ahead correctly. The consequences of the startup time have been discussed which is not the only ones, there could be many other obstacles that might have been faced or may occur shortly. All you need to do is stay patient, take your time, learn from the given guidelines and take a deep analysis of the design project before you step in it.

Author Bio:

Loius Martin by profession is the Marketing Manager at Invictus Studio and a professional guest blogger. He writes about design trends, search engine optimization, and marketing. He has always been looking for new opportunities to write on and has now made a good presence in the field of content management and marketing.

So you wrote a book - now what?

Okay - so you're like a little kid, excited and over the moon about publishing your book. Now what?

Here Are Some Ideas For Marketing Your Book - Because My Friend - It's All On YOU!

So you’ve written a book, and now you’re wondering what to do next. Basically, step two is - you must market your book. To succeed in this noise-filled, content - saturated market, you seriously need to stand out from the crowd and away from all the other writers. Marketing will help your book slice through the chatter and reach the audience you’re looking for. Here are some ideas and common marketing practices.

It's not going to get done this way. Nice try though. 

                                                                                                        You Need Content

Every marketing campaign, no matter for what needs content. First, authors need to create a press release for their book. But a press release by itself does not constitute a marketing campaign. In addition, you need to create press kit material. You should prepare an author bio and a book summary. In addition, choose excerpts from your book that will showcase it. Also, prepare a list of interview questions. All these elements from the press kit. With this specialized material ready to go, it’s time to think about distribution.

Online Marketing - The Internet Is Your Friend.

Okay, so maybe you won't be sweating this bad, but, the pressure is still there to succeed. Beyond your website that should offer a virtual press kit and beyond sending out a press release electronically, authors need to be involved in social networking on Twitter, Facebook and Google+. Give potential readers information about your book, as well as guides on how to purchase it. Share quotes from the book or stories of funny things that happened while writing it. Online marketing also includes reaching out to bloggers and other interested parties for reviews. Check out Self-Publishing Review (SPR) for a site devoted to news and reviews of self-published books. SPR also has links to many sites that review self-published books.

                                                    Print Marketing 

The reality is that we're not all famous writers. We don't have a bank account to match our egos and we don't have the big publishing houses beating down our doors or blowing up our phones. But we still need to look like it. Authors still have to sell, believe it or not, they still have to sell copies of their books. You'll need to assemble press kits to offer to local, regional and national media, as desired. These kits should only be sent out when specifically requested to keep costs at a minimum. Promotional materials, such as postcards and bookmarks, can also help authors get the word out about their books. Such promotional materials can be especially useful at book events, book fairs, and signings.

Local vs. National

It’s important to know the market for your book, as well as what fits your personal style, remember it is still you on the page and the back cover for that matter. It's important not to lose your voice. Successful marketers think about their reading audience. A local or grassroots kind of marketing should start with your own network. You should also seek media coverage on local radio stations, TV stations, and in newspapers. Reach out to people you know with the hope of turning them into a kind of adjunct sales force. National marketing campaigns are about reaching millions at once. If your book has global significance and is newsworthy, it needs the press. Using a fee-based service like PRWeb or PRNewswire is a way to reach a large audience at one fell swoop. Or, you might consider fee-based, national advertising through Facebook.                                 

                                                              Books Signings And Events

And don't kid yourself. As glamorous as this seems, it's never easy. Events can also be part of marketing plans. Most authors hold a book launch. A launch provides an opportunity to get the word out about your book. Many authors partner with non-profits and hold events in local bookstores and museums. Such events can generate media coverage and, in turn, create publicity for a book. Authors also participate in signings, conferences, book fairs, and non-profit benefits. All of these events can generate press for your book.

We hope that this has been helpful.

Thanks for stopping by.

You're a business now!

You’re a business now!

Your book has been published. Now what?

You put it out on all of your social media sites. You join additional literary groups and pages, just to get your face and book known. You push for your family and friends to buy your novel from you. The next thing you know you're writing another book. Why? Because you think that the money will flow with the numbers. The more books you have out, the more money will come in. Well, my friends, you couldn’t be more wrong.

What you are now is a business. A small one, but a business just the same. One that you’ll need to brand, promote, market and tend to. Which means ranting to your Facebook followers about why they aren’t supporting you or buying your book, is by all means, not a good idea. What you will need now is to develop some thick skin, hold your tongue, find the grace your mama was talking about and lastly, seriously grow a pair. If you are afraid to sell yourself in person, well then you’re in trouble. Long gone are the days of major promo’s, paid for by publishing companies. Those same companies are now looking to the self-publishers and the internet to see how they are selling before they even consider jumping on board. While there are publishers, like Breaking Rules Publishing that helps the authors, the majority of the weight to sell your book is on you, the writer.

Even here at Breaking Rules Publishing, we do our best to promote our authors and help to market them. But, it’s now a team effort and the writer is going to have to share in their own success story. The idea that you can just sit back and at your desk and write book after book, while the publisher spends the time and money to promote you, is just no longer a reality. One of the major ways we try to help the author is through our royalty program.

Many publishers don't tell you about their royalty package until the very end of the process. We're letting you know, up front, that we will publish your book and help you market it. We will pay royalties of 70-30 (in our favor) until the first 50 books/ebooks have been sold. After that point, the rate will move to 60-40 (in our favor) until the next 50 books/ebooks have been sold. Once you have sold 100 books that situation will flip and the rate will be 70-30 in favor. Giving your a much higher return from your work. This will also allow us to help pay for the admin and printing costs related to your book. After that first 100 books - it's all about you!

With all of this said, writers, PLEASE, think about how you and your publisher are viewed, not only by those that purchase your book but also by those that don't. As you know, first impressions are everything, make yours a good one.

BRP Happenings !

Breaking Rules Publishing is proud to announce two new authors and releases, as well as a couple new projects coming down the road.

We just recently published “Recluse by Jay Helwig,” a book of poetry inspired by Emily Dickinson. This is Mr. Helwig’s first book of poems. He is currently working on a book of short stories as well as his first novel. Go to our website at www.breakingruleswritingcompetitions.com to order your copy now.

Next up is Brit Chism’s new book of short stories, “Mnemosyne’s Daughters.” We are at present in production and taking pre-orders for just $10 - simply email us at breakingrulespublishing@gmail.com and we would be happy to help you. Another wonderful and generous component to this project is that Brit is donating all of his royalties back to Breaking Rules Publishing’s Young Writers Scholarship program – with a concentration on young LGBT writers. Thank you again to Brit Chism for this amazing offer.

Breaking Rules Publishing is also in contract negotiations with Barry McGuire and his children’s book as well as Richard Randall and his multi-media novel - more details to follow. We are very excited to welcome these four promising and fantastic writers to the BRP family.

If you're not aware - Breaking Rules Publishing is currently accepting manuscripts and projects. Contact Christopher at breakingrulespublishing@gmail.com - he would be happy to help you with your goals.

In event news – BRP is planning an event in September entitled “Gulf to Bay Bike Ride.” All the proceeds from this event will go to help fund the BRP Young Writers Scholarship fund. If you are interested in participating – sponsorship – donating or sharing the information, please contact us at breakingrulespublishing@gmail.com.

Also on June 11^th, we will be at Hamburger Mary’s for another round of Drag Queen Bingo. As with our last visit there – all the proceeds will help to fund the BRP Scholarship program.

That’s all for now – thanks for stopping by. We hope to see you out in the community or hear from you.

Have a writing project? Let’s work together to get you published!

Scholarship Program - Reaching Out !

And the scholarship program continues. We have been working hard to create a scholarship program that will bring young authors to the forefront. Offering them an opportunity to sharpen their skills, show their stories and become a published author.         

Monday we hit the streets and move to start approaching schools, educators and students in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater/Tampa area. We hope to select 8-10 stories of 50 pages or less in various genres (Romance - Science Fiction - History - Mystery - Drama - Action / Adventure - Horror - Poetry -  LGBT stories in all of these genres). The idea being that we will group these stories together for a soft cover book/Ebook, offer royalties to the authors and use the rest for building a scholarship fund for Breaking Rules Writing Competitions. 

If this is successful in our area we will venture out to the rest of the state and possibly the nation. In all reality, there is no reason why this program can't be a great success and help a lot of students. It is our hope to change some lives, offer scholarships for those going to private schools, college, writing workshops or camp, even those who just need the tools of the trade. 

Next up - The Mag - we would like to start to offer a local magazine focusing on local writers, local news, events and competitions. Here the writing community of St Petersburg will get an opportunity to share their work, promote themselves and find out what the happens are around town. It's a large undertaking and challenge but one that we are up for. 

So, here we are, moving on!

Digging in for a little reshaping !

 Moving on and digging in.

The reshaping has begun - Hello All !

We're beginning to reach out to the community to see what their thoughts would be in regard to a quarterly periodical for the St. Petersburg writing community. We've had a good response and have decided to move forward. First up - the money - we're looking to area businesses to help fund the Mag by way of sponsorship's and advertisements in what we're going to call -

Breaking Rules - St. Petersburg's Pen In Motion.

The goal for the Mag is to offer a place for local writers to promote their work, publish short stories, help to promote workshops, competitions, create a space to list their websites, as well as offer a place for writers to network with other writers. We're hoping that the advertisers will be a means of location and inspiration for the writers to write, gather and create.

So - step one is under way as we develop promotional opportunities for the locals and the writers in the community.

Step two - reach out to local writers to let them know what we're up to.

Step three - put the pen in motion.

Keep an eye out and if you know of anyone who is interested in placing some work or promoting their work in the St. Petersburg - Pen In Motion, send them to our website at 

www.breakingruleswritingcompetitions.com or send an email to 

breakingrulespublishing@gmail.com.

And of course - take a look at our most recent writing competitions for writers of all ages and genres.

Thanks for checking in - and write on !

Moving on and digging in !

Moving on and digging in.

The reshaping has begun and we're beginning to reach out to the community to see what their thoughts would be in regard to a quarterly periodical for the St. Petersburg writing community. We've had a good response and have decided to move forward. First up - the money - we're looking to area businesses to help fund the Mag by way of sponsorship's and advertisements in what we're going to call - Breaking Rules - St. Petersburg's Pen In Motion.

The goal for the Mag is to offer a place for writers to promote their work, publish short stories, help to promote workshops, competitions, create a space to list their websites, as well as places for writers to network with other writers. We're hoping that the advertisers will be a means of location and inspiration for the writers to write and gather.   

So - step one is under way as we develop promotional opportunities for the locals and the writers in the community.

Step two - reach out to local writers to let them know what we're up to.

Step three - put the pen in motion.

Keep an eye out and if you know of anyone who is interested in placing some work or promoting their work in the St. Petersburg - Pen In Motion, send them to our website at www.breakingruleswritingcompetitions.com or send an email to breakingrulespublishing@gmail.com.

Thanks - and write on !

Starting A New !

To be honest - this hasn't worked. It was our hope that Breaking Rules would be a place to help promote writers or all ages. To offer competitions, giving back to the writers so that they could continue to work on their craft. As well as offer scholarships for writers wanting to further their education, take workshops or just need supplies. Our mission is to create a writers community, provide encouragement, resources, competitions and inspiration to writers, both young and not so young at any writing level. We still believe in that mission but feel that maybe it's time to pull back and not necessary focus on the world and just focus on my area.

So, we are still going to offer open competitions for anyone, from anywhere, to submit to. But we are also going to create a READER - meaning that we will be working to create a place for writers in the St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Clearwater areas to submit writing samples and stories. To offer a place for them to promote themselves, either with the website, books that they have written or new releases. We will also help to promote workshops in the area as well as promote current competitions under the Breaking Rules umbrella. It is also our hope to help promote or be a resource for writers looking for editors,  publishing options or assistance with their projects. The goals is to create the rag and place it throughout the area in restaurants, lounges, hotels and condo's. Hopefully the patrons will be either be from the area and want to help support their local writers - or - tourists will pick up the rag, read it, buy from it, and take it home and help to promote the writers, editors, businesses, etc. inside. As well as spread the word about Breaking Rules throughout their own area and possibly drive writers to the Breaking Rules competitions.

If you have some interest in being a part of Breaking Rules - St. Pete's Pen - please feel free to contact us at, breakingrulespublishing@gmail.com.

Thank you for stopping by, we hope to hear from you soon.

As always, mention this blog post in your submission and we'll give you an additional 30% off your submission fees.