Teresa Jade LeYung's BLOG

Last week while my husband was at a music workshop, I started a new writing project–a guide for writers to build their names so that they’d have the competitive edge when pitching to an agent or an
acquisition editor at a publishing house  or pursuing the independent publishing route. The guide will serve my clients as well as writers who prefer to learn from written instructions.

The catalyst for my coaching came from their reports:

• “I landed a big acquisition editor. He helped me with the book proposal over months. Everything looked promising until he pitched my book to the sales people at the publishing house and they asked him: ‘What kind of platform does this author have?’ Just like that I was rejected. I hope they won’t take my idea and let a big-name author write it before I build my fame.”
• “I’m tired of getting rejection letters from agents. They tell me I’m a fine writer, but, they also tell me that fiction is very competitive . . .”
• “I’m an expert in my field, and, still I can’t get a publisher to take my book. They asked me: ‘How big is your readership?’ Isn’t that their job, to find the readers?”
• “I was a ghost writer for a celebrity. He got the big advance from the publisher. I got paid one time, a small sum, and, I’m supposed to keep my mouth shut that I did the work.”

Writing-Career-Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan

Here’s a tip from my upcoming guide:  Whether you’re writing fiction or non-fiction, identify the themes in your work.  In my all-time -favorite story, Charlotte’s Web, the themes included: cycle of life; friendship;
self-esteem; courage; loyalty. In Love Made of Heart, the themes included: daughter wanting mother’s approval; woman carrying guilt; traumas from domestic-violence and effects on children; stigmas with mental illness; struggles and courage of immigrants.

When you’re describing your book to anyone, focus on the themes. When  you’re calling in a talk show, make your comment or question relevant to the themes of the program as well as to your book. Be sure to say your full name.

What is fame, really?  Fame is when people hear or see your name, again and again.

Are you writing letters to newspaper editors? Read the paper and see what your community is most concerned with; then write the letter and offer a solution. Pure complaints usually don’t help; succinct proposals offering resources often do help (and get published).

I hope to see writers and readers in the next few months, at these events:

Sunday, August 23, 2009 1:00-3:00pm
Three Stories, Three Writers, Three Paths.

Teresa LeYung Ryan, Martha Alderson, Luisa Adams at San Mateo County Fair/Peninsula Festival

with Luisa Adams, author of Woven of Water; Martha Alderson, author of Blockbuster Plots—Pure & Simple; Teresa LeYung Ryan, author of Love Made of Heart; Moderator: Tory Hartmann, author of The Ghost of Harvey Milk and president of California Writers Club-SF Peninsula Branch
Expo Hall–Creative Arts Stage (west of #13 on festival map)—-at San Mateo County Fair/Peninsula Festival

www.sanmateocountyfair.com/event-info/fairgrounds-map
They met through the Jack London Writers Conference and the California Writers Club over 10 years ago.
How are they inspiring the reading and writing community today?

http://www.lovemadeofheart.com/Teresa-LeYung-Ryan-s-Events.html

Thank you, CWC SF Peninsula Branch President Tory Hartmann, Bardi Rosman Koodrin and Alexandra King,  for orchestrating this fun gig for us!  Other CWC members at the festival will include:  Tory Hartmann, Christopher Wachlin, Laurel Anne Hill, Joyce Robins, Geri Spieler, Inés Villafañe-León, Jo Carpignano, Lucy Murray, and Linda Okerlund.

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Thursday, Sept. 3rd, 2009  6:00-8:00pm
Library Advocates MEET!
Oakland Main Library – West Auditorium
125 14th Street, Oakland, CA

http://savethelibraries.spaces.live.com

Teresa LeYung Ryan and fellow library advocates show up at Save-the-Libraries meetings

Find out how we can help the folks who have lost Book Mobile.

Find out how we can help the learners and tutors at Second Start-the adult literary program in Oakland.

Find out how our might voices can influence city council members.

http://savethelibraries.spaces.live.com

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Saturday,  September 19, 2009,  10:00am–4:00pm in Santa Rosa

Sonoma County Book Festival,  Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa, CA  http://socobookfest.org/

Teresa LeYung Ryan, author of Love Made of Heart www.LoveMadeOfHeart.com

Mary Lunning, aka “Shyne” the poet, author of My Human Heart www.shynespoems.com

Kate Farrell, author of Girl in the Mirror www.girlinthemirror.info

Marcia E. Canton, Ph.D., co-author of Mentoring in Higher Education: Best Practices
www.cantonassociates.com

Stop by and say hello to these 4 authors and members of Women’s National Book Association.
http://www.lovemadeofheart.com/Teresa-LeYung-Ryan-s-Events.html

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Saturday & Sunday, October 10 & 11, 2009

Jack London Writers Conference http://jacklondonwritersconference.org/Event-Schedule.html
Saturday October 10, 2009  11:00-11:45am

Map Out Your Career NOW:
3 Easy Steps for Fiction and Nonfiction Writers
with Author and Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan

Learn how to:
• identify advocates, endorsers and fans.
• gain recognition through your words and your community.
• build your platform by reaching out, not stressing out.

How do writers thrive in the fiercely competitive industry?  Find out for yourself in this fun

interactive session.

http://www.lovemadeofheart.com

Student Intern Nadia helps Teresa

Teresa LeYung Ryan is delighted

As a writing-career coach, I advise my clients to find interns to help them with research, correspondence, and sending out press releases so that they can free up time to launch new projects. I am happy to say that I have found a reliable student intern to help me this summer. Nadia is her name. While I’m busy with library advocacy in Oakland, CA, Nadia is compiling a mailing list for me so that I can let folks know that my publisher, Kensington Publishing in New York, has lowered the price of the hardcover of Love Made of Heart from $23 to $16.10. I am so pleased to have this dependable young lady in my corner. Thank you, Nadia!

The novel:  Love Made of Heart (archived in the San Francisco History
Center)

Teresa LeYung Ryan uses her mother-daughter novel Love Made of Heart to:
•    shed light on stigmas suffered by immigrants
•    advocate compassion for mental illness
•    help survivors of family violence find their own voices

www.LoveMadeOfHeart.com

http://savethelibraries.spaces.live.com/

http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/catalog.cfm?dest=itempg&itemid=6274&secid=83&linkon=subsection&linkid=1793

Teresa LeYung Ryan has been helping writers since her mother-daughter
novel Love Made of Heart was published. As a manuscript consultant and
writing-career coach, she helps her clients identify themes and
archetypes, polish their manuscripts, and map out their careers. As a
community spirit, Teresa advocates compassion for mental illness and she
helps survivors of family violence find their own voices through writing.
Her website www.LoveMadeOfHeart.com offers resources for readers and
writers.

Librarians Cannot Live On Love Alone

What’s so wonderful about a public library? A library houses books, CDs and DVDs for you to borrow, reference books and magazines for you to read on the premise, computers for you to use, Internet for you to access; it offers quiet space and specialists who can help you find the information you need. I love libraries.

Did you know that many of our public libraries are in trouble? Because librarians and other library staff members are employees of their city, they cannot even tell patrons when their libraries are negatively impacted or when their jobs are in jeopardy. However, we, the patrons, have the power to advocate on their behalf.  We can fuel library power.

One example: In Oakland, CA, all library branches (except for the main branch) will be open only 5 days a week. Their material budget has been cut. Librarians are forced to take furlough days. The adult literacy program Second Start is in jeopardy. Come to a Save-the-Libraries meeting and take an active role. http://savethelibraries.spaces.live.com

Library advocates are nice people. We have mighty voices to ask questions that city council members need to answer.

http://savethelibraries.spaces.live.com

Yesterday I went to San Francisco General Hospital’s Carr Auditorium to see the premiere of LIFE IS…4 LIVING!, presented by the Araceli Theater Project.

I smiled, cheered, got choked up, laughed, applauded for each person on and off stage.  A “feel good” experience.

Araceli Signifies ARt As CElebration of LIfe in CARE Program of SFGH

The Araceli Theatre Project is a unique program offered by the Cancer Awareness, Resources and Education (CARE) program of San Francisco General Hospital.

The primary objective of this multi-lingual (English/Spanish/Cantonese) project is to provide patient-guided self-expression and awareness for medically underserved cancer survivors through an innovative, experiential theater arts program.

LIFE IS…4 LIVING! written and directed by Donald E. Lacy, Jr.
Producer Blue Walcer and Co-Producer Angela Alvarez
Performances:

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009, 5 PM
SF General Hospital, Carr Auditorium,
1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco
The July 15th program at SF General Hospital was free to the public.

Friday, and Saturday, July 17 & 18**, 7:30 PM
Mission Cultural Center
2868 Mission Street, San Francisco
**A $15 donation is requested at the door for Mission Cultural Center performances
(no one will be turned away because of lack of funds)

http://www.caresfgh.org

Library Advocates MEET!
Thursday July 9th, 2009  6:00PM to 8:00PM
Oakland Main Library West Auditorium
125  14th Street, Oakland  (refreshments will be served)

http://savethelibraries.spaces.live.com/

Oakland Library Advocates meet to help Library Patrons and Librarians

My dear friend Sue R. forwarded this interesting bit of history about the first library in the United States of America… from June 30 Writer’s Almanac   http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org :

“It was on this day (June 30) in 1731 that Ben Franklin founded the first circulating library, a forerunner to the now ubiquitous free public library. He started it as a way to help settle intellectual arguments among his group of Philadelphia friends, the Junto, a group of civic-minded individuals gathered together to discuss the important issues of their day.

“Each of the 50 charter members bought an initial share into the company (40 shillings), which helped fund the buying of books, and then paid a smaller yearly fee (10 shillings) that went to buying more books and maintaining the library. In exchange, the members could borrow any of the books. Donations of books were gladly accepted.

“They called their charter the Library Company of Philadelphia, and the next year, Franklin hired America’s first librarian, Louis Timothee. At first, the books were stored at the librarian’s house, but by the end of the decade, they were moved to the Pennsylvania State House, which is now known as Independence Hall.”

http://www.youtube.com/savethelibraries  Click on “Chandra’s Story”

Beloved libraries are homes and community centers for kids, teens, seniors, job-seekers, you and me–anyone who needs a place to access books, resources, the Internet, and, especially librarians’ expertise.
Visit: http://savethelibraries.spaces.live.com/

We can all help and have fun at the same time.

In Oakland, CA?

1.  Attend any portion of the June 30, 2009 meeting, 5:00pm–late evening

Oakland City Council Meeting
Check   http://savethelibraries.spaces.live.com   for change in meeting time

City Council Chambers at Oakland City Hall
1 Frank H Ogawa Plaza
1 City Hall Plaza (the building with clock tower)
Oakland, CA 94612

2.  Tell friends about:  http://savethelibraries.spaces.live.com/

3.  Attend the next Save-the-Library advocacy meeting:

6:00 to 8:00 PM, Oakland Main Library-West Auditorium.   125 14th Street, Oakland, CA

http://savethelibraries.spaces.live.com/

Please act now.  June 2009

Who Needs Our Mighty Voices? Library patrons everywhere:

• Kids who go to these safe places to read and do homework
• Seniors who make communities solid
• Unemployed adults using resources and the Internet for job-search

Visit: http://savethelibraries.spaces.live.com/

Example:  In Oakland, CA

Elmhurst, Lakeview, Temescal, Golden Gate, Martin Luther King and Melrose branches would only open 2 or 3 days per week!

77.2% of Alameda County voters had voted YES to Measure Q to increase library hours and services, not cut them.

Time sensitive. City of Oakland is scheduled to adopt the two-year budget June 30, impacting 6 libraries.

Council members working hard to do “the right thing” by all Oakland residents. Library advocates say “Thank you!”

HOW CAN WE HELP ?

1.  Attend the Library Advocacy meeting on Thursday, June 25th, 6:00PM to 8:00PM, Oakland Main Library West Auditorium (125 14th Street, Oakland)

2. Sign the on-line petition on http://savethelibraries.spaces.live.com/

3.   Email or call  the mayor and council members and tell them to keep all Oakland libraries open at least 5 or 6 days a week.  Their names, phone numbers and email addresses listed below.

4.  Bring friends and neighbors to public meetings about the proposed budget and tell  City of Oakland Council Members in person.  Next meeting  Tuesday, June 30, 2009   Check   http://savethelibraries.spaces.live.com for meeting dates/times, how to sign up to speak, and print a sign: Save the Libraries.

City Council Chambers at Oakland City Hall
1 Frank H Ogawa Plaza
1 City Hall Plaza
Oakland, CA 94612

Mayor Ron Dellums (510)238-3141 officeofthemayor@oaklandnet.com
Larry Reid (510) 238-7007 lreid@oaklandnet.com
Nancy Nadel (510) 238-7003 nnadel@oaklandnet.com
Jean Quan (510) 238-7004 jquan@oaklandnet.com
Ignacio De La Fuente (510) 238-7005 idelafuente@oaklandnet.com
Desley Brooks (510) 238-7006 dbrooks@oaklandnet.com
Jane Brunner (510) 238-7001 jbrunner@oaklandnet.com
Patricia Kernighan (510) 238-7002 pkernighan@oaklandnet.com
Rebecca Kaplan (510) 238-7008 atlarge@oaklandnet.com
Director of Library Services Carmen Martinez (510) 238-3141 cmartinez@oaklandnet.com
Karen Boyd, PR Contact (510) 449-4401 KBoyd@oaklandnet.com

Tell your neighbors, friends, co-workers, colleagues about http://savethelibraries.spaces.live.com/

Tell your favorite television, radio, newspaper, on-line celebrities about   http://savethelibraries.spaces.live.com/

Library Advocates Patrick Camacho, Lakshmi Kerner, Olga Malyj, and author Teresa LeYung Ryan

Background:

77.2% of Alameda County voters had voted YES to Measure Q in 2004. http://www.smartvoter.org/2004/03/02/ca/alm/meas/Q/

Let’s remind our mayor and council members that Measure Q was passed to:
(1) maintain and expand neighborhood branch library services, days, and hours; (2) maintain after school homework and tutoring programs; (3) maintain literacy and children’s programs; (4) increase librarian services to schools; (5) increase computer and technology access and (6) acquire new books and materials.

Please keep all Oakland libraries open 5  or 6 days a week!

http://savethelibraries.spaces.live.com/

The sequence of the three phrases in the ballot measure title for Proposition 1E  “Mental Health Services Funding. Temporary Reallocation. Helps Balance State Budget.” of the California Statewide Special Election May 19, 2009 is an example of how disjointed themes confuse and even trick the reader/voter.

We, California voters, had voted for Prop 63 Mental Health Services Act (MHSA).  Now, State officials want to “reallocate” funds for those services to help balance the budget?

The documents on the NAMI California website provide insight on Prop 1E.

http://www.namicalifornia.org/document-detail.aspx?page=homepage&tabb=hometabb&part=prop1e&lang=ENG&idno=4113

http://www.namicalifornia.org/document-detail.aspx?page=homepage&tabb=hometabb&part=prop1e&lang=ENG&idno=4072

Mission — NAMI California is a grass roots organization of families and individuals whose lives have been affected by serious mental illness. We advocate for lives of quality and respect, without discrimination and stigma, for all our constituents. We provide leadership in advocacy, legislation, policy development, education and support throughout California.

NO on Prop 1E California May 19, 2009

Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan says:

“Thank you so much for attending my presentation at the BAIPA conference. One hour was not enough for the resources I wanted to give all of you.”

“How does one person stand out in any industry? Building relationships is one key to success. For you, the writer, another key is to know how to translate the themes from your life to your writing and articulate those themes as community concerns. I want to see you realize your dreams.”

1. YOU ARE AN EXPERT/AUTHORITY OF YOUR EXPERIENCES. You, the story-teller, have the power to entertain, enlighten, and heal the world (one reader at a time). How do you attract the readers? By knowing what the themes are in your stories and making your name synonymous with those themes/messages. [for examples . . . read on.]

2. YOU ARE BIGGER THAN YOUR BOOK. “Reach out, not stress out” to: build your platform/brand; market/promote yourself; gain recognition through your circles of influence. Your book is an accessory of you. When people connect with “what you have to say” on an emotional level, they will most likely be talking about you with their circles of influence.

SOME EASY AND FUN WAYS TO MAKE 1 AND 2 WORK TOGETHER:

* I will write book reviews for my favorite authors and sign my reviews with my full name and blog or website address.

* I will learn how to create a compelling plotline by identifying the themes in my story. See how published authors drive their thesis statements, and then examine your project. Study from the books you’d read again and again. [ Martha Alderson is Teresa's plotting coach www.BlockBusterPlots.com There are 3 plotlines, according to Martha: Action / Emotional / Thematic Significance ]

Examples [What are the themes in Teresa's novel Love Made of Heart ?]:

* struggles and courage of an immigrant family.

* mental illness and the burden of stigmas.

* family-violence is terrorism at home.

* forgiveness in others and in self.

* I will thank people who have inspired me, supported my goals, mentored me, believed in me, AND, I will tell them about the status of my writing project. Be concise. Then once or twice a year I will give them an update.

* When I meet people, I will introduce myself with my full name, and, if I’m asked “What do you do?” I will respond with a talking-tagline [Elisa Southard is Teresa's talking-tagline coach www.breakthroughthenoise.com ]

Examples [How does Teresa build her platform? Articulating the themes in her novel by adding Elisa's "talking-tagline action verbs"? ]:

* Through my stories, I give voice to the struggles and courage of immigrant families.
* Through my writing, I advocate compassion for mental illness and help dissolve the stigmas.
* Through my book, I help survivors of family-violence find their own voices.
* Through my book Love Made of Heart, I show that “forgiveness in others” begins with self-forgiveness.

[See how Teresa crafts each statement to focus on one theme at a time? If she's talking to someone who has introduced him/herself as an outreach coordinator at Community Violence Solutions, which theme would Teresa focus on?]

* I will go where published authors go, learn from them, foster relationships, and share my findings with colleagues. [Check Teresa's calendar-of events at www.LoveMadeOfHeart.com ] Teresa believes in “Pay it forward” as in Catherine Ryan Hyde’s novel Pay In Forward. When someone does something nice for Teresa, she does something nice for three other people.

* I will attend community / library / bookstore events and blog about the experience.

* I will post a question on my blog and invite my friends to post comments. I will also ask my friends to forward my request to their friends. Make the task easy for people; give them step-by-step instructions; test the procedure yourself before asking someone else to post comments. Learn more ways to build fame through blogging [ http://askmepc-webdesign.com Linda Lee is Teresa's cyberspace coach.]

* I will identify the organizations that advocate my messages/themes and post my comments on their blogs and also post those same comments on my own blog.

* I will Google my own name and see “who am I” today in the cyberspace world; then every month (as I continue to take action building my platform), I will see the great progress I’ve made.

* I will help my writer-friends by telling them about the April 16, 2009 event where they can dine with and learn more about identifying the themes in their writing from Teresa LeYung Ryan and other published authors at the “WNBA Authors Showcase” Go to: www.wnba-sfchapter.org for more info.

Cheering for all hard-working writers!

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan who says:

“Reach out, not stress out.”

Is there a Database of Literary Agents?

“Yes!” says Writing-Career-Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan.  Read on…

AAR is the Association of Authors’ Representatives.
http://www.aaronline.org/
Authors looking for agents can search in the AAR database by choosing genre/categories:
After you identify the agents who specialize in your genre, go to the agents’ websites and follow submission guidelines. It’s okay to
query more than one agent at a time.
Querying = asking an agent if he/she would like to read part or all of your manuscript.

When an agent asks to read your entire manuscript (“ms”) and you want this agent to do that, then you give this agent an exclusive reading time, typically 2 or 3 weeks. You cannot give exclusive reading time to more than one agent at a time since an agent would be investing her/his time in reading your entire ms. You do NOT send your entire ms. to someone who has not asked to see it.

Also, look at Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents – (available at libraries and bookstores)

Reach out, not stress out.

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

I am Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan who teaches my clients (writers, artists) how to reach out, not stress out, before and after publication — identify themes in their intellectual properties and create scripts for pitches, query letters, press releases, talking-points, one-minute videos, photo slideshows, and the all-mighty blog. Please visit http://WritingCoachTeresa.com  and http://LoveMadeOfHeart.com/blog for resources.

The workbook:
Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW – available at http://www.laurelbookstore.com in Oakland, CA and on Amazon – print edition and Kindle edition!

If you’d like to email me . . .   WritingCoachTeresa  then @, then Gmail.com

• What email subject line will attract my attention?  Tell me where you’ve met me (which conference? which workshop? which community event?) or tell me who referred you.

•  In the body of your email, please include your full name and your URL (website or blog address) so that I can see what you’re already doing to build your writer’s platform and fanbase. I like concise and gracious emails. Thank you so much.