Teresa Jade LeYung's BLOG

Archive for the ‘About Teresa Jade LeYung aka Teresa LeYung Ryan’ Category

I was visiting my Cyberspace Coach Linda Lee’s website http://askmepc-webdesign.com/ and came across photos of her at WordCamp 2009 San Francisco with buddy Rebecca Martin of Dear Jane http://www.dearjane.info/ and Matthew Mullenweg who is the founding developer of WordPress. On the “About Matthew Mullenweg” page http://ma.tt/about/ Matt says: “WordPress, the blogging software that runs much of this site and millions of other sites around the world. The website says WordPress is ‘a state-of-the-art semantic personal publishing platform’ but more importantly WordPress is a part of who I am. Like eating, breathing, music, I can’t not work on WordPress. The project touches a lot of people, something I’ve recently begun to appreciate. I consider myself very lucky to be able to work on something I love so much.”
Today is his birthday. Happy Birthday, Matt! Thanks for developing such a useful program http://wordpress.com–especially for my clients, my colleagues, and me–writers who need a place to build our platforms (our names/fan base) while we write our books.

Back to Linda Lee http://askmepc-webdesign.com/. Special cheers to Linda Lee who “prodded” me to blog over 2 years ago. It wasn’t until November 2008 when her advice finally sunk in; I guess yours truly needed to hear something 7 times over a year. That same month Martha Alderson asked me to comment https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31672110&postID=6520769433476476003 and share my expertise about building a platform/promoting novels; then Nina Amir  http://writenonfictioninnovember.wordpress.com/2008/11/16/how-to-make-your-manuscript-compelling/ asked me to be a guest-blogger on “How to Make Your Manuscript Compelling” and so I wrote “How to Look at Your Manuscript with an Editor’s Lens”

Nowadays, I look forward to blogging–sharing my observations with writers who want to build their names and have fun doing it.  Thanks, Coach Linda!

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan

http://WritingCoachTeresa.com

This post is dedicated to the writers who have completed the work in the guide Build Your Name, Beat the Game: Be Happily Published.  My heart feels light and joy for you. I celebrate you.  I invite you to sign in the “Build Your Name Hall of Fame” with your acceptance speech [ click on the title of this post and scroll down to get the comment boxes ] by:

1. Introducing yourself with your new mission statement.
2. Telling us the top 3 exercises from the guide that were most useful to you.
3. Giving us a glimpse into your hopes and dreams for your illustrious writing career.

After you sign in the Hall of Fame, do your writer-friends a favor; tell them about the guide and how they can build their names too.  You’re on your way to other endeavors, and, because you’ve developed a new wonderful habit, every project you touch will benefit from your new energy.

I am available for individual coaching and group coaching. To E-mail me, key in WritingcoachTeresa then @, then Gmail.com In the subject line–show your full name and purpose of your e-mail.

May your work be read by many and preserved in libraries!

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan

“Make your name synonymous with the themes/subject matters/issues you write about.”

I’ve been hearing about Smart Cookies on the radio, so, I Googled “Smart Cookies”

http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/money/debt/slideshow1_ss_showus

Oprah.com webpage says: [Last year, 24-year-old Katie Dunsworth decided it was time for her and her friends to stop spending, start saving and get richer. Katie saw Oprah's Debt Diet show and decided to take action. The show motivated Katie and four friends to start a money group and get smart about their spending, saving and investing. They call themselves the Smart Cookies. As a team, the women set up weekly meetings, confess their debt, make a plan to "pay it down" and start investing. "Really the one thing that came across is we need to be held accountable," Katie says.]

In my professional life, I belong to a smart group too. Smart woman Linda Lee and I, Writing-Career Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan, invited 5 colleagues and formed a master-mind group.  Each woman had specific goals, different interests, but we had one thing in common–we were all writers. At our first meeting on March 29, 2008, we set up rules, goals and commitments, and pledged to support each member of the group as well as the group as a whole. 7 women.  7 colleagues.  We called ourselves the Savvy Seven and met once a month.

Linda Lee, founder of Smart Women Stupid Computers http://smartwomenstupidcomputers.com/ and AskMePc  http://askmepc.com/

Teresa LeYung Ryan, Writing-Career Coach Teresa http://writingcoachteresa.com http://writingcoachteresawordpress.com http://www.LoveMadeOfHeart.com/

Mary E. Knippel, Creativity Mentor http://openuptoyourcreativity.com/

Martha Alderson, International Plot Consultant  http://blockbusterplots.com/

Luisa Adams, award-winning writer, author of Woven of Water http://www.rp-author.com/Adams/

Lori Noack, founder of Lori Noack Arts Management. She’d be a super executive director for any organization.

Rebecca Martin, founder of Dear Jane, a Career Advisement Company http://www.dearjane.info/

Each member of Savvy Seven has accomplished her goals & commitments; each one is pursuing new dreams.  March 2010 will be our second anniversary.

My first book turned seven on October 1, 2009.  So much has happened since. I wish to publicly thank the following people for helping me bring Love Made of Heart into the world and sending her to wonderful places:

archived in the San Francisco History Center

• Everyone recognized on the acknowledgment page of Love Made of Heart
• My agent Stacey Glick and all her colleagues at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management
• Editor John Scognamiglio, president Steven Zacharius, publisher Laurie Perkin, art director Lou Malcangi, sales director Debbie Tobias then, sales director Doug Mendini, author Libba Bray, copy-editor Jacquie Edwards, and Everyone who were at (or associated with) Kensington Publishing Corp. NY (so many talented folks).
• Nancy Suib, Anne Shulenberger and all independent sales reps;
• Folk who are associated with booksellers, libraries, schools, book groups.
• My darling husband, sister & brother-in-law, family members, friends, mentors and colleagues
• Folks related to Women’s National Book Association, California Writers Club, California Reading Association, California School Library Association, San Francisco History Center
• Teachers & students in Advanced Composition/English-as-a-Second-Language classes
• Readers
• Everyone who helped me quietly (the secret angels)

I wish you all a healthful & prosperous New Year!

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan
http://WritingCoachTeresa.com
http://LoveMadeOfHeart.com

As an author and a community member, I use my novel Love Made of Heart to:
• help mothers and daughters speak from the heart
• shed light on stigmas suffered by immigrants
• advocate compassion for mental illness
• help survivors of family violence find their own voices
http://LoveMadeOfHeart.com

Love Made of Heart is the story of Ruby Lin, a Chinese-immigrant-daughter, and her journey to self-forgiveness.

In a few hours, 2009 will click into 2010. I wish everyone on this planet a safe home, nourishing food, clean water, sunshine, caring neighbors, and joyful hearts, mind, body, and spirit to be caregivers to all living things.

To writers, I wish abundant energy to work, self-confidence, and compassion to self and others.

And that goes for me too.

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung Ryan
http://WritingCoachTeresa.com

Writers can afford to hire me when they form a study-group and split the costs. I can:

• coach you in name-building to attract the right agent or publisher

• guide you in designing and growing your blog (to showcase your expertise and experiences)

• show you computer-navigating shortcuts and how to easily “find stuff” on the World Wide Web
• edit your manuscript, 22 pages at a time so that you can gain tools with each installment

My new guide, Build Your Name, Beat the Game: Be Happily Published, will be released early 2010. http://WritingCoachTeresa.com

EVENTS:

Saturday, January 16, 2010  10:00am-noon
Encourage writer-friends who are in the Belmont, CA area to attend the California Writers Club-SF Peninsula Branch meeting.
Teresa LeYung Ryan to present: “Build Your Name While You Write”
Can you relate to any one of these statements?

* Agents and acquisition editors say publishers prefer to work with authors who are already celebrities or have established platforms (i.e. means to build fan base).  How do I compete?

* I am published. There aren’t enough hours in a day to write, let alone run around and network.

* I believe in my writing and I’m committed to building my career, but, my budget is limited.

Teresa LeYung Ryan says: “You are the expert of your experiences whether you’re writing fiction or non-fiction.  When you make your name synonymous with the themes/subject matters/issues in your writing, you’re building your career/platform.  Come to the January 2010 meeting.”  More Info & Registration:  http://cwc-peninsula.org/

February 12 – 14, 2010
The Seventh Annual San Francisco Writers Conference   ‘Building Bridges to Better Tomorrows’
The 2010 Conference will feature nearly 100 agents, authors, editors and book industry professionals in a stellar set of opportunities for writing advancement.   http://sfwriters.org/
Look for Elisa Southard & Teresa LeYung Ryan–they will be presenting “UPPING YOUR PLATFORM: Building Your Visibility Online and Off with Your Talking Tagline”

Saturday, April 24, 2010
No. CA Publishers & Authors Conference – Join industry leaders and fellow publishers & authors for a day of insight, inspiration, and practical information. www.norcalpa.org
Writing-Career Coach & Author Teresa LeYung Ryan will present:

USE WHAT YOU KNOW TO BUILD FAME:
3 Easy Steps for Fiction and Nonfiction Authors

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.
Visit: http://WritingCoachTeresa.com Click on “Teresa’s Blog”

November 15, 2009

A week ago, I saw a plastic bag of dog poop sitting beside the curb in front of my home. Well, whoever left it there probably had an emergency to take care of (maybe the dog ran off to chase a squirrel and so the human had to run after the dog). No doubt, the following day when human and dog come by on their walk, the human would see the abandoned bag and say to himself/herself: “Oh, look. I’ll dispose of this today.”

Another two days go by.  The bag is now flattened (probably by a neighbor’s tire) and some of the poop has oozed out.
What is it with dog poop in my path?

Last year, dog excrement (sans bag) was sitting on the sidewalk at the corner. I almost stepped on it when I was approaching the trunk of my car to get my walking shoes. After my walk around the neighborhood, I called my Constructive Living Instructor Patricia Ryan Madson. “Patricia,” I asked, “Am I supposed to pick it up?”
Patricia didn’t have to answer. I just wanted to hear the logic:  In practicing Constructive Living, I could stay annoyed (in this case–a neighbor has not picked up after his/her pet) or I could “take care of what’s in front of me.”  My friend Marie Elena Gaspari (also a writing coach) speaks the same wisdom.

Today, I told my hubby about what’s lying on the street.  He offered to dispose of the mess.  I knew “who” needed to clean the mess.
It’s late afternoon now.   I know that when I go outside again, I will see a clean street because I took care of what was in front of me.

As a writing coach, I remind myself that in a story the protagonist has to be the one who takes action or suffer the consequences of being a “passive character.”

How can dog poop help your writing?  Don’t let your protagonist be passive.

The book – Constructive Living: Outgrow Shyness, Depression, Fear, Stress, Grief, Chronic Pain by David K. Reynolds.  Achieve the goal of Constructive Living – to do everything well. Western world Dr. Reynolds had combined two of the most popular forms of therapy in Japan.

Cheers from

22-Day Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

http://writingcoachTeresa.com

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan is the author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW. Click here for print edition. Click here for Kindle edition. “Reach out, not stress out.”

Teresa’s novel Love Made of Heart: a Mother’s Mental Illness Forges Forgiveness in Daughter Ruby is used in college courses and archived at the San Francisco History Center.

Subscribe to  “Coach Teresa’s blog” Click here to start.

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.

Teresa Jade LeYung
http://www.WritingCoachTeresa.com

Career Coach for Writers

and

Manuscript Consultant

• polish your manuscript by identifying the themes and archetypes;
• market yourself to agents and publishers;
• map out your career.

Teresa edits women’s fiction, mainstream fiction, memoirs, children’s and young adults’ fiction, and short stories.

Some comments from her clients:

“Teresa is not only a lovely writer and a wonderful person, but also an enthusiastic, inspiring, and thorough mentor. Her far-reaching knowledge, networking expertise, and organization ensure that an aspiring writer will have the strongest foundation possible to launch him/herself on a successful career.” Pat Windom

“Teresa, . .because of you, the story has grown. You make me dig deeper and it brings more life to the story.“ E. Hartshorn

“Teresa, . . . I even see myself succeeding and being put into print and making money with my writing ability.I am so grateful to you.” D.Warner

Teresa LeYung Ryan is:

• Member-at-Large at Women’s National Book Association-SF Chapter;
• Past Co-Chair of Group Mentoring at California Writers Club-San Francisco Peninsula Branch;
• Past President of California Writers Club-San Francisco Peninsula Branch;
• a 2004 recipient of the Jack London Award for her services to California Writers Club;
• Speaker and instructor.
  

Teresa LeYung Ryan uses her mother-daughter novel Love Made of Heart to advocate compassion for mental illness and to help survivors of family violence find their own voices.

In Love Made of Heart, protagonist Ruby Lin is forced to look into her past when her mother shuts down her own painful world.The story explores the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, the choices we make when our hearts are broken, and the choices we make when our hearts are healed.

• archived at the San Francisco History Center;
• recommended by the California School Library Association;
• recommended by the California Reading Association;
• used in Advanced Composition English-as-a-Second-Language classes.

www.LoveMadeOfHeart.com