Teresa Jade LeYung's BLOG

Today  in Your-Writing-Mentor Mary E. Knippel‘s “Coaxing Creativity Tuesday Tip”: To thine own self be true…

Coach Teresa here . . . I bow to Mary E. Knippel, William Shakespeare, and to every mentor and coach who remind us of that maxim.

Dear Writers,

Please practice that maxim when you’re creating or recreating the main characters in your stories.  When your protagonist is not being true to herself/himself, internal conflict flares (which makes for terrific story-telling ).

Mary E. Knippel and I (Teresa LeYung-Ryan) will be teaching an abbreviated version of  “Being Your Own Editor–Get Your Manuscript Ready for the Next Step” at the San Francisco Writers Conference on Feb. 16, 2012 at 6:00pm. If you cannot attend the conference this year, but, would like to take our half-day or full-day workshop, please submit a comment to this post and I’ll add your name to our list of writers to contact. Below my signature block  are instructions on how to submit a comment.

Can’t wait?  Ask me or Mary to help you edit now.

Mary specializes in memoirs, how-to books, and short stories.

I specialize in mainstream fiction, women’s fiction, women’s memoirs, children’s fiction, thrillers, short stories, and speeches. I love helping my clients polish their manuscripts by identifying themes and archetypes for them.

To thine own self be true … also applies to the other role you play as Writer–the promoter.

Elisa Southard and I (Teresa LeYung-Ryan) will be teaching “Blowing Up Your Balloon: Writing a Tag-Line That Will Sell You and Your Book” at the San Francisco Writers Conference on Feb. 17, 2012 at 9:00am. If you cannot attend the conference this year, but, would like to learn  how to craft your talking-tagline (to hook attention) and how to use it to build your writer’s platform,  please submit a comment to this post and I’ll add your name to our list of writers to contact. Below my signature block are instructions on how to submit a comment.

The first exercise in my workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days is:

“Who Am I?”

Who are you–now?  What do you want?

You can sneak preview the 2 exercises for Day 1 of my workbook by going to Amazon’s page for my workbook; look for my bookcover with the  “Click to look inside” arrow.

So, be true to yourself while wearing the 2 hats as Writer.

Listed below are 2 events (at the San Francisco Writers Conference)— free and open to the public.

Thursday, February 16th, 2012 at 5 p.m.

San Francisco Writers Conference Presents a Free Public Reading

Lisa See reads from Dreams of Joy in the California Room at the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco

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Saturday, February 18th, 2012 at 6:15 p.m.

San Francisco Writers Conference Mass Booksigning!

Thirty presenters will sign in the Room of the Dons at the Mark Hopkins. Books for sale at the onsite bookstore manned by BookShop West Portal.  Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan will be autographing books.

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa

“Reach out, not stress out, when pursuing your dearest dreams!”

http://writingcoachteresa.com

If you wish to enroll in our half-day or full-day workshop “Be Your Own Editor” then please  submit a comment. To submit a comment through this post, scroll up and click on the blue title bar of this post, then scroll down to get the boxes, fill in the boxes and click on “submit comment” button. (your email addresses will not be revealed; only I, the administrator of this blog, will see it. )

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I wish You

a warm and safe home

nutritious foods everyday

ease of movement

work that makes your heart sing

true friends

worry-free thoughts

hopes and lovely dreams

joy and light for Self

a dancing spirit

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

http://writingcoachTeresa.com

Teresa is author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW

Teresa is author of Love Made of Heart

Coach Teresa edits manuscripts (contemporary novels; thrillers; children’s novels; memoirs; short stories; anthologies) for authors who want to attract agents  & publishers  OR  want to be their own publishers.

I wish Everyone a peaceful and joyful Thanksgiving.

Coach Teresa, what are some December 2011 Events?

Margie Yee Webb author of Cat Mulan’s Mindful Musings tells me that:

The Writer’s Yearbook 2012 (by Writer’s Digest) is available now! Read about 100 best book & magazine markets for writers, 101 best websites for writers… Chuck Sambuchino shares 5 facts on book publicity, San Francisco Writers Conference – Michael Larsen is the #17 website, Martha Alderson is the #40 website with The Plot Whisperer for Writers & Readers, and Ken & Dahlynn McKowen has their Publishing Syndicate ad for three new anthology series looking for stories and for the free publishing & writing tips e-newsletter! Happy reading and writing!

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Women’s National Book Association

San Francisco, CA Thursday December 1, 2011 6:00-7:30pm

Yours truly Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan will be at the December 1, 2011 get-together at the San Francisco Main Library, Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room–see you there!

Los Angeles, CA

Seattle, WA

Nashville

Charlotte

Detroit

Boston

New York

Washington D.C.

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California Writers Club  19 branches in the state

Ann Foster of California Writers Club–SF Peninsula Branch tells me:

DON’T MISS THE SF/PEN WRITERS

HOLIDAY PARTY & FAULT ZONE PRE-LAUNCH HULLABALLOO

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2011
Peninsula Regent, One Baldwin Street at El Camino, San Mateo, CA
(Baldwin is one block north of 2nd Avenue).

5:00pm – 8:00pm
Donation $10 for members and non-members

RSVP: pres@sfpeninsulawriters.com

Parking in the neighborhood, or go down the ramp under One Baldwin, press the button and tell the attendant you are there for the CWC Holiday Party (Ida Lewenstein is our Peninsula Regent host.) Only park in visitor spaces, please.

No host bar. Coffee, tea, and hors d’oeuvres provided.

Copies of Fault Zone will be for sale for $7.50 (plus tax). Bring your checkbook! We’ll have an autograph party! Bring your camera! Bring your mother-in-law!

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Kim McMillon founder of Arts in the Valley tells me that:

PEN Oakland — 2011 Josephine Miles National Literary Awards

Saturday December 10, 2011, 2:00pm at Oakland Public Library, Rockridge Branch, 5366 College Ave., Oakland CA  94618

I met Mary Monroe when she received this award for God Don’t Like Ugly.  Later when my novel Love Made of Heart was published by Kensington Publishing Corp. NY, I found out that Mary Monroe was/is a superstar at Kensington. I’ve met so many talented artists through Kim. Cheers to Kim McMillon, Mary Monroe, all the authors who have received the Josephine Miles award, and everyone involved with PEN Oakland.

PEN Oakland “The Blue-Collar PEN”

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Remember to give yourself a gift if you’re going to give presents to loved ones and friends. Here’s one that won’t cost any money. Do the 2 exercises for Day 1 in my workbook by clicking on the book title: Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW

Then, if you want to own the workbook, ask your loved ones & friends to chip in $1 each.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

http://writingcoachteresa.com  Click on Coach Teresa’s Blog

Exactly the right words; social networking; taglines; job seekers; grammar; manuscripts; Chinese word for heart

I started a new format for my blog posts on November 16, 2011. Once a month, I will write a post to include 3 sections.

As 22-day Platform-Building Coach– Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days:

Write Your Story Now! PLAYshop with Mary E. Knippel

Are you frustrated trying to find just exactly the right words
- for your blog posts?
-for that end-of-the-year letter to family or customers?
-to update your profile on your website or social media site?

Come and explore how you can overcome your writing challenges and have fun at the same time!

Nov. 19, 2011   9 a.m. -4 p.m. Free Event
$20 holds your seat (refunded at the door)
Workshop in Half Moon Bay, CA

Click on underscored text to jump over to referenced websites. To submit questions/comments to this article/post:

• Click on the blue header (title bar) of this post
• Scroll down until you see boxes and fill in the boxes (you do need an email address to submit questions/comments; if you have a website/blog, do promote it  by keying in the address)
• After you fill in the boxes, you might want to keep a copy of your question/comment before clicking the  “submit comment” button. Thank you!

Coach Teresa . . . starting a new format with my blog posts

Since I wear 3 hats, as writing career coach & author who helps you Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days / editor & manuscript consultant who helps you identify themes and archetypes / novelist of Love Made of Heart who encourages adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families, I wish to divide my post into 3 sections.

As 22-day Platform-Building Coach:

Promote yourselves by linking your names & your projects to these recognized events.  According to Chase Calendar of Events,  November is:

• Adoption Month, National
• Alzheimer’s Disease Month, National
• American Diabetes Month
• American Indian Heritage Month, National
• Aviation History Month
• Banana Pudding Lovers Month
• Diabetes Month, National
• Diabetic Eye Disease Month
• Family Caregivers Month, National
• Georgia Pecan Month, National
• Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month
• Inspirational Role Models Month, National
• Lifewriting Month, National
• Long-Term Care Awareness Month, National
• Lung Cancer Awareness Month
• Marrow Awareness Month, National
• Peanut Butter Lovers’ Month
• Pet Cancer Awareness Month
• Pomegranate Month, National
• PTA Healthy Lifestyles Month
• Vegan Month
• Today November 16, 2011 is United Nations: International Day for Tolerance
• the fourth Thursday in November is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.A.
• November 11, 2011 is Veterans Day

Every month is relevant to marketing your literary work. Day 19 of my workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days demonstrates the beauty of linking your name to a date that is celebrated or recognized for the entire month–you’ll have a whole month to re-use one piece of writing.

As Editor & Manuscript Consultant:

Give yourself reasons to plot & write and replot & rewrite!

November is National Novel Writing Month (founder is Chris Baty)

Write Nonfiction In November (founder is Nina Amir)

December is International Plot Writing Month (founder is Martha Alderson, The Plot Whisperer)

Read or reread a book – I’m reading Nothing Can Scare Me Now: Managing Breast Cancer So It Doesn’t Manage You by Juliane Cortino (a colleague at Women’s National Book Association)

As author of Love Made of Heart:

I found “Veterans and Mental Health: We Owe Them Better”  blog post by Mike Fitzpatrick, NAMI Executive Director

Last year, more than 1.2 million veterans were treated by the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) health care system, about a third for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). That is an increase of about 25 percent from four years before, as troops return home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Washington Post reports that approximately 18 veterans die from suicide every day. Yet in survey released in September, the VA reported that 70 percent of its doctors, nurses and social workers believe the system lacks the staff and space to provide adequate mental health care. More than 37 percent said they cannot schedule an appointment for a new patient within 14-days.

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Mr. Fitzpatrick,

Thank you for writing this post to shed light on what we can do to advocate for better care of our veterans and their families. I linked your post to mine dated November 16, 2011 http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/ so that my blog fans can get resources for their loved ones. My beautiful mom (not a Veteran but was an orphan during World War II) suffered mental illness all her life and I use my writings to honor her. In September I met NAMI Sonoma County board member Ron Shaw at the Sonoma County Book Festival.  Rosemary Milbrath, Executive Director at NAMI Sonoma County, has contacted me and I hope to deliver my Heroes, Tricksters & Villains interactive workshop to the Sonoma County community in California in 2012. Sincerely, Teresa LeYung-Ryan, author of Love Made of Heart; mental health advocate

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I hope to see you when I’m at these forums:

• Thursday December 1, 2011 at Women’s National Book Association get-together at San Francisco Public Library Main Branch
• Sunday January 8, 2012 at California Writers Club–Redwood Branch “Writing-Career-Make-Over with Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan”

Please click here for details.

“Reach out, not stress out, when pursuing your dreams!”

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Who Writes Book Jacket Copy?

Sometimes the author is asked by the publisher to write the jacket copy/marketing piece. Sometimes the publisher has staff to write them or they hire freelancers.

Years ago Libba Bray freelanced for publishers; her job was to read manuscripts/galleys/advance reading copies and write  jacket copy.  I remember when Editor-in-Chief at Kensington Publishing Corp. NY John Scognamiglio sent me the jacket copy that Libba had written for my novel Love Made of Heart, I cried and cried thankful tears.  Thank you, Libba!

Love Made of Heart – Twenty-seven-year-old Ruby Lin has what many women envy: a beautiful apartment in one of San Francisco’s best neighborhoods, a busy social life, and a coveted position as manager of special events for the tony St. Mark’s Hotel. But it’s Ruby’s personal life that’s become unmanageable ever since the day her mother’s emotional breakdown forced Ruby to hospitalize her, shaming the family. Now, Ruby is caught in the crossroads between two vastly different cultures—one in which she is the American girl, raised on kitschy television shows and black-and-white movies, and one in which she is known only as Daughter, the eldest, fulfiller of responsibilities.

In putting together the pieces of her mother’s life, Ruby finds herself exploring the wounds of her own past. Starting with a forbidden locked tin box and the yellowing photograph inside, Ruby embarks on a startling journey of self-discovery that takes her through a family history rife with violence, betrayal and loss that reaches back through generations, from China to America, and finally to the secret pain of a mother’s sacrifice. Like the Chinese calligraphy that adorns her walls, Ruby comes to see that “life is not a straight road,” but a language drawn with many brush strokes, where every misunderstanding must yield to the simple message of the heart.

Filled with warmth and wisdom, this luminous debut novel heralds the arrival of an exciting new voice in fiction as it explores the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, the choices that divide us, and the love that brings us home.

Libba Bray has become a beloved author of novels for young adults/teens. Her literary works include:

A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle, #1)
Rebel Angels (Gemma Doyle, #2)
The Sweet Far Thing (Gemma Doyle, #3)
Going Bovine
Beauty Queens

I am so happy for Libba!

I encourage everyone to write a book jacket for your manuscript.  The piece will help you answer the questions: “Is my story as enticing as the book jacket?” and “Does the jacket copy follow the plotline of my story?”

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (print edition $12.96  & eBook edition $9.81)

and the novel Love Made of Heart (inspires adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families)

I love helping writers identify themes and archetypes in their manuscripts and make their names synonymous with the subject matters/issues they write about to a attract agents, editors, publishers, readers, and media attention before and after publication. Reach out, not stress out, when pursuing your dreams!

Please visit my website http://writingcoachteresa.com

If you wish to email me, I’m writingcoachTeresa at gmail.com

Manuscript Consultant/Editor/Coach Teresa Loves to See the Words in Movies/Films

Coach Teresa here…  I love to study the dialogue in movies.  Oftentimes I turn on “English subtitles” so that I can “see” the words.   Such a simple technique to help me be a better editor for my clients and a better writer of my own stories.

Two of my favorite movies?   Bagdad Cafe aka Out of Rosenheim (written and produced by Eleonore and Percy Adlon; screenplay co-writer Christopher Doherty; stars: Marianne Sägebrecht, CCH Pounder and Jack Palance) and The Apartment (written by Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond; stars: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Jack Kruschen, Edie Adams)

Listen and look for metaphors, foreshadowing, and thematic significance in the dialogue.

Of course the acting, directing, music, set design, costumes, filming, editing are superb too in both movies.

In Bagdad Cafe “Calling You” sung by Jevetta Steele (words and music by Bob Telson) is beautifully haunting.

In The Apartment, even the theme-tunes for the major characters follow plot points.

I’ll be blogging more about themes and archetypes in these two movies.

I love helping writers identify themes and archetypes in their manuscripts and make their names synonymous with the subject matters/issues they write about to a attract agents, editors, publishers, readers, and media attention before and after publication. Reach out, not stress out, when pursuing your dreams!

Happy writing!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Please visit my website http://writingcoachteresa.com

If you wish to email me, I’m writingcoachTeresa at gmail.com

Author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (print edition $12.96  & eBook edition $9.81)

and the novel Love Made of Heart (inspires adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families)

Coach Teresa here… I see in the Book Passage catalog that Lindsay Whiting, Adair Lara, and Amy Rennert will be teaching in November & December 2011 at the store in Corte Madera, CA!

…which made me think about other colleagues  . . .  the list would go on and on, for days    This is just one post of a series.

I’ll be away for 9 days; please bookmark this blog http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/ and visit soon.  Many thanks!

These authors, teachers,  editors, literary agent,  and I (Lindsay Whiting, Marie Elena Gaspari Mary E. Knippel, Adair Lara, Linda Joy Myers, Lynn Henriksen, Kate Farrell, Luisa Adams, Lynn Scott, Elisa “Sasa” Southard, Linda Lee, Vicki Weiland, Margie Yee Webb, Yolande Barial, Amy Rennert, Teresa LeYung-Ryan) are passionate about these themes:  helping self and helping others through art/writing; identifying publishing routes; manifesting dreams; mothers/daughters; promoting reading

Lindsay Whiting – Living into Art: Journeys Through Collage
Sat., November 12, 2011, 1:00-5:00 pm • $60 (plus $5 materials fee due to instructor)
Living Into Art: Journeys Through Collage

Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera, CA 94925 (415) 927-0960

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Marie Elena Gaspari  http://riverofdreamswriting.weebly.com/

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Mary E. Knippel  http://yourwritingmentor.com/tag/collage/

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Class: Adair Lara – Writing the Memoir
Sat., November 19, 2011, 10:00 am–4:00 pm  $105

Adair Lara shows how to get your memoir started—or finished. You will learn all the vital elements: the arc, reflective voice, scene vs. narrative, fact vs. truth, and writing about family members. She also explains what it takes to get published. There will be in-class exercises and assignments. Writers of fiction and essays are welcome too. A former San Francisco Chronicle columnist, Lara is the author of 12 books, including Naked, Drunk and Writing, her popular new guide to essay and memoir.

Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera, CA 94925 (415) 927-0960

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Linda Joy Myers  http://www.namw.org/

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Lynn Henriksen   http://telltalesouls.com/blog/

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Kate Farrell  http://wisdomhasavoice.com/

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Luisa Adams  http://www.rp-author.com/Adams/

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Lynn Scott    http://lynnscottbooks.com/

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Elisa “Sasa” Southard  http://elisaonassignment.com/

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Teresa LeYung-Ryan  http://writingcoachteresa.com

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Linda Lee  http://askmepc.com/

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Vicki Weiland  http://vickiweiland.wordpress.com/

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Margie Yee Webb  http://www.catmulan.com/

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Yolande Barial  http://just-a-mom.us/

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Amy Rennert – Secrets of Getting Published
Two Thursdays: Dec. 1 & 8, 2011 • 6:30-9:00 pm
Price: $130.00

Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera, CA 94925 (415) 927-0960

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Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: “Reach out, not stress out, when pursuing your dreams!”

Writing Career Coach/Manuscript Consultant

author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (print edition & eBook edition)
Author of Love Made of Heart (inspires adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families)

Writing Mentor Mary E. Knippel asks “What gives you sparks in your writing life?”

Hi, Writing Mentor Mary,
As an author and manuscript consultant I get sparks ( for scenes, plot points, metaphors, foreshadows)  by rereading a favorite book, re-watching a favorite movie, observing and taking notes while riding public transit. My dream world also provides sparks. Martha Alderson’s new book The Plot Whisperer gives me sparks.

I love helping my clients identify the archetypes and themes in their stories. Speaking of themes, your helping job-seekers create their “success story & collage/vision boards” gives folks “sparks” to go after what they really want. I tagged you in these 2 posts: Coach Teresa, what’s happening for business owners on November 5, 2011 in Gilroy, CA? and  Coach Teresa, what happened when you hosted Plot Whisperer Martha Alderson on your blog?

Mentor Mary Knippel helps job-seekers create their success stories--cheers from Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan--photo by Anne Campagnet-Reed

Sincerely,

Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: “Reach out, not stress out, when pursuing your dreams!”

Writing Career Coach/Manuscript Consultant

author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (print edition & eBook edition)
Author of Love Made of Heart (inspires adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families)