By Rita Sithideth

Ingram iD, developed by publishing platform Ingram Spark, offers new ways for authors to market and sell books. 

Through the platform, authors can manage advertising efforts across several channels. Ad campaigns can be launched through Facebook, Google Search, Google Display, and promotional email--all from a single dashboard. 

One key feature of Ingram iD is the ability to target books towards the right audience. Audiences are composed of active readers hailing from 60+ genres and niches, all verified through Ingram's network. 

Along with its advertising options, Ingram iD offers ad analytics and reporting tools. Authors can track a campaign's performance through important metrics, including clicks and impressions, that provide valuable insights into optimizing a campaign's effectiveness. 

Creating an ad campaign with Ingram iD starts at $15 a day for 7 days, with a fixed rate based on expected clicks.

Caveat: We provide this information because it may be a useful tool for some members. None of the SDWEG Board of Directors has experience with this new option. SDWEG received nothing of value in exchange for posting this information.

For More Information

by Marcia Buompensiero

At its May 13 meeting, the SDWEG Board of Directors unanimously voted to support the Friends of the Central Library with a donation of $250, and voted to consider a future annual donation in an amount to be determined.

The Anthology Marketing Committee brought the recommendation forward for consideration. “Libraries provide access to books, thousands of publications from around the world, and also serves as a support system in many communities, including supporting local authors,” Marcia Buompensiero said. “The Anthology Marketing Committee considered the benefits that the Central Library provides, including the annual Local Authors Exhibit which provides a platform for local authors to display their work.” For several years, SDWEG has participated in the Local Authors Exhibit by displaying the current edition of The Guilded Pen, the SDWEG anthology. The exhibit is well attended, usually over 300 in attendance, and it provides a venue for local recognition for the SDWEG and its members. The Central Library has promoted individual authors' exhibits and continues to hold author events.

The Board was enthusiastic in its support and encourages members to support Friends of the Library in their local communities.

A little about “Friends of the Library”—

Friends of the Library groups are composed of volunteers and are independent nonprofits formed to support local libraries. San Diego County Library enjoys active Friends groups at almost every branch, and their support allows the library to provide enhanced levels of service, programming, and collections to better serve the public. Friends groups advocate for libraries as the positive voice spreading the word of library services in the community and with local government and business entities.

They provide financial support to the library with funds earned at their bookstores, collection of membership dues, by accepting donations, fund raising, grant writing, or online sales. All proceeds go directly to support the library’s community initiatives with the purchase of physical and digital materials, buying equipment, computers or furniture and to sponsor library programs.

The local branch chapters of the Friends of the Library are supported by the County-wide umbrella organization, Library Friends of San Diego County (LFSDC) which coordinates activities and shares best practices that benefit all groups. This organization also coordinates shared resources from the individual organizations to provide support for system-wide County Library initiatives. 

If you would like to be an advocate for libraries and literacy in your community, join your local Friends of the Library. To do so, please visit your local library's group's website or contact your local library branch for information. Libraries with Friends groups and bookstores include those listed below.

• 4S Ranch

• Alpine *

• Bonita-Sunnyside *

• Borrego Springs

• Campo-Morena Village

• Cardiff-by-the-Sea *

• Casa de Oro

• Crest

• Del Mar

• Descanso

• El Cajon *

• Encinitas *

• Fallbrook *

• Fletcher Hills

• Imperial Beach *

• Jacumba

• Julian *

• La Mesa *

• Lakeside

• Lemon Grove *

• Lincoln Acres

• Pine Valley

• Potrero

• Poway *

• Ramona *

• Rancho San Diego *

• Rancho Santa Fe *

• San Marcos *

• Santee *

• Solana Beach *

• Spring Valley *

• Valley Center *

• Vista *

* Friends of the Library bookstores can be found at these library branch locations.

For more information visit: https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/about-the-library/partners/friends

https://www.sdcl.org/friends/ (local branches)

Newsletter and blog resources for writers

Several organizations exist to promote the writing arts of San Diegans. As the oldest such organization, the role San Diego Writers and Editor Guild fills has changed and may need to change further. 

Before our return to a monthly newsletter, our Roundup editor had been serving as a clearinghouse of information our members might be interested in. With the change in our Board of Directors and the shift of most of our roles to new incumbents we foresee additional changes in the future.

This blog post includes resources, both local and national, that we encourage members to become familiar with. Instead of using our volunteers’ time and space in the newsletter to pass on information from other organizations, we encourage each member to review the resources below and choose which newsletters or blogs from organizations or individuals are likely to provide information of value.

Local Resources

San Diego Writers, Ink - SDWI provides regular email updates about their activities, classes, read and critique groups, and goings on around town. Their updates are nearly daily. You do not need to be a member of San Diego Writers, Ink to subscribe to their newsletter. https://secure.writeyourstorynow.org/np/clients/sandiegowriters/subscribe.jsp

Publishers and Writers of San Diego - PWSD produces a monthly newsletter that both members and nonmembers can subscribe to. PWSD concentrates on providing information about the business of writing. You do not have to be a member of PWSD to subscribe to their newsletter. https://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=00102zBK1ZSE4YOo2Q9mWFEsdvpq5kdRl4h

San Diego Writers Festival - SDWF provides a monthly newsletter that includes an excellent compendium of upcoming activities in that month. There is no membership fee to get news from SDWF. Start here: https://sandiegowritersfestival.com/ and scroll down until you find the form to “Get on the List.”

San Diego Professional Editors Network - SD/PEN provides a monthly newsletter to its members. Members may also submit blog posts to SD/PEN’s blog. SD/PEN members may join a Slack platform to network and share information. You must be a member of SD/PEN to receive their newsletters. Check out their other member benefits. https://sdpen.com/join/#join

International Memoir Writers Association - IMWA and SDWF work closely together and publicize one another’s events in their communications. You do not need to join IMWA to subscribe to their newsletter: https://sdmwa.org/subscribe/

Judy Reeves - Her monthly newsletter, The Lively Muse, is available to all who subscribe at https://www.judyreeveswriter.com/contact 

Jeniffer Thompson provides marketing tips in her monthly newsletter. Check out, https://jenifferthompson.com/contact/ to sign up for her newsletter.

Jonathan Maberry (https://www.jonathanmaberry.com/contact.cfm) provides resources for authors on his website and uses his newsletter to inform subscribers of his activities, including master classes he offers where all proceeds go to good causes.

Resources from a Wider Region

National and International resources offer newsletters of possible interest to members. Below are a few to consider.

Authors Publish (https://authorspublish.com/) Their newsletter (frequent, short email messages) consists primarily of posting about publishers seeking submissions. Occasionally a blog post on a topic of interest is included. Anyone may subscribe to receive their messages.

Jane Friedman (https://janefriedman.com/) Her free newsletter, Electric Speed, is available to anyone at https://janefriedman.com/free-newsletters/.

Pages and Platforms (https://www.pagesandplatforms.com/). Scroll down to find the Subscribe option. In addition to subscribing to their newsletter, Page and Platforms recommends a number of other newsletters, including Jane Friedman’s Electric Speed.

The Author Wheel (https://www.authorwheel.com/) sends a weekly email message with tips on clarifying your vision as an author.

David Gaughran (https://davidgaughran.com/). Gaughran’s newsletter is heavy on marketing information. He also offers a free marketing course, Starting from Zero.

Writers Workshop at Authors Publish (https://authorspublish.thinkific.com/) offers workshops. Scroll down to subscribe to their email list.

Blogs and Newsletters from SDWEG members

Consider subscribing to the newsletters and blogs of other SDWEG members for at least one of three reasons:

• First, to get the valuable information they share
• Second, to get an idea of how each uses their newsletters or blog posts in order to identify those who might be able to answer questions you have about your own existing or planned newsletter or blog
• Third, to learn about upcoming events where you can show your support for other Guild members by attending

Marla Anderson, https://www.mlandersonauthor.com/

Chris Bannor, https://www.chrisbannor.com/ Scroll to the bottom of the page to find “Newsletter.”

Patricia Bossano, https://patriciabossano.com/. Scroll down until you see “Join My Reader List.”

Bob Boze and Robyn Bennett, https://WritingAllsorts/

Tamika Burgess, https://www.tamikaburgess.com/ Scroll down until the popup screen appears, inviting you to join her mailing list.

Diana Cavagnaro, https://www.dianacavagnaro.com/about-5 Scroll down until you see “Sign up for our newsletter” Note that Diana also designs amazing hats.

Cynthia Dadmun, https://www.allfunandbrains.com/contact-cynthia Use her Contact form to let her know you’d like to be on her newsletter mailing list.

Laura Engel, https://lauralengel.com/blog-2/ Subscribe to her blog.

Corey Lynn Fayman, ​​https://www.coreylynnfayman.com/

Leslie Ferguson, https://lesliefergusonauthor.com/about-me/ Scroll down until you find “Yes! Subscribe Me.”

Tiffany Noel Froese, https://www.tiffanynoelfroese.com/ Scroll to the bottom of the page to find “Sign Up For My Newsletter.”

Andrea Susan Glass, https://www.writersway.com/ Scroll down until you see the button “Subscribe.”

K.C. Grifant, ​​https://scifiwri.com/ Scroll down until you see “Newsletter” in the left column.

Lisa Hagerman, https://lmhagerman.com/contact/ Scroll down until you see “Subscribe To My Blog” in the right column.

Jan Halen, https://www.authorjanhalen.com/ Watch for the pop-up screen offering subscribing to her newsletter.

Sephe Haven, https://www.sephehaven.com/ Scroll to the bottom of the page to subscribe.

Shanti Hershenson, https://www.shantihershenson.com/

Erik Christopher Martin, https://erikchristophermartin.com/. The option to subscribe is at the top of the home webpage.

Caroline McCullagh, https://carolinemccullaghauthor.com/about-caroline/ Scroll to the bottom to sign up for her newsletter.

Stephanie McNutt, https://www.kingaripress.com/ Scroll to the bottom to subscribe.

Reina Menasche, https://reinamenasche.com/blog/ Scroll until you find “Subscribe!” in the right column.

Jane Muschenetz, https://www.palmfrondzoo.com/. Scroll down to see the option to subscribe to her newsletter.

Richard Opper, https://richardopper.com/ Scroll to bottom to subscribe.

Laura C. Rader, https://lcrwriter.com/newsletter-newsies-sign-up/

Jennifer Silva Redmond, https://honeymoonatsea.substack.com/ Look or the button that says “Pledge your support” to subscribe

Patrick Ross, https://patrickrossauthor.com/about/ Scroll down until you find “Sign Up For The Ride.”

Gina Schneider, https://www.manageangerdaily.com/ Scroll down to find “Subscribe” in the right column.

Ken Shafer, https://www.kenschafer.com/ Scroll down until a popup appears to allow you to subscribe.

James Stewart, https://www.jamesstewartauthor.com/contact.html Look for “Join my email list.”

Lisa Swinton, http://www.lisaswinton.com/ Scroll until you see the offer of a Free Story.

Edna Trigo https://ednatrigo.com/

Wanjiru Warama, https://www.wanjiruwarama.com/, Scroll to the bottom for the option to subscribe to her newsletter.

Nicole Wells, https://www.nicolewellswrites.com/ Scroll down to find Newsletter sign-up.

If you think your website belongs on this list, let us know so we can add it. But first be sure to list your website on your member profile so we can find it again. 

Below are a number of Writers Conferences happening around the US in April this year.

April 3-7, 2024: Monterey Writers Retreat Conference (Pacific Grove, CA).

Join us on the wondrously scenic and soothing Monterey Peninsula in Pacific Grove for the express purpose of working intimately with experienced author and agent professionals. Know that writers of every kind have journeyed for over a century to this location on the California west coast. They come in search of inspiration, individuality, purpose and vision, but more importantly, to share an understanding that art has preceded their arrival in the form of a brutally beautiful sea and windswept shore. https://montereywritersretreat.com/

April 6-7, 2024: South Asian Literary Association Annual Conference (Virtual).

In the 2024 annual meeting of SALA, we take seriously the call for collective action, coalition building and solidarity between Black and South Asian peoples across the world in the aftermath of Black Lives Matter and new awareness about anti-Asian racism. https://southasianliteraryassociation.org/

April 11-13, 2024: 21st Las Vegas Writers Conference (Las Vegas, NV).

This year – and every year – the 21st Las Vegas Writers Conference is dedicated to helping writers of all genres improve their craft, sharpen their business skills, and network with publishing professionals. Held each spring, this year’s conference will draw virtual attendees from around the world. Pitch sessions with literary agents and editors are included in the price of registration. Writers will have the opportunity for one-on-one mentoring sessions with faculty members and other published authors. https://lasvegaswritersconference.com/

April 18-21, 2024: The 2024 Chanticleer Authors Conference (Bellingham, WA).

What makes the Chanticleer Author Conferences so special? Most importantly, the attendees! You are what makes this conference so special. Learning from the experts – Learn from the Best! Learning from each other and Networking and making new friends and connections. https://www.chantireviews.com/chanticleer-conference/

April 25-27, 2024: NWG Annual Conference (Omaha, NE).

The Nebraska Writers Guild offers three days of consultations, critique boot camps, and shop talk seminars. Appointments with literary agents like Kristina Slater are first-come, first-served, and have no extra cost. This conference is perfect for writers who would rather focus on intimate group or pair discussions rather than large panels. Workshops are capped to allow for in-depth discussion and a focus on networking without small talk. https://nebraskawriters.org/news-events/annual-events/annual-conference.html

April 25-28, 2024: 31st Annual Pikes Peak Writers Conference (Colorado Springs, CO).

Jazz up your Writing: The Roaring 20s comes to the Pikes Peak Writers Conference!

Pull out your flapper dresses, fedoras & channel your inner Gatsby. We’re going to Paris 1920 to learn from the best: Hemingway, Stein, Joyce, Beach, Eliot, the Fitzgeralds. https://conference.pikespeakwriters.org/

April 26–28, 2024: 7th Annual Sonoma Valley Authors Festival (Sonoma, CA).

The Sonoma Valley Authors Festival Brings people together to hear authors from a variety of literary genres and speakers who discuss advances being made in science, technology, and medicine. https://svauthorsfest.org/

April 27, 2024: Atlanta Self-Publishing Conference (Atlanta, GA).

They offer the Atlanta Self-Publishing Conference annually for authors who are interested in self-publishing or who have self-published and want to get the most out of their publishing business. https://atlantawritersclub.org/aspc/

To find more later in the year, visit:

https://book-publicist.com/the-top-writers-conferences-for-2024-by-book-publicist-scott-lorenz/

You've written a book. You are proud. You are excited. And you should be! Now, you are ready to get it out into the world. But there is one thing holding you back. You're not sure how to sell the book because you don't know what genre your book is. 

But first, what is a book genre?

According to Masterclass.com, “Every work of fiction falls into a sub-genre, each with its own style, tone, elements, and storytelling devices.”

Does it matter what genre my book is? The answer is yes!

Jane Friedman tackles the topic well in her post, How Important Is Genre When Pitching and Promoting Your Book? T.S. Ferguson of Azantian Literary Agency makes this important point in the article. Identifying a genre for your book helps meet a reader's expectations.  

“...when you tell someone a book is a “fantasy” they are going to expect some magic or otherworldliness, if a book is labeled a “romance” there's an expectation that there will be a Happily Ever After at the end.”

How do I know the genre of my book? These three tips can help. 

1.     Read articles and posts about book genres

In order to tell what genre your book is, you might first look at the genres out there. A great place to start is this article by Parade.com: 37 of the Most Popular Book Genres. This list includes fiction and nonfiction books. And it provides common characteristics within genres--as well as examples of books for each genre. Continuing with our previous mention of fantasy books, the article notes:

“The fantasy genre is made up of fictional worlds full of supernatural and magical powers that transport the reader into a whole new realm.” -- Parade.com

As you look at Parade.com's wonderful list of book genres, examine your book. Does it have anything in common with the genres listed? If so, you're on the right track.

2.     Visit your local bookstore

Your local bookstore is a great resource for helping you identify your book genre. Here are some examples of genres I found on a recent trip to Barnes & Noble.

Survey the room, check out the various sections, and see if any books within those sections strike a chord.

-       Do the book covers in a particular section match what you imagined for your book cover?

-       Do you notice any themes that are similar to yours?

-       Is there a style or tone among the book descriptions that applies to your book, too?

3.     Look at book categories on Amazon

If you want to research genres without having to leave the house, look at the book categories listed on the Books on Amazon page. On the left-hand side, scroll down to Department > Books. There, you’ll see a list of book categories, alphabetized from Arts & Photography to Travel. Don’t forget to check out the subcategories listed under Literature & Fiction.

For indie authors interested in self-publishing, these categories and subcategories will prove beneficial down the road. You’ll be able to use them when it’s time to upload your book to Amazon and choose your categories.

But what if you haven't finished your book yet? 

Perhaps you've started writing, but you're not sure what book your genre is. This early stage is the perfect time to nail down your book's genre. Why? It'll be easier to deliver the kind of book your reader expects after you've determined your book's genre--you’ll be able to plan (or pants) accordingly.

-----

Great links to click from this blog post:

Masterclass.com – What Are the Different Genres of Literature? A Guide to 14 Literary Genres

Jane Friedman – How Important Is Genre When Pitching and Promoting Your Book?

Parade.com – 37 of the Most Popular Book Genres

Amazon.com – Books on Amazon

-----

Photo credits:

Wes Hicks on Unsplash

Photo Nic on Unsplash

Nico Waters

MEMBER PROFILE: Patricia Watts

http://patriciaawattsauthor.com

Bio

Patricia Watts worked as a journalist for more than 20 years for newspapers in Texas, Hawaii, and Alaska. Following her news career, she worked as a paralegal and then spent 10 years investigating discrimination cases for the Alaska Human Rights Commission. 

Her novels include: Paper Targets (2022, Atmosphere Press), Ghost Light (2020, Bowhead Press) and The Big Empty (2018, SoHo Press) co-written with Stan Jones, The Frayer (2017, Golden Antelope Press), and Watchdogs (SheWrites Press, 2013). 

She moved to San Diego in 2017 after many wonderful visits there and after 30 years in Alaska. Currently, she’s working on short stories and also works as a freelance proofreader and editor. She earned her B.A. in journalism at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California, and her degree in paralegal studies from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. She has two children and seven grandchildren.

What aspect of writing and/or editing are you involved in?

I’m a published author of five novels and a freelance proofreader and editor.

What first attracted you to writing/editing?

 I’ve always had a love of the written word from the time I learned to read, and writing has always been my preferred way to express myself. From the time I was a teenager, I wanted to write a novel. After a career in journalism, I finally started my fiction-writing career in my 60s.

How long have you been writing/editing?

I wrote my first “book” when I was 14, and my first novel was published in 2013.

As a writer, what kind of books do you write? Any published? How about short stories?

 I write novels (literary fiction, suspense, mystery), short stories, and essays, and dabble in poetry.

Paper Targets (Atmosphere Press) is literary fiction.

The Frayer (Golden Antelope Press) is suspense noir.

The Big Empty (SoHo Crime/SoHo Press) and Ghost Light (Bowhead Press) are crime mysteries.

Watchdogs (SheWrites Press) is a steamy thriller-women’s fiction.

As an editor, what kind of clients do you work?

I proofread manuscripts for Atmosphere Press as an independent contractor and have worked on nonfiction and fiction that runs the gamut of genres from fantasy and erotica to mystery and children’s books.

What are you working on now either writing or editing?

I’m writing a short story called Sunflower Season, with a theme of how a single decision in the past to stand or not stand by a friend can impact a lifetime. This month, I proofread a novel and a nonfiction manuscript and average two of these projects monthly.

How long have you been a member of SDWEG and why did you join?

I was a member for about two years prior to the COVID shutdowns. I recently rejoined to connect with local writers, to share my writing and my writing experience, to become a better writer, and to promote my editing/proofreading skills.

What benefits have you gained as a member?

I see that SDWEG has added opportunities for writers to share their experience such as the blog posts, and I believe there’s also a way to promote editing skills for hire through the guild, which I had read about some months ago. I would like to write for the blog at some point and get involved with the newsletter and upcoming anthologies. My impression is that SDWEG is more inclusive than some other local writers groups I’ve tried.

What’s something unique or special about you that you’d like others to know?

I’ve lived and worked in a lot of different places which gives me a rich background for sense of place in my books. I have a talent for writing dialogue. I’m adamant about giving a voice to older women (in my books, they have sex lives and a mix of emotions and opinions and can be hilarious). I’ve proved to myself that it’s never too late to follow a dream when I had my first book published at 62.

What request might you have of other members? (joint venture promotions, launch team, referrals, reviews, advance readers…)

I would welcome the opportunity to provide reviews for others and to receive reviews from others, explore joint-venture promotions, receive referrals for editing/proofreading projects, and be part of a critique group.

The hook is the most important part of your story. If the reader doesn’t get drawn in by the first sentence, they won’t read the first paragraph. If they don’t feel entranced by the first paragraph, they won’t read the first page. No first page, no book.

It’s quite simple really. You need to grab the reader’s interest on that first page if you want them to read your masterpiece.

We’ve held a number of first page slam events when published authors have critiqued first pages of works by Guild members. This year we’re adding a twist. Instead of critiquing the first pages written by Guild members, we’re inviting members to pick out some of their favorite works for attendees to critique them. We want your choices to be books you love, but not classics. So no Dickens or Dostoyevsky, please. Look to best seller lists from recent years for books that are popular but have not yet found their way into English literature classrooms.

On Monday, March 25, Penn Wallace will facilitate the meeting. Penn will provide criteria for members to use when critiquing submissions.

All attendees will have an opportunity to participate. 

If you want to submit the first page of a book, here’s what to do:

Since the length of text on the physical first page varies greatly from book to book, retype the text of the first page and beyond until you fill a full MS Word page with 1-inch margins all around, double spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman font, with one-half inch indents on first lines of paragraphs. Continue typing from the second page to fill one manuscript page. If the sentence on the last line of the first manuscript page does not end on that page, continue typing to the end of the sentence on the second page and then stop. Do not go past the end of that sentence.

You will do a live reading of your page, then the group will give critiques.

Your first page must be submitted by March 15th, 2024, to be considered. First pages will be critiqued in the order in which they were submitted. In the past, we had more submissions than we could do at our meeting, so some people lost out. Get your submission in right away so you can be sure you get a place at the meeting.

Send your submission to penn@pennwallace.com and mardiewho@yahoo.com. Include “First page from [yourname]” at the top of the page. Use “First Page Critique–Title, Author” as the subject line of your email.

Do not include the book title on the page. Instead, include the title and author in the subject line of your email submitting the piece.

This is a lot of fun, don’t miss out.

To register for the event, select this link.

Congratulations to Marcia Buompensiero, Tamara Merrill, Bob Riffenburgh, Audrey Walz, and Sandra Yeaman for earning Presidential Volunteer Service Awards for their work on behalf of the Guild in 2023. Marcia, Bob, and Audrey earned bronze level awards (minimum of 100 volunteer hours) and Tamara and Sandra earned silver level awards (minimum of 250 volunteer hours).

In 2023, the Guild announced we are approved to certify volunteer efforts from members on behalf of the Guild as part of the White House’s Presidential Volunteer Service Award program.

The dedication of these volunteers helped bring the voices of new writers to light, enabling the publication of the anthology and enriching the lives of countless readers. 

The certificates and pins acknowledging the accomplishments of these five members have been sent to recipients. We also want to celebrate their accomplishments and dedication in this post.

The records they kept of their activities made it possible for us to create a Table of Effort for all members to consider using to keep track of their volunteer hours, an excerpt as a sample shown below:

PVSA Table of Effort

Items in blue text may be completed by members not on the Board of Directors.

Items in black text should be completed by one of the Directors on the Board.

Typical # of hours spent per event or month

	Estimate	#	Extended
Subtotal			0
Meetings, Workshops, Festivals
Lead Board Meetings (Pres/VP)	2	0	0	per meeting
Arrange speakers and presenters (all)	4	0	0	per presenter
Host or co-host Zoom meeting or workshop	2.5	0	0	per meeting
Festival Support--Set up, staff display, or take down	3.5	0	0	per event
Prepare and Present Marketing Support Presentation	3	0	0	per meeting
Prepare and Present Meeting Presentation	8	0	0	per meeting
Prepare and Present Workshop	8	0	0	per meeting
Organize social events for members	8	0	0	per event
Edit meeting and workshop videos for website	2	0	0	per meeting
Website, Blog, Google Docs Update
Prepare first draft of blog post or other information for website (Webmaster)	0.5	0	0	per blog post
Gather feedback from proofreaders (Webmaster)	0.5	0	0	per submission
Provide feedback to webmaster	0.5	0	0	per submission
Finalize blog post or page update (Webmaster)	0.5	0	0	per blog or page

Download the full Table of Effort here. Save a copy for yourself to keep track of the time you have devoted to the Guild in 2024.

By joining our vibrant volunteer community, you can make a real difference in the lives of others, develop valuable skills, and connect with a supportive network of passionate writers.

Next year, we hope other members will take the time to total up their hours on behalf of the Guild on a copy of the Table of Efforts so we can acknowledge more of our members whose volunteer service is the lifeblood of our organization.

Lost Love

by Raquel Damus

Love is a complex and multifaceted emotion that often comes with joy, passion, and connection. However, it can also bring pain, heartache, and the feeling of loss when it doesn't stand the test of time. The theme of lost love has been a source of inspiration for countless authors, resulting in powerful and emotionally resonant books. In this blog post, we'll delve into a curated list of eight books that beautifully explore the depths of lost love.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel, The Great Gatsby, is a poignant tale of unrequited love. The enigmatic Jay Gatsby's infatuation with Daisy Buchanan and his unattainable dream showcase the tragic side of lost love, set against the backdrop of the Roaring Twenties.

One Day by David Nicholls takes readers on a journey through the lives of Emma and Dexter, who meet on the day of their graduation and reconnect every year on the same date. This novel poignantly captures the passage of time, the evolution of their relationship, and the missed opportunities for true love.

Haruki Murakami's novel, Norwegian Wood, is a melancholic exploration of the deep, often painful connections between people. The protagonist, Toru Watanabe, navigates the aftermath of lost love as he reflects on his relationships and experiences in 1960s Tokyo.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green tells the story of Hazel and Gus, two teenagers with cancer who fall in love. As they grapple with their illnesses and the looming specter of death, they find love and solace in each other's arms, illustrating that love can flourish even in the face of inevitable loss.

Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, is a journey of self-discovery following a failed marriage. It showcases the author's quest for healing, happiness, and, ultimately, love in various forms as she embarks on a year-long journey across Italy, India, and Indonesia.

P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern, a heartwarming yet bittersweet novel, follows the life of Holly after her husband's passing. Through a series of letters he left behind, she embarks on a journey of healing, growth, and rediscovery.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes is an emotionally charged novel. Louisa and Will come from different worlds, but their lives become intertwined. Their relationship raises difficult questions about love, loss, and the choices we make.

For those seeking a non-fiction perspective, The Time Is Now offers a thoughtful exploration of love, loss, and transformation. Joan Chittister provides insights into the human experience of love and grief, offering wisdom and guidance for those navigating the complexities of emotions.

The theme of lost love is a universal and timeless one that resonates with readers across the globe. Whether you're in the mood for classic literature, contemporary fiction, or introspective non-fiction, the books on this list offer a range of perspectives and emotions. These stories beautifully capture the heartache, longing, and sometimes unexpected beauty that can arise from the ashes of lost love.

Writer's Digest's Invitation to Guild Members

Whether you're a seasoned writer looking to get published or just beginning your writing journey, Writer's Digest has the resources you need.

You can get started by checking out their writing resources available on this page and by reviewing articles written by writers for writers like you! Writer's Digest's mission is to help ignite writers’ creative vision and connect them with the community, education, and resources they need to bring it to life.

Writer’s Digest Resources:

• Writer’s Digest University combines world-class writing instruction with the convenience and immediacy of online education to create a state-of-the-art learning environment for writers seeking to improve their craft and learn about the business of writing. Use code WDUFIRST10 to save 10% on your first course.
  
  
• 2nd Draft provides a high-level review of your writing, pointing out reasons your work may be getting rejected, or may not meet the standards of traditional publication.
  
  
• Writer’s Digest offers several writing competitions, from short story and poetry-specific competitions to the Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition held annually for more than 80 years. Enter for your chance to win big prizes!
  
  
• Every issue of Writer’s Digest magazine is devoted to helping writers develop their craft and hone their publishing acumen. Since 1920, Writer’s Digest has chronicled the culture of the modern writer and we continue this great tradition through relevant first-person essays, interviews with bestselling authors and profiles with emerging talent.
  
  
• WritersDigestShop.com is dedicated to bringing writers of all genres and skill levels, the best downloads, webinars, professional resources, information, tips, and inspiration available in the industry. Browse their Selection Today!

Consider joining their community of writers by following them on Facebook, X/Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube! You’ll get up-to-the-minute articles, writing prompts, tips, videos, and more!

This information, from Writer's Digest, is provided for your information. This blog post is not an endorsement of Writer's Digest and SDWEG received nothing in exchange for presenting this information to our members.