Stop Waiting to Write Your Book!

Book deal tattoos plus TONS of writing resources

*For writing news and resources, scroll down.*

Book deal tattoo?

I’ve wanted a tattoo of the Roanoke Star for at least twenty years. I grew up Roanoke, Virginia, where a giant, neon-tubing star sits atop Mill Mountain, lording over the city below. Whenever my family and I left for the weekend, I'd always know I was home when I saw the glowing star from the highway. Once I moved away from Roanoke at 19, it seemed an obvious choice for a tattoo.

The Roanoke Star is 88.5 feet tall and sits 846 feet above the city. It is illuminated every night of the year.

But back when I was a high school math teacher, visible tattoos were frowned upon. Now, in 2024, it seems like no big deal — everyone has tattoos — but at the time I worried about seeming unprofessional.

By the time I quit classroom teaching, I circled back to the idea of a tattoo, but I thought I should save it for a momentous occasion, like my fortieth birthday or when I got my first book deal.

(Getting a tattoo to commemorate your book’s publication is growing in popularity these days. Award-winning YA author Jeff Zentner, for example, is always showing off his book tats on Instagram.)

But my fortieth birthday happened during the height of COVID, and I’m still working on that book deal. At 42, I remained un-inked.

I’ve written novels, revised them, put them into the hands of my brilliant agent. I can’t control whether or not people publish them. But you know what I can control? Whether or not I get a tattoo. So I decided to stop waiting and just do it.

It’s funny we say tattoos are permanent. They only last as long as you do, and none of us have unlimited time here on earth. So let’s make the most of it.

This tattoo is all the more special because it was done by a woman here in my Maryland town. I now live in a historic town that is much smaller and perhaps even more eccentric than Roanoke. A hometown tattoo done by an artist in my new hometown!

What are you waiting for?

Sometimes I meet people who say they have a book they want to write, but they’re waiting to start writing it. Waiting until they retire, or until their job is less stressful. Waiting until their kids are in school or out of the house. Waiting until they have more free time.

More than one person has told me they want to write a memoir, but they’re waiting until a particular family member dies.

Maybe it’s time to stop waiting and get started. You’re always going to have stress in some area of your life. You’re always going to have kids/family/friends/pets who need you. You’re always going to feel like you don’t have enough time.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t make the time to write, even if it’s twenty minutes a day or a few hours a week. Take control and make writing a priority!

Maybe the real reason you’re waiting is fear. I’ll admit, part of why I hadn’t gotten a tattoo was because I was nervous — not of the pain; I’ve had two unmedicated childbirths, but the whole process of walking into a tattoo parlor intimidated me.

Maybe you’re waiting for the courage to start. You worry your book might not be good or might not get published. You doubt your own ability to actually write a book. You worry what your family/friends might think. It’s easier (and safer) to fantasize about the book than to actual do the work.

I get it. I’ve been there. Writing a book is freaking hard. I’m not saying you have to get rid of your doubts because that’s basically impossible, but you can take control and say to them, “you know what, I have fears and doubts, but I’m going to do this anyway.”

I’m working on a new book now, a domestic suspense. I can’t control what gets published, but I can control what I decide to write. And you know what, I had a lot of fun writing this manuscript.

And I’m already thinking about getting another tattoo. (My star seems lonely; I might need something on my left arm now.) Maybe my next tattoo will commemorate a book deal. Or not. Of all the things in life that are out of my control, it’s nice to know there are some decisions that are completely up to me.

Photo courtesy of @goobtattos.

Writing News & Resources:

For All Writers:

• Check out this upcoming Not Quite Write Flash Fiction Contest: April 19-20.

• Short on time? The NYC Midnight 100-word Microfiction Challenge starts April 19.

• Enter the Sixfold reader-voted short story competition by April 23.

• The

  Good Story Company
  is hosting a FREE Editor AMA (“ask me anything”) online workshop on April 24. Bring your writing, revision, and publishing questions to their experienced panel of editors.

• In this short story competition from the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation, the winning entry will be recorded as an audiobook and published worldwide! Deadline April 28.

• Live in the DC area and have a book to promote? Apply to participate in the 2024 Local Author Bazaar at People's Book on June 8! Eighteen local authors will be chosen to showcase and sell their work. Applications are open through April 29.

• Check out the I Am in Print Writing Competition with seven genres, all judged by a professional agent or publisher. Deadline May 28.

• The Writers Center website is a GREAT resource for finding grants, fellowships, residencies & retreats, publishers (who publish non-agented authors), and literary journal opportunities.

• Ready Chapter 1 is a community-powered platform connecting book publishers with undiscovered writers. Find peer critiques and more.

• Check out all the many upcoming online craft workshops from Savvy Authors!

• Writing Workshops also offers lots of online classes in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, picture books, and the business of writing.

• Need a template for a nonfiction book proposal? Here’s one from Neon Literary!

• Check out the meet-up group called Shut Up & Write. There are in-person chapters all over the country, as well online events.

• Cheshire Novel Prize hosts a FREE group on their private app called Writers Space where you can talk about writing, ask for BETA readers, and connect with other writers.

• Ready to submit a story? Check out this list of 40 Free Writing Contests! And of course, check out NewPages for submission calls from literary magazines and journals.

• Check out my list of writing and publishing resources — my very favorite books, websites, and podcasts on writing, publishing, and the creative life.

For KidLit Writers:

• Thank you to theWriteMentor Newsletterfor the following items:

  • 6-week advanced picture book course with Clare Helen Welsh. Starts May 20th.

  • The Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition 2024 is now OPEN! Closes 1st June.

• Literary Rambles has information on kidlit agents and agent interviews.

• Submit your children’s book to these publishers: no agent required!

• Check out this incredible list of upcoming events for KidLit writers!

• Have you joined SCBWI (The Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators)? They have events, conferences, and it’s a great way to find critique partners and beta readers, for everything from picture books to young adult novels.

For Querying Writers:

• Here’s a list of small publishers, most of which do not require agents.

• Beloved agent Janet Reid died recently. She left behind a true treasure: the queryshark website, filled with an incredible amount of tough-love advice for querying writers.

• Here’s a query letter template from agent Samantha Wekstein and lots of querying advice from agent Eric Smith.

• Every Friday, Operation Awesome offers one free query critique through their #QueryFriday contest.

• Pitch contests have mostly move off of Twitter(“X”), but some seem to be coming back (for now). These events can sometimes feel like a bunch of authors screaming into the void, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to try. After all, I found my agent through a Twitter pitch party. I am now an official success story. So mark your calendar for these upcoming pitch parties. 

  • #KidLitPit on May 30 for picture books through YA.

  • #JoyPit on June 7 for lighthearted feel-good books

• I occasionally choose a subscriber for a FREE submission package critique. Send me your query letter and the first two pages of your manuscript, and, if you’re the winner of the month, I will send you in-depth feedback on both. Interested in receiving a critique? Fill out the form here.

Writing Conferences & Events:

• If you live in the Baltimore/DC area, check out these free April book festivals:

  • Kensington Day of the Book Festival in Kensington, MD this Sunday, April 21. If you haven’t checked out this DC suburb before, you really must. Beautiful Victorian homes, an adorable children’s library, antique stores, and cute cafes/restaurants.

  • Annapolis Book Festival in the historic waterfront capitol of Annapolis, MD. This festival offers a full day of author panels, family and children's activities, and live entertainment. Sat. April 27.

• Live in the mid-Atlantic region and looking for a writing retreat get-away?

  • 2024 Writing Retreats ​at ZigBone Farm (​Just one hour from DC/Baltimore area in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains). MD residents can apply for a grant to help cover costs!

    • July 28 - Aug 2: Summer Novel Writing with award-winning author Tammy Greenwood. For writers at all stages of the journey.  

    • September 22-27: Fall-on-the-Farm Women's Poetry Writing Retreat with Award-Winning Poet and Writing Instructor Ann Quinn 

  • The Writer’s Retreat at Good Contrivance Farm. Open year-round, the only requirement for this peaceful retreat north of Baltimore is that you use the time to work on your writing. Spaces normally book about two months in advance.

• Thinking about going to a conference or applying for a residency? Check out the free searchable database on Poets & Writers.

• The Writing Day Workshop “How to Get Published” Conferences will held both online and in person this year. Plus, sign up for pitch sessions with agents for $29 a piece. Check out the upcoming conferences: 

  • Kentucky Writing Workshop (Louisville): April 19, 2024 (in-person)

  • Tennessee Writing Workshop (Nashville): April 20, 2024 (in-person)

  • San Diego Writing Workshop: April 20, 2024 (in-person)

  • Philadelphia Writing Workshop: April 27, 2024 (in-person)

  • Michigan Writing Workshop (Detroit suburbs): May 4, 2024 (in-person)

  • Writing Conference of Los Angeles: May 4, 2024 (in-person)

  • Ohio Writing Workshop: May 10-11, 2024 (online)

  • Portland Writing Workshop: May 10, 2024 (in-person)

  • Seattle Writing Workshop: May 11, 2024 (in-person)

• Writers Digest offers loads of virtual conferences on a variety of publishing and writing craft topics.

• Washington Writers Conference, being held in Bethesda, MD May 3-4, 2024.

• I will be teaching a writing workshop at the incredible Gaithersburg Book Festival (in the DC area): May 18, 2024. See you there!

• For more writing conferences, check out this list or the free searchable database on Poets & Writers.