A question came in last week from Justin, a writer influenced by anime and fantasy. I wanted to share it because it's pertinent to many writers, and because I hope other fantasy/science fiction writers will offer advice geared to his particular situation.

Justin wrote, "One of my passions is writing & this story has just stuck with me for the longest time. I have character names, a huge setting in a fantasy kingdom & well . . . just about everything but the plot line. I have no idea where to begin & each time I have started to write the drafts, I kinda get stuck & just wish I could skip the beginning altogether."

My advice was to go back to the basics: introduction, rising action, climax, denouement -- all those things we learn in school. I also directed him to the excellent book suggestions offered by other readers in an earlier blog. As for beginnings: "It's OK to skip the beginning and come back to it later. For me, beginnings are also the hardest part, so I often leave them until the end." Plus, having written the rest of the book, I have a better idea of how to frame the story. It pays to be strategic about the beginning, and this way, an author can write the beginning that best sets up what follows.

Any other thoughts for Justin, on beginnings specifically or plots in general? And for fantasy writers: how do you shift from universe building to plot? This must be a common problem, so please share your experiences and solutions.

With the economy going haywire on us, it seemed a good time to revisit an interview with Amanda Clayman, a psychotherapist specializing in financial wellness. For years, she has counseled artists through the Actors Fund in New York City, helping them bring money into balance while pursuing their artistic goals. So, yes, it's time to be smart about money, but that doesn't mean you have to give up writing. Clayman shows how your life can accommodate both.

I got word this week about an upcoming contest deadline from American Short Fiction, and wanted to pass it on:
The contest is open from September 15 to December 8. All entries will be considered for publication. The entry fee of $20 includes a copy of the contest issue. (You may upload only one story per entry, but you can enter as many times as you like.)
The lucky first prize winner receives $1,000 and publication.
Second prize is $500.
Final Judge: Sam Lipsyte
See full guidelines at http://www.americanshortfiction.org/contest_rules08.htm.

A reader wrote in this week asking, “What exactly do literary journals want to see when they ask for a ‘brief bio’”? It’s a question a lot of writers have – I know I did when I first started submitting work – and I wanted to share the Q&A, and to see what other people had to contribute.

My answer was that editors want a short paragraph or a few lines about the author, in part to provide context for the work, but also so they’ll have something for the Contributors’ Notes at the back of the journal if they take the story. By getting the bio in the beginning, they save time and hassle later.

If you have any publications or pertinent degrees, you'll want to mention them. If you don't, that's fine, too. Say what you do for a living or where you go to school, where you live, and what projects you're working on:

"I write for About.com and live in Brooklyn, NY, with my 18 Persian cats. I'm currently working on a murder mystery set on an emu farm."

You can see more examples (ones people have actually used) here.

The one journal I read submissions for sent us packets with the cover letters stapled behind the work, so that we encountered the writing first, without knowing who submitted it. If the work was shoddy, I didn't care if it turned out someone famous had sent it in. And if it was really good, I didn't care if they hadn't published a word. I think (or very much hope) that that's the spirit at most journals, and especially at the ones that say they're open to new authors.

But what’s your take on all of this? Do you have tips that have worked for you? Share your advice, thoughts, or sample bios below. I can add 'em to the list.