Get our expert's advice and YOU could become a best-selling author! UPDATED WITH WINNERS!
Congratulations to our winners: survivorinohio and AKDmom!
Are you a writer? Do you dream of becoming one? Whether you're already working on the next great American novel, you've got a blog, or you just like to jot down ideas in a journal, our expert is here to help you hone your skills!

Kate Hopper, award-winning teacher and author of Use Your Words: A Writing Guide for Mothers, will be here all week to share her experience as a mom and writer, offer her expert advice, and answer YOUR questions! Plus, you could win a copy of Kate's book!

Please ask your questions for Kate in the replies below. Kate will post her answers here as well.
Welcome, Kate, and thanks for joining us!
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Giveaway rules:
- The Kate Hopper giveaway starts 6/08/12 at 10:05am (ET) and ends 6/17//2012 at 11pm (ET) (the "Giveaway Period").
- Enter by replying to this post with an appropriate comment during the Giveaway Period.
- Multiple entries are permitted and encouraged, as it increases your chances of winning.
- One winner will be selected in a random drawing of all eligible entries to receive a copy of Use Your Words: A Writing Guide for Mothers.
- The random drawing shall occur on or about 6/27/12.
- No Purchase Necessary.
- Open to US residents 16 years and older.
- Void where prohibited. Click here for the rest of the Official Rules.
Quoting othermom:
Where would be the best place to try to publish poetry
Hi othermom,
There are a ton of literary journals (both online and print) that publish poetry. Many of many students have had luck at Vox Poetica (http://voxpoetica.com/). But also check out Poets & Writers. They have a database that you can search by genre. (http://www.pw.org/literary_magazines?&perpage=*) Make sure you read the journalsto see whether they are a fit for your work before submitting. That saves time in the long run. Best of luck!!
Quoting survivorinohio:Hi Kate, thank you for giving us this opportunity to pick your brain:) I think there are a lot of ladies here who have an interest in writing and can benefit from your advice.
I have been told I should write about my life by a lot of people, my life is a bit off the norm lol. I have often wondered how I would begin such a story. What do you think is the best way to start a book?
I have thought about setting a scene with the opening, do you think thats the best way to introduce characters?
Also I wonder about fictionalizing rather than just telling the story in hopes of protecting the guilty lol and the innocent as well. The problem I think of is that much of the story I have to tell is pretty unusual and I dont want it to be taken less seriously. So do you think fictionalizing true stories is a good idea or would a pseudonym be a better strategy?
I am struggling with the same thing. I do not want to "fictionalize" my life, though; however, I do plan to change people's names and locations to protect myself. I also have an unusual story to tell, but I've also had people tell me they don't think it is that unusual. So I need to really make it good so people will read it. I am writing it as a creative nonfiction piece, so I do have some leeway. Even so, I realize I do need to be careful about how I deal with the guilty. Any advice in that area? Thank you.



- Cafe Kristin
on Jun. 8, 2012 at 10:05 AM