First, I will provide an appropriately blog-length summary for anyone who’s interested in backstory: A few weeks ago I was the Editor-in-Chief of the world’s largest writing magazine. There was some corporate restructuring, including a new editorial director, and I realized pretty quickly that the tone and content of the magazine were going to be driven in a direction that didn’t really suit me. So I resigned.
But that doesn’t mean I’m giving up on the industry I’ve been reading about and writing about and networking in these past five years. A wine writer writes about wine; a movie critic writes about movies. I can’t just quit writing what I know; it’s my beat; it’s what I know; it’s what I do.
So I’m actively building this new site dedicated to writing and publishing. I’ll be offering all kinds of resources here soon including original interviews with authors, editors and agents; publishing and marketing advice; creative boosts and book reviews.
Also launching soon here on Editor Unleashed: The Writers on Board forum. I like to have a cool place to hang out while I’m writing, and it’s my nature to be the hostess. So come on and hang out with me!
I’ll start posting articles next week. Right now I’m working on a series about building a writers’ website. I’m also going to address issues like digital rights for writers, what to look for in a contract and what you really need to know about self-publishing so come on back.
And please let me know what you’d like to see on this site as I move forward. I’d sincerely appreciate your advice, your good karma, your Irish blessings, your virtual air kisses, your questionable haiku verses—in other words, please bless my blog.
Help me create something special.
-Maria Schneider
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Congratulations on your new endeavor, Maria. I’ll climb “on board” your new forum when you “unleash” it. Best wishes.
Maria, so glad to see you up and going with your new site! Sounds like it’s going to be great. And I would love to bless your blog :) In fact, God bless both you and your blog! :)
when one door closes
the writer creates new ones
to break through in style
Kudos on the site. I’ve added your feed to my Reader and look forward to your being “unleashed”!
–glg
Best of luck with the new venture, Maria.
Congrats on the new site. Best of luck. Is the world ready for Maria to be “unleashed”? We will soon find out. :-)
Hey, Pit Boss, glad to see you’re still the Pit Boss. We’ll try to be nice to Brian and Zac at the other site, but no promises. It looks like you’re off to a great start. I can’t wait to see your site develop.
Congrats, Maria! Sending many good thoughts your way. I look forward to reading your blog!
Here’s to not signing a non-compete clause! Glad to see you ’round.
I’m sending lots of prayers your way! Can’t wait to see how things evolve here! :-)
*smiles and hugs*
Michele
Bless this blog, and all of its’ commenters!
Congratulations, Maria! Nice to see you on board of a new venture and project.
Best wishes and will be looking in on here often!
Yay! A new place to hang out…
Nothing I love more than a house warming … are there any free apps and beers?
Stay Cheap!
-Jeff Yeager
Good luck on your blog Maria. I registered for your site (thinking it would give me access to the forum you mentioned), and I think that may be a problem. Please E-mail me so I can discuss it with you privately.
~jon
Saw your post on Facebook and was thrilled! Congratulations and kudos! I can’t believe how much time I spend with my blogs (reading AND writing) … it’s kind of addictive. Have fun!
I wish you all the best of luck on your spanking new life of doing what you love for yourself. We’ll be here for you through thick and thin, especially through this transition. You’ve got the forum behind ya girl, so shoot for the moon.-DavidG
Congrats Maria! I’ll be reading this, and just bookmarked the new site… And of course I’ll be on the board when it is up… One can’t not follow their “Pit Boss”… :)
-John
Maria:
You go girl!! It’s so great to see you have started up this new blog! YEAH!! I’m glad you are still posting to the WD forum as well.
One door closes, at least three more open….
Susan
I love the name you chose for your site. Good luck!
Trace
Good luck with the new blog, Maria. I have it bookmarked. I’ve always loved your advice and insight.
For those who may have browsed across this site through seredipity, you need to go ahead and bookmark this as a place to visit on a regular basis. Maria knows the biz and she is not kidding about being a good hostess: she’ll go out of her way to help answer questions and make you feel welcome.
I am looking forward to the launch of a writer-type forum here and having a good group to discuss, review and debate writing-related issues. Whether this will expand to a story submission/critique area remains to be seen, but I hope it goes in that direction.
Maria, thank you for staying on the grid and giving your friends and fans a chance to continue to stay in touch with you. You strike me as a person who makes her luck, rather than counting on fairy godmothers and four leaf clovers, and I know your new ventures will be a success.
Cool beans! I’ll visit often!
Once you’re up and running you can build on cross-links and other bloggers linking to your posts. And a good thing is to put in the tags as you go along rather than backtrack. I’ll be back. A lot.
Congrats, Maria! I hope you’re enjoying your post-editorial life. Isn’t it nice not having to commute anymore?
And heeeere she is! (Maria, I mean). WTG, girl. You certainly have huge ambitions, and I wish you the best of luck!
I’m on board, Maria, and adding you to my blog roll – again! Welcome to your new adventure… Peace, Linda
You asked for good karma – here I am!
I look forward to reading your blog daily. Good Luck!!
There are a lot of Maria Schneiders on Facebook. You can put a link on your blog to your Facebook, and vice versa.
Your site is beautiful: elegant and spare. Good luck, Maria, and blessings galore.
Ah, Maria, you have no idea how you’ll be missed!! Or maybe you do, but I wanted to say it again, loud! I’ll come visit though. I’m so glad you’ll maintain a voice in the blogosphere.
Jordan
Maria, you know so much and we need to learn so much. A perfect match–unleashed!
Best wishes, Maria. I enjoyed working with you at WD.
Great to see you back in cyberspace, Maria. :)
I’ll start out with good luck. I envy and admire those capable of moving on with head held high. I experienced that many years ago, it was scary though. Kudos to you.
Esteban aka Steve.
Maria, congratulations on the way you have handled this change of course. I’ve been active on LiveJournal for a few years, but have had trouble developing and maintaining a personal website, so I look forward to upcoming posts.
Glad to see you’re still in the business. From what I could tell about the new editorial direction at the old stomping grounds it seems to be moving away from craft to a more publishing orientation. If I wanted that, I’d read Publisher’s Weekly.
But, glad to see you’re here; looking forward to watching your blog grow and learning about the craft, techniques, etc.
Thanks Larry. I hope to bring a lot of writing craft content into this site as it evolves, so stay tuned!
Maria
Hi Maria,
Since you’re still giving away cupcakes and great advice, count me in! Your new blog looks like a splendid place to continue on the learning curve. I’ll look forward to visiting often. Thanks so much!
Maria,
As an author and journalist who’s only recently found your site, congratulations! And thank-you for what you do. I always come away from your blog and e-mail newsletter with better insight and a good idea. And, as you and other writers know, that’s pretty valuable stuff.
I look forward to much more — no pressure, though :)