CPSC Grants One Year Stay on Required Testing & Certification of Certain Products

Halleluiah! The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that it would grant a one year stay on the testing and certification of certain products under the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).

Individuals and groups have been contacting the CPSC with their concerns and there is even a petition requesting that the CPSIA be repealed.

Consumers who purchase products for children 12 and under--including books--should keep on eye on what happens over the next year as opponents of the current version of the CPSIA continue their efforts to get the law repealed or amended.

You can read a press release about the one year stay from the CPSC here.

Motivational Quote #20

"If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes."--Andrew Carnegie

When I stumbled across this inspirational quote today, I knew I had to stop what I was doing and blog about it. Carnegie's words encapsulate what it means to be an aspiring author.

Doesn't the goal of being a published author command your thoughts no matter how hard you try to deny it? Don't you feel the energy pouring forth from you as you put pen to paper or tap upon the keyboard? Isn't it inspiring that your hopes and dreams may one day come true?

Allow yourself to be happy! Stop making excuses as to why it can't happen. Make it happen. Find a way. Ask your family and friends for support, delegate chores, set aside some writing time and make sure you keep it sacred.

My articles at Writer2Writer can help you do it, but you have to want it. I know you want it...so make it happen.

You have the power to make your dreams come true. Use it!

ALA Seeking Library Advocates to Help Push through Amendments to CPSIA

This was posted on the American Library Association's Issues & Advocacy page:

A public meeting was held January 22, and Cheryl Falvey, General Counsel for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), stated that a decision should be made by the first week of February regarding libraries. She advised libraries not to take any action at this time, and we are hopeful that the Commission’s decision will exempt libraries.

Even with her assurances, we must let the CPSC know how important an issue this is to libraries. Please call the Acting Commissioner, Nancy Nord, at (301) 504-7901. When you call this number, wait for the automated directory to give you directions to reach Nancy Nord’s office. Explain to the Commission that it is simply impossible for libraries to remove all children’s books from the shelves and/or ban children under 12 from the library and still provide the level of service that is needed.

You can find more information on how you can help at the American Library Association site.

Impact of CPSIA on School Libraries

As the official enforcement date of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) gets closer and closer, there still seems to be a lot of uncertainty about the law's impact on books and how CPSIA will impact school libraries.

I recently attended a meeting at a school in our district and they had not even heard of CPSIA, so perhaps that's good news. Until we know for sure, however, you might want to read this article that I found on the American Association of School Libraries blog.

Phyllis Zimbler Miller Talks about Branding

Why are we talking about this here? Well, you're not planning to stay an aspiring author forever, are you?

Fiction Scribe had another interesting guest blogger last week. Phyllis Zimbler Miller, author of Mrs. Lieutenant: A Sharon Gold Novel stopped by to talk about branding.

Here's the lead-in:

What Is Your Brand as a Writer? What Sets You Apart From Other Writers in Your Same Genre?

John has written a YA novel, Francine a chick lit, Martin a thriller, and Dolores a romance. While the titles of their respective novels may be different, their “brands” may all be the same – another YA novelist, another chick lit novelist, another thriller novelist, and another romance novelist.

Given the huge number of novels published each year and the large array of choices of what people can spend their leisure time doing, novelists are even more hard pressed to distinguish themselves from the pack. And how do they do this?

You'll find the entire article here.

Why You Should Hire A Professional Copy Editor

Fiction Scribe had an excellent guest blogger today. Author and editor Sigrid Macdonald spoke of the reasons you need to hire a copy editor.

Here's the lead-in to the article:

Many seasoned writers, myself included, balk at the idea of hiring a copy editor. We’ve been writing for years; we know grammar and sentence structure. Why put out good money to have someone else do exactly what we can do? Or worse – the editor may want to change our voice, our style and our tone. Who needs that? You do!

Whether you are brand-new to writing or you’re an old pro, there are two very good reasons why you shouldn’t edit your own work.

You can find the entire article here.

Motivational Quote #19

Inspiration? A hoax that poets have invented to give themselves importance.--Jean Anouilh

On one of the shelves in my office I have a few books that I refer to reguarly, whether they be about craft, grammar, or motivation. Among the larger, taller books in that collection is a short hardcover with a sunburst on the front titled, The Writer's Book of Wisdom: 101 Rules for Mastering Your Craft by Steven Taylor Goldsberry.

Rule #4 talks about inspiration and includes this quote from playwright Jean Anouilh. Goldsberry says that if you wait for inspiration you have no business being a writer.

As aspiring authors we know the only way to get published is to submit manuscripts. If we're too busy waiting for that perfect moment to sit down and write, it may never happen. While the words certainly flow easier when you're inspired, it doesn't mean that you can't discipline yourself to write even when you're feeling less than inspired.

Timed writing sessions are an excellent way to get started. Read my article on timed writing sessions and get started today!

You have the power to make your dreams come true. Use it!