Writing
I’m the kind of girl who likes to do a lot of things: I’m passionate about dogs and finding them homes, I love to write inspirational pieces for Guideposts and Chicken Soup for the Soul books, I enjoy golfing, walking, and spending time with family and friends.
Writing is a big part of my life and maybe it’s a big part of yours. I send out an unobtrusive email once a month called Taylor’s Tips. It’s a newsletter centered around inspiration for both writers and non-writers alike. The newsletters are available by signing up on my website or you can find them right here on this blog! Click on the category on the right “Newsletter.” If you’d like to see more of them, they are also archived on my website.
Enjoy, and have a super day!
B.J.
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Taylor's Tips 
1.
joysueruterman | December 27, 2011 at 10:47 pm
I have been working on a story about our dog, “Shorty.” He saved my nine month old son from dying of suffocation. He woke me in time to find him and get him breathing again.
He also took care of our Border Collie’s new puppies, when she ran away one night. He would go and lay down in their bed and let them suck on him till they realized he didn’t produce milk. He would then get up, go sit in a corner, and wait. Then go back and repeat the procedure till the next morning when we found “Honey” the border collie and brought her home to her puppys. We were able to sleep thru the night because of our amazing little hero. May I send it to you, to read and give me feed back. I really would appreciate it. Thank you. JoySue Ruterman
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2.
bjtaylorblog | December 28, 2011 at 9:06 am
JoySue,
How wonderful that you have Shorty to care for you and your loved ones (furry and otherwise!). I teach writing classes at many conferences (you can catch where I’ll be from the Taylor’s Tips Newsletter I send out – sign up for it through my website at http://www.bjtayloronline.com or let me know you want to get it and I’ll put you on the list).
Writing takes tons of effort and lots of learning. I encourage you to learn all you can about the process. I can’t help you much with your actual story, but if you want to email it to me I can give it a quick lookover, but that’s about it. Too many deadlines on my end to be able to give it the time you would deserve, but do look into attending a writer’s conference in the future. That’s where you can learn SO MUCH about this business.
Many blessings on you and many hugs to Shorty,
B.J.
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3.
Mark Carlson | October 28, 2011 at 4:33 pm
BJ, wonderful!
I need an address. Please email me directly and I’ll get one to you ASAP.
Thanks for everything!
Mark and Musket
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4.
Mark Carlson | October 28, 2011 at 10:03 am
Hi BJ, how are you ? It’s Mark Carlson. I keep reading your posts na dit seems you are doing well with the site. I’m so happy for you.
I guess you’ve been wondering about how I am doing. I’m sure Sadnratold you I decided to self pulsih ‘Confessions of a Guide Dog.’ It’s coming out next month. You did some wonderful work on it but I didn’t feel I could use any of your wriitng. I hope you understand, as I was never able to pay you for your work.
I had to do some serious self-promotion to get the money together to publish it myself.
I want to send you a copy when it comes out and perhaps you might allow me to post some mentions of the book on your site? I hope we can do this together. You gave me a lot of great inspiration and help. If you would prefer not to, I undertand.
Thank you and best regads,
Mark Carlson and Musket
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5.
bjtaylorblog | October 28, 2011 at 2:42 pm
Mark and Musket — nice to hear from you! Would love to see your book when it comes out and if you want to send me a copy, I just might be able to do a review here on my blog! That would be stupendous and I greatly look forward to receiving it. Congrat’s Mark & Musket!
All the best,
B.J. & Charlie Bear
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6.
noelle fauvelle | September 12, 2011 at 12:35 pm
Hi B.J. how long did it take for you to get your first chicken soup story published?
do you have any advice.
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7.
bjtaylorblog | September 12, 2011 at 6:33 pm
Hi Noelle,
It was all trial and error when first submitting to Chicken Soup. Advice? Read lots of the stories to get the feel for what they publish. Stick to the 1,200 words or less guidelines. Be sure to triple check for errors and typos before submitting. And if you do get an email saying your story is under consideration, respond immediately with whatever they request from you (usually a return email saying you approve the story and they have permission to publish). It took a long time…I think about three years…before I got it right. Don’t give up hope!
Best,
B.J.
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8.
Lisa Keck | September 8, 2011 at 10:14 am
Hey B.J.
I took your Writing for Chicken Soup class at the OCCWF spring conference. I hope I learned well since I sent them 2 stories, 1 for Family Caregiver and 1 for Christmas. No word yet on either. Enjoyed reading about Charlie Bear’s 2nd birthday and am so glad he was rescued. He looks a little like my next door neighbor’s dog when I was little. His name was Charlie too and he was always getting out and one neighbor was always calling the pound on him. We thought she was mean but years later she called me to give me the heads up that some neighborhood kids were being mean to my cat. I was able to go outside and stop them before anything bad happened.
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9.
bjtaylorblog | September 10, 2011 at 6:08 am
Hi Lisa,
Kudos on sending in the two Chicken Soup stories. That’s a great accomplishment. It often takes a long time to hear so don’t give up hope.
Thanks for the well wishes for Charlie Bear’s birthday. I’m so glad you had a nice neighbor who helped you to keep your cat safe. It’s wonderful when we all look out for each other.
Many blessings,
B.J.
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10.
writerworks | May 16, 2011 at 4:17 pm
Hi Susan,
i saw you at the OCCWF April 30, 2011. i read your bio and i wanted to know more about the articles you had published with Guidepost. Where can i read them. i love that magazine and i would like to submit some stories. i would truly appreciate it if you can send me your literature from you workshop–the secrets of successful writers revealed.
thank you,
diane williams
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11.
bjtaylorblog | May 17, 2011 at 6:36 am
Hi Diane,
Thanks for your interest in Guideposts magazine. It’s a great place to read first-person inspirational stories. I’ll be emailing you what little I have as a handout from the second class taught at OCCWF Conference. Glad you were there!
Blessings,
B.J.
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12.
Joseph White | January 21, 2011 at 8:59 pm
We love your articles. Please keep up the great work.
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13.
bjtaylorblog | January 23, 2011 at 2:29 pm
Hi Joseph,
Thanks for the compliment. Charlie Bear and I appreciate it very much.
Have a great day,
B.J.
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14.
Joy Garrett | September 4, 2010 at 4:18 pm
Would it be all right if I sent you a poem I wrote about my next-door neighbor, a Bichon Frise, when he died? He was spoiled rotten, by my family, of course, and coincidentally, by his owner! I love animals and would like to share everything.
Joy Garrett
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15.
bjtaylorblog | September 5, 2010 at 1:58 am
Hi Joy, I sent you an email, but will also respond to you here. Sure, send the poem and also any photos of the Bichon Frise, or your own dog(s). That would be great!
Best,
B.J.
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