18Q Judi Moreo

Judi Moreo

1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you?

I’m not sure. It seems to be a bit of both. I’ve been a story teller all my life.

I wanted to be a journalist. Then I was speaking at a conference and a publisher asked me to write a book on the subject. So I did.

2. What is your background? (education, work, etc.)

Reporter, editor, journalist, model, TV commercials, modeling school/agency owner, columnist, feature writer, speaker, author

3. When did you ‘know’ you were a writer?

I attended a writer’s conference and realized I had more published articles and books than most of the faculty.

4. How would you describe your style of writing?

Conversational

5. What is your writing process?

Mind map ideas, chapter outlines, write the ending so I know where I’m going, write the opening, figure out the middle

6. What was your path to publication?

Reporter for a local newspaper, then my own column, contributions to magazines, South African publisher asked me to do a book, self published two books, wrote a book for a seminar company for back of the room sales, wrote training programs and manuals, collaborated on a women’s book for an American publisher, sold another book to a South African publisher, sold Korean rights on American published book. Attended a writers conference, met a publisher and sold my idea to her. I’m now writing that book for publication in the spring.

7. What is your favorite self-marketing idea?

Pre-sell quantities of books to be given out as gifts to the audience at speaking engagements.

8. What are the biggest surprises you’ve encountered as a writer?

1). That it was so easy to get published.

2). That the author has to do most of the promotion.

9. How do you inspire yourself? What are your sources of creativity?

I pray! In addition, I associate with other writers and positive people, read lots of books, listen to motivational cd’s.

10. What is your proudest writer moment?

When the newspaper I was a reporter for when I was in high school did a front page story on me the week of my 40^th high school reunion.

11. What’s the best advice you were given about writing?

You gave it to me, Greg. You said to break my chapters down into articles and it would be easier to write.

12. What is your most embarrassing writer moment?

I can’t recall an embarrassing writer moment. I did have an embarrassing speaker moment recently when I was so busy telling my story that I wasn’t watching where I was walking and I fell off the front of the stage.

13. What business challenges have you faced as a writer?

My biggest challenge is organization. It seems my papers make baby papers when I’m not looking. In addition, I find that it takes so much time to do the promotion that it often takes away from my writing time, and everyone keeps asking, “What are you writing next?” when I don’t yet have a great income from the last one.

14. What is your writer life philosophy?

Write something every day. Write from my heart, my life experience, my knowledge. Read something every day that was written by an author/person I admire or about a subject that intensely interests me.

15. When you’re not writing what do you do for fun?

Ballroom dance lessons.

16. Who do you like to read?

Og Mandino, Dr. Robert Anthony, Bryce Courtney, Nora Roberts

17. What’s your advice for new writers?

Write! Write! Write!

Promote! Promote! Promote!

18. What are you currently working on?

You Are More Than Enough - Every Woman’s Guide To Purpose Passion and Power: An inspirational self-help book for women to aid them in discovering their purpose and passions and live their lives owning their own power. To be published by Stephens Press, Spring 2007

Judi’s 18Q