Friday, August 15, 2008
An Essay Contest for Boomers
The National Association of Baby Boomer Women (who knew) and GRAND magazine are sponsoring a 500 word essay contest. It's call "Sharing Memories from the 70s with the Kids." Ohhhhh, isn't that a scary thought. Basically they want you to tell a story about a specific memory from the 70s you'd plan to share with the kids. Or maybe a memory you wouldn't dream of sharing. (Can you remember that far back?)The deadline is October 31, 2008. And you have a shot at $250 in prize money, free membership in NABBW and your story will be published. What more could you want (thinner thighs, less gray or no chin hairs?)This contest isn't limited to women, so you baby boomer men can submit too.Here's the submission information.Entries should be in the form of a WORD document and sent as an attachment to contest@nabbw.com with "Memories from the 70s" in the subject line.But don't take my word for it. Check out their guidelines Memories from the 70s
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Want to Promote Your Book?
A writing friend, Julie Earhart sent the following information...
hey writers!
here's a great way to generate some interest in your book:
do a book giveaway at www.goodreads.com
go to the authors section and look for the book giveaway link---here are a few rules:
You agree to supply the indicated number of books on the date the giveaway ends.
Goodreads will list (for free) the giveaway book on the giveaways page.
Goodreads will collect interest in the book, and select winners at our discretion.
Our algorithm uses member data to match interested members with each book.
Goodreads will email you a list of winners, and you are responsible for shipment of the books. Failure to do so will result in us not inviting you over for cake ever again.
You agree to not store the winners' mailing addresses and to never mail anything to the winners except the indicated book.
Winning members are encouraged but not required to write a review of the book they receive.
hey writers!
here's a great way to generate some interest in your book:
do a book giveaway at www.goodreads.com
go to the authors section and look for the book giveaway link---here are a few rules:
You agree to supply the indicated number of books on the date the giveaway ends.
Goodreads will list (for free) the giveaway book on the giveaways page.
Goodreads will collect interest in the book, and select winners at our discretion.
Our algorithm uses member data to match interested members with each book.
Goodreads will email you a list of winners, and you are responsible for shipment of the books. Failure to do so will result in us not inviting you over for cake ever again.
You agree to not store the winners' mailing addresses and to never mail anything to the winners except the indicated book.
Winning members are encouraged but not required to write a review of the book they receive.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Castle Rock Writers Conference 2008
Castle Rock Writers announce their 2008 Conference at the Philip S. Miller Library in Castle Rock, Colorado.
The event is scheduled for September 20th, 2008 from 8:30 am until 5 pm. If you register before August 20th, the cost is $60 per person and includes the keynote address, workshops, boxed lunch, water, snacks and workshop notebook.
Thanks to Alice Aldridge-Dennis for the heads-up.
The event is scheduled for September 20th, 2008 from 8:30 am until 5 pm. If you register before August 20th, the cost is $60 per person and includes the keynote address, workshops, boxed lunch, water, snacks and workshop notebook.
Thanks to Alice Aldridge-Dennis for the heads-up.
Friday, August 8, 2008
A Big Political Face Slap Goes to...
John Edwards. I cannot even say how totally disappointed I am. John Edwards Admits Affair .
Shame on you Mr. Edwards. Not even because you had the affair, but because you lied to us about it. I know people are human and "stuff" happens, but come on... Did you think you could just sweep it under the carpet? Does the name Bill Clinton ring a bell?
I had so much hope pinned on you. But I can tell you one thing, if you are ever on a ballot that I am voting on, you can rest assured my vote will go to your opponent.
And to Mrs. Edwards. You, my dear lady are a saint. With everything you've been through and are going through to still be able to stand at his side and hold your head high. I salute you.
And to all you future politicians. TELL THE TRUTH!
Sorry for writer interruptus, but I just had to comment. Now back to regularly scheduled programming.
Shame on you Mr. Edwards. Not even because you had the affair, but because you lied to us about it. I know people are human and "stuff" happens, but come on... Did you think you could just sweep it under the carpet? Does the name Bill Clinton ring a bell?
I had so much hope pinned on you. But I can tell you one thing, if you are ever on a ballot that I am voting on, you can rest assured my vote will go to your opponent.
And to Mrs. Edwards. You, my dear lady are a saint. With everything you've been through and are going through to still be able to stand at his side and hold your head high. I salute you.
And to all you future politicians. TELL THE TRUTH!
Sorry for writer interruptus, but I just had to comment. Now back to regularly scheduled programming.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
A Contest for the Kids
Oh my gosh. Here's a contest for kids ages 7-12. It's sponsored by Mrs. Butterworth (the syrup lady) and Scholastic. The grand prize is a $5000 U.S. Saving Bond and books from Scholastic. Plus the winning story gets published. What an opportunity!
This is something I would have loved as a kid. The savings bond probably wouldn't have meant much to me (What, I can't spend it!) But the books. Wow! My favorite subject in school was reading. And I won the reading contest every year.
My first story was published when I was in fourth grade, thanks to an awesome teacher who saw my potential.
Check out the official rules, and then encourage the kiddies to participate. The theme is "Breakfast with Mrs. Butterworth."
This is something I would have loved as a kid. The savings bond probably wouldn't have meant much to me (What, I can't spend it!) But the books. Wow! My favorite subject in school was reading. And I won the reading contest every year.
My first story was published when I was in fourth grade, thanks to an awesome teacher who saw my potential.
Check out the official rules, and then encourage the kiddies to participate. The theme is "Breakfast with Mrs. Butterworth."
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
What's in your desk?
If a twelve-step program existed for office supply addicts, I would be the charter member. I can't walk into an office supply store without drooling over paperclips, sticky notes, staplers and all the paraphernalia associated with being a writer.
Yesterday I bought rubber bands. I haven't used a rubber band in two years, but these were multi-colored and on sale--cheap. And you never know when you might need one.
When the Sunday paper comes, I can't wait to pull out the ads and dream about what new product might be featured at my local office supply store. The heck with grocery ads and departments store coupons, give me a great deal on pens or pencils, and I'm in heaven.
My top desk drawer contains:
scissors
2 flash drives
a spindle of CD's
a spindle of DVD's
paperclips in 3 sizes ( and various colors)
too many pens to count
my new rubber bands
5 push pins (I don't even own a bulletin board)
3 lens cloths (are these office supplies? I clean my monitor with them, so I think they count.)
5 highlighters
3 pages of sticky notes
and a bread tie (don't ask)
One time when I was still working, I found a petrified orange in my desk. No, it wasn't scared. But it was hard as a rock. Who knew that oranges could petrify? I figured they just rotted. But it's a good thing for me it didn't.
What's the wierdest thing you've ever found in your desk drawer?
Yesterday I bought rubber bands. I haven't used a rubber band in two years, but these were multi-colored and on sale--cheap. And you never know when you might need one.
When the Sunday paper comes, I can't wait to pull out the ads and dream about what new product might be featured at my local office supply store. The heck with grocery ads and departments store coupons, give me a great deal on pens or pencils, and I'm in heaven.
My top desk drawer contains:
scissors
2 flash drives
a spindle of CD's
a spindle of DVD's
paperclips in 3 sizes ( and various colors)
too many pens to count
my new rubber bands
5 push pins (I don't even own a bulletin board)
3 lens cloths (are these office supplies? I clean my monitor with them, so I think they count.)
5 highlighters
3 pages of sticky notes
and a bread tie (don't ask)
One time when I was still working, I found a petrified orange in my desk. No, it wasn't scared. But it was hard as a rock. Who knew that oranges could petrify? I figured they just rotted. But it's a good thing for me it didn't.
What's the wierdest thing you've ever found in your desk drawer?
Friday, August 1, 2008
Chapter by Chapter....
slowly I edit. I made it to Chapter 9. It's amazing to me that I wrote the darn thing quicker than I am able to edit it. And my protagonist is plotting against me (pun intended.) She's finished with this portion of her life and ready to move on. So I'm having to rein her in. She might be in for a surprise if I throw a kink in her plans long about Chapter 15.
It kind of reminds me of the movie Stranger Than Fiction. Did you see it? It's about a guy who figures out he's the character in a novel. The writer is plotting to kill him off. I've never been a big Will Ferrell fan (sorry Will), but he is so funny in this movie. And Emma Thompson, as the author is, great.
If you haven't seen it, get thee to the nearest movie rental store and check it out. My BIL and SIL recommended it. After I saw it my BIL and I plotted about what would have happened if the character had tried to get even and kill the author. Well, if the author was writing it, then she would know the character was plotting and if the character was plotting and the author was having him do so, was she then plotting her own suicide.... Get the drift. Several emails ensued where we schemed what the character and writer would do. And honest, we weren't drinking.
Does your character's behavior surprise you?
It kind of reminds me of the movie Stranger Than Fiction. Did you see it? It's about a guy who figures out he's the character in a novel. The writer is plotting to kill him off. I've never been a big Will Ferrell fan (sorry Will), but he is so funny in this movie. And Emma Thompson, as the author is, great.
If you haven't seen it, get thee to the nearest movie rental store and check it out. My BIL and SIL recommended it. After I saw it my BIL and I plotted about what would have happened if the character had tried to get even and kill the author. Well, if the author was writing it, then she would know the character was plotting and if the character was plotting and the author was having him do so, was she then plotting her own suicide.... Get the drift. Several emails ensued where we schemed what the character and writer would do. And honest, we weren't drinking.
Does your character's behavior surprise you?
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