Thanksgiving for the Writer

It's the week of Thanksgiving in the United States. I'll be spending the time with family, friends, and finishing several projects. I hope you all enjoy a wonderful holiday full of good times.

For some fun reading, here are ten reasons I'm thankful to be a writer.

What are you doing this week?

Win NaNoWriMo in 9 Days!

Anyone participating in NaNoWriMo? Anyone struggling with or given up of NaNoWriMo?

Not to worry. There are nine days left to November, and thanks to Melissa Maygrove I found the article How I Won NaNoWriMo in 9 Days. 

That's right - nine days! The author, Ava Jae, shares her tips to completing her work in such a short amount of time. She also offers statistics to show you how she achieved her goal. It's worth a look.

Best of luck and HAPPY WRITING!

Best Websites and Blogs for Writers

Sometimes, we all need a little inspiration, motivation, or help navigating our craft and the publishing world.  Every year Writer's Digest publishes their top 100 sites for writers, but if you're like me, you don't have time to visit those hundred (which may change every year) as well as your own friends and followers.

So, here are just ten of my picks:

Rachelle Gardner - author and literary agent.
Writer's Digest - for all your writing needs.
Nathan Bransford - children's author and former literary agent.
Jody Hedlund - Christian Romance author.
Hope Clark - Mystery Writer and popular Newsletter Editor.
Mysterious Matters - Inside tips of the mystery publishing business.
Kill Zone - Musing of 11 top selling authors.
Alex J Cavanaugh - Bestselling sci-fi author.
Jane Friedman - editor, publisher, and professor.

Which sites do you just HAVE to follow?

Half Way There!

If you’re participating in National Novel Writing Month and following the daily word count, then you should have approximately 25,000 words on Friday.

I’m honestly not sure where I am on my word count. I've been writing in a notebook in place of typing. Trying to trick my brain by not watching the word count. We'll see if this method works for me.

How is your NaNoWriMo project progressing?

American Warrior Writing

Thank-you to all veterans and active military. We may not show it enough, but you are so very appreciated!

My interview of Vietnam War author Tim O’Brien appears in Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Volume 2 which officially releases on November 15^th.

This anthology presents essays, fiction, poetry, interviews, and photography by military-service personnel, veterans, and their families. It is the second in an annual series published by Southeast Missouri State University Press in cooperation with the Missouri Humanities Council's Veterans Projects and the Warriors Arts Alliance.  

"The stories and poems of service and sacrifice are essential in understanding what has so broadly been termed 'the American experience.' For me, Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors is required reading and worthy of a thousand tears."     ―St. Leger Monty Joynes, veteran, Vietnam

Books can now be ordered from the Southeast Missouri State University Press and Amazon. Volume one can still be purchased from both as well.

Interested in submitting to Vol. 3? They are already accepting submissions which are due by June 1, 2014. Contests and prizes will be awarded in each of the five categories. To learn more, please visit:  http://www6.semo.edu/universitypress/Contests/PTB_Contest.htm

One of Those Days...

It's just one of those days...

 

 

How is your WIP coming along?

Edge of Freedom



 

The November/December issue of Southern Writer's magazine came out on Friday. My interview with author Elizabeth Ludwig can be found in this month's issue: http://www.southernwritersmagazine.com/ 

 

Ludwig is the author of eight Christian fiction novels, including her "Edge of Freedom" series now available from Bethany House. Her ninth book, and the third in the series, will be available in March. You can learn more about her at: http://www.elizabethludwig.net/

Have you read anything by Ludwig? How about an issue of Southern Writer's? What are you reading now?

NaNoWriMo 2013

Who's participating?