All Blog Posts (21,743)

A Ticket To Ride: How NEXT STOP Came To Be

My editor-friend and I were catching up over a lunch of beer and mussels. “So what have you been up to lately?” he asked.

“Oh, not too much,” I said, rewinding the hot blur of August in Washington. “My kid and I spent most of the summer riding the Metro.”

“Where to?”

“Well, just riding around. You know—here, there.”

“Have you ever considered writing about this?”

“Hah!” I had to laugh. “Who’d be interested in reading about a 21-year-old autistic kid learning to ride the… Continue

Added by Glen Finland on June 17, 2010 at 12:00pm — 2 Comments

8 Places to Find Inspiration

Are you running out of details? Blocked on character development? Flailing for fresh and new angles on your characters' trajectories?

Find inspiration about their dilemmas in your daily life. Remember to bring a notebook.

Added by Victoria Mixon on June 17, 2010 at 11:42am — No Comments

What She's Reading Now: Why Translation Matters, by Edith Grossman

A new series at She Writes, "What She's Reading Now" asks She Writers to tell us what they are reading, and shout out authors and books that they love. Kamy Wicoff kicks things off by sharing what's been on her bedside table: Why Translation Matters.

What am I reading now? The renowned literary translator… Continue

Added by The Salonniere on June 17, 2010 at 11:30am — 1 Comment

Workday in 3 Hour Segments

I recently read a story that described the work schedule of a small village in India. In this very old, thriving farm village they practice a very unique work schedule. Work for 3 hours, take a break for lunch and rest for 3 hours, then get back to work for 3 hours. The entire village works this way, and probably always has. This work method intrigued me, as I have never believed that the 8 hour work day that we practice in the U.S has been most beneficial for optimal energy and… Continue

Added by Ana Lewis on June 17, 2010 at 10:35am — No Comments

Author Services are Author Friendly!

I've been trying to get past the rewriting stage of my second novel and onward to finding its niche and its marketing potential.

I contacted a Shewrites editor, and I feel as if I am finally out of my rut. The conversation we had generated an editing contract, and now I know when a follow-up will come to me: it's all spelled out in language we both agree on.

I have to say that the "author services" on Shewrites hold the key for me and probably for a lot of authors, who are… Continue

Added by Eileen Granfors on June 17, 2010 at 10:00am — No Comments

SHARE THIS! by Deanna Zandt

After I read (and immensely enjoyed) Deanna Zandt's new book, Share This!, I wondered if I'd made the wrong decision to deactivate my Facebook and Twitter accounts. They provided interesting windows to the world beyond my own, but I wasn't sure how useful they were. I bought Share This! to educate myself about what social networking is really all about.

Zandt's book doesn't explain how to use Facebook, Twitter, blogs, forums, etc. (that's what tutorials are for); instead she focuses… Continue

Added by Terri McIntyre on June 17, 2010 at 8:27am — No Comments

Pilgrimage: On Making Change and Dreaming

This is a post from my blog, The Sophia Project:

In the middle of our busy lives, its easy, sometimes, to forget we're headed somewhere. The future seems vague, and dreams (or their lack) seem to taunt us.

And during those times we muster the courage to forge straight ahead in spite of the fact it feels we’re… Continue

Added by Cyndi Briggs on June 17, 2010 at 8:11am — No Comments

Hit List: Summer Reading

I've posted my summer reading list, which is heavy on poetry.
http://writingwithoutpaper.blogspot.com/2010/06/hit-list-summer-reading.html

Added by Maureen E. Doallas on June 17, 2010 at 4:54am — No Comments

the word is a bridge to connect different people

Hello,

Since I joined she writes website I think of write something in its blog to get me connected to friends and writers here, may be some of you try to visit my website but because I write mostly in Arabic to be closer to Egyptian readers so I will try here to write about a few points to get you a little bit close to my community and my culture & what I think of currently.

First of all I am 31 female from a country that is considered now as a third world country which is "… Continue

Added by Rania Ahmed on June 17, 2010 at 4:34am — No Comments

I'm Late, I'm Late...hopefully better late than never...quotes to write by

I seem to have Alice In Wonderland on the Brain. The Queen did say, afterall—

“Sentence first — verdict afterwards.”

If we apply this to our writing, I think we would have to say first you must write, late we can judge if it is any good or not. Save the editing till last!

“If I’m trying to sleep, the ideas won’t stop. If I’m trying to write, there appears a barren nothingness.”

~Carrie Latet

Now that’s one that I can really relate to. Isn’t it… Continue

Added by Dawne E. Knobbe on June 16, 2010 at 11:34pm — 1 Comment

Confidence: Decoding Agent and Editor's Feedback

In my agenting days, I was the first in line to receive the inevitable pass letters (or rejection letters, as many negatively refer to them). For my fiction writers, the feedback was varied…mainly the editor passed on the novel because they just didn’t “fall in love” with the writing, characters or story. And really, for an editor to commit to a novel for one to two years worth of priceless editorial attention, the editor must fall head over heels in love with the book and the publishing house… Continue

Added by Erin Reel on June 16, 2010 at 7:55pm — No Comments

Kate Buckley's "Choices" wins Eric Hoffer award and reviewed in US Review of Books ....

Choices, Kate Buckley, Book Publishers Network - Fifteen-year-old Kara faces a life-or-death choice that will change the course of her life. Her crush on Jake, a high school basketball star, leads her into deception, drinking, and date rape. When Jake pressures her to get an abortion, Kara struggles with her decision. Her choice is further complicated by her mother's heavy involvement in the pro-life movement. In Choices, Kate Buckley explores the pressures and problems of adolescence. Her… Continue

Added by Kate Buckley on June 16, 2010 at 7:08pm — No Comments

The Council of Dads by Judy Bolton-Fasman

Sage advice from the man who walked the Bible: “Take a walk with a turtle. And behold the world in pause.” Those words are also at the spiritual core of Bruce Feiler’s gorgeous new memoir, “Council of Dads: My Daughters, My Illness and the Men Who Could Be Me.”

Feiler, the best-selling author of “Walking the Bible” as well as acclaimed books about Abraham and Moses, is the guy who literally walked in the footsteps of our Biblical ancestors. He vivified Jewish history through what I… Continue

Added by Judy Bolton-Fasman on June 16, 2010 at 6:32pm — No Comments

Update on Colleen Haggerty's 100-Mile Walk

On May 11, I wrote about Colleen Haggerty and her inspiring goal to walk 100 miles in 100 days to raise funds for 100 prosthetic legs for amputees in developing countries.

I'm delighted to report on Haggerty's progress to date:
http://writingwithoutpaper.blogspot.com/2010/06/update-on-colleen-haggertys-100-mile.html

Added by Maureen E. Doallas on June 16, 2010 at 5:33pm — No Comments

Dear Editor: With Historical Fiction, How Do I Avoid Drowning My Reader in Facts, Facts, Facts?

My novel is historical fiction. Its setting is almost unrecognizable nowadays. From the animals that once lived there to what the people wore, it almost seems like a fantasy. I feel like I have to over compensate with details to explain that it was once real. How do I establish a proper setting without drowning the first few chapters with facts, facts, facts?—Kathryn Estrada

How, indeed? The answer lies in one of the most important key techniques of all great fiction.… Continue

Added by Victoria Mixon on June 16, 2010 at 5:03pm — No Comments

just write

I began writing about ten years ago. I’ve dropped it and picked it up several times since then. It began with reading Jeanette Oke books. Then on to Lori Wick, and various other Christian fiction authors. At first, I enjoyed reading so much that I thought writing would be an excellent way to simply extend that joy. And in a way, it is. But writing has become so much more to me.

For instance:

It keeps my mind occupied. While I love all the other roles that I play in life,… Continue

Added by Brenda Coats on June 16, 2010 at 3:12pm — No Comments

Three Girls Camping

6/7/10

Last night (as if there is not enough going on in my life), there was a double explosion at our power plant. Translated no power for 11 hours. AGAIN NO POWER FOR 11 HOURS WITH TWO TODDLERS. Consolation? Red wine does not require refrigeration.

5:45 p.m. Tennyson hurls everything she has eaten for the past three days in the car -- 1/4 mile from the house.

Asked Landon to help watch Tennyson while I extracted the heinous smelling carseat. She did saying "Mommy… Continue

Added by Kelly Ozley on June 16, 2010 at 2:04pm — No Comments

Oy Dere Lady

This morning, Landon (my daughter) tried her new foam hat... the one her very talented mom made. She was thrilled with her appearance and belted out Oy Dere Lady. Beg pardon? She kept saying it Oy Dere Lady....Oy Dere Lady... Very confused I was - wondering if she was channeling Zero Mostel?? Enlightenment finally... "Oh Dere Lady.... I a pirate Mom, I a pirate". Translatation.... Ahoy There Matey....

Okay... "sweetie this is a COWBOY hat, you know like giddyup horsey". "Oh OTAY… Continue

Added by Kelly Ozley on June 16, 2010 at 1:58pm — No Comments

Mama's Little Helpers

I worry for my kids. I worry for my daughters. I worry for the strangers who walk up and tell us how beautiful they are, for their little tucked-out tummies, for their thumb-sucking thumbs, for their huge blue eyes. I worry for my girls.

I worry for the media that sucked me dry as a child; that used my anonymity, my funny walk, my pushed-out teeth, my I-want-to-be-so-good dreams and broke my heart--more interested in my buying power than my staying power.

I worry for the… Continue

Added by E Victoria Flynn on June 16, 2010 at 1:00pm — No Comments

The letter I should have written a long time ago

Dear Lynne Reid Banks,

I have always written. Always. I've made up stories since I knew what making up stories meant.

I've scribbled them down in countless notebooks over the years, in longhand, in pen or pencil, and then afterwards and once I'd crossed the great computer divide, directly into the hard drive of at least five computers so far in my lifetime. My passion for this, my vocation, has outlasted many a tool used in the creation of the things I do.

By… Continue

Added by Alma Alexander on June 16, 2010 at 11:18am — No Comments