Here is what you might have missed around She Writes this past week

 

Top Content

1	ShePublishes: A Celebratory Giveaway Added by Sarah Pinneo on January 22, 2012
2	What Electrifies You? Tell us and win! Added by gayle brandeis on January 20, 2012
3	How Do You Cope With Soul-Crushing Rejection? Posted by Diane O'Connell on January 10, 2012
4	Black is Black? Posted by Dianne Baines on January 26, 2012
5	Looking for recommendations for interior formatting and cover desig... Posted by Katherine Weber on January 28, 2012
6	"Let us now praise famous men": On Breaking Conventions and Women's... Added by Julija Sukys on January 26, 2012
7	How old is too old? For a novel's main character; for the novel's a... Posted by Joanne Barney on January 28, 2012
8	First lines. Posted by Robert Edward Fahey on September 4, 2010
9	Fear and Edgy YA Posted by Georgia B on January 19, 2012
10	Show Me Your Novel and I'll Show You Mine Posted by Meg Waite Clayton on December 31, 2009

 

Groups - Most Active

 

• http://www.shewrites.com/group/bloominglate
• http://www.shewrites.com/group/novelistsstrugglingornot
• http://www.shewrites.com/group/the-momoir-project-writing-classes-f...
• http://www.shewrites.com/group/smallpublishersandindependentauthors
• http://www.shewrites.com/group/bloggersletsmakeitwork
• http://www.shewrites.com/group/southernwriters
• http://www.shewrites.com/group/motherwriter
• http://www.shewrites.com/group/bloggingaboutbooks

 

 

On Writing

 

Five Questions for Victoria Costello on Pub Day for her Memoir, A L...

by Laura Fraser, best-selling memoirist and memoir teacher

Victoria Costello took a memoir writing class with me a few years ago at the San Francisco Writers' Grotto, and I was so impressed with her fearlessness, writing about the touchy subject of mental illness in her family. I believed that using her science background to investigate that history, along with her personal story, would make a great read and important contribution to the field--and I am delighted…Continue

Added by Victoria Costello on January 23, 2012 at 7:00am

 

What Have you Given Up (in order to write)?

Madeleine L’Engle was one of my favorite writers as a child, and I remember being startled by an excerpt in her memoirs when she remembers the time her family gave her a standing ovation when she actually cleaned the kitchen floor. 

This made a huge impression on me–the knowledge that one thing (writing) could be more important than another thing (a clean house). It was Madeleine L’Engle’s ability to prioritize and let some things go that allowed her to write through years of…Continue

Added by Jessica Powers on January 23, 2012 at 1:08pm

 

Electrifying First Lines

Fabulous first lines electrify me.  It has become a habit to open a book to chapter one and always read the first line.  If it is electrifying it leaves me with the desire to read more, and to find that cozy spot to get lost in the story.  It also inspires me to create electrifying first lines.  I find myself daydreaming about stories I would like to tell and the first lines that would match.  One of the best first lines comes from the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, "When I wake up, the…Continue

Added by Jessica Jo Spencer on January 23, 2012 at 9:36am

 

15 Reasons to Write Fiction

Last September Dwight Garner published an essay in the New York Times Sunday Magazine where he grouses about certain authors (Jeffrey Eugenides, Jonathan Franzen, Donna Tartt, Michael Chabon, et al.) who, in his view, go “too long” between books.

What?

Here he’s complaining about not enough books when imho far too many books are being written and…Continue

Added by Karen Burns on January 31, 2012 at 6:46pm

 

Scene

Painters, like Monet, understand that location is "everything." Afterall, without a location, what would they paint? Location is what holds people, events, experience and without location, there is nothing but emptiness.

As a writer, using words on the canvas of the page and later, the mind…Continue

Added by Jennifer Lauck on January 31, 2012 at 10:54am

 

On Publishing and Marketing

 

Keep track of your successes

In a recent post, I emphasized the importance of writing down your ideas quickly so you won't forget them. Today, I strongly suggest you also write down something else: your successes. Marketing a book isn't easy, especially if you are independently published, but if you work hard at it, eventually you're going to experience some cool things. You may speak at a local library or bookstore, or…Continue

Added by Maria Murnane on January 24, 2012 at 8:30am

 

My book has a face!

It's yet another multi-tasking adventure in a day of the life of me ~ writer, professional woman, wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, friend. Despite my feeling frazzled, fragmented, sliced and diced, there is a strange sense of wholeness that comes with living this dream.  Started the day corresponding with my publisher at 7 a.m. California time, 10 Conneticut time.  The book's cover design is at last finalized, approved and ready to share with the world.  And it is…Continue

Added by Armen D. Bacon on January 24, 2012 at 2:08pm

 

Look at ME please: The challenge of self-promotion in a super-sized...

I’m sure most of you heard the news in 2011 that the world’s population has surpassed 7,000,000,000 people. What this means, is that there are a lot of us walking around on planet earth. Not only are we competing for the necessities of life, we’re competing for the opportunity to display our talents to the largest audience.

For us creative folks, it’s about getting attention for our work. You and I know that no matter how much we admire our own genius ( really, who…Continue

Added by Yejide Kilanko on January 29, 2012 at 6:00pm

 

Social media challenge...13 days of marketing for authors

by Sherrie Wilkolaski

Let’s get real about social media.  It’s like exercise, right?  Not everyone is as focused on their social media footprint as they would like.  It takes time and effort.  So I thought, why not do it together.  I ran this blogging campaign at Infinity Publishing and it was a huge hit, so I'm bringing it here to www.shewrites.com.  This is your opportunity to make some viral waves in the world of…Continue

Added by Sherrie Wilkolaski on January 30, 2012 at 2:43pm

 

Guest Posts

 

Guest Post #2: Curiosity Saved the Cat

Curiosity didn't kill the cat. I think it made its life richer, more interesting, adventurous, and possibly even longer than it would have been. Why? Yesterday, we were talking about the power of questions. And when you label the fire that motivates questioning, you find...CURIOSITY.…Continue

Added by Julia Barry on January 23, 2012 at 7:00am

 

Guest Post #3: Share This! Deanna Zandt's Book Gets Us Going Online

Yesterday we got psyched about the power of curiosity. Now let's get that curiosity interacting online with a book by social media guru and zany feminist, Deanna Zandt: …Continue

Added by Julia Barry on January 24, 2012 at 7:00am

 

Guest Post #4: Beth Kanter's Social Media & Non-Profit Scoop

Many of us on SheWrites care about women's issues or work in the non-profit world. Beth Kanter writes a really helpful, clear blog with the tagline, "How Networked Nonprofits Are Using Social Media to Power Change."…  Continue

Added by Julia Barry on January 25, 2012 at 7:00am

 

Guest Post #5: Jennifer Pozner Amplifies WIMN's Voices

As you can probably tell, I'm really big on the internet as a platform for activism, especially for women. Women across the world who never would have been able to meet can now organize as communities. This means they can brainstorm, complain, organize, critique, help, encourage, and act together--like we do on She Writes!

She Writes knocks my socks off because it's a safe enclave of support for…Continue

Added by Julia Barry on January 26, 2012 at 7:00am

 

Guest Post #6: Words + Social Tech = Oomph

I had an obvious realization. There just aren't enough days in this week to highlight even half of the outstanding women and women's causes who are using social media and technology to get their voices heard!

So let's treat these posts as a "starter kit," from where you can branch out to the topics and people who interest you. Taking a few minutes to follow their Twitter followers, or check out what pages women they "like" on Facebook can be…Continue

Added by Julia Barry on January 27, 2012 at 7:00pm

 

Guest Post #7: Take it To Go

Creativity used in tandem with the power of community is what makes the social web tick, and what is usually the most rewarding way for each of us to share, promote, correspond, and learn online. 

This week's cross-section hints that there are as many ways to personalize our social tech use as there are goals we're…Continue

Added by Julia Barry on January 28, 2012 at 7:00am

 

 

Thoughts to Think About

 

The 10,000-hour Rule

I’m currently reading Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, which has brought me face-to-face, once again, with the “10,000-hour rule.” What this says, essentially, is that to reach true expertise or proficiency in ANY field (music, programming,…Continue

Added by Lacey Louwagie on January 24, 2012 at 8:47am

 

Stories for Strong Women

What are your favorite books that feature strong female protagonists who make a difference in their world? Or books that describe situations, either at home or on a neighborhood or broader level, where women could make a difference if they were given a chance or if they had the courage to seize the chances they’re given? Here’s an opportunity to share those books with other women and to talk about them with other readers. 

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand from New York has started an online…Continue

Added by Sally Whitney on January 25, 2012 at 11:08am

 

How has the e-book changed being a reader and an unpublished writer?

Hello,

I got a Kindle for Christmas and it made me think about e-books. Would you buy both the Kindle download and a paperback sometimes? Did you know that you can lend/ borrow some Kindle books? Isn't it great to be able to e-mail an MS to a Kindle as an unpublished writer?…Continue

Added by Anita Chapman on January 28, 2012 at 8:09am

 

Opportunities

 

Get Your Manuscripts Ready!

The Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest is open for submissions through February 5 - or until they've got 5,000 submissions in each category (YA and General Fiction), whichever comes first. Winners will be published by Penguin, with a $15,000 Advance.

Wouldn't it be nice if fellow…Continue

Added by Meg Waite Clayton on January 24, 2012 at 11:30am

 

Janette Rallison, multi-award winning & million copy selling au...

Janette Rallison will be one of the Arizona authors participating in the Writers Unite to Fight Cancer (WUFC) Arizona Centennial Cancer Research Fundraiser. This event will be held on Thursday Evening, February 2nd, 2012 from 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm at the Arizona Biltmore, located at 2400 E. Missouri in Phoenix. Bring a friend, and books to be signed by Janette and the other Arizona authors. Each guest will receive a gift bag with one or more books and free samples from vendors.
In…Continue

Added by Margaret on January 29, 2012 at 6:00am

 

Reviews for Reviews

If your are an published author and you would love to swap book and give each other reviews, I would love to have my book reviews in exchange I read your book and post reviews.

I would be glad to email my PDF book of secret Affair:

Summary:

Carter Perry’s world has turned upside down when he finds out that his wife of four years had being keeping a secret behind his back.   Carter suspects Keisha of sleeping around with his younger brother, Donte. In order to have the… Continue

Added by Melissa Love on January 28, 2012 at 7:53pm

 

12 x 12 in 2012 Picture Book Writing Challenge  …Continue

Added by Vivian Kirkfield on January 30, 2012 at 11:03pm

 

Reviews, Interviews and Giveaways

 

Hildie McQueen Romances the Reader…(Giveaway, too!)

 Hello and Welcome, Hildie, author of Desperate Betrayal, a paranormal fantasy romance…and by the sounds of it, one darn good read. Hildie stopped by today on her Bewitching Book Tours with a special something to share with us, besides an awesome giveaway.

Take it away, Hildie….…Continue

Added by Kay Dee Royal on January 24, 2012 at 5:37am

 

My good friend's book is out soon! I am so proud of her. The book i...

Added by La Toya Lee on January 24, 2012 at 1:45pm

 

Mira, star of Ami Blackwelder’s The Mers: A Mermaid Dystopian~Giveaway

Ravencraft’s Romance Realm presents Mira in an interview with Kay Dee, plus a Giveaway. Mira answers questions about her story as told by Ami.

If your curious about Mers and look forward to hearing all about these ‘beings’ and Mira’s story, head on over…the coffee’s brewing and the crowd’s gathering here:…Continue

Added by Kay Dee Royal on January 26, 2012 at 4:58am

 

Where it Begins and a Book Drawing

We all have our own 'How I got started story'. I just received a new journal as a gift today, simple, but for me it's a great gift and it reminded me how I began to write. I'm not talking about small story assignments in grade school, but when I truly considered what it would be like to someday write my own book. For me, it all began with journal writing and letters...read…Continue

Added by MK McClintock on January 26, 2012 at 3:01am

 

The Wide-Awake Princess - E.D. Baker

This 8^th book in a series that began with The Frog Princess (on which the Disney movie The Princess and the Frog is based) takes a new slant on my childhood favorite princess tale, Sleeping Beauty. The wide-awake princess is, in fact, S.B.’s…Continue

Added by Shelley Workinger on January 27, 2012 at 9:41am

 

Mystery, fantasy, giveaways & more in new KRL issue

New issue of Kings River Life is up! We have a fun interview with suspense/spy novelist Thomas Caplan, a review of his book "The Spy Who Jumped Off the Screen" & a chance to win a copy of the book http://kingsriverlife.com/01/28/interview-with-suspense-author-thom...
Some history on how Left Coast Crime was first created & some tips on doing…Continue

Added by Lorie Ham on January 28, 2012 at 11:19am

 

Review for Cupcake Brown's "A Piece of Cake"

Warning: Spoilers Below the Divider!
I’ve been collecting a lot of memoirs lately. My favorite used bookstore boasts a proud selection featuring Amy Tan, James Frey (eh his work is a…Continue

Added by Erica Riva Buddington on January 28, 2012 at 9:51am

 

Free ebooks on Amazon.com - limited time!

For a limited time, you can get an ebook copy of Totally Scared: The Complete Book On Haunted Houses FREE! at Amazon.com if you are a Prime subscriber.…Continue

Added by Martha Jette on January 29, 2012 at 10:53pm

 

Interview with Sweet Romance Author Marie Higgins

Book Give-Away Jan 30 – Feb 6: To win an e-book (pdf), A Walk in Heaven, leave a comment about this interview with your e-mail. International.

This story takes place in Montana, 1875 on a cattle ranch. This isn’t an ordinary Christian Historical Romance…this has a lot of action, suspense, and family drama. “All he wanted was to trust again.” Joshua Grayson is not happy about his new sister-in-law’s visit and he uses the term ‘sister-in-law’ loosely as Careen Kennedy Grayson was a…Continue

Added by Linda Weaver Clarke on January 30, 2012 at 12:49pm

 

Tiferet Talks Interview with Ann Hood

Please join us on 2/27/12 at 7pm EST for a conversation about writing and spirituality.

Our guest, Ann Hood, is the author of numerous books in a variety of genres, including the bestselling novels THE KNITTING CIRCLE, THE RED THREAD, and other works of fiction; the memoirs DO NOT GO GENTLE: MY SEARCH FOR MIRACLES IN A CYNICAL TIME, and COMFORT: A…Continue

Added by Donna Baier-Stein on January 30, 2012 at 6:30am