Wednesday 27 February 2013

Writing Prompt Wednesday #17



I hate February.
Something about it makes me feel blech.
Like Garfield on Mondays.

So let's usher in March with another writer's prompt.

The rules?

1) Set the timer for 15 minutes.
2) Write about the picture or the topic (or something that jumps into your head)
3) Do NOT edit. Let the words flow. Give your internal editor lasagne to eat.

This week's prompt:

Give me a moon story.

I would love to read your Writing Prompt results! Please post your passage in the comment box or leave a link to your blog post. :)

Monday 25 February 2013

My Top 5 Blog Posts for this Week



This morning felt like a coffee morning,
I don't drink it very often but I needed it.
Hence the aromatic photo...

Anyway, I'm spreading some blog love.
These posts are writing tips that are particularly relevant to me. :)
I hope they inspire you as much as they did me.

1) Melissa shares with us why poetry writing can improve our manuscripts (I wholeheartedly agree!) at The Write Practice.
http://thewritepractice.com/poetry-prose/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheWritePractice+%28The+Write+Practice%29

2) At The Creative Penn, Joanna gives us 3 reasons why a writer should have a blog (and 3 reasons not to...)
http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2013/02/25/should-writers-blog/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheCreativePenn+%28The+Creative+Penn%29

3) 10 query questions are answered by Chuck at The Writer Unboxed (If you want to see more questions answered he did a previous post in September 2012). Some great info here!
http://writerunboxed.com/2013/02/25/column/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WriterUnboxed+%28Writer+Unboxed%29

4) Jordyn at the Water Cooler gives some advice on how to write trilogies.
http://wordservewatercooler.com/2013/02/25/writing-a-trilogy/

5) On Anne's blog they take a look how to craft a fine opening for your novel (something I've been working on for what feels like a lifetime).
http://annerallen.blogspot.ca/2013/02/self-editing-10113-questions-to-ask.html

Enjoy. :)

Wednesday 20 February 2013

Writing Prompt Wednesday #16



I must apologize for my absence on Monday,
it was Family Day for us Canadians,
so I took the day off. :)
I will be back next Monday with my top five favorite blog posts.

But for now,
I have an offering of another Writer's Prompt.

The rules?

1) Set the timer for 15 minutes.
2) Write about the picture or the topic (or something that jumps into your head)
3) Do NOT edit. Let the words flow. Bind and gag your inner editor. :)

This week's prompt:

You hear church bells in the distance.
 
 
Now, let loose your muse!
 
I would love to read your Writing Prompt results! Please post your passage in the comment box or leave a link to your blog post. :)


Wednesday 13 February 2013

Writing Prompt Wednesday #15



This is a week of gushy, soppy sentiment...
and chocolate,
and lavish gifts,
and back rubs. :)

But before you indulge in the love of your significant other,
(or food, dog, cat, or movie star fantasy),
please do your writing prompt!

The rules:

1) Set the timer for 15 minutes.
2) Write about the picture or the topic (or something that jumps into your head)
3) Do NOT edit. Let the words flow. You may need some wine to turn off your editor.

Here is this weeks topic:

Write about a kiss.
 
 
I would love to read your Writing Prompt results! Please post your passage in the comment box or leave a link to your blog post. :)
 
 
Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Monday 11 February 2013

Lovin' Me Some other Blogs...and Chocolate!



I'm thinking about brownies right now.
You know the ones...Mrs. Fields make them. :)
Hence the yummy picture.
(psstt...I think there's a chocolate kiss inside these ones...nummy!)

Oh sorry.
Blog love.
Here you go, my top five for this week.
Take a look while I drool over my screen. ;)

1. Joanne Penn has some fantastic ideas about how to produce more writing.
http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2013/02/11/how-to-write-more-daily-writing-habit/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheCreativePenn+%28The+Creative+Penn%29

2. At Books & Such Literary Agency Janet points out how even published authors don't know everything.
http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/bad-advice-from-best-selling-authors/

3. We look at others ways to describe Character Reactions with Janice Hardy.
http://blog.janicehardy.com/2013/02/alternative-ways-to-describe-character.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+janicehardy%2FPUtE+%28The+Other+Side+of+the+Story%29

4. Carol at the water cooler looks at how writers need to operate with Grace.
http://wordservewatercooler.com/2013/02/08/pet-peeves-grace/

5. Literary agent Rachelle Gardner looks at whether self publishing is the new slush pile.
http://www.rachellegardner.com/2013/02/are-self-pub-books-the-new-slush-pile/

If you have any blog posts that you would like to share feel free to leave a comment for me. I love to share. :) Except for my chocolate brownies maybe...

Wednesday 6 February 2013

Writing Prompt Wednesday #14



We are expecting a lot of snow up here,
which is very exciting.
So while we are all hunkered down next to a roaring fire,
let's try our hand at a writer's prompt.

The rules:

1) Set the timer for 15 minutes.
2) Write about the picture or the topic (or something that jumps into your head)
3) Do NOT edit. Let the words flow. Your editor can watch whatever's on your PVR.

Here is this weeks topic:

"Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance. Everybody thinks it's true."
(after Paul Simon)
I would love to read your Writing Prompt results! Please post your passage in the comment box or leave a link to your blog post. :)


Monday 4 February 2013

Bloggedy Love


Another week has flown by.
There is a little more snow where I live,
but the ground hog has pronounced it is almost spring,
so we may have green grass soon,
(hence, the wonderful spring picture.)

Here is the Blog Love for this week.

1) Janice Hardy look at five edits that will strengthen your writing.
http://blog.janicehardy.com/2013/02/five-edits-to-strengthen-your-writing.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+janicehardy%2FPUtE+%28The+Other+Side+of+the+Story%29

2) Linda Yezak at Authorculture talks about what we authors call "weak words" and when to leave them in.
http://authorculture.blogspot.ca/2013/02/verbal-deprivation.html

3) Rachelle Gardner explains what the purpose of an agent is in this changing market.
http://www.rachellegardner.com/2013/02/what-agents-are-doing-these-days/

4) Jenn tackles the "dreaded synopsis" on her blog.
http://jennmusing.blogspot.ca/2013/02/the-dreaded-synopsis.html

5) Steve Laube talks about when (and how) to let your inner editor loose.
http://stevelaube.com/the-writer-as-editor/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SteveLaube+%28Steve+Laube%29

As a bonus I have included a link to Nathan Bransford's blog. He looks at whether the Blogosphere is slowing down.

So what do you think? Is the blogosphere dying while Facebook, Twitter, and other mediums rise up? Leave me a message. I would love to chat!