Finding Something Friday on Saturday Writers and Shameless Promotion

I found an email or two this week from friends who are members of the Saturday Writers, letting me know that their contest deadline has been extended.

It's a very good thing that friends send little reminders out to friends like me. Because I plumb forgot to post about that contest in the first place! But there's still time to get your first place in the 8th Annual Short Story Contest. Now you have till November 15th to get your open genre story into the hands of their fantabulous judges, and don't forget to send your $7.00 entry fee with that 2009 word story. Get complete details at Saturday Writers (saturdaywriters.org). Oh, and I wouldn't mind another little reminder so that I, you know, actually get that entry in the mail.

And now, since Halloween is nigh, I'm thinking you might be in the mood for a spooky tale. So, creep on over to Cathy-on-a-Stick for pumpkin shenanigans. Or you might want to read Mary Beth's Prophecy, if you forgot to read that frightening fable when I posted it in the Hall of Fame.

Isn't it funny how I never seem to forget the shameless promotion? Bwahahahaha!

Tuesday's This 'n That Other This

I've been meaning to share This:

If you're not signed up for Writing-World's newsletter, then zip your cursor over to this wondrous writing site and fill in those blanks. The site and newsletter are seriously packed with great writer stuff, as well as funny writer stuff. And the editor might buy your writer stuff, if you have something to share.

And here's the other This:

I have no business hanging out at the Unpublished Guy. I have work to do. Very Important Work. But five minutes laughing at a Monty Python clip never hurt anyone, did it? (Well, unless you fall off your chair laughing. So, don't do that.) Thanks to my Writing-World newsletter for sharing this Brit wit!

Finding Something Friday on Cup of Comfort Competition and Connections

So, let's say you have this GREAT story. A story that really happened, and maybe even changed your life. A story that grabs the heart strings and makes folks smile or gasp or take a hankie out. That's a story that could win the Cup of Comfort Reader's Choice Competition.

Finally, here's an opportunity for that GREAT story that didn't quite fit into any of the categories of Cup of Comfort books that were published (or to be published). Yes, there's an entry fee. But there's also some great prizes, including your story in the Cup of Comfort Reader's Choice Edition. And best of all, people vote. (Okay, I realize that editors are people, too. But editors can be the teensiest bit picky. Whereas reader people are just looking for a GREAT story.)

So, write that GREAT story, join the C of C community, and submit by January 15th. Read more details here to improve your chances. And when your story is chosen and people get to vote, let me know. Because I'm reader people, and I'd love to smile, gasp, or yes, grab a tissue or two and vote for your story.

Oh, and you can tell everyone about your GREAT story when you sign up with Networked Blogs. It's a Facebook application that allows you to network your blog all over the Facebook Kingdom. So, if you're already the social type, chatting up friends and family on FB, sign up your blog and get the message out. 'Cause you're writing GREAT stories every day. Might as well share the wealth!

Tooting My Horn Tuesday for The Holidays!

I know what you're thinking. I haven't even carved the dang pumpkin and she's going on about the holidays!

Here's a thought. Just skip the dang pumpkin (Whee! No mushy pulp! No whining about how your pumpkin's not as good as the neighbor's pumpkin! No trips to the hospital to stitch up your finger!). Now, let's share a moment of peace and move on...

Because before you know it, the holidays will be coming around the corner. And I know the perfect way to get that peaceful feeling and keep it throughout the month. A Cup of Comfort Book of Christmas Prayer has just been released, and it's full of prayers and stories that will bring you closer to God during the holiday.

The first story in the book deals with Advent; in fact, it's called "Advent at Hall House."So you can start your holiday with a festive, fun rollick through my own humble abode, so to speak. All the folks you know and love will be there...Junior Halls, the Beneficent Mr. Hall, and even Sally the Crazy Dog.

You can read more here, and even purchase a book, if you like. You're going to want to start reading A Cup of Comfort Book of Christmas Prayer before the frost is off the ...well, let's not get started on that again. (Happy Holidays!)

Finding Something Friday on Spinetinglers Contest

There's just something about October that really gets my spooky senses tingling. It could be that whole Halloween thing. It could be that the Beneficent Mr. Hall takes to the couch during football season and turns into a kind of bubbling mass, indistinguishable from the cushions. Whatever.

The point is, my fingers are itching to write something creepy. And I found the perfect site to send my macabre masterpiece: Spinetinglers (Woooooooooo-ooooooo).

Each month, Spinetinglers sponsors a contest (no entry fee!) and chooses the top five stories (prize money!) and then showcases them on their website (publication credit!) They seem to be especially keen on guy writers (Four out of the last five winners were men. Although Tony could be a girl, I guess. Or an alien...).

Anyway, I know quite a few women writers who can scare the bejiminies out of me. With their stories, I mean. I'm sure their stories would scare you, too. So I really hope they submit a few to Spinetinglers and help us women represent. As I plan to do, as soon as I think up a hot mess of a horror story (Woooooooo-oooooo).

Relationships + Writing = WOW!

I have this funny kind of writing relationship with my mother. I write about my mom...and she doesn't think it's funny.

Oh, lots of other people do. People like editors buy my funny essays and publish them in books or newspapers or magazines. But the one time I shared a humorous published story about mother dear, she wasn't very dear at all.

It started out well enough. She laughed a bit at the beginning of my mother-daughter tale. She thought it was funny when I poked fun at my foibles. But somewhere between the middle of the story and the point where I explained how I'd learned everything I (didn't) know from my mom, things turned a bit dicey.

So, if you ever come across anything I've written, and Mom's in the piece, I hope you'll laugh--and love my funny mom as much as I do. But don't mention it to her, huh? 'Cause when it comes to my writing about Mom and putting it out there for all the world to see...well, mum's the word.

What's my Mother-Daughter writing relationship have to do with anything today? So glad you asked! Today I'm participating in a mass blogging! WOW! Women on Writing has gathered a group of blogging buddies to write about family relationships. Why family relationships? We're celebrating the release of Therese Walsh's debut novel today. The Last Will Of Moira Leahy (Random House, October 13, 2009) is about a mysterious journey that helps a woman learn more about herself and her twin, whom she lost when they were teenagers. Visit the Muffin to read what Therese has to say about family relationships and view the list of all my blogging buddies. And make sure you visit Therese's website (www.theresewalsh.com) to find out more about the author.

Therese, by the way, is the co-founder of Writer Unboxed, a blog for writers about the craft and business of genre fiction. I've learned an awful lot about writing from Therese and her cohorts on that blog. I didn't learn the trick to writing about a mom, I guess. But I did learn that to get published, one must write and write and write some more. And then one day, your finely-written debut novel can be the subject of a mass book blogging! (Warmest congrats to Therese Walsh on The Last Will of Moira Leahy!)

I'm a Sucker for Neil Gaiman (Or How I Ended Up with a Twitter Account)

Apparently I have the willpower of a gnat.

Come to think of it, gnats are pretty willful critters. I've had gnats annoy me for hours. So maybe gnat is not the best comparison for use in this instance. But in the sense that a gnat is a teeny-tiny little bit of a thing, that's exactly how much willpower I have.

'Cause when I saw that Neil Gaiman was going to start a story on Twitter (he's a fan of tweeting, don't you know), and that his fan/followers can continue the story with their own little 140 character tweets, well.

Eventually, after 1,000 tweets or so, somebody will bundle it all up and make it an audiobook, to be read by some dashing narrator. Then, I guess folks can buy it. But I'm not buying a book just because I'd be a co-author with Neil Gaiman himself.

Well. I'm not spending any more than 25 bucks on it. Thirty, tops.

Finding Something Friday on NaNoWriMo

Now, I know many of you already know all about National Novel Writing Month. But I'm not really here today to explain all the ins and out of this exercise. You can find all that wonderful info at the splendiferous NaNoWriMo site.

What I'm finding today, and all this week, is a general excitement leading up to this November event. An excitement that's making me think Hey, Cathy C. Hall! You, too, can write a novel in a month! All you have to do is write about 1,000 words a day!

Um, 1000 words a day is a lot of words. A LOT. I'm not sure I can just wing 1000 words a day. So, my plan is to get an idea, make a general plot outline, think up a couple of amazing characters, and devise a heckuva great and satisfying ending. All before November 1st when National Novel Writing Month begins. Yep, come November 1st, I"ll be ready to go. 1,000 words a day here I come.

Unless I decide to do a picture book. That's 1000 words, too, right? Picture book, novel. Let's not make a big deal about the details.

Tooting My Horn Tuesday On WOW! Women Leaders

You might remember me mentioning Maureen Anderson and her book, The Career Clinic: Eight Simple Rules for Finding Work You Love. I thought Maureen and her story would make for an inspiring feature for WOW! Women on Writing's issue about successful women. And you know what? So did they!

If you want to read more details, check it out here. I know it's hard right now to land a job, much less a job that will pay the bills, never mind whether you love that job. In fact, Maureen states that the folks calling into her radio show these days feel a little guilty about pursuing dream jobs. But that doesn't mean you can't help your dream along. I'm thinking mostly about writers, but I suppose it goes for anyone. If there's something you want, you have to do something to get it. If you want to be a writer, write. Even if it's just 20 minutes a day. Success is just as sweet, whether the road's long or short. (Although I'm not going to lie. Short would suit me better.)

And if you want to see how other successful women made it, then follow the leaders over at WOW!'s latest issue. Oh, and another thing. If you meet someone who has an interesting story, take notes. You never know where your next writing opportunity may come from!

Finding Something Friday: Did Someone Ask for Zombies?

First off, I opened my Gwinnett Daily Post to find a veritable smorgasbord of zombie news. A review of the movie "Zombieland" got the living dead ball rolling, but then I found this neat story about a guy at Netherworld (a local horror spot that's so scary, the Beneficent Mr. Hall refuses to go. But then, he won't go down the street in the dark, either.) and how parts of this zombie-tastic movie were filmed there (No pun intended. Wait, I think I will intend that pun.)

I also read how the University of Florida had included a response plan for the zombie apocalypse on a disaster recovery site. Now that's what I call being prepared. Apparently, the powers that be failed to see the prudence of having a plan in case of an attack of the living impaired. The zombie plan has already been removed. All I can say is, heaven help Florida if the zombie apocalypse starts there.

If you have a great idea for a zombie story, you should check out the Library of the Living Dead Forum. By my last count, there were 8 anthologies with open submissions for all things zombie-tastic. I've got a great story in mind, about a zombie attack in a Southern state, that had a plan and foolishly threw it out. Heads rolled.