Thursday Tips on Writing and Editing

So I zipped over to Cynsations (Cynthia Leitich Smith's blog) this morning to read this lovely guest post from Deborah Halverson on Why Perfectly Nice People Make Perfect Bad Guys. It's well worth the read, whether you write flash, short stories or novels, because characters can make all the difference in whether you end up with a good story or a bad story.

And as is so often the case, I found all sorts of other interesting writerly things to check out. Like the giveaway at Cynsations for Deborah Halverson's Writing Young Adult Fiction for Dummies (just read to the end of Deborah's guest post!).

And then, of course, I had to zip over to Deborah's site called Dear Editor.com where she's having a virtual book launch for Writing Young Adult Fiction for Dummies. And she's giving away a a first chapter manuscript critique for a couple days. (It must be a middle grade or young adult first chapter.)

And then, I nosed around the site to read a few of the Dear Editor questions and answers. Again, you don't have to write for the kidders and teens to appreciate Deborah's advice.

Honestly, it's not even lunch and I'm feeling scads more writerly brilliant than I did at breakfast. Though I have no idea why I would say "scads."

Tooting My Horn for a Blog Award

You know what's fabulous about blog awards? You just get 'em.

You don't have to write 750 more brilliant words than anyone else's brilliant words. You don't have to send in an entry fee or worry about a deadline or get an agent first! You don't have to follow a prompt, or sign on as a follower or tweet or...well, anything.

You just wake up one day and someone sends you a little message saying, "You've won a blog award because I think you're swell."

Well, you and your blog are swell. Technically. So thanks to my buddy Gail who blogs over at Write from the Soul for sending along The Stylish Blogger Award. Not to brag, but I do rock a certain je ne sais quoi look here at the Hall of Fame.

As per the rules, 1. I've linked to the person who gave me the award. And 2. I shall pass along the award to a deserving blog or two. And of course, 3. I shall congratulate said deserving blogger. But 4., I must share seven things about myself. I suspect they must be true things.

1. I have a fear of bridges and roll down the windows when I must cross over one. So I suppose, really, I have a fear of a bridge collapsing while I'm on one and then being trapped in my car and drowning. Frankly, I have a fear just writing about my fear.

2. I will not eat asparagus because they smell funny.

3. I am an only girl (with three brothers). My mother is an only girl (with two brothers). My daughter is an only girl (with two brothers).

4. Contrary to my brothers' opinion, I did not always "get whatever I wanted." For instance,

5. I can't play the piano. So there.

6. When I was 18, I backed up into someone's mailbox so that the pole and the ground formed a right angled isosceles triangle. But I knew my dad would turn purple if he found out, so I drove home and prayed that the police wouldn't come after me, thereby requiring me to 'fess up. I escaped jail time and my father's wrath, and I'm pretty sure those folks have replaced the mailbox by now.

7. Yeah, I love writing and words and grammar, but I'm kinda geeky about math, too. I mean, as long as it's pretty easy like a right angled isosceles triangle.

And now, because I want to know seven things about Madeline and Paige, I'll pass along this sweet award. Well, the seven things...but also, and mostly, because I think you're swell.

Thing One and Thing Two OR Writing Advice and Reading Awesomeness

Long before I ever read Stephen King's quote, "Read a lot and write a lot," I followed that advice.

One thing that I read a lot of is writing advice (What a coincidence!). And it just so happens that I came across a whole list of great quotes of writing advice (How serendipitous!). Truth be told, I've already posted about this fabulous list over at Finders & Keepers. But I found it so nice, I'm discussing it twice! So Thing One is this list from Online College of 101 Words of Wisdom from Famous Authors. Something tells me I should take another look-see at F. Scott Fitzgerald's advice ("Cut out all those exclamation marks. An exclamation mark is like laughing at your own joke.")

Yes, well, on to Thing Two. I got a heads up today from Jodi Webb who's participating in a blog hop. (Notice I did NOT use an exclamation point. I wanted to, but as per the above advice, I restrained myself. Honestly, it feels as if something is lacking. Something like a big, fat exclamation point.)

If you're looking for a chance to win a TON of books, this is the blog hop for you. Over 200 blogs are participating and giving away all sorts of prizes. So here's your chance to follow Mr. King's advice and read a lot, assuming you win books. You have till the 24th to join in the fun, so hop over now and start signing up. (!)

(I know you're probably wondering about that fox squirrel. Because usually, I have a way of bringing a totally unrelated pic like that into a post and making a brilliantly witty remark by post's end. But this whole exclamation point thing has me off my game. Blame it on Fitzgerald.)

Finding Something Friday on Eventitis

I found my column in MSL today and I seriously busted out laughing.

Um, not that I think I'm that incredibly funny. I mean, I am kinda funny. But the thing is, The Beneficent Mr. Hall and I bailed on an event the week after I wrote the column.

It will all make sense after you read "Eventitis" on page 15. And P.S. If at any time in the future you invite me/us to an event, and we don't make it...well, that, too, will make sense.

Um, not that I would ever bail on you.

The Karl Malden Question on Essays, Short Fiction and Poetry

So, here is the Question of the Day, writers:

If you have had an essay, short fiction, or poem published ONLINE that is no longer available, do you recycle said essay, short fiction, or poem as an unpublished piece?

Now, think a moment before answering. Perhaps you've had a flash fiction win a contest, and the winners were published for a couple months, then dumped to make way for the next winners?

Or maybe you've had an essay published in an online magazine that has sadly gone defunct? Now, no trace at all of this work remains in cyberspace.

With most online contracts, the author's rights revert back after 6 months to a year. So it's not a question as to whether the author owns a piece of writing. It's a question, I suppose, of writer ethics.

After all, only the author knows the publishing history of his/her work. And maybe that author really, really loved that essay (or short fiction or poem) and hates to see it relegated to the dusty laptop files where it languishes, unread and unenjoyed.

I'm just saying. In the immortal words of that great actor, Karl Malden, "What would you do?"

Tuesday Tip: Do-It-Yourself Research is Safer

Today's tip is a source I found while cleaning out all those emails last week, and it reminded me of a funny story, with me playing the role of the "naive and somewhat idiotic writer."

So, I was writing a personal essay. Now, you wouldn't think a writer would need research for a personal essay, and generally speaking, when I write about events that happen to me personally, I pretty much know the ins and outs involved. BUT, this was a case where a large, retail chain store was involved (K-Mart, if you must know) and it occurred to me in the midst of this splendiferous essay that perhaps this store is regional rather than national.

Honestly, the store wasn't really integral to the story, except for the teensy little fact that the store was the setting of the event and the store name was in the title of said essay. So I said to myself, "Self, you'd best look up K-Mart and make sure they're all over the place so people reading this essay in Montana or Michigan or wherever will know what you're talking about."

First, I went to the website. Because even though this was back in the dark ages of my writing career, we still had the Great and Powerful Internet. And just for the record, K-Mart has a lovely website. But they do not have a big, giant map of the US of A with little dots where the stores are located. They have a "write in your state and we'll show you the K-Marts near you" thingie. I ask you, people: who has time to look up every state?

So I called the information number on the website (it was a 1-800 number). Then I asked the nice gentleman, "Are there K-Marts all over the country?" And he said, "What state are you looking for a K-Mart in?" (Which is terribly poor grammar, but I did not feel as if I should correct him, as the call was long-distance.)

So I said, "I just need to know if there are K-Marts all over the United States."

A long pause followed. Then the not-so-nice gentleman asked, "Why do you need that information, m'am?"

"I'm writing a story,"I said (which was technically not true, but I thought it sounded better than personal essay) "and I just need to know if there are K-Marts in all 50 states and possibly in Canada."

Another pause, followed by, "Perhaps you could talk to a supervisor, m'am. I'm not allowed to divulge that sort of information."

Wherein it suddenly occurred to me that this gentleman thought I was up to something of a nefarious nature. What is the world coming to, when a person can't ask an innocent question about the location of stores throughout the US of A (and possibly Canada)?

"Never mind!" I squeaked, and hung up the phone tout de suite!

The point being, if you want information about subjects that might cause folks to ask for their supervisor, you'd best look it up yourself.

Which reminds me of today's tip! Here is a wonderful link for would-be mystery writers called "Blood at the Source."

Finding Something Friday: The One With a List

So I cleaned out ALL my emails, which was really just cleaning out a TON of newsletters and such that had been languishing in the old inbox. But I found some interesting stuff to share with you, the languishing summer writer.

1. Kate Wolford over at Enchanted Conversation is having a contest, perfect for summer. She's looking for a great character sketch of a summer fairy, in 300 words or less. All you writer friends who are hooked on memes, put that writing practice to work for you! Deadline is June 17th.

2. Need some fast summer money? I just came across London Brokers, a web content provider. Unlike Demand Studios, you don't have to apply. But you don't make much moola, either. Still, pay is through Paypal. Just pick a topic, write, and get a flat fee.

3. Cheryl Klein is the speaker for a WD webinar on "How to Plot and Structure your Novel." You'll also get a query and first 250 words critique. So if a conference will break your budget, or you simply can't get away, here's a chance to hear an amazing editor (she's a senior editor with Arthur Levine) for $89.00. The seminar's June 23, but you'll have access for a year, so you can listen and learn whenever you get your lazy summer boomerosity in gear.

4. And because some of you have little ones (or grand little ones) and might be traveling, I'm throwing in this site called MomsMinivan with its printable car activities and games. If I'd had this little gem back in the day, I would not need Golden Auburn or whatever haircolor Gloria uses to disguise the gray hairs I earned on kiddie road trips. And don't forget rainy days--stick the kids in an inside fort and throw a few games and flashlight inside. Bottom line: You can save a ton of money for yourself in hair dye down the road.

That's it, my summer sistahs (and brothers). Go forth and languish no more!

What Not To Do Wednesday on Livening up a Dead Website

I don't have much time here, but it being Wednesday, I thought I'd share a quick What-Not-To-Do on links and websites and such. To wit, I'm on the agent quest right now and it occurred to me that an agent might take a peek at my online presence. And what will he or she see?

Ooooh, grasshopper. That's a scary thought. Because I've recently scanned a few articles on what a great website for a writer/author should be and I'm a wee bit concerned.

I'm concerned that I might have a few horror-type links out there. Take the vampire link, for instance. That's the link that was doing its thing, hanging out peacefully, buried as it were, in the website. But suddenly, when I click on it...it's not there! Maybe it'll come back, maybe it won't. But I can't take that chance. So I'll dump that link.

Then there's the mummy link. That's the one that's so old and tattered, the one I've dragged around from one website update to the next. Perhaps it's time to put that dated link out of its misery.

Of course, there's also the zombie link. It may not be on your website, but it's out there, following you around FOREVER. No matter what else you write, this link always seems to pop up around your name. WHY WON'T YOU DIE, YOU STINKING LINK???

Well. There's not much I can do about the zombie link. But I really need to send a few queries out today, so don't do what I did, grasshopper, and wait till five minutes before you hit the send button. Stay on top of those horrible links and keep your website and online presence alive and well.

(As for the zombie links, it's every woman for herself.)

June: The Halfway Point

I'm not sure what it is about June...whether it's the start of that old school vacation vibe, or that it's the halfway point through the year and I don't want to think where my goals are, or heck, maybe it's just the heat and humidity kicking in...but June makes me restless. In a sluggish kind of way.

I want to get motivated. But only a little bit.

I wish I could get started on a writing project. But nothing too demanding.

I love what I do. But I'd rather be making cloud pictures today.

So I found this quote that I think is perfect for what's ailing me in June. And maybe it's perfect for any writer who's kinda stuck in a rut. Or really, for anyone who's just plain stuck.

It may be that when we no longer know which way to go that we have begun our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings.

~Wendell Berry

Finding Something Friday: Hallmark Card Contest

Now, here's a contest where I'm really feeling the love!

Hallmark is looking for card ideas for Valentine's Day with the theme, "Love is a Funny Thing." Believe me, with the Beneficent Mr. Hall, love is downright hilarious. And I've got a couple pictures to prove it.

Which is a good thing, because you'll need artwork or pictures to send along with your card and scathingly witty remarks. Here's the info and the how-to's, and really, it looks easy-peesy.

Of course, you've got to think of something before you can submit. That's probably the hard part. Well, that and finding the right pictures. Which reminds me. Anybody have a Zombie guy pic?

Because nothing says Happy Valentine's Day like a Zombie.

How to Find Column Ideas

When friends read my column in Modern Senior Living Magazine, they will invariably say the same thing. First, it's "You're making that up." And second, they'll say, "It's a good thing you've still got your parents/husband/kids around."

And I always say the same thing. First, "I wish I could say I made that up." And second, "Yeah, those folks come in pretty handy in the column-fodder department."

Now, I know the old writing adage, "write what you know." But I think it should really be "write who you know." Trust me. If you want to come up with a column idea, week after week or month after month, you'd do well to hook up with a big, somewhat colorful family. Of course, it works out great if it's your own family.

Because family might get a tad annoyed when you write about them, but at the end of the day, they keep coming back, providing more columns.

(A special thank you to my mom who has NO idea that the May column (page 8) sort of spotlights her colorful behavior. And let's keep it that way, okay?)