LAST (Contest!) CALL

The last few days of the month are always a mad dash for me...I look up at the calendar above my desk and think &^*%! Two days? I'll never make it!

Maybe it's a conference I need to sign up for (along with a formal manuscript critique), or a writer-ish bill to pay. (Okay, The Beneficent Mr. Hall is going to pay that bill. But I still have to remind him.) And then there are the CONTESTS. So as it's August 30th (OH MY GOSH, IT'S AUGUST 30TH!), we really don't have time for dilly-dallying about if we want to make these deadlines:

The 2011 Good Housekeeping Fiction Contest on a theme that reflects some aspect of women's lives today. Good news? That's practically anything (including Zombies)! Bad news: You've only got till September 1st. More good news? It's online entries, so you can wait till the last possible minute! More bad news? There can be only one (winner). Okay, there can be three, actually. I just like to use the Highlander line.

The 2011 Family Circle Fiction Contest on a theme...hmmm. There appears to be NO theme. Wheee! But I'd suggest a quick look see at some of the past winning stories to get a handle on what Family Circle likes. Good news? You have till Septemeber 9th for this contest! Bad news? You have to mail the entry. But you can send TWO entries!

Now, off you go, my little writers. TIME'S A-WASTIN'!

Finding Something Friday: Oopsies, Forgot This Critique Business

So, all that talk about critique and I forgot to mention the site I wanted to share with you. It's about (You guessed it.) critique. Sheesh.

It's called Ladies Who Critique, and I nosed around a bit over there and thought it looked interesting, especially for a writer who's not quite ready to share her work with the world (or the other folks in her real, live critique group). Or possibly for the writer who lives out in Montana.

I don't know why I always pick Montana when I think of people living out in the middle of wide, open spaces. I'm sure there are probably swell towns in Montana. There are towns there, right?

I feel as if I'm meandering off into my own wide open spaces here...the point is, Ladies Who Critique has opportunities for just about every kind of writer, for every stage of the writer. And it's free.

So, there are no excuses left, ladies. It's time to take the page by the er...send button, and get critique. Whether you do anything with that critique is up to you.

A Little Something About Critique

I have critique on the brain today. I needed to get a manuscript ready to send out for a formal critique at an upcoming conference. One of those paid critiques. So, as you can imagine, there was a bit (okay, a lot) of craziness involved. But here's a little something something I picked up along the way.

A month or so ago, I attended a conference where I had this same manuscript critiqued. There were extensive notes, mostly about a frame I'd constructed for the story. Now, I really love this frame. But I also respect this evaluator. So I'd set the story aside and worked on other writing. Until this week when I pulled out the manuscript to review the notes. I figured I'd make a few corrections and let it go.

And then I read those notes. I read the heck out of those notes. The more I thought about that frame, the more questions I asked. In the shower, on my walk, folding clothes...I could NOT get those questions out of my head. I knew I needed the answer to this one, particular question: What was I trying to accomplish with that technique?

Once I sorted that out, I could work on the manuscript. And you know what? I kept a modified version of the frame. And now I know exactly why.

So, when you've got critique notes in hand, whether they're the formal, paid kind, or the informal freebies, give yourself a little time to make those revisions. Let the ideas percolate awhile, and then before you do anything, consider why you will or will not make changes. Imagine that you have to defend your work. 'Cause someday, when you've sold your book to a publisher and the editor has a little something something to say about your story, you need to be ready.

Tuesday Tips on (What a Surprise!) Writing

So I grabbed a stack of writer magazines to have on hand while I was waiting around last week (after what I'm calling "The Great Mom Fall of '11"). And I happened to pick up two Writer's Digests, both with the list of 101 Best Websites. One issue was from 2010, the other 2009.

I recognized most of these websites; they're still around and going strong. Many of these best websites I've already discussed and passed along. And then I saw an unfamiliar one about contests and thought, I'll just check this one out: Creative Writing Contests.

If you've clicked on it, you may have had the same second thought as I had. Hmmmm...the last post was in April. What happened? Had a cataclysmic earthquake swallowed up the admin? Did a truck barrel through his office where he posted daily updates? Had zombies busted through the door and eaten him? Well, you know, the usual horrors that happen to us went through my mind.

Or maybe his wife just had a baby. The point is, maybe you should let a trusted someone know how to post on your blog in case zombies eat you.

Perhaps my imagination went a little wild because I'd been over at this writing prompt generator. There's something about a dancing pencil that I can't resist. So I checked out a few of the prompts. If you're having trouble with whatever you're working on, try writing something completely different. Just for fun. Just to get some creative juices flowing. You'll come back to your purposeful writing refreshed and ready to go.

Finally, I saw this reference site for IPL (internet public library), where all kinds of frequently asked questions are answered. And if your FAQ is not there, you can ask a librarian and off he/she will go to get your answer! Isn't that exciting? Haven't you always wondered what was on Carl Jung's tombstone?

Maybe that's just me. Still, research goes hand in hand with writing, whether you're penning historical fiction or just a short essay. Check your facts, and check them quickly starting with a reliable resource like ipl2.

I might ask them a question I've been wondering about for a long time: If the zombies eat everyone (or turn everyone else into a zombie), how long will the zombies go on? I mean, really. How long can a zombie survive if a zombie's already dead? It's a real brain buster. (Ugh. Sorry about that.)

Finding Something Friday on Irony and Falls

I've been with my parents this week, hanging about while my mom recuperates from shoulder surgery. She had a fall, getting up from a chair too quickly after her foot fell asleep.

Today, the Beneficent Mr. Hall called and said my copy of Modern Senior Living came in the mail. That meant my column would be available online. It's a piece about me taking a spill or two while on a canoe. It's called "Pride Goeth Before the Fall(s)".

Isn't irony funny?

(P.S. Um, my mom's not exactly laughing yet. But I'm sure in a week or maybe six years from now, she'll find getting her ball and socket joint replaced a real hoot.)

A Tuesday Tip on A Phrase Pet Peeve(Or Maybe It's Just me)

I came across a line today that went something like this:

"Each of us has, as a person, vast potential."

Ack. Why do writers (and speakers) feel the need to qualify that "us"? As if as a person, we have tons of potential, but maybe, as a cat ( to use a for instance), things might be different.

Admit it. You've heard that phrase "as a person" used all the time and maybe you never thought about it. But when I hear "as a person," and the Beneficent Mr. Hall is around, I turn to him and say, "The poor extraterrestrials are feeling left out now."

"As a person." It's one of those phrases that's unnecessary. So please, just keep it simple: "Each of us has vast potential." I guarantee we'll know you're talking about humans.

(Unless you're writing sci-fi. And then it's perfectly acceptable to say, "Each of us has, as one-eyed purple people eaters, vast potential.")

Thursday's Three: Something for Everyone (If You're a Writer)

So, I go to Twitter. And because it's been over a week, maybe two, a GAZILLION little tweets have rolled by. And at first, I get a little panicky. Egads! What have I missed? The secret to the universe may have been tweeted and where was I? I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW.

But then I breathe into a paper bag and notice that a lot of tweets are things like, "meet me at Pete's-it's on the corner of 4th and Lex" and I figure that the secret of the universe was probably not divulged at a bar in New York.

Still, I do find a couple writerly gems and save these sparkly posts to read for later. That is where Thursday's Three comes in. Here are a few sites you might want to check out. And best of all, you don't have to go through a panic attack to get there.

For the freelancer who wants to make more money, Kelly James-Enger has a wonderful blog, Dollars and Deadlines. And you might want to check her sidebar, too. Lots of great freelance resources there.

For the wannabe published author, Alan Rinzler has a blog called The Book Deal that's brimming with in-depth information on just about everything to do with the publishing business.

For the social-media challenged writer, check out Kristen Lamb's Blog. I really like her love revolution, We Are Not Alone (#MyWANA on Twitter). BUT, she's got plenty to say about all things social media, not just Twitter.

Okay, those are the top three of this week. I hope you find something you like. And please, people. If you happen on to the secret of the universe, shoot me an email.

Tuesday's Thoughts on Random (But Writerly!) Things

So, I'm getting down to writerly business (Really. I am.), but I've got a few thoughts jumbling around in my head, banging to get out. And you know what they say, "There's more room on the outside..."

*On Why I Don't Journal

Someone asked me recently about journaling. The someone happened to be a non-writer, but writers often ask me if I journal. And the short answer is no, I don't seem to be able to stick with journaling. I do write down funny things I've heard, or jot a story idea, and make endless Things To Do Lists, but that's not the same as journaling. I write stories. I suspect that helps me work out the stuff I'd journal about, if I could stick with journaling.

*On Reading a Really Good Book (When You're a Writer)

I'm reading Incarceron right now. Actually, I'm inhaling Incarceron. Before I started writing Young Adult fiction, I could read books and thoroughly enjoy the experience. But now, when I read a really good YA book, I want to bang my head on the desk, then throw my manuscript into the fireplace, light a match to it, and cry in despair because I will never, ever write something even close to that really good YA book. And then the Beneficent Mr. Hall finds me in a closet and asks, "What the heck is wrong with you?" I try to explain but it's impossible to explain because of course, the man has such ridiculous faith in me until he really starts to worry and says, "Maybe you should try some other job?" Somehow, I manage to drag myself out of the closet and get back to work. But first, I read a really crappy book. (Coincidentally, I have a lot of stories where characters face their shortcomings.)

*On Looking for Mrs. (or Mr.) Agent

It's a tough business, looking for an agent. Rejection is part of the game. And just for the record, I do not crawl into closets after every rejection (Mostly because I'd end up living in the closet.). But when I get a personal rejection, even if it's just a reply with my NAME in it, I don't feel so bad. And if an agent takes the time to say something nice, even if it's just a couple words about the title, or liking the humor, I'm thrilled. It's a crazy world when I'm fist-pumping over rejection.

So, I think I've got a little room in my head now to get back to writing. After I put a little ice on the banged-up part.

I Don't Wanna Say Goodbye to the Summer

Technically, it's still summer for a month or so. But I spent this week at the beach, and there's just something about that last day, walking through the sand, that makes me think of that song, "Sealed with a Kiss."

And yes, I know it's not "goodbye TO the summer, but rather "FOR the summer." But work with me here, people. I'm going with poetic license to make a writing point.

Yes, you were wondering when I'd quit whining and get to the writing. Ahem.

Have you ever considered the seasons of your writing? I work year round, almost every day, writing. But the work is not always that productive.

There are dry spells when the words and thoughts swirl by like dust motes and try as I might to catch them...swoosh, they blow right past.

Sometimes, a cold wind seeps into my writing, freezing a story in its tracks. I have to wait, then, for a crack of a bright idea to melt the sticking plot points.

And writing in the summer...well, there are days when a sudden squall pops up and the words flow, rushing from my neurons to the page. But there are more days when it's just too hot to think up brilliant stuff, and I sit at my chair, thoughts languishing.

Then that first day of school looms on the horizon, and though I'm no longer school age, I say goodbye to the last Junior Hall, packing up and driving off for college, and I, too, am filled with promise.

I'm energized once again! So I suppose I will say goodbye for the summer after all. I just felt a couple of drops...I think a writing monsoon's on the way!