Update! FREE Children’s Online Writing Conference!
Check both of the subsequent websites to increase your passion for the writing you love to do.
Follow the link http://writeoncon.com/ and you will open the door to a free conference for aspiring authors of picture books, middle grade and YA genres in all sorts of subgenres. Register NOW because this conference commences August 10-12, 2010. You may ask any questions pre-conference, and this also gives you the time to dust off and polish that tucked away children’s book you had in mind years ago. This is an online conference during the day, but a lot of the work comes about in the evening (for those of you who have a 9-5 job).
Another link http://www.blueridgeagency.com/ opens the door to a fairly new literary agency that is willing to accept new authors, the Blue Ridge Literary Agency.
P.S. I have not checked out everything about these two websites, but I have already signed up for the conference. The conference led me to the agency, which explains that when “you open one door, another one opens!”
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Where's my Muse?
Last week I went camping, and I wrote only one day. This week I am having a hard time getting my act together and running my fingers down the keyboard. My muse has left me! So, what do I do? I get off the keys and devour a book. Not just any book, but one that will inspire me. I’m already reading a book, and I will hunker down and let its words melt into my soul to foster words out of me into my own book! It’s a win-win situation, no doubt about it.
While camping last Tuesday I thought of a lot of ideas for stories. It was amazing! Probably this happened because on Monday I wrote a thousand words for my story, and I was reading this book that included a lot of metaphors and similes. My muse was working hard that day! But I didn’t write those ideas down.
When muse arrives, don’t let him in and out without writing down your time spent together. I observed nature living all around me, the birds singing and twittering back and forth with one another. I noticed one bird twitched its tail in beat with a fluttery song every time it twittered its song to another bird! It was so fascinating to watch.
Turn on some soft, easy classical music or piano recitals from the greats. The easy, listening music is what I prefer—no words, just gentle, flowing notes to revitalize the senses. Fast pacing rock-and-roll, reggae, salsa, anything with a beat and a rhythm to catch you up into the song may take your muse away. I also love to sing to songs, and then I can’t get back to my working haven.
If you have a writer’s book of prompts or musings or ideas, open it up and read some passages. They’re fodder for a hungry, writer’s soul and will quench your thirst for words.
Well, gotta go! Have fun writing! - Linda
While camping last Tuesday I thought of a lot of ideas for stories. It was amazing! Probably this happened because on Monday I wrote a thousand words for my story, and I was reading this book that included a lot of metaphors and similes. My muse was working hard that day! But I didn’t write those ideas down.
When muse arrives, don’t let him in and out without writing down your time spent together. I observed nature living all around me, the birds singing and twittering back and forth with one another. I noticed one bird twitched its tail in beat with a fluttery song every time it twittered its song to another bird! It was so fascinating to watch.
Turn on some soft, easy classical music or piano recitals from the greats. The easy, listening music is what I prefer—no words, just gentle, flowing notes to revitalize the senses. Fast pacing rock-and-roll, reggae, salsa, anything with a beat and a rhythm to catch you up into the song may take your muse away. I also love to sing to songs, and then I can’t get back to my working haven.
If you have a writer’s book of prompts or musings or ideas, open it up and read some passages. They’re fodder for a hungry, writer’s soul and will quench your thirst for words.
Well, gotta go! Have fun writing! - Linda
Monday, July 12, 2010
On vacation
Sorry, everybody, for not posting my word count and count for the week yesterday. I left for a 5-day vacation along the coast yesterday and failed to post before leaving.
I'm slowing down too much and editing a lot, so my word count only came to 5,400 words last Saturday night. This week the minimum count should exceed 13,855 honest-to-goodness, silly and straight-laced, organic and manufactured words by 11:59 p.m. Saturday. Have fun writing! - Linda
I'm slowing down too much and editing a lot, so my word count only came to 5,400 words last Saturday night. This week the minimum count should exceed 13,855 honest-to-goodness, silly and straight-laced, organic and manufactured words by 11:59 p.m. Saturday. Have fun writing! - Linda
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Smaller is Not Always Better
Recently, I was asked about writing while traveling, and how some of us do not have laptops or notebooks to carry everywhere (and besides, they are cumbersome!). But last year the mini-version of a laptop came out called the Netbook. My husband, being the techno-savvy that he is—immediately devoured as much information as he could about the little, portable brain. He convinced me to buy one because it would help me to take notes in class or write anywhere I wished to write. So far, though, my husband has used it 99% of the time, while I have preferred my larger home PC in the armoire. In September 2009, however, we did bring it along on a weekend camping trip.
We got to the campground in only an hour and a half, and set up a quick camp with our self-contained trailer without full hook-up, and the water came out of a faucet close by. No problem with a two-day visit, though. Anyway, after setting up camp, I pulled out a camp chair and searched for an even, regular terrain in which to plant my seat supporter. There were plenty of smooth spots without shade, and my eyes grabbed onto a small stream flowing close by with trees gracing overhead. The stream was a good dip in elevation, and I found a spot and teetered on a semi-even ledge with my Netbook. It was a little uncomfortable, but I soon swung into motion on the keys. Unfortunately, the keys were a little too close to one another, and I discovered a lot of mistakes I was making. I realized the Netbook is best used for small ideas and thoughts. After a while, I gave up trying to utilize the small keyboard for a jog through story land. But maybe I needed to practice at pulling in my fingers closer together, I don’t know. I still like the idea of using a tiny computer for other things like email, watching DVDs and online movies, catching up with homework, and somewhat for note-taking. I guess it could be okay for the small fingers of children.
Today, Netbooks have gotten larger, a little more useable for the writer in you. Maybe I’ll run out and buy one? Well, I don’t see a need yet to replace the old one, and I’m not going to school right now, and our present one will have to do for traveling or getting alone in a sanctuary, garden, library corner, or whatever. I have a park bench in our backyard shaded by an assortment of trees, with ivy and bark coloring the ground beneath its place, and on a cooler day I’ll venture out with my Netbook and cover some more “ground” tapping out more of my story.
Happy writing to you all! - Linda
We got to the campground in only an hour and a half, and set up a quick camp with our self-contained trailer without full hook-up, and the water came out of a faucet close by. No problem with a two-day visit, though. Anyway, after setting up camp, I pulled out a camp chair and searched for an even, regular terrain in which to plant my seat supporter. There were plenty of smooth spots without shade, and my eyes grabbed onto a small stream flowing close by with trees gracing overhead. The stream was a good dip in elevation, and I found a spot and teetered on a semi-even ledge with my Netbook. It was a little uncomfortable, but I soon swung into motion on the keys. Unfortunately, the keys were a little too close to one another, and I discovered a lot of mistakes I was making. I realized the Netbook is best used for small ideas and thoughts. After a while, I gave up trying to utilize the small keyboard for a jog through story land. But maybe I needed to practice at pulling in my fingers closer together, I don’t know. I still like the idea of using a tiny computer for other things like email, watching DVDs and online movies, catching up with homework, and somewhat for note-taking. I guess it could be okay for the small fingers of children.
Today, Netbooks have gotten larger, a little more useable for the writer in you. Maybe I’ll run out and buy one? Well, I don’t see a need yet to replace the old one, and I’m not going to school right now, and our present one will have to do for traveling or getting alone in a sanctuary, garden, library corner, or whatever. I have a park bench in our backyard shaded by an assortment of trees, with ivy and bark coloring the ground beneath its place, and on a cooler day I’ll venture out with my Netbook and cover some more “ground” tapping out more of my story.
Happy writing to you all! - Linda
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Writing marathon – an update!
Ever have one of those fuzzy days when things do not seem as clear as they should be? When you get up and you teeter-totter because the world looks a little off-balanced? Like, maybe there was a giant earthquake during the night and you didn’t know it but had dreamed you were on a tiny raft in the ocean during a rocking storm? Well, thinking about this writing marathon I realized my intent is good, by my organization is a little scattered!
From now on, all word count for the week ends at 11:59 p.m. on Saturdays, but the postings will take place the next day. I will post the following week’s goal on my blog as well. (I originally stated that I will post my word count before 11 p.m., which is before the ending time.)
Have a good 4th of July! If you can do it, try writing a little today to keep those juices flowing. Maybe you won’t be able to write the minimum 815 words today, but a page or two might not be too bad. Actually, I can’t wait to get back to my writing! I want to know what happens in the next chapter! lol, Linda
P.S. The book shown here is one in which I started using years ago, in fact, as you can see, it doesn't cost much now to purchase it. But it's a good instructional book on writing for beginners.
From now on, all word count for the week ends at 11:59 p.m. on Saturdays, but the postings will take place the next day. I will post the following week’s goal on my blog as well. (I originally stated that I will post my word count before 11 p.m., which is before the ending time.)
Have a good 4th of July! If you can do it, try writing a little today to keep those juices flowing. Maybe you won’t be able to write the minimum 815 words today, but a page or two might not be too bad. Actually, I can’t wait to get back to my writing! I want to know what happens in the next chapter! lol, Linda
P.S. The book shown here is one in which I started using years ago, in fact, as you can see, it doesn't cost much now to purchase it. But it's a good instructional book on writing for beginners.
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