Writerland

This isn’t exactly a post about writing, but most of us want to be happy. In fact, I’d venture to say that EVERYONE wants to be happy. And many of us write because it makes us happy, or because we think getting our books published will make us happy. I was tutoring a student for [...]

A reminder to comment here by midnight tonight to win a personalized autographed copy of The Secret Miracle and a 20-page critique (you just have to be a follower over there in the sidebar.)
Last week I hurt my back so badly I couldn’t move for several hours. A ton of Motrin and an ice pack [...]

A quick reminder for all my followers to enter the Writerland contest to win a PERSONALIZED autographed copy of The Secret Miracle: A Novelist’s Handbook. The deadline is Thursday, April 15, at midnight.
Another reminder to back up your files. I’ve written about this before, but I think it’s important for writers to be [...]

I’m hopping on the Wordle bandwagon and posting my manuscript as interpreted by Wordle. People are using this as an editing tool, but Wordle filters out numbers and the most common English words like “and” and “the.” I obviously use the word “like” a lot, but not in the “Like, totally tubular” sort of way, [...]

Agent Kirsty McLaughlan, guest blogging for Strictly Writing, gives seven tips for getting an agent.
From the Guardian via Elizabeth at Fog City Writer, is crowfunding the way of the future?
Also from the Guardian, is your reading suffering from multimedia overload?
Agent Rachelle Gardner warns writers to think hard before self-publishing while editor Alan Rinzler gives four [...]

During my author interview with Alicia Dunams, I asked her to describe her typical day. I found it so fascinating to get a glimpse into a fellow writer’s personal life that I decided to share mine, too, and I encourage everyone else to do the same (in comments or on your own blog).
Tuesdays, Thursdays, [...]

I made a deal with myself that I’m not allowed to blog until I’m caught up on my writing goals. My goals are very doable: four hours on Monday, four hours on Wednesday and two more hours before Sunday, but I’m constantly behind, and thus, no blogging. I’m cheating right now, and I may cheat [...]

I started this post on LOST last week and then never had time to finish it. I liked the second episode last night a little better, but so much of it this season is over-the-top far-fetched (not like smoke monsters and polar bears WEREN’T far-fetched), that it’s a bit annoying. I guess that’s what they [...]

I said this already in a tweet yesterday, but if you haven’t already, please send money (EVERY bit counts) to Haiti. All you have to do is text HAITI to 90999 on your cell phone to donate $10 to the American Red Cross, and the donation will be added to your phone bill. To give [...]

A little late on the link love this week again, but I’m feeling more sane now that the holidays are over. Good stuff this week:
In publishing news, things may not be as bad as they seem: Jacket Copy reported that book sales were down only 3% in 2009, with hardcover fiction up 3% from 2008. [...]