Too Much? Too little? Too Confusing?

On the radio today I listened to Sam Wang, an articulate doctor (translation: he talked so that I could understand) discuss the new scientific findings that indicate we have only so much “will power” at our disposal.  Yes, he said we can actually run out of will power.  He went on to explain that is [...]

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Stretch

No, this isn’t going to be a plea to get you out of your chair to exercise (though I could use more, I know).  Just like we get too settled in our comfy chairs, we let our writing selves get too settled in what we’re used to writing.  Not that we’re necesarily happy or even [...]

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Writing still surprises

I make a living writing nonfiction.  And, here’s my confession: I sometimes take it for granted. 
Nonfiction seldom gives me that jolt of surprise that fiction does–you know, like when you read something you know you wrote, but the first thought that comes into your head is “I wrote that? That’s good!”  What nonfiction does do is [...]

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Letters We Write By

Acronyms.  We know them, we use them.  Often, we write by them.  Some of these are obvious, but bear with me…
POV – Point of view
ms – Manuscript
SASE – Self-addressed stamped envelope
IRC – International reply coupon
FNASR – First North American Serial Rights
BIC – Bottom in chair
BICHOK – Bottom in chair, hands on keyboard
Let me add a [...]

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eReaders

I first heard about the Amazon Kindle when I was reading through posts from PASIC (Published Authors Special Interest Chapter). They were discussing the revision process and one author said that she liked to upload her manuscript on to her Kindle for a read-through, looking for mistakes. I’m not sure how she could correct the [...]

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News!

From Tabitha Shay
Hi Everyone
I’m so proud and honored to announce that I am one of the finalists for the PNR PEARL AWARD for Witch’s Brew for best paranormal romance debut author.If you don’t already have a favorite, please cast your final ballot for me….Wish me luck and thank you for your vote….Connie/Tabitha
NEW AUTHOR of 2007:
C. [...]

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Runaway Freight Train

Over the past couple years, I’ve wished for my writing to take off, to sell.  To earn money.  I’ve worked at it sporadically but never with any real persistence. 
Until now.
I’ve been working on one project off and on since June.  I did a presentation on it in September.  (I’ll be doing yet another presentation on [...]

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Comp Me

By Joan Rhine
 

I don’t know about you, but I always have so much more energy to do the things I know I’m good at–and I flounder when I have to do something I feel unsure about or feel I’m lacking the necessary expertise. Unfortunately, I often don’t give myself credit [...]

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Eating Frogs

The Feb. 1 deadline for the OWFI contest is rapidly approaching. My New Year’s resolution was to get the first part of my novel up to snuff enough to enter it. And yet, I’ve spent more time over the past two weeks playing video games or wasting time online rather than writing. (I’m a World [...]

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WONDERS & MAGIC

By Paula Gorgas
We call ourselves Web Writing Wonders, but I wonder if we ever stop to marvel at this amazing talent we all have. The other day, a couple of my friends were talking about writing. “I’ve always wanted to write,” one said, “but I wouldn’t even know where to begin.” The other, an avid [...]

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