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Getting Past "I Just Didn't Love It"
Rejection in the Wonderful World of Writing comes in many sizes, styles, and colors.Some are the one-size-fits-all form letter rejections that tell the writer nothing about the publishing industry...
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The Plus-Sized Problem: Musings on Full-Figured Word Power
Last week, the headline "Ralph Lauren Hires First Plus-Size Model" blared at the world, as if the fashion designer had turned its back on size 00 emaciated stick-insects and paid attention to the Other...
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Is it Money You Need? Really...?
The publishing world was all atwitter last week at the news that Penguin filed lawsuits with the New York Supreme Court against 12 authors. The publisher charges that the authors in question did not...
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Signs of Trouble...
I took a trip through southern Ohio (aka: The Red State to the East) recently, accompanying my BFF on a cross-country jaunt to a Shire horse dispersal so she wouldn't have to drive 11 hours (there and...
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Six Words of Fleeting Fame
Fleeting magazine, publisher of made-ya-think fiction, poetry, and "X Questions for ____" interviews with Interesting People, ran a Hemingway-inspired six-word short story contest this summer.Almost...
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5 Simple Questions To Ask Before Choosing a Writing Mentor
Or, "There's No Such Thing as a Free Lunch"One of the things that greatly enriches my life is acting as a mentor or writing coach to other writers.We're all climbing the same ladder, but if I can help...
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When The Election Shoe Drops
My nine-year old daughter is a far more political animal than I ever was at her age. Politics fascinate her. She loves the arguing, the half-truths, the spin, and the hype. I suspect WonderGuy and I...
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The Gamechanger: A Simple Solution to Show, Not Tell
"Show. Don't tell." It is the rare writer who hasn't heard this advice at some point in his or her career."Show, don't tell" is as much a writer's truism as "kill your darlings" and "marry a trust fund...
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The Simplest Advice for Writing to "The End"
If it's within your grasp, take it!or, How to Finish What You Start"I have all these great ideas. So many stories are started -- but I finish so few." I hear this from writers all the time. There are a...
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How to Make a Difference in Less Than 10 Seconds
I'm thankful for so many things:I'm in my warm studio, enjoying a cup of coffee. My morning email contained notification of impending funds from a contest I won and a request for a full manuscript. I...
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Jumping "Out of the Box" - Celebrating the Short Stage Play in Southwest...
How to support your community theatre? Show up!On the evenings of Friday, November 30, and Saturday, December 1, the Box Factory for the Arts will host the Out of the Box Playfest.Eight ten-minute...
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How Superman Lost His Underwear
Superman, defender of truth, justice, and the American way, is returning to the big screen. Without his briefs.“I tried like crazy to keep the red briefs on him," claims director Zack Snyder in an...
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#TheNextBigThing: Welcome to "The Lion's Club"
I'm honored to be tagged in the wild, woolly, and wonderful meme that is #TheNextBigThing!The Next Big Thing is a blog hop that not only encourages authors to discuss their current projects, but also...
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Permission to Bang the Bragging Drum
I grew up under my mother's strict "No Bragging" rule. I was expected to do my best -- to excel, even -- but always with the understanding that crowing about any achievements or awards was a social...
View ArticleEverything I Need to Know About How to Succeed I Learned in 6 Minutes...
...with Tom CruiseIt's true. I'll prove it.First, watch this. It's not only freaking hilarious, but it's also one of the best examples of "How to Be a Success" I've ever seen: Key Takeaways:1.) Expect...
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Parse This!
Nothing to be learned here today... No updates. No news. Nothing of any real use. Just a rant. You've been warned.A friend of mine recently had a run-in with her bank. The establishment, due to the...
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So You Want To Quit Writing?
Writers are an odd species.We simultaneously loathe and love what we create. Regardless of our mastery of our craft, we know we will never achieve written perfection. Simply knowing of the existence of...
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Care and Feeding of "The Little Guy"
I have a writer friend who, while waiting for her big break (aren’t we all?), writes for various local publications in order to pay a bill or two.(Interesting side note: writer's agents are also known...
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How a Single Click Can Help "Do Something"
DEAR ALDERONE is a middle-grade novel I've been serializing online in twice weekly installments since September. It's a love letter to reading, writing, and the pent-up power of the written word. When...
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