Before I leave the urban jungle for some weekend camping (read: drinking beer and eating chips while sitting next to a bunch of trees, maybe going for a hike) I thought I’d leave you with some blog goodness:
Agent Colleen Lindsay of FinePrint Literary Management is hosting a contest for two scholarships to the Backspace Agent-Author Seminar in New York. This is a big deal. If you have a finished manuscript you’re ready to query, enter now.
Really funny writer and twitter avoider Karen from Mentor created a story based on a list of random words, like birthday cake, submitted by me and someone named Estrella. It includes lines like this: "Now I love Cas more than birthday cake, and that's saying something because for chocolate birthday cake with butter cream icing I'd push my grandma into traffic."
The ladies at edittorrent have yet another smart and helpful piece, this time on a story’s emotional arc. They remind us that "nearly every event is going to cause emotional effects in the POV character."
The very cute and generous Miss Snark’s First Victim is hosting her monthly Secret Agent contest. I’m submission #31! Feedback is dead on and I’ve already updated my manuscript.
Janet Reid goes, um, nice? She asks for advice to give a "very very beginning writer." Seriously, read the comments on this one.
Celebrating Mad Men here and here.
What to do when you realize “A monkey could have written something more coherent.” Although Ms. Freeman seems to insist that plot must be planned in advance, which I don’t agree is a requirement. That’s one option, but not the only option.
I haven’t read his book, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, and apparently I’m the only one, since it’s a international bestseller. But author Jamie Ford keeps a blog at Bittersweet, where he makes frequent but brief posts on his book tour. It's clear that this guy adores what he does and is humbled by the success he’s earned. This post is worth a look.
I continue to adore author Joshilyn Jackson because she says honest things like this: “I draft in huge awful hunks of steaming word poo.”
That’s a lot of blog goodness!
Friday, August 21, 2009
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Hey Lisa,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the shout out. :0)
There's a new bare bones story up now and it doesn't have ANY technology in it.
But it does have tentacles.
Hope you had a good time camping and didn't meet many mosquitos. (channeling joe k) Cause that would really suck. (I know, I know)
I linked you through Linda's blog. I see you entered the secret agent contest. I was in July's contest. Mine is titled Hiding in the Spotlight. I made finals, sent my 50 page partial, and just got rejected. Bummer in the summer. I just love her contests, don't you?
ReplyDeleteHey Karen, a story with tentacles instead of technology? What perfection. Camping was great, although it rained more than it didn't. Al least it helped keep those sucky mosquitos away. You know, you and Joe K. could have a comedy routine together.
ReplyDeleteHi Tricia, welcome to my blog! Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteThe Secret Agent contest is great, but there is some sting having all that "not hooked" feedback out there in public. It's given me lots to work with and I'm grateful, but boy does my poor first page feel a little bruised and embarrassed.
That's great that you got a request for a partial! I read your submission and it's beautiful -- a really different hook and voice. Keep submitting and I'm sure success is on its way!