Challenging Creative Writing Projects, by Annette Young
Imagine my surprise on opening this e-book -- and finding exercises that I really wanted to sit down and tackle. They're clever. They're imaginative. They're inspiring. And they're put together in a way that will, if you follow through the entire book, add up to working techniques that can help you finish off some "actual projects." Some are enough, in themselves, to launch you into a short story or bit of flash fiction or micro fiction. Others may be just what you need to get you past an obstacle, a bit of writer's block, or some confusion over the background of your character. ... Read More...
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I confess, my approach to finding "Awesome Blogs" is sometimes not the most scientific; often, I'm down to the last minute and am clicking madly on various lists, hoping to find something that "fits the bill." Well, I'm happy to say that "No Rules. Just Write" by romance novelist Brenda Coulter does that quite well. I found myself scrolling through posts, wanting to read more, and more -- and then hunting for the (kinda hard to find) earlier posts. Brenda has loads of tips, and does a great job in bringing a bit of common sense to some of the oft-repeated tips that other folks bandy about (such as, most recently, is it really necessary to keep a notebook with you at all times to catch those fleeting ideas?) I've only just begun exploring this extensive blog, but particularly liked her insights on the question of whether illegal downloads really cost writers all that much money. The only trouble is, it looks like this blog hasn't been updated since July 2011; I hope this is just because Brenda is trying to finish a book and will return to her blog in the future!
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Moira Allen, Editor with "Awesome Blog" in the subject line. See older entries in our Awesome Blogs List.
Recent Articles
Has it been awhile since you've dropped by? Here's what we've added to the site in the past six months...
Thousands of dollars is given to writers every year through contests and competitions. Hundreds of literary magazines, universities, memorial funds, and publications seek out the best of the best -- poetry, fiction, essays and memoirs, books, children's literature, scripts and screenplays, and more. And while cash prizes are nice, a prestigious writing award can be an amazing boost to your career, perhaps even the ticket you need to get the attention of a publisher! Don't let these opportunities slip away. Writing to Win brings you details of nearly 1600 writing competitions, everything you need to help you submit just what the judges are looking for. Don't spend months tracking down this information yourself--spend that time crafting that perfect story, poem, or article. Then, go forth and win! Our 2012 edition is completely updated with over 450 completely new listings! Read an Excerpt, view a complete List of Competitions, or visit our Bookstore to read some reviews.
If you're wondering where to start as a freelance writer, here's the book to set you on the right path. It begins at the beginning, and walks you through all the steps you'll need to take to start earning money as a freelancer. Find out how to develop marketable articles, find markets, negotiate contracts, and handle both the creative and the business side of professional writing. You'll also find tips on expanding into commercial writing, writing nonfiction books, teaching and speaking. The new edition includes updated information for the "electronic" writer, including how to make the most of blogs and social networking, and how to promote yourself online. See the Table of Contents or find out more at our Bookstore. (Available in print and Kindle editions.)
If you want to sell what you write, or sell more of what you write, you need to know how to create a pitch that will catapult you ahead of the competition. In this book you'll find out how to craft pitches for magazine articles, newspaper features, electronic articles, fiction and nonfiction book proposals, greeting cards, grants and more. Discover how and when to use traditional queries, electronic queries, quick-pitch and multiple-pitch queries, proposals, synopses, cold calls... everything you need to know to get your work into the marketplace! See the Table of Contents or find out more at our Bookstore. (Available in print and Kindle editions.)
WHERE HAS THE YEAR GONE? If you've been asking yourself that question, Writing-World.com has developed a tool that can help. A Writer's Year is a 365-day planner designed for writers -- not, like most planners on the market, for folks who work 8-5. Use it to plan your schedule, and to track your time -- because you can't manage what you can't measure! If you wonder why your projects aren't getting completed, and why days fly by leaving you wondering what you've accomplished, this planner is for you. It includes a place to record your achievements and "tasks completed" every day -- so that you won't reach the end of a week feeling as if you just haven't accomplished anything. Each week opens with a place to record your to-do list, deadlines, and goals for the week. Plus, start each week inspired by a quote from a famous writer. Best of all, you can get the electronic version FREE! Just right-click one of the links below to download your copy:
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