I previously posted about Twitter pitch conferences. I’m a fan. A big fan. Yesterday was #PitMad, and I jumped over to Twitter several times throughout the day, scrolling through the feed, reading assorted summaries of literary loveliness. Oh, how they lie in wait for a heart-click like… Twitter pitches are inspiring and hopeful. Calculating andContinue reading “5 Reasons for Writers to Try Twitter Pitches”
Tag Archives: #writerslife
A Smorgasbord of Writing Ideas
“You’re a writer? Cool.” I often hear people say that to me, which is nice. Their tone is positive, encouraging. Then about one-third of them will follow up with, “I’ve got this great idea that you could turn into a book.” They all mean well, and I like to hear their ideas. Love it, inContinue reading “A Smorgasbord of Writing Ideas”
Tabloids, Grocery Drama, and Fiction
A tabloid made me take my eye off the ball. I was standing in a long line at the grocery store, six back from the register. At least ten more shoppers were behind me. And no other checkout lane was better. A “major” storm was coming to D.C.-metro land. Weather folks had predicted a walloping.Continue reading “Tabloids, Grocery Drama, and Fiction”
9 Things I’m Still Learning from the “Big Read” Experience
I’ve done it again—I finished a draft of my WIP (work-in-progress), printed it out, and did the Big Read. I noticed the following similarities and differences from the time I reached this point with a previous manuscript. It’s still like to see the book printed on 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper. It feels more realContinue reading “9 Things I’m Still Learning from the “Big Read” Experience”
The Double Doink and Writing
“Oh, my goodness. The Bears season’s going to end on a double doink…Unbelievable.” — Chris Collinsworth, commentator of NBC’s Sunday Night Football I have to do it. I have to blog about the double doink that took place in football on January 6, and how it relates to writing. I’m a bit late to theContinue reading “The Double Doink and Writing”
Clawing to The End of a WIP
I’ve been clawing my way to the end of a manuscript. I think this first draft is pretty decent, given how first drafts can be. It just feels like I clawed my way through at the end. Am I the only one who’s felt that way? Getting to the end is so different from the otherContinue reading “Clawing to The End of a WIP”
The Grinch and New Year’s Resolutions for Writers
Until recently, I was the grinch or scrooge of New Year’s resolutions. I thought resolutions were cliche, hard to keep, and designed to make you feel bad when they are broken. I didn’t want to get sucked into that, so I stayed away from them. But here I am, being super-cliche, writing about New Year’s resolutionsContinue reading “The Grinch and New Year’s Resolutions for Writers”
Our Stories Are Like Socks…
Socks have come up a lot recently. I think it’s because the weather’s gotten cooler—and colder still. So I’m trying to up my sock game. I’ve had a couple of unsuccessful shopping trips on a quest for new socks. There are so many kinds out there. Striped, argyle, conservative, fun, boot-length, no-show, and anything in between. YouContinue reading “Our Stories Are Like Socks…”
NaNoWriMo, Cheating, Losing, and Winning
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) was an odd experience for me this year. I’ll cut to the chase and tell you that I didn’t meet the “winner” requirements. I didn’t make 50,000 words for the month. I finished at 37,154. How would one even write out that number? Thirty-seven thousand, one hundred and fifty-four? Such aContinue reading “NaNoWriMo, Cheating, Losing, and Winning”
NaNoWriMo, Day One…Again
It’s November 1, the first day of National Novel Writing Month, a.k.a. NaNoWriMo, a.k.a., NaNo. Still don’t know what it is? Here’s the skinny. Starting November 1, “participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30.” — National Novel Writing Month So I signed up. I’m oneContinue reading “NaNoWriMo, Day One…Again”
Rene Penn 