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Writing Sparks Newsletter
February 15, 2008
Greetings |
Greetings to you all. I hope this email finds you all happily pursuing your writing dreams. I'm taking off tomorrow for a short trip to Northern California, where I will enjoy the great outdoors (Muir Woods, Angel Island) and a bit of wine tasting. I haven't been up north in a while, and I'm looking forward to getting away after the furor of this past week. I have had workmen in and out of my place every day, patching up the bathroom that flooded while I was in Fiji a few weeks back. It seems like I everything I ate this week tasted like paint fumes. Also this week, the building has been intermittently shutting off the hot water this week and also testing the fire alarms. (My poor kitties did not like the fire alarm tests.) Then, the new lap top I purchased three weeks ago had to be replaced, which meant a big chunk of time reloading software and resetting all of my spam filters. Sigh. Calgon take me away. Although my apartment currently looks like something out of the worst of Sanford and Son, I can say that I have been able to get a fair amount of work done this week in spite of its challenges. Somehow I've generated a inner motivation that has been somewhat absent of late. I find I'm catching up on a lot of LONG over due work, but at least I'm moving forward and getting some of it off my plate. It is amazing what getting one old, yucky, "I hate this task" item off your list can do for your morale and your motivation. My suggestion to you all this week is take one thing you've been putting off doing and get it done. Do it with a friend, or give yourself a reward for making it happen. Just don't stop until it has been completely eradicated from your list. You'll feel so much better and having one dead weight released from around your neck will truly open up your lives to new and unexpected surprises down the road. I'm still in the rosy-glow phase from my new job, but something else I've re-learned this week is that the busiest people get the most done. Even though I've taken on a ton of extra work, I seem to be getting things done I just couldn't get to before. Go figure. I hope my American subscribers have a very happy holiday weekend, and that you all find the magic in whatever you do. Me, I'll be finding the magic in a glass of fine California wine. My very best to you all, and happy writing. Monica |
Get Past |
Book Rewards Programs I hate paying full price. I'm not cheap, I've been known to spend ridiculous amounts of money on a sushi lunch, but still I always feel challenged to be able to come up with a better deal on the items I purchase. For books, though, I'm covered. In addition to the fabulous discounts at Amazon.com, for those times I just don't want to wait three days for my book, both the major book chains, Borders and Barnes and Noble, have "rewards" programs. So if you're a book-a-holic like me, you might want to consider one or the other of these programs. Borders Rewards is my favorite because it costs nada, zip, nothing. You collect points and every time you spend $150 in a month, you get a $5 reward. The best part of the program is that every single week Borders sends you at least one coupon by email. (Often 30% off the price of a book, but the offers vary.) Borders Rewards Barnes & Noble, on the other hand, offers you a flat 10% off every single item you purchase, with higher discounts for hard covers and bestsellers. The annual cost is $25, which is not a bad deal either, especially since the discounts also apply at all in-store Starbucks. (Discounted ice mochas, yum!) B&N also periodically send coupons via email, but they aren't as regular as Borders. Barnes & Noble Membership So go forth and never pay full price for books again. |
Writing Sparks |
Creative Writing Prompt #1 Story Idea -- Write a story about a young space alien who is separated from the mother ship when he wanders off in search of earthling friends. Creative Writing Prompt #2 He Said/She Said--"It isn't really cheating if we just meet online, is it?" Want More Prompts? Monthly Membership Writer's block, be gone! For less than the price of one cup of coffee a month, you can receive daily creative writing prompts designed to get your pencils blazing. www.oncewritten.com/DailyWritingSpark.php. |
Publishing |
Publishing My First Book Traditionally published authors talk with OnceWritten.com about their experiences in getting their first book published. Jenny Gardiner  The funny thing about SLEEPING
WITH WARD CLEAVER is that it came about when the title came to me. I didn't have the story, but the title came into my head and it felt "catchy".
So that meant I had to brainstorm an actual book. No problem, right?The little thing was I didn't write fiction. Not one bit. I was trained as a journalist, and really the only writing I'd ever done was of the journalistic bent. I was, actually, very stuck on the idea of sticking with the truth. More Jenny Gardiner Visit www.oncewritten.com/PublishingMyFirstBook.php now for more stories. |
Meet |
Meet the Author Take a second to meet our OnceWritten.com authors, and read about their experiences on the road to publication. Michael Lindley: Fifty Can Be a Marvelous Wake up Call  It is quite surprising what the age of fifty will do to your motivation levels
in actually finishing one of those numerous incomplete manuscripts that have been filed away deep within your hard drive over the years.
Meet Michael Lindley now Visit www.oncewritten.com/MeetTheAuthor.php now for more stories. |
What's New in |
Spirit Box, Michael Mordenga No one can breathe on the icy planet of Taros-Avros, but that didn’t stop colonization. The solution: make spider children companions that assist with breathing. It was a genius idea and it made survival on the planet essential and profitable. The only problem was that it had a serious flaw. All the spirit boxes in the spider children were dyingRead an excerpt from Spirit Box now. Too Much, Linda Taylor West  Luke likes food a little too much. He wants to eat everything. When will he stop? Join Luke on this rhyming adventure as he learns the importance of good food andRead an excerpt from Too Much now. Mysterious Secret (After Death), Sabije Dervishi Veseli  MYSTERIOUS SECRET is about a young girls soul that carrying a mysterious secret. This tragic story occurs via a diary , where everything that this person has come to pass in life is written .This diary portrays that life after death is a reality and a person’s reawakened soul is aware of what the future will bring... Read an excerpt from Mysterious Secret (After Death) now. Riding a Stallion: Igniting the Fire, Robert P. Theiss  In his first book, Robert Theiss openly shares his spiritual journey which led him to develop a conscious relationship with the Family of Archangel Michael. RIDING A STALLION explores the power of joy, the value of being in receivership and a new love for self that reunites our soul with all ofRead an excerpt from Riding a Stallion: Igniting the Fire now. Mary Magdalene, Her Legacy, Bettye Johnson  A spellbinding tale of intrigue, historical information about Mary Magdalene. Suspense, intrigue, magic and mysticism at its best with unexpected plot twists, the two couples that translated unknown scrolls in Secrets of the Magdalene Scrolls, are now shocked out of complacency when Ellen has a surprising encounter with a mysterious old-world typeRead an excerpt from Mary Magdalene, Her Legacy now. Why Did You Fall in Love With Me?, Sabije Dervishi Veseli  WHY DID YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH ME? is a unique love story, about a spiritual path one can take that will help them find happiness, written with an original blend of gothic romance, horror, fantasy and spiritualRead an excerpt from Why Did You Fall in Love With Me? now. Paraworld Zero, Matthew Peterson  Twelve-year-old earthling, Simon Kent, stumbles upon a secret that thrusts him into a bizarre adventure filled with magic, technology and deadly out-of-this-world creatures. He discovers a true friend, confronts his inner demons and becomes the savior to a peculiar race of people, when all he truly wants is to find his way back home. Read an excerpt from Paraworld Zero now. |
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Read More Books View a complete list of all our first chapter excerpts at: www.oncewritten.com/First-Chapter-Excerpts.php now. |
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Want to See Your Book Listed Here? Promote your book to nearly 10,000 avid book lovers around the world. Listings start at just $25 for a lifetime spot at OnceWritten.com. www.oncewritten.com/About/Advertise-Your-Book.php |
OnceWritten.com Writing Contest Deadlines |
OnceWritten.com Poetry Contest Prize: $500 Fee: $15 Deadline: March 31, 2008 For complete information, visit the OnceWritten.com Annual Poetry Contest page now. To view last year's Poetry Contest winner, visit our Literary Lounge now. |
More |
February 15, 2008 Memoir's, Ink Half-Yearly Personal Essay Contest Snowbound Series Chapbook Award Spout Press Fiction Story of the Year The Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry The Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction February 20, 2008 Story Mash Contest February 28, 2008 People’s College Short Story Competition Writecorner Press Annual Poetry Award February 29, 2008 The Ledge Magazine 2008 Fiction Awards March 15, 2008 2008 Wabash Prize for Fiction 49th Parallel Award for Poetry So To Speak Annual Fiction Contest Annie Dillard Award for Creative NonFiction Nelligan Prize for Short Fiction River City Writing Award in Fiction River City Writing Award in Poetry Steal from the Best Tobias Wolff Award for Fiction OnceWritten.com keeps a comprehensive list of contests that pay a grand prize of $500 or more. See an updated list of all contests at www.oncewritten.com/WritingContests.php. |
Join the Forum. . . |
This Week We're Talking About. . . What are your best techniques for plotting. . . ? www.oncewritten.com/Community/viewtopic.php?t=190 |
We're Looking For Travel Writers |
Tell Us Your Travel Story OnceWritten.com is introducing its sister site, Travel Glitter, and is seeking writers for the site. We pay $10 for a 300-word article. To learn more about the new site, visit www.travelglitter.com/Submission-Guidelines.php |
Free Content |
OnceWritten.com offers two different types of programs that webmasters
or bloggers can use on their website completely free of charge. Instant Writing Prompt Generator To give your users cool writing prompts, visit our Instant Writing Prompt Generator at www.oncewritten.com/FreeWebsiteContent.php Writing Contest Graph To keep a regularly updated list of upcoming contest deadlines on your website, visit our Writing Contest Graph page at www.oncewritten.com/FreeWebsiteContent.php |
Resources for Writers |
Learn at home, on your schedule, with Absolute Classes Novel writing. Book proposals. Screenplays. Poetry. Freelance writing. Our instructors work with you one-on-one, online, giving you assignments and personal feedback, and guiding you through a charted course of learning designed to help you reach your writing goals. Visit www.absoluteclasses.com. FUNDSFORWRITERS The grant source for serious writers. C. Hope Clark knows her stuff. Voted 101 Best Web Sites for Writers - 2001 through 2007. Four newsletters to choose from. A site to behold. www.fundsforwriters.com |
Promote |
Write Reviews It’s often good to be noticed for something other than the fact you wrote a book. After all you are competing with thousands of other authors, so the fact that you’re an author just may not be enough to encourage anyone to buy your tome. Write Reviews Want more book promotion ideas? Visit our Promote Your Book page now. |
Enter to Win Free Books |
Enter to Win Free Books We have some great books for this month's giveaway contest. To enter to win a copy of any or all of these books, visit www.oncewritten.com/Win-Free-Books.php now. You may enter as many giveaway contests as you like, but in order to win, you must enter each contest separately.
Want to See Your Book Listed Here? OnceWritten.com Featured Author package includes a listing in our book giveaway contests, which generates more than 1,000 page views per month. Learn how to Advertise your Book at OnceWritten.com. |
Email Options |
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