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Writing Sparks Newsletter
May 22, 2009
Greeting |
My warmest greetings to you. I hope this newsletter finds you happy, healthy and actively pursuing your writing dreams. We’re back after a somewhat lengthy hiatus. Thanks so much to those of you who emailed me to see just what the heck was going on with the newsletter. I hit a number of road blocks these past few months, not the least of which was when my mom visited the ER for the flu, but the hospital found a brain tumor instead. She’s doing great now, thank heavens, but I took a bunch of personal time to stay with her. During this same period, I also switched servers for OnceWritten.com and oh my, that just became one headache after another. The problems, many still ongoing, literally ground the site to a halt, because I had to focus so much time getting things back in working order. We had much site downtime, lost a lot of content, had to reformat every page, and the issues keep coming. So please, if you run across pages at OnceWritten that don’t seem to be working correctly, do not hesitate to notify me, and I’ll look into getting that taken care of. But even though I haven’t been as active as I should have been, OnceWritten keeps growing. Thanks in large part to the wonderful supporters of OnceWritten.com, we’ve earned a place on the coveted Writers Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers list again this year. This is our fifth year on the list, and we NEVER take it for granted. Also, The Writers Network (www.oncewritten.ning.com), OnceWritten’s own social network, has taken on a life of its own. It's very excting to have have so many hugely talented writers, spending countless hours critiquing each other’s work and helping each other out. A huge thank you especially goes out to Chris Scott, the site’s Super Moderator. He’s been actively moderating the Social Network and the forum which existed before that, for years. The time he spends encouraging writers and commenting on their work is unbelievable and he’s been an invaluable asset. Clearly, the theme of today’s newsletter is gratitude. I so thank you all for bearing with me through the hard times. Big things are ahead. Can you feel it? Happy writing to you all! Monica |
Get Past |
The Best of the Best Every year Writers Digest Magazine releases a list of the 101 websites that they consider to be the best sites for writers. Categorized by Creativity and Challenges, General Resources, Agent Blogs, Publishing Resources, Jobs and Markets, Writing Communities, Genre/Niches and Fun for Writers, these sites offer a huge amount of fabulous information. If you're struggling as a writer, the sites on this list WILL help you find answers. Check out the best and the brightest now at the Writers Digest's website. www.writersdigest.com/article/101-websites-2009 |
This Week's Assignment |
Goal ==> Conflict ==> Resolution You've probably heard it said countless times that without conflict, your stories are dead in the water. Think of some of the best books you've read lately. Likely, unless you're spending a lot of time in the non-fiction aisle, the book followed the basic premise that the main character wanted something (goal), the character couldn't get what they wanted (conflict) and the character had to figure out a way to get around the road blocks (resolution). And of course, while there always exceptions to every rule, it is also probably true that the character in that book didn't just have just one goal, but rather found himself/herself pursuing several mini goals that would help achieve the main goal. These mini goals (which often define a book's chapter structure) are also what keep the story flowing. Think of the Wizard of Oz, for example. If Dorothy had spent two hours wandering around saying "I need to go home, I need to go home," that might have made for a very dull story. Instead she had to help various characters meet their goals as well, before she could solve her own problems. Now think of a story you're working on. Using a three column format, outline the main thing your character wants and why s/he can't have it. Now divide the goal into smaller pieces. Keep writing as many goals, conflicts and resolutions as you can think of. Once you've completed this exercise, you'll have the beginning of an outline of your next story. |
Writing Sparks |
Creative Writing Prompt #1 Feeling Conflicted -- After being out sick for one week, a character you're working on comes back to the office to learn that a colleague has "borrowed" some of his/her ideas and presented them as his own. What does your character do next? Creative Writing Prompt #2 First Line -- Our world was about to end. 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. |
Meet |
Publishing My First Book: Emily St. John Mandel I’ve been writing for most of my life. I was homeschooled as a child, for reasons that have never been entirely clear to me, and one of the very few requirements of my haphazard curriculum was that I write something every day. I had a few essays and some poetry published as a teenager, but my career plan involved contemporary dance, and I didn’t start writing seriously until I was in my early twenties. I was living in Montreal at the time, . . . More Emily St. John Mandel Read more Publishing My First Book essays now. Meet the Author: GG Husak  When people ask me how and why I wrote Passeggiata, I pause and think back. I had always enjoyed writing, usually nonfiction essays, and even had several articles published, some paid. But I always worked in fits and starts, depending on what was going on with the rest of my life. It was hard to think of myself as a real writer.Then I took a class, “Writing the Nonfiction Book,” from Elizabeth Harper Neeld, author of Seven . . . More GG Husak Read more Meet The Author essays now. |
What's New in |
The Painter From Shanghai, Jennifer Cody Epstein
Down the muddy waters of the Yangtze River and into the seedy backrooms of "The Hall of Eternal Splendor," through the
raucous glamour of prewar Shanghai and the bohemian splendor of 1920s Paris, and back to a China ripped apart by civil
war and teetering on the brink of revolution: this novel tells the story of Pan Yuliang, one of the most...Read an excerpt from The Painter From Shanghai now. No Justice, Darcia Helle 
For Michael Sykora is not your typical hit man. He's righting the wrongs, balancing the scales. Because he knows all too well
what happens when the bad guys...Read an excerpt from No Justice now. Appointment with Death, David Dundas 
The killer, Silas will have you cheering for the next kill. As he taunts, toils and teases the local Federal authorities, the
body count will get bigger, and bigger...Read an excerpt from Appointment with Death now. Reasons, Tracy Fabre 
Delphi's ready to vacation with family friends when her parents confess that the driver of the car that nearly killed her long
ago was one of the sons of the family she's about to visit.Read an excerpt from Reasons now. Commercial Break, Keith Harmeyer 
Adam Glassman is a burned out ad guy who gives new meaning to the word "creativity" when he thinks up what might be the biggest
idea of his career - a way to swindle his contemptible clients out of millions and make a fresh start. COMMERCIAL BREAK is MAD MEN
meets THE PRODUCERS - unpredictable, fast-paced, and at times laugh-out-loud hilarious...Read an excerpt from Commercial Break now. Don't Mess With Earth, Cliff Ball 
Earth gets pulled into an interstellar war without their knowledge until the 20th century when Earth has the technology to pay back both sides.Read an excerpt from Don't Mess With Earth now. Goodbye, Kiev, Thomas C. Almond 
An American man and Ukrainian woman meet, fall in love and are engaged. But after a time things mysteriously change. The answer to this mystery
will repeatedly test his love and commitment.Read an excerpt from Goodbye, Kiev now. Peter Carrot-Top -- In Search of the 8th Key, Yolanda Jackson 
In Search of the 8th Key is the first in a series of Peter Carrot-Top fantasy novels for children that takes its readers into the land of Baja,
where battles takes place between the mystical wizards of the forest and a boy by the name of Peter Carrot-Top. Peter Carrot-Top was the first
ghost child to be born on earth...Read an excerpt from Peter Carrot-Top -- In Search of the 8th Key now. Noelle's Ark, Audrey Levy  Jimmy
Splendor was an atheist. When he woke up in Heaven, he didn't believe he was
dead, and he certainly didn't believe he was in Heaven. Greeted by his father,
whom he hated on Earth, Jimmy took off running for seven years Earth time (only
a few minutes in Heaven). He finally met an angel named Oleo, who encouraged him
to help his former wife...Read an excerpt from Noelle's Ark 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 Contests |
OnceWritten.com In the Midnight Hour Halloween Fiction Contest Award: $500 & publication Fee: $15 Deadline: August 31, 2009 http://www.oncewritten.com/Contests/MidnightHour.php OnceWritten.com Fall Fiction Contest Award: $1,000 Fee: $15 Deadline: October 31, 2009 http://www.oncewritten.com/Contests/FictionContest.php To view past winners of OnceWritten.com writing contests, visit our Literary Lounge now. |
More |
May 25, 2009 Review Fuse Flash Fiction Contest May 31, 2009 Abbey Hill Literary Quick Lit Challenge Rail Awards 2009 Wag's Revue Inaugural Contest June 1, 2009 Fred Bonnie Memorial Award for First Novel June 27, 2009 Review Fuse Short Writing Contest June 30, 2009 Margaret Reid Poetry Contest Poetry Rivals July 1, 2009 The Philip Mangelsdorf Award for Writing Excellence See an updated list of all contests at www.oncewritten.com/WritingContests.php. |
We're Talking |
The Writers Network... Do you remember what book made you want to become a writer after you read it? www.oncewritten.ning.com |
Enter to Win |
Enter to Win Free Books We have some great titles for this month's book giveaway contest.
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. |
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