When was the last time you took a writing challenge? Cheryl Wyatt runs them on her Blogspot all the time, a fresh one every month. I'm still working on her challenge, but I just finished the latest writing challenge at eharlequin.com. Could you come up with five hundred words where the heroine dumps the hero (present or not), not once, but twice? The first time, the heroine is a Good Girl. The second time, she's a Bad Girl. You can read my entries here.
Writing challenges are good for you, even if you're working on something else. It makes you stop and think. It gives you a change of pace. Usually, challenges are short, so they don't have to take a lot of time. Plus, the short ones are a good chance to perfect your story-writing skills. If you're a naturally verbose novelist, like I am, it can be a BIG help!
If you haven't tried it yet, give it a shot! What have you got to lose but a little time?
Friday, July 27, 2007
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Blog Tours Are Coming!
Blog Tours are Coming!
Stay tuned for interviews with some favorite authors
plus introductions to new ones!
If you have a Yahoo ID, you can comment on the
version available at http://360.yahoo.com/hope_chastain
or feel free to post here!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Book Blog Tour Coming--- Your Opinions Wanted
Blog book tours are much like regular book tours, except the authors get to answer questions and don't necessarily get to sign books. However, it's great for them, because it generates more buzz about their upcoming books, and it's great for the readers, because they get to learn something about the book in advance.
So, here's my question to you, my readers: if you could ask the writers who are going to be on my blog one favorite question, what would it be? Please post your questions here. I can't guarantee that I'll use them, but I'm definitely interested in what you'd like to know.
I'm planning to do the first of the blog interviews in the first week of July, so hurry and post your questions, please! Thanks!
So, here's my question to you, my readers: if you could ask the writers who are going to be on my blog one favorite question, what would it be? Please post your questions here. I can't guarantee that I'll use them, but I'm definitely interested in what you'd like to know.
I'm planning to do the first of the blog interviews in the first week of July, so hurry and post your questions, please! Thanks!
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Making Time to Write
Some of the best books on writing and the writing lifestyle suggest that you make time every day to write. They suggest everything from an hour a day minimum to all day once a week, to going by number of pages per day.
While those books have the write, I mean right, idea, sometimes they can be a little unrealistic for those with time constraints to follow. It doesn't allow for emergencies, unexpected company (sometimes that is an emergency!), acts of God, etc.
I agree that it's important to make time to write. However, if you cannot make time every single day, you shouldn't say to yourself, "Oh, I'm not following the suggestion in the book, therefore I'm not a writer." Nonsense. You're a writer if you love to write and do it even occasionally. You're an author if you persevere to the point of publication, which means setting ego aside and taking constructive criticism about your work, making edits, and trying to fit into the buying market.
And, if you can't write more than one sentence a day, make that sentence count!
While those books have the write, I mean right, idea, sometimes they can be a little unrealistic for those with time constraints to follow. It doesn't allow for emergencies, unexpected company (sometimes that is an emergency!), acts of God, etc.
I agree that it's important to make time to write. However, if you cannot make time every single day, you shouldn't say to yourself, "Oh, I'm not following the suggestion in the book, therefore I'm not a writer." Nonsense. You're a writer if you love to write and do it even occasionally. You're an author if you persevere to the point of publication, which means setting ego aside and taking constructive criticism about your work, making edits, and trying to fit into the buying market.
And, if you can't write more than one sentence a day, make that sentence count!
Monday, May 21, 2007
Best Laid Plans Department
You know how sometimes you can have the best plans in the world? Plans about how you're going to do this or that, and you feel as though absolutely nothing will ever stop you? And then something comes along that not only stops you, but makes you feel as though you'll never be able to get back on track?
That just happened to me, in case you were wondering why there were no new writing blogs lately. I've even had trouble keeping up with my 10,000 Book Challenge Blog at eharlequin.com. However, I am trying to get back to normal (or whatever passes for normal around here!), and hope to bring you more tales of my writing adventures soon!
That just happened to me, in case you were wondering why there were no new writing blogs lately. I've even had trouble keeping up with my 10,000 Book Challenge Blog at eharlequin.com. However, I am trying to get back to normal (or whatever passes for normal around here!), and hope to bring you more tales of my writing adventures soon!
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Time and Typing
Of all the things a writer has to do, I think making time to write may be among the hardest. There are so many things in life that can steal time away from writing: reading (a necessary activity for a writer), a day job, eating, sleeping...
I think the important thing is not how many words can you squeeze into a day, but just to write whenever you can. Do your best work, no matter what. And if it's horrible, don't give up. At least you've written something! Remember, even something dreadful might have potential. With editing (your own, please, first!), it could become something wonderful!
I think the important thing is not how many words can you squeeze into a day, but just to write whenever you can. Do your best work, no matter what. And if it's horrible, don't give up. At least you've written something! Remember, even something dreadful might have potential. With editing (your own, please, first!), it could become something wonderful!
Sunday, April 8, 2007
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