Friday, September 3, 2010

** Writing Updates **

Last night my husband Ron (to be known from here on as: The Ronald.....as in "The Donald") and I went to a fellow writer's book signing. It looked like he had a really great time, plus sold quite a few books! That is just one of the benefits of belonging to a great writers group.....We all support each other. We cheer each other on. We buy each others' books. I feel so fortunate to be a part of Saturday Writers. I feel I truly belong there. It's the right fit for me. If you belong to a writers group and you don't feel that way, maybe try a different one, or start your own! Having camaraderie is so important.

This Sunday, I'm going to attend another book signing. It's at Rendezvous Cafe & Wine Bar in O'Fallon, Missouri (for those of you that live nearby). Margaret Norton will be there to sign her book When Ties Break. Some of you may remember I held a blog interview with Margaret last month. Her book is a heart-wrenching memoir. Here's Margaret's full schedule for this weekend:
Wired Coffee in Sunset Hills is Saturday from 10 to 12 noon
Main Street Books in St. Charles is Saturday from 1 to 3
Rendezvous Cafe in O'Fallon is on Sunday from 11 to 1

My newest essay at Tiny Lights is now online. Look on the left side bar and click on Lights Online, Searchlights & Signal Flares. Then click on Latest Question: When an unexpected memory comes calling, who answers? (8/15/10) Every month, editor (and all around fabulous person) Susan Bono posts a thoughtful question, and any and all of you may submit your answer. Even though, it's not a paying publication, I say.....Hey, it's a publication! And it's online for thousands (millions!) of people to read! You never know where one connection will lead. Sure, I totally agree about not "giving away" your work, but I believe that in some cases, networking and marketing can add up to lots of dollars in your writing future!

Here's a cool contest I found, from Gotham Writers' Workshop. "Hint Fiction: a story of 25 words or fewer that suggests a larger, more complex story." There is NO ENTRY FEE and a few different prizes, one of which is $100.00. Entry deadline is: October 11, 2010. Put that thinking/writing cap on and enter!

One more contest. This is from Women's Memoirs. There is no entry fee and "The winner of our KitchenScraps Holiday Contest will receive one of these special Thai Silk Writer’s Journals." (click on link to see) This site is one of those I can just get lost in for hours, going from one great link to another....so, beware!

"Jumping at several small opportunities may get us there more quickly than waiting for one big one to come along." -- Hugh Allen

15 comments:

  1. I love your husband's nick... the Ronald (LOL) - my cousin's husband is Daniel, aka MR.D (as in Mr. Big, only local). You are such a cool person Becky, I think I've said it before, but it doesn't hurt - you are very generous!! sharing all this tips on writing are priceless. Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Becky,
    It was fun last night to talk with you and Ron at the book signing. I hope the photos come out.

    Thanks for all the tips about contests.

    Donna
    http://donnasbookpub.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Becky---I'm sorry I missed you last night. I could only stay for an hour or so. But I really enjoyed it. (Maybe you and I tag-teamed the event?)

    Thanks for the contest info...

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm heading over to check out your essay at Tiny Lights! I agree that any kind of publication is good. I consider it as building up my portfolio. Probably more of an artist's term, but writing is an art too!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for all the great info!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great advice, resources, and quote! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. wow that ws like Christmas, lots of gifts. Thanks, Becky.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi OJ! You are so sweet! Your comment today was one of the BEST ones I've EVER received!! Gosh, YOU are such a cool person!! :D

    Hi Donna! Yes, it was fun last night, even though we werent' there very long. I hope the pictures of ME don't turn out!!

    Hi Sioux! Yes, I guess we were ships passing in the night!

    Hi Sue! Thanks, and you're welcome!

    Hi Janel! Thanks, and yes all publications are good! Call it a portfolio, platform, whatever...it's all good!!

    Hi Lynn! Thanks!

    Hi Tammy! Thanks!

    Hi Linda! Thanks! And yes, just call me Mrs. Claus! :D

    ReplyDelete
  9. Becky---You can also call them "slices of life." Snippets only conjures images of fabric scraps. Slices could be pie, or pizza, or...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks, Becky, for Margaret's schedule. I went over to Main Street Books and met her. She autographed her book and we both were recruiting one of her friends to visit Saturday Writers. So thank you for the blurb.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Sioux and Barb! Thank you both, so much!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great tips! It sounds like you are having such a good time with this! Hooray for you.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi The Ronald!

    Your writers group sounds wonderful. Lucky you!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Jenny and Ellie! Thank you both. I really am having a great time, and Ellie, I told The Ronald you said Hello! :)

    ReplyDelete

I'm still getting quite a few spam comments that are Anonymous, so I'm trying "User with Google Accounts." If anyone tries to comment that I know, and it won't let you, send me an email, okay? Thanks so much.