* We Have SEVERAL Winners! *

The Winner of Lynn Goodwin's You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers is.....Patricia Preston! Congratulations, Patricia! Since I already have your mailing address, (snail-mail notes!) is that where you'd like the book to be sent? Thanks again to everyone who left comments and/or questions for Lynn. And, of course, another big Thank You to Lynn!

I would have to say that I'M the winner concerning these three pictures. I took them recently when Vern and I were outside enjoying our glorious weather.Vern is keeping a lookout for the bunnies that live and/or hide under our deck! I took my tablet, pen, and cup of coffee out there and did quite a bit of writing. The warmth and beauty brought forth inspiration!

 
And who is the other winner?? It's Jessie Humphries because she is my 300th Follower!

Jessie left the cutest comment here: http://beckypovich.blogspot.com/2012/03/lynn-goodwin-part-2_27.html. I sent my 100th and 200th follower a gift of some kind. (Sorry, nothing from Van Cleef & Arpels!)   ~~ Speaking of that....see the quote below!

But, Jessie if you will send me your mailing address, I'll send a small token of my appreciation! * Thank you very much and I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see. *


"I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck." -- Emma Goldman

* Lynn Goodwin - Part 2 *

Welcome back to Part 2 of Lynn Goodwin's questions and answers blog post! Yesterday, we had questions 1 through 4. Today we'll finish with questions 5 through 9. Don't forget to leave a comment or ask Lynn a question, either on this post or yesterday's, to be eligible for the book give-away. *And if you leave a comment on both blog posts, you'll be entered twice.*

* I forgot to mention when the drawing will be. I'll take comments until midnight CDT, today, 3/27/12. Winner will be announced tomorrow. *

5)     5) I noticed your Brag Board and Announcements. I’m sure many of my readers would love to have some of their accomplishments listed there.

I agree. Send them to me. The address is on the website, and accomplishments are posted for 90 days. Send your friends in to see them.

6-A) Do you still need some volunteers for your site?

      Absolutely. We need volunteers to write both book and website reviews, to clean up and expand the Resources page, and always, always, we need people to help us publicize the e-zine. Send me a letter of interest that includes a bit about your writing and publicity background and a resume.

  

6-    6-B) Any paid positions available?

There are no paid positions at this time, but sometimes good volunteers work their way into paid positions, if they are reliable, meet deadlines, and have a unique voice that does not require much editing.
 

7)     7) You offer manuscript consultation. Do you prefer reading/editing a certain genre?

I'm happy to read and respond to almost anything including long and short fiction, creative non-fiction, memoir, articles, blog posts, academic papers, college application essays, and even poetry unless it's obscure. To determine whether the writer and I are a match, I read a short sample at no charge. Find out what we offer at: http://www.writeradvice.com/manuscriptconsultation.html. Questions? Please ask. My address is in the middle of the page. 
 

8)    8) It looks like you also accept book reviews. Tell us about that.

I'm always looking for good reviewers. I have lots of books sent from Random House and its subsidiaries. A Random House Book Rep, who gave presentations for Project Second Chance, the Contra Costa County Library's Adult Literacy Program, recommended me as a reviewer and years later I'm still getting and using books, but they send me more than I can ever read, so I'm happy to pass some on to others who want to review for Writer Advice. If a reviewer has recently read a book she likes, and it's not more than three years old, I'm happy to look at that as well.

Reviews run approximately 250 words, are balanced but lean towards positive comments, and should give us a sense of why the reviewer recommends a particular book. Read some samples by clicking on Hooked on Books. Query before submitting.

My address is not in the book reviews themselves, but you can find it in the ads column on the left. If you'd like to advertise your own book or writing service, we offer very reasonable rates. Please ask.

 

9)    9) You were a judge for Tiny Lights – what year, and which contest?

  Lynn: I think I judged for Tiny Lights in 2007. I remember reading some wonderful pieces.

  Becky: I'm curious because I’m one of Susan Bono’s regular Searchlights & Signal Flares contributors.
   
   Lynn: I've probably read something you've written there, though I haven't received anything from Susan for a while. If you think we might like to rerun one of your pieces on the Writing Advice page, please let me know.

  

Thanks so much for asking these questions, Becky.

If you're reading this, I hope you'll check us out at www.writeradvice.com. Enter the contest if it appeals. Consider reviewing either a book or a writing-related website for us. Consider using your public relations skills to bring us a wider audience. You never know where volunteer opportunities will lead, so let's find out if we want to work together.

Thank you again, Lynn, for being such a wonderful guest! I've learned a lot from you and also plan on submitting to your contest and brag boards, etc.

"Keep reading, writing, revising, and sharing. No one has your voice but you." - Lynn Goodwin

* Lynn Goodwin - Writers Advice *

I'm delighted to introduce Lynn Goodwin, author of You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers. Lynn also runs Writer Advice which is just bursting with information!

Today, I'm posting the first half of my interview with Lynn, and the second will follow tomorrow. I'm sure you'll enjoy everything she has to share with us.

~~~~

1) Welcome Lynn! First and foremost, because of the April 18th deadline, please tell us about your current Flash Prose Contest.

Thanks for asking, Becky. This is the seventh year Writer Advice is running a Flash Prose Contest. I decided to call it Flash Prose after realizing that there are many compelling memoirs that read like fiction, and their authors have as much chance of winning as those who send compelling prose. 

We're searching for flash fiction, memoir, and creative non-fiction that grabs, surprises, and mesmerizes readers in 750 words or less. If you have a story or memoir with a strong theme, sharp images, a solid structure, and an unexpected discovery, please submit it to the WriterAdvice Flash Prose Contest. Complete details are at www.writeradvice.com. The judges will be former winners, and you can read their winning stories by clicking on Archives. 

If you have any questions before submitting, please e-mail me. My address is in the last paragraph of the announcement about the contest at www.writeradvice.com. Can't find it? Write directly at Lgood67334@comcast.net. 

       2) What are some of your favorite “writerly” websites, besides your own, of course! (I noticed you have some listed on your website.)

As you noted, we have lots of resources listed on the website. It's been a couple of years since I've checked all the sites to make sure they work. In addition, I've reviewed many I like on Website Reviews, http://www.writeradvice.com/websitereviews.html.

Truthfully, my favorites vary depending on my needs. I like the interaction available at Story Circle Network, http://www.storycircle.org/index.php, and WOW! Women on Writing, http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/. Both cater to women telling their stories, and so does The National Association of Memoir Writers, www.namw.org/. 

Obviously I'm interested in memoir, personal writing, and life stories. I like the outreach at Red Room, www.redroom.com. 

I wrote about Book Slut, http://www.bookslut.com/, quite a while ago, and I'm delighted to see they're still in operation. I used to be a huge fan of Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/ , but lately I haven't had time to visit much even though I greatly respect all the reviewing they encourage. I also like IndieBound, http://www.indiebound.org/, though we have not reviewed it yet. 

More faves, for varying reasons: HARO, www.helpareporter.com/, Media Bistro, http://www.mediabistro.com/, and The Writer's Almanac, http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/. So many websites, so little time. No wonder I don't get more writing done.

3) What are some of your favorite books on craft? Favorite memoirs?

I love Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, because she helps writers find their voice. Pat Schneider also helps both writers and writing teachers find and enhance their voices in Writing Alone and With Others. Annie Lamott's Bird by Bird is a classic that crosses the lines between writing and memoir. Ditto for Natalie Goldberg's Wild Mind. There are more, of course, but I'm sticking to "some."

Caroline Kraus's Borderlines is a memoir that I can't forget along with Kelly Corrigan's The Middle Place. For a treat read Rachel Sarah's Single Mom Seeking, Veronica Chater's Waiting for the Apocalypse, Sybil Lockhart's Mother in the Middle, and Kathy Briccetti's Blood Strangers. Whenever I interview an author, I feel like I get inside information and I care more about the book because of it.

      4-A) How long have you been writing?

I've written intermittently since Mr. Stewart had us write a story a week in sixth grade. I became obsessed with journaling when my mother was in the last years of her life and needed my help. Journaling saved my sanity then. I decided to share the process with others in a book called You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers. It's a valuable resource. Copies available on Amazon.  

 

      4-B) Did you grow up loving books?

I loved the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, Mickey Mouse Club magazines, Stranger than Science, Nancy Drew (a forbidden pleasure), and anything in our 19-volume 1957 World Book Encyclopedia.

~~~~

Thank you so much, Lynn! You've provided so many wonderful sites and other important information. We'll all look forward to Part 2 of the Q&A tomorrow, which will be questions 5 through 9.  

* There's also a book give-away! To enter all you have to do is leave a comment about this interview, or ask Lynn a question. You can do that here, or in tomorrow's Part 2 comments, or both. Two Comments DO give you Two chances. No other rules! * So, please come back tomorrow. *

A quote from Lynn, regarding her manuscript consultations:

"I tell you WHAT I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT. This often opens doors for writers. I plant seeds, you nurture them, and your writing blossoms." - Lynn Goodwin