Why I Love "Writer Unboxed"

If you're a writer, I certainly hope you're a faithful reader of Writer Unboxed. 

Used with Writer Unboxed permission

So many times I don't remember how I discovered a particular website or blog, but I actually do recall where and when I first heard about this one. In May of last year, I attended a one day seminar presented by MORWA (Missouri Romance Writers of America). Literary agent and monthly contributor to Writer Unboxed, Donald Maass, was the speaker. He referred to Writer Unboxed that day and I immediately began to follow it.

(Yes, I attended a romance writers workshop, and although I only write personal essays and memoir, I learned an incredible amount of information. I took 13 pages of handwritten notes....er, chicken scratchings. After I went through all of it, I typed up what turned out to be 4 pages of information, which I shared with friends in our Coffee & Critique group.)

One of my favorite contributors to Writer Unboxed is Chuck Sambuchino. He's an editor for Writer's Digest Books, a writer, and a playwright. See his website for more credentials.

So, just why do I love Writer Unboxed? It always has fantastic articles written by an array of contributors, plus author interviews, and Give-Aways! Shortly after attending the MORWA seminar, I left a comment on one of Chuck's posts where he had a give-away, which added my name to a list of 173.....and I won! My fantastic prize: Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript, 3rd Edition by Chuck Sambuchino.

Along with reading it and another How To book I discovered on Writer Unboxed, How to Write a Book Proposal, 4th Edition, by Michael Larsen, I'm getting a handle on the correct way to submit requested info to literary agents.  

Stop by there today to read the newest articles, and also leave a comment at Chuck's newest give-away!

*Note 2:00pm: Chuck just informed me he'll be the Saturday night keynote speaker at next year's Missouri Writers Guild Conference in St. Louis! It's being held April 11 - 13, 2014. Hope to see many writer friends there. 

♫♪ ......Meet me in St. Louie, Louie....♫♪

(Sorry, I just couldn't help myself!)

"As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live." -- Goethe

** "BOOKS & MORE" WINNER **

The winner of my newest Give Away....from July 13th
(http://beckypovich.blogspot.com/2013/07/give-away-books-more.html)  is.....

Susan from writing straight from the heart!
Congratulations, Susan! I will get your goodies mailed as soon as I can. It may take a while, though....as one of my Bestest-Blog-Friends can testify to :(

And yes, I will be adding a few more little items, as I wrote on July 18th, although I never got around to posting photos of them. 

I hope you enjoy all the books and more!

~~~

"Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another's skin, another's voice, another's soul." -- Joyce Carol Oates

* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

It's Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday

This morning I've been thinking of other famous "aunts" in addition to Aunt Bee, in the world of TV and literature. Here's a few I've come up with:

Aunt Polly -- Tom Sawyer

Aunt Pittypat -- Gone With the  Wind

Aunt Clara -- Bewitched

Auntie Mame -- Mame

Auntie Em -- The Wizard of Oz

How about you? What famous aunts have I forgotten? To fit in my nostalgic category, they can't be current. 

 *Welcome to my newest follower, Janet at Creative Writing in the Blackberry Patch. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! * 

P.S. Don't forget to leave a comment for my give-away before Midnight CDT, tonight! You must leave it at this blog post: http://beckypovich.blogspot.com/2013/07/give-away-books more.html
Good luck to all!

"But in the east the sky was pale and through the gray woods came lanterns with wagons and horses, bringing Grandpa and Grandma and aunts and uncles and cousins." -- Laura Ingalls Wilder

Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer

Nat King Cole - "Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer" | Listen on Youtube and get on Itunes

* Click on the above link so you can sing along! *

Thanks to Linda at Words from the Heart for her July 17th post which had almost the same title. It obviously reminded me of a favorite song from my childhood!

We've certainly been having some of those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer here...which is typical for our part of the world!

~ Enjoy your Friday and upcoming weekend ~

Meanwhile, back to my toiling away on my writing....... 

P.S. Did you know just how much you can accomplish when you get up and start working at 3:30 am?? A LOT! I was ready for lunch at 9:30 am!

"Tell the negativity committee that meets inside your head to sit down and shut up." -- Unknown

* UPDATE *

I've come across a few little goodies to add to my Give-Away that continues until Sunday, July 21st, at midnight. (I noticed I forgot to specify the Time Zone on my original post. My apologies! It is Midnight, Central Daylight Time.)

So please tell your friends to stop on by, leave a comment, and be my follower. Photos of new goodies will be posted....later today, hopefully!

Meanwhile, I'm toiling away on my summary and marketing information for the New York agent! I must do it as flawlessly as possible! 

Thanks again for all the well wishes. I certainly can use them! :)

~also~

 *Welcome to my newest followers, Two Crazy Crafters and Days and Nights I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! * 

"Writing is easy. You just open a vein and bleed." -- Red Smith

* A GIVE-AWAY - BOOKS & MORE *

Welcome to my newest Give-Away! It's been way too long since I had one, so I decided now is the time!

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stay at Home Moms

(I did not submit to this one, but I won it somewhere.)

A Slob in the Kitchen

by Karen Duffy

is a really fun cookbook! It's full of easy recipes, anecdotes, and quotes. I even bought two of these: one for myself and one for a give-away! 

A favorite quote from my childhood listed on page 125:

"I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today." -- Wimpy (from Popeye)

Not Your Mother's Book...On Dogs

(Some of my writer friends have stories included, and I have one, too.)

Two great booklets for your home:

Taste of Home Freezer Meals

&

101 Ways to Decorate with Candles

Two tiny plaques approx. 3" x 2"

with wire hangers. 

(Would be adorable as gift tag add-ons, or hanging in a small area.)

The "rules" are simple. Just leave a comment here and be one of my followers. I'll allow comments until midnight Sunday, July 21st. Thanks in advance to everyone who will join in the fun!

Oh, one more thing! I will also add a couple of surprise items to the winner. Ooooh, what could they be? 

AND, finally....this Give-Away is open to my followers in ANY country!


"A disaster or unexpected event is an open invitation to let your imagination shine through." -- Karen Duffy

* A NEW YORK AGENT...*

I just received an e-mail from a New York agent who is interested in reading my memoir. For now, I can e-mail a few chapters for their consideration. 


Obviously, this doesn't guarantee anything, but what an amazing opportunity.


I am honored and excited!

* I Won a Fabulous Blog Give-Away *

Oh my gosh! Y'all really must go to Jennifer's Quirky Pickings blog! She is having another fantastic Give-Away and you have a few days to still enter. You won't believe all the goodies. (12 Items!) And she doesn't require you to jump through hoops to be qualified! BUT, I suggest you leave a wonderful comment about her blog in general. Take a little time to see what she is all about, and also become her follower.

I've never seen such generous gift packages. I honestly don't remember what all I won, but the first of many mailings arrived the other day: a Target Gift Card for $30.00! Woo-hoo! (I think I'll definitely be stopping at Target today!)

I'll be posting the photos of my new give-away in a day or so. I want y'all to have plenty of time to enter Jennifer's at Quirky Pickings!






"Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside." -- Mark Twain