Immediate Surgery!

PER LAST WEEK’S WARNING: If you’re a guy, you should stop reading now. Seriously. Don’t continue. If you have a queasy stomach, you should also turn back now. If you keep reading, you’ll be sorry. Don’t say I didn’t warn you…

Topic, Common Themes, and Winners of the WritersWeekly.com Fall, 2012 24-Hour Short Story Contest!

For the past six weeks, we’ve spent every spare moment judging the hundreds of entries submitted for the Fall, 2012 24-Hour Short Story Contest. In case you’re not familiar with our quarterly contest, this is how it works. On the date of the contest, at start-time, we send out the topic for that specific contest to all registered entrants, while also posting it online. Entrants then have 24 hours to write and submit their stories. The stories “must deal with the topic in some way to qualify” and they must not exceed the pre-assigned word count.
After reading the entries for each contest, we can see how difficult it is to come up with a unique plot when working with an assigned topic. But, inevitably, a few writers do manage to successfully break away from the pack.

Letters To The Editor For October 31st

This Week:

  • AUTHORS BEGGING FOR CASH ONLINE? INSULTING!!
  • ADVERTISEMENTS DISGUISED AS “FREE” GUEST BLOG CONTRIBUTIONS

The Mobile Book-signing – Mary Cook

The Mobile Book-signing – Mary Cook

Libraries and bookstores are so last year when it comes to staging book signings. Instead, consider taking your books out into the wider world. It’s full of your would-be readers.
Farmers encourage beekeepers to set their hives on farmland because it’s mutually beneficial. Bees get nectar for honey, benefiting themselves and their keeper. In return for this bounty, the bees pollinate the farmers’ crops.

Likewise, taking your books to a particular setting can attract customers to you, and also benefit your host. Match the location to your subject matter. The more off-the-wall your choice of venue, the greater your chance of attracting media attention…

Measuring Writing Success – Diane Craver

If your books haven’t made the New York Time’s Best Selling Book List and you don’t have tons of money in your bank account from your writing, don’t fret. Maybe we shouldn’t feel valued only by the amount of royalties earned from our writing. How many times have people emailed you or told you in person that your book has meant so much to them? Our books can touch people on some level when we reach deep inside our core to write with passion. Whether you write non-fiction or fiction, your words might have helped some individuals in a dark place to have happier and brighter days. Reaching out to others with the written word will always be important.

Hospitalized While On Vacation

If you’re a guy, you should stop reading now. Seriously. Don’t continue. If you have a queasy stomach, you should also turn back now. If you keep reading, you’ll be sorry. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Featuring Real People in Your Writing? Protect Yourself From Lawsuits!

As usual, I enjoyed your column—this one entitled: “Featuring Real People in Your Writing?”. However, I have a cautionary tale for your readers. Even if you CHANGE the names of the people you’re writing about there is still the chance that someone will threaten a lawsuit.

Choosing an Independent Editor

You need an editor—of that much you are certain. But how can you avoid falling prey to incompetent, untrained, or inexperienced pretenders who may insert more errors than they correct? (Yes, it happens alarmingly often.)

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