New Goal - Write1/Sub1 Challenge - I'm In!

Call me crazy, but I signed up for the Write1Sub1 challenge the other day. I first read about it over on Madeline Mora-Summonte's Shellshank Redemption website.

One of my goals this year is to write more fiction, so this challenge got my attention. I'm #80 on the list, which is still growing.

The idea is to write and submit one story each month. Some folks signed up for the weekly challenge, but once a month should be enough for me with my other writing assignments. The Write1/Sub 1 guidelines don't have a specific word limit, which makes it less overwhelming. I can write stories of any length.

To make it worth my while, I'm searching for fiction markets that pay, or contests with a money prize.

I found a call-out for an anthology from Whortle Berry Press called Strange Mysteries 3. It's a paying market--$10 per story--with a 4,000 word limit. The deadline is February 1, so it's something I could accomplish. Maybe I'll try that one.

How about you? Do you have any writing-related goals for the new year? Or, do you have any short fiction markets to suggest?

Thoughts on a Snow Day

Snow started late yesterday afternoon and continued overnight. This morning our yard and street are awash in a wintry glow.

The first automated call came at 4:30 from Cari's school district. Her high school is closed due to the snow. Michael's school called around 5:40. Same announcement, different voice.

SNOW DAY!

Harley, our black lab, woke up early, but he put the skids on when I opened the back door to let him outside. He's no fool. When Walt opened the door, he listened and trotted outside. Why is that? It's the same way with the kids.

When I went in their bedrooms to tell them there was no school, Cari said, "Good. I can sleep in." Michael said, "Good. I can sled." Then they both went back to sleep.

So, this morning instead of making breakfasts and lunches, double-checking homework, and rushing around getting the kids out the door in time for school, I'm sipping a cup of tea, reading, and writing. Life is good.

While I'm warm and cozy inside, not everyone is. Last night and earlier this morning the city trucks have been by clearing the streets.

Today the mail carriers have their work cut out for them. Thinking about mail carriers, I found this article on readersdigest.com. "Thirteen Things Your Mail Carrier Won't Tell You." After reading the list, I appreciate #4, the advice about Media Mail (I use it when mailing books) and #10 about using ball point pens. I shudder when I think about the stories mail carriers can tell with #11.

Hope you can enjoy your day today, no matter what kind of weather you're having.

Interview Questions

As a freelance writer, I've interviewed dozens of authors in the past few years. This week I have a deadline to come up with interview questions for a romantic suspense author, whose book I just finished reading. I really enjoyed her book. The story is fresh and suspenseful. It kept my attention and interest until the end. I've interviewed this author in the past, so I want to keep my questions fresh.

The writer in me wants to focus my questions on her writing process: where she gets her ideas, how she develops her characters, does she outline or plunge ahead, how does she research the technical parts of the book, and the like. My editor wants the focus to be on the author's present book. Generally, I try to do both; weave in writing-related questions while bringing out highlights of the current novel. That's not always easy.

Without mentioning the author's name, I'd like your opinion:

1. If you were interviewing a romantic suspense writer, what questions would you ask?

2. Now for the big question: If you could interview any writer (living or dead), who would it be, and what would you ask them?

One dead writer I would like to interview is Mark Twain. I'd want to know what he thinks about the rewrite of Huck Finn to make it more politically correct. I bet he would come up with a zinger of an answer.

No Entry Fee Contest from The Verb

The threat of snow this weekend reminded me of a short story (only) contest going on right now at ReadingWriters.

The contest theme is "Winter Wind," and there's a story prompt to get you started. Here are some highlights:
* No entry fee
* Grand prize $100
* Winning story published in The Verb
* Receive a story opinion.
* Word limit 1,500.
* Contest details can be found here.
* Deadline is January 15, so you still have time, but not much.

While you're there, check out past contest winners and opinions. I found the editor's analysis of what works in a winning story extremely helpful.

Hope you have a great weekend, and stay warm!

Feast of the Epiphany and A Giveaway on Cathy C. Hall's Blog

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany, the day when the Wise Men brought the gifts to the Christ child. The word epiphany comes from the Greek verb, "to reveal."

The feast is celebrated in many parts of Europe, where gifts are exchanged. In our home, it's the day we take down our Christmas tree, box up the lights, put away the ornaments, and hope we can remember where we put everything so we can find it next year. Having a good memory is a blessing, and a gift.

Speaking of gifts, Cathy C. Hall, one of my blogger buddies, is in a gift-giving mood. Cathy is a wise and witty writer with a good and generous heart. To celebrate the new year, she is giving away a $20 Barnes and Noble gift card to a new follower. To win the gift card, sign up to be one of her followers and leave a comment on her blog between now and January 24th. Be sure to mention you heard about her contest here, on Donna's Book Pub. If you win, I can win, too!

Cathy will pick the winner's name from her new followers. If you're already one of her followers, you can also win. Check out her Jan 3 post for details.

While you're visiting Cathy's blog, check out her posts about submission opportunities, contests, and other cool writing stuff. I love reading her posts. She is always so upbeat and funny--and did I mention--generous?

One word of caution: After reading Cathy's posts you might start saying Y'all a lot and craving grits and fried green tomatoes. That's cause Cathy is a Southern belle from Georgia.

Good luck, y'all!

Sad News for Cup of Comfort Commmunity

At critique group today, Alice, one of my writing buddies, shared some news from the Cup of Comfort blog. Alice and I have been published in the Cup of Comfort series, and she is good about keeping me updated about calls for submissions, contests, etc.

Today she gave me a copy of this blog post from Colleen Sell, who has been the Cup of Comfort editor for the past ten years.

Effective January 1, the Cup of Comfort website became inactive and Colleen retired from her tenure as editor. (Two books scheduled for publication this year will be the last of the series. )

It's an honor to have had three of my true stories in Cup of Comfort books (Cup of Comfort for Women, Cup of Comfort for Christmas, and Cup of Comfort for Military Families). I'm sad, but I guess all good things must come to an end.

So, tonight I'll drink a cup of tea and with a greatful heart re-read "Julie's Gift" about my daughter, "Santa Wore Cowboy Boots" about my son, and "Welcome Home" about my husband, my stories that all part of the Cup of Comfort stories.

Happy New Year and Some Writing Advice

Happy New Year, everyone! Hope your Christmas holidays were joyful.

I'm always excited around this time of year. It's a time of back and forth.

Time to look back at the old year while looking forward to the new. Time for a fresh start and maybe a change in direction.

Last year was my most prolific and profitable as a writer, and I'm hoping 2011 will be even more prolific. Here's a recap of what kept me busy writing in 2010:

* My essays and short stories were included in six publications, including two Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and I had one acceptance late in the year for anthology to be published this spring.

* I won a few awards--and a bit of cash.

* Dozens of my reviews and author interviews were published on Bookreporter, Kidsreads and Teenreads.

What's neat about being able to interview authors is that I get paid to ask questions of other writers and learn from them. Here's a sampling of some of my 2010 interviews:

In this Jan 2010 interview, award-winning author Kathryn Lasky talks about her writing process and the important of research.

My May 2010 interview with Jarrett J. Krosoczka, author and illustrator of the Lunch Lady series, is one of my favorites. He talks about the influence his grandparents had on him and shares the exciting information about Lunch Lady being made into a movie staring Amy Poehler.

Here's some great advice from Cynthia Lord about first drafts--"dare to be bad" and "get it done." I love her book Touch Blue. Read the entire October 2010 interview here.

If you've ever wondered how to make your characters come alive on the page, here's a tip from a November 2010 interview with bestselling and award-winning author, Walter Dean Myers.

Hope you enjoy reading the writing advice from these experts.

Wishing you all many joys and blessings and a healthy, happy, and holy 2011.