Choosing Your Language

Writing an airport crime novel? Know the lingo, but keep your readers with you. | Credit: Elizabeth King Humphrey When learning Spanish in my youth, I learned all the numbers, letters, colors, and so forth. As I grew older, I became fairly proficient at ordering beers in Mexican restaurants (and maybe a few other activities). Later, I moved to Europe and lived in a country where Spanish was...

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3 comments Elizabeth King Humphrey, jobs, language

Thinking of Writing as Your Career

by Lululemon Athletica (Flickr.com) A new class I'm teaching next week, "Writing for Children," focuses on thinking of writing for children (in magazines or books) as a career. In this class, we do a lot of goal setting and "dreaming"--what do you want to accomplish in six months, what do you hope to complete in one year, and what do you see your writing life like in five years. Some writers don't...

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5 comments children's writers, creating goals, Margo L. Dill, online class, start a writing career

Interview with Don Russell, creator of DARedit software and AutomatedEditing.com

Don Russell is a nationally known software developer and self-confessed “geek.” During a conversation with a friend regarding the cost of editing Don’s cerebral light bulb lit up and it’s been flashing ever since. Don impressed us with his website, AutomatedEditing.com, which we reviewed in May of 2011. After many improvements, Don launched version 4.0 of the site and it is absolutely a joy to...

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2 comments AutomatedEditing.com, book editing, DARedit, editing, editing services, editing software, interview with Don Russell, Robyn Chausse, Self-editing

Inspiration in Creative Nonfiction

Like many writers, I find my life to be a valuable source of material. But what magical formula can transform that stupid thing I did last Thursday into a piece that will make readers laugh, cry, or smile as they recognize a reflection of themselves? I often find that magic in reading the work of other writers. Reading the writing of others can often help my brain recognize pieces of my life that...

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3 comments creative nonfcition, female writers, Inspiration, literary magazines

Use a Timeline to Develop Your Story

I've been reworking (okay, heavy editing and restructuring) of a book I've been working on for what seems like 10 years. (It's actually been that long. I'm a perfectionist. Sigh.) While reading, I noticed several elements seemed contradictory, especially when talking about time. A couple details seemed out of place, like the order was jumbled, causing confusion in the storyline. It reminded me...

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4 comments character, character development, LuAnn Schindler, timeline of events, using a timeline

Why Taking a Risk at a Writer’s Conference Is a Good Thing

I’m at a writer’s conference this weekend, and at first, I was disappointed that several of my good friends wouldn't be attending this year. But then I thought, that’s okay. I won’t play it safe. You see, when I don’t know many people at an event, I’m sort of a different person. It’s funny but true. I stand a little taller, I smile a bit more. I can’t be lazy, falling back on the old reliables....

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5 comments Agents, Cathy C. Hall, Editors, elevator pitch, writer's conference

Friday Speak Out!: The Accidental Author, guest post by Brandi Schmidt

I never thought I would be an author. I hear lavish tales from other authors about where they began their literary journey, like at age four writing plays and short stories. That was not me. I wasn’t a great student in high school, scraping by to get that diploma. I took a few years off after graduation, found myself, and gained perspective. I did return to college and actually worked my tail off...

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12 comments Brandi Schmidt, Friday Speak Out, The Kindling, Twilight, writer inspiration

Make the Reader Weep or Laugh

One of the goals of a recent revision was to deepen the emotions. I used multiple strategies or tools to work on making the reader weep or laugh. Look for clichés—and kill them. Suck in a breath in horror. Did a double-take in surprise. Let go a big belly-laugh. Please. Those are awful, aren’t they? You must look for new, fresh ways to express emotion. Look for adverbs—and kill...

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4 comments

Winning Battles for Writers: National Writers Union

Interview with National Writers Union Organizer Andrew Van Alstyne by Linda M. Rhinehart Neas Being a freelance writer can be as lonely as a sailor adrift at sea. In this interview, Andrew Van Alstyne, an organizer with the National Writers Union (UAW Local 1981), will share the importance of solidarity among freelance writers. Andrew is a Ph.D. candidate in sociology at the University of...

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2 comments Andrew Van Alstyne, Heart and Soul magazine, Huffington Post, Linda Rhinehart Neas, National Writers Union, Pay the Writer

Interview with Johnna Stein, runner-up in WOW’s Summer 2012 Flash Fiction Contest

What happens when a fortune teller delivers bad news—does it change the course of one’s life? Johnna Stein offers up one scenario in her flash fiction entry, The Winter Will Ask. We invite you to enjoy her story here and return for a short interview with the author. Like so many, Johnna longed to be a published writer. About five years ago, after returning to the USA after a ten-year stint in...

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1 comment Contestant interview, Johnna Stein, Robyn Chausse, Summer 2012 Flash Fiction Runner up

How to Find a Critique Group

Some groups provide lots of written comments! It’s one thing to know that you should probably belong to a critique group.  It’s another thing to find one. Start out by looking wherever you find other writers. Writers’ organizations.  If you belong to a writers guild or other writers’ organization, they may have ongoing critique groups or a system in place to help writers create new...

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8 comments critique, critique groups, writing groups

Celebrating Freelance Writer's Appreciation Week

“It’s Freelance Writer’s Appreciation Week, and I just want you to know you and your writing are appreciated,” a relative wrote.                  Ah, the glamorous life of a freelance journalist! I smiled, but at the same time, I could see the expressions of other family members when they ask, “So are you still doing that writing thing?” Like it’s some kind of phase I’m going through. Like they don’t think I actually earn a living putting...

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2 comments freelance writers, freelance writers appreciation week, LuAnn Schindler

Friday Speak Out!: So, You Call Yourself a Writer?, Guest Post by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo

So, you call yourself a writer? Good. If you don’t, who else will? A writer is someone who writes, period. No one is stopping you. When my son started preschool, I claimed those hours for myself. I only had two and a half hours, twice a week, but I wrote a book that year. Never during those hours did I wash dishes, fold laundry, check email, or go grocery shopping. I was able to accomplish what...

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3 comments Elizabeth Maria Naranjo, Friday Speak Out, writer inspiration

Do We LOVE Writing? Reflections on Cupid's Holiday

Cupid's Arrow in South Beach by Nan Palmero Cupid is a symbol of Valentine's Day that we all recognize. According to Roman mythology (and the version you happen to read), Cupid, the Roman god of Love, can shoot his arrow through your heart and cause you to fall hopelessly in love with another person. Sometimes, this can work out great--if the other person loves and adores you in return. If not,...

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6 comments Cupid's arrow, humor, Margo L. Dill, the writing life, Valentine's Day, writing inspiration

The Book by Jessica Bell (Review and Giveaway)

When the chance came to review another of Jessica Bell's books, I jumped at it. I loved her writing exercise and instruction book:  Show & Tell in a Nutshell! This novella, The Book, caught my attention immediately--mostly because of the different formats--journal entries, doctor/patient transcripts, and narrative in a child's voice. I know I've already caught your interest with just that...

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8 comments book giveaway, book review, contemporary fiction, Jessica Bell, novella

Interview with Renee Carter Hall, runner-up in WOW’s Summer 2012 Flash Fiction Contest

Today we welcome Renee Carter Hall, runner up in our Summer 2012 Flash Fiction Contest. Renee is a master of letting fun lead the way as evidenced by her prolific publishing credits, numerous anthromorphic characters, and whimsical artwork (I love the lounging dragon picture on her website). Her contest submission, Nativity, is a sweet story of a little girl who longs to belong to a flock—and gets...

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6 comments Contestant interview, Renee Carter Hall, Robyn Chausse, Summer 2012 Flash Fiction Runner up

Getting a Digital Autograph with Authorgraph

When e-readers came out, I put my nose in the air and told all my writer friends, “Not for me.” But then my writer friends started getting books published, and I wanted to buy their books, and the digital book was often cheaper. And besides, everyone else had an e-reader. So I said, “Maybe I’ll try one.” My husband gave me an e-reader, and then I downloaded tons of books, because I could carry...

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11 comments Authorgraph, autograph, book marketing, Book Signing, Cathy C. Hall

Fighting the Priorities Battle

Once again, I am facing the Priorities Battle. Do we ever really get past that? I fill many roles, from blogger to teacher, mother to wife, friend to cook. And each role demands time, attention to detail, a commitment. How do you find the right mix and right priorities? For me, it's a matter of rhythms of life and of continual adjustments. Rhythms of Life The Bible says there is a season for...

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4 comments

What Every Writer Needs

Writers write.  It's what we do.  Unfortunately, we don’t always judge our own writing accurately even when its good.  Does that surprise you?  We are used to being told that we need help identifying the weaknesses in our writing.  Sometimes we need just as much help identifying the strengths. For about two months, I’ve been playing around with a rewrite.  I’ll work on it a bit and then set it aside because it hasn’t jelled. Every now and again, I figure...

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11 comments critique groups, writing support

Friday Speak Out!: Defying Stereotypes, Guest Post by Beth Cato

When people find out I'm a writer, sometimes they ask straight out: "What do you write?" Other times, I get a response that makes me fight the urge to snarl and froth at the mouth. "Oh, you write children's books?" It's not that I have anything against children's books. I love them to pieces and have hundreds on shelves throughout my house. As I grew up, Stan and Jan Berenstain, Laura Ingalls...

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13 comments Beth Cato, Friday Speak Out, genres, writer inspiration, writing and parenting

Check Out Winning Writers: Contests and More

I'm really excited to introduce you to Adam Cohen and his wife, Jendi Reiter, from the website, Winning Writers. Like WOW!, it has been voted by Writer's Digest as being one of the 101 most useful sites for writers. After reading the interview below with Adam and discovering all this site has to offer--from contests to free newsletters, from tips and contest insider information to an inexpensive...

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4 comments Fiction Contest, poetry contests, writing contests, writing support, writing websites