Courtroom Coverage: 7 Lessons to Covering the Courtroom

In college, my favorite J-school classroom experiences took place in the field: locating solid stories and resources, learning how to cover meetings (think school board, county supervisors, town council), play-by-play sports coverage, and courtroom action. It's been 30 years since I've covered a court case. The last time was for a basic newswriting class assignment, and if I remember correctly,...

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4 comments covering the courtroom, LuAnn Schindler, research, tips and tricks for court reporting

The Six Senses In a Nutshell by Jessica Bell (Review and Giveaway)

The Six Senses in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Transitions from Bleak to Bold Narrative by Jessica Bell is the latest writing craft book in the "Nutshell" series. We've reviewed the others, too: Show & Tell in a Nutshell and Adverbs & Cliches in a Nutshell. The latest installment in the series is another helpful book for fiction writers and covers a topic we must all think about while writing:...

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8 comments fiction writing, Jessica Bell, Nutshell Series, sensory details, writing exercises, writing tips

Interview with Lynn Nicholas, Spring 2013 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

I’m pleased to introduce you to Lynn Nicholas who placed in our top ten with her poignant tale Lyrics of Life. In this story, her vivid writing juxtaposes all the color of life against a time of passing. A compulsive list maker, scribbler of thoughts, and sender of handwritten notes, Lynn is passionate about the written word. She is an insatiable reader with eclectic tastes, most admiring authors...

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1 comment Contestant interview, flash fiction runner up, Lynn Nicholas, Robyn Chausse, Spring 2013 Flash Fiction Contest

Skeleton's Key by Stacy Green (Release Details and Book Review)

Stacy Green releases SKELETON'S KEY!  Her Delta Crossroads Series, set in fictional Roselea, Mississippi, expertly weaves drama and suspense with a fitting dose of dry humor. TIN GOD (Delta Crossroads #1) was runner up for The Kindle Book Review's 2013 Mystery/Thriller and an Amazon summer bestseller.  (Delta Crossroads #2), is a worthy follow up, delivering fast-paced suspense and...

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4 comments Book Release, book review, Delta Crossroads, Skeleton's Key, Stacy Green

Helping - Offering and Accepting Help

Recently, we launched the WOW! Women on Writing Blog Tour for Sara Connell’s amazing surrogacy story Bringing in Finn. It seems fitting that my next blog post following that surrogacy story has something to do with babies…right? Some of you may know that 4 weeks ago I gave birth to a nine pound bouncing baby boy named Breccan. He is not my first child, and God willing he will not be my last. However,...

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2 comments accepting help, being helpful, frienship, helping, offering help

Self-Publishing for a Writers' Conference

From a blank screen to a sales tool, writers can market themselves from within a writers' group. Photo credit | Elizabeth Humphrey I'm a presenter at an upcoming November conference and have started preparing. But some writers I know are going to the same conference and they've been preparing for even longer than I have! There's this great idea that I've been on the periphery of (unfortunately,...

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4 comments conference, conference dos and don'ts, Elizabeth King Humphrey, print vs e-book, writers groups

Friday Speak Out!: Work In Progress, Guest Post by Susanne Holly Brent

“So what’s your novel about?” is a question which I have come to dread. It may be asked by a relative, a coworker, a friend, or another writer, and I’ve still not found an adequate response, or at least provided a description that sounds like I’m writing a best seller. I always get the sense when people ask me that question they are waiting for me to immediately share with them an amazing story,...

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4 comments Friday Speak Out, novel writing, Susanne Brent, work in progress

Online Marketing - 10 Safety Tips to Protect Your Email Account

by Karen Cioffi Have you gotten emails from accounts that have been hacked? Has your email account been hacked? Hacking is everywhere and in everything. Today, a lot of business is conducted via email, so it’s essential to do your best to prevent hackers from getting a hold of your account. Or, make it as difficult as possible for them to figure your password out. Below are 10 steps you can...

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4 comments e-mail, hackers, hacking, Karen Cioffi, marketing, online class, passwords, Tips, WOW Classes, WOW instructor

What 80s Movies Have Taught Me About Writing

The other night, I was ready to turn in when one of my all-time favorite movies, Say Anything, came on television. Even though I’ve seen this movie so many times I can quote it word for word, it struck me how Lloyd Dobler’s famous speech at Diane Court’s dinner table reminds me of my own attitude sometimes, especially when it comes to my writing career: I don’t want to sell anything,...

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6 comments lessons on writing, movies and writing, Pretty in Pink, Renee Roberson, Say Anything, Some Kind of Wonderful, Stand By Me, writing themes

Interview with Suzie Lockhart, Runner Up in the Spring 2013 Flash Fiction Contest

Good morning, Muffin readers! Sweet treat today: an interview with Suzie Lockhart, a runner-up in the Spring 2013 Flash Fiction contest. Head over to WOW! and read Suzie’s story, The Dead Boy and the Lavender Suit, and return here to find out more about this amazing author and her story. Convinced she was destined to be an artist, Suzie Lockhart attended The Art Institute of Pittsburgh after graduating...

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2 comments author interview, LuAnn Schindler, Spring 2013 Flash Fiction Contest, suzie lockhart

Sara Connell, author of Bringing in Finn: An Extraordinary Surrogacy Story, launches her blog tour

& giveaway contest! Bringing in Finn is an incredibly moving story of surrogacy and how it created a bond like no other between a mother and daughter. In February 2011, 61-year-old Kristine Casey delivered the greatest gift of all to her daughter, Sara Connell: Sara’s son, Finnean. At that moment, Kristine—the gestational carrier of Sara and her husband Bill’s child—became the oldest woman...

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2 comments author interview, Bringing in Finn, infertility, memoir, mother daughter relationship, Sara Connell, surrogacy

A Writer's Quirk: Getting a New Computer

by Wonderlane Flickr.com I got a new computer. Before you read on, I want you to know that I am not whining. I'm very fortunate to be able to go to the store and buy (ummm, charge with good credit) a new computer because my old laptop was going kaput! (It was basically possessed.) However, I continued to use that possessed computer for 10 more days before I even opened the box of this new one...

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10 comments humor, Margo L. Dill, new computer, quirks, writing habits, writing on your laptop

What To Write Next…

What to write next isn’t something I generally need to consider. I simply look at my calendar and see which deadline is fast approaching. Sometimes the deadlines are for work my editors have requested.  Other times they are theme deadlines or from calls for manuscripts.  But there are times, like right now, when I have very few deadlines.  Then I have to think – which project should get...

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3 comments how to choose your next project, prioritizing

Friday Speak Out!: A Just Ask Attitude, Guest Post by Nicole Meier

A couple of years ago, I went on a business retreat with my husband and his company. The employees were encouraged to bring their spouses and attend workshops on everything from team building to organization. While the weekend was packed with information, there’s one piece of advice that stayed with me: "just ask." I was given this tidbit from an unlikely character--a short, peroxided number...

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2 comments asking, Friday Speak Out, Inspiration, Nicole Meier, positive attitude