Getting Lost and Trying to Get Home

 Here we are, February 2022 (and believe it or not, tomorrow it'll be March!). It's been a long time friends. This post may not be as inspirational as my usual banter - it may even be a bit sad. I'll try to make the sad part quick so we can get to the happy ending. Everyone loves a happy ending, right?I haven't put pen to paper this year. Until now...I have been so incredibly lost and I'm trying...

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6 comments crystal otto, mom is a writer, passionate about writing, raising kids and cattle, uplifting writing

Interview with Tiffany Doerr Guerzon, Runner Up in the WOW! Q1 2022 Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest

Tiffany Doerr Guerzon is a freelance writer, essayist, and mixed media artist. Her work has been featured in This Land Press, CNN, The Christian Science Monitor, Parents.com, Submittable, ParentMap, and Chicken Soup for the Soul. She lives near Seattle, Washington with her husband and three children, where she teaches creative nonfiction at a local college. She loves to hike and make art. ----------Interview...

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Leave a Comment Contestant interview, Renee Roberson, Tiffany Doerr Guerzon, WOW! Q1 2022 Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest

Avoid Litigation: Mentioning Songs, Quoting Lyrics, Quoting People

By Bobbie Christmas   Q: If I mention a song in my book, could I get in trouble? Here’s a sample sentence: Evanescence’s “Good Enough” was playing on the radio. I have quoted nothing from the lyrics. If I just mention that Evanescence is the character’s favorite band, do I need to do any legal things?  A: I am not an attorney, but I do know that titles cannot be copyrighted,...

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1 comment Ask the book doctor, Bobbie Christmas, quoting people, quoting song titles, using song lyrics

The Right Time To Write

I’ve got a writing predicament over here and I don’t know quite how to fix it. It’s not the usual problem, like a muddled middle, a runaway plot, or a flat character. It’s a bit more complicated and a lot more embarrassing. On the other hand, I feel like my writing friends will understand. Because I need a little validation, a smidgen of compassion. But then again, I might get a swift...

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9 comments Cathy C. Hall, mystery writing, writing habits, writing routines

Be Open to the Unexpected

We took advantage of an unusually warm day by strolling through Central park. This past weekend, my family took one of those trips that we will remember for a lifetime. My son recently turned 16, and since his older sister still drives them to school and sports and we don’t need a fourth car, I suggested we take a trip to a place he’s never been before in place of a gift. Now, he was hesitant at...

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5 comments going with the flow with writing, inspired by New York City, making unexpected choices in writing projects, Renee Roberson

Interview with Carol Ovenburg: Q1 2022 CNF Contest Third Place Winner

Carol’s Bio: Carol Ovenburg has been a visual artist for over 40 years, a writer for over 20 years. She loves writing creative non-fiction essays, was recently published by WOW-Women on Writing as a 4th quarter, 2021 2nd place winner. She is currently finishing her first memoir titled, Pearls about her struggle growing up the daughter of an alcoholic mother with borderline personality disorder....

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1 comment Anne Greenawalt, Carol Ovenburg, Q1 2022 CNF Contest, Third Place Winner

Inside and Outside of Books: Bios, Blurbs, Happy Endings, Titles, and More

 By Bobbie Christmas  Q: Are author photos and biographies essential to have on your books? Would I be making a mistake if my back cover had only my blurb? A: The back cover is the strongest sales piece for a book. Everything on the back cover should make people want to buy the book. The back cover should contain a powerful, interesting blurb regarding the content of the book...

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1 comment Ask the book doctor, author bio, author photos, blurbs, Bobbie Christmas, book covers, happy endings, titling

Jump Start Your Creativity With a Pre-Writing Routine

By Kelly L. StoneTime to write is sparse, so you need to sit down and get going quickly. Even if you only have 15 or 20 minutes to get words on the page, springing into a creative state of mind is as simple as one-two-three when you establish a pre-writing routine. A routine, or doing the same tasks in the same order before you sit down and write, establishes a habit and engages the subconscious...

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1 comment Kelly Stone, pre-writing, WOW instructor, writer inspiration, writer tips

Interview With Jeanne Cavelos, Founder of Odyssey Writing Workshops

 Today I'm so excited to be interviewing Jeanne Cavelos, the founder of Odyssey Writing Workshops. We'll be chatting about her new program, Your Personal Odyssey Writing Workshop.Jeanne Cavelos is the director of the Odyssey Writing Workshops Charitable Trust. She was a senior editor at Bantam Doubleday Dell, where she worked for eight years, editing the fantasy/science fiction program, the...

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Leave a Comment interview, Jeanne Cavelos, My Personal Odyssey, Nicole Pyles, Odyssey Writing Workshop

Interview with Dr. Jo Skinner, Summer 2021 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

 Today I'm excited to interview Dr. Jo Skinner, runner up in the Summer 2021 Flash Fiction contest. Make sure you read her story Black Man Running then come on back for our interview.First, a bit about Dr. Jo Skinner:Jo is a Brisbane based general practitioner who has worked in urban and rural Australia as well as Ireland. She is married with three teenagers.Her stories have been long listed,...

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Leave a Comment Dr. Jo Skinner, Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up, Summer 2021 Flash Fiction Contest

Mindset Medicine Blog Tour and Giveaway

We're so excited to announce the launch of our next blog tour, Mindset Medicine by Mari L. McCarthy. This book is perfect for health-conscious, action-taking writers who want to manifest everlasting self-love write now.Want the cure for culture chaos? Grab your pen and pad and prescribe yourself, Mindset Medicine: A Journaling Power Self-Love Book. The news, the fear, the media,...

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14 comments blog tour, book giveaway, journaling, journaling power, Mari L. McCarthy, Mindset Medicine, Nicole Pyles, Self-Love