What Day is It Again?

  This post is arriving a few hours late because, well, like many of us, I’ve lost track of what day it is during our holiday break. And to be honest, it’s been glorious. For so many years I felt like I couldn’t relax and enjoy time with my family during the month of December. I was always on a deadline, and even when no one else around me was working (sales reps, publishers, freelance writers)...

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5 comments dealing with negative self-talk, finding joy in writing, holiday breaks for writers, Missing in the Carolinas, Renee Roberson

Trying Something New for the New Year

Today is Oldest Junior’s Hall’s birthday. And I can’t remember the last time we celebrated his birthday on the actual date. But there was a time when that would have been unthinkable. You see, my oldest brother also has a December birthday, on the 21st. Throughout my childhood, we never celebrated his birthday on the 21st. Instead, he’d get mixed in with the Christmas celebration and though...

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3 comments breaking old habits, Cathy C. Hall, new year resolutions, thinking outside the box

Interview With Rachel Singh, Summer 2022 Flash Fiction Runner-Up

I'm excited to interview Rachel Singh, one of our runners-up in our Summer 2022 Flash Fiction contest. Before you read our interview, make sure you read her story Cosmos then come on back.First, here's a bit about Rachel:Rachel Singh is a writer who grew up in Florida and now lives in Atlanta, GA. She graduated from Emory University in 2020 with a BA in English & Creative Writing. She has written...

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Leave a Comment interview, Rachel Singh, Summer 2022 Flash Fiction Contest

The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes by Raven Howell: Blog Tour & Giveaway

 I'm so excited to announce a blog tour for The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes by Raven Howell. Continue on to find out more about this charming children's book, read an interview with the author, and enter to win a copy of the book.First, here's a bit about the book:Discover the magic in simple moments when a child peers in the mirror to unintentionally come upon his smile, where...

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20 comments 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes, blog tour, Children's Poetry, interview, Nicole Pyles, Raven Howell

Should You Use Chicago Style or AP Style for Book Manuscripts?

(Image by pikisuperstar)By Bobbie ChristmasQ: I am writing a non-fiction book about basketball teams, and my editor and I are confused about the use of numbers in the book. I have been going by The Chicago Manual of Style, but he is a former sportswriter and thinks the AP Style should apply. The key Chicago rule is that numbers from zero to one hundred should be spelled out and 101 and above...

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1 comment AP style, Ask the book doctor, Bobbie Christmas, Chicago Manual of Style, style guide for books

Give Yourself 5 Gifts This Christmas

Christmas is just days away so you may be looking at that title and thinking, “No! No more shopping! I don’t have the time/money/energy.” The good news is that these are all free and they are all things that we periodically need to be reminded to give ourselves. Call Yourself a Writer Haven’t sold anything yet?  It doesn't matter.  Call yourself a writer.  Or maybe comments...

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4 comments call yourself a writer, gifts, gifts for writers, Sue Bradford Edwards, support, take time to write, write what you love

INTERVIEW WITH BETSEY FIELD: SUMMER 2022 FLASH FICTION CONTEST RUNNER UP

 Betsey’s Bio: Elizabeth (Betsey) Field has had a rewarding career as a speech/language pathologist and autism consultant for over forty years. She is the author of Building Communication and Independence for Children Across the Autism Spectrum: Strategies to Address Minimal Language, Echolalia, and Independence (2021, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London). She does conference and...

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Leave a Comment Betsey Field, Flash Fiction Contest, Runner up, Summer 2022 Flash Fiction Contest, writing contests

Witching Moon by K.E. Bonner: Blog Tour & Giveaway

We're excited to announce the blog tour for Witching Moon by K.E. Bonner. Join us as we share more about this novel, interview the author, and give away a copy of the book. This book is perfect for tweens, teens, and readers who enjoy historical fantasy. Before we interview the author, here's a bit more about the book:Every once in an eon, when the Earth eclipses the moon on a winter solstice,...

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7 comments blog tour, book giveaway, interview, KE Bonner, Witching Moon, young adult

Interview with Jennifer Tribe, Runner Up in the WOW! Q4 2022 Essay Contest

  Jennifer Tribe lives and writes in Southern California. She is an educator and has taught elementary school, English as a Second Language to adults and most recently, online kindergarten in urban Los Angeles County. She and her husband have two adult sons with special needs. She is an avid reader and credits Raymond Carver with her love for the short story. She started writing years ago...

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Leave a Comment Contestant interview, Jennifer Tribe, Renee Roberson, Runner up, WOW! 2022 Q4 Essay Contest, writing advice

My Interesting Lesson in Creative Patience

For my birthday a week or so ago, I asked my family for a miniature DIY dollhouse shop that you see pictured above. I am in love with dollhouses and follow a ton of them on Instagram. So, getting to try this myself, was going to be a fun treat.Except, when I opened it, this was more than simply arranging little pieces of furniture or puzzle pieces that snap together. It was pieces of furniture I'd...

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2 comments Creative Patience, Nicole Pyles, writing progress