Protagonize.com, a website devoted to writing, is hosting a writing competition in Honor of the Olympics. It’s called the “Feats of Wonder” Competition.
According to the website, “Oftentimes it seems as though the smallest pebble can dislodge half a mountainside if you push it down the hill just so. Acts both large and inconsequential can have their impacts felt, as long as the conditions are right.”
They’re leaving it up to the authors to determine what a “feat of wonder” is.
Buy you have to hurry. Deadline is February 28th, so there isn’t a lot of time!
Go to: http://bit.ly/ccnITQ or http://www.protagonize.com/ for all the details!
~Doug McIntire
http://www.dougmcintire.com/
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Stalling
How many ways can a creative person think up to put off writing?
I can create spreadsheets, plot charts, clean off the desk (although that happens seldom), go for a walk (but that's working, really, because I'm thinking about my WIP, obviously), clean house (ditto the desk), play solitaire (ditto walking), update my webpage...OK, I'm running out of ways. I thought I was more creative than this!
I can always blog.
Here's the thing. A writer writes. Guess I'd better get to it!
kayegeorge.com
I can create spreadsheets, plot charts, clean off the desk (although that happens seldom), go for a walk (but that's working, really, because I'm thinking about my WIP, obviously), clean house (ditto the desk), play solitaire (ditto walking), update my webpage...OK, I'm running out of ways. I thought I was more creative than this!
I can always blog.
Here's the thing. A writer writes. Guess I'd better get to it!
kayegeorge.com
Monday, February 8, 2010
Business Cards
One of the things you should think about is getting business cards for yourself, if you haven’t already. Even if you have, it may be time to pull them out and see if you might need to update them. As a writer, you’re the most likely to promote your work. And business cards are just another way of doing so.
I usually create two sets of business cards; one with all of my personal information like my address and phone number, and another with only my email and website. Depending on who I’m giving my card to determines which card they get.
And if you think you can’t afford business cards, let me introduce you to Vista Print (http://www.vistaprint.com/). On the Vista Print website, you can order 250 cards for the price of shipping (around $5). They have a dozens of attractive templates to choose from and it’s quite easy to design your own cards.
There are two things to remember with Vista Print. First, it takes 20-30 days for your cards to arrive, so order early. Second, your cards will say Vista Print on the back unless you pay an extra fee to have it removed (around $7, I think). But the logo isn’t distracting and I see a lot of business cards these days with the Vista Print logo on the back.
So what are you waiting for? Go get some cards. It’s so much easier when you go to workshops or conferences to hand out a card rather than have someone write down your contact information. It’s a great way to promote yourself and it makes you look like a serious professional.
~Doug McIntire
http://www.dougmcintire.com/
I usually create two sets of business cards; one with all of my personal information like my address and phone number, and another with only my email and website. Depending on who I’m giving my card to determines which card they get.
And if you think you can’t afford business cards, let me introduce you to Vista Print (http://www.vistaprint.com/). On the Vista Print website, you can order 250 cards for the price of shipping (around $5). They have a dozens of attractive templates to choose from and it’s quite easy to design your own cards.
There are two things to remember with Vista Print. First, it takes 20-30 days for your cards to arrive, so order early. Second, your cards will say Vista Print on the back unless you pay an extra fee to have it removed (around $7, I think). But the logo isn’t distracting and I see a lot of business cards these days with the Vista Print logo on the back.
So what are you waiting for? Go get some cards. It’s so much easier when you go to workshops or conferences to hand out a card rather than have someone write down your contact information. It’s a great way to promote yourself and it makes you look like a serious professional.
~Doug McIntire
http://www.dougmcintire.com/
Thursday, February 4, 2010
What's chocolate got to do with it?
It's comfort food, that's what. When a writer is actively querying and, therefore, facing rejection every week, there's got to be something good happening to keep her going. (I know, some writers are him, but I'm a her and I'm writing this.) :)
Of course, it doesn't have to be chocolate, but there has to be a reward for all that punishment and drudgery. The results aren't likely to be seen for years, so a gal has to keep going somehow. I do it with chocolate. My reward for sending out five queries a week is an extra two squares of my daily dark chocolate. Regular daily dose on non-querying days is two squares, so this is double!
It's enough to keep me sending them out. Well, that and the prospect of representation!
(I just got my five out today, so I'm heading for the kitchen cupboard.)
kayegeorge.com
Of course, it doesn't have to be chocolate, but there has to be a reward for all that punishment and drudgery. The results aren't likely to be seen for years, so a gal has to keep going somehow. I do it with chocolate. My reward for sending out five queries a week is an extra two squares of my daily dark chocolate. Regular daily dose on non-querying days is two squares, so this is double!
It's enough to keep me sending them out. Well, that and the prospect of representation!
(I just got my five out today, so I'm heading for the kitchen cupboard.)
kayegeorge.com
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Daily Writing Prompts
If you’re a follower of All Things Writing, you know that I put up writing prompts from time to time. I’m a big believer in writing exercises and the writing prompts are just something that stirs the imagination and gives you something to write about.
Well, rather than inconsistently adding writing prompts to this blog, I’ve decided that I’m going to put them on my website. I have two writing prompts for each day in February; a single word or phrase prompt and a longer prompt. The page is laid out in calendar form so it’s pretty easy to navigate.
And I plan to update the prompts each month, so if you’re looking for something to write about, check out My Writing Prompts at http://www.dougmcintire.com/prompts.html. I hope you’ll check them out and I hope you like them.
And if you get something published based on using one of my writing prompts, that’s awesome! I’d love to hear about it!
~Doug McIntire
www.DougMcIntire.com
Well, rather than inconsistently adding writing prompts to this blog, I’ve decided that I’m going to put them on my website. I have two writing prompts for each day in February; a single word or phrase prompt and a longer prompt. The page is laid out in calendar form so it’s pretty easy to navigate.
And I plan to update the prompts each month, so if you’re looking for something to write about, check out My Writing Prompts at http://www.dougmcintire.com/prompts.html. I hope you’ll check them out and I hope you like them.
And if you get something published based on using one of my writing prompts, that’s awesome! I’d love to hear about it!
~Doug McIntire
www.DougMcIntire.com
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