How to use this Page

This desperate measure has never occured to me before, but now you’ve got me thinking. Hmm…time to go soup shopping.

This is very off-topic, but if you haven’t seen this yet, you really should:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/blog/660000266/post/820031282.html

Hi Rachel, I did see this video and posted it in my personal blog (Blatherings.com) — thank you for reminding me to post it here!

Awwww, so cute!

*Sigh* I HATE when I have to go through and proofread something I’ve written. It’s really bad for the ego when you read through and realize your ‘brilliant writing’ is anything but. Words left out, odd things misspelled, and my favorite, a sentence that is a weird combination of two others b/c I had two ways of saying the same thing. Sometimes compromise is NOT the best way to go.

This is so funny! I just find your blog, hope I didn’t leave any words out. Bye.

Well done, Debbie! Right on!

I confess. I just got back from a half an hour walk outside. It’s 75 degrees.

I love to write, but shouldn’t you enjoy life? Especially when it’s 75 degrees.

When the humidity is above 60% and makes it impossible to breathe outside? No. I’ll stay inside, thanks.

I re-posted this cartoon on my blog, I hope it’s OK with you. Great job, Deb, I love your cartoons.

I work on my fantasy novel for at least fifteen minutes every day, most of the time it extends to a half an hour. My other writing friends want me to hurry up, but fifteen minutes doesn’t stress me out. It doesn’t feel like a job if I only write a little bit. That way, I look forward to writing on it every day. It feels like a treat.

I wrote more about my strategy at The Writer’s Comfy Corner

NICE! I need this on my wall…

So very true.

I think it’s something with which we all struggle.
The Urgent always seems to put the squeeze on The Important.

Here a good writing contest to make time for:

The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to all and anyone who loves to arrange words into the beautiful art of poetry or write a short story that is worth telling everyone. And to all who have the ability to dream. Write your best short story or poem for an opportunity to win cash prizes. All entries must be original. http://www.dreamquestone.com

Guidelines:
(1) Write a poem, thirty lines or fewer on any subject or style, single or double line spacing, neatly hand printed or typed.
And/or
(2) Write a short story five pages maximum, single or double line spacing, on any subject or theme, creative writing, fiction or non-fiction (including essay compositions, screenwriting, diary and journal entries), neatly hand printed or typed.
Multiple entries into both contests are accepted.
Deadline: July 31, 2008
Winners will be announced on August 31, 2008
Prizes:
Writing Contest First Prize is $500. Second Prize is $250. Third Prize $100.
Poetry Contest First Prize is $250. Second Prize is $125. Third Prize is $50.
Entry fees:
Writing Contest entry fee is: $10 per short story.
Poetry Contest entry fee is: $5 per poem.
To send entries by mail: Include title, name, address, phone, email, and brief biographical info. (Tell us a little about yourself) on the coversheet, add a self-addressed stamped envelope for entry confirmation. Mail entries/fees payable to: “DREAMQUESTONE.COM”

Dream Quest One
Poetry & Writing Contest
P.O. Box 3141
Chicago, IL 60654

Visit
http://www.dreamquestone.com for further details, to print out an entry form or to enter online.

”And remember, in whatever you do. It’s okay to dream, for dreams do come true.” – Dream Quest One

No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.

I’m sending out an essay for a contest today by snail mail. It’s a big envelope. I don’t know how many stamps to put on it. I’m debating which tactic to use: 1. Go out of my way to an actual post office. 2. Smother the envelope with four stamps and pray for positive results. or 3. Give it to my boyfriend and make him take care of everything.

Forgetting a SASE would alienate publishers forever - he had to get to the mailbox before the mailman did!

He thought to himself, “If only I had arms, it could be a publishing contract!”

Roger was alarmed to find more SASEs in his mail box than he’d actually sent.

When did agents take to sending salt instead of rejections?

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. Thanks for sharing and I love your comic strips.

Hysterically funny! Thanks for sharing.

Barbara

I know what he feels like!

(Hope all has been well).

Sadly I use to spell words with my alphabet soup and cereal. Perhaps this is why I have a love of Scrabble.

Hi Addict - You should go to a club or tournament. There are lots of them and in my tournaments (held in Bayside Queens, NY) we are divided into groups of 8 playing 8 games. If you’ve never played in a tournament before, then you are in a division with other players who haven’t participated in a tourney or lifetime novices. - lots of fun and people from all walks of life - a great experience. Next tournament is Sat. April 5th. Get info from cross-tables.com. Hope to see you on the circuit someday, you won’t be sorry - take care, Ginger BINGOS TO ALL!!!

Good heavens. Purple shirt. Glasses. The woman looks like my first wife. Judging from the amount of hair and the not-yet-graying beard, I’d guess this image of me was made in the mid-90’s. That was about the time I was rising from first-time tourney player to newly minted Scrabble expert. I don’t recall this particular conversation, but then again I don’t recall much from those years — other than the thousands of words I memorized. For those who are curious, we divorced a few years later. I am now married to a woman who plays Scrabble. I am happy. OK, perhaps with the minor exception of never having made it to one of Ginger’s tourneys!

“HOW MUCH PER WORD?”

“I’m fed up with contests! Everybody has always better arguments!”

No, I did not ‘get a job’! When I say I’m working, I’M WRITING!!!

“Wow. You really did talk your mouth off! I can see all the way through your head”

-or-

“I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who *didn’t* want to get their braces off”

-or-

“You taped WHAT over Lost?”

-or-

“What do you mean the cat knocked a glass of water on my laptop?”

-or-

I just need to stop writing captions now.

My computer crashed, my back-up drive is fried, my email server crashed, and my flash drive accidentally got flushed down the toilet. There is no other copy of the 962 page epic break-out book I just finished yesterday!!

This is my life!!!

Ever have a baby eat your chapter? That is a different type of frustration.

Oh, you mean I’m supposed to control those things?

Seriously?

It’s a mood thing. I’ll catch up on e-mail and read a few blogs and then I’m itching to get back to the fiction.

Usually.

Sometimes.

Yeah, like I said. It’s a control thing?

I probably spend to much time writing and visting blogs so I’m not the person to answer, but love the carttons.

I keep my email minimized so it shows how many unread emails I have. It works as kind of an instant alert that I have a new email, so I don’t have to go check it.

I start my day by reading the news and a few online comics, like this one. I allow myself a couple of hours for that, then it’s time to work.

The only blog that I follow regularly is Neil Gaiman’s, and I’ve actually learned how to use that to make myself work. Before I go to bed each night, I check to see if he has a new post, but I don’t read it. When I get up in the morning, I tell myself, “Okay, there’s new Neil, but you can’t read it until you finish the story (or research lobotomies, or submit the story, or whatever’s on my schedule for the day).” And when I finish that task, I scurry over and read Neil’s post. It’s incredible motivation!

Unfortunately, I have the will-power of a crack addict. So, I go to a cafe where there’s no free internet access. If I’m highly motivated and enthralled with the piece I’m working on, I can write at home, but most of the time I have to remove the temptation.

During the day I’m forced to control my online time, because my manager can view my computer monitor from her desk.

Evenings, however, I’m an Internet junkie.

Is it really a murder if Death takes you? Hmm…and it’s not much of a mystery to that guy quivering on the left! Love the comic!

Bwahaha! Good one.

Awwww. I guess that guy in purple knows better than to ask questions now. *L* Funny!

Hah! I live this every day. Great cartoon!

Thanks, Bethanie.

I can so relate.