Giveaway for writers // from author Susan K. Marlow

Win a copy of Writers Roundup on author Susan K. Marlow's website!

This is a recent 2018 release and is an excellent writing resource...

Get ready for a wild ride through the world of writing and publishing. Writers Roundup benefits young authors in all areas of interest and at all skill levels. However, the lessons are especially designed for those who love to write fiction stories and want to develop a story that is ready for publication.

Two winners! Giveaway runs January 8-15.

The contest is open to everyone, all ages, and worldwide. If someone wins internationally, a PDF e-book of Writers Roundup will be sent. U.S. winners receive a print copy of the book.

> > ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE < <

The Power of Storytelling for Christ

C. S. Lewis, Madeleine L’Engle, and the Power of Storytelling

article by Warren Cole Smith

"Artists such as Madeleine L’Engle and C. S. Lewis help us remember that the Bible is more than just a collection of stories. The bible is itself a magnificent story of the creation, fall, redemption, and ultimate restoration of all things...."

— Continue reading at rabbitroom.com

Let's discuss it!

Who are some of your favorite Christian storytellers?

What kind of storytelling do you think is missing from the market today?

My Top 30 New Words in 2018 /// and it's only day 74

If you read a lot of books, like me, you end up coming across new words all the time -- no matter how much you read, there's ALWAYS more to discover.

These are words that have been there for decades, or centuries, as the case may be.... Words that have always been there in the dictionary, I just never looked them up before.

Well, here's a list of 30 fascinating, new-to-me pieces of vocabulary that I've found while reading just in the 74 days we've had of 2018.



What new words have you discovered recently?



Obsolescence
The process of becoming obsolete or outdated and no longer used.

Amanuensis
A literary or artistic assistant, in particular one who takes dictation or copies manuscripts.

Detritus
Waste or debris of any kind.
Gravel, sand, silt, or other material produced by erosion.

Synchronic
Concerned with something, especially a language, as it exists at one point in time.

Neologism
A newly coined word or expression.

Parallax
The effect whereby the position or direction of an object appears to differ when viewed from different positions, e.g. through the viewfinder and the lens of a camera.

Spate
A large number of similar things coming in quick succession.

Jeremiad
A long, mournful complaint or lamentation; a list of woes.

Apotheosis
The highest point in the development of something; a culmination or climax.

Cynosure
A person or thing that is the centre of attention or admiration.

Uroboros
A circular symbol depicting a snake, or less commonly a dragon, swallowing its tail, as an emblem of wholeness or infinity.

Simulacrum
An image or representation of someone or something.
An unsatisfactory imitation or substitute.

Aphorism
A pithy observation which contains a general truth.

Putative
Generally considered or reputed to be.

Compunction
A feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the doing of something bad.

Verboten
Forbidden, especially by an authority.

Redolent
(redolent of/with) Strongly reminiscent or suggestive of.
Strongly smelling of.

Collude
Cooperate in a secret or unlawful way in order to deceive or gain an advantage over others.

Oeuvre
The body of work of a painter, composer, or author.

Circumlocution
The use of many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive.

Risible
Provoking laughter through being ludicrous.

Enmity
A state or feeling of active opposition or hostility.

Anachronism
A thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned.

Obviate
Remove (a need or difficulty).
Avoid or prevent (something undesirable).
 
Nimbus
A luminous cloud or a halo surrounding a supernatural being or a saint.
A large grey rain cloud.
  
Pensée
A thought or reflection put into literary form; an aphorism.

Proclivity
A tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition towards a particular thing.

Sylvan
Consisting of or associated with woods; wooded.
Pleasantly rural or pastoral.
 
Perspicacity
The quality of having a ready insight into things; shrewdness.

Concatenation
A series of interconnected things.



If you have any fresh vocab, please share it with me in the comments!

*Word definitions taken from Oxford Dictionaries online.

Writing contest opportunity for kids ages 6-17!

Any kid writers out there? (Ages 6-17)
You could win some cool prizes from author Susan K. Marlow!

Deadline for entries is January 15, 2018.

More details here.

Tactful advice for the modern writer.

What’s Wrong With Adjectives & Adverbs?

article by Tessa Emily Hall

"When I was in elementary school, I was taught to incorporate as many adjectives and adverbs into my stories as possible.

My writing sounded like this:

The big, fat, yellow sun shined brightly against the light blue sky.

Colorful, isn’t it? And yet, sometimes those colors are the very things that distract the reader from the story...."

— Continue reading at almostanauthor.com

Turn your inspiring story into a WINNING CONTEST ENTRY!

YOU GUYS! It's a writing contest! The theme is: INSPIRING SOMEONE ELSE.

And your entry needs to be on a blog by May 1, 2017, using 300 to 1,000 words.

You can DO this!






Writing Contest: You Deserve to be Inspired

article from Positive Writer

"The Contest:

It’s easy to enter. Write an essay (blog post) with the intention of Inspiring Someone Else (a fellow writer perhaps) by sharing a personal story of yours.

Maybe you tried something and it didn’t work out, but you kept at it? Maybe you tried something and it did work out? Maybe you didn’t try anything and you’re still stuck, but you’re learning valuable lessons?

The story is up to you. It doesn’t have to have a happy ending, but it must include 3 positive things you learned from the experience.

I’m not looking for technically perfect stories. I am looking for real stories that I believe will encourage others to face their challenges and ignite their passion for life and writing."

— Continue reading at positivewriter.com

A fresh, new guide for writers!

WRITERS, JOIN 'ROUND!

It's here! Rachelle Rea Cobb's new release (and to be more specific, her first NON-FICTION release) has officially arrived!

Here's the quick dish on her new writing guide, and why you should be interested...

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Writing isn’t all heart and art. It’s structure and syntax, too.

Looking for a short guide that will help you understand the structure of writing so you can get back to the art?

Hi there, I'm Rachelle Rea Cobb. and I have history with words. I've ever been known as a grammar geek with a knack for storytelling. I help others polish their pages until their words shine—and then they can sign their own publishing contracts. I work with authors (traditional and self-published), ESL writers, students, and bloggers. Entrusting your words to an editor can be excruciating, but I always treat them with the utmost care, never squashing your voice. Instead, my job is to unleash it from typos, fluff, and repetitiveness, etc.

And now I'd like to share my expertise with you in Write Well, a short ebook designed to walk you through what you need to know so you can get back to the real work: actual writing!

Author Bio // Rachelle Rea Cobb penned her first short story in middle school, her first novel right out of high school, and signed a three-book publishing contract right after college. Her Steadfast Love series (from WhiteFire Publishing) is the tale of a Catholic maiden entrenched in the Dutch Revolution–and the redheaded Protestant man who brings her to love and faith.

But Rachelle believes writing isn’t all heart and art; it’s structure and syntax, too. One of her favorite things to do is help others polish their own pages until they shine. She works with authors (traditional and self-published), ESL writers, students, and bloggers.

She lives in a seaside Southern town with her new husband, who shares the name of Rachelle’s first fictional hero—even though she hadn’t yet met her husband when she wrote three books about a man with the same first name! She drives a pick-up truck and is addicted to all the different kinds of Oreos.

Rachelle's attention to detail combined with her friendly writing voice make Write Well a grammar guide that is actually fun to read! Short and sweet, Write Well will equip you with the knowledge you need in language you can understand. From commas to em dashes, Rachelle doesn't just tell you what they are for--like any good writer, she shows you how to (and how not to) use them.

— Gretchen Louise, Mentor of Digital Wordsmiths

Most books on the subject of grammar are either dull or daunting. This book grammar down into manageable chunks that won't overwhelm. I was excited to find that the rules aren't as difficult as I imagined! I plan to keep a copy of this book handy during the editing process of all my books.

— Sarah Holman, author of Kate’s Innocence

Looking for a short, pithy guide to writing well? Write Well offers up practical advice on grammar, told in Rachelle's friendly approachable voice. It's like having a best friend sit down with you to go over the basics with you.

— Lena Goldfinch, author of The Brides Series

Find Rachelle Rea Cobb online!

RachelleReaCobb.com

Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest // Instagram // Goodreads // Amazon

WRITE WELL is available now. Order your copy today!

An upcoming guide on writing well...

I'm so excited that one of my favorite authors, Rachelle Rea Cobb, is venturing out with a new book -- this time on WRITING. You may remember her books from me gushing about them often enough here on my blog. (Click to see my reviews of The Sound of Diamonds, The Sound of Silver, The Sound of Emeralds)

In addition to providing us with this gorgeous piece of vintage typewriter eye candy, Rachelle promises to deliver on the goods. The goods on how to... WRITE WELL.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Writing isn’t all heart and art. It’s structure and syntax, too.

Looking for a short guide that will help you understand the structure of writing so you can get back to the art?

Hi there, I'm Rachelle Rea Cobb. and I have history with words. I've ever been known as a grammar geek with a knack for storytelling. I help others polish their pages until their words shine—and then they can sign their own publishing contracts. I work with authors (traditional and self-published), ESL writers, students, and bloggers. Entrusting your words to an editor can be excruciating, but I always treat them with the utmost care, never squashing your voice. Instead, my job is to unleash it from typos, fluff, and repetitiveness, etc.

And now I'd like to share my expertise with you in Write Well, a short ebook designed to walk you through what you need to know so you can get back to the real work: actual writing!

WRITE WELL releases on March 4th. Pre-order now!

Young Writers Guidebook [FREE DOWNLOAD]

This article and accompanying free download is a excellent encouragement to teen writers! Share this wonderful resource with your story-spinning friends and family.



Can Teens Get Published? Absolutely.

article by Jaquelle Crowe

"I’m a teenager, and I got published.

And I’m not the only one – not by a long shot....

....But it takes hard work, it takes consistent guidance, and it takes knowledge. Especially knowledge.

Which is why we went to the experts (young people who have actually been published!) and asked their advice. We asked them, 'What would you say to an aspiring young writer?'"

— Continue reading at therebelution.com

Just how long does it take to write a classic?

For some writers, it can seem like the act of penning the greatest work of your life would seemingly take years.

But there are other writers, who in a burst of inspiration, pour out their heart on paper and finish something great in a time period that could almost be calculated in hours.

This chart provided by Printerinks tells us how long the writing process took for some of the most important books of society.

It's pretty cool.

[Free on Kindle] Waltz into the Waves - by Sarah Holman

Sarah Holman (a good bloggy friend of mine!) is sharing one of her own books with everyone for FREE!

Grab your free ebook copy on Amazon! (The ebook can be read on any device.)


\\ PIN IT \\

It's a short story that I've been looking forward to reading myself. I've so enjoyed Sarah's other books I've read.

This special "sale" continues until March 3rd. Be sure to share with friends!

After getting your copy -- What else can you do?

JOIN THE EVENT on Goodreads & invite friends
/ / / / /
ADD THE BOOK to your Goodreads TBR list

Cover Reveal! The Sound of Diamonds by Rachelle Rea

Today's the day! My bloggy friend Rachelle is sharing the cover reveal of her DEBUT NOVEL! Take a look below... #imsoproud

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In Reformation-era England, a converted rogue wants to restore his honor—at whatever cost. Running from a tortured past, Dirk Godfrey knows he has only one chance at redemption.

An independent Catholic maiden seeking refuge in the Low Countries finds herself at the center of the Iconoclastic Fury. Jaded by tragedy, Gwyneth’s only hope of getting home is to trust the man she hates, and she soon discovers her poor vision is not the only thing that has been blinding her.

But the home Gwyneth knew is not what she once thought. When a dark secret and a twisted plot for power collide in a castle masquerading as a haven, will the saint and the sinner hold to hope…or be overcome? When Dirk’s plan fails, could all be lost?

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Rachelle Rea plots her novels while driving around the little town she’s lived in all her life in her dream car, a pick-up truck. As a freelance editor, she enjoys mentoring fellow authors in the craft. A homeschool graduate and retired gymnast, she wrote the Sound of Diamonds the summer after her sophomore year of college.




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The Sound of Diamonds will be released this June.

What can you do until then?

ADD THE BOOK to your Goodreads TBR list
/ / / / /
PRE-ORDER THE BOOK on Amazon.com

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Find Rachelle Rea online!

RachelleRea.com // Blog // Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest // Goodreads // Amazon




CONGRATULATIONS, Rachelle!!!

Favorite Finds #45

To start off some summer blog posts, I've collected some various pages around the internet that caught my interest and seemed share-worthy. Enjoy!



Character-Building Book Resources For Raising Boys
{Deep Roots at Home}

Be sure to check part 1 (link above) and part 2.

12 Ways to Sneak in Extra Reading Time
{Bookriot}

A fun list! Although I probably wouldn't recommend attempting all of these methods. :-)

How Limitations Can Push You as a Writer
{One Year Novel}

Writer, J. Grace Pennington, reigns in relative points on how to use problems in your writing as good things.

Pilot Captures Crazy-Surreal Photo Series
{Huffinton Post}

This collection of photos is an absolutely amazing view of our world, from above.

Poetry Project
{Semicolon}

A blog series on poetry, revealed alphabetically. A is for Anaphora, B is for Ballad...

Favorite Finds #38

Here's a few articles on the web that interested me lately. So, I thought I'd share these with you for today's edition of Favorite Finds.


Gibson Edwardian Shoes Giveaway
{American Duchess}

Win a pair of lovely "Gibson" Edwardian-style shoes!

Billionaire’s plan for Titanic II
{The Spec}

An actual replica of the Titanic is going to be built! Maiden voyage in 2016.

Free audio download of God's Smuggler
{Christian Audio}

Only free until the end of February.

Announcing.... A Writing Contest
{Noveltea}

Arthur Conan Doyle's house put up for sale
{BBC News}

All I can say about this story is... fascinating!

New blog that looks promising
{Young Christian Writers}

It's progress.

18,680 words written in November 2012.

Not a novel, but more than one-third of the way there.

It's progress.

Coming to the end.

Well... November is almost over! I've successfully kept up with my own writing goal this month, to write something every single day. Counting today, there are only 5 days left to this lovely challenging month of scribbling stories.

I've already heard that most of the NaNoWriMo-ers that I know are nearing the end of their 50k aspiration. I'm really not sure how they did it, or found time for it, but apparently it can be done. :-)

So, where am I in this jumbled mess of thousands of words? .:. I've now made it up to 15,600 words. If I get a couple more thousand in for the month, I'd be fully content. I guess we'll find out in just a few more days.



Here is one of my favorite parts of my book:

The ship was a colossal culmination of the most modern Edwardian accomplishments. From bow to stern, the R.M.S. Titanic was a beauty, even Effaline had to agree with the common opinion, and she was not fond of admiring nautical capabilities. This especial morning marked the beginning of an important day in history.

How far have you made it? .:. I'm eager to hear updates from my blog readers. Oh, and feel free to link up your ink-infused posts from this month.



~*~ I'm linking up to Snippets of Story on Katie's blog!

A dozen days of writing.

Today is the twelfth day of intense writing for many people this year. It's so fascinating to peek over at just about anyone's blog and find out that they have some sort of writing goals for month too!

I'm extremely curious to know how far everyone has made it so far. At almost the halfway point in the challenge, are you on track for getting almost halfway to your goal? If you've stopped by to read my blog, I'd love to hear your thoughts and goals. Comment below and link up your writing-related posts in the monthly Sharing Our Bookshelves event.

My aspiration for the month .:. To make progress each day of November, whether it be by writing a few hundred words in my story, or by fleshing out some of the details that I still have yet to figure out by the end of the novel.
---I'm hoping this is the story that I can eventually (not this month though!) turn into my first novel. Currently I'm at 8,000 words.


My story is historical fiction. And, my! There are so many topics to research in order to get all the details just right: River Thames, Henley-on-Thames (an English town), the R.M.S. Titanic, the Gilded Age, the Edwardian era, train connections in England, the life of British servants, the 1912 Olympics.... the list goes on. But it's certainly an enjoyable set of topics to learn about while I write.

What kind of topics have you needed to research for your writing projects?

Sharing Our Bookshelves {November 2012}

Ah! I've been writing in my new story, and feeling quite excited about the project before me. Day 1 and Day 2 of November (MyWriMo) have been successful writing days. I feel like I've gotten so much more work done than I have all year. And that's with just a few hundred words for both days day. More about writing later on in the month.

There are a couple Favorite Finds that I just had to share before I let any more time go by. And also I need to post the monthly link-up for Sharing Our Bookshelves. --- As usual, the link-up is open all month long for anything book-related or writing-related... so if you're posting on your blog about your writing... come share, so that we all can read!

Favorite Finds

The Children's Titanic Paper Dolls
{Simply Vintagegirl}

I'm terribly excited about the new paper dolls that Emily Rose and Breezy Brookshire have been working on. A complete set, including playsets of the Titanic and the unforgettable people who lived and died on the great ship.

Giveaway: Win $20 in Graphic Design
{Pixel Berry Pie Designs}

I'm giving away any prize from Pixel Berry Pie Designs to a special winner, who can choose a new blog header, an Etsy banner package, (any other type of graphics) or free ad space for their blog or business.
Contest ends November 5th.

Sharing Our Bookshelves

The month of writing, November.

Dear scribbling-inclined friends,

Have you thought about utilizing November as a month of being able to write that story?---the one you've been wanting to get down on paper? I have.

Is the thought of joining our NaNoWriMo-ing friends a bit daunting? I mean, 50,000 words, really? For me, yes.

>>> Join me in MyWriMo this November!

MyWriMo stands for My Writing Month. It's the month that you take your story to new places, but you don't have to follow the rigid schedule of the NaNo-ers.


I wasn't sure if it was too late already to introduce the idea, but I was finally persuaded to make it happen. So, you may be hearing more about this from me throughout the month as I strive to work on my writing this month. I'd love to hear what you're doing!

Posting book reviews online

Many bloggers (like myself) enjoy posting book reviews on their blogs. It's a great way to interest your blog readers and start book discussions! To take it a step further, I also like sharing my reviews on other commercial book-selling websites, to express my opinion and guide other people---people who will never read my blog, but my personal ratings will be available to them regardless.

Below is a list of websites that encourage reviews to be written, and would be great places for you to add your own book reviews!

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
GoodReads
Alibris
Google Books

Sometimes, to get your reviews out there to help people that are looking at books in a certain category, you may find additional sites for this purpose. For example, homeschool-approved fiction or Christian fiction. If a certain book you've read is featured by homeschool curriculums, it may be available to review on websites like these and others:

Christian Book
Sonlight
Timberdoodle
Rainbow Resource

Ebooks are another whole category! Remember that you can write reviews on ebooks. You can post Kindle and Nook book reviews on Amazon and B&N websites, respectively. Smashwords is another possible option for ebooks from independent authors.

You may want to check out publishers' or authors' websites, where there may be customer ratings. For example, Lamplighter, Tyndale, etc. If your local library has a website, they may have an online reviewing system. My library actually incorporates GoodReads as their reviewing system---thus, if my review (or your review!) is on GoodReads, then it shows up on the library website.

I personally do not post each of my book reviews on all of these websites listed above, but this is a basic list that I run through when I want to get a review out there. There are numerous other websites available that would be great resources to add reviews on.
What sites would you recommend for posting reviews?



P.S. You can friend me on GoodReads!