Wordless Wednesday

In lieu of my end of the week post, I thought I'd try a Wordless Wednesday post. I've seen several of you do this, particularly Julie DeGuia who takes the most beautiful pictures. With Halloween quickly becoming one of my favorite holidays, I just couldn't resist.

I'm pretty sure I'm already past my zero word limit.

Once a cheater, always a cheater.

May you all have a safe, dry, worry-free, hurricane-free, happy Halloween full of chocolate and wonder!

My little firefighter.

Contest Circuit: October 29

Happy Halloween Week! There are lots of fun blog hops helping us celebrate the scary holiday. For those of you joining NaNoWriMo next month, Cupid is going to be helping keep people accountable by sharing your results as you go. Click HERE for details!

Contests:

Miss Snark's First Victim her third annual Baker's Dozen contest with 13 agents. Oct 30. Submissions include the first 250 of your MS. 

NA Alley is hosting Agent in the Alley with Julia Weber for NA manuscripts on Nov 7. Include a blurb about your book (no more than 200 words) and the first 250-300 words.

Women on Writing is hosting a flash fiction contest due Nov 30. Open prompt should be 750 words or less. The contest will be judged by agent Jessica Sinsheimer.

Blog Hops and Flash Fiction:

Tara Tyler of Tara Tyler Talks and Vikki of Scribblings of an Aspiring Author are hosting I'm Thankful for my Readers blog hop on Nov 5-8. Post a thanks to your readers during those dates in any creative way you can think of. They will also be offering incredible prizes for the most creative and the most heartfelt posts. Prizes include a blog banner design and MS critique. 

Andrew Leon, Matthew MacNish and Alex J. Cavanaugh are hosting "Oh, How I Miss You Blogfest" on Nov 16. List bloggers you miss who you haven't heard from in a while as well as 1-3 bloggers you would miss if they ever stopped blogging.

ScifiMedia is hosting Scare Me Blogfest on Oct 31. Write about the scariest book or movie you have watched or share a ghost story of your own.

Dani at Entertaining Interests and Jackie at Bouquet of Books are hosting Spooktoberfest. This flash fiction blogfest must use 5 mandatory words and be under 300 words. Oct 26-29.

Cally Jackson is hosting The Year I turned 18 Blogfest to celebrate the release of her New Adult novel The Big Smoke. Post about something from the year you turned 18. Pictures are encouraged! Oct 29-Nov 2.

Tim Brannen of The Other Side is hosting Montrous Monday on Oct 29. Write about a monster you like/hate/love or one you created in your own book.

I Am a Reader Not a Writer and The Diary of a Bookworm is hosting the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop. Host your own giveaway and link up to spread the word. Oct 24-Oct 31.

Giveaways:

Confessions of a Bookaholic and A Life Bound By Books is having a huge Haunted Halloween giveaway of signed books, ARCs and swag for each day in October. There are still plenty of chances to win some really great prizes.

 

The Man I'd Leave My Husband For

You know you're a nerd when the man you'd leave your husband for is the author of your favorite book.

But let's be honest, the other contenders are all problematic. 

(1) Jake Gyllenhal - beautiful, but likely full of himself

(2) Aaron Rogers - athletic and beautiful, but too young and likely full of himself
(3) Matt Damon - mix Bourne Identity Matt Damon with Ocean's Eleven Matt Damon and he'd be pretty close to perfect....but fictional

However, Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief, (not that I needed to say that I'm sure), has it all: charming, brilliant, wrote the most beautiful book I've ever read, and speaks with an Australian accent.

Monday night I had a chance to meet him (aka hear him speak). I put on my skinniest pair of maternity pants (yes I'm still wearing maternity pants 10 wks after giving birth and no I'm not bitter about that) and headed downtown to the Harold Washington Library where he discussed his reaction to The Book Thief's success. I must admit I was a bit worried that he wouldn't live up to my expectations. After all, I'd already declared him "the man I'd leave my husband for" after my third reading of The Book Thief. Thankfully, he ended up being as humble, funny, and articulate as I'd hoped.

He spoke about how writing the first half of The Book Thief took him several years, while he wrote the second half in one month. He shared the real life experiences he drew on to write The Book Thief - something I always enjoy hearing. My favorite part of Zusak's discussion perhaps was when he talked about writing and editing. He said he failed thousands of times writing The Book Thief. But every one of those failures was a step closer to its ultimate success - one that has lasted over 260 weeks on the NYT best seller list. I love that.

At the end of the discussion, people had the chance to have him sign books, which I didn't stick around for. I had a house full of boys at home needing baths, hugs, and nighttime stories. Probably for the best. Any time I meet someone I admire, I inevitably say something stupid making me look like the world's biggest idiot. Zusak, no doubt, would have reacted to my awkward behavior in a way that confirmed it and then he would have been ruined. I couldn't possibly leave my husband for a man that finds me awkward - that just wouldn't work. Instead, by leaving without meeting him, Zusak keeps his pedestal, while I keep my dignity....and, of course, my wonderful husband. 

Contest Circuit: October 22

Just spent a fun, pretty perfect weekend gearing up for Halloween - exactly what is needed heading into a stressful week ahead. I would LOVE to hear some of your happy thoughts to keep the positive energy going. Please feel free to leave them. And, as always, let me know if I'm missing something.

Happy Monday.

Contests:

Brenda Drake of Brenda Drake Writes...under the influence of coffee is hosting Trick or Treat with an Agent with Kimberly Chase and Deanna Romito on Oct 24. Send in a three sentence pitch along with your first 200 words. There are also a couple questions to answer. For a list of the costumed agents, click here.

Miss Snark's First Victim is hosting a Secret Agent Contest on Oct 22. Submissions include the first 250 of your MS. her third annual Baker's Dozen contest with 13 agents. Oct 30.

Ben Chiles of Story Multiverse is hosting a contest called Narrate This! From Oct 21-27, Ben will be taking up to 50 entries of your first 750 words and a 500 word synopsis. From those entries, he'll choose one winner and two runners up to win part of their manuscript narrated by Ben. The winner will receive 3000 words (can be anywhere in your MS) narrated by Ben. Runners up will receive 750 words each. I love this unique opportunity! 

Women on Writing is hosting a flash fiction contest due Nov 30. Open prompt should be 750 words or less. The contest will be judged by agent Jessica Sinsheimer.

Blog Hops and Flash Fiction:

Tara Tyler of Tara Tyler Talks and Vikki of Scribblings of an Aspiring Author are hosting I'm Thankful for my Readers blog hop on Nov 5-8. Post a thanks to your readers during those dates in any creative way you can think of. They will also be offering incredible prizes for the most creative and the most heartfelt posts. Prizes include a blog banner design and MS critique. 

Jenny Matlock at Off On My Tangent hosts Saturday Census, a flash fiction blog hop. Writers respond to a prompt, writing style and word count. She also hosts Alphabe-Thursday, a blog hop featuring posts on each letter of the alphabet.

Dani at Entertaining Interests and Jackie at Bouquet of Books are hosting Spooktoberfest. This flash fiction blogfest must use 5 mandatory words and be under 300 words. Oct 26-29.

To celebrate the upcoming release of her novella, Kyra Lennon is hosting the Letting Go Bloghop. Post about a time when you had to let go of someone or something. This can true or it can be flash fiction. Must be under 500 words. The most touching entry will get a $10 Amazon gift certificate. If nothing else, stop by to check out her beautiful cover to NA novella If I Let You Go. Oct 22.

Cally Jackson is hosting The Year I turned 18 Blogfest to celebrate the release of her New Adult novel The Big Smoke. Post about something from the year you turned 18. Pictures are encouraged! Oct 29-Nov 2.

I Am a Reader Not a Writer and The Diary of a Bookworm is hosting the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop. Host your own giveaway and link up to spread the word. Oct 24-Oct 31.

Giveaways:
Rebecca Taylor is giving away a free Kindle!! See her blog for details!

 

Contest Circuit: October 15

I LOVE this time of year. I love the fall. I love Halloween. I love that there are so many awesome things going around the blogosphere right now. Seriously - it was hard to keep up with all of you this week! Let me know if I missed a blog hop or contest that any of you know of or are hosting and I'll include it next week!

Brenda Drake of Brenda Drake Writes...under the influence of coffee is hosting A Super Secret Pitch Contest on Oct 15-19: Create a video of your elevator pitch and sign up for the blogfest. On Oct 15-17 judges will hop around and choose the top 30 pitches to be viewed by agents on Oct 18-19. Brenda is hosting Trick or Treat with an Agent with Kimberly Chase and Deanna Romito on Oct 24. Send in a three sentence pitch along with your first 200 words. There are also a couple questions to answer. For a list of the costumed agents, click here.

Miss Snark's First Victim is hosting her third annual Baker's Dozen contest with 13 agents. Oct 30.

Jamie Corrigan is hosting Spooktacular Pitch Extravaganza. She'll be taking submissions Oct 13-16. On Oct 17, she'll take 50 entries from Rafflecopter. Those entries will email her a 3 line pitch and your first 250 for agents Brittany Booker and Jordy Albert of Corvisiero Literary Agency to win your pitches.  

YATopia and Down Under Wonderings are hosting a YA pitch contest, Get Your Pitch On. Submit your pitch of 50-70 words and editor Marisa Pintado of Hardie Grant Egmont will be judging them on Oct. 15. 

Sharon Bayliss and Curiosity Quills are hosting The Haunted Writing Clinic and Contest. The blogfest begins Oct 8 with coaching and critiques. It ends Oct 31 with your submissions of queries and first pages to three editors from Curiosity Quills.

Alex J Cavanaugh and Ciara Knight are hosting Did I Notice Your Book Blogfest on Oct 17. Post about a book you've noticed (not a NYT bestseller). Shout out on social media sites until the author finds his or her book. Don't tell the author you've mentioned him or her. When the authors find their books, leave a post for Alex and Ciara letting them know. 

Ben Chiles of Story Multiverse is hosting a contest called Narrate This! From Oct 21-27, Ben will be taking up to 50 entries of your first 750 words and a 500 word synopsis. From those entries, he'll choose one winner and two runners up to win part of their manuscript narrated by Ben. The winner will receive 3000 words (can be anywhere in your MS) narrated by Ben. Runners up will receive 750 words each. I love this unique opportunity! 

Tara Tyler of Tara Tyler Talks and Vikki of Scribblings of an Aspiring Author are hosting I'm Thankful for my Readers blog hop on Nov 5-8. Post a thanks to your readers during those dates in any creative way you can think of. They will also be offering incredible prizes for the most creative and the most heartfelt posts. Prizes include a blog banner design and MS critique. 

Jenny Matlock at Off On My Tangent hosts Saturday Census, a flash fiction blog hop. Writers respond to a prompt, writing style and word count. She also hosts Alphabe-Thursday, a blog hop featuring posts on each letter of the alphabet.

Romantic Friday Writers is hosting a flash fiction blog hop called Halloween House of Horrors. Include a romantic element and write a 1000 word story with a thrilling edge of fear. Oct 19.

Britney Gulbrandsen is hosting October Madness Write-A-Thon from Oct 15-Oct 20. Sign up to follow your own personal writing goals for this. She'll also include challenges that you can post about or you can simply reflect on your progress each day. This blog hop also includes prizes of books! It's a perfect prep for NaNoWriMo if you're joining!

Dani at Entertaining Interests and Jackie at Bouquet of Books are hosting Spooktoberfest. This flash fiction blogfest must use 5 mandatory words and be under 300 words. Oct 26-29.

To celebrate the upcoming release of her novella, Kyra Lennon is hosting the Letting Go Bloghop. Post about a time when you had to let go of someone or something. This can true or it can be flash fiction. Must be under 500 words. The most touching entry will get a $10 Amazon gift certificate. If nothing else, stop by to check out her beautiful cover to NA novella If I Let You Go. Oct 22.

Cally Jackson is hosting The Year I turned 18 Blogfest to celebrate the release of her New Adult novel The Big Smoke. Post about something from the year you turned 18. Pictures are encouraged! Oct 29-Nov 2.

I Am a Reader Not a Writer and The Diary of a Bookworm is hosting the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop. Host your own giveaway and link up to spread the word. Oct 24-Oct 31.

Poisoned Pen Press is seeking submissions for YA mysteries (45K and 90K) to celebrate their new imprint The Poisoned Pencil.

 

Women on Writing is hosting a flash fiction contest due Nov 30. Open prompt should be 750 words or less. The contest will be judged by agent Jessica Sinsheimer.

Writing vs. Speaking

I have to give a speech tomorrow. 

My husband volunteers at an organization that raises funds for the hospital's NICU where my first son was born. Tomorrow night they are having their big annual gala downtown, where my son becomes the preemie poster child for the night. This requires a speech from his mom - aka me - sharing our NICU story. 

I'm a writer, not a speaker. I'm not necessarily nervous about speaking.... on a stage.... in front of 250+ people.... okay that part is nerve racking enough. But I'm not an off the cuff speaker...AT ALL. I can't stand up there and rattle off an emotional retelling of our story. I'd sound like an idiot. I absolutely must write and prepare my speech until I have it memorized word by word. There is something about writing the words down that make them flow so much easier for me.

What about you? Can you speak spontaneously as well as you can write? And if so, would you like to give a speech for me tomorrow night? Kidding. Kind of. 

Contest Circuit: October 8

This weekend, I'm visiting my parents in Ohio. Because of it, I have nothing new for you. But there are plenty of fun opportunities coming up that I mentioned in last week's post making October a perfect month to enter a few contests or join a few blog hops!

Brenda Drake of Brenda Drake Writes...under the influence of coffee still has two upcoming contests. A Super Secret Pitch Contest on Oct 15-19: Create a video of your elevator pitch and sign up for the blogfest. On Oct 15-17 judges will hop around and choose the top 30 pitches to be viewed by agents on Oct 18-19. Finally, Brenda is hosting Trick or Treat with an Agent with Kimberly Chase and Deanna Romito on Oct 24.

Miss Snark's First Victim is hosting her third annual Baker's Dozen contest with 13 agents. Oct 30.

Harper Voyager, the scifi/fant imprint of HarperCollins will be accepting unagented manuscripts from Oct 1-Oct 14. This isn't a contest, but it's too great an opportunity not to mention.

Deanna Romito, Summer Heacock and Kat Ellis are hosting Hook, Line and Sinker. This contest will accept entries in MG, YA and Adult and involves five agents. More details to come. The entry window opens at 11 a.m. EST on Oct 13.

Jamie Corrigan is hosting Spooktacular Pitch Extravaganza. She'll be taking submissions Oct 13-16. On Oct 17, she'll pull 50 names from a hat. Those entries will email her a 3 line pitch and your first 250 for agents Brittany Booker and Jordy Albert of Corvisiero Literary Agency to win your pitches. More details coming Oct 8. 

YATopia and Down Under Wonderings are hosting a YA pitch contest, Get Your Pitch On. Submit your pitch of 50-70 words and editor Marisa Pintado of Hardie Grant Egmont will be judging them on Oct. 15. 

Sharon Bayliss and Curiosity Quills are hosting The Haunted Writing Clinic and Contest. The blogfest begins Oct 8 with coaching and critiques. It ends Oct 31 with your submissions of queries and first pages to three editors from Curiosity Quills.

Alex J Cavanaugh and Ciara Knight are hosting Did I Notice Your Book Blogfest on Oct 17. Post about a book you've noticed (not a NYT bestseller). Shout out on social media sites until the author finds his or her book. Don't tell the author you've mentioned him or her. When the authors find their books, leave a post for Alex and Ciara letting them know. 

Poisoned Pen Press is seeking submissions for YA mysteries (45K and 90K) to celebrate their new imprint The Poisoned Pencil.

 

Women on Writing is hosting a flash fiction contest due Nov 30. Open prompt should be 750 words or less. The contest will be judged by agent Jessica Sinsheimer.

Insecure Writer's Support Group

Anyone else read Bossypants by Tina Fey? I first started reading it on a plane. Big mistake. After just a few pages, I quickly became that girl laughing out loud at her book. We're not talking charming little giggles either. I was loud, hysterical, and a complete embarrassment to my husband who threatened to take the book away if I couldn't control myself. I tried to tell him what was so funny, which of course only made it worse. I would laugh so hard that I'd be crying at my own garbled retelling of her jokes...it was a vicious cycle. I got quite a few dirty looks that plane ride.

Later in the book she talks about how crazy her life was when 30 Rock, one of my favorite shows, took off. Shed'd just given birth to her daughter. She was doing Sarah Palin skits for SNL. She would spend all day filming 30 Rock, then all the writers would go to her place and they'd stay up all night writing the next episode. Read the book - it's inspiring just how much she accomplished during that time of her life on virtually no sleep.

So here's my insecurity: I must be Tina Fey right now, and I'm not. This has nothing to do with how funny she is (though I would seriously love to be that funny). It's because I'm not getting enough done. And the thing that always seems to suffer is the writing. By the time I steal an hour or even 10 minutes to write, I look at the screen completely dumbfounded unable to come up with anything. Instead I just end up browsing through houses again....of all my to do's buying a home and selling a home sucks the most. Nope I take that back. Writing 652 *slight exaggeration* thank you cards sucks the most. Buying/selling home comes in second.

I know I'm saying this to a community of multitasking high achievers, so tell me...what are your secrets?? I'm dying to know them and steal them.

Baby boy #2 is hungry and impatient....no time to proofread this post. Please forgive the errors. ;)

Contest Circuit: October 1

Contests, Blog hops, and Giveaways:

Brenda Drake of Brenda Drake Writes...under the influence of coffee still has THREE upcoming contests. Novella Pitch to Month9Books on Oct 1: Pitch your novella (12K-20K) in five to six sentences to publisher Month9Books. A Super Secret Pitch Contest on Oct 15-19: Create a video of your elevator pitch and sign up for the blogfest. On Oct 15-17 judges will hop around and choose the top 30 pitches to be viewed by agents on Oct 18-19. Finally, Brenda is hosting Trick or Treat with an Agent with Kimberly Chase and Deanna Romito on Oct 24.

Miss Snark's First Victim is hosting her third annual Baker's Dozen contest with 13 agents. Oct 30.

Harper Voyager, the scifi/fant imprint of HarperCollins will be accepting unagented manuscripts from Oct 1-Oct 14. This isn't a contest, but it's too great an opportunity not to mention.

NA Alley is hosting Editor in the Alley, a pitch contest with Entagled Publishing's Editor Libby Murphy. Include the query and first 250 of your NA manuscript. The submission window will open Oct 3 at 8:00 amEST.

Deanna Romito, Summer Heacock and Kat Ellis are hosting Hook, Line and Sinker. This contest will accept entries in MG, YA and Adult and involves five agents. More details to come. The entry window opens at 11 a.m. EST on Oct 13.

Jamie Corrigan is hosting Spooktacular Pitch Extravaganza. She'll be taking submissions Oct 13-16. On Oct 17, she'll pull 50 names from a hat. Those entries will email her a 3 line pitch and your first 250 for agents Brittany Booker and Jordy Albert of Corvisiero Literary Agency to win your pitches. More details coming Oct 8. 

YATopia and Down Under Wonderings are hosting a YA pitch contest, Get Your Pitch On. Submit your pitch of 50-70 words and editor Marisa Pintado of Hardie Grant Egmont will be judging them on Oct. 15. They are even hosting workshops to prepare for it starting Oct 1.

Sharon Bayliss and Curiosity Quills are hosting The Haunted Writing Clinic and Contest. The blogfest begins Oct 8 with coaching and critiques. It ends Oct 31 with your submissions of queries and first pages to three editors from Curiosity Quills.

Jane Ann McLachlam is hosting the October Memoir and Backstory Blog Challenge. Blog 25 times in one month! Blog every day about a memory or event that took place during each year for the first 25 years of your life. Starts Oct 1.

Alex J Cavanaugh and Ciara Knight are hosting Did I Notice Your Book Blogfest on Oct 17. Post about a book you've noticed (not a NYT bestseller). Shout out on social media sites until the author finds his or her book. Don't tell the author you've mentioned him or her. When the authors find their books, leave a post for Alex and Ciara letting them know. 

Poisoned Pen Press is seeking submissions for YA mysteries (45K and 90K) to celebrate their new imprint The Poisoned Pencil.

 

Women on Writing is hosting a flash fiction contest due Nov 30. Open prompt should be 750 words or less. The contest will be judged by agent Jessica Sinsheimer.

Adam Heine over at Author's Echo posts "First Impact Critiques" every Wednesday. Submit any material to him under 300 words and he'll critique it. Bloggers can also offer critiques. Doing so will put them in a monthly drawing for cool prizes.