Friday Hodge Podge

Hey everyone, and welcome back!  It's been a busy week here on the gulf coast.  Between family, work, editing and writing, it's gone fast.  So now here we are at the weekend and I realized I've been neglecting my blog.  So for today I'm gonna throw a heap of fun stuff on your plate!

First things first, I submitted my first piece of work to an anthology.  World Weaver Press is having an open submission of short stories for their ghost anthology Specter Spectacular.  I was on the fence about submitting, mostly because I was nervous about sending my work into the wide world.  Well I swallowed that fear and submitted it.  And was rejected.  My first rejection letter!  Rather than get bummed and curse at the sky for my lack of talent, I saw it as an opening.  I had tried and gotten rejected, sure, but it was an awesome moment where I got past my fears and put myself out there.  And you know what?  It really wasn't all that bad.  It was a huge stepping stone I had been procrastinating out of fear.  You'd think by now I'd be used to these sorts of things.  My mind always makes things looks better or worse than they actually are, when in reality the outcome is usually somewhere in the middle.  Either way, I'm excited to finally be on the road and starting my journey to publishing.

On that note, I submitted a bit ago to Jukepop Serials.  This is a website that will come online around September that pays homage to the serials from the '30s and '40s.  I'm really excited and nervous about this one.  It fits my writing style perfectly and I hope I'm able to contribute.

Now, onto some fun finds on the Internet...

First up on the list is a website titled "Serendipity."  This is just a random site I found trying to find inspiration for names.  It has several name generators.  Ones for titles, cities, characters, and special locations.  A great asset for any D&D group, writing exercises and inspiration, or just to waste some time on the internet.  Definitely a lot of fun!

Next up is a writer's resource of useful articles and tips called Unbridled Editor.  I found this on Twitter via John Rakestraw (@John_Rakestraw).  It's an online newspaper full of articles found and shared by others using a plethora of social networking sites.  I get e-mail updates every few days, and have never been disappointed by the amount of information provided.  I will say on the iPhone it is tricky to navigate, but on the computer it is a breeze.  If you're a writer, definitely check this out.

And last but not least, I mentioned above about Jukepop Serials and their revival of an old form of writing.  I personally enjoy writing piece by piece with tons of cliffhangers, so this is a perfect way to go about it.  Give them a look and see if you feel your writing could benefit from this exposure!

Well my friends, that's all for now.  I hope you enjoy the links and I will see you next time!  Godspeed and have a great weekend!!

Writer's Resources and A Publishing Opportunity

Welcome back everyone!  Today I'm gonna share a few links to some groovy sites that help with writer's tips and reference material.

First, however, I want to let you all know about World Weaver Press's open submission that began today!  Click here for their submissions main page and all the links to their requirements for fiction, anthologies and non-fiction.  It's going until the end of summer, so all that writing you've been doing during the winter can finally see the sun!  I know I'll be brushing up my work and submitting it.

Now, onto a few links of reference I like to use when I'm writing.

I'm a huge fan of mythology and classics, so this website is a great piece of reference.  Encyclopedia Mythica is fantastic whether you want inspiration to create your own pantheon or are using already established mythology.  It's a great tool.  This link is to their search engine, but you can go to the sidebar if you just want to browse.

This next link is for those of us who hated grammar studies but love to write.  Daily Writing Tips is a great way to learn the subtle ins and outs of the English language to improve your skills as well as increase your vocabulary.  Not only a resource for fiction writers, it also helps with business aspects and hosts book reviews.  It has a very simple layout that is easy to navigate.

Finally, this last link is for Writing Forward, a website dedicated to all types of writing.  The exact link is to fiction writing exercises that I will be using off and on in here.  They feel a bit dry, but are straightforward and useful in developing areas you feel are lacking in your writing.  And don't be afraid to check out their tips for correcting grammar or using their writing prompts to get your brain flowing towards writing your own work.

I tried to keep it short and sweet today, hope you all enjoy!  Let me know in the comments or by e-mail if you have any useful links or reference material.  I'd love to see what other writers find useful!  Until next time, godspeed and good luck!!