Showing posts with label read. Show all posts

Time to Set Goals for 2011

Because the holiday season is upon us, and time is limited, I've decided to start setting the goals for 2011. And since this years goals were mostly a pain in my ass and completed at the end of this year or not at all, I'm adding them to the right column so they're in my face almost every day.

There are seven weeks left of the year and I plan on unveiling the goals every Friday as I create them. This week I've come up with two. Warning, there's A LOT of thinking out loud below.

1. Achieve 50% towards remainder of 1,000,000 words of written fiction.
This is a goal I set, in September of 2008 after listening to an early episode of Writing Excuses. Basically they mentioned that the first one or two novels you write are likely crap. I know my first two were both more personal stories I'll probably never publish. They also mentioned that it takes writing one million words to begin mastering prose. These are all professionals' opinions, and who am I to argue, right? Anyways, I set the goal back then to write a million words of fiction within a certain time frame that never happened. Actually I stopped tracking it and have since written over 120,000 new words, which really surprises me considering the writer's block I went through this year.

Well, IT'S BACK for 2011 & 2012. I started a counter in the right column, but have the rest of the year's writing, so I'm not exactly sure where the total count will be for 2011 and 2012 other than an estimated 300,000 per year which is less than the 480,000 I should be able to write if I stick to a 2000 words a day for 20 days a month.   WOW! That's 4-6 novels or who knows how many short stories a year, which could lead into another goal.

2. Finish editing The Courier #1 by the end of the ~~first~~ second quarter.
I've consistently not met this goal every time I've set it, so it will be interesting to see if I meet it this time. This novel is going into its 4th draft, and now on to the math. I've taken the first 100 pages of the novel to critique group and have another 200 to subject to weekly criticism, and at 10 pages a week gets me to 180 pages by the end of the first quarter. Well, that ain't guna work. So I guess I could up it to editing 20 pages a week and attend critique group twice a week. Gosh, can my ego take that much slamming...LOL? Sounds like I'm setting myself up for failure again. Sigh. Better make it the second quarter, because I also need to update the synopsis and will likely go through the whole query letter business to find a new agent.   More goals...

Anyone else out there thinking about or setting goals for next year yet? What do you hope to achieve?

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop #24

Every week I weed through over 100 blogs, looking for writing advice and new and interesting books to read. Considering how time consuming this is, I share the posts I find the most interesting here every week. If you’d like me to add your blog to my feeder or a link from my weekly tour, leave a comment on the most current tour or send me a link via Twitter @by_wjhoward.

All About Writers

On Dance on Fire, Hitting 50 ...and more, James Garcia Jr., on his four month journey through publication.

All About Books

On Overbury Ink, Number 38, part 7 – by Ian Eliot LeWinter
On Farm Lane Books Blog, White is for Witching – Helen Oyeyemi
On Fantasy Literature's Fantasy Reviews, Who Fears Death: A book I will never forget
On Bookgasm, Strip AND Blood Guts & Whiskey
On Marissa Farrar's blog, The Strain by Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan

All About Writing & Publishing

FAV! On Wordplay: Helping Writers Become Authors, Use All 5 Senses to Bring Your Setting to Life
FAV! On Copyblogger, Charles Bukowski and the Secret to Immortal Writing
On Vamplit's Library, Artwork A Personal Story of Jekyll and Hyde
On the Wicked Writer's blog, Internet Writers Resources – free for the taking!
On Rachelle Gardner's blog, How to Become a Better Writer
On a Newbie's Guide to Publishing, The Difference Between Sales and Fans
On Wylie-Merrick Literary Agency's blog, Has Your Ship Sailed?

Weekly Features

Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy
This week's Where Stories Are Made: Paul Magrs over at Book Chick City
On Book Lovers Inc., Around the Bookish World: News Week-in-Review

Blogging Events

July 16 - 18, Book Extravaganza
September 13 - 17, Book Blogger Appreciation Week

Join the Hop

Are you highlighting writers and books in your blog for Writer Wednesday? Then add your blog to my new blog hop link group. Powered by Linky Tools Click here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links...

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop #23

FYI... Bloodleggers begins today. In honor of our first release, we're holding a drawing to win a free eBook published by eBookUndead. Leave a comment and you're entered to win. Hope you'll drop by Blood Reads to read.

All About Writers

FAV! On A Newbie's Guide to Publishing, Konrath Kindle Stats
On Kiki Hamilton's blog, Inspiration, Advances and How to Write the Breakout Novel

All About Books

On the Overbury Ink, Steampunk Novel Review: Soulless by Gail Carriger
On Fantasy Literature, reviews of Killswitch: Even more exciting than the first two books!
Also on Fantasy Literature Thoughtful Thursday: Reading is not a spectator sport
By The Cajun Book Lady, Review: Firefly Island by Daniel Arenson
FAV! On Bitten by Books, 45 Plus FREE Books! FREE Friday! Woot!
Over at Something Wicked This Way comes, Marissa’s Top Ten Horror Novels AND Nicole's Top Ten Scariest Reads!

All About Writing & Publishing

On Pub Rants, One Possible Peril Of A Multi-book Deal AND Talk About the Money
In the Wicked Writer's blog, From One Medium to Another
On Fangtastic Books, The Popularity of Vampires with Tom Olbert and Unholy Alliance Giveaway
On Wordplay: Helping Writers become authors, Should Stories Be Soapboxes?
On Mysteries and Margtaritas, Mary's Rants - Take the whine out of writing
On Writers Gone Wild, Thoughts on Editing by SarannaDeWylde
Thank you Rachell Gardner for Short and Not-Always-Sweet Answers AND Really Not That Complicated
FAV! On Writing in the Crosshairs, How Can We Know talks about the buzz about agents charging for readings.

Weekly Features

Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing AND Why I Write Vague Rejection Letters
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy
This week's Where Stories are Made: AUTHOR over at Book Chick City
On Book Lovers Inc., Around the Bookish World: News Week-in-Review

Blogging Events

July 16 - 18, Book Extravaganza
September 13 - 17, Book Blogger Appreciation Week

Join the Hop

Four Kinds of People

With the end of the first half of 2010 rapidly approaching, I've decided to change my mindset for the remainder of the year. So first of all, I'm setting new goals for the next 6 months. Second, I'm pulling out the inspirational books to give myself a much needed pep talk. The first book I pulled off the shelf is Miracles Happen by Mary Kay Ash. No I'm not a Mary Kay Lady. I had used their products for years until my soy and gluten allergies got worse. Enough said. Anyways, the first thing you read in chapter 1 is this:

There are four kinds of people in the world:

those who make things happen

those who watch things happen

those who wonder what happened

those who don't know that anything happened!

For this later half of the year, I will be one of those people who makes things happen.

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop #22

Spotlight

Over on Fools & Sages, a personal friend of mine struggles with her love/hate addiction to the Twilight series in They Sparkle
I also chuckled when I read The Spork Theory on Jim C. Hines blog

All About Writers

On Blood Reads, Interview with C.J. Ellisson, Author of Vampire Vacation
On Lexington Vampire Examiner, Interview with Mike Duran, Christian vampire author part 1

All About Books

I'm seeing a lot of the same books over and over again, so I don't have much to add here this week. I also need to clean out my book review feed folder. Too much paranormal romance and I'm slowly giving up on this genre.

In Vamplit's Library, a review of Drawing Blood by Poppy Z. Brite A Review

All About Writing & Publishing

On Working Stiffs, Let's Play -- The First Five Lines
On A Newbie's Guide to Publishing, The Time Is Now
FAV! On Wordplay, Why No Writer Knows What He’s Doing
Loved R.J.'s post, Crunch Time on our Bloodlegger's blog.

Weekly Features

Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy
This week's Where Stories are Made: Keri Arthur over at Book Chick City
On Book Lovers Inc., Around the Bookish World: News Week-in-Review

Join the Hop

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop #21

All About Writers

On Guide to Literary Agents, 7 Things I've Learned So Far, by Holly Schindler
We've been blogging about our characters on Bloodleggers. By co-writer R.J. Robyn, Searching for Billy Knox... and by me, two part interviews with Regina Todd
On Dark Faerie Tales, Author Interview & Giveaway: 13 to Life by Shannon Delany

All About Books

On Bitten By Books, How Honest Is Too Honest In A Review?
On Book Junkie, Bookswim Book Rentals

Book reviews that caught my eye this week, and the books that got added to my GoodReads to-read list:

On Fangtastic Books, A Review of Dark Oracle by Alayna Williams
On Darkly Reading, Review of The Mage in Black by Jaye Wells
On Fantasy Literature's Fantasy Book Reviews, The Etched City: Dark and decadent
On Farm Lane Books Blog, Red April – Santiago Roncagliolo

All About Writing & Publishing

That Author Ecopy Comes With A Hefty Price Tag on Pub Rants

Weekly Features

Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing & The Rejection Letter of the Future Will Be Silence (And Why This is a Good Thing)
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy
This week's Where Stories are Made: Thomas Emson over at Book Chick City
On Book Lovers Inc., Around the Bookish World: News Week-in-Review
On Overbury Ink, Number 38 – Part 6, by Ian Eliot LeWinter
NEW On Dark Faerie Tales, Publishing News

Blogging Events

September 13 - 17, Book Blogger Appreciation Week

Join the Hop

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop #20

WHOO HOO!

20 Blog Hops

All About Writers

On Biting Edge, Start Saving Your Pennies... mentions that James Bond's car from Goldfinger is for sale and expected to sell for over $5 million. There's also some news on a future Bond book, as well as a link to a website with pictures of some really COOL bookshelves of the non human kind.
Here's an review of Jaws, by Peter Benchley. It's always fun to run across modern day reviews of older books.
On Fangtastic Books, Welcome Guest Author Yolanda Sfetsos

Books I Want to Read

Book reviews that caught my eye this week, and the books that got added to my GoodReads to-read list:

On Bitten by Books, Ouroboros by Michael Kelly and Carol Weekes
On Book Lovers, Inc., Review: Shades of Gray by Caitlin Kittredge & Jackie Kessler
On Book Whisperer, Review: Blood Song by Cat Adams & Review: Blood Song by Cat Adams
On The Cajun Book Lady, Review: The Second Coming by David H Burton

All About Writing & Publishing

On 1st Turning Point, Pointless Networking ain't so pointless when you make those accidental connections
On the Wicked Writer's blog, Long live the book… A view on the publishing industry
On Jim C. Hines blog, Reading Reviews
On The Journey is Everything, The Five Stages Of Author Booksignings

Weekly Features

Book Blogger Hop at Crazy for Books
Follow Friday for blogs at Parajunkee's View
Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing is a blog tour of sorts.
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy.
This week's Where Stories Are Made: Jaime Rush over at Book Chick City
On Book Lovers Inc., Around the Bookish World: News Week-in-Review

Join the Hop

Are you highlighting writers and books in your blog for Writer Wednesday? Then add your blog to my new blog hop link group.

Weekly Whine: Morning Coffee's a Must

See below for It's Monday! What are you reading?

I don't really have anything to whine about today. I'm over my latest bout of anemia as of yesterday and actually had the energy to get out of bed at 3:50 A.M. this morning. Still had to head to the Keurig brewer first thing and watched the strongest brew stream into the cup. Ahhh...the aroma of morning coffee.

I got a bunch of yard work done yesterday. I love yard work! Really gives you the time to be productive and ponder, all at the same time. My poor backyard garden was seriously neglected after being ill the last couple years, so getting it back in order really makes me happy and peppy too :-). It was pretty hot yesterday though, and I HATE the heat--there's a tiny whine. Can't wait until we move up to the mountains full time. House in the mountains looking out on Longs Peak, where you see snow for most of the year, is the definition of heaven.

I have a confession. I missed the cutoff date for the contest. I worked my ass off editing The Courier and pulling my hair out with the synopsis, and it was nothing but painful. When the anemia got bad last weekend, I gave up and used my "lack of energy" as an excuse not to finish. The deadline came and went last Tuesday, and I didn't care. In fact, I was relieved I didn't enter. What it all came down to is that I lose my enjoyment for writing when I enter contests. So, NO MORE CONTESTS!

Off to add this week's forum topic to Vamplit Writer's. This week's question is who our vampire alter ego would be from literature, movies or television. The question came to me while watching Ultraviolet for the 20th time this weekend. Another movie I loved that no one else seemed to enjoy. So it's, no contest. I'd be Violet.

Oh, another movie we watched over the weekend that I thought was awesome, even after my son warned me young people really hated it was Gamer with Gerard Butler. Michael C. Hall plays another psycho in the movie. The man sure has talent for such roles.

WOW! I may not of had a lot to whine about, but I sure had enough to natter through.

It's Monday! What are You Reading?

What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme, hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Currently Reading: Road Trip of the Living Dead by Mark Henry & God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert

Listening to: Blood Trail by C. J. Box

Just Finished: Moonshine by Alaya Johnson & Small Favor by Jim Butcher (LOVED IT!!)

Next up: Dance on Fire by James Garcia Jr.

Powered by Linky Tools Click here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links…

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop #19

All About Writers

On Enchanted by Books, Guest Author Carolyn Crane & Giveaway! discusses the "Top 6 cool things about being a series author that I never expected"

Books I Want to Read

Book reviews that caught my eye this week, and the books that got added to my GoodReads to-read list:

On Bookgasm, Decoding the Heavens: A 2,000-Year-Old Computer — and the Century-Long Search to Discover Its Secrets AND I Am Not a Serial Killer AND Tooth and Claw
NEW FAV On Book Lovers, Review: Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane +Giveaway
Looks like a pretty good list on Farm Lane's Book Blog in The Best Literary Science Fiction Books?

All About Writing & Publishing

Platform, Shmatform on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing shows you don't have to be an established author to be a top seller.
NEW BLOG On Guide to Literary Agents, 7 Tips on Book Publicity. I also watch Livia Blackburne's blog and she provides excellent advice. On her blog, How to Get (and Keep) People's Attention was a great read this week
On 1st Turning Point, Marketing Before Publication? How About Before It’s Written?
On Biting Edge, Writers and Readers...what we owe each other
Fear was a focus on Copyblogger in Is F.E.A.R. Holding You Back? AND 7 Quick-Start Techniques for Fighting the Fear to Write
On Editorial Ass, How to Throw an Awesome Book Launch
On Passion on Paper by Gina Leigh Maxwell, Terrible Twos-day: Word Count vs. Words That Count
On Wordplay, 8 Ways Longhand Writing Frees Your Muse
On Richard Dansky's blog, Seven Things You Should Always Ask A Writer. We used the question about which book you wished you'd written this week on Vamplit Writers
On Leterary Agent Rachelle Gardner's blog, Getting People to Read Your Book

Weekly Features

Book Blogger Hop at Crazy for Books
Follow Friday for blogs at Parajunkee's View
Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing is a blog tour of sorts. I also enjoyed What Makes a Great Setting
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy
This week's Where Stories are Made: Keri Arthur over at Book Chick City
NEW On Book Lovers Inc., Around the Bookish World: News Week-in-Review
On Overbury Ink, Number 38, part 5 by Ian Eliot LeWinter

Join the Hop

Are you highlighting writers and books in your blog for Writer Wednesday? Then add your blog to my new blog hop link group.

No Whine Zone

In honor of Memorial Day, there will be no whining today. Instead, I will reflect on my own time serving our country and thanking God that since WWII my close family members who have served during wartime have all returned home safe.

In addition, I'm starting a new section, joining What Are You Reading?

Currently Reading: Moonshine by Alaya Johnson & Small Favor by Jim Butcher

Just Finished: To Your Scattered Bodies Go by Philip Jose Farmer & White Plague by Frank Herbert

Next up: Road Trip of the Living Dead by Mark Henry & Dance on Fire by James Garcia Jr.

What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme, hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Powered by Linky Tools Click here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links…

Writer Wednesday Blog Tour #18

All About Writers

On Fantastic Book Review I really enjoyed the questions asked in, Sensational 7 Q & A with Jennifer Murgia!
On Enchanted by Books, Guest Author Michelle Rowen & Giveaway!
On Paul D. Brazill's blog, Guest Blogger: Author & ex -cop Johnny Russell.

Books I Want to Read

Book reviews that caught my eye this week, and the books that got added to my GoodReads to-read list:

In Damian Kane's blog, Book review: A Stir of Echoes, by Richard Matheson
On Fantasy Literature, Wolfsangel: Fine heroic fantasy
On Bookgasm, Neverland
On The Neverending Shelf, Book Review: The Line
On Taliesin Meets the Vampires, Dance on Fire – review
On Writers Gone Wild, How To Spot A Bastard By His Star Sign

All About Writing & Publishing

eBook Royalty: Another Way To Protect on Pub Rants
On Rachell Gardner's blog, What if My Agent Doesn't Like My Next Book?
There are some interesting comments over on the Wicked Writer's Blog this week on muses
On Criminal Minds, Taking a Whiz on Book Marketing . . .
On Jim C. Hines blog, Saying No to a Publisher
On WOW, Women on Writing, Metaphors Are Fun, Creative and Therapeutic
On Vamplit, Loving the Undead
On A Newbie's Guide to Publishing, DRM Free
On Haunted Dreams, Dark Destinies, Why I Write About Angels and Demons

Weekly Features

Book Blogger Hop at Crazy for Books
Follow Friday for blogs at Parajunkee's View
Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing is a blog tour of sorts, and my favorites in his blog this week are Every Writer Gets Rejected and How to Write a One Sentence Pitch
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy.
This week's Where Stories Are Made: MD Lachlan over at Book Chick City

Are you highlighting writers and books in your blog for Writer Wednesday? Then add your blog to my new blog hop link group.

What are your reading habits?

If I don't get a question from one of my readers, I look for questions on other people's blogs. This week I found a list of questions on Candace's Book Blog, a new blog I added to my read list a couple weeks ago. Click here for Candace's answers.

Here are my answers to the questions. Leave a comment if you decide to share in the fun so I can read your answers.

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack:
I don't eat while I read. I guess I'm not coordinated to chew and read at the same time.

What is your favorite drink while reading?
Whatever I happen to have, which is likely coffee, water or ice tea since that's about all I drink..

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
Depends on what I'm reading. I like to keep fiction books pristine, so I'll use a tab sticky if I want to mark a passage. I believe nonfiction books are meant for marking and remarking. Maybe it's a left over feeling from college.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?
Bookmark, primarily. If I'm just getting up for a few minutes and returning to read, I lay the book open flat.

Fiction, non-fiction, or both?
Fiction & non-fiction. I've got at least one of each going at any given time.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?
I can stop anywhere, but prefer to stop at the end of a chapter.

Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you?
I've thrown many a books across the room. I do try to give all books I read at least a 100 page read, so sometimes, forcing myself to read on can really piss me off.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?
Look it up and write it down so I can use it later in my own writing. Been doing this for as long as I can remember. I don't go back to what I've written down for words though. Writing it down just seems to make it easier to remember the word.

What are you currently reading?

White Plague by Frank Herbert
Fallen Angels and the Origins of Evil: Why Church Fathers Suppressed the Book of Enoch and Its Startling Revelations by Elizabeth Clare Prophet
To Your Scattered Bodies Go (Riverworld 1) by Philip José Farmer AWESOME READ!!

You can check out what I'm reading on Goodreads at any time. I'm pretty annal about keeping it up to date.

What is the last book you bought?
Blood Vice: The Nightfall Syndicate, Book 1 by Keith Melton

Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one?
I've usually got 3 or more books going at once. I get bored while reading only one book, no matter how good the book may be.

Do you have a favorite time/place to read?
I start reading every night between 6:00 P.M and 7:00 P.M. When I'm doing research for a book, I read for an hour before, during and/or after lunch.

Do you prefer series books or stand alones?
I don't really have a preference, but come to think of it, the only series' I've really gotten into are Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Dune.

Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?
Bradley Denton, Christopher Moore & Scott Sigler are three authors I regularly recommend.

How do you organize your books? (by genre, title, author's last name, etc.)
LOL!! Lately it's been mass chaos. My 'to read' book shelf of paper books I own is a mess. Thanks Amazon for the Kindle! It's much easier to organize your eBooks. If I'm looking for a paper book I own, I usually have some idea where it is. Books from the library are all in one pile with the next book I'll read on top.

Writer Wednesday Blog Tour #17

Every week I weed through over 100 blogs, looking for writing advice, publishing news and books to read. Considering how time consuming this is, I share the posts I find the most interesting here every week. If you’d like me to add your blog to my feeder or a link from my weekly tour, leave a comment on the most current tour or send me a link via Twitter @by_wjhoward.

All About Writers

On Demon Vampire Horror Masters of Horror Anthology Author Interviews!

Books I Want to Read

Book reviews that caught my eye this week, and the books that got added to my GoodReads to-read list:

On the Cajun Book Lady, Review: Sparrow Rock by Nate Kenyon
NEW BLOG, Paper Cut Reviews has a post on 13 to Life by Shannon Delany in Kiss and Tell Meme. Shannon won the Textnovel contest in 2008.
On Fantasy Literature, Ghosts & Echoes: This is what urban fantasy can be & Sisters Red: Hits all my favorite notes

All About Writing & Publishing

On Pub Rants, Age is Just a Number and How Enhanced Ebooks Will Cause Havoc
In Nathan Bransford's blog, The One Sentence, One Paragraph, and Two Paragraph Pitch
On Rachelle Gardner's blog, The Value of the Verbal Pitch
On Copyblogger, 10 New Ideas for Getting Inspired to Write.
On Writers Inspired, Mini Check-up: Where are you on your goals for 2010? I'll be writing about this one on Monday in the Weekly Whine.

Fiction in a Blog

Over at Overbury Ink, Number 38, part 4 by Ian Eliot LeWinter

Weekly Features

Book Blogger Hop at Crazy for Books
Follow Friday for blogs at Parajunkee's View
Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing is a blog tour of sorts.
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy.
This week's Where Stories are Made: Linda Wisdom over at Book Chick City

Writer Wednesday Blog Tour #16

All About Writers

On Book Junkie, 10 Things I Wish I Knew About Being an Author I Didn't Know Before

Books I Want to Read

Book reviews that caught my eye this week, and the books that got added to my GoodReads to-read list:

I might start these books by reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel.
Over at Fantasy Literature Morpheus Road, The Light: Winning voice makes up for some plot issues
On JoJos Book Corner a review of Beautiful Creatures.
On Fiction Vixen, a review of Stormwalker by Allyson James
On The Book Whisperer, Review: Branded by Keary Taylor
On Book Lovers Inc, Review: The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay
On Book Chick City, Book Review: A Licence To Steal by Samantha Graves

All About Writing & Publishing

Why You Shouldn’t Write for Other Writers over at Copyblogger
It Is What It Is Ism is an interesting post over at Editorial Ass on hanging in there and editing until your novel is just right.
Let it Sit over at WOW! Women on Writing Blog about being more objective while editing work that has sat for awhile.
On Rants & Ramblings, The Benefit of Hindsight Witemeyer
On Magical Words, Revisions — Dialogue and Fake It Til You Make It
On Book Lovers Inc, a question of ethics in Bookish Rants or Raves: Reader / Author Relationships - The
How to Craft a Great Voice on Nathan Bransford's blog.

Weekly Features

Book Blogger Hop at Crazy for Books
Follow Friday for blogs at Parajunkee's View
Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing is a blog tour of sorts.
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy.
This week's Where Stories Are Made: Kristine Kathryn Rusch over at Book Chick City

Writer Wednesday Blog Tour #15

All About Writers

Over at the Overbury Ink, an Interview with writer Nikki Curtis of IMP Girl Graphic Novel
Guess I didn't get enough of it in last weeks subject on the Wicked Writer's blog. Author Perspective: Dealing With Rejection over on the Neverending Shelf

Books I Want to Read

Book reviews that caught my eye this week, and the books that got added to my GoodReads to-read list:

Over at All Things Urban Fantasy, 5 bats! Early Review: Hunted By The Others by Jess Haines they also posted Hot off the Press: May Urban Fantasy Releases
Locke & Key, Volume 2: Head Games over at Bookgasm got me to put the first in the series in my queue
Over on the Neverending Shelf, Book Review: The Clone Codes

All About Writing & Publishing

Some interesting facts from an agent on releasing your book to the public unpublished or published an Pub Rants in An ISBN That Could Hurt
Natan Bansford posted a great review of iPad!!
17 Easy Steps to Brilliant Blog Posts on Copyblogger.
Over at A Brain Scientist's Take on Writing, Loading the First Impression for Quick Characterization (The Hunger Games
On Pub Rants Starting A Novel In The Wrong Place
What About Market Research and Guest Blogger: Christa Allan "Keep Your Hand Moving" on Literary Agent Rachelle Gardner's blog
On Wordplay, When Your Story Doesn’t Turn Out Like You Planned

Weekly Features

Book Blogger Hop at Crazy for Books
Follow Friday for blogs at Parajunkee's View
Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing is a blog tour of sorts.
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy.
This week's Where Stories Are Made: Suzanne McLeod over at Book Chick City

Weekly Whine: Crunching the Numbers

Look at the hair on this kid. Is he adorable or what?!?! I'd be crying too on such a bad hair day...LOL!

It's another slow start Monday. But I don't care this week. It's a gorgeous day today, so I've been in and out of the house, trying to play ball with the beagles. Now beagles are not a breed known to participate in more than a chase the ball--when I feel like it. Believe it or not, I've got Charlie trained to play fetch. Our little porker, Howie, is more inclined to sit and watch the ball, figuring he gets enough exercise from moving his head. Today, they are both pooped out from weekend walks totaling about 12 miles. So I'm doing all the fetching.

Over the weekend I felt like I needed to re-prioritize yet again. This time I tracked the time I spend on each task or thing I do, kinda like I did when I was a Project Manager, and I found that at the rate I'm going, I'll complete the first courier novel in five years. YIKES! I'll end on that note and get back to editing.

Writer Wednesday Blog Tour #13

All About Writers & Books

It's National Library Week and The Neverending Shelf posted Libraries: Your Home Away from Home and The State of Americas Libraries, both great reads. We reposted the later on the Wicked Writer's blog.
On Fantasy Author Jim C. Hines blog this week I happened across a creative idea for those who need help reviewing books in Mad Lib Reviewing I'm still chuckling. FAV!
Just wanted to quickly mention that I love Paul D. Brazill's blog.
Author Interview ~ Nicole Hadaway at Listen to the Voices
Book reviews that caught my eye this week, and the books that got added to my GoodReads to-read list:
- Over at Fiction Fixon, Review: Frost Moon by Anthony Francis and Review: Silver Kiss by Naomi Clark
- Over at Fantasy Literature, Waking the Moon: One of my Desert Island books, Under Heaven: Award-worthy, The Stones of Green Knowe: Very sad to see its end, and especially Primavera: A fascinating story
- Review: Hourglass by Claudia Gray at Book Lovers Inc.
- Ex-Heros at Bookgasm is not a favorable review, but I'm still tempted to read. And how could you not add a book like Body World when the review begins, "Imagine if David Lynch and David Cronenberg collaborated on a graphic novel."
Don't miss these weekly features:
- Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy.
- This week's Where Stories are Made: Marianne de Pierres over at Book Chick City

All About Writing & Publishing

Publishers + Ebooks = Epic Fail on a Newbie's Guide to Publishing really makes me want to self-publish FAV!
Nurmal Resources PUBLISH ME! Contest on the Writer's Beware blog
Daydream or Die on Wordplay
AutoCrit: A Helpful Tool for Editing Flash Fiction is about a fun tool you can try out on the Internet. I especially found the repeated word function helpful. Would love to know if anyone is paying to use this tool.
Choosing the Right Titles for Your Work (Or: Heh, You Said Titular)
James Moore on Deadlines over at Storytellers Unplugged

Other Blog Tours

Blogmania is Sweeping the Web over at Between the Pages is an opportunity to tour blogs and win prizes
Book Blogger Hop at Crazy for Books
Follow Friday for blogs at Parajunkee's View
Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing is a blog tour of sorts.

Weekly Whine: Slow Going

Slow going this morning. Hope that's not setting a pattern for the week. I guess it's only 6:00 A.M., but I've been up for two hours. Should have gotten some new writing done, but screwed around on housework and blog posts instead. Guess it all has to get done some time, so at least I'm ahead of the game on a few other "to do" items.

I kept a list of stuff to whine about this morning, so here goes it...

Wine headaches to start. Is it the sulfates, I wonder? I can't seem to drink much more than a glass of wine these days without getting a horrendous headache. Okay, maybe it has something to do with my getting older and my hormones changing. That's the part no one wants to admit.

So incredibly happy to be back at my critique group regularly. Of course, now I'm even further behind on the editing.

I went out to Goodreads yesterday and counted the books I've read this year. 18 completed so far, and 2 thrown against the wall at the 100 page mark. Not too bad.

I picked up a bunch of new releases from the library, so the list of books I'm reading is far beyond the usual four. Angelology, I Am Ozzy, and Expiration Date top the list of new releases. Last week I only finished one book, Children of Dune. LOVED it! Yes I'm becoming a crazy Dune fan. Do they have a name?

Oh, not doing book reviews anymore. Too time consuming, and I'm thinking risky. My reviews had gotten so short anyways. Have also though that as an writer, I can seriously nit-pick at books I'm reading, but do it more as a way to improve my own writing. Also been running into some egos of authors I can see bashing other authors out of spite. Hello people, it's a job, just like when we worked for the man. Oops! Ran into a lot of egos there too. What is it about people needing to feel superior? Maybe I'll save that one for next week. So, if I love a book I'll mention it here. Otherwise it'll get 2 stars over at Goodreads and I'll move on without mentioning it.

Writer Wednesday Blog Tour #12

Every week I weed through over 100 blogs, looking for writing advice and new books to add to my reading queue. Considering how time consuming this is, I share the posts I find the most interesting here every week. If you’d like me to add your blog to my feeder or a link from my weekly tour, leave a comment on the most current tour or send me a link via Twitter @by_wjhoward.

All About Writers & Books

There were a couple of good opinion posts on owning the rights to multiple book formats. A Matter of Ethics on Nathan Bransford's blog and Questionable Ethics on Writer Beware Blog!, a new blog I added to my watch list this week
Paranormal Summer Fest is Coming at All Things Urban Fantasy
A few March wrap ups on book reviews: Books Read for March 2010 and Being Eaten By Books at Babbling About Books, and More, March Wrap-Up at Book Addict, Month in Review: March '10 at Book Chick City
5 Incredibly Strange Sherlock Holmes Books at Bookgasm
Interview with Shannon K. Butcher over at DemonLover's Book Reviews & More!
Book reviews that caught my eye this week, and the books that got added to my GoodReads to-read list:
- Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder-Trailer & Website launch TODAY over at All Things Urban Fantasy. Bitten By Books also did a few reviews of this book along with a review of Sea Glass that was pretty favorable. Fantastic Book Reviews also gave it a 5 out of 5. This book is getting some smokin' reviews. Might have to go to the top of my queue.
- [ARC Review] - A Certain Wolfish Charm on Anna Vivian's blog
- Where Angels Fear to Tread by Thomas E. Sniegoski over at Bookgasm
- The Immortality Factor by Ben Bova over at Bookgasm
- Review: Embers by Laura Bickle on Dark Faerie Tales
- Review: Silver Kiss by Naomi Clark at Fiction Vixen
Don't miss these every week:
- Nicole Hadaway's movie & book reviews over at her All Things Smart & Scary. She did a guest post over at Fangtastic Books you should check out.
- Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy.
- This week's Where Stories are Made: Jaye Wells over at Book Chick City
- Overbury Ink with a focus on graphic novels and steam punk. This week check out Number 38 – by Ian Eliot LeWinter & #SteamTuesday – Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

All About Writing & Publishing

Click-clack-click-clack-click-ARRRGHHHHH . . . is a fun read on typewriters. I still love 'em event though I had to use some of the worst of the electric ones while in the Air Force. They were also one of my favorite toys as a child. Still have the old one my grandmother gave me.
WOW! All About Co-op on Nathan Bransford's blog about how books make it to the front of the bookstore was quite interesting.
Simple Tips for Increasing Your Blog Readership
Drop by and vote for the 2010 Spinetingler Award Nominees and Poll
10 Tricks For Getting Inspired to Write at Copyblogger
What Makes a Lead Title over at Editorial Ass
Things I Look for in a Novel & Epic Character Questionairre on Labotomy of a Writer
Some Thoughts on Book Promotion & Publishing

Other Blog Tours

Book Blogger Hop at Crazy for Books NEW
Follow Friday for blogs at Parajunkee's View
Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing is a blog tour of sorts.

Writer Wednesday Blog Tour #10

Every week I weed through over 80 blogs, looking for new reading material and writing advice. Considering how time consuming this is, I share the posts I find the most interesting here every week. If you'd like me to add your blog to my feeder or a link to my weekly tour, leave a comment on the most current tour or send me a link via Twitter @by_wjhoward.

All About Writers & Books

Love a Book? Tell the Author! is a quick reminder that authors need a little love
Interview With Authors Barb Galler-Smith and Josh Langston I'd love to write a book with someone!
Interview and giveaway with author Adrian Phoenix over at Paranormal Haven
Book reviews that caught my eye this week, and the books that got added to my GoodReads to-read list:
- Peter & Max: A Fables Novel by Bill Willingham on Dirty Sexy Books
- The Cajun Book Lady's review of Eight Pints of Trouble by George Earl Parker
- Viscious Circle by Linda Robertson on on Dirty Sexy Books is a debut novel with a critical review on it breaking writing rules. For some reason I want to read it as sort of a lesson with my own writing.
- Gaslight Grotesque: Nightmare Tales of Sherlock Holmes edited by J. R. Campbell and Charles Prepolec on Bitten by Books
- When I see certain book covers everywhere, I end up putting the book in my queue. Great lesson in marketing my own book. So this week, I've seen Mind Games everywhere, including on a new blog I'm watching, Anna's Book Blog
- Bitten by Books did a few reviews of Marilyn Meredith's books that caught that intrigued me. I added Calling the Dead to my queue.
- Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay
Don't miss these every week:
- Nicole Hadaway's movie & book reviews over at her All Things Smart & Scary.
- Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy.
- This week's Where Stories are Made: Linnea Sinclair over at Book Chick City

All About Writing & Publishing

I couldn't agree more with author Jim C. Hines in his post Strong Women Characters.
A Face by Any Other Name by Deborah LeBlanc provides an interesting way to create characters
Novel Survey Results, Part II breaks the myths about the overnight success and you have to know somebody
How to Format a Query Letter says it all
Bestsellers Can Help You over at The Journey is Everything
Why We Write p5 – The Origin of His Species – by Ian LeWinter
A Six-Pack To Success on Literary Agent Wylie-Merrick's blog goes into "six major hurdles that must be jumped before reaching the home stretch" of publishing.

Other Blog Tours

Follow Friday for blogs at Parajunkee's View
Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford's This Week in Publishing is a blog tour of sorts.

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20 Blog Hops

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About W. J. Howard