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DirtyMartini
Over 90 days ago
United States

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Quote by DLizze


Isn't got superfluous in this sentence?


Hmmm...there's one in every crowd...now you got me almost as confused as Larry...the key word here being "almost"...
Just a note about Goodreads...one of my author friends does her blog on Goodreads...personally, I think that's a work of genius, rather than having a separate blog site...I think the less sites you have, the better...I think you're better off if you can direct readers to one site where you have your blog, books listed for sale, etc., you're better off...well, you get the idea...

Goodreads - Mari Collier's Blog
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4618494.Mari_Collier/blog[/size]
Quote by DLizze
and an only child for the first five years of my life, I was under their influence and tutelage more than might otherwise have been the case.


Technically, I've been an only child all my life...it doesn't mean I know anything btw...I have three step-sisters, the result of my parents re-marrying, but I never actually lived with them, except for a six month period where I stayed with my father, step-mother and her two daughters back around 1990...

Anyway...this subject has caused remarkable debate in writing groups, and I'm talking about some very experienced published authors who can't seem to agree here...nice to see that some NYT bestselling authors agree with me though...almost makes me feel like I know something...well, almost anyway...

SCORDATO, C. via yahoogroups.com
Jul 25 (1 day ago)

to LibertySpeaks

No way, Alan. It’s “another thing coming” here in NJ as far as I know. I saw a discussion on this and apparently the thing/think change is regional.

I, too, am guilty of the adding the “s” on toward, etc.

Caridad Piñeiro
NY Times and USA TODAY Bestseller
For those who live to love on the edge
NOW AND ALWAYS, June 2013, re-release
FAITH IN YOU, July 2013, re-release
TO CATCH A PRINCESS, August 2013 Entangled Suspense
Visit http://www.caridad.com for additional information
Quote by Circle_Something
I've had rants about that. Epic rants, too.


If you really want to read some Epic rants...I shared this in a writing group, and somebody posted this...if you really want entertainment, this will keep you busy for quite a while...note the suggestion that you "start reading at comment 289"...

You've got another 'thing' / 'think' coming? - WordReference Forums
http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=87385
This is related, because link shorteners, and Twitter often go together...

for you Techies . . . check it out . . .

What the Heck is Bit.ly?
When you're adding your hyperlink, make sure that it is a bit.ly code so that you're able to track where your traffic is coming from. This allows you to experiment with the signatures and see what works best in terms of converting curious people into readers. If you're seeing a huge surge of traffic from one particular signature, this is one way you’ll be able to tell.
Bit.ly allows you to take a link, any link, and track not only how many people click on it, but also where they came from, when they clicked on it etc. Why is this so magical? Well, if you find that you get more traffic when you post on a Wednesday night, guess what time you should focus your relationship building efforts? What about experimenting with your signature or changing your profile avatar? Switch them up and keep track of how much traffic you gain or lose.
You can do the same thing with your excerpt page. Change the excerpt, add to it, cut it, try different links and see which gives you the best results. That's why you don't want to explode too fast. You want to be able to track these changes, because you only want to do things that work and stop doing things that don't.

For more tips, visit: http://www.JeffRivera.com/[/color][/size]
Quote by DianaShallard
Wow, Robert - I never thought of it that way, but yes, if the work changes thanks to edits and feedback, it would be deemed an "unpublished work."



Wouldn't count on that Diana...and if you do try it, hope you never get caught...editors and publishers hate that sort of thing, and they do talk...this should give you a better idea...

What Is Considered Previously Published Writing?
http://www.writersrelief.com/blog/2010/04/what-is-considered-previously-published-writing/[/size]
Larry sat down pensively in front of the computer screen in a futile attempt to write another poem for Stories Space. In a moment, his thoughts drifted back to a fiery red head he knew back in high school, long before he met his wife Denise. As he began to type, the heat and passion of the past made their way onto the page. Luckily, Larry typed into his laptop, for if he had used paper, the sheer heat of the words would have burned up the page. When he was done with his work, he realized his latest piece may not be suited for a site so blue, so he ventured over to a site as red as the hair of that long lost flame.
THAT'S LIFE
http://www.thatslife.com.au/FastFictionGuidelines
---
Looking for humorous, positive contemporary stories of 700 - 2,800 words with a strong plot. If the story has a twist it should arise from the story, rather than from a detail kept from the reader. To check your twist, imagine your story were being made
into a film - would the surprise still work? If it's First Australian rights and HASN'T been published anywhere else in the world, then you will receive $400 for one page, $600 for 2 pages, $700 for 3 pages, $800 for 4 pages. If it's First Australian Rights
and HAS been published once, somewhere else in the world, then you will receive: $300 for one page, $500 for 2 pages, $600 for 3 pages and $700 for 4 pages.

1 page - 900 words
1.5 pp - 1,200 words
2pp - 1,400 words
3pp - 2,100 words
4pp - 2,800 words
This subject came up recently in one of my writing groups, and I realize this one might not interest everyone here, but...

Here's a post that may interest some of my friends about getting on daytime TV talk shows...the article is two years old, but I verified that the contacts are still current, and the advice should be the same...check it out my friends...

Getting on Daytime TV Talk Shows
http://blog.prnewswire.com/2011/08/08/getting-on-daytime-tv-talk-shows/

Like I said, I verified the contacts listed being up to date, at least for The Today Show, and Good Morning America...

Here's the Twitter account for Patty Neger, of Good Morning America...

Twitter - Patty Neger
https://twitter.com/PattyNeger

And for Angela LaGreca, producer of Today...

Twitter - Angela LaGreca
https://twitter.com/AngelaLaGreca

Good luck on this one, but people, especially authors, do get on these shows...as the article says, keep your correspondence short, and to the point...see you on TV...
Another essay contest...$3000.00 first prize...

LIFE LESSONS ESSAY CONTEST
URL: http://tinyurl.com/kk5ajx
--------------------------
DEADLINE: September 19, 2013
GENRE: Non fiction
OPEN TO: US Residents aged 19+
DETAILS: 1000 - 1,500 words personal essay on the theme: " What's
the bravest thing you've ever done?"
PRIZES: $3000, $750, $500 and publication in Real Simple
A couple of lists that might be useful to my writer-type friends here on Stories Space...

Transition Words - A Complete List of English Connecting Words
http://www.smart-words.org/transition-words.html

Here's another list that may be useful to my writer-type friends...so, when your editor starts using fancy terms like "noun" and "verb"...you'll know what they're talking about...

Word List of Literary & Grammar Terms at Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/wordlist/literary/[/size]
Quote by Rumple_deWriter
Fans? What fans?


What's the matter Reverend, you don't have fans? I'm really surprised...

For Dana M. Best...she would have been 47 this month, July 27th, had she not died of a heart attack shortly after her 40th birthday...this picture was taken Christmas 2001, in my mother's living room btw...

I saw this recently, and was reminded that my own "Meet The Author" event is less than two months away...I guess you never really know what might happen at these things...

Had to take a cab today to New Brunswick, and sold a book to the cab driver who took me there...I happened to have a couple of copies of my book with me, as well as a copy of the newspaper article about me, because I wanted to show someone in Brunswick while I was there...just goes to show, one way for authors to sell more books is to always have one available, because you never know who might be interested...

Yeah, there was some talk show she had on the radio talking about trauma, and we started talking and she was telling me she was an EMT for the last 15 years, and she told me some stories...I told her I knew some people who helped in the clean up after 9/11, which led to me mentioning I happen to be known for a 9/11 poem, which got her interest...so, when the cab stopped, I showed her the newspaper article, and I happened to have with me the 9/11 programs from Shindand AF Base 2011, this one I had printed out with me...

Logfire Ledger - Shindand Remembers...
http://static.dvidshub.net/media/pubs/pdf_9363.pdf

And another from Cheyenne AF Base 2012...needless to say, she was impressed enough to buy a book...she told me I'm probably the most famous person she's ever had in her cab...lol...I told her I'm the most famous poor person she'll ever meet...
Some good advice from my friend Kristen Lamb...and yeah, Kristen knows stuff...

Are You Alienating Fans on Facebook & Fracturing Your Platform?
http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2013/07/16/are-you-alienating-fans-on-facebook-fracturing-your-platform/

Btw, I don't read a lot of author blogs...really don't have the time...but, if you're looking for one to follow, Kristen would be a good choice...she's one of those people who has a clue what's going on when it comes to writing and publishing and stuff like that...
I think this one might interest a few friends here...

WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO ESSAY CONTEST
http://fountainmagazine.com/essaycontest
---
NO ENTRY FEE
Deadline September 15, 2013. So, what’s your motto in life? If you were to choose three words to sum up your motto, what would they be? In an essay outlining your philosophy on life, share with us your thoughts and insights. Contest open to all writers worldwide. Essay word count must be between 1,500 and 2,500 words. Essays must be submitted through the essay contest page.
1st Place - $1,500
2nd Place - $750
3rd Place - $300
Two Honorable Mentions - $200 each
This one might interest some here...

CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL: THE DATING GAME
http://www.chickensoup.com
---
Tell us everything from the great, to the bad, to the VERY bad. We are accepting stories for this book from men and women 19 years and older. The deadline for story and poem submissions is July 29, 2013. For this book, we prefer contemporary stories from men and women of all ages, and they will be favored over stories about events that happened decades ago. If your story is chosen, you will also receive a check for $200 and 10 free copies of your book, worth more than $100. You will retain the copyright for your story and you will retain the right to resell it.
First off, Twist of Fate is now available on Amazon...

Twist of Fate [Paperback]
http://www.amazon.com/Twist-Fate-Various/dp/0989002683/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373921092&sr=1-3&keywords=twist+of+fate

Second, the 10th through 15th book bundles in the Authors for Oklahoma charity thingy have posted...my book is in the 11th, 12th, and 13th, along with Norma Beishir, K.b. Cash, Sherry Ellis, Lori R. Lopez and a few others...the idea is you make a ten dollar donation, for a great cause I might add, and pick which bundle you'd like to win...all proceeds go to the American Red Cross to benefit the Oklahoma tornado victims...check it out my friends...

Authors For Oklahoma ~ Book Bundles 10-12
http://wmdgroup.wordpress.com/2013/07/10/authors-for-oklahoma-book-bundles-10-12-2/

Authors For Oklahoma - Raffle Bundles 13-15
http://writersofmassdistraction.blogspot.ca/2013/07/raffle-bundles-13-15.html[/size]
Here we go love story writers...and I know there are a few here...

QUIRK LOVE STORY CONTEST
http://quirkbooks.com/lovestories
---
NO ENTRY FEE
First prize is $10,000 AND publication by Quirk Books. We’re looking for love stories that are fresh, fun, and strikingly unconventional. Boy Meets Girl. Girl Meets Girl. Girl Meets Shark. Shark Meets Pirate. Anything goes! Except vampires. Sorry. Win us over, knock us out, and show us what we're missing! The contest deadline is October 1, 2013.
At least 50,000 words.
I went to the store to buy a pair of camouflage trousers, but I couldn't find any...
A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. ''But why?'' they asked, as they moved off. ''because,'' he said ''I can't stand chess nuts boasting in an open foyer.''