Dallas Woodburn's Blog, page 40

Guest Post by Rajiv Khanna

Here are some a great tips sent in from my dear friend Rajiv, who has always been a huge supporter of Write On! Thanks, Rajiv!

One cannot overstate the importance of spending some quality alone time with yourself each day. Here are some things you may want to include in your routine:

1. Deep breathing: Take at least ten deep breaths. With each breath, fill in your lungs as completely as possible; then hold the breath as long as comfortably possible. Deep breathing helps to boost your energy level.

Great Website for Young Writers!

I just came across this wonderful website: http://www.thebluepencil.net/

I often receive e-mails and letters from young writers asking where they can publish their work. The Blue Pencil is a great resource! They are actively looking for submissions from young people. Plus, the website is a treasure trove of inspiration -- you can read fiction, poetry, even plays written by kids and teens. They also hold a writing contest called The Bishop Prizes.

Good luck and have fun submitting!

Want Some Great Summer Reading? Check Out This Book!

What is your favorite place on Earth? This is the question that award-winning travel writer Jerry Camarillo Dunn, Jr. asked the most celebrated people of our time, ranging from the Dalai Lama to Robin Williams.

The result: A completely original portrait of our astonishing world, as seen through their eyes. The worldwide "who's who" includes actors Will Ferrell, Morgan Freeman, and Natalie Portman • U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor • singer James Taylor • astronaut Buzz Aldrin • fil

Vote for Write On! to get a $1,000 grant for literacy!

Write On! For Literacy is one of thirty teams in the running for fifteen $1,000 prizes offered by Ralph Lauren through the Ashoka Youth Venture Program.

We need your help!

All you have to do is click on the link below, scroll down the list, and vote for Write On!

http://www.rugby.com/newsroom/blog_post.aspx?id=ace1f4b2-2cc6-44e3-b109-03cc94ea993e&cat=6d3287ed-c1e1-4d01-8717-544c4efbb8b9

If we are selected, the prize money will be used to purchase brand-new books to give to underprivileged kids throu

"Literary Happenings"

Thank you so much, Jo Ellen Heil, for your wonderful mention of my Write On! Summer Writing Camp in your "Literary Happenings" column today!

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/jun/21/ventura-summer-camp-is-geared-for-young-writers/

Everyone, there's still a couple weeks left to sign up for the early registration discount! E-mail me today! dallaswoodburn@aol.com

New Write On! Website

Check out my new and improved Write On! website.

www.writeonbooks.org

* Get published
* Enter writing contests
* Read book reviews
* Join the Holiday Book Drive
* Register for Writing Camp
* Subscribe to the Write On! newsletter.
* Buy my books
* Find cool links to other websites

I'd love to hear what you think of my new site!

Radio Interview Thursday!

Hi everyone! Wanted to let you know I'm going to be a guest on the online radio show, Starstyle-Be the Star you Are! with Cynthia Brian, the Oprah of the Airwaves. I will be talking about my contribution to Cynthia's new book, Be The Star You Are! For Teens. I wrote a chapter about "The Gift of Writing."

You can listen to the live interview Thursday on World Talk Radio from 3-4 pm Pacific Time (6-7 pm Eastern Time) at http://wtr.radiopilot.net/worldtalkradio/vshow.aspx?sid=764[image error]

Two Great Resources for Writers

I came across Shannon Buck's blog, How to Live the Freelance Life, mentioned in the recent Writer Gazette newsletter. Shannon is chronicling her first year carving out a career as a freelance writer. Her site is a wonderful resource for writers of all ages and experience levels! You will find a treasure trove of inspiration and information on the writing life.

http://howtolivethefreelancelife.com/

I also highly recommend Krista Barrett's free weekly e-newsletter, Writer Gazette,

Book Talk at Cabrillo Middle School

Here's a short video clip from my recent talk to students at my alma mater, Cabrillo Middle School. I had a wonderful time! Thanks to Jon for filming!

[image error]

Rejection Letters: Bringing Writers Together

[image error] Let's say you've recently started sending your writing out to editors, hoping to get published. Instead, you receive a dreaded thin envelope in the mail containing ...
... a rejection letter.

Don't despair! Rejection letters are a part of every writer's life. Yes, even now-famous writers like Meg Cabot, Stephen King, and J.K. Rowling collected dozens, even hundreds, of rejection letters before finally getting their big breaks.

Still, sometimes it's hard not to feel a bit discouraged when your maste