M.L. Desir's Blog, page 19
January 15, 2020
The 2 kinds of diversity advocates in publishing
This is an incredibly informative post that succinctly summarized a terribly troublesome issue inside (deliberate alliteration usage on crack) the not always Happily Ever After literary world or Romancelandia. I’m wondering if there is a third kind of diversity advocate (however it may be a watered version of both — a hybrid mayhaps?) and I look forward to writing a blog post about that. Thank you, Raimey!
Happy New Year 2020, Indeed!
Wow, wow! Incredible.
We’re already fifteen days into this new year and decade. 
January 1, 2020
Rejection: A Writer’s Rite of Passage
Happy New Year 2020.
by Monique Hall
Nearly five weeks ago, I battled nerves and self-doubt but finally managed to hitsend on my manuscript submissions to the editors I pitched to at the RWA Conference at the end of August. A few days after that, I participated in a Twitter pitch contest—an attempt to pitch your manuscript in 140 characters, not an easy task I might add!
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December 31, 2019
2019 Year-End Reflection — New Year, New Decade.
Na Na Na Na Hey, Hey-ey Goodbye!
Da fuq! It’s really almost 2020? Zoinks! Jinkies! (If and when you have children and they are Scooby Doo lovers, you will understand).
Here’s the family:
[image error]Hubby, Moi, and Our Darling Three Sons.
A few days ago I enjoyed getting my hair done at a beauty salon almost 30 miles from my home. Why 30 miles away? Because this place is the best that I know of. I rarely pamper myself, but when your husband tells you to...
44 Calls for Submissions in January 2020 – Paying markets – by Erica Verrillo…
Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog
There are more than three dozen calls for submissions in January.
All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees.
As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from short stories to poetry to essays.
Continue reading HEREDecember 8, 2019
From The First To The Last Chapter – 5 Things To Keep In Mind
by Daniel A. Roberts
The ability to write a novel from start to finish doesn’t own any kind of magical formula. Like anything we try to accomplish in life, certain things can hinder the process. Some of them can’t be avoided, like the condition of your own health. If you’re coughing, wheezing, taking serious medication that can affect your judgment, I promise that most, if not all writing skills goes out of the window.
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Things to do when you’re stuck in the middle of your novel
Have you ever been there? Perhaps, like me, you’re there right now. You’ve been hastily writing the exciting start of your novel, powering through as your ideas flood the pages. But then…the middle. Suddenly things slow down. And before you know it, you’re completely stuck. You may have an idea for the ending, but not a clue how to get there. So now what? Here are some things you can try when you’re stuck in the middle of your novel.
Take some time to get to know your...
November 27, 2019
You Love a Book, You Adore The Cover – But Do You Know Who Made it?
We’re always told not to judge a book by it’s cover, but when it comes to book buying, admit it – most of us do! 
November 24, 2019
The Reality of Everyday Racism
I can relate to this: “It may be a glaring look by an employee or a customer. It may be me being invisible in a line and seeing a white person who arrived after me being waited on first.” The reason why training is so necessary as a tool to fight against racism is because laws alone DO NOT change the hearts that harbor these evil ideologies. Thank you for writing this.
November 4, 2019
POSSIBLE PITFALLS OF DEEP POINT OF VIEW
DPOV has his pros and cons. And did I mention it’s often a pain in the butt to write it well? Lol.
A lot has been written about deep point of view, the technique in fiction writing in which a scene, a chapter, or at times an entire novel is written entirely in the point of view of a single character. What it involves is limiting what is shown in the scene entirely to what the point of view character sees, reacts to, thinks, and does. The writer can go into that...
