Debbie Ridpath Ohi's Blog, page 165

Survey for those using LinkedIn

I joined LinkedIn years ago when it first launched, but then deleted my account because I made the mistake of accepting a connection request from someone I knew only vaguely through a few e-mail exchanges. Because of that decision, I started accepting similar connection requests. Often these were from people on LinkedIn with hundreds of connections. Then I started receiving requests which were passed down through my connection links for favours — either referrals or information or requests...

Weekly Wordcount Challenge Check-In

250 wds/day | 500 wds/day | 1000 wds/day

So how did you all do with your daily wordcount challenges this past week?

To find out more about daily wordcount challenges, click any of the links above.

Erma Bombeck Writing Competition

Discovered this from Kathy Temean's blog:

Cash prizes, no entry fee, 450 words or less, one entry only. Deadline: January 31st, 2010.

Here are the rules.

iPhone app for writers: Dragon Dictation

I've been using voice-activated software from time to time, mainly when I'd like a break from long periods of intensive typing. I find voice dictation useful mainly for first drafts, not editing, but it's great to be able to "write" while I'm walking around in my office (my headphone/microphone set has a long cord).

I use MacSpeech, which uses dictation technology from Nuance, the company that makes Naturally Speaking, voice dictation software for Windows.

When I'm away from my laptop, I've...

Transport Canada bans books from flights?

CARTOON EMBED CODE:


(Before embedding, see my cartoon licensing info.)

 

Apparently Transport Canada is banning books and periodicals from their flights unless passengers buy them after going through security.

Eek. Makes me even happier about being able to read e-books on my iPhone! Hope this ban doesn't last long.

Also see:

Books Banned on Canada-U.S. Flights (January Magazine)

Stop Dumbing Down: Allow Books on Airplanes (Facebook G...

Travel writing contest, no entry fee, cash prize

From Charles Carroll, editor of www.xtremetravelstories.com:

Are you fed up with travel writing as it exists today? Are you looking for a fresh approach to this medium; one that focuses on the extreme nature of traveling as opposed to the "Club Med" stories that so often fill the pages of travel writing these days? If so, this contest is perfect for you! Send us your story, any language, any topic; as long as it's original and interesting it constitutes as Xtreme! The winning author will be...

The Weird Book Room

[image error]

Thanks to my friend Ray for pointing out the Weird Book Room on ABeBooks. If you're looking for some literary diversions, it's worth a visit.

I would have loved to have eavesdropped on the editorial or sales meetings for some of these books.

[image error]

So who's going to join me in the 1000 Wds/Day Challenge in 2010?

[image error]

[image error]

To those who took up the 1000 wds/day or 500 wds/day challenge last year, how did you do?

And how many of you want to join me in the challenge THIS year? For those who haven't heard of this challenge, the goal is to write 1000 words a day, at least six days a week. If you miss the occasional day or days, that's ok — the goal is to keep up the motivation even if you sometimes slip up.

Too often, I find that writers start motivational challenges like NaNoWrimo with enthusiasm and good i...

Online Community For YA Writers: YALitChat

YA author Georgia McBride has started up a community for YA writers on Ning called YALitChat.

YALitChat is named after the #YALitChat group on Twitter, founded by Georgia:

#YAlitchat is a weekly twitter chat for anyone involved in the writing, editing , marketing or publishing of Young Adult literature. #YAlitchat takes place at 9PM EST and goes until 10:15PM. There is a guided discussion three weeks out of the month and one week each month, there is open discussion.

For daily tweets relating...

Happy New Year!

From the Will Write For Chocolate archives: