Zan Marie Steadham's Blog: In the Shade of the Cherry Tree, page 7

Connections and WFWA Rising Star and Star Awards

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Connections with other writers is key to the wellbeing of the day-to-day writer. Sure, it can be a lonely business, but it doesn't need to be. Find your tribe, your buddies, your fellow genre writers. Next, figure out where you can hang out face-to-face. I promise you won't be disappointed. You'll return to your daily writing rejuvenated and energized.

Romance writers have t...

September Links

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Source
Don't sneer at genre fiction. Let James Preston share Three Tools for Reading and Watching Genre Fiction with you.

Kate Moretti explains why we have genres at all in Does Genre Dumb it Down or Make it Rain?

There are Craft Books for Pantsers--that's what they say. I'm still on the fence. ;-)
And another post about thinking it through or getting it down. Join Kristin Hoffma...

The Book Pusher for September: K. Brown, S. Chefalo, D. Gabaldon, K. Lonsdale, P. McLinn, F. North

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Read and Enjoy!


COME AWAY WITH ME Karma Brown: Women's Fiction

This vivid exploration of love and grief will make you cry, but it's worth all the tears in the end because the resulting life is more valuable than the journey.


GARBAGEBAG SUITCASE Shenandoah Chefalo: Memoir

This harrowing memoir is also helpful. Chefalo has some amazing suggestions for fixing out disaster of a foste...

IWSG: How do you find the time to write in your busy day?

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Insecure Writers Support GroupPurpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Our Co-Sponsor's this month are: C. Lee McKenzie
Rachel Pattison
 Elizabeth Seckman
 Stephan...

Pitching Report

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Source
I think this is one of the hardest lessons of writing. No matter how hard you work, write, edit, and polish, there's another step to go on the long list of to-do's for hunting agents. You need to following:
log line or pitch--also known as an elevator pitch--no more than fifty wordsshort pitch for conference pitches in person--usually about 3 sentencesquerysynopsis of va...

Vision

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sourceVision has been on my mind lately. After two cataract surgeries in two weeks of each other this July, it's no wonder. My dominant eye is now my distance focus and it's happy with anything that's a few feet to any distance. My weaker eye is my close focus--reading. If you've followed my blog at all, you know reading is key to my happiness. My brain is still figuring out...

August Links

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Source
Jane Friedman offers "5 Steps to a Killer Book Talk." Now, we know what we have to do once we have a book to talk about.

And here's good link for about copyright myths: "'Busting' Some Popular Copyright Myths" by Susan Spann.

I don't know about the rest of you, but setting is one of my weakest points, so I really enjoyed Becca Puglisi's "4 Ways to Choose the Right Story S...

The Book Pusher's August Mini Book Reviews: V. Diffenbaugh, J. Kibler, C. Martin, P. McLinn

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THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS Vanessa Diffenbaugh: Women's Fiction

 An amazing journey of a foster child into love, loss, and growing up with all of life seemingly against her. Her one solace gives her a voice--flowers and their meanings. This is an absolutely must read.


CALLING ME HOME Julie Kibler: Women's Fiction

A poignant story of love and loss, and what we sacrifice for bot...

What Is Women's Fiction and Why Is it Needed?

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What is Women’s Fiction for The Thursday Night Book Club at Neva Lomason Memorial Library, Carrollton, GA--July 21, 2016
I loved sharing my genre with the Thursday Night Book Club. Ladies, your questions and discussions were delightful. The fact that you meet month in and month out to read, share, and discuss good books is something I wish more people did. After all, books are...

July Links!

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Note to readers: My second cataract surgery is planned for tomorrow. I'll be back around as soon as my eye settles.


SourceI've got a bumper crop of links for you this month. Enjoy!

Inspiration:
Elissa Altman shares "Writing and the Permission to Succeed." We all need this one!

Craft:
Jacqueline Mitchard shares "8 Practical Tips to Avoid too Much Plot in Your Novel."

Donal...