Ash Krafton's Blog, page 35
November 2, 2011
All Hopped Out
Well, I survived the brief but intense snow here in Northeast Pee Yay. Luckily, no trees came down on our property and we never lost power. Not all my neighbors were as fortunate but, then again, they don't have a host of otherworldlings looking after them.
Oh, well. Their loss.
As promised, my tweenaged monster was sullen enough to pick winners for the blog hop. Her first remark was, "They all comment fail." But I think she was just being rude. In other words, good morning everybody!
She did pick three winners (in random order because that's how she rolls):
Dz59001
CraigWFSmith
DeAnna Schultz
And in the spirit of chaos and randomness and every other force my daughter Enyo represents, I'll just package up the goodies, mix them up, and slap one of the addresses on each envelope.
Winners, please email your corporeal address to me by Friday so I can send you your booty. I'm at AshKrafton at gee male dot com. Yes, I suppose it is a test of skill to figure that one out. Best of luck.
I enjoyed "meeting" you guys on the 2011 Coffin Hop. Hope to see you all again…you are all welcome here any time. Just try not to step on the spiders, k? They get pissy and I have to spend all afternoon getting them sorted again.
Have a great day, and thanks for hopping by.
Oh, well. Their loss.
As promised, my tweenaged monster was sullen enough to pick winners for the blog hop. Her first remark was, "They all comment fail." But I think she was just being rude. In other words, good morning everybody!
She did pick three winners (in random order because that's how she rolls):
Dz59001
CraigWFSmith
DeAnna Schultz
And in the spirit of chaos and randomness and every other force my daughter Enyo represents, I'll just package up the goodies, mix them up, and slap one of the addresses on each envelope.
Winners, please email your corporeal address to me by Friday so I can send you your booty. I'm at AshKrafton at gee male dot com. Yes, I suppose it is a test of skill to figure that one out. Best of luck.
I enjoyed "meeting" you guys on the 2011 Coffin Hop. Hope to see you all again…you are all welcome here any time. Just try not to step on the spiders, k? They get pissy and I have to spend all afternoon getting them sorted again.
Have a great day, and thanks for hopping by.
October 29, 2011
Please Remain Seated While the Hop Comes to a Complete Stop *sad face*
I can't believe Coffin Hop Week is over. I am equally disappointed that my Universal Orlando vacation is over, too, because I came home to SNOW.
Really. Snow.
They are forecasting a Nor'easter that may dump seven to ten inches of white frozen horror on us. Twenty four hours ago I was strolling across the piazza toward a water taxi that would take me to City Walk. I got a Cinnabon and a coffee and enjoyed a warm light mist, as Orlndo got a bit of rain yesterday.
They got rain. We came home to SNOW. Urgh.
But enough crabbing about it. I have a roof and an internet connection (the latter which was absent in Florida--really. Who charges thousands of dollars for a resort stay and doesn't throw in the Wi Fi? What a rip off. Next, they'll email me a bed sheet charge. At least I wiped out their Keurig station. Lots of coffee to get me through this crappy snow. But I digress.)
The tweenaged monster will be going through comments to select winners today and I will post them soon. Turns out the nifty Universal thingie I picked up was a lanyard for Halloween Horror Nights--the after-hours park Halloween party that I HAD TO MISS. My son would have died if we went through the terror zones and I didn't feel like listening to that kind of screaming--it isn't any fun.
(Plus, there would have been the whole project of getting his corpse home, which would mean I'd have to claim him as checked luggage so not only would I lose two hundred fifty on his unused plane seat, I'd have to pay a baggage fee. What a load.)
So, anyways. Prize announcement soming soon, good luck, and thanks so much for hopping by. I hope everyone had a great time on the hop and hope to see you again soon!
Really. Snow.
They are forecasting a Nor'easter that may dump seven to ten inches of white frozen horror on us. Twenty four hours ago I was strolling across the piazza toward a water taxi that would take me to City Walk. I got a Cinnabon and a coffee and enjoyed a warm light mist, as Orlndo got a bit of rain yesterday.
They got rain. We came home to SNOW. Urgh.
But enough crabbing about it. I have a roof and an internet connection (the latter which was absent in Florida--really. Who charges thousands of dollars for a resort stay and doesn't throw in the Wi Fi? What a rip off. Next, they'll email me a bed sheet charge. At least I wiped out their Keurig station. Lots of coffee to get me through this crappy snow. But I digress.)
The tweenaged monster will be going through comments to select winners today and I will post them soon. Turns out the nifty Universal thingie I picked up was a lanyard for Halloween Horror Nights--the after-hours park Halloween party that I HAD TO MISS. My son would have died if we went through the terror zones and I didn't feel like listening to that kind of screaming--it isn't any fun.
(Plus, there would have been the whole project of getting his corpse home, which would mean I'd have to claim him as checked luggage so not only would I lose two hundred fifty on his unused plane seat, I'd have to pay a baggage fee. What a load.)
So, anyways. Prize announcement soming soon, good luck, and thanks so much for hopping by. I hope everyone had a great time on the hop and hope to see you again soon!
October 24, 2011
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...
Welcome to Coffin Hop week! I'm glad you stopped by—with over 90 participants, you've got a lot of pages to visit.
I promise to make this easy on you…
TO ENTER:
"Like" my author page on Facebook http://facebook.com/AshKraftonAuthor
"Fan" me on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/ash_krafton
"Follow" me on Twitter http://twitter.com/ashkrafton
That's it. I simply want to assimilate you and resistance is hopefully futile.
Once you are thoroughly assimilated, leave a comment here IN THIS POST. (Trekkies may feel free to assign themselves a number of the collective.)
YOU MAY WIN:
Nevermore, by Paul Michael Kane. Selected stories and verse by Edgar Allen Poe with accompanying artwork by some of the most creative comic book artists in the industry. I picked this beauty up at the Baltimore Comic Con this summer.
ARC of M is for Monster, compiled by John Prescott. "Kamikaze Blonde" appears as the letter A story. Winner gets to see what makes it an ARC and learns why I spent a month screaming. It's funny--now.
Some nifty thing I'll pick up at Universal Studios this week. Yep, I'm spending Hallowe'en in Florida, far away from the rainy cold. My blood hasn't made the winter switch yet, despite my cold-blooded nature.
I'll let my tweenaged daughter pick the winners because she is the most random creature I've ever met. She likes ninjas and crossbows and My Little Pony so feel free to play up to her in the hopes she'll pick you. She's easily swayed.
Okay, that's it for the contest. To follow is a tribute to Edgar Allen Poe, whose work is cheerfully depressing enough to make seek out his bones and write poems about them. My poem "Six Words For Edgar" is an award-winning (I totally swear) sestina (see? I'm creepy AND literary) that I wrote after making my kids hang out in his cemetery with me. (In hindsight, I suppose I should be glad my daughter is content with crossbows.)
Good luck with the Coffin Hopping and enjoy!
LINK BACK TO THE COFFIN HOP LIST
Six Words For Edgar: a sestina by Ash Krafton
Never having known the man, I cannot shed a tear.
Yet, I feel sadness as I gaze upon his stone
and tilt my head to catch the echo of imagined cries.
It is but the haunting laughter of a distant crow.
Pondering the bones of he who now beneath me lies
I marvel how departed men can walk among us still.
The sun is warm and no breeze stirs; the trees are tall and still
far removed from harbor's wake where Patapsco zephyrs tear.
Within the graveyard's iron fence, a concrete garden lies.
Long brick paths and grassy patches lead from stone to stone,
and here lies life defeated, where Death triumphant crows,
turning deafened ears toward the moan of mortal cries.
Shall I be a mourner, one whom for the poet cries
and clutches, like a Bible, Edgar's tome of tales still?
The melancholy dreamer who sees raven in the crow,
pressing hand to brow to wipe the pretending tear?
Shall I place my pennies and my grief upon the stone
and whisper prayers of pardon for the one who in dust lies?
I cannot feign emotions and I cannot stomach lies,
even if from Hades should I hear his bootless cries.
Do not think me unfeeling, for my heart's not cast from stone;
I am drawn to the side of his grave and contemplate it still.
Although I neither cry out nor my very clothing tear,
I regret the loss of man and words and rage against the crow.
I seek the path to beauty, as straight as flies the crow,
and peer into my darkest depths. Therein the secret lies:
so sharp and clear the world appears when seen through bitter tear.
From shadows and delusions and nightmares his spirit cries.
The world streaks past but in this graveyard, time stands still
as I reflect upon his life, now carved in stalwart stone.
I will not weep as I repose beside his granite stone;
instead I close my eyes and listen to the callous crow
which from the church's tower calls out, laughing still.
Edgar, it occurs to me your dreams may all be lies,
and yet I long to tread your path. So heed my silent cries--
I give you words, my kindred soul, but not a single tear.
Tear upon tear, no flood can erode stone.
The raucous crow cries
while deep beneath the earth, the still heart lies.
Six Words for Edgar appeared in the Midwest Literary Magazine, October 2010
I promise to make this easy on you…
TO ENTER:
"Like" my author page on Facebook http://facebook.com/AshKraftonAuthor
"Fan" me on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/ash_krafton
"Follow" me on Twitter http://twitter.com/ashkrafton
That's it. I simply want to assimilate you and resistance is hopefully futile.
Once you are thoroughly assimilated, leave a comment here IN THIS POST. (Trekkies may feel free to assign themselves a number of the collective.)
YOU MAY WIN:
Nevermore, by Paul Michael Kane. Selected stories and verse by Edgar Allen Poe with accompanying artwork by some of the most creative comic book artists in the industry. I picked this beauty up at the Baltimore Comic Con this summer.
ARC of M is for Monster, compiled by John Prescott. "Kamikaze Blonde" appears as the letter A story. Winner gets to see what makes it an ARC and learns why I spent a month screaming. It's funny--now.
Some nifty thing I'll pick up at Universal Studios this week. Yep, I'm spending Hallowe'en in Florida, far away from the rainy cold. My blood hasn't made the winter switch yet, despite my cold-blooded nature.
I'll let my tweenaged daughter pick the winners because she is the most random creature I've ever met. She likes ninjas and crossbows and My Little Pony so feel free to play up to her in the hopes she'll pick you. She's easily swayed.
Okay, that's it for the contest. To follow is a tribute to Edgar Allen Poe, whose work is cheerfully depressing enough to make seek out his bones and write poems about them. My poem "Six Words For Edgar" is an award-winning (I totally swear) sestina (see? I'm creepy AND literary) that I wrote after making my kids hang out in his cemetery with me. (In hindsight, I suppose I should be glad my daughter is content with crossbows.)
Good luck with the Coffin Hopping and enjoy!
LINK BACK TO THE COFFIN HOP LIST
Six Words For Edgar: a sestina by Ash Krafton
Never having known the man, I cannot shed a tear.
Yet, I feel sadness as I gaze upon his stone
and tilt my head to catch the echo of imagined cries.
It is but the haunting laughter of a distant crow.
Pondering the bones of he who now beneath me lies
I marvel how departed men can walk among us still.
The sun is warm and no breeze stirs; the trees are tall and still
far removed from harbor's wake where Patapsco zephyrs tear.
Within the graveyard's iron fence, a concrete garden lies.
Long brick paths and grassy patches lead from stone to stone,
and here lies life defeated, where Death triumphant crows,
turning deafened ears toward the moan of mortal cries.
Shall I be a mourner, one whom for the poet cries
and clutches, like a Bible, Edgar's tome of tales still?
The melancholy dreamer who sees raven in the crow,
pressing hand to brow to wipe the pretending tear?
Shall I place my pennies and my grief upon the stone
and whisper prayers of pardon for the one who in dust lies?
I cannot feign emotions and I cannot stomach lies,
even if from Hades should I hear his bootless cries.
Do not think me unfeeling, for my heart's not cast from stone;
I am drawn to the side of his grave and contemplate it still.
Although I neither cry out nor my very clothing tear,
I regret the loss of man and words and rage against the crow.
I seek the path to beauty, as straight as flies the crow,
and peer into my darkest depths. Therein the secret lies:
so sharp and clear the world appears when seen through bitter tear.
From shadows and delusions and nightmares his spirit cries.
The world streaks past but in this graveyard, time stands still
as I reflect upon his life, now carved in stalwart stone.
I will not weep as I repose beside his granite stone;
instead I close my eyes and listen to the callous crow
which from the church's tower calls out, laughing still.
Edgar, it occurs to me your dreams may all be lies,
and yet I long to tread your path. So heed my silent cries--
I give you words, my kindred soul, but not a single tear.
Tear upon tear, no flood can erode stone.
The raucous crow cries
while deep beneath the earth, the still heart lies.
Six Words for Edgar appeared in the Midwest Literary Magazine, October 2010
October 18, 2011
Coffin Hop Web Tour Starts Soon!
Hallowe'en is my favorite time of the year. I love when the weather hovers on the edge of summer heat and winter wind. Here in northeast Pennsylvania, the trees go through costume change after change before coming to rest in stark wooden nudity--and even that has a hauntingly beautiful quality to it, especially in contrast with a clear cobalt sky. It's impossible to take it all in at once--so I end up taking endless photos, trying to capture as much as I can.
You may feel the same way as I do...making this the perfect time for a blog hop.
This year, we have DOZENS of writers and websites participating in the Coffin Hop Web Tour--which means dozens of opportunities for you to meet new people, read new words, and win awesome prizes. You'll want to pace yourself but, don't worry: you've got the whole week to take it all in and capture as much as you can.
Up for grabs here at the Kraftmatic Adjustable Blog:
Nevermore, by Paul Michael Kane. Selected stories and verse by Edgar Allen Poe with accompanying artwork by some of the most creative comic book artists in the industry. I picked this beauty up at the Baltimore Comic Con this summer.
ARC of M is for Monster, compiled by John Prescott. An alphabetical anthology of abominations. My "Kamikaze Blonde" appears as the letter A story. Winner gets to see what makes it an ARC and learns why I spent a month screaming. It's funny--now.
Some nifty thing I'll pick up at Universal Studios next week. Yep, I'm spending Hallowe'en in Florida, far away from the rainy cold of Pee Yay. My blood hasn't made the winter switch yet, despite my cold-blooded nature.
I know some of the other blogs are going to have challenging contests...but not here. This'll be easy to enter. I'll be on vacation, remember?
Visit Coffin Hop Web Tour to see the list of hosts, each of whom will be leaving their porch light on for you...but first:
the gory details:
1) HAVE A SPOOKY FUN TIME!
2) INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND SPREAD THE WORD!
3) THIS TOUR STARTS: Monday, October 24, 2011 at Midnight (PST)
THIS TOUR ENDS: Monday, October 31, 2011 at Midnight (PST)
Winners will be drawn and posted November 1, 2011
4) MEET AND MINGLE WITH THE AUTHORS! EXPERIENCE A NEW DESTINATION AT EVERY STOP! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY SITE'S CONTEST AND BE ENTERED FOR CHANCES TO WIN MULTIPLE PRIZES! EVERY BLOG VISITED IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!
5) PARTICIPATION AT ALL SITES IS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. THE MORE SITES YOU HOP, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING PRIZES.
6) DID I MENTION TO HAVE A SPOOKY FUN TIME?
***Authors have full discretion to choose an alternate winner in the event any winner fails to claim their prize(s) within 72 hours of their name being posted or after notification of win, whichever comes first. Anyone who participates in this tour is subject to these rules***
You may feel the same way as I do...making this the perfect time for a blog hop.
This year, we have DOZENS of writers and websites participating in the Coffin Hop Web Tour--which means dozens of opportunities for you to meet new people, read new words, and win awesome prizes. You'll want to pace yourself but, don't worry: you've got the whole week to take it all in and capture as much as you can.
Up for grabs here at the Kraftmatic Adjustable Blog:
Nevermore, by Paul Michael Kane. Selected stories and verse by Edgar Allen Poe with accompanying artwork by some of the most creative comic book artists in the industry. I picked this beauty up at the Baltimore Comic Con this summer.
ARC of M is for Monster, compiled by John Prescott. An alphabetical anthology of abominations. My "Kamikaze Blonde" appears as the letter A story. Winner gets to see what makes it an ARC and learns why I spent a month screaming. It's funny--now.
Some nifty thing I'll pick up at Universal Studios next week. Yep, I'm spending Hallowe'en in Florida, far away from the rainy cold of Pee Yay. My blood hasn't made the winter switch yet, despite my cold-blooded nature.
I know some of the other blogs are going to have challenging contests...but not here. This'll be easy to enter. I'll be on vacation, remember?
Visit Coffin Hop Web Tour to see the list of hosts, each of whom will be leaving their porch light on for you...but first:
the gory details:
1) HAVE A SPOOKY FUN TIME!
2) INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND SPREAD THE WORD!
3) THIS TOUR STARTS: Monday, October 24, 2011 at Midnight (PST)
THIS TOUR ENDS: Monday, October 31, 2011 at Midnight (PST)
Winners will be drawn and posted November 1, 2011
4) MEET AND MINGLE WITH THE AUTHORS! EXPERIENCE A NEW DESTINATION AT EVERY STOP! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY SITE'S CONTEST AND BE ENTERED FOR CHANCES TO WIN MULTIPLE PRIZES! EVERY BLOG VISITED IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!
5) PARTICIPATION AT ALL SITES IS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. THE MORE SITES YOU HOP, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING PRIZES.
6) DID I MENTION TO HAVE A SPOOKY FUN TIME?
***Authors have full discretion to choose an alternate winner in the event any winner fails to claim their prize(s) within 72 hours of their name being posted or after notification of win, whichever comes first. Anyone who participates in this tour is subject to these rules***
October 14, 2011
Silence by Edgar Allen Poe
There are some qualities- some incorporate things,
That have a double life, which thus is made
A type of that twin entity which springs
From matter and light, evinced in solid and shade.
There is a two-fold Silence- sea and shore-
Body and soul. One dwells in lonely places,
Newly with grass o'ergrown; some solemn graces,
Some human memories and tearful lore,
Render him terrorless: his name's "No More."
He is the corporate Silence: dread him not!
No power hath he of evil in himself;
But should some urgent fate (untimely lot!)
Bring thee to meet his shadow (nameless elf,
That haunteth the lone regions where hath trod
No foot of man,) commend thyself to God!
That have a double life, which thus is made
A type of that twin entity which springs
From matter and light, evinced in solid and shade.
There is a two-fold Silence- sea and shore-
Body and soul. One dwells in lonely places,
Newly with grass o'ergrown; some solemn graces,
Some human memories and tearful lore,
Render him terrorless: his name's "No More."
He is the corporate Silence: dread him not!
No power hath he of evil in himself;
But should some urgent fate (untimely lot!)
Bring thee to meet his shadow (nameless elf,
That haunteth the lone regions where hath trod
No foot of man,) commend thyself to God!
October 12, 2011
Bleeding Hearts: Cover Unveiled!
I am blessed. There is no other possible explanation. Why else would Pink Narcissus Press have given my book such a gorgeous face?
Without further ado, I give you...my cover.
My urban fantasy will be released in early 2012. Isn't that cover splendid? Thanks, Duncan Eagleson! You done me proud and I humbly bow before thee.
Take a moment to learn more about my artist (yes, I used the possessive on purpose.) Visit http://eaglesondesign.com to see his portfolio.
Without further ado, I give you...my cover.
My urban fantasy will be released in early 2012. Isn't that cover splendid? Thanks, Duncan Eagleson! You done me proud and I humbly bow before thee.
Take a moment to learn more about my artist (yes, I used the possessive on purpose.) Visit http://eaglesondesign.com to see his portfolio.
October 7, 2011
Halloween: Show Your Paranormality
I have a new Twitter story up. Who is your favorite creature: vampire, werewolf, or zombie? Maybe something more sinister?
View "Halloween: Perfect Excuse to Show Your Paranormal Side" on Storify
View "Halloween: Perfect Excuse to Show Your Paranormal Side" on Storify
September 26, 2011
Coffin Hop Web Tour (October 24-31, 2011)
Fellow author Julie Jansen has organized a blog hop for horror authors...
and enlisted the talents of the seriously-spooky Axel Howerton...
to create these amazing web badges.
FREAKING SWEET STUFF.
The blogs are going to be freaking sweet, too. Join me and many other authors when we leave the porch lights on for you--let's do some trick-or-treating in the blogosphere.
Cooking up some tasty treats for you all...you'll meet some fantastic authors, hear about their work, and even win some prizes if you're really lucky.
This blog entry, however, was just because I wanted to show off this nifty art. I like pretty things.
Spread the word and join us for the creepiest blog hop ever.
and enlisted the talents of the seriously-spooky Axel Howerton...
to create these amazing web badges.
FREAKING SWEET STUFF.
The blogs are going to be freaking sweet, too. Join me and many other authors when we leave the porch lights on for you--let's do some trick-or-treating in the blogosphere.
Cooking up some tasty treats for you all...you'll meet some fantastic authors, hear about their work, and even win some prizes if you're really lucky.
This blog entry, however, was just because I wanted to show off this nifty art. I like pretty things.
Spread the word and join us for the creepiest blog hop ever.
September 12, 2011
Are you *really* ready for NaNoWriMo?
********** PERMISSION TO FORWARD GRANTED **********
Pennwriters Inc. brings you...
PREPPING FOR NaNoWriMo with SUSAN MEIER: Online Course
INSTRUCTOR: Susan Meier
DATE: October 1 – October 31, 2011
REGISTER: http://tinyurl.com/PennwritersCourse201110
(LIMITED CLASS SIZE. Enroll now.)
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Everybody believes NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month, which runs every November at http://www.nanowrimo.org) is a race against the clock, a fight with procrastination and inertia. In some ways it is. But once you're in the thick of things, you'll discover NaNo is really all about ideas. Writers don't stall because they're lazy. Writers stall because they don't know what to write next.
The month BEFORE NaNo, get proven tips from Susan Meier—the author of almost 50 books for Harlequin and Silhouette—and let her take you through several different ways to examine the story you want to write, to capture the natural scene possibilities within your idea, to generate new ideas, and to push yourself through the most grueling, but fun, month you will spend this year! Lessons include:
* The List of 20 (How to generate ideas quickly so you have little downtime when your natural ideas run out)
* Turning a "Want" into "Need" (How does knowing why you're writing this book provide you with both energy to write and ideas for your story?)
* The One-Paragraph Story Summary (Say it succinctly…3 kinds of one-paragraph story summaries: back cover blurb, core story question, and growth paragraph)
* Could, Might, Must and Should List (How to capture ideas that spring up naturally)
* Storyboard Versus Synopsis (Breaking your idea down into manageable bites)
* The Psychology of Pushing through the Hard Times (What to do when you get stuck)
* The Psychology of a Draft (Push, push, push!)
* What Are You Doing in December? (Editing tips)
Discover how to get the most out of NaNo and write a publishable novel. LIMITED CLASS SIZE. Enroll now.
REGISTER: http://tinyurl.com/PennwritersCourse201110
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Susan Meier is the author of over 45 books for Harlequin and Silhouette and one of Guideposts' Grace Chapel Inn series books, THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS. Her books have been finalists for Reviewers Choice Awards, National Reader's Choice Awards and Cataromance.com Reviewer's Choice Awards and nominated for Romantic Times awards. Her book, HER BABY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS won the traditional category in the 2009 More Than Magic contest. HER PREGNANCY SURPRISE, her first release for the Harlequin Romance line, made both Walden's Bestseller List for Series Romance and Bookscan. MAID FOR THE MILLIONAIRE, MAID FOR THE SINGLE DAD, and COUNTRY TWIN CHRISTMAS are her 2010 releases. Susan loves to teach as much as she loves to write and is a popular speaker at RWA chapter conferences. Can This Manuscript Be Saved? and Journey Steps, Taking the Train to Somewhere! are her most requested workshops. Her article "How to Write a Category Romance" appeared in 2003 Writer's Digest Novel and Short Story Markets. Susan also gives online workshops for various groups and her articles regularly appear in RWA chapter newsletters. For more information about Susan Meier, visit http://www.susanmeier.com.
* Subscribe to our announcement list for email on our latest online courses!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PennwritersOnlineCourses
*****
* For more information on this course, contact Laura M. Campbell, Online Courses Coordinator.
To mail in your registration and payment, send payment at least one week before the course starts using the mail form at this link.
--
Laura M. Campbell
Pennwriters Online Courses Coordinator
Website: Online Portfolio
Blog: Writing Unleashed
Facebook: Laura M. Campbell
Twitter: @LCWordsmith
LinkedIn: Laura M. Campbell
PREPARING FOR NaNoWriMo Online Course
http://tinyurl.com/PennwritersCourse201110
Pennwriters Inc. brings you...
PREPPING FOR NaNoWriMo with SUSAN MEIER: Online Course
INSTRUCTOR: Susan Meier
DATE: October 1 – October 31, 2011
REGISTER: http://tinyurl.com/PennwritersCourse201110
(LIMITED CLASS SIZE. Enroll now.)
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Everybody believes NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month, which runs every November at http://www.nanowrimo.org) is a race against the clock, a fight with procrastination and inertia. In some ways it is. But once you're in the thick of things, you'll discover NaNo is really all about ideas. Writers don't stall because they're lazy. Writers stall because they don't know what to write next.
The month BEFORE NaNo, get proven tips from Susan Meier—the author of almost 50 books for Harlequin and Silhouette—and let her take you through several different ways to examine the story you want to write, to capture the natural scene possibilities within your idea, to generate new ideas, and to push yourself through the most grueling, but fun, month you will spend this year! Lessons include:
* The List of 20 (How to generate ideas quickly so you have little downtime when your natural ideas run out)
* Turning a "Want" into "Need" (How does knowing why you're writing this book provide you with both energy to write and ideas for your story?)
* The One-Paragraph Story Summary (Say it succinctly…3 kinds of one-paragraph story summaries: back cover blurb, core story question, and growth paragraph)
* Could, Might, Must and Should List (How to capture ideas that spring up naturally)
* Storyboard Versus Synopsis (Breaking your idea down into manageable bites)
* The Psychology of Pushing through the Hard Times (What to do when you get stuck)
* The Psychology of a Draft (Push, push, push!)
* What Are You Doing in December? (Editing tips)
Discover how to get the most out of NaNo and write a publishable novel. LIMITED CLASS SIZE. Enroll now.
REGISTER: http://tinyurl.com/PennwritersCourse201110
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Susan Meier is the author of over 45 books for Harlequin and Silhouette and one of Guideposts' Grace Chapel Inn series books, THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS. Her books have been finalists for Reviewers Choice Awards, National Reader's Choice Awards and Cataromance.com Reviewer's Choice Awards and nominated for Romantic Times awards. Her book, HER BABY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS won the traditional category in the 2009 More Than Magic contest. HER PREGNANCY SURPRISE, her first release for the Harlequin Romance line, made both Walden's Bestseller List for Series Romance and Bookscan. MAID FOR THE MILLIONAIRE, MAID FOR THE SINGLE DAD, and COUNTRY TWIN CHRISTMAS are her 2010 releases. Susan loves to teach as much as she loves to write and is a popular speaker at RWA chapter conferences. Can This Manuscript Be Saved? and Journey Steps, Taking the Train to Somewhere! are her most requested workshops. Her article "How to Write a Category Romance" appeared in 2003 Writer's Digest Novel and Short Story Markets. Susan also gives online workshops for various groups and her articles regularly appear in RWA chapter newsletters. For more information about Susan Meier, visit http://www.susanmeier.com.
* Subscribe to our announcement list for email on our latest online courses!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PennwritersOnlineCourses
*****
* For more information on this course, contact Laura M. Campbell, Online Courses Coordinator.
To mail in your registration and payment, send payment at least one week before the course starts using the mail form at this link.
--
Laura M. Campbell
Pennwriters Online Courses Coordinator
Website: Online Portfolio
Blog: Writing Unleashed
Facebook: Laura M. Campbell
Twitter: @LCWordsmith
LinkedIn: Laura M. Campbell
PREPARING FOR NaNoWriMo Online Course
http://tinyurl.com/PennwritersCourse201110
September 7, 2011
New Author Page on Facebook
My Facebook friend list is climbing toward the 5000 mark--and that means it will close out to new friends. Boo!
I don't want to miss out on new friends and new connections. With that in mind, I started an Author Page. Hopefully it will help me keep in touch better!
Please take just a moment to Like my page...and we can me friends forever. Mu-hahahahahaha. (cue creepy organ music)
I don't want to miss out on new friends and new connections. With that in mind, I started an Author Page. Hopefully it will help me keep in touch better!
Please take just a moment to Like my page...and we can me friends forever. Mu-hahahahahaha. (cue creepy organ music)
