I’ll admit, I’ve never done Nanowrimo. I think it’s a great idea—a community of writers, coming together to encourage each other to do the hardest thing a writer faces: putting the words on paper. The timing has never worked out for me, though. For some reason, I’m always in some stage of revision every November. And really, I’m so type-A about my writing schedule that every day of the year…
This week we are talking about writing contests, which is going to be an interesting discussion for me because I’m here to represent the losers. Contests, while presumably wonderful if you win them, or at least receive some attention from them, are not the path to publication for some of us. I’ve entered one writing contest: Pitch Wars. It describes itself this way: Pitch Wars is a contest where published/agented…
This week we’re chatting about our support systems, so I paused for a moment and thought about who I’ve chatted with in the past few days. I texted my two IRL bffs to finalize a date for a summer BBQ. But besides those two lovely ladies, and of course interacting with my family, my week has been mostly bookish encounters. I DM’ed with my mentee from Pitch Wars 2016 as she went…
This Thanksgiving week, the Debutantes are expressing their thanks. Like Crystal mentioned in her post, the acknowledgments at the end of BECOMING BONNIE are going to give some specific shout outs, but on this day of thanks I wanted to acknowledge the fact that this book has been touched by so many wonderful people and groups. While writing a novel can be solitary at times, I’ve been extremely fortunate to…
This week, in honor of National Novel Writing Month (#NanoWriMo), the Debs are talking about our feelings about external challenges, deadlines, writing contests, and more. I’ll just cut to the chase: I’m not doing #NanoWriMo. I like the idea. I do. And really, I thrive on pressure and tight deadlines. True story: I got my first round of edits from my editor in December for BECOMING BONNIE. I had a baby…
Congratulations to Maddie Woods, Sophie Woods, Chris Von Turk, winners of Amy Poeppel’s SMALL ADMISSIONS, as part of our Tag to Win contest series on Facebook. The next contest will begin on 11/17 with a chance to win Tiffany D. Jackson’s ALLEGEDLY. Beginning 9/17, you’ll have the opportunity to win our first Guest Author giveaway: Camille Perri’s fabulous debut novel, THE ASSISTANTS. From the 2017 Debs: Crystal King is finishing up…
Writing is isolating. You know that and I know that. That’s why it’s important to get out in the world once in a while, hob nob with other writerly folks, get a little inspiration, make some friends, than disappear back into the writer cave. Those writer connections will help save you when you need to talk out a complicated plot, rejoice over a book deal, or vent about another rejection. And we’re…
Congratulations to Gaylord Chambers, winner of THE MOMENT OF EVERYTHING, by guest author — and fellow Deb — Shelly King! Check back next Sunday for the winner of the signed copy of EVERY TIME I THINK OF YOU, by this week’s guest author Tracey Garvis Graves … From the 2015 Debs… Colleen Oakley officially passed 10,000 words in her WIP, which is a miracle considering she spends most days…
