New Post--Essential Herbs

Essential Herbs for your Italian Pantry

All Hail the Possibilites of 2008!

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. ~Bill Vaughan

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. ~Hal Borland

Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past. ~Henry Ward Beecher

The Old Year has gone. Let the dead past bury its own dead. The New Year has taken possession of the clock of time. All hail the duties and possibilities of the coming twelve months! ~Edward Payson Powell

I think it is possibility in what we can accomplish that keeps us going when it seems tough. At least it is for me. I spent a lot of time reading blogs this morning, reading about people's successes last year because they believed they could accomplish something great. And they did. Instead of goals this year I am doing a dream board, what experiences do I want to have in 2008? The experiences that a college student has, the experiences of travel, creative experiences, peaceful experiences. Enjoy the day off today.
Happy New Year's Eve.

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

New Anti-Ageing Article Posted

Anti-Ageing Foods

Watch Out for Low Flying Deadlines!

I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.
Douglas Adams

December 30th...it's hard to believe another year has gone by...check your December 31 deadlines, there are a lot of contests, submissions etc. due at the end of the year. Do you have what it takes to eek another submission out? I do, I have one more I must do before tomorrow.
I'm not a big fan of New Year's Eve, I never have been. I'd much rather stay home, watch a movie and go to bed early, then go out and celebrate.. I am however a HUGE FAN of New Year's Day. Who doesn't love the idea of a clean slate, starting over, brand new goals, exciting adventures. I can't wait. 2008 will be a great year.



Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Writing the Map of You Creatively

This is pretty much what journals are all about, at least to me. I knew as I wrote them that even though they provided an excellent place for brain (and heart, and psyche) dump, they were mainly a map of me.
Colleen Wainwright

Do you journal? Many writers do-often years before they actually decide to write for a living. In my twenties I carried around notebooks, at first they were just travel logs, menus, words I liked, short poems but now when I read them they are so much more. They are a map of me. Years later, I used one as a start for a short story. I haven't journaled much lately I guess because I use the Writing Nag as my journal but if I get accepted for college in January I think I will begin again. But my 2008 Journal will also include ephemera.My paper collection is getting out of hand it needs a home, what better place than with words.

My notebooks now are more like lists...The 5 Things I Must Do Today!! I write and when I look and I still haven't done them and it's dated 2005 I cringe a little. Before the end of 2007, I think I'll delve a little deeper to my 2005 notebook and see what I've procrastinated for 2 years and try to figure out why?

I just started reading The Van Gogh Blues: The Creative Person's Path Through Depression in preparation for my part of Dr. Maisel's Book Tour in February right here on the Writing Nag. Already only 40 pages in I'm fascinated. Creative people got a lot going on. Today, take a look at a blog that focuses on the journal, lots of good information, prompts etc. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Silences Around Things

It is the job of poetry to clean up our word-clogged reality by creating silences around things. ~Stephen Mallarme


I am posting my poem from yesterday a little self-consciously because it's not finished but rough drafts are just stepping stones to published pieces.

Art Class

In the gray-green room
over the school cafeteria
you ask us to paint our gardens
At first there is just rich brown ochre
layered with a palette knife

revealing fingerling potatoes
pungent gloves of purple garlic
and feathery fronds of carrots

Stopping to marvel
at the depth of the earth
that springs from the canvas
you find you can

Pluck a heirloom tomato
drizzle it with
the first-pressing of olive oil
clean and clear
sprinkle it with coarse
sea salt and eat it
over the black and white
linoleum

as the other students
many better artists
just stare with
brushes in hand
as the juice
runs down your chin

Writing Nag 2007

I just omitted one word, heritage.

Today, think about how your poem can create a silence for your readers. Will it be read again and again? Have you created a moment that the reader wants to experience again? Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Enemies to Creativity

And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. ~Sylvia Plath

Do you have creativity enemies? Self-doubt, depression, resistance, fear...all of these kick in when we want to create but feel overwhelmed, paralyzed, scared...and so you choose flight. A natural response when faced with overwhelming fear. And yet there are others who have none of that, they want to create and they create. The following books have helped me understand this resistance and work with my fear to move ahead.
The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity [10th Anniversary Edition]
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
Fearless Creating: A Step-by-Step Guide To Starting and Completing Your Work of Art

I received two seed catalogs yesterday and thought they would offer inspiration for a gardening poem. Today using the following words step back from the winter and imagine spring. Here's your list.

find
drizzle
heirloom
fingerling
clean
pungent
paint
classic
heritage
marvel
better
feathery

If you write a poem please post it in the comment section. Mine will be posted tomorrow. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

New Search Engine Launches Monday

search engine

In other words...are you done with Google? If fellow bloggers are the ones that consistently find you better websites and blogs you might be interested in this. Will the community create a better search engine than Google, MSN, Yahoo? According to earthfrisk they have developed a search engine that takes the best of the old search engines with less spam. They also have a ranking system and offer toolbars for Internet Explorer and Firefox. What do you think? For many bloggers Google's pagerank has not been a fair ranking system, I'm curious to see what earthfrisk does. Take a look at earthfrisk's new website for further details.

Steeped in Sage and Onion

“There never was such a goose. Bob said he didn't believe there ever was such a goose cooked. Its tenderness and flavor, size and cheapness were the themes of universal admiration. Eded out by apple-sauce and mashed potatoes, it was a sufficient dinner for the whole family; indeed, as Mrs. Cratchit said with great delight (surveying one small atom of a bone upon the dish) they hadn't ate it all at last! Yet every one had had enough, and the youngest Cratchits in particular were steeped in sage and onion to the eyebrows.”
Charles Dickens (1812-1870). 'A Christmas Carol'

It was a very good Christmas...family, friends, food and wonderful gifts. It's hard to recover from all the festivities and get back to work but there are only 6 more days to achieve your writing goals for 2007. For me that's one more story to edit and get in the post because this particular magazine doesn't take email. What about you? Have you procrastinated something all year? Could you set your mind to it and get it together before New Year's Eve?

Today, check Duotrope Digest's Theme Calendar for the last submissions for the year or Google "writing contest December 31, 2007". If you don't have anything ready pick a January 31 goal and start writing. Remember that half the battle is starting. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Viva Las Vegas!

Hotel Reservations

It's not even the end of 2007 and I already have seven trips planned for 2008. Yesterday all the girls gave my mother-in-law a trip to Vegas for her Christmas present and of course I agreed to go. As always, I will be doing all my travel shopping online so I was pleased to see another hotel reservation site is now live. Not only do they offer GOOD discounts on motels and hotels but they also have discounts on vacation rentals, resorts and more. I checked for my trip to Ireland and yes, they do offer discounts for worldwide travel... I think I have a few links to send my family. Definitely a good website to check out if you're starting to plan your 2008 vacations.

What is Christmas?

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.
Agnes M. Pharo

Holiday Wishes

I'm taking a 3-day vacation from blogging. Happy Holidays. Now get back to celebrating the season.

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

I'll be back on December 26th.

My Top 3 Tips for Tighter Writing

“Be yourself. Above all, let who you are, what you are, what you believe, shine through every sentence you write, every piece you finish.”
John Jakes


Another badge of honor today (rejection) but another submission as well. I recently entered a very short essay contest 250 words. I wrote it quickly and it turned out to be 400 words, so I had to whittle it down to 250. As I edited it I realized how much better it was at 250 words because it didn't have any extraneous words. Are you guilty of this...adding too much filler and not enough substance. Writing tight allows you to filter out the extra and let each sentence shine.

1. Freewrite or write quickly on your subject and then edit.
2. Write shorter sentences. Too many long sentences will bore a reader. Variety makes for interesting reading.
3. Watch for unnecessary adverbs or adjectives.

Need more tips.

Today, take a piece of writing that's ready for editing and apply some or all of these tips and then read your word aloud. Is it stronger, tighter writing? What you don't have a piece of writing ready for edit? Set the timer for 15 minutes and write about the best Christmas present you ever received. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Writing Nag's 2008 Blogging Goals

When I started blogging six months ago at Writing Nag I never thought I'd be able to blog daily but finding a focus for my blog changed everything. Writing Daily. I used my blog to practice what I preached. If I was at least blogging daily I was writing daily but then a funny thing happened, I was at the computer anyways so I started finishing work and yes submitting it. I began publishing pieces that languished on my hard drive for years, I participated in online critique groups, worked with a creativity coach, started a new business, and made steps towards my final goal of a MFA in Creative Writing. I also made some good friends in the blogging community.All because of my simple little writing blog. Next year I hope to bring you even more inspiration, motivation and writing prompts so you too can achieve your writing goals.

2008 Blogging Goals

*Google PageRank of 5
*Alexa Rank under 300,000
*5 Posts Per Week
*Increase my RSS Subscribers to 300
*Technorati Rank under 70,000
*1000 Daily Page Views

How you can help?

*Link to Writing Nag on your blog
*Subscribe to my RSS Feed
*Comment on my posts
*Forward the link to your writing buddies
*Vote for Me on Blog for a Year
*Stumble a post you find interesting
*Join my communities


Thanks to all who commented, linked and supported Writing Nag's goals for 2007.
Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Enya's Silent Night in Irish

The 3 Lessons I Learned About Writing in 2007

If I fall asleep with a pen in my hand, don't remove it - I might be writing in my dreams. ~Danzae Pace

I've met some pretty amazing writing mentors this year and each year I feel more comfortable in this writing world. Every conference I attend, every class, every post brings me more information and steps closer to my goals. And the secret is...there's no secret. The successful writers in my life all pretty much say the same thing.

1. Write every day.

2. Don't sell yourself short. Don't work for free or close to free. This was a hard one for me to learn and I'm still struggling with this. If you have enough clips you don't need to give away your work. No other profession gives away their work until they're good enough.

3. Don't just write what you know...write about what you're interested in and/or passionate about. My interest has always been writing, the craft of it. Hence this blog.

If you'd like to share what you've learned this year, please post it in the comment section. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Sweeney Todd-Demon Barber of Fleet Street

When Johnny Depp started on 21 Jump Street it was hard to imagine that this young actor would develop such a serious acting career but it seems like he has tried every type of role at least once.
I've been a fan of Johnny Depp since he played the title role in director Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands and it's obvious Depp and Burton have developed a great working relationship because together they went on to do Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and the animated Corpse Bride.
But Johnny Depp also has his serious, sensitive side. One of my favorite roles was his portrayal of Gilbert in What's Eating Gilbert Grape. He played the brother of a mentally challenged teenager and the son of a morbidly obese women who struggles with his family when he finds love. Johnny Depp has the ability to be funny and serious at the same time. His eccentric role in Edward Scissorhands is also a sensitive love story somewhat based on Frankenstein but add Burton's props and makeup and you have a very different character. It's interesting to me how Johnny Depp has the ability to own each role, I think even Disney was blown away by his portrayal of Jack in Pirates of the Caribbean. It's very obvious that Depp takes each role as a study in character.

This Christmas Burton and Depp present their sixth collaboration. A screen version of the musical Sweeney Todd-The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. With a cast that includes Burton's wife Helena Bonham-Carter this should be another successful pairing. I'm looking forward to Burton's special blend of macabre humor along with Depp's wit.With 4 Golden Globe Nominations for Best Picture I think this could be the movie of the holiday season.

You can also visit Sweeney Todd on MySpace or visit the official Sweeney Todd movie site

A Cabbage with a College Education

Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.
Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)

I didn't post yesterday because I was finishing up my creative writing packet for admissions. I'm applying for college after many years of talking about it and thinking about it. In three weeks, I'll know whether or not I'll be accepted for the Spring 2008 semester to finally finish my degree. Scary and exciting at the same time. 2008 is already filling up with interesting new learning experiences. In February I'll be in Arizona for a writing conference, April is the Pikes Peak Writers Conference and in May my uncle and I are planning a trip to Ireland for Listowel Writers Week.
What do you have planned in 2008 to further your education as a writer?
Today make a plan for learning in 2008. Take an online class or a local workshop.Many of the conferences I attend are on scholarship or volunteer hours. If you're serious about learning the craft of writing you will find a way. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Firecakes and monkey bread

There is a communion of more than our bodies when bread is broken and wine drunk. And that is my answer, when people ask me: Why do you write about hunger, and not wars or love?"
M.F.K. Fisher in 'The Gastronomical Me'

I opened my first restaurant when I was eight in my parents kitchen. I served Fluffernutters and peanut butter sandwiches. No jelly. I didn't like jelly. No hot food, I wasn't allowed to use the stove. Although my only customers were my brother, sister and my cousins like most first time restaurant owners I was overwhelmed and it quickly folded.I was thirty-three before I opened my next one, unfortunately no Fluffernutters are on the menu. East-coasters know there is no substitute for true Fluff from Lynn, Massachusetts.

I just found this wonderful site Food Time Line. A great reference for writers, food writers and history buffs with interesting links about the history and introduction of foods into our world.

Today check out this site and then write about a new food discovery. Firecakes were Civil War food and monkey bread, a sometimes sweet layered yeast bread that pulled apart, became popular in the eighties. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Best Food Writing 2007 (Best Food Writing)
American Food Writing: An Anthology: With Classic Recipes
Will Write for Food: The Complete Guide to Writing Cookbooks, Restaurant Reviews, Articles, Memoir, Fiction and More

Protecting Your Work

Sleep on your writing; take a walk over it; scrutinize it of a morning; review it of an afternoon; digest it after a meal; let it sleep in your drawer a twelvemonth; never venture a whisper about it to your friend, if he be an author especially. ~A. Bronson Alcott

Amos Bronson Alcott, the father of Louisa May Alcott was a well-known educator and transcendentalist.In the quote Amos reminds writers how important their work is but the last line is very telling. It makes me wonder if in one of his discussions he said a little more than he should have. When we are passionate about our writing we want to tell everyone, it's hard to keep it to ourselves. Another reason Amos might have cautioned this is he knew that once you whisper about your work to a friend, it's out there you know longer feel the need to write it. Has this ever happened to you? You have a great idea for a article or a book and then you tell someone and then your great idea doesn't seem so remarkable anymore.Contain your enthusiasm for the pages. Now get back to work!
Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Kill the Monster...Fling Him to the Public!

Writing is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement. Then it becomes a mistress, then it becomes a master, then it becomes a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster and fling him to the public.
Winston Churchill

I love the image of your work being thrown to the masses. Especially if you have a piece of work that doesn't want to leave. For years I had a short story that I couldn't get rid of...I edited it so many times I started hating it. My critique group was done with it.Just send it out they implored me and I sent it to writing contest after writing contest. The last contest I sent it to I paid for critiques, two of them in fact and wouldn't you know it each judge had a complete opposite view of the work. One said it was ready and publishable, the other said it needs a lot more work. Finally I resolved myself to kill the monster, I was done. It had haunted me long enough. I sent it out to every literary journal I could think of and forgot about it.
Yes, it got published but at that point I really didn't care. I had just about beaten it to death. When is it time to let go?

Today, find all of your monsters and open a new folder. Place the monsters there. Resolve to fling them to the public in January or else. Don't let them get in the way of your new work. When I was beating my short story up I had little time for new work. Be realistic one of your monsters may never be ready to be flung, it doesn't deserve anymore of your time and energy. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Stuck for ideas?

*If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk. ~Raymond Inmon

*I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in. ~John Muir, 1913, in L.M. Wolfe, ed., John Muir, John of the Mountains: The Unpublished Journals of John Muir, 1938

*Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow. ~Henry David Thoreau

In October, I sprained my ankle bad. Tore ligaments, swelled to four times its size, couldn't walk...it wasn't pretty. And that meant my three-times-a-week gym habit and my twice-weekly hikes didn't happen. At first it was a welcome break, but then depression set in. I tried to find other means of exercise that would stimulate my brain. Nothing. So I'm happy to say two months later I'm pretty much healed and I've started to walk again. And what's happening? Lots of ideas are crowding my brain, poems are being written effortlessly and I'm ready to tackle my manuscript again. Since I've moved to Colorado hiking has become another passion. I used to think hikers were somewhat strange how could it be fun walking up and down the mountain. Pretty boring. And it took a while for me to understand but now I get it...and I look forward to it. A song-writing friend feels the same.When he is alone hiking the ideas seem to rush forward with out much effort. He's climbing and then...the next line comes to him.

Today, take a hike...or a brisk walk for at least twenty minutes. Not only will you feel better because your serotonin levels will rise, but you may just break through a creative barrier. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Walking in this World: The Practical Art of Creativity
Secrets of Serotonin: The Natural Hormone That Curbs Food and Alcohol Cravings, Elevates Your Mood, Reduces Pain, and Boosts Energy

To Get You In the Mood for the Holidays

Just let me enjoy the poem...

The poet is in the end probably more afraid of the dogmatist who wants to extract the message from the poem and throw the poem away than he is of the sentimentalist who says, "Oh, just let me enjoy the poem." ~Robert Penn Warren, "The Themes of Robert Frost," Hopwood Lecture, 1947

I think I've always loved poetry except in high school when the teacher wanted to dissect a poem and often would ask "what do you think the poet meant?" Does it matter? I wanted to say but I kept quiet. And when I did speak up I was often wrong, in her eyes. Maybe a poem about a missing hat is just that. They missed their fedora they left on a Greyhound bus in El Paso, Texas on a February day, maybe it was a hat they bought with their first paycheck or maybe it was his grandfather's hat and it just fit his head so nicely. The poet wanted to acknowlege this.
Sure some poems go farther than that and there's symbolism and deep meaning but some are just words so a poet remembers a special day, a moment, a hat.

Today write a poem about a special item that you lost and can never be replaced. Mine is a painting my aunt painted, she has passed and the painting was left on a bus in London in 1988. Irreplaceable, I need to memorialize it. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Are Your Characters Too Real?

Rule one of reading other people's stories is that whenever you say 'well that's not convincing' the author tells you that's the bit that wasn't made up. This is because real life is under no obligation to be convincing.
Neil Gaiman

I have met many characters in my years of restaurant work...some I have tried weaving into short stories...every time I try to do this someone catches me and says that character is stereotypical, I used to try and defend myself tell them the whole story about Jack or Charlotte but the truth is made up characters and situations read better. That is not to say you can't glean bits and pieces from people you meet. But if you try to take too much the truth seems well untrue...My main character in my manuscript is made up of some of my characteristics and characteristics that I wish I had. How do you develop your characters? Are they all fiction?
Today, think about the characters in your stories or manuscript are they fleshed out? Or do they lay flat like paper dolls? Read James Kelly's article on writing character and then Get Back to Work!
Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Snow on Snow, Snow on Snow

In the bleak midwinter Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak midwinter, Long ago.
Christina Rossetti (1830 - 1894), A Christmas Carol

Yesterday we hiked way above the city it was quiet, we were alone; the normal Sunday hikers took a day off. The snow, light and crystalline covered the paths. The Ponderosa pines and Douglas firs looked like flocked trees in a Christmas tree lot. The blue jays and hawks that we normally encounter were tucked into the trees.Colorado was the first place I ever really saw a snowflake, the snow so dry and powdery you could see the intricate patterns of each one.Growing up in Connecticut the snow was always heavy and wet. Great for building snowmen and igloos. Perfect for snowballs. When we came home my husband decorated the house...my snowmen and women came out of hiding for another holiday season.We listened to holiday music and made soup.

We had a tragedy yesterday in Colorado a shooting in Arvada and Colorado Springs, one that could have been far worse if not for the bravery of a security guard. My heart goes out to the victims and families. At the same time it was unfolding,way above the city as we made paths through the snow, the city looked peaceful.

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

New Post at Live Holistically

Weight Loss After 40

Discovering You're A Writer

I received this beautiful letter this morning, I am posting it with Cathy's permission because I think it will be helpful to other readers/writers who struggle with self-esteem issues. Except for the author of the letter...names have been changed.

Dear Writing Nag,

Hi Just a few moments ago I realized I am a writer!
I have had many people, friends and family tell me so over
the years but I never took them seriously. I never admitted it-ever.
And I realized this because of your blog. :)
Everything about it makes my heart leap for joy.
Right down to the pens and notebooks!
If you came to my apartment you would see books and books,
journals, composition notebooks, folders, more poetry books,
more steno pads, library books, 10 different Bible versions,
pens of all kinds, and writings everywhere. Even on the walls!
Whether I have written it or someone else.
I have been writing since I was 16 and have been told
wow Cathy you should try to get that published.
Ya right I said to myself..it's not that good. In the trash it went.
Self esteem issues have plagued me my whole life (if you haven't noticed)
and if you haven't it's because I have become a master at covering it up.
But, now I can say thanks to you and your blog--I am a writer.
I write day and night..I get up in the middle of the night and write..last night it was 4:30 AM and Molly and I were walking outside listening to the quiet.
Risky and exhilarating all at the same time!
Sometimes I think of things and can't write them down just then and forget
them later on..that is the most frustrating thing of all!
I write mostly truth..I love to write about other people..I love to write about love.
I am trying to write about Sam ..I have been asking him some serious questions the
past couple of days..he hasn't said go jump in a lake or leave me alone yet. He is actually answering my questions. I guess it's because people really do love to talk about and validate their own lives. (as I am doing right now!)I wrote a very,very short story today and a poem. Thanks Writing Nag. Thanks so very much.
Thanks for helping me find the courage to look in the mirror and say Hey! Cathy! You're a freaking writer! And you love it!
Sincerely
Cathy8-)

The Joy of Being Who You Are

Persons of high self-esteem are not driven to make themselves superior to others; they do not seek to prove their value by measuring themselves against a comparative standard. Their joy is being who they are, not in being better than someone else. ~ Nathaniel Branden

A good friend of mine said if you write you're a writer. You don't have to prove it to anyone. I have been writing poetry for years but as I told people "in my secret life I am a poet" it wasn't until I published my first poem eight years ago that I really felt comfortable saying it. I look at other poets in my online critique group with many more published pieces than I have and I say to myself they are real poets, but they may look at people with books published as real poets. In February I will be attending the Desert Nights, Rising Stars Conference in Tempe, Arizona. I received a scholarship to the conference for which I am very grateful. It will give me the opportunity to meet published as well as unpublished poets, short story writers and authors. Some who are very well known and some who are as yet undiscovered.
One of my goals for 2008, is to celebrate my own writing and not hold it up to others. How different would your writing be if you just wrote who you are. No comparisons, no negativity. Today think about who you are. Does that come across in your writing. Is your voice disguised because you are trying to be someone else? Work on your 2008 writing goals. If you feel comfortable share them here in the comment section. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

P.S. Thanks for the beautiful letter Cathy.

Writing Nag's 9 Favorite Gifts for Writers

*Gift Cards- local book stores, coffee houses, computer and office supply stores. But movie or dinner certificates are always very welcome too.

*A Beautiful Pen, my favorites can be found at levenger.com.

*Magazine Subscriptions-sure the obvious ones... The Writer, Writer's Digest but what about a subscription to something they write about a lot...Saveur or Fine Cooking for the food writer, Wired, for the tech writer, or a literary magazine subscription that they just love to read or aspire to be published in. The Sun. Glimmer Train Stories.

*Moleskine journal or another beautiful or practical journal. On my list this year...Email and Websites Journal (Mini-size)

Moleskine Large Plain Notebook Writing Journals Book (Moleskine Notebooks and Calendars)

*Voice Recorder or Head Phones...multi-tasking makes writers happier people.

*Reams of Paper and/or printer cartridges.

*Fancy files to hold acceptances and book contracts. My favorite anything from Cavallini & Company.Botanical Birds 12 File Folders with Vintage Designs Manila Folder Set Plain old manila folders work great for rejections.

*A week of a virtual assistant.

*A spa treatment or massage.
Lovingly,

The Writing Nag

The Randomness of a Good Title

Titles distinguish the mediocre, embarrass the superior, and are disgraced by the inferior.
George Bernard Shaw

I have been reading a lot of poetry lately but I haven't written a poem in two weeks. I'm writing in my head but much of it doesn't go anywhere. I found the Random Title Generator in one of my 3:00 a.m. web sessions. This little program as its name suggests randomly puts words together into titles. If you're stuck for a title for a finished work this just may be what you need.Do you write the title of a story or poem first and then write or do you write the title as an afterthought? My unfinished manuscript isn't titled because I'm struggling with where its going. Would a title help me focus? I wonder...

Today, using the Random Title Generator pick a title and then see where it takes you. Or take the five random titles and mix them up for a very unique title. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Delightful Deliveries-Make the Holiday

Gifts
Before you order your gift baskets check out America's #1 Gift Basket Website.

Press Release:

DelightfulDeliveries.com Recognized as Hot 100 Retail Website

Internet Retailer Ranks Website Among Best in Nation for 2008

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DelightfulDeliveries.com, the premiere Internet Gift Retailer and America’s #1 Gift Basket Website, today announced it has been named one of The Hot 100 Retail Websites for 2008 by leading industry magazine, Internet Retailer. The Hot 100 list represents the best of what retailers are doing online, highlighting innovation and setting the standards in online for what the rest of the industry should be doing.

DelightfulDeliveries.com, a privately-held company, with one of the largest and most unique selections of gourmet gifts, ranked alongside larger sites such as Dell, Nike and Amazon.com, by building its award-winning site on selection, functionality, speed and the complete customer experience. A recent re-design has improved the customer’s shopping experience to make holiday gift-giving easy and enjoyable, including rating and reviews, behavioral recommendations and free shipping offers.

“We are extremely honored to be recognized as a pacesetter in online retailing,” said Eric Lituchy, Founder and CEO of DelightfulDeliveries.com. “We pride ourselves on using the latest technology to make gift-giving fun and easy. Being named among the best in the nation validates we are succeeding in our efforts to deliver the best possible customer experience.”

In addition to making Internet Retailer’s The Hot 100 list for 2008, DelightfulDeliveries.com was recently recognized by Inc. Magazine as part of its Inc. 5000, which highlights the fastest growing private companies.

DelightfulDeliveries.com offers over 2000 unique and delicious gifts from America’s best brands to the finest boutique shops. Consumers can easily shop the site by gift or food category, occasion, type and best-seller. Corporate gift-givers can choose from hundreds of customized gourmet treats.

For additional information, and to see a complete selection of gifts available, visit www.DelightfulDeliveries.com.

About Delightful Deliveries

DelightfulDeliveries.com is an award-winning website that began in 1998 and quickly established itself as one of the premier Internet gift retailers. Its mission is to bring great products to gift-givers, while providing world-class service. The company selects its offerings from a broad variety of fine food gift products for consumers and for corporate gifts, and gathers them in one place to make the selection process quick and simple.

Tech Bargains To Be Found

It used to be that all the best deals for tech could be found by studying the Sunday circulars and comparing all the big box stores. Then most of the big box stores went to "if you find a better price we'll match it". That's good if you want to spend your time going to each store and waiting until you find the lowest price and then driving around, waiting in line and hoping it's in stock. With Christmas in 3 weeks, the panic sets in for most buyers and they end up paying more than they need to.

Even though I can usually wait for the latest and the greatest tech toy or tool I do want to know what's out there so I can plan accordingly. At Tech Bargains they do all of the work for you.If you're looking for the best price you can subscribe to their RSS feed including the option of mobile web wages and mobile feeds to get the deal information as it happens.
The site also compares products with reviews and you can sign up for their email newsletter to find the best deals of the week. Set up a Deal Alert and you will be notified of deals that fit your interests. You won't miss out on the coupons either. Coupons including dell coupons and rebates that are usually limited to the stores can be found online. The website is updated everyday...yes even on the weekends when most websites are quiet and their are search tabs on every page so you can find what you're looking for quickly.This morning I just found another camera that just hit my wishlist.

Hemingway's Home

Maybe I'm not the normal traveler but I really love tours. I love to be driven around and have local people tell me why their city is so wonderful and I want to learn all the trivia about the city. I want to know if the hotel is haunted or if the church on the corner of Main was built by early Spanish settlers. I want to eat where the locals eat. Some people like to wander around aimlessly and discover something wonderful, that's good too but with my bad sense of direction I need a tour guide.
Trusted Tours and Attractions offers discounted sightseeing tours in Key West,San Diego and Savannah.
I'm planning a trip to Key West this winter, when Colorado is buried in snow and I can't get warm I want to eat Key Lime pie, visit Papa Hemingway's home, shop the antique shops and art galleries and bask in the sun. Maybe the tour will inspire me to write about the city where Hemingway lived for 10 years. I think planning a trip is just what I need to get through another snow day.
If you sign up for the newsletter you are automatically entered to win 4 free tickets to tours in a city of your choice. Offer ends Friday, December 14th, 2007. Good luck!

Inner Music of Words

To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it's about, but the inner music the words make. ~Truman Capote, McCall's, November 1967

Although I had big plans to visit Mark Twain's house in Hartford, visiting with family took precedent Happy Birthday Dad! and we had a wonderful time before and after the big birthday surprise party. Our last night we went to Santarpio's in Boston which my husband had been trying to go back to for the last 20 years. Simple menu. Grilled lamb and homemade sausage cooked over charcoal and served with hot cherry peppers and Italian bread. And of course the much talked about pizza which was amazing. Just a little insider info if you find yourself in the Boston area.
I wrote a little every day but mostly spent time eating! Getting back in the swing of things I found a blog post from Michelle If you're serious this time about writing what is your life goal? What could you do differently in 2008? How could you change the tide? Read these inspirational posts and write about your plan for 2008. Posts that inspired Michelle's are Priscilla Palmer and Neil Sattin's original challenge.
Now get back to work!

Lovingly and working towards my life goal,
The full of good food Writing Nag

Just sitting here stringing beads

I learned that you should feel when writing, not like Lord Byron on a mountain top, but like child stringing beads in kindergarten, - happy, absorbed and quietly putting one bead on after another.
Barbara Ueland

I'll be back posting tomorrow after my extended vacation on the east coast.
Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

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