Call For Submissions

Journal of Bloglandia

The Middle of Nowhere

“I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth.”
Steve Mcqueen

I let my subscriptions to various magazines expire, too many things to read, school, lack of funds. The one I miss the most is The Sun Magazine. If you haven't read it you can order a copy or a subscription online or just peruse the website to get a feel for the writing style. It is a literary magazine that is a keeper. My back issues sit in a willow basket next to my writing desk. I hope to be published in it one of these days. One of my favorite parts of the magazine is Readers Write. The themes are published online and in the magazine six months in advance. There is no pay for contributing to this section, just fame. The next theme is The Middle of Nowhere, the deadline March 1.
Today,you are in the middle of nowhere in a small hotel. Describe the room you're in and what you see out the window. What do you hear? What do you notice? What details would you write about in the middle of nowhere?

Use this as a warm-up exercise for The Sun submission. The Sun only accepts non-fiction for Readers Write and the competition is fierce but in the Year of the Ox you forge ahead. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag



In the interest of de-cluttering and sharing my love of The Sun I will send a much loved, gently read back copy of The Sun to the first five people who send me their warm-up exercise on In the Middle of Nowhere. Send your exercise as a comment. U.S. only please.

That is to be educated

It has always seemed strange to me that in our endless discussions about education so little stress is laid on the pleasure of becoming an educated person, the enormous interest it adds to life. To be able to be caught up into the world of thought -- that is to be educated. Edith Hamilton

I was very pleased with Obama's speech last night and the emphasis on personal responsibility and education. He asked all Americans to commit to higher learning and encouraged all Americans to pursue at least a high school diploma. What concerns me is the means to pay for higher education. Until we come up with a viable plan, higher education is out of reach for most Americans. And I just saw on this morning's newscast that a Bachelor's Degree doesn't necessarily get you a higher paying job anymore. In our current economy there are many highly educated people that are working minimum wage jobs. Because going back to college was a personal goal of mine I will continue with my plan and hope for a future where education will be valued and funded.
Today, spend 30 minutes writing about a job you had or still have that taught you the most. What characters can you sketch from a good or bad job experience? How has working in a career other than writing shaped your writing life? If you haven't read Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickle and Dimed put it on your reading list. Eye-opening book about working in minimum wage jobs. Now get back to work!

Lovingly continuing on with my education,
Writing Nag

Shrove Tuesday

IHOP proclaimed that today is National Pancake Day but in our house the Tuesday before Lent was always Shrove Tuesday. It was great fun as kids to have breakfast at dinner and I think we understood we could eat as much as we wanted because the next day Lent began.
Many people will be heading to IHOP because they are giving away free short stacks of pancakes in exchange for a donation to the Children's Miracle Network. I think I'll eat oatmeal pancakes at home and donate online. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

It's All Too Much

“Clutter is the disease of American writing. We are a society strangling in unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous frills and meaningless jargon.” William Zinsser

If you believe in this sort of thing that the universe tries to tell you something then my lesson for this month is get rid of all the STUFF. The last month I have been doing taxes and trying to rid my life of clutter. I guess it comes home every tax season when I have to completely rip my office apart to find receipts or I find 5 different files that have the same name or my fiction work is mixed in with my American Express bill. I have gotten better over the years but when I caught the last half of Oprah last week on clutter I think I need to pay attention.
And of course clutter can and does carry over in writing. My goal in January was to get all of my poetry together in one spot one folder, one disc, one place and no, Lauri I didn't accomplish that yet. My thought was that if I got it all together I could see whether I had enough finished, edited work to enter in a chapbook contest or if it was all together I could sit down and go through the Poet's Market and find a home for each poem. But like every habit you try to change you might need to break it down into baby steps. So for 10 minutes every day this week I will find my poems and separate them into three folders on my desktop. Poems Ready for Submission. Poems Needing Editing. Poems Rough Draft. It's similar to the donate, throw out or save piles when you are decluttering.
One of my favorite writing exercises on unnecessary words is from Ursula Le Guin's Steering the Craft. Today, write a paragraph or a page without adjectives or adverbs. It must be descriptive. How do you write a descriptive paragraph without adjectives? It's not easy but it can be done. Now get back to work!
Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

More on Clutter

Unholy Ghost

Unholy Ghost: Writers on Depression by Nell Casey

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Edited by Nell Casey, this collection of twenty-two essays by contemporary American and European writers explores the many faces of depression. Rather than a medical guide of what constitutes depression or a depressive episode these essays vividly portray each writer’s experience of depression.

The link between the depressed person and their family member is explored as Casey includes her personal essay entitled Wish You Were Here. Her essay illuminates the role of caregiver to her sister’s bi-polar depression. Her sister Maud Casey writes a companion essay of the same time period.

Styron’s wife, Rose Styron, explores the husband and wife connection with a personal essay and an excerpt from William Styron’s Darkness Visible vividly illustrates Styron’s mental state. Donald Hall reflects on his relationship with his wife, poet Jane Kenyon’s struggle and his manic episodes months after her death.

In Lauren Slater’s essay, Slater uses a journal form of writing that clearly shows the daily ups and downs of a pregnant woman dealing with her antidepressant medication and the choices she struggled with in keeping her child healthy and her sanity intact.

This anthology would interest anyone who is dealing with his or her own depression or with the depression of a family member. While not all of the essays are uplifting and one even questions the validity of making too much of mental illness; there is a sense that in dealing with the illness through their words the writers have helped themselves as well as the reader.




View all my reviews.

On Layering Words

Make it a rule of life never to regret and never to look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you can't build on it; it's only for wallowing in.
Katherine Mansfield

I only recently discovered New Zealand's Katherine Mansfield, she was considered to be one of the best short story writers in her time. This from her journal which I read in Gayle Brandeis' book Fruitflesh...

We bought figs for breakfast, immense thin-skinned ones. They broke in one's fingers and tasted of wine and honey. Why is the northern fig such a chaste fair-haired virgin, such a soprano? The melting contraltos sing through the ages.

This beautiful passage brings figs to life for me. I might never eat a fig again and not think of her words. In cooking chefs learn to layer flavors otherwise the food tastes "flat". When I cook I think about how each layer is going to add to the final product. Is your writing layered? Add imagery to your writing through a blending of the senses.
Today try writing a few passages that are multi-layered. Consider that your character is eating a food they have never eaten before, how would you write the passage that would make your reader want to eat it. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Photo credit: Wikipedia
Read some of Katherine Mansfield's short stories

Putting Pen to Paper

The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium. ~Norbet Platt

Tuesday Poetry Prompt

How to Write a Blackout Poem

Project Verse

Think you could compete a la Project Runway for Poets? It's FREE to enter and it sounds like a fun challenge for poets who have not yet published a chapbook. Read more. If you're interested the deadline is March 1, 2009.


Thanks to Dimato Cooper for participating in my February sunshine prompt.

I saw her, her lips attractive in a color reminding me of coral-salmon colored gems
I felt myself falling in love with their rich color
Longing for the treasure that laid hidden within
slightly parted beckoning to me with a sigh
I knew with just one kiss she would have me
Though splashes of light I tasted the lush fullness of a rewarding spicy kiss
She drew back giving me just enough to tantalize
She was pleased at my blushes
She possessing a more poised control over her emotions
turned away as one who comes into its own upon completion of a dare
Her lips were as fatal as a pistol
I had been slain with just one barrel-shaped kiss
I stood dumbfounded needing more
My lips coated in the coral-salmon colored tint of her lips
The only evidence of her existence
Dimato Cooper 2009

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

The smell of ink

The smell of ink is intoxicating to me - others may have wine, but I have poetry. ~Abbe Yeux-verdi

Today two thanks. Thanks to Abby Frucht for sending me two of her novels. Another generous and supportive writer, author and teacher. I read Abby's essay online at Lost Magazine, definitely worth a read.

Thanks to Monkey for sending me a Valentine's postcard, you really know how to brighten ones day. I just saw that Monkey has a Poetry section on the blog as well as a lot of new recipes. Keep up the great work, Monkey you are an inspiration and a great pen pal.

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

More on Writing for Literary Magazines

“Write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow...”
Lawrence Clark Powell

As more and more respected literary magazines publish online, saying you are published online is losing much of its previous negative connotation.This morning I found a writers website where they are listing the Top 20 online literary magazines. There's a lot more on this site appropriately titled Every Writers Resource so take some time to explore.

When I am researching where to send a submission I use my trusty Writer's and/or Poet's Market, my favorite online site Duotrope, word of mouth, and my personal list of favorite literary journals. But the most important research is to read at least 2-3 issues of the literary journal. This used to be difficult and expensive because access to literary journals depended on where you lived. Now many of the literary journals give you a varied sampling of the work that is accepted online. It's what the editors think is right for their journal that will be published. Don't skip this step and just blindly send out work. Each literary journal has its own voice and many have themes for each issue. Doing your research will save you time and strengthen your odds of being published. Last semester part of our literary journal project was researching literary journals and thoroughly analyzing the content, style and voice of new-to-us journals. This took a little bit of time but I found it invaluable. One journal that I discovered and will pursue is Rosebud. Today consider taking the time to discover some new markets for your work. Make a list of markets that fit your style and voice. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Starting A Writing Habit

Happy Valentine's Day!

kisses are a better fate than wisdom.
~e.e. cummings

This morning I woke up to breakfast in bed (oatmeal pancakes with honey-butter) and a handmade Valentine cut from the Denver Post. It was a "fill-in-the-blank" card that the editors thoughtfully put into the paper this morning. Which was perfect because I told my husband we should make our cards this year. It takes a little time but the sweetness of a handmade card on Valentine's Day is what Valentine's Day is all about. I don't need flowers, jewelry or chocolate...well I do need chocolate but that's another post...

It's not too late to pen a Valentine's poem for your love. Instead of thinking of the traditional why not write a poem about the first time you met, your first meal together, or your first vacation. Don't miss the small details, engage all of your senses, and write about what makes you happy.

To get inspired visit Rhonda's beautiful site that features vintage Valentine's cards. Or browse the Poetry Foundation's list of love poems. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Balanced by Sadness

“The word 'happiness' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.”
Carl Gustav Jung

This has been a very sad week, my heart goes out to the Australian people and the continuing tragedy of the Victorian bushfire's. Even sadder is the fact that it is arson, that someone would purposely set fires to watch the destruction unfold. I looked for a place online to donate money for the victims of the fires, I'm guessing the Australian Red Cross would be a good place to start.

Yesterday I also watched as the president of Peanut Corp. of America, Stewart Parnell stood in front of Congress and refused to answer any questions. His right of course, but to (allegedly) knowingly put a deadly food toxin on the market is unconscionable. Also knowing that salmonella is particularly deadly to older adults and children. It's greed in its most disgusting face. I'm sure we'll be hearing more about this the coming months. For more information on the peanut butter recall check here.



Writing Nag

The Poem I turn too

I got this book/CD for Christmas and loaded it onto my IPod, it's been really neat being at the gym or walking to work and listening to poetry. I have it on shuffle, the juxtaposition between music and poetry is pretty amazing. Which got me thinking I don't have a poem that I turn too...there are many that I love but there's not one poem that I consider my favorite.

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Not Another Outlaw Hero

“Writing is a form of personal freedom. It frees us from the mass identity we see in the making all around us. In the end, writers will write not to be outlaw heroes of some under culture but mainly to save themselves, to survive as individuals.”
Don Delillo (American Novelist born in New York City, b.1926)

Author Interviews on Ask Wendy

Author and editor Wendy Burt-Thomas is now asking popular authors 10 questions on her personal blog. Ask Wendy also provides great resources for writers. Check out this new to me creative writing blog!

Accountability Groups

Starting an Accountability Group
Why don't your resolutions stick? Start an accountability group and see results this year!
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1335457/starting_an_accountability_group.html

Writing with Punch

The things I like to find in a story are punch and poetry.
~ Sean O'Faolain

Flat writing is boring. These ten mistakes writers make list was very informative. Read mistake #2 on flat writing.

Read the list, find your mistake and spend some time editing today. Which doesn't mean you shouldn't write but by stepping back as an editor you may find easily fixed mistakes. But don't waste too much time, there's writing to be done. Set the timer for 30 minutes, editing time. Set the timer for 30 minutes, writing time. Now get back to work.

Lovingly,

The Writing Nag

Ebay on Ebates

I'm a big Ebates fan because I buy a lot of business equipment and school books online. And every purchase I buy through Ebates means more money in my pay out quarterly. I just saw that Ebay pays 3% back to your Ebates account. if you buy regularly on Ebay this might be a good link to check out even if you're not in the market for a cheap wii. You might be surprised what companies have now partnered with Ebates. If you're buying Valentine's Day flowers or gifts stop by the Ebates site and see what discounts and coupons are available and save money.

Pep Talks, Warnings and Screeds

I couldn't sleep last night, that is I slept from 10:30 p.m.-3:15 a.m. and then I was wide awake. I always think that at these times I'll get up, go to the computer and write brilliant prose. Didn't happen...instead I went to the computer surfed the Internet, checked on my content articles, checked email, and went back to bed. I then lay there for two hours thinking of poems. I "wrote" some in my head that I thought were fantastic, really amazing, and then fell fast asleep. This morning I can't remember any of them. I know people talk about writing great stuff on their notebook next to their bed...it's never happened for me. Has anyone ever written a poem or a story from their night notebook? If you have please comment on this post. Just curious.

Today, a prompt. Ever since a friend recommended Gary Provost's classic writing book Make Your Words Work: Proven Techniques for Effective Writing-For Fiction and Nonfiction
I've been reading it almost every day. In his section on Appealing to the Senses Gary writes "sight is the sense we use most" but when you are starting an article or a story you should lead the reader into your world by using touch, smell and sound as well. Of course he cautions that this can be overdone so its just a reminder that your readers want a world that they recognize.

Today write an introductory few paragraphs, a start of a story or an article that uses this creative writing advice. You can pick an environment like a coffee shop, a farmer's market, or a Grateful Dead show to use all five senses. Or you can use something that's in your own book or on your list to write about. If you're stuck use the photo on this post.

The last few days I've also been reading this book, yes it's another book from Writer's Digest on "creative writing advice" but the presentation is very unique. Short funny chapters, cleverly illustrated and a quick read.

One "warning" that I thought was good. Don't worry about not having business cards. Writers have business cards they're called books. In other words don't get caught up in the trappings of "being a writer." Just write. Now get back to work!



Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

100 Poems for Obama's First 100 Days

A group of poets committed to writing 100 poems for President Obama's first 100 days.

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Double Your Rate of Failure

"Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It’s quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn’t at all. You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it, So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember that’s where you will find success."
– Thomas J. Watson

To be a successful writer you have to fail many, many times. And while we are taught to view failure as a character flaw. It isn't in writing it's just the way it works. I saw that reviewing the entries for the literary journal, when we said "it's not right for our publication" we meant it. It just didn't fit, doesn't mean it wouldn't fit in another venue. Letting go of rejection and moving to the next work isn't easy but it's necessary if you want to succeed. I still remember the woman I met at a writer's conference who didn't write for two years because her work got rejected from an agent. And she didn't even get a formal rejection, just didn't hear back. How sad to give over your love of writing to a stranger. Like other things you do in life you just get better with practice. Don't write for an agent, a family member, a publication write because you love to write, because it doesn't feel good when you don't write. This year I am doubling my rate of failure, I'm sending out twice as many queries, to twice as many publications, trying out new styles of writing, and preparing myself for success. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag



A beautiful blog on the hobby of papercutting. Another creative hobby I hope to explore this year.

WOOF Winners for January 30, 2009

WOOF Contest – Top Picks
Poetry
~willow~ - “Observe! How not to meditate?” - A tongue-in-cheek look at how (not) to meditate.
Patricia Schoenberger - “Event Horizon” - This is a poem that I wrote, loosely inspired by the scientific term, Event Horizon.
~willow~ - “Lost in Lust” - 17 words, 7 lines, 1 hot poem!
khaye cardenas - “The Fiction Writer” - A fiction writer's life.
Dragon Blogger - “Bedroom Jungle” - Random twitter word poem about passion in the bedroom, great poem made from random words.

Prose
About Writing
Catherine @ Sharp Words - “My love affair with poetry” - The first part of a brief series describing my life with poetry.
Writing Nag - “The Magic of Three” - What is the rule of three in writing? How does the rule of three work in writing? This post gives examples of the rule of three in creative writing and includes the Writing Nag's rule of three.
Fiction - Charlotte Faulkner - “blood is blood is blood and love is true vision” - Charlotte, a freshman at Bailey University, reflects about the inauguration, her crush, and life at college.
Opinion / Tributes / Philiosphy / Thoughts
JHS, Esq. - “Tuesday's Tribute: Florence Wendland” - A tribute to my client, the late Florence Wendland, from whom I learned a great deal about unconditional love, commitment, tenacity, and faith.
Hopeful spirit - “The New America: A Call to Disagree Without Being Disagreeable” - At last, Barack Obama has assumed office and the United States has entered a new era. He challenges us to disagree with each other without being disagreeable and, toward that end, included a diverse and eclectic group of people to share in his inauguration ceremony and festivities. Can America rise to his challenge?

Brought to you by PlotDog Press with the Serial Suspense Screenplay "Intervention"

Happy Groundhog Day!

Phil says "six more weeks of winter"...read more about Phil and his Groundhog Day prediction.
Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

February Sunshine

The February sunshine steeps your boughs And tints the buds and swells the leaves within.
William Cullen Bryant

I turn my calendar from January's snowmen to February flowers.

February is Groundhog Day, Abraham Lincoln's Birthday, Valentine's Day, Presidents Day, George Washington's Birthday, Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday. It's also when my seed catalogs start piling up.They start late December, in the middle of snowmen and candy canes I tuck them away. They offer discounts if I order before the end of January but with snow outside and the current economy I push them aside. Until February...after 9 years of gardening I am hooked. The brightly colored slicks tout "flowers of the year," "new and world exclusive" and "favorite of all growers." I have learned not to order seeds until I've planned out my garden on paper but with such descriptive language like this "these gorgeous fully double blooms glisten as they sit above the compact feathery foliage in a bright mix of oranges, pinks and apple blossom shades" how can I resist? This year I made artist trading cards (ATC's) from some of my catalogs, great way to recycle them.

Last year, I pulled some words and phrases from a seed catalog for a poetry prompt. So I thought I'd do that again.

attractive
splashes
comes into its own
rewarding
with just one
plump
barrel-shaped
falling in love
treasure
lush
just enough
blushes
spicy
possessing a more
coral-salmon

Today, using these words write a poem incorporating as many of the words as you can. If you're comfortable with sharing post your poem in the comment section. I would love to read it!
Or take one of your seed catalogs and put together a found poem. Now get back to work!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag