A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to Nanowrimo...
I did it! I've written my first "novel" as part of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)!Of course, I'm using that term "novel" loosely. The work is not over. Not even close. But it's a first draft, and it's mine! And it feels good!Here's what I did: I signed up in July. I set the goal that I would write 50,000 words of a novel in November. I'd never done it before, but I do know that I thrive on deadlines. I thought this would give me the impetus to write a manuscript.That's the whole goal of NaNoWriMo: write down a draft. Get the muse out of your head. Just write. Every single day. If you write over 1600 words a day, you'll reach 50,000 by Nov. 30, a

Q& A with C. Hope Clark, founder of Funds for Writers!
I don't just adore C. Hope Clark because she published my article "Writing for Lou Grant and those dark suits" this week. I adore her because she's the founder and editor of http://www.fundsforwriters.com/, a site and e-newsletter which comes to my inbox every week, helping me find new markets. She is a wealth of information. I adore her even more because she took some time to answer my questions about writing, growing a readership of over 28,000, finding an agent and the steady work it takes to make it.FundsforWriters.com i

My story about writing for the Feds on Hope Clark's site today!
I adore Hope Clark's site, www.FundsForWriters.com, and her e-letter, which goes out to over 25,000 writers. (Anyone who helps writers find paying gigs is near to a saint in my book!) Each week in her publication, I can count on ideas for new markets and contests being delivered right to my inbox. So imagine how excited I was when Hope picked my story--"Writing for Lou Grant and Those Dark Suits"--for this week's edition! It's a story about the experience you get writing for the government, and I do hope you'll check it out here.And I'm even happier to announce that Ho

Interview with writer and consultant John Ettore
I just caught up with John Ettore, a writer, editor, marketing consultant, blogger and writing coach. His bylined work has appeared in more than 75 newspapers and magazines--everywhere from the New York Times to Cleveland Magazine. His resume is impressive: but what's more inspiring to me is that he's been an independenct writer since 1993, earning a living exclusively from his pen.What's the secret? I interviewed him and he was more than willing to share his thoughts-- about writing, blogging, getting assignments and making connections.Q: Your blog, "Working With Words," notes about writi

Tips from Mary Jo Campbell: Ready, Set, Nano!
It started! NaNoWriMo is here! Over 100,000 people are signed up to write 50,000 words this month! This post is written by freelance writer and past Nano winner Mary Jo Campbell. She joins us today to share her experience.Last year, I took the jump and brought 12 kicking and screaming young writers with me.Where did we fall? NaNo-Land - a magical place of characters, anxiety, disconnecting internet and IV's of coffee.OK, I did not serve coffee to the kids. But, I did prepare them for the adventure of writing a novel in one month through small, but important writing exercises.It's