If you are thinking of entering writing contests, it’s important to research to determine if a contest is legitimate and reputable. But, how to find reputable contests? Go to trusted sources. Research websites, blogs, and social media by people you know and trust. Anne R. Allen, a trusted source, blogs about writing: “Writing Contests are Important: How To Tell the Good Ones from the Scams” “Beware Bogus Writing Contests! Look for These 8 Red Flags.” C. Hope Clark’s Funds for Writers newsletter is a great source for announcements of vetted contests, and a handbook of writing contests. Writer Beware, the publishing industry watchdog group. If entering contests is in your writing budget, here’s something to consider: B. Lynn Goodwin, founder of Writer Advice: posted: “Too often writers submit to agents and editors without having any credentials, but winning a writing competition—especially a well-known one—gives you immediate credibility and something to add to…
Tag: Anne R. Allen’s Blog with Ruth Harris
This or that. Just do it!
Guest Blogger Ruth Harris writes about the realities of trying to write while sheltered in place. You might have thought because you’re staying at home that you’d have more free time to start/finish a book or take an on-line yoga class. But in reality, because we’re all spending so much time at home, much of that time is consumed by eating which means food prep and cooking (which means there’s a kitchen to clean and dishes to be washed), bathrooms to be cleaned and tidied plus, of course, more toilet paper to be purchased (if we can even scrounge up a few rolls somewhere), laundry duty, garbage and trash removal, dusting, vacuuming and, of course, sanitizing. As one day melts seamlessly into the next, and we can’t tell Sunday from Tuesday, weekdays from weekends. Our moods whiplash between “This sucks” and “It could be worse.” We’re bored, anxious, and tired….
Commenting on Blogs. Good idea?
Anne R. Allen’s post about commenting on blogs elicited 100 comments! Anne writes about commenting on blogs to build your author’s platform: I’ve seen a steep decline in the number of people commenting on blogs over the past few years. I’m not sure why that is. But commenting on blogs is still an easy, painless way to get your name into search engines and build an “author platform.” I realize I’m partly preaching to the choir here. We have wonderful commenters on this blog. But I see a lot of great blogs devoid of comments these days. And there are lots of people who seem to prefer to respond to the link to a blogpost on Facebook or Twitter rather than on the actual post. Unfortunately, sometimes they haven’t read the post, but are responding to the header, which isn’t a good idea. That’s a good way to look like…
Bookstagrammers & Influeners
Hello from Marlene, host of The Write Spot Blog, I originally read the post below by Julie Valerie on Anne R. Allen’s Blog with Ruth Harris. Today’s guest blog post is longer than my usual posts. Take it in small bites. There is a lot of content here. All good stuff. I learned so much I didn’t know about things such as bookstagrammers and influencers (the book kind). Guest Blogger Julie Valerie: From Book Blog to Book Deal Julie asks: Does a book blog still land a book deal? Of course they do. Great writing and great content will always find an audience, and where there’s an audience, especially a sizable one, there’s typically a book deal waiting to happen. Think Julie Powell, Candice Bushnell, Jen Lancaster, and Jenny Lawson. Not to mention, entire empires (with books launched along the way), have been built on the humble foundations of blog…