Cruising Altitude 2.0

Wipping It Good at the Coffee Shop

noreply@blogger.com (DL Hammons) — Fri, 24 May 2013 03:00:11 PDT

Writer Gold: Is that what I think it is?

Writer Black: I don’t know, what do you think it is?

Writer Gold: A whip?

Writer Black: Then yes, it is what you think it is.

Writer Red: What are you doing with a whip?

Writer Gold: Please tell me that’s not something you and your hubby use at night during your bedroom gymnastics.

Writer Blue: And why on earth are you wearing that heavy scarf in this heat?

Writer Black: First off….ewwwww. And this is my favorite green scarf. I’ve decided I don’t want to be Writer Black anymore. From now on I’m Writer Green.

Writer Blue: What’s wrong with being called Writer Black? I think it sounds…mysterious.

Writer Gold: Ominous.

Writer Red: Dense.

Writer Black/Green: Black is depressing, and I wanted to be a color that better suits my personality.

Writer Red: Is transparent a color?

Writer Blue: Well I think green looks lovely on you. Good choice.

Writer Black/Green: Thank you.

Writer Gold: So, what gives with the whip?

Writer Black/Green: This is Franks. He’s had it for years, ever since his Indiana Jones fanboy days. I was hoping Red would help me take a picture of it and do a little photoshopping so I could use it in my blog post promoting Elise and DL’s blogfest.

Writer Blue: Wip It Good? Oh, that would be so cool.

Writer Black/Green: I know, right?

Writer Gold: Thank you, now that song will be stuck in my head all afternoon.

Writer Red: That’s a great idea Black…I mean Green. We can do it right after we get finished here.

Writer Gold: So what has everyone picked to post for the blogfest? I’m highlighting Out of the Rabbit Hole…my YA Fantasy.

Writer Blue: I’m posting about Jitters…my YA Paranormal Romance.

Writer Black/Green: I’m going to write about my Erotic Adventure novel.

Writer Gold: I don’t remember you telling us about that one. What’s it called again?

Writer Black/Green: Swollen.

*Silence*

Writer Gold: Uhhhhhhhh….What are you writing about Red?

Writer Red: I don’t think I am. I don’t have anything far enough along to talk about.

Writer Blue: That’s silly.

Writer Gold: Read my lips…it’s called WIP…Work In PROGRESS! It doesn’t matter if all you have is an outline, DL and Elise just want us to tell the blogosphere what kind of material we’re working on.

Writer Red: I’m not even sure I’ll keep working on it. I’ve ditched the last two, so who’s to say I won’t do it with this one.

Writer Black/Green: But maybe you won’t. It really doesn’t matter.

Writer Red: I don’t even have an elevator pitch yet.

Writer Blue: Then leave that part blank. Just tell us what you do know.

Writer Red: Okay…okay, you convinced me. When is it again?

Writer Gold: Next week, Friday May 31st.

Writer Red: I guess I’d better get writing then.

Writer Black/Green: Good, because then I won’t have to use this whip on you.

A Call for WRiTE CLUB Volunteers

noreply@blogger.com (DL Hammons) — Tue, 21 May 2013 03:00:04 PDT

WRiTE CLUB is just around the corner, which means I'm starting to get my ducks in a row. It also means I need some help. The biggest change to the contest this year is that I'm heeding past participants suggestions to limit the bouts to a set number (16) spanning a reasonable time period (8 weeks) to prevent interest from spiraling downward. In order to do that I must narrow down what I estimate will be 100-125 entries (500 word samples) to just 32...and that’s where you come in. In order to go about this is a fair and unbiased manner my plan is to create a central repository (via Dropbox) where I will store all of the submissions, then have a selection committee of 12 judges read all of those entries and vote on their favorites, which I will then use to select the top 32. I already have six judges on-board and now I’m looking for six more.

Before you raise your hand, I want to fully explain what you would be volunteering for. This is a big commitment! First you must be open to installing and using Dropbox (a free file sharing program that I will provide complete instructions on how to use). Then you will have the month of June to read what could be 125+ entries, each one approximately 500 words long -- which equates to the length of a small book – and select 32 of what you believe are the best ones.

Oh...there's one more thing...another change this year is that I will be offering everyone who votes during the contest a chance to win a prize. Each vote places their name in a hat for a drawing at the end of the competition. The prize...a choice between an Amazon Gift certificate...or a fifty page critique from EACH OF THE SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS (performed at your leisure). So not only are you volunteering to help pick the 32 fighters, but also providing a 50 page critique.

So, what do you say? Interested in helping shape how WRiTE CLUB plays out this year? If so, leave a comment below (be sure to include your email address), and I will be in touch by the end of the week.

Have a great week everybody!

You Jump...I Jump

noreply@blogger.com (DL Hammons) — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:00:05 PDT

'Nuff said!