Writing While the Rice Boils

Six Ways to Win With Writing Contests

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:13:00 +0000

On the road to publication, it's nice to have some folks cheering you on--besides your friends and family. You may not win the contest, but here's how to win no matter where you place. Know...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

Where do your blog readers come from?

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Just a quick post today. I'm off to spend an unknown number of hours at the Department of Motor Vehicles, since my sister-in-law lost her license. I had to chuckle today, though. As a writer,...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

Free Resources for Setting Up Your Author Website

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:08:00 +0000

Aspiring authors have a difficult decision. Besides writing, editing, and getting critiqued, they have to figure out when they're ready to submit to agents, then write a query and synopsis. And on...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

Quiz Your Characters: Find out what makes them tick

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:27:00 +0000

The characters in your novel have a heavy responsibility. They have to come up with witty dialogue, have interesting lives, and make snap decisions in difficult situations--all while looking fairly...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

Start Earning Free Books with #SwagBucks

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:20:00 +0000

Writers are readers. And readers can't get enough books. Since royalty dollars are not rolling my way, I need to find other ways to satisfy my craving. I definitely use the library, and...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

Undressing Your Character: Historical Fiction Resources

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:10:00 +0000

Short of hopping in the police box with Doctor Who, it's not always easy to dress your characters. Especially when they dressed in layers. You might find drawings of period costumes, but...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

Book Review: Fiction is Folks, by Robert Newton Peck

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:49:00 +0000

For Christmas in our house, everyone gets a few books. Even me. : ) In December, I was browsing in a used bookstore, and I came across Fiction is Folks: How to Create Unforgettable Characters, by...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

Learn to Upload Electronic & Print Books

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:12:00 +0000

Do-it-yourself has flooded the publishing industry. The landscape of publishing has changed so much in the last several years. More and more authors are skipping the query-writing, agent-hunting,...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

Writing Inspiration from Martin Luther King

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:10:00 +0000

Today's post is short. My husband came down with the flu yesterday, so nursing skills will be put into use more than writing skills today. I decided to browse through some Martin Luther King quotes...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

More Hours In the Day: Time Management for Writers

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:31:00 +0000

I'm ending the week with one more post on time management. One more opportunity to prod myself into action. I was inspired by Michael Hyatt's article on How to Shave Ten Hours Off Your Workweek....

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

Writing Goals for 2012: Have you got yours?

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:40:00 +0000

These first few weeks of the year are always full of paper. And not the fiction kind. Receipts, bank statements, and check registers are spread in piles as I fill out college financial aid forms, and...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

Get in Gear for the New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:08:00 +0000

Wow. In more than two years of blogging I've never taken more than a week off here or there. Over the holidays I took a two and a half week break. We had two family reunions in two separate states....

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

Merry Christmas from Colorado!

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:52:00 +0000

Here's a glimpse of what I see outside my window right now. Family has flown in, the kids are all home, and it's time to tackle the Christmas baking! In other words, I won't be blogging for the...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

How Will Publication Change You?

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:48:00 +0000

The throngs of pre-published writers ache for the day they'll find their book sharing space on shelves in bookstores and libraries. To walk in and find a volume with your name on it, side by side...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

What Defines a Bestseller?

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:44:00 +0000

While researching literary agents, I've come across something similar on many of their websites. When describing what they're looking for, quite a few mention they would like to find books "at the...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

Keep Updated on Books in Your Genre With This Site

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:48:00 +0000

One of the tasks of a pre-published writer is to read in the genre they're writing in. With all the books being published, it can be overwhelming trying to keep track of what's...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

Free Resources from Novel Writing Help

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:39:00 +0000

It's funny how becoming a writer is synonymous with becoming a learner. When the goal of writing is finally settled in your mind, you begin to realize how much there is to learn about the craft. And...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

Book Review: The Writer's Workout: 366 Tips, Tasks, & Techniques From Your Writing Career Coach

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:21:00 +0000

Quick question: how many items on your personal Christmas list are not books? If you're like me, very few. Well, here's another book to add to your wish list. Christina Katz, author of Writer Mama,...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

Free Resources from Author Jill Williamson

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:54:00 +0000

Once you get hooked on writing, it's funny how the world shrinks. The publishing arena is relatively small, and you're likely to bump into the same people on a regular basis. Several years ago I...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

Guest Post: Marketing--How to Hang on to True Fans by Randy Ingermanson

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:06:00 +0000

Once a month I post an article from Randy Ingermanson's amazing newsletter. He writes three articles for each issue, and they're all really helpful. To subscribe, scroll to the bottom. This month's...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

12 Days of Christmas: Writing exercises from now to Christmas Eve

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:21:00 +0000

After long posts for the last two days, here's a nice short one. With the countdown to Christmas, it's easy to let busyness overtake writing time. It would help to have a small, but specific goal...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

Interview with Author Jack Remick, Part Two: Timed Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to part two of my interview with author and writing teacher Jack Remick. Remick, along with author Robert J. Ray, run a fantastic writing blog that I've highlighted before (here). Don't...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

Interview with Author Jack Remick, Part One

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Today and tomorrow I'm interviewing author and writing teacher Jack Remick. Remick, along with author Robert J. Ray, run a fantastic writing blog that I've highlighted before (here). Don't miss Bob...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

Free Plot Tools from Save the Cat

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:08:00 +0000

You may be so over plotting now that NaNoWriMo has come and gone, but there will always be another novel. It's long past time I shared the fantastic resources from Blake Snyder's Save the Cat!...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.

Does Your #NaNoWriMo Novel Need Work?

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie Maxwell Allen) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:54:00 +0000

Now that another NaNoWriMo has come and gone it's time to work on that manuscript. A first draft, especially one written in a hurry, is not ready for submission. I've listed lots of ideas for working...

Free resources for writers with little time and even less money. I scour the web for the best free stuff for writers.