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Follow my journey toward publication. Laugh, cry, point and stare-- it's all good. I'll leave a trail so that you, my fellow author, may have a straighter path to finding your own elusive publishing contract. Adventure awaits. Let's travel together...



Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Whatevah Wednesday: Writer's Helps and COTT Bookclub

Hi guys (and gals)! June is here--school's almost out, the weather is warming up, (and Clash of the Titles is launching its summer bookclub. More below).

I've been wittling away at my redraft and am happy to say I am now about halfway through it. At this rate I should have no problem finishing it in time for the ACFW conference and for entering the OFN contest again in September. I am learning so so much. Last year at this time, I felt I was growing leaps and bounds but now? ... now I've come so far that it's hard to imagine I ever finished this novel without those skills. I've come across two awesome resources that every writer simply must check out and bookmark:

The Bookshelf Muse- (thesaurus for emotion descriptions, setting descriptions, and all kinds of insights for facial expressions and visceral responses)

Deanna Carlyle's 1000 Verbs to Write By- (an exhaustive list of descriptive ways to have your characters walk, sit, stand, put, etc)

Looking for some encouragement? Check out Jessica Patch's blog. Her current devotional series is insightful and uplifting.

Want to know how to navigate Twitter? Kristen Lamb's blog is just the place for you.

Need to find some good summer reads? COTT will show you what books readers are enjoying.

You can even participate in the COTT Summer Bookclub and connect with other lovers of Christian Fiction to read and discuss an award-winning title. I've never been part of a book club before, so this will be a new experience for me. It should be fun since our first book is by COTT champ Karen Witemeyer. I can't wait to dig in to A Tailor-Made Bride. Who out there is going to join me?

What are you doing today?

I love seeing my besties drop by and I love making new friends. If you are usually a lurker, I want to meet you! For 9 more days, when you comment on any post on my blog, you will be entered into a drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card. If you mention me and link back here on your own blog, you'll be entered a second time. Have a great week!

8 comments:

Joanne Sher said...

Hey, Michelle! Excited for the progress you're making on your MS! I've just finished going through judging suggestions for my WIP, and discovered I have a LONG way to go. Going back and doing some of those "prewriting" things I should have done before now. Thinking my story's gonna change a bit.

Michelle Massaro said...

Joanne, I had to do the same thing in February. It really helped. Now I am adding descriptions and tweaking characterization. And a slew of other things I've picked up from having wonderful crit partners and finding fabulously helpful blogs. =) It's overwhelming but also very exciting to see your story change into something stronger and more exciting. Good luck with your adventure!

Jessica R. Patch said...

Thanks for the shout out, girl! Great information. I'm in on the summer bookclub reading. Sounds fun!

Brandi Boddie said...

Good job with your manuscript, Michelle! And thanks for the resources.

Right now, I'm finshing up my second novel, and waiting for revision recommendations on the first. It's scary, but exciting at the same time!

Brandi Boddie said...

Haha, I left an "i" out of finishing. Looks like I need a proofreader even for blog comments ;-)

Michelle Massaro said...

Jessica, it will be lots of fun! Thanks for stopping by. =)

Brandi, congrats on your contract girl! Thank you for saying 'hello'! =)

Elaine Marie Cooper said...

Michelle, thanks for the link to The Bookshelf Muse. Love it! Blessings and best wishes on your writing!

Michelle Massaro said...

Elaine, isn't it awesome? I have it on my Favorites bar now and refer to it all the time during editing.

Thanks for stopping, lady! :D