On Wednesday, March 25th I tried pitching my novel on a Twitter event hosted by author Brenda Drake. The hashtag #PitMad trended #1 on Twitter for a while, which is testament to how many people are looking for an agent. The rules were simple. Writers were asked to limit to 2 tweets per hour with …
Tri-Valley Writers are producing and publishing. Fred Norman has a new book, A Hill of Poems. This collection includes works read at various events on Lafayette’s hill of crosses. Proving that your work doesn’t have to be hot off the presses to be a hot commodity, Annette Langer had an event for her 2005 book, Healing Through …
If the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, the journey to a thousand book sales begins with a single blog. Or press release. Or mention in an email. Most of us would be happy to help other Tri-Valley Writers if we could – and here’s where you can find information on new and …
The dog and I went to the park this morning. She sniffed each square inch of ground as if she were reading War and Peace. I tugged on her leash, hoping to move her to a sunnier spot, but she was adamant. This particular patch of grass must be explored, and she was the dog to do …
Reflections on Walking the Dog – by Lani Longshore Read More »
Chatting with a friend over coffee one morning, I was sharing my progress on a piece I was working on. “It’s finished,” I said. “But I’m going to put it aside for a day or two before I submit it. I need to let it…” I paused, unable to come up with the right …
I was a history major in college. Most of my roommates were, too, and we threw dinner parties to commemorate important dates. The Chicago Fire, the invasion of Poland, Pearl Harbor Day, Armistice Day – anything that came close enough to a free weekend so we had time to cook. Dates and food are still …
Most writers, and indeed all good writers, are avid readers. We all learned to love reading when we were children. I earned my first library card when I was five years old and could print my name. That was the requirement for a library card in San Francisco in 1950. I wasn’t always a good reader. …
Insuring an Audience for the Future, by Sharon Svitak Read More »
Even though I own a smart phone, laptop, have a Facebook page, website and blog, I fear irreversible errors I might make in the upkeep of these devices. My brain works in big picture creative mode, not in the minutia of technical detail. The first time I heard a guest speaker at a Tri-Valley Branch meeting promote …
Anyone who writes fiction knows this dilemma. You write a memorable character who is so realistic your friends swear they know who it is. They’re right, and they’re not pleased. Admit it, sometimes friends and family do the most interesting things. You want to include their exploits in your novel, but you know they won’t be flattered. My …
Keeping a Collection of Characters by Lani Longshore Read More »
When I read the post from Karl, our website coordinator, I felt that familiar tingle. Not that tingle. Karl was soliciting blog posts for the TVW website. I meant the sensation I feel when my muse is awakened. Inspiration. Writing has been a passion for as long as I can remember. I never cease to be surprised by …
