Women on Writing - WOW and WOW!
Women On Writing is an online magazine and community for women writers. Among major topics are novel writing, indie publishing, author platform, blogging, screenwriting, and more. Lots of contests and general jocularity sans frittering on the part of Earth's most powerful humans.
452 topics in this forum
-
- 0 replies
- 59 views
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood/Pexels.com I sit down to work on my to-to list. As a freelance writer, this looks different each day. I try to be mindful of my various production deadlines by using the free project management tool, Asana, which I’ve written about before. I make my list. -Write a 400 to 450-word blog post for a client. -Meet the members of a local community choir for coffee so they can tell me about their organization for a local lifestyle magazine. -Research the next podcast episode. -Write 500-1,000 words on next podcast script. At first glance, this list looks manageable, right? It's only four items--shouldn't take that long to knock those out. Ha! Not when th…
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 58 views
It's funny that Cathy C. Hall talked about the "just" trap for writers, because I've been thinking about that same topic lately. Over this past weekend, I worked on a freelance article, and in the back of my mind, I felt guilty for not working on my short stories. It's so easy to forget the impact of our other writing efforts. How easy I forget that not too long ago I had a major breakthrough on a short story that had confounded me for a long time. I also have been picking up some freelance projects that have given me some fascinating learning experiences. Yet, I still feel like I'm not doing enough. Why do we do that to ourselves? In fact, I've often discounted many m…
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 58 views
Mandy’s Bio: Mandy Wheeler is a writer and radio director who’s spent her career working in the creative industries. For twenty years she ran an award-winning audio production company in London, before moving on to devise creativity workshops and work as a writer and presentation coach. As a writer she works across commercial and creative work: prose, scripts, ads, she’s done the lot. In 2021 her play “Tree Rings” won the Bitterpill Painkiller Project Award. She also hosts an annual residential retreat in Spain where she encourages people to apply the techniques of performance improvisation to writing practice. If you haven't read her story, click through and spend a mo…
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 60 views
I understand the temptation. You’re working on a new book manuscript and you want to know what people think of it. So you share the first two or three chapters. The people who read it give you feedback. Instead of moving forward, you rewrite these three chapters because now you definitely have three. And then you share them. The people who read them give you feedback so once again you rewrite and share. Or you’re half way through writing your novel and it is AMAZING. Really. It is the best think you’ve ever written. So you decide to start querying it. But writing the query proves to be a challenge because you’re a pantser. You aren’t actually certain how the b…
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 55 views
Blogging Imperfection I'm putting together a fun book blog tour for Audry Fryer's new book: Until Next Sunday and part of organizing a tour is reaching out to book bloggers asking how they'd like to help (review the book, author interview, etc...). One blogger signed up for the tour on Tuesday and declined on Wednesday saying " on second thought, I have been awful about blogging...". That conversation prompted me to write today's post about an imperfect blog. Years ago, I read an article by some sort of business/life coach advising that your blog doesn't need to be perfect. I forget exactly who said it or their reasoning, but I think of it often. Now, your Freshman …
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 61 views
By Melanie Faith Prefer pickles to relish? Love to nosh kugel? Find Frito pie a comfort food but loathe mac and cheese? Appreciate the aromas of veggie chili or a tart rhubarb pie wafting your kitchen with tantalizing odors? You're speaking our language! Let's take a look at three traits common to food writing across genres, from fiction to poetry to essays and more. 1. Include sensory imagery. Great food descriptions are specific. They don't just include smells, but also tease us with tastes and textures. Include an adjective or two--so it's not just a sandwich, but an ooey-gooey pb&j on homemade, whole wheat toast. Can't you just see the sandwich cut into di…
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 77 views
A few weeks ago, I had an AMAZING time at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, watching Ain’T Too Proud, the Life and Times of the Temptations. The music, the choreography, the cast, the story—it was fantastic and I enjoyed every minute of the show! I always enjoy going to the Fox, of course; it’s a gorgeous theater and worth every penny (and it’s a pretty penny). Last weekend, I had an AMAZING time at the Colleen O. Williams Community Theater near Athens, GA, watching The Addams Family, A New Musical. The music, the choreography, the cast, the story—it was a lot of fun and I enjoyed every minute of the show! I’d never been to this theater before but since my daughter was Mortic…
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 60 views
Kiara’s Bio: Part-time pop music enthusiast and full-time bookworm, Kiara is a junior at the University of Central Florida. Aside from writing short stories and working on her first novel, Solace At Your Door, Kiara writes nonfiction articles for Her Campus UCF. She hopes to one day publish several novels and work in public relations in the entertainment industry. You can follow her on Instagram (@almondzar) or Twitter (@gotosleepkiara) to keep up with her writing journey. If you haven't done so already, check out Kiara's award-winning story "Oranges" and then return here for a chat with the author. WOW: Congratulations on placing third in the Fall 2021 Flash Fiction Co…
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 71 views
It's always exciting news when a WOW member's book gets published. What's even more exciting is Patricia Gable's middle-grade novel, The Right Address, was born from a novel writing course led by WOW's managing editor, Margo L. Dill. And today, you have a chance to win a copy! Here's a little bit about this heart warming book: "This book made me laugh and cry. Willie is comical and he softens the drama the children are going through. I'm sending it to my granddaughter." - Andrea McDonald Annie hears that her foster parents are going to send her little brother, Willie, to another foster home. She can't let that happen! She devises a plan for the two of them to run away …
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 68 views
Laura’s Bio: Laura Ruth Loomis is the author of The Cosmic Turkey, a science fiction comedy about a teenager who accidentally becomes a spaceship captain. Laura also has a chapbook of linked short stories, Lost in Translation. Two of her flash fiction pieces, “Repetition Compulsion” and “Notes to Self: One Week Out,” were published in previous Women on Writing contests. Her essay, “Ghost House” first appeared in Prime Number magazine. More of her fiction, nonfiction, and poetry can be found at laruaruthloomis.com. By day, Laura is a social worker. When social work and pandemic-era living get too overwhelming, she writes humor and hangs out on Twitter, @LauraRuthless. She…
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 66 views
Photo by cottonbro from Pexels Ever since I started my podcast a few years ago, I’ve had to endure the learning curves of writing true crime. And when you need help perfecting a certain type of writing, you read more of it. I recently read two true crime books, “Before He Wakes: A True Story of Money, Marriage, Sex and Murder” by Jerry Bledsoe and “A Tangled Web: A Cyberstalker, a Deadly Obsession, and a Twisting Path to Justice” by Leslie Rule and thought I’d discuss some observations I made while reading them. “Before He Wakes” is about a woman named Barbara Stager here in my home state of North Carolina who was convicted of murdering her husband Russ while he slept.…
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 58 views
by Laura Yeager I never planned on being a cancer blogger, but then again, I never planned on getting cancer. Who does? In fact, I had cancer twice, two breast cancers on my right breast in ten years. The cancer was relatively easy; it was the treatment—chemotherapy, radiation, double mastectomy, reconstruction, ten years of cancer medication—that was difficult. My first cancer in 2011 was Stage 2A, my second, a splotchy red rash of angiosarcoma; both were physically painless, thank God. What does a writer do when something new and odd happens to her? She writes about it, and so, in October of 2016, about five years ago, I wrote my first article for curetoday…
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 59 views
Over the years, I’ve interviewed writing contest winners, including flash fiction writers. When asked what they enjoy about writing flash fiction, their love of the genre is clear—even if they also do other kinds of writing. What’s so great about writing flash? And how could it benefit your writing life? Here’s what some of the WOW contest winners had had to say: “Writing flash fiction is fun and energetic. Having a word count limit forces me to be parsimonious with my language, stripping it down to the essentials, and I enjoy the challenge of selecting the punchiest verbs and most evocative adjectives. Plus, the project is finite—it may take some time to edit, but once…
Last reply by AgentModX, -
Rachel O'Cleary first came to writing as a six-year-old chronicler of family vacations, and has been writing in some form ever since. She studied English with a creative writing emphasis at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and now lives with her family in Ireland, squeezing her obsession for flash fiction into the spaces between school runs. She is currently planning her first novella-in-flash. You can find a list of her published work at rachelocleary.wordpress.com, and she occasionally tweets @RachelOCleary1. ----------Interview by Renee Roberson WOW: Where did you first get the idea for this “Eleanor Undomesticated?” Rachel: It all started when my child…
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 83 views
Let's put my writing in the spotlight, shall we? A quarterly reflection is appropriate, right? Well, I've had some ups and downs with writing this year so far. While publishing fiction seems to be elusive so far, I remain hopeful it will happen soon. Especially since I'm almost to 100 rejections since my last acceptance. I thought I'd review a few things I've learned about writing that I've learned so far this year: Be watchful of writing weaknesses. Character development can be problematic for me. For others, maybe it's finishing the story at all. For others, maybe it's the revision process that gets in their way. As for mine, it's something I'm aware of as I start new …
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 72 views
Marcy's Bio: After a lifetime of mooning about writing but working as a finance executive, Marcy Dilworth finally succumbed to her love of writing. She explores family and relationships and other mystifying topics, and particularly enjoys storytelling through a child’s perspective. Her essays and stories have appeared in Typehouse Literary Magazine, Sledgehammer Magazine, the This is What America Looks Like anthology by the Washington Writers’ Publishing House, Janus Literary, and elsewhere. Marcy lives in Clifton, Virginia with her husband where they serve their precocious rescue pup, Kirby. interview by Marcia Peterson WOW: Congratulations on placing in the top ten in…
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 65 views
Recently I was talking to a brand new writer. She had joined an international writers’ organization and was struggling to remember all of the information she had received. “I feel like I’m not taking it all in!” There were several of us long-timers in the meeting and we assured her that she wasn’t going to be able to and that was okay. The reality is that even those of us who had been working for the organization for 20+ years remember only a portion of the information available. Want to know about writing nonfiction? Talk to me or Chris. Picture books? Ann and Toni are the queens. None of us can remember everything there is to know about writing. So what do you d…
Last reply by AgentModX, -
by Myna Chang Have you ever fallen so hard in love with a flash or short story that you couldn’t wait to talk about it--only to remember your book club exclusively discusses full-length novels and your writers’ critique group focuses solely on members’ WIPs? Where can you go to gush about that phenomenal short story, or ask questions about the experimental flash piece you didn’t fully understand? A made-to-order discussion group might be the solution you’re looking for. Talking through published pieces with other writers can promote deeper reading, which can enhance your own work. It’s also a wonderful way to maintain your enthusiasm and expand your community. But how to …
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 59 views
The Gift of Laughter WOW! (pun intended) it's been a bit of ... you know ... a challenge the last few weeks/months. That's about the most politically correct way I could thing of to say it. You know what I mean, right? No matter who you are, where you live, or how much money you have in savings (do people still do that?) - gas prices are rising, groceries are getting more expensive, and things are just plain weird. There's talk of war on every channel, and I won't even go there and bring up matters of health. Yesterday, I was scrolling through social media and Dillon, a good friend/family member had posted about fuel prices. Now, as many of you know - we are dairy far…
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 75 views
I finished the manuscript! Woohoo! Woohoo! *confetti showers* Or maybe I have one more chapter. Still Woohoo! Or maybe it’s an epilogue? Okay, hold my confetti, I have to think. From the beginning of this novel, I envisioned an epilogue where I’d tie up the very last of the particulars from the story. But somewhere between putting that period on the last sentence of the last chapter and typing the word “Epilogue” I paused. And now I’ve been thinking A LOT about epilogues in general and mine specifically. First, I’m wondering if the only reason I’m thinking of writing an epilogue is because I’m reading a mystery series where the author always includes an epilogue. I m…
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 71 views
Rachel Singh is a writer and artist who loves assembling, whether she is working with strings of words, moving images, or yards of fabric. She is drawn to an array of art forms including literature, fashion, film, and dance, but not singing, which, despite her last name, she avoids at all costs. She has written blog posts for The Atlanta History Center and news articles for Paste Magazine. Fiction writing has always been her first love, and she’s slowly beginning to share her work in that realm. More of her creative projects, including short films, can be found on her website, rachelsingh26.wixsite.com/website, and you can also connect with her on Instagram at @rachelsing…
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 84 views
image by qimono (Pixabay) Five years ago, my WIP began with a teenage boy as the main character. Here's an excerpt from the first page: On my knee was Jeff Beck, playing at some blues festival in Holland last year. Watching the same riff, again and again, bending my fingers the same as him, I thought, I’d come to a place where my hands would just sync up with his. I mean, how many times would it take for me to get it right? The first couple of notes were alright. Okay, now I’ve got it, I’d think. Finally. But right after those beginning chords, I'd screw it up. Sometimes I sounded so bad, I’d hurl my pick acros…
Last reply by AgentModX, -
Congratulations to Julie Hester and Lucy's Lips and all the winners of our 2022 Quarter 1 Creative Non-Fiction Essay Contest! Julie's Bio: Julie Hester has served progressive faith communities as a pastor in the Presbyterian Church USA, and is a freelance writer specializing in curriculum and faith formation. She leads workshops on writing through grief, and writing as a spiritual practice, and helps others discover the power of writing in company with a supportive group. Scattered in the pages of her composition books and computer files are the beginnings of a memoir, a couple of children’s books, and a novel draft that makes her laugh. Julie lives in North Car…
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 63 views
by Lydia Rose Brita I heard someone say that in life, once you reach the top of a mountain you find yourself at the base of another one. During the first year of the pandemic I wrote the first draft of a novel that had been in my head for a decade. When I wrote the ending I was in pure disbelief that I had actually finished something shaped like a novel! I really felt like I had climbed to the top of the mountain and was probably done now with learning more about writing, right? Now I just got published and got lots of money? Wrong - it was just the beginning! Redrafting my novel has been challenging not because of the writing itself but because it made me have t…
Last reply by AgentModX, -
- 0 replies
- 68 views
Photo by elifskies from Pexels It’s been kind of a rough week over here. I’ve made a few errors in a magazine I edit recently, and that realization has made me feel terrible. One was a pretty big whopper—I accidentally ran a wine column in our new issue that we ran in March 2020. I’m not sure what I’m more upset about—the fact that I mistakenly went into the wrong e-mail folder to retrieve the file or that it didn’t even resonate with me that I read or edited it before. The columnist was not happy when he figured it out, resulting in a terse e-mail to me that made my heart sink. A few hours later, another writer reached out to ask me why I had asked him to interview someo…
Last reply by AgentModX,