Redundant Redundancies

First of all, are you crystal clear on what redundancies are redundant? Some things are just useless and unnecessary and by using them we attach together words we don't need. Each and every one of you should check out the brain candy website to see a list of commonly used redundancies. www.corsinet.com/braincandy/twice.html.


Get Past the Block
OnceWritten.com offers weekly tips and suggestions to help get you motivated and moving beyond the things that block you. To sign up for a weekly shot of inspiration, subscribe to the OnceWritten.com Writing Sparks newsletter.

Need Creative Writing Prompts?
OnceWritten.com offers brand new, FREE, creative writing prompts every week. Feeling stumped in your writing? Check out the OnceWritten.com Free Creative Writing Prompts page.

Rhumba! Those Rattlesnakes Know How to Party

When animals congregate, you may find yourself at a loss when naming their groupings. Sure cattle hang out in a herd, but who knew that more than one monkey makes a barrel, and no, not a wooden one. An army of caterpillars, a wreck of seabirds, even a lounge of lizards. To get a leg up on your next night of Trivial Pursuit, (or to just look really cool at your next dinner party) visit the San Diego Zoo website at www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/got_questions_groups_list.html.

By the way, it turns out you can't tell a leopard by its spots after all, because he doesn't have any. Geez. To wade your way through the markings of the earth's largest pussy cats, the San Diego Zoo offers the following study guide: www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/a-cat_coats.html.


Get Past the Block
OnceWritten.com offers weekly tips and suggestions to help get you motivated and moving beyond the things that block you. To sign up for a weekly shot of inspiration, subscribe to the OnceWritten.com Writing Sparks newsletter.

Need Creative Writing Prompts?
OnceWritten.com offers brand new, FREE, creative writing prompts every week. Feeling stumped in your writing? Check out the OnceWritten.com Free Creative Writing Prompts page.

"Doing Anything Worthwhile Takes Forever"

This is a great quote I found over at gapingvoid.com while searching an article over there entitled "How to be Creative." This article is not so much about getting out and painting nature while chewing on granola, but rather gives advice on the nuts and bolts of living a creative life.

It offers a lot of fabulous pieces of wisdom, such as "The most important thing a creative person can learn professionally is where to draw the red line that separates what you are willing to do and what you are not."

If you're feeling the need for inspiration, you should definitely check out this article at: www.gapingvoid.com/Moveable_Type/archives/000876.html.


Get Past the Block
OnceWritten.com offers weekly tips and suggestions to help get you motivated and moving beyond the things that block you. To sign up for a weekly shot of inspiration, subscribe to the OnceWritten.com Writing Sparks newsletter.

Need Creative Writing Prompts
OnceWritten.com offers brand new, FREE, creative writing prompts every week. Feeling stumped in your writing? Check out the OnceWritten.com Free Creative Writing Prompts page.

Set a Goal . . .

This week we're getting serious about goal setting. I challenge you all to pick ONE thing you REALLY want and set some goal on how to get it. Break the goals down into bite size pieces, and make sure they are do-able in small time increments.

Then make sure you do one thing every single day to get you closer to meeting your goal. For writers, this goal often tends to be around the theme of writing every day.

Seriously try it. Three pages a day.

Handwritten, that will take you less than 30 minutes a day. Do it in the morning, at night, even at line at the bank. Don't let yourself make any excuses, and get those goals done. Or else I'm sending Guido over to break your knee caps.

Some of the members of the OnceWritten.com forum are setting their own goals. You can see what they're planning at: http://www.oncewritten.com/Community/viewtopic.php?t=210. Do feel free to pitch in.

Get Past the Block
OnceWritten.com offers weekly tips and suggestions to help get you motivated and moving beyond the things that block you. To sign up for a weekly shot of inspiration, subscribe to the OnceWritten.com Writing Sparks newsletter.

Need Creative Writing Prompts
OnceWritten.com offers brand new, FREE, creative writing prompts every week. Feeling stumped in your writing? Check out the OnceWritten.com Free Creative Writing Prompts page.

We're Giving Away FREE Books!

Death to Fool Boys Incorporated
Kenner Bisch
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Enter to Win Death to Fool Boys Incorporated Now




Climb Every Obstacle
Anita Jefferson
Genre: Motivation/Self-Help
Enter to Win Climb Every Obstacle Now




Men are all Murderers and Women are all Whores: A Satire
Justin Zaza
Genre: General Fiction
Enter to Win Men are all Murderers and Women are all Whores: A Satire Now




The Devil Comes to Larkspur
Carol S. Neumann
Genre: Occult/Paranormal
Enter to Win The Devil Comes to Larkspur Now




Newport
Edward T. Duranty
Genre: Action/Adventure
Enter to Win Newport Now




Against a Crimson Sky
James Conroyd Martin
Genre: Historical Fiction
Enter to Win Against a Crimson Sky Now




Defeated: Book One of Darkness Among the Stars
S.D. McKee
Genre: Science Fiction
Enter to Win Defeated: Book One of Darkness Among the Stars Now




Real Women Don't Wear Size 2: Warning: Dangerous Curves Ahead
Kelley St. John
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Enter to Win Real Women Don't Wear Size 2: Warning: Dangerous Curves Ahead Now




The Waldorf Astoria Cookbook
John Doherty, John Harrisson
Genre: Cookbook
Enter to Win The Waldorf Astoria Cookbook Now




Cary Grant: A Celebration of Style
Richard Torregrossa
Genre: Entertainment
Enter to Win Cary Grant: A Celebration of Style Now




Second Hand Smoke
Karen E. Olson
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Enter to Win Second Hand Smoke Now




Monkey Portraits
Jill Greenberg
Genre: Arts/Photography
Enter to Win Monkey Portraits Now

Write a Life Plan

Last week I mentioned my life plan, and a couple of subscribers asked me about it. I'm a big believer that you can get what you want, as long as you tell the universe (and yourself) that you want it. I've had huge success with writing down my goals, and am often amazed when I look back on old lists. I've often accomplished most of the things on my lists, even the items I forgot I had written down.

In the absence of my having a formal life planner to share with you all, I found a cool one over at Start Up Nation, an awesome website for small business owners. This is a favorite site of mine, with tons of really great information. An overview of life planning can be found at: http://www.startupnation.com/pages/start/Step1.asp and the page has a template, a sample, and audio files to help you get started.

Get Past the Block
OnceWritten.com offers weekly tips and suggestions to help get you motivated and moving beyond the things that block you. To sign up for a weekly shot of inspiration, subscribe to the OnceWritten.com Writing Sparks newsletter.

Need Creative Writing Prompts
OnceWritten.com offers brand new, FREE, creative writing prompts every week. Feeling stumped in your writing? Check out the OnceWritten.com Free Creative Writing Prompts page.

Coming Soon. . . To a Television Near You

Okay, even the most productive and prolific among us need a little downtime. And while I'm not a huge fan of the television (I don't even have cable), I admit that every fall I get excited about the potential offered by the new season.

As always, there are a few television programs coming next season that have caught my eye. With the first premieres having aired early this week, it's time to start plotting my fall TV consumption strategy. (By October my madness will wear off, but I admit there's so much advertising right now, I'm totally caught up in the hype.)

If you're interested in finding out when your favorites and anticipated new favorites will air, check out: www.metacritic.com/tv/seasons/2006fall/index.shtml. For a channel by channel line up, check out this page: www.metacritic.com/tv/seasons/2006fall/networks.shtml. Then get back to writing, okay?


Get Past the Block
OnceWritten.com offers weekly tips and suggestions to help get you motivated and moving beyond the things that block you. To sign up for a weekly shot of inspiration, subscribe to the OnceWritten.com Writing Sparks newsletter.

Need Creative Writing Prompts
OnceWritten.com offers brand new, FREE, creative writing prompts every week. Feeling stumped in your writing? Check out the OnceWritten.com Free Creative Writing Prompts page.

Find Your Inner Artist

I'm often touting the importance of being creative in multiple channels. Writers can benefit from other right-brained activities such as drawing, painting, collage or other low-stress activities. What to do, though, if you are an art Klutz like me? Get a children's book and start from scratch. Seriously. One of my most favorite books on watercolor is the Klutz Watercolor for the Artistically Undiscovered. By painting like a child, you'll let go of all your disappointments that your first piece isn't the next Michelangelo. Once you forgive yourself for your crappy art first drafts, maybe you'll forgive yourself for your crappy first writing drafts as well. www.klutz.com/catalog/product/2101.



Get Past the Block
OnceWritten.com offers weekly tips and suggestions to help get you motivated and moving beyond the things that block you. To sign up for a weekly shot of inspiration, subscribe to the OnceWritten.com Writing Sparks newsletter.

Need Creative Writing Prompts
OnceWritten.com offers brand new, FREE, creative writing prompts every week. Feeling stumped in your writing? Check out the OnceWritten.com Free Creative Writing Prompts page.

Free Creative Writing Prompts for June 19, 2006

Creative Writing Prompt #1
Build Character--Cut out 20 images from magazines and write personal profiles for each image you've cut out. Now use some of those profiles in a short story.

Creative Writing Prompt #2
Story Idea--Write a story or scene about three children who have snuck aboard a private yacht when the owner comes on board.

www.oncewritten.com/FreeCreativeWritingPrompts.php

Free Creative Writing Prompts for June 5, 2006

Creative Writing Prompt #1
Story Idea--Write a story about a man who finds $30,000 in the trunk of his wife's car.

Creative Writing Prompt #2
First Line--With the opening of the twelfth Starbucks in my neighborhood, we'd officially entered the era of urban sameness.


www.oncewritten.com/FreeCreativeWritingPrompts.php

June 2006 Book GiveAways

The Magic & the Mundane: A Guide for the Writer's Journey
P. June Diehl
Genre: Non-Fiction


Kushiel's Scion
Jacqueline Carey
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy



Superman Returns
Marv Wolfman
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy



Angel with Attitude
Michelle Rowen
Genre: Romance/Chick-Lit



How to Set his Thighs on Fire
Kate White
Genre: Non-Fiction: Self Help



A Field of Darkness
Cornelia Read
Genre: Mystery/Suspense



Enter to Win These Books Now

Free Creative Writing Prompts for May 29, 2006

Creative Writing Prompt #1
Story Idea--Write a story about two alien space ships who land on earth at the same time and both claim to want to colonize the planet.

Creative Writing Prompt #2
Build Character--Put your character in a restaurant, waiting for a blind date that never shows up.

www.oncewritten.com/FreeCreativeWritingPrompts.php

Free Creative Writing Prompts for May 22, 2006

Creative Writing Prompt #1
Story Idea--Write a scene or story about four brothers who are all attracted to the same woman.

Creative Writing Prompt #2
First Line--Conversational etiquette eluded Alana. What was wrong, for example, with telling Mrs. Stanivish that her dress did indeed make her look fat?

www.oncewritten.com/FreeCreativeWritingPrompts.php

This Week's Free Creative Writing Prompts

Creative Writing Prompt #1
Story Idea--Write a short story from the point of view of an animal. Do your turtles want to escape their tank, does your cat dream of riding the dog? Tell their tale.

Creative Writing Prompt #2
Build Character--Get into someone else's head. When is the last time you said "I just don't understand people like that?" Maybe it's a grocery clerk who smashed your bread beneath the milk, a person who cut you off on the freeway and then drove 20 miles an hour, someone who stole jewelry from a major department store. Now write a brief story about that person, what makes them tick, why they feel they have to do the things they do.

Creative Writing Prompt #3
Creative Flow--As quick as you possibly can, write down 15 verbs that mean "to go." Now write a sentence for each verb, making sure to take into consideration the nuance of each different verb.

www.oncewritten.com/FreeCreativeWritingPrompts.php

This Week's Free Creative Writing Prompts

Creative Writing Prompt #1
Write a story about a muralist who has the ability to capture and control the souls of the people he paints.

Creative Writing Prompt #2
Write a five page story today on any subject you like. When you've finished, practice your editing skills by turning the story into a two page story without altering any of the plot.

Creative Writing Prompt #3
Write a story that starts with the following line..."On her 80th birthday, Aunt Margaret handed her family members brightly colored stickers and told them to start tagging the things wanted after she was gone."

For more prompts, visit the OnceWritten.com Free Creative Writing Prompts page now.

Free Stuff for Writers

You've probably noticed the complete overhaul of OnceWritten.com by now. We're focusing more on relevant content, cleaning up the site, and making it easier for you to navigate.

Our lastest addition is a "Free Content for Writers" page. We've found some cool, free things for writers, and put them all in one place. Take a look now at

www.oncewritten.com/CoolFreebiesForWriters.php

West Hollywood Book Fair

In our ongoing mission to find unique, affordable ways for new and emerging authors to promote themselves to the literary community, OnceWritten.com has purchased a booth at the West Hollywood Book Fair, which will be held this October 2, 2005 from 10 am - 6 pm.

This is going to be a fun-filled day of literary contests and book giveaways. We're creating a magazine "Book Bag" to serve as the official Fair program, and for as little as $65 you can promote yourselves to nearly 10,000 literary consumers. This is the best bargain on the block.

For more information about how you can join in the fun, visit us at www.oncewritten.com/WestHollywoodBookFair/info.htm.

See you there!

August Book GiveAways

OnceWritten.com is at it again, and we are giving away more free books than ever in August. This month's line up is so wonderful, I can barely believe how lucky we are. Remember it is totally free to enter to win, and you don't even have to belong to our newsletter, so there is absolutely nothing to lose AND you may just win some really great Autum reads.


Crystal Gorge
David & Leigh Eddings
Genre: Science Fiction




Cause for Murder
Betty Sullivan La Pierre
Genre: Mystery/Thriller




Forcing Amaryllis
Louise Ure
Genre: Mystery/Thriller




In the Province of Saints
Thomas O'Malley
Genre: Literary Fiction




Over Her Dead Body
Kate White
Genre: Mystery/Thriller




Dead at Daybreak
Deon Meyer
Genre: Mystery/Thriller




Here Kitty Kitty
Jardine Libaire
Genre: Literary Fiction

New Editor's Recommendations

Clam Chowder, Matt Lehman
Genre: Non-Fiction, Satire
Recommended by: Gary Davis, 07/24/2005
The best thing about Clam Chowder is it’s spirited energy. I realized about a third of the way through this book that I had this smile on my face, like I was listening to some stand-up comedy routine. Although Matt is really trying to help his fellow professional Servers survive, his dialogue can help all of us with tough gigs.

Read Recommendation

------------------------------------------------

The True & Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters, Elizabeth Robinson
Genre: General Fiction
Recommended by: Gina Kaysen Fernandes, 07/24/2005

Life has hit rock bottom for 34-year-old Olivia Hunt. The heroin of Elizabeth Robinson’s debut novel The True & Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters is an unemployed film producer who discovers her younger sister has Leukemia.

This “dramady” chronicles Olivia’s juggling act between a fledgling career, a family crisis and a failed long term relationship.

Read Recommendation

------------------------------------------------

Good Morning Darkness, Ruth Francisco
Genre: Mystery
Recommended by: Kevin Tipple, 07/24/2005

The fundamental theme of this novel is obsession and the price it extracts on all of the characters. The obsession takes human form in the attractive body and movements of Laura Finnegan. Everyone who comes into contact with her, even at a distance, becomes attracted to her like moths to a flame. Her boyfriend, Scott Goodsell, loves her so much he wants to marry her.

Read Recommendation

Two OnceWritten.com writing contest deadlines are coming soon, both at the end of August. If you are a Horror writer or a poet, these contests are perfect for you. For more info, visit the following links.

OnceWritten.com In the Midnight Hour Halloween Fiction Contest
Award: $500 & publication;
Fee: $10
Short Fiction, horror (unpublished)

OnceWritten.com Summer Poetry Contest
Award: $500 & publication;
Fee: $10
Poetry (unpublished)