Issue 45 Banner: Girls Just Want to Have Fun Writing!
June 2011 
 WOW! Women On Writing
 Issue #45: Girls Just Want to Have Fun...Writing!

In This Issue:
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Magazine and Book Markets for Children's Writers


Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest

FanStory Writing and Poetry Contests


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Greetings!



When the weather is warm and the sunshine beckons, the last thing you want to do is be cooped up indoors, hunched over a computer, writing. Yet, for many of us, writing is how we make a living, and taking a sabbatical is not an option. So what's a writer to do? One solution is to put some fun back into your writing!

This summer, let your muse indulge a little. Treat her to a delicious beach read and a frosty margarita. Rediscover your hometown and craft a travel article about it. Turn your hobby into cash by writing a how-to. Focus on your fiction or brush up on your craft by taking a summer class. Connect with fellow scribes in your area by starting or joining a writers' group. This issue will help you do all that and more! And if you're still feeling unmotivated, we have four articles dedicated to helping you write through distractions, summer or otherwise.

Don't let writing become a chore. Let's have fun writing!

Read issue thank yous on the Editor's Desk...

[Yes, the issue is bright! We are using a 1980s neon color scheme to fit with the theme of the issue's title. It screams fun. I love it!]

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Please take a moment to visit our sponsors:

If you enjoy the free content on the WOW! site, please help support our efforts by visiting our sponsors and seeing what they have to offer. We handpick sponsors that we think will be of interest to WOW! readers.

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Call for Submissions: Blue Mountain Arts Seeks Heartfelt Messages for Greeting Cards

Do you enjoy writing caring notes to friends and family? Are you passionate about inspiring others with your words? We want to hear from you!

Blue Mountain Arts is interested in reviewing writings for publication on greeting cards. We are looking for highly original and creative submissions on friendship, family, special occasions, positive living, and other topics one person might want to share with another person. We pay $300 per poem for all rights to publish it on a greeting card and $50 if your poem is used only in an anthology. To request a copy of our writer's guidelines (which includes contact/submission information), please send a blank e-mail to [email protected] with "Send Me Guidelines" in the subject line, or write us at: Blue Mountain Arts, Inc. Editorial Deparment P.O. Box 1007 Boulder, CO 80306. When you write us, be sure to mention that you found out about this opportunity through WOW-WomenOnWriting.

To get started, check out our writer's guidelines: http://www.sps.com/help/writers_guidelines.html

[Editor's Note: We interviewed Sarah Nagel, an editor for Blue Mountain Arts, on The Muffin. Find out what they're looking for by reading this post: Writing for Blue Mountain Arts.]

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Dream Quest One Poetry and Writing Contest

Write a poem, 30 lines or fewer on any subject, or a short story, 5 pages max, any theme, for a chance to win up to $500 in cash prizes.

Deadline: July 31, 2011. Enter today: http://www.dreamquestone.com/

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Summer 2011 Flash Fiction Contest

DEADLINE: August 31, 2011 Midnight, Pacific Time.

GUEST JUDGE: Literary Agent, Kim Lionetti

About Kim: After eight years at Berkley Publishing, Kim Lionetti left her position as Senior Editor to join BookEnds in March '04. In her editorial work, Kim enjoyed overseeing an eclectic list comprised of romances, westerns, young adult, mysteries, nonfiction, and general fiction. While she enjoys bringing some of that variety to her agenting life, she primarily represents authors in the areas of young adult fiction, women's fiction, mystery, true crime, pop science, pop culture, and romance.

A member of AAR, Kim is currently focused on growing her young adult, women's fiction, and romance lists and is only accepting submissions in those categories. Most important, she is looking for fresh voices and compelling storytelling. Given her extensive editorial background, she enjoys helping authors shape their work into more marketable products and seeing their writing as part of the "bigger picture."

Originally from Pennsylvania, Kim currently resides in New Jersey with her husband, son and daughter, and cat.

To find out more about Kim, read her 20 Questions interview on WOW!. To learn more about BookEnds, LLC Literary Agency please visit www.bookends-inc.com.

PROMPT: Open Prompt

WORD COUNT: 750 Max; 250 Min

LIMIT: 300 Entries

Don't wait until the last minute! Enter Today. Visit the Contest Page and download our terms & conditions ebook. Good luck!

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Announcements, Calls for Submissions

WOW! Women On Writing is selected as a Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers 2011!
This is our fourth year in a row, and we're thrilled. We'd like to thank all of our readers/writers for supporting us. This is a great honor for all women writers because you make up WOW!

Summer School Is In Session!
We've just added a bunch of new classes. Check out all the fun-filled topics in the WOW! Classroom and participate this summer. By the time fall rolls around, you will be ahead of the game!

WOW! is Accepting Interns to Join Our Team
If you have a passion for writing and would like to learn about the online publishing industry, we're looking for a couple of interns to join our team. All of our staff members started as interns and found their niche in our little family. If you're interested in interning, please send an e-mail to [email protected] expressing your interest, and we will send you a questionnaire. Internships are done remotely (telecommute).

Call for Queries: E-Publishing: Our next issue will focus on e-publishing topics--e-books, e-presses, self-publishing, Kindle topics, etc. We're particularly looking for How-tos. Maybe something on e-book writing, creation, or formatting. We already have lots of interviews with e-publishers (you're going to love these opportunities!). We're also looking for a 20 Questions interview.

Deadline for queries: June 30, 2011
Publication date: August 2011

Submission Guidelines: Please review our submission guidelines on our Contact Page (scroll to the bottom under "Submissions") for guidelines and how to submit. Pay rate is $50 - $150 per article. We look forward to hearing from you!

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On to the issue... Enjoy!

 Queen of the Beach Novel: A Visit with Elin Hilderbrand
 By Margo L. Dill

Elin Hilderbrand Elin Hilderbrand writes novels that we like to read while we're having summer fun--laying out by the pool, picnicking at the beach, or swinging on the front porch with an ice cold glass of lemonade. She sets all her novels in Nantucket, a charming and unique island thirty miles south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and they all take place during the summer. If you love this idea and want to find out more or you've already read her novels and are a fan, you're in for a treat. Join Margo Dill as she chats with Elin about Nantucket, summer writing, and her latest novel, Silver Girl.

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 Write From Your Own Backyard: How to Craft a Travel Article About Your Hometown
 By Kerrie Flanagan

Kerrie Flanagan You don't have to hop on a plane and travel halfway around the world in order to find a good idea for a travel article. This summer, grab your notebook, camera, day pack, and maybe even your best friend and hop into your car for an adventure in your very own town, city, or state. It is packed with hidden gems you probably didn't even know existed. By keeping your eyes open and enlisting the support from your local organizations, you will uncover a treasure chest full of article ideas right from your own "backyard."

Kerrie Flanagan interviews travel magazine editors, including Sunset Magazine travel editor Loren Mooney, AAA Encompass editor Tom Hess, and National Geographic Traveler contributing editor [and popular '80s actor!] Andrew McCarthy.


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 SLAM: Writing Through the Distractions of...Mothering
 By Chynna Laird

Chynna Laird Oh man, if you lack motivation or are distracted or have been experiencing any form of writer's block, this four-article SLAM feature will cure whatever problems are keeping you from writing.

If you're a writer mama and your kids are home from school this summer, or you have toddlers at home, you're going to want to read Chynna Laird's article. As a mom to four children under eight, two with high special needs, she knows a few tricks that can help you gain the quiet time you need to write.


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 SLAM: Getting It Done When There's No Time To Do It
 By Kathleen M. Basi

Kathleen Basi Whether you write from home with kids running around, in the coffee shop on your lunch break, or late at night after everyone else is in bed, interruption is a reality of modern life. Phone calls, Facebook, e-mail--disruptions break your concentration, arrest your momentum, and if you're not careful, they can keep you from accomplishing anything at all. Kathleen M. Basi shares ten fantastic strategies she's used as a write-at-home mom to make good use of the time she has.

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 SLAM: Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr: Writing Through Electronic Distractions
 By Swapna Lovin

Swapna Lovin Most writers these days don't use a notebook to write. They use computers to pen their tomes; it's faster, more efficient, and makes research much simpler. However, using a computer to write turns out to be a double-edged sword. There are an infinite number of distractions on the computer that can hinder even the most dedicated of writers. Luckily, Swapna Lovin has some recommendations for great tools, tips, and tweaks that can assist your willpower when it comes to resisting the urge to check your e-mail once more or post a fun picture to your Tumblr.

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 When Writing Becomes a Drag or How to Procrastinate
 By Suchi Rudra

Suchi Rudra Writing sucks. It used to just be about something that gave you pleasure, something that kept you occupied for hours, so you never knew where the time went. But now, with money and deadline pressure involved and the need to please editors and agents, the passion of writing has become a chore, a duty to fulfill, and an obligation so you can pay your bills. When what you love to do becomes unbearable and unapproachable, it's obvious that the time has come to make a change. Suchi Rudra provides you with some unique ideas to help reenergize your muse and put some fun back into your writing.

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 Blame it on the Book Cover: The Women's Fiction vs. Chick Lit Debate
 By LuAnn Schindler

Photos: LuAnn Schindler, Claire Cook, Caroline Leavitt, Rainbow Rowell Walk into a bookstore and you're inundated with an explosion of colors and graphics that capture your attention. Do you select the book with the muted tones and the gold-embossed title? Or do you gravitate toward the pastel-colored cover with a cute shoe/handbag/cartoon-caricature? As women's appetites for the written word continue to grow and the divide between literary fiction and chick lit continues to be debated, one thing is clear to readers of the female persuasion: strong stories sell.

Three solid writers with varied backgrounds share their thoughts about genre labels and the elements that attract readers. LuAnn Schindler chats with Claire Cook, author of Must Love Dogs, Caroline Leavitt, author of Pictures of You, and Rainbow Rowell, author of Attachments.


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 Mystery, Mayhem, and Murder: The "Rules" of Mystery Writing
 By Jodi M. Webb

Photo: Betty Webb, Cara Black, Jassy Mackenzie, Cara Black, Gayle Trent You can combine mystery, mayhem, and murder to create a literary roller coaster ride. The mystery genre contains specific characteristics that every reader expects, and every author should include... or should they? Five female authors in that wide-reaching genre that includes everything from cozies to capers, police procedurals to psychological thrillers offer to tell us all they know about mystery writing. Jodi Webb interviews Betty Webb, Lisa Jackson, Jassy Mackenzie, Cara Black, and Gayle Trent.

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 20 Questions: Elaine Spencer of The Knight Agency
 By Marcia Peterson

Elaine Spencer Is there a primary reason why readers love the romance genre? What are the current trends in women's fiction? How does a literary agent have a good time on the job anyway? Learn all this and more as Marcia Peterson chats with Elaine Spencer of The Knight Agency--a woman who knows about reading, writing, and fun.

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 Get Crafty: 7 Tips for Success in the Craft Market
 By Michelle Mach

Michelle Mach Michelle Mach loved making jewelry, but quickly found out it could be an expensive hobby. Several years ago, she realized that she needed to figure out a way to make money from her hobby or scale back. A quick trip to the local bookstore with rows of craft magazines made her realize that she could sell a handmade necklace for $30--or sell the how-to instructions to a magazine for two to five times that amount and still sell the necklace after publication. Whether you love knitting, scrapbooking, cross-stitch, painting, sewing, card making, jewelry design, or dozens of other crafts, Michelle shares seven tips to help you succeed, as well as seven paying writer's markets to try.

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 How to Start a Writers' Group in Your Area
 By Sara Hodon

Sara Hodon Any writer who has been working at the craft for longer than an hour knows what an isolating profession it can be. It's often difficult to emerge from your imaginary world of delightful characters or pull yourself away from some particularly gripping article you are researching; but, sadly, real life stops for no one--not even writers. It's important to continue to hone your craft and network with fellow scribes, but classes and conferences, though helpful, are often expensive. This is where a writers' group comes in handy. So, why not start your own? Sara Hodon, co-founder of the Black Diamond Writers' Network, walks you through the process of starting, building, and maintaining a thriving writers' group. She also chats with Kerrie Flanagan, founder of Northern Colorado Writers, Kathy Higgs-Coulthard, founder of the Michiana Writers' Center, and Richelle Putnam, founder of the Mississippi Writers Guild.

MORE>> 


 WOW! Women On Writing Workshops & Classes
 Take a Summer Class, Get Ahead!

WOW! Classes Whether you are looking to boost your income or work on your craft, we know that education is an important part of a writer's career. That's why WOW! handpicks qualified instructors and targeted classes that women writers will benefit from. The instructors are women we've worked with on a professional level, and these ladies offer high quality courses on various topics.

How the courses work: All of the courses operate online--whether through email, website, chat room, or listserv, depending on the instructor's preferences--and are taught one-on-one with the instructor. The flexibility of the platform allows students to complete assignments on their own time and work at their own pace in the comfort of their own home. It's a wonderful experience and an excellent way to further develop your skills, or to try your hand at something completely new.


Featured e-Courses (By Date):


June 24, 2011 (This Friday!)

HOW TO WRITE CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOKS AND GET PUBLISHED by Lynn Garner
By the end of this six-week course each student will hopefully have completed a picture book manuscript and a cover letter, which they will be encouraged to send to a publisher/packager.

July 5, 2011

WRITE FROM YOUR SOUL: MEMOIR WORKSHOP by Annette Fix
Through writing prompts, exercises, and handouts created by the instructor, you will begin writing your memoir using specific storytelling techniques: dialogue, characterization, setting, imagery, etc. *Discount for Summer Only! $100 Off*

SEE YOU AT THE MOVIES: INTRO TO SCREENWRITING by Christina Hamlett
Learn the techniques and formatting requirements to develop an original screenplay. Study character development, dialogue, genre, structure, pacing, budget, and marketability, and receive critiques from an expert!

ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE: INTRO TO PLAYWRITING by Christina Hamlett
Learn what makes a play successful and how to write one yourself. Write a 15-minute one-act play, which will be professionally critiqued.

July 6, 2011

FICTION WRITING WORKSHOP by Gila Green
This course is designed for writers at all levels and includes instructor and class critiques, two readings and in-class exercises. Throughout the workshop I focus on character, plot, conflict, dialogue, setting, pacing, voice and theme, as well as adding layers to your work with an exploration of literary devices. Participants may be working on a short story or novel.

July 11, 2011

HOW TO GET THE RIGHT AGENT FOR YOUR MANUSCRIPT by Annette Fix
By the end of this course, you will know how to target the right agent for your material and leave with a list of agents who are signing and selling in your genre. You will develop your "elevator pitch" and learn valuable in-person pitching techniques. You will complete your course with a query letter that showcases your voice and the tone of your book, and lifts your query out of the slush pile. *Reduced for Summer Only! $100 Off*

HAIKU: PAINTING WORD PICTURES WITH MULTIPLE LAYERS NEW! by Linda M. Rhinehard Neas, M.Ed.
This four-week class will teach you to: increase understanding of the haiku form of poetry; become comfortable with writing this form of poetry; be aware of the history behind the form; write and understand haiku enough to teach others.

July 25, 2011

WRITING A MIDDLE-GRADE NOVEL by Margo L. Dill
Learn what makes a novel middle-grade and brainstorm different ideas for this age group. The instructor will lead students through pre-writing exercises and help students write their first two chapters with plenty of feedback on ways to revise and edit their work. When the class is over, students will be well on their way to completing a middle-grade novel.

July 27, 2011

WRITING FOR CHILDREN: Everything You Need to Know About Short Stories, Articles, and Fillers by Margo Dill
This class will teach the basics of writing for children's magazines, crafting short stories, nonfiction articles, poetry, and fillers. The student will come away with a short story and cover letter, nonfiction query letter, and a filler or poem. She will also have a list of potential markets, fitting her manuscripts. The instructor will also share an organizational tool for submissions and information on finding other children's writers and networking.

August 8, 2011

EMPOWER YOUR MUSE, EMPOWER YOUR WRITING SELF by Kelly L. Stone
Learn methods for overcoming a variety of issues facing all writers, including lack of self confidence, lack of follow through, resistance to writing, avoidance of writing, and discouragement. Includes free critique up to 25 pages or a 15 minute one-on-one phone consultation on any topic related to writing.

August 10, 2011

BRING OUT THE STORY-TELLER IN YOU by Karlyn Thayer
This class teaches story-writing from the idea of thinking before writing. Emphasizes correct story structure. Topics covered include: the value of an outline or synopsis; bringing characters to life; building a plot; viewpoint and mechanics; and keeping the action and conflict going.

August 19, 2011

FREELANCE WRITING: QUERYING AND WRITING NON-FICTION ARTICLES NEW! by Margo L. Dill
Students will learn how to query editors with article ideas and follow through to create the article for any publication. Many topics will be discussed, including tracking queries and submissions, repurposing articles, writing strong query letters and article hooks, interviewing experts, and finding publishable topics.

August 24, 2011

THE UNWILLING GRAMMARIAN by Karlyn Thayer
Do you hate grammar like you hate snakes? This class takes an easy and fun approach to grammar. Other grammar courses require students to learn dozens of complicated terms. This course begins by asking you to learn two terms only, and shows you how those two terms can be the key to writing success.

August 30, 2011

BLOGGING 101 AND MORE by Margo L. Dill
Students will learn how to create a unique blog, build followers and/or drive traffic to their blogs, blog on a schedule, connect posts to social networking sites, and monetize their blogs.

September 3, 2011

HOW TO WRITE A CRAFT BOOK NEW! by Lynne Garner
During this five-week course students will be taught how to access their knowledge base and use this to write a hobby-based "how-to" book. It is hoped by the end of the course each student will have a completed synopsis, first chapter, and query letter, which they will be encouraged to send to an appropriate publisher/packager.

September 5, 2011

LITERARY DEVICES NEW! by Gila Green
In this course we will go beyond the simile and metaphor and learn how to layer our writing with literary devices. Through short readings and in-class assignments, you will learn how to create suspense, tension, change the pace, deepen and control your writing through the use of devices from repetition to personification. This class is suitable for anyone working on a novel, short story, memoir, essay or life story.

September 6, 2011

MASTERING POINT OF VIEW by Diane O'Connell
What's the secret every successful author knows and most new authors don't? It's how to use point of view (POV). In this interactive workshop, New York book doctor Diane O'Connell will show how truly understanding and mastering point of view can fix an ailing manuscript and turn a decent but lackluster novel into a page-turner.

September 12, 2011

CREATING AN EFFECTIVE BOOK BUSINESS PLAN by Deborah Riley-Magnus
One of the most productive things an author can do is write a Book Business Plan. For this workshop, we will explore why and how an author should put all the ducks in line, numbers where they belong, and place everything in a neatly wrapped package.

September 14, 2011

SOCIAL NETWORKING FOR WRITERS: TWITTER, FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN AND MORE by Margo L. Dill
This class will teach writers how to use Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social networking sites such as Shelfari or Jacket Flap (students' choice) to network; to build a following of fans; to start working on a brand/image; and to promote books, articles, magazines, and blogs. Instead of using Facebook and Twitter to write about your fabulous dinner or disastrous day at the grocery store, you will learn to sell yourself and your writing!

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I hope you are as excited about our classes as we are. WOW! Women On Writing ensures that our instructors will work with you one-on-one. In most cases you will receive emailed course materials and assignments, or for those with groups, you will be able to download course materials. Your instructor will give you assignments and personal feedback, and guide you through a charted course of learning. Our instructors are wonderful ladies who go above and beyond to help you achieve your writing goals.


VISIT THE CLASSROOM PAGE FOR COMPLETE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS>> 


 WOW! BLOG: THE MUFFIN
 Find out the latest from the Bakers of WOW!

The Muffin Have you checked out what we've been baking for you on the daily Muffin? We've stirred together some traditional ingredients with new ones to deliver more interviews, enlightenment, thought provoking ideas, and inspirational messages to help you through those gray writing days.

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Never Stale! Here's the Latest:

Tuesdays are contest interview days!

If you are interested in writing for our contests, check out the interviews with previous Top 10 winners to find out how they crafted their stories.

D. L. Diener, Second Place Winner, Winter 2011 Flash Fiction Contest
Interview by Margo Dill

Winter 2011 Contest Runner Up: Jeff Cohen
Interview by Anne Greenawalt

Fall 2010 Flash Fiction Runner Up: Eileen Granfors
Interview by Margo Dill

Fall 2010 Flash Fiction Runner Up: Janel Gradowski
Interview by Jill Earl

Fall 2010 Flash Fiction Runner Up: Jeanne Bereiter
Interview by LuAnn Schinder

Summer 2010 Flash Fiction Runner Up: Dawn Curtis
Interview by Anne Greenawalt

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Blog Posts of Interest:

Create Your Own Opportunities: Thinking Outside the Box
By Margo L. Dill

Don't wait for opportunities to come to you. Margo shares examples of what a couple of ladies did to land themselves a newspaper column, and provides some ideas so you can do it too!

My Not-So-Secret Writing Tool for Generating Picture Book Ideas
By Lynne Garner

Lynne shares how she came up with the ideas for her three picture books, and shares her ideas with Muffin readers!

Why Plan Your Novel?
By Margo L. Dill

Does planning your novel make it easier to write? Pantsers will immediately say no; they just write what comes to them. What do you say? Maybe Margo will change your mind. Chime in this lively discussion!

Beating Writer's Block Using Everyday Experiences
By Chynna Laird

If your writing well runs dry, fill it back up with Chynna's inspiring list of ideas!

Noticing the Little Things Too Much?
By Elizabeth King Humphrey

Does your inner editor take a break when you read? Or does she want to dissect and pick apart everything? There's some great comments on this one!

Are Hashtags the New Global Book Club?
By Angela Mackintosh

Steal this marketing idea for your book. Or tell your publisher!

Finding Structure in Your Writing
By Elizabeth King Humphrey

Have you ever had the problem with your writing where the flow seems stilted? The organization is hodgepodge? Find out about the rainbow method!

Comment Sense: Using Comments to Build Your Blog Readership
By Margo L. Dill

One thing blog owners seem to wonder is: where are my readers? They ask themselves these questions: Is anyone actually reading this blog? If so, what do they think? If not, how do I drive readers to my blog? One way to answer all of these questions is with comments. Margo shares how you can use comments to work for you!

Time Management for Writers
By Kelly L. Stone

One of the primary questions author Kelly L. Stone is asked by aspiring authors is "where do you find time to write?" Most people already know that the answer is you don't have time, you make time. But making time to write in what feels like an already crammed schedule isn't as it sounds. Unless you try counting...

Tips from a Burgeoning Travel Writer
By Anne Greenawalt

For three weeks, Anne traveled cross country with her mom by Amtrak to interview other mother-daughter duos for a storytelling endeavor that will become the final project of her master's degree in communications. For anyone interested in travel writing, she offers her two biggest suggestions. Check it out!

What's Hiding in Your Newspaper?
By Jodi Webb

A writer finds her local paper an endless source of ideas and sources--and not just for murder mysteries. When was the last time you dissected your local paper? Jodi shows you how to do it. An inspirational post!

Six Tips for Writing "Clean" for Young Adults
By Chynna Laird

There are a growing number of authors writing "clean," which is essentially delving into the same story lines and plots found in most other young adult or adult fiction but without the graphic violence, sex, or language. Author Chynna Laird shares some great tips for author and authors-in-waiting who want to make it in this genre.

Am I Writing YA or MG?
By Margo Dill

One question that Margo is asked over and over again in the WOW! writing middle-grade class is "Do you think my story is young adult (YA) or middle-grade (MG)? She is also asked: "What's the difference? Which is better?" Check out this post to find out the answers!

Want to Write? Start with the Necessities
By LuAnn Schindler

So, you think you want to be a writer? It doesn't matter if you devote 24/7 to the writing life or work another job and squeeze in writing time when possible. You still need basic necessities that make writing an easier task.

The Aches and Pains of Being a Writer
By Robyn Chausse

Sore throats, migraines, carpal tunnel syndrome, lower back pain, upset stomach, when approaching a deadline... are these just the price we have to pay for our profession? Not necessarily. What if we told you that these are not, in essence, symptoms of the body, but symptoms of the soul?

Quick Blog Post Ideas
By Margo Dill

So, you started a blog, and at first, you took a lot of time and care to write each post. But as you soon found out, blogs can take up a huge chunk of your writing time each day or every other day, depending on how often you post. It is important to blog on a regular basis and update your material, but it's also important to work on your creative material or freelance articles. Check out these quick blog ideas for when you don't have a lot of time, but you need a blog post for the day.

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Want to contribute to The Muffin?

Friday's are "Speak Out!" days. We allow posts from contributors for promotion. If you'd like to submit a post, please make sure that it's about women and writing.

Your post can be about: writing inspiration, balancing family life/parenting with writing, craft of writing fiction/nonfiction, how-tos, tips for author promotion/marketing/social media, book reviews, writing prompts, special opportunities (paying markets for writers), publishing industry news/gossip, and anything you think our readers will love.

Please make sure that there is take-away value to our readers. No press releases please. We're more interested in hearing from our core audience--personal essays and humorous anecdotes are encouraged as well, as long as they provide something useful to our audience--including a good laugh! ;)

How To Submit: Submit your 250 - 500 word post in the body of your email to our blog editor Marcia Peterson: [email protected]. Please put "Friday Speak Out! Submission" in your subject line. Upon acceptance, we will ask for your bio, links, bio photo, and any other pics to illustrate the article. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Friday Speak Out! Posts of Interest:

Sneetch School by Melissa Olson

Writing Each Day Keeps the Doctor Away by Kristen Cliff

3 Tips to a Successful Audio Interview by Dana Pittman

Really? That's a Story Idea! by Juliann Wetz

Why I Write by Babette Hughes

Overcoming Fear by Christina Kapp

How I Landed An Op-Ed Gig by Jewel Punzalan Allen

Why Did I Wait? by Nancy Julien Kopp

A Forty-Minute Drive With The Bee Gees by Patti Cavaliere

Being a Real Writer! by Rochelle Melander

If you haven't read these posts, be sure to check them out. They're so inspiration and motivating. F.S.O.s rock!

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Subscribe to The Muffin with Feedburner and get the latest delivered straight to your inbox.

Visit The Muffin >> 


In Closing:

We hope the 1980s neon didn't blind you...(blind you with science! LOL) We just had to match the title of this issue (Girls Just Want to Have Fun...Writing!) with the '80s color scheme. We were considering interviewing Cyndi Lauper, but she hasn't written a book...yet. ;)

So, are you going to try to put some fun back into your writing? We hope this issue will inspire your muse! Don't let writing become a chore. Take some of the ideas shared in this issue and apply them to your writing life this summer.

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Happy Summer Writing!

WOW!
Angela & Team WOW!
WOW! Women On Writing LLC