Words writers don't want to hear

In honor of the most overused words and phrases of 2012, (here's a link)

http://www.canada.com/entertainment/Gallery+most+overused+words+phrases+2012/7760091/story.html

I’ve come up with my own list of words and phrases that writers never want to hear again:

Simultaneous submissions not accepted

Entry fee

We regret to inform you

Agented submissions only

Not what we are currently in the market for

Doesn’t meet our needs

Do not contact us

Unfortunately, we cannot afford to pay

My wish for the new year is that we don’t hear any of these phrases in 2013!

Write soon,

Mary

Pseudo-fun!

What do porn stars and writers have in common?

They use pseudonyms! What did you think I was talking about?

Do you recognize these names?

1)     Anne Rampling

2)     Richard Bachman

3)     Victoria Lucas

4)     Currer Bell

5)     Charles Lutwidge Dodgson

6)     Eric Arthur Blair

7)     Mary Ann Evans

8)     William Sydney Porter

9)     Francois-Marie Arouet

10) David John Moore Cornwell

11) Sanuel Langhorne Clemens

12) Theodore Seuss Geisel

13) Edgar Box

14) Diedrich Nickerbocker

These may be a little more familiar.

1)     Anne Rice

2)     Stephen King

3)     Sylvia Plath

4)     Charlotte Bronte

5)     Lewis Carroll

6)     George Orwell

7)     George Eliot

8)     O. Henry

9)     Voltaire

10) John Le Carre’

11) Mark Twain

12) Dr. Seuss

13) Gore Vidal

14) Washington Irving

They are the same people (match the numbers).

Tell me, have you ever used a pseudonym?

Write soon,

Mary

So many books, so little time

Thousands of free e-books are available to you regardless of which e-reader you use. The Gutenberg Project at Gutenberg.org features the classics, as does OpenLibrary.org and ManyBooks.net. 

Free-ebooks.net is another valuable site, and don’t forget to search “free nook books” at Barnes and Noble (BN.com). Amazon.com also has freebies if you search “free Kindle books.”

Write soon,

Mary

Author event at the library

The St. Charles City-County Library District’s Fourth Annual Local Author Open House will be held tomorrow from 5-7 p.m. at the Middendorf-Kredell Branch Library, 2750 Highway K, O'Fallon. The library will offer refreshments and a festive atmosphere for visitors to chat with authors, purchase books and have them signed. I'll be there along with other writer friends including Margo Dill. Hope to see you there!

Procrastination is fun and easy with this website

While I was looking up something about sentence lengths, I clicked on a link to an article about home décor for writers because 1) I’ve been thinking about posting a blog on this topic, and 2) Sometimes I develop a keen interest in subjects that have nothing to do with what I am working on, which prevents me from working on my work! (That should be the new definition of procrastination.)

I ended up on the Writers Relief website, where they have compiled a group of objects writers will love. You have to check out the perfect clock for writers – it has no numbers, just a message that says “Time to Write” on its face. And my other favorite, the unique keyboard that works with your iPad or other tablet device. I also like the candles that are library scented.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. Here’s the link, now, go have fun! And any one of these would make a great present for the writer on your list, including me, in case you were wondering!

http://www.writersrelief.com/blog/2012/11/home-decor-ideas-for-writers/

And if you want to see more (really cool) clocks for writers, go to CaféPress.

http://www.cafepress.com/+writers+clocks 

Write soon,
Mary