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January 2014 Newsletter
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Happy Birthday, January Babies!
Happy birthday, January babies! This month, we here at Struggling Writers want to wish a big 'ol happy birthday to Leslie J. and Shawn J.!
Monthly Riddle
Q: What building has the most stories?
A: The Library!
Congrats to the NaNoWriMo Ultimate Champion!
We here at Struggling Writers want to give a big round of applause to a Struggling Writer named Elizabeth Grace, who closed out the 2013 NaNoWriMo season with a whopping 65,202 words written! Congratulations, Elizabeth!
Monthly Quote
"For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning."
- T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"
January Writing Horoscopes
It's a new year, which means new writing horoscopes! Check them out here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Into The Noveling Realm
Now, this is for all of you who have a novel and are struggling to finish it. Maybe you have a novel from NaNoWriMo and 50k just doesn’t cover the story; maybe you didn’t quite make that 50k but with a little encouragement could finish the story; or maybe you didn’t do NaNoWriMo but you have a novel and would like a group to collaborate with. No matter where you are if you have a novel listen up!
In lieu of the New Year and an attempt at new beginnings we (the MODs) have decided to create a special space just for those with partial novels. If you are interested in starting a novel you are welcome to join the folder, but be prepared cheer on your peers and join in as almost as much crazy as NaNoWriMo. This is going to be a place where YOU get to set your word count per each day and when you want to have your novel finished by, but instead of doing it all by your lonesome you will have people cheering you on and holding you to that deadline.
So I dare you to join me as I take on the challenge to get my novel finished ASAP! I dare you to join me and say “I can do this, I will write and complete this novel.” I dare you to take part in something a little more relaxed than NaNoWriMo, but just as spirited!
I believe in you, so join me here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group... as the folder builds into an encouraging station bursting of tips to get that novel finished!
We'd like to give a special thanks to everyone that helped make this newsletter possible, and we also want to extend a huge thank you to your Struggling Writers Moderators--Ingrid, Irene, Jessica, Laura and Tara! Check back next month for the February newsletter, and enjoy the first month of the new year!
New Book Releases for January
As we enter the New Year a multitude of new books are entering it with us! The top books to be released in January are listed below, but be sure to keep an eye out in your local bookstores for the rest.
The Kill Order by James Dashner
Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth and mankind fell to disease. Mark and Trina were there when it happened...
Buy it here:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-k...
Hollow City: The Second Novel of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children was the surprise best seller of 2011—an unprecedented mix of YA fantasy and vintage photography that enthralled readers and critics alike. Publishers Weekly called it “an enjoyable, eccentric read, distinguished by well-developed characters, a believable Welsh setting, and some very creepy monsters.”
This second novel begins in 1940, immediately after the first book ended...
Buy it here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hollo...
First Love by James Patterson
Axi Moore is a "good girl": She studies hard, stays out of the spotlight, and doesn't tell anyone that what she really wants is to run away from it all. The only person she can tell is her best friend, Robinson--who she also happens to be madly in love with.
When Axi impulsively invites Robinson to come with her on an unplanned cross-country road trip, she breaks the rules for the first time in her life. But the adventure quickly turns...
Buy it here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/first...
New Book Release From Chrys Fey (Struggling Writer's Author)
After her car breaks down, Beth Kennedy is forced to stay in Florida, the target of Hurricane Sabrina. She stocks up supplies, boards up windows, and hunkers down to wait out the storm, but her plan unravels when she witnesses a car accident. Risking her life, she braves the winds to save the driver. Just when she believes they are safe, she finds out the man she saved could possibly be more dangerous than the severe weather. Donovan Goldwyn only wanted to hide from the police, but the hurricane shoved his car into a tree. Now he's trapped with a beautiful woman while the evidence that can prove his innocence to a brutal crime is out there for anyone to find. As Hurricane Sabrina wreaks havoc, Beth has no other choice but to trust Donovan to stay alive. But will she survive, or will she become another hurricane crime?
Buy Hurricane Crimes on Amazon HERE: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GVK921G/r...
Featured Writing
A Poem For Mental Illness by Lindsey
A razor against my wrist,
A bang against the wall,
A finger down my throat,
A malnourished fall.
A boiling pot of water,
A boiling hot spoon,
A burn on my arm,
A time where I’m left in a cocoon.
A run to the store,
A stolen razor blade,
A pressured slit to the wrist,
A happy day was displayed.
A meal I regurgitate,
A taste I can’t shake,
A conflicted but proud feeling,
A meal flushed into a lake.
A couple hours of crunches,
A couple hundred calories lost,
A couple large beads of sweat,
A couple meals tossed.
A day in my sickness,
A day of everyday life,
A day of relapse,
A day of ugly sights.
A feeling of relief,
A feeling of shame,
A feeling of false joy,
A feeling of disdain.
A thought that thinks it’s great,
A thought that thinks it’s okay,
A thought that thinks it’s disgusting,
A thought that is sickened by what I say.
A conflicted emotional state,
A troubled and regretful day,
A lost and broken heart,
A twisted pathway.
Q&A With Trisha Jones
We sat down with author/Struggling Writers member Trisha Jones to talk with her about what it's like to be an author and also to discuss her most recently published work, Nirvash.
What was your inspiration for Nirvash?
It [Nirvash] was an idea I had for a NaNoWriMo [National Novel Writing Month] novel almost four years ago.
Why do you think people will enjoy Nirvash?
It's [Nirvash is] not the normal vampire book.
What tips do you have for authors that are new to the publishing process?
It's a lot of hard work so be ready.
Did you self-publish your story, or was it professionally published?
I self-published it.
What is some advice that you have for young, aspiring writers?
Write everyday and never give up on your dream.
Did you ever picture yourself as a published author?
I do see myself as a published author
Was writing always your passion, or did you ever have a different career in mind?
I have always wanted to do something with drawing, but when I lost feeling in my fingers many years ago, my creativity came out as writing.
What author/story do you look up to and use for ideas/inspiration?
I look up to Laurell K. Hamilton and Kim Harrison, [but] the ideas [for my stories] are mostly my own.
What do you find to be the most difficult part of the writing process? Trying to get what is in my head down on paper.
Can we expect some new works from you in the future?
Yes I am editing a Werejaguar novel and writing another at the moment.
Q&A With Scott Hildreth
We also sat down with author Scott Hildreth and talked to him about one of his newest novels, Baby Girl.
What was your inspiration for Baby Girl?
I was inspired to write Baby Girl after taking a look at several of the Dominant/submissive types of erotica novels that have been released in recent years. None of them satisfied my desire to understand the dynamics of these types of relationships.
Why do you think people will enjoy Baby Girl?
Baby Girl is a different type of erotic romance novel. It describes the thoughts and feelings of the characters. After completing the series of books, the reader has an accurate understanding of the thoughts, feelings, and processes of a D/s relationship. Baby Girl is unique in this respect.
What tips do you have for authors that are new to the publishing process?
Be yourself. Believe in yourself. Believe in your work.
Did you self-publish your story, or was it professionally published?
I opted to self-publish.
What is some advice that you have for young, aspiring writers?
Expose yourself to your craft. An aspiring author should read and write as much as possible. That level of devotion is what separates the few that are noticed from those that go unnoticed. Practice. Makes. Perfect.
Did you ever picture yourself as a published author?
The entire process has been humbling, and no I did not.
Was writing always your passion, or did you ever have a different career in mind?
Writing has always been my passion - writing and telling stories. Since childhood, when I told a story, people stopped and listened. The only difference now is that there's a permanent record of it/them.
What author/story do you look up to and use for ideas/inspiration?
Relying on others for inspiration has never been a strong suit of mine. I enjoy my independence.
What do you find to be the most difficult part of the writing process?
Letting go of the characters at the end of the story. When I write, I become the character(s). I live their lives, feel their emotions, and think their thoughts. Completing one book and starting another requires leaving one set of characters and developing others. Letting go can be extremely difficult.
Can we expect some new works from you in the future?
My job is writing. I will continue to release multiple books a year as long as people continue to read them.
We'd like to extend a special thanks to authors Trisha Jones and Scott Hildreth for allowing us to conduct these interviews. :-)
January Quiz
It's a new year, which also means that it's time for a brand new monthly quiz--how much do you know about facts and events that have occurred/will occur in January? Take our January Quiz HERE to find out: https://www.goodreads.com/quizzes/322...
Congratulations to the December Poetry Contest Winner!
Congratulations to our December Poetry Contest winner, Regina, on her poem, "Hopeful Glee!"
Candles in the window carefully lit
Children by their fireplaces impatiently sit
An air of jolly anticipation and hopeful glee
Wrapped presents underneath a decorated tree
A night where the entire world holds its breath
As God’s people remember his son’s birth and death
January Writing Contest
Since today is the start of an annually fresh year, this writing contest will focus on new beginnings. You can write about any type of new beginning, whether it involves new relationships or new career openings, as long as you can form it into a short story. Interested? You can enter here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Writing Tip of the Month
Greetings and Happy New Year! As the year starts I believe I can comfortably say that we all are familiar with the things called “New Year’s Resolutions”, and that we make them but never quite seem able to complete them. So, with the beginning of a new year, I challenge you to make three new resolutions about writing and stick to them. Lay out three things that you want to do that involves your writing, and I’m going to quickly give you a suggestion or two, to get you started!
Nearly all the advice out there about improving your writing contains the same base line, practice. So do you write on a regular basis? Writing regularly not only improves your writing, but it gets a habit in place that is quite easy to maintain. A habit takes an average of sixty six days to form so why not start today? IF you started today, by the first week of March you would be writing easily on a daily basis.
Once you’re writing on a daily basis you know that you can produce words even when you think you can’t. This gives you an easy platform to try something new from, so why not? Why not step away from what you are used to and try something new, whether it be poetry, short stories, or a new genre. Trying something new will help you expand your perspective and show you a side that you might not have known you had!
So this January, make three resolutions about your writing and stick to them! Make three resolutions that are going to somehow improve your writing, whether it be exploring or a habit, make three.
What's Your Resolution? Poll
The new year is here and with it comes promises of resolutions for 2014! So us here at Struggling Writers decided to make a poll: What is YOUR New Year's Resolution for 2014? Take the poll here: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/9...