Wanna win a free book?

Hey young writers! 

I’m honored to have new novelist, Adam Dustus, author of HighSchool Asylum, guest blogging on WriteLikeCRAZY this Friday, Sept. 25! And you can win his book!

 Adam has been writing fiction and poetry his whole life and shares his story of how to stay motivated by having goals for your writing.

 What are your goals for your writing? 

Do you want to see your name in print? Have a book made into a blockbuster movie? Maybe just improve your grades on school papers?  Well, it all begins with a goal.

Share your goal with us for a chance to win…

Wanna win Adam’s book, High School Asylum for free?  Then come back over to the WriteLikeCRAZY blog on Friday before midnight and post a comment telling us about your writing goals! One lucky winner will be randomly selected. Be sure to follow the rules posted on Friday!!!

You can also leave a question or comment for author Adam Dustus as he will be replying all day.

Can’t wait to “see” you there!

The Authors are coming…the authors are coming!

OK, I’ve been feeling a little guilty about something and need to come clean.

Ready?

I’ve been cheating on you.

Well, it’s not what it seems. Really.

Hear me out.

My other blog, Writers Inspired, was created first, about a year ago. I created that blog as a means to  communicate with fellow writers who took a Christina Katz on-line course with me. This was were we’d keep each other on track with our goals and post upcoming contests and editors or markets to stay away from.

Then, you were born. Well, not you, but WriteLikeCRAZY. I began this blog as a way for my own writing students to keep in touch, share their work and gain writing prompts, tips and links to contests. Plus, some silly stuff along the way.

I feel guilty that I’ve been reeling in authors, interviews and book giveaways for Writers Inspired, yet leaving my young readers high and dry. Say it ain’t so, Mary Jo.   *sigh*  It’s so.

So… how about I invite authors of young adult and teen novels to guest post and giveaway books here?! Yeah? You like that idea, right?

But, I need your help:

First, tell me some of your favorite NEW authors and their book titles.

Then, tell me what you’d like to know from these authors: how many hours a week they write; how many drafts until they feel confident that their manuscript is complete; do they drink pots of coffee and stay up all night to get their ideas on paper; how did they first get published – even ask them to describe their desk or work area.

I’ll start bringing in the authors – you start giving me some questions for them. Deal? Deal! Good, now I don’t feel dirty.

: )

A week of Quotes, day 4

“Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out if they’ve got a second. Give your dreams all you’ve got and you’ll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you.”

William James

1842-1910, Author

Feel free to share your thoughts on this quote or favorite quotes that get you out of a writing rut.

A week of Quotes, day 3

If you don’t feel that you are possibly on the edge of

humiliating yourself, of losing control of the whole thing,

then probably what you are doing isn’t very vital.

If you don’t feel like you are writing somewhat over your head,

why do it? If you don’t have some doubt of your authority to

tell this story, then you are not trying to tell enough.

~ John Irving

Feel free to share your thoughts on this quote or favorite quotes that get you out of a writing rut.

 

A week of Quotes

While I’m preparing lesson plans and writing games for my young writers’ summer studio, I’m offering some inspiration for the week:

Each day I will post a new inspiring quote to help you along your writing path.

“Be creative. Use unconventional thinking. And have the guts to carry it out.”

Lee Iacocca

Automobile Executive and Author

Feel free to share your thoughts on this quote or favorite quotes that get you out of a writing rut.

5 Prompt Friday

{photo courtesy of eosfoundation.org}

Five prompts to get your pen movin’ and groovin’:

1. It was the last morning of summer vacation.
2. Write about finding a green post-it with a handwritten message on your car’s windshield.
3. You find a voodoo doll in your best friend’s backpack.
4. After taking a large bite of your favorite pizza you bite down on sharp metallic object.
5. Someone broke into your Facebook page and has been “friending” all of your enemies.

Have fun!  Share what you wrote with us!

Young Writers Scholarship

The 2nd Annual Lisa Rector Young Writers Scholarship

 Postmark Deadline: July 30, 2009.

1st place, SIWC Full Scholarship, 2009.
2nd place, critique by a Literary Agent
3rd place, critique by an Editor or Writer

The winner will be invited to attend the Surrey International Writers’ Conference October 23-25, 2009 in Surrey, Canada. 3-day conference pass includes entry to an awards banquet announcing the winner and a consult with a participating agent or editor attending this year’s conference. Scholarship does not include meals, travel or accommodation.

Students between the ages of 12-18, currently enrolled in a junior high, senior high or college program, are eligible to enter. Contest is open to Canadian, US and Worldwide residents 

Postmark Deadline: July 30, 2009.

Wacky Wednesday

Instead of the usual Wacky Wednesday writing prompts, today, let’s take a field trip. It’s summer, you’re going places, so go into a bookstore, or a library with this mission in mind:

Find the WACKIEST children’s or YA book on the shelves and answer:

What made you pick the book up?

Why is it wacky?

Is it wacky-strange or wacky-silly?

Would you read it? Recommend it to a friend?

What ideas does it give you for your own writing?

Don’t be shy, share your findings with us.  Let’s see who can find the WACKIEST book out there (and I do mean “out there”, groovy cats!)

Any song writers out there?

While cruising Twitter (what you’re not tweeting? – sign up and follow me @mjcwriter!) I found a cool site for songwriters:

“From inspiration to crafted songs.

Lilac Writer is an online songwriting tool to help you write lyrics with built-in references, organization & collaboration tools.”

Free membership and free to use, so far. Check it out and give us your review here.

More Prompts Monday

Since your usual writing prompts didn’t make it to the post on Friday, I thought I’d make it up by posting several more writing prompts today…Enjoy!

1. Momentum: write about an object or character that is gaining momentum. What will that mean for the story?
2. Pick a happy color, say lime green like a tree frog, and juxtapose (meaning: to place side by side) that color with a tragic scene
3. Write about characters that travel with the weather: tornado riders or hail storm surfers, etc
4. Write about an obsession that has gone too far, but make it unique. Not a classic stalker/jealousy obsession, but maybe a character that has severe OCD with cleanliness and how that affects her and her world.
5. Go through your parents’ CD collection, now select a random track and listen to the lyrics. Make up a story from there.
6. Have you ever flipped through a baby name book? There are so many character name options, including their origin and meanings. Good stuff there, my friends. Use your research to create a new character true to his name.
7. What do you find challenging? A new level on Mario Cart? Maybe perfecting your volleyball serve? Is it a challenge to invite new kids to hang with your usual group of buddies? Write about one of your challenges and let your character figure out how to succeed.

Share some of your promtps with us! Or just stop by to chat about anything writing-related.