Farewell, See Ya Later, & All That Jazz

I meant to post this earlier today but got sidetracked. Oops.

(Hmm…Is it really getting sidetracked, though, if I’m doing what I came here to do? Anyway….)

This morning, the other writer who had been staying here left to go back home. He’s a really nice guy and apparently does quite well at a form I have yet to be able to stick with: short stories. (Mine always turn out too long or too flat.)

Here’s to you, Mike! Good luck with your writing and eventual publication. Hopefully I’ll see you sometime next fall, either at Dairy Hollow or the Ozarks Creative Writers conference.

Filed under: writing , short stories, WCDH residency, Writers Colony, Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow, writing

WritingontheRun.com: A Website Review

WRITINGONTHERUN.COM WEB SITE REVIEW

Busy-ness has become a fact of life. How are writers – beginning and established – supposed to find the time necessary to write?

WritingontheRun.com offers some solutions.

In a press release, WritingontheRun.com founders Linda and Allen Anderson say 81% of all Americans want to write a book, but most of them don’t think they have time to actually do it. Allen Anderson says, “Most people who aspire to the writing life have to figure out how to fit it into busy schedules, full households, and loads of self-doubt. We can relate to this push-pull tug of wanting to write but not having the time or even the confidence.” They were all too familiar with the difficulty we face. In 1996, they formed the forerunner of WritingontheRun.

In addition to information about workshops, books, and media in which they have appeared, features of WritingontheRun.com include:

1. Newsletter. The newsletter is free. It is published weekly and includes tips for “writing on the run.”
2. Quiz to determine if you need to learn how to write on the run. Questions include: “Has a teacher or someone in authority told you that you don’t have writing talent and need to find yourself a ‘real’ job?”; “Are school assignments and have-to-writing on the job destroying your love of writing?”; and “Do you want to write but don’t have the time to fit one more thing into your busy life?” to name a few.
3. 101 tips and ideas for writing on the run. One of the tips encourages giving yourself validation and permission to write and call yourself a writer.

In May 2005, Writers Digest named WritingontheRun.com as one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers. Other than that, though, why bother? What’s in it for you?

In addition to potentially generating additional income, they list more reasons on their website. For instance, “Because studies have proven that writing is an antidote to DEPRESSION; people who write about their painful life experiences recover from them more easily and quickly” and “Because writing is a FUN and enjoyable way to express your thoughts, feelings, and insights – even if it’s only to yourself” among other reasons.

According to a report from www.dead-links.com, out of 232 outgoing links, there are 54 broken links on the website. That appears to be the only disadvantage to the website.

There is more information on the website than I remember. I understand sites are frequently updated and new information added and no doubt that is what has happened here.

Rating: ****

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BIO

Jen Nipps is a member of the Tulsa Nightwriters, McAlester McSherry Writers, and Web Writing Wonders. Her websites are up and running at www.jenifernipps.com and www.theideapocket.com.

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(Originally published in the OWFI Report, September 2008)

Filed under: writing , Jen Nipps, jennipps, Oklahoma Writers' Federation, OWFI Report, review, website, Writing on the Run, WritingontheRun.com

Reprioritizing

I knew when I came here that I was bringing too many projects to work on. I brought it all, though, “just in case.”

Well…

I’m not going to work on “Confessions of a Fat Chick” any. (However, I realize I forgot to post links to my Hubs on those. Yes, I’m on Hub Pages. There’s “What’s Your FCA?” and “You’re Wearing What?” Don’t forget about the CFC blog, too.)

I’m also not going to worry too much about editing “Kiernan’s Curse.” Yes, I want to get it done. Yes, it will be done. Just not this week, more than likely.

What will get done?

The rough draft of “Navajo Rose.” I think I’m within five chapters of finishing it. They’ve returned the bowl, but are there troubles over and do they stay together? *s* I’m not telling.

After the rough draft is finished, I want to re-polish the first three chapters, revise the synopsis, and polish the query letter so it will be in pitchable shape (or close to it) since I might have an appointment with an agent or editor at the Ozark Creative Writers conference next week.

I know I don’t update often enough here, so to find out what’s going on on a more frequent basis (daily at least), check me out on Twitter. (Creative Tips/The Idea Pocket is there as well.)

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(Reminder: Links in posts will open in a new window, so be sure your pop-up blocker will allow them.)

Filed under: revisions, writing , Confessions of a Fat Chick, editing, Hub Pages, Jen Nipps, jennipps, Kiernan's Curse, Navajo Rose, Ozark Creative Writers, priorities, query, synopsis, Twitter, WCDH residency, Writers Colony, Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow, writers conference, writing

Switching Things Up

This morning, I wanted something different. Sitting at my computer with the door open as the world goes by is OK sometimes, but today I wanted to be out in it.

I was up and ready early. (By early, I mean 8:30 since the first trolley doesn’t run until about 9:00.) I packed a bag with a notebook, pen, my camera, two bottles of water, some peanut butter crackers, and money, since I also planned to eat lunch while I was out.

I paid for a day pass on the trolley and rode it up to the Crescent Hotel. I walked through the hotel to the stairs out back that lead down to St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church.

They have some very pretty statues and fountains, beautiful plants, and a well-manicured lawn. It’s almost like a small park. I found a stone bench a little bit away from the main path and settled in.

I was partly shaded and partly in the sun. It didn’t really matter. I wrote for two hours sitting on that bench.

I needed something different. I needed to change my routine. It worked better than I could have imagined. What I wrote isn’t related to the work I’ve been doing here so far, but it’s certainly usable. I think I have a good beginning for a short story using a title I came up with quite a while back.

I’m planning to do the same thing Monday morning at Thorncrown Chapel.

Filed under: writing , Eureka Springs, Jen Nipps, jennipps, St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church, Thorncrown Chapel, WCDH residency, write, Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow, writing

Back in Eureka Again

(Sing the above to the tune of “Back in the Saddle Again”)

I arrived in Eureka Springs, at the Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow, Sunday afternoon. Every time I come to this town, it’s like my heart says “I’m home.” But that’s neither here nor there at the moment.

My project list I want to work on is long:

• Finish the rough draft of “Navajo Rose.”
• Edit “Kiernan’s Curse” per the editor’s recommendations. (Possibly resubmit to them? I don’t know on that one.)
• Write at least 3 chapters on “Confessions of a Fat Chick.”
• Work on some article queries to keep up my $80/day goal.

What have I done so far?

• Finished 2 chapters on NR (10 & 11).
• No editing on KC.
• One paragraph on CFC.
• Set up a page to apply for a paid blogging gig (The Beaded Jen Tribune).
• Applied for a non-writing job here in Eureka Springs.
• Sent some applications to writing jobs on Craigslist (courtesy of Freelance Writing Jobs).
• Sent two queries to magazines.

It’s actually more than I originally thought, but I’m still not happy with the progress. I’m my own worst critic, you know.

But that’s where I am at the moment.

Filed under: editing, revisions, writing , Dairy Hollow, editing, Eureka Springs, Jen Nipps, jennipps, Kiernan's Curse, Navajo Rose, write, Writers Colony, Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow, writing

Finally home. Been here an hour & a half. Transcription to do (how UNfun) and repacking like a wild woman.

Filed under: writing

Jen’s Been AWOL

Hello, everybody.

I’m sorry for the extended absence lately. We’ve been on vacation to see family in California, a wee bit of gambling in Laughlin, NV, and a short stay in Sedona, AZ.

I’ll be going straight from here to Eureka Springs, AR. Wow. It might be a bit much at once, but it’s been nice.

I’ll get caught up on blogging later this week. OK, not “caught up,” per se, but back on track.

Filed under: writing

Please Visit

If any of you are familiar with Simon Gabriel, you already know about this.

For those of you who are not, Simon was born at 24 weeks’ gestation. He is in one of the best NICUs in the country in Denver, Colorado.

A group of freelance writers, work-at-home-moms, and friends have gotten together and are holding auctions to benefit Simon and his family. Please visit Auctions for Simon to see what is being offered.

For more information about Simon, you can visit One Woman’s Heart and SimonGabriel.net.

Filed under: not writing , auctions, Simon Gabriel