Friday Mash Up - Rounding Up the Glasses

Celebratories - Milo Fowler had a story accepted or Allegory Magazine - look for it in January!! Nicki Elson's alma mater magazine published a lovely article on her & Three Daves!! Elliot Grace is in final edits & cover art is complete for his 2011 release!! Simon Kewin had 3 stories published on the iPad this week!!

In Other Blogs - Roni Loren posted on good critique buddies - how to find them, love them, keep them. Lyn Fairchild Hawks covered the myth, the fable that is Facebook - interesting thoughts. Gabriela Leesa talked blocks, crocks & making better stew. Brenda Drake's retelling of The Night Before Christmas was a fun read. Christine Bell had another Friday Freak Out & a picture of Richard Gere - gotta love it.

Karen Gowen is now hiding behind a new blog - Celery Tree - with her lovely daughter. And they covered bestsellers, book buying & the Amazon critter. Nicole MacDonald introduced cover art for her novel & some risk-ay art of another kind. Deanna Knippling talked Lulu & Steampunk. Kay Theodoratus discussed Odd things - Odd Thomas to be exact.

At Jamie Council's blog good things reigned down on her this week. Pamela Turner has been on a blog tour for Death Sword; this week she discussed her love of Louisville. Erin Spock looked into the bottomless shaft of research. Holly Ruggiero brought discarded trees & crepes - some yum. Iggi & Gabi had the best analogy of the week - Leverage.

Jeffrey Beesler has been covering the 12 Days of Christmas writer style - funny stuff. Jenn is ankle-dress deep in the Christian Fiction Reading Challenge. Julie Musil discussed exposition, blue man syndrome & James Scott Bell's remedies. Katie Anderson showed us her Christmas tree & photographic evidence. Kristina Fugate talked subplot - what is & isn't, how to play nice with it & when to rein it into the corral. KK Brees shared a story from the local book store - the quirky characters of real life.

Laura Kaye provided a great link to the E-book romance. Lisa Potts' rendition of the Top 10 for Writers kept me smiling. Clarissa Draper covered 11 hours, 10% & 9 stitches - great writing count down. Laurie Halse Anderson has Speak Loudly t-shirts in the closet - great last minute Christmas gifts if you're still looking. Jennifer Shirk has been tripping the 12 Days of E-books all over the place. Summer Ross posted her Top 10 - Christmas Fairies - yeah!

Allan's book, Veiled in Shadows, is on Kindle sale - check it. Francine posted pics of her winter writing spaces - I am soooo jealous! Madeleine had locos, haikus, anniversaries & some great questions. Jennifer Becton celebrated in Austenian style - the birth of one great commentator whose words still wring the heart right out of ya. Laura Lee Carter discussed to self-publish or not - why it works for her. Terri Tiffany looked at the bookshelf offerings & inspiration for writers.

Leigh Moore covered weakness, gabba & magic - writers, marketing & bestsellers. Bryan Russell talked of the alchemical transformation from interviewer to interviewee. The Bloood-Red Pencil regifted with special memories of Christmas past, hiding your bones, show & tell, fine-tuning the pitch & plunder, & the dreaded comma. Angela Ackerman perked up the week with lots & lots of - STRESS.

Golden Eagle talked the movie/book debate - when the movie diverges & disappointment follows. Candyland looked at giving up & growing up - 2 very interesting looks forward & back. The Old Silly provided some great advice in the gift giving, non-dog house living holiday season. Lydia Sharp went over spit, polish, non-form & audience; Joe looked at a before the book was even finished sale.

Jenny of The Writing Bug talked Top 10 Interferences in the Writer's Life - call the audible, take the penalty. Jules had a great laugh at the expense of traffic school - go along for the ride. Jody Hedlund uncovered slush pile syndrome, dis-appreciation & making it in the self-publishing world. Maggie Stiefvater showed off her Bulgarian bagpipes. At Writer Unboxed there was bridge hopping, editing, enduring the 1st page & where the enthusiasm lives.

Hostings - Jennifer Lane interviewed author Belinda Kroll & reviewed her novel Haunting Miss Trentwood. Joanna St. James hosted two of the writers of Five Oaks. Elizabeth Spann Craig turned her blog over to Enid Wilson, author of Fire and Cross - the pride, the prejudice, the mystery. Nancy Williams sat with 2 authors this week; children's author Jan Markley & fantasy writer Marian Allen. Pat Stoltey talked with Laura DiSilverio - the path to publication fraught with scenic detours.

Reviews - Jayne reviewed Latecomers by Anita Brookner & Switch Bitch by Roald Dahl. Michelle Teacress looked into Anything but Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin. Calvin Losett talked about Upstream by Thomas McGuane & Charles Lindsay - fly-fishing, tales & pics.

Agenty Blogs - Scott Eagan flogged, contested & passed - all in a week's work. Book Ends wrapped their 12 Days of Christmas giveaway; followed it up with sugared cranberries - yum. Denise Little faced down the demons of her inbox. Janet Reid whipped out the reef cones. Nathan Bransford looked back at his favorite books this year. Rachelle Gardner turned the blog over to Marcus Brotherton who taught publishing economics with a peanut-y flair.

And that be that. Have a wonderful weekend everyone & here's hoping your shopping's done, your credit cards will not have won & you bask in the glow of a winter sun.

Happy Writing,

Patti

Friday Mash Up - Feeding Your Muse

Welcome - Milo Fowler, Gabi & Katie Anderson. Stop by & check these folks out.

NaNo Counts - Brenda Drake 18355 Clarissa Draper 18000 Lisa Potts 11502 Yea!!!!

In Other Blogs:
Roni Loren posted on lessons learned from NaNo. Erica gave us 5 methods for dealing with unruly characters. In a funny bit, Jayne showed us how to pack some light reading for vacay. Shellie talked about 'The Hook' & its many dresses. Sending out prayers to Karen G's family. Nicole MacDonald had a post concerning professional editing. Kay Theodoratus talked about the death of a favorite character. Jamie Council is celebrating new jeans - check out the pics. Alexandra has been searching for plot issue resolution. Jennifer Lane looked at goal setting & how it has benefitted her writing life. Jennifer Shirk discussed Twitter observations. Pat Stoltey provided a list of contests & giveaways. Allan also posted about some giveaways. The Blood Red Pencil introduced a new blogger this week - Elspeth Antonelli. Jody Hedlund talked about the self-doubt ogre. Maggie Stiefvater let us in on the lengths we go to for our WIPs with some tea that is definitely not in my cupboard.

Reviews & Hostings:
Pamela Turner had a guest post from LK Below on world building. Iggi & Gabi reviewed 5 verse novels; all of which sound amazing. Jenn posted a review of 'Invention of Hugo Cabret' by Brian Selznick. Joanna St. James hosted Jessica Barksdale Inclan. Laura Kaye introduced Lea Nolan. Michelle Teacress placed a teaser for 'The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place' by Maryrose Wood. Nancy Williams hosted her first author on her first blog tour - all those firsts; check out Mary Montague Sikes. Madeleine had an interview with Annie Ashworth & Meg Sanders. Angela Ackerman hosted 'Across the Universe' by Beth Revis. Lydia Sharp had guest host Juliette Wade. Jan O'Hara posted a second shot interview with Lisa Brackmann.

Celebratories:
Milo Fowler received great news on rewrites & reprints.

Agent Bloggy Things:
Scott Eagan posted on building writing depth & why a duck is a duck & not a wading dinghy. Jessica Faust turned the blog over to one of her clients, Angie Fox, who discussed taking charge. Janet Reid is preparing for Crime Bake; if your attending & pitching her, best to read the posts first & don't forget to bring a tree. Nathan Bransford, if ya haven't heard, has decided to leave the agentsphere - sad indeed. You can see pics of Kristin Nelson in Florida - an agent, a mission, & an IRS report. Rachelle Gardner had guest blogger Gwen Stewart & rejection from the agent's desk.

On my NaNo front, I am crawling up the 26k mark. I have devised a get back on track plan. And, I took plenty of vitamins to get me through - just like the Beatles!

One last thought for the week: If your child insists on wearing the concrete shoes of stupid choices, are you required to throw them the rope? Or, is this more of an arbitrary thing? Any advice is appreciated as the weekend hangs in the balance.

Happy Writing,

Patti

Friday Mash Up - She Cried Mo, Mo, Mo

Welcome to Lisa Potts and Christine both of whom joined us the week.

NaNo Counts - Brenda Drake = 8359     Clarissa Draper = 4792
Big Bumps to both ladies!!! Add your count in the comments for some Bump Support.

This week we got to see a bunch of folks' work spaces in the 'Show Your Space Blogfest': Roni Loren and Katie Anderson. Check out their writing spaces.

In other blogs: Shellie posted an article about cell phone etiquette; between teens & technology, I found kernels of truth from my perspective. Christine Bell has an interview with Tia Nevitt. Karen G posted a great article on the blogging no-no's. Deanna Knippling posted a great article on writing speed. And on the same beat, Iggi & Gabi posted an article on binge writing - writer's little helpers. Julie Musil's article on strong foundations is a definite must. Check out Nancy Williams' Hump Day Improvs every Wednesday. The Blood Red Pencil gives some advice on Word. Candyland described her juggling method - better known as - ball adjustment. Jody Hedlund gave us scene writing tips - great advice.

Celebratories:
In medias res celebrated its 1st Blogiversary.  Donna Hosie has big doings & great news to share on the path to pub front. Simon Kewin has big doings also; stop by & check 'em out - 4 for 1 day. Lydia Sharp will be published in her 3rd Anthology.

Reviews & Hostings:
Jennifer Lane has a book giveaway - her romantic suspense novel - 'With Good Behavior'. Joanna St. James has an interview with Talli Roland & her new book - 'The Hating Game' - sound deelish. Laura Kaye has a book review up - 'Crave' by JR Ward. Pat Stoltey hosted Stephen Tremp & his novel 'Breakthrough'. Writer Unboxed has an interview with Lisa Brackman author of 'Rock, Paper, Tiger.'

Agent Blog Stuffs:
Mandy Hubbard, MG/YA agent & author, lists some of the items she would like to find in her query pile. Scott Eagan babbles about his pet peeves. Jessica Faust of Book Ends provides insight through her recent blown away reads. Janet Reid offered a link regarding the Zero Draft & NaNo. Nathan Bransford is out of the office this week, but does have a poll up regarding genre. One of Kristin Nelson's clients will be in Broomfield, CO this weekend - click on over to view the venues. And, Rachelle Gardner provided some Twitter talk & the invaluability of tools - I need to re-read this bad boy.

And then the week ended. I got to sleep in this morning - Parent/Teacher Conferences. We did ours last night. As we drove across town - a whole five minutes - I said to my teens, "If anyone has anything to declare before we arrive, please do so now. I am in no mood for any surprises." Let me just say, the innumerable excuses of this, that & many others appeared to be in vain. To which, hubs & I breathed much relief.

Last but not - crossed the 12000 word barrier yesterday thanks to hubs. He provided the grease to turn the engine over & I thank him.

Have a magsplendif weekend and Happy Writing,

Patti