ABC'S OF READ & 'RITING: LETTER R

There are almost as many ways to READ a book as there are ways to WRITE them. For those readers out there who are more traditional minded like myself, there are libraries, new & used bookstores, yard sales and departments in retail stores to supply us with the touchy-feely books we need to get our reading fix.

But for those of you out there who don't necessarily NEED to hold an actual book in your hand, here are some other ways you can still journey to far off lands within the "pages" of a good book...

Internet sites where you can read books online:

Project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org) 

Internet Archive (www.archive.org/details/texts) 

Open Library (www.openlibrary.org)

Google Books (www.books.google.com) 

Smashwords (http://www.smashwords.com/?ref=ebookfriendly)

Blurb (http://www.blurb.com/bookstore)

Scribd (https://www.scribd.com/)

Wattpad (https://www.wattpad.com/home)

24Symbols (https://www.24symbols.com/)

Feedbooks (www.feedbooks.com)

Manybooks (http://manybooks.net/)

Baen Free Library (http://www.baenebooks.com/c-1-free-library.aspx)

Mobi Pocket (http://www.mobipocket.com/freebooks/Default.aspx)

Internet Public Library (http://www.ipl.org/)

Slideshare (http://www.slideshare.net/)

Shelfari (www.shelfari.com)

Freado (www.freado.com)

Check out one of them...check them all out...just get out there and READ !

Blurb: Addie comes from a long line of readers or "story catchers" as her family likes to call themselves. Every time Addie tries to catch a story on her own the wiggly words play tricks on her. She tries different ways to make those words sit still but it will take a little faith for Addie to become the next STORY CATCHER.

Buy Links:Amazon Kindle ¦ Paperback ¦ B&N ¦ Smashwords



JOIN THE STORY CATCHER FAN CLUB!Membership includes:
 
Membership Certificate
Bi-montly Newsletter full of mazes, puzzles, games, news, and other goodies
Reading Log for earning STORY CATCHER AWARD

 

THE ABC'S OF READING & 'RITING: LETTER C

  

When I thought about doing this alphabet series connecting readers and writers, I didn't have anything concrete set up for the letter C. Then I started chatting with a new friend I met through Facebook by the name of Chad Write. Chad is heading up a bold mission to connect teachers, parents, young readers, and the authors of the books they love.

This is how Chad describes what Chat With A Writer (www.chatwithawriter.com) is doing to bridge the reading gap in young readers:

"Chat With A Writer is a community based site dedicated to bridging the reading gap in students, grades k - 12. We are helping Teachers and Parents bring students k-12, reading levels up.The site will consist of Authors, Teachers, Parents, and Students. Registration is free to Teachers and Parents. Teachers will be able to create dashboards for each student in their classes. Teacher dashboards will allow teachers and parents access to student reports and point levels. Teachers can also communicate with the Author of any book by asking questions or requesting classroom and school visits."

Teachers and parents will have free access to the website while authors will pay a small monthly fee to give their target audience access to their books as well as additional resources like games, puzzles, and any back matter created for each story. Readers will also have the ability to ask their favorite authors questions and receive answers in a timely manner. There's even sections to list current contests and giveaways as well as authors being able to be added to the school visit database as a teacher resource center.

Now THAT is a REAL connection between readers and writers!

Blurb:

Addie comes from a long line of readers or "story catchers" as her family likes to call themselves. Every time Addie tries to catch a story on her own the wiggly words play tricks on her. She tries different ways to make those words sit still but it will take a little faith for Addie to become the next STORY CATCHER.

Buy Links:
Amazon Kindle ¦ Paperback ¦ B&N ¦ Smashwords



JOIN THE STORY CATCHER FAN CLUB!

Membership includes:

Membership Certificate
Bi-montly Newsletter full of mazes, puzzles, games, news, and other goodies
Reading Log for earning STORY CATCHER AWARD

 

It's That Time Again...

It's been a while since I've given away anything and I think it's time for another BLOG CONTEST!

Almost nine months ago I started this blogging journey, not knowing where it would lead me, and I have been amazed by all the new experiences and new friends I have made along the way.  I have worked hard to make this blog a place people can come to ...not just writers... and maybe find something which will resonate within themselves and lift their spirits, even if just for a moment.

So, as my way of saying thank you for all the love and support of the past nine months (and to maybe help my goal of trying to obtain 300 followers by my one year anniversary), I have two giveaways for you.

Here is how my blog contest will work...

1.  If you are not following my blog yet, please consider joining the fun to  earn one entry to the contest.

2.  If you mention my blog (www.donasdays.blogspot.com) and my website (www.donnalmartin.com) and link back to this post in some type of post of your own (blog, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc),  you will earn two more entries to the contest.

3.  If one of your friends becomes one of my blog followers and posts a comment HERE while mentioning your name, then they AND you will both receive an entry to the contest.

That's up to four chances to win the prizes of this contest.  There will be two prize packs given away and the winners' names will be announced on Thursday, September 6th...the nine month anniversary of my blog!

Bet you're wondering what the prizes will be, aren't you?  Well, I will be giving away TWO prize packs.  One for the writers out there and one for the readers...

PRIZE PACK ONE includes:

1.  The Complete Idiot's Guide To Creative Writing

2.  The Complete Idiot's Guide To Writing A Novel

3.  Scholastic Guides: Writing Stories

4.  Writer's Digest Handbook Of Magazine Article Writing

5.  The Way To Write For Children

PRIZE PACK TWO includes:

1.  The Adventures Of Ook And Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen From The Future by Geeorge Beard and Harold Hutchins (creators of the Captain Underpants series)

2.  Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

3.  Trouble Twisters by Garth Nix and Sean Williams

4.   Flawed Dogs by Berkeley Breathed

There you have it...hopefully there is something in those prize packs to entice you to get the word out about this contest. Doesn't it just make you wonder what I will do in December for my next big milestone?

What's A Plotter To Do?

There are so many factors to creating a good story for a writer to consider.  Strong characters, showing not telling, and writing for a specific target audience are some of them.  But what about the overall plot?  Can a novice writer focus on the other parts of a great story, only to overlook a key element? When in the  middle of revisions, do you sometimes come across one of these situations?

The Run Around...does your plot seem to go in all different directions or even take you in circles until you are left with a dizzying headache?  Readers need to know there is a beginning, middle, and eventual end to a story.  It's one thing to take them on an adventure and quite another to lead them on a wild goose chase where they get lost along the way.

Playing Dead...is your overall plot so boring and slow that it simply dies somewhere along the way?  Readers need to be fully engaged in a story.  From the first sentence to the last, a writer's challenge is to draw their audience into the story and keep the reader on the edge of their seat while they wonder what will happen next.

A strong plot is just as vital to a story as an engaging main character or active dialogue.  It is the foundation which holds all the pieces together.  Without it, a writer might be able to finish that manuscript but it will never make it past the slush pile.  With it, it's amazing what great feats that story will actually be able to accomplish...

Skeletons In The Closet

One of the houses I grew up in was known for it's unusual closets.  The house was actually the first one built in my hometown and was nearly a century old when my parents bought it.  The front parlor and sitting room had been converted into two bedrooms with a two way closet between them.  There was something unnerving about that closet and whenever I slept in one of the bedrooms, I always wondered what might be hiding in the closet just waiting to jump out at me.  I thought there was definitely a skeleton or two in that closet and I wanted them to stay in there!

We writers have plenty of skeletons in our mental closets just dying to get out.  Fear, uncertainty, and frustration, just to name a few.  Those skeletons always seem to be lurking somewhere in the back of our minds, just waiting to consume us it we let them.

Sometimes readers look upon writers almost in awe and we don't want to let them down.  Instead of dealing with those skeletons that weigh so heavily on our minds, we decide instead to shove them further back into that closet and hope no one ever discovers them there.

But soon they begin to multiply until we have no choice but to decide what are we going to do with all them bones?  Do we let them continue to pile up until they have buried our creativity so deep that we may never find it again?  Do we try to ignore the skeletons and simply hope they will one day do a vanishing act?  Or do we take a deep breath and face those skeletons head on and vanquish those fears once and for all?

Writers have to realize we aren't alone with our doubts.  Other writers have experienced the same fears we have, and sometimes it's best to reach out to those around us for comfort and inspiration.  This writing community we are all a part of is a vast resource of knowledge and strength to help us weather any storm we may be dealing with, and the friends we make along the way can help clean out those closets for good.

Instead of living our lives trying to hide those skeletons, maybe we should just invite them to the party and let them celebrate that new freedom from fear with us?