The Writer's Alley Weekend Round Up

Photo by Greyerbaby @ pixabay.com

Are you ready for some football???? So you are either in two camps today, the day before the Super Bowl. You are either shopping for your Super Bowl Party food or you are browsing your stack of unread books and un-watched DVD's. I tend to be the latter, but I'm married to someone who is either having a party or dragging me to one. I usually visit with the ladies, then stop to watch some commercials. I do know I will be glad when it is over. ;)

We have a great line up for you this week, so be sure to stop by for some fabulous Alley wisdom.

The Alley Weekly Line Up

Monday - We have Alley Pay, Andrew Swearingen, sharing a post entitled, "Four Things Football Taught Me About Pitching A Novel". I'd say that is quite appropriate after the big Super Bowl game, wouldn't you say?

Tuesday - Laurie is hosting author Carla Laureano today.

Wednesday - Mary is bringing her Character Personality Class #3 today: Composed and Sensitive. You don't want to miss this class. Mary is a superb teacher!

Thursday - With the whole 50 Shades of Grey movie coming out, Krista is taking on boundaries...or lack thereof...in your writing. How far is too far when it comes writing in CBA or ABA? Knowing Krista, she will have you glued to the screen with her scintillating post.

Friday - Paula Moldenhaur is our guest today. She is an author and speaker and you will be encouraged by what she has to share.

Alley Cat News

Laurie Tomlinson will be a guest at Seekerville on Tuesday, February 3. Stop by and give her a shout out.

The Awesome Link Round Up

7 Tools to Help You Write a Novel (- Free eBook) (The Write Practice)

Corrections Are Good: How to Take Critique Like a Dancer (Writer unBoxed)

How to Write Faster: The Brainwave Blueprint (Write to Done)

Indie Authors Quitting Their Day Jobs-2015 (The Passive Voice)

The Perils of Purple Prove (Live Write Thrive)

Top 50 Writing Blogs for 2015 (Positive Writer)

The Writer's Alley Weekend Round Up

Photo by Andi_Graf at pixabay.com

Ahhh...the nice brisk feeling of winter. Can you believe January is coming to a close? The good thing about that is February is right around the corner, and you know what that means?!?!

It's time for some ROMANCE! February, the month of love. The month of heart palpitations. The month of kisses. The month of dreaming of your future beau. The hopeful anticipation....sigh. It is going to be a great month here at The Writer's Alley.

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Make sure to stop by this week for some incredible posts from our Alley Cats. They are working to bring you great advice and lessons that will help you along your writing path.

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The Awesome Link Round Up

.
Get Rid of On-the-Nose Dialogue Once And For All (Helping Writers Become Authors)

The 100 Best Website for Writers in 2015 (The Write Life)

How to Give Constructive Writing Criticism (That Actually Helps)  - (Positive Writer)

How Susan Orlean Writes With Evernote (Evernote)

15 Reasons Not to Become a Writer (Helping Writers Become Authors)

10 Steps to Express Yourself Better in Writing (The Write Practice)

10 Key Factors That Will Determine the Future of Google+ (Copyblogger

Repetition, Redundancy, and Overused Punctuation - Oh My! (Live Write Thrive)

The Writer's Alley Weekend Round Up

Photo by jarmoluk at pixabay.com

It's great to have you here. Have we told you recently how much we appreciate you? Your visits always bring a smile to our face and we treasure you, our Alley Pals. Thanks for being our friends.

Here's what we have for you this week...

The Weekly Line Up

Monday - Pepper is bringing us At the Feet of the Storyteller. There's no better place to be.

Tuesday - Laurie is telling us why it is important to enter the ACFW Genesis writing contest. As a bonus for you, she is giving away a FREE CRITIQUE to a lucky commenter!

Wednesday - Mary is bringing us the next installment in her Character Personality Class: The Life of the Party.

Thursday - Krista's got something up her sleeve that is sure to please.

Friday - Casey is talking about goal setting today, which is great timing with the new year just beginning.

The Awesome Link Round Up

7 Lies About Becoming  a Writer (That You Probably Believe!) (The Write Practice)

How to Cultivate the Courage to Publish Your Writing (The Write Practice)

25+ of the World's Most Majestic Libraries in the World (The Passive Voice)

The Agony of First Drafts - Should YOU Keep Writing? (Positive Writer)

Why You Need to Recharge Your Creative Batteries (The Write Practice)

The Devil's in the Details (Live Write Thrive)

Why the Best Characters for Your Story Are Weirdos (The Write Practice)

The Art of the Comp (Writer UnBoxed)

The Writer's Alley Weekend Round Up

I don't know where you live, but it's been cold here in Texas. It is the time of year I love to light a fire and burrow under a warm, cozy blanket. The bad thing is that I don't want to get out from under the warmth and tend to waste time...staying warm. Of course, if you grab your laptop and open it up to one of your favorite writing blogs, then your time under the blanket is well spent. Make sure you stop by this week for some good reading and fun at The Writer's Alley.

Special Guest at The Alley

On Tuesday, Julia is hosting author, Cindy Sproles, who will be talking about writing and publishing challenging topics. Her book, Mercy's Rain, releases this month. Make sure to stop by

The Awesome Link Round Up

Six Things Every Writer Needs to Succeed (Writer UnBoxed)

How to Write Better Stories and Finally Win Out (Write to Done)

The Forest for the Trees: How to Cure Overwriting (Live Write Thrive)

Stirring Higher Emotions - Donald Mass (Writer UnBoxed)

The Best-Selling Books of 2014 (Publishers Weekly)

Face Your Fear the Wright Way and Write Your Best Work (Positive Writer)

In Praise of Quitting (Writer UnBoxed)

For Books, Print is Back (Publishers Weekly)

The Writer's Alley Weekend Round-Up

2015, here we come! We are so excited for what this new year holds and can't wait to journey this writing life with you. May your days be filled with stories and your nights with sweet dreams of those stories. May you have the energy to dream and the courage to put those dreams into action. We love you and pray that God will open doors for you in this new year!

The Weekly Line Up

Monday - Pepper is talking about character depth today! It's Lord of the Rings VS. The Hobbit.

Tuesday - Laurie is trying out a new plotting experiment and we get to watch!

Wednesday - Mary is beginning a new class on character personality. Her first lesson is entitled Character Personality Class 1: Outgoing, Observant, Outspoken.

Thursday - Krista is sharing her business expertise in setting goals for your writing...treating it as a business.

Friday - Casey's post is all about men! Men at ACFW? Do they exist?

Alley Cat News

Karen Schravemade is taking a new role here at The Writer's Alley. Instead of posting this year, she will be the behind-the-scenes force that is going to make The Alley shine! Given her knowledge and talent for marketing and blogging, she is going to fine-tune our blog and help us grow. If you have any suggestions for The Writer's Alley, please contact us and we will make sure Karen gets the information. We are thankful for Karen's phenomenal posts here and are thrilled at what's in store for us with her new role here.

The Awesome Link Round-Up

Three Rules for Writing a Novel (Mud Pie Writing)

2015 Book Publishing Industry Predictions (The Passive Voice)

Writer Resolutions (Writer unBoxed)

How To Become A Full-Time Writer (The Write Practice)

A Novel is Not the Sum Total of Its Parts (Live Write Thrive)

The Writer's Alley Weekend Round Up

photo by franky242
freedigitalphotos.net

Christmas has past and the New Year is around the corner. Are you ready? Are you excited for what the New Year has to bring? I love the start of a new year. There is something about the anticipation of what's to come. There is a renewed sense of purpose and resolve to do better...be better. Are you the same?

I decided not to ask for specific post topics and let everyone enjoy their Christmas holidays, so check in at the Alley this week for some fabulous posts on writing! They will be sure to please!

We at the Alley are excited for what the New Year holds and I have some predictions...

2015 Alley Cat Predictions 

1. At least one Alley Cat will get the call for publication
2. 2 Alley Kittens will arrive safe and sound
3. Four contest wins
4. An Alley Cat get-together/reunion
5. Several Alley Cat Pals will win contests
6. 2 Alley Cat Pals will get the call for publication
7. One Alley Cat will hit the mid-century mark in age. (sigh)
8. One miracle will happen for one of the Alley Cats
9. One Alley Cat will become a grand-cat.
10. One Alley Cat will take up writing once again.

The Awesome Link Round-Up

Audra Harders book, Second Chance Ranch is free on Amazon! 

How the Grinch Stole Writing (The Write Practice)

To Face Unafraid The Plans That We've Made (Copyblogger)

Building Your Novel With A Holistic Approach (Live Write Thrive)

How to Become a Craftsman in the Art of Writing (Positive Writer)

Have a great week and a Happy New Year!

The Writer's Alley Weekend Round-Up

Photo by geralt @ pixabay.com

Ahhh...the blessed week of Christmas. It's the week of balancing the rush of last minute Christmas shopping and baking, with the beauty of spending time with family and celebrating the birth of Jesus into the world. It's not always an easy juggle, but in the end, the holiday is a special one and can't be denied.

This week the Alley Cats are sharing  Scenes of Christmas. Whether it is a scene from their current work in progress, a favorite book, or from their own lives, our ladies will be sharing their heart with you in the season of gifting.

May you have a Merry Christmas and remember the love of God in giving you the most precious gift of His son. 

The Awesome Link Round-Up

Library Journal Announces Christian Fiction Awards (Christian Retailing)

Laying Motifs in Your Novel For Powerful Effect (Live Write Thrive)

Surviving Criticism Without Losing Confidence in Your Writing (Positive Writer)

Favorite Digital Media Products in 2014 (Jane Friedman)

10 Essential Quotes on Becoming a Writer (The Write Practice)

How to Schedule Your Holiday Writing Time (Writer UnBoxed)

7 Questions That Will Transform Your Writing in the New Year (The Write Practice)

The Writer's Alley Weekend Round-Up

Don't you love our Christmas present to you? Cara Putnam as an Alley Cat! What a treat, indeed! We welcome her with open arms and are excited to see what she has in store for us. In the meantime, here's what we have lined up for you this week...

The Weekly Line-Up

Monday - Angie is bringing us Mission Impossible. Come learn about creating great plot twists!

Tuesday - The lower number of book releases each year requires a new way of navigating the ways to grow your online presence. Join Julia for learn how you can strategically grow your online presence in this new market.

Wednesday - Karen is continuing her Grow Your Blog series, with a post entitled Supercharging Your Stats. Don't let this one slip by!

Thursday - Ashley is drumming up something special for you today, so mark your calendars for a powerful post.

Friday - Amy has a special spin on advertising and social media, so don't miss out!

The Awesome Link Round-Up

Why You Need To Do Something Stupid (to Succeed as an Artist)  (Positive Writer)

9 Important Tips for Sometimes Writers (Storyline Blog)

Two Kinds of Scared Writers (and How to Overcome the Fear)  (Positive Writer)

How to Become a Writer (Writer unBoxed)

Why Your Writing Success Demands T2 (squared) (The Write Practice)

How to Write Better: 3 Secrets of Transmitting Naked Emotions (Write to Done)

Even More New Year's Resolutions for Writers (Writer unBoxed)

The Writer's Alley Weekend Round-Up

Me....after my Thanksgiving meal.

Yes, it's over. Thanksgiving has come and gone, leaving a few pounds on my hips and my pants a bit tighter. But oh, what a wonderful day with family and friends. Laughter, food, games, and football...there's nothing like Thanksgiving, is there? I know the Alley Cats ate their fill and are now rested and ready to bring a grand week of posts for you! Let's check it out....

The Weekly Line-Up

Monday - Angie is starting of our week with a wonderful post that is sure to inspire.

Tuesday - Julia is going to share How 2015 Trends Will Affect Us As Writers. Intriguing, no?

Wednesday - Karen is bringing us the next installment in How to Grow Your Blog Platform series.

Thursday - Ashley has something fantastic up her sleeves which will whet your appetite for more.

Friday - Amy, as always, will have something fun and spicy!

The Awesome Link Round-Up

Crossing Over/Christian Fiction Genre Spotlight (Julia Reffner's article in the Library Journal)

3 Tips For Writers Who Are Not Their Own Worst Critic (The Write Practice)

Fne-Tuning Your Writing Style To Be Concise and Specific (Live Write Thrive)

7 Distractions Stopping You From Writing (and how to BEAT them!) (Positive Writer)

7 Tips to Help Writers Gain Attention in the World of Fiction (Live Write Thrive)

20 Inspiring Quotes to Boost Your Confidence as a Writer (Write to Done)

Have a fabulous week!

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This post is brought to you by

 Sherrinda Ketchersid

Sherrinda is a minister's wife and mother to three giant sons and one gorgeous daughter. A born and bred Texan, she writes historical romance filled with fun, faith, and forever love.

The Writers Alley Weekend Round-Up

PublicDomanPictures @ pixabay.com

Thanksgiving is this week and there is so much to be thankful for. We at The Writer's Alley pray that your holiday will be a blessed one, full of love, joy, and thanksgiving to the One who gives His love so freely. May you be blessed by the Maker of heaven and earth and live in the light of His love.

The Weekly Line Up

Monday - You won't want to miss Pepper's post entitled Detours, Surprises, and Keeping in Step With the Dance. She has some BIG news to share!

Tuesday - Laurie's post is timely with the holiday season upon us. She will be sharing When Your To-Do List Feels Like A Never-Ending Chase.

Wednesday - Mary's post today is entitled Requirements for the Writer's Skill Toolbox. I'm sure I'm missing tools. I wonder which ones?

Thursday - On this day of Thanksgiving, Krista has broken out and written a poem just for you. I can't wait to read it. I'm sure it will be super.

Friday -  Casey has Brandy Vallance lined up to share about The Writing Road.

The Alley News Round Up

Alley Cat Krista Phillips was interviewed this past week and there is a chance to win her book. Check out her interviews at:

God Is Love Blog

and

Thinking Thoughts Blog

Also at The Alley, Amy Simpson has chosen a winner for Friday's post with Amy Matayo. The winner of Amy Matayo's book, SWAY, is.....

Jessica

Congratulations, Jessica. Amy Simpson will contact you with details.

The Awesome Link Round Up

The #1 Habit Killing Your Writing (Helping Writers Become Authors)

One Word to Transform Your Writing (The Write Practice)

The Audacity To Be A Writer (Positive Writer)

Foolproof Strategies For Staying Creative During A Writing Slump (Writer unBoxed)

Have You Made This Huge Mistake Online? (Write to Done)

The Writer's Alley Weekend Round-Up

Mid-November, people! It's almost time to thaw the turkey, make a dozen pies, and put the Christmas lights on the house. Is anyone as panicky as me? Nah...I'm not really panicking. I'm pretty good about going with the flow, but the last few months have just flown by and I need to get organized. I don't want to procrastinate and be harried this Christmas. I want to enjoy the season between Thanksgiving and the New Year. So who's with me? You? Okay, great! Now that we have that settled, let's find out what's up the street this next week.

The Weekly Line-Up

Monday - Angie will be talking about Past, Present, Future...Motives of Your Characters.

Tuesday- Julia's post is entitled Dealing With The Waits of the Writing Life

Wednesday - Karen  is sharing Part 2 of How to Grow Your Blog Platform.

Thursday - Ashley has something up her sleeve and it will be something worth stopping by for.

Friday - Amy is hosting the fabulous Amy Matayo!

The Awesome Link Round-Up

This Simple Trip Can Will Help You Overcome the Inertia of Perfectionism (Copyblogger)

4 Piece of Well-Meaning Advice to Beware Of (Positive Writer)

7 Ways to Keep Writing When You Feel Like Giving Up (Write to Done)

The Great Twitter Debate: Should You Follow Back? (Writer unBoxed)

Beyond Fancy Clothes and Funny Foods - Creating the Culture of Your Story (Go Teen Writer)

#NaNo Tips: "Stealing" Writing Time (Kaye Dacus)

36 Writing Tips to Put Your Butt in the Chair (Positive Writer)

Is "Finding Your Voice" As A Writer Just Plain Laughable? (Write to Done)

Losing One's Marbles (Writer unBoxed)

Have A Great Week!

The Writer's Alley Weekend Round-Up

Photo by depaulus @ pixabay

Do you ever feel like you are walking a tightrope, trying to keep your balance as you pusillanimously make your way through life? Some days you just want to crawl back into bed and pull the covers over your head, don't you? Yep, life gets like that, but if you just get out of that bed, put on some clothes and take a step, well, you can do anything. You just need to take a step. And then another. And another. Soon you will be skipping through life like a superhero on a sugar high. (Have you eaten through all your Halloween candy yet?) Now while you are skipping, skip on over to The Writer's Alley for a great dose of "writerly wisdom". We have a great line up for you this week!

The Alley Weekly Line-Up

Monday - Pepper is hosting Sarah Forgrave, who is sharing Pinterest Tips for Authors, Part 2.

Tuesday - Laurie's post today will be sure to please, as always. Stop by to find out more!

Wednesday - Mary has a great post, entitled Six Ways to Become a Unique Writer.

Thursday - Krista post, Beyond the Novel, will be talking about other types of writing we can do to honor the calling on our lives to write.

Friday - Casey is our host today with guest, Brandy Vallance!

The Awesome Link Round-Up

Opening Round Begins For The Goodreads Choice Awards (Galley Cat)

Supercharge Your Novel With Color and Sound (Positive Writer)

The Monster In Every Writer's Head (Positive Writer)

Writing The Story of Your Heart, Even When the Odds Aren't in Your Favor (Writer unBoxed)

NaNoWriMo Tip #4: 3 Methods To Trigger Story Ideas (Galley Cat)

Writing in Deep POV (MBT Ponderers)

How One Marketing Blog Tripled It's Email Subscribers With 3 Simple Strategies (Copyblogger)

Have a great weekend!

The Writer's Alley Weekend Round-Up

pixabay.com

Today starts the beginning of....HOLIDAY SEASON! I don't know about you, but I cannot believe today is the first day of November. Aak...less than 2 months until Christmas. The season of hustle and bustle. The season of crowds and parties. But really, when it all comes right down to it, it is the season of family and faith. And that, my friends, is something to look forward to.

And speaking of looking forward to something, we have a some great posts lined up for you this week!

The Writer's Alley Weekly Round Up

Monday - Angie will have an awesome post just for YOU!
Tuesday - Julia is hosting Agent Regina Brooks, author of Writing Great Books for Young Adults. This will be the first of a two-part series. 
Wednesday - Karen is going to share her expertise on How To Grow Your Blog Platform. 
Thursday - Ashley is interviewing Betsy St. Amant about her new book, All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes.
Friday - Amy will surprise us with something good...and probably a bit spicy. 

The Awesome Link Round-Up

2 Insanely Simple Steps For Becoming a REAL Writer (Positive Writer)

The Trouble With Writing (The Passive Voice)

9  Tips on Telling the Scariest Story Ever (Halloween or Anytime) (Positive Writer)

How I Used Twitter To Write A Book (Storyline Blog)

First and Lasts (Editing Tips!)  (Go Teen Writer)

The Surprising Spooky Secret to Enduring Success Habits (Copyblogger)

KAPOW! Cutting Scenes Like A Superhero (Writer Unboxed)

The Writer's Alley Weekend Round-Up

Photo by imagerymajestic
freedigitalphotos.net

Oh my, life gets crazy, doesn't it? I cannot believe that November is just around the corner, with December not far behind! Does that frighten your socks off? Don't fret, my friends, we have a great week lined up for you and some exciting news from one of our very own Alley Cats!

The Writer's Alley Weekly Round-Up

Monday - Pepper is hosting guest, Sarah Forgrave, who will be sharing how to use Pinterest in story crafting (Part 1).

Tuesday - Laurie is talking about writing conflict and tension into your story...and hopefully keeping you from having too many "rewrites".

Wednesday - Mary's got a great post lined up for you: Purposeful Writing - Clarity vs. The Obvious

Thursday - Krista has been battling deadlines, and has some great things to share in her post entitled, I Gave Myself A Deadline - Now What?

Friday - Casey will be sharing  How To Avoid White Noise Marketing. Fascinating!

The Alley Cat Shout Out

Alley Cat Karen Shravemade's debut book just came out this week and we are so very proud of her! The title is "Your Beautiful Life - Living your most creative life at home with kids." It's written for stay-home moms and homemakers who desire to live their best life where they are, in the season they're in. You can find out more and grab a free copy HERE. Yes, you heard me right! Her book is FREE! Go and get your copy today! 

The Awesome Link Round-Up

Author Beth Wiseman Talks About 3-D Characters (The Borrowed Book)

Does My Book Need A Prologue? (Go Teen Writer)

Everything I Need To Know About Plot, I Learned From Buffy (Writer Unboxed)

How To Supercharge Your Writing: Use This Cinematic Technique (Write To Done)

Deconstructing Micro-Tension (Writer Unboxed)

Have a great and awesome week!

The Writer's Alley Weekend Round-Up

Photo by photostock
freedigitalphotos.net

I love fun secrets. I also love it when someone is able to keep a secret from me and the surprise from learning the secret blows me away. This happened this weekend when my daughter and her husband walked through my front door! We were planning to go see her on Monday, but she had told my husband that what she wanted for her birthday was to surprise ME! (This totally explained why my husband would not make hotel reservations and just wanted to do a day trip...snort!) Secrets can be awesome!

Sometimes knowing a secret makes my heart so happy because I know that when the secret comes out, others will get their socks blessed off. Do you ever feel that way? It's the best feeling in the world, isn't it?  Well, that's all I'm going to say....maybe I have a secret and maybe I don't...now you can be mad at me. ;)

The Alley  Cat Weekly Line-Up

Monday - Angie's post will be sure to please, as always, so don't miss out.
Tuesday - Julia is hosting Regina Brooks, author of Writing Great Books for Young Adult
Wednesday - Karen is hosting Camille Eide with her debut of Like There's No Tomorrow. 
Thursday - Ashley has a great post about being brave and hitting SEND on those manuscript requests.
Friday - Amy will end the week with something especially spicy. (oh boy!)

The Awesome Link Round-Up

Gender Bias: Fact or Fiction? (Writer Unboxed)

12 Amazing Books That Pass The Bechdel Test (Huffington Post)

What To Do Before Signing A Publishing Contract (Litreactor)

Dreams VS Goals: Do You Dream Of Being A Writer? (Kaye Dacus)

10 Ways To Refuel Your Creativity (Write to Done)

Have a great week!

The Writer's Alley Weekend Round-Up

Do you ever have times when your brain just won't work right? Well, mine short-circuited in a big way. I totally forgot to give a shout out to our awesome Alley Cat Laurie Tomlinson who was the winner of the ACFW's Genesis Award in the Romance category with her entry entitled, Just Breathe. Forgive me, Laurie, for failing to mention it in last week's Weekend Round-Up. We are so very proud of you!

The Alley Cat Line-Up

Monday - Pepper will have a fabulous post for you today.
Tuesday - Laurie is your hostess today and will provide something scrumptious for you.
Wednesday - Mary will give you Ten Ways to Find/Be The Perfect Critique Partner.
Thursday - Today holds great fun with Krista, so make sure to stop by.
Friday - Casey will share her View From The Assistant's Desk...as she is a superb assistant in a literary agency. Should be quite enlightening.

ON SALE!!!

Our Alley Cat, Krista Phillips, is having a sale on her novella, A Side of Faith!

You can purchase it HERE.

The Awesome Link Round-Up

6 Tips For Writing Minor Characters (Writeonsisters.com)

The Number One Secret to Successful Writing (Writing Forward)

Your Messy Desk Is Hurting Your Writing Career (The Write Life)

A Reader's Manifesto: 12 Hardwired Expectations Every Reader Has (Writer Unboxed)

How To Get Well-Paid Freelance Writing Gigs (Write to Done)

Pre-Writing: Discovering Your Character's Secrets (Writer Unboxed)

Have a wonderful weekend!

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This post is brought to you by

 Sherrinda Ketchersid

Sherrinda is a minister's wife and mother to three giant sons and one gorgeous daughter. A born and bred Texan, she writes historical romance filled with fun, faith, and forever love.

The Writer's Alley Weekly Round Up

Photo by tlpdave at pixabay.com

We hope you are still floating on the "Conference High" from last weekend in St. Louis. It was a fantastic conference, with a lot of learning and schmoozing, and seeing old friends. You are probably taking all the things you learned and are working away at your story, making it shine...fit to grace the desk of your favorite agent/editor.

While you are slaving away on your WIP, make sure to take a break now and then and check out The Writer's Alley this week. The Alley Cats are gathering up great information to share with you, so don't miss out!

The Awesome Link Round-Up

The Runner's Guide To Better Writing (Write To Done)

Creating Capacity (Writer Unboxed)

Predictability Creates Opportunity (Go Teen Writer)

6 Weird but Awesome Hacks for a Happy Writing Life (Positive Writer)

Why Genre Matters (Writer Unboxed)

Be Your Own Casting Director: Isn't This All Just A Big Waste Of Time? (Kaye Dacus)

New YA-Only Imprint Seeks to Make Their Mark (Publishers Weekly)

What If Your Story Has No Character Arc? (K.M. Weiland)

Are Your Writing Dreams Unrealistic? (Aliventures)

How To Rekindle Your Love of Writing (Write to Done)

Have A Great Weekend!

The Writers Alley Weekend Round-Up

Many of our Alley Cats have been having the time of their lives in St. Louis at the ACFW Conference. Casey got to be on stage and pass out Carol Awards. Pepper had a signing party. Amy and Pepper hung out with The Band. Great memories were made and God was blessing right and left. If you are like me and didn't make it to the conference, rest easy knowing that our Alley Cats will be bringing you wisdom and news from the conference, so don't miss it! It's gonna be grand.

The Alley Weekly Line-Up

Monday - Pepper will be sharing the details of her book contract with Lighthouse Publishing!

Tuesday - Laurie will be sharing about her conference experience and how God goes before her no matter what.

Wednesday - Mary is talking about eBook trends. Fascinating data here!

Thursday - Krista will be sharing great stuff from the conference.

Friday - Casey is hosting Emilie Hendryx today. I do believe there will be some talk about marketing, which is always a good topic to learn about.

Alley Cat News

Our Super Alley Cat, Pepper Basham, signed a contract with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas! Her debut book is slated to come out in 2015. Pepper will be bringing you all the juicy details here tomorrow, so be sure to stop by.

Alley Pal News

Jeanne Takenaka won The Frasier at the ACFW Conference last night! Congratulations!

The Awesome Link Round-Up

You Don't Have To Make Your Bed To Write A Book (Storyline Blog)

Why You Need To Write A Series (Writer Unboxed)

Science Shows Something Surprising About People Who Love To Write (MIC.com)

How To Write A Short Story With Deep Structure (And Win A Prize For It) (Write to Done)

YOU Are Your Best Source Of Motivation (Kaye Dacus)

How To Create The Habit Of Writing (Write to Done)

Have a fabulous week!

****************************************************************************

This post is brought to you by

 Sherrinda Ketchersid

Sherrinda is a minister's wife and mother to three giant sons and one gorgeous daughter. A born and bred Texan, she writes historical romance filled with fun, faith, and forever love.

The Writer's Alley Weekly Round Up

It's the week before the ACFW Conference and many of The Alley Cats are gearing up to attend. Packing. Ordering business cards. Shopping for "the dress". Polishing up the One Sheet. Making last minute babysitting plans. And on and on it goes. Does it sound familiar? Are you excited? Or are you like me, staying home, hoping for some texts and some pictures from my friends, and praying for their success throughout the conference?

Well, we have a fabulous week for you at The Writer's Alley! Stop by and be blessed by the words of wisdom from these gals.

The Alley Weekly Line-Up

Monday - Angie's post is "Why I Don't Write...But It's Why I Should". I'm sure we can all relate to this one!

Tuesday - Julia will be posting about the challenges of being an introvert while attendinga writing conference....particularly the ACFW Conference just right around the corner.

Wednesday - If you are attending the ACFW Conference next weekend, you definitely need to stop by and read Karen's prayer for those attending (and those who aren't). Wow...it's wonderful.

Thursday - Ashley is sharing ways to deal with the exhaustion at a writing conference and the importance of finding time to recharge; then you can look for ways to encourage others

Friday - Amy has returned from a long vacation and has a great post lined up for you!

The Awesome Link Round Up

It's Okay If What You Write Stinks (Kaye Dacus)

Writers As Casualties of Commerce by James Scott Bell (Kill Zone)

Famous Writers on the Creative Benefits of Keeping a Diary (Brain Pickings)

First Ever Write To Done Flash Fiction Contest! (Write to Done)\

Author Conference of the Future (JA Konrath)

3 Essentials That Determine Your Writing Success (Positive Writer)

FREE Book Download: Writing Naked by Marcy McKay (Mudpie Writing)

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This post is brought to you by

 Sherrinda Ketchersid

Sherrinda is a minister's wife and mother to three giant sons and one gorgeous daughter. A born and bred Texan, she writes historical romance filled with fun, faith, and forever love.

The Writer's Alley Weekend Round-Up

We had our first taste of fall here in Texas today, which is weird because Texas usually doesn't get close to cooling down until the end of October. I'm not complaining. Cooler weather is refreshing and makes me want to bake. Not great for my ever-expanding figure, but it sure makes the house smell good! So if you are experiencing cooler weather, rejoice! And while you are at it, stop by The Writer's Alley. We have some fantastic guests this week who are going to knock your socks off!

The Alley Weekly Line-Up

Monday - Pepper is hosting the fabulous Julie Gwinn who will be telling us what agents are looking for and how to pitch to them.

Tuesday - Laurie is hosting writer/editor Sally Bradley. Stop by and learn from a master.

Wednesday - Check out Mary's post, entitled  'Twas the Week Before Conference and All Through The Writer's House. She will be talking about what to pack for a writer's conference. She will also have many Alley Cat pics from previous conferences, so be sure to stop by and see the fun.

Thursday - Krista is hosting multi-published author, Sherri Wilson Johnson. Stop by and learn from someone who knows!

Friday -  Casey is sharing about authentic marketing. A perfect topic for Casey, who is as real as they come.

We Have A Winner

The winner on Amy's post "Soul Stirring Fiction - Yesterday's Tomorrow" is...

Robin E. Mason

The Awesome Link Round-Up

Getting Organized to Write or Edit (Go Teen Writers)

The Number One Tip For Freelance Writers From Hans Solo (Write to Done)

How To Write More and Create A Daily Writing Habit (The Creative Penn)

7 Ways To Expertly Edit Your Own Writing (Helping Writers Become Authors)

How Best-Selling Writers Sabotage Themselves (And How To Learn From Their Mistakes) (Live Write Thrive)

Nobody Writes Good First Drafts (Rachelle Gardner)

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This post is brought to you by

 Sherrinda Ketchersid

Sherrinda is a minister's wife and mother to three giant sons and one gorgeous daughter. A born and bred Texan, she writes historical romance filled with fun, faith, and forever love.