Tag Archives | Ali Cross

A fantastic networking opportunity…The Writer’s Dojo.

Community is so important in this day and age.

We blog, we tweet, we email, we attend conferences all to connect with other writers, people who get the craziness that comes with writing and publishing.

Welcome Ali Cross, friend and fellow author, as she tells you about the awesomeness that is the Writer’s Dojo.

The Writer’s Dojo is returning to its roots and invites you to join in on the fun! 

When I first started the writer’s dojo in 2008, I did it as a way to keep the glory of National Novel Writing Month alive all year long. I loved the camaraderie and support I received during the month of November and desired that same feeling of community every month of the year, in every aspect of writing–not just the drafting.

Beginning February 1st, 2013, the writer’s dojo returns to its roots and ushers in a new age of ninjawesomeness.

Each month we will open three training rooms at the writer’s dojo website. A room for drafters (Writing Month, aka WriMo), a room for revisers (Revising Month, aka ReMo) and a room for those querying (Querying Month, aka QuMo).

 

We invite you to set your own goals, whether it’s to write a thousand words a day, revise ten pages a week, or submit twenty queries in a month, and register your goal in the appropriate training room.

Every Monday we’ll post the leaderboard for the previous week, and at the end of each month those who met their goal will be able to post the coveted Writing Ninja Warrior badge on their blog or website.

To help you reach your goals, we have a number of ways to support you:

CHATS: At the dojo every Thursday at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time.

TWITTER: Anytime, day or night, at #writingninja.

GOOGLE+: Join our community for random write-ins and sprints.

NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to our Ninja News and once a month you’ll receive an email with an encouraging note and a list of the top performers for the previous month. There will also be opportunities for giveaways, starting with February’s newsletter!

We hope to see you at the dojo as you reach for–and achieve–your goals!

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Contests, workshops, and news galore! Have you heard?

I love seeing the burst of creativity that is exploding on the Internet from writers I’ve known for the past couple years and ones I’ve recently met.

It’s awesome!

First, we have a writers’ chat tonight (Wednesday) on the Indelibles blog. It’s not on Twitter. Most of the Indelibles’ authors will be there to answer questions on indie and self-publishing. Just lurk or come with your questions.

Second, Addison Moore signed a contract with Twentieth Century Fox! They plan to make her Celestrial Series into a T.V. series. Huge news! I’m so incredibly happy for her and even though she’s eaten sushi to celebrate – I’m just doing dancing to celebrate! Ew. Raw fish.

In the anthology arena, not only do we have IN HIS EYES being prepped for our Valentine’s Day release but Pugalicious Press is open to submissions for a YA anthology. Check them out!

In the way of online workshops there are some incredible ones coming up. Ali Cross is holding NinoCon on Saturday Feb. 4th. She’s accepting queries now to be critiqued by one of the presenters, Elana Johnson!

Susan Sipal, known for her love for Harry Potter and analyzing the writing behind it, is offering a month long workshop for 10 dollars based on her book: A Writer’s Guide to Harry Potter. I’m sure you won’t regret it! The adventure begins on Monday, Feb. 6th! Sign up now.

Don’t miss out on The Bookshelf Muse and their anniversary contest! Critiques and books from the Indelibles! Don’t miss it.

Okay, I’m almost done with the good news. Many of the Indelibles have books fresh off the press!

Rival Demons by Sarra Cannon is released Friday the 20th but it starts with Beautiful Demons. If you love the HEX HALL series, you’ll love this one too.

Michelle Muto’s DON’T FEAR THE REAPER

Karly Kirkpatrick’s  THE GREEN.

Lots of great stuff here. Hope you find something useful! Anything I missed? Add it into the comments!

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Countdown of my favorite books – part 1.

Instead of signing off for two weeks, I want to try something different. For the next two weeks I’ll post my book recommendations. Books from this past year that I really enjoyed, okay, loved!

Because the frantic Christmas countdown is on! And I still have Christmas cards to mail. Presents to wrap. Cookies to burn. Self imposed deadlines to meet. Squirrels to torment and scare off, I mean  feed with little special nut cakes. And of course sit on my duff and indulge in some eggnog by the fire.

So here are my first two picks.

IMAGINARY GIRLS by Nova Ren Suma

I absolutely loved the beautiful writing, the mysterious story, and the relationship between the sisters.

And the new paperback cover:

BECOME by Ali Cross

When I saw the cover I knew I wanted to read it. I never know when I read a self published book what it’s going to be like. But this one was terrific. The writing. The story. The characters. Worth reading.

Know that I’ll be reading your blogs this next week but most likely won’t be commenting! Feel free to leave your book recs in the comments all week!

Hope you are all farther ahead in your Christmas prep than I am! Yikes!

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Blog tours, bushy tails, and frozen green beans.

Good day fellow Scriveners, friends, and any rodent-like creatures with bushy tails, who might be reading my blog,

I’m breaking the rules. Two posts in one day. But I felt disconnected. I promoted two books this week on Wednesday and Friday, but you never heard from me. Not really.

A big part of the reason I started blogging was to help promote my fellow friends and I don’t think I’ll stop. I might just be more selective? Not sure about that. What do you feel about the promotion? Has there been too many in general on the blogosphere?

Possibly. But if it’s a book I might like, then I’m glad. I’m really looking forward to reading Ali Cross’s book, BECOME. And that is fully because of the blog tour and reading the sample chapter. Loved the writing. Loved the cover design.

What do you think? Can there be too much promotion?

On a different note, my house is under somewhat of an emergency. One I don’t like being in. Squirrels have invaded our basement. I’ve seen the shine of the green army helmets on their heads. I’ve seen them in a huddle outside, laughing at me as they make their evil plans. I know they plan to jump on my head if they catch me trying to grab some frozen green beans so my kids get their daily allotment of veggies, because I don’t believe in lying to our pediatrician.

But I might have to start lying soon.

And I’ll close on a third random note by saying there is a right and a wrong to end a book, as in cliffhangers. Some work extremely well. Some are just attempts to keep interest into the next book.

What marks the difference in a great cliffhanger for you? And did you know that squirrels in New England love camo pants?

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