1st Mentions . . .

1st Mentions . . .

Our Favorite Blog Posts of the Week!

Brianna's Favorite: 10 Ways to Pray For Your Blog

Dawn's Favorite:

Pam's Favorite: 

A little way to have a better day

1st Mentions . . .

1st Mentions . . .

Our Favorite Blog Posts of the Week!

Brianna's Favorite: In preparation for our next 1st Writes meeting, I'm recommending an oldie but a goodie: Blogging Is The Path @ Confident Writing. I also recommend the newest post there: Permission To Be Ordinary - a good reminder when we begin to focus too much on being perfect in our writing.

Dawn's Favorite:

Pam's Favorite: At Inspirations from Phather Phil, you will find words to uplift and encourage you in your Christian walk posted in a refreshingly different format. Do you desire to hear God's voice and feel His presence guide you? Check out Phil's post, My Traveling Companion for a beautiful example of Phil's unique writing style.

1st Mentions...

1st Mentions . . .

Our Favorite Blog Posts of the Week!

Dawn's Favorite: Granola Bar Devotionals
For a quick spiritual snack, check this site out!

Pam's Favorite: At 1st Writes this week we talked about submitting stories for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series of books. Anyone interested in writing for one of these books can visit their website at www.chickensoup.com. On the links at the left click on Submit Your Story. In the drop-down menu you will find Story Guidelines, Possible Book Topics, and the Submit Your Story submission form. Chicken Soup for the Soul credits their success to writers like you and me, who contribute wonderful stories of "inspiration, hope, overcoming life's challenges and realized dreams."

Brianna's Favorite: This week my favorite blog post comes from Tasha Seegmiller: Killer Characters: Better to Reign than Serve.

1st Mentions . . .

Our Favorite Blog Posts of the Week!

Dawn's Favorite: Clare B. Dunkle, Author, shares her insights about agents, about publishers, and about editors. (This is the author of The Sky Inside.)


Pam's Favorite: This week I happened upon Fred Warren's post at Speculative Faith entitled Call Writing. Fred’s words express my thoughts on the subject so well. I especially liked “. . . we have a duty to honor [God’s] guidance by pursuing it with all our heart and with as much excellence as we can muster, even if it’s writing silly little stories about spaceships, and fairies, and monsters.”

Brianna's Favorite: As I sat in bed nursing a cold, wishing for the energy to get up and accomplish anything, I happened to click on Encouraging Words for Writers. The very first post helped me to remember that sometimes priorities have to be adjusted when our health limits us: Priorities and Limitations.

1st Mentions...

Our Favorite Blog Posts of the Week!

Dawn's Favorite:  The Writing Life Too


I'm reading a great book on Character Development right now called Bullies Bastards & Bitches: How to write the bad guys of fiction. I looked up the author, Jessica Page Morrell, and found her blog, which I am sharing today. Ms. Morrell posts several times a week on characters and writing. Hope you enjoy it! (Sorry if the book title offends you. It is a good book.)

Brianna's Favorite:

Pam's Favorite: Looking for free photos for your blog? Thanks to Lorelle Van Fossen, who has been collecting a variety of resources for free photographs to use on websites and blogs, the hunt is over! Check out her Free Photos for Your Blog page, and search no more.

1st Mentions...

Our Favorite Blog Posts of the Week!

Dawn's Favorite: Ladies Who Critique
Want to find a critique partner or a beta reader? Check out this free site!

Brianna's Favorite: Faded Family Photos by Jade @ Blush of Dawn. Jade's poetry is a true pleasure to read!

Pam's Favorite: Do you love writing about animals? Susan Sundwall's article "Write About Fido and Fifi--It Sells!" posted at WritersWeekly can help you turn that love into fodder for your eager pen (and maybe even a few bucks.)

1st Mentions...

Our Favorite Blog Posts of the Week!

Brianna's Favorite: The Leaf @ The Contemplative Cat -It's a fun whimsical autumn treat!

Dawn's Favorite: Will Write for Cookies, the blog of Peggy Eddleman -- Who doesn't want a cookie? I am enjoying Peggy's fun posts. I love that she often offers cookies. Peggy, I'd write for cookies!


Pam's Favorite: Over at The Happy Housewife, I found a great post called "Organizing with Binders". Read all about this simple system and try it on your writing correspondence, contracts, and latest W.I.P. print outs!

1st Mentions...

Our Favorite Blog Posts of the Week!

Pam's Favorite: For lots of laughs and some great writing advice visit James Watkins blog, hope & humor. I especially like his "1 Corinthians 12 for Writers" which he includes under The New Living Paraphrased King James Watkins Version. It's a hoot!

Dawn's Favorite: A Day That is Dessert.  
I am really enjoying Lecia Phinney's everyday photos. Her blog title really says it all.

 

Brianna's Favorite: 

1st Mentions...

Our Favorite Blog Posts of the Week!

Pam's Favorite: Attention fiction writers! "Setting and Background in Fiction" is an eight-part series by Cec Murphey on his blog Writer to Writer. Murphey's posts reflect lessons he has learned from a lifetime of writing.

Dawn's Favorite: Daily Writing Practice

There is a reason I really like Marc's blog...it is after my own heart! Marc posts a writing prompt everyday and encourages writers to share  what they write in the Comments. He also shares what he writes on the prompt. So, go over and do a prompt! Write something today!

1st Mentions...

Our Favorite Blog Posts of the Week!

Dawn's Favorite: She Writes

She Writes is a community, virtual workplace, and emerging marketplace for women who write, with over 15,000 active members from all 50 states and more than 30 countries. Leveraging social media tools and harnessing women’s collaborative power, She Writes is fast becoming the destination for all women who write. To learn more read Getting Started.

Brianna's Favorite: Preparing to Meet Agents and Editors from The Writers Alley

Especially useful for those of us preparing for an upcoming writer's conference.

Pam's Favorite: Do you have some scenes that won't behave? What do you do? Cut them or keep plugging along until they submit? Zan Marie over at In the Shade of the Cherry Tree has a great post to help sort it all out called Farewell Darling Scenes.

1st Mentions...

Our Favorite Blog Posts of the Week!

Pam's Favorite: If you are going through a rough patch right now, hop on over to Dancin' Through Tearstorms and Rainbows and read Janette's post, He Has My Heart. You will find a faith-filled story that will inspire and encourage you for the week ahead.

Dawn's Favorite: Sabina at Solo Female Traveler! I keep going back...her posts are so interesting. I will never be a world traveler, but Sabina brings the world to me!

1st Mentions...Spotlight

I have a special 'mention' this week.

Pam, Dawn and I are all taking part in Rachael Harrie's Writer's Platform-Building Campaign. We would like to invite our 1st Writes' followers to join us!

The Campaign lasts from August 22-October 31, 2011. During that time participants have the opportunity to -

• Meet new people.
• Become part of a community.
• Learn more about blogging.
• Offer support and encouragement.
• Gain support and encouragement.
• Get insights from writers in your genre.
• Offer insights to writers in your genre.

Please click over to Rachael's blog and read all about the Campaign. Once you are convinced it's a great idea, click here to sign up for a group in your genre. Pam, Dawn and I look forward to having you join us in the Christian devotional/article genre, but there are also groups for Non-fiction, Literary fiction, Short stories, Poetry, Beginning bloggers, Humor and more! You may even sign up for more than one group!

Hope to see you along the Campaign trail!