Mystery Fiction With A Supernatural Twist

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I just realized how much I’ve been neglecting lately – no serious work on my writing in months, not a single post on this blog in over a year and a half – and so one of my resolutions for 2012 is to get my ass in gear, with my writing and with my blog.

A short while ago my friend Noah had his first novel, Bleeding Heart Yard, published, and has since decided that he wants to read my first novel – the only trouble with that being that I haven’t finished it yet (although I have many half-finished attempts). He says he’s going to pester, hassle, harrass, and kick my ass, if it will help me finish – assistance for which I will be grateful – and I’m hoping that having someone to whom I can be ‘accountable’, even if it is only in my mind, will help me to keep on track.

Along with finishing a manuscript (and editing and submitting it) I’m also going to try to do more interesting things with the blog. I’m not going to make foolish promises that I can’t keep, but I’d like to make at least one interesting, useful, insightful, and/or timely post per month. More would be great, but if not, I’m okay with that.

And lastly, I’m going to try to remember to stop every once in a while and smell the damn roses. Last year I spent the first four months going hard with the writing, to the detriment of everything else in my life. Basically I had no life. All of my other pastimes (archery, reading, chain maille) went by the wayside and I think it’s safe to say that I burned myself out, because all my angst about being a ‘good little writer’ and getting my butt in the chair took the fun out of writing for me, and I had no other ways of recharging myself. But, recently, I’ve rediscovered the joy of photography, and am hoping to integrate that (along with my other neglected hobbies) into a more balanced creative existence. Wish me luck – I’m going to need it.

Apparently Publish America is at it again. Check out their latest antics here.

You would think I would have learned by now, but apparently not, because I just signed up to get my ass kicked… I mean, for NaNo again this year. What in the hell am I thinking?

Skyla’s in, and Tiff said she might go for it as well. Anyone else crazy enough to join us?

I usually try to keep to the topic of writing in some way or another, but this little tidbit was just way too freaking awesome not to share. There is a dude in Africa who trains bomb-sniffing rats. They’re friendly, and intelligent, and because of their size, way less likely to set off a bomb than a dog would be. They’re also really cute, and really need to be seen to be believed. Check it out.

I know I’m boring. I just can’t help myself.

Over at Skyla’s blog, here’s the latest How Not To Be A Douche Bag Author.

I could have sworn that I linked this one up already, but apparently not, so check out Write or Die: Putting The Prod Back In Productivity.

Over at The Last Word, here’s Ten Things New Writers Need To Know.

And for a little humor, here’s Top Ten Tips For Becoming A Better Husband.

In an effort to shake things up a bit, I’ve managed to come up with a post that contains something other than links. Weren’t expecting that, were you? Didn’t think so. Anyway, instead of links, I’ve got a recommendation for y’all that I think is pretty darn cool.
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The title pretty much say it all…

Over at Skyla’s blog, the latest edition of How Not To Be A Douche Bag Author 101.

JA Konrath has a great post on How Not To Write A Story.

And inspired by JA’s post, Sarah-Jane Lehoux has started a contest for all the people – like me – who, when they are told don’t do this, hear instead I double-dog dare you.

Once again, I have nothing new or exciting to report (Writing, by and large, is a very boring spectator sport.) so this is going to be another post o’ links.

To get the party started, here’s Skyla’s latest How Not To Be A Douche Bag Author 101.

Here’s a post on how Twitter can help writers.

And on a similar note, Rachelle Gardner has a post on The Dreaded Author Platform. And another one on Writing Contests.

Lilith Saintcrow explains why A Good Book Ain’t All You Need.

It’s not one of the genres I read, but I thought someone might be interested in a writing competition put on by Harlequin.

And for a little bit of fun that has absolutely nothing to do with writing, here’s Jaws in 30 Seconds with Bunnies.

First, some cute animals for your amusement.

And second, a really useful post about promotion and branding over at the Mundania blog.

Now it’s late, and the typos are beginning to outnumber the… um, non-typos – it took me four tries to spell Mundania right – so I am going to bed. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz…