Yep, you read the title correctly. Last year, all the dates for ALL our conference contests changed. We are continuing with that schedule. Be sure to note the schedule on your calendar so you don’t miss the entry deadline. New Categories Added In addition to last year’s date changes, we…

@LisaCarter27 I’ve always been in love with words. Before I learned to read, I can remember rolling words around on my tongue, savoring the flavor of the sounds. Words are powerful. Words can be used for good or evil. As a writer, teacher and speaker, I search to capture just…

@EdieMelson I didn’t always enjoy social media. Before I spent time on the various networks I assumed that interactions there were at best, shallow, with little or no real-world value. I’d formed my opinions by listening to the comments and complaints of others. It wasn’t until I actually took time…

@LucindaSMcDowel As you read today’s blog I am knee-deep in launching a new book. With all that entails. Including the uneasy feeling of “self-promotion” which, frankly, is a struggle for me. You too? Yeah, it’s that whole tension between being excited about sharing our words with the world and being…

@EdieMelson I spend a lot of time speaking with people about social media, and in almost every instance the same three concerns come up. First, the person I’m talking to shares his belief that social media posts are irrelevant and inane. This statement is then followed by the infamous example…

@CindyDevoted The email asked, "Would you be a beta reader?" Before there was ample time to think it through, you shot an email back with an emphatic, "Yes." A few days later, a pdf or paper book arrive along with Beta Reader Instructions. Becoming a beta reader comes with it's perks…