Who's doing NaNoWriMo 2013?

November 1 is getting closer!

Who's participating this year? I'm trying to save my arm from too much typing, so I'm going to vlog this week about NaNo, my experience, etc. As many of you may know, TAKE THE REINS was my 2006 NaNoNovel. I am obsessed with the contest and have SO MUCH love for it. :)

If you want to friend me on NaNo, I'm jessicab_87.

I really, really want to participate this year. However, 11/1 is my first day back to work after two months on medical leave for golfer's elbow. I'll still be in recovery in November and how well--or how poorly--my arm reacts to the break, new medications--all depends on whether or not I'll be able to participate this year. I may do a halfsies version and go for 25,000 words in Nov. We'll have to wait and see!

I can't wait to see who's in this year and will be there every step of the way cheering you on. I hope to at the very least Keek daily with a message of encouragement, a tip that worked for me, or something like that.

Even if I end up not being able to participate, I'll be on the forums and checking on everyone! I'm so excited for this year!

Write Now! A Young Writer's Guide to Getting Published--an e-book coming in 2014

 

Cover copyright © 2012 Violet & Ruby Productions

Coming early 2014 for $1.99. 

Will be available at places such as BarnesandNoble.com and Amazon.com.

WRITE NOW! A YOUNG WRITER'S GUIDE TO GETTING PUBLISHED is a Violet & Ruby Productions e-book.

The forward . . .

WHAT THIS BOOK IS AND ISN’T

Write Now! A Young Writer's Guide to Getting Published focuses on getting your work in print--whether it's a book, magazine article, or commentary in a school newspaper. It also discusses hooking an agent. This guide covers self-publishing versus traditional publishing, writing a strong query letter, hooking an agent, what goes on behind the scenes at a major publishing house, and the top ten mistakes writers make that cause rejection. 

It’s co-written by an author (Jessica Burkhart) with 20 published books by Simon & Schuster and Kate Angelella, a Simon & Schuster editor turned full-time writer. We’re offering you the best of both worlds—advice from an author and words of wisdom from a former editor. 

This isn’t a how-to-write guide. If you’re looking for guidance about formatting your manuscript to industry standards, developing ideas, curing writer’s block and several other similar topics, another e-book addressing these topics will be coming soon from Violet & Ruby. If you enjoy the advice that Kate and I offer about publication then I hope you will consider our future e-books about writing. Even if you’ve already completed a manuscript, our upcoming "how to" guides will help you make sure your creation is as ready as possible to head out into the world.

When Kate and I talked about this e-book, our goal was to offer advice to young writers seeking publication--advice we wished we would have as young writers. We both receive many e-mails with questions on how to publish a novel and this guide gives you the steps to begin your journey. 

If you’re ready, grab a snack and get comfy. Kate and I are ready to spill all of our secrets to getting published with you!

Text copyright © 2013 Violet & Ruby Productions. May not be reprinted without the permission of the authors.

Fab Skype session with Womango Regional HS

Don't worry! I am allowed to be online. :) My doctor wants me to use the computer for about half an hour to chart my pain level.

I just finished a fab, fun Skype classroom visit with 7th and 8th graders from Womango Regional High School in CT.

I've visited with Abbe's (the coordinator of my visit) school twice before and always have a blast. I would Skype with them every month if I could! :)

These students are going to be the next crop of published young authors--I know it!

Two parties! One for all and one super special VIP party!

So, I want to have amazing online Home for Christmas/goodbye to Canterwood Crest parties.

For everyone (international too!)

First, we party via LiveStream like we did for the Famous release. You create a free account, get online at a set time and you'll have access to a chat box and to me via Webcam. You'll be able to type questions/comments to me that everyone can see. I'll answer them via my Webcam. I'll be online for one hour and you can pop in whenever you like to lurk or ask a question.

Everyone and anyone in the world can participate. LiveStream will allow as many people who want to join in. It's anonymous because you can use a screen name. You get to "see" me via Webcam.

If you can't make it to the actual live event, it will be recorded for you to view later. 

~*~

Party #2 is one that I've never done and is the ULTIMATE VIP party! I mean, Home for Christmas is a super special, so we need a super special party, right?

We will use Google+ Hangout. This is also totally free (you do have to sign up for a Google+ account to video chat). NINE winners (I will have a contest soon!) will join me live online where we will all (me plus the other chosen 9 members of Team Canterwood) can video chat with each other. OMG! Team Canterwood members from across the country will get to meet! That is soooo awesome!

If you don't win the contest, you can still watch the party--you just will not be able to message me or the other Team Canterwood members who are on video chat.

This contest is only be open to US and Canada residents because other countries will be charged to video chat. However, if you are just watching the party--you can live anywhere. 

You can view the party from your iPhone, iPad or other smartphone if you can't be on a computer.

If you are one of the 9 people who get to video party, you're more than welcome to grab any friends that want to attend and share your Webcam with them. :)

If you're not able to make it to the party, it will be recorded and will go up on YouTube for you to watch at any time.

Below, is a random Google video chat that I just started watching a few minutes ago (no Google+ account needed to watch). I took a screen shot so you can see how it would look for all of us via video chat. Isn't it cool?!

So . . . if being part of the video chat party interests you, please do some reading about how it works, what you need to do to participate, etc.

The poll for the two party dates will close on October 30. Then, the dates will be announced. I will blog or vlog very soon about how you can participate in a contest to be on the video chat.

Soo excited! What do you guys think? 

*

Home for Christmas online party!

I'm hosting an online party to celebrate the release of Home for Christmas! If you want to attend, please vote for the date of your choice and whatever date has the most votes will be the live party date! The date with the most votes will be the party day! :) How the party will be hosted will be asked in the next blog post.

What date should our party be?

• November 16 (Saturday)
• November 23 (Saturday)
• November 30 (Saturday)
• November 17 (Sunday)

Acepoll

More polls: Free polls