Friday, July 6, 2007
Writing Contests
I'm pretty much done the story for the Pockets magazine contest. It ends August the 15th which gives me plenty of time to buy new ink, the only problem is that it's 700 words over the count! Yikes!!!! Anyway, we ran out of time to send the story for the Random House contest, so my mother and I will send it next year. I feel the reason we were lead to do it now was because next year we'll be to busy to work on it, and we'll just need to send it then. So I don't think it was a purposless effort. It's typed and ready, all we can do now is hope and wait.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Random House Competitions
OMG! It's almost July already, why is time so cruel to me?!!!
My mother and I are almost done editing my story for the Random House contest, it all comes down to my dad getting ink and paper this week hopefully. Although I have another contest I want to enter this summer,
this one is at the top of my list of writing goals, I don't think it will be too bad to send it next year, I'll have lots of creditials to go with too. There is another Random House story contest for October this year, only for the more mature reader (12-18), and I've already thought of a new idea and I'm working on the story now so it will be edited. 224 pages or less maybe be a big goal but I think it'll be worth it if I win!
With either contest and at any time, I'm just definite I will win at least one when I send them in. I'm not going to think about a chance in next year's contest until my chance of winning this year's is over!
My mother and I are almost done editing my story for the Random House contest, it all comes down to my dad getting ink and paper this week hopefully. Although I have another contest I want to enter this summer,
this one is at the top of my list of writing goals, I don't think it will be too bad to send it next year, I'll have lots of creditials to go with too. There is another Random House story contest for October this year, only for the more mature reader (12-18), and I've already thought of a new idea and I'm working on the story now so it will be edited. 224 pages or less maybe be a big goal but I think it'll be worth it if I win!With either contest and at any time, I'm just definite I will win at least one when I send them in. I'm not going to think about a chance in next year's contest until my chance of winning this year's is over!
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
The Write Books
Just yesterday my mother, sisters and I visited the new library of Baltimore! And I got a few helpful books on writing, my favorites starting at the top:
•'s are ratings
* A Teens Guide to Getting Published by twins Jessica and Danielle Dunn - Very informative with advice, a few very good teen listings, and an upbeat feel to the book. Plus examples to help you get started. •••••
* Websters New Explorer Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms - When you're trying to write a sophisticated or comedic story or article and you need the right word to fit your theme or feel, awesome help! •••••
* The Complete Idiot's Guide to Grammar and Style by Laurie E. Rozakis, Ph.D. - When your internet decides to Zap out and you can't go to a helpful grammar site like Grammar Girl, this book is not only humorous but helpful to understand if your sentence is grammarically correct ( if you want it to be ) ••••
* Your Name in Print by father and daughter Elizabeth and Timothy Harper - Yawn . . . oh . . . yes the book review! This book is chockful of helpful information and testimonials, but maybe it's the font and letter size . . . this book is very boring. It's very hard to get through a helpful chapter without skipping to the interesting stuff. Besides the dullness of it, this is a very good book. I would probably only check it out again for the exercises and info, listings and such. •••
I'm probably going to buy my favorites and many more others( if I need them) when I get the money to do so. Until then having them at the library is just four thumbs up of help!
•'s are ratings
* A Teens Guide to Getting Published by twins Jessica and Danielle Dunn - Very informative with advice, a few very good teen listings, and an upbeat feel to the book. Plus examples to help you get started. •••••* Websters New Explorer Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms - When you're trying to write a sophisticated or comedic story or article and you need the right word to fit your theme or feel, awesome help! •••••
* The Complete Idiot's Guide to Grammar and Style by Laurie E. Rozakis, Ph.D. - When your internet decides to Zap out and you can't go to a helpful grammar site like Grammar Girl, this book is not only humorous but helpful to understand if your sentence is grammarically correct ( if you want it to be ) ••••
* Your Name in Print by father and daughter Elizabeth and Timothy Harper - Yawn . . . oh . . . yes the book review! This book is chockful of helpful information and testimonials, but maybe it's the font and letter size . . . this book is very boring. It's very hard to get through a helpful chapter without skipping to the interesting stuff. Besides the dullness of it, this is a very good book. I would probably only check it out again for the exercises and info, listings and such. •••
I'm probably going to buy my favorites and many more others( if I need them) when I get the money to do so. Until then having them at the library is just four thumbs up of help!
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Gathering Days
Usually my schedule for writing is mon-wed and then I work on jewelry during my three day weekend (thur-sat, sometimes sunday less likely). But this week I was feeling really tired and the schedule swapped. So today I woke up and typed some stories and articles for my mother and I to edit next week. My feature story is moving along slowly in the editing process, but I will have it ready before july! I don't want it sitting around in september. I want editors reading it by august. So it's alot to do and focus on but I must do it, if I don't I might just die of faliure and depression. So I'm going to get the edited files on my computer this weekend, then I'll work some more on them monday.
In submission news I'm sending my manuscript to DevoZine this weekend, deadline is in 4 days! SCREAM!!! But I have stamps and it shouldn't take long to get there so no worries. Becoming a professional writer is a very interesting adventure, I would say journey but it's such a... quiet word. So I'll say adventure.
But anyway back to what the subject is about, Gathering Days. The days you may feel like writing or don't, you just live and play and interact with your family. You gather what you might need for a story, a description, a song. Gathering Days and Pages, oh the most important tools for the creative person. They boost your creativity and knowledge, if not make it better. You'll know what pages are if you've read the Artist's Way all the way or some, or heard it from someone or book. They are what you write in the morning, on paper ( I've been using my computer since I lost my notebook) in long hand as fast as you can writing whatever comes to mind for three pages. That doesn't mean plan what you're going to write if your really feel like strangling your cat or brother for hurting you. It clears the cobwebs of your mind and lets in new ideas.
Wow this was a long post!
In submission news I'm sending my manuscript to DevoZine this weekend, deadline is in 4 days! SCREAM!!! But I have stamps and it shouldn't take long to get there so no worries. Becoming a professional writer is a very interesting adventure, I would say journey but it's such a... quiet word. So I'll say adventure.
But anyway back to what the subject is about, Gathering Days. The days you may feel like writing or don't, you just live and play and interact with your family. You gather what you might need for a story, a description, a song. Gathering Days and Pages, oh the most important tools for the creative person. They boost your creativity and knowledge, if not make it better. You'll know what pages are if you've read the Artist's Way all the way or some, or heard it from someone or book. They are what you write in the morning, on paper ( I've been using my computer since I lost my notebook) in long hand as fast as you can writing whatever comes to mind for three pages. That doesn't mean plan what you're going to write if your really feel like strangling your cat or brother for hurting you. It clears the cobwebs of your mind and lets in new ideas.
Wow this was a long post!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
REJECTED!! Muhahaha!
American Girl letter came today saying my article wasn't right for their magazine. But it doesn't bother me because I'd love to send it to another magazine I was considering, I actually feel sort of like a real writer now that I got that rejection letter. I'll put it in my time capsule, my very first rejection!
Although, I may be upset if Stone Soup doesn't publish my story, I really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, want it in there! Then again☹... there are alot of other magazines and even book publishers! I think that's what you have to think when you get rejected or unaccepted for something, or you won't get anywhere. Positive thinking is key! Best of luck to my little story, you can make it through the static Z.!!!!
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Yippee! They're Gone!!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
✎Coming Soon
Since I'm very busy writing stories and editing them with my mom, trying to get them sent out I really need to focus on that. So I probably won't be adding random stories on here until next month. But I can give you a preview of what I'll be posting:
If my submission's are accepted
Featured writers and illustrators (see side bar for that too)
Advice and tips to improve your writing (even some text book boring stuff☹)
Or just subscribe to my site feed and you'll get the latest even faster!
M.Z.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Funny Story
By Me!!
I made this hilarious story on it's my life, you know those fill in stories, I have one from Bratz and I'll post that one later, but this one came out great!!!
It's a typical blue day on East Baltimore Street when your friend Margo knocks on the roof of your house.
You say, " Ciao."
Margo says,"Hey! Let's go play track."
"Nah," you say. "I'm tired of doing the same old sports. Let's go for a fun run instead!"
The two of you stretch out your legs and start to run, when you see your other friend Moyna approaching. Moyna is going on a hike, so the two of you decide to join in.
When the three of you get to the trail, there are a lot of toys already hiking and having a cool time.
Suddenly, Margo turns to you and says, "Hey, isn't that Leonardo DiCaprio!"…and it is!
Leonardo DiCaprio is stretching and drinking lots of Pink Lemonade before the hike. You and your friends approach this fab celebrity very slowly so you can start a conversation. You find out that Leonardo DiCaprio doesn't only like hiking, but other solo sports, too!
"Hey," says Leonardo DiCaprio. "Tonight there's a totally cool party at Johnny Depp's Florida. You're invited!"
Cool!
When you and your friends get there, you see other celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, who is busy demonstrating Tae Kwon Doe to other guests. Whoa! There's Ricky Ullman, who is bouldering on a large rock in the living room, and Green Day is playing music while sitting in a yoga position! A bear and a frog are sparring in a boxing ring in the backyard. What a weird party!
You and your friends have a good time asking and eating lots of beef ribs. You decide not to eat too much or else you won't be able to go swimming in Johnny Depp's huge, fish-shaped pool. You're about to spinning into the pool to do some laps when you notice that it's filled with poop instead of water!
Finally, it's time to go home. You turn to Margo and Moyna, and say: "I'm glad that we decided to try something different today, instead of track."
"No kidding," says Margo. "Surprising things can happen when you try something new!"
"Tell me about it," says Moyna. "Ricky Ullman invited me to go soccer tomorrow!"
It's been a cool, crazy day…wait until everyone at school hears about it!
I made this hilarious story on it's my life, you know those fill in stories, I have one from Bratz and I'll post that one later, but this one came out great!!!
It's a typical blue day on East Baltimore Street when your friend Margo knocks on the roof of your house.
You say, " Ciao."
Margo says,"Hey! Let's go play track."
"Nah," you say. "I'm tired of doing the same old sports. Let's go for a fun run instead!"
The two of you stretch out your legs and start to run, when you see your other friend Moyna approaching. Moyna is going on a hike, so the two of you decide to join in.
When the three of you get to the trail, there are a lot of toys already hiking and having a cool time.
Suddenly, Margo turns to you and says, "Hey, isn't that Leonardo DiCaprio!"…and it is!
Leonardo DiCaprio is stretching and drinking lots of Pink Lemonade before the hike. You and your friends approach this fab celebrity very slowly so you can start a conversation. You find out that Leonardo DiCaprio doesn't only like hiking, but other solo sports, too!
"Hey," says Leonardo DiCaprio. "Tonight there's a totally cool party at Johnny Depp's Florida. You're invited!"
Cool!
When you and your friends get there, you see other celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, who is busy demonstrating Tae Kwon Doe to other guests. Whoa! There's Ricky Ullman, who is bouldering on a large rock in the living room, and Green Day is playing music while sitting in a yoga position! A bear and a frog are sparring in a boxing ring in the backyard. What a weird party!
You and your friends have a good time asking and eating lots of beef ribs. You decide not to eat too much or else you won't be able to go swimming in Johnny Depp's huge, fish-shaped pool. You're about to spinning into the pool to do some laps when you notice that it's filled with poop instead of water!
Finally, it's time to go home. You turn to Margo and Moyna, and say: "I'm glad that we decided to try something different today, instead of track."
"No kidding," says Margo. "Surprising things can happen when you try something new!"
"Tell me about it," says Moyna. "Ricky Ullman invited me to go soccer tomorrow!"
It's been a cool, crazy day…wait until everyone at school hears about it!
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Action, Comedy, Adventure
Tall Tale City will be bringing in stories asap, well once I start typing my edited rough drafts they'll be posted and ready for anyone to read along with pictures and character profiles on the sidebar. Once the stories are on, this post will be deleted.
Type ya soon,
Ciko
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