I look like I’m not doing anything at all...

I'll go trick-or-treating when the neighbors start handing out books.

Eight great things worth sharing this week:

1. November 1st — this coming Tuesday — is National Author’s Day. It also happens to be the first day of NaNoWriMo. I’m not participating this year, but I have in years past. If you’re taking the challenge, check out this post: 5 Things I’ve Learned About NaNoWriMo. #1 on the list: you don’t have to plan ahead. Just go for it. Tag me in your social media posts and I’ll cheer you on.

2. Even if you’re not doing #NaNoWriMo, don’t forget you can schedule A Very Important Meeting with your writing any day of the week. We’re here for ‘ya.

3. And while I’m looking at the calendar, allow me to point out that tomorrow marks the end of ACE week (formerly know as Asexual Awareness Week). This isn’t one you hear much about, but the folks over at Book Riot are on the ball, offering up their list of 20 Must-Read Asexual Books. I will admit, I had to google some of the terms, like queerplatonic, aroace, and demisexual. Kids these days, and their endless patience for labeling EVERYTHING.

4. The New York Times recently conducted a poll to determine The Best Book of the last 125 years (in celebration of the NYT Book Review turning 125 years old this month). The results were not surprising (at all - To Kill a Mockingbird won it), but I was pleased to see Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower win the Science Fiction category.

5. “You see, bookshops are dreams built of wood and paper. They are time travel and escape and knowledge and power. They are, simply put, the best of places.” — Author Jen Campbell

6. Colleen Hoover’s new book, It Starts With Us, sold over 800,000 units in the US on its publication day last week. That’s more than Michelle Obama’s book. Damn, girl. Color me impressed.

7. My first Mini Master Class last week was a big success. For November’s session (on the 17th), I’ll be talking about how to write your story synopsis. Even if you’re not done with your story yet, a synopsis can be a great way to see where the holes are in your plot. If you are done, and you’re getting ready to query agents, you won’t want to miss this one. Sign up now.

8. Nerd Word of the Week: Fudgel ~ (verb) pretending to work when you’re not actually doing anything at all. (Now I need a word for when I’m staring out the window and I LOOK like I’m not doing anything at all, but actually, I’m creating whole worlds that will eventually end up in a book.)

Happy writing, my friends,

April