Category: Tools (Page 4 of 5)

Have you heard about Blooks? If not, check this out.

This definitely bears watching: 

On-line book store Amazon.com,, in what could be a literary equivalent of snacking, is now selling short stories, and even alternate chapters or single scenes from novels, for 49 cents each.

Read more at Reuters.com

FocusonFiction.net has expanded with a new look, new services, and new profiles of top Christian novelists, including a feature interview with Frank Peretti running May 2nd – 31st. Peretti’s interview highlights his writing journey, his inspiration, and the story behind the story of his latest novel, “Monster.”

Kelli Standish, editor of FocusonFiction, says: 

Frank Peretti is one of the founding fathers of today’s Christian fiction. We’re excited to promote his work, and give our readers the chance to glimpse the heart behind his pen.

FocusonFiction’s new and expanded features include:

• Featured Author and Book of the Month—Every month the site features an in-depth, personal interview with a Christian novelist, and a full-length, front-page feature of a recommended Christian fiction novel.
• BookBuzz—Insider details on the latest happenings in Christian fiction.
• Book Reviews—Regular reviews of life-changing fiction and sneak peeks of sample chapters.
• Book Giveaways—Regular monthly giveaways with a full fiction library contest scheduled for this summer.
• Deserted Island Contest—Readers vote for their favorite novelist in this regular poll.
• New & Upcoming Releases—Highlighting the best in Christian fiction with links for ordering and pre-ordering.

FocusonFiction.net was launched in 2002 by Standish to share the passion and purpose of today’s Christian authors through thoughtful interviews and in-depth reviews. Since the launch, Standish has featured novelists such as Ted Dekker, Robin Jones Gunn, Deborah Bedford, Dale Cramer, Rene Gutteridge, Cindy Martinusen, and Randall Ingermanson.

To suggest interviews or book reviews, authors and publishers can e-mail reviews@focusonfiction.net.

How to Get Into Blogs, 101 is a great starter article for those who are not familiar with blogs and blogging. If you’re not using Bloglines or another reader to read RSS blog feeds, you should read this very basic, step-by-step blog reading guide. Reading from a news aggregator is a quick and efficient way to read blog posts, will alert you instantly when new articles appear, and will give you a competitive edge as a writer.

Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life (Anchor, 1995) mentions how how she uses index cards for more than just composition:

I have index cards and pens all over the house—by the bed, in the bathroom, in the kitchen, by the phones, and I have them in the glove compartment of my car. I carry one with me in my back pocket when I take my dog for a walk. In fact, I carry it folded lengthwise, if you need to know, so that, God forbid, I won’t look bulky. You may want to consider doing the same. I don’t even know you, but I bet you have enough on your mind without having to worry about whether or not you look bulky. So whenever I am leaving the house without my purse—in which there are actual notepads, let alone index cards—I fold an index card lengthwise in half, stick it in my back pocket along with a pen, and head out, knowing that if I have an idea, or see something lovely or strange or for any reason worth remembering, I will be able to jot down a couple of words to remind me of it. Sometimes, if I overhear or think of an exact line of dialogue or a transition, I write it down verbatim. I stick the card back in my pocket. I might be walking along the salt marsh, or out at Phoenix Lake, or in the express line at Safeway, and suddenly I hear something wonderful that makes me want to smile or snap my fingers—as if it has just come back to me—and I take out my index card and scribble it down.

Quote courtesy of mleddy.blogspot.com.