The Spinning Pen Girl: A Call for Artists

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WANTED:

An artist to bring the Spinning Pen girl to life.spinning-pen-focused-colorful-square-flowers

The Spinning Pen Girl in Rome, illustrated by Sarah Kovin Synder ***A huge thanks to Sarah for bringing our first ever SP girl to life!
The Spinning Pen Team has long dreamed of an icon for our blog, and well, our icon turned  into a “she” and she had a personality and an obsession with writing and books.
Now, we are calling out to all artists to see her depicted in many ways and scenes. The pictures sent to us will be published on our blog or social media and possibly even more. The artists will receive credit and adoring glory (from us!)

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How to Critique – and Not Cause Your Authors to Weep

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critiquing-not-writers-weepingBack in 2002, a beloved teacher approached me about editing for the school newspaper. I had barely begun writing fiction (fanfiction) as a hobby, but I thought “Why not?” and became a part of the newspaper staff without any real idea of what I was getting myself into.

I learned how to edit and critique by doing everything wrong. Continue reading →

How to Find Your Way in the Realm of Traditional Publishing

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How to Find Your Way in the Realm of Traditional Publishing | The Spinning Pen

Once upon a time…

…there was a group of young and promising writers. They had great ideas, finished manuscripts, and starry eyes filled with hope of Bestseller’s Lists. The only question was, what should they do next?

Our intrepid writers set out to explore their options: should they go indie and self-publish, or try the traditional publishing route? While a couple members of the group chose to investigate the self-publishing path, this narrator decided to follow the group who went toward the traditional path first. (Check in with the indie group here!)

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Prompt: The Garden

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i63yzy3s9ns-jake-thacker

Finally, my whole being seemed to say, I have found it. Brilliant red, unfolding triumphant, it bloomed only inches away.

I knew the consequences– all would be grave and gorgeous and irrevocable– but I was compelled. All the distance I had crossed and now to have my hand hovering breaths away from it…

Eyes tied to the rose, I could not stop. My fingers tingled as they reached out for the bold petals…

What happens next?

Finish this prompt in 500 words or less and email it to thespinningpen@gmail.com – selected prompts will be featured on our blog.

Good luck writers!

Word Count: Tips to Cut it Out!

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Critique

“Your novel is too long.”

“Your story would be stronger if you tightened the plot and eliminated the fluff.” 

“If you bring it down to a more appropriate YA word count, I’d be happy to take another look.”

Have you ever heard agents, editors, or critique partners say these things? Have friends or beta readers who have not finished your story because it’s too long?

If so, we have some advice for you.

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Prompt: Snow

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snow-city

Stories got passed down, one way or another, about the days when the city used to be full of sunshine and warmth, instead of dark clouds and snow. If you got overheard talking about the myths, though, you’d be knocked soundly on the head, and told to stop dreaming…

What happens next?

Finish this prompt in 500 words or less and email it to thespinningpen@gmail.com – selected prompts will be featured on our blog.

Good luck writers!

Habits for the Wise Writer: Not a Master List

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coffee-smartphone-desk-pen

Recent days of warm sunshine have inspired me to sit with all my writing notebooks and see what I’ve yet to type up. That’s always been the downside of being a pen and paper girl – the transition to an electronic format.

Bad Habit #1: Not consolidating your scribblings.

Whether you prefer to set up in a coffee shop, or write on the bus, or use a speech-to-text app on your phone, there are countless ways writers end up saving their work in several places. Make it a habit, either weekly or monthly, to check that you’ve moved your writing into your long-term storage spot.

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Reset: A No-Stress Approach for a Great New Year

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Welcome to 2017, Pen Friends!Reset: a No-Stress Approach for a Great New Year

Once the confetti has been swept up, and we’ve all recovered from staying up too late, it seems like the dawning of January only has one thing to declare: New Year’s Resolutions!

But let me be honest: I’ve never really cared for New Year’s Resolutions. Maybe it’s my Myers-Briggs type talking (I’m an INFP), but I can’t stand being made to create a long list of things I need to improve in my life, and then be made to feel guilty about it if I don’t follow through on them all. I realize that’s not the actual point of resolutions, but that’s how they’ve always felt to me–like that one-size-too-small, itchy sweater your mom’s second cousin gave you for Christmas: uncomfortable, yet you still feel obligated to wear it. No, thank you. (Sorry, Cousin Cate!)*  Continue reading →

Tools for Rewriting During the Holidays

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holiday-rewriting

If I were stranded on a deserted island with a notepad, forced to finish my trilogy and could only have three resources it would be these.

Revising is hard work. There are a million books out there on how to do it, hundreds of pieces of advice friends and family will offer you, and a growing set checklist of your own things to complete.

How do you balance it all? Continue reading →