August 23, 2005
A WriterOnLine Publication

My dear readers,

I don't believe in coincidences. We made up our editorial calendar a year ago, and the theme for this issue, as planned back in September, 2004, is transitions. Well, here at WriterOnline we are undergoing a transition. Beginning with this issue, Jodi Rowland, who has been serving as your Assistant Editor, will be taking over as Chief Editor while I move on to assume the responsibilities of a new position, Assistant Publisher while also taking on other duties in our parent company, Cornet Solutions UAB.

It's a mixed bag of feelings for me. First, to tell you that you are in good hands is the understatement of the year. I have known and worked with Jodi for three years, and she is smart, creative, capable, a superb writer, and an incredibly hard worker. She was the editor of her college literary magazine, The Angle, which she lead on to win numerous awards, and has had a collection of her poetry published by Foothills Publishing (www.foothillspublishing.com) . The name of her book is Sinking in the Sky Water.

Second, I am sad – sad to be leaving the day-to-day aspects of working with you and getting the issues ready. You are a very special group of people and I feel privileged to have worked with you. But, never fear, I shall be lurking in the background, working on marketing, strategic planning, and other stuff.

So, I am going to shut up now because this is Jodi's show! Thank you all for everything and God speed to you.

Warmest wishes,
Mary Anne

P.S.  Jodi here.  I just wanted to let you know that I am delighted to be taking over as Chief Editor for WOL.  Although it saddens me, as well, for Mary Anne to leave this post—I began like many of you as a subscriber to WOL, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the newsletter in my email on Tuesday mornings—I hope to maintain and build from the foundation set before us.  And, I will strive, with the help of our talented editors and new Assistant Publisher, to continue enhancing the content and voice of the WriterOnline newsletter.  For now, I bid you farewell with these brief words, and until next time, write well, write often, and most importantly, keep writing.

LEARNING CENTER SUMMER SESSION

Remember – we are offering some great savings on our Learning Center courses for the months of June, July, and August. Sign up for any one course and save 10%, two courses – 15%, and three courses – 20%! What a way to spend the summer, brushing up on your writing skills or learning to do a kind of writing you've never done before. Go for it!

IN THIS ISSUE

 

Transitions help us in writing to flow from one topic to the next, and they can do the same for us in life.  Pamela Beers explains how in “Transitions: Life and Writing.”

Talking phones . . . books on TV . . . what’s going on?  Read the News by Shelley Bueche to find out.

An exciting challenge awaits you in this issue’s puzzle, “Break the Code!”  Inspired by a recent movie (title not disclosed to deter from giving the answer away), this puzzle will have your brain working and your grammatical skills put to the test.

An engaging short story, capturing the essence of finding new hopes, connections, and meaning, Dennis Gamblin exquisitely creates a sense of longing, and yet, fulfillment in “The Telescope.”

We’ve all done it.  Over revising.  Learn how to cut the habit and not the words with Nick DiChario’s article “RANDOM ACTS OF LANGUAGE: REWRITING TO DEATH.”

Make sure to take a peek at our newest column, from our affiliates at the Write Book and Gift Shop, Dan Plumeau and Nick DiChario.  For every issue, Dan and Nick will provide us with a book review, featuring a new, edgy, older, or just a favorite book.  Up for this issue is a review by Dan on Astro Turf: The Private Life of Rocket Science.  If you like what you read, make sure to order through the Write Book and Gift Shop to get a copy of the book. 

Have you met anyone new lately?  Do you have an interesting story about your pet, or a friend’s pet?  Or, do you think that you could create a good work of fiction based on someone you know?  Here’s your chance to share it with us in this issue’s contest, “Encounters of a Different Kind.”

Christina Hamlett hones in on the skill of using previous works for screen and playwriting in “PRE-EXISTING INSPIRATIONS: Part 2.”

From romance to sci-fi, and mystery to westerns, Susan Rand has some helpful ideas about writing a novel in “Getting Started With the Fiction Novel.”

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Exciting Markets News from Justmarkets

JustMarkets, our sister site for writers and the best daily digest of markets for writers around, announces a new program where you can access all listings for the one month prior to your request, for just $8.95. In other words, you will have more than 500 of the most recent, hand-picked JustMarkets listings at your fingertips – for just $8.95. In fact, if you place your order today, you'll have the log in information you need tomorrow to get started sorting through these lucrative, paying markets. Let JustMarkets do the work so you can do the writing!

In addition, JustMarkets announces another feature so that those of you who are not getting your daily digest because of spam filters can access the JM site and log in to see the digest online.

Join JustMarkets - the best daily digest of paying markets for writers!

 

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SAVINGS: LEARNING CENTER SUMMER SESSION

They're back! Those infamous lazy, hazy days when many of us writers tend to languish on our front porches sipping mint juleps and scratching at mosquito bites. Instead, this summer, swat those mosquitoes, switch to iced tea, and hone your writing skills with a course (or two, or three) from the WriterOnline Learning Center. And take advantage of our special Summer Session pricing:

• Take 1 course, save 10%

• Take 2 courses, save 15%

• Take 3 courses save 20%

Decide which courses you want to take, and we'll be back with sign up details in our next issue!

 

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Wanted: Contest and Puzzle Editor

WOL is looking for an editor for our contest and puzzle sections of our newsletter.  This is an excellent opportunity to show your crafty and/or witty skills.  Contest and Puzzle Editor is responsible for writing contests and puzzles for each issue and for selecting winners for both contests and puzzles.  If interested, please contact editor@writer-on-line.com

 

Contest

 

Encounters of a Different Kind

Back to school, back to school (sung in fashion from the Billy Madison movie). It’s that time of the year . . . store shelves are lined with notebooks, pens, calculators, glue . . . kids are trying to squeeze as many fun activities into the day as possible . . .  Read more

Puzzle

 

Break The Code!

There is a code embedded into this passage. Can you break it? Read more

News

By Shelley Bueche

Books on TV? An oxymoron? Read on! I Want My BookTV!

It’s August and I’m Getting Goosebumps!

A Slice of Americana

Where’s My Plot, Dude? You Mean Movies Are Supposed to Have Plots? Say It Ain’t So!

Riiiingg! Riiiing! Hello? Is This a Jerk or a Smooth Talker?