October 5, 2005
A WriterOnLine Publication

My dear readers,

Just a reminder to you that this issue marks the change for our publication; we are now only publishing one issue of WOL per month. Although we’re sorry that we won’t be popping into your In Box in two weeks, I know that this issue’s contents will hold you over until the beginning of November.

Along with the upcoming Halloween holiday, in this issue were celebrating memoir writing. From journal entries to published works, memoir is a widely known and appreciated genre, which only continues to grow. You’ll remember that in our last issue we brought Stacy A. Colombo on board to WOL as our Memoir Editor. Make sure to read her article “A Stroll Down Memory Lane: How Do I Get Started?” which provides you will great tips to start writing your own memoirs. In addition, our contest for this issue gives you the opportunity to share your memoir writing ability with us.

With memoir writing in mind, I am delighted to announce to you an excellent and thrilling opportunity. WOL is hosting a memoir writing contest, where we will showcase your memoirs in the upcoming January 2006 issue. If you’re interested in submitting a work for this special event, please send your work to Stacy Colombo at sac_9@excite.com by midnight, Thursday, December 1. Make sure you don’t miss this impressive chance to “ring in the New Year” with us! The guidelines for this special memoir writing event are as follows:

• Original work of writing in the memoir genre;

• 250-1,000 words;

• Creative and thought-provoking.

Any further questions may be directed to myself or Stacy. We hope that you will join us in this innovative opportunity, and until next time, write well, write often, and most importantly, keep writing.

With Warm Regards,
Jodi L. Rowland

IN THIS ISSUE

 

Find out about the art of journaling in Terrie Leigh Relf’s “Passing on the Love of Journal Writing.”

Stacy A. Colombo provides an in depth look into memoir writing, while offer some great tips to get you started in with your own memoirs in “A Stroll Down Memory Lane: How Do I Get Started?”

Looking for a good short fiction contest to entry . . . there might be one in your neighborhood. Read Grace Tierney’s “Short Fiction Contests” to find out.

Bidding thousands to come up with a name? Changing the words to nursery rhymes? What in the world is going on? Read News by Shelley Bueche to learn more.

A tale you won’t want to miss . . . “SMYTH - WITH AN 'E'” by Lee Dickman.

In honor of our theme of memoir, this issue’s contest allows you a chance to write your own short work of memoir about masks. Check out “Masking It,” this issue’s contest, by Stacy A. Colombo.

Try your skill at this issue’s puzzle “Spooky Crossword.”

And last, but definitely not least the article "Book Burning Revisited" by Mary Anne Donovan in our Digital Writing Section.

 

DIGITAL WRITING

By Mary Anne Donovan

Well, it’s like this. The world, it is a’changing. We have left the Information Age behind us and are now in the midst of the Attention Age. The information hasn’t gone away. In fact, there’s more now than ever and it is truly overwhelming. Therefore, as more and more information goes onto the World Wide Web, the challenge is to get and keep the attention of readers and visitors. And when they're now saying that Google has over 24 billion pages indexed, you can see how difficult that might be!

So what’s the next step in a logical progression regarding getting this attention? It’s writing – good writing, persuasive writing, writing that jumps off the screen and compels the reader, keeping his attention, preventing him from clicking off to surf on other, more interesting information waves.

In the Digital Writing column, WOL brings you tips and information you can use to explore new opportunities in the field of digital writing. We’ll tell you how to write copy that encourages search engines to rank a web site highly, how to work with web designers to present search engine friendly designs, and how to develop effective keywords using a step-by-step process.

So join us and enter this new world of digital writing. Check out our web site on search engine optimization, and consider adding a new and extremely valuable skill to your writing repertoire.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

 

Masking It

Write about an instance that you wore a mask where you were ashamed of who you were or what you looked like. How did you hide it and how did it feel? Read more

Puzzle

 

Spooky Crossword

Clues to the 15 words Halloween Crossword. Read more

News

By Shelley Bueche

Remodel Your Bathroom or Be a Character in Michael Chabon’s Next Novel?

The Celebrated Jumping Frogs of Calaveras County Are Hopping Mad!

Git Your Books, I Mean Boots, Shined!

Mooove Over Chick Lit—Matron Lit Has Hit the Bookstands!

How Dare You Call Him a Gingerbread Man!