Archive for the ‘Contests’ Category
The Roses of Prose Seeks New Group Blog Member
You might know me best for my antics on the blog you’re reading: FODDER FOR FICTION, but I’m also a founding member of a group blog THE ROSES OF PROSE a resource for Women’s Fiction and Romance. And there’s some exciting happenings coming for 2011 over at The Roses of Prose.
We’re Searching for a New Rose!
We’re seeking another flower for our garden. Here are our guidelines:
~A female writer of non-erotic fiction that is geared toward women
~All reading levels, starting at Young Adult
~At least one contracted or published work – self-published works are acceptable
~A genuine interest in promoting reading and literacy
~A genuine interest in mentoring other writers
If you are interested, we’d love to hear from you! Please send us a blurb of
about 200 words telling us about yourself, what you write, and why you love it.
We will choose 10 blurbs that we feel best fit the Roses of Prose, and we will
post one each day during the weeks of December 13-19 and 20-26.
The week after, we’ll let our readers vote for their favorite rose, and the
winner will be announced January 1.
I hope some of my former FODDER FOR FICTION guests and current friends enter. Good Luck!
Lisa Lipkind Leibow
Author of Smart Women’s Fiction
www.LLLeibow.com
The Roses of Prose
www.RosesOfProse.blogspot.com
Fear Can Be So Inspiring!
by Cynthia Eden
Hi, everyone! (And a big thanks to Lisa for inviting me over to her place!) Today, I want to talk about fear. Or rather, the way fear has inspired my writing.
When I was younger, I became addicted to horror movies. I loved the thrill that came for the spike of adrenaline that filled me. I loved watching the characters and their emotions. I loved figuring out the puzzle and discovering just who (and sometimes what) the bad guy (or beastie) was.
As the years passed, I kept my love of horror, but that love slowly transformed into something new. I developed a fascination for vampires and demons, and I decided that they didn’t always have to be bad—sometimes, they could become the good guys. So I started writing paranormal romances for Kensington Brava, and those stories featured my monster heroes and heroines.
But, my love of fear kept nagging at me, and I realized that it was time for me to face my fears. Or rather…to let those fears out. So I put my monsters on hold, and I directed my attention to serial killers. For me, I’m often more afraid of the “real-life” killers (the ones who could live right next door), than I am of the zombies who may rise from their graves.
I turned my fear into a book, DEADLY FEAR. DEADLY FEAR is the first book in my new romantic suspense series from Grand Central Publishing. In this book, I let my fears go. Everything that has ever frightened me (being buried alive, snakes, psycho killers who wield knives)…well, all those things found their way into my book. And you know what? After I wrote my tale, I wasn’t as afraid anymore.
Well, I wasn’t afraid…until I saw the next horror film on my list.
Now tell me, have you ever faced a big fear that you have? And what happened when you did?
Thanks for checking out my post!
Cynthia Eden
www.cynthiaeden.com
I’LL BE SLAYING YOU–Available 06/29/10 from Kensington Brava
DEADLY FEAR–Available 08/1/10 from Grand Central Publishing (Forever)
**One commenter to Cynthia’s post will randomly selected to receive an autographed book from her backlist.
________________
Cynthia Eden writes sexy tales of paranormal romance for Kensington Brava, and she pens dark romantic suspense novels for Grand Central Publishing. She lives in the Deep South, loves scary movies, and is addicted to happy endings. More information about Cynthia may be found at:
FIRST FRIDAY FODDER FOR FICTION WRITING EXERCISE – APRIL 2010
METHOD WRITING – INTERVIEW YOUR CHARACTER ABOUT HIS OR HER MOTIVATIONS
Here are some fun, miscellaneous questions you can ask yourself about your new character, or if you’re really embracing the method-acting I so often compare my experiences in character development – ask your character! Pretend you have a chance to pick your character’s brain. Ask him or her, the following questions. Then use the information you learn to put this character into action with this knowledge in mind. Remember, you don’t necessarily have to reveal specifics in the scene you write – merely think about how a person with these particular likes, dislikes, passions, and leanings would react in the situation. Good luck!
What are you angry about in the world? What cause are you most passionate about?
What do you enjoy wearing most?
What would the ideal date or evening out be?
Where do you think the best place to be on a Saturday night is?
What does a typical weekend hold for you?
What is your favorite Sunday breakfast?
What product do you use that you will never give up?
What song do you never want to hear again? Why?
Where is the ultimate holiday destination and why?
Who would you most like to meet?
Where would you like to live?
What intrigues or fascinates you?
What is your most treasured possession and why?
What gives you hope and peace?
What destroys your hope and peace?
What symbol best represents you?
Post your results here, if you’d like! I’d love to see your “method writing” in action.
Best to you,
Lisa Lipkind Leibow
Author of Smart Women’s Fiction
http://www.LLLeibow.com
Fodder For Fiction First Friday Writing Excercise: March 2010
This month’s writing exercise is kid’s stuff! I thought it would be fun if we all tried our hand at Madlibs Online. Complete the form here. Press the “generate Madlib” button, then copy and paste the result in the comments section below. It will be fun! You don’t have to stop there. You can use the silly result to inspire a new story.
Best to you!
Lisa Lipkind Leibow
Author of Smart Women’s Fiction
www.LLLeibow.com
February’s First Friday Fodder For Fiction Writing Prompt!
Using the following first line as a prompt, write the first paragraph of a story. Build on the hook provided. This is the actual first line of an unidentified novel. Extra bonus points for the first one who posts with the name of the novel I pulled this from.
“My father walked beside me to give me courage, his palm touching gently the back laces of my bodice.”
Have fun with this! Anyone who posts their paragraph here before midnight EST, Sunday, February 28, 2010 will receive a hand-crafted book charm/thong!
Best to you,
Lisa Lipkind Leibow
Author of Smart Women’s Fiction
AND THE WINNER IS….
LAURA BRECK!!! Congratulations, Laura. You are the winner of January’s First Friday Fodder For Fiction Writing Exercise Contest.
Thank you so much for entering. I will be sending you copies of e-book versions of Double Out and Back as well as a free special edition e-cookbook from the authors at Red Rose Publishing, Kissin’ Don’t Last, Cookin’ Does.
Check back this coming Friday, for February’s First Friday Fodder For Fiction Writing Exercise Contest.
Fodder For Fiction First Friday Writing Exercise: January 2010
It’s the first monthly Fodder For Fiction First Friday Writing Exercise! Anyone who completes the assignment and posts it as a comment to this blog entry by 11:59 pm EST on January 31, 2010 will be entered into a drawing. January’s special winner will receive free download of the e-book version of Double Out and Back as well as a free special edition e-cookbook from the authors at Red Rose Publishing, Kissin’ Don’t Last, Cookin’ Does. The winner will be announced on the blog on Sunday, January 31, 2010 at midnight.
Look at the photograph below.
Write three short paragraphs about the photograph, one from woman’s point of view, one from the child’s, and the third from a third person not included in the picture. Have fun with this. Good Luck!