Uncategorized - Lacey Louwagie (Page 13)

Free the Apostrophe - Scribendi.com

An infographic about the correct usage of the apostrophe that is more fun than the text link I used the other day. Free the Apostrophe – Scribendi.com.

grammar

Free the Apostrophe!

I have to say, I’m so glad somebody is finally organizing to put an end to apostrophe abuse. The apostrophe I most want to rescue? The one in the sign for the chain restaurant, “Fryn’ Pan.” Now, it’s not so much that the apostrophe is being used incorrectly.

short stories

It's Story-a-Day May!

Yes, I know that we’re halfway through the month, but better late than never, right? Did you know that May is “Story-a-Day” month? Yup, it’s another one of those writing challenges I love so much. This time, the challenge is to write one story every day. How you

NaPoWriMo

Back to Writing ... at Last!

After the long wedding-induced haitus, I am SO GLAD to be back to writing at last. A lot has happened in my “writing life” even though very little of it was actually writing. But hey, the writing world didn’t stop spinning because I neglected my desk. Imagine that! 1.

Uncategorized

Happy National Poetry Writing Month!

It’s April, National Poetry Writing Month, which means it’s the one time a year when I devote myself to playing with poetry. April’s challenge is typically to write a poem a day throughout the month of April. I waffled a bit about whether I’d participate this

submissions

Another Day, Another Rejection

I received another rejection today for my young adult novel, and I have to say it’s my best rejection yet. Mary Kole’s response to my manuscript was both kind and encouraging — proof that agents are not heartless beasts searching for any reason to trash your work. (I never

Uncategorized

E-reader, How You've Liberated Me!

So, I’ve talked before about how I’m a “finisher” by personality. That means that, for the whole year that I’ve had my Kindle, I’ve only read two books on it. That’s because the first book I chose to read on it was Les Miserables (it

freelancing

Overwhelmed, or Just Lucky?

I thought about blogging today about how the upheaval in my personal life has once again been detrimental to my creative life. I’ve mentioned it here before, how hard it is for me to write in transition. For me, transition is the enemy of The Writing Life, whereas routine

editing

Editors Could Change the Rep of Self Publishers

Last week, the Huffington Post published this article about why indie (i.e.: self-published) authors still aren’t taken seriously, despite runaway successes like Christopher Paolini or J.A. Konrath that we hear so much about. The reality is, many self-published authors end up with a basement full of books

blogging

My First Book -- Coming Soon

Over the past year, I’ve made mention several times about an anthology of young adult Catholic voices that I’ve been working on. Last week, my co-editor and I heard back from the publisher, and this morning we confirmed that the project is a go. The book will be

Uncategorized

The 10-000 hour rule

I’m currently reading Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, which has brought me face-to-face, once again, with the “10,000-hour rule.” What this says, essentially, is that to reach true expertise or proficiency in ANY field (music, programming, writing, sports, etc.), one must first accomplish 10,000 hours of practice. This

Uncategorized

New, by me! (sorta)

I just added a new page to this blog for writing insights that stick with me from the various writing resources I’m constantly sifting through. Constantly striving to simplify my life, I like to get rid of these items as soon as I’m done reading them — but this

Uncategorized

If You're Going to Publish, PLEASE Call Your Friendly Editor!

One of my writers’ group friends forwarded this headline to me today: Woman with fun in bra arrested A convicted felon has been arrested by police in a Phoenix suburb after telling officers that she was hiding a handgun in her bra. By: Associated Press report, Arizona Republic I don’

editing

Writing Resolutions

It’s that time of year again … the time to make writing resolutions. I almost always make New Year’s resolutions related to my writing, and they’ve helped me grow as a writer over time. This year, I have one writing resolution: to submit something once a month. I’

Uncategorized

Best of Book Lists: Where are the Women? And Where is the VARIETY?

One thing I’m constantly overwhelmed with as a librarian is the sheer number of books published every year — and how many of them I desperately want to read. And usually, that’s just limiting myself to keeping up-to-date on what’s being published for teens. So when various organizations

NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo: Why I'm Glad I Did It, and Why I'll Do It Again

It’s hard for me to believe that it’s been less than a week since NaNoWriMo ended. Although time always seems to speed by quickly, the days of having how I’d get my wordcount in on my mind every day feel far away now that that mentality is

Uncategorized

And Now I Get My Life Back

NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo: On the Home Stretch

Well, in a few days, it will all be over. I’m down to having to write 1500 words a day to finish on time. I haven’t written my 1500 words for today, but I will. What I won’t do is finish this novel; I think I’ve

NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo: One Week Down, Three to Go

Well, the first week of NaNoWriMo is behind me. The first couple days, as I successfully wrote my target word count (about 1700), walked my dog, did some freelance work, made it to work on time, continued to plan my wedding, AND made progress on the anthology I’m editing,

Uncategorized

NaNoWriMo, Here I Come!

Well, this is it — my last night to be free of the madness of NaNoWriMo. But I’m not really free of it because it’s looming over me, less than four hours away. Of course, I won’t roll up my sleeves and face it until tomorrow morning. Luckily,

Uncategorized

Here I Go ... Again

All right, I’ve decided. I’m going to do it again. That is, NaNoWriMo. Here’s why: 1. My good writing buddy and precious friend Jenna left me this very convincing comment (my decision has more to do with her eloquent understanding of NaNo’s worth, not the bribe.

Uncategorized

It's That Time of Year ... Already!

We’re a mere two weeks away from the start of that mad frenzy that comes upon us writers every November, where even those of us who aren’t participating can’t help but wonder about the progress (and sanity) of those who are. That’s right, my favorite writing

Uncategorized

Are You a Moocher or a Swapper?

Usually, I try to limit the communities I belong to online because of the Internet (and I love it) being sort of a wormhole. So even though there are a plethora of fascinating sites out there for booklovers, I limit myself to LibraryThing for inventory and Goodreads for reviews and

blogging

On miracles

I posted at the Young Adult Catholics blog today about the issue that has been dominating my personal life throughout the month of September; while I was at the book release party I mentioned in my previous post, my grandmother was busy accomplishing miracles. I wrote about it in One

authors

Book Release Party: Eye of the Wolf

Last week, I had the privilege of traveling to Duluth for Marie Zhuikov’s book release party. As she gave a presentation about the plight of the wolves on Isle Royale and how her book figured into that, I found myself flashing back to moments spent reading the manuscript on