Thanksgiving is over and the shopping is done. The only one who did not get something was...

You guess it, me.

The hand is better and before long I will be able to type with both hands. Yea!  Looking ahead, I have been plotting in my mind, keeps me awake until late at night, and reading about writing.

If you are going to be writing anything, you need to read about the topic and the subject of writing. There are some great blogs and articles out there on the Internet (and some bad ones) for you to learn different techniques about writing.

One I ran across today is write it sideways and her article called 23 (More) Websites that Make Your Writing Stronger. Some good points here and make sure you read Suzannah Windsor Freeman's first post about websites. http://tinyurl.com/2f94fdx

Wordplay: Helping writers become authors is another one of my favorites. K.M. Weiland writes this week about description and whether authors need to describe a lot or very little.  Make sure you go back and read her previous posts as well. You won't be disappointed. She is great! http://tinyurl.com/rbfh86

If you want to read an honest viewpoint on various topics that affect and encourage authors, then go to Chuck Wendig's website terribleminds and read his posts.  Beware he tells it like it is and may not be suited for the faint at heart or small children.  It pulls no punches and tells it like it is. Even if you don't like to see some language used, you will learn a lot from his writings. http://tinyurl.com/2dobad4    

The Peevish Penman Magazine is another site with writing tips that will enlighten you. http://tinyurl.com/2bstz65 From their site, "Our mission is to encourage and support new writers and to have fun doing so."  What can I say it is great!

And of course, I can't forget to mention my friend Roz Morris.  Her book Nail Your Novel is one of the best I have read all year.  It is available on amazon.com.  You can learn quite a good bit about writing in this little book. Also on her website are great tips every week and again like the rest of them, you must go back and read the past installments. Check out her site at http://tinyurl.com/2bausms

Do you have a favorite website that provides inspiration or just good old advice for writers? Post it below in the comment section for all to check out.

Have a great week.

John

No good news on the hand front, it still hurts. Guess I could say that it is a little better, in that it is healing okay, but the pain is still there, especially in the wrist. Typing is hard to do.

On the digital reader front, there is still no decision on whether to get one or which one of the digital readers to get. Now, ZDNet comes out with an article on the 20 iPad competitors. Some are giving you a 12 inch screen, allowing you to read a full color (that is right color) page. http://tinyurl.com/25nx7pn

Since the winter seems to be getting closer as we are to have snow starting Wednesday, and the holiday season is coming too, I will be broke again and will probably sit here with a good old paper book and read it instead of a new fangled electronic reader.

I hope to find the time to get back to the novel and get more editing completed. But, even this short blog is making the hand scream with pain that is calling for more pain pills.

So, hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. Looking forward to the big dinner. Pumpkin pies sound great, don't they?

Until next time.

John

Leave a comment if you want, as no one has left any lately, I am not sure the comment section works.

Imagine my surprise when I read a tweet about winning an award. I was stunned.

Here is what they say on their website

"While there are many excellent writers to consider from the nominees for the Peevbody Award, the very meaning of the award is linked intrinsically to the dedication of the recipients. For that reason, we select from among the deserving, individuals who embody everything it is to truly be a penman or penwoman.

This November we have the honor of awarding the Peevbody to a man whose commitment to writers has nearly spanned two decades.

We agree and firmly believe not only does John M. Poindexter deserve to be in the running for the award, but he deserves to win the award and be in the running for the 100 USD Writers Grant to be awarded next September.

"One Less Peevish Writer"

Not one of us would be a writer without our teachers. They leave a mark across generations and can never be recognized enough for the work they do. But let's try anyway shall we?

So, John M. Poindexter, here's your Peevbody Award for Outstanding Support of Writers!"

I wish to thank the Editors of Peevish Penman for this prestigious award.

I just hope I can get a novel published before one of my students, not that I would be upset, but I just don't want to take the ribbing from them.