After the party...Crusade biz,

The Publication Parties are over. It's been seven weeks of following writer's journeys to becoming authors and I hope those of you who came along learned as much as I did. A warm thank you to authors Christine Bell, Clarissa Draper, Alex J Cavanaugh, Helen M Hunt, N.R. Williams, Lisa Maliga and Ann Best who gave generously of their time and expertise. During this series I have been too busy to take in all the advice/links that these wonderful authors provided, so I'm hoping to chill a little and do that in the next few weeks - as well as getting back to my myriad of writing projects. I have several short stories I'm about to submit, and two novels to complete. I'm glad I've got access to the wonderful Writers Knowledge Base too (link in the right sidebar), so I can access more info on the dreaded synopsis, pitch and query.

The final two winners of Publication Party goodies were - Jai Joshie - congratulations! who won the Synopsis critique by Ann Best and the Grand Prize was won by Tony Benson, a tireless blogger who came to every party and commented on every post. Congratulations Tony! I'm sure you'll share the goodies with your wonderful Margot.

So what I'm saying is you won't be seeing me as much as usual around the blogosphere, (cough, cough) but I'll still be around - Writing First, Blogging Later. I can never resist a blogfest (a great way to hone writing skills and to showcase a WIP). I have an entry in JC Martin's Race for Survival Blogfest. This will be published on my Flashquake blog on Friday (where I have the link). Then there is the Broken Heart Blogfest (link in my right sidebar) in a couple of weeks, and before long many of us will be heads down doing the A-Z Challenge. I'm publishing daily on my L'Aussie Travel Blog where I can showcase a different country, travel-related story etc. Looking forward to April 1 (I already have some posts prepared).

And finally..some blogging issues...

Lately many new followers aren't leaving a link back to their blogs.  The solution has already been thought through by the fearless Crusade leader, Rach at Rach Writes. She's written a marvellous detailed post about it today: Blogging tips: following blogs and making sure you can be followed (Part 1). If you're new to the blogosphere you will find this invaluable.

Another issue is that email is becoming the new 'comment'. Most bloggers write posts hoping other bloggers will read them and leave a comment so they can gauge reactions and at times get a conversation going regarding the point of their post. If you send an email instead it is just between you and the blogger; no one else gets to see what you think. If we all did this, there'd be no comments and posting would lose much of its purpose. I'm sure you've seen some bloggers who say 'I blog for comments.' Well, that's a big part of it. And the best way to comment (unless you have something private or unprintable to say) is to leave a comment at the end of a post.

On a brighter note, blogger is now offering more fonts (thank goodness!) and soon they're adding even more. So if you haven't been desperately digging around looking for something a bit larier than the few they had on offer, you can find these new fonts if you go into Template Designer, Advanced...

So if you got to the bottom of this post, please leave a comment.

My lie revealed. Welcome Crusader Groups 20 and 21 - ROMANTIC SUSPENSE/CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE/SWEET ROMANCE/HISTORICAL ROMANCE

Hello to you all! And welcome to the approx. 100 new followers who've joined me since I launched my Publication Party! I've been getting around to you slowly, but many of you are not linked through google friend, so unless you leave a comment I cannot find you. Many bloggers are having this problem!

Some of you in my crusader groups are old friends, some new and some very shiny new! It is going to be fun following all your latest posts and commenting. I haven't finished going round following you all on twitter yet, but I will make sure I do asap.

i've just popped out to make us a badge. Take it to display near your Romance feed.

So welcome:

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

• Raquel Byrnes
• Tara
• Tina D C Hayes
• Lynnette Labelle
• J L Campbell

ROMANCE/CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE/SWEET ROMANCE/HISTORICAL ROMANCE

• Summer Ross
• Savannah Chase
• Charlotte McClain
• Liz Fichera
• Margo Benson
• Kerrin Hearfield
• Nas Dean
• Hope Welsh
• Alyssa Fox
• Gina Blechman
• Deniz Bevan

I've finally finished linking you all in my left sidebar. Hopefully we can encourage each other on our romance-writing journey.

Congratulations to those who made the final cut in the first Crusader Challenge - woo hoo! Can't wait to see who won this fun writing challenge. Oh, and for my crusader challenge most people thought I was lying about my son's fuliguline - no! So true! I have his flawed pottery dog and love it. My lie was that I'm a dust collector. I don't like lots of stuff to dust. Who does?

Weekly round-up - blogfests, contests, crusade, book reviews, awards, publication success...

Hi all! Enough of the lazy words (previous post.) I had such fun writing that post and many of you got a good laugh. It also helps us focus on our revisions where we're looking for all our lazy words, punctuation foibles and bad grammar/tenses. Don't forget to click on the Writer's Knowledge Base in my right sidebar if you need any more help.

If you'd like to read a family tale of sisterly love which never gives up, I've reviewed the thriller Sister, by Rosamund Upton, on the book review blog, Reading at Dawn. We'd love you to visit and have a read of the great reviews. We post two reviews a week and love visitors.

Tomorrow is the Bernard Pivot Blogfest where you answer 10 random questions. My post is prepared and raring to go on my Paris blog, Pichets in Paris. Go there tomorrow to read mine. You know it won't be boring.

The blogospere is excited to see Roland Yeomans @ Writing in the Crosshairs has published his e-book. Roland's prose is just so spellbinding. If you don't follow Roland you need to. He publishes his stories on his blog on a regular basis. Roland's book cover was designed by another awesome blogger, Michael at ...in time. Check Michael's blog for great posts, currently many of us are enjoying his Earthly Angels series of posts.

The Writer's Platform-Building Crusade has started. Note the cute badge in my left sidebar. What does that mean? Just that I'll be participating in writing/judging the evil contests that Rachel Harrie dreams up for the 200+ crusaders. Can't wait. Some of this craziness may be posted right here.

Lots of lovely awards floating around. Note in my right sidebar some encouraging awards made by fellow bloggers wanting to share the love. Thank you!

J. C. Martin @ Fighter Writer has an awesome contest starting March 4. The challenge is to write a 300-word short story showing a race for survival. There are prizes. I'm posting that one on my Flashquake blog where you'll find the button/details.

Oh and see the lovely Len Lambert's contest in my right-hand sidebar. Go Len!

So much more is happening, but that's a few things before I launch into the sixth session of the Publication Party tomorrow - N.R. Williams - don't miss her!

My No Fear blogfest story is a winner...Writer's Platform Building Crusade...Bernard Pivot contest

Thanks to Dominic de Mattos at Writes of Passage I wrote a story for his No Fear blogfest. If you haven't read it, and really want to, go here. Surprise! Surprise! Dominic ran a vote and I was the winner. This was unexpected, especially as I was up against the amazing Roland D Yeomans at Wrting in the Crosshairs. So in accordance with my New Years Resolution to Write First, Blog Later, in this case both activities paid off with a prize. So thanks to all who wrote marvellous stories for this blogfest and those who voted for the finalists and who pushed me over the line.

Update on the Writer's Platform-Building Crusade. Rachel Harrie tells me that at this stage there are nearly 90 participants being marshalled into groups. This is going to be a blast.

For those of you who like a little quirkiness with your morning coffee, Nicole Ducleroir from One Significant Moment in Time is hosting the Bernard Pivot contest with giveaways TBA. There are already a gazillion entries so this has caught the imagination of many. Maybe it's because it won't take a lot of time (or so we think now.) You basically answer 10 questions either literally or creatively. No guesses which I'll choose! If you're looking for the badge in my sidebar, it's not there. I'm using my pichetsinparis blog for this blogfest. Bernard Pivot was French after all, and I'm hosting my Publication Party here on the same day.

Michael di Gesu at In Time... is inspiring me with his Earthly Angels posts. On Monday (well, it's Tuesday here) he posted a tribute to mums (in honour of Michael's mum passing on Feb 6 some time ago...)

Oh, here I am again. I just entered Brenda Drake's first line blogfest where you have to post your first line from a finished WIP.  I know this one is a little dull, but the idea is you're to tell me how to improve it then I post the new improved model in her comments on Feb 9. The prizes are awesome. Perhaps you'd like to pop over to Brenda's and sign up. I've left it until nearly the last moment. This time the time difference is working in my favour! So here is my line. Tell me how it could be improved...rip it to  bits...I don't mind...please!!!

The moment Ruby laid eyes on him she was smitten.

Well I'd better get to my WIPs. See you on Wednesday with the next Publication Party. Lisa Maliga is the guest speaker. Can't wait.

Writer's Platform Building Crusade - the flag is flying again! (Publication Party next post!)

Over at Rach Writes there is great news for bloggers, the second Writers’ Platform-Building Crusade has started! I joined last year and have been so looking forward to getting behind the flag again! 

Rach thought of this concept in 2010. She thought about the fact that there are so many of us out there -aspiring writers, beginner bloggers, industry peeps, even published authors, all who want to build their online platforms. She wanted to bring us all together. As a member of this Crusade, we write insightful posts and articles, actively blog within the blogosphere, take part in challenges, competitions, and contests galore, but mainly we support our fellow crusaders.

So, Rach (Rachael Harrie) links all of us together. This year she has groups so we can follow/comment on like-minded bloggers' posts.

Go to Rach Writes for all the buzz and to join. You’ll have a list of bloggers in the same position as you, who genuinely want to help you succeed. You can visit their sites, follow along with their blogs, leave comments, and share your highs and lows as you journey through the blogosphere and build your online platform. And they'll be doing the same for you. Some of the bloggers I met last year are firm blogging friends (((waves hi))).

Jump on board the Writers' Platform-Building Crusade. Spread the word. Pay it forward. And have fun with your blogging!!!

This is networking with a capital N!