This is a test

I didn't make it into the contest. The widget didn't even appear for me and it was over. This is too stressful. I'm going back to doing it the old fashioned way. Thanks for your encouragement and advice, though. I'm going to have a margarita now.

PS, my Dust it Off blogfest post will go up tomorrow =)

Is it just me?

Insecure Writers Support Group - May 2012

Dear Fellow Writers,
My head hurts.
I love to read. And I know I'm not alone here. Reading is what inspired most of us to write. Reading is also research. We read great, stupendous, history making authors! We also read stuff that we wonder how it got published, or is it just me?

And here we come to my gripe. I am reading three or five or six good books right now (I have books in every area of my house and in my car and on my ipad, never at a loss for reading material!) And I understand that I am not going to find an outstanding Hunger Games quality book every time. BUT! One of the books, a great story, is hopping heads like a frog crossing the street in a Merry Melodies cartoon!

The reason this bothers me so much, is that I have been brow beaten not to do this. I am talking hops in mid paragraph - I know what everyone is thinking all the time! Before I was a writer and knew all the rules, it wouldn't have bothered me so much. But I know now! And I am working very hard to get published and this rule is a big one!

It's just not fair! And I can't do anything about it, except complain and stick my tongue out at it. Hmpf! Anyone else know what I'm talking about?

                                                     Sincerely,
                                                     Patty Page-Pouter

But I know what will turn that frown upside-down. A haiku!
For Sensational Haiku Wednesday. It's Spring!

Senses of Spring

       scents of fresh cut grass                     warbling birds choose

     waft in on warmer breezes            crunchy bugs and juicy worms

              caressing shy buds                        to feed fluffy peeps

                           sudden darkness looms                   calm after the storm

                      with streaks of electric blasts           sun and babes peek out to see,

                               spectacular show                     smell, hear, and feel Spring!

I love bunny spotting in Spring!

Inspiration for sensing spring from Christina Lee - she does beautiful things with the senses of the seasons!

And speaking of haiku, I just found a very fun haiku CONTEST! Nate at Wheel's on Fire is hosting a Robot Haiku contest, now through May 7th. Prizes! Robots! Haikus! Who can resist! Futile!

Regular Tuesday

It's here! A new month! I am so excited to write a normal post and be back to regular blogging! Visiting folks thru the A to Z list, I didn't see much of my regulars, tho I was very happy to meet new folks! Now I'm happy to slow down and be back on a schedule. How bout you?

So here is what's coming up!

• Tomorrow is the monthly meeting of the Insecure Writers Support Group! hosted by your Ninja A to Z Host, Alex! Bring your writing woes and encouraging vibes! 

Some fun fests this month:

• Theresa Paolo is hosting this blog hop for us to dig up an abandoned WIP and admit we wrote it!

• Emily King wants us to embarrass our selves in living color with photos from yesteryear. 

So, what are they trying to say? We like to flaunt our historic flops? Well, it is fun to remember and see how far we've come! Join us! You know you want to!

And finally, a contest for women's fiction writers. Chuck Sambuchino of Writer's Digest is hosting the "Dear Lucky Agent" contest! Go for it!

PS - I will post my A to Z stats on Monday, May 7 - that is the official day for the wrap up...anticipation!