What's on in May (plus #writemotivation post, Beta Match, and winners of my Writing Prompts Contest)

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I hope everyone had an awesome April, whether taking part in the A to Z Challenge, having a rest, or blogging on as usual. While my A to Z Writing Prompts Contest was running (the winners are announced below!), I took a little time off writing to settle into my new house and get over some health issues, then I started plotting my new novel, DARK. It's so exciting to start something new like this - I'm sure you all know the feeling. I'm all pumped up now and ready to get writing.

How about you: How do you feel when you start a new novel - excited, nervous, scared, exhilarated, all of the above or something else altogether???

What's coming up in May on Rach Writes...

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I've got a massive schedule coming up for May. It's going to involve a month of Monday guest posts, all around the subject of self-publishing and digital publishing. I'll have guest posts from:

1. Michael Offutt (May 7 - as part of his SLIPSTREAM book tour), 
2. Rachel Morgan from Rachel Morgan Writes (May 14), 
3. Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi from The Bookshelf Muse (May 21), and 
4. Adina West from Stairways and Landings (May 28). 

They're all either already published or have books that are coming out soon via self-publishing or digital publishing, and they're going to share some of their publishing journeys with you, give you interesting information about self/digital publishing, and perhaps even give you the chance to win some cool loot!

So make sure you pop back each Monday during May for the next step in the self-publishing/digital publishing journey :) And each of the four weeks, I'll be popping in some interesting agent tips on self or digital publishing as well!

Beta Match

It's been a little while since I've done a Beta Match, so I'm going to hold one on Monday, June 4, 2012. Anyone who is looking for a critique partner or beta reader, make sure you pop back then :)

#writemotivation

I'm about to start writing my first draft of DARK, so I decided I could use some help and people to cheer me on. I've joined K.T. Hanna's #writemotivation, where I've set goals for myself during the month of May, and I can work to achieve those goals while cheering on other #writemotivation peeps on Twitter (and being cheered on myself too, I hope).

As part of #writemotivation we need to be accountable for our goals, so here goes. My May goals are:

1. Finish plotting DARK (and incorporate any comments by CPs into plotting notes)
2. More detailed characterization of secondary characters
3. Organize Scrivener so I'm all ready to begin writing
4. Write. Write. Write
5. Finish first draft by May 31, 2012

There's a lot there, but it's all doable, I hope. I've already got some very detailed plotting finished, so I'm hoping that will take a lot of guesswork out of my writing (unlike FROM THE OTHER SIDE, where I pretty much pantsed the whole thing then took forever in revisions!). So wish me luck!

How about you: What are your writing goals for May???

Winners of my A to Z Challenge Writing Prompts Contest!

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It was so awesome to see so many people take part in my Writing Prompts Contest. Diving headfirst into my complicated rules (to ensure that the entries fitted into the A to Z Challenge), were a grand total of 56 entrants, and many others cheered them on. The entries were so creative, sometimes funny, sometimes very moving, and I loved reading every one of them.

Special props go to Nemoswriting, who entered 17 times, many of them inspirational! And also to C. Lee McKenzie, who (until her computer crashed) managed to complete 12 entries by using only words starting with the letter of the day - she had me in stitches with all of them!

So...*drumroll*...the winners for the best entries as determined by yours truly are:

• guest post on Rach Writes... - C. Lee McKenzie
• interview on Rach Writes... - Jericha Senyak
• book (from The Book Depository) or Amazon gift card (emailed) to the value of $15 - Nemoswriting
• a query critique by me - Tracy Bermeo

And I enjoyed her entry so much I'm going to add another query critique as well, so congratulations to Teresa Cypher! While unfortunately not winners of a prize, honorable mentions go to the following people for their awesome entries:

• Dawn M. Hamsher
• Super Happy Jen

Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks again to all who took part or commented on my post :) Winners, please email me on rachael[dot]harrie[at]gmail[dot]com to claim your prize.

Well, I think that's it for me for the moment. Can't wait to hear all about how your April was and what you're working on at the moment. I'll see you back next Monday for Michael's guest post!