Thanks to all of you who have bravely entered your manuscript first pages into the January contest. Really interesting stories and strong first paragraphs. Most will motivate the reader (agent) to turn the page and keep reading to find out "what happens next?" Please drop into the tele-chat (or listen to the recording) on January 27th when we'll be discussing the winning first paragraphs and why they worked. Might even have a chance for some folks to read their first paragraphs and receive on-the-spot evaluation from me.  For more information go to the Tele-chat classroom listed on the main directory. 

Whew! Despite hitches and glitches and thumps along the way, the Online Academy, helping writers become authors, is well underway. Unfinished classrooms will stay that way, for the time being. Had no idea it would take six weeks of non-stop effort to combine websites and set up something new, different and useful. I do love the technology that enables me to teach in this new venue, even though the differences in language, English vs CyberSpeak, create challenges of understanding. My mantra continues to be, technology is my friend, technology is my friend, etc. etc. (And, as one friend pointed out, a slight typo changes friend into "fiend." HAHAHA!)
Lots of fun stuff coming up in January, including a new contest on the manuscript first paragraph, followed up by a Wizard chat with any and all of you readers. Hope you can drop by. I'm constantly amazed at how bright all of you are, and what varied stories (topics) you have created. Here's to an exciting and fruitful 2010. May all your publishing dreams begin, or come true.