Buccaneer Blogfest and Short Story Advice

Are you all going to shake your heads and think I'm setting myself up for another headache if I say I've signed up for another blogfest. (especially after I failed with the writing contest). I can't help it, I'm addicted to fests!

This one sounds excellent, actually, and a great way to meet new people.

Sharon Bayliss and Courtney Young are hosting the Buccaneer Blogfest.




The blogfest will run from July 9th to August 3rd, with three prompts per week. If you have to miss posts, don't make that a reason not to sign up, a few missed posts are fine. If you're not a writer or don't have a current novel or WIP, alternate prompts will be available for week #2. This is an outline, more detailed instructions for the prompts for each day will be made available the weekend before each week.

Also, you are welcome to adjust the dates +/- a day or so if you have other commitments.

How do I participate?
1)Add your blog link to the linky below
2) Throughout the fest, visit the other blogs as much as you can and comment.
3) Post on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with the prompt of the day
4) Re-post the Linky & Buccaneer banner on your own blog to show your pirate pride and promote the blog fest
5) Finally…Have Fun!  

1. Intro Week (July 9 – 13)
a.(July 9) Introduction: Tell us a little bit about you and your blog. Post the sign up linky for this blogfest in your post. Include your other social media links so we can follow.
b. (July 11) Why you did you start blogging? What are your goals for your blog?
c. (July 13) Interview the person signed up below you on the linky and post that interview. *During this first week, you are strongly encouraged to go around and follow the other participants in the blogfest - both their blogs and other social media.  

2. Work in Progress (July 16 – 20)
a. (July 16) First paragraph of novel or WIP
b. (July 18) Character interview
c. (July 20) Share your light bulb moment with us. How did you come up with the idea for your WIP?  
 3. Reading (July 23 – 27)
a. (July 23) What are you reading? What books are on your shelf?
b. (July 25) Favorite authors and why?
c. (July 27) Recommend or review a book of choice. Tell the interwebz why you love it!

4. Final Countdown (July 30 – August 3)
a. (July 30) Social Media: Share your feelings and opinions about social media and it's relation to writing and reading.
b. (Aug 1) Host a giveaway using Rafflecopter or a similar tool. If you don't have anything you'd like to giveaway, we'd be happy to let you post the Rafflecopter form for a CQ sponsored giveaway.
c. (Aug 3) Reflection post: Share your experience from this blogfest. What are the next steps you want to take with your blog?

Sounds like a lot of fun, doesn't it? I've just signed up and think it will be an excellent way to meet new people and share a bit more about my writing. Wanna sign up too? Here's the linky: http://www.linkytools.com/basic_link_entry_form.aspx?id=151369

Short Story Writing Advice Wanted 

After my failure to writing an entry for the short story contest, I've been thinking a lot about short stories.  Writing short stories for contests and anthologies is something I really want to do, the problem is, I am rubbish at telling a short story. Any "one-shots" or smaller pieces I've written have all been about 10,000 words. I just can't help myself.

 I know how to structure a novel, and make sure I'm including enough plot development, character development, and world building. I don't know how to do that when I'm limited to a certain amount of words that are usually less than 10k.

So, those who you who regularly write short stories for contests and anthologies, do you have any tips for me? Do you know some good websites when I can research the semantics of writing a short story.

Any help, advice and comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 New Facebook Account 

On a final note before I head off, in addition to my Facebook Page, over the weekend I created a 'writing' Facebook account. Feel free to "friend" me over there on my new account.

Okay, I've probably taken up enough of your time now, so I will leave things here, and get started on some writing. I have characters in my head begging for attention! ^_^

6 comments:

  1. Well, I was looking for a blog fest to sign up for and methinks I've found one. Thanks for hosting! You'll be seeing me around.

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    1. That's exactly how I felt when I found it. Now I know exactly what I'll be posting for the next month! :D

      Oh, I'm not hosting it. Sharon Bayliss and Courtney Young are, I'm just promoting it. ^_^

      See you around the blogfest.

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  2. I wouldn't expect anything less from you! Buccaneer Blogfest sounds like it's right up your alley.

    PS: Although, if you enter one more thing, I'm a little concerned you might run out of space on your sidebar, LOL!!

    BEST OF LUCK on all your entries.

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    1. LOL Thanks. It sounds like a lot of fun!

      I worried about that too. Hopefully I won't.

      Thanks! <3

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  3. That's a cool blogfest. A big one, but neat!

    I had the same problem as you when I started writing short stories. I'm long-winded. Even nowadays, most of my short stories try to grow into novels. What helps me is to remember when writing a short story you're usually not writing a whole story, you're writing a scene in a story. A peek into a bigger story. It really helps me to focus on a single event and resist the urge to write more!

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    Replies
    1. I like the big ones, it gives me something to blog about. :)

      I'll have to keep that in mind, thanks for the tip. :)

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Thank you for taking the time to read this entry, and comment. I really appreciate it.