First link:

I love what The Writer magazine is up to. They have really worked hard to set a great web site. I don’t know anyone that works there so I’m don’t have any ulterior motive here. The thing is, this is a magazine who is doing it right, in my opinion. They are embracing technology. They are going online. They are offering quality help to writers. I LOVE this idea. I don’t want paper magazines anymore. I want it online. I want it on my iPad (which I don’t have yet, but which I’m confident that I will have after I hint and hint about it before my birthday this year ).

Well now we can all get a sneak peak at what The Writer offers subscribers. It’s like getting a free issue. From March 19-26, 2010 they’re opening up the site to everyone. Go check it out.

Second link:

Contest! I love contests for several reasons.

• They give me a deadline and force me to jam some work out.
• They force me to plan my stories and write synopses.
• They give me an opportunity to get feedback from professionals.
• They are just great fun—like playing games with your brothers and sisters at Thanksgiving. Everyone has fun, everyone is happy for the winners, everyone enjoys the friendly competition. (Well, in a perfect world, I guess. The truth is, though, that I have fun, I am happy for the winners, and I enjoy the friendly competition. And it’s all about me, so who cares what the other people are doing. )

So here is the latest cool contest:

• Katherine Paterson Prize for YA
• deadline=June 30, 2010
• entry fee=20$
• judge=Holly Black

I don’t know if I’ll have time. But I sure am tempted to give this one a shot.