My Manuscript Stinks Society, 2011

As promised, we've updated the look of the blog and added new content.

Check out the pages detailing the steps in the publishing process that run along the top of the blog. (We will be working on fleshing out this content for a while yet, but we do have the bones and a little bit of the meat up and ready to read). Also, make sure to participate in our survey on how you get rejected in 2011. (You may need to refresh your browser in order to vote multiple times.)

Soon, we'll be launching the Stink It Up challenge, so stay tuned.

We here at MMS are looking forward to a productive 2011 with many rejections and a bit of acceptance. We hope you are, too!

We're working on a new look and a writing challenge . . .

. . . but because we're swamped, it probably won't be ready for a while. In the meantime, keep writing (of course!), and check back every once in a while. Some features that are available for use right now: the writing timer (it's a great way to get in at least 10 minutes a day of writing exercise); the magazine list (which includes submission guidelines to many children's and young adult markets); any of our previous posts; and links to literature on children's and young adult lit.

Writing Prompt: Playing with Food (aka Grocery Store Diction)

A couple of us were wandering through the grocery store, looking for words on pre-packaged products that we could use to craft an inspiring message. We were looking for positive words, like Smart and Great and Stupendous. We did find Smart (Smart Food) and Great (“great recipes included inside” on a peanut butter cookie mix); we also found a whole lot of words that were unusable but funny.

So here’s the prompt. Go to the grocery store and wander down the cereal aisle, the cracker-cookie aisle, the candy aisle, and anywhere else that has pre-packaged goods. Scan the products for great words—scrumptious, hot, crunchy, cheesy, sloppy, sizzling, saucy—and then write either a humorous romance scene (or something else) using those words.

For an even more exciting experience, take a writer-friend along, and do the looking/writing/discussing aloud together. You may turn a few heads, but that’s the price you have to pay for art. :-)

We would love for you to post your scenes.

Welcome New MMS Associate Members

We would like to extend a hearty welcome to your newest associate members, who earned rejection letters from Cricket, Spider, and Highlights for Children for short stories that didn't fit the publishers' present needs. Welcome! You're in good company.

In honor of our inductees, My Manuscript Stinks Society would like to invite members and readers to share their favorite rejection letter lines.

Or, if you're not in the mood for revisiting your painful past, take a moment and recommit to submitting your work to publishers. After all, 2010 is fast approaching and to remain in good MMS standing, you need to earn 1 credible rejection a year. Do your part: Submit & get rejected.

Of course, MMS also delights in celebrating successes (our motto, after all, is acceptance through rejection). We'd like to congratulate member Heather Dixon on her book deal with Greenwillow; her exquisitely crafted first novel will be published winter 2011. We'll keep you posted.

Happy writing!

P.S. We've just joined twitter.

100 DAYS! The end is in sight.

Days #95 - #100

Five goals:

1. Write for fifteen minutes: evaluate where your current writing project is and set specific goals for completing it.

2. Write for fifteen minutes: accomplish a goal that you set as part of #1.

3. Write for fifteen minutes: focus on description, imagery, sensory details.

4. Write for fifteen minutes: accomplish a goal that you set as part of #1.

5. Write for fifteen minutes: celebrate yourself--list what you're good at (e.g., character development, imagery, sentence structure, setting details). Then celebrate--go out to dinner, take a walk, buy something--the completion of 100 days.

Oh, and post however you did HERE. We'd love to hear the progress you made.

100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #19

Monday, October 26 - Sunday, November 1 * Days 91-95

On at least one day this week, set your current project aside and write something entirely new and unplanned. In other words, this week, practice creativity.

100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #18

Monday, October 19 - Sunday, October 25 * Days 86-90

This is the third to last week! You can do it!

If any of you are like me, there was most likely a prompt during these past 18 weeks that you thought looked interesting, but didn't do for one reason or another. This week's prompt is to do that prompt you didn't do.

For those of you who have done all the prompts, call me and I will buy you an ice cream cone.

Thanks to whirligigdaisy for this idea!