Sorry, guys. I didn’t mean to be away from here so long. I’m on an unplanned but much-needed sanity break from writing, and this blog got lumped into that category. Winter’s been much too long, spring is slow in coming, and I’m focusing my energies on other things for a bit.

It’s snowing right now. It’s like a bad bad April Fool’s day joke.

Just so that your stop here isn’t completely wasted today, have some links (please, they need to go from my browser to yours–I have too many tabs open!):

Via Jo Anderton, the tale of a novel that languished in a publisher’s slush pile for… well, read it to find out. And, also via Jo, a feel-good piece: 7 R’s of Positivity for Unpublished Writers

Eona, the sequel to Alice Goodman’s Eon, is coming out this month, with a GORGEOUS cover.

The Query Tracker blog has an, uh, interesting roundup of publishing news today. *grin*

I forget where I picked this up from, but this site has 360 degree panoramic city views. It’s a lot of fun.

How’re you all doing?

Agent Weronika Janczuk is judging a pitch contest on the QueryTracker.net blog for adult science fiction, fantasy, horror, thriller or romance. Contest opens March 3rd (yes, it’s this Thursday) and runs for 24 hours.  She’s looking for a one-line pitch and the first 100 words. Check out this post for more details.

I love Rachelle Gardner’s list of 11 non-writing-related ideas to improve my writing. I’m always looking for ways to fill up my well of inspiration and give my muse some playtime; that’s why I do the Friday Fun feature and my ways-to-play lists.

I found myself nodding enthusiastically at all of Rachelle’s suggestions, except for the one about Twitter (which leaves me just baffled, probably since I don’t have a Twitter account and don’t intend on getting one; I’m trying to conserve my time, not find more creative ways to waste it!). I wholeheartedly agree about doing something to get out of your comfort zone. It doesn’t have to be big (like crossing the Sahara on camelback). Small things count, too! It could be making a presentation when the thought of public speaking makes you blanch, or taking up drawing despite being told for years you were never any good at it. For years I’d convinced myself (and informed everyone I knew) that I was not musical; then I discovered the piano.

I’d also add a caveat to item#5 (take trips): Most of us would love to take trips to exotic-to-us places (I want to visit Mongolia, which would also be taking me out of my comfort zone!), but often do not have the time or money for it. But we can take trips to new places right in our home towns. Go somewhere you don’t normally go. Take part in community activities and festivals; farmers’ markets, library book sales, community dinners. Enjoy exploring the place you live in. There’s something to be said about gaining a depth of experience as well as breadth.

And… read, read, read! Grab non-fiction on topics that interest you. Scan the magazine racks for a new-to-you magazine. Browse coffee-table books. Buy books that just strike your fancy at yard and library sales.

Any other items to add to this list?

Not related, but also interesting links for the week:

• Behind the Scenes: Mike Allen on the making of Clockwork Phoenix (one of the few anthologies I’ve actually bought).
• How to Find Your Writing Voice (wait, you mean it’s not behind the couch along with legos, stale cheerios and overdue library books??)
• And, oh so controversial, yet presenting another way of looking at writing fiction for a living: Dean Wesley Smith’s Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing articles, via Djmill’s Blog.

Read anything thought-provoking or inspiring recently on the ‘net?

A few months ago, I did a series of posts on book titles. Well, over at DGLM, they’re discussing the same tricky issue. I also came across Barry Eisler’s posts on considering the resonance of titles, both automatic and acquired. I’d never looked at titles quite that way before.

And Paperback Writer has a list of tools to help you come up with titles.