Want to be a Book Reviewer?

Curled Up With a Good Book is looking for reviewers! What does this mean for you? You can choose a book you want to read from their extensive list and they will mail it to you for free. Then you get to write a review of the book, and, if your review meets the requirements below, it will be published on the Curled Up website!

Their guidelines in general are fairly loose:

·          submitted in .rtf, .doc, or .txt format attached to email, or within the body of an email

·          length between 750-1800 words (4-10 paragraphs, app.)

·          minimum of first-person interjections or qualifiers ("I think" or "in my opinion," for example); relevant first-person anecdotal asides are welcome

·          place the book (and/or author) and draw comparisons within the author's own body of work and within the larger body of other books in the same vein

·          aim for approximately equal parts synopsis and commentary/critique -- including what and *how* the author does best -- or worst

·          accompanied by a rating of 1 to 5 stars (1/2 star ratings okay)

·          copyright 2009 by Your Name for Curled Up With a Good Book - first-run reviews only; may be posted to personal blogs or other outlets following posting to curledup.com, noted as "originally published at CurledUp.com"

·          light editing for clarity & readability

If you are interested in reviewing for Curled Up, please visit their list of titles available for review at http://www.curledup.com/booklist.htm, pick out a handful (or more) of titles you’re interested in, email your picks along with your shipping address to editorial@curledup.com, and get started!

Contest announced! Write a review of 3 a.m. for a chance to WIN!

Give-away alert!

Have you read my collection of short stories 3 a.m.? Did you enjoy it? (I hope so!) I would be really grateful if you could take a couple minutes to write a short review and post it on Amazon.com.

In fact, I will be SO grateful that once you post a review, email me your name and contact info (dallaswoodburn@aol.com) and I'll enter you in a contest to win a fun writing-related goodie!

Book Reviews Wanted

Attention young writers! I am looking for more book reviews to publish on the Write On! website: http://writeonbooks.org/bookreviews.aspx

I want to hear from you! What books are you reading, loving, and recommending to your friends? What books are keeping you awake with flashlights under the covers? What books have enriched your life and opened your mind to new possibilities?

Email your short book reviews (two to four paragraphs long) to dallaswoodburn@aol.com. Be sure to include the title and author's name.

Here is a sample review of a book I loved:

The I Love To Write Book
by Mary-Lane Kamberg

On November 15, 2002, John Riddle started "I Love To Write Day" – what he describes as "the world's biggest party for writers" – to encourage people across the globe to put pen to paper in some form, whether that be writing a letter or finishing a novel. He says, "I believe that people need to be challenged, and writing is one of the many creative ways to express yourself."

Mary-Lane Kamberg is the author of eleven books and the director of a summer writing camp in Kansas for young writers. Inspired by I Love To Write Day, she wanted to do even more to encourage young people to discover the joy of writing. So she penned The I Love To Write Book as a "practical springboard" for writing enthusiasm.

The book is organized into three sections: Get Started; Write, Write, Write; and Revise, Edit, and Proofread. Each section is broken down into short chapters covering everything from how to get ideas, how to organize “the muddle in the middle,” and how to rewrite using a computer. I loved the inspirational writing quotes sprinkled throughout, like this gem from Ray Bradbury: "We are cups ... constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out."

The final chapter features tips for sending your work out for publication – plus information about nine markets that specifically ask for work by young writers. The I Love to Write Book can also be used as a workbook or a self-motivated creative writing course, because each chapter features multiple "Try This!" activities ranging from writing a haiku to writing a letter to the editor. This book would not only make a great gift for kids, it would also be an interesting read for teachers who want to incorporate more fun writing activities into their lesson plans.

The I Love To Write Book is a practical and tip-filled writing handbook, but even more than that it is a wonderful reminder to embrace the joy, discovery, and fulfillment that comes from expressing yourself through writing. Here’s hoping that in 2010, every day is I Love to Write Day!

New Write On! Website

Check out my new and improved Write On! website.

www.writeonbooks.org

* Get published
* Enter writing contests
* Read book reviews
* Join the Holiday Book Drive
* Register for Writing Camp
* Subscribe to the Write On! newsletter.
* Buy my books
* Find cool links to other websites

I'd love to hear what you think of my new site!