Lacey Louwagie

article writing

Write Like It's Work

I’ve often heard the advice that you need to treat your writing like a “real job” even before you’re published. That means you show up on time. You don’t skip days. You prioritize it over TV, or doing the dishes, or playing with the cat. To take

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Disappearing Ink? No Thank You.

I recently read about a book publisher that is experimenting with disappearing ink. Books published with the disappearing ink will arrive sealed in plastic. Once the book is open, the ink will begin its chemical interaction with the air, and it will begin to deteriorate. All the ink will be

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Red Queen Press and Retold Fairy Tales

I’ve fallen terribly behind on reading my Funds for Writers newsletters (that doesn’t change the fact that it is one of the BEST resources for writers in existence), as well as other writing-related emails I receive. But I finally got around to opening one in the wee

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First Book Check

Today I got my first “real” check for a book I worked on. I say “real” because this is the first time I’ve been paid directly by a publisher for a book I submitted to said publisher, although I have been paid as an editor by private clients who

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It's an outdoor art installation. It's a library. And, it's awesome.

Source: designboom.com via Lacey on Pinterest Also, it’s in Brussels, Belgium, housing used books from Antwerp and Ghent. Perhaps in addition to the obsession with chocolate and breakfast foods, my penchant for books is also genetic. One more reason I’m proud to have Belgian blood flowing through

authors

Get it Written

While I was traveling after my wedding, New Moon Girls members were chatting with Victoria Holmes, better known as Erin Hunter (or the “main” Erin Hunter, as it were, since Erin Hunter is a pen name for a team of writers), author of the popular Warriors series for middle grade

grammar

Free the Apostrophe - Scribendi.com

An infographic about the correct usage of the apostrophe that is more fun than the text link I used the other day. Free the Apostrophe – Scribendi.com.

grammar

Free the Apostrophe!

I have to say, I’m so glad somebody is finally organizing to put an end to apostrophe abuse. The apostrophe I most want to rescue? The one in the sign for the chain restaurant, “Fryn’ Pan.” Now, it’s not so much that the apostrophe is being used incorrectly.

short stories

It's Story-a-Day May!

Yes, I know that we’re halfway through the month, but better late than never, right? Did you know that May is “Story-a-Day” month? Yup, it’s another one of those writing challenges I love so much. This time, the challenge is to write one story every day.

NaPoWriMo

Back to Writing ... at Last!

After the long wedding-induced haitus, I am SO GLAD to be back to writing at last. A lot has happened in my “writing life” even though very little of it was actually writing. But hey, the writing world didn’t stop spinning because I neglected my desk. Imagine that!

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Happy National Poetry Writing Month!

It’s April, National Poetry Writing Month, which means it’s the one time a year when I devote myself to playing with poetry. April’s challenge is typically to write a poem a day throughout the month of April. I waffled a bit about whether I’d participate this

submissions

Another Day, Another Rejection

I received another rejection today for my young adult novel, and I have to say it’s my best rejection yet. Mary Kole’s response to my manuscript was both kind and encouraging — proof that agents are not heartless beasts searching for any reason to trash your work. (I never

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E-reader, How You've Liberated Me!

So, I’ve talked before about how I’m a “finisher” by personality. That means that, for the whole year that I’ve had my Kindle, I’ve only read two books on it. That’s because the first book I chose to read on it was Les Miserables (it

freelancing

Overwhelmed, or Just Lucky?

I thought about blogging today about how the upheaval in my personal life has once again been detrimental to my creative life. I’ve mentioned it here before, how hard it is for me to write in transition. For me, transition is the enemy of The Writing Life, whereas routine

editing

Editors Could Change the Rep of Self Publishers

Last week, the Huffington Post published this article about why indie (i.e.: self-published) authors still aren’t taken seriously, despite runaway successes like Christopher Paolini or J.A. Konrath that we hear so much about.  The reality is, many self-published authors end up with a basement full

blogging

My First Book -- Coming Soon

Over the past year, I’ve made mention several times about an anthology of young adult Catholic voices that I’ve been working on. Last week, my co-editor and I heard back from the publisher, and this morning we confirmed that the project is a go. The book will

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The 10-000 hour rule

I’m currently reading Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, which has brought me face-to-face, once again, with the “10,000-hour rule.” What this says, essentially, is that to reach true expertise or proficiency in ANY field (music, programming, writing, sports, etc.), one must first accomplish 10,000 hours

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New, by me! (sorta)

I just added a new page to this blog for writing insights that stick with me from the various writing resources I’m constantly sifting through. Constantly striving to simplify my life, I like to get rid of these items as soon as I’m done reading them — but this

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If You're Going to Publish, PLEASE Call Your Friendly Editor!

One of my writers’ group friends forwarded this headline to me today: Woman with fun in bra arrested A convicted felon has been arrested by police in a Phoenix suburb after telling officers that she was hiding a handgun in her bra. By: Associated Press report, Arizona Republic  I don’

editing

Writing Resolutions

It’s that time of year again … the time to make writing resolutions. I almost always make New Year’s resolutions related to my writing, and they’ve helped me grow as a writer over time. This year, I have one writing resolution: to submit something once a month. I’

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Best of Book Lists: Where are the Women? And Where is the VARIETY?

One thing I’m constantly overwhelmed with as a librarian is the sheer number of books published every year — and how many of them I desperately want to read. And usually, that’s just limiting myself to keeping up-to-date on what’s being published for teens. So when

NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo: Why I'm Glad I Did It, and Why I'll Do It Again

It’s hard for me to believe that it’s been less than a week since NaNoWriMo ended. Although time always seems to speed by quickly, the days of having how I’d get my wordcount in on my mind every day feel far away now that that mentality is

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And Now I Get My Life Back

NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo: On the Home Stretch

Well, in a few days, it will all be over. I’m down to having to write 1500 words a day to finish on time. I haven’t written my 1500 words for today, but I will. What I won’t do is finish this novel; I think I’ve

NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo: One Week Down, Three to Go

Well, the first week of NaNoWriMo is behind me. The first couple days, as I successfully wrote my target word count (about 1700), walked my dog, did some freelance work, made it to work on time, continued to plan my wedding, AND made progress on the anthology I’m editing,