5 on Friday -- Set 242

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

For anyone who wants to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

My writers' group had a busy weekend last week, making our second appearance at Word on the Street in Halifax. That's me above with fellow Romance of Atlantic Canada authors Jennie Marsland and Donna Alward at the opening reception, which took place at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design's Institute of Applied Creativity on Saturday night.

As I was heading out following the reception -- just before the East Coast literary awards were about to start -- I bumped into Stephen and Jeanie Kimber. If you can seriously believe it's been basically 30 years ago, I was the Kimber's nanny (mostly for their youngest, who is now 30!) Stephen went on to win the Evelyn Richardson Non-fiction award for What Lies Across the Water: The Real Story of the Cuban Five. 

On Sunday, RWAC prez Taryn Blackthorne and I set up our table which was then run by rotating teams from our group. Thanks to everyone who took part!

This week's set is dedicated to writers everywhere as we carry on, shaping our stories no matter that there are only 24 hours in a day, unexpected emergencies, day jobs and unco-operative fictional characters that won't behave while we're trying to get our word counts. 

1 - One Way or Another  -- Blondie

2 - Hit Me With Your Best Shot -- Pat Benatar

3 - Tubthumping -- Chumbawamba

4 - I Won't Back Down  -- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

5 - Follow That Dream  -- Elvis Presley

I'm blogging at The Popculturedivas

Join me at The Popculturedivas for Olympics Inspire More Than Athletes

I'm blogging at Natalie G. Owens' place today

Have you always wanted to participate in a writers' retreat, but have never managed to get to one?

Maybe 2013 will be your year!

Join me at Natalie G. Owens' blog for the lo-down on Writing Retreats, Atlantic Canadian Style.

Through the Opera Glasses - 58 - Never Give Up

You may know I've had a wonderful run of great luck in winning blog contests. I have had untold packages arrive at my house in the four years I've been blogging, all from fellow bloggers who have offered prizes on their blogs.

A little while ago, I received How I Got Published from Claudia at On a Limb With Claudia.


It's a really inspirational collection of stories from published writers on what it took for them personally to finally hold their books in their hands.

I'd like to share this passage with you, written by one of the editors of the book, Ray White:

"Never surrender, never give up, never quit. Those aren't just words to get published by; they're words to live by.

Less than one percent of writers get published in book-length fiction or nonfiction. Now I am absolutely, positively making these statistics up (though I did extrapolate them from all those agent Web sites where they claim to reject 99 percent of all submissions.)

As Yoda said, 'Do, or do not. There is no try.'

Let rejection roll off your back and even go so far as to see each rejection as another step toward success."

Janet says Thanks for sharing that today, Julia! Great inspiration.

Anne MacFarlane says Great post this morning, Julia. I know I'll only stop trying when I'm dead. Not even then really, because I've left instructions for my kids to shop those MSs around.

Ms Snarky Pants says I'll never stop writing, but one day I may just stop trying to get published. It's too degrading. LOL

Go, Writers! Go!

A little gentle persuasion? I think not...




Charge!




You can do it!