by Annie Cronin Romano  Like working jigsaw puzzles? White Mountain Puzzles has a few jigsaws with a literary flair. This book "Best Sellers" puzzle will keep you busy with 1000 pieces of literature's favorites. How many have you read? The bookplates below are just a few samples of the designs you'll find at Gone Reading, a web store for reading enthusiasts.
Ever wished a perfume could capture the aroma of libraries, leather-bound books, and Mr. Darcy? Well, a few claim to have done it! Check out Sweet Tea Apothecary for their "Dead Writers" scent (hey, I didn't name it!) or head over to Demeter to discover "Paperback."
Okay...do NOT tell me you wouldn't love walking into that next critique group meeting with your appetizer served on a book-shaped platter! I mean, how fun is this? You can see all the size options at Gone Reading.   _ Wish you could wear a favorite book around your neck? Don't we all? Well, you can if you web surf your way over to Uncommon Goods. They've got scarves featuring passages from Jane Eyre, Alice in Wonderland, and Wuthering Heights.  I hope you enjoyed (and try) some of these suggestions for writing rewards.
Now, go treat yourself to that hard earned carrot! And keep striving to meet your upcoming goals. I'll share some more carrot ideas in a few months! ~Annie
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 by Francine Puckly
While the fresh-cut Christmas tree in my family room has gifts placed beneath it, the “extra” artificial tree in our sitting room sat barren for years. That is, until I started wrapping empty boxes and placing them under the branches. But those boxes are hardly empty to me. Every time I complete a manuscript, a new gift box is wrapped and labeled, as one main character bestows a gift upon another from the same story. And though I remain pre-published, this visual abundance of my accomplishments brings great joy each Christmas season. And I delight in wondering what might be placed inside each box if the characters actually gave out presents. As we close this busy year with the busiest of months, let's take the time to count our blessings and abundances, lift a glass and toast our tenacity and dedication to our creative lives, and celebrate our loved ones and the avid supporters who have kept us on course. 24 Carrot Writing wishes you and yours peace and contentment as you tally your many achievements from 2015. We’re honored that you have joined us for this journey, and we look forward to bringing you more writing support in 2016! Just imagine what we'll accomplish in the New Year…and we have a bonus day to boot! What will we do with it? The possibilities are endless! Happy Holidays! Francine, Amanda, Annie and Kelly  by Kelly Carey
In January, bubbly with champagne excitement and intoxicated by the shimmering crystal ball in Time’s Square, we all set down our writing goals for 2015. Since writers are ambitious dreamers, we probably set very lofty goals. To that I say, good for us! That drive and stamina to succeed will get our manuscripts published. But did you over promise? Did some unforeseen event steal time and attention from your writing? Did your January va-va-voom sput-sput-sputter somewhere in March? Then I would like to be the first to wish you a Happy June Year’s Eve! June marks the mid-year point and is an excellent time to track our progress and make sure we are well positioned for writing success. On June 1, 2015 writing goals and resolutions everywhere can be given a solid scrubbing and be reset, recharged and REVISED for success. You set New Year’s resolutions, now is the time for June Year’s resolutions. As writers, we are not only intimately aware of the power of revision, but we are also experts at revising. It is time to apply that skill not to our manuscripts, but to our writing goals. Read through your goals, keep what is working and toss those goals that just don’t fit or make sense anymore. Maybe that middle grade novel whispered to you on a cold day in March (which frankly could have been any day in March since they were all cold) and you put aside your picture book plans. Perhaps you had a light bulb moment while attending a conference, reading a blog, or while brushing your teeth (true story, just ask Amanda!). Great! Time to make your 2015 writing goals match that reality. Just reminding yourself of the promises you made and the plans you had will refocus your energy for the next six months. This is not a bash session. Do not beat yourself up over missed goals. You are not giving up, you are revising. What writer would forsake revision? I’d like to clink a glass with you on New Year’s 2016 in celebration of hitting our 2015 writing goals. The best way to make this happen is with a serious mid-year goal revision. Happy June Year’s Eve and happy goal revising!  By Francine Puckly
All of us at 24 Carrot Writing send best wishes to you and yours for a wondrous holiday season and health, happiness and good fortune in the year ahead. We are grateful you’ve allowed us to accompany you on your creative journeys, and we look forward to great ideas, sustainable motivation and delightful rewards for the hard work that will greet us in 2015! So raise a glass of cheer to celebrate the gifts of family and friends, but also to honor all that you have brought forth this year. Slap a gold foil star on the top of research pages, drafts and brainstorming notes you’ve completed, and crawl into bed each night with a content heart. You are on the right track for reaching your dreams! Happy Holidays! Francine, Amanda, Annie and Kelly “Every year I resolve to be a little less the me I know and leave a little more room for the me I could be.” -- Wendy Wasserstein “Uncommon Women and Others” |
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