In my last newsletter, I hatched a pay-it-forward contest as a way to thank everyone who helped me accomplish one particular goal. If you don’t know what that goal is, you don’t read my newsletters so…your loss.
Also, only four whole people out of 138 subscribers were in on this prize draw. If you weren’t one of those four and didn’t get in on the draw, also…your loss. Read the emails. They’re not all just story links.
Regardless, we have a winner! I dropped the four names into a randomizer tool and………………???
To be honest, I couldn’t be happier because James literally reads and claps for everything I write, even if it’s crap. Poor guy!
So James, CONGRATULATIONS!! Send me a private email (hit reply) and I’ll get your details.
For those wondering what James just won, it is a book called The Middle Finger Project that I highly endorse if you’re a writer and you like to be amused.
Speaking of amusement, I like to try my hand at making people LOL as often as possible. But I have my limits on using LOL in writing so I’ve devised four ways to convey your humor without using it.
4 Ways to Convey Humor Without LOL-ing Too Much
Writing prompts - I don’t do them. I apologize to every single person who includes me in a tag bomb for their fun little prompts. For the most part, I cannot write on command. I can only write when inspired so I rarely take part in prompts.
Having said that, PS I Love You sent out a prompt in their newsletter last month and I was like, YES! I have that story! So I wrote it. If you’re a long-time follower you’ll know the story was actually a rewrite of something I published a year ago.
Kentucky was Extra Hot That Summer
Writing for PSILY pretty much guarantees curation which is as rare as me taking a shower before noon. James, you should try submitting to them so you can see what this thing called curation is!
And finally, a while back, Josh Spector offered up a valuable and fun tip in his For the Interested newsletter.
The premise of his tip was to examine what you do and compare it to a movie. Make it a blockbuster if you can. It was an amusing exercise trying to come up with a movie that best compares to something I do.
Being a Travel Writer is Like Starring in a Movie
PS: James’ comment on this story is the bomb.
“Rent a car. Fuck the map.”
It’s been lovely touching base with you all again!
I know my emails have been few and far between lately and I’m okay with that. I’m too busy elsewhere - like in my bed with my puppy and developing my travel blog - which, by the way, I’m recruiting writers for.
Thanks for sticking around! See you in September (because you know I’ll be too lazy to send another email in the next ten days).
Kristi
Wow! It's like the first day of school! There's even a syllabus...
Great newsletter!
I will get all the assigned work a look-see.
(September's coming faster than either of us realize)
I actually got the book after reading the sample. Couldn't resist. James is an awesome supportive writer and reader!