I teach knitting classes
Most popular:
• specialized sock-heel workshops
• plaited cast-on class for socks, hats, and coffee cup cozies
• certified Knit Companion trainer
I travel to book readings and signings.
You can schedule a class or event on my Shoppe page.
I’ve spent most of today applying for work and bidding for freelance jobs online. Mixed in with all of that is trying to keep up with publishing industry blogs and websites, podcasting, and grading essays. Right now I have two books in decidedly different stages of development–a young adult novel that is complete and in the hands of a couple of agents–fingers crossed–and a craft book (not a shock, eh?).
With two kids, a husband, two dogs, a blue-tongued skink, a knitting pattern that’s due to the publisher, and what little curriculum writing I can find to do these days—oh, and two classes I teach at the University—I don’t have a lot of extra time. Not complaining and not unique—just quantifying. Because I came across this blog post and it froze me. What a service it was to post this for us!
It lists links to writing contests that are scams (or just fodder for sham publishing companies).
Even if the “contests” aren’t scams, none of us have money we can waste on getting conned—not even a little. I can’t even waste money on a cup of tea (not even vanity coffee). I’d been thinking that I should probably be putting more of my work out into short story contests and the like, but I’m glad I came across this first. I’ll do a little more research, I think, before I head into that kettle of wax.
Heh.
I thought I’d pass the link on. I know many of we crafty types also enjoy writing, and women of a certain age seem to be on the rise (who knew?) in that world. Thought it might be helpful.
Ta.
Okay, they did.
Here’s how to ask tech questions of experts on Forum and Message thread sites.
I wish I knew this a month ago!
You’ll feel better after reading this tutorial. Simple. Easy. Good examples. And definitions of what you need, where you need them. Between this and Grammar Girl, you’re set!
This is a lovely little post on the chimera we call “Writer’s Block.”
I need to remember this.
I Am a Have but I Happen to Have Not – Velveteen Mind. I am in love.
No memes.
Nothing compelling.
No amazing knitting going on (well…that’s not really true).
Just time to write again.
I found this nifty iPhone app called TripleQuick (from the good people at featherproof books)—it’s a fiction app that lets you read (or submit) 333 word short stories—a story that could be read completely in three iPhone screens (get it? Triple Quick). You can download and read all of these nifty stories, or you can compose one and submit it. If they publish it, it’s an actual publishing credit. They take first time digital publishing rights, you take copyright.
Love it.
Some of the fiction’s pretty nifty too.
I also found–contrary to what I’d been told before…somewhere–that if you’re trying to break into the novel market and get an agent or editor interested in your work, you really should have published some short stories.
That was news.
Long ago, somewhere—somewhere (memory failure) important enough that when I was told this the information obviously stuck–someone told me that writing short stories was a weakness on the part of a writer–not that it was bad to write them (heck no! They are great training grounds for focused, incisive prose) but that it was bad to publish them. Because–the theory went–if you have SS credits under your name it shows you weren’t really dedicated to novel writing.
That and the pay is lousy.
So, I’m over that. I’m all about short stories now while I wait (and wait…and wait…) to hear back from Agentlandia. And I feel better about that.
I’m not surprised, though. I’m like that with my knitting too. Sometimes I order a yarn for a new project, or sometimes I have to wait for a paycheck (or two) before I can buy yarn for a project. And what do I find myself doing?
Knitting.
With whatever’s there. Because I like to knit. Even if it’s not really “going anywhere.”
And I like to write.
And I’m going to work on showing that here a wee bit more often.
Next post includes pictures of all the knitting UFOs and WIPs I’ve got collected.
I think that might actually hurt me.
Originally uploaded by hordover
Nearly two years after the first surgery, here’s the boy’s “new” ear. More pics can be found at the Ear Extravaganza site.
Yeeee heeeeeee.
Here’s the link to the site I used to help me join the afghan squares.
And here are some pictures of my work over the past 24 hours.
You’ll see why I’m so happpeeeeee!
The afghan–done! Brown is not my fave color (it’s SO 1974 in my mind…just one of those things) but it works.
The Map o the World Afghan (the pattern is back at the Vogue site!!!)!
I just finished Ireland–go green! 
Panel two.
I’m going to teach myself to knit backwards (fast) on this bad boy. That is the fire I’m lighting under my tuchus to keep me going. I WILL finish (at least) this panel… before 2011.
And the cute little sock yarn hat: size 3 (US) needles, leftover Cherry Tree Hill yarn from forever ago, and this pattern.
Now, off to write for gainful employment.
MamaO is Heather Ordover, author, designer, mother and knitter... not necessarily in that order. You can get posts from this blog sent directly to your inbox by signing up below, Follow her on Twitter and Like her on Facebook if you're feeling friendly-like.
Vogue Knitting Winter 2013/2014
Hugely gratifying beyond my capacity for speech is having Vogue Knitting Winter 2013/14 give praise to my new book, Grounded. Read more...
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