Marie Lavender's Writing in the Modern Age Blog
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog Policy
  • Schedule
  • Contact Us
  • Blog Posts

Writing in the Modern Age


Writing & Guest Author Blog

2013 - A Year in Review

12/31/2013

0 Comments

 
As the new year approaches, it's hard not to look back on what occurred in 2013.  At least with regards to my own writing career and the Writing in the Modern Age blog, a lot has happened.  Reflection is my topic for today.

My writing journey really began years ago, but the turning point was in August of 2012 when Solstice Publishing accepted the manuscript for Upon Your Return, a historical romance. The book is available now, and I recently signed a contract for a paranormal romance with them as well.  I am very lucky to still be with such a talented group of professionals and authors at Solstice. I have also done quite a bit of self-publishing in my career.  I have published 17 books total.  This year, I went back and redid all of the covers on my books.  I also released a new book, Leather and Lace, a romantic suspense, in November.  Some of my books are shown on the right side of the blog here, but you can see a whole list along with the covers on my website.

Let's move on to the blog!  Though Writing in the Modern Age had its roots in 2010, the true idea for the blog didn't really take shape until after Upon Your Return was published in February.  I always knew I should have a blog.  I actually had two, Writing the Modern Age, of course, and Marie Lavender's Books.  I didn't use them too often, just blogged whenever the idea struck me, whenever I had a message to impart about writing or publishing.  I think I always had a clear plan for Writing in the Modern Age, however.  The goal was to have a place to talk about writing, to encourage would-be authors to keep at it.


I have learned a lot about writing both from practice and from my courses through school, especially when I pursued Creative Writing in college.  I also learned about the necessity for community, a group of people willing to encourage one another in their own talents.  Since I started self-publishing in 2010, I have learned a lot about that as well, but that is a discussion for another time.

With Writing in the Modern Age, I wanted to create a haven for authors and even writers who hadn't been published to come for advice.  But, let's broaden that a bit, shall we?  A blog should target a bigger audience.  When my publisher suggested I start a blog, I only had to choose which one to focus on since they were already launched.  When I read about the idea of guest blogs and author interviews, I realized it could be for the readers of books too.  I wanted readers of any genre to come to the blog.  The project became really exciting.  I put the word out, hoping I would get a bite.  In the meantime, I started writing ablog post or two of my own.

Then suddenly, I had a stroke of luck.  People wanted to be heard.  And why not?  Everyone wants to feel like they have something useful to tell the world.

 
In any case, my blog schedule began to fill up pretty quick.  I am so grateful to Stefan Vucak for being the first guest author on the blog.  Since then, I have found his articles and interviews both on the blog and elsewhere to be very helpful. As I started gathering more writers for the blog, the advice they offered became exponential. From the first guest author this year, Stefan Vucak, to the last one we just had, Murray Alfredson, we have had writers from all walks of life and writers from numerous genres.  I don't know how many times people approached me and said, "I want to do something on the blog, but I don't write romance."  So?  We're all writers!  Let's band together. 

I want to go back to that word "community" again.  In running the blog, I have met so many fellow authors and writers, many I have created friendships with.  I guess that is the nice thing about social networking.  You meet people you wouldn't have met otherwise.  I have always respected my fellow writers.  There is room for all of us in the marketplace.  We all have different journeys and backgrounds, but we want the same thing - to be published, of course, but also to gain some kind of community with other writers and readers.  I think we need support in any profession.  Why not with writing as well?

Before I digress any further, I want to say that Writing in the Modern Age has come a long way since its inception.  We offer author interviews, articles about writing, book promotions and poetry spotlights.

As the blog took shape since the first guest author post in March of 2013, I have truly enjoyed reading all of the articles, responses to interview questions and poetry appearing on the blog.  Writing in the Modern Age would not have been the success it is without its authors and contributors.  So, thank you all for making this a wonderful venture.  It has been such a lovely ride.  All of your advice to fellow writers has been just as useful to me, and I have discovered some new favorite authors in the process.


In June, I opened the blog up to poetry.  I had always dabbled in poetry a bit and I loved reading it.  After connecting with a few poets and joining a Facebook poetry group, I suddenly saw a need to exhibit such lovely work on the blog as well.  Since then, our poetry spotlights have really taken on a life of their own.  Some poets have even offered to explain their poetry styles and I didn't hesitate to include that in their posts.

I really have to thank you all again.  Each time I post a new interview, article or set of poems, I get a little thrill of excitement.  The experience of being an administrator for Writing in the Modern Age has been truly rewarding for me.  I think the whole purpose of the blog for me has been to give back to readers and fellow writers in some way.  What better way is there to do that than to give everyone a moment of their own?  This is also one of the reasons I only do interviews on Mondays and guest posts on Fridays.  It gives readers a chance to see each post if they missed it the day it posted, and time to comment.  That is one more thing I have enjoyed.  I love to see readers commenting on authors' posts.  It tells me I have done my job trying to promote the author.

I can't say enough how rewarding this experience has been.  It has also helped me keep up on my alternate blog, Marie Lavender's Books.  I have met so many fascinating people through the process of maintaining the Writing in the Modern Age blog.  My close writer friends know who they are.  I'm sure we might have met somewhere down the line, but to meet through this kind of venture was so fun.  There are so many talented people appearing on the blog.



As the year comes to a close, I want to draw attention to some wonderful, gifted writers.  You have all made the blog a complete success.  People are joining and looking at the blog all the time.  Writing in the Modern Age is your creation too!


Readers, feel free to subscribe for future posts and look back through the archives for all the posts from our fascinating writers.  For a faster search, look up the hashtag #WritModAge on Twitter for past posts.

Here is a list of our spotlighted writers this year as well as links to find them and their books:

Stefan Vucak
Laura Graham
KC Sprayberry
DJ Swykert
Friday Abumere
Gail Picado
Jaime Martínez-Tolentino
KateMarie Collins
CJ Heck
Nancy Wood
Andy Ruffett
T.J. Banks
Robin Leigh Morgan
Sarah Baethge
Rebecca L. Frencl
Penny Estelle
Branka Cubrilo
Pam Handa
Sally Carpenter
Kathryn Elizabeth Jones
Jessica Tornese
Robert Fanshaw
Paula Hrbacek
Susan Mac Nicol
Steve Christie
Elaine C. Pereira
Rosemary Richings
Pallavi Pissay
Aubrey Brown
Mira Prabhu
Lois W. Stern
Linda Lee Williams
Michele Harvey
Jeffrey Gonell
Catherine Y.
Ann Morris
Edie Hart
Lance Sheridan
Kristal McKerrington
Nina Soden
Rita Plush
Shannon MacLeod
Adra Young
Marianne Petit
R.S. Novelle
Lannah Sawers-Diggins
L. Anne Carrington
Maxine Flam
Murray Alfredson
Mark Conte

Our Posts from this Year

https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/the-benefits-of-social-networking-by-marie-lavender
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/practical-advice-for-beginning-fiction-writers-by-stefan-vucak
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-stefan-vucak
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/the-teething-problems-of-becoming-a-writer-by-laura-graham
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-kc-sprayberry
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/how-to-write-a-book-by-dj-swykert
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-friday-abumere
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/social-networking-part-2-beware-by-marie-lavender
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-gail-picado
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/a-review-by-olga-sonia-davila
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-laura-graham
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/when-does-reality-affect-your-writing-by-marie-lavender
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-katemarie-collins
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/writing-is-a-choice-by-cj-heck
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-nancy-wood
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/why-do-we-write-fiction-by-andy-ruffett
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-tj-banks
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/changing-genres-by-robin-leigh-morgan
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-sarah-baethge
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/the-power-of-names-by-rebecca-l-frencl
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-penny-estelle
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/what-does-it-take-to-be-a-writer-by-katemarie-collins
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-branka-cubrilo
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/poetry-spotlight-pam-handa-on-hope-and-optimism
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-sally-carpenter
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/a-review-by-kathryn-elizabeth-jones
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-jessica-tornese
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/reflections-on-shameless-ambition-by-robert-fanshaw
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-rebecca-l-frencl
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/book-review-etiquette-by-paula-hrbacek
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-susan-mac-nicol
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/poetry-spotlight-pam-handa-on-love
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-steve-christie
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/poetry-spotlight-cj-heck-on-gentle-sensuality
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-dj-swykert
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/how-to-make-your-characters-believable-by-stefan-vucak
https://writinginthemodernage.weebly.com/blog-posts/interview-with-author-elaine-c-pereira
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-dyspraxic-writer-by-rosemary.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/interview-with-author-cj-heck.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/poetry-spotlight-pallavi-pissay-on-love.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/interview-with-author-aubrey-brown.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/white-magic-results-from-speaking-your.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/interview-with-author-lois-w-stern.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/developing-believable-characters-by.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/interview-with-author-michele-harvey.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/08/poetry-spotlight-jeffrey-gonell-on-love.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/interview-with-author-mira-prabhu.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/descriptions-by-catherine-y.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/interview-with-author-ann-morris_6447.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/writing-without-worry-by-kathryn.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/interview-with-author-edie-hart.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/poetry-spotlight-lance-sheridan-on.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/interview-with-author-kristal.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/how-to-avoid-slush-pile-by-stefan-vucak.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/09/interview-with-author-linda-lee-williams.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/book-review-for-mira-prabhu.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/interview-with-author-nina-soden.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/book-review-for-rita-plushs-alterations.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/interview-with-author-shannon-macleod.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/learning-to-let-go-of-our-characters-by.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/interview-with-author-stefan-vucak.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/poetry-spotlight-michele-harvey-on.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/10/interview-with-author-adra-young.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/reality-and-fiction-by-dj-swykert.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/interview-with-author-marianne-petit.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/poetry-spotlight-michele-harvey.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/interview-with-author-katemarie-collins.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/poetry-spotlight-pam-handa-on-dreams.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/interview-with-author-rita-plush.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/five-tips-on-creating-believable.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/interview-with-author-dj-swykert.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/11/point-of-view-by-catherine-y.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/interview-with-author-lannah-sawers.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/secrets-inside-and-outside-mystery-box.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/poetry-spotlight-jeffrey-gonell-on-love_13.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/interview-with-author-maxine-flam.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/poetry-spotlight-murray-alfredson-on.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/interview-with-author-l-anne-carrington.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/poetry-spotlight-mark-randolph-conte.html
marielavender.blogspot.com/2013/12/interview-with-author-murray-alfredson.html

Once again, thank you all for making this year on Writing in the Modern Age amazing! :)

Check out our latest Writing in the Modern Age blog post here.
Picture
0 Comments
    WritModAge logo

    Blog Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    March 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    December 2020
    December 2019
    December 2018
    December 2017
    December 2016
    December 2015
    July 2015
    December 2014
    December 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013

    Get new posts by email:
    Powered by follow.it
    Visit our old posts on Blogger instead.

    RSS Feed

    Site Admin - Author Marie Lavender

    Picture
    Exploring worlds one page at a time...

    A glance at Marie's books

    Coming Soon

    Picture
    Picture
    See more of this writer's work on her official website or Amazon author page.

    Blog Awards

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Contribute

    Picture

    Cool new feature!

    Picture

    Attention

    The fact is…our policy has changed considerably, at least for a while. Check out our 'Blog Policy' for more information about the types of features offered, how you can purchase a guest spot, my policy on review requests, and rules for guest writers. Starting from September 2021, I will be charging for some types of posts. There is no fee for a guest article, as long as you adhere to the blog's theme. I also will not charge for most blog tour/virtual tour features and big multi-author events which I host (these are giveaways or participation questions, and it's obvious what you're providing). If you'd like to submit a guest book review (no, I don't write book reviews, please don't ask me), I will not charge you. There WILL BE a fee for new release features, cover reveals, Author's Bookshelf features, author interviews, character interviews, and poetry spotlights. For companies that can afford a sponsored post, we'll discuss a reasonable quote. Email me at

    marieannlavender@

    gmail.com 

    if you wish to participate in a promo or feature. Feel free to approach me with your creative ideas about a blog post. Booking for Writing in the Modern Age starts again for September 2021 at this point. Slots are always first come, first served; but if you have a specific release date, we may be able to help you with certain arrangements. So, contact us and reserve a spot! Refer to the 'guest schedule' at the top of the screen for further clarification about availability. Thanks for understanding.


    Disclaimer


    Thoughts and opinions by guest authors do not necessarily represent any thoughts and opinions by this website's administrator, nor are they directly endorsed. All writings on the blog are subject to review and editing. Please visit our blog policy to understand the site's theme a little better.

    Use our hashtag #WritModAge when you mention us!

    bit.ly/1ONs85B

    Should you edit your own work? Definitely! - The Ultimate Guide to Editing a Book

    Picture

    Are you a technical writer? Look no further for some tools of the trade!

    Picture

    Love physical books like me? Check out this cool DIY link!

    Picture

    Sign up for Marie's author newsletter! Get on her mailing list @

    bit.ly/1g3wO13

    Blog Categories

    All
    2013
    2014
    2015
    2016
    2017
    2018
    2019
    2020
    2021
    2023
    99 Cents
    Accidental Marriage
    Achievements
    Adult
    Advice
    Amazon Gift Card
    Angela Terry
    Annual
    Anthology
    Article
    Articles
    Author Interview
    Authors
    Authors Helping Authors
    Authors Helping Writers
    Author Website
    Avoiding Burnout
    BDSM
    Behind The Scenes
    Blog
    Blog Post
    Blog Tour
    Book
    Book Covers
    Book Interview
    Book Lovers
    Book Review
    Books
    Bookshelf
    Challenges
    Characterization
    Chick Lit
    Children's Books
    Clean Romance
    Coming Soon
    Contemporary
    Contemporary Romance
    Cover Design
    Cozy Mystery
    Creative Solutions
    Creativity
    Crime
    Dark Fantasy
    Dave Chesson
    Day In The Life
    Deadly Deceit
    Description
    Discount
    DIY
    DJ Swykert
    Drama
    Drinking
    Editing
    Emilia Ares
    Enemies To Lovers
    Erotica
    Erotic Romance
    Evelyn Sola
    Event
    Fantasy
    Fantasy Romance
    Feature
    Features
    Fiction
    Fiona Tarr
    Forever
    Francis H. Powell
    Freelance
    Friday Abumere
    Friends To Lovers
    Genre
    Genres
    Gentle Sensuality
    Giveaway
    Guest Authors
    Guest List
    Guest Post
    Guest Writer
    Helpful
    Historical Romance
    Holidays
    Hope
    Horoscope
    Horror
    Human Condition
    Humorous Fiction
    Inspirational
    Interview
    Interviews
    Ivy Nelson
    Jaime Martinez-Tolentino
    Journaling
    KateMarie Collins
    Laura Graham
    Lessons
    LGBT
    List
    Literary Fiction
    Love
    Love And Other Sins
    Marketing
    Mary Maddox
    Memoir
    Message
    Michael Aronovitz
    Morality
    Multicultural Fiction
    Multicultural Romance
    Mystery
    New Author Tips
    New Book
    New Release
    New Year
    Non-fiction
    Novella
    Novels
    Optimism
    Paranormal
    Poems
    Poetry
    POV
    Promo
    Promotion
    Psychological
    PTSD
    Publishing
    Readers
    Reality
    Recommended Reads
    Reference
    Reposted Book Review
    Research
    Resources
    Reverse Harem
    Review
    Reviews
    Romance
    Romance Novel
    Romance Writing
    Romantic
    Romantic Comedy
    Romantic Drama
    Romantic Fiction
    Romantic Suspense
    Sale
    Science Fiction
    Self Help
    Self-help
    Sensitive Topics
    Serial Killer
    Service
    Sexy
    Signs
    Small Town
    Social Media
    Sophia Zaccaria
    Spotlight
    Steamy Romance
    Story Elements
    Straight
    Structure
    Style
    Subscribers
    Subscription
    Takedown
    Teaser
    Techniques
    Teen Issues
    The Indie Pen PR
    Theme
    The Trials Of Adeline Turner
    Thriller
    Time Travel
    T.J. Banks
    Travel Fiction
    Truth In Fiction
    Tuscany
    Update
    Urban Fantasy
    Valentines
    Womens Fiction
    Writers
    Writer's Block
    Writer's Life
    Writing
    Writing In The Modern Age
    Writing Process
    Writing Rules
    Writing Tips
    #WritModAge
    Xpresso Book Tours
    YA Romance
    Young Adult
    Zodiac Chart

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog Policy
  • Schedule
  • Contact Us
  • Blog Posts