About Contemporary Literature

The Grammar Devotional

2009-11-12T23:59:49Z

I had the opportunity to meet Grammar Girl (aka Mignon Fogarty) tonight at the Boulder Bookstore. She's here promoting her second book, The Grammar Devotional, which she described as something like a religious devotional, just without the religion (and more grammar).

The Grammar Devotional is a small book full of daily Grammar tips. Fogarty said she had originally conceived of it as one of those tear-off desk calendars, but she didn't like the thought of the daily grammar tips being tossed into the trash can.

Download an excerpt from The Grammar Devotional and check out the Grammar Girl podcast.

The Grammar Devotional originally appeared on About.com Contemporary Literature on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 23:59:49.

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The Best American Sports Writing 2009

2009-11-09T09:20:38Z

The foreword and introduction of a book are usually things to be glanced at, gotten through as quickly as possible on the way to the "good stuff." Here, the "good stuff" begins in the foreword, continues into the introduction, and comes to fruition in the double-dozen stories that comprise the meat of the book, the best American sports writing of 2008.Read more.

_{Photo credit: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt}

The Best American Sports Writing 2009 originally appeared on About.com Contemporary Literature on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 09:20:38.

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NaNoWriMo Mac Users - Free Scrivener Trial

2009-11-08T22:38:41Z

This news is late in coming, but the company that makes the Scrivener writing software (Mac only) is offering a free trial that runs through December 7. I've loaded it on my little iBook and it runs great. I've been too busy typing to explore all of its abilities, but my feeling is that if I can wrap my head around this software, its various features will help me be a more efficient writer.

What's more, the company is offering Scrivener at half price for all NaNoWriMo 2009 Winners - those of us who actually make the 50k wordcount in November.

Learn more about the Scrivener NaNoWriMo 2009 Trial.

NaNoWriMo Mac Users - Free Scrivener Trial originally appeared on About.com Contemporary Literature on Sunday, November 8th, 2009 at 22:38:41.

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And Another Thing... by Eoin Colfer

2009-11-02T09:19:19Z

They're back. Arthur Dent, Trillian Astra, and those froody Betelgeusian cousins Ford Prefect and Zaphod Beeblebrox have returned along with the rest of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in the sixth installment of the series, And Another Thing... The new book, sanctioned by Douglas Adams' widow, is written by Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl), and the question on everyone's mind is does it measure up. Read more.

_{Photo credit: Hyperion}

And Another Thing... by Eoin Colfer originally appeared on About.com Contemporary Literature on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 09:19:19.

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National Novel Writing Month Starts Now!

2009-11-01T23:07:21Z

Novelists take your mark! Get set! Go!

It's that time of year again - when I and thousands of others (around 150,000 this year) submit ourselves to "thirty days and nights of literary abandon," specifically the act of writing a 50,000 word novel in the span of one month, November 1 - November 30.

Sound crazy? It is! At 1,667 words per day, for thirty days, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) gives would-be novelists that little extra push - call it structure, collaboration, or competition - they need to enter into a habit of sustained writing for a prescribed period of time.

Sound intriguing? Learn more about NaNoWriMo - what it is, its history, and other frequently asked questions at www.NaNoWriMo.org.

If you're already in the game, leave a comment below and let me know how your novel is coming!

National Novel Writing Month Starts Now! originally appeared on About.com Contemporary Literature on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 23:07:21.

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Friday Endpapers

2009-10-30T12:24:20Z

William Golding's The Lord of the Flies illustrated edition

Kelly Link's "The Wrong Grave" on Scribd.com

Augusten Burroughs reads from You Better Not Cry

More about Twitterature

The Huffington Post's Scariest Books-Turned-Movies

And the latest entrants into the E-book market

Friday Endpapers originally appeared on About.com Contemporary Literature on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 12:24:20.

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FastPencil to Give NaNoWriMo Winners Free Copy of Their Novel

2009-10-28T07:55:00Z

Sunday, November 1 marks the beginning of yet another National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), during which thousands of participants will be furiously pounding at their keyboards in an attempt to author a short novel - 50,000 words - in the span of one month.

This year, self-publishing company, FastPencil, is awarding NaNoWriMo winners (those who complete a 50,000 word novel by November 30) with a free printed copy of their novel. Learn more at FastPencil.com.

FastPencil to Give NaNoWriMo Winners Free Copy of Their Novel originally appeared on About.com Contemporary Literature on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 07:55:00.

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The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt

2009-10-26T09:18:03Z

The Children's Book is a flawed masterpiece. It is long and often confusing, yet the writing is superb. The cast of characters is spread across a Victorian and Edwardian canvas that stretches in often too-intimate detail from June 19, 1895 to May, 1919. A list of characters would have been extremely helpful; however, there is none, and the reader must grapple with a host of characters who cross the stage. Read more.

_{Photo credit: Knopf}

The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt originally appeared on About.com Contemporary Literature on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 09:18:03.

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Barnes & Noble's e-Book Nook

2009-10-21T13:50:10Z

_{Photo courtesy Barnes & Noble}

Barnes & Noble is entering the electronic book reader game with its new e-book reader called the Nook.

That's right - the Nook. Evidently, in addition to competing for market share, B&N wished to compete with the Kindle for worst ever product name.

The Nook e-book reader runs on the Google Android operating system and, like the Kindle, sports an e-paper display. Beneath this, however, the Nook also has a color touch screen similar to that found on Apple's iPhone, where the user can shop for books via free 3G wireless and Barnes & Noble integration.

According to Barnes & Noble, Nook users will be able to lend e-books to friends (who are presumably also Nook owners) and they will have access to thousands of free book titles.

Learn more at www.barnesandnoble.com.

Barnes & Noble's e-Book Nook originally appeared on About.com Contemporary Literature on Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 at 13:50:10.

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The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

2009-10-19T11:00:21Z

It seems that it took only a moment for The Last Song to reach number one on the New York Times bestsellers list. Such is the norm when Nicholas Sparks publishes a new novel. His previous novels, and the films made from them, have created a built-in and extraordinarily loyal audience. And, he is loyal to his audience, always trying to give them what they want. Read more.

_{Photo credit: Grand Central}

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks originally appeared on About.com Contemporary Literature on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 11:00:21.

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