Indeedy, it has been a busy time for WU. If you haven’t yet heard the news, we’re updating our look, bringing aboard A-list contributors so you don’t have to keep reading the same old yadayada from Therese and me, and unveiling a slate of killer interviews for the fall.

The best news of all is that we want to celebrate our new look by giving away an AlphaSmart 3000. If you’re a writer on the go (who isn’t?) and don’t have one of these bad boys yet, you really don’t know what you’re missing. I wrote an entire chapter of my wip at the airport while waiting for a delayed flight. It’s indispensable. Intrigued? Scroll down for contest details.

In other news, again please pray for Melly’s safety and a quick end to the madness engulfing an entire region. You know what makes me furious? This:


It’s a picture of the bomb shelter in Melly’s sister’s basement. The little happy-faced moon and star about broke my heart.

In linky news:

The genius of Eric and his shower crayons method of plotting . . . . demented, hilarious rambles from Hal Duncan . . . . Paperback Writer understands the magic of Project Runway . . . . agent Kristen Nelson shows us what a tempting query letter looks like . . . . Risky Regencies celebrate their first anniversary . . . . . Natalie Collins debates the merits of a pen name . . . . . Ray tackles another of my bugaboos, overuse of the word ‘as’. . . . . . Cavan has some good recommendations for summer reading . . . .

Would you like another look at what you, the unboxed writer, could win?

That’s right. .