This….is the result of my overambitious plan to amp up my writing game in 2012.

Each card represents either a short story or novel/novella that I want to work on. But know what?

There’s a 2nd corkboard.

The other one has a few ideas I am interested in tackling but not sure what I am going to do with them yet. Plus some super-sneaky plans that I so want to do but just need to figure out the logistics of. (So exciting!)

I’ve loosely scheduled which stories I will be working on when. Somehow, I need to finish my NaNo project, edit it, and decide what I am doing with my 2 other unfinished NaNo-vels, while at the same time trying to write and sub the 23-odd stories I selected from my Idea File.

Like I said….loosely scheduled. Who knows how the words will flow. Or how my creativity will show itself. Or whether inspiration will strike when I need it to. But with this schedule, at least I know what I should be doing when I’m sitting at my writing desk.

Note that these plans do not take into account all the books I want to read & review, all the interviews I want to do, and all the articles I should write.

I know there will be some push & pull (probably daily) as I try to make it all fit in somewhere. But even though this looks maddeningly overwhelming, I am really looking forward to starting a new writing year.

Uh…that’s next week, right?

But it was fantastic meeting so many new people and seeing so many new visitors on my sites!

I hope you’ll all stick around to follow my adventures in 2012, when I am going to try to break my personal best and write up a storm.

But for now, enjoy the rest of your holiday…And check to see if you are one of the winners of my giveaways!

FIRST – the winner of the coveted Like Flies to Honey prize pack in my Holiday Hop contest!

Congratulations….

HEATHER COX!

You’ve won the issue of Shroud 8, various and sundry bee-themed paper goodies and MaryRajotte.com mini bookmarks. I’ll be in touch in the coming days to get your contact information. Your name will also go into the hat to win a Kindle Fire from the main Holiday Hop site. GOOD LUCK!

SECOND – the winner of the 12 Days of Creepfest Contest…

Congratulations…

SHANE DEMONE

You have won the opportunity to completely customize a character who will appear in one of my upcoming stories!

In the coming weeks (probably after Jan. 1), I will send you a character profile to fill out, and then I will take your creation and write him or her into one of my stories. I’m probably as excited about this giveaway as you are!

If you didn’t win, why not head over to Bloody Bookish to see if you won in the other 12 Days of Creepfest contest.

Otherwise, thanks for entering, for all your comments, and for taking an interest in me (or at least in my swag!).

This Bee Queen notecard came in one of the goodie boxes I received in a swap years ago. Like the true paper-hoarder that I am, I squirreled it away – but now it can be yours!

The print is by artist Rachel Baum. I don’t see these prints in her Etsy shop anymore, but she does have some awesome abstract art.

Anyway, this will be added to the Like Flies to Honey Prize Pack. There are still 4 days left to enter the contest, so GET ON IT!

I’ll also throw in some of my new Bloody Bookish mini bookmarks to sweeten the deal

Similar to the Coffin Hop, which I took part in during October, and the 12 Days of Creepfest which I am taking part in now (go enter! You could win!), I am also throwing my hat into the ring for the Holiday Hop!

The cool thing about these hops is discovering new authors who are passionate about their craft and want to share their stories with you. Plus – you can get free stuff. Win-win!

From December 15 to 25, visit the blogs of over 60(!!!) authors who are holding contests for items including gift cards, jewelry, trinkets, candles and ONE SWEET GRAND PRIZE!

A KINDLE FIRE!

Yeah, you heard me! Every blog you visit will have at least one winner, and many sites are even offering a winner each day!  Once the hop has ended, our Holiday Hop Hostess Cheryl Bradshaw, will take all the names of the winners from each of the blog sites and draw a name for the fantastic grand prize, the Kindle Fire.

WHAT CAN YOU WIN FROM ME?
I’ve put together a sweet little prize pack for the winner of my Holiday Hop!

The winner will receive the following Like Flies To Honey Prize Pack:

• 1 copy of Shroud Magazine Winter 2010 Edition, which includes my story Like Flies to Honey
• 1 mini bee rubber stamp
• 1 mini inking pad for the stamp
• 1 antique copper bee keychain
• 3 bee bookplates

Some pretty sweet swag, if I do say so myself!

SO, HOW DO YOU ENTER?
It’s pretty easy! Each of the following tasks will get you one ballot in the giveaway. That’s 5 chances to win!

• Comment on this blog post and let me know you want to enter!
• Follow me on Twitter
• Like my author page on Facebook
• Tweet about this contest (something like…”Win the Like Flies To Honey Prize Pack in @maryrajotte’s Holiday Hop Giveaway http://bit.ly/rADYQV“)
• BONUS ENTRY: Enter my 12 Days of Creepfest Contest then come back here and let me know you did!

Hey! If you already follow me on Twitter or Facebook, just leave a comment or click “I did it!” in the Rafflecopter form so your entries will be tallied!

Use the Rafflecopter Form below for a quick & easy way to get all your entries counted! Questions? Just email me!

Good luck! And thanks for entering!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

For those of you who like a little darkness in your holiday celebration, get ready for the 12 Days of Creepfest!

From December 13 to 24, you can visit a community of author blogs who pen tales that tempt and terrify!

Whether you have a penchant for horror, dark fantasy, dark YA or a creepy combination of the above, you will discover how awesome all the different facets of the dark lit genre can be!

WHAT CAN YOU WIN
Each blog host is offering a different prize. From free books, ebooks, trinkets and other tokens, you can get yourself some sweet swag just in time for the holidays.

FROM ME!
I’ve decided to offer up a starring role in one of my short stories!

The winner of my Creepfest Contest will win the chance to completely customize a character who will appear in an upcoming story I write.

I will send you a full questionnaire (believe me, I’ve got lots!) for you to fill out with all the characteristics, quirks and craziness you desire!

I love a challenge, and I think this is a fun way for me to stretch my writing muscles, while also immortalizing your very own creation in one of my dark & creepy tales.

HOW TO WIN

So, do you want to be a literary superstar (and possibly be offed in some dreadfully delightful way)? Sign up below to take part in my Creepfest Contest! Or post in the comments section that you want to be entered!

You can earn bonus entries by following me on Twitter, on Facebook and tweeting about my contest (don’t forget to put @maryrajotte in your tweet!). Use the Rafflecopter form below or comment and let me know which tasks you completed.

If you already follow me on these sites, just click the “I did this!” button in the Rafflecopter form or comment below for your free entries.

PLUS! I am hosting another contest over on BloodyBookish.com to win a set of 3 chapbooks by one of my favorite authors, Ian Rogers. Go, enter THAT contest (but hurry! That contest ends Dec. 19. Come on – who wouldn’t want to win these amazing chapbooks!), then come back here and let me know you did so for another entry into my contest.

That’s 5 ways to enter, plus a chance to win Temporary Monsters, The Ash Angels and Black Eyed Kids chapbooks from Ian Rogers, donated by Burning Effigy.

GO FORTH AND ENTER!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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