No More Snail Mail Submissions?

So there's a site called Creative Byline that seems like it could be worth any of my writer friends while. It seems it is trying to hook up publishers with writers via online submissions (which they charge you for)... now while this sounds like an awesome idea... spending money on stamps versus the $19 submission fee they charge just to get the same Form Rejection Letter, might sting a bit more.

For all of those of you who knew me during my, "I'm going to sell my book!" phase... you know that I started collecting those various rejection letters, and while, yes, waiting for months and months just to get those letters hurts you in ways only writers know... it's still not $19 a pop. I might be wrong, it might be just $19 for your manuscript and they'll send it to your list of potential editors, which might be worth my while... but if it's individually... forget it... we're not called starving artists for nothing.

Anyways, please, if you write... and I'm hoping maybe one of my writer ex-boyfriends is stalking me just for this post alone, use it and let me know... I have given up all hope on publishing... it seems writing is easy, selling is not.

But... more to the point, what a frakkin' awesome idea... IF they can pull the publishers over to the digital side. They're a pretty stodgy lot, them.

Charity Navigator

Do you, like me, want to be sure that all those tampons you donate to girls missing out on school in Africa aren't going to some strip club in Fargo, North Dakota?

Well, Charity Navigator is your answer!! I <3 this site so much! It does all of the research for you and even gives you donating tips, and it separates your Animal Abuse charities from your Elderly Abuse charities!

Seriously, this is a gorgeous site and makes you really want to go out there and paint a house. Make sure it's someone who needs it and isn't the lazy guy down the street whose back pain is only alleviated by Budweiser. You know the guy... he can't drive a forklift for medical reasons, but rides his Harley to go cash his monthly check.

Ahem. Anyways, please go check this site out. I've found some really neat charities here, and don't think that it's always about money, charities can use your help by donating your time and spreading a little buzz about them, so go find a good one today!!

43 Things and Better Me

Have you guys heard of the 43 Things website? It's a place where you can list your goals and be held accountable for them. I'm really liking it and finding goals I didn't even know I had!

Like the Cleansweep Your Life goal! Now this is serious business. It's an assessment on your quality of life and how you might want to improve, it's a great list to start changing things. I'm a little too embarrassed to post my seriously low score, so I'll give it a few months until I can start checking some of this stuff off.

If any of you guys join 43 Things from this, please leave me a comment and let me know so I can send you cheers for your goals, and help you keep on track. =)