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	<title>Irreverent Muse &#187; About Writing</title>
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	<link>http://www.michellplested.com</link>
	<description>Looking at writing from an amateur&#039;s perspective</description>
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	<itunes:summary>A podcast to help remove the pitfalls for writers as they try to live the dream of getting published.</itunes:summary>
	<itunes:author>Michell Plested</itunes:author>
	<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
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	<itunes:owner>
		<itunes:name>Michell Plested</itunes:name>
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	<managingEditor>podcast@michellplested.com (Michell Plested)</managingEditor>
	<copyright>Copyright 2008</copyright>
	<itunes:subtitle>A podcast to aid in your quest for publishing glory.</itunes:subtitle>
	<itunes:keywords>publish, publishing, writing, publisher, agent, author, novel, book, Mike Plested, Get Published, GalaxyBillies</itunes:keywords>
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		<itunes:category text="Literature" />
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		<item>
		<title>Why Podcasting Your Work Can Be Good</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/why-podcasting-your-work-can-be-good/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/why-podcasting-your-work-can-be-good/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:12:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Networking and Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Promoting Your Book]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[benefits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[boy scouts of the apocalypse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[content]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Galaxybillies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[motivation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[networking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[podcasting]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=2446</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I was thinking about my writing and my podcasting the other day and I came to realize how much benefit my writing actually gets from being podcast. It might stem from that advice you hear many professional authors give to &#8220;read your work out loud&#8221;, but there are definite positive outcomes to doing it: You end [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Writing Shouldn&#8217;t Be a Solitary Activity</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/writing-shouldnt-be-a-solitary-activity/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/writing-shouldnt-be-a-solitary-activity/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:03:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anthology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[collaboration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[critique]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[critiquing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[feedback]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[million words]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[networking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[opportunity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[promotion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reading]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self-promotion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[steampunk]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[YA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[young adult]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=2383</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In my early writing days I believed that it was just me and the words. No one else would ever be involved. I was totally alone. I&#8217;ve since learned that writing doesn&#8217;t need to be so solitary. True, there are times when it should be just you and the keyboard, but there are many times [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Tis the Season</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/tis-the-season/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/tis-the-season/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:11:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[apprentice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[charlie brown]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[charlie brown christmas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[christmas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Galaxybillies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holiday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ice age]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mik murdoch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[muppets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[star wars]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=2368</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Most of us have probably watched a holiday special of one kind or another. When I was a kid, that holiday special was always &#8220;A Charlie Brown Christmas&#8221;. Okay, I&#8217;ll admit it, I still watch &#8220;Charlie Brown Christmas&#8221; every year, even now. There are lots of other holiday specials out there too. &#8220;Star Wars Christmas&#8221; [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/tis-the-season/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Editing Update &#8211; It is to Laugh</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/editing-update-it-is-to-laugh/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/editing-update-it-is-to-laugh/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:57:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Publishing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Revison]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=2301</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I made what I&#8217;m sure is a rookie mistake last night in my editing. I revised an entire chapter based on the comments of my editor only to get to the last page and read, &#8220;Rewrite the chapter. Nothing really happens&#8230;&#8221;. There was more to the comment, but I had just spent over an hour [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Editing Update &#8211; Lessons Learned at the Halfway Point</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/editing-update-lessons-learned-at-the-halfway-point/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/editing-update-lessons-learned-at-the-halfway-point/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:29:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Revison]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[editing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lessons learned]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mik murdoch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mike plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mistakes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[revision]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing mistakes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=2284</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve had the marked up manuscript for &#8220;Mik Murdoch, Boy Superhero&#8221; since August and I have been making some steady progress. One of the things my editor, Robert Runte&#8217; said to me before I even saw the edits was, it would be a lot of work, but it would save me a lot of time [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/editing-update-lessons-learned-at-the-halfway-point/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Trying to Rush the Story</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/trying-to-rush-the-story/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/trying-to-rush-the-story/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:51:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[antagonist]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[conflict]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[editing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mik murdoch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[protagonist]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=2235</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I don&#8217;t know about you, but there is a point in my stories where I am solidly down the road and want to see the end. It is at that point that I must be most careful otherwise I rush through scenes that should get a lot more attention. That fact became extremely obvious in [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/trying-to-rush-the-story/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Shock to the System</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/about-writing/shock-to-the-system/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/about-writing/shock-to-the-system/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:06:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[boy superhero]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[editing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[edits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mik murdoch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[revision]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[robert runte]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shock]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=2217</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I received the first set of edits for my manuscript, &#8220;Mik Murdoch, Boy Superhero&#8221; this week. I&#8217;ve been waiting with baited breath for these edits, not entirely sure what to expect. I had hoped that, with the number of times I&#8217;ve actually read and revised the story, it would need minimal changes. Let&#8217;s call that [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/about-writing/shock-to-the-system/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>New Ways of Doing Things</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/about-writing/new-ways-of-doing-things/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/about-writing/new-ways-of-doing-things/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:37:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=2160</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I love trying new things in my writing. Sometimes, its trying a new genre and other times it is using a new piece of software or hardware. Recently, I&#8217;ve been experimenting with my new iPad for writing during my commute. This is a pretty important thing for me to try, actually, because I&#8217;m finding the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/about-writing/new-ways-of-doing-things/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Oh, the Endless Possibilities&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/oh-the-endless-possibilities/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/oh-the-endless-possibilities/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:58:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=2133</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the joys (and problems) with being a creative person is the limitless number of possible projects out there. Every idea could generate another fun thing to do. My personal problem is that I often act on my ideas before I&#8217;ve finished previous ones. It isn&#8217;t that I don&#8217;t ever finish a project, it&#8217;s [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/oh-the-endless-possibilities/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Life Happens</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/about-writing/life-happens/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/about-writing/life-happens/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jun 2011 01:19:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[author]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[challenges]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[perseverance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[published]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=2121</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Every writer, whether you are full-time or part-time, has had life get in the way of producing content. Maybe a family member isn&#8217;t well or perhaps there is a disaster. It could be the day job is more challenging than usual. So what do you do when things interfere with your writing? Do you wail [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/about-writing/life-happens/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Not Enough Hours in the Day</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/not-enough-hours-in-the-day/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/not-enough-hours-in-the-day/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 May 2011 12:23:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[five rivers publishing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[flying island press]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[goals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ja hite]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jahite]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jeff hite]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pirate's cove]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=2048</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the things that always gets my creative juices flowing is the chance to meet and talk with other creative types, especially writers. That being said, you can imagine how much fun I had last night talking to the good folks at Flying Island Press on the Galley Table. This wasn&#8217;t my first time [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/not-enough-hours-in-the-day/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Variety is the Spice of Life</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/about-writing/variety-is-the-spice-of-life/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/about-writing/variety-is-the-spice-of-life/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:24:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[middle grade]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[non-fiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[variety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[young adult]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=2028</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A little while ago I posed the question: should I focus on a single series or write a number of different things. I received several responses to my question, all of which I appreciated. The general consensus was that I shouldn&#8217;t limit myself, but write a number of different things. By doing so I stretch [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/about-writing/variety-is-the-spice-of-life/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Social Media for Fun&#8230; and Maybe Profit</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/social-media-for-fun-and-maybe-profit/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/social-media-for-fun-and-maybe-profit/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:09:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Promoting Your Book]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[facebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jahite]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jeffrey hite]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jr murdock]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jrmurdock]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mike plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[promotion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[twitter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[youtube]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1999</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I have a confession to make: I love Twitter. I love all the cool people I meet on Twitter and I especially love interacting with them. I love it so much, in fact, that it sometimes cuts into my word count. But does that make it a timesink? I say no and I say that because [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/social-media-for-fun-and-maybe-profit/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>What to Write, What to Write?</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/what-to-write-what-to-write/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/what-to-write-what-to-write/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:26:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[5 rivers publishing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anhk-morpork]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[comedy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[commander vimes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[discworld]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rincewind]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[science fiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[scifi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[superhero]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[terry pratchett]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[witches]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[YA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=2007</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve been thinking a lot about my writing the past few days. Not thinking about it in terms of &#8220;Why am I bothering&#8221; or anything like that. More about &#8220;Am I going in too many different directions?&#8221; To give you some idea of what I&#8217;m talking about, I have written six books with one underway. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/what-to-write-what-to-write/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The 3 P&#8217;s of Publishing</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-3-ps-of-publishing/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-3-ps-of-publishing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:07:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[desire]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[patience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[persistence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[preparation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1959</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Patience, perseverance and preparation are three words that tend to repeat a lot as my personal mantra. They are important to my writing life, my personal life and my work life too. They are a lot more than just words to me. They are the fundamentals to getting published. That may seem like an odd [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-3-ps-of-publishing/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Splitting My Focus</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/splitting-my-focus/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/splitting-my-focus/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:56:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[focus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[promotion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Publishing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self publishing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1955</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I am starting to realize how difficult it must be for professional writers to keep everything going all the time. We amateurs may think all they do all day long is sit and write, but really there is so much more going on than that. Take my current list of projects and the associated activities. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/splitting-my-focus/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Upheaval</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/upheaval/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/upheaval/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:09:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mik murdoch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new job]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self publishing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[upheaval]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1948</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There&#8217;s nothing quite like starting a new job (or having a baby or buying a house or&#8230;) to throw a wrench into one&#8217;s writing schedule. As you no doubt read in earlier posts, I have been suffering a bout of writing doldrums that I only just started to drag myself out of. No sooner do [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/upheaval/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Wash, Rinse, Repeat</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/wash-rinse-repeat/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/wash-rinse-repeat/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 05 Jan 2011 14:28:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[edits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Galaxybillies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[improvement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[podiobooks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[revision]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1848</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve been doing a bit of introspection the past while. Maybe it&#8217;s natural, being a new year and all, and it is something I do from time to time. I do it as a self-improvement exercise. I look at what I haven&#8217;t liked in the past while and try to see what my role was [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/wash-rinse-repeat/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Some Salient Points</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/some-salient-points/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/some-salient-points/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Dec 2010 17:16:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[author]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[entitlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[focus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[i should be writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[isbw]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mur]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mur Lafferty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[murverse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[projects]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1813</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I was listening to Mur Lafferty&#8217;s &#8220;I Should Be Writing&#8221; podcast this morning. Specifically episode 171. I love Mur&#8217;s podcast because she is so honest about her own writing  journey and because a lot of things she talks about are things I&#8217;m going through too. In this particular episode she talked about two things that [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/some-salient-points/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Writing Should Be Treated as a Business</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/writing-should-be-treated-as-a-business/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/writing-should-be-treated-as-a-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Nov 2010 12:50:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Publishing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[agent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[author]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[editor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mike plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[publisher]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Publishing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reader]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1717</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Before I go too far into this post, I want to explain something about the title. The post is intended for those people who want to make a living as a writer. For those of you who write for the pure enjoyment of it, you can ignore most of what I’m about to say. For [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/writing-should-be-treated-as-a-business/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>NaNoWriMo &#8211; Day 5</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/nanowrimo-day-5/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/nanowrimo-day-5/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Nov 2010 04:47:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mike plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nanowrimo]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1664</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I had really high hopes for the day, today. It’s Friday, of course, and I had no plans for the evening. That meant I had a great opportunity to write a HUGE amount on my NaNoNovel. Except, I had more plotting to do on it AND I had an interview with Kimi Alexandre for the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/nanowrimo-day-5/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Staying on Track</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/staying-on-track/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/staying-on-track/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:27:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[con-version]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[david b coe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Galaxybillies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mike plested]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1619</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are days when I wonder if I&#8217;m crazy. I have several commitments every week both at home and away. I work full-time and I try to do things around the house. Oh yeah, and there&#8217;s that writing thing too. I currently have six short stories I want to write. The trouble is, they all [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/staying-on-track/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hours in the Day (or should I say, minutes?)</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/hours-in-the-day-or-should-i-say-minutes/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/hours-in-the-day-or-should-i-say-minutes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:09:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[editing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Get Published]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nano]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nanowrimo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[organization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[plot]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[revising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[time]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1599</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There just never seems to be enough time to do all the things I need to do. I&#8217;m already booked with recurring events Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and some Wednesdays and weekends are always busy. Just where the heck am I going to find time to write? I know I&#8217;m not reading as much as I [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/hours-in-the-day-or-should-i-say-minutes/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The End of Step One</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-end-of-step-one/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-end-of-step-one/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:35:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1589</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I used to think that writing a book was the only thing I needed to do to be a writer. I guess in a way I was right. By writing, I am a writer. Just not a published one. Now that I have done some writing and even gotten a couple stories published, I know [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-end-of-step-one/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Story Ideas</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/story-ideas/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/story-ideas/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:48:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[characterization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[crime thriller]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Galaxybillies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[genre]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ideas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nano]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nanowrimo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[plot]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[setting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[story]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1577</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With NaNoWriMo fast approaching, I wanted to talk about the process where I develop my own ideas into stories. For the purpose of this I will use a sample idea and work it through. Coming up with a story idea This is the single easiest part of the story for me. I get story ideas [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/story-ideas/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Adjusting to Change</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/about-writing/adjusting-to-change/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/about-writing/adjusting-to-change/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:49:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1541</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I used to be one of the lucky ones. I had a writing routine where I could sit down at the same time every day to write and edit and do all the things that writers are supposed to do. Then, along came that terrible nemesis to routine and messed everything up for me. You [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/about-writing/adjusting-to-change/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Endings</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/endings/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/endings/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:51:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[endings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Galaxybillies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vg ford]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1529</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With a title like &#8216;Endings&#8217; you might think I&#8217;m quitting something, but nothing could be further from the truth. Instead, I&#8217;m thinking about writing an ending to my SciFi/Comedy podcast &#8216;GalaxyBillies&#8217;. For those of you who have been following GalaxyBillies, you know that there are only a few episodes left (three, I think). I&#8217;ve enjoyed [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/endings/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>7</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>New Experiences</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/new-experiences/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/new-experiences/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Aug 2010 10:23:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[experiences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new things]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[putting yourself in stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1523</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My best writing to date has been those stories that contain flavours of my own personal experiences. Those are the tales that resonate best with both my readers and myself. At least, so I&#8217;ve been told by my readers. But how can that be? I write Science Fiction, Fantasy, Comedy and Adventure. Surely I have [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/new-experiences/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Joy of Creativity</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-joy-of-creativity/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-joy-of-creativity/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:00:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[carol hightshoe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[creativity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mystic signals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sorcerous signals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stolen immortality]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1487</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Creativity. It is a word that invokes a lot of different responses and brings out that part of each of us that wants to make something new, something great and unique. Whether your passion is writing, cooking, gardening or raising you children, being creative is something that keeps us energized and looking ahead. At least, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-joy-of-creativity/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Get Published Episode 34 &#8211; Horror Writer Nancy Kilpatrick Talks Anthologies</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/about-writing/get-published-episode-34-horror-writer-nancy-kilpatrick-talks-anthologies/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/about-writing/get-published-episode-34-horror-writer-nancy-kilpatrick-talks-anthologies/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jun 2010 13:45:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Get Published (Podcast)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[absolute xpress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[audio market list]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[billy barbarian]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[down from 10]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[down from ten]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[duotrope's digest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[edge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[edge science fiction and fantasy publishing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Evolve]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jd sawyer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jr murdock]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nancy Kilpatrick]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ralan.com]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1364</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In today&#8217;s episode I talk to Horror Writer Nancy Kilpatrick about Anthologies. Why are they important? How can an author get involved and so on. She also talks about the new Vampire Anthology, eVolVe and her own career as a writer, editor, teacher and mentor. In the Feedback section of the show, Mike talks about [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/about-writing/get-published-episode-34-horror-writer-nancy-kilpatrick-talks-anthologies/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
<enclosure url="http://media.blubrry.com/getpublished/www.michellplested.com/wp-content/uploads/GetPublished/GetPublished-Episode34.mp3" length="57206410" type="audio/mpeg" />
			<itunes:keywords>absolute xpress,audio market list,billy barbarian,down from 10,down from ten,duotrope&#039;s digest,edge,edge science fiction and fantasy publishing,Evolve,jd sawyer,jr murdock,Michell Plested</itunes:keywords>
		<itunes:subtitle>In today&#039;s episode I talk to Horror Writer Nancy Kilpatrick about Anthologies. Why are they important? How can an author get involved and so on. She also talks about the new Vampire Anthology, eVolVe and her own career as a writer, editor,</itunes:subtitle>
		<itunes:summary>In today&#039;s episode I talk to Horror Writer Nancy Kilpatrick about Anthologies. Why are they important? How can an author get involved and so on. She also talks about the new Vampire Anthology, eVolVe and her own career as a writer, editor, teacher and mentor.

In the Feedback section of the show, Mike talks about a couple Writing Market listing sites.

There&#039;s lots of good information in this episode. I hope you enjoy it.


Thanks for listening.

Show Notes

00:00 — Opening – Get Published Episode 34 - Horror Writer Nancy Kilpatrick Talks Anthologies

	Everything has to start somewhere and this is the start of “Get Published”

0:14 — Introduction – Get Published Episode 34 - Horror Writer Nancy Kilpatrick Talks Anthologies

Welcome to the show.

01:30 — Promos: Audio Market List

05:02— Feedback - Get Published Episode 34 - Horror Writer Nancy Kilpatrick Talks Anthologies (continued)

	Mike talks about a couple writing market sites Ralan.com and Duotrope&#039;s Digest.
	Email feedback at getpublishedpodcast dot com with your comments or call the voiceline at (206) 203-2031

7:35 — Promos: Billy Barbarian

9:03 — Get Published Episode 34 - Horror Writer Nancy Kilpatrick Talks Anthologies (continued)

Nancy Kilpatrick talks about a lot of things: the new Vampire Anthology eVolVe, anthologies in general and their importance to writers and her career thus far.

57:21 — Promos: Down From 10

58:47 — Closing

Thank you for listening. Let me know what you think and definitely use the voicemail line (206.203.2031) to your heart’s content!

Websites mentioned in this episode:

Audio Market List: http://AudioMarketList.com (audio market for writers listing)

Ralan.com: http://ralan.com (writing market listing)

Duotrope&#039;s Digest: http://www.duotrope.com (writing market listing database)

Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing: http://www.edgewebsite.com

Absolute Xpress: http://absolute-x-press.com/

Billy Barbarian: http://jrmurdock.com/billy-barbarian/

Nancy Kilpatrick website: http://www.nancykilpatrick.com

eVolVe Horror Anthology: http://vampires-evolve.com

Down From Ten: http://downfromten.jdsawyer.net/</itunes:summary>
		<itunes:author>Michell Plested</itunes:author>
		<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
		<itunes:duration>59:35</itunes:duration>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Confidence Breeds Success &#8211; Success Breeds Confidence</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/confidence-breeds-success-success-breeds-confidence/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/confidence-breeds-success-success-breeds-confidence/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:42:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Publishing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1340</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The title of this post seems to be a bit of a catch-22 doesn&#8217;t it? An even bigger question might be, &#8220;What the heck are you talking about exactly?&#8221; From a writing perspective it simply means this: you cannot get published if you don&#8217;t have the confidence in you work to submit it. Now, submitting [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/confidence-breeds-success-success-breeds-confidence/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Developing New Writing Habits</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/developing-new-writing-habits/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/developing-new-writing-habits/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 26 May 2010 14:03:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[develop]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[habit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[revision]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1282</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many of us have some bad habit in our writing that we need to fix. It may be that we do too much telling of the story or too much dialogue. My personal bad habit is skimping on the descriptive elements in the story. I think it has something to do with being in too [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/developing-new-writing-habits/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>9</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Don&#8217;t Be Afraid of Small Steps</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/dont-be-afraid-of-small-steps/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/dont-be-afraid-of-small-steps/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:06:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Publishing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[carol hightshoe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[christopher paolini]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jk rowling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mystic signals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sorcerous signals]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1157</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For those of you who are hoping/expecting to write something and become overnight sensations, let me be the first to tell you&#8230; well, keep dreaming comes immediately to mind. Honestly, I&#8217;m not trying to crush your aspirations. It&#8217;s just that overnight success usually takes a LOT of work in advance. You might argue that people [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/dont-be-afraid-of-small-steps/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>7</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>When Not to Write</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/when-not-to-write/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/when-not-to-write/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:14:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dan Absalonson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Galaxybillies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Get Published]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[minute]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[scenes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1075</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For those of you who feel that writers must write always, don&#8217;t get up in arms thinking I&#8217;m espousing (how&#8217;s that for a $50-word?) a movement away from writing. What I&#8217;m talking about is only writing what&#8217;s relevant to the story. This question came up from friend Dan Absalonson via voicemail for &#8216;Get Published&#8217; and [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/when-not-to-write/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>I think I&#8217;m finally growing up</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/i-think-im-finally-growing-up/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/i-think-im-finally-growing-up/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:10:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fantasy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Galaxybillies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[publisher]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[science fiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[submitting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[YA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=1035</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My wife might argue with me about this, but I&#8217;m specifically talking about growing up as a writer. When I first started down the writing path I can honestly say I had visions of fame and glory. Mind you, those visions didn&#8217;t last very long as I started to research the entire writing life. All [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/i-think-im-finally-growing-up/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Beware of Foot in Mouth Disease</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/beware-of-foot-in-mouth-disease/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/beware-of-foot-in-mouth-disease/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:08:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[foot in mouth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[podiobooks.com]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self-editing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=965</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Controversy was ignited (perhaps even exploded) yesterday when the podcasting community, and more specifically the podiobooks.com community, caught wind of an article written for a magazine that essentially said that only books that have no chance of publication ever go onto podiobooks.com and real authors wouldn&#8217;t ever consider posting stuff on it. Um&#8230; words really [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/beware-of-foot-in-mouth-disease/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Why I Care About Critiques and Feedback</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/why-i-care-about-critiques-and-feedback/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/why-i-care-about-critiques-and-feedback/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:14:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[constructive criticism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[critiques]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[feedback]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Galaxybillies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[scott roche]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spiritualtramp]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=961</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A few days ago, Scott Roche, AKA SpiritualTramp on Twitter raised a question about critiques. Do we want them? How do we want them and so on. What followed was an extremely spirited (natch) discussion about the topic. One I got involved in. Now, those of you who have read any of my posts probably [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/why-i-care-about-critiques-and-feedback/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>7</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>It&#8217;s OK to Delete</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/its-ok-to-delete/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/its-ok-to-delete/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 15 Jan 2010 04:59:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=884</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Have you ever heard the phrase &#8220;Kill your darlings&#8221;? If you haven&#8217;t or if you have but don&#8217;t quite understand what it means, it refers to deleting writing that is dear to you but doesn&#8217;t really add anything to your writing project. It is something that I have never liked doing. Every word on the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/its-ok-to-delete/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Let Your Mind Wander</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/let-your-mind-wander/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/let-your-mind-wander/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:40:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[comedy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dreams]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ideas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lego]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mind]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[robert aspirin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[subconscious]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[terry pratchett]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=792</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The subconscious mind is an amazing thing. Have you ever been in the situation where you were trying to remember someone&#8217;s name or a word and a few minutes after you&#8217;ve given up, it pops into your mind? Happens to me all the time. I&#8217;ve noticed that my writing is being done subconsciously too at [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/let-your-mind-wander/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Developing a Thick Skin</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/developing-a-thick-skin/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/developing-a-thick-skin/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:27:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[perseverence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[persistence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rejection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=749</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You know that part of the submission process where you send in your work and sit back, fingers and toes crossed, and wait and hope? If you&#8217;ve ever submitted your work, chances are pretty good you also know the part where your work comes back with a rejection. All the weeks and months of waiting [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/developing-a-thick-skin/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Take a Moment to Say &#8220;Thank You&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/take-a-moment-to-say-thank-you/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/take-a-moment-to-say-thank-you/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:31:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[correspondance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nanowrimo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sacrifice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=730</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I talk a lot about writing and the many challenges I face in doing it. Sometimes I complain about how much time it takes or how I hate waiting. Bitch, bitch, bitch. It feels like that is all I do some days. I know I celebrate some of the triumphs but I just realized that [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/take-a-moment-to-say-thank-you/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Power of Promotion</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-power-of-promotion/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-power-of-promotion/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:57:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Promoting Your Book]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[7th Son]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[facebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Get Published]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jc hutchins]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nanowrimo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[twitter]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=709</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For those of you who tuned into the site yesterday, you would have noticed a strange message. In it I appeared to be talking about NanoWriMo only to have a weird &#8220;hacker&#8221; type message appear. This was not a mistake. I had actually volunteered to participate in JC Hutchins&#8217; promotional campaign for his &#8220;7th Son, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-power-of-promotion/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Gird Your Loins</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/gird-your-loins/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/gird-your-loins/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:38:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[boy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fantasy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mik murdoch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nanowrimo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[novel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[superhero]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=684</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I know I&#8217;ve talked about NanoWriMo before (last week in fact) but let me talk about it one more time. In 10 days NanoWriMo will once again take place. I will, once again, go into battle (with myself) and try to write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. This will be my fourth year participating [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/gird-your-loins/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Gearing Up For the Next Project</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/gearing-up-for-the-next-project/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/gearing-up-for-the-next-project/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:37:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[editing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fantasy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Get Published]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nanowrimo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[scrivener]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[YA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[young adult]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=667</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The thing I&#8217;ve noticed about myself is I never have any shortage of ideas (probably like everyone else in the world). What I have a definite shortage of is time; lately I&#8217;ve been spending countless hours editing my novel and preparing each episode of my podcast. I enjoy doing both, but it isn&#8217;t quite the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/gearing-up-for-the-next-project/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Stay Upbeat or Get Beat Up</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/stay-upbeat-or-get-beat-up/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/stay-upbeat-or-get-beat-up/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:26:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[deadline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nanowrimo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[patience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=664</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s so easy to see why many writers simply give up on their dreams of getting their work in print: lots of hard work, excessive amounts of patience and no guarantee that it will ever go anywhere. It doesn&#8217;t seem like an easy road to success. Even if you are lucky enough to get published, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/stay-upbeat-or-get-beat-up/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Baby Steps</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/baby-steps/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/baby-steps/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:37:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[apprehension]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[book]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[doubt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[edit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Get Published]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nanowrimo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=651</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The idea of trying something new is often daunting, whether it is writing a story or trying yoga for the first time. I know when I&#8217;m faced with something new I often ask myself if I think I can do it. Will I enjoy it? Is it really worth making a fool of myself. Despite [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/baby-steps/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Opportunities are Everywhere</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/opportunities-are-everywhere/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/opportunities-are-everywhere/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:05:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[contest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[critters.org]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[facebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Get Published]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[novel and short story]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[parsec]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[submissions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=610</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When I first thought about writing as a career I looked around and wondered where I could possibly get the experience I felt I needed to &#8220;make it&#8221;. I knew I would improve as a writer simply by writing but I also knew that, with proper feedback, I could grow as a writer that much [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/opportunities-are-everywhere/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Who Me Am and Where Me Be?</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/who-me-am-and-where-me-be/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/who-me-am-and-where-me-be/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:50:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[chasing the bard]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[description]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[digital magic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[editing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Get Published]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[parsec awards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[philippa ballantine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[setting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=578</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are times when I think I&#8217;ve read too many &#8220;How to Write&#8221; books. Every book I read says something similar; show don&#8217;t tell. That statement should be pretty self-explanatory, but I think I might have missed something. I would call my writing style a bit minimalist. I tend to write with the idea that [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/who-me-am-and-where-me-be/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>A Laugh Out Loud Moment</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/a-laugh-out-loud-moment/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/a-laugh-out-loud-moment/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:08:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Get Published]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[goals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jc hutchins]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[publish]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing. waiting]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=566</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I was thinking the other day (and no, that isn&#8217;t the funny part) about my goal to see one of my books in print and I realized just how far I&#8217;ve come as a writer. Let me explain. When I first entertained the idea of writing a book and actually getting it published it was [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/a-laugh-out-loud-moment/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>What Should You Write?</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/what-should-you-write/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/what-should-you-write/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:16:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Get Published]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[manuscript]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mike plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vampire]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[zombie]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=559</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Do you ever wonder if you should be writing for specific trends in the book industry? Genre fiction, especially Science Fiction and Fantasy seems to be especially susceptible to trends. One day it might be dragons, the next zombies. Oh look, vampires that glitter. While it might work to see what&#8217;s coming and write for [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/what-should-you-write/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Don&#8217;t Let Setbacks Set You Back</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/dont-let-setbacks-set-you-back/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/dont-let-setbacks-set-you-back/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:40:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Get Published]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jc hutchins]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[parsec award]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[perseverance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=548</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We&#8217;ve all had moments where things didn&#8217;t go quite as planned. We&#8217;ve all had times when it seems like the world is plotting against us. Responding positively to these challenges is critically important and often extremely hard to do. Case in point, I interviewed JC Hutchins for &#8216;Get Published&#8217;. I must confess that I was [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/dont-let-setbacks-set-you-back/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Writing on a Rollercoaster</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/writing-on-a-rollercoaster/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/writing-on-a-rollercoaster/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:20:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Get Published]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[irreverent muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jc hutchins]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=535</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It has been a tumultuous week for me. I had the priviledge of interviewing J.C. Hutchins for &#8216;Get Published&#8217; (GOOD) only to discover that half of the audio is incomprehensible and J.C. is booked solid for the next while (BAD). I am going to try and transcribe the dialogue and re-record it myself, but honestly, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/writing-on-a-rollercoaster/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Challenge Yourself through Contests</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/challenge-yourself-through-contests/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/challenge-yourself-through-contests/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:49:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[challenge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[contests]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nanowrimo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[the writing show]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writingshow.com]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=454</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As a writer, I am always looking for a new way to improve my writing skills. I have done this by entering events like NanoWriMo and by doing things like my 30-in-30 short story self-challenge and I think I have attained a modicum of success doing them. Still, I need to keep pushing myself or [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/challenge-yourself-through-contests/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Why Bother Editing?</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/why-bother-editing/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/why-bother-editing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2009 13:25:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[editing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Get Published]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michell Plested]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[parsec awards]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=390</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You have a great idea for a story so you sit down and write it on the nearest paper available. Maybe it&#8217;s a napkin in a restaurant, maybe it&#8217;s in the margin of the phone book. The important thing is you have written it down. Now what? If you&#8217;re like some of the squares out [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/why-bother-editing/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Value of Community</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-value-of-community/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-value-of-community/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:12:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Promoting Your Book]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[publish]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[scbwi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[simon rose]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=373</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The craft of writing can be a solitary one, but it doesn&#8217;t have to be.  The Internet provides a means to always be connected to friends, family and colleagues.  It can also be an enormous time-sink but that is a conversation for another time. I want to talk about the availability of community, both writing [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-value-of-community/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Don&#8217;t be Afraid to Ignore Your Writing Prejudices</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/dont-be-afraid-to-ignore-your-writing-prejudices/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/dont-be-afraid-to-ignore-your-writing-prejudices/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:56:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=349</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Every writer has a preferred genre to write in whether it is Fantasy, Literary Fiction, YA Adventure or a myriad of others.  I also believe that every writer has a genre that they avoid like the plague.  It might be Romance (eww, mushy stuff) or Westerns (hate horses and cowboys) or Horror (afraid of being [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/dont-be-afraid-to-ignore-your-writing-prejudices/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Excitement of a New Story</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-excitement-of-a-new-story/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-excitement-of-a-new-story/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:35:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[discipline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[editing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[motivation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[story]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=339</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you are a writer, chances are you know how necessary, and painful, editing your work can be.  You finish writing your newest masterwork and all you want to do is get it out to an adoring audience.  But you know that there is still work to be done and so you go through it [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-excitement-of-a-new-story/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Don&#8217;t be Afraid to Help</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/dont-be-afraid-to-help/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/dont-be-afraid-to-help/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:23:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Promoting Your Book]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=271</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Anyone who has ever tried to get his/her work in print knows how tough (virtually impossible?) it is to do.  Publishers and agents are inundated with dozens/hundreds of submissions every month; how can they possibly separate the wheat from the chaff? I&#8217;ve heard many times that a manuscript must be truly exceptional to be considered.  That raises [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/dont-be-afraid-to-help/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Keeping Your Character&#8217;s Voice Consistent</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/keeping-your-characters-voice-consistent/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/keeping-your-characters-voice-consistent/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:10:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[character]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[voice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=259</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You have a character in your head who is clamoring to get out.  You already know his or her entire backstory:  where he/she was born, who were the parents, first loves, first broken bone, etc. etc.  You also know how the character should grow during the story. So far so good. Then you start to [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/keeping-your-characters-voice-consistent/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Writing Life:  Trying New Things</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writing-life-trying-new-things/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writing-life-trying-new-things/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:49:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=240</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For those of you who know me (or have read the &#8220;About Me&#8221; section of this site) you will know I typically write Fantasy, Science Fiction and YA Adventure.  You would also probably know that I prefer to write novels over short stories.  But is that the limit to my creativity?  Am I a one [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writing-life-trying-new-things/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Writer&#8217;s Life &#8211; When is it time to celebrate?</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writers-life-when-is-it-time-to-celebrate/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writers-life-when-is-it-time-to-celebrate/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:31:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=218</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve been doing project management as part of my day job for several years now and one thing that is often touted (although rarely done, in my experience) is celebrate.  Celebrate the beginning of a project and party harder when it is successfully completed (or simply completed without casualties). Is a writing project so much different? [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writers-life-when-is-it-time-to-celebrate/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Writer&#8217;s Life:  Multitasking</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writers-life-multitasking/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writers-life-multitasking/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:46:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=210</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I used to think that I was pretty good with multitasking.  I was regularly able to both chew gum AND walk at the same time.  Often out of rhythm with each other. That&#8217;s why I get so frustrated with my writing.  There are lots of things I can be doing to improve my craft and [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writers-life-multitasking/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Writing Life &#8211; Throwing up Obstacles</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writing-life-throwing-up-obstacles/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writing-life-throwing-up-obstacles/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2009 01:54:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/?p=204</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of my unfortunate work habits is that when I&#8217;m focused on something, everything else seems to take a back seat.  Case in point is the recent launch of my new podcast.  When I was writing, recording and mixing the podcast, my novel writing (and editing) came to a screeching halt. I suppose I could [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writing-life-throwing-up-obstacles/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>NanoWriMo &#8211; The Mid-Month Update</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/nanowrimo-the-mid-month-update/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/nanowrimo-the-mid-month-update/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:00:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/blog/?p=139</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;m happy to say I&#8217;m better than half-way through my NanoNovel.  This has proven to be a very good thing since I haven&#8217;t felt like writing much the past few days.  You see, I was laid off from my job last Friday and I&#8217;m still reeling from the blow. The layoff wasn&#8217;t entirely unexpected; I [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/nanowrimo-the-mid-month-update/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>The Writing Life:  Connecting with People</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writing-life-connecting-with-people/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writing-life-connecting-with-people/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:23:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/blog/?p=134</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You might be asking yourself why I would want to talk about connecting with people.  After all, as a writer, you write a story and people read it, right?  They buy your book, you collect the money and write another and the cycle of reader/writer life simply goes on in perpetuity. I suspect those of [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writing-life-connecting-with-people/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Writer&#8217;s Life &#8211; Dealing with Low Motivation</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writers-life-dealing-with-low-motivation/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writers-life-dealing-with-low-motivation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:18:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/blog/?p=133</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Let me begin by saying that I love to write.  Most days I enjoy building worlds, creating unique characters and letting stories unfold. Note that I said &#8220;Most days&#8221;. There are times when I simply cannot get myself motivated to write.  Some might call it writer&#8217;s block, but not me.  For me it&#8217;s usually because [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writers-life-dealing-with-low-motivation/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Too much description can be&#8230; too much</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/too-much-description-can-be-too-much/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/too-much-description-can-be-too-much/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:48:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/blog/?p=130</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I have trouble writing scenes.  Usually I feel that my description of the setting is too lean.  I like to let people use their imaginations, but I don&#8217;t think I give them enough to work with. That is a far cry from how I used to write.  When I first started writing I was always [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/too-much-description-can-be-too-much/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Critiquing other people&#8217;s work</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/critiquing-other-peoples-work/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/critiquing-other-peoples-work/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:51:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/blog/?p=132</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[(Warning&#8230; the following post contains excessive use of the word &#8220;critique&#8221;&#8230; Viewer discretion is advised.) I think I may have mentioned it but three weeks ago I joined critters.org (www.critters.org) an online critique group.  The premise of the site is simple:  you critique other&#8217;s work and get credits for the critiques and, in turn, you [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/critiquing-other-peoples-work/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Keeping it Real</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/keeping-it-real/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/keeping-it-real/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/blog/?p=129</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I was recently reminded about the importance of keeping the continuity of the story in mind when I write.  You may think I&#8217;m referring to the actual timeline of the story, the characters and their relationships with each other and so on.  While those things are all important, they are not what I&#8217;m talking about [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/keeping-it-real/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Rewrite or Edit? What is the right way to go?</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/rewrite-or-edit-what-is-the-right-way-to-go/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/rewrite-or-edit-what-is-the-right-way-to-go/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:00:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/blog/?p=127</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s an interesting dilemma that I&#8217;ve been faced with the past while.  When should I rewrite a story and when is an edit the correct choice? I&#8217;ve come to the conclusion that the choice should be entirely dependent on the the story itself.  Having said that, I realize such an on-the-fence answer doesn&#8217;t really help to make [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/rewrite-or-edit-what-is-the-right-way-to-go/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Having Realistic Expectations</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/having-realistic-expectations/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/having-realistic-expectations/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:42:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/blog/?p=126</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you expect to be able to retire off your first contracted novel, you might want to stop reading right now.  I don&#8217;t want to be the one to dash your hopes and dreams. Still with me?  Maybe your expectations for your writing aren&#8217;t so crazy then.  Notice I said &#8216;Maybe&#8217;. Let me begin by [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/having-realistic-expectations/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Are We Having Fun Yet?</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/are-we-having-fun-yet/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/are-we-having-fun-yet/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:47:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/blog/?p=125</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For me, writing is an enjoyable thing.  I love developing stories and characters and I really enjoy getting the story down on paper.  Every once in a while I&#8217;m able to write a scene that really touches me and I know it&#8217;s all worth it. It&#8217;s not always like that, though.  There are days when [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/are-we-having-fun-yet/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Importance of Persistance</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-importance-of-persistance/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-importance-of-persistance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:39:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/blog/?p=124</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Writing is a solitary gig and it&#8217;s easy to be discouraged sometimes.  Maybe you&#8217;ve had a hard day at work or you&#8217;re sick or perhaps you just feel down.  Those can be the times that make or break a writer.  I&#8217;ve been there. It&#8217;s when you are at your lowest that you need to step [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-importance-of-persistance/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Writing Life and Conventions</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writing-life-and-conventions/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writing-life-and-conventions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:47:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/blog/?p=123</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I attended ConVersion 24 last weekend and I&#8217;m pleased to say it was well-worth the $60 I spent to go. What was ConVersion 24 you might ask?  Simply put, it is a Science Fiction and Fantasy convention held in Calgary every fall.  This year it was August, next year it will be in October (as [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/the-writing-life-and-conventions/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>So You&#8217;ve Sent in your Manuscript&#8230; Now What?</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/so-youve-sent-in-your-manuscript-now-what/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/so-youve-sent-in-your-manuscript-now-what/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:12:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/blog/?p=117</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You&#8217;ve just completed your masterpiece, you&#8217;ve researched a publisher or an agent and you&#8217;ve sent in your work as per the submission requirements.  Now what? You could do like I did with my first manuscript and sit in anxious anticipation waiting to get word back&#8230; and lose sleep and maybe even some of your sanity. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/so-youve-sent-in-your-manuscript-now-what/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>A Strange Turn of Story</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/a-strange-turn-of-story/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/a-strange-turn-of-story/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:27:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/blog/?p=111</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I like to plot the stories I&#8217;m writing.  I know that isn&#8217;t everyone&#8217;s style, but it&#8217;s the way I typically work.  I say typically because my current work in progress was not plotted.  At least, not fully plotted.  I had a pretty clear vision of the story line, but I hadn&#8217;t worked out all the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/a-strange-turn-of-story/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Giving Voice to your Characters</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/giving-voice-to-your-characters/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/giving-voice-to-your-characters/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:50:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/blog/?p=110</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the more difficult things for me to do is give my characters their own unique &#8216;voice&#8217;.  I&#8217;m not talking dialogue here, at least, not exactly.  It&#8217;s more about writing dialogue that lets the reader know who is speaking without having to put in tags to tell them. Does that make sense? Let me [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/giving-voice-to-your-characters/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Does Weather Really Affect Your Writing?</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/does-weather-really-affect-your-writing/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/does-weather-really-affect-your-writing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:09:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/blog/?p=109</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You bet it does.  We are currently stuck in our third (or is it fourth) straight week of rain.  Yesterday, it looked like we would finally get some nice weather&#8230; for about ten minutes and then it started to hail!  As much as I like the rain, this is simply too much. To make things [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/does-weather-really-affect-your-writing/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Bad Things Don&#8217;t Always Happen to Bad People</title>
		<link>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/bad-things-dont-always-happen-to-bad-people/?source=rss</link>
		<comments>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/bad-things-dont-always-happen-to-bad-people/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 May 2008 17:03:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[About Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irreverent Muse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.michellplested.com/blog/?p=104</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We all love those movies where the bad guy gets his.  I&#8217;ve actually stood up and cheered when it happens.  I&#8217;ve seen others do it too, so I don&#8217;t feel like my reaction is strange.  The same holds true in books although I&#8217;m usually a little more restrained. But what about when a good character [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.michellplested.com/irreverentmuse/bad-things-dont-always-happen-to-bad-people/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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