All it takes is one simple deed… and you could win a PET PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION with CHRISTIE of CountryCreek or A DOZEN CUPCAKES – hand made by the incredible, CUPCAKES by HOPE !

If that doesn’t convince you, I’m not above leaning into good, ol’fashioned, guilt.

Through the year, outside of work hours, my phone dings—weekends, evenings, in movies, while I’m sleeping—messages creep in from social media or I get pulled aside in the grocery store.

Full transparency, I love pets, and I adore people who love their pets, so I don’t mind–honestly. I know my general advice can bring peace and comfort and this is why I do what I do. Heck, I’m a veterinarian, but when asked how to repay me for the tips and time, I’m quick to share…

“When my marathon comes round, sponsor me!” 

So, if I’ve answered your phone call, text message, or MSM to discuss what to do because you just ran over your dog or I looked at photos of your dog’s stool, or the possible tick attached to their leg… if we discussed the medical condition of your uncle’s dog, or your friend’s horse after hours, then your name is on my list and it’s time to sponsor me in the Muskoka Novel Marathon to raise money for ADULT LITERACY.

If you’re convinced… PLEASE DONATE HERE!

This isn’t your typical marathon. I’ve been training, but not as you expect. I’m not carbohydrate loading or running 5 miles each morning. I’ve been practicing sitting in one spot without my buttocks falling asleep and plotting the twist in my current novel.

On July 10^th 2025, I’ll be in the Muskoka’s, with an amazing group of people, to write for 3-days-straight to raise money for ADULT LITERACY.  

The links between adult literacy and overall wellness are concrete. Those of us empowered to read acquire jobs, leading to financial security, benefiting the reader and their families. People who can read are handed a map to their own happiness.

All funds raised in the marathon go directly to support ADULT LITERACY programs.

If this is what you needed to hear… PLEASE DONATE HERE!

And again, a bonus… 

Everyone who donates will be entered into a draw to win a PET PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION with CHRISTIE of CountryCreek or A DOZEN CUPCAKES – hand made by the incredible, CUPCAKES by HOPE!

So please, DONATE HERE!

Thank you kindly for your support!

Donna

The post Win a Prize… with One Simple Deed! appeared first on Donna Curtin.

At times, I engage with it deliberately for impact.

At others, I’m unaware of my REPETITIONS.

Regardless, REPETITION should always be used on purpose – even if only for humour.

To find out more about how to improve your writing by finding and making choices about the repetition in your writing, head on over to Ascribe Writers where I am a guest blogger.

5 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING – A FOCUS ON REPETITION by Donna Curtin

The art of writing isn’t just about art. It’s also about skill. Sure, perhaps you have been inspired to share your stories and get a novel published, but there is a big difference between jotting down a few journal entries and being sufficiently accomplished and persistent enough to get published.

Published authors have worked incredibly hard to hone their craft. Acquiring the competences needed to draft a novel that readers can’t put down, sparking imaginations and poking dusty hearts, is much more than an overnight trick.

5 Ways to Improve Your Writing – A Focus on Repetition

The post 5 Steps to Improve Your Writing – Focusing on Repetition appeared first on Donna Curtin.

I’M A WINNER and I’m announcing THE WINNERS to my contest, so read on.

Thank you for sponsoring my participation in the 2022 Muskoka Novel Marathon. Your overwhelming support helped me to raise much needed funds for adult literacy programs. Thanks to you, I was honoured with the Remington Award (for the writer who raises the most funds) by raising raising $1,270 from 27 donors.

I’m also thrilled to announce my novel writing creation won an Honourable Mention in the Best Novel-Adult Category. If you would like to know more about my novel writing experience, head over to my Ascribe blog. Here’s a small taste of what my latest manuscript is all about…

Further to raising funds to support important work in adult literacy, I’m pleased to announce that I wrote over 70 pages (that’s about 17,000 words) over the marathon and I can’t wait to get back at it!

Okay. Now for the fun part… my contest winners!

For every $10 donation to support adult literacy, your name was added to TWO separate draws. You should have seen me with all these snippets of paper, with doodled names, stuffed into jars! What a great procrastination project!

There are THREE WINNERS from the first draw. I’ll provide the winner with a character sketch and they will pick the name of a major character for my new novel.

• BERNICE MARSH
• CHRISTINE COGLAN
• SEANA MOORHEAD

And for the final draw, and the winner of a dozen Cupcakes By Hope…. the winner is…

• LAUREN MADER!

Thank you once again for your support.

I will be reaching out to the winners shortly to finalize the details.

The post Announcing the WINNERS! appeared first on Donna Curtin.