tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26742929547209319642024-03-13T19:25:11.193-07:00K C WRITERSHOT SPOT FOR SIZZLING WRITERSJune Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409719209889857827noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-70705087344164355432009-08-16T04:33:00.000-07:002009-08-16T04:33:00.480-07:00Never, Ever Give Up!If you really and truly want to be a published writer, you will never give up.<br /><br />My first book, a family saga which I typed on a regular typewriter and sent off in a box to each publisher with another smaller box inside with the required stamps to get it back. When it began to look shabby, I retyped all 500 pages over, redoing a page every time I made a mistake. I did this a lot, since I got nearly thirty rejections before finally receiving a thin business envelope in the mail with an acceptance letter inside.<br /><br />This happened right after everyone in my critique group told me publishers weren't buying historical family sagas anymore. What would have happened if I'd given up? Nothing, except that my first book wouldn't have been published.<br /><br />Oh, I got plenty more rejections after that, but I just kept on writing. Fortunately when the Internet and email came into being the process of querying and sending full manuscripts out became much easier and began to find homes for all the books I'd kept right on writing.<br /><br />Through the years I've met many really good writers, writers who amazed me and I wished I could write as well, who upon receiving two or three rejections decided it wasn't worth the effort. Not only did they not have the joy of seeing their book in print, but they deprived potential readers of a pleasurable few hours.<br /><br />There is an old adage that says, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." And that's exactly what you should be doing.<br /><br />No, I'm not a best selling author, but I have over twenty-five books in print and now with the advent of Kindle and other reading devices, many of those twenty-five books are now being read by new eyes.<br /><br />Why do you write? First, because you have a story to tell. Second, because you hope that someday a reader will be entertained, mystified, thrilled, scared, or inspired by your words. All the more reason not to give up.<br /><br />You have taken the time to put the words that have been clamoring to get out of your brain onto paper so take the time, no matter how long, to make sure they are in the best possible shape, and then send them out and keep sending them out until someone at some publishing house realizes your words need to be in print--whether it's in a regular book or an e-book.<br /><br />That's the best advice I can give to any writer.<br /><br />Marilyn<br />http://fictionforyou.comMarilyn Meredith a.k.a. F. M. Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179984154939161530noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-46726816420661412252009-08-02T00:00:00.000-07:002009-08-02T00:00:01.739-07:00Creating a Writer's PlatformWriting has become the epitome of entrepreneurial enterprise. If you aren’t already a household name as a published author, you need to start figuring out how you are going to get your name out into the world—before you’re published.<br /><br />Writing a good story no longer suffices. Don’t get me wrong--you still need to learn and apply craft and write a damn good story. But your book, no matter how wonderfully written, will never move from your desk to bookstore shelves until you can create a demand. This is accomplished by creating a visible presence within the writing world. <br /><br />As writers, how can we create a platform to launch our writing careers? There is no formulaic answer. You have to find the method that works for you. I chose to do author interviews in my genre. I’ve done columns for several years at print and electronic publications. I've had the opportunity to interview a variety of authors, from debut novelists to veteran New York Times bestselling authors.<br /><br />I originally did the interviews for a now defunct e-zine, but moved my work to my website, bringing my followers with me. I get added mileage by linking my interviews with the author’s website. I allow each author to use my interviews on their sites in exchange for linking back to mine. I have no problems riding their coat tails. I created opportunities to learn more about my future competition, followed the trends in my genre and established a network of authors that I can turn to when needed during my writing career. In addition, I now have relationships with publicists within both large and small publishing houses. All that’s left is to finish my manuscript and call in the markers. <br /><br />That's my plan toward name recognition. What are you doing to make your presence known?Dorinda Ohnstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01079498940605454071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-22088370522668401332009-07-19T03:07:00.000-07:002009-07-19T08:03:02.220-07:00What Makes Your Novel Different?While working with someone who was preparing a query letter, I asked, "Just what is it that makes your novel different from all the rest?"<br /><br />The book in question was a romance novel. Thousands of romance novels are published every year; I wanted the author to come up with one or two sentences that would show the agent she was querying exactly what it was that made her novel outstanding.<br /><br />Saying a book is an historical romance set in a certain period isn't quite enough, since there are probably lots of queries that come across the agent's desk that fall into the same category. What makes the heroine special? Or the hero? What dilemma do they find themselves in? <br /><br />I once wrote an historical family saga called Two Ways West that could be summed up with this sentence: Two families travel to California, one by covered wagon across the plains and through the mountains, the other through Mexico and by paddle steamer, facing many obstacles along the way, and finally becoming neighbors in the foothills of the Sequoia.<br /><br />Because I'm writing mysteries now, I'm far more adept at coming up with a one or two liner (often called the blurb, or elevator pitch) for them.<br /><br />My latest Rocky Bluff crime novel pitch is: <span style="font-weight:bold;">No Sanctuary<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span> is about two churches, two ministers, two wives, one murder.<br /><br />The next Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery, <span style="font-weight:bold;">Dispel the Mist<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span> could be described this way: While Deputy Tempe Crabtree investigates the murder of a popular female supervisor she has a close encounter with an Indian legend, the Hairy Man.<br /><br />Not sure that's what I'll use, but it'll be something similar.<br /><br />The point of this blog is to let authors know they need to be thinking in terms of what they will say about their book that can be condensed to one or two lines that will intrigue and agent, publisher and ultimately the reader.<br /><br />Writing a synopsis is difficult, but personally, I believe this is even harder. So think about it, what makes your novel different than all the rest?<br /><br />Marilyn<br />a.k.a. F. M. Meredith<br />http://fictionforyou.comMarilyn Meredith a.k.a. F. M. Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179984154939161530noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-18203738610674560242009-07-14T11:07:00.000-07:002009-07-14T11:12:48.964-07:00Photos and fun fact of Public Safety Writers Conference are up at <a href="http://www.policewriter.com/">www.policewriter.com</a><br /><br />There's also a You Tube video up (search PSWA Conference), Kathleen Ryan's report at <a href="http://www.womenofmystery.net/">http://www.womenofmystery.net</a> , Marilyn Meredith's June 24-29 blogs at <a href="http://marilynmeredithblogspot.com/">http://marilynmeredithblogspot.com</a><br /><br />Yes, you can spot me in the crowd!<br /><br />Marilyn Meredith took notes while I was too busy listening! She talks on her blog about tips from Betty Webb, the Mistakes That Make Us (law enforcement) Cringe, Screen Writing, Getting Forensics Right by Steve Scarborough and the editors and publishers panel.Sunny Frazierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03693884364418711551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-9141620427204609972009-07-14T09:58:00.000-07:002009-07-14T09:59:44.542-07:00Laurel-Rain Snow has a contest give-away for her book WEB OF TYRANNY. She wants to know your favorite summer memory. Go to <a href="http://rainysnowday.wordpress.com/contests-giveaways/">http://rainysnowday.wordpress.com:80/contests-giveaways/</a> You can see my entry there!<br /><br />Contest ends July 31.<br /><br />Laurel was one of the authors at our Hanford BookFest.Sunny Frazierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03693884364418711551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-45297135630433858222009-07-12T00:00:00.000-07:002009-07-12T00:00:04.495-07:00How Do You Hero?Before marriage, I was a serial dater. What does that have to with my hero? Simple. If it hadn’t been for guys like ‘Sand Box Boy’ or ‘Psycho Stalker’, I wouldn’t have compiled a mental list of what an ideal man should posses. I started the “wish-list” as something fun to do with my roommates, never knowing I’d some day draw upon those late night gab-fests as writing material.<br /><br />Last summer, when I decided to start my book, I was at odds on how to shape my leading man. I wanted him to be real, yet also someone women would lust after and revere. Let’s face it, finding a good man and winning the lottery have similar odds! A hero needs to be something special. The Holy Grail of Men so-to-speak.<br /><br />My husband jokes around saying women would be happy with men in general, if not for romance novels. When I asked him to elaborate, he shrugged and said no such men could exist except in fiction. Sure I laughed, but then I sat back and thought about what he was really saying. Women readers want the man who will pull their hair during sex, but then go get them a glass of water afterwards! We want the good guy and the naughty boy rolled into one shiny package. (If only such were available in a catalog!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5cme5lbDc0pi48V_CI43g4v6iZ4ikwhkl-npUkecbvj1xCrTA1T3Qgo7VFxx-ZvkljL6pu9_tg0KS4CrUB8WVHkGtit8yO95RgLS8a7orpSVuA7RSaYF1kmSSSQlIX-2I0fFjy_Fbng/s1600-h/Clark_Gable%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357421225971160658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 325px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 293px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5cme5lbDc0pi48V_CI43g4v6iZ4ikwhkl-npUkecbvj1xCrTA1T3Qgo7VFxx-ZvkljL6pu9_tg0KS4CrUB8WVHkGtit8yO95RgLS8a7orpSVuA7RSaYF1kmSSSQlIX-2I0fFjy_Fbng/s400/Clark_Gable%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a>Amazing! Here I’d spent days laboring over the perfect equation for creating the next Rhett Butler and the facts were right in front of me all along. A hero needs to linger on your lips like a fine wine, but still pack a punch enough to make you crave more. So when I write my hero’s scenes, I remember what I wanted in a man when I was on the hunt, but also try to tie in the character arch most human men seem to have evolved away from.<br /><br />I’d never admit it to him, but maybe my hubby is right, romance novels can warp women’s expectations of men. But what a delusion to endure! I love my big-guy more than life itself, but I sure love being engulfed in book with an alpha-male I don’t have to pick up after, too!<br /><br />So, the next time you feel lost channeling a hero, think back to your own “dream man” and those heroes that left you panting. Make it fun! Get a ‘frosty beverage’ and call up your old ‘hunting buddies’. With a little imagination and a lot of laughs, you’ll be on the way to creating your own winning hero combination. Sometimes, the answers we seek are the ones we already have and didn’t know!Sarah Simashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702070733137961412noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-13923679552140665552009-07-05T08:57:00.000-07:002009-07-05T15:41:50.472-07:00Independence Day-The Day After<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsBuEXWTxVwp-6CRkbZx4J-LrTTSBz4GeOPdqHvJJ6jFXrUM-fwXMzGmqgahag90kaypMq4-B-aMx0DRTFfF40B2QXtrz5VP079UORil_XolD9Tdq65su54SwqeuYHzmIccPUva0P1P8/s1600-h/fireworks.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355106046265769250" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsBuEXWTxVwp-6CRkbZx4J-LrTTSBz4GeOPdqHvJJ6jFXrUM-fwXMzGmqgahag90kaypMq4-B-aMx0DRTFfF40B2QXtrz5VP079UORil_XolD9Tdq65su54SwqeuYHzmIccPUva0P1P8/s200/fireworks.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div><div>Yesterday we celebrated an important holiday in this country. The 4th of July has great meaning for those of us who live here. It is one of our most patriotic symbols of independence. We celebrate this day because of independent, free thinking people.<br /><br />This should be a special day for writers. We too are independent, free thinkers. If there wasn’t something in us that fights to go a different way, follow an inner voice or ignore the nay-sayers around us we wouldn’t be writers.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwMmRYzI7_jVcuDzkZAGQvFW7wJo6qJvPsxqcd5heOsG890X7z8-otMfMKsjoRmNda4rcCDoRklJeGffY_ekW5l2gWVOPCVY6NoBpj1c5drwYdYjQD6YykX5-8skFR_cKlAS546XSSyc/s1600-h/lone+writer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355006615640844610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 137px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 92px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwMmRYzI7_jVcuDzkZAGQvFW7wJo6qJvPsxqcd5heOsG890X7z8-otMfMKsjoRmNda4rcCDoRklJeGffY_ekW5l2gWVOPCVY6NoBpj1c5drwYdYjQD6YykX5-8skFR_cKlAS546XSSyc/s200/lone+writer.jpg" border="0" /></a>Writing is touted as an individual craft. The lone writer toils each day to dig deep inside themselves to bring to the page the words that will tell the story they must write. But we are genetically social creatures. We need support in our lives and even more so as writers. We crave the acknowledgement that comes from sharing our hard work with those who have the same drive to produce magic with the written word. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwI3DN13Fz1e8XxsptDVVEqXtBdou4zbFj1yYCCHRxrztAoR1K0rmdoyD5bRUATsotSJyUT9Q3ysVXm7mhCEZvGvy0wDhMoUbeNAJJawKZYK8rcpSO-CTM-4BIzzpZ7OF2hbz5LUJ44Q/s1600-h/figures+with+pen.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355007213578319906" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 127px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 127px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwI3DN13Fz1e8XxsptDVVEqXtBdou4zbFj1yYCCHRxrztAoR1K0rmdoyD5bRUATsotSJyUT9Q3ysVXm7mhCEZvGvy0wDhMoUbeNAJJawKZYK8rcpSO-CTM-4BIzzpZ7OF2hbz5LUJ44Q/s200/figures+with+pen.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div></div><div>On the 4th we gather together with family and friends to enjoy and share our lives. Being a member of a writing group should have the same purpose. I have become good friends with the wonderful ladies in my group and they will forever be a part of my life. </div><div> </div><div>If you are a lone writer reach out to other writers and find your own group. </div><div>And to my circle of writers; have a great 4th and I will see you again, same place, same time.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div></div></div>June Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409719209889857827noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-1489086262275579072009-06-28T18:52:00.000-07:002009-06-28T19:38:34.398-07:00Open Your Eyes to the World Around You<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlYwfKQzIXJz-7Iguipk-BGNOWkYVagVWqdfQ6kaUtN8wuhU_vwLNOhOxxj2C_aGE05R4Z9pzFmJLGMB_bAD5lh0hQElrIfEHjpeQBjLzVeaHvu5jEFEa6fU0JjDuHk-DHvOUJnhEdvc/s1600-h/Courtney_water+polo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlYwfKQzIXJz-7Iguipk-BGNOWkYVagVWqdfQ6kaUtN8wuhU_vwLNOhOxxj2C_aGE05R4Z9pzFmJLGMB_bAD5lh0hQElrIfEHjpeQBjLzVeaHvu5jEFEa6fU0JjDuHk-DHvOUJnhEdvc/s320/Courtney_water+polo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352573013096321890" /></a><br />By Dorinda Ohnstad<br /><br />Just got back home from a weekend at the coast with my daughter and niece. We were there for a two-day water polo tournament. To keep me occupied between games, I brought a writing how-to book on characters and viewpoint. When my daughter saw what I was reading, she asked me if I ever stop working. My honest response was, no. <br /><br />There are a finite number of hours in a day. Too few to allow me sufficient time to do everything that demands my time. Writing constantly competes with those demands. So, when I can, I have to seize the moment and jump in, whether that is to write or study the craft. <br /><br />Studying the craft includes reading how-to books, but it also means taking the time to study the world around me, from the girls in the pool playing polo to the parents screaming from the bleachers. A walk on the beach at Pismo was an opportunity to people watch, to take in the kids building sand castles, the young couple playing Frisbee, and the pair of black Labradors plunging through the water as the waves rolled onto shore. I took time to inhale the salt air, close my eyes and let the sun warm my face while a gentle breeze ruffled my hair, all the while allowing every tactile sensation to work on overdrive. My brain recorded everything; adding these experiences to my writer’s database.<br /><br />Paying attention to the details of the world around me is important research. A writer draws on her experiences to be an effective writer. Without worldly experiences and observation a writer’s toolbox would be empty. So, when life calls you away from your computer keyboard, don’t begrudge the time; take advantage of the opportunity and do some research of your own. Whether it is a trip to the grocery store, working your eight-to-five job, or going to your daughter’s water polo games, there is fodder for your writing. <br /><br />Delve in.Dorinda Ohnstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01079498940605454071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-11328022742332878382009-06-24T11:29:00.001-07:002009-06-24T11:41:58.991-07:00The drug of successSuccess is a drug. I found that out when I won my first writing contest with "From the Seat of a Second Grader, My recollection of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Assassination</span> of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">JFK</span>". I first felt this burning adrenaline sensation begin in my chest, creep up my arms and explode in my head in this nearly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">psychedelic</span> trip of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">godness</span> and glory. I leaped about my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">living room</span>, danced around my husband like a pagan around fire until my husband grabbed a water hose in fear of the house igniting, or possibly taking off into space.<br /><br />Then I told him what happened.<br /><br />The next feeling was a slow warmth enveloping me with the smile from the man who has been my constant cheerleader. I have a fan. My number 1.<br /><br />Next was the evening of celebrating with Ale along with my "Writing Ladies of the Night".<br /><br />Then, came the sheets of dreams ready to critique.<br /><br />The time of work.<br />Good Work<br /><br />Let me say as a "young" writer to savor those first moments of success. Let them inspire you, but don't be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">deceived</span>. I am still gestating my first novel. And when I get up in the morning I face the same challenges. House, husband, school, work.....and the list goes marching on. That feeling of success is like an ice cream s<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">unday</span>. Its very filling. But don't let it lead you to inertia.<br /><br />It is not "THE" success. My book is that number one.<br /><br />So every day remember the love of your life, your story. Don't make it wait on life. Make life wait on it---at least a little every day. Carve that time into stone and stake your flag. Your story is your mission.<br /><br />Fulfill itJacqueline Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04480557108681187415noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-9813194748941944092009-06-14T04:00:00.000-07:002009-06-14T04:00:00.383-07:00Point of ViewPoint of View (POV) is the most difficult concept for new writers to grasp.<br /><br />When I was first writing, my sis read my chapters at a critique group because I couldn't find one near where I lived. They told her to tell me that I didn't understand POV. I told her to find out what they meant, of course I knew what having a POV meant, but not what they were talking about. Even after the explanation, it took me a long, long time to really get it.<br /><br />If you're writing in first person (I opened the door to the ugliest man I'd ever seen) then, of course, the point-of-view will always remain in that person's point of view.<br /><br />When you use third person for your main character, you might always stay in that person's viewpoint. When you do that, remember, that person can't know what anyone else is thinking. The best way to keep from having a problem is to climb right inside the viewpoint character's skin and look out through his or her eyes. Write what that person can see, feel, hear, experiences, smells etc.<br /><br />When you want to use another person's point of view, do it in a new scene. The POV character should always be the person who has the most at stake in a scene. Either let the reader know you're changing POV by starting a new chapter or with a space break of some kind. Use the new person's name right away.<br /><br />Remember, in real life, you never know what someone else is thinking, no matter how well you know the person. You can guess or surmise or figure out--but you don't really know. That's the same for your POV character.<br /><br />Romance novels don't always follow this rule, jumping from head to head, most often during a sex scene. If you are writing anything except romance though, you're chances of getting published are much greater if you stick to one POV per scene.<br /><br />Marilyn<br />http://fictionforyou.comMarilyn Meredith a.k.a. F. M. Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179984154939161530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-48899954142287635392009-06-08T07:00:00.000-07:002009-06-08T07:28:08.381-07:00Sink or Swim<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRoHfyxTVeKPBZy3368NanUPbbJC3T6HhO64YG7YiMZqM4HC_Xyjqdgg5CWkoOrBqPVkLHvlLHW7W1CGVs7W4lw2ayqpXRseRY412CieMd1cJC1zevvm_VQW3HmF44YukssmkC4ncVJg/s1600-h/medium.33.169993%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRoHfyxTVeKPBZy3368NanUPbbJC3T6HhO64YG7YiMZqM4HC_Xyjqdgg5CWkoOrBqPVkLHvlLHW7W1CGVs7W4lw2ayqpXRseRY412CieMd1cJC1zevvm_VQW3HmF44YukssmkC4ncVJg/s400/medium.33.169993%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344958870877003090" /></a>Writing is hard work. HARD work. There has to be a commitment made to stick your booty in the chair, no matter what. Tv show you wanted to watch? Too bad, TiVo the sucker. A friend calling to chat during your writing time? Invest in caller ID. Your spouse rants and raves about the time you spend in front of the computer? Either tell the man to take a hike or figure out a way to make the situation work.<br /><br /><br />Life isn't easy and neither is writing. Yeah, you can quote me. Some of the best things in life are the ones we have to strive for. To be a writer, you have be hungry to succeed because there will always be road blocks in the way. Kids, husbands, laundry, General Hospital, friends, cows (don't ask)and the occasional midnight nookie patrol. Life happens. Sh-- happens. Pick yourself up and get back in that chair.<br /><br />Do or die. Sink or Swim.<br /><br />I'm new to the big kid's pool, but I've seen enough to know when I spot dead weight. Or rather someone who doesn't have the survivalist mentality to be a writer. They whine, moan, complain and generally, try to suck you down into their vortex of self-pity. <br /><br />DON'T LET THEM!<br /><br />If you're the one putting the time and effort into learning craft, developing your voice and spending every spare minute pounding at the keyboard like Mozart, why would you break your flow to swim with the sinkers who want to mire themselves in writer angst? <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib64yMXJM_nLoWs7wJ8T4aqDVGqtGeURS_UKOeScbbj-VIdoZI-nBlQ_SbFKm_PR2r1LaYhvrJHZ8WSmevKxyYFHIdhwEh4NWctV4qD16ijkEq5ZeCVziIvKngsELxU004AHPt8fl1yz8/s1600-h/medium.44.221119%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib64yMXJM_nLoWs7wJ8T4aqDVGqtGeURS_UKOeScbbj-VIdoZI-nBlQ_SbFKm_PR2r1LaYhvrJHZ8WSmevKxyYFHIdhwEh4NWctV4qD16ijkEq5ZeCVziIvKngsELxU004AHPt8fl1yz8/s400/medium.44.221119%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344958648843491682" /></a><br /><br />I sure don't have the time to hear whining. I've got two toddlers and a husband. My whining quota is full, thank you very much.<br /><br />Do I sound harsh? Snobby? Well, too bad. I WANT to be a writer. I WANT to be published. I DON"T need to babysit someone who doesn't have the drive to leave the kiddie pool in the first place. The most I'm willing to do offer the same advice given to me. . . SIT YOUR A** IN THE CHAIR AND WRITE!<br /><br />The tricky thing about progress is- well, dang it, you have to move forward! Ask the right questions, research your work and for heaven's sake, move on. There is angst enough in finding the right word and creating vivid characters. Why give yourself more than needed?<br /><br />What to do when faced with an energy sucking complainer? Tell them the truth. Tell them to suck it up and write. Tell them to dive into the deep end. Whatever cheesy cliche you can manage. Don't be their enabler. Let someone else fill that role. For yourself and your future success, keep moving forward. Be protective of your writing time because the "posers" are out there, waiting for the easy fix, ie- feed off your hard work.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvhjRKNzqBmnVqvR6KsGXxai4gVfFlUaseVgdJ37XbpDwy0k-3FOmfBJbjmNIWOfrDFLt57dXjrWY3Y2YfHStQ9zzq75FhJIahHB9FXYXYGQsTZ1mwmh9maUqTFxBQWlnSzxH8fE3Dyw/s1600-h/medium.90.451120%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvhjRKNzqBmnVqvR6KsGXxai4gVfFlUaseVgdJ37XbpDwy0k-3FOmfBJbjmNIWOfrDFLt57dXjrWY3Y2YfHStQ9zzq75FhJIahHB9FXYXYGQsTZ1mwmh9maUqTFxBQWlnSzxH8fE3Dyw/s400/medium.90.451120%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344959440269073250" /></a><br />I'm not saying anyone who isn't as driven as me is a poser, but what I am saying is a true writer isn't stagnent! Practice = Progress. The ones who truly want to learn will step up and they're the ones you want swimming beside you. Don't worry about trying to spot the dead weight in your amidst. They're easy to find. How? Well, they've perfected the art of not listening. Just look for that 'tell' and you'll do fine.Sarah Simashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702070733137961412noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-8639094380682323892009-05-31T06:46:00.000-07:002009-05-31T06:49:43.084-07:00DAVID VS GOLIATH<br />by Sunny Frazier<br /><br />Small publishing vs. BIG PUBLISHING.<br /><br />Every Author sets out with high hopes of publishing their book and seeing it on the shelves of the big chains. They deserve to be there. After brain-sweat and sacrifice, the reward should be wonderful book signings and lines of buyers waiting for an autograph.<br /><br />That's the carrot that keeps writers pounding away at the keyboard. It happens to a lucky few. But sometimes the author published by a major publishing house is a one-book wonder and left to contemplate why the publisher deserted them. Sometimes they can't meet the sales expectations of their publisher on the second book and get pushed to the sidelines. Sometimes the economy downsizes them right out of their career as big publishing can't balance cost of putting out a book with a frugal public. Authors never fantasize about that aspect of the industry.<br /><br />Then there are the small press authors. We're the ones who looked at the slush pile and the long lines in front of agent's doors and said, “I can do better.” We rolled the dice and took a gamble on a small outfit, a one-man-(or woman)-band. We were impatient and wanted our work out there before we were too old to travel and promote.<br /><br />I started my career by joining with two girlfriends and putting out a regional mystery anthology of our prize-winning short stories. Anthologies are tough to get published, but nobody told us. We found a reluctant publisher, designed the cover and each paid $2,000 dollars to co-publish. The publisher put in a thousand dollars. Soon it was apparent that no store, not even the independent book stores in our city, would carry the books. It was also apparent that we had a public delighted to read about the San Joaquin Valley. We had published the first mystery anthology in this region.<br /><br />I'm lucky to have such a rough start. It banished my own illusions of the publishing world. I actually had to learn everything from the ground up. I knew when my first novel was published that my success would happen under my own steam. I love having a big say in how I market, it makes me feel in control of my career. I didn't hand my work over to corporate strangers and trust that they would have my best interest at heart. I bounced off the contacts and savvy I'd learned from the first books I published. I had a readership in place salivating for the next book in the series. I also delved into Internet promotion and invited several of you to join me.<br /><br />What I love about being with a small publisher is that I feel nurtured. I know my talent is respected.<br />I still get to be a player in the literary world. Some may feel they are too big for small publishing. I feel you can't promote what doesn't exist, so while some authors spend time looking for an agent and a publisher and hoping lightening strikes, I'm out selling my next book.<br /><br />Small publishing is a choice. My career is what I make it, not what a faceless committee decides. I choose to enjoy the freedom, explore the possibilities and reap the fruit of my labors.June Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409719209889857827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-38826234110564252862009-05-24T01:49:00.000-07:002009-05-24T07:39:09.845-07:00Research<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhREh7hWfTJogr9E28e_ucf3FPaFLb_TIkzZ_CgX1ChYbcU2i916xPzOfXrO22ypjwPQJkngCW5-XKmHlJHkFUcTGDhAQPq0MDlIDeze6EFrvhy1oxUX7Ee3Aa6i3IvCx3BD5uEetvF3m0/s1600-h/pile+of+books.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339310486146114018" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 107px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 107px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhREh7hWfTJogr9E28e_ucf3FPaFLb_TIkzZ_CgX1ChYbcU2i916xPzOfXrO22ypjwPQJkngCW5-XKmHlJHkFUcTGDhAQPq0MDlIDeze6EFrvhy1oxUX7Ee3Aa6i3IvCx3BD5uEetvF3m0/s200/pile+of+books.jpg" border="0" /></a> I have a thing for research. This serious relationship evolved over many years. That first tingle of excitement happened on the day I walked into the main branch of the public library. I fell in love with the knowledge that I needed to use the elevator to reach all the books I wanted to check out. No more tiny school libraries or even branch libraries for me. I had discovered my home away from home.<br /><br />During my childhood I was never without a book to read. As a young adult I let real life take priority but found my interest renewed with the birth of my children. When my children were too old for me to read to them I returned to my old voracious reading habits. But I soon realized, just reading fiction was no longer enough. I trolled the stacks looking for something to catch my eye and was mesmerized by the non-fiction section.<br /><br />Most of my story ideas come from a piece of information or a moment in history that I have come across when reading non-fiction.<br /><br />I always start my searches with the original and still the best place to go for information, your local library. There is always someone there to help you out. The research section in most libraries is unique to each location and the non-fiction by state section will carry books with the history of the particular area you are in. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0e1QeqZSKT9bSSRnVcLhIiqPHB2XC_JQTIKPxF325HH4gh7PSA5XSBWm6FpKZ0wJAYMtp91qKcPcJN3Se7FE8-MURjsdJ11bVmLAyYVTBe4bVZ6cwFUha2zNlJZ1wsbdORzoG1hHFfA/s1600-h/Garfield+%26+coffee.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339310907184930466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 113px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 116px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0e1QeqZSKT9bSSRnVcLhIiqPHB2XC_JQTIKPxF325HH4gh7PSA5XSBWm6FpKZ0wJAYMtp91qKcPcJN3Se7FE8-MURjsdJ11bVmLAyYVTBe4bVZ6cwFUha2zNlJZ1wsbdORzoG1hHFfA/s200/Garfield+%26+coffee.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div>Libraries now have all their books listed on an online catalog system. You can request a book from any city, county or state branch and have it delivered to your local branch. You could even have it delivered to your front door. This makes it so easy for me to check out books from the comfort of my own computer.<br /><br />A large part of my research is done online. The speed and access we have to information increases almost daily. One big rule to follow online is to always have more than one source to back up your information. There are so many sites that are full of just the right type of information you are looking for.<br /><br />The best and most desired way to do research is to visit the location of your story. If this is not possible then the library and online are again the best resources for travel information on your setting. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Another way to find out more on a subject or profession is to interview someone with the knowledge. Remember to come prepared with a list of question. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>With all this new research at your disposal remember the number one rule. Don't overpower your work with the details and lose the idea you started out with.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Do you love it or hate it? What are your best research tips?</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div></div>June Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409719209889857827noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-40228218818336723232009-05-17T00:00:00.001-07:002009-05-17T10:25:55.383-07:00Living Your Writer's Dream<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGhSE2PH4E2NGfusmEKZPqWx5dMYMMcx2U46oj1KgiN3UaHXeseqLKagiJmvH6JfYFW6lvgwQOyhPADUCP6nDR53xpoNcHfDyH-UqA8IKE3g_z4Dvi0htFY3SkFKEGYBeW5HcrwtT-tY/s1600-h/dream.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 253px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336506428982136466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGhSE2PH4E2NGfusmEKZPqWx5dMYMMcx2U46oj1KgiN3UaHXeseqLKagiJmvH6JfYFW6lvgwQOyhPADUCP6nDR53xpoNcHfDyH-UqA8IKE3g_z4Dvi0htFY3SkFKEGYBeW5HcrwtT-tY/s320/dream.jpg" /></a> By: Dorinda Ohnstad<br /><br /><br />Dreams are nothing but dreams, unless you are willing to do the hard work to see them through to fruition. That means putting the time in to write, avoiding the distractions that get in the way, learning the craft, and persevering with or without a support network at home. I can’t emphasize learning the craft enough. Although, I’ve been a highly paid and skilled business and legal writer for years, I have had to learn the craft of writing. Being a good writer doesn’t mean that we can write a novel with ease. Writing this narrative for me is much simpler than learning the craft of writing a novel, external and internal conflict, dialog, tension, pacing, point of view, scene construction, plot development, etc.<br /><br /><br /><br />Bottom line, writing a novel is a lonely, difficult path to walk. To be able to persist in this endeavor you need to be passionate about the writing, not about the possibility of success and fame as defined by being on the shelves of Borders or Barnes & Noble. That doesn’t mean that you can’t want those things, they just can’t be what drives you to write. If fame and money are your only motivation, you are likely to be easily side-tracked from the work of writing; for there is no way around the fact that writing a novel is damn hard work. More difficult yet is the fact that you don’t get paid for that hard work until it is all done, if you get paid at all, even though it may take you years to accomplish.<br /><br /><br /><br />That is why the incentive to plow down that road has to be something different than the money and fame. You need to let those stories in you that are screaming to be written be what drives you. Stop daydreaming about fame and success, feeling envious of others living your dream, and decide that you are going to commit to the hard work and focus on telling your stories to the best of your ability.<br /><br /><br /><br />Keep in mind that even when you do this, it won’t be easy and there will be days, weeks, months even, when you will doubt whether it is worth all the work. It is in those darkest moments that we as writers have to dig deep within ourselves to discover whether this is the life for us. It’s definitely not for everyone. I’ve had to confront these feelings myself.<br /><br /><br /><br />If you decide that you need to write those stories, and are willing to put in the work regardless of whether or not money and fame are at the other end, then pick one novel and work on it. At the same time read about craft, attend conferences, participate in critique groups (who can also be the support network you need and don’t get elsewhere) and avoid those distractions. Commit to the work and see it through one page at a time.Dorinda Ohnstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01079498940605454071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-30816281118735586502009-05-10T15:24:00.000-07:002009-05-10T15:50:34.221-07:00Discovery!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRjPSnN9KSvlfl7p7jaotb_5nICvWZo6B8EM-QZ5Tj36Ac7hHCCUv4SIti2TUAc2pDnHWGPGs1cgkZKgQZY1qOVQyhYxMgOkWF3hVBoxH6vQTB0d-10yzWoEk3JWitvaQUlSWicETiF91/s1600-h/aplanet.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334330820098621026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 232px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 209px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRjPSnN9KSvlfl7p7jaotb_5nICvWZo6B8EM-QZ5Tj36Ac7hHCCUv4SIti2TUAc2pDnHWGPGs1cgkZKgQZY1qOVQyhYxMgOkWF3hVBoxH6vQTB0d-10yzWoEk3JWitvaQUlSWicETiF91/s320/aplanet.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#990000;">I made an exciting discovery this week! I found that outlining a book is very much an act of story-telling. For a long time I have taken creative pride in my ability to write <em>Ironic Dance </em>as it unfolded like a movie in my head. I enjoyed not knowing what was going to happen unitil it spilled from my pen, or was tapped on the keyboard. There on my computer screen I watched as my story presented itself like magic to me, the first to get the inside scoop.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#990000;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#990000;">Then one day, the Muse in my head went on vacation. I realized that all along the story had been coming from a source. It "came" to me because I had the basic plot and action coursing through my neurons. Suddenly, in the middle, I faced the fact that my game plan had ran off the page. Without it, the movie could not be directed. Hmm. My baloon deflated, I took a few weeks (ok several) to sulk, then an entirely different kind of inspiration hit me.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#990000;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#990000;">Instead of smugly ignoring the likes of Sunny Frazier, I picked up my pen and began to plot. Nothing overly elaberate. I just wrote Chapter such and such and wrote down what I wanted to happen. And you know what-I told a story. I looked upon my work (yes, it IS part of the work of writing) and realized that I was building the skeleton of the rest of my story. It was exhilerating. It was fun! I kept coming up with deeper plot elements that I could connect to earlier parts of my story. I discovered that I knew my book, and my characters more intimately than ever before. </span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#990000;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#990000;">Now I can sit at my keyboard and form the flesh for the skeleton. This has given me a greater sense of power as a writer. Because I am acting as a deliberate planner of my story, I am not dependent on my subconsious to drop gifts to me. Of course it still does and that is pleasurable, but now <em>Ironic Dance</em> is MY story. I am the storyteller, not the story receiver. It means that I always have plenty to do. Even when I am not writing the story, I am engaged in forming it. Whether ploting, doing character analysis, or storyboarding. I am performing real work. The work of brining <em>Ironic Dance</em> to fruition. Thanks to EVERYONE who has helped me learn this lesson.</span></div>Jacqueline Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04480557108681187415noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-8123778008936760922009-05-03T09:34:00.000-07:002009-05-03T09:36:53.734-07:00AM I A WRITER?<br /><br />Sunny here.<br /><br />Last week at my writing group, one of the aspiring authors had a bit of a breakdown. She suffered from what all writers eventually go through. Her faith in her abilities was shaken, the struggle to get her story on paper seemed overwhelming, and the awful question loomed: Am I really a writer?<br /><br />This rite of passage is crucial. Writing a book initially seems like fun. The potential novelist thinks, “Oh, I have stories to tell, I have a great imagination, I got an 'A' in English class in high school/college. My mother and friends say my emails are quippy, they delight in my ability to tell a good story. I'm a natural.”<br /><br />The reality is the plain white sheet of paper waiting for words. The cursor on the computer becomes a throbbing curse. Minutes tick by as phrases refuse to come. The story percolating in the brain falls short in print.<br /><br />“I know what I want to say, but I can't get the ideas to come out as I imagined,” one in our group complained. “I wanted to kill my husband for interrupting my flow of words,” the most mild-mannered member fumed. “I feel like I'm ignoring my children, but I'm determined to get this book written,” the young mother confessed.<br /><br />Like addicts at an AA meeting, we admit we write to the detriment of other parts of our lives. Spouses get neglected and have to take on extra duties so we can get pages written and attend critique sessions. We needed our writing “fix” so badly, we went from meeting twice a month to every Friday night. Our social lives now revolve around professional organizations like Romance Writers of America and Sisters in Crime in Fresno. We show up at library events to network with published authors. We crave writing conferences and conventions, the cost be damned.<br /><br />But, wanting to be a writer and being a writer are two distinctively different animals. The wannabe sees the fun, the fulfillment, the praise, the bucks. They have passion and a story to tell and probably some talent.<br /><br />Real writers expect to get saddle sores from sitting in front of the computer. Their eyes go bad from staring at the screen. Coffee, a shot of brandy and dark chocolate will only keep them functioning for so long. The only exercise they get is in their fingers—if they don't get carpal tunnel first. They crave distractions, any reason to leave the ball and chain of the chair. They don't want to talk to anyone who can't empathize with their suffering.<br /><br />And that, folks, it the crux of the problem. Does the world care if there is one more writer or one more book on the shelf? Not really. Is writing worth sacrificing the real people in our lives in favor of the fictional people we create? Are the rewards worth the effort? Am I really up to the task?<br /><br />Writing is a choice. Nobody is standing behind us with a gun to our heads telling us to publish or perish. Writing is hard. More than just imagination and plot, good writing includes craft, strong word choices, constant editing, the illusive element called “voice,” and a thick skin. Writing is a gamble. Even the best novels often don't see publication. Writing is about going the distance, not running a sprint. Writing is not graded, except by sales. Writing demands sacrifices, and each aspiring novelist has to ask, “What am I willing to give up to reach my goal?”<br /><br />I gave up housework, TV and a marriage while writing my first novel. I cleared the way to write full time by forfeiting what others consider necessities: relationships, a social life and a steady income. I live in a bathrobe surrounded by cats unable to complain to the neighbors when I kick them outside so I can write. A balanced diet is TV dinners, smoothies and chocolate. My yard work goes neglected and housework is negligible. I live like a spinster and don't have time for bad habits, except biting my nails when I'm working on deadline. Do I feel this life is what I want? Absolutely. I'm living my dream.<br /><br />But, that's my story. My writing group gave the aspiring author empathy and a tissue to wipe away tears and years of frustration. Her life is full of overwhelming obstacles, yet I know she'll show up next Friday night ready for more criticism. Last week she had a breakdown--next week, perhaps a breakthrough.Sunny Frazierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03693884364418711551noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-87155199469019324732009-04-26T05:06:00.000-07:002009-04-26T05:06:00.921-07:00Hanford Bookfest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglToGjqS_Jl-xIQri3fddunA761Al_X8rVOwA0nGS8ro4cxNlXeur3GvGodsEqrf7uuBZ8X6Ajgen0Z1iVf2ukk-sD4gvNFNhvvtmbUowCeW8lR5Gs8ko3yOldEx-nNoqP6bN11GG8Oms/s1600-h/Hanford+Book+Fest.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglToGjqS_Jl-xIQri3fddunA761Al_X8rVOwA0nGS8ro4cxNlXeur3GvGodsEqrf7uuBZ8X6Ajgen0Z1iVf2ukk-sD4gvNFNhvvtmbUowCeW8lR5Gs8ko3yOldEx-nNoqP6bN11GG8Oms/s320/Hanford+Book+Fest.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327316180867244290" /></a><br /><br />Sunny Frazier did an outstanding job putting together the Hanford Bookfest. You never know how these book events will go. Some are okay, others are not good at all, and some turn out wonderfully well. This was in the wonderfully well category.<br /><br />The venue was great--plenty of room for all the writers (nearly 40) and for people to roam without being crowded. <br /><br />Though the walk-in crowd wasn't large, people did wander in on a rather steady basis. I have a feeling if this is repeated next year, there will be far more attending.<br /><br />I had a great time. My spot was right between Sunny and Sue McGinty from Los Osos. Both are Sisters in Crime and members of PSWA. We got to meet two new members of PSWA while we were there.<br /><br />Authors who so desired could get up and talk about whatever they wanted for 10 minutes. Of course it's the perfect time to give an elevator pitch about your book. I told a bit about what led me to writing about law enforcement subjects--both <span style="font-style:italic;">No Sanctuary <span style="font-weight:bold;">and<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span> Kindred Spirits<span style="font-weight:bold;"></span></span> are about people in law enforcement. I ended by confessing I was a big liar when I was a kid, now I tell lies for money.<br /><br />Two of my critique partners came along, Shirley Hickman, who has two published books and Lisa Duncan who isn't published yet but was inspired by her day among writers.<br /><br />The good thing about bookfests is people expect to see authors with books displayed and offered for sale and they want to talk to you and find out about you and your work. Some of them may even want to buy.<br /><br />It was fun to see what people had done to display their work and the enticements they had on their table to help people linger. Homemade cookies were offered as well as tangerines--and chocolate candy--always a good treat. Sunny had small boxes of raisins with labels with her book cover.<br /><br />I never think to bring food, but I always have business cards and a guest book for people to put their email addresses if they'd like to receive my monthly newsletter.<br /><br />Sometimes I give away one of my mass market paperbacks in the Tempe Crabtree series--but I didn't have room in my cart--nor did I bring my husband to help out.<br /><br />Once again, thank you Sunny for a great day!<br /><br />Marilyn a.k.a. F. M. Meredith<br /><br />You can see what my table looks like in the above photo.Marilyn Meredith a.k.a. F. M. Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04179984154939161530noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-82914332046473055532009-04-19T06:55:00.000-07:002009-04-19T07:09:57.657-07:00The Never-Ending NovelThe K C Writers would like to welcome Guest Blogger Melissa Whittle. Thanks for joining us and sharing your own brand of insights into the writing world. Be sure to catch Melissa on her blog "Brain Clutter."<br /><br /><br /><br />The Never-Ending Novel<br /><br />This blog is for people who have “writer's block” or lost of motivation to keep writing. I'm confessing and spilling my secrets...<br /><br />I recently signed up on the Romance Divas forum to participate in the Mentor Program. The purpose is to push your comfort zone and become a better writer. I'm all for that. Matter of fact I've craved it for the past year.<br /><br />The downside? Le sigh. I'm still on chapter 2. Usually when I get an idea for a book and have the book mapped out in my head, I'm off to the races. The book is as good as finished. Now this usually happens around 20-30k of the novel. I'm 5k into this sucker and I know the purpose of this novel. I know what needs to happen. At this point there are no surprises.<br /><br />AND THIS BOOK WILL NEVER END!<br /><br />Okay, I admit, I'm being a little dramatic, but the point is the same—this book has a long way to being finished. I haven't even hit the first turning point. I really want someone to come shoot me like ol' yeller and put me out of my misery.<br /><br />So, I've made a list of ways to get me out of the slump * recommended for people who have yet to finish a novel *<br /><br />Read a crappy book.<br />If you have thrown out the novel, go in search of it again. Re-read it, and bask in the glow of it's awfulness.<br />Play spider solitaire until your eyeballs start to go dry.<br />Clean the house. When I say clean, I mean getting an old toothbrush and attacking the baseboards.<br />Research the process of “how toenails grow” or better yet, “how grass grows”<br />Make it your goal to leave a comment on every blog that exists.<br />Volunteer to clean someone else's house since yours is now clean.<br />Feng Shui your clean house. This also involves research.<br /><br />Now if you've reached number seven and still don't want to open that WIP and write, I can't help you. I gave up less than half-way through crappy book. Finishing my book wasn't as much work after getting to chapter five.<br /><br />* okay, serious author hat on * Know you are not the only author struggling to get to The End. The finish line may seem miles away, but I can tell you it is worth it. Best advice I've ever received, and it's so simple, butt in chair, hands on keyboard.<br /><br />I'm off to take my own advice.<br /><br />What tips do you have for getting out of a writing slump?<br /><br />~Melissa Blue and I'm out~<br /><br /><a href="http://melissablue13.wordpress.com/">http://melissablue13.wordpress.com/</a>June Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409719209889857827noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-40732479489943768022009-04-12T02:00:00.000-07:002009-04-12T10:43:06.006-07:00Leave The Gun, Take The Cannoli<div>Ever find yourself thinking, "Holy Crap! Is this #@$% really happening to me?"<br />Well, last Friday night that was my moment and I had no Dove Chocolate, just a Tuna Melt, a Cop, a Mobster and a Writing Group.<br /><br />So, what would a stay-at-home mom have in common with the original Goodfella and a cop? <em>We all believe- if you want something, you gotta go get it!</em><br /><br />The desire I have to become a published author is intense. I want to be there...<strong>bad</strong>. So, I listen with both ears and absorb everything I hear. And that, my friends, is what has brought me to where I am today.<br /><br />Where is that? You might ask. Well, let me enlighten you.....<br /><br />I've started to carve out my own little corner in the Big 'Ole Writing Pond. Sure, I'm just a pebble, but that doesn't mean my tiny ripple can't make a wave.<br /><br /><br />Over the last month or so, I've dedicated a large amount of my writing time to networking. Yes, I've sacrificed progress on my book, BUT here's what I accomplished by 'going to the mattresses.'<br /><br /><br />I started lurking in romance writing Yahoo Groups. I spent a day or so just reading the posts, gleaning information and feeling the vibe before I jumped in, but once I did- I never looked back.<br /><br /><br />The YaHoo Groups, like Sweet and Sensual Romances, introduced me to a wide variety of writers from published to prepublished. By following their links, I found blogs full of interesting topics, but all geared toward the same thing: getting published! Then, I had an Ahh-Haa moment. Why not start my own blog? BUT dedicate the darn thing to helping other new writers by interviewing published authors! What better advice is there than straight from the horse's mouth? Enter The Lovestruck Novice.<br /><a href="http://thelovestrucknovice.blogspot.com/"><br />http://thelovestrucknovice.blogspot.com/</a> <br /><br />Now, I've got authors lined up clear into June- all willing to 'pay it forward' and help the new kids. As a bonus, they get free promo space in return. Another quick project was my other blog, Passion and Patter. I pick books that interest me and give the blurbs a rewrite with my own quirky style. I include the book cover pic and a link to the publishers page for the book. And I do all of this without a book of my own to promote. But there is method to my madness.<br /><br /><a href="http://passionandpatter.blogspot.com/">http://passionandpatter.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />When I get published, I will have a circle of friends who might be willing to plug my book. (Kind of channeling Don Corleone, eh?) It's all about laying a foundation.<br /><br />But the biggest and I mean biggest coup from all of my networking is...(drum roll) I have a publisher interested in my WIP. Yes! You read that "write" my Work-In-Progress! How? Simple, I posted my Prologue in a Yahoo Group's WIP Folder. And the group? One I learned of from an author I interviewed for my blog. Who I met on a group!<br /><br />Amazing how fate works. I would never have thought my getting into the mix would be placing me in the position I'm in now. Waiting and hoping. Sure, it could all be for nothing. BUT at least I know the proof is in the pudding.<br /><br />Networking is Necessary. After all, my call to the library those months ago landed me suppin' with Denny Griffin and Henry HiLl. Not just pop icons but published authors too.<br /><br />If you're on the fence about "getting out there" before you've got the book deal in hand, think back to Ole Blue Eyes and one of his great hits. Writing is 'Nice Work If You Can Get It and You Can Get It If You Try."<br /><a href="http://www.dennisngriffin.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323231618913140738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUPBZBVCW77ncQ6ycJmpbBKbw0uZR_lO59LEmH7TmNTshTOKwx5VwDjcjivkDjFMIFp55VqW8zwZ1mmXHwv_bNVVR7S-5m9AReuKZJYYNNMdbyTTNjthDDwFgeKdKIi82bHG3SCzfpKQ/s320/100_2608.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Author Denny Griffin<br /><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/henryhillgoodfella"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323231952953006386" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1akQJxRpWoLpUOXPLECMSoYyXxmjctNd3inWjBktjpXIWAaCNqYn1ZheKZ4mAR3AAkP7uHmdxbukGjjgzAoc_s0ZbFVNFh92E0ocaSLgpTMHbJT7FWC-to3EsPWz416LFWnH4pqF3INk/s320/100_2607.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Goodfella Henry Hill<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em></em><br /><br /><br /></div>Sarah Simashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702070733137961412noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-90003426088410896832009-04-05T02:10:00.000-07:002009-04-06T17:18:28.185-07:00Web Ozone<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThF3ijaMRD9L6ep0Rd-wwIrHyzlpPKh2NEeTKklQwAbEPQk-3B1EidcRAQS83MIbft5nMxCaRCQctnuET4QLyNIU2qG2vYur4wSXCgS9PZsFrUu74qo0IMYz0zWxwVxmcMynlmhXkgKk/s1600-h/kissing+the+computer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321132461739001762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 94px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 121px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThF3ijaMRD9L6ep0Rd-wwIrHyzlpPKh2NEeTKklQwAbEPQk-3B1EidcRAQS83MIbft5nMxCaRCQctnuET4QLyNIU2qG2vYur4wSXCgS9PZsFrUu74qo0IMYz0zWxwVxmcMynlmhXkgKk/s200/kissing+the+computer.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Do you My Space? Do you Face Book? Do you Twitter?<br />Do you lurk? Are you hooked? Maybe you are addicted.<br /><br />In our mad dash to get our name, face, or book out there, are we sacrificing our writing to the online world?<br /><br />The journey our writing and our book takes has changed a lot over the last few years. Not only do we have to write a great novel and convince someone to publish it, we also have to be able to sell it. Even before we submit to a publisher we need to have a list of where we can be found. Just having an email address and a website is not enough. </div><br /><div><br />These days you need a blog and a profile, a My Space and another profile or a Face Book and lots of friends, even if you have no idea who any of them are, except the friend who talked you into friending them in the first place. </div><br /><div><br />Web crawler has a new voyeuristic meaning as you sit and read the latest comments on all the sites you follow but don’t have time to post to.<br />I have tried to keep up with the all the latest online fads but I lose time for my writing. I have no one to blame but myself. The temptation sits staring back at me. Like most people my computer is always on and only a little nudge of the mouse brings it to life. </div><br /><div><br />A fellow writer has the perfect solution. She has two computers, one strictly for writing that is not connected to the outside world, and one for everything else. For her this works well. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>I only have one computer to work with and it is a daily struggle to avoid the temptations of the Web. I have to choose carefully where to go and what sites to follow, keeping in mind how they can help me to become a better writer and pave the way to future publication. So I just say no to My Space and Twitter and I’m still putting off Face Book but I know I will give in soon.<br /></div><div><br />Are you buried in the ozone of the Web? <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHt5UAWlj3rCBC9MgU_XItMVG-GUFLx8kzRrhyZ1YTTMS3CmMu3iGod2wzOKaSRt0zIk5QOg70UrlxzP6idutg4ZsI1VwsmMR3ZziLukltwUUvoy_WZ63yYjz-VzXqa4Lpz-6_uQxynQ/s1600-h/eye+of+the+storm+art.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321133607482657202" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 89px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHt5UAWlj3rCBC9MgU_XItMVG-GUFLx8kzRrhyZ1YTTMS3CmMu3iGod2wzOKaSRt0zIk5QOg70UrlxzP6idutg4ZsI1VwsmMR3ZziLukltwUUvoy_WZ63yYjz-VzXqa4Lpz-6_uQxynQ/s200/eye+of+the+storm+art.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>How do you control the urge to lurk?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>June Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409719209889857827noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-50644590554092370342009-03-29T00:00:00.000-07:002009-03-29T00:00:00.776-07:00H. Terrell Griffin, Author of the Matt Royal Mystery Series<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIdybLAmP0_LeupmT9D-03M9WTvu6UQMPkauXpXSqmU9MeurpXjpHu2MPLwKHzKciuEAZXsCd7BM5QEVrSsQjXsxbInE3xY_dkByIgivs-9JyVYxblcdj8MQoDB63wFh1v3Mp-LVGDhU/s1600-h/bloodisland.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIdybLAmP0_LeupmT9D-03M9WTvu6UQMPkauXpXSqmU9MeurpXjpHu2MPLwKHzKciuEAZXsCd7BM5QEVrSsQjXsxbInE3xY_dkByIgivs-9JyVYxblcdj8MQoDB63wFh1v3Mp-LVGDhU/s320/bloodisland.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314968503554798082" /></a>
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5a5rE9DlrY4zU4GypO7-zQ2uffSG9FiJf11jcFilbOzaPoHRAzQRm21tRzQSkowwHHEJ_sVd4V91r50WzWCA4c_ZwjP7Zc7G-2Z8DU2LujVapE5MhyphenhyphenjEeS-PGt-hdvz_03a-RCUs8Vng/s1600-h/terrybiopic226x239.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314966702068540882" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 226px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5a5rE9DlrY4zU4GypO7-zQ2uffSG9FiJf11jcFilbOzaPoHRAzQRm21tRzQSkowwHHEJ_sVd4V91r50WzWCA4c_ZwjP7Zc7G-2Z8DU2LujVapE5MhyphenhyphenjEeS-PGt-hdvz_03a-RCUs8Vng/s320/terrybiopic226x239.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />Please welcome, guest blogger H. Terrill Griffin, author of the Matt Royal Mystery Series.
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<br />It is my good fortune to live on Longboat Key, an island off the southwest coast of Florida about half-way down the peninsula. It is a small place anchored in the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The island itself is about ten miles long and a quarter-mile wide. During the off-season, that is the months from May to November, it is a very small town of about 2,500 people.
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<br />It is this island and its people that give me the ideas for stories. The people are an eclectic bunch, hailing from every part of the U.S., with a sprinkling of Canadians and Europeans. It is a stew in which many stories germinate, some true tales of former lives in far off places, and others only fables told over a beer, perhaps the lives that the fabulists wished they had lived.
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<br />It is during the hot summers, when the Gulf breezes barely cool the island, that the locals gather in the bars, laugh a lot, tell their tales to the local author, and enjoy the friendship that attaches in small towns the world over. The islanders are my muses and my most extravagant supporters. It is from this milieu that I draw inspiration, solace when needed, and so many wonderful characters to grace the pages of my novels.
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<br />My books are centered on Longboat Key, but the mystery always takes the protagonist Matt Royal to other places. I try to bring a sense of our island in all its wonder and beauty to the printed page. There is almost no crime on the key, so I have to manufacture murders and the bad guys who commit them. I try to weave the fictional crime into stories that include the islanders as characters, most thinly disguised. My friends enjoy trying to figure out which one of them is the character with a different name.
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<br />Writing is a joy for me, a joy that is enhanced by writing about the things I love, my island and my friends. I hope that I do both justice, that the island is described so that the reader will fall in love too, and that the characters give the reader a true flavor of my part of the world. And if the mystery is one that the reader can’t put down until finished, then I’ve done my job.
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<br />For more information about Terry Griffin and his books, visit his website at www.hterrellgriffin.com. </div></div>
<br />Dorinda Ohnstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01079498940605454071noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-32081288927649053922009-03-22T04:00:00.001-07:002009-03-22T04:00:00.825-07:00The Learning Curve<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPWLLxYVfOthYlejcU_Hmqwv6HqO3T4z1ubX3q8zRY3zso-0dPQF1MsubnY4o9wxiilz3_MW3Xu2LvR5Y1p9ij5B-wq2DYVvGfTAVbkNXTGWEh83bD_lIU1NlT89xtnsEFPC58fusIMw/s1600-h/huge_10_54065.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314635360077173762" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 191px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPWLLxYVfOthYlejcU_Hmqwv6HqO3T4z1ubX3q8zRY3zso-0dPQF1MsubnY4o9wxiilz3_MW3Xu2LvR5Y1p9ij5B-wq2DYVvGfTAVbkNXTGWEh83bD_lIU1NlT89xtnsEFPC58fusIMw/s320/huge_10_54065.jpg" border="0" /></a> I’ve been a new wife, a new mom and now a new writer. Each time, I had the bone-headed idea learning curves didn‘t apply to me.<br /><br />Although my days as a “new” wife are long gone, my husband won’t let me forget the horrid Three Mustard Chicken I cooked our dog even refused to eat. Lucky for me, he didn’t channel the male species’ innate sense of self-preservation. Had he declared me the next Paula Deen, I wouldn’t have forced myself to open Betty Crocker’s Bridal Edition Cookbook. Obviously, Betty knew husbands were out there starving to death.<br /><br />Now, I can cook most anything. I’ve yet to see him take a bite and go running for the sink with his hand over his mouth!<br /><br />When I had kids … well, let’s just say I’m flabbergasted the nurse let me leave the hospital, much less, waved as I drove off with a defenseless baby. I’m sure every time I called the pediatrician, his nurses fought over who’d have to take the “Crazy Lady’s” call . Yet after three years, I feel confident, safe even, being locked inside a house ALONE with three toddlers.<br /><br />Then I decided to write a romance novel. I’ve read the darn books for years, which is the same as experience, right? I even practiced my signature in preparation for my future book signings. Wanting an adoring fan club, I joined a writer’s group, knowing I’d be hailed a literary genius.<br /><br />I’m fairly certain my face mirrored the same look of shocked horror I wore when I saw my hubby gagging on his mustard chicken. Yikes! My pages bled! I was afraid I’d leave a trail of red ink out the door.<br /><br />Was I shocked? Yes.<br /><br />Did my disappointment keep me from moving forward? No.<br /><br />Instead, I refused to give up. I asked questions and took notes. I latched on like a barnacle to writers who were willing to show me the ropes. Now 7months later, I no longer write with my head in the clouds or in the 1980’s.<br /><br />I’ve learned things like: the importance of word choice and sentence structure. By not giving in to my fears, I’m a lot closer to achieving my goals. I belong to two writer’s groups and can’t believe how much my writing has improved. My continued progress keeps me motivated. I’m going to savor the feeling of writing “The End” as much as the day I got my son to sleep through the night.<br /><br />So join a group- get out there!<br /><br />I’ll be just as grateful to the woman who told me my son’s desire to eat dirt was just a phase as I’ll be to the people who said stop worrying and just write the book.<br /><br />Yes, I’m still learning, but I’m enjoying the ride a lot more, because I’m surrounded by people who have the same desires. The only way I can fail is if I were to throw in the towel. I didn’t then and I won’t now.<br /><br />So ask yourself, how bad do you want to succeed and what are you willing to do to achieve your goals?<br /><br />For me, it was simple- I took a chance. Will you?Sarah Simashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702070733137961412noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-89432550453787325002009-03-15T11:20:00.000-07:002009-03-15T14:49:00.752-07:00Approaching the Different<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDSHEdViWe_Qs5HLHBzgASYY_VUt31nD9khEnGBZ8Dp5nxWZ_iO2AMcgg5b_P81VBnuNLy2UkjO4cPW-tfavR2Bd72YVJrZedfY7SazP4iqm-WozvkFHFAZD8-AlNpwsWmTxKqvbqONAb/s1600-h/ollinsmall.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313482673335969154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 310px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDSHEdViWe_Qs5HLHBzgASYY_VUt31nD9khEnGBZ8Dp5nxWZ_iO2AMcgg5b_P81VBnuNLy2UkjO4cPW-tfavR2Bd72YVJrZedfY7SazP4iqm-WozvkFHFAZD8-AlNpwsWmTxKqvbqONAb/s320/ollinsmall.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wY7gIw0y0hV7taBeMJJ3KdrAKs7Efvd1XBckwJN8WD8mgDOt0TLd9GPcAHrXQSnVRLXFmPyumstOawmqGHPLZ-tASkJtsamq0jh4UxjVu7q6c47cyj3BZ2pIbMZ3PaW5vrucFnXGTjoG/s1600-h/tunn.gif"></a><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;">At our little Friday Night <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Soiree</span>, I brought a new species of writing to the table. Taking my seat in front of a plate of decadent brownies, I awaited the critiquing of my new contest offering. It was a Narrative. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330033;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330033;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330033;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330033;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;">There was no protagonist, no antagonist. There was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">definitely</span> no seductive man riding in on a large <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">stallion</span>, there was just a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">remembrance</span> of a small girl about the shooting of JFK.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330033;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330033;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330033;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330033;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;">For this contest I am writing about what the experience of JFK's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">assassination</span> was like for myself from the perspective of being seven and in class when our teacher made the announcement. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330033;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330033;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330033;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330033;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#330033;"></span><span style="color:#330033;"></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;">Most of us at the table never critiqued narratives. It was a challenge. They peered at it like it were some sort of odd <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">vegetable</span> one's mother might place on your plate. "Try it, you'll like it." I admit being a little uncomfortable. Might this paper I brought, lull my beloved co-writers into a dangerous dimension? Would they be eaten before my eyes?</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330033;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330033;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330033;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330033;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;">Well, writers are a brave lot. (After all, we create whole worlds) They each did a wonderful job, and helped guide me (like they do every time) toward making my piece its best. The reason is that no matter what style of writing one uses, there are rules that always apply. Not too many this, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">that's</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">hads</span>, and the other, show, (even a narrative needs draw a picture) make each word count, and the rest clip like bad hair.</span></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330033;">Our evening ended much like it always does. Each of us left better writers, and each of us had work to do..and the tools to do it well.</span></div><div></div></div>Jacqueline Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04480557108681187415noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-81148243249380758572009-03-08T07:16:00.000-07:002009-03-08T07:29:28.356-07:00Measure of SuccessI would like to introduce our guest blogger for today. Welcome Karyne Corum. She is from New Jersey. Writing is her passion and she would like to share that passion with other writers. Thank you, Karyne, for stopping by.<br /><br /><br /><br />Many writers measure success with big sales, contracts and six figure advances. But if you take it down a notch, into the sphere of the average writer, those who are neither here nor there yet, it should have a different meaning. Success is when you set a goal, whether it be writing 250 words on your manuscript or networking at a local book conference, doing two things to help your career, and you reach it. I imagine many writers would rather set the bar so high that it’s almost impossible to reach and therefore they feel comfortable in their cocoon of inertia. "I would have been a great writer if only…. ".“If only” is the anathema of every writer, everywhere. It is the penultimate cop-out. If only I wasn’t busy with kids, husband, job, the noisy neighbors, the dog, the dust bunnies and so on and so on.<br />One of the most important tricks I learned was to stop trying to fit my life to my writing and rather fit my writing to my life. If I had ten minutes between my son’s lunch and playtime, I took it. The idealistic vision of the artist having all night or hours upon hours to create is a mirage. And just like a mirage, you need to dispel it with, even if it takes some cold water to the brain.People are so afraid of failure they would rather dream than do because in our dreams we never fail. I like to live by the philosophy that, we learn nothing from success and everything from failure.<br />It is not a reflection of our inadequacy but rather a demonstration of our ability to adapt and overcome.Even failure takes work. If my life was a string of failures then at least I would have the satisfaction of knowing I tried and tried really hard. But, I don’t have a string of failures, I have constant daily successes. Whether it be finishing a scene or finding the universal truth in my story, writing 50 words or even just getting out and doing a blog that I left for almost two months because life got really busy and chaotic. I’m not going to beat myself up for not getting to my blog for two months, rather I’m just going to get back to it and get it done.So, the choice to be a doer or a dreamer, remains in the writers hands, just like the success of your career. Start with the small and the big will follow.<br /><br /><br />Karyne Corum<br /><a href="http://njwriters-in-arms.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://njwriters-in-arms.blogspot.com/</a>June Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13409719209889857827noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2674292954720931964.post-62790684754717567422009-03-01T00:00:00.000-08:002009-03-18T12:34:04.916-07:00Short StoriesBy: Dorinda Ohnstad<br /><br />Until recently, I have vehemently pronounced that I am not a short story writer. In fact I hadn’t written a single short story since graduating from high school thirty years ago. Periodically I would be encouraged by critique partners to tackle short stories and seek out contests and publishing opportunities as a way of building my resume. Each time I dug in my heels and declared “I am not a short story writer!” <br /><br />Sometimes I would consider writing a short story, but just thinking about it made my head throb. Bottom line, I realized short stories are extremely hard to write. Telling a complete story with less than 5,000 words seemed to me a near impossible feat—only mastered by those with far greater talent than I could ever hope to develop. In my book, the best thing to do was not to try at all. You can’t fail if you never try. <br /><br />I lived blissfully with my short story aversion until I read a Murderati blog posting by Toni McGee Causey. The blog’s content about the power of writing elicited visceral emotions in me that plagued me nightly. Over the next few weeks these emotions morphed into a clear story in my head that screamed to be released onto the pages of my computer screen. Believe me I tried to push the story to the back of my psyche so I could move forward with my novel, but the story gave me no choice. <br /><br />I had to write the story to clear the path for returning to my novel, so I relented. In fact, I spent more than a month editing and refining the story, with the help of my invaluable critique partners, until it was ready for submission. This week I sent it off. When, if, or where the story may be published or recognized I don’t know. That’s not the important outcome of my short story foray. What’s important is what I learned in the process. I was right; short stories are a beast not easily conquered. What I didn’t realize however, was how tackling the task would make me a better novelist. <br /><br />In writing a short story, every word counts. You must search your vocabulary for the one perfect word, rather than make do with two or three mediocre ones. Words with double meanings within the story become gems, like a Scrabble triple word score. Each sentence has to move the story forward or it needs to go. Repetition and lazy writing can’t be tolerated. In other words, to write a good short story, a writer has to use the tools of the craft to their umpteenth degree, and in the process it taxes your skills and makes you a better writer. <br /><br />I look forward to translating my newfound skills to my long-fiction writing, and have no doubt that it will make my writing pop and sizzle in a way I never before dreamed possible.Dorinda Ohnstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01079498940605454071noreply@blogger.com3