Categories
A Pinch of Poetry

Consonance: The Sound of Poetry II

How you create sound in your poetry will make it bloom or wilt. The whole purpose of a poem is to artistically express a message in a succinct, powerful way. Sound devices, such as consonance, add musical qualities—key elements that accomplish this.

Since we’ve recently explored alliteration, it would be best to distinguish its sibling, which also makes use of repeating consonant sounds.

[bctt tweet=”How you create sound in your poetry will make it bloom or wilt. #poets #poetry”]

Closer than a Brother

Consonance is a sound device in which many of the words in close proximity (in the same line) repeat the same consonant sound. Remember that alliteration is unique because it only emphasizes the first sounds of words. Consonance allows for the sound to be repeated anywhere within the words or phrases.

As with alliteration, consonance adds a musical element to the poem and creates a smooth-flowing rhythm.

Let’s look at a few more lines from Edgar Allen Poe’s famous poem “The Raven” again to understand how it works.

“And the silken, sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain”

In the above lines, the poet repeats the “s” sound even in the words that don’t begin with that letter. The resulting sounds harmonize, creating a musical effect. Not only are the sounds repeated throughout the line, but the word “uncertain” also rhymes with “curtain.” Both devices create a beautiful streak of sounds that easily roll off your tongue.

A few stanzas later, he uses consonance again.

“Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted”

Poe could have chosen any number of words to communicate the same meaning. However, each word has a purpose. Notice how and where the “d” sound is repeated—the beginning, middle and ends of several words in this line. Again, the sound repetition enhances the rhythm of the poem.

It simply sounds nice. Doesn’t it?

Working Together

Because alliteration and consonance are so closely related, the poet uses both at the same time. But don’t fret over which technique you are using to create pleasant sounds in your poems. If you are aware of the devices, then you can consciously incorporate them into your work.

Remember that all poetic techniques usually work together rather than in isolation to create the most effective poems. You probably recognized other sound devices in those lines, such the internal rhyme. We’ll explore other musical elements like this in future posts.

Now that you have a grasp on alliteration and consonance, see if you can work it into your own poems. If you have any questions, ask me below.

[bctt tweet=”Create a beautiful streak of sounds in your poetry! #poets #poetry”]

Categories
The Writerly Cafe

Welcome to the Writerly Cafe

a3DDmay16I’m excited to welcome each of you to the Writerly Cafe at Almost An Author. Here, you’ll find a place where writers gather to ask questions, exchange ideas, discuss hot writing topics and simply embrace the joy of writing. Being with others who share the same passion starts creative juices flowing. I hope the topics on our menu board each month will spark new writers to put pen-to-paper and experienced writers to deepen their love of this craft.

From time-to-time I will ask for your questions on issues of interest to writer’s. Please don’t feel any question is unimportant or too elementary to bring to the table. I will research the answers to your questions and do my best to be of help. I am blessed with many friends who are well versed in all areas of writing and have offered to share their wisdom concerning your questions.

“Passion and purpose go hand in hand. When you discover your purpose you will normally find it is something you are tremendously passionate about.”
Steve Pavlina

Using the word passion above prompted me to toss out our first question. (Hosting the column does have its perks!)

I’m assuming you’re interested in writing if you’re reading this, but would you say that writing is your passion? If no one ever read your work, would you continue writing, or would you consider walking away? Please share your answers to these, or any other questions you might have, in the comment section below.

But first, I need to let you in on a secret. You never know when a special guest might join us at the café to offer encouragement, give glimpses into their writing journey, or share their best writing tips. Be sure tocoffee-1111666_640 keep your eye on the door!

Again, welcome to this new place in town. As in any café, we can always pull another chair to our table. The more writers, the better. Pour a cup of coffee, find a seat, and let’s tackle these questions and topics with gusto.

Please return each month to check the menu board. In the meantime, I welcome and appreciate your comments. Follow-up questions are encouraged.

Categories
The Creative Tool Kit Uncategorized

3 Simple Ways to Boost Creativity

The creative tool kit
Creativity
Graphic courtesy of melibeeglobal.com

Welcome to The Creativity Kit!

Each month tips and tools to help boost your creativity skills will be found in The Creativity Kit. Sensory workouts, exercises, and dare I say, fun ideas await!

So, let’s get started by learning three easy ways to increase creativity in your writing endeavors.

One: De-Stress.

Art therapy studies show that patients suffering from cancer and other chronic illnesses find respite from their suffering by engaging in creative work. This could explain why sales from adult coloring books skyrocketed in 2015.

As expected, relaxed people tend to have an easier time being creative but interestingly enough, the opposite is also true. Creative activity is an effective way to combat stress.

Adult coloring books are fun but they also offer the mind an experience known as the “flow” which is a mental state in which a person is so immersed in an experience that nothing disrupts the moment.

One of my favorite Pinterest pages is Adult Coloring Books. Would you like to try adult coloring books at no charge? There are a lot of free online pages ready for printing, like this one.

Two: Take  a Shower.

Okay, hopefully this is already on your list of to-do’s but for an entirely different reason. Still, it’s one of those menial tasks that forces our conscious mind to to take a break. After all, it’s the conscious mind that’s on duty throughout the day. Decisions are made constantly and without the conscious mind, we’d be lost. Literally. So when we perform tasks like taking showers, exercising, or petting the dog the conscious mind takes an audible sigh and relinquishes control to the subconscious. And when the subconscious takes over, so does the creative part of our brain. Seriously, how often has an idea or solution to an ongoing problem come to you while rinsing out the shampoo? You may even want to try Aqua Notes, a waterproof writing pad. I picked up at our local Mast General Store but it can also be purchased online.

Three: Do the Opposite for One Day. bloga3seinfeld

Pretend your George Constanza. Do the opposite of what you would normally do for one day. Do you normally take the highway to work or school? Take the back way, as we refer to it here in the South. Eat breakfast food for dinner and drink tea instead of coffee. Change up as many things possible for one day. Who knows, you may begin declaring one day a month George Constanza day!

I hope these three ideas will get the creative juices flowing. But there’s one more thing I can’t help but ask…

If you were to try a George Constanza day, what would your favorite “opposite” thing be?

 

If you’re interested, there is a random drawing for an adult coloring book, In The Beginning, being given away on my site this month. Simply comment on my blog to add your name to the drawing!

 

 

Categories
5 For Writing Uncategorized

Where is the Best Spot for Writing?

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This is one side of my new dream office. The Lego train makes a loop on this countertop, then crosses a bridge to the other side of the office.

By Doug Peterson

Whenever I see somebody writing in a noisy coffee shop, tapping away on a laptop, I wonder how in the world they can concentrate with all of the racket surrounding them. For me, the two major requirements for writing are quiet and no interruptions. In a crowded coffee shop, you don’t get either.

So where is the ideal place to write?

There is no one-room-fits-all answer, of course. But according to Stephen King’s book, On Writing, he wrote his first two published novels in the laundry room of a trailer. He also said that John Cheever, the acclaimed short story writer, did his work in the basement near the furnace.

“Truman Capote said he did his best work in motel rooms, but he is the exception,” King continues. “Most of us do our best in a place of our own. Until you get one, you’ll find your new resolution to write a lot hard to take seriously.”

A place of your own. This sounds like good advice. King says the space “really needs only one thing: a door which you are willing to shut. The closed door is our way of telling the world and yourself that you mean business; you have made a serious commitment to write and intend to walk the walk and talk the talk.”

I do 99 percent of my writing behind a closed door in my office on a desktop computer, which I much prefer to working on a small laptop screen. I’ll write on a laptop when I’m on the road, but that’s only because flight attendants don’t look too kindly on a person setting up a desktop computer on the tiny drop-down tables in the airplane.

For years now, I have written in my second-floor office, which could best be described as “controlled chaos.” I don’t mind a bit of clutter, but oftentimes my office went from a bit of clutter to a bunch of a clutter.

But no longer. This month, I held the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for my new dream office. (We really did have a ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebratory dinner with close friends Dave and Leanne, because Dave was the one who designed and installed my new office.)

The office overhaul started with a simple desire to build new bookshelves because my current ones were old and overflowing. Then my wife came up with the brilliant suggestion that we should go a step further and create a Dr. Seuss style office. We are both fans of Seuss, and when we went to Universal Studios in Florida in 2014, we spent a lot of our time in Seussland, even though our kids are grown and weren’t with us.

The result of her suggestion was my first dream office. Although I write historical novels, I did a lot of writing for VeggieTales in the 2000’s, so my new office theme is child-inspired and includes nods to Dr. Seuss, Peanuts (my favorite comic strip), VeggieTales, and Legos. The Seuss-like bookshelves sit on a countertop that displays a Lego world, complete with a Lego train that travels from one side of the office to the other, crossing a bridge that passes in front of a window. I could describe more, but I’ll let the photos do the talking. Check them out.

As my friend Dave said, this is a dream office for a 10-year-old.

It’s a creative environment, but does an office like this make me a better writer? Probably not. But it’s loads of fun, and it certainly makes me a more organized writer. One of the great benefits of overhauling my office is that I overhauled my filing system, locating papers that I thought had disappeared forever into the black hole of my former filing system.

I will be forever grateful that my wife came up with the idea of the new office. But as wonderful and stimulating as the Lego train might be, not to mention the book pedestal and the Seuss-style hand that holds up the bridge, I have to say that the most important part of the office hasn’t changed at all.

I still have a door, and I still keep it closed when I write

* * *

5 for Writing

  1. Get writing. Find the time to write. Then do it.
  2. Learn by listening—and doing. Solicit feedback, discern what helps you.
  3. Finish your story. Edit and rewrite, but don’t tinker forever. Reach the finish line.
  4. Thrive on rejection. Get your story out there. Be fearless. Accept rejection.
  5. Become a juggler. After one story is finished, be ready to start another. Consider writing two at once.
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The train crosses to this side of the office, where it makes another loop and returns to the opposite side.
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A Seuss-style hand holds up the train bridge.
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I doubled my desk space over my earlier office.
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The desk pedestal is made from real books, painted different colors and held together by a long steel rod.
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I love the Seuss-style swirls that my friend Dave created.
Categories
Bestsellers

Bestselling Author- Warren Adler

warrenadler

[author title=”Warren Adler” image=”http://http://www.almostanauthor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/warrenadler.jpg”]Warren Adler has just launched Writers of the World, an online community for writers to share their stories about why they began writing. Warren His Film/TV projects currently in development include the Hollywood sequel to The War of the Roses – The War of the Roses: The Children, along with other projects including Capitol Crimes, a television series based on Warren Adler’s Fiona Fitzgerald mystery novels, as well as a feature film based on Warren Adler and James Humes’ WWII thriller, Target Churchill. Explore more at www.warrenadler.com and www.greyeaglefilms.com[/author]

 

Can you share a little about your recent book –

The novel I most recently finished is titled TORTURE MAN. The story deals with two loaded topics – terrorism and torture, among other themes. The story follows the privileged life of prominent anti-war activist Sarah Raab as her life begins to splinter after her daughter is kidnapped. Desperate to save her, Sarah turns to former CIA operative Carl Helman, a man she has only just met and who stands against everything she has been fighting for. You can find out more about the book here.
Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?

I have to write. It’s necessary for my survival and endurance. So I write feverishly every single day of my life. My themes deal primarily with intimate human relationships, the mysterious nature of love and attraction, the fragile relationships between husbands and wives and parents and children, the corrupting power of money, the aging process and other important universal themes.

How long have you been writing? And how long did it take you to get your first major book contract?

I’ve wanted to be a novelist since I was fifteen years old. Various obstacles prevented me from becoming a full-time writer. I was 45 years old when my first novel was published. I’m now in my ninth decade of life and I’m still going as strong as ever with my novels and my forthcoming film developments.

How long does it take you to write a book?

Most of my books have taken about as long as it takes to grow a baby in a woman’s womb, from conception to birth. Just as in the creation of a human being, it is a miracle.

What’s your writing work schedule like?

Throughout my early career, I would write from five to ten in the morning every day before going to my office, a habit that has stayed with me since.

Do you have an interesting writing quirk? If so, what is it?

What is a writing quirk?  If you mean my writing habits, I rise, have breakfast, read digital news, go into my writing room and go to work. In writing my novels I try to do five pages a day at the minimum. From long experience over many years I have learned that once immersed in a novel my subconscious is deep at work in composing “what happens next” whether I am aware of it or not. My primary fear is returning to work the next morning, confronting a blank page, and not knowing where the novel is going.

What has been your greatest joy(s) in your writing career?

My greatest joy was to see the physical book of my first novel. After nearly fifty novels I still get a kick out of seeing the covers of a finished novel whether digital or in print.

What has been your darkest moment(s)?

My darkest moment in the writing game was to see my first bad review. After consultation with my muse no bad review ever bothered me again. My strategy to cope was never to read my reviews, most of which I am told are quite good these days.

Which of your books is your favorite?

Like, my three children, I fight all forms of favoritism. I treat my many novels and short stories the same way. They are all my favorites.

Who is your favorite author to read?

My favorite author to read is Stendhal, particularly his work, The Red and the Black.

What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have listened to?

My only advice to aspiring authors is to continue to test the quality of your talent. If you truly believe that it is your calling, then you must maintain an iron will about this aspiration and follow your bliss. The hardest thing in life is believing in yourself.

What is the single greatest tool you believe a writer should have in his or her toolbox?

The single greatest tool I believe a writer should have in his or her toolbox is unshakeable belief in their talent.

How many times in your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you?

I suffered through endless rejections of my work until I was able to interest publishers. Rejection made me stronger. I have written extensively on Rejection and working to get past it in On Rejection and Renewal: A Note to Aspiring Novelists.

Do you have a favorite character or scene in one of your books?

I have grown accustomed to and enjoy the company of Fiona Fitzgerald who is the heroine of my mystery series, now up to nine books. In my mind she is the perfect woman: smart, independent, sexy, and fearless. On balance, I love all my characters with all their faults and imperfections. To me, they are very much alive.

Where do you get your ideas?

All of my stories come from my biography, my experiences, and my observations. For example, my works like The Henderson Equation, We Are Holding the President Hostage, my Fiona Fitzgerald series and many others are set in Washington D.C. where I lived for about 30 years, and Torture Man, New York Echoes (and New York Echoes 2), Banquet Before Dawn, The Housewife Blues and others are set in New York City.

What are common mistakes you see aspiring writers make?

If you are a true writer you will never give up, no matter how many rejections and bad reviews you might receive. I´ve had them both. Controlling my own destiny has always been one of my principal obsessions.

Where/How do you recommend writers try to break into the market?

Getting an agent is a tough chore, but it helps tremendously. My advice has also been to get a copy of Literary Market Place, write a one-page letter, beginning with “Are you interested in a finished manuscript (or book)” then spell out the theme and idea. Send it to every agent listed and see what comes back. Resources like IMDb,com can be useful in tracking down an agent for the independent or aspiring writer also thinking about the possibility of turning your book into a movie. Of course I am also a huge proponent of self-publishing and encourage writers to pursue this route.

 

 

Categories
Touching Soul and Spirit

Dreamers Wanted

Of the human experience, one of the saddest realities is the adult who never achieves his or her dreams. Statistics reveal this description fits eight out of ten of us. Perhaps even sadder is the fact that most of this eighty percent won’t even remember as adults the dreams they imagined as children. That’s a disheartening stat for a dreamer.

Our childhood dreams are clues to the destiny God has for each of us. Yes, I believe those dreams are given to us by God in seed form. He plants them in the cracks and crevices of our soul and spirit, and over time, they sprout in our heart and mind. If we partner with God, those dreams begin to produce fruit and move from the realm of imagination into the realm of reality.

As children, we are all fitted with an aptitude for imagination—the ability to perceive something before it has become a reality. Imagination can be the stuff of far-fetched fantasy or the genesis of a reality yet to be discovered or created. Both find their residence in the heart and the mind of a child. And this imagination fertilizes and irrigates the dream God has planted in us.

But sadly, most of those dreams are stolen. We accept the limitations of others, their crushing words, our insatiable appetite for acceptance, or we bow to the altars of reason, intellect, and cynicism. Those dreams entrusted to us by God are eventually lost under the debris of unbelief somewhere deep within in the dusty, cobwebbed corridors of a no longer needed childhood imagination.

Our world desperately cries out for a handful of dreamers who will once again entertain those God-sized dreams. We long for a few visionaries, who glimpse through their imagination what God’s reality for this world looks like. We crave some romantics who will lead us out of this malaise of skepticism and back into the authenticity of a society marked by genuine love. Without the ability to transact in the currency of the imagination, the hearts of those who profess to be Christ-followers will calcify and eventually petrify, leaving the world to its own hopeless, apocalyptic implosion.

We must reclaim our God-given capacity to dream. Dreaming is not a waste of time, it is a necessity to rescue and redeem our limited time. I challenge you to ask God to awaken the dreams he’s sown into your soul and spirit so long ago. Stop gorging yourself on what culture, society, intellectualism, or business says is equitable, acceptable, and financially feasible. Stop listening to the naysayers and the doomsdayers. Blow off the dust, take it in your hands, hold it close to your heart, and nurture that dream until it becomes all that God says it will be.

Let the dreamers arise and ascend until these divine aspirations move from the fertile fields of imagination into the fruitful place of realization.

Categories
A Little Red Ink

What is a Proofread?

What is a proofread?

I’m sure you know by now the importance of wisdom as you choose a freelance editor. If you’ve missed the other posts defining the levels of editing, you can use the links below to catch up.

Macro (or substantive) edit

Line edit

Copy edit

Today, let’s talk about what a proofread entails.

The proofread is the final step…

before going to print (or uploading to online retailers).

Your book should’ve already had both a macro and copy edit, and—ideally—it will have even been formatted before this. The proofreader’s job is to catch remaining typos and word repetition, spot inconsistencies in formatting, make note of spacing issues, and basically get your book into perfect condition for print.

If you’re working with a publishing house, they will have certain in-house standards. You may or may not be involved in this step of the process.

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Ways to proofread.

Some proofreaders prefer to print out the manuscript and do this by hand. Believe me, it makes a difference. Even you would spot different things if you did this step on your own. Our eyes just see things differently in print than they do on a computer screen.

[bctt tweet=”#ProofreadingTip: Print a formatted copy or PDF of your manuscript. Our eyes just see things differently in print than they do on a computer screen. #amwriting #amediting”]

NOTE: If you hire a proofreader to do this, they will likely include a printing fee. There may be a standard fee, or they may charge by the page. Don’t be afraid to ask 1) whether they use clean paper or print on the back of scrap paper (It could save you money); 2) whether you can print a copy and send it to them.

Some—in order to make certain they miss nothing—will proofread backwards. Then, rather than getting caught up in the story, they see each sentence as an individual sentence. This is what I do when I proofread (if I must) for my macro and copy editing clients.

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Find someone new.

I don’t proofread for my editing clients if possible. It’s not wise to have the same editor do the macro edit, copy edit, and proofread. If possible, get someone else. Hey, ask your current editor for a recommendation. Many of us have people we’d trust with our own work.

editor sisters

My sister and I (both editing under the A Little Red Ink banner) routinely do proofreading for one another’s clients. That makes it super easy when questions come up.

“Is this word supposed to be capitalized in this story world?”

“I see this odd paragraphing—is that intentional?”

Erynn and I send our clients’ style sheets to each other, and we remain available to answer questions.

The key is making sure the editor hasn’t already been staring at the manuscript for the last 30 or 40 hours. They’ll miss things. A fresh set of eyes is crucial. If you are going to have the same editor proofread, give them time in between rounds. That requires planning on your part, sticking to deadlines. But it’s worthwhile if you’re determined to stick with one person.

[bctt tweet=”A fresh set of eyes is crucial. If you must have the same editor proofread, give them time in between rounds. #editvsproofread #alittleredink”]

Wrap-up

If you write in Traditional Publishing Land, this step isn’t your responsibility. However, if you’re braving the Indie Ocean, it’s a must. I know every penny counts. This one’s worth your investment.

Still, it’s possible to avoid a fee if you’ve got some killer beta readers who are willing to read through a formatted copy and let you know if they spot any typos. It’s a great trade. Scratch another author’s back with this deal, and then ask them to scratch yours. You’ll both be better off.

Question

Have you ever read a book and spotted typos? Were you quick to pick up other books by the same author?

Categories
Specs: Speculative Fiction

Preparing for a Conference

Preparing for a Conference

So you have respectable goals, and you’ve paid for the conference. Now it’s time you thought about what needs to be done before you get there. Because this is part two of my conference series, and that’s what you’re reading about…but, I guess if you have already prepared for it, then you don’t need this…Wait! you can use this as a check list.

Whew, glad you decided to stay. Since you’re still reading, you get reader status, and life points. You can’t really do anything with them, but hey! Here’s some advice on conferences, from a conference goer.

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What to have done:

      If you’re only purpose is to go to the conference and learn how to write, and you don’t want to do anything else, then come as you are. As you were. As I want you—E,hem.

Otherwise it’s crucial to have your “Elevator Pitch” leveled out. Most new writers don’t even know about an elevator pitch. It was news to me. If you’re writing a story, or you have an idea for a story, your elevator pitch is a short summary of it. The way it was explained to me was, “Imagine you’re in an elevator, alone with an agent that you want to work with. You have until that elevator reaches their floor to tell them what your book is about.” That’s seriously not a lot of time.

Time flies

Generally it’s three or four complete sentences that sum up the main plot. This and a few other things are super important to have done, before anything else. To save time here’s a short list. (heh, see what I did there…I know you did, but I’m just being annoying.)

  • Finish your elevator pitch
  • Have an edited first chapter on your person (if possible)
  • Look over the staff of the conference
  • Do your research on the agents and publishers there

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What to pack:

Packing is not a science, however there are somethings that you will always take with you. Like shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, and of coarse a brush/comb. But depending on the conference and what you plan on doing there, you’ll have to pack differently than you would for other trips.

Something I think is important to take is you’re computer, or some sort of device. It helps with networking, as well as filling in the gaps where you have break but no-one to share it with…You should also bring a nerf gun, because…reasons. (but seriously if you go to Realm Makers, bring a nerf gun and I’ll meet you in battle.)
Finally, clothing is important to think about. The conference you’re going to determines what kind of attire you pack.

[bctt tweet=”Any suggestions on what to pack for a convention, or writers conference?”]

  • Expensive, and fancy conferences, almost dictate that you wear your best. Business formal as it were. If you’re young like me, these aren’t the kinds of conferences where you’re gonna have a blast.
  • If it’s something like Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, usually a dressy top, and casual bottom, with shnazzy shoes—business casual.
  • But if it’s something like Realm Makers, wear something comfortable, and geeky. Then throw a vest on, or a sweater. High heels? Rarely used. But combat boots with a grey dress, and a red shirt. H’yeah!

 

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This for example just looks so right.

What not to pack:

Of coarse there are the things that you shouldn’t bring with you…such as real weapons…I mean you could, but why?

More importantly, you shouldn’t bring work with you. If that’s even possible. The only work that is expectable in my tiny little peabrain, is more writing…or if you have a platform where people follow you, document your experience. Otherwise, no work. (I know that’s not always possible so don’t stress about this particular point.)

Last but not least, leave your grumpy, negatively charged, turd, attitude at home. But make sure you pack plenty of reality…You need lots of that.
There you have it! You have successfully packed for a writers conference…or even a convention. Have an amazing trip and may all that you put your hand to succeed—or at least teach you something.

That’s how I see things through my lenses, comment below and tell me how you see things through yours.

 

Thanks to, Jurgen Appelo, Alan Cleaver, THOR, & Silverleaf For the unedited images.

Categories
Uncategorized Write Justified

When 2 + 2 Still Don’t = 4

Now that you’ve mastered the basics of plurals (see 2 + 2 Doesn’t Always = 4), let’s look at some more exceptions to the rules of pluralization.

For some reason, proper nouns or names often trip folks up. There’s no need, really. The plurals of proper names, including family names that end in s follow the same rules as regular nouns: add s or es.

  • A month of Sundays
  • The two Germanys reunited in the 1990s.
  • All the Johnnys and Marys raised their hands.

The same pluralization rules apply to family names as to regular nouns – add s, or in the case of proper nouns/names that end in s, x, z, ch, or sh, add es:

  • The Kennedys aspired to public service.
  • The Browns vacationed in Hawaii.
  • The Joneses live on Pleasant Avenue.
  • The Martinezes have four children.

BUT nicknamed geographical terms:

  • Rocky Mountains becomes the Rockies
  • Smokey Mountains becomes the Smokies

You will often see proper names pluralized with an apostrophe s, but don’t you try it. Adding an apostrophe makes nouns possessive, not plural.

We should also talk about letters, numerals, and abbreviations as well as common phrases used as nouns. If you follow the KISS rule (Keep It Simple, Sweetie), you will be right 99 percent of the time:

  • Add an s to abbreviations such as CDs, JPEGs, IRAs, and FAQs

BUT when lower case letters are forming plurals, use an apostrophe (only to aid comprehension).

  • Mind your p’s and q’s
  • Dot your i’s and cross your t’s
  • Add an s to numerals, including years or decades such as: 7s, 1990s, 1000s

Some hyphenated words or phrases are not nouns, but can be used as nouns; these form a plural by adding s.

  • Ifs, ands, or buts
  • Thank-yous
  • Twos and threes
  • Dos and don’ts

And finally, those lovely words we’ve adopted from the classical Latin and Greek. Although these plurals may not come naturally to most English speakers, they do follow a pattern.

Greek

Singular ending

Plural ending

on (criterion, phenomenon)

a (criteria, phenomena)

ma (stigma)

mata (stigmata)

 

Latin

Singular endings

Plural endings

a (alumna, larva)

ae (alumni, larvae)

us (fungus, radius)

ii (fungii, radii)

um (datum, memorandum)

a (data, memoranda)

is (basis, thesis)

es (bases, theses)

x (matrix)

ce (matrice)

And when all else fails, do what I do. Refer to the dictionary. You do keep one handy, don’t you?

 

Categories
Blogging Basics

Five Key Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Blogging

5 Key Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Blogging

Beginning bloggers face a steep learning curve that can seem overwhelming. Because there’s so much to learn, it’s easy to begin blogging without a clear plan and purpose. Really, it’s enough to make your head spin: SEO, format, technical, style, social media, length, graphics, and more. The list seems endless.

When I started blogging, I didn’t have a clear vision of I wanted to accomplish. I had a general topic, but lacked a well-developed focus. Over time, I’ve learned through mistakes, training, and example. Start out strong with five key things I wish I knew when I started blogging.

[bctt tweet=”Five Key Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Blogging”]

  1. Give yourself permission to grow over time.
  • Fight the temptation to be overwhelmed with all the details.
  • Let go of perfectionism and remember everyone walks one step at a time.
  • Refuse to negatively compare your blog or traffic with others.
  • Subscribe to writing blogs for practical tips and tutorials for ongoing development.

 

  1. Know your why. Take time to think through the reasons you’re blogging. Examine your motivation with prayer. You need a stronger why than building a platform and generating high traffic. Platform and traffic are good goals, but writing for the numbers can be discouraging.  Consider these questions:
  • How does God want to use your writing?
  • What is your purpose for blogging?
  • What do you hope to do?
  • Why is this important to you?
  • How do your experiences, knowledge, and passions fit with your calling to write?

 

  1. Focus your blog.  A well-focused blog makes it easy readers to know your passion at a glance. The average reader decides within 30 seconds if content is relevant to their interests. Use these tips to focus your blog.
  • Craft a strong mission or brand statement you can work with long term.
  • Choose 3-6 main topics that relate to your purpose.
  • Brainstorm ideas that fall under each topic.
  • Keep your mission statement in mind when you write.
  • Make your focus clear at first glance with structure and graphics that present your topic.

 

  1. Understand the difference between a category and a tag. Categories and tags can sort content by subject rather than chronological order. Categories are broad topics supporting your why, or your mission statement. “Your blog’s categories are like its elevator speech. Make it happen without excess,” explains Julie R. Neidlinger.  Tags are more specific than categories and relate to specific details of your post.
  • Be strategic in choosing your categories.
  • Use categories and tags to make it easy for the reader to find content.
  • The use of tags is optional and not limited in number.
  • Don’t overuse tags; WordPress recommends less than 15 in a post. 

 

  1. Aim for brand consistency.  Refer to your brand statement in most of your posts for a cohesive, focused site. Brand statement, categories, and blog content should all work together.
  • Place your mission statement in a visible spot to remind you to tie your post to your brand.
  • Keep a list of words, phrases, and concepts that support each category. Use these consistently in your posts whenever possible.
  • Before publishing, double check each post for a clear connection to your why or your mission statement.

[bctt tweet=”Refer to your brand statement in most blog posts for a cohesive, focused website.”]

These tips will help you quickly overcome many of the content and organizational challenges new bloggers face. Stay focused on the purpose of your blog, the why that motivates and energizes you. Share your passion with the world with an organized and clearly structured site. Be patient, aim for steady growth and celebrate each new skill mastered. Understanding how to write a clear mission statement and organize your blog will but you ahead of many beginning bloggers.

 

Categories
Craft Writing with Humor

One Word Can Make All the Difference Between Funny or Ho Hum

One Word Can Make the Difference Between Funny or Ho Hum. Click to read Three Tips to Help.

One word can make all the difference between funny or ho-hum. 

For instance, let me introduce you to four kids:

Faith, Hope, Joy, and Jack.

The name Jack is so unexpected, I can’t help but chuckle. It’s the difference between funny and a just list of names. 

Check out these three tips for choosing the right word:

1. Choose An Unexpected Word

We’ve already seen the effectiveness of this technique.

As we hear the names Faith, Hope, and Joy, our minds jump to thoughts of virtuous children with commendable attributes.

Then we hear the name Jack.

It’s a fine name, but it’s not expected, so it makes us laugh. 

Consider Beatrix Potter’s garden-loving rabbits: Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-Tail, and Peter. Right away we know Peter is going to be different. He doesn’t disappoint. 

2. Choose A Word with a “K” Sound

“Fifty-seven years in this business, you learn a few things. You know what words are funny and which words are not funny. Alka-Seltzer is funny. You say ‘Alka-Seltzer’, you get a laugh… Words with ‘k’ in them are funny. Casey Stengel, that’s a funny name. Robert Taylor is not funny. Cupcake is funny. Tomato is not funny. Cookie is funny. Cucumber is funny…Cleveland… Cleveland is funny. Maryland is not funny.”  (Willy Clark, The Sunshine Boys)

The name Jack makes the “k” sound. According to Willy Clark, that makes it funny. I think he’s right. If their names were Faith, Hope, Joy, and Jeff, that would be funny, but Jack is funnier.

3. Put the Funniest Word at the End

The punchline always belongs at the end. Ba-dum bump. Humor 101.

Faith, Jack, Hope, and Joy is just a list of children. Ho-hum. (No offense to Faith, Jack, Hope, and Joy.)

Faith, Hope, Joy, and Jack. That’s funny.

Pay close attention to word choice, and it will pay off in laughs. Just one word can make all the difference.

[bctt tweet=”One Word Can Make All the Difference Between Funny or Ho Hum. Learn 3 tips how.”]

Categories
The Writer's PenCase

Plot Twists—Part II

The Writer's PenCase

Last time we talked about all the elements needed to create a stunning plot twist. This time, we’ll talk about reader reactions and other tips to create a plot twist they’ll never forget.

[bctt tweet=”Readers have one of three reactions to a plot twist: 1) “No way!” 2) “Huh. Nice!” and 3) “Oh, yeah!” “]#plottwists #amwriting

“No Way!”

With the “No Way!” reaction, you’ll structure your plot twist with certainty that what they read is the only way it could have turned out. It was the only possible solution.

“Huh. Nice!”

Lead your readers into uncertainty. Cloud the clues, the issues, and disguise the ending, so the reader has no clue where you’re taking them. Make sure it’s compelling enough to follow, throw in those suspicions and red herrings. You don’t want them figuring out your twist ahead of time.

twist“Oh, yeah!”

Here’s where cleverness leads the way. You’ll want to make sure earlier on your story that you show the special thing the protagonist has available to him/her, but they’ve forgotten about until that crucial moment when they use that to get themselves out of their predicament.

Here are a few questions to ask your manuscript regarding twists and turns in your plot.

  1. Where do I need to shade the details and foreshadowing so the twist is the most credible, inevitable ending to my story?
  2. What clues or evidence do I need to include to make the story stand on its own without the twist?
  3. Is the story improved by the twist? In other words, is it richer and more meaningful? If not, how can I construct the twist so that it adds depth to the story?
  4. How can I use this twist to both turn the story on its head and move it in a more satisfying direction?

Here are a few more tips:

  1. [bctt tweet=”More tips for a spectacular plot twist: 1.Create multiple worlds of inevitability; 2.Turn expectations on their head; 3.Eliminate the obvious; 4.Redirect suspicion; 5.Avoid gimmicks; 6.Write toward your readers’ reaction.”]

Have you had any of these reactions when you read a good plot twist? Which one(s)? Leave a comment and let me know. #amwriting #plottwists

Categories
The Ministry of Writing

God Uses Your Writing in Your Writing Ministry

The title of this post sounds ridiculous I know. I’m sure this article will  get flagged by the A3 editors, but I did intend to make that seemingly redundant statement— God uses your writing in your writing ministry.

You may be finally convinced God has called you to minister through writing. You may be at the point that you are pursuing that call to write, but I am afraid  you may still feel you need to be someone else when you write.

You know God has called you. You are being obedient, but you want to have the style of someone else or the talent of your writing hero. You may even feel God wants you to be that other person, but that is not true.

[bctt tweet=”God called you to have a writing ministry and He wants to use your very own writing.”]

There are many things that can be gained from reading the Bible in its original languages. One of the most valuable insights I have gained is the humanity of the authors. Now don’t for a minute let that diminish the divinity bond in the Bible’s pages, but God didn’t call His authors to be robots. In the midst of God-breathed text one can still find the personalities, the styles, the gifts, the talents, the skills, and vocabulary of those human authors.

All though there are many points in which this phenomena appears there are two passages that are my favorite.

The first passage which displays the humanity of the Bible’s authors is 2 Peter 3:15-16,

     … as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of       these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other            Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Peter writes that the Apostle Paul’s writings are hard to understand. This is supported when Paul’s books are read in the Greek. Paul is very wordy and has long, long sentences. In a New Testament Greek class it will be a couple semesters in before Paul’s letters are studied. The beginner begins with John, Mark, Peter, or James — not Paul or Luke.

Interestingly, Paul and Luke would be the academics of the bunch.

My next favorite point of Scripture where the humanity of its authorship appears is John 20:4,

...Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

 In this passage, John seems to make this footnote that tells that he ran faster than Peter. You would think an editor would have cut that passage out, but the Holy Spirit gave that very human note a green light.

Throughout the Old and New Testament each book bears the mark of the man who penned it. God used their writing for ministry. Peter didn’t have to write like Paul. Moses didn’t have to write like Samuel. James could be straightforward. Luke could be technical. Ezekiel could be unique. Zechariah could be out there. John could be simple. An older John could be grandfatherly. David could be poetic. Solomon could be wise and introspective. And you could be you.

God uses your writing for your writing ministry.

 

 

 

 

Categories
Writer Encouragement Writing Conference

Seven Reasons to Attend a Writers Conference

It’s Spring once again and time to consider attending a writers conference.

Of course you have many reasons not to go:

  • Family
  • Cost
  • You’re not a published writer yet
  • You might have to go by yourself
  • You’re an introvert
  • You have a special condition that requires accommodation
  • You’re not REALLY a writer

Can I encourage you to attend a conference by bursting the bubbles of your angst?

  1. Family. Of course your family is a priority. But are there good friends or a family member who can stay with your kids and see to their needs? If this were a vacation with your spouse, you wouldn’t hesitate to find a qualified sitter. 😉
  2. Cost. Of course there are fees to attend the sessions, as well as for food and lodging. Some conferences cost more than others so check out the expenses listed on the websites. Some conferences are only a couple of days; some last for several days. Look for ones that are closer so you can drive. Ask a friend to share the cost of gas. And by all means, ASK IF THERE ARE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE! Many conferences offer them.
  3. You’re not a published writer yet. It will likely remain that way, unless you dive into the fray of classes, workshops, and meeting editors and publishers at a conference.
  4. You might have to go by yourself. You could ask a writer friend to go with you or meet you there. Or you could take a deep breath, pray…and head for the conference by yourself. Let God provide the fellowship there that you desire.
  5. You’re an introvert. Most writers are. You will be in great company.
  6. You have a special condition that requires accommodation. Conference centers are wonderful for providing special diets and transportation for those who struggle with handicaps. Check with someone at the conference ahead of time to ease your mind.
  7. You’re not REALLY a writer. REALLY? Then why are you drawn to write? You are a writer if you love to put “pen to paper” and express your thoughts in words. You may not be a published author yet, but Writers Conferences are for all writers. Come join the club!

ID-100110295

Attend and be blessed!

Green Typewriter image by Just2Shutter via freedigitalphotos.net

Girl writing image courtesy of anankkml via freedigitalphotos.net

Categories
History in the Making

Surprising Friends for the Historical Author

Bibliography Text photo

By Sandra Merville Hart

Let’s face it. Historical authors spend many hours researching – perhaps as much time as on writing the novel. This happened for me on my last novel but that’s unusual. Here are three ways to reap the greatest benefits from research: take detailed notes; jot down seemingly unrelated yet interesting facts; and maintain an accurate bibliography.

It is important to take detailed notes of important information. Stay organized. Create a word document for research notes and save it in the same folder with the manuscript and supporting documents. Begin with listing the source for the book or article. In short, write the bibliography information. This not only helps relocate the book again but it also builds a bibliography.[bctt tweet=”If something fascinates you, chances are good that it will also fascinate readers. #writing #HistNovel “]

Take copious notes on vital facts. Always include the page number where the information is found. It may surprise an author the number of times he or she refers to notes or resource materials while writing a novel.

Authors may search for specific facts at the beginning of their historical research and skim over other interesting information. If something fascinates you, chances are good that it will also fascinate readers.

Even if the information does not appear to fit in the story at the early stages, take note of the facts. Jot down the book or article citing the information along with the page number to find it easily later. The perfect place for the fascinating fact may appear while writing the novel to add authenticity and flavor to the story.

If the fascinating tidbit does not fit the novel, don’t use it. You may use the information in a future book or article. Then you’ll be happy you waited for the right time.

Lastly, remember to maintain a bibliography of all research materials. Even if publishers do not require the document, authors are often requested to speak at book clubs about their novels. It’s helpful to refer back to source material to prepare discussion notes.

Bibliographies can be a time saver when our novels are not accepted right away. My agent recently suggested polishing the cobwebs off a romance I completed five years ago. I’m not only a better writer now, my research skills have improved. Some previous resources bear a second reading. Had I not maintained an accurate bibliography, I would start almost from scratch to refresh myself on the history.

Making the effort to take detailed notes, document fun historical facts, and maintain an accurate bibliography actually saves time later. Good luck!

 

Categories
Tour

Blog Tour – Torry Martin

[author title=”Torry Martin” image=”http://www.almostanauthor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Torry-in-New-York.jpg”]Torry Martin is an award-winning actor, screenwriter, and comedian. He is also the co-author of “Of Moose and Men” written with Doug Peterson and published by Harvest House Publishing. He has 8 books of comedy sketches published by Lillenas Drama Publishing and is also the creator of the character of Wooton Basset for Focus on the Family’s “Adventures in Odyssey.” Martin has written 11 full feature length scripts with co-writer Marshal Younger, including the comedies “The Boonies”, “Helen of Troy, TN”, “Heaven Bound” and “The Matchbreaker”.  His most recent acting roles were in the Taylor Swift parody of “The Office”, Hallmark’s “The Ultimate Legacy”, and the feature films “Heaven Bound”, “The Resurrection of Gavin Stone”, “The Matchbreaker,” “Skid” and “Mountain Top”.[/author]

What is your latest book?

My latest book is called “Of Moose and Men” and was co-written with the brilliant and talented Doug Peterson. (He makes me sound smart! Not an easy feat, mind you!) It’s published by Harvest House Publishing and available on Amazon.com and at Christian bookstores nationwide.MooseMen Cover(1)

I’ve also written two screenplays that have been produced and will be out later this year. Both screenplays were written with my screenwriting partner Marshal Younger. (Without a doubt one of the best screenwriters I know and a gem of a guy!) We met almost 20 years ago while writing together for “Adventures in Odyssey” produced by Focus on the Family. The films are called “Heaven Bound” which is a faith-based comedy and stars Michael Joiner from “The Grace Card”, Nancy Stafford from TV’s “Matlock” and Danny Vinson from “Walk the Line”. The other film is a mainstream romantic comedy called “The Matchbreaker” and stars Christina Grimmie from “The Voice”.

Blog Tour Questions

Why do you write what you do?

Well that’s an odd question. Why does anyone write what they do? I guess the simple answer is that these are stories that I simply must “get out” of me so I can move on to the next one. Kind of clearing the arteries for more I guess. The message is always what’s most important to me but I prefer that the message appear as almost an afterthought that is clouded with a great story and of course, comedy. I also always have to have comedy involved. That’s just a natural with me.

What are you currently writing?

I’m about to start a new book that will be a sequel of sorts to “Of Moose and Men” and has a working title of “The Call of the Mild: Responding to the Lion’s Roar.” It’ll be about the experiences I’ll be having over the course of the next year and will be very organic in nature. Whatever God has in store for me is what I’ll write about, and so far- it’s promising to be a very busy year filled with travel to different continents where I’ll be making some films. Kind of hush-hush still for the next few weeks but announcements are forthcoming.

Marshal and I are also working on rewrites for the films “Helen of Troy, TN” and “The Boonies” which have both been optioned. We have three other films that have been optioned as of last week as well that we are working on rewrites for too. Those films are “The Little Wanderers”, “Mustang Summer” and “Riding Shotgun”. In addition to that, we wrote the first draft of “Touchdown on the Tundra” and are hoping to start “Amish Lessons” and “When Pigs Fly” next. Yesterday we started discussions about writing a musical for a company. Should be interesting! I also write monthly columns for “Clubhouse” magazine for Focus on the Family. Not bad for a guy who graduated high school with a “D” average and never took a writing class. I’m blessed to be able to work with talented writing partners though. I wouldn’t be anything at all if I wasn’t working with Marshal Younger and Doug Peterson. They both take a good story and make it great. I love collaborative writing and seeing how the stories evolve with my writing partners.

How does your work differ from other work in its genre?

Yikes! These are tough questions. I should probably have Marshal or Doug responding to them so I can sound smarter. I don’t know exactly how my stories differ from other works in their genre because I write in so many genres. Not just one. Romance, drama, comedy, faith based, mainstream, action, family, historical. I’m all over the place thanks to my chronic ADHD. (It really is a blessing!) I think what makes it unique though is that it’s not just my voice that people are hearing. Like I said, I work with writing partners so I tend to work in the third voice which is a combination of my voice, Marshal or Doug’s voice and then the third voice is the voice that we create together. I love the third voice because it’s infinitely better than our voices individually- particularly mine. I need a collaborator and would be lost without one.

How does your writing process work?

I usually come up with the big idea and the main story and basic character outlines. Then my writing partner and I break the screenplay down into 3 acts and place it all out on a bulletin board with index cards etc. Then after we have the story mapped out and the characters clearly defined, my writing partners take the index cards and write the first draft. Then they send it to me, I print it out, make notes all over the place, suggest dialogue changes etc and then…we Skype. We go through my notes together page by page and discuss whether they work or not and then- zoom. Off they go to start the next draft. This process repeats itself over and over and has gone up to 37 drafts for one project. That’s how many times we bounce it back and forth. Plus we have other writers and producers reading the drafts and suggesting notes for improvements as well. It’s very organic and very collaborative.

For “Of Moose and Men” we took several of my pre-existing comedy columns and made adjustments for them to fit into the book. Then for other sections, Doug would Skype me and interview me for the stories. He would record the conversations and then start on the chapters after we had decided previously which stories I wanted to tell and what the chapters would be about. Then again- we bounce it back and forth, I make notes, we discuss them and incorporate the ones we agree on and keep doing that as our process. Doug is really brilliant when it comes to finding the spiritual applications to the stories and articulating them well- he’s also a very funny guy. Marshal is also extremely funny and clever. Marshal has written hundreds of “Adventures in Odyssey” episodes and I can always tell which stories are his because they are always my favorite. They are always poignant, humorous, touching, and based in reality. He creates characters that are so real you can almost hear them breathing. I’m honored to be able to work with people as talented as Doug and Marshal. Oh and Rene Gutteridge too! I LOVE that woman! She is an amazing writer and I was honored to have her as part of the writing team on “Heaven Bound”. I also was cast in her film “Skid” that is based on the book of the same name. If you have never read her book “Boo”- oh my word- you are missing out! So funny! Rene did the novelization with Michelle Cox for the screenplay “Just 18 Summers” that Marshal and I wrote with Michelle. Still hoping that film gets produced so we can actually get paid for it. Yeesh. It’s hard knowing in the meantime that the novelization of your work is out there and you aren’t making a dime off it. Note to Screenwriters: ALWAYS keep yourself attached to the novelization rights to your work. It might be the only money you ever see and that is far better than the opposite of being money you NEVER see. Ugh. Lesson learned. Great story though!

Anyway, sometimes I have to pinch myself when I think of the talented people that I get to write with. They are too good to be true!

Heaven Bound Poster art

Of Moose and Men   http://amzn.to/1VgahXa

Visit Torry at www.torrymartin.com

Twitter @torry_martin

Facebook: torrymartin

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories
Pleasant Rosebud - Romantic Suspense

A STRANGER IN MY HEART (Thomas Garet series)

Local stations went agog with the news. A stranger in town gunned down by Ellicott City resident, Charles Taylor.

Taylor had a history of madness but recently had lived clean for months with his daughter, Charlotte. Many had argued Taylor feigned his condition but different psychologists and psychiatrists who examined him concluded he was mentally ill but could be treated. Since he was discharged more than four months earlier, he had been calm.

Lacy stared at the news from her real estate front office post. “Coulda been anyone,” she muttered.

The crowd scattered around the fallen man while Taylor waved his weapon and cussed. Bold onlookers recorded on their phones and devices. Cops arrived shortly and downed the mad man with a stun gun.

“America is full of angry people.” She turned to her work. But sighed. “Coulda been me. Dear Lord.” She walked that lane every day to her house a couple of blocks away.

What on earth was Charles Taylor doing with a gun? How did someone with a history of mental instability get arms?

Lacy was working late as she did most days but this just made her so miserable. On the average, Ellicott City was safe. She had lived here all her life despite her aunt’s constant prodding to move to Union Bridge.

She looked at the screen ahead again and her jaw sagged. The identity of the victim had been revealed. He was now in the county hospital in the emergency room, alive but in a critical condition, and WBAL 4 had a picture taken from his backpack.

His shaggy dark blond hair looked like a hand just ran through it and he stared at the camera with a tinge of defiance around his mouth, his green eyes bright enough to singe even through the screen.

“Oh dear, he’s here.” Lacy checked the time from her Tinkerbelle silver-strap watch and gasped. It’s 9pm already. She didn’t know she’d stayed so late.

She packed her bags and rushed out of the building.

“Another late night for you, Miss,” Brandon, the night guard waved at her.

“Yes, Brandon. Stay safe. Good night.” She waved down a taxi. She never drove to work. Now she wished she did.

“Good night, Miss Lacy.” He raised his voice. “Are you alright?”

“Will be,” she said before she got into the cab. “County hospital. Thank you.”

A few reporters hung around the parking lot, waiting for more news on Thomas Garet. Will he survive? While in the cab, Lacy listened to a local radio station do an analysis of Taylor’s condition and veered into the gun laws debate.

At the hospital, she went to the reception. “I know the Taylor victim,” she said, breathless. “He is a hiker. I brought him almost to Ellicott City. Is he alive?”

The intern arched her eyebrow and swatted off imaginary strands of her salt and pepper hair from her eyes. “What’s your name please?”

“His name is Thomas Garet.”

“I mean, your name.”

“Oh, Lacy. Lacy Kintley.”

The young lady waved toward the waiting area. “Please wait.”

Three hours later, Lacy finally got hold of one of the doctors on duty, who could give her information on Thomas. He was safe but no one would be allowed to see him till he was strong enough to decide.

“He’s lucky,” Doctor Florand said. “He’s got thick skin.”

Lacy chose to wait till Thomas came out of the OR. She was allowed to peep through a small opening of the door. She murmured a soft prayer for him. He looked so peaceful and she prayed he was.

On her way home in the early hours of the following day, she wondered why he’d come off her car. He knew she was coming here to Ellicott City.

“Lord, please keep Thomas Garet safe. Let him live. I don’t know what happened to him, why he’s so far removed from social warmth but I know he needs you. Give him a chance to find you…”

Lacy opened the door to her one-room condo and for a long time, wept into her hands as she prayed for the stranger who she couldn’t stop thinking about.

 

Author bio:

Sinmisola Ogúnyinka is a pastor’s wife, mother, writer and movie producer. She has a university degree in Economics, and is a Craftsman of Christian Writers’ Guild. She lives with her family in Pretoria, South Africa.

Blog: www.sinmisolao.wordpress.com

Twitter: @sinmisolaog

 

https://pixabay.com/en/shoe-laces-leather-hiking-974564/

Categories
Grammar and Grace

Five Words or Phrases to Avoid

Lots of time we hear verbal patterns that may be acceptable (to some people) in speech, but they are considered ungrammatical in the written word. Below are five examples of words or phrases to avoid in your written communications.

  1. Being as/Being that–Don’t use in place of because or since.

Being as the cake was frosted, we had to eat it.  Wrong

Because the cake was frosted, we had to eat it.   Correct

  1. Can’t hardly—This phrase is a double negative and not acceptable in standard English.

I can’t hardly wait for the first day of summer.  Wrong

I can hardly wait for the first day of summer.     Correct

I can’t wait for the first day of summer.              Correct

 Could of/Should of/Would of—These expressions are ungrammatical uses of could have, should have, and would have. They probably originate from the contractions in speech, could’ve, should’ve, and would’ve. Use the proper form in written English.

  1. Different from/Different Than—The correct usage is different from, not different than.

North Carolina eastern style barbeque is different from western style.

  1. Due to—This expression is a wordy construction. Use because

Due to the fact that Duke lost the game, the team didn’t advance. Wordy

Because Duke lost the game, the team didn’t advance.                   Much better

 Clean up your manuscripts by avoiding these ungrammatical expressions. Clean up your speech patterns by avoiding them, too.

Happy writing!

Categories
The Efficiency Addict

On Writing: Practice Excellence

The value of reading authors that inspire you to writing excellence.

Practice makes perfect. I believed this mantra for years until a music teacher changed my mind. “Perfect practice makes perfect,” he said, then explained that if you practice with poor technique or study only mediocre performances, you’ll never achieve true excellence at your craft. It was not enough to practice. The key was to focus on practicing exceptional technique.

Recently, I considered this wisdom with regard to writing. I’ve been reading. A lot. As writers we read for pleasure and knowledge, studying other authors to learn their techniques. The authors I found were good, but then I read one who was exceptional, and she challenged me. Here are the writing elements that drew my attention in her books:

  • the breadth of research
  • the depth of characterization
  • her fully fleshed-out fantasy elements
  • a storyline built on action (not chance or coincidence)

I had allowed my writing to become weak in some areas. This author made me look at my writing with fresh eyes—and higher standards.

Are you reading books that inspire you to write better? If not, seek them out. It’s true—artists improve by studying a wide breadth of creative people. However, there’s a reason artisans used to be apprenticed to masters and practice their techniques. Find those old and new masters who elevate their stories with exceptional writing craft.

Care to Comment?

Who are the master writers you study? What have you learned? I’d love to see your picks in the Comments section below.

And, in case you’re wondering, here’s the author who challenged me:

Mary Robinette Kowal writes historical fantasy. Her Glamourist Histories, set in the early 19th century, pay homage to Jane Austen’s writing style while creating a new alternate reality all their own. Kowal’s notes at the back of her books will be of particular interest to writers. Here she discusses how she overcame storyline challenges, conducted research, and worked with other authors and period experts. Writers can find additional tips in Kowal’s “Debut Author Lessons” blog post series found at www.MaryRobinetteKowal.com.

Sharables – Because sharing is fun!

[bctt tweet=”If you study only mediocre performances, you’ll never achieve true excellence at your craft. #AuthorLife #WritersRoad”]

[bctt tweet=”Studying Master Writers: Why it’s important. #WritersLife”]

Categories
Talking Character

What’s In A Name?

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet.

Perhaps so, but if roses were called Corpse Flowers, Stinking Christopher, or Spurge they wouldn’t be quite so popular, would they?

Names matter

Despite our best intentions, we do judge people (and things) by their names. (Why do you think companies spend so much time and money testing product names?) A host of scientific studies conclude that names make an impact on everything from the likelihood of juvenile delinquency, to college acceptance, to business success.

For a writer, this is great news! It means we can tell the reader paragraphs of information about a character just by choosing the right name. For example:

Alice McGillicuddy is obviously a very different person than Serena Jones or Emmaline Littleton-Fitzgerald.  Which is most likely to be the main character of a comedy? Go to a top-name prep school? Be the most no-nonsense?  If all three were private investigators, you would expect the tone of the books to be quite different, wouldn’t you?

[bctt tweet=”Apt character names can be a powerful weapon in our writers’ arsenal. “]

Use them wisely.

How to pick evocative character names

Consider the key traits you would like a name to convey, things like age, strength of character, temperament, sense of humor, ethnicity, and social class. Select five to ten that are most important. Now scroll through the phone book or an internet name site and jot down first and last names that seem to fit that description.

Don’t over-think this, go with your first impressions.

After you have collected several, try different combinations of first and last names until you find the one you like best—the one that most strongly hints at the character’s important qualities.

I was working through this exercise recently, trying to select names for  my newest work-in-progress. After narrowing it down to three names for each character, I gave the list of character qualities with the three name choices to several writing friends.

There was almost unanimous agreement on the best name for each one. This despite the fact that the names in question were all unfamiliar Greek or Roman names like Lurco, Avitus, Livia and Xanthe.

Fascinating, no?

One more suggestion

As a final check, run the name through a search engine to check:

  • how common it is (this could be good or bad, depending)
  • if it’s been used too often in recent books
  • if readers may associate the name with a totally inappropriate person, such as the main character from a TV show or movie you weren’t aware of.

Happy naming!

And FYI, if you’re looking for authentic Roman names, my favorite resource is Nova Roma’s name page.

Categories
Dear Young Scribes

How to Create & Maintain a Blog to Build a Readership: Part 1

Photo credit:

Savannah asked, “Do you have any tips for people who are new to blogging or would like to start?”

I began my blog, Christ is Write, over six years ago when I was 16-years-old. My intention going into it wasn’t to build a readership. I simply wanted to have an outlet where I could share my faith-related reflections and the insights I was learning on the writing craft.

Within the first few months, I reached 100 followers and regular blog visitors.

Creating my blog was one of the best decisions I’ve made so far in my writing journey. Not only has it advanced my career by helping me to establish a readership (which generated book sales), build a brand, and network with other writers, but it’s also granted me the satisfaction of instant publication for my writing.

I’ve grown as a writer through the weekly discipline of maintaining my blog and writing on specific topics. Simply put, there are far greater to blogging other than building a readership.

But as I mentioned in a previous post, agents and editors are becoming more and more strict about platforms. It’s reaching the point where they won’t even consider signing with a fiction author unless he/she has developed a healthy online following.

And one of the best ways to do this is through creating—and maintaining—a blog.

So if you’re an aspiring author hoping to create a blog for the purpose of building a readership, ask yourself . . .

1. What is my brand?

What is the specific impression you’d like to leave on your readers? An author’s brand is the image and/or type of book your future readers will think of when they hear your name. It combines the author’s genre, personality, and unique characteristics in a way that sets them apart from other authors.

What image (theme, mood, layout, colors, fonts, picture, etc.) would best portray this brand and represent your work/personality?

2. Who is my target audience?

Be specific about this one as well, because each post you write will be catered toward this group of people. What is the target age group? Gender? What interests/hobbies do they share? If you’d like to see a flock of readers who consistently return to your blog, as opposed to random spurts of readers, then it’s important to narrow your audience focus by creating a well-defined target audience. 

3. What kind of posts can I write that will reach this audience? 

For instance, if you want to start a lifestyle blog for teen girls, then you could write posts that are popular amongst that age group. (Specific topics that come to mind are prom, makeup tutorials, college advice, developing a healthy-self image, etc.) The key here is to figure out how you can reach this audience through only blogging about topics you’re passionate about.

4. What is the overall theme of my blog?

Choose 1 – 3 topics that are frequently covered on your blog. (For instance, I like to blog about faith and fiction.) This will create the umbrella that all of your sub-topics will be placed beneath. It helps to create a narrow focus for your blog—which, in return, will contribute in establishing your consistent readership.

Eventually, you may feel as though blogging is cutting into your writing time. But as long as you invest more time writing rather than blogging, you’ll be fine. In fact, blogging enhances your writing. Anything that requires the discipline to write will improve your writing. (Yes, even essays!) You’re also practicing writing on a deadline and brainstorming new ideas.

And the best benefit, of course, is attaining a readership for your future books.

In the next post, we’ll delve a little deeper into how to maintain a blog once it’s created.

If you have a blog, what has been the greatest benefit to come from it? If you don’t have a blog, do you think creating one would help to establish a following?

Photo credit: samedaypapers.com

Categories
Child's Craft

What Children’s Publishers Want

What do children’s publishers want? That is the question that all children’s writers long to have answered. What is the magic formula for writing a book that is sure to get published? There is nothing sure in publishing but I’ve scoured the internet and attended numerous conferences in search for that answer. I’ve compiled my findings into three categories of what I call the CUT factors. If our stories don’t include the CUT factors, they are more likely to be “cut” from a publishers list of “possibly publishable” books. This is what I’ve discovered, but keep in mind these are guidelines and not guarantees of contracts.

The CUT Factors:

  1. The NUT factor. This means our stories must be entertaining and fresh, maybe a little nutty. Picture books should be enjoyable for adults and children because if the parent doesn’t like reading the book, it won’t be read. The stories could be nutty, funny, amusing, mysterious, joyful, playful, deep, other-worldly as in taking the reader away from this reality, or thought provoking and meaningful. Christine Tangvald, an author of a gazillion Christian children’s books, used to teach a Children’s Writers class at a Christian Writers Conference and talked about the Pizzazz factors. These included ways of energizing our writing to create an atmosphere of suspense, action, adventure, awe, wonder, gentleness, exaggeration, triumph, etc. We should aim to create moods like these.

You’ve heard the scripture that there is nothing new under the sun. Then what do we write to create fresh stories? We should write our passions, whatever gets us excited.  What lights our fire? What makes our hearts sing? What moves us or what do we find amusing? We should write that and write it from our hearts. It’s our job to find new twists to old themes. To help kids view the world differently or to look at common elements in a new light, then we should add a new twist to that. Shouldn’t we strive to make our stories so enticing that the readers will want to turn the pages, so that they are longing to see what’s next? We should create new worlds for them in the pages of our books. Maybe they’re nutty worlds, maybe they’re not. But they should be entertaining and fresh. That’s what we write. Nothing less.

  1. The WHAT factor. Our stories must answer the “so what?” question in that it must be educational in some way. The key is educational, not preachy. Children get preached to all day long from parents, teachers, baby sitters, older siblings. They know when they’re being lectured and taught right from wrong. We don’t want to do that outright. But there should be some sort of ‘take home’ message whether they realize it or not. Our job is to get our message across in a fun, unpreachy, and almost un-educational way. Why should a publisher spend upwards of $100,000 publishing your picture book? Novels cost less, but still a substantial amount. What is the point? Is it a deeper understanding of a Biblical truth? A moral action? A lesson in how to treat others? Maybe your story is so fun and entertaining it simply shows children that books and reading are fun. We just don’t want parents and children finishing our books saying, “So what?” We want to leave them with an emotion, a new thought, a powerful message. Somehow make them wiser, smarter, safer, calmer, more aware. Let’s leave the readers somehow better people because they’ve read our books.
  1. The GUT factor. Gary Richardson, an amazing man and previous (late) editor at a Christian Publishing house taught a Children’s Book Writing class at a conference I attended years ago. He said that at their publishing house they always looked for the GUT factor in manuscripts. So this is a real thing. He said they looked for stories that brought tears to their eyes, that made them laugh, made them squirm or jump, that somehow touched their hearts or elicited gut reactions. Those are the stories they would pursue. There must be an ‘aha’ moment somewhere. Maybe it’s an unusual ending or a funny, unanticipated twist in the drama. We should write the unexpected. We want to leave the reader changed somehow, maybe refreshed. Maybe elicit emotions they hadn’t felt in a while, maybe leave them laughing hysterically, or left more aware. We want the reader longing to read it again and more than excited to share our books with friends so that they too, may be changed for the better.

 

That, my friends, is why we write. That is a sampling of what publishers want. If you are an editor or publisher and desire different criteria, please let us know below. Thanks!

Categories
Create. Motivate. Inspire.

Write, Submit, Repeat

By all accounts, it was a productive year. Articles were accepted for publication. A book contract hung on my office bulletin board—front and center where I could draw motivation from the sight.

Several devotional collections accepted my submissions.

Then my husband sat down to wade through our tax returns and asked me for proof of how much I contributed to the household’s finances the previous year.

Not being a mathematician, I grabbed a scrap of paper and worked like a mad woman to add up the writing bounty…let’s see, add that, carry that number to this column, round up, no…round down…

The love of my life waited in quiet expectation for the grand total. “Um…well, it’s pretty much, uh… Wait. Let me add that column again…”

Sure enough, even with a busy writing year loaded with exciting news and opportunities, I barely made enough to take my sweetheart out to dinner.

Oh my goodness…what am I doing? When will I ever make enough to justify the time and effort?

Even with the promise of financial return on the horizon, it’s tough to keep writing and submitting without tangible payment.

But this is where we must dig in and persevere. The experts remind us: you are gaining experience, collecting clips, and building a platform. Keep writing!

If a magic formula exists, this is it: write, submit, and repeat.

The more we write, the better we become at forming and shaping ideas into words and sentences. We may not receive the green stuff for that newsletter article or VBS skit we labored over for hours, but we are glorifying our Lord by using the gifts He has given us.

With hard work and perseverance, the paying gigs will come.

Until then, keep writing!

 

Submission ideas: Church and associational newsletters, promo copy for special events at your children’s school or club, in-house feature articles on nursing home residents, obituary writing for families struggling to pull words together, letters to the editor, ad copy for local businesses (some of which could pay!)

[bctt tweet=”Write, Submit, Repeat!”]

Categories
A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life Uncategorized

Quite an Odd Couple

One of my favorite television shows of all time is the classic Odd Couple from the 1970s (not the tepid current remake). I still love it for many reasons:

  • The chemistry between the leads. Jack Klugman and Tony Randall were born to play Oscar Madison and Felix Unger. They fed off each other in every episode to create comedy perfection.
  • The ultimate slob vs. ultimate neat freak conflicts. Sure, they’re outrageous, but the contrasts were played to the hilt.
  • The fun. The Odd Couple didn’t try to be socially relevant or edgy; it was just plain fun.

I loved the show when I was a kid and have been watching it in reruns ever since. I’ll never forget how the show got me through graduate school. That may sound weird, but, in the midst of a full class schedule, assistantship work, and more 20-page papers than I could count, The Odd Couple came on for an hour on a local station each night. I would take a break from everything and just laugh at Oscar and Felix for an hour and then return to my work/research/writing refreshed.

As I was watching an episode the other day, it hit me: writing and I are an odd couple, just like Felix and Oscar. And I have to admit: I am Oscar.

Like Oscar, I’m not the most organized person in the world. I’m a true “people person” and would rather be socializing than stuck in front of a keyboard. When I take a personality test, I always score as an off-the-chart extrovert.

Like Felix, writing takes organization and fierce determination. As Felix had every corner of his life organized down to the last detail, experts want to tell us that writing demands that we guard our time and ideas and have all of our pencils sharpened to the same size and standing upright in the same position.

If you know the show, you know these truths: (1) Oscar, in all of his sloppiness and disorganization, was a writer; (2) Felix’s fussiness was often undermined by Oscar’s messes; (3) even with all of their battles, Felix and Oscar remained friends and could co-exist.

These facts encourage me that I, too, can be a writer. God somehow takes my messes and forms them into something coherent and beautiful. For some crazy, mysterious reason He has called me to this writing thing, and all I can do is hold on for the ride, do my best, and let Him do the rest.

One of my favorite Bible verses is 1 Corinthians 1:27 (NKJV): But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty. I think there should be a photo of me and my laptop right beside that verse.

Mind you, I’m no Jerry Jenkins. I’m not even Cyle Young (insert smile here–he created this blog and is all sorts of writing wonderful). But it is comforting to know that God has chosen Carlton, an Oscar Madison type, to write part of His story. May He be glorified in it all.

All of you Felix types are welcome to visit me, but call ahead first so I can clean my office.

Categories
Developing Your Writer's Voice Uncategorized

Find Your Writer’s Voice Through Blogging

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I enjoy blogging about the Appalachian mountains where I live. My blog speaks to the traditions, faith, lifestyle, and character of the Appalachian people.

My heart pitter-pats when describing a snowy day while walking along a mountain path, conveying the inviting smell of a cast-iron skillet of cornbread or sharing the shades of coral and blue of a sunset over a mountain peak. I also love sharing stories of mountain characters that live in the hollows around me.

After reading past posts of my blog I realized my blog is where my writer’s voice blossomed. In post after post I saw my voice grow, not only clearer, but also stronger.

I choose to use first person tone in my storytelling throughout my blog thus allowing me to create a bond with my readers. Using first person tone allows me to infuse my personality, observations, and my experiences within the posts. This cozy type of blogging voice transferred onto the pages of my Appalachian novella.

“One reason I encourage people to blog is that the act of doing it stretches your available vocabulary and hones a new voice.” Seth Godin

I agree with Seth Godin; blogging can help hone a new voice, or as in my case, further develop a voice.

Do you blog? If so, set aside time to read over past posts. Watch for the ways you see your voice growing. If not, you may want to consider this popular communication tool. Who knows, your writer’s voice might emerge from your blog posts.

“The best way to develop your writer’s voice is to read a lot. And write a lot. There’s really no other way to do it.” Stephen King.

Writing a blog demands discipline in forming content, and out of content, comes the