The Writer's Apartment

Primary Blog has moved

2010-11-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Hi folks:

my primary writer's blog has moved to my new blog

I will continue to post here from time to time but it will be to chat about personal stuff. Thanks for following. You guys are the best.

Have you ever lived in fear?

2010-07-14T07:45:00.001-04:00

I have never really known fear until recently when the Deep Horizon oil rig blew. We knew when they drilled the thing there were some very serious concerns - like they were drilling into a very dangerous area where there was a bubble of methane gas that has been there for a thousand years. The powers that be didn't listen to the words of advice and drilled anyway. We know what happend 89 days ago and we can see what continues to happen - oil being spilled into the Gulf of Mexico along with high levels of methane gas. A methane gas bubble is what caused the disaster to begin with.

BP and US officials hoped to have the new cap on the well yesterday and were going to start shutting down the well slowly to see if it could handle the pressure. Today, progress was stopped again. They are doing studies on the sea bed floor. Checking for siesmic activity.

Folks, I live on the west coast of Florida and this is not good. They have either found the pressure is too great, which would cause an explosion, therefore they can't shut it down or the pressure is too low, meaning there is another leak. Either way, Florida is screwed.

I then checked out online job search websites today (as I lost my job in June) and noticed that there are immediate openings in the Coast Guard. As you know if you have been following the situation, the Coast Guard has been working closely with the Feds and FEMA. They will be the ones to help in a national disaster and also to assist FEMA with martial law should it need to be put into place.

I'm not a conspiracy theorist but I can see the issues falling into place - and for the first time in my life, I am terrified. Terrifed that my family and I and millions of others will die because of this horrible, man-made disaster.  I am ready to move Colorado way. Take my pets and my kids and go. But would it do any good? The amount of methane gas would spread around the globe. The oil would kill everything in the oceans.

I pray none of this comes to pass but I'm not going to let another day go by without making peace with my God. I always thought I'd grow old and grey.  Watch my children marry, have kids of their own. Now I fear for their lives and our future. The reality of what we face is severe. The 'conspiracy theories' of 2012 might come true much earlier than believed. I guess we all need to live our lives to the fullest now. Do all the things we wanted to do. Don't waste another day to live for we never know when the day will come that everything we know and love is gone.

I hope I haven't sounded too depressing. As a writer, I felt the need to express myself and my thoughts. It's cathargic in a way, though it relieves none of the fear. It just makes it easier to live with.

Of all the characters you've written, which one do you like the most?

2010-07-09T11:25:00.002-04:00

I had an agent ask this question of me not too long ago and it took me no time at all to say ‘Sir Trogsdill Domnall.’

Sir Trogsdill Domnall, Trog for short, is a primary secondary figure in my novel, In the Shadow of the Dragon King. He is good, honest man, strong in his beliefs. He is a knight and believes with all of his heart and soul in his country and kingdom. His appearance is striking. His temperament even. He is self-assured, a little cocky at times and has everyone else’s best interest at heart, even over his own. He will protect others without a thought as to his own safety and life. His loyalties are deep and true. He is well-loved and respected by everyone, and stories and songs of his heroism are heralded throughout the land.

His personal feelings and emotions, however, remain locked deep inside, and these pent-up feelings eventually catch up with him. When the worst possible scenario in his life comes to fruition, he begins to question his integrity, his beliefs, his morals, the very fabric of his being. Revenge, hurt, anger and hate, words not common to his vocabulary and persona, infiltrates his soul. He finds himself walking the fine line between what is just and what is morally right.

I think I like him the best because he is someone who only wants the best for those around him. He sees himself as a protector, the one who can’t falter or break, yet inside, he’s as weak and vulnerable as the rest of us. Even though my story isn’t about him, his personal story about coming to terms with who he is and accepting his own shortcomings proves a valuable lesson to all those around him, especially for the main character, David.

Now it’s your turn. Who is your favorite character you’ve written and why?

Local High School Ditches Textbooks for Kindle

2010-06-02T12:32:00.000-04:00

Say goodbye to textbooks, at least for a local high school near me.

Clearwater High School will replace their traditional textbooks with Kindles next year. The gadgets will be fully loaded with all the textbooks students need, minus all the paper.

read more here

I'd be really interested to hear your views on this. Are there other education systems already doing this? What happens when a student loses a Kindle? What are the costs to schools? parents? taxpayer?

What does this mean for the publishing industry, especially if this idea catches on and other school systems adopt the Kindle? Textbooks are a big business for publishers and printers. Could this be the beginning of the end for the printed word?

hmmm

I would assume optometrists will rake in the bucks... :-) I don't know about you, but there is only so much I can read online.

Green Methods can Clean oil spill, so why are we waiting?

2010-06-02T11:14:00.003-04:00

Ok, I’m going to go way off topic here and talk about this oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

This devastates me. I live on the gulf coast of Florida and every day I am sickened more by what is happening. I cannot believe that BP, or any other oil company for that matter, does not have 4 or 5 back-up plans to the back-up plans should they fail. Maybe this catastrophe will force these companies into resolving this issue before drilling off the coast of any country in the future.

As to cleaning it up . . . there are two very ‘green’ methods that can be used at this very minute and why they are NOT being used boggles my mind. My suggestion to anyone on the Gulf Coast, mobilize groups, and go ahead and do this, whether it be on a local or state level. Call or write your congressmen, senators and governor. Suggest these methods. Get your own groups out to the beaches with these methods and take action on your own. We simply cannot wait to do what the government should have been doing all along.

Folks, hair absorbs oil. There have been many salons and beauty shops all around the country to donate their cut hair to use for the clean up efforts. So far, none of it has been used.

Hay is also another natural ingredient that will clean up this mess. The oil adheres to the hay, making it easy to scoop. If there’s anything in the south that is readily available, it’s hay and grass and lots of it. Please watch the attached video.

It is time to demand our government and leaders do something about this mess. If not, we, the people, will have to do it ourselves. Don’t wait for this to get to our beaches or destroys the entire eco-system of the Gulf before it spreads into the Atlantic. It must be stopped now. If there are natural methods to do so, then they must be used – now. No more waiting. Come on everyone! Please, call and demand immediate clean up efforts. The methods mentioned are free to use and will work. We owe it to our earth and to nature to try. Even if you do not live along the Gulf of Mexico, please, please, send letters and call the White House and the leaders of each of the Gulf states and beg for their approval to use these methods. It's better than doing nothing.

http://www.wimp.com/solutionoil/

Become a Published Author!

2010-05-25T18:43:00.001-04:00

The International Association of Aspiring Authors ("IAOAA") is excited to announce the publication of its first compilation of members' works. As the Editor-in-Chief, I am very excited about this project and am certain you will be, too.

For Rules and Submission guidelines as well as other details about this project, please click here.

If you would like to submit your work for publication, please keep in mind you must join the IAoAA prior to submission. Membership is free. Please click here to sign up.

This is a limited opportunity. Once the quotas listed are filled, this opportunity will be gone forever. Sign up now to avoid disappointment!

I look forward to working with you and reading your works.

Jenny Michaud (a.k.a., J. Keller Ford), Editor

Fantasy and SciFi Writers - Heads Up! There's a new contest in town...

2010-05-12T07:55:00.001-04:00

Writer's Digest is having their 'Dear Lucky Agent' Contest and it is open to all science fiction/fantasy writers (adult or YA - no MG, please).

WHAT TO SUBMIT

The first 150-200 words of your unpublished, book-length work of fantasy or science fiction (adult fiction and/or YA fiction; no MG please). You must include a contact e-mail address with your entry and use your real name. Also, submit the title of the work and a logline (one-sentence description of the work) with your entry.

CONTEST DETAILS

1. This contest will be live for approximately fourteen days—from May 12 through the end of Wednesday, May 26, EST. Winners notified by e-mail within 7 days of end of contest. Winners announced on the blog thereafter.

2. To enter, submit the first 150-200 words of your book. Shorter or longer entries will not be considered. Keep it within word count range please.

3. This contest is solely for completed book-length works of fantasy and science fiction (both YA and adult novels are accepted; no MG).

4. You can submit as many times as you wish. You can submit even if you submitted to other contests in the past, but please note that past winners cannot win again.

5. The contest is open to everyone of all ages, save those employees, officers and directors of GLA's publisher, F+W Media.

6. By e-mailing your entry, you are submitting an entry for consideration in this contest and thereby agreeing to the terms written here as well as any terms possibly added by me in the "Comments" section of this blog post. (If you have questions or concerns, write me personally at literaryagent@fwmedia.com. The Gmail account above is for submissions, not questions.)

PRIZES!!!

Top 3 winners all get: 1) A critique of the first 10 pages of your work, by your agent judge. 2) A free one-year subscription to WritersMarket.com.

For more information, please visit the website: Dear Lucky Agent Contest for SciFi and Fantasy Writers

Oh, and Good Luck!

Creative Writer Award!

2010-05-08T15:05:00.001-04:00

I received this award from the one and only, oh so talented, Annie McMahon Dutch Hill Girl. Thank you very much Annie!

Please feel free to follow her link above to read her post about this award. But, take it from me. Don't believe everything she says. She's a horrible liar. :-)

Now, let me see. I'm supposed to come up with six lies and one truth about me. Hmmm, seeing as I write fiction, this shouldn't be too hard.

Let me see...ok, here goes. Let's see if you can pick out the truth:

1. I am a published author and my novel is number one on the New York Times bestseller list.
2. I think traveling is a waste of time and limits the creative juices from flowing.
3. I think children are tyrants. That's why I never had any.
4. I was hugged and kissed (on the neck) by Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys
5. I don't like dogs, cats or any living thing that is warm and furry.
6. I think Charles Dickens' writings are too overrated and boring.
7. I live in a pineapple under the sea.

Okay, now, who to tag...

I guess it will be these four fab writers... You should really check them out. :-)

Vicky
Kurt
Victoria
Mary

You're invited to a free teleseminar!

2010-04-11T12:54:00.000-04:00

I have an important message to anyone who's written a non-fiction book (or thinking of writing one in the near future).

Have you ever wondered why some authors make a fortune while so many others with equally good books always seem to struggle financially? Would you like to make a whole lot more from your own book(s) -- without a lot of work or expense?

If you answered yes to the above, you may want to tune into a free teleseminar by Steve Harrison, Radio-TV Interview Report (RTIR), & Million Dollar Author Club.

From the e-mail I received from him today:

"After working with 9,300+ authors over the last 20 years, I've learned rich authors simply do seven key things differently than poor authors.

As publisher of Radio-TV Interview Report (RTIR) and Book Marketing Update, I've worked with and interviewed some of the most successful authors alive today. Some are extremely famous bestsellers, like the
creators of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and Rich Dad Poor Dad. Others are happily not-so-famous but quietly raking in high six-figure and even seven-figure annual incomes without ever being on Oprah or hitting any bestseller list.

To learn what rich authors know that poor authors don't, join me for a free 75-minute telephone seminar
Thursday, April 15th at your choice of two times:

2:00 pm Eastern (11:00 am Pacific) OR 7:00 pm Eastern (4:00 pm Pacific):

To register for the free teleseminar, go here now:

http://www.freepublicity.com/RichAuthorSecrets/?11611

What you'll discover on the call will arguably be the most important information you've ever heard about
publishing.

I realize that's quite a promise, but I'm totally serious. You'll discover things like:

* Why the seven key differences between rich authors and poor authors aren't obvious things like writing a
good book or having a catchy title.

* The 'secret reasons' behind bestsellers like Rich Dad Poor Dad, Purpose Driven Life and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

* Why understanding the rich authors' strategies is critical even if you don't really care about money and just want to share your message with others.

* Having trouble getting your books into stores? Learn how rich authors overcome the many problems and frequent obstacles of the bookstore distribution system.

* The rich authors' mindset and how they think very differently than most authors.

* Want massive publicity for your book? You'll learn the real reason why rich authors are able to get tons of media exposure for their books -- and it's not just that they have good stories and hire top publicists.

* The 'unfair advantage' rich authors use to win the publishing game which 99.9% of all authors don't know
anything about.

* How you can use the rich authors' secrets to make a nice living from your book even if you only sell
10,000 copies and never get booked on Oprah (not that you shouldn't try!).

* Want to sell your book to a major New York publisher for a six-figure advance? You'll learn the single biggest thing you need -- and no, it's not a great manuscript or book idea though those are important. If you've got it, getting a publisher is easy. Without it, you'll probably struggle to get your work published.

* An incredibly simple thing you should immediately do to dramatically increase the profit you make from every book.

To register for the free teleseminar, go here now:

http://www.freepublicity.com/RichAuthorSecrets/?11611

I look forward to 'seeing' you on the call Thursday and teaching you the seven things rich authors know that poor authors don't. Who knows ... it may be a phone call that changes your life!

Best,

Steve Harrison
Radio-TV Interview Report (RTIR)
& Million Dollar Author Club
Bradley Communications Corp.
390 Reed Road, First Floor
PO Box 360
Broomall PA 19008
484-477-4235 (Cust Svc Voice Mail)
http://www.rtirmag.net/?11611
http://www.milliondollarauthorclub.com/?11611
http://www.reporterconnection.com/joinnow/?11611
http://www.nationalpublicitysummit.com/?11611

'Twilight' Author to release new novella June 5, 2010

2010-03-30T12:19:00.000-04:00

"Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer has a new novella coming out on June 5 - "The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner".

The novella is told from the viewpoint of Bree, a newborn vampire featured in "Eclipse." That's one of the books in Meyer's best-selling teen-vampire saga.

Stephenie Meyer to Release New Novella

Scene setting

2010-03-28T10:56:00.001-04:00

As an aspiring author, I love critiquing other aspiring author's works. Why? Well, for one, I'd like to think I can offer constructive criticism and provide something of value so the author can improve, and, two, it helps me identify weak areas of my own writing. Lately, I've run across authors who seem to struggle with scene development and that's what I'd like to write about today.

A novel, to me, is made up of a bunch of little mini-stories, which are all linked together by 'bridges' to create a plot. These mini-stories or scenes, like the entire story, should have a beginning, a middle and an end. If they don't, then they should probably be eliminated or re-written. (I have done this so many times I can't even count them, thanks to others who have critiqued my work and pointed them out to me).

There are lots of scenes to a novel: the opening scene, which must hook your reader, action scenes that will carry your reader through your novel and keep them engaged, exposition scenes that, well, expose information about your story such as time and place, transitioning scenes that move your characters from place to place, from conflict to conflict, and finally, the ending scene which wraps it all up and resolves the conflict, leaving the reader wtih a sense of completion.

As the multiple mini-stories are vital to the telling of the whole story, so should be the mini-stories to each of your scenes.  When writing a scene, ask yourself, does it have a hook? Does it have action? Is something revealed? Have I smoothly transitioned the current scene from the one before and into the one that follows? Have I settled or intensified the immediate conflict of the scene, leaving the reader with a sense of completion and a desire to continue? If you answer 'no' to any of these, then it might be helpful to go back and see how you can improve the scene to make it the best it can be. It won't be easy because, while focusing on creating scenes, you also have to stay in character POV, stay with action verbs, watch the adverbs and adjectives, show, not tell, keep your dialogue real, create believable characters, don't overdo settings and eliminate extraneous words, all the while staying true to yourself and your voice. Sound daunting? It can be but it can also be a catharsis.

Main thing - no matter what, don't ever give up. Keep writing.  I'll see you again in about a week.

Writer Beware Blogs!: Tidbits

2010-03-19T14:46:00.000-04:00

Writer Beware Blogs!: Tidbits

Want to be a published author?

2010-03-18T22:12:00.001-04:00

The International Association of Aspiring Authors will soon give all its members a chance to become exactly that - a published author. Current plans are to produce two works - one fiction and one non-fiction piece.

To participate, you must become a member of the IAoAA (admission at this time is free), so sign up as soon as you can at International Association of Aspiring Authors.

Details to follow soon on the website so visit often.

Also, please feel free to look around the site. You can post your works for critiquing under the 'writer's critique' heading and you can post information or start a conversation under the 'discussion' heading.

I look forward to seeing you all there.

Come on, become a member, and become a published author!

How to Get Inspired When the Inspiration has Got Up and Gone

2010-03-12T18:59:00.003-05:00

Writing is hard enough when you're motivated, but what happens when you feel uninspired and the muse has plumb left the building? Quite simply – you write!

One of the absolute worst scenarios for a writer is to get writer’s block. It can be devastating, but not if you understand what causes it. In my opinion, it is fear. Fear of where the story is going. Fear that it has nowhere to go. Fear others won’t like the message. Fear that you aren’t sure what the message is. Fear is a great motivating factor to not do something, but when channeled correctly, this one little emotion can inspire you to accomplish things you never imagined.

Whether you write for a job or for fun, we all know that writer’s block is almost the worst thing that can happen to a writer. We also know that obsessing, fretting or freaking out over it does absolutely no good at all. In fact, it increases the fear, which in turn increases the desire to not write because you just aren’t in the mood and besides, why should you write anyway. It’ll turn out to be garbage anyway, right? Wrong!

Writing is writing. To a writer, it’s equivalent to blood rushing through our veins. Sometimes the writing arteries get clogged with negativity, anxiety, failure. I’m going to try to give you some hints to clean out all the negative vibes so the thoughts can flow free again.

If you find yourself uninspired, try these little hints:

1. Turn on a bad t.v. show or watch a horrible movie. Critique what you see. You don’t like the characters. You can’t imagine what the set designer was thinking when he designed the scenes and who in the heck did the lead character’s hair and makeup? Before long, you’ve not only written something but you’ve critiqued something. This is very important if you are going to edit your own works. It may also provide you with some characters for your next brainstorming idea.

2. Go to a bookstore or library and pick up a book you’ve never read or even seen before. Read the back cover. Open to a random page and read a couple of sentences, then take what you just read and brainstorm your own ideas. What could you do with the characters you just read about? If it’s a romance and you like to write horror, how could you change the setting to reflect your interests? Come up with your own creations as fast as you can. Just write, write, write. Pretty soon, you’ll have all kinds of ideas floating around in your head and wont’ be able to contain them all.

3. Go to a public place and watch people. We are a curious species and you can come up with some wild, crazy stories if you just watch and listen. Pick up on that conversation at the table behind you at Wendy’s. There’s some juice in there somewhere. If not, make up your own.

4. Meditate. Close your eyes and relax. Open your mind and let whatever comes in, in. Keep your mind open to a number of ideas. When a writer gets stuck on one way of writing, that writer has created his/her own block by blocking out opportunities to write. Your mind must be open to all ideas.

5. Talk aloud, even it if is to yourself. Picture it. You’re stuck on a scene, you can’t think of where you want to go next. Stand up in the room and act it out. Picture yourself as the character. What would you do in her or his situation? This is a great exercise for picking up what is convincing and what isn’t not only for your characters but for your readers. The writing has to be natural, flowing. Put yourself in the scene. Act it out. Talk it out. You’ll be amazed at how fast the information begins to flow.

6. Find a pet peeve and write about it. It could be something as silly as men leaving the toilet seat up or picking up a tube of what you think is toothpaste only to find out it’s hemorrhoid cream. Don’t be afraid of the possibilities.

7. Be prepared to ‘write’ anywhere. If you’re like me, your best ideas come while you are in bed or standing in the shower. Keep note pads handy. Get a digital recorder then write it all down later. Put a white erase board in the shower so you can write your ideas as they come to you. Will other people in your family think your nuts? Probably, but that’s okay. We’re writers.

8. Take a walk around the block and when you get back, write down ten things you never noticed before. Describe them using all your senses.

9. Record a conversation at lunch or dinner and then transcribe it. Insert a sexy character or a bad villain and voile’! You have the makings of another story.

10. Write about writer’s block. Yes, you heard me. Sit down and write something like this: “I can’t write. I can’t find a darn thing to write about.” You’ll be amazed that if you do this, all of a sudden you’re writing…either about your day or something your kids or your pets did. You stepped in a pile of poo. You fell. You discovered you can walk and chew gum at the same time. Open your mind. Let it come.

Remember, the cause and the cure for writer’s block is one and the same: write something. Keep a pen/pencil and a notepad handy (or the digital recorder). Never be caught without it. You have to take control and shove writer’s block away. It won’t disappear on its own. Be careful when you write that you don’t plagiarize. Make your ideas your own.

Don’t worry if anyone else will like what you wrote. That is not the point. The point is to get you to write. If you still can’t move ahead with your story, then you may need to look at the story itself. Find where it doesn’t work. Once you find the problem, the answer is usually easy to fix. As always, when lacking inspiration, go to your local writer’s group. Call another writer. There are thousands of ways to get inspired. The method(s) you use are totally up to you. The only thing I ask is that you have fun doing it.

So, you want to be a...?

2010-03-12T07:56:00.004-05:00

Hi everyone. Just got up after about 5 hours of sleep. I spent way too long on Wizard 101 last night. My level 50 Life character (Gabrielle Pearleyes) got stuck in a battle in Grizzleheim that took me and two others quite some time to complete. When I finish this quest in Ravenscar I will have beat the game completely! Whoo Hoo!! It's funny, the peeps I was playing with in the end were parents like me and we got to talking about our kids. I can't help it. I love my kids. All four of them. They are all unique and special individuals and they each have their own likes and dislikes. I find this fascinating.  Their individuality is way cool. Like my oldest - she's married and is a mom and is going back to school to get her degree in education and perhaps law. My middle daughter has received a bachelor's degree, she works in theater and is about to go back to school for her masters. Both my daughters love to write.  My middle son is about to graduate high school and is an avid outdoors nut. He loves to fish and could stay on the water forever. He is looking at studying graphic design in college.  My youngest son loves video games and is so savvy with them that it simply blows me away. He wants to design and test games. He is a freshman in high school so still has some time to make sure this is what he wants to do, but I don't see it changing.

As parents, we all have dreams of what our kids are going to be when they grow up. We try to set goals in place for them, incentives. We try to guide them, prod them, bribe them with whatever it takes to get good grades but in the end, it's not up to us parents what our kids want to do. It's up to them what they want to do.

I know people who tell their kids who want to pursue their dreams in the arts (writing, music, painting, drawing, etc.) things like "Music's great, honey, but it won't pay your bills" or 'You don't want to go to college for that. You need to learn a skill that will earn you some money. Drawing pictures won't earn you any money."

I think this is such an unfair thing to say. I mean, yes, they need to understand they need to provide for themselves and remain grounded but they also need to be encouraged to follow their hearts and their dreams.  For many of them, they have a natural, God-given talent and that talent should be shared with the world.  Can you imagine the world without books, paintings, sculptures...music? I can't, nor do I want to. This doesn't necessary mean college is the correct route for all kids.  It could be formal training with a professional artist. It could be hooking up with the right people at the right time (I know a 10 year-old girl who plays the drums and has recently gone to Nashville, made a publicity cd, put together a package and has jammed in an un-named country artist's home along with Elton John's drummer and other well-known country music band members).  Whatever it is, don't be afraid to pursue it and don't give up.

For all you kids out there (and us adults who are finally following our heart's desire), listen to those around you who have your best interest at heart but also listen to your own heart. You only go round in this life once. Make every day special. Pursue your dreams every day. If you want to be a writer - write. If you want to be a painter - paint but whatever you do, don't let anyone take your dream. Without dreams, what do we have? If it comes from the heart, only good can come from it. Go for it. Hold on tight to your dream.  The world will thank you for your dedication, integrity and persistence.  Ground yourself in reality, understand that you do need to develop skills that will carry you through life and provide for you and your family, but don't give up on your passions in the process. With time and some good luck, those passions may provide you with the wealth or lifestyle you might dream of, but don't be disappointed if it doesn't. What matters in the end is that you followed your passions, your heart, your desires.  If you do this, you'll never look back on your life with regrets.

Hope your day is sunny and wonderful. Mine will be. :-)

Character Name - Toss Up!

2010-03-10T13:38:00.000-05:00

I'd like to say thank you to everyone who participated in helping me find a name for my poor, lone, lost character. It has now come down to two names and I need help deciding.

Tristan???

or

Rusty????

Please leave your comments here or on my website: http://www.jennykellerford.webs.com/

Thank you for your votes!!!

Looking for Character Name

2010-02-20T10:44:00.000-05:00

Calling all authors. I'm looking for help with a character name and I am open to all suggestions.

For those of you who don't know, I am writing a fantasy YA novel tentatively entitled In the Shadow of the Dragon King (short synopsis on main page). In the hero's (David's) quest, he comes across a rebel band of kids, many of which are shapeshifters. The leader of this group is Ravenhawk, a dark-haired seventeen-year old who shifts into a black hawk but in his human form is wicked mean with a bow and arrow.

I have another kid who shapeshifts into a fox, but his personality is nowhere near to that of a fox. In his human form, he's shy, he stutters, has buck teeth, and is about as quiet as a suit of armour falling down a flight of stairs. I am looking for a cool and catchy name for his 'fox' name. His human name is Cain.

I would love to see your suggestions and as 'payment' for your help, should I choose the name you suggest, I will offer a free critique of the first chapter of your novel, up to 1,500 words.

What is passive writing and how can it kill a story/novel?

2010-02-11T23:22:00.004-05:00

How many times has someone told you your writing is passive and you sat there, scratching your head, wondering what that meant? I know it happened to me a lot but no one really explained to me how to fix it so I kept making the same mistake and getting the same feedback over and over again. It wasn't until someone pointed it out to me when it finally sank in what I'd been doing wrong all along. The great thing was and is, once you spot it and know how to fix it...wow! It's like having that V-8 moment. So, I thought I'd pass on my revelation to others and if helps one person out there, then I will be so totally stoked and happy.

So, what is passive writing? In a nutshell, it's telling, not showing. It has the tendency to leave the reader isolated from the story - almost as if they are being fed the story than experiencing it for themselves. How can you tell your writing is passive? Look for telltale words like "was", "were", "had", "felt" and forms of the verb 'to be', for example, is, am, be, being or been.

Even the best plot in the universe can abandon a reader if it is cumbersome with passive writing. So, how can an author fix this? Well, make the passive verb active.

Let's take an example from my own writing:

David blew into his freezing hands and then dragged the empty bin up the tree-lined drive to his home - a white, columned antebellum mansion he shared with his godmother, Lily. David took the front steps of the veranda in one long stride (being as they were the shortest distance to warmth) and entered the house.

What a mouthful, huh? "Being as they were..." What the heck was I thinking when I wrote that?

Here are the same two sentences revised:

David stormed up the drive to the 1800s white-columned mansion, flung the bin in the side yard and took the front steps of the veranda in one long stride.

Hmm...I think the second example is far better, tighter, and to the point.
Here are some other examples:

Passive sentence: My homework was eaten by Toby.
Active sentence: Toby ate my homework.

or

Passive: The sun was shining.
Active: The sun shone.

I found when I changed my writing from passive to active writing, the story took on a whole new life. It became tighter, quicker. This isn't to say that you need to do away with all was's and were's. It just means to be cognizant of how the words are used and when they are used and if the story would be better if changed.

There are times, however, that passive writing is what you want. You'll find this if you are wanting to place emphasis on the object of an action more than the subject, in which case you will want to place the object of the action first in the sentence (make it the subject of the sentence). This usually requires a passive verb. For example:

The hotel added a security camera.

A security camera was added to the hotel.

Because the emphasis is on the security camera, the second choice would be the best to use.

Again, think about what you want to say and decide the best way to do it. Not all passive sentences are bad, just when they're not good.

Short Story competition

2010-01-15T07:34:00.002-05:00

So, I finally got brave and entered a short story contest with an international magazine. The title of the story is The Passing of Millie Hudson. What is the fifteen second elevator pitch?

An old woman goes home for her sister's funeral and leaves behind an unforgettable gift.

From those who have read it, I have received the following comments:

"This is such a humorous, poignant and heart warming story." Kathleen Ayres, author

"...an awesome short story...The ending of this story is priceless." Denna Holm, author

"This is really, really good, a lovely little story that was both a little sad and uplifting." Rich Hawkins, author

"I think your story is fantastic!...The vernacular you use really sets the tone of the story." Jess Kennedy-Williams, published author, Founder and Executive Director International Association of Aspiring Authors.

There have been others who have given me words of encouragement, enlightenment, and providede their unbiased opinions and crucial editing eyes. To all of you I extend a warm and heart felt Thank You. Without all of your help, comments and support, Millie Hudson might still be sitting on my computer screen looking back at me, snickering.

I'll keep you posted on the contest. The deadline is March 30 and the site says it takes about a month to announce the results. Please say lots of prayers and send good karma my way. It would really make my day to win.

Gambaru!

2010-01-13T08:17:00.009-05:00

Good morning fellow writers, authors and aspiring authors

As I sit here on this chilly Florida morn, the question pops into my mind - what is it that makes a great story, well…great? What is that secret recipe that separates the blockbusters from all the other published pieces? Granted, some of it has to do with being in the right place at the right time but there is something more, something that touches our hearts, our spirits and our minds. As an aspiring author there are a few things, other than grammar and punctuation, I think I must keep in mind as I write.

1. The work must be convincing and real

I must live with my characters in order to give them life in my stories. By this I mean I must become my characters, feel their emotions, act like they would, say what they would say. I must be as in tune with each one of them as I am with myself and my friends. It is the only way I can write them with their passions and feelings. I have to write them with my heart. Only then will my readers fall in love with them as much as I have.

2. Pay attention to plot and storyline.

Let’s face it – if someone knows how my story is going to end within the first 4 – 6 chapters of a novel, then I have a serious problem with a weak plot. It is important to have lots of twists and turns; keep the reader guessing. Make them work hard for answers; make them feel exhausted yet jubilant by the end because they’ve just completed the adventure with your protagonist and his/her counterparts. If I don’t do this, then I have failed my reader.

3. Character Development

Have you ever read a story and thought ‘that guy wouldn’t have done that. It’s not his character’? I know I have and it irks me to no end. Sometimes, I think it helps to write blurbs about each of my characters – who are they , what do they like? Are they shy, outgoing? Do they like ice cream or pie? What are their flaws, their weaknesses, their strengths? What are their ages? Do they have siblings? All these little things are important. I have found in some of my earlier pieces that characters have just shown up in my stories. They’re like walk on actors in a play – and completely unnecessary. My advice - if they add nothing to your story, if they do not contribute to the plot or expose something about your main character, take these extraneous folks out of your story. I know it is difficult to do because, if you’ve followed step 1 above, it’s like killing off your best friend. Sometimes, though, as painful as it is, it is a step you have to take to make your story pop off the pages.

4. Make an outline to keep inconsistencies in check

Inconsistencies are inevitable. There are going to be one or two in a great story. Even in movies you’ll see things that aren’t supposed to be in a scene. Let’s face it, accidents happen, but we can at least be cognizant of the issue and try to be careful to weed them out. The first thing that comes to mind is point of view in a story. ‘Head-hopping’ as a lot of folks call it, is annoying when I read it in other people’s works but sometimes I don’t notice I’ve done it in my own until someone points it out. (that's why several sets of trustworthy eyes are so necessary when editing). Usually in a story, the author gives a point of view to one main character and we see the story through that person’s eyes through the whole story. In my fantasy stories, I tend to write with several points of views only because there are so many events taking place that this is the only way to bring the story together (at least in the way I want to tell it). As long as there is delineation between POV’s, then there is not an issue. Where the problem arises is when the change is subtle. For example:

“Jack hunched over a tray of pastries and pondered whether a string of icing on the eclair might be nice. He looked up at Jane and smiled. She smiled back and wondered what culinary creation he’d create next.”

This paragraph starts in Jack’s POV and ends in Jane’s. There is no way Jack would know she is wondering what he’ll create next. This is a big inconsistency and one I see a lot when reviewing other people’s work. It has also become a pet peeve of mine in my own work and I cringe each time I find a spot where I did this.

Watch for other things, too. If your characters speak with an accent or a dialect, make sure you stay consistent with their voice throughout. If your characters are in one room and then suddenly appear in another, you have another inconsistency, unless, of course, your book involves magic and the room hopping is a part of your plot. Another one to think about is language. Only you know your character. Only you know they way they speak. If they are old-fashioned, don’t give them the speech of a modern-day 12 year old. Don’t force the words. Let them come naturally. Know your character.

5. The dreaded show don’t tell

I think we are all guilty of this – even published, well-known authors. What we must keep in mind is that not everything has to be shown. A little telling is okay. Sometimes you have to tell something but too much can obliterate your story and your reader. I think we are all familiar with the basic, show, don’t tell – you know, showing your character is mad through action, dialogue, not by being told he’s angry. Your reader also doesn’t need to see every movement around the room – he went here, he went there. Let your reader substitute his/her own ideas. Readers love this and you don’t need to state the obvious. (hmm...me thinks I should heed my own advice)

6. Anything goes, provided it makes sense

The great thing about fiction (especially fantasy and sci fi) is that anything is possible as long as it is believable and makes sense. The great appeal to Harry Potter is that being a wizard was something attainable, even though our logic minds said ‘no it’s not’. Our hearts believed. When creating worlds, make an outline or delve into what makes your world work. Who are the folks that live there, what sort of place is it? Is magic allowed and if so, by whom? Do all people have the same powers? Is there a systems of hierarchy? Are their gods? Demons? If so, who are they, what do they do? Bring your fantasy/made up world to life in your mind and on paper. Then you can bring it alive to your readers. Make sure you make the subject interesting and real, but don’t overdo it. Too much explanation can kill a story.

7. Writing, punctuation, grammar, pace and just plain how to write, etc.

The pace of a story is determined by many things but I think the most important is the writing itself. Are there misused words and/or awkward sentence structure? The programs on your computer are good at catching misspelled words, etc. but they can’t catch the tone, the inflections in a character’s voice. They can’t judge the pace of a story. Pace, in my opinion, stems from mixing up the flow of your sentences. It is the rhythm of your story. Like a song, not all lines are the same length or the same tone. Mix it up. Mix longer sentences with shorter ones. In hair-raising sections, use quick, to the point sentences. When you want to relax your reader, calm them down, use longer sentences. If you are having difficulty with just the basics, then might I suggest taking a creative writing course or meet with a writing coach. Perhaps post your work on a writer’s site or with a writer’s group so you can get valuable feedback. It is important you keep an open mind about criticism. If you are like most aspiring authors, your story is close to your heart. I know no one likes to be told their ‘child’ is bad or not as good as it could be; but you have to be willing to hear this and you have to be able to take the criticism constructively. Most writers/editors/agents – they WANT to see you succeed. Listen to them. That doesn’t mean you have to agree with everything or change everything; just make sure you have a reason to back up your determination to keep things the way they are.

In closing, I would like to say – Gambaru! It means never, ever give up. No matter what you do, never, ever give up. You may send your manuscript out to many agents before you get a bite. You may have people rip your story apart, but don’t ever give up. You may sit at your computer or at your notepad and wonder ‘Why am I doing this?’ but never give up. Writing is a passion. It’s in your blood. You can’t give it up. All writers, especially aspiring ones, get down. We all get the blues, but know this – your future as a writer depends on no one else but you. Believe in yourself, believe in your work. If you do this, then others will believe in it, too. Make your story the best it can be and only good things will come of it.

Good luck and keep writing! Until next time.

Avatar - a must see!

2010-01-10T10:03:00.008-05:00

I wanted to see Avatar when I first saw the trailer a few months ago, but when a movie makes a whopping $1 billion in its first week of release, well, the desire went from an “I want” to an “I need” to see it.

I found the overall movie engaging and beautifully mastered and for visual sake, I’m glad Cameron waited the many years to do this film until technology caught up with his vision. I thought the underlying storyline was good – an ex-marine who has lost the power of his legs, finds his way back to himself and discovers that there is more to life – all life – than doing what others expect of you rather than doing what you expect of yourself. Let's face it. We all reach crossroads in our life where we have to do what is right, not what is easy or convenient. Sometimes this means we make enemies out of our ‘friends’, families sever ties, jobs are lost, countries rise and/or fall.

The first thing that struck me about this film (other than the visuals) was the not-so-subtle message about the US and its imperialistic actions and how they breed terrorism. Quite frankly, I am tired of the Hollywood elite shoving their political ideas into the films they make. Okay, we get it they hate the US and all it stands for but let’s get real. Nowhere else on earth is there another country that would provide them the opportunity to make these kinds of films and then allow them to make MILLIONS off of doing so! So in that respect – shame on you, Cameron. I find your global message quite hypocritical. But this is not the place for a political discussion…

I have to say I love the Na’vi or N’avi (not sure how it is written). Their way of life was greatly romanticized in the film and I wanted to believe that life could exist like this. I had visions of the American Indians long ago and their attachment to the land, the spirits, and everything around them. There is one thing Cameron did not touch on, however, that was true of the Indians and that was they fought against themselves. One ‘breed’ against another. The Na’vi did not do this. Though there are many “tribes” on Pandora they are all peaceful and everyone gets along. I’m sorry. Not super realistic here. No race, no 'intelligent' species anywhere (we're not talking seahorses and krill here) lacks greed or the desire to possess or take what doesn’t belong to them. But it makes for a great plot to get readers or watchers to fight for the underdog and Cameron does this with finesse and beauty.

And, Pandora is beautiful. The visuals are mind-blowing and I still find myself contemplating many scenes. Some have even pervaded my dreams. The creatures were fantastic, the land, the world breathtaking. He did remarkable with the Na’vi language to make it come to life and seem real. 5 stars for the CGI's.

Again, I loved the film as a whole and have really no huge complaints except for the political undertones. The wars we fight now are not against innocent life forms who live among trees on another planet. Our threats, the threats that face our world, are real, and they are not all brought upon the world by US imperialism. The problem our world faces has existed for a thousand years, long before the US was even a concept. So Hollywood, do what you do best – make great movies but leave the political opinions in a different forum. Quite frankly, I’m tired of it. I just want to be entertained.

Happy 2010

2010-01-01T09:55:00.002-05:00

Congratulations, everyone! We made it to another year and what a great year this is going to be!

My New Year's resolution: to complete my last revision on my first novel, find an agent and achieve a promise of publishing.

I have also become a chapter director of IAOAA, an international association for aspiring authors. If you would like to become a chapter director, no matter where in the world you are, you can find the link on the bottom of my page.

I plan to start a new exercise program and get myself in tip-top shape. I want to look and feel great when I have to start marketing my book. ;-)

But more than anything I wish for me, I wish all of you a healthy, wealthy and happy New Year. May your hearts, minds and bodies be well fed and your dreams come true.

Happy New Year, everyone. God bless.

P.S. I would love to hear your wishes and resolutions for the new year so post away.

How DID you write yours?

2009-12-10T06:34:00.001-05:00

This question came up on a writer's site I'm on and it intrigued me so much that I thought I would post it here.

How do/did you write your story(ies)? Are you the type that has to have a detailed outline, a full page or two of character descriptions for each main character? Do you have timelines? Or are you the type of person who writes off the top of your head? Are you one of those that you hear about so many times who say 'The story/characters wrote themselves"?

Also...does the way you write affect the way you edit? Does an outline make it any easier than not having one? Do you still find certain scenes work better somewhere else?

I personally write in between these two styles. I have a short timeline, notes, and an outline about what I want to happen in each chapter all the way to the end but it is not super detailed. I also write with my heart and my head, allowing the basics of my characters to expand and show themselves to me as I place them in various situations. As with real-life people, they sometimes shock the heck out of me with what they do or the direction they turn. But I always keep a tight reign on on them so they don't stray too far away.

Now, how about you?

Ugh! No! Scratch! Delete!

2009-12-04T20:02:00.002-05:00

So, I finished my novel and I really liked the sound of it – until I came back to it with fresh eyes two weeks later and read the first line.

Ugh! No! Scratch! Delete!

What is it about that first line that drives authors crazy? I know it’s not just me. Every writer I talk to struggles with that opening line. Why? Why can’t it be as easy as the rest of the book? I’ve spent hours wracking my brain to find the perfect words, the perfect tense, the perfect Point of View. I thought I had it. I thought I should have had it after the two hundredth time of re-writing it, but it kept staring back at me, mocking me. I yelled at it, erased it, scratched it out, deleted it, and rewrote it to no avail. It kept winning the battle. Finally I had to sit back and think about why it wasn’t working. After a while, I think I figured it out.

For me, the first line of a novel is so important as it should be what sets the tone, the mood, for the rest of the novel. I wanted to draw my readers in immediately. I wanted them to see what I saw, what I felt, what my character felt all the while evoking a desperate need in my reader to continue on. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve picked up a novel and stopped reading it within the first paragraph because it lacked an appealing hook. I’m sure I’ve passed up some really great novels because I couldn’t get past the first page. I know if I’d just stuck with it I might have found the book to be a rather good one but I didn’t want to just ‘stick’ with a book until I get to the good parts. I want to be engaged from the beginning. I don’t want readers to just ‘stick’ with my novel, either. I wanted them to be sucked in right away and have a need to go on my protagonist’s journey. So…

I rewrote my first line again – actually putting it back to what I originally had. You know, that first line that I didn’t think worked all those months ago. For some reason, it does now. I’ll let it sit for a few weeks and then come back to it. Worst case scenario – I’ll have to rewrite but something in my gut tells me I won’t have to. It feels ‘right’ to me now. I actually think I can let my ‘baby’ go this time.

With that said, I turn to the second novel in the series and ponder the first line. Thank heavens I’ve become proficient at rewrites but I’ll hang on to the one I have now just in case it comes back around again. Knowing me, it probably will.

My secrets to creating real-life characters for my novels

2009-11-29T07:51:00.002-05:00

Have you ever struggled to find the perfect character for your book? Maybe you can’t decide on the right sort of protagonist who will drive your story forward or maybe you need his/her sidekick. Perhaps the part of the villain has you stuck. I think all aspiring authors (such as myself) start out the same – with a great idea for a story but we just don’t know where our characters are going to come from. We want them to be life-like, real people, three dimensional and we want to make this happen for our readers within a few paragraphs. Not an easy task.

For me, I discovered several ways to do this that don’t involve a lot of time but the results are worth all the effort.

The first technique I use is probably the most common used by authors and that is to use people you already know to become the basis for your character. These can be family, friends, someone you met briefly at a party or the grocery store. The more you know about these people, the more you can write about ‘them’ and they will come alive on your pages. Why? Because you already know how they will act, what they say; you know the inflections in their voice because they are real people. You don’t have to think about what they’ll do or say next because your ‘characters’ are already alive and their reactions are virtually out of your hands. For example, if you need a smart character in your story, think about a smart person you know. If you want a bully, think back on ones you’ve known or know now. At first, you may want your characters to only have some traits of your real-life counterpart. That is the great thing about character development – you can play with them all you want until you get them just right. The fun thing about it – your characters can always surprise even you. I know real people I’ve met in my life have surprised the heck out of me sometimes. Don’t be afraid to manipulate your characters. That’s half the fun! Just make sure you change the names, descriptions and anything else that may connect the people you know to the people in your book.

Another source of characterizations to pull from are those from television programs. Like ‘real people’ these already fabricated characters have personalities that will not change or shift. All the characters on “Friends” had unique personalities and they did not change. Let’s say you wanted a silly ditzy girl character with a heart of gold. You could look at Phoebe and see if her personality traits matched what you wanted for your character. If you want a fabulous doctor with a load of sarcasm, take a look at House. Whatever character you want, you can find in film and t.v. Don’t be afraid to snag them and make them your own.

You could of course create your characters from scratch: where they’re from, how they grew up, who and what affected their lives and how events changed them. If you have the time to do this, then by all means do so, but I suggest writing what you know. If you were born and raised in the south, I would not suggest trying to write a book about someone born in Washington state, especially if you have never been there. There is no way you can get the climate right, the feel of the people no matter how much research you’ve done. Write what you know.

Fantasy writers have a little bit more to contend with in their character development as there are no such things as dragons and gnomes and sorcerers in real life. Fantasy writers have to rely on their imaginations to make their characters fit their fantasy world. However, the basic characteristics of your fantasy characters can, and probably should, be derived from one of the methods mentioned above. To embellish them with magical powers and such, I suggest you read all the fantasy books you can. Play video games that center around magical worlds. Knowledge will make your characters come to life. Write what you know.

Of course, these are only my opinions and I would love to hear from each one of you as to how you develop your own characters and what has worked for you. Happy writing and I hope to hear from you soon.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T09:22:00.004-05:00

I wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving and I hope we can all take the time to reflect and be Thankful for the important things in our lives such as family and friends…

THANKSGIVING Humor (I did not write this...)

TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING,
BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP
I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,
I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.

THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED -
THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT

TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION
THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.
SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR
AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.

GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES.
I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,
'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.

I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING,
FLOATING INTO THE SKY
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING
AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.

BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED
PAST THE TREES....
HAPPY EATING TO ALL - PASS THE
CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,
MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY
HAVE NARY A LUMP,

MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS MAY YOUR PIES
TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY
OFF OF YOUR THIGHS.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Privacy Policy

2009-11-25T16:37:00.000-05:00

Your privacy is complete while you visit this site, though I cannot make the same promise if you follow the links that take you to other sites. I do not track information about visits to my site or send "cookies" to your computer. I do not collect, store, sell, rent or loan any identifiable person information to any third party accept as otherwise stated or legally required to do so.

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Links are welcome. Please link to the home page with descriptive text along these lines: "The Writer's Apartment"

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In the event that I should change my privacy practices or start using member information in a manner different from that stated at the time of collection, I will post a message on the blog notifying all readers of the changes, explaining the reasons and allowing them the opportunity to accept the changed policy, or remove themselves as followers of my blog.

Welcome to my blog

2009-11-24T17:55:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone. Welcome to my blog. I hope you visit often to see what is going on.

For those of you who don't know anything about me, I am a writer. I love to write. I have been writing since a very young age, anything from poems to short stories, and now I am working on my very first novel - In the Shadow of the Dragon King. It is the first in The Chronicles of Fallhollow, a series of three books entertwining the modern world with the fantasy world of Estaria, primarily the land of Fallhollow. Filled with mages, dragons, gnomes and sorcerers, it is aimed toward a more 'adult' teen and young adult audience, though critiques so far have been positively encouraging and wonderful, even from a more adult crowd.

Throughout my blog, I will discuss my book, what drew me to writing it and how every day life contributes to my fantasy world, its characters and the theme. I may even throw in a tidbit or two for you to read.

The first novel in the series has been completed and is in the middle of what I hope to be the 'final' revision. It has been a long process to get where I am today but I believe it is a really good story. I have parts of the second and third novels written and hope to have them completed (with maps, etc.) within a year or so.