Find Your Sweet Spot

Golfers desperately seek the "sweet spot" to hit the ball for maximum accuracy. Writer's also have a "sweet spot" that takes their work to a higher, more profitable level. Here's how to find it by giving the Write Twist to golf instructions.

Mr Checkers & Cielo

Golfers mark the "sweet spot" on their drivers as the best place to hit the ball. For writer's that means creating a thesis statement as the "sweet spot" that best describes the focus of the written project. When your words hit that mark and expand on that theme, then the entire work delivers what it is intended to deliver. Miss the "sweet spot" and the words wander like a poorly hit golf ball meandering down the fairway.

Your "sweet spot" may also be the place where you write. Where are you inspired? Library - bookstore cafe - beach - busy downtown park. Your inspirational place may change depending on the type of writing you are doing at the moment.  For Mr Checkers and Cielo, our rescued parakeets, their "sweet spot" is definitely playing in the window of my office as I write.

5 Rules for Writing the Right Way

As my Mother said, "if you bother to do anything, do it right."  For a writer, the right way is the only way. So what's not "right"  in writing, let me count the ways:

1.        Subject-Verb agreement: From student papers to newspapers, too many subjects and verbs have never been properly introduced much less agree. This language pollution is sadly becoming accepted.

2.     Allowing spell checker to run the show: Spell check is a technician, not a writer. It does not know the difference between "there" and "their". Enough words in English present confusion for the Write Mind, so imagine how poor Spell Check is spinning when faced with "pare", "pair" or "pear". A writer is heading for a dangerous misunderstanding by hitting "ok" at any Spell Check hint without considering how that spelling might change the meaning of the sentence.

3.       OUTLINE - OUTLINE- OUTLINE. An outline is to writing what location is to real estate. Free form is fine for starving poets but won't earn a paycheck for freelance commercial writers or university instructors. Banish memories of the 6th grade English teacher who made outlining seem like a punishment. She (or he) was right to insist on mastering this craft. Start with an outline and follow it.

4.       Essential Grammar rule: when in doubt, check it out.  Whether comma-impaired or semi-colon challenged, look in a basic grammar book. The grammar check function on some word processing programs is limited at best. If all else fails, re-write the troublesome sentence (or divide it) in a way that does an end- run around your grammar pitfall.

5.      Have a point and get there promptly.  If rule # 3 is followed, this becomes easier. However, stop at the end of any writing project (or at least each section of a longer work) and attempt to give a "news headline" report of what was written. When you can't summarize your own work (and you know what you are writing), do not expect a reader   to get it either.

These  5 beginning steps can lead any writer, even a novice, in the right way to write anything, in any genre, for any purpose.

Par's Not So Excellent Adventure

Special story from a guest blogger. A dozen years later this still tugs at our hearts.

December 15, Friday afternoon, I heard Dad’s car come into the garage. Robin and Kelly are home from school!  I was excited to see them, so excited that I slipped through an opening in Mom’s office door and flew toward them. At least that’s what I wanted to do. Then this gust of wind caught me and I was soaring over the neighbor’s house. 

Mom was running after me, calling my name.  I’m coming back, Mom.   I’m just checking out those birds I hear from the window. There they are, they want me to fly with them. They flew so high and so fast that I could barely keep up. Next thing I knew, I was up a big tree too tired to peep. I heard Mom crying loud. It’s ok, Mom, I’ll be back in a few minutes. But it didn’t work that way. Mom, Dad, Robin and Kelly looked up, but they didn’t see me way high in the oak tree two streets over. They all left crying then it got very dark.

            The birds I thought wanted to hang with me left me. The wind that felt fun to glide on started to slap me in the face. I held on tight to a branch. I got cold and hungry and scared. I’ve never been out at night before. This isn’t any fun.  I hope I can find my way home.

            The next morning I flew around. Other birds went to the ground and bathed in puddles of water. I hate having my feet dirty. When I shower, Mom sprays me with mist then puts me under the blow dryer so I stay warm. I’m hungry and thirsty. The wind is still blowing but maybe I can find home if I keep trying.

            About noon on Saturday, I landed in a 20 foot pine tree, two houses from home. I heard Mom and Kelly outside. I peeped as loud as I could. They heard me!  Mom and Kelly came over to talk me down. Finally I tried to fly to Mom. A wind gust pushed me into a glass window and I dropped to the ground. Mom was climbing behind the bush to get me but I heard other noises and I got scared. I flew up and caught another wind.  Mom, Kelly and Robin followed me across the street to the big tree. I was even higher, maybe 35 feet this time. Another wind got me and I couldn’t turn. I landed in a tree on the next street. Mom, Kelly and Robin called my name. I was so exhausted, I couldn’t answer. They left crying again.

            I waited for more wind and got closer. Night was coming again. Oh, I hate night out in a tree. Then I heard Mom call my name. Yes! She hears me.  She and Kelly ran into the yard and then I heard our next door neighbors come out. I must be close to home. I hear their birds inside their Florida room. This time Mom says I’m not as high, but it’s high to me. The wind is getting stronger and I’m so tired.  Dad brought a ladder and Robin brought my food. Mom climbed up, but she couldn’t reach me. I’m hanging on a tiny branch so hard that my feet ache. Leaves are blowing in my face. Then Jim got his 20-foot ladder. I heard Dad say that this was the last chance to get me before nightfall and a cold front was approaching. They leaned the ladder against the tree and Kelly climbed up. I was so happy to see a familiar face. Kelly talked to me and held out the food. Every time I tried to climb over toward her, the bad wind howled and I was afraid to let go. Dad held the ladder tight. Mom and Robin prayed hard. Finally Kelly reached out and grabbed me tight. She held me to her chest and climbed down the ladder with one hand.  We all ran into the house to safety.        

            When Kelly opened her hands, I saw my Mom. She took me in her warm hands and kissed me and held me until my heart stopped crashing in my chest. Suddenly it was warm inside. I drank water and ate and ate. Star, our parrot, shouted happily when she saw me.  Mostly, I held onto Mom. Before I went to bed in my house, my family prayed to thank God for the miracle of bringing me home. I heard my family talk about God, and now I know Him too. I don’t even know what a sparrow looks like, but I know He watched me.  My Mom’s friend, Phyllis, heard my story and said it was already recorded in the Bible, Deuteronomy 7:19 “You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the miraculous signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the Lord your God brought you out.”

            I’m so happy to be home with Mom, Dad, Kelly and Robin. They are right. I’m not in touch with my inner-birdness and I do much better inside as a princess than outside lost, cold and hungry.  Thank you, God, for watching over me.              Love, Par Erwin

Use of Color for Writer's Site - Purple

Purple heralds "royal", the color of kings and a symbol of authority. Today deep purple is strongly linked with luxury, so use it selectively to attract a discriminating viewer. Purple also has a spiritual, ethereal side. Life coaches, image builders and wealth-generation projects can use purple with silver or blue accents to create a "sky is the limit" impression.

  Lighter shades of purple are more attractive to women, particularly adolescent girls (think Hannah Montana crowd in purple and pink).  Males respond more to the deeper, royal shades of purple.

  In nature, purple is not a dominant color. It's usually associated with violets or eggplant. Take a cue from violets and paid purple with medium green for a eco-friendly image.

Be careful with the tone quality of purple. Darker tones can appear blue or black on web sites. Test your colors as they will appear to viewers of your site.

Use of Color for Writer's Site - Blue

From true blue to singing the blues, blue hits a variety of emotional notes with readers. Career coaches affirm to value of wearing blue to communicate "trustworthy" and "confident".  Aqua blue calls to mind tropical ocean scene or clear summer sky. Royal blue is, well, royal and commanding. Notice that future princess Kate Middleton wore a royal blue dress for media interviews of the engagement. That was no accident.

Blue is well received by men and women as a calming color.  In using blue for your writer's site, be careful about the color saturation. Pale blue is hard to read against a light background and looks faded against a dark background. Rich or saturated blue is good for headlines or feature items, but too much for large block of copy. Blue-green tones are best as a feature color. If you want to pair green and blue, make certain that the blues are “true blue” without green undertones for adequate color separation.

Use of Color for Writer's Site - Green

Green has a new image as organic, natural and eco-friendly. Renewed interest in the environment gives green a fresh appeal. Green is synonymous with nature and harmony in apple or spring green shades. Go darker shade of green to represent money and greed. Evergreen or darker holiday wreath green shows stamina. Which shade of green reflects your writing projects?

If you write on finance, business, venture capital, investments or small business development, draw in your viewer with rich (no pun intended) green. Rather than the stock drawing of dollar bills, use green bold highlighted words in the call to action or "contact me" button to get more information.

For unisex appeal, green is the easiest color to perceive by male and female viewers.  Green has a long association with fertility, freshness and vitality  - - a his and hers color choice.

Use of Color for Writer's Site - Red

Every color in the rainbow holds a general and a personal meaning. Vivid color descriptions evoke a reader's emotions so consider the overall impressions that color brings to your writer's web site. Red makes you look in a brash, don't mess with me, way.  Too much red and your eye wanders searching for the most important words.  When you use red print as a call to action on your site, make it the headline, not the full paragraph. If you overuse red, the effect goes from excitement and passion to irritation and frustration. It's too much like mark-ups on a failing history paper.

            Red has an edgy side. Graphics with red can be imposing or demanding. Red can also be perceived as confident, not a color for the timid. You can draw in the eye with gradients of red, ending in an almost pink-red if you want to lead the viewer to a youthful impression. Beware of too much emphasis. A little red goes far in making an impact, so use it discretely. For action, passion, impulsiveness or tenderness, go Red.  

Writing Advice from the Trenches Part 3

            “The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.” Thomas Jefferson   There’s a guy who practiced what he preached. Think about the Declaration of Independence.  Jefferson, the principal author, succinctly summarized our unalienable rights as “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” then went on to paint word pictures of King George’s disreputable actions in such concise sentences as, “He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns and destroyed the lives of our people.” Attention new writers: find an encyclopedia and read the entire Declaration of Independence. Look closely at Jefferson’s precision, eloquence and passion. Just as young musicians play louder rather than better, inexperienced writers write more words with less purpose.  Words are powerful. Use their power like laser beams instead of shot gun blasts.       

            And finally, from Richard Bach. . . “a professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.”   Enough said, write on!

Writing Advice from the Trenches Part 2

“I write to teach myself what I already know”. Duane Alan Hahn  Faster than a speeding search engine, more powerful than a Ph.D. . . .look up on the screen, it’s an idea, it’s a feeling, it’s real life.” That’s right. When it comes to digging deep into the wellspring of life experiences from which good writing emerges, it is all about you. The things you hear, see, feel, touch, smell and taste offer magnificent material for writing anything from personal essays to poetry and short stories to novels. Research yourself. For a month, make a list of memories that come to mind or stories that you enjoy telling family and friends. Choose two or three that are particularly vivid. What is in those memories that represents “teachable moments” for you and a potential reader?  Draw the reader into your world, demonstrate the lesson, then gently return the reader to the present.

            “I love being a writer. What I can’t stand is the paperwork”. Peter De Vries

Successful writers are also good business managers. They learn early about the importance of researching markets, acquiring guidelines, checking for comparable works, keeping interview notes, organizing queries, tracking submissions and recording payments. This is the “paperwork” of the writing business. Writers who master these tasks with simple, orderly systems maximize their income. An expensive software program is not necessary. All that’s needed is a ledger page or tabbed index cards. Set aside one day a week to update the organizational paperwork that sustains a productive writer.

Writing Advice from the Trenches Part 1

John Steinbeck was feeling the wrath when he lamented, “No one wants advice, only corroboration.” As every writer knows, all we really need is a great idea, an uninterrupted week, a flawless grammar checker, a monster contract with a huge advance and plenty of  media interviews after the book is published. In the meantime, would you settle for a little good advice from others who have “made it”.

                        “I think I did pretty well, considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper.”  Steve Martin.   That’s funny, Steve, because it’s universal.       All writers start with a blank paper on which to pour out words. Even those computer programs promising pre-fab plot pointers are useless if the idea never gels in the writer’s brain and bursts from a heart full of excitement.

            “Writing is a combination of ditch-digging, mountain-climbing, treadmill running and childbirth. Writing may be absorbing, exhilarating, racking and relieving. But amusing? Never.”  Edna Ferber    Writing is the most exasperating job you’ll ever love. Yes, Edna, it’s plot labor. Once the work is published and the check arrives, writers easily diminish the time spent conceiving the idea, carrying the concept to delivery and surviving those cruel cuts (edits) to bring forth the finished product. Working writers work at their craft daily. Some days are a drudge. Some days are a delight. A combination of those days is how writing is refined into some thing worth reading.

          

        

Know your audience

One-size-fits-all rarely works with socks so why do you think it works for writing? Prehaps your headlines grab the wrong audience. As Tyra Banks says; "pose one way for men's magazines and another way for women's magazines." Psychotactics gives this the "write twist".

Sean's articles are among my favorites because he gives practical examples to illustrate his points. Even if you are not writing web site or marketing content, these ideas about targeting your audience are useful for many types of writing. He shows that if you want attraction, write for then Cosmo reader. If you want conversion, write for New Yorker's reader. Apply this to a novel or short story by considering whether you are writing to capture attention, shock value or excitement (Cosmo) v. writing to inform, persuade or rally (New Yorker).

Here's a simple exercise: take one idea and write a headline with first paragraph for the Cosmo reader than give it the write twist for the New Yorker reader. Notice the differences. Which approach best serves your theme? Consider taking the unexpected approach to liven up your story and keep your reader curiously turning pages.

Write Thankfully Now

Thanksgiving disasters and delights make wonderful short stories, essays or scenes in a novel. Did you write down those experiences?  Better do it now while the imagery, conversation and characters are fresh in your "write mind".  How many times did you say, "remember when Nana cremated the turkey" (Yes, she did, and nearly burned down our kitchen too) or other fond family memories?  Write them down NOW.

These moments are ideal for Thanksgiving holiday articles. Keep in mind that Thanksgiving starts in June or July for writers who intend to submit articles to print or feature publications. You can get the story on your blog instantly, however, having additional lead time to tease these as a feature is still better than instant upload.

Rule of thumb for writing holiday material is to submit 5-6 months ahead of the actual publication date. Publication date for a November magazine may be September, so that backs up your deadline farther. Scan those writer's guidelines for detailed information. When you find the deadline dates, add immediately to your new year calendar. The stories your family loves to recall during holidays will resonate with readers. So share your stories, get published and (preferably) make money.

Some turkeys trot

Being in the crowd at the start of the Times Turkey Trot was like getting dropped into a fantasy novel, where unusual characters are the norm. It was a reminder that creativity transcends the obvious. My favorite interpretation of the Thanksgiving holiday was with the inimitable Knife and Fork.

Not to be outdone, two guys morphed into turkeys. Needless to say the people watching was amazing. When you consider that every trotter has a story, over sixteen thousand stories ran past me; plot lines all around!

I found the Turkey, who managed to stay ahead of the fork and knife. A wonderful, healthy way to start Thanksgiving Day.

Imitation is flattery or in this case fatter

The recognition of NANOWRIMO is moving from writer groups to the popular jargon where it's being imitated. Have you seen NaBloPieMo? That's new to me also so had to click for more info. This is a pie a day for the month of November as a feature on BlogHer.com.

This reminded me of the old saying, "imitation is the most sincere form of flattery." Apparently this quote is so often imitated (or claimed) I found several alleged sources from Ghandi to Charles Colton. Imitation is a downhill slide that's exhilarating at the top, not bad during the ride and dull at the end. Such is the cycle of imitation in genres or books. Frankly, I'm ready for the Vampire and Zombie craze to hit the bottom. To make the stories different, writers go far outside the "norm" (strange word for the un-dead) to have Zombies who talk and Vampires with a tender side. Yawn. Pie baking is more interesting so slide a pie in the oven and see how many words you can write while it bakes!

E-Book silent revolution growing

2011 may be the year that e-books dominate publishing. Out from this much aligned, easily dismissed electronic publishing format, the e-book is the "little engine that could" and did! 

Nook in color

James McQuivey, writing in Forrester.com, goes so far as to predict "When the dust settles, publishers will think think of their eBook strategy first.  Does this spell the end of print publishing? Not at all. McQuivey theorizes that
"Paper decisions will be made as an adjunct to digital decisions. Many, many books will be published without paper versions at all, at least until they get enough critical mass to justify going to paper."

Rather than a death knell this sounds to me like a celebration for new and formerly mid-list authors. The rising costs of traditional publishing has led to fewer books coming out each year. Publishers are less willing to invest in new authors. For writers, that's been the real death knell. If McQuivey is right, this option to try in ebook before print opens many new doors for writers. New authors develop a e-book following with cost efficient to free social media marketing and have time to build a print book audience.

So authors, start your computers! This economic driven change in publishing opens creative opportunities to us that are unprecedented.

Look who is cheering on NANOWRIMO

What do Sue Grafton, Piers Anthony, Jonathon Stroud and Meg Cabot have in common? (P.S. the answer is NOT bestsellers). These successful authors sent encouraging messages to the NANOWRIMO community. They know how it feels to face a blank screen and an equally blank brain that all writers experience on the way to composing something wonderful.

If you are among the writing fanatics participating in NANOWRIMO, congratulations! Whether or not those 50,000 words are the launching pad for your literary career or simply the motivation to start writing regularly, this event is worthwhile for each writer on a personal level. Write on!!!

To motivate your Write Brain - move your body

Writers can spend hours sitting in front of the computer. The concentration is so intense that you forget an unseen element of your success - your brain. Brain cells work better when your entire body takes time to move. Exercise is an important partner in for your writing success. Walking is an easy way to fit 30 minutes of exercise into even a busy workday or writing schedule.

Start by setting your clock ahead 18 minutes. Before going to bed, lay out comfortable shorts and tee with walking shoes and socks beside your bed. In 3 minutes, you can sit on the side of the bed and change into walking clothes. Then get a drink of water on the way out and you can be on the road in 3 minutes. Remember to clip the pedometer to your clothing and reset for a new day.

Start by walking 15 minutes in an area near your home. If it’s still dark, wear reflective tape on your shoes and reflective clothing. When you return from this brisk walk, go right to the shower and prepare to dress for work.

Transfer the pedometer worn during the morning walk to your work clothes. See how many steps you take during work hours. Make the effort to add to that count by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking farther away from the office and walking down the hall to deliver a memo instead of tossing it into inter-office mail slot.

After work, you want to get home and unwind. Decide if you prefer to take another 15 minute walk before dinner or after dinner. If you walk after dinner, allow at least an hour for your food to digest before walking. 

Without any fanfare, you can add 30 minutes of aerobic walking to your day. Not only is this important for your heart health but it’s ideal for kicking the fat burning stage to a higher level. As a bonus, your brain cells get more oxygen and feel refreshed from the exercise break.

 P.S. That's me about a local race. As a race walker I enjoy the event without harming my knees.

"Fearless is the new black" - - Yes it is!

Fearless - - - what would you do if you had no fear of loss, failure or embarrassment? Would you move from being a writer to a published writer? How many articles or book proposals would you submit if you didn't fear rejection?  I appreciate Patty Hogue Soffer who is teaching business owners how to rise from disaster to success based on her real life experience. Rather than being stuck in the past disappointments, she's moving forward at warp speed toward new goals including writing a book.

Catch the enthusiasm from Patty's blog entry, "Fearless is the New Black". Speaking of fearless, she zip lined through the Scottish wilderness on a recent trip only to return home to an art class.  So it's not about going out to an adventure, it's about the adventure of discovering who you are and what you can create right where you are.

So be fearless. . . .boldness is always in fashion!

Oxymoron Alert: Inopportune Bogey

Sports announcers have time to fill and no script. A golf analyst commiserated, "that was an inopportune bogey".  By definition, a "bogey" is taking one more shot than par or in lay terms, "one too many". When is missing the mark opportune? Would you say "inopportune auto accident", implying there is a good time for an accident?

Before I get a call from St Andrews defending this golf-speak, it goes to show how quickly phrases can be misunderstood by those who are not "in the club". I still contend that the golfer in question, who ended up losing the tournament, saw nothing "opportune" about his bogey.

NANOWRIMO v. 10/10/10

Laura Miller goes against the grain to "just say NO" to NANOWRIMO. Blasphemy you say?  No, it's switch pitch for the 10/10/10 project. This ambitious goal keeps writers reading, not their own words but those of others. Good writers are avid readers so this make sense.

Not inclined to indulge in what she calls "self agrandizing frenzy of NANOWRIMO", Laura Miller supports the challenge launched by Kalen Landow and Melissa King to read 10 books in 10 categories between January 1 and October 1. For maximum effectiveness, read books outside your writing genre or your favorite genre. For me that would be 10 books on Zombies, Vampires, Romance and Westerns.

January is coming soon. Would you make the 10/10/10 commitment? Think about what you might read in different genres. That seems to require a trip to Barnes & Noble or Borders, don't you agree? A nice afternoon in the bookstore with coffee sounds ideal. But it will have to wait until I finish my day job.

How does coffee sell more books?

If coffee motivates book buyers, then I want my books printed on coffee scented paper! Internet Psychologist Graham Jones says studies show drinking coffee lowers resistance and causes people to buy more books. No wonder coffee shops inside bookstores are popular!

My fav - Starbucks Pumpkin Spice

Conversely the lack of controlling coffee drinking is a negative for online book sellers. The online world is screen limited, without the ability to control sights, smells, displays and other clever ways that retailers turn lookers into buyers. If you want a great example of this visit IKEA stores. On the way out as you approach the check-out stands you are enveloped in the scent of cinnamon buns. Guess what - - - those hot pastries are right there to get one more dollar or two out of your wallet.

Perhaps there is an option - - - a discount based on amount of caffeine intake prior to purchase. That's hard to monitor. What about using a photo of steamy, cream topped latte as the "buy" button?

Assuming Jones is correct, make sure to bring coffee to a meeting with an agent or publisher's representative. . . and make it a Venti with extra shots.

Study of Tweet-speak

Careful what you say on Twitter. Those 140 characters are being anaylzed by academics for meaning and purpose. Do all Tweets have meaning? No. Even that is meaningful for linguistic analysis and psychological profiling according to Dan Zarrella who developed Tweet Psych.

In Zarrella's creative conscious, social science and psychology, converge (or maybe collide) inside those prolific little Tweets. Get his take on this at The Science of Retweeting. Inside this article is a substantial report for download with more analysis.

Among Zarrella's recommendations is to stop short of the 140 characters or about 120. That leaves room for the ever popular "retweet".  The same day I read this article I also read a comment from Writer's Digest suggesting to take one word out of every sentence to improve writing. This is a simple, yet inspired idea. Wait, let me try that again.  This is a simple, inspired idea.

NANOWRIMO in action

Huddled in the corner of Panera Bread frantic fingers flew, rushing to meet the day's word count. Who are these strange creatures tied by electrical cords and mice? They are writers pursuing the elusive novel in a month. Yes, these writers celebrate NANOWRIMO by cranking out 50,000 words in a month. Such is the essence of National November Writing Month when writers choose to experience extreme frustration and stupendous joy in  rapid cycling positively manic.

St Petersburg members of Florida Writers Association gathered to write, empathize and encourage. Take this great idea and run with it. Call a few dedicated writers and invite them to join you for an early afternoon NANORIMO session as local restaurant, coffee shop or bookstore with free wireless internet access. Gather in a back corner so that the key taping, laughter and occasional weird plot twist conversations will not scare the locals. If possible get a free public service mention in the local newspaper. You may find that this fledgling group decides to stay together and become a regular writers critique group. That could be a value-added benefit of NANOWRIMO.

Cheap Conversion

Zamzar mascot?

Sorry no sinners to saints stories but there is "grace" for writers who lack the bucks for big Adobe or other sophisticated files.  Zamzar offers as free option for file conversions with more choices than a candy store. You can use this site to convert a pdf to a mobi (Mobi pocket ebook) or JPEG image to GIF or BMP. That's only a small sample, it's a bonanza for writers.

For larger files or repeated use, you are asked to sign up for Zamzar which is still a bargain at $7 month for Basic or $16 for Pro Edition. Since there is no long term contract or penalty for cancellation, you can use this when needed and opt out when your writing project is complete. With so many new opportunities for eBooks and Kindle/Nook uploads, Zamzar is a cost efficient option for the photos, graphics and video to make your work sparkle. 

What can the iPad do for writers?

The iPad brings instant coolness to the holder. People will let their lattes chill while fawning over an iPad. It's as much a curiosity as was the Model T Ford at the turn of the past century. Frankly, it may be about as useful since this shiny Apple is a brighter version of old school chalkboard, lacking the power of a netbook.

Going from heavy laptop to netbook for travel was a major improvement. Reducing the backpack weight from old laptop to netbook makes it possible to keep the computer handy. Having that electronic note taker at my side when an idea lands is wonderful. Then came the iPad; a small, sleek, even easier to carry device arrived. Fortunately my iPad envy was cured after handling the device and noticing it's lack of USB port and printer connection.

Publishing executive Michael Hyatt, an early iPad adaptor, validated my initial thoughts by characterizing the iPad as "an elegant solution in search of a problem." With the advances in smart phones and the increasing availability of free wifi hotspots, including some city block areas, the iPad is an overly expensive toy. For writers, the actual keyboard of a netbook or laptop may be the more efficient alternative to working away from home base.

As for Apple technology, I can only say, "Please Steve Jobs, cure my iPhone envy by bringing this magnificent phone to Verizon." As for the iPad which rumor says is coming soon toVerizon users; yawn.

Ode to creativity

What better way to start NANOWRIMO than with a new video from Errol! Not sure about his novel, but his videos are fantastic. If this does not inspire you to start writing your novel this month, then nothing will. I had to pause and share this with you. After the fifth time of watching and laughing, GET BUSY WRITING.

Satire is all that makes sense

Satire is the writer's response to something so outrageous that there is nothing else to say. That's how I perceive the Zombie craze. Why can't dead folks have the common courtesy to stay dead? We have enough traffic jams without zombies wandering in the streets. Then I found Scott Kenemore, an author who motives me to love zombie satire.

Scott's Zen of Zombie: Better Living Through the Undead kicked off the zombie satire sub-genre that has become like a vocational exploration for the unemployed undead with too much time on their hands. My favorite is the Code of the Zombie Pirate book. And then I found this video; yoga for zombies.

So zombie freaks, enjoy. Then put away those stupid costumes, wipe the fake blood off your face and get back to serious writing on Monday when NANOWRIMO begins.

Diagnosing Literary Characters

With my psychotherapy training, I am constantly diagnosing characters in novels. Face it, aberrant behavior is the core of thrillers, mysteries and other fictional genres. Was Darth Vader crazy or crazy like a fox? What about gentle Bartleby the Scrivener? Dave Gibson's article in Mother Jones' gives his take and more.

My key characters in Taylor Kendall: Evil Inc represent several diagnosis categories: Antisocial Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Dependent Personality Disorder and just plain EVIL (not an official DSM code, but no mystery even to the layperson).

Power of 3 for your writing

As a huge fan of Psychotactics, Sean's clear explanation of using "3" as the ideal illustrative number for writers is worth reading. After all, how many is too many when listing attributes of a character or location? Three balances well and seems to work with the human brain's processing potential. Two looks whimpy. Five, seven or nine is overkill.

Psychotactics writer, Sean, offers three reasons why three works:

1. Focus quickly
2. Solid substance
3. Curse of knowledge

My favorite is "curse of knowledge" and I see this in student papers and works of novice writers. Editing and restraint seem to be missing from their dictionaries. Yes, you can know too much. In fact, the more expertise you have about a topic, the greater the danger. Before unloading a written tsunami on unsuspecting readers, consider Sean's advice: "three things restricts your amazing power to write endlessly". To that I would add: and bore intensely or overwhelm without mercy. Less is more. . .be concise then be done.

Get ready for NANOWRIMO

November is known for more than turkeys and parades. To writers this is NANOWRIMO or National Novel Writing Month. Sound complicated? Errol tells the whole story in this 3 minute summary . If that doesn't inspire you, nothing will. So start your outline, research and plot notes. You are 30 days away from turning your ideas into a 50,000 word book. Remember to give your idea the "write twist" to stand out from the pack and possibly be the prizer winner!

Trifecta for Writers this weekend

Three blockbuster events happen on Saturday, October 23. If only the Sci-Fi writers could explain how to beam around to all; the Florida Writers Conference, Time Festival of Reading and Necronomicon 2010.

Florida Writers Association Conference offers top flight speakers, seminars and networking Friday and Saturday in Lady Mary, outside Orlando. Royal Palms Literary Awards are announced at the Saturday banquet. I am a finalist in the Thriller category for my book, Taylor Kendall: Evil Inc.

The Times Festival of Reading in downtown St Petersburg is a joyous celebration of writers, readers and all things to do with books. The festival is located at Bayboro Harbor, 140 7th Avenue South, 10am-4pm with free admission.

And then there is Necronomicon 2010 also in downtown St Petersburg. This one baffles me.  For those who enjoy the company of zombies, vampires and other horrible creatures (disguised as writers), grab your chains and follow the blood trail to Bayfront Hilton, October 22-24.

How are regional personalities developed?

Do you take for granted certain regional personalities or do you want to know the backstory? Here's the research to explain City Mouse/Country Mouse and what made them similar yet different? Dr Peter Renfrow thinks there are three options to explain how people in a certain area of the country acquired distinctive characteristics associated with where they live.

1. Selective migration patterns - People move where they are comfortable, satisfied and find others like themselves. That's how my Italian grandparents came from northern Italy to Memphis, Tennessee. Seems like an odd place for them to settle. They came because there was a community of friends from the old country who said that they could like Southern people in America which is different than how they felt about Southern Italians ( another regional personality issue). In the same way, farm kids with big dreams move to urban areas and musicians flock to Nashville.

2. Social influences from people around them - Unless you choose to be isolated, you are influenced by the customs, traditions and behaviors of people around you. Social learning occurs when you are immersed in a place for continual time period. That bored farm kid can easily become hypervigilant, stressed and exhausted like other people around him in the fast-paced city.

3. Ecological influences - The geography and topography definitely impacts the population. Living in a rural area means thoughtful planning for shopping trips unlike a suburban area where driving to the mall happens on a whim.  Conversely people without cars in urban areas are more mobile due to available mass transit unlike those in smaller cities without mass transit who become mobility limited and have fewer job choices.

Think about how these factors influence your characters. Which characters move to dramatically different social environments? Is this key to the plot development? Do characters change behavior due to the move, then encounter internal or external conflicts because of that change? Consider how these three issues of regional personalities can be used to spice up your storyline.

Rentfrow,P. (Sept 2010). Statewide difference in personality:towards a psychological geography of the United States. American Psychologist, 65,6,548-558

Regional Personalities

Amid the psycho-babble of my professional journals, I found a fascinating article that can be useful to writers seeking to infuse regional personalities into their stories. Rentfrow's (2010) study of psychological geography found that Florida is filled with agreeable, conscientious neurotics. As a Floridian, I'll give him two out of three.

Writing in American Psychologist (Sept.2010), Dr Peter Rentfrow analyzes five personality domains

1.  extraversion
2. agreeableness
3. conscientiousness
4. neuroticism
5. openness

What does this information do for you as a writer? It's a credible study that can add to your knowledge or assumptions about the overall behavior of people within a given region of the U.S.  For example, Rentfrow mentions the assumptions that "New Yorkers are outspoken,neurotic and always in a hurry", "Californians are laid-back, superficially charming" and "Texans are slow talking, friendly and proud members of NRA" (p 548) Do you agree? Is that how you have portrayed characters in your writing?

This journal has several articles that writers might find worthwhile. If you can't read this online, add it to your research list for the next visit to a university library.

Rentfrow,P. (Sept 2010). Statewide difference in personality:towards a psychological geography of the United States. American Psychologist, 65,6,548-558

Teacher's Write!

FACCS Educator's Conference is a favorite for me in fall conference season. My encouragement to teachers came in form of presentation; "Turn Your Teaching Experiences in a Book." Their seasoned ideas and creative teaching methods need to be shared with other educators. I want to continue sparking their interest with an upcoming "Teachers Write" free webinar. If you are anyone you know is a teacher who is thinking about writing, email me and I'll include you when the next Teachers Write webinar date is announced.

I am known as the "duck whisperer" since fowl of all types flock (no pun intended) to me. Naturally I had to do a photo with the oversized Aflac Duck.

Make your book a STAR - Part 4

How do you know what you know? Without research, you have opinions not facts. R is for Research and it's a writer's BFF. Whether fiction or non-fiction, a writer needs a context in which to craft ideas. Traditional publishers demand that you research comparable works as part of your proposal and that's a wise idea no matter how or where you publish.

I admit it; I am a research junkie. Online research is a blessing for easy access. I also delight in spending a Saturday at a graduate library with real paper journals and shelves of books. There's no end to what can be discovered that adds richness to your work.

Don't use fiction writing as an excuse for pushing aside research. You can incorporate actual locations, local myths, historical background for the timeline of your work and other details that take your work to a higher level. See you in the library!!

STAR System

S = Start with your best idea

T = Tailor it with an outline

A = Accentuate the highlights

R = Research, Research, Research

Make your book a STAR - Part 3

At the risk of sounding like Sesame Street, today we will begin with the letter "A" for Accentuate the Highlights of your subject. Whether establishing the characters in fiction or defining the background in       non-fiction, avoid getting so mired in the background that the reader begins to yawn. Readers want a sparkle-fix that they get from reveling in the highlights of your ideas.

Totally new, never before written topics are rare. What makes your work different from the others are the highlights that you bring to the subject or story. Think about what you have to say that makes listeners look alert or turn toward you to hear more. Those are highlights. When the idea or dialogue drives you to distraction and demands to be written? Those are highlights.  Your unique sense of humor, irony or curiosity are also highlights in the way you present a story.

To borrow the line from Miss Congeniality  . . . "Be the highlights. YOU are the highlights" in your work.

STAR System 

S = Start with your best idea

T = Tailor it with an outline

A = Accentuate the highlights

R = Research, Research, Research

Make your book a STAR - Part 2

How well do you travel in an unfamiliar city without a map or GPS? Not so well. As my graduate students can attest, when I write "wandering" on papers, the grade drops. Readers are equally intolerant of wandering words that confuse more than contribute to the story. Face it, your middle school English teacher was right: you need to outline before writing.  That's the "T" in my STAR system.

S = Start with your best idea

T = Tailor it with an outline

A = Accentuate the highlights

R = Research, Research, Research

Write or speak aloud the short version of your story from beginning to end. Make it like an abstract; 100-150 words. From that point, begin an outline. Microsoft Word and other formats have outline page template or you can type as you go ( my preference).

Remember if you have a section with only one subsection, either expand this to additional subsections or join the larger category.  Simply stated, if you have an "A" under a category, you also need at "B". Keep the outline balanced and your story will not have those odd drop-off points.

Stop whining about using an outline! Every nonfiction book starts that way - - - you see it as chapters and subchapters. Fiction books also need basic outline to keep the essence of the story on track. You have more flexibility in fiction, but that does not mean random.

If you need to brush up on outlines, go to Purdue University's Writing Lab.

More to come on the "A"

Make your book a STAR

At this week's FACCS K-12 educator's conference, I am presenting "Turn your teaching experiences into a book". Here's one idea from this presentation that applies to all authors, the STAR approach.

S = Start with your best idea

T = Tailor it with an outline

A = Accentuate the highlights

R = Research, Research, Research

The best place to begin is "start with your best idea". Writers are notorious for juggling more ideas than time. I  admit that it only takes a phrase, a casual comment overheard or an odd billboard to set my mind crafting a story or how-to piece. The crisis for creative writers is not what to when but when to focus on one concept and complete that work.

This reminds me of a old Lovin' Spoonful song about making choices; "Say yes to one and leave the others behind; its not always easy, its not always kind, but I guess you have to make up your mind."
If you sort all the options, then you can choose and start with the best idea. Keep the others for future books.

Think of it like baby names, so many wonderful options but eventually the parents have to put a name on the birth certificate. You are not abandoning those other amazing ideas, merely asking them to wait their turn.

Come back for second part - - - the "T"

Experience Tips # 8-10

Authors take heed, here are more Experience Tips from discussions at SIBA Conference. Writing is not merely a literary pursuit, it's a business. As with any product, the old sales adage applies: "nothing happens until somebody sells something".

Experience Tip # 8: Identify your book buying audience by demographics. Create a profile of your prime book buyer then look for groups or organizations where that buyer is represented. If your prime book buyer is 25-40 year old female, then don't waste time speaking to an aging, predominately male civic club.

Experience Tip # 9: Use Social Media Marketing to the fullest extent of your knowledge. Keep in mind, it's not totally free. What you spend is your time, so target your efforts rather than scatter.

Experience Tip # 10: When preparing for book signings, send press releases and announcements to your regular networks. Unless you have worked with a book store before and know their marketing style, never assume that they will do all the marketing for you. Better for the local newspaper to receive two press releases rather than none.

Experience Tips # 4-7

Charming southern authors, Shellie Tomlinson and River Jordan, are a publisher's dream team. They loaded the car and went on the "Wing & a Prayer Tour" with 22 bookstore stops in 14 days. This was not a whim, but a carefully crafted book tour which, if you can afford the time and money, might be the "write twist" for your promotion.

Here are elements of their tour that are worth repeating by those of us who can't leave the day jobs:

Experience Tip # 4: Build interest in the tour weeks before departing. Shellie has a radio show, however, you could use Facebook, Twitter or other social media to announce your plans. Choose a manageable travel schedule. You may only have three day weekends and can't cover as much ground.

Experience Tip # 5: Work in advance with each bookseller to encourage local promotion. Don't put all of the marketing on the bookseller, send your own press releases to media in each stores' local area. Ask the store owner to share their media list with you.

Experience Tip # 6: Bring promotional materials, free standing sign (better than a banner), small folding table with clean cloth and give-aways. Shellie and River got prizes from their publishers and other sponsors. As a newcomer, you won't have that luxury so bring along inexpensive but clever giveaways.

Experience Tip # 7: Post information and photos of your tour online promptly and send old fashioned "thank you" cards to each book store that hosted your appearance.

Shellie and River partnered in this venture. At each stop, Shellie mentioned that they cross-promoted each other's books. Shellie suggested that several authors representing different genres might team up to reduce costs and multiple interest.

*** Click the links on their names above to visit their sites. You'll be glad you did!

"Experience" - New Feature for Getting the Words Out

Beside my desk is this button reminding me that even in seeming disasters there is the experience value. It's darn costly, but that may be all that remains from mistakes made and dreams delayed. Fact is, no matter how well you write, you have to "get the words out" to build a following who become loyal book buyers. For most of us, this is more challenging than writing. In our enthusiasm, authors go careening down one-way streets, wasting time and money attempting to "get the words out". We have to work smarter, not harder.

My weekend at Southern Independent Booksellers Association (SIBA) didn't get what I expected but did give me experience lessons that I needed. Stay tuned as I pass these along to you. I deeply appreciate each book blogger and book store owner who spent time to educate me on the booksellers perspective.

Experience Tip # 1: Get an electronic copy (preferred) or printed copy of your book to book bloggers and reviewers at least three months prior to release date. The book bloggers present affirmed Rebecca Joines Schinsky's  (The Book Lady's Blog) comment that "When your book is out for 2 weeks, it's old news to bloggers so don't expect any attention."  

Experience Tip # 2: Book Blogger Ron Hogan mentioned the value of timing, "Get review copies to key bloggers early enough that the review can be published just prior to a major book show or other event where your book is launched."

Experience Tip # 3: If you are looking for endorsements, get review copies out as much as 3-5 months in advance. The bigger the name value of the reviewer, the longer the lead time. After all, that endorser is busy with his or her own writing, speaking, etc, so make it easy for that person to review your work. Don't bother to send it a few weeks before debut. Instead of a quick turn around, you are likely to get a quick return with no review.

Taking Book Blogging to new heights

The infamous duo from "Get in Bed with a Book Blogger" fame shared how their wicked humor translated into a  powerful book seller-blogger relationship. SIBA President Kelly Justice shared that this works because they are complimentary personalities who respect each others as independent thinkers. Blogger Rebecca Joines Schinsky encourages book bloggers to find their "home bookstore" and build rapport with the owners and customers. Kelly reminds book sellers to treat the book blogger as a team member without attempting to influence what the blogger writes.

Kelly and Rebecca's "Get in Bed with a Book Blogger" photo is heading for legend status. This proves that the best campaigns are attention grabbing, clever and connect with a wide audience. Frankly, they beat the pants off any New York publicity agency with their idea. Careful, let's not mention pants. Rebecca has that panty-throwing habit but you can learn more from reading The Book Lady's Blog.

SIBA - Books and Beds

Book conference and ocean view resort, that's a writer's paradise! Delightful folks with side order of humor, as you see in the lobby display inviting us to lounge and read. Naturally I had to do it.

Heard Steven Johnson talk about his new book, "Where Good Ideas Come From". Look at his book trailer, it's amazing. Plus he gave attendees an autographed book! His ideas are philosophical yet have a broad based appeal which is a tough balancing act.

Best session so far was "Get in Bed with a Book Blogger".  Kelly Justice (owner of The Fountain Bookstore) and Rebecca Schinsky (aka The Book Lady's Blog) started this eye-catching campaign before BEA and they became rock stars in the book world for this creative effort.

Heading for Southern book heaven!

Attending my first SIBA (Southern Independent Booksellers Association) conference this week, I plan to delight in down home style networking. As a     GRITS (girl raised in the South), these are my people bringing Tennessee gentility to Florida. SIBA is an opportunity to connect with hundreds of independent booksellers in prime markets for my novel.

When your work has a strong regional edge, look for organizations that give maximum access to potential book buyers and book signing locations. A few good contacts would more than compensate for my membership and conference expenses. Since I enjoy meeting people and presenting my work, this is the ideal forum to network. For writers who are shy or less comfortable walking into a room of strangers and talking about your work, this would not be a good option. Conference are exceptional opportunities to make contacts, acquire new ideas and amp up motivation to keep going on the never ending promotional push to get a new book noticed.

Do you Squidoo? I do.

An early player in the blogging world, Squidoo offered a simple, yet powerful way to create a "lens" in your topic of choice. I heard so much about Squidoo from Tiffany Dow, excellent writer and marketer, that I decided to try it. To my surprise, my first lens about Online Teaching Jobs rose up the rankings and continues to hold a strong position in the Education category.

Squidoo is sales friendly with links to Amazon and many other ways to generate income (writers certainly need that). New features at Squidoo reward Lensmakers with additional tools as each lens gains popularity. While I'm not obsessing over my lens daily or even weekly, I receive checks from Squidoo. You can take the money and run or send it to your favorite charity.

A Squidoo lens in your writing genre is another useful way to recycle articles or other work to a fresh audience.Squidoo meets all my criteria; free, easy and well received by Google search bots. Start your lens today and let me know what you think.

Oxymoron Alert: Zombies

Why are writers dying to get into the zombie world? Even seasoned writer John Rehg invited the St Pete Florida Writer's group to a "lovely evening. . . with zombies". I warned John that this comment (lovely evening - zombies) was destined to be a featured oxymoron at The Write Twist.

Before even contemplating writing about zombies, I have much to learn. Do zombies text? My daughter, Kelly, says no because other zombies ate their thumbs. Is that the underworld version of the current cupcake craze?
Do zombies have jobs? The stalking of the living must get old after awhile, what else do they do?

What about personalities, do zombies retain their former personalities? At the risk of being politically incorrect, seen one walking dead person, seen them all. I'm going to stay with living characters like my evil doers in Taylor Kendall: Evil Inc. No zombies or vampires here, my characters do their blood sucking the old fashioned way; they bilk the government.