Monthly Archives: March 2016

The Front Line

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I read a writing prompt online at www.writingexcuses.com and since it was a short scene, I thought I’d share it. It’s fairly unedited, so don’t expect too much.

The Front Line

by Adam Huddleston

 

So I’m standing here, right smack-dab in the middle of the front line. Joe is to my left. You can tell he’s nervous ‘cause his teeth are clacking like a castanet. Oswald is to my right. He thinks he’s gonna be a hero. He keeps hopping up and down in excitement. And guess what. He stinks. Well, to be fair, we all stink.

We’re the army of the undead. There’s a long line of “good guys” across from us and man do they look intense. They’re all screamin’, and jumpin’ around; not unlike my buddy Oswald here.

I mean, I know we’re undead and all, and if one of those block-headed morons from across the battlefield “slays” us, we’ll just pop back up in a moment or two, but still, killin’ hurts! I mean, how would you like to keep dying over and over again? I know, right?

Well, the other army has begun their assault. They’re pouring down the hill on the other side of the river between us. I love this river; use to fish in it when I was a kid. My Pa and I did. That was ages ago. Long before that sorry excuse for a necromancer raised us all from the dead.

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate a second chance at life, such as it is. I just hate the way he’s always ordering us around.

“Chop down that tree! Forge this axe! Pick up that arm bone that just fell off!”

Humph. Prima donna.

Wow, the other army is making their way across the river now. Wonder when Mr. “Hey, ya’ll all follow me” is gonna give us the go ahead to charge. Not sure it will do much good. We’ll all go running into their front lines and they’ll scatter our bones all over the place. We’ll spend the next six hours trying to find ourselves, and I don’t mean in a psychological sense.

“Joe, don’t dry heave on me, man. You don’t even have a stomach!”

Ok, so they’re almost to us. Maybe a hundred yards away. And there’s our great and glorious leader, sitting atop his dreadsteed. Might as well be picking his…

Wait! What’s this? He’s giving us the choppy hand sign. I’m pretty sure that means “charge.” Alright, here goes!

 

Kids and Books

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Outtakes 223

Kids and Books

By Cait Collins

I’ve really tried to keep causes out of my blogs, but I hope you will indulge me this week. I realize times have changed, but as we see academic scores dropping and kids having trouble excelling in school, I have come to believe we have an issue with reading. I see kids being held back in school because their reading skills are not where they should be. They are not dumb children; they simply can’t read well.

I grew up in an environment where reading was encouraged. My folks bought the Grolier Encyclopedia, Book of Knowledge, and ChildCraft for us. They bought the books on a payment plan because they wanted us to have easy access to information. I remember Mom or Dad gathering us in the big chair and reading to us. As I got older and could read on my own, I would spend hours reading and studying these volumes.

These days books are not always present in the home. Often the family budget does not stretch to purchasing books. And if parents are not readers, it could be difficult for a child to see the need to read. Unfortunately, the child suffers because the inability to read well slows the learning process. For this reason, I support efforts to get books into a child’s hands.

One of my favorite programs is Toys for Tots. Every Christmas, the Barnes and Noble Store in Amarillo selects books for kids of all ages. The titles are suggestions for customers who wish to purchase books for the toy drive. Or the patrons may prefer to browse the shelves for some of their childhood favorites. Book donations are also accepted by the Evelyn Richards Foundation, a local charitable group that works to provide coats and Christmas for children in our area. It may not seem like a big deal to those of us who grew up reading, but giving a child a book of his own may be the beginning of new adventures and better learning opportunities.

Why not volunteer for Story Hour at your local library or bookstore? Maybe we could mentor in the local schools. As writers, we should be at the forefront of supporting efforts to put books in the home and in schools. Maybe we can’t change the whole world, but at least we can make an inroad in our corner of it.

 

Basic Social Media for Writers

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Basic Social Media for Writers 

By Rory C. Keel

 

After mountains of research, hours of keeping my rear end in the chair and wearing out the keyboard, they expect me to do what?

Yes, that’s right, as a writer you need to have an internet presence on social media.

Recently, I was asked to present some basic materials about social media, to the Ranch House writers, a group of writers who occasionally gather for a meal and encouragement from others in the writing community.

This blog will be the first in a series of four, dealing with the basics of social media for writers.

What is Social Media

Simply put, social media is a varied group of internet based applications that allow YOU to create and share content.

Early in the development of the internet, most websites were static. In other words, much like a billboard on the highway, it was costly to change and no had ability to interact with consumers.

Today, social media platforms give writers the ability to create, share, discuss ideas, and publish user-generated materials.

These applications are often categorized into groups such as networking sites, blog sites, video Sharing sites and even photo sharing sites. There are hundreds of applications and Facebook, Twitter, Google +, YouTube and Flickr are just a few examples.

Will Social Media benefit me as a writer?

While there are many reasons an individual might use social media, for the writer it’s as simple as Business 101.

Writing is a business

Have you ever read the reviews of a restaurant before going out to dinner? Have you ever researched someone on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIN, before meeting for an appointment?

It is estimated that in 2015, 93 percent of all businesses will use some form of social media. For both consumers and businesses it has become the norm and is expected.

Using Social Media

Using social media as a writer allows easy communication between you and your readers. It is a medium that allows the ability to develop relationships by having accessibility to groups where individual time is not possible.

And finally, social media allows you multiple mediums to develop your brand as a writer. By blogging, posting, tweeting, google plus-ing, you can establish yourself as a writer and build a large readership.

Next Tuesday we will discuss which social media platform to use. See ya’ then!

roryckeel.com

ANIMALS AS CHARACTERS

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ANIMALS AS CHARACTERS

Nataliebright.com

If your story is plodding along and you’re struggling in that saggy middle quagmire, think about adding interesting elements through animals.

Animals add a richness to our lives and provide some great material for stories. With some creative thinking, they can add unlimited conflict for your characters to deal with. The death of a beloved pet. The bequeath of granny’s pet anaconda. The personality of a cranky, old cat.

As I sat in the vet’s office one morning, an elderly couple came in with an obnoxious solid black mutt. He barked at my dogs, with a face that was full of disgust. The elderly gentleman took him outside. The lady explained that their dear neighbor had died and had left this dog to them in her will. Sometimes great stories just land in your lap from out of nowhere.

We have a ranch with dogs, barn cats, Registered Angus cows, wild turkey, antelope, deer—you name it. There are issues that happen every week just involving the livestock and wildlife. If you’ve ever owned a pet, you know that they exhibit quirky personalities and habits that keep life interesting.

Last Saturday, I toured Dove Creek Ranch and Equine Rescue. They do amazing work. I was reminded that animals have fascinating life journeys and stories much like people. Some of these horses have experienced mental issues, grief, abuse and pain. Horses go through traumatic events and have to experience a healing process much like humans. Sometimes it’s not a happy ending. Other times horses and humans can heal together, and there is new found joy and a fresh beginning. Talk about a place full of story ideas!

Dig deeper and rethink the dynamics of your story. Would an animal add a unique dimension to your character arc or story line?

Always onward WS6 writers!

Jump Start

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POST CARDS FROM THE MUSE

Jump Start

By Nandy Ekle

 

 

I was innocently scrolling through Facebook yesterday, minding my own business, and reading about everyone else’s business. I was taking a short fifteen minute break from my intense day job.

As I scrolled, I came across a short video. Now, since I joined Facebook all those years ago, I have seen tons of videos, I’ve read tons of memes, and I’ve even participated in one or two. But there have only been a few that have stuck to me as if they had glue on them.

There was once a video of two cats playing Patty Cake that I enjoyed very much. I also fell in love with a video of a wedding where the entire wedding party comes into the auditorium dancing like it’s the happiest day of their lives. I’ve had a lot of fun with some of the music videos, and, of course, pictures and videos of children and cats/kittens are always fantastic.

But this short little flick I saw yesterday was really not funny, unless you have a twisted sense of humor like I do. It was a 60 second story that ended with a scare. I watched it and broke out in giggles, which is what I do when I’m scared or nervous (I’m a total riot walking through a spook house in October). So I watched it again. And then again.

And that’s when it happened. A new story. I immediately had a plot, characters, scenes, and an ending. The biggest problem I had was deciding the best place to start. So I just put my hands on the keyboard and began typing. I was halfway through the second page when the title to my new project flung itself on the screen. The title was so perfectly diabolical that I sat giggling as much as if I actually was walking through a spook house.

The point of all this is that inspiration can jump out and attack you at the most unexpected times by the most unexpected things. Don’t be afraid to look at anything.

Congratulations. You have just received a post card from the muse.

 

Writingexcuses.com

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Writingexcuses.com

by Adam Huddleston

 

Now that I’ve caught on to an excellent online podcast about writing, I may be including their topics in my blogs from time to time. I promise to always give credit where credit is due as well. The podcast can be found at www.writingexcuses.com. The original moderators were Brandon Sanderson, Howard Tayler, and Dan Wells. Each episode lasts around fifteen minutes and is chock-full of great information.

The first episode covered brainstorming. I really appreciated the ideas the writers gave concerning different techniques they use to come up with ideas. One of the authors described how he uses the “map” or “navigation” feature of Microsoft Word. He creates three headings (plot, characters, and setting) and begins filling each one in with ideas. Once he begins the actual process of writing, he can move throughout the document easily by clicking on an item under one of the headings. I can’t wait to try this with my own work.

If you have a few minutes to spare, I highly recommend giving their podcast a listen. Happy writing!

Customer Service

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Outtakes 236

Customer Service

By Cait Collins

 

I have worked in customer services industries most of my career. I believe in the concept of providing the very best service to clients. That’s why I appreciate businesses that focus on the customer. It’s the reason I enjoy shopping at Barnes and Noble. Every time I’m in the store, at least one bookseller approaches me and offers assistance. Not one associate is too busy to stop stocking shelves to help me find special titles. And if the book is not in stock, it will be ordered. Even during busy seasons when the store is packed, I’m still treated as if I’m the only customer in the store.

This type of service is, in part, due to excellent training. But I believe success is due to hiring people who love books. Their associates want to pass on their passion for reading. Enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm. And it shows when the customer purchases more than just one book. In fact, I often have to step back and edit my selections because my simple request results in multiple returns. Instead of one book or magazine dedicated to my subject, I have five or six publications.

Recently, I witnessed a member of the B&N management team work with a young man who wanted to know more about a well-known Western figure. There wasn’t much available, but the manager kept pulling books and checking indexes and tables of content for any references to the character. That’s service and that is why I keep going back. I like being made to feel important.

While I appreciate being provided good service when I patronize a business, I also enjoy authors who consistently provide a good read. I look forward to their next book and often pre-order to ensure I don’t miss out on a few hours of escape. These authors inspire me to do my very best so that one day, I will be in their company. After all, a good story is good customer service.

What if I Fail as a Writer?

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What if I Fail as a Writer?

Rory C. Keel

 

So you want to be a writer but you’re afraid of failure. Perhaps your dream is to write a novel, publish an article in a magazine, or write a famous screenplay but the idea of failing keeps you from ever starting. Putting the “cart before the horse,” as they say, can skew a person’s thinking.

Here are five steps to help realign your thinking so you can achieve your dream of success.

  1. Realize success comes in steps.

Achieving any goal is like walking up a staircase, it has to be one step at a time. Honestly assess where you are in your writing skills. Do you understand grammar and sentence structure? Perhaps you’re farther along and need to work on story telling or plotting?

By knowing where you are on the staircase of writing, you can know what your next step is. That next step is success.

   2. Reaching the next step can be difficult.

Famous authors such as Stephen King, Charles Frazier, Larry McMurtry, J.K. Rowling didn’t reach fame in one day. It takes hours of putting one word next to another, days of sitting in a chair, months of research and rewriting, and sometimes years of waiting for a project to be noticed. Take one step today and another tomorrow and you will be successful.

   3. You will run into obstacles.

Have you ever walked through the house in the dark to get a drink from the kitchen and stubbed your toe on the coffee table? Immediately you scream OBSTACLES!

Understand there will be hindrances to your writing such as finding time to write, family members that need attention, or even the need to make a living and pay the bills.

That’s life. These things still exist for famous authors, they have just learned to prioritize and deal with them.

   4. Surround yourself with other writers.

By surrounding yourself with other writers, you set yourself up to succeed. Learn from others who have what you want. Success is a level small or great not a final ending. So when you associate with those who desire to write and have a mindset to accomplish goals, you become motivated to move along with them.  Famous authors haven’t reached the pinnacle, they only have a greater level of what you can achieve in a small step tomorrow – SUCCESS!

   5. Never, ever, give up on your dream.

“Lots of people limit their possibilities by giving up easily. Never tell yourself this is too much for me. It’s no use. I can’t go on. If you do, you’re licked, and by your own thinking, too. Keep believing and keep on keeping on.” — Norman Vincent Peale

roryckeel.com

IF YOU’RE A NOBODY~Now Is the Time to Develop a Social Media Platform

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IF YOU’RE A NOBODY~

         Now Is the Time to Develop a Social Media Platform

Natalie Bright

Where are you going with your writing? What do you want to achieve in the next year? The next five years?

If you let rejection, lack of cash, family obligations, day job, or whatever excuse distract you from your goals, that’s okay. Writing can be very therapeutic.

However, if you know without a doubt, deep down in your gut, that you will be a successful, published author. You will finish a book and publish it one day through whatever method or opportunity comes your way, then now’s the time to work on your online presence.

This year, one of my goals is to absorb an understanding about social media. Every interview I’ve read and every podcast I’ve listened to has revealed some surprising facts. Authors with sales through the roof have a good grasp on their social media (or in some cases, they hire somebody who does it for them). They set aside time to spend on social media, and they know what works best to reach their target market of readers.

Predictions are that three times as many people will be reading books on their mobile devices in the coming years. It’s been almost a decade since the eBook craze began in the U.S. and then onto England and parts of Europe. Today, the sales for eBooks and iBooks are just beginning to gain world wide appeal.

ESTABLISH A PRESENCE

So where should you be? Twitter? Instagram? Google+? Facebook? Amazon Author Pages? All of the above? Trying to determine this AFTER your book is published is too late. Guess where children’s book authors are finding success in sales and fan interaction? Statistics don’t lie, and several authors swear by Pinterest for selling their indie-published kid lit.

Another indie author swears by Twitter, which generates three times the sales as his other social media posts. Incidentally, I held out from Instagram as long as I could, but now it’s my absolute favorite go to place for following book stores, author news, and the western culture.

One thing about successful authors; they tend to be very statistically and data savvy. Having an understanding of where your sales come from, how each of these sites differ, and what they can do for you as a published author is just good business sense.

LEARN IN DOING

I started posting articles on my website about sites, people, and life in general several years ago. One day the comments reached a frenzy. My blog had gone viral! Not.

In reality my site had been hacked with comments relating to Viagra and Rolex. I deleted thousands and thousands of comments, and blocked the comment option. I learned that there was nothing I could do but delete that site and pay for a redesign. She couldn’t cut and paste because of the risk of transferring the spam virus. So to save money, I retyped all of the content from my blog. Thank goodness I wasn’t up against a hard writing deadline.

The next time stats showed hits in the thousands it actually was a blog post that went viral! Lesson learned.

I could go on and on about the weird things relating to my social media experiences, but you get my point. As with any “job” there is a learning curve. If you’re a newbie writer looking up from the trenches, this is the most fun and less stressed place to be. If you mess up or post something stupid, only a few friends will know. You can laugh about it later over marguerites.

I’ve always believed that doing is learning. Learning is doing. So take a leap. You’ll find tons of information out there to get you started. One of my favorite podcasts is thecreativepenn.com with Joanna Penn.

And for info about a freelance career check out makingalivingwriting.com

This is a great time to be a writer!

Nataliebright.com

 

O.C.D.

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POST CARDS FROM THE MUSE

O.C.D.

By Nandy Ekle

So, I seem to have a few obsessive tendencies, as well as a few compulsive tendencies. I must have order in my life. I binge watch TV shows, and I have to start with Season 1, episode 1. In performing my day job, I must hand write all my notes, then retype them into the computer, putting them in chronological order. And if I have to search through lines and lines of check numbers looking for one specific check, I must write them all down by year, color code each year, and number them.

Sometimes being a little obsessive is disruptive. When you have 15 minutes to complete a task, but the more you do, the more there is to do, you have to learn to let go of the least important pieces.

But there are times when an obsessive tendency is a huge asset. Such as writing. You get the proverbial light bulb over your head and realize you have the perfect plot for the perfect story. Immediately you are transported to the world of your story. And you’re so deeply involved that nothing else in the world matters until you get the whole thing written. But even that’s not enough. The story stays with you for days. And even after it leaves the front of your mind, it comes back later, and later, and later. And when it’s perfect and you find a public home for it, you still can’t stop thinking about it.

And that is a worthwhile obsession.

Congratulations. You have just received a post card from the muse.