tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66235064409216130702024-03-04T23:57:19.689-05:00Buddhapuss Ink Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger321125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-42010657527292619792016-02-29T13:00:00.000-05:002016-04-07T06:06:23.865-04:00March Madness with Mariam #MMM<!--[if !mso]> <style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">It's our own brand of March Madness here at Buddhapuss Ink as we cel<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ebrate Mariam</span> Kobras and her award-winning Stone Series starting with ~ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Distant-Shore-Stone-Trilogy/dp/0984203540/" target="_blank"><b><i>The Distant Shore</i></b></a>.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxezonMWjHMTImvpoiLobRK9cHIa5DL1CM4rW-52CrsLORZgifgkg36lCcP_Vt0YYgMI9uqwqcRUAz4bMs7y2UHHzD_naZe_Yr3urP9twwgHcWwC3f1JFOBBYatCwxbw2n__PTu5pXRB9F/s1600/Journey+begins+TDS.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxezonMWjHMTImvpoiLobRK9cHIa5DL1CM4rW-52CrsLORZgifgkg36lCcP_Vt0YYgMI9uqwqcRUAz4bMs7y2UHHzD_naZe_Yr3urP9twwgHcWwC3f1JFOBBYatCwxbw2n__PTu5pXRB9F/s400/Journey+begins+TDS.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We have a lot planned this month, here's the schedule:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Feb 28 - March 14</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u><b>Goodreads Giveaway</b></u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">W</span>e will be giving away 5 copies of the paperback edition of the book that started it all.<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></span></div>
<div id="goodreadsGiveawayWidget174647">
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<h2 style="color: #555555; font-size: 20px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0 0 10px; padding: 0; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_new">Goodreads</a> Book Giveaway<br />
</h2>
<br />
<div style="float: left;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11935462"><img alt="The Distant Shore by Mariam Kobras" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1323889522l/11935462.jpg" title="The Distant Shore by Mariam Kobras" width="100" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0 0 0 110px !important; padding: 0 0 0 0 !important;">
<h3 style="font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0; padding: 0;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11935462">The Distant Shore</a><br />
</h3>
<h4 style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 10px; padding: 0;">
by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5011243.Mariam_Kobras" style="text-decoration: none;">Mariam Kobras</a><br />
</h4>
<br />
<div class="giveaway_details">
Giveaway ends March 14, 2016.<br />
<br />
See the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/174647" style="text-decoration: none;">giveaway details</a><br />
at Goodreads.</div>
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<br />
<br />
<a class="goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink" href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/174647" target="_blank">Enter Giveaway</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><u>THUNDERC</u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><u>LAP </u></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">H</span>elp us spread the word - We need <u><i>100 peop</i></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><u><i>le</i></u> to <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">j</span></span>oin <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">our virtual <a href="http://thndr.me/Uz7SEn" target="_blank">FLASH MOB</a> before March 16th! </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> We won't spa<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">m you or your friends. If we make our goal, <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">THUNDERCLAP will send ONE and <i>only one</i> tweet, Facebook or Tumblr post to your account. From there you can choose to share<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> or retweet the message, a<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">nd encourage your friends to <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Join our virtual <a href="http://thndr.me/Uz7SEn" target="_blank">FLASH M<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">O</span>B</a></span> as well. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">March 1 - March 17</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rafflecopter Event</span></b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Enter her Rafflecopter Event to win books, swag, chocolate, coffee, and Amazon gift cards!<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="7d0e56e86" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7d0e56e86/" id="rcwidget_vhebo6qz" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></span></div>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">March 5 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Goodreads Q<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> and </span>A</span></b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ask Mariam questions about her books, writing, and cats. She will be posting her answers throughout the day. Ask your questions here: </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5011243.Mariam_Kobras?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mariam on Goodreads</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">March 12th at Noon</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Live Facebook Event</span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chat, ask questions, have some virtual cheesecake, and win prizes as Mariam chats with her fans. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/962749767106157/" target="_blank">Join us here</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">March 16 - 17 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SPECIAL EVENT</span></b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You won't want to miss this! <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">The luck of the Irish must be with you - G<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">rab your <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Distant-Shore-Stone-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B007B4X7TE/" target="_blank">#FREE copy </a>of the kindle edition of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Distant-Shore-Stone-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B007B4X7TE/" target="_blank"><i>The Distant Shore</i></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">, Wed, 3/16 & Thu<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">r</span> 3/17 ONLY. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">March 18th</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><u><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Joshua's Story</span></b></u></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The first chapter of the sequel to the Stone Series, <i>Joshua's Story</i>, will be sent FREE to everyone who is subscribed to Mariam's Newsletter. Mariam will be giving away a chapter every Friday starting on the 18th so sign <i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">NOW</span></i>: </span></div>
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<script type="text/javascript">(function () { var e = document.createElement('script'); e.type = 'text/javascript'; e.async = true; e.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https' : 'http') + '://btn.createsend1.com/js/sb.min.js?v=3'; e.className = 'createsend-script'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(e, s); })();</script><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">March 18th at Noon</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TWEET-A-THON</span></b></u></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Join @Mariam_Kobras for a twitter party and TWEET-A-THON as she tweets Chapter one of <i>Joshua's Story</i>, the sequel to her Stone Series. Join us at the #WritersCoffeeBar on twitter</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">. Be s</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">ure to follow @Mariam_Kobras</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">See you soon!</span> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-74762156101973331752015-12-03T18:20:00.003-05:002015-12-03T18:39:21.562-05:00Mystery Times 2015 to Release December 15th!We're finally back in the office and we have great news!<br />
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The 4th edition of our Mystery Times short story collection will be out just in time for Holiday gift giving!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireSKFSJkKFGskrnlXGIVij234nA22ykKzK8BtIY83LUOfiH4h5DJQ-5QAz5jQBR0viNB76-AKGrTcTSTuBKNnQTScJns3xXUHjk1TVrEo3AERI-kWLqMqoCDLtrtSnVe3G7ewSAnxx6Gj/s1600/Mystery-Times-2015-WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireSKFSJkKFGskrnlXGIVij234nA22ykKzK8BtIY83LUOfiH4h5DJQ-5QAz5jQBR0viNB76-AKGrTcTSTuBKNnQTScJns3xXUHjk1TVrEo3AERI-kWLqMqoCDLtrtSnVe3G7ewSAnxx6Gj/s320/Mystery-Times-2015-WEB.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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The print and kindle editions will be available Tuesday, December 15th.</div>
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In a hurry? You can preorder the kindle edition today at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018W8I8WS" target="_blank">Amazon.</a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-41317976035304844932015-11-13T13:34:00.003-05:002015-11-23T10:32:07.516-05:00WE'RE OUT OF THE OFFICE<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<b>Buddhapuss Ink LLC</b> and its subsidiary, <b>The Book Team</b> suffered a serious loss on November 7th, 2015. For that reason our offices will be closed from November 16th through November 27th and possibly longer. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please read the following carefully:<br /><br /><b>Buddhapuss Ink LLC authors:</b> All future projects are on hold while we are out of the office. Rest assured, any projects still in process will be finished as soon as humanly possible. As always we encourage you to reach out to us with any questions or concerns. <br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Book Team clients:</b>
Unfortunately current projects in process are experiencing delays of one week
or more. We are bringing in additional help to begin work on any recently
signed work. </div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Works in process that are past the layout/design stage,
should begin to pass into upload and printing next week (Nov 15th - 20th). </li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Projects where editing has not begun, will be
assigned to another editor and should only experience a delay of a few days.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Projects where editing has already begun will
remain with the current editor but will experience delays of one to two weeks
but will be given every priority as humanly possible.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Marketing & Sales campaigns will go on as
scheduled but may be assigned to a new marketer in the short term.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Projects which have completed the layout/design and
upload process will not experience any delay.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Projects which have completed layout/design, but have
not moved on to upload will experience a one to three day delay. </li>
</ul>
As always we encourage you to reach out to us if you have <i>any</i> questions or concerns. <br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-81963310072681344622015-08-31T13:57:00.000-04:002015-08-31T13:59:50.961-04:00Prelaunch Peek - In the Context of Love by Linda K. SienkiewiczThe countdown is on - 7 days until this incredible book releases.<br />
<br />
Can't wait? Here's a free sneak peek!<br />
<br />
<script src="//secure.freado.com/player/script.js.php?content_id=21406&widgetwidth=320&widgetheight=240&widgetbgColor='ffffff'" type="text/javascript"></script><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-28227810625825016442015-08-26T09:00:00.000-04:002015-08-26T09:00:03.195-04:00#WW How Your Temperament Plays a Part in the Traditional vs. Self-Publishing DecisionFirst, let me say, unlike some publishing professionals, I have a lot of respect for writers who decide to take the self-publishing route. If it's well-written, with professional editing, layout, and design help, a self-published book can be as good as the ones released from traditional publishers.<br />
<br />
Today, just or the sake of this article, we're going to confine our discussion to a writer's temperament and expectations and how they should help dictate which publishing path they should pursue. We are also presupposing that you will be able to attract the attention of a traditional publisher with your writing. Now you have a decision to make, traditional or self-publish.<br />
<br />
Time for some questions:<br />
<br />
Do you need to have the last word about every comma, period or phrase?<br />
Do you suffer under the illusion that a traditional publisher works <i>for</i> <i>you</i>, as if they were a paid employee?<br />
Do you find it difficult to stop making changes to your work, or the work of others?<br />
Do you need to be in charge of everything?<br />
Are you unable to trust professionals to do their work, or do you second guess them at every turn?<br />
<br />
<br />
Be brutally honest. No one can see your answers, but if you answered yes to any of these questions, then the path for you is clear. <u><i>You will be much happier going the self-published route</i></u>.<br />
<br />
Traditional publishers don't work <i>for</i> you. They are not your employee(s). They take a huge financial risk when they offer you a contract for your book. More than 70% of traditionally published titles never earn back what the publish invested in bringing them into print. Publishers are concerned with one thing: polishing, packaging, printing, shipping, and marketing your book in the hopes that it will make a profit. If you cannot trust them to do their job, then make every one happy - self-publish. Don't expect a traditional publisher to bend to your every whim or to respond positively to your demands regarding edits, design, scheduling, or any other part of their area of expertise. In the end you might find yourself on the outside looking in. Remember, in traditional publishing, the publisher isn't getting paid by you, rather they are the ones pouring <i>their </i>money into giving <i>your</i> book every possible chance to succeed. They are not there just to take the burden of the "technical stuff" off your hands. Unlike "publishing" services like Bookbaby, Outskirt or Author House, they don't make a cent until your book sells enough copies to cover their cost investment. <br />
<br />
If you feel no one other than yourself can ever do anything correctly, then by all means, please self-publish.<br />
<br />
If on the other hand, you are eager to work with professionals in their field, knowing that they can help you realize your book's potential, then pursue the traditional path. If you want to be part of a lasting relationship focused on your writing and success, go traditional if you can.<br />
<br />
Publishers bring much to the table if you are ready, willing, and <i>able</i> to let them do their job. They've spent decades honing their craft and staying on top of the latest changes and trends in the marketplace. They employ equally well-qualified editors, copyeditors. artists, designers, and marketing people. Treat them with the same level of respect you would like in return, and you will likely have a long and satisfying relationship.<br />
<br />
If you are lucky enough to get signed, know that publishers are always happy to answer your questions. They want their <br />
authors on their list to be happy. It's all right to ask about possible changes, just make sure it's put in the form of a question and not framed as a demand. <br />
<br />
You see, there's more to consider than just who to query. First consider your working expectations and temperament. If you have even the slightest doubts about the merits of traditional publishing, do everyone, including the publisher, a huge favor and self-publish.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_qNAg8bD_5epuOevO0flGLORrVXKwnX3WTTVclSldF8mWpa2VhbNuB233JNDt3GZk_GHykrWMiYzWTmElKmhnkheqUyELYEltsBNL5CYu47S9GD3qdnXc0iuTF63Nl6YpJDnqLGtDYQS/s1600/cat+silhouette+sitting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_qNAg8bD_5epuOevO0flGLORrVXKwnX3WTTVclSldF8mWpa2VhbNuB233JNDt3GZk_GHykrWMiYzWTmElKmhnkheqUyELYEltsBNL5CYu47S9GD3qdnXc0iuTF63Nl6YpJDnqLGtDYQS/s200/cat+silhouette+sitting.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
~ Buddhapuss InkUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-16391821979442080422015-08-11T15:21:00.001-04:002015-08-11T15:21:49.824-04:00Coming in October 2015<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Shanghaied, the second book in Linda S. Browning's </h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Leslie and Belinda cozy mystery series!</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvnkTCGWuZhU94cZU7nSP5vzsVSGSyH2pQEYaNBzNaXP1T7eqZrArER9SmbawXazQek6WmY33m1S3RTtFA6syPvJZBzNcKjpqtHvgdFxrFszdEI-gYuecdZ89tFV6mcKVN4cz_bDcac4L/s1600/Linda-blk-wh-cropped-hi-res-no-hooters-WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvnkTCGWuZhU94cZU7nSP5vzsVSGSyH2pQEYaNBzNaXP1T7eqZrArER9SmbawXazQek6WmY33m1S3RTtFA6syPvJZBzNcKjpqtHvgdFxrFszdEI-gYuecdZ89tFV6mcKVN4cz_bDcac4L/s200/Linda-blk-wh-cropped-hi-res-no-hooters-WEB.jpg" width="195" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIFGGtTLOH1c27uDhYxQWBmuJFy5rrvftsdt6EFlwIr9hXSNYPBaDdTe06lgWxMHRRE2V0-MD8zvI7f0dYtdQOWEFlbmsOa0zwhLe3RSKTXpOapFkxhJn2ADIG-qEqucr5-bGfPjmpmSH/s1600/Shanhaid+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIFGGtTLOH1c27uDhYxQWBmuJFy5rrvftsdt6EFlwIr9hXSNYPBaDdTe06lgWxMHRRE2V0-MD8zvI7f0dYtdQOWEFlbmsOa0zwhLe3RSKTXpOapFkxhJn2ADIG-qEqucr5-bGfPjmpmSH/s200/Shanhaid+Cover.jpg" width="126" /></a></div>
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
Watch out, that pair of sassy, senior sleuths, Leslie and Belinda, are on the trail again. This time their search for a missing call girl and a disappearing deer named Jane Doe, lands them smack in the middle of quite a condiment of a mystery. Heads up, you won't want to miss the catsup fight! </h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
Watch for the Preorder link soon!</h4>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-45786940727866477402015-07-26T15:49:00.000-04:002015-07-26T15:49:09.060-04:00Goodreads Giveaway!<div id="goodreadsGiveawayWidget146028">
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_new">Goodreads</a> Book Giveaway<br />
</h2>
<br />
<div style="float: left;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25861016"><img alt="In the Context of Love by Linda K. Sienkiewicz" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1436207690l/25861016.jpg" title="In the Context of Love by Linda K. Sienkiewicz" width="100" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0 0 0 110px !important; padding: 0 0 0 0 !important;">
<h3 style="font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0; padding: 0;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25861016">In the Context of Love</a><br />
</h3>
<h4 style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 10px; padding: 0;">
by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5623982.Linda_K_Sienkiewicz" style="text-decoration: none;">Linda K. Sienkiewicz</a><br />
</h4>
<br />
<div class="giveaway_details">
Giveaway ends August 23, 2015.<br />
<br />
See the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/146028" style="text-decoration: none;">giveaway details</a><br />
at Goodreads.<br />
</div>
</div>
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<a class="goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink" href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/146028">Enter Giveaway</a><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<script charset="utf-8" src="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/widget/146028" type="text/javascript"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-46368455047407390822015-04-16T14:22:00.000-04:002015-04-16T14:22:22.704-04:00While We're Sleeping . . . We hope you don't mind our short break.<br />
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Why not have a cup of java, the pot's always full. There's usually some cookies too!<br />
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Reread some of our most popular posts . . .<br />
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<a href="http://buddhapussink.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-dreams-of-afterward-by-mariam-kobras.html" target="_blank">The Dreams of Afterward</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3uWT2NLatGgWc6rE3nbThrbEkCipwE7LD2U8xDErk2HKgLEQpx9WfiyfBIwT5f3PQGs90LIrtYfvC__O0-ySRQG57y2RACxWgLTkB4xCLhWJGqGqZ6rRpW9exAOC7H7U7ruX4ki0ytZr/s1600/whydoyouthink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3uWT2NLatGgWc6rE3nbThrbEkCipwE7LD2U8xDErk2HKgLEQpx9WfiyfBIwT5f3PQGs90LIrtYfvC__O0-ySRQG57y2RACxWgLTkB4xCLhWJGqGqZ6rRpW9exAOC7H7U7ruX4ki0ytZr/s1600/whydoyouthink.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://buddhapussink.blogspot.com/2014/04/why-do-you-think-i-got-chickens.html" target="_blank">Why Do You Think I Got Chickens? </a></div>
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<a href="http://buddhapussink.blogspot.com/2011/01/table-made-of-books.html" target="_blank">A Table Made of Books</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFruIjWIVMSq2WiW2qQ3uYK37mwnTRSWNqPY-tbuGYDmyNUA7pWkdV6OlPKhPJ5garL1LMkawWoyEDJXBUX2bTO3iZmq-MGVTEfBJ88DickPjBGFn79ObxwLQN9LUbazSJ8KbfLv0vrmoZ/s1600/old+typewriter+freeimages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFruIjWIVMSq2WiW2qQ3uYK37mwnTRSWNqPY-tbuGYDmyNUA7pWkdV6OlPKhPJ5garL1LMkawWoyEDJXBUX2bTO3iZmq-MGVTEfBJ88DickPjBGFn79ObxwLQN9LUbazSJ8KbfLv0vrmoZ/s1600/old+typewriter+freeimages.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://buddhapussink.blogspot.com/2015/02/ww-writer-wednesday-get-close-to-your.html" target="_blank">Get Close to Your Readers </a></div>
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Meanwhile, we're working hard on something new we think you'll enjoy. See you soon! <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-78606628885157774242015-03-18T08:00:00.000-04:002015-03-25T14:11:32.177-04:00#WW Writer Wednesday, The Squishy Middle<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If the middle of my
cake is soft, I know I should have left it in the oven longer. If the clothes
come out of the dryer damp around the seams, I know I pulled them out too soon.
In other words, if I don’t finish my task, I have more to do. It’s easier to
understand than nuclear fission.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Life is too short to
waste on mediocre anything, and I apply this mantra to my own writing. How can
I expect others to overlook a half-baked center in what I serve? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Recently I started reading
a second novel in a series that attracted me with the dynamics between the main
characters. Whoops! Something happened before the main conflict that changed
the focus of the lady detective. She gave her dinner time with teenage kids
more value than her murder investigation. I quit reading because the characters
were boring. The first chapter promised intrigue that was too long in coming. I
was bogged down in mundane details that felt like quicksand. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I am willing to spend
time with the thick intricate tales told by Elizabeth George when the
complexity of a character is revealed slowly one layer at a time, like real
neighbors. But I don’t want a minute description of activities or relationships
like those I have endured in my daily routine. There is no tension. There is a
reason for the popular saying, “Skip to the chase.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> In other words, a
writer risks losing readers when a cooking segment is too long and with no purpose.
Or when an inclusion of a parent-teacher meeting has no vital information for
the plot, or a long rant on clothing or music reads like a Wikipedia entry. The
characters seem to be searching for a plot. That’s when a reader’s eyes glaze
over. She does not turn the page. As a writer, I don’t want that fate for my
stories. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Some pros advise
putting a conflict on every page, like a collection of scenes showing cause and
effect, a string of dominoes falling one by one. I think that each scene should
move a reader toward a goal, an obstacle, or the stakes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Literary agent Donald
Maass suggests in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Fire in Fiction</i>
that the middle of a good story has an outer turning point and an inner turning
point. The main character’s acceptance of the challenge and the stakes of pursuing
a goal is an outer turning point. An inner goal of a major or minor character can
change and become a turning point that sets up a larger conflict. An inner goal
keeps the story moving on a secondary level. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> For example, in my
short story “Dead Man Hanging,” a gentlemen farmer is discussing with the
sheriff the possibility of a scam on his houseguest when a body is found at a
hotel. In the first scene, the farmer has no intention of getting involved in
law enforcement, but the circumstances yield to the great flood of 1916. The
sheriff needs deputies. As the investigation proceeds, their philosophies
tangle, and the farmer’s perspective changes. (This story was published in
January in the anthology <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/History-Mystery-Oh-Patricia-Abbott-ebook/dp/B00SK0VF06/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426096438&sr=8-1&keywords=History+and+Mystery%2C+Oh%2C+My!">History
and Mystery, Oh, My<span style="font-style: normal;">!</span></a></i>)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Screenwriter Blake
Snyder gave excellent advice in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Save the
Cat</i>. He insisted the turning point in the middle is preceded by fun and
games. He considered this a back door to the premise of the story, a related
tangent. Snyder pointed out that often the subplot carries the theme, which is
a debate on the pros and cons of a particular issue. In the movie, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Miss Congeniality</i>, the premise asks and
answers the question: Can a tomboy win a beauty pageant? (See the <a href="http://buddhapussink.blogspot.com/2015/03/ww-writer-wednesday-choosing-right.html">Buddhapuss
Ink March 4</a> blog post about format by writer Selaine Henriksen.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I nurture the growth of
my characters on the theory that their changes will influence the direction of
the story. I imagine a writer making choices like Goldilocks. Too much change
and the reader is lost in a flurry of hot events (like bar hopping). Too little
and a reader is lost to cold boredom. We can’t please all of the readers all of
the time, but we can make an effort for a happy compromise. A comfort zone is an
elusive target, isn’t it! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> I try not to be engrossed in details that are
superfluous, embroidering my sentences with fancy words and phrases like a
literary art project. A verbal Renoir. When the heat is turned down, the center
of the story becomes mushy. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Beware! When we promise
chocolate, we can’t serve mud. Yuk! How rude!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">© 2015 Georgia Ruth</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpQVzEVcfs_WpjPBnvzew-vGgbLzRLVlF39-7olxb-Gp6L22G0XcW2cYoGLO88Fm_FMVgjJ4STi5z22Ya21s8wA3_vlJW6C2XPwWk0PpEp3WQ8SoIxTwX80_uI1i3auGMeV81Fx425S4X/s1600/Georgia+Ruth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpQVzEVcfs_WpjPBnvzew-vGgbLzRLVlF39-7olxb-Gp6L22G0XcW2cYoGLO88Fm_FMVgjJ4STi5z22Ya21s8wA3_vlJW6C2XPwWk0PpEp3WQ8SoIxTwX80_uI1i3auGMeV81Fx425S4X/s1600/Georgia+Ruth.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Georgia Ruth</b> lives in
the foothills of North Carolina. Now retired, she managed a family restaurant
for ten years and worked in sales for fifteen years. Both experiences produced
rich soil for her fertile imagination. Georgia is a member of Sisters in Crime
and Short Mystery Fiction Society. She has stories published online for
Stupefying Stories and Bethlehem Writers Roundtable, and in print,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Times-Ten-2013/dp/0984203583/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1426096710&sr=1-1"> Mystery
Times Ten 2013</a></i><u> </u>by Buddhapuss Ink. Her story “The Mountain Top”
will be published in a Sisters in Crime anthology in 2014. Her website is
http://<a href="http://georgiaruthwrites.us/">georgiaruthwrites.us</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_qNAg8bD_5epuOevO0flGLORrVXKwnX3WTTVclSldF8mWpa2VhbNuB233JNDt3GZk_GHykrWMiYzWTmElKmhnkheqUyELYEltsBNL5CYu47S9GD3qdnXc0iuTF63Nl6YpJDnqLGtDYQS/s1600/cat+silhouette+sitting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_qNAg8bD_5epuOevO0flGLORrVXKwnX3WTTVclSldF8mWpa2VhbNuB233JNDt3GZk_GHykrWMiYzWTmElKmhnkheqUyELYEltsBNL5CYu47S9GD3qdnXc0iuTF63Nl6YpJDnqLGtDYQS/s1600/cat+silhouette+sitting.jpg" height="145" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Thanks, Georgia, for a great piece! Avoid the “squishy middle,” no
one wants to read something that's half-baked. We're looking forward to seeing
more from you soon! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">READERS: We hope you enjoyed this week's edition of our #WW Writer
Wednesday Series. We will be taking a short hiatus for a few weeks. Until we return, Butt in chair, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">WRITE</i>!</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">~ The Black Cat</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Buddhapuss Ink LLC is proud to be a small, but
solid house, known for great fiction and nonfiction books, that are written for
readers with brains, by authors who have more than just one book in them.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-92079194447537496282015-03-11T13:00:00.001-04:002015-03-11T14:12:29.399-04:00#WW Writer Wednesday, Flash Fiction: Some Kinda Force of Good <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFruIjWIVMSq2WiW2qQ3uYK37mwnTRSWNqPY-tbuGYDmyNUA7pWkdV6OlPKhPJ5garL1LMkawWoyEDJXBUX2bTO3iZmq-MGVTEfBJ88DickPjBGFn79ObxwLQN9LUbazSJ8KbfLv0vrmoZ/s1600/old+typewriter+freeimages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFruIjWIVMSq2WiW2qQ3uYK37mwnTRSWNqPY-tbuGYDmyNUA7pWkdV6OlPKhPJ5garL1LMkawWoyEDJXBUX2bTO3iZmq-MGVTEfBJ88DickPjBGFn79ObxwLQN9LUbazSJ8KbfLv0vrmoZ/s1600/old+typewriter+freeimages.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
That morning I took my wife Stacy to chemo on the way to
work. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">She had driven herself to her first
treatment, but we quickly realized that she wouldn’t be capable of that again
and that the whole process was going to be inconvenient, messy, and much harder
than we had originally thought.</span> <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">This</span>
all happened the day of her fourth treatment, and it seemed as if <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the whole thing would go on forever. I didn’t
know how she was getting through it; I didn’t know how <i>I</i> was getting
through it, and I’d already <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">had</span> a lot of
doubts that I ever could. I was beginning to have fantasies about jumping into
our car by myself and driving somewhere—Seattle, the South, Cincinnati—just to
see what it’d be like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I went to pick her up on my lunch break, when the treatment
was scheduled to be over, but she was still inside. They had gotten started
late, as they frequently do, so I picked up a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Time</i> magazine and sat off by myself to wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I was reading an
article about terrorism and wishing I wasn’t when someone near me said “I’ve
seen you in here a few times.” I didn’t think the voice was speaking to me, but
I glanced up out of politeness and saw that it belonged to a heavyset guy in
his late sixties or early seventies. He was wearing glasses that were twenty
years out of date, shiny charcoal pants, and a powder-blue jacket over a navy
shirt with red stripes. He was sitting three chairs away from me, but I couldn’t
recall whether he had come in before or after I’d arrived. I vaguely remembered
having seen him here before, but we had never exchanged words. I didn’t <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">really</span> feel like doing so now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He waited for a
few seconds, then put his index finger in the cleft of his chin, grinned
faintly, and said, “I once saw a woman face down these three guys with
guns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You believe that? Took those guns
right away from these guys during a robbery, and she was just a little thing. Pretty
too. You believe that?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I didn’t know
what to say, so I mumbled, “Sure, it could happen.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He waved his
hand and chuckled. “Naw, you don’t believe it.” He looked away, then looked
back at me before I could continue reading. “You wanna know how I know it was
true? I know because I was there. Now, I <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">gotta</span>
ask you not to repeat this to anyone, you understand. Most people who know me
know this about me, but when strangers find out something like this about you,
they sort of start to stare. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Anyway</span>,
don’t blab, but I know all this because I used to have a mean streak in me a
mile wide. Used to hit the bottle pretty good, too. I know about this little
girl because I was one of the three guys.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Now, I can
still read you. You want to know why I’d let this little girl take a gun from
me. I’ll tell you right now, it was all luck. I had pointed guns before, but
this thing with the girl was before I ever pulled the trigger on anyone. She
caught me and my buddies at just the right time in our lives, when we <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">didn't really want</span> to hurt anybody, you
understand? <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">And she just happened to be in the
exact right position in the exact right place when we walked in so that she
could do it, and the guy behind the counter picked just the right moment to
mouth off, and a hundred other things happened or didn’t, both before and after
she came at us, so that before we knew it we were running down the street away
from the place, not only no richer than we had come in but poorer because we had
all dropped our guns.”</span> He finally stopped and had a good laugh, and
then, incredibly, went on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I gotta say,
too, that <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">at certain times in my life</span> I’ve
had this weird sympathy for people, you know? That’s <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">probably</span> why I’m not the way I was anymore. I would just look at
someone I was <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">after,</span> and suddenly I would
root for them. Because they were the good guys, you know? I’d feel that way
even though if they won, it would mean I had lost. But I would start to root
for them <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">anyway</span>, and do a sort of <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">half-assed</span> job. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Mostly
I would get done what I was trying to get done anyway, ’cause people are scared
to death of guns, but that time with that little girl was—God—she was like some
kinda force of good.</span> I remember laughing my head off most of the way
after we left that store. As bad as I hurt from what she did to me, that was
the best I’d felt in a long time, and it wasn’t even for me. It was, I <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">dunno</span>, sort of like proof that the world works
the way people say it does. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">That the good guys
do win.</span> Sometimes, at least.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I put my finger
in the magazine and waited. I wasn’t sure what to say. I was vaguely
uncomfortable but fascinated at the same time. The old guy seemed sincere, and
completely in control of his faculties. He could have been lying, but if he <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">were</span> I couldn’t tell. And suddenly, I wasn’t
sure if I cared. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">This</span> surprised me a
little bit. I had thought I wasn’t in the mood for conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He waved his
hand again. “I was gonna tell you that was the damnedest thing I ever saw, but
I forgot about this other thing. That thing with the girl was unlikely, you
know? It wouldn’t happen more than one time out of a thousand, but it <i>could</i>
happen, and so it did, and it happened to happen to me. But I once saw something
that was completely impossible. You believe that? I mean, this was something
that couldn’t happen, but it did, and right in front of me. You <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">gotta</span> remember, if you want me to tell you this
one, you <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">gotta</span> promise me that you’ll
remember that I’m telling you that this happened right in front of me. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">This</span> ain’t no ‘my buddy told me’ or ‘I once
heard,’ ok, this <i><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">really</span></i>
happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">gotta</span> promise me that you’ll keep an open mind <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">here, ’cause</span> if you start this thing <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with a bad attitude it’s <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">gonna</span> fall completely flat.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
At <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">that,</span> he stopped
and waited for my answer, even though we didn’t know each others’ names and I
had said less than a dozen words in our entire conversation. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">This</span> was my last chance to get rid of him, but
instead I closed the magazine, tossed it on the table, and said “Yeah, ok. I
promise.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He grinned. “Well, ok then.” And then he fell silent. He
tapped his chin for a few seconds, and then fiddled a bit with his glasses. Then
he got up and walked away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I couldn’t help but laugh. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">I
kept it to myself as much as possible, but I sat there in that waiting room, a
sad, lonely man in a conservative suit, and snickered into my hand until tears
rolled down my cheeks.</span> I had to take off my glasses to wipe them
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I finally had myself under
control, I retrieved my magazine and tried to continue to read. I quickly found
that I couldn’t keep my mind on the article. I kept thinking about the old man.
His story had piqued my curiosity, and the man himself had me doing mental calisthenics.
Who started conversations with strange men in the chemo waiting room? And who
did it the way he <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">did</span>? And of those, who
would either lie this way or give out information that personal and damning? And,
after all of that, who would get up and leave right in the middle of the
conversation? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I finally gave up on the reading and got up to put the
magazine back. I was going to spend the rest of my wait processing this guy,
trying to figure him out. It beat terrorism, disease, and financial ruin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
As I was sitting back down, though, I saw him again. He
walked across the waiting room and started talking again even before he <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">was fully seated</span>. “I can’t tell you not to get
old because you can’t much help it, but I will tell you to take care of your
kidneys when you do. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Most important part of your
body, the kidneys.</span> Next to your heart and brain, I guess. And the lungs,
and maybe the stomach. But the kidneys are right up there, and when they don’t
work right you just can’t be yourself anymore.” He chuckled and rolled his
eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I felt like I should reply, but before I could think <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">of anything</span> to say he was off again. “<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Anyway</span>, so once about twenty years ago I was
after this guy. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">I had just gotten out, you know
from where, and I wanted him for, well, I guess I won’t give you details since
we’re not best friends yet” he grinned at me again “but I wanted him and bad.</span>
So I asked around, and it took me a while, but I found out where he lived, and
where he hung out, and I went to his place and I waited. I didn’t have to wait
long. He <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">came</span> out before I was ready, so
I followed along and he went into a bar.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">“Now, this guy didn’t know my
face too well, and it had been a long time since he had seen me at all, so I
went inside too and took seat at the other end of the bar and had a drink
myself.</span> He went to the men’s room once or twice, but he wasn’t in there
long. Had good kidneys, I guess. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Anyway</span>,
he never tried anything sneaky, never tried to slip out or anything, and never
looked twice at me. If he’d done any of those things, I might have put the
whole thing off, but since he seemed pretty oblivious I decided that tonight
was the night.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Now, I don’t know you. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">I
don’t know what you’re into, so maybe this is all stuff you know, but if you
never been in a situation like this you’ll need to know that on TV and in the
movies they get this stuff all wrong.</span> Guys like me, if we’re successful,
we never talk <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">to guys</span> we catch up with,
or take them places to cover up.” He chuckled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“They don’t call it kidnapping because you only do it to kids: they call
it that because you have to be as stupid or inexperienced as a ten-year-old to
try something that complicated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Anyway</span>, what I was <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">gonna</span> do was lay up for this guy and take my opportunity if it ever
came. If not, I’d wait for another night.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“So I got ahead of him and stepped into an alley, but when
he walked by there were a couple of other people on the street, so I held off. I
thought about it for a <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">while</span>, and then
decided that I could try his place and have some relative privacy. He lived in
a little apartment building, and it was <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">kinda</span>
shabby so I thought that security would be pretty bad. If I could get in, I
could find some way into the apartment without leaving too much evidence and
take care of business, so I left the alley and walked to the building.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Before I could try the front door, I spotted him up on the
roof. He was just standing there, leaning on the low wall that ran around the
building and staring off into space. I kept walking so he wouldn’t spot me and
then circled around to the back of the building. There was a door off a small
parking lot, and it was open, so I walked in like I belonged and hiked up six
floors to the door to the roof. He had somehow or another bypassed the fire
alarm on the door and had stuck a piece of<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> brick</span>
in it so he wouldn’t get locked out. I looked through the crack and saw him,
still standing in the same place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
shaking a little bit, and it suddenly occurred to me that he might be crying.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“I stood there for a few minutes and weighed my options. I
didn’t <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">really</span> care how he went over the
wall. He could do it under his <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">own</span> power
for all I cared, I just wanted him to go. The brick in the door made me think
he wasn’t serious about jumping, but maybe he was debating the issue and wanted
to be safe in case he decided against doing it. Either way, I figured that him
going over the side would be the best way to get it done, especially if anyone
knew he was <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">sad</span> or depressed. The problem
was, he might not do it, and if he didn’t, I’d have to take care of it some
other way, some way that was more obvious. I decided, just like that, to give
him some help. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">The possible negatives of waiting
to see if he did it himself outweighed the positives, if you can tell what I
mean, so I backed up a bit, went through the door at a dead run, and hit him
with my shoulder at full speed.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Now, I’m a big guy—partly ‘cause of the kidneys, you
know—but this was all muscle back then. I thought I’d hit the little <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">guy,</span> and he’d go flying, out <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">over</span> the street, just like he jumped hard. When
I opened the door, though, he turned around and took a step forward a lot
faster than I thought he would. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Okay now, don’t
worry, he went over the side, but instead of flying out there like I thought he
would, his legs hit that low brick wall and he flipped and dropped out of sight
straight down the side of the building, head first.”</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Now, this is the important part, the impossible part. I
know I’m an old guy, and a little long-winded, but this is the part you <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">really</span> want to pay attention to, got it?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He stopped and waited while I nodded. I was leaning a bit
forward in my <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">chair,</span> and my fists and jaw
were clamped shut. I felt a lot of things, all the possible reactions to his
story that I could imagine, some of them contradictory. But mostly, I just
wanted him to finish the story, to get to the point. I <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">was petrified</span> that he’d get up and walk away again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He didn’t. “I followed through with the blow and ended up
leaning on the wall, pretty much the way the guy himself had been before I came
in, and I saw the whole thing. I’m <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">tellin’</span>
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">you;</span> none of this <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">really</span> could have happened, except that it did. It was the
damnedest thing I ever saw.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“This little guy, he fell two stories face first, and then
he grabbed a window sill with his hands and stopped himself.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Now, you got to understand how impossible that is, and it <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">ain’t</span> even the impossible part of this story. We’ll
get to that, but for now let’s focus on this. This guy was surprised and
probably hurt, going down the side of a brick building face first. Now, if we
weren’t somewhere public, I’d ask you to put your arms out, but for the sake of
a little discretion, here, I won’t. Just imagine it, though…you’re going face
first toward the ground, arms up above your head. The first thing to hit
anything, anything like, say, a cement windowsill, would be your palms. Now,
how are you going to hang onto this thing with your palms on top and your
fingers curled underneath as you keep <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">falling,</span>
and your head and feet switch places? Huh? I <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">dunno</span>,
either. An acrobat or a stuntman might be able to, I guess, but this guy wasn’t
either one. He must’a been the luckiest guy alive, even though he was just
barely still alive, and not for long. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">I thought
he was going to hang on for a few seconds or a minute or two but he was going
to lose his grip, and he was going to fall, and even though it was four stories
instead of six, he was going to die.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The only problem was, I thought, that he might hang on long enough for
someone to see him or, even worse, for whoever lived <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">in that apartment</span> to open the window and pull him in. He hadn’t had
a good look at me yet, and I pulled back so he wouldn’t, but I didn’t want him
to get out of this. He’d have his back up, you know, and it would be a lot
harder to get him later. So I went back to the door, kicked off a shoe and used
it as a doorstop, got the piece of brick, and dropped it on him.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“It hit him, square in the face, and I ducked back behind
the wall and waited for the thud. He didn’t let go, <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">though</span>. After a few <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">seconds,</span>
I walked toward the corner of the building and looked over the <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">edge so</span> he wouldn’t see me. He was <i>still</i>
clinging <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">there;</span> <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">feet</span> scrabbling against the brick and blood dribbling onto his
shirt. I looked around the roof, but I didn’t see anything else to drop. I
didn’t know what to do. His grip looked as good as it ever had, and as time
went by I knew it was more and more likely that somebody would see him. I
thought about the gun in my <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">pocket</span> but
didn’t want to lose my chance that everyone would think it was <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">suicide</span> or <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">an
accident.</span> I was at a complete loss.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Then the guy just fell. One second he was holding on, and
the next second he was halfway to the street. I started to feel relieved, and I
watched him fall, watched his coat billow up around <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">him,</span> and his hands wave around, feeling for something else to
grab.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">was
done</span>, there was no question in my mind, you know? <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">No question.</span> But I’m careful, so I waited until
he was all the way down before I took my eyes off him. Just to be sure.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“He hit the sidewalk feet first, bent his legs, and stood
up. You believe that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he ran his
hands up and down his whole body, and just walked off. Walked fast, but he
didn’t even look back up at me, just went around the corner and disappeared. And
he didn’t even break a bone. You believe that?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Even <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">now,</span> I don’t know
why, but I did. Completely.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Like I said,” he went on “impossible. But it happened, and
there was nothing I didn’t see. I know because I asked the guy myself, when I
caught up <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">with</span> him a couple weeks later. I
did everything I just got done telling you I didn’t do. I caught the guy, I
stuffed him in my trunk, just like on TV, and I took him someplace safe and I
asked him about the whole thing. His take on it was the same as mine. He didn’t
know how any of it had happened, didn’t know how he was able to hold onto that
ledge, had no idea why he walked away from that fall. I won’t tell you what
happened to that guy, so don’t ask me, but I will tell you that he was no Superman.
I know <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">for a fact</span> he was as vulnerable to
being hurt <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">as</span> anyone else.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“I still think about that guy, to this day, when my brain
gets bored and I need something to think <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">about</span>.
You believe that? I never changed my ways because of this guy, and I never <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">really</span> even felt bad about any of it. But, when
I get bored, instead of doing crossword puzzles like some of the other old
codgers, I try to figure out how all this happened. And after twenty years and
some, I still got no idea. Well, I <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">gotta</span>
get going. Nice talking to you.” He stood up then and abruptly walked away, and
I never knew if he heard my protests and ignored them, or was far enough away
and deaf enough that he thought I just let him go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few minutes later,
the receptionist took me into the chemo suite with Stacy. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">She sat in a huge overstuffed chair in the middle of a
carpeted room that looked more like a motel suite than a patient room in a
hospital: it was clean and comfortable but completely anonymous and without the
bed.</span> I thought Stacy would be watching TV or sleeping as the drugs
dripped into the Mediport the doctors had installed in her chest, but she was
just sitting there, eyes wide open. She waved to me weakly as I came in. She
didn’t even force a smile.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sat on the other
soft chair without saying anything. I wasn’t sure if I felt better or not. I
couldn’t think <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">of anything</span> to say to her,
but for the first time in a long time I didn’t feel bad about that. I got lost
in my thoughts for a while, then turned to my wife. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
She was still staring at the wall, and the look on her face
scared me a little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Softly, I <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">asked,</span> “What are you thinking about?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
She looked at me, took a breath, and said “Nothing.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I sat back in my chair, looked away. We said little else
until the treatment <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">was done</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Then, in the car as we were driving home, I started feeling
strange. I felt pressure inside my <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">chest</span> as
if it was swelling. My breathing stayed calm, but my forehead felt hot, almost
feverish. I thought about turning around and going back to the hospital, but
none of my symptoms were unpleasant. They were more like excitement than
anything else. If I were going to have a heart attack or something, I decided,
maybe it would be for the best if I had it on the freeway, <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">anyway</span>. This thought should have depressed me, made
me feel guilty, but for some reason, I didn’t feel any of those things. Instead,
I grinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I hadn’t been aware that Stacy was looking at me until she
asked what I was smiling <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">at</span>. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">I launched into the story of the guy in the waiting
room, and not long into it I realized that I was enjoying myself, that I had
been waiting to tell Stacy about him since he finished his story and left me so
abruptly.</span> My wife, I remembered then, was a great listener.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I started to play the old guy up, to make him even more
ridiculous than he was, and I even got a weak laugh or two out of my wife. She <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">really</span> got into the <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">story</span> and asked me a few questions as I told it. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">She was as fascinated by him as I was, and when we got
to the house we sat in the driveway for almost fifteen minutes, speculating
about the guy, the stories, and what it all might mean.</span> Sitting there in
the car, unwilling to stop talking to each other, it felt like things were okay.
It felt like I had her back, even though I hadn’t realized that I’d been
thinking of her as being gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
My wife went back inside then, and I drove back to work. I
swore, but not very loudly, and then snapped off the radio so I could better
imagine what the old guy from the waiting room would do if he got cut off. I
decided that he might have done something drastic in his younger years, but I
couldn’t imagine him even getting upset as he was now, so I didn’t get upset
either. Instead, I sat back in my seat and watched the big vehicle weave its
way through traffic, wondering the whole time who might be inside.</div>
<br />
<br />
©2015 Tom Irish</div>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">TOM IRISH</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> is
a writer, teacher, and father who lives in Davenport, Iowa. His story, “Martin
Lenk,” was featured in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Times-Ten-2013/dp/0984203583/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1426087677&sr=8-4">Mystery
Times 2013</a></i>, published by Buddhapuss Ink LLC. He has also <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">been published</span> in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">CALLIOPE</i> magazine, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Mochila Review</i>, and at <a href="http://www.thewritegallery.com/writing/mid-life_robert.html">thewritegallery.com</a></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_qNAg8bD_5epuOevO0flGLORrVXKwnX3WTTVclSldF8mWpa2VhbNuB233JNDt3GZk_GHykrWMiYzWTmElKmhnkheqUyELYEltsBNL5CYu47S9GD3qdnXc0iuTF63Nl6YpJDnqLGtDYQS/s1600/cat+silhouette+sitting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_qNAg8bD_5epuOevO0flGLORrVXKwnX3WTTVclSldF8mWpa2VhbNuB233JNDt3GZk_GHykrWMiYzWTmElKmhnkheqUyELYEltsBNL5CYu47S9GD3qdnXc0iuTF63Nl6YpJDnqLGtDYQS/s1600/cat+silhouette+sitting.jpg" height="145" width="200" /></a></div>
Thanks, Tom, for a
great piece! We love sharing author's works with our #WW Writer Wednesday
followers. We're looking forward to seeing more from you soon! <span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">READERS: We hope you enjoyed this week's edition of
our #WW Writer Wednesday Series and that we'll see you again next week when our
guest is Georgia Ruth who will be talking about the problem of the “Squishy
Middle” of a story.</span> Until then, Butt in chair, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">WRITE</i>!
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
~ The Black Cat</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Buddhapuss Ink LLC is proud to be
a small, but solid house, known for great fiction and nonfiction books, that are written
for readers with brains, by authors who have more than just one book in them.</span></i> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-22151576890438242552015-03-04T08:00:00.000-05:002015-03-04T08:00:05.119-05:00#WW Writer Wednesday, Choosing the Right Format<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-CA">I recently
became interested in writing screenplays. I had an idea for a 'noir' novel and
then read that Meryl Streep was calling for more screenplays, not just for
women, but for older women. I thought my 'noir' was perfect for an older
actress (two, actually). So I took a screen writing course and set myself to
learning all I could about the process. While writing the screenplay, my 'noir'
became a romantic comedy (par for the course for story-telling in any
form!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've fallen in love with screen
writing; it feels liberating and yet requires a concision even more than short
stories do. For me, the constraints of the format actually free my imagination.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br />
My foray into screen writing has made me consider, though, just what form is
best for the kind of story you want to tell. Making movies is expensive and a
lot of work. Your story might be wonderful but is it suited to the screen? Is
it visual? Does the tone translate to the screen? The audience can't see into
the character's heads, you can only show who they are. Maybe your character
would be best written in first-person narrative in a novel. Moreover, perhaps
it isn't a novel, with all that entails: a plot and characters that carry it
for the length required. It may be best suited to the precision of a short
story. A poem? Flash fiction?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br />
Although I finished my screenplay, and am happy with the result, I'm still
working on writing the story as a 'noir' in novel form. Same characters,
similar plot, but as a 'noir' it has a very different tone and, as a novel, a
different set of problems to work out. My point being there are a variety of
ways and forms to tell a story and it's worth thinking about before you start. </span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">©</span><span lang="EN-CA">2015
Selaine Henriksen</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xRUwBwgY3-YE05Z9I74KYTixuiqSOk7-4Yet_ADXFeKU-2cIMOAa8EeLKg5RoYLPYOQt8z0dTb5R569al1X1byUrzkBNQPcjY8s9R06KD7ZHhXuT2C-OKizKw-nhz8KdDbA51FwnhSEH/s1600/writer.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xRUwBwgY3-YE05Z9I74KYTixuiqSOk7-4Yet_ADXFeKU-2cIMOAa8EeLKg5RoYLPYOQt8z0dTb5R569al1X1byUrzkBNQPcjY8s9R06KD7ZHhXuT2C-OKizKw-nhz8KdDbA51FwnhSEH/s1600/writer.png" height="195" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>NOT Selaine!</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">Selaine Henriksen</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"> has supported
her writing habit by working many different jobs over the years from bookstore
clerk to Research Technologist. Currently a Fitness Instructor and mom to two
editors-in training, she lives in Ottawa, Ontario where she is a member of
Capital Crime Writers. She blogs at <br />
<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://miss-selaine-ious.jesande.com/">http://miss-selaine-ious.jesande.com</a></span>
reflecting an eclectic taste in reading, as well as writing, although <br />
she is a firm believer that at the heart of every good story is a mystery. Selaine
also has two self-published books at <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Selaine-Henriksen/e/B00RLWGB6C#">http://www.amazon.com/Selaine-Henriksen/e/B00RLWGB6C#</a></span> and </span><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: blue;"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Bainer">http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Bainer</a></span></span>.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_qNAg8bD_5epuOevO0flGLORrVXKwnX3WTTVclSldF8mWpa2VhbNuB233JNDt3GZk_GHykrWMiYzWTmElKmhnkheqUyELYEltsBNL5CYu47S9GD3qdnXc0iuTF63Nl6YpJDnqLGtDYQS/s1600/cat+silhouette+sitting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_qNAg8bD_5epuOevO0flGLORrVXKwnX3WTTVclSldF8mWpa2VhbNuB233JNDt3GZk_GHykrWMiYzWTmElKmhnkheqUyELYEltsBNL5CYu47S9GD3qdnXc0iuTF63Nl6YpJDnqLGtDYQS/s1600/cat+silhouette+sitting.jpg" height="145" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Thanks, Selaine, for a great piece on trying out new formats! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">READERS: We hope you enjoyed this week's edition of our #WW Writer
Wednesday Series and that we'll see you again next week when our guest is Tom
Irish with a new short story. Until then, "Butt in chair, WRITE!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~ The Black Cat</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Buddhapuss Ink LLC is proud to be
a small, but solid house, known for great fiction and nonfiction books, that are written
for readers with brains, by authors who have more than just one book in them.</span></i><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
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<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">We're bringing you our #WW Writer Wednesday feature a day early this week! </span><br />
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">On the release of her fifth book,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rosewood-Guitar-Story-Trilogy-Prequel-ebook/dp/B00T5FRZ6I/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1424728450&sr=1-1&keywords=the+rosewood+guitar">The
Rosewood Guitar, Jon<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span>s Story</a></i>, Mariam Kobras
reflects on knowing when to let go and end a series</span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">…</span> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FIqoYIj2OPMZQDiNSgATmxQXdN7_S8vG9XGUit0PCF8PLPOBXmBZLK6mWzbtmRmW5RxdPDM6HvZDhPg3Ijw_y47bcI4KJEUsCKTybUqvb3iKRwFs8kJ2a6nUD17iROB5FMb07DsE3hv5/s1600/EF909D2115RoadDisappearsJayMantriStockSnapio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FIqoYIj2OPMZQDiNSgATmxQXdN7_S8vG9XGUit0PCF8PLPOBXmBZLK6mWzbtmRmW5RxdPDM6HvZDhPg3Ijw_y47bcI4KJEUsCKTybUqvb3iKRwFs8kJ2a6nUD17iROB5FMb07DsE3hv5/s1600/EF909D2115RoadDisappearsJayMantriStockSnapio.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">“</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">Write about ending a series,</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">”</span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">my publisher said to me. </span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">“</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">Write
about how you know when to end a series.</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">”</span></div>
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<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">Being the good,
cooperative author I try to be, I said, </span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">“</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">Sure! I was going to do that <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">anyway</span>!</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">”</span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">Implying that yes, I</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">m versatile, <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">spontaneous</span>
and flexible, no fuss, no problem. (Well, I try to be.)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">After all I came to <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">writing as</span> a child comes to chocolate cake: it
was a surprise <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">to</span> me that I had it in me
to write an entire novel, let alone five. Or six. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Truth is, if my publisher at Buddhapuss Ink hadn</span></span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-no-proof: yes;">t found me on Twitter and
snatched my first book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Distant Shore</i>,
from my willing yet reluctant hands, I</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-no-proof: yes;">d still be writing that book now, some five years later.</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">I</span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;"> ha</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">d <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">made</span> myself at home in it, explored every
twist, every nook and cranny in the lives of Jon and Naomi Stone and their
families. I</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">d probably have drifted off and made up an
entirely new spinoff series about the Italian branch of Naomi</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">s relatives, and eventually, I</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">d have killed off Jon Stone. I</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">d have left Naomi alone, embittered, a cold, lonely woman trying to deal
with what life had thrown at her. Who would have the power to unlock her frozen
heart? Who would save her from herself?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">But, no. </span></div>
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<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-no-proof: yes;">That
book will never be written, nor its alter ego, the story where Naomi dies and
leaves Jon behind unable to cope with life or find solace even in his music,
and what miracle would have to happen to make him pick up the pieces of his
shattered soul!</span></div>
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<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">Oh, the drama! I can
see the beautiful sadness, and the bright ray of new hope when they find new
life, new happiness</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">…</span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">but,
no. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">When you</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">ve lived with characters as intimately as I have with the Stones, letting
them go is so hard. </span></div>
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<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">Even if there</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">s a new idea, a new premise, new, intriguing characters in a totally new
story; the pain of letting go remains. And it is <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">pain</span>, trust me. </span></div>
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<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">It</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">s letting go of something you know you can <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">actually</span>
<i>do. </i>After all, it was these characters and their stories that got me
that first book deal. Can I do that again? Do I have it in me to write
something new, something different, and will my publisher like it, will they
think it</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">s worth their time, money, effort? </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">Letting go of a series
is stepping off a cliff. It</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">s moving to a different country.</span></div>
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<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">It</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">s getting a divorce from someone you know you still love, and deeply, it</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">s drifting away on a raft from everything you knew, felt comfortable with,
loved. It</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">s walking a tightrope, <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">blindfolded</span>. It</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">s going on a diet without sugar, a morning
without coffee, a missed plane <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">that</span>
leaves you stranded at a strange airport in a strange land. </span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">It</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">s being dropped into a room full of strangers who don</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">t
speak your language who stare at you with that huge big </span><i><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">“</span></i><i><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">Who the hell are YOU?</span></i><i><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">”</span></i><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;"> on their faces. </span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">It</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">s stepping up to the conductor</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">s <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">podium,</span>
and the orchestra looks around, confused, and asks where the real conductor is?
Because it surely can</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">t be you, can it?</span></div>
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</div>
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<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">Leaving the Stone
Series behind was a moment of change for me. </span></div>
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<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">I</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">d <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">started</span> writing the first book before I was an
author, out of <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">an inner</span> drive that I can</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">t name. I</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">d written it in my spare time, to amuse myself, to
fulfill a teenage dream, but never with the thought of submitting it. It was <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">mine</span> and mine alone. And even when <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Distant Shore</i> <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">was published</span>, and the other books <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">after</span> it, it still felt as if I was writing for
myself and only letting others in on the fun. I</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">d set
the rules for those characters. I was safe within the parameters of a well-known
world. </span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">Would I be able to do
it again? And how comfortable would I be in that new world, with new
characters, new habits, new needs, dreams, desires? </span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">Would I even be able
to create something like that again?</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">Would I be able to do
this again? </span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">Yes, and that</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">s the heart of the matter, isn</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">t it? Can you do this again? <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Can you create something new that</span></span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-no-proof: yes;">s so different from what you did
before that people will enjoy it and not say it</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-no-proof: yes;">s a pale shadow, and can you make it true enough to be
recognized as </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;">yours</span></i><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-no-proof: yes;">?</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;"></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">There</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">s only one way to find out, right? Jump off that cliff. Get that divorce.
Let them go, those old characters, watch them leave, bid them a fond adieu.
Join the ball and smile at those strangers dancing around you, introduce <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">yourself</span>! They</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">re
your new imaginary family, even if they</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">re still hiding behind masks.</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">And</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">–</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">oh yes! Explore that new world! Nothing <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">is
lost</span>. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Anytime</span> you want to, you can
visit with those old characters: they</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">re waiting right there on the shelf, waiting.</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">Jon and Naomi Stone
will never die. They live on in those books. </span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">But they</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">re not the only ones who want their stories told. The curtains are drawn
back now; I can see new characters patiently waiting, gazing at me, silent,
smiling, knowing they will <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">be heard</span>. </span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">My heart is open to
their fates.</span></div>
<div align="right" class="Body" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: DE;">©</span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;"> 2015 Mariam Kobras</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6mDcjLcFkzbxIbD1HuxmHdFdO2jHDuss6qzakrJL2CFZpLr47AUZsLjKbDbekx9SZFudeGVxtQd8r9WnJHl6H7wZx3gsUVB6DU-tGOclDsyZjWrcALTKlvYVslWQMNz3-AfwZqpp-Sel/s1600/Mariam+at+Beeechwood+Cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6mDcjLcFkzbxIbD1HuxmHdFdO2jHDuss6qzakrJL2CFZpLr47AUZsLjKbDbekx9SZFudeGVxtQd8r9WnJHl6H7wZx3gsUVB6DU-tGOclDsyZjWrcALTKlvYVslWQMNz3-AfwZqpp-Sel/s1600/Mariam+at+Beeechwood+Cafe.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Three-time IPPY Award
winning author</span> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mariam Kobras</b>,
was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Growing up, she and her family lived in Brazil
and Saudi Arabia before settling in Germany. Mariam attended school there and
studied American literature and psychology at Justus-Liebig-University in
Giessen. Today she lives and writes in Hamburg, Germany, with her husband, two
sons, and two cats. </div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
To hear Mariam read the first chapter of her new book, <a href="http://youtu.be/3KCw5rP3qok" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>. </div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_qNAg8bD_5epuOevO0flGLORrVXKwnX3WTTVclSldF8mWpa2VhbNuB233JNDt3GZk_GHykrWMiYzWTmElKmhnkheqUyELYEltsBNL5CYu47S9GD3qdnXc0iuTF63Nl6YpJDnqLGtDYQS/s1600/cat+silhouette+sitting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_qNAg8bD_5epuOevO0flGLORrVXKwnX3WTTVclSldF8mWpa2VhbNuB233JNDt3GZk_GHykrWMiYzWTmElKmhnkheqUyELYEltsBNL5CYu47S9GD3qdnXc0iuTF63Nl6YpJDnqLGtDYQS/s1600/cat+silhouette+sitting.jpg" height="145" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="Body">
Thanks, Mariam, for a great piece on leaving characters and
stories that you<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span>ve loved behind and embarking on a new
series. The first book in Mariam's new series, Sunset Bay, written with
co-author CW Morgan, will be coming out later in 2015. A mix of mystery and romance,
it unfolds in the wilds of Vancouver Island in western Canada.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
READERS: We hope you enjoyed this week's edition of our #WW
Writer Wednesday Series and that we'll see you again next week when our guest
is Selaine Henriksen who will be talking about picking the right format for
your story. Until then, "Butt in chair, WRITE!</div>
<div class="Body">
~ The Black Cat</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Buddhapuss Ink LLC is proud
to be a small, but solid house known for great fiction and nonfiction books,
written for readers with brains by authors who have more than just one book in
them.</i></div>
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Nine months ago my first book, a
memoir-in-essays titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Message-Blue-Jay-Writers-Journey-ebook/dp/B00KBA7AH0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424207991&sr=8-1&keywords=message+from+a+blue+jay" target="_blank">Message From a Blue Jay</a>,</i> was released into the world at a launch party hosted by Back
Pages Books in Waltham, Massachusetts. On that magical Friday evening in late
May, friends, writing colleagues, and a handful of strangers settled themselves
into rows of fold-up chairs, smiled toward the podium, and listened as I read
sections from two essays in the book. When the reading portion of the evening was
done, a line formed so that I could sign copies of the book. The cash register
kept ringing, and well-wishers chatted as they enjoyed cookies and cake. It was
the night many first-time authors imagine with anticipation—the night when the
dream you’ve nurtured all your life is transformed into a real-life moment.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNSvPiomC9YtQp2HXruEDFcON8HBQkTOdRS71iAeUJnz8vhWEuX-OPLXVL1KR_djeqCmnrsadc6rS0TcYn4ydLLliSWMtdZ4_BjJOsRp3bDAHuiaw01AhFF2mvrKXFscnxVzIdfXSrX-F/s1600/signing+back+pages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNSvPiomC9YtQp2HXruEDFcON8HBQkTOdRS71iAeUJnz8vhWEuX-OPLXVL1KR_djeqCmnrsadc6rS0TcYn4ydLLliSWMtdZ4_BjJOsRp3bDAHuiaw01AhFF2mvrKXFscnxVzIdfXSrX-F/s1600/signing+back+pages.jpg" height="200" width="114" /></a></div>
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What follows is different for
every author. The select few who are published by large houses move on to book
and media tours paid for by publishers and arranged by their publicists. The
majority, who are published by smaller houses, might arrange their own readings
at bookstores and libraries, explore ways to market new books online, or
purchase copies at a discount to sell at literary events. They will look to
their publishers for advice and support, but will pound the pavement largely on
their own. Many will check their book’s ranking on Amazon periodically and try
to guess what it means when a book jumps from rank 353,000 to 83,000 one day,
and then drops to 827,000 three days later. Their book is, after all, one of millions
of books sold online. </div>
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<br /></div>
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When an author’s first royalty
check finally arrives, the reality of what it usually means to be a debut
author hits home. This can be a surprising and humbling moment. When I received
my latest royalty check, for example, I joked with the hard-working, confidence-infusing
owner of my publisher, Buddhapuss Ink, that I was headed out the door to buy a
private jet. Ever the optimist, she asked if I minded buying that jet one wing
nut at a time.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKpt33vbLW8XTKgrCvAAe0y4SAd0vBPNjCwNI1Fj1fzIhxsiUUCmeHSk9Tf3dEiFFDUL9Nwf6x_rFM6Ad81iD5T4aHuJrC-sXBGZCWs9jeYKUr3_LvSi6F8WSdthwSsiZzMrTT4j5ZseS/s1600/wingnut+morguefile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKpt33vbLW8XTKgrCvAAe0y4SAd0vBPNjCwNI1Fj1fzIhxsiUUCmeHSk9Tf3dEiFFDUL9Nwf6x_rFM6Ad81iD5T4aHuJrC-sXBGZCWs9jeYKUr3_LvSi6F8WSdthwSsiZzMrTT4j5ZseS/s1600/wingnut+morguefile.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that </i>moment when it can be tempting to lose sight of the original
dream. Just a short time ago, all you wanted was to find a publisher who would
say “yes” to your manuscript. All you desired was see the words you had
agonized over in the early mornings and late at night bound into professionally
published pages. You imagined turning your book over and over in your hands, seeing
it published and real. What was important, then, was the hard work you’d done to
create something you believed in—something true to yourself, to your artistic
vision, and yes…to your dream. How that dream would rank on Amazon was the
furthest thing from your mind.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
When the reality hits, it is
tempting to start thinking, “What can I do to make my next book sell better?
Should I switch genres and write something that might be more popular? Should I
produce something that’s really marketable?”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It’s understandable that for many,
the answer is “yes.” Who doesn’t want to succeed in the industry or endeavor
they’ve chosen? Who doesn’t want to be more successful?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But aye, there’s the rub. We each
have to define the word “successful” in our own way. “Success” means different
things to different people. In fact, it can mean different things to the same
person at different stages of life.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
So lately I’ve asked myself,
“What does ‘successful’ mean to me?” I’ve never defined myself by any kind of
financial achievement, but I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">have</i>
been caught in the trap of defining my success by parameters set by others. Like
many authors, for example, I worried about who would review my book and whether
it would be mentioned in top literary journals or publications. I also checked
those rankings on Amazon, wondering what it meant when those crazy numbers rose
or fell.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The big reviewers didn’t review <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Message From a Blue Jay</i>. They rarely pay
attention to personal essay collections by debut authors who are published by
small houses. As for those numbers on Amazon? I noticed recently that when I
purchased a single copy of the book myself (to make it easy to mail it to a
relative), its ranking jumped.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In retrospect, however, I realize
that my book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was</i> reviewed by some
very important reviewers—readers. They posted those reviews on Amazon, Barnes
and Noble, and other online review sites (thank you!). I also received reviews
in the form of personal notes and letters from readers who said they were
deeply touched by my essays. Some said the book made them think about things
they hadn’t considered. Others said that after reading it, they felt less
alone. A few had met me personally once or twice, or not at all, but now felt
that I was a friend.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A long time ago, I had a dream. I
dreamed that I would publish a book. But as I traveled through life and through
the publishing process, I realized that the dream was more complicated than
that. What I wanted was to live fully by working hard and doing my best. Then, I
wanted to throw that “best” out into the world and say, “See, I am here!” so that
I might find others who would say, “I am here, too!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I have found them, those voices
saying, “I am here, too!” And I don’t think I could have found them by writing
anything other than <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Message From a Blue
Jay</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
So, I guess I can say my first
book is successful. I’ll just buy that private jet one wing nut at a time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">© 2015 Faye Rapoport
DesPres</b></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAstIMSamHhf65Bn85vPgXEPl13ZW4-uKycEpD0CyQ4FrWAO5lB2BM8A-4E4RAzDtXYxCyJAiTJ6fw4Nyzn9CFeIilCIwhDNecmMJ2528hwp3jbY7L94vWdwdf9eowHNbKO9FGfJykZIM-/s1600/Faye's+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAstIMSamHhf65Bn85vPgXEPl13ZW4-uKycEpD0CyQ4FrWAO5lB2BM8A-4E4RAzDtXYxCyJAiTJ6fw4Nyzn9CFeIilCIwhDNecmMJ2528hwp3jbY7L94vWdwdf9eowHNbKO9FGfJykZIM-/s1600/Faye's+photo.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Faye Rapoport DesPres </b>has spent much of
her writing career as a journalist and business/non-profit writer. In 2010 she
earned her MFA from Pine Manor College, where she focused on creative
nonfiction.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Her journalism has appeared in <i>The New York
Times, Animal Life, Trail, Timberline</i> and other publications. Her personal
essays, fiction, and poetry have been published in <i>Ascent, Superstition
Review,</i> and <i>Connotation Press: An Online Artifact</i>, as well as other
journals, magazines, and anthologies. Currently, DesPres is an adjunct
first-year writing instructor at Lasell College. She lives in the Boston area
with her husband and their rescued cats. <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Message-Blue-Jay-Writers-Journey/dp/0984203524/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1414598587&sr=1-10" target="_blank">Message from a Blue Jay -- Love, Loss, and
One Writer's Journey Home</a> </i>is her first book.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_qNAg8bD_5epuOevO0flGLORrVXKwnX3WTTVclSldF8mWpa2VhbNuB233JNDt3GZk_GHykrWMiYzWTmElKmhnkheqUyELYEltsBNL5CYu47S9GD3qdnXc0iuTF63Nl6YpJDnqLGtDYQS/s1600/cat+silhouette+sitting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_qNAg8bD_5epuOevO0flGLORrVXKwnX3WTTVclSldF8mWpa2VhbNuB233JNDt3GZk_GHykrWMiYzWTmElKmhnkheqUyELYEltsBNL5CYu47S9GD3qdnXc0iuTF63Nl6YpJDnqLGtDYQS/s1600/cat+silhouette+sitting.jpg" height="145" width="200" /></a></div>
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Thanks, Faye, for an inspiring, and thought-provoking piece! </div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
READERS: We hope you enjoyed this week's edition of our #WW
Writer Wednesday Series and that we'll see you again next week when our guest is Mariam Kobras who will be talking about knowing when to end a series. Until then, "Butt in chair,
WRITE!</div>
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~ The Black Cat</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Buddhapuss Ink LLC is
proud to be a small, but solid house known for great fiction and nonfiction
books, written for readers with brains by authors who have more than just one
book in them.</i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-64411002460654836702015-02-17T09:00:00.000-05:002015-02-17T13:52:08.985-05:00AND THE COVER IS . . . <h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Congrats, Linda K. Sienkiewicz!</span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJoJCBPU4HtkYUUV1jgdQZUbwbI1KEXBHNs9DGudcZ8A1VS5jhqQZ0itGO8u0MFzDdoFzN6pHEd3zjaQLMNjpth1fjJpJYrF-pfwbyl-kKclrXCYJiufgCkxqABHWRyrQMbF0s2OhkRl4/s1600/Context+FINAL+FRONT+COVER+WEB+READY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJoJCBPU4HtkYUUV1jgdQZUbwbI1KEXBHNs9DGudcZ8A1VS5jhqQZ0itGO8u0MFzDdoFzN6pHEd3zjaQLMNjpth1fjJpJYrF-pfwbyl-kKclrXCYJiufgCkxqABHWRyrQMbF0s2OhkRl4/s1600/Context+FINAL+FRONT+COVER+WEB+READY.jpg" height="320" width="220" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://lindaksienkiewicz.com/" target="_blank">Watch </a>for more information on Linda's book over the next few months.</span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
</h2>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-46436153752893292212015-02-04T08:00:00.000-05:002015-07-10T13:11:34.004-04:00#WW Writer Wednesday: Get Close to your Readers through Point of View<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNzra4GSDvZAGrHKuv3DphOM0XTBJmVqKLhDiUzRMrjORulUHNsZBtZfNK35kt4UwaIaUdlNujmY_BH1vtdq66OOtn6IImGdqbBwAmCgSs_T1eyH3WW12WREBbjro_MK05D1vbT75brWk/s1600/old+typewriter+freeimages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNzra4GSDvZAGrHKuv3DphOM0XTBJmVqKLhDiUzRMrjORulUHNsZBtZfNK35kt4UwaIaUdlNujmY_BH1vtdq66OOtn6IImGdqbBwAmCgSs_T1eyH3WW12WREBbjro_MK05D1vbT75brWk/s1600/old+typewriter+freeimages.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In any story,
there’s a narrator that is separate from the writer. Point of view concerns <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">how </i>the narrator tells the story, and this
will determine how close the relationship between the narrator and reader will
be. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Each point of view, from first person to third to second works differently to
move the reader, and through the manipulation of point of view (POV), a writer
can create intimacy or add necessary distance.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">FIRST PERSON
POINT OF VIEW</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">First person POV
narratives are the most intimate as the narrator, “I,” tells a story directly
to the reader. We become his or her sole confidants. As a writer, it’s
important to have a firm sense of who your narrator is, how he views the world,
how he speaks, and why he’s compelled to tell this particular story. Is the narrator
confessing a past misdeed? Trying to clarify past events for his <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">own</span> state of mind? How faulty is his thinking? Os
he funny, confident, tongue-tied, or driven? What discoveries does he make in
the telling of his story? </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">With first
person POV, a writer can create an unforgettable character through a
distinctive voice, which helps to endear the narrator to the reader. Author
Dorothy Allison does this in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bastard Out of
Carolina</i>. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">The story is told in the informal
voice of the colorful character “Bone,” who starts sentences with clauses,
conjunctions and declaratives, as if speaking in real time, gossiping with us at
the kitchen table.</span> We quickly realize Bone knows terrible secrets about
her unconventional family, and there’s no doubt she’s going to tell us everything.
We enjoy being her chosen audience.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In Roddy
Doyle’s novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Woman</span> Who Walked Into Doors</i>, the narrator
is an abused wife who works as a housecleaner. In this excerpt, she both admits
and denies her alcoholism:</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Years ago, I had to drown the alcohol
with coke or blackcurrant. Now I prefer orange juice, but I’ll drink anything.
I <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">don’t</span> know when I started being like
that. I <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">don’t</span> know when I became an <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">alco</span> [sic]. My children have gone without food
because of my drinking. My children have suffered because of my drinking. But I
have it under control. I’ve been taking back some of the <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">day</span>. I don’t drink now until after Jack has
gone to bed. . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I put him to
bed a bit early</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Such a candid
confession creates empathy, all the more profound because readers can clearly
see what she cannot. Some of <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">the most
fascinating</span> stories are those in which the narrator does not seem to be
aware of their <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">own</span> distortion of the
events.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Multiple first
person points of view, when the writer alternates two or more first person
narrators, can also be used. Romance novels <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">are
commonly written</span> this way. Readers form an alliance with the narrator
they most identify with, yet feel sympathetic toward the other narrator(s)
because they are privy to their private thoughts, too. That said, having two
narrators may not be as intimate as one if readers find themselves torn between
differing viewpoints. Not everyone likes being forced to form alliances. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Conversely,
this can work to a writer’s advantage by provoking sympathy for multiple
characters and entrenching the reader in their dilemmas. It’s like being at a
family dinner where everyone you love is <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">arguing,</span>
and you don’t want to take sides. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">This happens
in Joanna Briscoe’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sleep With Me</i>, a
novel about a love triangle narrated in alternating chapters in first person points
of view by a husband and his pregnant wife, who unwittingly have an affair with
the same woman!</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">THIRD PERSON
POINT OF VIEW</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Third person is
one step removed from first <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">POV</span> since an
invisible narrator is telling a story <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">about
</i>a<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>“he” or “she.” Third person <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">limited</i> POV (where we see the world only
through a particular character’s eyes) can be as intimate as <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">first</span> person, but there are subtle differences
that make it well-suited for certain characters. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A good
example is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Belly</i>, by Lisa Selin
Davis. Belly is an argumentative, belligerent ex-convict at odds with his adult
children. The reader needs distance from this prickly character. Although Davis makes use of Belly’s
caustic voice when we see events through his eyes, his inner <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">monologue</span> is still separate from the narrative.
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">This</span> allows us to be observers, yet brings
us just close enough to empathize. In this scene, Belly openly grieves, but he
is so out of touch with his emotions that he doesn’t have the tools or words to
express them</span>: <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">He turned and looked
at his youngest [adult] child, her pale stringy hair and her pale eyes,
everything about her light against the darkening sky and he felt something
strange, some foreign object clogging his throat, I’m giving birth to an egg
out my mouth, he thought, and then he coughed and made a sound and he thought,
What is happening to me, what is this?</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">And Eliza put her skinny little arms around him and said, “It’s okay, it’s
okay Daddy,” and he still didn’t know, he could not see out his left eye and he
let his head hang down on her bony shoulder and he shook and her shoulder was
wet.</span> It was all over in a minute.</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As you can see, third person POV permits a writer to make
use of descriptions, metaphors and language that the character himself wouldn’t
use. In this way, third person opens up possibilities to do more with the
writing. An objective narrator can also reveal things about flawed or shady characters
that would be less than honest with the reader. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Third person works well with multiple points of view, too.
We are observers who learn the motives and thoughts of various characters in a
story. A sense of intimacy with the reader can be gained by using limited POV,
when the narrator zooms in to get the inner thoughts of a particular character.
Chapter or section breaks help cue the reader as to <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">whose</span> inner thoughts we are privy <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">to</span>.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Another type of <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">third</span>
person narrative is omniscient, where the narrator knows everything and
everyone’s thoughts. This type of narrative is the most distancing, but well
suited for novels where setting and history are as important as the characters.
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">SECOND PERSON POINT OF VIEW</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The second person pronoun “you” can be used several
different ways, and this POV can create a surprisingly intimate bond between
the narrator and reader. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">“You” turns reading about something into
experiencing it. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Bright Lights, Big City</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> by Jay McInerny, begins: “You are not
the kind of guy who would be at a place like this at this time of the morning.
But here you are, and you cannot say that the terrain is entirely unfamiliar,
although the details are fuzzy. You are at a nightclub talking to a girl with a
shaved head. . . ” </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Obviously, the “you” in this novel does not refer to the
reader. Here, the self has split, creating a “you” in an inner <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">dialog</span>. The narrator is speaking to the self in
denial. Although we understand the narrator is not us, his inner <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">dialog</span> becomes internalized through use of the
word “you.” We are drawn into the mind of this conflicted narrator as he avoids
dealing with reality through escapism. I won’t give the plot away, but when the
reason for his distress <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">is revealed</span>, his self-discovery
becomes, in essence, our discovery, too, and it packs an emotional punch. The
same story told in first or third person POV wouldn’t have the same impact.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Second
person POV can <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">be used</span> in an
instructional narrative, as in Bonnie Jo Campbell’s short story “The Solutions
to Brian’s Problem” from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">American Salvage</i>.
The narrator, Brian, brainstorms how to deal with his wife, who is a meth
addict and the mother of their baby. The narrative is gut-wrenching because we
cannot help but imagine ourselves in his shoes as he lists any and all possible
ideas. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Solution #1</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Connie
said she was going out to the store to buy formula and diapers. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">While she’s gone, load up the truck with the
surround-sound home entertainment system and your excellent collection of power
tools, put the baby boy in the car seat and drive away from this house you
built with your own hands.</span> Expect that after you leave, she will break
all the windows in this living room, including the big picture window and the
big mirror over the fireplace, which you’ve already replaced twice. The furnace
will run and run. Then she will go to your mother’s looking for you, and when
she doesn’t not find you, she will curse at your mother and possibly attempt to
burn your mother’s house down. . . </span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Solution #2</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="mso-pagination: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Wait till Connie comes
back home from the “store,” distract her with the baby, and then cut her meth
with Drano, so that when she shoots it up she dies.</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By
the time Brian arrives at the seventh and most plausible solution, we are right
there with him, feeling his inner conflict and pain as if it were ours. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Another way of using <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">second</span>
person is when a first person POV narrator, “I,” addresses a specific character,
"you,” throughout the story. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">John Ames, an elderly <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">minister,</span> dying of a bad heart, is the first person narrator</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> in GILEAD,
by Marilynne Robinson</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">. Ames
is writing an account of his life for his six-year-old son to read when he’s an
adult. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gilead</i> is an <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">epistolary</span> but written as informal conversational,
so it <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">reads like</span> a second person address.
Here, Ames
refers to a playful moment with his boy that turns somber: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-no-proof: yes;">And then I pretended I had a bee buzzing around in my mouth,
and you said, ‘No you don’t, there wasn’t any bee!’ and I grabbed you around
the shoulders and blew into your ear and you jumped up as though you thought
maybe there was a bee after all, and you laughed, and then you got serious and
you said, ‘I want you to do this.’</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"> And then you put your hand on my cheek and touched the flower to my
lips, so gently and carefully, and said, ‘Now sip.’ You said, ‘You have to take
your medicine.’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-no-proof: yes;">The second
person address creates a contradictory reaction in the reader: we feel the
narrator is personally addressing us, while, at the same time, we acknowledge
the “you” as a specific character in the story.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"> Our emotional response deepens
</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">because we</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;"> cannot
help being called into the father-son relationship. We feel the love,
tenderness and sorrow <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">firsthand,</span> as if we
were Ames’ son.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang;">If this novel <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">were</span> a typical first-person narrative, it
wouldn’t have the strength that it does to move readers. It would be simply a sad
sermon delivered by a devout man on his deathbed. Instead, we’re able to step
into a loving and affectionate relationship <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">through</span>
the virtue of the second-person pronoun “you.” </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Whichever POV you feel most comfortable with, don’t be
afraid to explore different narratives in view of your characters, their
motivations, and the story they are telling. How <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">intimate</span> do you want your readers to be with your <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">narrator?</span> Does <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">intimacy</span>
serve the story? The subtle and complex layers of POV are worth studying so
that your work receives the desired response from your readers. What a story is
about cannot <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">be separated</span> from who is
telling it, and how. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In addition to the <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">books
mentioned above</span>, a solid resource for writers is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Points Of View: An Anthology Of Short Stories</i>, edited by James
Moffett and Kenneth R. McElheny. The anthology contains stories by Steinbeck,
Capote, Updike, Dostoevsky, Poe, and <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">more,</span>
and gives an excellent account of the many variations of fictional techniques concerning
point of view.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekvlQlieoMngbDxj5zlLIcTwD-UMNt5zhLbdN4dXmSE3bFeqJDD3d0GgI4PDuTrXTKworzVWeB59ZfUL5eiTuGtDi0pCaFHyri_0ccfcleJNGAWDMwPOER-ndJ-xikzeuDkcIdj36Q7qL/s1600/photo+color.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekvlQlieoMngbDxj5zlLIcTwD-UMNt5zhLbdN4dXmSE3bFeqJDD3d0GgI4PDuTrXTKworzVWeB59ZfUL5eiTuGtDi0pCaFHyri_0ccfcleJNGAWDMwPOER-ndJ-xikzeuDkcIdj36Q7qL/s1600/photo+color.JPG" width="152" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Linda K. Sienkiewicz</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> is a published poet and writer with a
chapbook award and an MFA in fiction. She wrote her forthcoming novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In The Context Of Love</i>, (July 2015,
Buddhapuss Ink) in a first person POV second person address, where the narrator
talks <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">to</span> her lost love throughout the
story.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_qNAg8bD_5epuOevO0flGLORrVXKwnX3WTTVclSldF8mWpa2VhbNuB233JNDt3GZk_GHykrWMiYzWTmElKmhnkheqUyELYEltsBNL5CYu47S9GD3qdnXc0iuTF63Nl6YpJDnqLGtDYQS/s1600/cat+silhouette+sitting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_qNAg8bD_5epuOevO0flGLORrVXKwnX3WTTVclSldF8mWpa2VhbNuB233JNDt3GZk_GHykrWMiYzWTmElKmhnkheqUyELYEltsBNL5CYu47S9GD3qdnXc0iuTF63Nl6YpJDnqLGtDYQS/s1600/cat+silhouette+sitting.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Thanks, Linda, for a very clear and intriguing
explanation of POV and the important role it plays in every story! </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">READERS: We hope you enjoyed this week's edition of our
#WW Writer Wednesday Series </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">~ The
Black Cat</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Buddhapuss Ink LLC is
proud to be a small, but solid house known for great fiction and nonfiction
books, written for readers with brains by authors who have more than just one
book in them.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-47411168015779799452015-01-28T08:30:00.000-05:002015-01-28T13:36:02.663-05:00#WW Writer Wednesday: Becoming the Writer You Want to Be<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<![endif]--></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Paula Gail
Benson</span></i></span> </i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>T</i>wo years ago, I discovered “The Easy
Way to Write” series by <a href="http://easywaytowrite.com/">Rob Parnell</a>,
best-selling author, musician, screenwriter, and Australian entrepreneur. With
over ninety books to his credit (many in eformat), he is an acknowledged
writing guru whose motto is </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Your Success is My Concern</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">What I like that his books are
straightforward and give positive, achievable steps for becoming a working, successful
author. I particularly enjoyed the opening chapter of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Easy Way to Write Short Stories that Sell</i>, in which he gave
some excellent advice for making the most of writing skills. Distilled to the
essence, here are his recommendations.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">First, approach the task as a
business. Present yourself as a professional and act professionally and
courteously in your dealings with agents and publishers.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Second, produce a clean, enticing
product that meets and exceeds buyer expectations. The less an editor has to do
to make a manuscript publishable, the more valuable it becomes because it costs
less to produce.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Third, ensure a consistent output by
developing manageable routines.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">What exactly does <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">manageable routines</i> mean? Writing every
day at a particular time and in a specific place? Meeting a daily word quota or
number of pages revised?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Maybe. Or, maybe not.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Is writing one thousand words a day
manageable for you? Or, are you struggling to produce a few hundred words each
time you have a few free minutes between classes, or jobs, or things you need
to do for your family and friends?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Remember how Curly (played by Jack
Palance) explained the secret of life to Mitch (Billy Crystal) in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">City Slickers </i>(Columbia Pictures 1991)? “It’s
one thing, and you have to figure out what it is.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Manageable means one thing: what you
can accomplish based on your own schedule, lifestyle, needs, and resources. You
have to discover what a manageable routine is for you. And, the best test for
figuring it out is determining what you can plan to do on a fairly regular
basis with a sense of expectation and accomplishment.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Routine speaks of habit. I recently
read an article that listed good habits to develop to help avoid some of the
detriments of aging. Along with good nutrition and exercise, the article
encouraged that people have a routine. It did not have to be complex, but one
you enjoyed returning to consistently. Like doing cross word puzzles,
practicing a musical instrument, or writing in a journal.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A manageable routine is a schedule
you can look forward to keeping for the joy of finishing the tasks you set for
yourself, and not so rigorous that it's daunting. In the opening chapter of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Easy Way to Write Short Stories that
Sell, </i>Parnell suggests that one way to develop the ability to finish a
story is to start thinking of how the story ends. He suggests you write a dozen
short paragraph stories that have a beginning, middle, and end. Then, write
“The End.” Make it a practice to reach the place where you write “The End” and
make that act a part of your storytelling.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> After
you have a dozen examples, no matter how short, the act of writing “The End”
becomes part of your work product. You have learned to persevere to reach the
conclusion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In essence, you’ve developed a
manageable routine.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He advocates setting achievable
goals, visualizing success, and writing a mission statement to better
understand your brand and the product you are producing. Last year, I wrote a
post giving more detail about his methods that you may find </span><a href="http://writerswhokill.blogspot.com/2014/01/mentally-becoming-writer-you-want-to-be.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">here</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. But, the more I
think about it, the key is developing manageable routines.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, to make certain that you have a
business approach, good product presentation, and consistent output, find the
writing habits that fit best into your life and make you want to embrace your
writing time each day as a haven and comfort rather than a dreaded ordeal. I
hope each of you finds this advice<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> practical, achievable,
and encouraging, and that it assists you in becoming the writer you want to be
this year.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">©2015 Paula Gail Benson</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A legislative
attorney and former law librarian, Paula Gail Benson’s short stories have been
published in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kings River Life </i>(</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://kingsriverlife.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">http://kingsriverlife.com/</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">), the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bethlehem
Writers Roundtable </i>(</span><a href="http://bwgwritersroundtable.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">http://bwgwritersroundtable.com/</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mystery
Times Ten 2013</i> (Buddhapuss Ink), and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A
Tall Ship, a Star, and Plunder</i> (Dark Oak Press and Media, 2014). She
regularly blogs with others at </span><a href="http://writerswhokill.blogspot.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">http://writerswhokill.blogspot.com</span></a>. Her personal blog is Little
Sources of Joy, at <a href="http://littlesourcesofjoy.blogspot.com/">http://littlesourcesofjoy.blogspot.com</a>,
and her website is <a href="http://paulagailbenson.com/">http://paulagailbenson.com</a></span>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thanks, Paula! Nice piece. I'm sure our
readers will take away a lot of great information. Buddhapuss Ink LLC is proud to be a small, but
solid house known for great fiction and nonfiction books, written for readers
with brains by authors who have more than just one book in them. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">READERS: We hope you enjoyed this
week's edition of our #WW Writer Wednesday Series and that we'll see you again
next week when our guest poster, Linda Sienkiewicz, writes about Getting Intimate with Point of View.
Till then, "Butt in chair, WRITE!</span></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">~
The Black Cat</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-71094339084667272672015-01-21T08:30:00.000-05:002015-01-27T15:52:49.400-05:00A Cure for the Winter Doldrums!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
<h3 align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #3d85c6;">What if you could strengthen your immune system, lower your
stress levels, diminish pain, and boost your energy all at the same time for
just $.99?</span></b></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Daredevil-Leslie-Belinda-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B00QO0441Q/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZ8n7hXS5ytGNgIeSUJMJku6ukQ4KwKt4qjnZxcbYlwWZ755xQem9kJ-KhsZONrjUKlIbuCKdSJsomwx6jem4yQNg6oeim87fz0UCAI24RZYK6-9Ak8YBvgFY5bmYzTwQmsszMGWugQsE/s1600/Final+.jpg" height="200" width="126" /></a></div>
<h3 align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #3d85c6;"></span></b></h3>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Numerous studies have shown that the simple act of laughing can achieve all
this and more,* and Buddhapuss Ink LLC, a publisher in Edison, NJ, has just
released a surefire way to add more laughter to your life with the hilarious
first installment in the Leslie and Belinda Mystery series: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Daredevil-Leslie-Belinda-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B00QO0441Q/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Daredevil</i> </a>by Tennessee author, Linda
Browning. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">These
two wise-cracking seniors have been described as Murder, She Wrote meets
Laverne and Shirley. The reviews are just starting to come in and are calling
this new series “Just fun!” and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Daredevil</i>
“A book that keeps you smiling from start to finish.” Get down and dirty with
these meddling residents of a retirement village in middle Tennessee who let their
curiosity get the better of them. Sticky situations and comedic antics abound
as Browning sets her characters loose. </span>“Where others are winding down in
retirement, Leslie and Belinda are just getting started. Browning‘s cozy
mystery celebrates the second half of life with humor, delight and wit.”
quipped Sam Hilliard, author of the #1 bestseller <i>The Last Track. </i>This
pair of sassy, senior sleuths, Leslie and Belinda, are on the hunt for a
missing girl; and it leads them on a crazy chase through a dark graveyard with
Leslie’s eight-pound-dog, Riff-Raff, right in the middle of all the action.
Buckle up and keep your hands and feet inside the car at all times; it’s going
to be a bumpy (and hilarious) ride!<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Everyone
at Buddhapuss Ink loves working with Linda. It's like a roller coaster
unleashed and off the tracks!” said MaryChris Bradley, Publisher at Buddhapuss
Ink. “Her characters are the kind of comic relief that cozy mystery readers
love. Think Miss Marple with a penchant for shopping at the Dollar Store. Her
stories are fast-paced reads that will leave you rolling on the floor. I want
to live next door to Leslie when I retire!” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Grab your copy of<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Daredevil-Leslie-Belinda-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B00QO0441Q/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank"> this hilarious eBook</a> and join the laughter. Remember, it's good for you health. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Browning
</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">worked for many years in clerical and supervisory roles at the
Clinton Valley Center <a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>in Michigan, but later followed her
husband to Tennessee when he was asked to relocate. They are both happily
retired (sort of) and living in a middle Tennessee retirement community. Linda rediscovered
her love of creative writing after receiving a laptop for Christmas in 2011.
She'd dallied in various crafty endeavors like quilting and painting, but it
was her thirst for storytelling that really stuck. “Life is good and at 62
years of age…I’m finally getting going.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">*<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Laughter is the
Best Medicine for your Heart: </i>Study done by the University of Maryland
Medical Center
http://umm.edu/news-and-events/news-releases/2009/laughter-is-the-best-medicine-for-your-heart</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">Laughter
Therapy: </span></i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">Study from the Cancer
Treatment Center of America
http://www.cancercenter.com/treatments/laughter-therapy/</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">The Science of
Laughter: </span></i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">Psychologist and laughter
researcher Robert Provine, Ph.D., explains the power of laughter, humor, and
play as social tools. (Psychology Today)
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200011/the-science-laughter</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-32562153335795060742015-01-14T08:00:00.000-05:002015-01-14T08:00:04.162-05:00#WW Balancing Work, Life, and Writing<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsLBmFw_aNYoNsQyV9edpkWBfc6GWniHE6vXru1S3-Cn0EwcOYyTsWJi9uvItiqF7IUvwvkB1rpVdDm_AxIxXBMd3WEHgYqVu4TINUJBgWoB7F_yCH8aBa89keRghpzVDgupeEU8G6xSD/s1600/old_typewriter_184617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsLBmFw_aNYoNsQyV9edpkWBfc6GWniHE6vXru1S3-Cn0EwcOYyTsWJi9uvItiqF7IUvwvkB1rpVdDm_AxIxXBMd3WEHgYqVu4TINUJBgWoB7F_yCH8aBa89keRghpzVDgupeEU8G6xSD/s1600/old_typewriter_184617.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Like many writers, I have a day job. That means
that I have to be flexible and creative when it comes to balancing all of my
obligations. It isn't always easy. It's worth the effort though, because I
couldn't imagine giving up my writing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">There are some practical things, though, that
writers with day jobs need to consider. After all, there are only so many hours
in a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are a few things I’ve
found that help me balance my two professions. I hope they’ll help you, too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Think of yourself as a writer. </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">It sounds deceptively simple, but it makes a big
difference. If you think of yourself as a writer,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;"></span><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">you’ll plan writing time and be as serious about
it as you are about your paid work;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">you’ll grow as a writer and develop your skills;</span><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">you’ll make vital connections with other writers,
editors, agents and publishers. </span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Whether you’ve had anything published or not, if
you write, you’re a writer. So identify yourself that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It all starts with how you see yourself. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Make the most of the time you have. </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">On a day-to-day basis, how can a writer with a day
job manage both work-related tasks and writing? I’ve found a few ways to make
it all easier.</span></div>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Guard your writing time. Make it a priority. Even
if it’s only for 20 minutes a day, treat it like the valuable professional time
it is.</span><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Harness technological. Voice recorders, Notes apps
and other technology can help you keep track of those good ideas without
wasting time. Writing software can help you to be more efficient, so make use
of it.</span><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Streamline when you can. It can be hard to say, no,
but you can’t do everything. Go for simple meals, easy care clothes and trimmed
down celebrations. You’ll be less stressed and you’ll be able to focus better
on your writing. </span></li>
</ul>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">The more you value your writing time, the better
you’ll use it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Be satisfied with small, achievable goals. </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Remember: you have two full-time jobs. You’re a
writer and you have another profession. You can’t realistically finish that
novel as quickly as you might like. But you can meet smaller goals and get it
all done. Here are a few ideas to help you:</span></div>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Set daily goals for yourself. Even if it’s
something simple (e.g. Today I’ll name my characters), make it a goal and
achieve it. Those goals add up, and they help you focus your writing time.</span><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Reward yourself when you meet major goals like
finishing chapters or sending off your manuscript. You’ve accomplished
something. Be proud of it.</span><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Be flexible. Goals change and your schedule may
change. So set and work for goals that can be adapted if needed. </span></li>
</ul>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">There you have it: a few things that help me
manage my life as a writer and my day job. I hope they’ll be helpful to you! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Thanks very much for hosting me!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCN1HTcWFr4X7-Y9n6VtWSWroIpE8kzUu_HxiIQZqWch3mVNiR5CMQaAwRj7P7WvFXcGkXl9szyDlI7XyDjWswsywJCaXWrnnhad_673lYhEYxhWK9AN1aLK7XUoNJvwvq8foQEUx9DLD/s1600/Picture1+of+Margot+Kinberg.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCN1HTcWFr4X7-Y9n6VtWSWroIpE8kzUu_HxiIQZqWch3mVNiR5CMQaAwRj7P7WvFXcGkXl9szyDlI7XyDjWswsywJCaXWrnnhad_673lYhEYxhWK9AN1aLK7XUoNJvwvq8foQEUx9DLD/s1600/Picture1+of+Margot+Kinberg.jpeg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;"><b> </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;"><b>Margot Kinberg</b> is a
mystery novelist who writes the Joel Williams series. She is also the editor of
<i>In a Word: Murder</i>, an anthology of short crime stories. She has also
written several non-fiction books and articles. Margot is also an Associate
Professor, who’s been working in higher education since 1988. You can connect
with Margot at her blog <a href="https://margotkinberg.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><i>Confessions of a Mystery Novelist</i></a>, where you can
read her daily posts on crime fiction and find out more about the Joel Williams
series. Margot’s also on Twitter, on Google+ and on Facebook. Margot’s short
stories are available on Wattpad. </span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_qNAg8bD_5epuOevO0flGLORrVXKwnX3WTTVclSldF8mWpa2VhbNuB233JNDt3GZk_GHykrWMiYzWTmElKmhnkheqUyELYEltsBNL5CYu47S9GD3qdnXc0iuTF63Nl6YpJDnqLGtDYQS/s1600/cat+silhouette+sitting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_qNAg8bD_5epuOevO0flGLORrVXKwnX3WTTVclSldF8mWpa2VhbNuB233JNDt3GZk_GHykrWMiYzWTmElKmhnkheqUyELYEltsBNL5CYu47S9GD3qdnXc0iuTF63Nl6YpJDnqLGtDYQS/s1600/cat+silhouette+sitting.jpg" height="145" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Our
thanks to Margot for some useful and very “timely”information for writers
trying to juggle life, work, and passion. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">READERS:
We hope you enjoyed this week's edition of our #WW Writer Wednesday Series and
that we'll see you again next week when LindaS. Browning shares a favorite book
from childhood and how it influenced her writing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Until
then: "Butt in chair, WRITE!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;"><br />
~ The Black Cat</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-1527242405554437542015-01-12T15:28:00.003-05:002015-01-12T15:28:51.712-05:00The Scores Have Been Tallied . . . <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> . . . and the decisions are final!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNv-ZOI1Iad_5Jn37e_2uIHT9vi23G-UQ7VzCl2B0CAWm9_OksRgc3jMfqNMkToOtKeATwXIcwgSnbLzxU76JpGbJrjXAEOvYxaijZycPka_Z8SkBmXitPITstjsHDhdIqOVaU0D7VFtRt/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNv-ZOI1Iad_5Jn37e_2uIHT9vi23G-UQ7VzCl2B0CAWm9_OksRgc3jMfqNMkToOtKeATwXIcwgSnbLzxU76JpGbJrjXAEOvYxaijZycPka_Z8SkBmXitPITstjsHDhdIqOVaU0D7VFtRt/s1600/cover.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We'd like to thank everyone who entered the <i>Mystery Times</i> Writing Competition.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Emails have gone out to the winners, so check your mailbox!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Watch for our announcement of the winners later this week. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-2732617511238754612015-01-09T13:51:00.001-05:002015-01-09T13:51:54.260-05:00Mystery Times 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNv-ZOI1Iad_5Jn37e_2uIHT9vi23G-UQ7VzCl2B0CAWm9_OksRgc3jMfqNMkToOtKeATwXIcwgSnbLzxU76JpGbJrjXAEOvYxaijZycPka_Z8SkBmXitPITstjsHDhdIqOVaU0D7VFtRt/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNv-ZOI1Iad_5Jn37e_2uIHT9vi23G-UQ7VzCl2B0CAWm9_OksRgc3jMfqNMkToOtKeATwXIcwgSnbLzxU76JpGbJrjXAEOvYxaijZycPka_Z8SkBmXitPITstjsHDhdIqOVaU0D7VFtRt/s1600/cover.jpg" height="200" width="129" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our judges are still deliberating. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Finalists should be notified Monday.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our apologies for the delay!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ The Black Cat</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-912401608692382422015-01-07T08:00:00.000-05:002015-01-07T08:00:07.093-05:00#WW Everything in Moderation<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:DoNotShowRevisions/> <w:DoNotPrintRevisions/> <w:DoNotShowMarkup/> <w:DoNotShowComments/> <w:DoNotShowInsertionsAndDeletions/> <w:DoNotShowPropertyChanges/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><br />
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I'm sure you've heard Oscar Wilde's famous quote that starts, "Everything in moderation…." It's everywhere at this time of year, encouraging us to moderate our participation in everything from eating to exercise, but I'm sure Mr. Wilde would agree, there's one area of our life that should never be approached with moderation, and that's our writing.</div>
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Writing is the one area where excess is best! We should be writing anything and everything we can squeeze into our day, after adequate but moderate levels of food, exercise, and paying work of course. The more we write, the better we develop our writing skills. So, write with abandon. Write short stories and essays, romances and mysteries, nonfiction and fan fiction. Run wild. Have fun. Try something new. A recommended daily allowance of writing has never been developed because there's no such thing as writing too much. </div>
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Let the words flow across the page, enjoy each sentence as you weave your story. Writing freely is the ultimate joy. It's a fat free, calorie free, party of words that won't leave you broke, suffering from a hangover, or visiting the clinic. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgLsQ2y-xdOICzfGx_1I56v9yjYuEWCW0FO6zTThdhiqHwdqSFCiow2wF7vTumcskcYMXsNxMLYmDBplKpwc7h12rWZBxRv4_mKD7Z2Ng3-ifQdNN7RR4Zlet52vm0iYVJZyd8WZTuXrh/s1600/drunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgLsQ2y-xdOICzfGx_1I56v9yjYuEWCW0FO6zTThdhiqHwdqSFCiow2wF7vTumcskcYMXsNxMLYmDBplKpwc7h12rWZBxRv4_mKD7Z2Ng3-ifQdNN7RR4Zlet52vm0iYVJZyd8WZTuXrh/s1600/drunk.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a></div>
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There is, of course, one tiny rule: You must set aside some time for editing those parts of that verbal mountain that you wish to share, submit, or publish. No, I'm not trying to burst that bubble of wordy overflow you've had so much fun creating—get ready for it—editing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">can be fun too!</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Editing gives you the chance to dig deeper, exploring the nooks and crannies of your writing that you might have missed in that crazy outpouring of nouns, adjectives, and verbs. At the same time, you can correct those missing links, chop off the unnecessary tangental stuff, and experience the pure joy of tightening a story, polishing it till it sparkles like a fine diamond.</div>
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Oh, there's another small bit to all this. Once you're done with your editing, get a professional editor—not your mom, neighbor, of BFF, unless they just happen to be a seasoned pro—to comb through your work. Once they're done, study what they've done. There's so much you can learn, and all of it will make you a better writer. How did they tighten the story up? What grammatical errors did you make over and over? What punctuation faux pas were you guilty of? How did they improve your dialogue, storyline, readability? Yes, the services of a professional editor can be expensive, but if you soak up everything you can from their work on your current piece, think how much less you'll have to pay them to do your next one. And the one after that, and… </div>
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Life is a journey. Writing is your chronicle of that journey. Live it, love it, embrace it.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">©2014 MaryChris Bradley</span></div>
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READERS: We hope you enjoyed this week's edition of our #WW Writer Wednesday Series and that we'll see you again next week when guest blogger, writer, and mystery aficionado Margot Kinberg will be talking about finding time to write! Till then, "Butt in chair, WRITE!</div>
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~ The Black Cat</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-gMuTdrsb6MACzFlVjKj6fto8wjaWF97K9RT4r_rGC7OfWbWkXpzH-Hp-fFxxTXn5F66ein_FyBowx-rf5A9drWpwPfdk5VFncSI_NKs8VCbf8L3tBFUyKDweJNynLL2Mz28PMpADWVA/s1600/IMG_1862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-gMuTdrsb6MACzFlVjKj6fto8wjaWF97K9RT4r_rGC7OfWbWkXpzH-Hp-fFxxTXn5F66ein_FyBowx-rf5A9drWpwPfdk5VFncSI_NKs8VCbf8L3tBFUyKDweJNynLL2Mz28PMpADWVA/s1600/IMG_1862.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
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It's that time of year again, time to reflect on our
accomplishments and failures, deeds done and undone, as 2014 draws to a close. It's been the best of times, it's been the worst of times, but it's
definitely time to take stock, dust ourselves off, and set some sensible
resolutions and goals for the coming year. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A new year, a fresh start, another chance to try and get it
right, get organized, be more productive. Well, a girl can dream, can't she?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Since writer's are near and dear to my heart, and because I
spend great chunks of my life working with them, I offer up these <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">possibilities </i>for starting 2015 with a
clear head, determination, and a goal (or two)!</div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 45.35pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>For years my advice to writers has been
"Butt in chair. Write!" and 2015 is no different. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">WRITE</b>. Write every day. Make time to
write. Set a timer and write for thirty minutes. Don't have thirty to spare, make
it twenty, make it ten. You work full-time, have a house and family, and
responsibilities, and can't possibly find even ten minutes a day? Everyone can
find two minutes a day—take two minutes and write a sentence every day. One
sentence a day is better than zero sentences a day! So, sit down, turn off your
social media alerts, set that timer, and write. No excuses, just <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SHUT UP, AND WRITE</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 45.35pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 45.35pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Indulge in some <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">INSPIRATION</b>. Try something new. Try a new genre. Only write
romance? Try your hand at a mystery. Try a new style. Always been a pantser?
Try being a plotter. Go someplace new, see a movie, read a book you wouldn't
normally chose. Take a class. Go to the gym (NOTE: I didn't say <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">join</i> a gym. I said <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">go </i>to the gym.) Enter a writing competition or contest. Volunteer.
Walk the neighbor's dog. Take your morning coffee to the park. Just get out,
and soak up some new experiences. Your writing will improve, and your readers
will thank you for it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQaUuRW-IpJNa-7z_4ZMYg4Mswh9oCo3xsd4di4H3GFbGY7LEqgDDDiD9FCK2oVsCezHKfSz9E_WJKeHclnbz5u3-NVy-GRHsnsFqt1n0bSsVqG9txdzwihJtFmvdyNorjyMr4K6Ndgag/s1600/orson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQaUuRW-IpJNa-7z_4ZMYg4Mswh9oCo3xsd4di4H3GFbGY7LEqgDDDiD9FCK2oVsCezHKfSz9E_WJKeHclnbz5u3-NVy-GRHsnsFqt1n0bSsVqG9txdzwihJtFmvdyNorjyMr4K6Ndgag/s1600/orson.jpg" height="210" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 45.35pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 45.35pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Read. Read. Read some more. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">READ</b> everything you can get your hands on. Enough said.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 45.35pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 45.35pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">BACK UP YOUR
WORK</b>. Trust me, you don't want to be the whining writer on Facebook, crying
about how you lost ten years worth of work when your hard drive crashed. Get
some cloud space. Purchase an external hard drive. Heck, just go buy some thumb
drives, they're cheap, portable, and better than crossing your fingers when
that blue screen of death appears. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 45.35pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 45.35pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FINISH</b>.
Edit it, test it on your beta readers, get a pro to edit it, then stop. Set a
deadline, and stick to it. If you never finish, you can't submit, and if you
can't submit, you'll forever be a writer and never be an author. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 45.35pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIP_rdEGpoqTk16bk97sg4-B-GOKsxP1Bl94adQ-6VClDC5FNP1DJ95cDTiHA5Mr300mkyH35jLjHMy7QdiaxHtqFke-tFpSVeM6ZfuQrqnvM0vl0ejHG2VlyoVhuv40Q_adUXZRljbCAD/s1600/BPLogo_Third.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIP_rdEGpoqTk16bk97sg4-B-GOKsxP1Bl94adQ-6VClDC5FNP1DJ95cDTiHA5Mr300mkyH35jLjHMy7QdiaxHtqFke-tFpSVeM6ZfuQrqnvM0vl0ejHG2VlyoVhuv40Q_adUXZRljbCAD/s1600/BPLogo_Third.jpg" height="200" width="119" /></a><br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
Happy New Year! May 2015 be
your most fabulous, most productive,</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>most successful year ever!</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
~ The Black Cat </div>
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<br /></div>
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© 2014 MaryChris Bradley</div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-35020265485754899372014-12-24T09:00:00.000-05:002014-12-24T09:00:01.038-05:00Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpE11sqvDFyhTC340-zpurBEExPhFzByxSLxwsW48r8O5GuA411QD0Zay6lIXJRD0OSr07laUmJ0OHCN0ocYeLg2PM81tFzFxUxxcpt_pPrnFugN2NkG9qmlk9OOIJoKrLzNYHMRd1IKt/s1600/writing+pen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpE11sqvDFyhTC340-zpurBEExPhFzByxSLxwsW48r8O5GuA411QD0Zay6lIXJRD0OSr07laUmJ0OHCN0ocYeLg2PM81tFzFxUxxcpt_pPrnFugN2NkG9qmlk9OOIJoKrLzNYHMRd1IKt/s1600/writing+pen.jpg" height="116" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> I've been
thinking about what inspires me to write. This morning it was my old toy chest
that I've had since I was a young girl. At the time I didn't appreciate its
fine redwood craftsmanship and hand-hammered iron fittings. I was
more annoyed with the heavy lid that was hard to hold open. Many times it
held captive the toy I absolutely had to have. I wish I knew it's story now. I
wonder where it came from. I know that for most of my life it sat on a patio
waiting for the warm summer months when children probed its contents and came
up with something that they had forgotten they had. It also sat in a garage or
two collecting dust and maybe storing something that seemed important at one
time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My husband
recently became inspired by it and started restoring it. He loved the
craftsmanship and was enchanted to be reminded that it was a toy chest
from my childhood. He rubbed it with sand paper and mended the top where a
teenage friend of our sons who lived with us one year, sawed a piece of it off
so he could store his clothes inside. He took great care to do these things and
by golly, the way I felt about it changed. I took a photo and wrote a poem
about it and shared it on Facebook. It brought back a memory or two to other
people who were reminded of the places where they kept those things from their
youth that were important. It was no longer just a misfit in the corner of
the patio.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.25pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The box sat out on the porch<br />
most days, too heavy to open.<br />
I wonder what was inside<br />
now that I'm too old to remember.<br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The buckets and pails of summer</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and a swimming cap? A ball and </span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the sandbox toys sift through the years,</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">yet the box lives on.</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sanded
now, the colors that were there</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">melt into the beauty of the muscle used</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to change it into a piece of art gone to
heart.</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It was
one small inspiration in a world full of wondrous things. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The other
day I was taking a walk and had my camera with me. One house I walked by had a
number of decorative angels displayed here and there on their front lawn. I
thought they looked kind of tacky until I took a photo and saw something in the
photograph that I hadn't seen when just looking. It seemed like they were
whispering to each other. This is what they said:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
hear them giggle, knowing me</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for
only breathing words</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to
the passing shadows.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What
does she know, they say, of flying</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or the taste of a tree?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjV5ACSrssI5Bb8aUJ2U1J0vt0I7dxZUD9VuHq-ZPhDXo0LgWId5KCq1lPrCW9N7Dx8MRyhVQQL_r2HTzwmxmwVN8kIWr96zrmrbzqrjcG-AnmOppRUSHZgqi5nLEGZTDXS-D7Cg40TGn/s1600/IMG_7503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjV5ACSrssI5Bb8aUJ2U1J0vt0I7dxZUD9VuHq-ZPhDXo0LgWId5KCq1lPrCW9N7Dx8MRyhVQQL_r2HTzwmxmwVN8kIWr96zrmrbzqrjcG-AnmOppRUSHZgqi5nLEGZTDXS-D7Cg40TGn/s1600/IMG_7503.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fYOYJuBBITsnE0KFI1m50pLcJDTWhu-nixQ9q11kDD3LTs4-uiwDyR1v7sSO_7ndCplxAm4dy1JjMf-gwdr0NbloA-yZYYNxk4YvtaxtnQZ-p1DuJu-jufVSLJM1z6VOFUE57gzsLSkq/s1600/Author+Photo+Martie+Ingebretsen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fYOYJuBBITsnE0KFI1m50pLcJDTWhu-nixQ9q11kDD3LTs4-uiwDyR1v7sSO_7ndCplxAm4dy1JjMf-gwdr0NbloA-yZYYNxk4YvtaxtnQZ-p1DuJu-jufVSLJM1z6VOFUE57gzsLSkq/s1600/Author+Photo+Martie+Ingebretsen.jpg" height="200" width="141" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Martie Odell
Ingebretsen</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">, was born in Pasadena,
California. She studied English literature, creative writing, and child
development at various universities. Inspired by her father—whose stories were
published in the Saturday Evening Post—she has been writing since the second
grade. She strives to create characters that are always learning, growing and
finding answers to big questions. Her poetry has been published in journals,
magazines, and various anthologies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
and her husband currently live in California, as do their two sons and four
grandchildren. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-William-Martie-Odell-Ingebretsen-ebook/dp/B00BSDSMYO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1419385878&sr=1-1">Sweet
William</a>, </i>published by Buddhapuss Ink,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>is her first novella. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_qNAg8bD_5epuOevO0flGLORrVXKwnX3WTTVclSldF8mWpa2VhbNuB233JNDt3GZk_GHykrWMiYzWTmElKmhnkheqUyELYEltsBNL5CYu47S9GD3qdnXc0iuTF63Nl6YpJDnqLGtDYQS/s1600/cat+silhouette+sitting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_qNAg8bD_5epuOevO0flGLORrVXKwnX3WTTVclSldF8mWpa2VhbNuB233JNDt3GZk_GHykrWMiYzWTmElKmhnkheqUyELYEltsBNL5CYu47S9GD3qdnXc0iuTF63Nl6YpJDnqLGtDYQS/s1600/cat+silhouette+sitting.jpg" height="145" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Thanks Martie, that was certainly food for thought. So
many times we're in such a hurry that we miss <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">seeing</i> the beauty and inspiration all around us every day. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
READERS: We hope you enjoyed this week's edition
of our #WW Writer Wednesday Series and that we'll see you again next week when we'll
be taking a look at writers' resolutions! Till then, "Butt in chair,
WRITE!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
~ The Black Cat</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-40276011090663420562014-12-17T08:00:00.000-05:002014-12-17T08:00:05.669-05:00Writing Your Story in Three Acts<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWt7A563kJrKEyFclt9pOQdpTmKMlMNJ_9h0jc2BNP1Xtq-nopagXXV1-qt3cauwPQlA19gGJsFvIW1bulvPs0AkO7WCfu_yqxcKMlBJbBTsuHYhJpxyCkuJDi0LG2Rs4ryd6A8MlWXVY/s1600/Stories-in-three-acts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Stories-Told-in-three-acts" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWt7A563kJrKEyFclt9pOQdpTmKMlMNJ_9h0jc2BNP1Xtq-nopagXXV1-qt3cauwPQlA19gGJsFvIW1bulvPs0AkO7WCfu_yqxcKMlBJbBTsuHYhJpxyCkuJDi0LG2Rs4ryd6A8MlWXVY/s1600/Stories-in-three-acts.jpg" height="206" title="Stories told in three acts" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Are you
a planner, or do you write by the seat of your pants? I do a bit of both, but
one thing I’ve learned is that I do need to have a rough outline in my head
before I get started, to keep me on the straight and narrow as I write, but the
small details and the scenes can be put in on the fly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> In other
words, I need a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">structure. </i>For an
even better metaphor, think about building a house. If you don’t have a frame
and a foundation, it doesn’t matter how fancy the roof and the windows are,
it’s going to collapse. If you’ve got a strong base, you can change your mind a
zillion times about paint color and flooring and trim and siding and roofing,
and the house will still stand. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">So how
much structure am I talking about here?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> I’m
talking about a Beginning, a Middle, and an End. Three Acts. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> I’m not
talking about a huge outline, or a detailed board with sticky notes and
highlighters. I’m talking about just enough to have a guidepost as you make
your way through the story. Guideposts help me keep on the path of the story
I’ve planned, and if there’s a major roadblock or plot problem as I’m going I
still have a light at the end (or the middle) of the tunnel to make sure I
haven’t strayed too far. Too much detail in an outline makes me feel like I’ve
screwed up if I follow the rabbit down the hole, which is sometimes the right
thing to do. I need just enough to keep it moving forward.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> The best
way to see what I’m talking about is to grab your favorite novel, and break it
down. Write one sentence that captures the first part, one sentence that
captures the middle part, and one sentence that captures the end. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> One book
that I find does this well is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Holes,</i>
a middle grade novel, that actually has at least three, three act structures
running through it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>Spoiler alert</b>: if
you haven’t read it, or seen the movie version. It’s a quick read, if you
haven’t yet picked it up, and well worth it to see what I mean. </span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Beginning:
Elya Yelnats goes to see Madame Zeroni about winning his love. </span>
</li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Middle:
Elya carries the pig up the mountain and otherwise does what Madame Zeroni
tells him, but doesn’t come back for Madame Zeroni and ends up walking away
from his love.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">End:
Stanley Yelnats (in modern day) carries Zero up the mountain, breaking the
curse</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Beginning:
Kate Barlow teaches at a local school and falls in love with Sam the onion
farmer</span>
</li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Middle:
Their romance is discovered by the town bully and Kate Barlow takes revenge,
becoming Kissing Kate Barlow</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">End:
The town bully’s granddaughter runs the juvenile delinquency camp Stanley ends
up in, digging holes to look for Kissing Kate Barlow’s treasure; Stanley and
Zero find it first.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Beginning:
Stanley Yelnats and his family talk about how their family has no luck but bad,
they tell the story of their family curse, and his father’s failed inventions
are all over their apartment </span>
</li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Middle:
Stanley gets in trouble for stealing Sweetfeet’s donated cleats, and gets sent
to the juvenile delinquency camp</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">End:
Stanley and Zero run away, find the spring Stanley’s grandfather found after
Kissing Kate Barlow stole his fortune, and find the fortune that saves his
family, as well as the secret to solving his father’s invention, foot odor
spray. </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Pick
your favorite book and try to see if you can pick out the three acts. Is there
more than one story in three acts - many times this is true. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Once
you’ve figured out how to divide a story, how does the story in your head break
down into three acts? It’s a good way to start figuring out how to structure your
story. Once the structure is there, it’s the time to put up the walls, and
decide how to make it yours.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">©2014 Addie King</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LnKpjEb2cf1jIRmtccH2FA65DRc2iUGfmqqV_NMBcwxdNWgpM_BkR74HhI4XkuBO2DC9SgXSsBvo3UaytcJf3-wKkrjyPPGq2GPw4JsWo_jaJdNrCXSffXO4msqRys5idTqP69A2yknc/s1600/07abadbd532f0ad8956e31_L__V150454888_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LnKpjEb2cf1jIRmtccH2FA65DRc2iUGfmqqV_NMBcwxdNWgpM_BkR74HhI4XkuBO2DC9SgXSsBvo3UaytcJf3-wKkrjyPPGq2GPw4JsWo_jaJdNrCXSffXO4msqRys5idTqP69A2yknc/s1600/07abadbd532f0ad8956e31_L__V150454888_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Addie-j-King" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LnKpjEb2cf1jIRmtccH2FA65DRc2iUGfmqqV_NMBcwxdNWgpM_BkR74HhI4XkuBO2DC9SgXSsBvo3UaytcJf3-wKkrjyPPGq2GPw4JsWo_jaJdNrCXSffXO4msqRys5idTqP69A2yknc/s1600/07abadbd532f0ad8956e31_L__V150454888_.jpg" height="195" title="Addie J. King" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOW4b-wy5Q8EQ1th4EZWhfkmHBVso2EJLkUZU9gOWBBPGczjy55EHDCr_9csUfG2HyMdUS715gZgzpIob-URakTUdKByDMcTAnZaOs_4C_WjepKGh8YCKWnR6FY88lXX0CHIu8AkNq_Lu/s1600/thewonderlandwoes-200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Wonderland-Woes" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOW4b-wy5Q8EQ1th4EZWhfkmHBVso2EJLkUZU9gOWBBPGczjy55EHDCr_9csUfG2HyMdUS715gZgzpIob-URakTUdKByDMcTAnZaOs_4C_WjepKGh8YCKWnR6FY88lXX0CHIu8AkNq_Lu/s1600/thewonderlandwoes-200.jpg" height="200" title="Wonderland Woes by Addie J King" width="133" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Addie J. King</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> is an attorney by
day, and author by nights, evenings, weekends, and whenever else she can find a
spare moment. Her short story “Poltergeist on Aisle Fourteen” was published in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mystery Times Ten 2011</i> by Buddhapuss
Ink, and an essay entitled, “Building Believable Legal Systems in Science
Fiction and Fantasy” was published in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Eighth
Day Genesis; A Worldbuilding Codex for Writers and Creatives</i> by
Alliteration Ink. Her novels, T<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">he Grimm Legacy,
The Andersen Ancestry</i> and T<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">he Wonderland
Woes</i> are available now from Musa Publishing. She is currently working on
the fourth book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Bunyon Barter.</i> You
can follow her at: </span><a href="http://www.addiejking.com/"><span style="font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">www.addiejking.com</span></a>,
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Addie-J.-King/e/B005DYMDHQ"><span style="font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">http://www.amazon.com/Addie-J.-King/e/B005DYMDHQ</span></a>,
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Twitter
@addiejking, and Facebook Addie J. King</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhST0XdBg6eBO7x49Eq_XaTzmT1ci0H8etc2Azh7Mb9euqtiuT6qUzse7tNvgBavpUcLEsVT7ohyDBrZdBB2GKm_qeOtbc9wBlmJD0g9gIsSK80wjr_zJm7l8x3marizdRvNp_FUQNNIiVp/s1600/black+cat+walking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhST0XdBg6eBO7x49Eq_XaTzmT1ci0H8etc2Azh7Mb9euqtiuT6qUzse7tNvgBavpUcLEsVT7ohyDBrZdBB2GKm_qeOtbc9wBlmJD0g9gIsSK80wjr_zJm7l8x3marizdRvNp_FUQNNIiVp/s1600/black+cat+walking.jpg" height="143" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Thank you Addie! Buddhapuss Ink LLC is proud to
be a small, but solid house known for great fiction and nonfiction books,
written for readers with brains, by authors who have more than just one book in
them.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
READERS: We hope you enjoyed this week's edition of our #WW Writer Wednesday
Series and that we'll see you again next week when our guest will be Martie
Ingebretse telling us <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>where she finds
her writing inspiration . Until then, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Butt in chair, WRITE!</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
~ The Black Cat</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6623506440921613070.post-71024099479540333792014-12-10T09:00:00.000-05:002014-12-10T09:00:03.535-05:00Small Press, Indie Press, Is There a Difference?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BRW_4Gz_z0ob-dQosSmhv20B7WiDgBFa5sFmSgKuAsYhGh9uCyL1G0Xl2LtgzN6JmcPpABAdBwX_18bQlLil_ma7GXhU19PZXT4LJFaxeUI726rn9UnDMG1KZeq-3duSSyU_kUnAOqKS/s1600/Puzzled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BRW_4Gz_z0ob-dQosSmhv20B7WiDgBFa5sFmSgKuAsYhGh9uCyL1G0Xl2LtgzN6JmcPpABAdBwX_18bQlLil_ma7GXhU19PZXT4LJFaxeUI726rn9UnDMG1KZeq-3duSSyU_kUnAOqKS/s1600/Puzzled.jpg" height="190" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 7.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Is there a difference between a small press and an indie
publisher? Or are they the same thing? </span></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 7.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At one time, small press and independent (indie) press simply meant,
<i>a publisher that is independently owned. </i>Such a press is one that
operates independent of large publishing corporations, such as Simon and
Schuster, Penguin Random House and HarperCollins.</span></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 7.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">More and more, though, you hear writers say their books are “indie
published” instead of using the term “self-published.” An author whose lagging
sales meant her big-name publisher was less than interested in her new work
decided to “go indie.” In other words, she intended to self-publish. Amazon
even uses indie to refer to their self-publishing service</span><span lang="DE" style="color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE;">. The Kindle Indie Bookstore website states </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“‘</span><span lang="DE" style="color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE;">Indie</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">’ is hard to define, but
anything cool, creative and different is ‘</span><span lang="DE" style="color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE;">indie,</span><span lang="FR" style="color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: FR;">’” </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">a
definition that I find a little squishy when it comes to publishing.</span></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 7.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The shift in the meaning of indie has been coming for a long
time. As far back as 2008, a book titled <i>Indie Publishing: How to Design and
Publish Your Own Book </i>touted: “Once referred to derisively as vanity
publishing, self-published books are finally taking their place alongside more
accepted indie categories such as music, film, and theater.” </span></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 7.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When you consider the term in this light, indie doesn’t have the
negative connotations that vanity does. Perception is everything.</span></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 7.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What, then, defines a small press? A small press is an
independent publisher that’s, well, small. They typically publish less than ten
titles a year, depending on their resources. Small presses may specialize in a
niche market often overlooked by big publishing houses. They are not driven by shareholders
demanding huge profits, so they can take chances on authors and titles that a
big publisher might not, and they take pride in this. They are typically more
active in the editing, marketing and distribution of their books than a tight-fisted
corporate publisher. Small presses make up approximately half the market share
of the book publishing industry.</span></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 7.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The most important difference between a small press and an
indie/self-publisher is that a small press does not charge the author to publish
their book. A small press may not be able to pay large or any advances, but
they will not ask an author for money. </span></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 7.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association states on
their website, “No matter where you encounter it in the publishing process, a fee
or a requirement to purchase something is a sign either of a vanity operation
or a self publisher.” [</span><a href="http://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/vanity/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span class="Hyperlink0"><span style="color: #252525;">http://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/vanity/</span></span></span></a><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">]</span></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 7.0pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you’re looking for a publisher, be
aware of this shift in meaning: an indie publisher may simply be a
self-publishing service. Check for hidden fees or subsidy requirements. Beyond
that, look at what titles the press has published, where and how their books
are sold, and if they’re selling. Visit their websites. Email their authors.
Check around. If you intend to go indie, or self-publish, write well, plan
ahead, and do whatever it takes to earn your book the respect it deserves.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: ""sans-serif"","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">©</span>2014
Linda K. Sienkiewicz<br />
<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b>Sienkiewicz</b>
is a writer and artist who's always in search of a good story. Her poetry,
short stories and essays have appeared in over fifty literary journals in print
and online, and among her awards are a poetry chapbook and Pushcart Prize
Nomination. She has an MFA in Fiction from Stonecoast at the University of
Southern Maine. Her first novel, <i>In the Context of Love</i> will be released
in July 2015 by Buddhapuss Ink LLC.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_qNAg8bD_5epuOevO0flGLORrVXKwnX3WTTVclSldF8mWpa2VhbNuB233JNDt3GZk_GHykrWMiYzWTmElKmhnkheqUyELYEltsBNL5CYu47S9GD3qdnXc0iuTF63Nl6YpJDnqLGtDYQS/s1600/cat+silhouette+sitting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_qNAg8bD_5epuOevO0flGLORrVXKwnX3WTTVclSldF8mWpa2VhbNuB233JNDt3GZk_GHykrWMiYzWTmElKmhnkheqUyELYEltsBNL5CYu47S9GD3qdnXc0iuTF63Nl6YpJDnqLGtDYQS/s1600/cat+silhouette+sitting.jpg" height="145" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Thanks Linda, for another
terrific piece! Buddhapuss Ink LLC is proud to be a small, but solid house
known for great fiction and nonfiction books, written for readers with brains
by authors who have more than just one book in them.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
READERS: We hope you
enjoyed this week's edition of our #WW Writer Wednesday Series and that we'll
see you again next week when our guest poster Addie King writes about Telling a
Story in Three Acts. Till then, "Butt in chair, WRITE!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
~ The Black Cat</div>
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