Stop Trying to Write Like a Writer

Here’s a good piece of advice I wish I would have gotten sooner in my career:

Stop trying to write like a writer.

I know it sounds silly, and many of you are probably scratching your head, but it’s the biggest hurdle many new writers have to overcome.

When you write like a writer, what you’re doing is focusing on the words, being crafty with the prose and thinking about vocabulary. You worry about word choice, grammar, punctuation, all those writerly type things most often expanded on in critique groups and writing forums across the cyberverse.

Of course knowing the basics is important. But if you want to be a fiction author, then you need to stop writing like a writer.

How should you write then?

If you want to write fiction, you need to write like a storyteller.

Now y’all are nodding your heads and going, “Ahhh, okay—I see where she’s going.” (I’m psychic, doncha know ;) )

If there’s anything that writing ten novels, dozens of short stories, essays and articles, does for a person, it’s discovering how to think like a storyteller. At times, I’ve mentioned training yourself to “think like a writer” but what I really meant was that you (and I) need to “think like a storyteller."

How many times have we seen not-so great writing have mega success and become franchised into film and merchandise? How many times have we picked up a best seller and wondered why our writing, which is on par with what we’re reading, is still being rejected?

Most often, once we’ve mastered the basics, it’s not lack of skill or know-how—it’s the neglect of our storytelling skills that keeps us from reaching our goals.

So how do you become a great storyteller?

Easy: You study great storytelling. What made M. Night Shyamalan such a huge success? Because he wrote a movie about a kid who could see ghosts? Or a farmer who sees aliens? No. He gained acclaim because he knew how to tell a great story.

Often I tell new authors to watch the movie Signs. I still say this is a wonderful illustration of great storytelling. Nothing in that movie—no matter how unimportant it might at first seem—is there gratuitously. Everything has a purpose. From the boy’s asthma, to the little girl being so picky about the water she drinks. Even the younger brother’s failed baseball career is important.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I’ll answer to the best of my abilities.

Warmly,
Jenny;)

P.S. The totally awesome Alyssa Montgomery interviewed me on her blog here: http://amontgomery99.blogspot.com

Talent Tuesday: Unsung Authors

Good morning everyone!

Today, I’d like to celebrate the “unsung” authors we love and admire, but can rarely find anyone else who has read their work. Those authors or books that make people go, "Huh?" when mentioned. Here are some of mine:

Jenny Siler aka Alex Carr: I know, I know, if you’ve read my blog at all, you know I love her :) I’m reading The Prince of Bagram Prison right now and here’s one of those reasons why I devour her books:

They beat us, Jamal had said once, talking about his childhood at the orphanage, and Kat had thought, Yes, they beat you. But the boy’s words came back to her as she followed Kurtz into the putrid maze of the courtyard shantytown. They beat him, she thought, and the beating themselves now seemed trivial in relation to the utter brutality of the actual place.

Third World slums can be dangerous for outsiders, especially those with obvious means, and Kat had prepared herself for a confrontation. Btu she could see now that there was no reason to be afraid. The inhabitants here were castoffs of the castoffs, the ancient and the sick and the mentally faltering, those from whom life had been drained like the juice from an orange, and whose deflated faces followed Kat and Kurtz with dispassionate interest.

Robert McCammon: Okay, so those who read broadly might have heard of him, but not often do I run into people who have read a lot of his books. The first book I read by him, Mystery Walk, led me to read his others, with Wolf’s Hour and Swan Song being my two favorites. Here’s a bit from Swan Song:

“I just touched it,” she answered. “I felt like it wasn’t dead, and I touched it because I wanted it to keep living.” She was embarrassed that the old man was down on his knees beside her, and she wished he’d get up and stop crying. His wife was looking at Swan with a mixture of revulsion and wonder, as one might regard a toadfrog with golden wings. All this attention was making Swan more nervous than when she’d frightened the old man and woman last night. “Please,” she said, tugging at his coat. “Please get up, mister.”

“It’s a miracle,” Carla murmured, watching the blossoms blow. Nearby, Killer ran through the snow trying to catch them between his teeth. “She’s made a miracle happen!” Two tears crept down her cheeks, freezing like diamonds before they reached her jawline.

Swan was jittery and cold, afraid that her misshapen head might tilt over too far to one side and break her neck. She could endure stinging wind no longer, and she pulled away from Sly Moody’s grip; she turned and walked toward the barn, probing in the snow before her with Crybaby as the old man and the others watched her go.


There are so many more. Milli Thornton, the author of Fear of Writing has saved so many authors from giving up, myself included, that I wish I could put her book in the hands of every aspiring author to get them through those tough first years. Douglas Clegg, who is an accomplished and awesome horror author. The list could go on and on, but I want to hear from everyone today.

Who are your favorite authors you wish were more widely read so you could discuss their books with others? Perhaps you have one of your own to share! :)

Warmly,
Jenny :)

Trolls are Alive and Well

Update: A previous client of mine has agreed to share her critique and 10PT. Worksheet as samples of what I offer. If anyone is interested, please email me at jturner4@charter.net and I'll send you the files. Angelika is a true Angel! :) Thank you!






For the Record:

Some “people” have made false claims that I am preying on authors of Publish America and charging them thousands of dollars to book doctor their novels. Where this fantasy generated from is anyone’s guess because the “people” claiming this have never given the name(s) of these supposed victim(s) and when confronted and asked for the evidence, they turned tail, claiming they never made such accusations. Then less than a month later, posted the very same claims about me.

These “people” claim they are providing a service by warning others about me—but have failed to contact Victoria Strauss, Preditors and Editors or any other number of “writer beware” services available. If their intention was truly to warn others, one would think I would have been reported by now. Perhaps their lack of evidence and obvious ignorance about the industry is holding them back. So let’s correct some of the bad information being put out there today by these “people.”

For some “people” anyone who is paid to critique a work, or rewrite a work for that matter, is a “scammer”—which is about as accurate as saying that every time you take your car in for an oil change, you are being scammed because you could do that change yourself—simply by following the directions in the manual that came with your vehicle.

Yes, writer’s can read books to hone their craft. They can follow manuals published for their benefit. They can even get their friends and other writers to give them a critique for free.

None of that, however, makes a legitimate critique service a “scam” in the same way that your ability to change your own oil, or have a friend or family member do it for free, makes an oil-changing company a “scam.”

Writer’s Digest, Harlequin, and many other reputable places offer paid-for critiques at higher prices with less return than I provide. They are not scammers—they deliver on the services they offer for the prices they ask. That is a business.

I run the legitimate Rotowriter Critique Service. This is how I earn money between royalty checks and help aspiring writers learn the craft. Rarely have I taken on “ghost writing” or “rewriting” work because of the time involved. (I do have my own writing career to focus on.)

Just some of my qualifications to run this critique service are:

I am a multi-published and award-winning author.
I worked as a mentor through RWA’s CLUES program.
I have placed, won and judged RWA writing contests.
I designed and taught online writing courses and workshops through Writer’s Village University and for Milli Thornton, the author of Fear of Writing.
I have a quarterly column in the Wisconsin Regional Writer’s Journal titled Critique Corner.
I am chairwoman of the Jade Ring Contest, a writing contest that has been in operation for decades.
Manuscripts I’ve edited have gone on to be published, including novels by Jonathan Miller who writes legal thrillers and the upcoming Echelon Press release, Torn From Normal by Martin Bartloff.

To date, I have never had an unsatisfied client and in fact, much of my business is repeat, or through referral. In other words, I rarely ever solicit or advertise my service. This is the reason many of my readers and online friends never even knew it existed up until some “people” chose to air their misinformation.

Now, on to what I offer in my critique packages:

Each critique, no matter the length, is accompanied by a 10 point worksheet. This, I’ve been told by a previous client of mine, is worth the cost of my basic package by itself. A copy of the 10 Point Worksheet can be found here: http://www.jennifer-turner.com/worksheet.html
I also allow 3 initial questions so I can better understand the concerns of the author (perhaps they’ve been told they write passively and wish to have extra help with this) and then 3 follow up questions to ensure my suggestions are understood fully.

My prices are set (far) below industry standards because the entire reason for creating the service was to make available professional critiques to aspiring writers who couldn’t afford to take their work elsewhere.

I do not claim to be an “editorial service” because I, myself, need an editor. I do claim, however, to offer a line-by-line critique and explanations that amount to a one-on-one tutorial on the craft of storytelling and the mechanics of writing.

ANY writer wishing to purchase a larger package MUST first purchase the basic package: 3,000 words for $20.00 to ensure they want what I offer. Should they choose to purchase a larger package afterward, the $20.00 is deducted from that cost.

The packages I have are currently on special are as follows:

3,000 word critique: Normally $25.00--now $20.00

Submission package (First 3 chapters, Synopsis and Query): Normally $150.00--Now $100.00

Full Manuscript critique 50-75K: $500.00--Now: $400.00
(Just comments without critique: $200.00--Now: $150.00)

Full Manuscript critique 76-110K: $750.00--Now: $650.00
(Just comments without critique: $275.00--Now: $200.00)

Full Manuscript rewrite 50-75K: $1000.00--Now: $900.00

Full Manuscript rewrite 76K-110K: $1500--Now: $1300.00

As a comparison to industry standards, my basic package works out this way:

3,000 words at 250 words per page=12 pages

In industry standards, a critique as I do would be considered “Substantive Line Editing” and the rates are as follows:

1-6 ms pgs/hr = $40-65/hr
(Taken from the EFA: http://the-efa.org/res/rates.php )

Even at the highest number of pages per hour and the lowest rate, I’m still under-charging by $60.00 and that discrepancy only increases as the packages go higher.

In the end, I welcome any investigation by any “watchdog” group interested in the validity of these "people's" claims.

One last note: These “people” claim that being a member of an organization like the EFA is a measure of a person’s ethics—it isn’t. They have no vetting process other than making sure your dues are paid in full each year. So be careful—simply because someone might belong to an organization such as the EFA, it doesn’t mean they have scruples.

Warmly,
Jenny
P.S. I am not accepting new clients at this time. Sorry!

'Nother Saturday Morn...

Hey everyone :)

How is everyone doing?

I'm back from vacation and a wonderful visit with the Texas in-laws. I already miss them! :) We also did a bit of painting:

Before:



After:


What do you think?


Bella Vida and I are putting together the Saturday Serial now. She's done much of the work so far as I'm hoping to honor her vision of the story and characters in a more supportive role, though with a 50/50 contribution of the work. I hope y'all will come back often to read the exciting stories every Saturday when they're ready to be posted.

I've finished a major bit of work and am off to complete another. If I get a chance, I'll post a new sneak peek of School's Out 4Ever for everyone to read ;) Kaylee, as usual, is getting into SO much trouble!

So what are you up to? What are you working on or reading? I'm in the middle of "The Prince of Bagram Prison" by Alex Carr--which I just don't seem to get the chance to read it like I want to (so many interruptions now that school is out!) I'm looking forward to the next in the James Patterson's Maximum Ride series too. (It was in hard cover the last I looked, so I'm hoping it's in paperback soon!)




Okay, off to work for me!

Warmly,
Jenny:)

Boring? Not So Thrilling Thursday

My apologies for the missing Writing Wednesday blog. My in-laws from Texas are due to arrive today and I’ve been in a whirlwind of preparation. So today, I thought we’d do something writing related—and for Thrilling Thursday! ;)

Suspense isn’t a natural process for many writers. The act of holding back, of not sharing how important something will be later on, or not giving away the intensity of the climatic moment soon to arrive can be frustrating. The terror of writing a boring novel is not uncommon ;)

Right now, I’m in the scenes that I call “between” in my book School’s Out 4Ever. They are the most difficult to write—because I fear boring the reader, even though I know, for a fact, that they are important scenes and they are what create the emotional connection so the reader might feel the intensity of the climatic moment.

Think of the movie Rocky. If Balboa didn’t have a life outside the ring, if he didn’t try and fail, or if nothing happened to his coach, or if there wasn’t the possibility of losing in the ring—would we really care if he won all that much?

Or imagine how interesting Scarlett O’Hara might have been if she didn’t grumble and complain—letting you know that there would come a time when that grumbling and complaining wouldn’t explode into a highly emotional conflict?

So while Kaylee is dealing with the “not undead” at the school, there’s a constant worry in the back of my head that this is or that is taking too long. The reader wants to get to the juicy (or decaying) stuff and doesn’t want to sit through pages of ‘life’ happening. Yet, that would be like removing Apollo Creed from Rocky or Ashley Wilkes from Gone with the Wind.

However there are some authors that I think can go overboard in these ‘between’ scenes. Anne Rice tends to go on for pages and pages describing something that could have been share in one. Jean Auel is another that I find myself skipping a page here and there—once I know what she’s sharing.

Do you all do this with certain authors or books? Do you skip ahead to the more climatic moments in the book—yet still find yourself a fan of that author? Am I just impatient? (Okay, so yeah, this is a little bit of a survey, as I don’t often get to discuss books with other folks;) )

I would really love to know what you think!!

Warmly,
Jenny:

P.S.
Bella Vida and I are having a blast brainstorming the Saturday Serial and hammering out the details. We'll keep updatng everyone as we get closer to the debut! :)

Talent Tuesday: Suspended

Hello everyone :)

As many of you know, I recently left MySpace, and not all of my readers there have followed me here. It will take some time to build up the sort of readership that we enjoyed over there. For this reason, I don't believe it's fair to continue hosting other authors on Talent Tuesday--asking they spend a day out of their busy schedules.

I love all my loyal readers, so this will be a very short "suspension" of talent on Tuesdays as I'm working hard to make this a rewarding place for everyone--including the authors I have attending.

My hope is to resume in about three weeks, so don't go far for too long on Tuesdays, you won't want to miss out! :)

Today, however, I'd love to showcase some of the talent reading my blog and I encourage each and everyone here to share links, promos and anything that shares what you're working on now or already have published in the comments section. We can all get to know each other better this way as well!

Warmly,
Jenny:)

P.S.
A little news: Bella Vida and I have begun the process of creating the Saturday Serials and the first episode will air later this month.

And the Winner Is....

Entry #3! Letters to the 5th Direction submitted by BellaVida

Congratulations BellaVida!! I'm most definitely looking forward to working with you!! :) Please email me at jturner4@charter.net so that we might begin discussing the particulars.

I'm excited about the possibilities and can't wait to see what you've got imagined for each 'episode' of the serial!

For those of you who would like a refresher on which entry this was, here are the details:


Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror

Time Period: now

Main Character: Juliana
Juliana’s a 12 year old girl who has just inherited a trunk from her beloved grandmother’s abandoned attic. Among old photos and embroidery appears a box of letters her grandmother wrote to Juliana before passing. While reading the letters Juliana accidentally opens the 5th Direction, the super highway to other worlds.

Villain: Murcielaga
Created during the era of the first humans, Murcielaga, is one of the oldest banished creatures. She resides in the world where imaginary beings are kept so as not to harm humans.

What’s at stake: Murcielaga is angry she has been banished for so long. She is deploying her henchmen by the dozens through the 5th Direction into other worlds to create havoc. As revenge she is erasing and controlling people’s memories once she sneaks into their imagination. The history of the human race is about to be lost forever.
Each week we read another letter that leads our heroine into and out of peril. To further complicate the situation, her grandmother suffered from Alzheimer’s causing clues to be out of order, have mixed up names and clues written in different languages.


I hope everyone is as excited to read the first one as I am! :)

Congratulations again, BellaVida! :)

Warmly,
Jenny:)

Vote For Your Favorite Saturday Serial! :)

Good Morning Everyone! :)

Below are the entries for the Saturday Serial Contest. Vote which one you'd most like to read!


Entry #1:

Proposed Title: Terminal Jack

Genre: Sci-fi/thriller/horror

Time Period: Near future

Main Character: Graham Black, homicide detective transferred to the Cyber-Ops Division, The unit designed to handle crimes involving cyborgs and cyber criminals.

Villain: Jack Janczek, a psychopath who is caught when his is nearly killed in a shootout with police. In order to serve out his sentence, he is fitted with a total body prosthetic, and is to be “re-programmed” via cyber link via a downloaded program. He discovers the ability to overwrite the programming, and can connect with anyone neuro-jacked directly into the net.

What’s at stake: How do you catch a serial killer who is still in prison, and can “be” anyone, anywhere, at any time?


Entry #2:

Proposed Title: Sin Eater

Genre: Horror/Fantasy

Time Period: Modern

Main Character: Mary Margaret, ex-nun and one of the rare breed of Sin Eaters, whose job it is to save human souls from the demons, but can she handle a full-scale invasion like the world has never seen?

Villain: Asmodeus, Lord of the Demons (and his horde of demons), bent on collecting the soul of every human on earth and becoming the Dark Ruler of Mankind

What’s at stake: The souls of mankind and the fate of the Earth


Entry #3:

Proposed Title: Letters to the 5th Direction

Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror

Time Period: now

Main Character: Juliana
Juliana’s a 12 year old girl who has just inherited a trunk from her beloved grandmother’s abandoned attic. Among old photos and embroidery appears a box of letters her grandmother wrote to Juliana before passing. While reading the letters Juliana accidentally opens the 5th Direction, the super highway to other worlds.

Villain: Murcielaga
Created during the era of the first humans, Murcielaga, is one of the oldest banished creatures. She resides in the world where imaginary beings are kept so as not to harm humans.

What’s at stake: Murcielaga is angry she has been banished for so long. She is deploying her henchmen by the dozens through the 5th Direction into other worlds to create havoc. As revenge she is erasing and controlling people’s memories once she sneaks into their imagination. The history of the human race is about to be lost forever.
Each week we read another letter that leads our heroine into and out of peril. To further complicate the situation, her grandmother suffered from Alzheimer’s causing clues to be out of order, have mixed up names and clues written in different languages.

Entry#4:

Proposed Title: Dance with the Devil

Genre: horror

Time Period: Modern Day

Main Character: Marlene Andrews has always wanted more than she had. When her husband loses his job as a college Professor, she takes a walk and finds her dream house. A gothic mansion made of gray stone. When she is invited in, Marlene gets more than she bargained for.

Villian: The devil is intent on getting Marlene's baby to raise as his own son and inherit his abilities to trick people.

What's at stake: Marlene’s baby, raised as the son of the devil, could change the balance of good and evil in the world. When Marlene Andrews doesn’t fulfill her part of the bargain. The world becomes darker than it ever has, greed feeds and grows with the evil presence.


Entry #5:

Proposed Title: Blood Moon

Genre: Supernatural/Alternative Earth

Time Period: Modern

Main Character: Cascade, a twelve year old girl on the verge of puberty, discovers that she’s not who she thought she was. She’s not human. Can she survive the “change” without becoming a dreaded Ka-Ghawze (a blood-seeking non-human vampire) or can she overcome her blood-thirst to become one of the Ghawze (one who lives on human energy without killing)? Will she find her uncle McKay, a Ghawze scientist, in time to save herself and possibly the world?

Villain: Dillon, the leader of a group of Ka-Ghawze and Vazpa (humans that the Ka-Ghawze have turned into vampires), works to get Cascade to turn vampire and to help him defeat the Ghawze (who have co-existed with humans for centuries, helping the humans along the way).

What’s at stake: Cascade’s life and those around her, and ultimately, the fate of the world for both human and Ghawze.


Entry #6:

Title: Hannibal Fairfield

Genre: Drama

Time Period: 1860's Civil War era

Main Character: Hannibal, a 14 year old boy from Arkansas during the civil war era. Recently orphaned, Hannibal has a secret, he's really a girl: Hannah Eleanor Fairfield. Upon her mother's death, Hannah changes her appearance to that of a boy and changes her name to Hannibal. Hannibal tries to join up with the Rebel army.

Villain: Sgt. McNeil of the army of thinks he may know Hannibal's secret and tries to get Hannibal expose it at every opportunity.

What's at Stake: If Hannibal's secret is exposed, Hannibal will no longer get to live as a boy and will be sent to live with strangers. She will lose her freedom.


Entry #7:

Proposed Title: None

Genre-Romantic suspense

Time period-modern

Main character: Kathi Ann, a feisty trial lawyer and single mother of six year old Michael. Dark secrets come to the surface and a shocking truth is about to explode.

Villian: Charles Jackson has always had a thing for Kathi. He has been burned once by her, but this time it won’t happen. He’s been waiting for the proper moment to set things straight.

What’s at stake: Kathi Ann's dark secrets could be fatal to her and her son, Michael. She can trust no one, not even Miki Bronson.

Her ex, police lieutenant, Miki Bronson shows up at her door demanding custody of her son. Michael age six is kidnapped. Was it her ex or some other evil at force? Kathi doesn’t know who to turn to when her life is turned into a nightmare.


Entry #8:

Possible Title: Erma's Fetish

Genre: Fiction, Adventure, Suspense, Humor

Time Period: Present

Main Characters: Erma and Clyde Piper

Villain: Sheriff Scotts

What's at stake: Erma's life for excitment, Clyde's mental health, safety of neighborhood's outside possessions.
The old couple steal lawn decorations and such from neighbors at night for excitement.



Post the number of the entry and the title of that entry you most would like to see turned into a Saturday Serial. Spread the word and get your friends to vote too! The more the merrier :)

Warmly,
Jenny:)

Writing Wednesday: 20 Questions

This morning I’m supposed to awe you all with my writing knowledge, to put together a blog that will (hopefully) have writers coming from all over the cyberverse to read and be informed by my practical writing tips.

Today, I’m a blank.

So instead, I’m going to offer up the blog to questions and see what I can answer during the course of the day.

Ask me about anything writing related:

Want to know how much money you can make and where?

Want to know what you should be writing?

Want to know how to get unstuck?

Want to know what an editor really does?

Want to know what to expect after you sign a contract?

Want to know if self-publishing will really kill your career?

Want to know who is still accepting unagented submissions?

Want to know about landing an agent?

Got a question? Ask and I’ll answer to the best of my ability—and if I don’t have the answer, I’ll bring someone over who does :)

Warmly,
Jenny:)

Talent Tuesday: Welcome J.R. Lindermuth!

I'm thrilled to have J.R. as a guest for Talent Tuesday. Let's all make him feel warm and welcomed! :)

J.R. Lindermuth started sending stories to magazines when he was in high school. He got great advice and encouragement from a few kind editors, but it wasn’t until much later anything was accepted. Early on, he found his artistic talent led him to believe writing would be more of a sideline.

When he was drafted, the Army decided he had the makings of a journalist and provided training. After, he worked as a copy editor in South Korea for several years, then as a reporter and editor on stateside newspapers until retiring in 2000.

While his articles and short stories appeared in a variety of magazines, he had yet to seriously pursue publication of his novels. A rocky start with an e-publisher that went belly up shortly after publishing his historical mystery novel, “Schlussel’s Woman” didn’t deter him. He believes a writer should/can never give up. Eventually, he went on to publish seven novels, including three in the Sticks Hetrick mystery series:

Something in Common

When a lonely widow finds the severed head of an unknown young woman on her front porch in rural Swatara Creek, Pennsylvania, Police Chief Aaron Brubaker is baffled.


Cruel Cuts

A rash of animal mutilations and a vicious poison pen campaign directed against an ambitious young lawyer lead to murder in a rural Pennsylvania community.

Corruption’s Child

Retired police chief Daniel ‘Sticks’ Hetrick, still serving as unofficial consultant to his less experienced successor, has another murder to deal with in rural Swatara Creek, Pennsylvania


His latest novel, Watch the Hour, explores the turbulent relations between coal mine owners and their Irish employees in the 1870s Pennsylvania anthracite coal region.




The best advice he received came from an artist. As a boy, he wrote Thomas Hart Benton and asked how he could become an artist. Benton replied with one word: “Paint.” Lindermuth believes the same formula applies to writing. The only way to learn is by doing. Practice, perseverance and confidence.

When J.R. Lindermuth isn’t writing, reading or drawing, he enjoys spending time with his son, daughter and four grandsons. Aside from traveling, he likes walking, especially in the woods and mountains around his home. As the librarian of the county historical society, he helps patrons research their genealogy and is working extensively on his own. He’s fascinated by languages and has dabbled with Spanish, Korean, German, Hebrew and Japanese among others.

Where you can find him on the internet:

Jack's Place:
http://jlind11.tripod.com

MySpace:
www.myspace.com/jlind11

Blog:
http://jrlindermuth.blogspot.com

Author Page:
http://whiskeycreekpress.com/authors/JRLindermuth.shtml

Harriet Klausner Reviewed DFF :)

So cool!

I love unexpected reviews! :)

http://genregoroundreviews.blogspot.com/2009/05/dff-dead-friends-forever-j-r-turner.html

Just wanted to share :)

Warmly,
Jenny:)

Fun Friday: Serializing Saturdays

Many you may have noticed there wasn’t a blog yesterday. The real world intruded and every second of computer time I had, I used to meet my professional obligations. However, I had some thrilling news I wanted to share and it works perfectly with the contest for this Friday.

I've decided to Serialize Saturdays.

I know many of you are writers, many of you are readers who have lots of ideas, and many of you are both. This weeks contest is very special to me.

I have never offered a serialized story before and I think this would be a great way to celebrate our weekends. We talk about books, about reading, and writing—but so rarely do we get to actually read any fiction on the blog.

There is a wonderful article on the Bijou Blog titled, They'll Never Get Out Alive!--The Cliffhangers about the original serialized matinee movies. Many are still familiar with “The Perils of Pauline” starring Pearl White.




My contest this Friday is unique. I would love to collaborate with one of my readers to create this Saturday Serial—to last eight consecutive weeks. Eight scenes of the same story, each ending with a cliffhanger.

The challenge to all of you is to come up with an idea for a story fraught with danger and excitement. It can be modern, like the television series 24, or fantasy like Xena: Warrior Princess, or horror like Clive Barker’s Books of Blood. The only limits are your imagination (well, and keep it PG13ish ;)

Here’s how to enter:

Write a (very) short description of what you envision in each category:

Proposed Title:
Genre:
Time Period:
Main Character:
Villain:
What’s at stake:

An example for The Terminator might look like this:

Proposed Title: Cyborg Killer
Genre: Sci-fi adventure
Time Period: near future
Main Character: Sarah Connor, future mother of the leader of the resistance.
Villain: Cyborg creature intent on killing her to stop the birth of the world’s future leader
What’s at stake: The survival of mankind

The winner will work closely with me on each scene and be credited as a collaborating author, headlining the by-line. If you are not a writer and would prefer to be the creator of the serial, rather than the author, you will be credited in that manner if you wish.

How to win:

Post your idea in the format offered above by Thursday May 28th.

On Friday, the 29th, I’ll list all the ideas in a separate post. Readers will help choose the winning entry by naming the title they are most excited to read. While my decision will be based heavily on the reader’s choice, the ultimate decision will be mine.

Readers will ‘vote’ through the weekend and the winner will be announced on June 1st. I’m truly thrilled at the idea of working with one of you and I can’t wait to see what you come up with.

If you have any questions, please ask! ;)

Warmly,
Jenny:)

P.S.
When the entries are listed next week, they will include a link to your own blog or website as well ;)

Writing Wednesday: 1 Question 4 Answers

Good Morning!

I sent a tweet out yesterday (are we following each other? http://twitter.com/JRTurner ) asking if there was a particular writing issue I should cover in today’s blog. Mangopickles (love that name!) offered this in response:

I would write about the struggle of wanting to write.

That’s a highly intriguing thought. The struggle could be a wide variety of things:

Finding the time to write
Knowing what to write
The translation between mind and paper
Wanting to write for a living

I’m sure there are plenty I missed, but I’m on my first cup of coffee :)

So let’s take a quick look at each, because I’m sure y’all are just as busy as I am!

Finding the time: Easy to say, but tough to do—force the world to leave you alone at a specific time. My best writing time is from 5-9am. I protect that time as best I can. Think about it though. You take the time to get your hair done, or work out at the gym. Maybe you even tell people not to call or interrupt your favorite television shows. Don’t be afraid to do that for your writing time. Make a schedule and keep it! :)

Knowing what to write: The answer is on your bookshelves. How ever many genres, styles, types and age—the books you keep all have one thing in common: you love them. Write what you love.

As an example: Gone with the Wind, The Stand, Strangers, and Swan Song are among my top hundred or so favorite books. They span many genres, yet they all have similarities: strong female leads who fight through a dramatic upheaval in their understanding of the world they thought they knew. Now, break down your favorites to their core and you’ll discover your passion.

The translation: This is a TOUGH one, and I’m not going to even pretend to have an answer. My advice, experience as much as possible about what you’re writing, and if you can’t—research like crazy. When you’re stuck, make a list of the senses and give one detail for each. I’ve never fallen through ice, but here’s an example:

Sight: murky depths, brightly lit ice ceiling
Sound: the noise heard when under water
Touch: the achy pins and needles my hands feel when in snow
Taste: lake water really cold
Scent: frozen fish?

Which then becomes:

Instantly the arctic water hit my skin with an ache of pins needles that lasted until I went frighteningly numb. The world turned upside down, the white of snowy ice above me, the deep blue green of a sky before a storm as far as I could see. Pressure changed every sound into a lapping burble as I kicked back toward the surface. Clinging green growth tangled around my foot. My mouth filled with the cold taste of the winter lake but despite my panic, I held my breath and didn’t scream.

So okay, maybe someone who has fallen through ice could tell me how I got it wrong, but it’s a good illustration of how you can take practical steps to help get those images in your mind down on paper.

Writing for a living: If you build it, they will come. Not helpful, I know, but it’s true. Write the best book you can, then make the next one even better, and the next even better and keep working the craft, growing your knowledge and creating a work that will allow you to write full time. This is a great motivator, a wonderful inspiration and I wish you the best on your journey.

Warmly,
Jenny)

Normal is Over. Find out why:
Fictionwise, Echelon Press, Amazon

Talent Tuesday: Rie Sheridan Rules!

Good Morning everyone!

Please welcome Rie Sheridan for Talent Tuesday!

Rie’s visit with us is especially meaningful to me. Ten years ago I joined Writer’s Village University in a quest to learn the craft of writing. Rie and I met there and I’ve followed her growing career on and off over the years. To have her here, for the first ever event and on Talent Tuesday, is definitely serendipitous.

Rie Sheridan has been writing since she first picked up a crayon. In 1998, she entered HalfPrice Books' "Say Goodnight to Illiteracy" contest, was one of 20 national finalists, and published in the 1999 Annual Anthology. She has also had poetry appear in print in Dreams and Nightmares and Mythic Circle and short stories in online zines, Dragons And Vampires, We Love Writers, Spaceways Weekly, and T-Zero Xpandizine. She likes to spend her spare time reading, writing, and role-playing, and collects action figures, musical instruments, and non-sports cards (though she is really proud of her Joe Montana rookie card....) Rie lives in Texas with her husband Newell and several cats, all spoiled rotten.

A thought about what makes a person a writer:

What makes a person a writer…? Well, to give the short answer, they write. Everyone fits into that category each time they put pen to paper to make out a grocery list. However, in a deeper sense, a writer is a person who lives and breathes words. Must you be published to be a "writer?" No.

My father--one of the wittiest writers I know--shares his insights only with a select group of e-friends--but is he a writer? Oh, yes. Because he manipulates words with the ease of a circus juggler, and creates pithy vignettes that will make you think twice about life. He is only now beginning to expand the readership for the wonderful life-slices he serves up. Although he has always written them, they were personal speculations--private musings. That doesn't make him any less a writer.

I first realized that I was a writer--or wanted to be--as soon as I began to read what other people had written. As I was growing up, when asked the inevitable, "What do you want to be…?" question, my answer was always whatever the flavor of the month happened to be--detective, scientist, teacher--"...and a writer." I started my first novel when I was nine.

I've been published in many non-paid venues. However, I must admit--the $5.00 check from my first professional sale is still uncashed because it is so awesome to show it to my friends and say, "Look! I sold something."

To sum it all up--a person who writes because they have no choice…because the words pour from their fingertips into their pen, or into the keys of their computer, that is a writer. Does this person have to be paid? No. Does it help? There ain't nothing like it!

Rie's short stories appear in Double Dragon's From Within The Mist ebook and The Stygian Soul as well as Mundania Press' Beyond The Mundane: Flights Of Mind. Her anthology RieVisions is available from Mundania Press and novel The Lute And The Liar is under their Awe-Struck Books imprint.

Writer's Exchange re-released her Young Adult fantasy, The Right Hand Of Velachaz, and Yard Dog Press is home to humorous horror chapbooks Tales From The Home For Wayward Spirits And Bar-B-Que Grill and Bruce and Roxanne Save the World…Again.

Midnight Showcase carries romantic fantasy Sidhe Moved Through The Faire. She also has several poetry anthologies – Take Out from the Writers Café; If My Sandcastle Drowns…Can I Live With You?; Dancing on the Edge; and Straying from the Path: A Baker’s Dozen of Fairy Tale Poems.

Some surprising insider information about Rie:

Sidhe Moved Through the Faire was a NaNoWriMo project several years ago that got picked up for publication by Midnight Showcase.

She wrote the lyrics and original music for a song called “Soul of a Harper” that was tweaked musically and performed by The Brobdingnagian Bards on several of their albums. They even performed it live at their final concert together (YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYCAYdq9uPM.)


Rie has generously agreed to offer up three autographed books for today’s event!


From Yard Dog Press:



Tales From The Home For Wayward Spirits And Bar-B-Que Grill (http://yarddogpress.com/tales.htm )

One of the stories in Tales from the Home For Wayward Spirits And Bar-B-Que Grill – “Zombie Invaders from Mars…or Someplace Like That” – was originally a runner-up in the Killer Frog contest to write the worst possible horror story. I have been told it contains the best way to destroy zombies since Mars Attacks!



Bruce and Roxanne Save the World…Again (http://yarddogpress.com/bruce&.htm )

From Mundania Press:


RieVisions (http://www.mundania.com/books-rievisions.html )

“Steel Velvet” – one of the RieVisions stories – was inspired by the texture of the industrial machine I was feeding parts into when I was bored one night at work. And another in that collection – “MacKenzie’s Rose” – was written by hand on scrap paper originally as I worked too. It was a productive environment.

You can find Rie on the internet here:

website: http://www.riewriter.com
Blog: Water Off a Crow’s Back http://riesheridan.livejournal.com/
Facebook fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rie-Sheridan-Rose/38814481714

Thank you so much for hanging out with us today!

Warmly,
Jenny

Talent Tuesday Welcomes Ron Adams!

Good Morning everyone! Ron Adams is our special guest today! Let’s make him feel especially warm and welcome :)

Ron Adams is a detective fiction author and the creator of the Joe Banks PI series. He grew up in Randolph, MA but now calls Buffalo and Western New York home. He’s married to the love his life, Trish and they have two fantastic kids. He’s a huge fan of Robert B. Parker, Raymond Chandler, Harlan Coben, and Kathy Reichs. In his spare time he’s an avid sports fan, frustrated guitarist, and loves muscle cars from the 60s and 70s.

His new novel, “Key Lime Squeeze,” is the second book in the Joe Banks series. Mob Princess Angela Boothby wants her husband back and P.I. Banks heads to the Keys to find him. He learns people aren’t just missing his charm.

Watch the video trailer here:



Ron has been especially kind to offer his time and some writing advice.

The Three P’s of Writing

I have had an occasion recently to witness the turmoil of some writers and publishers when things don’t go according to plan. It was a sad thing to watch, and I am grateful to have maintained good working relationships with all the parties involved. I offer, therefore, some assistance for the new, budding, aspiring, frustrated writer still working on getting their masterpiece into the hands of the readers. Please take it for what it is, and I hope these tips can be of some help. I call these the three P’s of writing.


1. PROFESSIONAL – First and foremost, writing and writing well is an art form, one which most of us have invested our hearts and souls in. But publishing is a business. It is a for profit enterprise where the writer must learn to become the best business person they can be, and be willing to approach it in a professional manner. Life is not fair, and the business world is not fair, either. Approach every interaction with your agent and editors in a straightforward, respectful, and professional manner, and most of the time it will be returned in kind. Not always, mind you, but you will be better served in that approach in the long run.


2. POSITIVE- Remain as positive as possible in all your dealings with your agent, editor and publisher. Adopt a can-do/will-do attitude towards all interactions. Be willing to listen to those that may have more expertise, and offer what expertise you can bring in a positive, constructive manner.. A problem solver is easier to work with than a problem bringer.


3. PHILOSOPHICAL – A while back, a friend of mine got me and my wife involved in a network marketing business. Yeah, I know, but I did learn a valuable lesson. They have a philosophy of some-will-some-won’t-so-what in regards to their business. Not the worst approach to take to this business. When going through the process of promotion and building your writing career, listen to those you believe in and trust, listen to the experts, and remember some things will work, some things won’t. So what. Doing is better than not doing, trying is more productive than not trying.

Visit him on the web here:
www.ronaldwadams.blogspot.com
www.shadowsandnight.blogspot.com
www.ronaldwadams.com
www.myspace.com/rwadams

Purchsase the first in the series "Lake Effect" at Barnes and Noble



Thanks so much for being with us today, Ron!

Warmly,
Jenny:)

Fun Friday Quote Contest!

Got a funny quote that will make us chuckle?

Have a favorite saying?

Or maybe a quote you live by?

Share it here today and you'll be entered to win the Fun Friday Quote Contest! :)

Here's one of my favorite ones:

I have a furniture problem, my chest has fallen into my drawers.

What's different this time? You will be entered as many times as you post a comment--so make sure to put them in individually for a second, third, fourth, etc. chance to be drawn from the hat :)

Okay, now what do you win?

You have a choice of one these three lovely prizes:




An autographed copy of Stark Knight.

A personalized (color) book thong.

Or, one of the two unclaimed 4-pack of books:

The Mystery Pack:
Mission Flats by William Landay
The Mayor of Lexington Avenue by James Sheehan
Too Rich to Live by Lawrence Light
A Deadly Yarn by Maggie Sefton


The Romance Pack:
Love Enough for Two by Cynthia Rutledge
Mistletoe Magic by Betty Neels, Margaret Way and Rebecca Winters
A Hero for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
Autumn Promises by Kate Welsh

Have fun with this and remember: TGIF! :)

Warmly,
Jenny:)

Thrilling Thursday at the Theater!

Good Morning everyone! :)

I thought we'd leave the library this morning and head on down to the theater :)

I'm a HUGE movie fan and I don't talk about it much here. But since I'm just THRILLED with what's coming out at this year at the theaters, I figured it would be very cool to do a blog about this for Thrilling Thursday! :)

Here's Numero Uno:



"Fate rarely calls on us in a moment of our choosing." Awesome! I can't wait to see this!!!

This one they've disabled the embedding for, sorry!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg9ooaozu-8

Darker than my first pick, but still a must-see for me as I'm a fan of the first three movies!! ;)

Okay, I know this one is out already, but how can a girl resist Huge Ackman...oops, I mean Hugh Jackman :)




And last but nowhere near least: Mila Jovavich has signed up to do Resident Evil 4! Yay!! :)

http://teaser-trailer.com/2009/04/resident-evil-4-movie.html

There are TONS more that are coming out, but I want to hear what you're thrilled to be seeing next! :)

Warmly,
Jenny:)

P.S. OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look what Vin Diesel said:

"Good question. Maybe we’re too tight-lipped about the next Chronicles of Riddick film, and I think circa the release of [Dark Athena] that’s probably when you’ll start hearing more about the next Riddick film. It is underway and I almost think it’s a coincidence that we haven’t heard anything, that there hasn’t been a lot of public stuff on the Riddick movie."

*Snoopy Dancin!* Yeah, baby! Riddick is BACK!!!!!!!
http://www.filmofilia.com/2009/03/11/vin-diesel-talks-chronicles-of-riddick-3/

Winner! &Writing Wednesday: Self Editing and Body Language

Good Morning everyone!

As promised, we will announce the winner of “The Frugal Editor” by Carolyn Howard-Johnson this morning! Carolyn, you were so wonderful to take time out of your busy schedule to hang out with us yesterday. Thank you so much for treating the blog readers to a great day!



To do this as fairly as possible, I counted the number of individuals participating (excluding Carolyn and myself ;) ) and put that count (7) into a random number generator found here:

http://illuminations.nctm.org/activitydetail.aspx?id=67

The device drew number 6—which means Laura Hyatt (from the MySpace blog) is the winner! Yay!!! :)

Congrats, Laura! Please send me an email address where you can receive your free copy of “The Frugal Editor” from Carolyn ;) Celebrate with some chocolate!

Okay, on to Writing Wednesday! :)



Self Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King is one of my favorite all time how-to books on the craft of writing. Rather than describing what was in the book, I figured we could do a Random Act of Wisdom.

Using Amazon.com’s “search inside” tool, I selected “surprise me” and it opened to Dialogue Mechanics, page 51:

“Perhaps it’s a lack of confidence on the writer’s part, perhaps it’s simple laziness, or perhaps it’s a misguided attempt to break up the monotony of using “said” all the time (more about that in a minute,) but all too many fiction writers tend to pepper their dialogue with –lys.

Which is a good reason to cut virtually every one you write. Ly adverbs almost always catch the author in the act of explaining the dialogue—smuggling emotions into speaker attributions that belong in the dialogue itself. Again, if your dialogue doesn’t need the props, putting the props in will make it seem weak even though it isn’t.

There are a few exceptions to this principle—almost all of the adverbs that actually modify the verb ‘said,” such as “he said softly” or “she said clearly.” After all, you don’t say something grimly in the same sense that you say something softly. The grimness comes across more by what you say and do through word choice, body language, context—than by how you say it. Again there are as many ways to be grim as there are people, and when you write “he said grimly,” what you are rally saying is, “he said this, and he felt pretty grim about it.” You need to show the grimness, to show what your character does that makes him seem grim.”

So let’s give this a whirl. Can you show a sentence of dialogue and a sentence for the tag that conveys a character being grim? I’ll give it a whirl later on today, but I’m truly looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with.

Some hints to help you:

What challenges do we face in life that makes us grim? The prospect of a very unpleasant event (funerals, death of a loved one) does that for me, but what about a lazy person (work) or a vain person (growing old?)

When we, or our friends and family, or characters exhibit grimness—how does that manifest in body language or physical sensation?

What happens to our voice?

This is how a writer thinks and it’s less analytical than it is observational and empathetic. If you’re having a difficult time conveying grimness, choose another emotion that you would like to explore, but remember: convey it through one sentence of dialogue and one sentence of activity following. (In other words, drop the he/she said part ;))

Hope these hints are inspiring to you and I can’t wait to see what y’all come up with!

Warmly,
Jenny:)

Talent Tuesday: Carolyn Howard-Johnson!

Why You -- Yes, You Who Aced English -- Need an Editor
and
Why Editing -- Yes, EDITING -- Is Part of Your Marketing Strategy

Excerpted from the Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success

By Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the HowToDoItFrugally series
(http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/)

"Publishers -- even traditional publishers -- do not want to edit anymore; they want to print a 99.9 percent finished product directly from the author. It's a cost-cutting thing. Many publishers can't afford to give your book that attention they once did." ~ Leora Krygier, twice-published literary author reviewed in the likes of Newsweek and featured on Connie Martinson Talks Books.

Just as I was finishing the Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success, Poets & Writers published Peter Selfin's "Confessions of a Cranky Lit-Mag Editor." It was a kind of mini-rant on how authors influence editors negatively with minor (and not-so-minor) errors. He tells of one author who informs him in her cover letter that she has published three stories in the New Yorker and then "blunders into her essay with 'Growing up, there were two types of food in my family.'" He says it "reads like very sloppy editing" and goes on to reject the piece. (By the way, one of my readers with a master's degree could not identify the error here. If you can't, you will be able to by the time you've finished the section in the Frugal Editor where I talk about dangling participles. If you can't wait, use the Frugal Editor's index to find dangling participles to research this serious grammatical error now.)

The first lesson here for is that attention to detail and craft counts, and that even experienced writers can flub an opportunity if they don't pay attention to that last great step toward publishing, a good edit. Any author who had recently refreshed her understanding of participles by reading the Frugal Editor would not have dangled hers. At least, not that conspicuously. The second is that a flubbed opportunity like this doesn't say much good about you and, if flubs are made frequently, may brand you as a nonprofessional.

Perfection is not possible. Even Editor Selfin admits he overlooks a mistake or two if the writer's voice captures his interest. With better editing we can guard against humiliation and in the process increase our chances for publication.

Leading a horse to water and other all-wet ideas about editing

In the Frugal Book Promoter I talk about branding. In that book, I felt a need to convince authors that sales, marketing and promotion are not dirty words, that we are participating in these disciplines every day when we brush our teeth and choose the proper clothing for whatever occasions loom on that day's calendar.

I don't need to convince most authors to be cautious about errors. There are so many writers who are so uptight about a typo creeping into their copy that their fear contributes to nightmares or at least to writer's block. Thus, the Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success is an easy sell.

Where my job becomes difficult is in convincing writers that they need an editor--a real editor, an editor with credentials--before they begin to submit. Because I am also Frugal, I recognize that my tendency to avoid spending money for something that will probably be done by someone else anyway may well exist in other writers.

I know that many writers will nod their heads and then attempt the publishing process without an editor, even though they may have had the best intentions when they were agreeing with me.
I am also aware (because I hang out with writers of all kinds) that authors fear the sharp pencil point of an editor. These are usually new writers who are convinced that an editor will make their work into something other than what it is or will change it beyond recognition. I want to assure these writers that a good editor won't do that. A good editor will help a writer find her voice, remain true to it and still move the manuscript from a rough rock to a polished gemstone.

I agree that it is no fun to encounter unexpected flaws in one's book. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have written a book on editing. However, mistakes in a writer's query letters, cover letters and book proposals can be more deadly than those in a manuscript. It is in these documents that editing failures can doom your entire book to failure. You and the quality of your book idea will be judged on these first contacts with agents, publishers, editors, and producers as surely as you would be judged at a board meeting if you left rats' nests in your hair that morning.

In the Frugal Editor I approach the editing process of every document as if it were a manuscript. It is easier to edit the much shorter introductions (queries, cover letters and proposals) that are being sent to the people who have the power to accept or reject your work, but the processes used are approximately the same. It is only a matter of degree between a full manuscript and your one-page query letter. So adapt the guidelines in the Frugal Editor. You, and only you, know where your strengths and weaknesses lie. You will know where to abbreviate or eliminate steps for these shorties, and for more intricate efforts (say an academic thesis) you may want to expand on the processes I suggest. In order to get the best possible results from you initial contact with gatekeepers, you may also want to read Terry Whalin's (www.webmarketingmargic.com/app/?af=615838) book, Book Proposals That Sell, on writing proposals.

You probably already know that gremlins--very clever guys bent on your destruction--are at work during the entire publishing process. You fight them with a vengeance, with every ounce of writing craft and publishing knowledge that exists in your body. If, however, a typo or grammar error slips through the careful net you cast for them, please don't lose any sleep. It will happen to every writer somewhere along his or her career path. Instead, be patient with yourself. And while you're at it, if you see an error in someone else's work, give the writer (and the publisher!) the benefit of the doubt. It's all about Karma. We're all fighting the same gremlins here.

Many mistakenly use the word editing synonymously with finding typos. I worry that the Frugal Editor may contribute to that notion because it does not address essential elements of the writing craft like character development, setting or structure. Those are topics of their own. Reworking these aspects of writing really constitutes revision, not editing. Many complete books cover each of them thoroughly. For me to attempt to stipulate everything a polished manuscript needs would be impossible in one book. To cover revision topics briefly and then abandon the writer to struggle with incomplete understanding would not be in her or his best interest. Therefore, I merely mention that your final draft should take these writing fundamentals into consideration because I can't assume that all authors will have undertaken revision before they move into editing. So, please, before you begin your editing process, review the larger elements of your craft. Experienced writers can approach this with the expectation that they may need only to fine-tune one or two elements of their books, but even minor learning curves are journeys worth taking. Suggested reading for things like the niceties of dialogue (Writing Dialogue by Tom Chiarella), are included in the appendixes.

I include some grammar guidelines. You can tell these are not meant to be complete. I chose them because they are mistakes that many experienced writers (and editors) miss. I threw in a few of the ones that most writers understand but inadvertently make because when a writer does let them creep into her work, they are more noxious to my editing sensibility than the average error. I expect that when I mention some you already know, it will remind you not to backslide. It may even prompt you to check your references for more advanced information on those subjects.

I want you to learn from the Frugal Editor just as I learned from writing it, but I'd also like you to enjoy the editing challenge, the process itself. Pretend the task before you is a puzzle. It's work. It's detail-oriented work. But it can be fun. When you're done, please still hire an editor, especially if you are self- or subsidy-publishing. Books like Dee and Brian's The Publishing Primer ( http://www.brianhillanddeepower.com/get-your-book-published.html) can help you with that process. The Frugal Editor will tell you how to find a great editor, one that will work for the betterment of your book, and avoid the scams.

-----

Carolyn Howard-Johnson is an instructor for UCLA Extension's world-renowned Writers' Program and was awarded Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment by members of the California Legislature. The Frugal Editor is second in the HowToDoItFrugally series (http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/) after The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't, USA Book News' Best Professional Book and winner of the Irwin Award. Learn more at http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/

The Perfect Mother's Day Gift!

She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood is available both digitally (for greenies who want to save paper, postage and airline fuel) and as a lovely to have-and-hold book for those who still have room in their hearts only for the real thing. And the book is still no more expensive than some of the fancier Mom's Day cards! Find it at Amazon.com today!

Friday Fun Trivia!

Friday Fun!

Okay folks, let’s do some spring celebrating—which in my house means spring cleaning! This means thinning the herd—of great books that is:) See below for a chance to win one of the great four-packs I’m offering.


Now, how to win! Ready for some trivia? The answers are easy to find, but you’ll have to do just a little digging. Answer the questions correctly below and you’ll be entered into the drawing. Monday the winner will be announced—in a fun, unique way you won’t want to miss


Let’s Play: Name that Novel!


Each of these sentences represents the first line found in one of my novels. Match each to the title and send it to me at jturner4@charter.net.


1) Shhh…”
2) She stood in the shadows, the gun clenched tightly in her hand.
3) "Okay, move over. You're gonna hit bone, you keep digging at him like that."
4) Don't kick. Don't move.
5) The frigid concrete step froze Kaylee right through her jeans.
6) "Drake."


The Prize Packs:
(I’ve got a little for everyone!)


The Mystery Pack:
Mission Flats by William Landay
The Mayor of Lexington Avenue by James Sheehan
Too Rich to Live by Lawrence Light
A Deadly Yarn by Maggie Sefton


The Romance Pack:
Love Enough for Two by Cynthia Rutledge
Mistletoe Magic by Betty Neels, Margaret Way and Rebecca Winters
A Hero for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
Autumn Promises by Kate Welsh


The Writer’s Pack:
Writing the Popular Novel by Loren D. Estleman
Get that Novel Written! By Donna Levin
Just Open a Vein by William Brohaugh
Good Grief, Good Grammar by Dianna Booher

Have fun!

Warmly,
Jenny:)

Thrilling Thursday: Love Bites and Emotional Suspense

Hey everyone:)

Since I didn’t get a chance to post the Writing Wednesday that I wanted to yesterday, I thought it would be great fun to talk about it today.

Suspense is the underlying emotion in any great thriller. Creating that suspense is not always easy in our writing. Often foreshadowing is crafted to be plot specific only—when it’s the emotional foreshadowing that is the most subtle and has the most impact.

In DFF: Dead Friends Forever, Kaylee’s relationships with the people in her life is every bit as important as the elements concerning the mystery of Isabelle’s death and how the ghost came to haunt Larson house. Yet when reading this “every day world” Kaylee lives in is seen less as foreshadowing and more simply as the time before the horror begins.

Looking at all the great horror classics, we can see that emotional foreshadowing. In Bram Stokers Dracula, we see Mina’s love for Jonathan Harker and how much she misses him as he travels abroad for his work, how her love for him sustains her while her friend Lucy courts one prospective suitor after another. It is later the challenges to this love that make her enchantment with Dracula all the more heartbreaking. Does she choose the sunshine love of her living life? Or will she choose the moonlight love of her afterlife? Without Harker, Mina’s choice wouldn’t be so heartbreaking.

Writing suspense can be difficult. This is why there is so much emphasis placed on the “hero’s journey” in writing programs. Not because knowing where a character is going on the map is important, but because setting up the emotional bonds early in a story will give the later threats to those bonds all the more meaning—and make the reader feel the full scope of that characters obstacles, sorrows and triumphs.

Look at your characters. Who and what is important to them? Does your story challenge that bond? If it doesn’t, you may want to consider raising the stakes. The higher the stakes, the more emotional and thus intense the read will be.

What is a favorite emotional story you’ve read or seen in a movie? Why was it so emotional to you? Share this in the comments so we might learn from each of our experiences how these emotional stakes are applied, if you like :)

Warmly,
Jenny

L.A. Yay!

My trip to LA

Hey Everyone :)
This is not a typical Writing Wednesday as I want to share with everyone what I did in L.A., but stay tuned for more writerly info later today ;)


Friday: Leaving the family was tough, but I left with my best pair of shoes and a determination to work my butt off for the weekend. The flight out was not much different than riding a bus, but with an awesome view.




When I arrived, I was surprised to discover that the only way to get from AirTran to the Southwest terminal was to take a bus ride. LAX is huge! Karen arrived on time and I was happy to meet Bobbie and Harry there, the Knot Fairy folks.





Our hotel wasn’t that far away and I enjoyed seeing palm trees and one in the front of the Days Inn I called the “Donkey Kong” tree. For dinner, I also had a great adventure. Karen took me to Bilal, a Pakistani restaurant where we ordered Haleem, Seekh Kabobs Nihari and other exotic dishes that were absolutely delicious, and spicy in the way that made you want to keep eating more.




Izzy dropped by and picked me up for a nice meal later that night and when we walked into the restaurant, I was totally stoked to recognize the place from xXx, one of my all time favorite Vin Diesel movies. The place rocked!




Saturday morning Teresa Burell took us to the UCLA campus, which is absolutely fabulous. The weather couldn’t have been any better! High sixties with a wonderfully cool breeze to make even the most intensely sunny part of the day comfortable. That high wind though caused injuries when a scaffold fell over into the crowd and injured three people.




I sold out of DFF: Dead Friends Forever and by the end of the day, I’d signed all but seven books! I was rockin’ the tent! Alyssa Montgomery joined us midway through the day and made the tent all the more sunnier with her warmth and cheerful smile.



On Sunday, I had a blast. Not only was I completely sold out, but I had a chance to enjoy the festival and meet Jon Miller, a great legal thriller author I’ve worked with for a few years now. Then, I had a real treat when Izzy took me to see Finis, Sammy Davis Jr.’s Godson who has a terrific voice. To top it all off, we were allowed backstage at the Comedy and Magic club to see “The Wall” where famous comedians had left their signatures, including Jay Leno and Jerry Sienfeld.




After a wonderful time at the Hermosa Beach pier and walking mall, Izzy took me out for desert and we had a great time chatting and sharing fun stories. If I thought Izzy was way cool on the internet, she’s absolutely a thrill to be with in person—and stunning in real life.




Monday I came home and was happily reunited with my family, and my own bed! That was my fabulous time in L.A. and I’m already looking forward to next year!

Warmly,
Jenny :)

Thrilling Thursday: Goblins, Ghouls, and Ghosts Oh My!

I’m beginning to really enjoy these Thursdays! This week I wanted to find out what really spooked you all when you were kids. My mother had the book Faeries by Brian Froud, a wonderfully illustrated tome that I loved as a child. One particularly horrible creature was a gal named Jenny Greenteeth. This monstrosity shared my name, so it always stuck with me.

The story goes like this: She’s a hideous hag, green and nasty who likes to pull little children into the water and murderize them. They think this was made up by scared mom's who wanted to keep their children from the water so they wouldn't drown--but who really knows? This made living four houses from the river interesting for me at seven years old! ;)

So what’s your favorite childhood ghoulie or ghostie? Do you have one in particular?

Warmly,
Jenny;)

Who is hitting the road to Milwaukee, and leaving for L.A. in the morning!