Writer's Quest

2012-01-06T06:25:00.000-08:00

Trick or Treat

by Rita L. Smith

Meow. I heard a catfrom somewhere within my house. Theproblem was I didn’t have any cats. Iwas sure I must’ve been mistaken, when the sound got closer. So, close in fact, that I could hear the catpurring.

Something brushed against my leg and I jumped in spite ofmyself. The cat stood looking at me andI could swear it was laughing at me, too. It was a mangy looking creature with scraggly brownish fur. One ear had a piece missing from it. And those amber eyes… I swear I had seen those eyes before.

“Charlie?” I asked the cat. I was being ridiculous, but I couldn’t get past the thought that the catlooked like my husband.

“Meow.”

“Charlie is that you?”

“Meow.”

“If you are Charlie, you had better change into a humanagain and explain yourself.”

Laughter peeled from behind me. I spun around to see Charlie and my daughter.

“I told you Dad that Mom would think that cat was you.”

“Haha,” I said. “Where in the world did you find a cat that looks so much like you?”

“We didn’t,” Charlie said. “ It found us and I knew that Ihad to bring him home.”

“Without consulting me?” I knew I sounded hysterical at thispoint, but I couldn’t help myself. I wasembarrassed that I’d actually thought the cat was human. And angry that my family knew that I would bethat gullible.

“Honey, calm down,” Charlie said.

“Yah, Mom, even I thought it was Dad at first. They look so much alike,” Jasmine said.

“Did you really?”

Jasmine began to nod, but cut it off in mid nod. Her eyes widened. I looked a Charlie and he seemed to be havingthe same reaction. I turned to look atwhatever they were seeing.

Something was happening to the cat. It seemed to be shimmering and it was gettingbigger. It’s shape begin to change. In a matter of minutes a naked man lay on thefloor.

“Fetch him a blanket,” I shouted.

“Who are you?” Charlie asked as Jasmine ran to grab ablanket from the back of the couch.

When she returned with the afghan, I said, “Jas, somethingwithout holes.”

“Oh,” Jasmine said looking at the afghan as if it were aforeign object. She returned to thecouch and grabbed the quilt.

“Here you go,” Jasmine said as she handed it to theman. The man could have been myhusband’s double.

“My husband asked you a question, who are you?” I asked.

“Don’t you recognize me?”

“You look like Charlie, but who are you?” I demanded.

“I am Charlie, hon.”

“No, Charlie is standing next to me. You are only someone who looks like him.”

“My dear, sweet wife, I am your husband.”

“Charlie, what’s this kook talking about?”

“I have no idea,” Charlie said.

“Ask him if he knows your name, dear?” the cat said.

I looked at Charlie and waited for him to say my name.

“Opal, your name is Opal, dear,” the man who I thought wasCharlie said.

“Charlie would never call me that,” I said. I could feel myself nearing hysteria again.

“Why wouldn’t I that’s your name,” the imposter said.

Jasmine and I moved away from both of the men. I asked the cat, “What is my name?”

“Your name is Dee,” he said. “But I call you Diddlebug.”

“Charlie,” I said, but it sounded like a question even to myear.

“Yes, dear I am the man you married in that shotgun weddingall of those years ago.”

I ran to the man I now knew as my husband. “Oh, Charlie. I knew it was you from the beginning.”

“Who is this then?” Jasmine said.

“He’s a warlock, I would imagine,” Charlie said. “He turned me into a cat and then changedhimself to look like me.”

“So, he really doesn’t look like you?” I said.

“No,” Charlie said, shaking his head as he did.

“Get out of my house before I turn you into a mosquito!” Ishouted.

That made everyone laugh, except the warlock. I think he realized that there was more to methan anyone realized. The warlock headedfor the door, before I could say the magic words.

Pleaseremember that this story is copyrighted by me, so don't reprint it. Iwill be putting a book together with my flash fiction in it. Also, I haveFlashes From My Mind and More Flashes From My Mind available on Amazon. More Flashes From My Mind is available on Kindle for $2.99.

Into Hell

2012-01-04T04:30:00.000-08:00

IntoHell

byRita L. Smith

I slipped through the hole in the wall only to findmyself blinded. Okay, I really wasn’tblind, but there was no light in the room at all. I turned back to the room I’d just left andnothing. I felt the wall, but there wasno hole. Strange, I must have movedfurther than I thought. I moved alongthe wall with my hands touching it where I felt the hole should be.

I hit the corner having found nothing, so I began to movein the direction from which I had just come. Again I found the corner and still no hole. “What in hell?” I thought.

“Exactly, my pet,” a voice said. He sounded like every evil villain sounded inthe cartoons. He even laughed thatmaniacal wahaha that made my skin crawl and the hair on my head stand up.

“Wh- wh- who are you?”

“I am the prince of this domain,” he said.

“What domain?”

“I thought you had figured it out, but I guess humans arereally too stupid to put two and two together in this age of technology. You need a calculator to add, a computer to writeand even a GPS to tell you where to go.”

“Yes, but where am I? I don’t have my MapQuest handy.”

The man let out another maniacal laugh. “You do have the ability to make me laughthough, so I will excuse your laziness.”

I thought back to what I had been thinking when the voiceinterrupted my thoughts. “Hell!” Ishouted.

“Correct.”

“I am in hell, but I don’t belong here.”

“That’s what they all say,” the voice said.

“But I haven’t died.”

“You must be dead or you wouldn’t be here. No one can find their way into Hell withouthaving

died.”

I thought for a moment about what I had been doing rightbefore I found the hole in the wall. Iwas certain that I hadn’t fallen, not anything that would have caused my earlydemise. “No, I am certain I did not die. I just found a hole in the wall.”

“Beelzebub,” Satan screamed.

“Yes, O’ Mighty Prince?” a voice answered. It was just as frightening as Satan’s, thoughit sounded a bit whinier.

“Did you let the riff-raff in again?”

“Only one sire.” The room seemed to shake as he said this.

“Oh, quit your quivering. This mortal amuses me, but we have got to return him, until his time,”Satan said.

“Yes, O’ Mighty Prince,” Beelzebub said.

As, he finished a light appeared in the wall. The opening… I ran for it and was out into the real world in a flash. As I left, I vowed that I would change myways. I would serve God and spread theword. There was no way; I would ever goback there again.

“Will you accept me as your faithful servant, God?” Iasked.

The sun got brighter for just a second. If I had blinked I might have missed it. I guess God was okay with me spreading theword. I felt as if a weight had beenlifted off my shoulders.

Please remember that this story is copyrighted by me, so don't reprint it. I will be putting a book together with my flash fiction in it. Also, I have Flashes From My Mind and More Flashes From My Mind available on Amazon. More Flashes From My Mind is available on Kindle for $2.99.

New Year Resolution

2012-01-03T09:21:00.000-08:00

Let's start the new year off right. My resolution is to write daily, which I know I can do, because I managed to do it in February. I can carry my computer with me to appointments and write-ins. I forgot it last Thursday. :( I have my tablet with me at all times, so I can jot down thoughts or begin a story. So, there is no excuse for not writing something everyday.

To this end, I will be posting a flash fiction story as I get them written, but fair warning I will be taking the old off as soon as I post the new.

I will begin tomorrow even though I have one written today.

Don't forget my photography debut on Friday from 6-9 PM at the Masonic Temple Building, suite 312, I will, also, be reading along with other Y-City Writers, I hope.

My Photography Debut

2011-12-27T10:33:00.001-08:00

DBSA (Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance) of Zanesville and Muskingum County are teaming up with Power Source and Solutions (Certified Peer Support Services) to sponsor artists during Zanesville's First Friday Art Walk!

FEATURED ARTISTS:

JAYME HITCHCOCK: Jayme is in ...the process of becoming one of the most well-known and beloved artists in the Zanesville community. Her painting techniques allow her to be prolific and unique.

RITA SMITH: Rita is a local author and photographer. Her prints weave together light, shadow and texture. Rita's work evokes clarity and freshness of expressive imagery.

ALSO:

OPEN READING: Some of the Y-City Writers will be present to lead an open reading forum. All are welcome to participate. Bring any piece of writing you have created such as poetry, fiction, non-fiction, short stories or flash fiction. Feel free to just stop in to listen, as well!

* 50-50 Drawing!
** Special Prize Drawings!
*** Candy Bar Sale
**** Drinks and refreshments available

FOR MORE INFORMATION: call 740-891-4666 (Area code must be dialed from everywhere!)

T.G.I.O. /Do you want to do it again?

2011-12-03T07:49:00.001-08:00

As most of you know November was National Novel Writing Month, where millions of writers took up the gauntlet to write 50,000 words in one month. Many succeeded, some even surpassed that goal. I managed to eke out the last 5000 words of my story on November 30.

It has been a trying month for me. My husband has been really ill and now they are trying to stop the progression of the disease, so tons of hospital and doctor visits are in our future. Still, I reached my goal. The story is not completed and Essie is screaming at me to put my fingers to the keyboard once again, so she can finish telling her story.

The question is-- Do I want to do it again?
The answer is-- Yes, with a big fat yes.

Many people I know have expressed an interest in doing a writing event in January. This is usually a good month to stay at home. So, January will be a good month to write another novel or to finish novels in progress. Anyone game for 31 days of writing?

In the meantime, I will continue writing and scheduling write-ins. I may have to work around an ever changing schedule of doctors appointments and hospital visits. Through out this time, I will carry my little pink computer and my Kindle Fire, so I can write while I wait for my husbands chemo sessions or blood transfusion to finish (a couple of hours of each.)

So, let's keep writing! And if you want to try 31 days of writing, please contact me. We won't have anything fancy, but we'll have a facebook page to post our daily word counts. If I were more of a computer geek, I'd create the graphs and word count like the fabulous staff of NaNoWriMo.

For those of you, who don't want to participate in another month of writing like demons, I'll see you next year for NaNoWriMo, where I hope to continue to be Zanesville's Municipal Liaison.

Good Writing!

Rita

HERE I GO AGAIN

2011-11-03T08:02:00.000-07:00

At the risk of sounding like a Whitesnake song, Here I go again trying to find that perfect ending. Though as I embark on this journey with millions of other writers who are attempting to write 50,000 words in one month for National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo, I begin to understand that the ending is not the part that is in question. It is the middle in all its glory that is necessary to achieve my goal of finding that perfect ending.

How does a flash fiction writer go about writing a novel? Simple you forget all the rules you have learned and begin to put back in the gestures. Every sigh, laugh, scream counts when writing a novel. The five senses come in real handy when you are writing longer pieces of work, just as they can make shorter works shine.

Backstory helps in a novel, though you don't need to give it all at once and certainly not in the beginning. Make your main character likable, before everything begins to go south for him or her.

Try to pace yourself or you'll find your story ending well before its time. I know this is my biggest problem. I want to jump to the action scenes which lead directly to the ending. Most novels are 75,000 words + and we are only trying to accomplish 50,000 this month.

So, as all of us NaNoWriMo'rs embark on this fantastic journey into many worlds created in our own minds, wish us luck that we find our perfect endings, and middles and while we're at it beginnings.

SOMETHING CLICKED

2011-10-09T05:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon, I attended a workshop at the Y-City Writers Conference given by Donna MacMeans on the W-Plot. I had heard about the W-Plot before, (and even blogged about it) but until I heard Donna talk about it- it had not really clicked. As she was speaking I could see where my story was going wrong. Which story you ask? All of the longer ones. I believe that I as a pantser can actually use the W-Plot to help with my story.

As a pantser, my story usually unfolds on its own as I write. However, this often leaves plot holes or the timeline gets messed up.

A. Normal World- Hook, What's your character like now? (Rooting Interests: Empathy, Admiration traits and Humanistic traits.)
B. Inciting Incident: The action that launches the story into a downward spiral. This should take place about 10% of the way into your story.
C. Things get worse.
D.The first turning point (Crossing the threshold, change of plans) The character may do this reluctantly. You should be 25% of the way into your book.
E. Enemies and Friends - Your character learns things he/she will need to know to survive. Things they are running from comes back.
F. Point of No Return- Whatever happens at this juncture will change the protagonist and they can never be who they were at the beginning. This is about half-way through your story.
G. Things begin to fall apart.
H. The Big Black Moment-All appears doomed until one character sacrifices for another. (75% of the way through your story.
I. Return with the Elixir- This is the struggle to recover from the BBM. Loose ends are tied up in this chapter(s). Resolve inner conflict. We need to see how the events of the book changed them.
J. Happily-ever-after resolution/epilogue. The satisfactory conclusion or "slow curtain."

I believe if I go through Twilight Dance and John Dunham's Diary using these steps, I will find where the novels went wrong.

Here are some W-Plot Links
http://kathleenwall.wordpress.com/2010/05/27/wow-for-the-w-plot/
http://www.skotos.net/articles/PlotStrategies.html
http://www.patriciasargeant.com/Resources_W.html
http://wordgrrls.com/2010/06/fiction-plot-structure/
http://emilydreams.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/the-w-plot/
http://deboradale.com/blog1/2008/03/20/the-w-plot-is-easy-i-promise/

Backstory

2011-09-14T06:21:00.000-07:00

Backstory: A story that tells what leads up to the main story or plot.

Where should you put the backstory? Many authors put it up front, however this can take away from the main story. See Laura Moe's blog on backstory.

I have heard other others, agents and editors say that your backstory should be given in small increments throughout the story. It is strongest in dialogue.

The backstory is mainly for the writer so that he/she knows where the characters have been and what has brought them to this point. Yes, the readers may want to know this, too, but they want to get immediately into the action.

And agents and editors will rarely pick up a manuscript that has an introduction.

Remember you want to make an editor/agent and reader care about your main character right away. You want to grab their attention with your first sentence.

Yes, you see these problems in many stories that are being printed today and over the years. As with everything follow your instincts.

Taking Chances

2011-09-08T08:10:00.000-07:00

Have you ever written something for a contest knowing that it won't win, because its the wrong genre? Or what you think is the wrong genre?

I took a chance on my supernatural piece "The Crock", believing that it wouldn't stand a chance of winning since previous winners wrote very different... Including myself who one last year for my romance, "A Mother's Gift".

Well, I received a voicemail telling me that I placed and they would like me to be at the awards ceremony on Saturday.

Always stay true to who you are as a writer and you won't go wrong. I wrote a piece that was from my heart after several starts on lighter pieces. When I decided to stop trying, the story I submitted came to me fairly quickly. So, as you can see, occasionally you need to take chances with your writing.

OHnowrimos and Nanowrimo

2011-09-02T04:27:00.000-07:00

I have decided to help with fundraising for Nanowrimo. You may click on the button above to help out. If you would like to join my team, let me know and I will add you.

***

I am hoping to become the municipal liaison for Zanesville. Last year our ML included Cambridge and anyone who wanted to join us in or around our area. This year we will continue to meet-up with Cambridge for weekly meetings in addition to have regular write-ins in Zanesville. I hope we will get a great turnout like last year.

For more information on meet-ups and write-ins see the Zanesville Ohio region at http://nanowrimo.org.

Double Dexter - A Review

2011-08-25T04:34:00.000-07:00

So, I received a galley of Double Dexter by Jeff Lindsay from the publisher. To receive yours write to doubledaypub@yahoo.com. I really love free books. Or you can pre-order it at your local bookstore or Amazon.

All they wanted in return is some information on how I liked it. Oh, your name, address and website or blog.

I am not going to spoil the book for anyone. All I will say is that in Double Dexter, Dexter has a stalker, whom he needs to find before he is out-Dextered.

So, you wonder, how did I like it? After getting past the opening... It started with a weather report, which took up two pages of the story and seemed to go on forever... (I understand that Mr. Lindsay was trying to convey what Dexter was feeling at that moment by comparing him to the weather, but it really was too much. Something that I have heard in writing circles is to never begin a story with a weather report! Reminding me of the often repeated line... "It was a dark and stormy night" by Victorian novelist Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton at the beginning of his 1830 novel Paul Clifford.)

The rest of the book moved along at a faster pace. Mr. Lindsay dropping enough clues to the readers to allow us, or at the very least me, to figure out what Dexter didn't until the very end. All in all it was an enjoyable read! -That is if you like serial killers...

The Dawn of a New Era

2011-08-09T07:09:00.000-07:00

Me, reading at the 2011 Y Bridge Arts Festival. It was a good morning for a reading. Afterwards, we adjourned to the Y-City Writers tent to meet and greet people and to sell our work. Writers Linda Regula, Brenda Layman, Emily Imes, and myself added our books to the Y-City Writers Forum's tent.

The sun setting on day 1 of the Y Bridge Arts Festival.

Goodbye Old Friend

2011-07-23T03:17:00.000-07:00

Just taking a few minutes to say how saddened I am by the imminent demise of Borders. Zanesville's only bookstore is Waldenbooks and sadly that is owned by Borders.

As a reader, who is drawn into bookstores by some unseen magnetic force, my heart is breaking. As a writer, I find it a little scary. I know that my two collections of flash fiction are only being sold on Amazon or through myself, but I had high hopes of my novel hitting the shelves of bookstores.

I guess, I'll have to go to Columbus and visit Barnes & Nobles, instead. Or shop online. But there is nothing like having a bookstore right in your own town.

Dialect

2011-07-21T04:31:00.000-07:00

I know I have spoken about dialect before, but yesterday I realized as I was listening to my niece speak. Then I remembered my own avoidance of saying didn't, wouldn't, shouldn't and couldn't. Not to mention that I have to think before I can pronounce kitten.

You see I was made fun of for the way I pronounce them. I still find myself saying ki'en, di'nt, etc. if I forget and use them."

For the life of me I can't remember the word Elizabeth used that I found funny. When I mentioned it to her and told her why I was concerned that she use it properly (because of the teasing I received), she told me that she doesn't care what other people think. This is a much more healthy outlook for life!

What does this have to do with dialect, you ask? Well, simply put, we need to keep in mind that all people from an area do not speak the same. Some might have had more education, some might have been teased, some just don't care. In other words, keep your dialect realistic, while making them individuals.

Look at the picture above. While all of us are now in the Zanesville area, do you think we all speak the same? The answer is no! Some of us have migrated to the area, while others are from Zanesville. We each have different backgrounds and experiences, which have colored our world and influence our speech!

TAKING OUT THE TRASH

2011-07-14T05:51:00.000-07:00

Can you write a complete story in 250 words or less? Yes, this is truly flash fiction at it's finest... Well, I have seen people write a story in 50 words or less, but yikes... I certainly haven't been able to do this. I can, however, pare my stories down to 250 words.

So, how do you make your character(s) come alive in a flash piece? I, personally, use dialogue. In a short piece, dialogue moves the story forward, conveys the character's point of view, and personality through their words. You don't have enough words to convey your characters movements, or even to describe the characters, but their own words can take you a long way if you use them wisely.

This means, no: "Hi, how are you." or "The weather's glorius." In college my creative writing professor, Daniel Keyes called this banal. Or as I took it to mean, unnecessary and boring. Keep your words pertinent to the story in short pieces. I think this even works in longer pieces, too. After all you don't want to bore your reader, no matter what you write.

Another trick is to select strong verbs. "The Grammar Doctor" explains this quite well. Try to eliminate sentences that use weak verbs such as "am, are, is, was, were, has been, etc." by replacing them with action verbs.

Eliminate adjectives from shorter pieces as these tend to tell rather than show. The "Grammar Doctor" gives some good advice from Mark Twain.

Don't edit while you are writing other than to keep in mind that you are not writing a novel. Edit when you are done and eliminate all non-essessentials to the story. It may need a bit of polishing up, but your flash fiction piece will be happier.

Since you know how to write a flash fiction piece enter this contest on "The Clarity of the Night" Blog: Elementals.

REJECTED TODAY, BUT THE SUN WILL COME OUT TOMORROW!

2011-07-07T06:27:00.000-07:00

Everytime you get a rejection notice, does your heart feel as if it has fallen to your stomach? I know mine does. Some rejections are nice like this one I recieved for a flash fiction piece.

Rita,

Thanks for sharing your story with failbetter.com. We’re sorry to report that it’s not quite right for our site. We wish you the best of luck in placing it elsewhere.

Sincerely,

The Editors

Some are not so nice. I, personally, like the rejections that give advice or say that they see me as an up and coming writer, but they can't use my story at this time. There are harsh ones that say your piece is "trite".

Trite [trahyt]

-adjective, trit·er, trit·est.

1. lacking in freshness or effectiveness because of constant use or excessive repetition; hackneyed; stale: the trite phrases in his letter.

2. characterized by hackneyed expressions, ideas, etc.: The commencement address was trite and endlessly long.

3. Archaic . rubbed or worn by use.

Most writers hope their stories are unique, so this particular phrase can wound. Hopefully, you will re-visit your work before sending it off to another publication. Or if you feel it's at its best, then do nothing. You should always try to look at it from another's point of view, after all readers are really important in the publishing world no matter what you write.

Rejection is a part of life, especially the writing life. Even the greats have been rejected, so keep this in mind when you get that rejection notice.

What do you do with your rejections?

Here are some links:

Rejection is a Gift
Why You Are Receiving Rejections
The Real Reason You're Getting Rejections
Literary Rejections on Display

A Cinderella Story

2011-07-02T03:58:00.000-07:00

Can you picture it... A flowing gown and your Prince Charming on your arm on the happiest day of your life? Okay, in order to complete this story the horses should be white. That's what fairy godmothers are for.

Okay, so maybe all stories don't get happy endings. Charlie didn't in "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes. That is okay for most fiction, but definitely not for romances. Romances must have a happy ending or the publishers won't pick them up.

Now, you can have elements of romance without the happy ending, but generally those are not labeled romance. So, if you are writing a romance follow the formula. Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy and girl live happily ever after. The story centers around the romance, even hinges on it. It can have other elements like a mystery, magic, thriller, etc., but a romance must have "and they lived happily ever after."

In John Dunham's Diary, I have elements of romance, but the story doesn't fit the romance category. Perhaps, in Twilight Dance, the story might be considered a romance, because it follows the formula and ends with a happy ending.

I hope this cleared up some of your questions. Here are some links.
Writing-World
Harlequin

I DO THAT ALOT!

2011-06-28T04:25:00.000-07:00

It has come to my attention that this is a common mistake that writers make. I know I tend to find myself doing it too! What mistake? Using alot.

Alot is not a word, even if you hear others saying it. Now, it would be an excellent way to show our dialect in this part of Ohio. I have been trying to find other ways to write my sentences without using "alot". For my title sentence, I could have said, "I do that all the time!" Or for "Alot of my friends go there," I could use, "Many of my friends go there." Changing the word is simple, though at times it requires some thought on my part. Ooh, I wanted to say "it requires alot of thought on my part."

The definition according to http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000175.htm

A Lot or Allot ?

A lot (two words) is an informal phrase meaning "many." It can take an adjective, for example, "a sizeable lot."

Example: Karl needed a lot of time for the job.

Allot means "to distribute between or among." It has the same root as lottery.

Example: He allotted three breaks a day to everyone in the department.

Alot does not exist as a word.

IS YOUR WRITING DRY DOCKED FOR THE SUMMER?

2011-06-23T06:13:00.000-07:00

When everything else is returning to the water is your writing being dry docked? How do you combat the call to the sun and water to find time to write? A friend of mine asked me to address this very issue.

I have been writing a little and I guess a little is good, but I would love to regain the momentum I had back in November during NANOWRIMO. Laura Bickle spoke to my writers group on Tuesday. She said that Nano is a great thing for a writer, it really has helped her. Her books Rogue Oracle and Dark Oracle were nanowrimos. She says she tries to write 1000 words a day.

But how to overcome those summertime blues?

1. Pick one time of the day to write. (But remember you can be flexible.)

2. If you are out and have a few spare moments, drag out your notebook or laptop and write.

3. Try writing something different. If you are a novelist, try poetry. Personally, I have been blogging this summer. Trying to put out some helpful posts for writers.

4. Don't sweat it if you can only squeeze out a sentence or two. Stress will only close up the mind. It's better to write a little then not at all. Writing one or two stress free sentences may get the creative juices flowing.

5. Don't be afraid to say "NO!" People think that because you work at home, you are available whenever they need something. Treat your writing like a job.

6. Some people find it helpful to go someplace else to write. While others need continuity of the same place. Find what works best for you.

7. Stay off the internet. This is my main distraction. Some people have to disconnect their internet to steer clear of temptation. Tiffany Colter says to assign times to check your emails, to blog, etc, so you aren't interfering with your writing time.

I am sure you can think of more things to do to keep writing, just as you can think of a million excuses as to why you haven't. It's up to you to decide what is best for you. If you have something that works for you, feel free to comment. Make comments anyway, negative or good, they help me grow as a writer.

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME

2011-06-19T04:09:00.000-07:00

Is your characters name important?

Some writers have difficulty naming their characters. I find the name of my character influences how the story will go. I am a pantser and my stories are character driven. I set out to write a ghost story for the Y-City Writers Forum anthology: The Y Bridge, but as soon as I put down Amelia, my lead characters name, the story took on a life of its own. So for me, my character's name was very important. Sometimes, as in my case, a name can influence the whole story. Under the Y Bridge became wedding story and not a ghost story, much to my dismay.

For some writers naming characters can be difficult. At times the character doesn't feel right with the chosen name. I have a friend, who had difficulty naming her character. She continued to write the story trying out different names, as if the character were trying on clothes. Then one day the name came to her out of the blue. Thus she had her characters name.

Others just can't name their characters. There are many places you can find names for your characters: Baby name books, genealogy websites, phone books, etc. Like my friend above, you may have to try many out to find the one that fits. Or your character's name could give your story a direction, you had not intended.

So, is the name of your character important? Yes! Could you imagine Harry Potter as Fred Merkelwitz? It's certainly not as easy to say or even to remember as Harry Potter. Or another favorite wizard of mine, Harry Dresden. (What's up with the use of Harry?) They both roll off of the tongue. Although, they have the same first name and both are wizards, I picture two totally different people when I think of their names.

Some names can make you laugh like Eve Coli from a play that I saw on Friday night and combine that with the fact that the woman was the chef... Well, you can imagine that connotation. I love Thursday Next's name in Jasper Fforde's series. It's unusual and easy to remember. It's funny, because once in awhile you will hear someone say, "I'll see you Thursday next."

So, when you are naming your characters, think about what your want your reader to think of when they read the name. A rose has thorns, but it is a beautiful flower that smells sweet, so if you name your character Rose what will your reader think of her?

SERENDIPITY

2011-06-13T04:10:00.000-07:00

Serendipity is when someone finds something that they weren't expecting. When I was thinking of what to blog about this word jumped into my head and suddenly it dawned on me that my friends and I were talking about this at brunch yesterday.

Of the five of us, all but one of us are pantsers. A pantser is a writer, who writes as he/she goes. No plotting for us pantsers. Even in school when a teacher wanted an outline, I'd have to write my story/report first and then go back and write the outline. For a pantser, outlines can be the stuff of nightmares. Even if I have been chewing on the idea for awhile and wrote an outline based on that vision, I'd be kidding myself if I thought my story would follow the outline.

For a pantser, part of the fun is being surprised by what your character does or where the story takes you. I know plotters say their characters/stories still surprise them, but they still are able to follow their outline. I like the fact that I don't often know how the story will end.

In fact, I rarely know how the story will unfold when I first put down my character(s) name. When I wrote Under the Y Bridge for The Y Bridge Anthology the Y-City Writers put together a couple of years ago, I had intended to write a ghost story. What transpired after I put Amelia's name on the paper was quite different. I ended up with a wedding story, nary a ghost in sight. In spite of my desire to write a ghost story, I was indeed surprised by what unfolded. This story took me outside of my box of writing dark pieces. Occassionally, I still manage to write something that totally surprises me outside of my genre.

Then again... People are quite surprised that I write as dark as I do. So, maybe it's serendipitous.

Me at the Crooksville Art Walk on Saturday, June 11.

STEWING IN YOUR OWN JUICES

2011-06-10T03:41:00.000-07:00

I like that phrase. Sometimes, for me, that's what my story ideas do before I can ever put them on paper. Other times an idea strikes and I can turn a story out in no time. Note these are usually flash fiction. I think the longer stories need to stew a bit in my brain. Or is my brain stewing?

The other day, while watching television, possibly True Blood, a picture popped into my mind. It made me say "Oh!" causing my niece to give me a funny look. I explained that the next John Dunham's Diary story idea had just popped into my mind. WooHoo. I managed to get that idea on paper, but that's about it so far. I think it's time for the story to stew...

Given the fact that I almost live and breath John, I think that is good. His entire story is waiting to be written, but there is too much to go into one novel.

I love reading series, because I am never willing to let go of the characters that I have lived with for the time it took me to read the book. So, I am thrilled that John's story doesn't want to end with the first one. Yes, I know John gave birth in Twilight Dance, but that story may never see the light of day.

How do your story ideas come to you?

I WANNA BE A WRITER!

2011-06-06T04:03:00.000-07:00

I have people coming up to me all the time saying that they want to be a writer or that they have a story that would be a best seller if only someone would write it down. What separates these people from writers is the fact that they are not writing! My advice to them is to just start writing.

"But I don't know how." or "I'm not good at it." are two recurrent excuses for not writing. Well, let me tell all of you would be writers out there that the old adage "Practice makes perfect" is true. Okay, so none of us are perfect, but practice does make us better.

If you truly do not know where to begin, personally I think all you need is to put the pen to paper or your fingers to keyboard, there are classes in all types of writing and some of these you don't even have to leave the comfort of your own home to take. Longridge Writers Group has some fine courses that people I know swear by and they offer a free newsletter, too.

Once an idea takes hold and I begin to write it down, I never know where the story will take me. So, don't let the fact that you don't like where your story is going to deter you! JUST WRITE! You can always go back to change things later after you have finished the story. We had a speaker, Martha Moody, who gave the advice, "Always finish your story." This will give you a sense of success. Even if the story isn't good, at least you have finished it. Believe me one badly written completed story is worth ten good stories that you haven't finished.

I am the queen of starts, as you can tell from the title of this blog. My quest was to finish a novel. I had to learn to do this in baby steps. First I learned flash fiction before I graduated on to finish Twilight Dance. Having finished my second novel, John Dunham's Diary, I now realize what I need to do to fix TD. Believe John Dunham's Diary needs work still.

Perhaps, every writer feels this way about their work... I know that many of us are insecure. So, don't worry about putting down your thoughts, it doesn't matter if you are good or bad - the important thing is that you are writing!

MADE TO BE BROKEN

2011-06-01T03:52:00.000-07:00

Rules are made to be broken. But what about your protagonist?

Should your protagonist be broken? This is a tricky question. Many authors, especially Romance Novelist, have a hero or heroine, who has had some bad experiences. They won't heal/be fixed until their heroine/hero saves them.

I, personally, sometimes cringe at the thought of a woman needing to be saved by the "stronger male hero", but at the same time I would like my white knight to sweep me off of my feet. I know it's contradictory. Maybe, I would like to see the heroine and the hero overcome the bad situation/antogonist together.

Why can't your protagonist be a regular person with flaws, certainly, but like the rest of us. At a conference, B.T. Robertson told a room of writers to give your protagonist a quirk. I can think of many protagonists who have a quirk, like Harry Potter's scar and link to Voldemort. I am reading Embers by Laura Bickle and her protagonist, Anya is a rare psychic medium, who swallows spirits, which she hates doing. She perseveres even though it takes a toll on her body, mind and soul. My own character, John Dunham, gets sick to his stomach whenever he is close to evil.

These quirks help us care for the protagonist, because they make them vulnerable. Vulnerability is good, but I think what makes these characters great is that in the end they prevail over evil.

Hopefully, these flaws will let the readers see themselves in the protagonist! So, write about imperfect characters, who save themselves-sometimes alone and sometimes with the help of others...

FOREVER WAVING

2011-05-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

Calm in the Storm

The world is exploding.

Airplanes are crashing.

Viruses are threatening.

And then there is you,

Reaching for me,

Holding me,

My calm in the storm.

My pulse is racing.

My heart is breaking.

Panic is rising.

People are dying.

And then there is you,

Reaching for me,

Holding me,

Loving me,

My calm in the storm.

My head is hurting.

The noise is deafening.

The room is spinning.

I am screaming.

And then there is you,

Reaching for me,

Holding me,

Loving me,

My calm in the storm.

-Rita L. Smith

10/12/01

To the men & women of the armed forces,

Thank you for offering your lives to protect our way of life. I hope that no more of you have to die for us. My heart goes out to your family and friends, who must endure your absence while you fight in a war that many back home do not support.

My condolences to those who have lost loved ones in any of the wars that have been fought to defend our freedom. Thank you to all who have given your lives for us.

Sincerely, Rita L. Smith

EASY ON THE EYES AND EARS

2011-05-27T05:40:00.000-07:00

Time and again this question pops up at meetings and even at the open mic last night. When is it okay to use dialect in your story?

Often we need dialect to give us a picture of the person that is being portrayed. It is a useful tool in that it helps us paint a clearer picture of the person than describing him or her could ever do.

How much dialect should we use? I say just a bit here and there. If your reader has to stop reading to decipher the dialect then you might lose him or her. You never want to jump your reader out of the story. You want to write a book that keeps your reader up all night to finish it.

It helps to be familiar with the dialect you are portraying. The use of slang will help in your dialogue portray your character. For instance my mom used to say things like "bleeding like a sieve." Granted it sounded more like "bleeden like a sĭve." So if you are in a rural setting throw in some favorite slang, but don't forget that your reader may not be used to hearing this, so be sparse in your use of dialect.

I think the only place one should use dialect is in your dialogue, though I understand that different areas have different speech patterns that effect writing and this is okay, but it helps to be familiar with the areas/people you are writing about.

Reading works like you want to create will help you out a great deal. You can decide what works and what doesn't while reading others work, so you can try not to do what bothered you. Here is a blog post on writing dialect, Inspiration for Writers, and the RWA has this article on dialect.

I found an article from the New York Times by John Clark that says, "No, no; missspelling doesn't make a dialect; it is men and women who make dialect either a dispisable clatter or a delight as a sprig of thyme from the home garden."

So, whether you are writing dialogue for baby chicks or us South Eastern Ohioans, remember not everyone will understand us. I know when I first moved to Chillicothe after growing up as an Air Force brat, I had trouble understanding my cousins and even my mom, who slipped back into that dialect like it was a soft glove. When I was told we were going on a picnic to tahalla (sounded like Valhalla), I didn't understand until I read the sign, Tar Hollow. I hope this will help clear up some of the confusion about writing in dialect.

Writers Block

2011-05-24T03:44:00.000-07:00

I seem to be in a writing slump. I am used to turning out 3 flash fiction stories a week. I cannot seem to get back to that. And I have been unable to do that. Maybe flash fiction was just a stepping stone to writing novels. I guess I should decide what I want to work on next and just begin.

I have been working on some shorter pieces, I don't think I'll ever be able to give it totally up. I just have been able to write so many.

So, how does one overcome writers block?

1. Change of scenery - if your usual writing spot isn't helping you write go somewhere else. (Some people take a walk, sit in coffee shops/malls/restaurants and listen to conversations.)

2. Brain Storming or outlining (I am a pantser so outlining is difficult for me, but I have done it on my first novel attempt which I was able to complete.)

3. Carry a notebook and pen with you so you can jot down ideas as they come to you. (I have a small one that fits in my purse.) Some might benefit from having a tape recorder, especially when you are driving.

4. Begin writing anything. This may help break loose those writing thoughts.

5. Write everyday! They say to implement a schedule, but sometimes just the process of writing everyday is helpful.

6. Try writing exercises.

7. Make deadlines and keep them.

See Purdue Owl's tips. I found some good tips on About.com.

Churches and Graveyards

2011-05-21T03:59:00.000-07:00

Setting is an important element in novels. Setting includes the time and location. It sets the mood. I often forget this myself. I am used to writing flash fiction with a minimalistic approach.

Eudora Welty said, "Every story would be another story, and unrecognizable if it took up its characters and plot and happened somewhere else... Fiction depends for its life on place. Place is the crossroads of circumstance, the proving ground of, What happened? Who's here? Who's coming?..."

Lori Handeland has a great article on setting. Your setting can influence your story. For instance if setting my story in a graveyard might have a completely different feel than if I set it in a school.

I set John Dunham's Diary in 1889 in Dublin, Ireland. I have never been to Ireland, so I had to do a ton of research on the area. I, also, had to research things like weather patterns, churches, dress and customs for that time. I learned so much about the era, I almost felt as if I were there. In a way I was through the eyes of my character. That is what your reader wants to feel when they read your story... They want to feel as if they are there with your character, even if the place is fictional. That is your goal when creating a setting- Make your readers think they can go visit that time and place through your story!

Perceptions

2011-05-18T03:34:00.000-07:00

I write supernatural fiction... Should I dress in costume? Or should I change my wardrobe for events? Or should I dress in what looks good on me?

So far I have maintained my identity by dressing as me. I think that if I suddenly began dressing Goth, my readers (few though they are) will know it's affected. Though I love the Goth look, I don't think it's right for me. My niece is willing to help me get "the" look and still maintain my identity.

In the meantime, I love to wear my hooded argyle sweater, pearl earrings and vampire fang necklace. Paulette Forshey, who writes steamy vampire fiction, made the necklace. Elizabeth, my niece won a basket with an equally cool vampire necklace by the multi-talented Paulette.

I will continue to ponder this question. In the end I need to be comfortable with what ever I choose.

Cleveland Rocks Romance

2011-05-16T04:04:00.001-07:00

This past weekend my niece and I attended NEORWA Writers Conference. It was a blast and I learned so much about the do's and don't's of writing queries. The one thing they really liked was when the author's voice came through in their query letter.

Which leads me to finding your voice. What is your voice? Your voice is a blend of beliefs, passion and your theme that runs throughout your stories. So, how do you discover this? Speaker LuAnn McLane gave the following advice.

Make a list of your strengths.

Dare to be different (Take something that's been done before and put your spin on it. MAKE IT FRESH!

Please yourself first.

Creating your brand. (Start Now! You don't have to wait to be published.) Create your tag line: Something that will resonate with your readers, editors and agents. That special ingredient that is you.

For instance LuAnn's tag line is Romantic Comedy with a Southern Kick. Jamie Denton's tag line is Discover Hot & Steamy Romance. Linore Rose Burkhard's tag line is Inspirational Romance to Warm the Soul.

So, how do you define yourself and what you write? I am trying to define mine. I know I write dark in almost everything I write. When it doesn't have a dark twist then I probably had to struggle to write the piece. So, now to come up with a catch phrase that people will remember... If I wrote romance, I'd say darkly delicious.., but I don't. So, now it's time to put on the old thinking cap. I'll let you know what I come up with.

Pitch Hitting

2011-05-12T04:04:00.000-07:00

I am hoping to hit one out of the ball park when I pitch John Dunham's Diary to Tor this Saturday at the Cleveland Rocks Romance Conference.

I figure I might as well, since the worse thing they will say is no! This is something that all writers need to keep in mind when submitting your work is that you will get rejected sometimes. Hopefully, you will take any comments editors offer and make your stories better.

If your work is continuously turned down you might want to look at it - the quality of your writing, the marketability, etc.

I know the market is saturated with vampire novels right now. I can only hope that John Dunham's Diary puts a different slant on the subject. After all, my antagonist is not a vampire. Hopefully, that will help sell this book.

The main problem I am having is trying to decide which genre or sub-genre my novel fits in. One of my first readers/critiquers told me that it is a supernatural mystery thriller. Is that even possible?

So here's hoping for a home run!!! Oh, I am a pessimist, who hopes for the best.

Sometimes When We Touch...

2011-05-10T03:30:00.000-07:00

Did that get your attention? When you write you want an opening line that will grab your reader's attention and get them to read your story.

In John Dunham's Diary, my opening line is "Oh my God, Oh my God… I remember everything!"

I think it's an attention grabber, because the reader automatically wants to know what happens. At least I would want to know. It's not always easy knowing where to begin, but occassionally a line comes along and well you just know that this should begin your novel.

In Linda Fairstein's Hell Gate, the opening line is "How many bodies?"

Christine Feehan's Water Bound begins "Flames raced up the walls to spread across the ceiling."

So, where do you begin to write the perfect opening? I personally believe you should begin whereever the story wants to begin, when writing the first draft. You can always choose where you want to begin or re-work that first line is subsequent edits/re-writes. Though the most important thing is getting you story down.

Your beginning may not be the first page, you envisioned. It may actually be later on. Always strive for the attention grabber: In media res (in the middle of the action), a catchy line or some vital piece of information. Anything that will make the reader want to continue on with the story.

This is not always easy to do. The author often wants to give background information. I am often guilty of this and that is not a bad way to begin, though you might want to choose a more catchy line. For instance in a new short story I am working on I began, Mom hired a crew to lay new tile in our kitchen. One of the men caught my eye instantly. I didn’t stand a chance with his muscular body and softly curling hair. He looked to be no more than my age of eighteen. It was love at first sight, or so I told myself that’s what the fast heartbeat and the fluttering in my stomach meant. And Chris didn’t even notice I was alive.

When I should have began, "I know what you are." See the difference? I can always work in the other stuff in later, but "I know what you are." sounds so much more mysterious.

Some links for best first lines, Best First Lines of a Novel, 100 best first lines from Novels

Migraines and Word Count

2011-05-07T03:36:00.000-07:00

I feel the beginnings of a migraine beginning as I sit down to write this blog, so naturally they are on my mind. I get frequent migraines which often lead to some serious downtime in bed. So, how do I get my stories written?

I don't always... That is the great thing about not being on the payroll, I don't have deadlines. The drawback of this is that I don't have deadlines!

Being a professional procrastinator, I found that I work better with a deadline. I need someone to keep me honest. That is why I like Nanowrimo, it gives me a deadline and a way to measure how good I am doing. I felt great when I hit my word count in November.

Write-ins help me keep focused. Even if we don't get any writing done at the write-in, I find that I am working when I am at home. Which is difficult to do when I have so many distractions.

Some writers work only at the office. But if you don't have one, what do you do? I know people who work at a local coffee shop or restaurant. Many don't mind if you sit for a couple of hours and work, especially if you buy food and drink.

So, try to be creative and give yourself mini deadlines. You will like the results!

I am going to try to use more pictures, as was suggested on my other blog. And I try to throw in a link or two as suggested by Tiffany Colter, who is the WRITING CAREER COACH.

Pictured above: Braden Grenier at a write-in during Nanowrimo. To purchase Braden's Nano Novel go to Heart of Mold.

The Write Stuff

2011-05-05T04:35:00.000-07:00

While sitting here contemplating about what I want to say, one thing keeps popping into my mind. Support!

Every writer desires someone who is supportive of their writing. My husband, for instance, has always been supportive of me in this respect. And for that I am grateful! And everyone should have someone in their lives who encourages them no matter what. Unfortunately, my husband rarely gives me constructive feedback. A period here or a comma there is about all I get from him, unless he doesn't understand something. Then he asks questions, which is more helpful that loving everything that I write. Oh, and he does read my work when I ask!

But what other kinds of support does a writer need.

Agent/Editor - these people will help make your writing better and get your work out there.

Writing Groups - these should be supportive. Be sure to join one or begin one that fits your needs. For example, if you a hobbyist and just want a safe place to share your work look for others of a like mind. If you are a poet and don't really write stories, then perhaps a poetry group would be better for you. If you write a little of everything, then a group that has an ecclectic membership might be right for you.

Online writing groups and communities allow a writer to put their work out their without putting themselves out there in person.

Open Mics - (any venue that allows you to share your work.) Keep in mind that when opening yourself up to the public, your feedback may not always be good. For me this is a learning experience and sometimes you might have to learn how to read in public for your work to be accepted. I have had to learn the hard way to slow down and ennuciate my words.

Definitely ask yourself what you want to do with your writing. I want to improve my work, while I will never be great, I want to be the best I can be so I am always learning... So, I want a group that shares my goal of improving. Remember, I attend several groups and each one offers a different type of support. It is up to the group leader(s) to make it a comfortable experience for all who attend and sometimes this means putting aside personal friendships and speaking up. You always can switch groups if one is not meeting your needs.

I have continued write-ins after Nanowrimo ended to give writers a place to gather to write, get feed-back, toss around ideas and to share. These are informal meetings over lunch. The goal here is to get us writing... This is a good fit, even when we digress and just talk.

What other kinds of support can a writer get? Or does a writer look for?

Throwing Down the Gauntlet

2011-05-02T06:26:00.000-07:00

Sarah Hoyt, According to Hoyt, has issued a challenge to all writers... "Anyone who writes ten or more stories over the next six months (but you should aim for twenty!) Will get a super-hero ducky from me."

Do you think you can do it? I think you can. I am going to pick up the gauntlet and try... After all, I need an outlet for all the ideas that have been bogging down my mind while I have been working on John Dunham's Diary.

So, I am primed and ready to go. I already started one from a dream I had Saturday night! Yes, dare I say it, I dreamt about a werecat, though I am not sure about the species of my hero. I think the story is a romance, but only time will tell or is that the pen will tell.

I hope some of you join me in this challenge. I will try to keep you abreast of my progress. I still need to write my "Destination Ohio" for the Y-City Writers Anthology and "The Sign in the Window" Y-City Writers Conference Contest entry. Oh, I shouldn't forget the "Theme is Poetry Contest" by the Crooksville Art Council. So, there are some ideas. Also, Kim offers some great prompts on the Y-City Writers of Zanesville Ohio facebook page.

There I hope I have inspired you to write as Sarah has done for me.

Behind Closed Doors/ Let's Talk About Sex

2011-04-29T04:19:00.000-07:00

I grew up reading Harlequin's, where the sex happened behind closed doors. Now, here is a dilemna I know most writers face when creating a love scene. What to put in and what to leave out?

I read all the time and different authors handle SEX differently. Laurell K. Hamilton and Christine Feehan use descriptive sex in their novels. James Patterson (I mostly read the Alex Cross series) uses it some, but it is done tastefully.

When you are writing what do you do about sex? If you have a character driven plot, I'd say let the characters take you where they want. You can always take it out later if it makes you uncomfortable. It never hurts to write a juicy love scene, in fact it might help with connecting to your 5 senses. Think about it, when you have sex you connect with sight, sound, taste, feel and smell. If you write about it, you want your reader to feel it as if they were your character.

I leave out the steamy sex scenes, prefering to leave it up to my readers imagination. However, you can utilize the build up before in creating the mystery before your reader turns the page. This will help your reader to visualize what might be happening behind the scenes.

It is your decision to write what you are comfortable with, but remember sex sells. It always has and always will no matter how you choose to portray it. There are markets for all levels of sex, including the behind close doors variety.

Bullies

2011-04-27T05:14:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have been thinking about bullying, not because of my friends project, You Will Rise Project, but because of something a little closer to home.

I thought when we grew up the bullying would stop. Alas, I see this is not true. The pitiful thing is that I didn't see it as bullying, until it was pointed out to me. If your self-esteem suffers from the efforts of another that is bullying. You might choose to ignore it, and maybe one incident can be ignored. If the problem persists then maybe, just maybe, you are dealing with a bully.

If words make you uncomfortable, examine them to find out why. Do they challenge your beliefs? This is not necessarily a bad thing. If you feel threatened this may be due to bullying. Some bullies hide behind words, trying to be innocuous. They take secret pleasure in killing you off... Is this a threat even if veiled in fiction? Definitely. Do I think this person is going to kill me in reality? No, but what they are doing is way worse than the actual act.

Why? Because this is the bullies way. They seek to make you uncomfortable, to doubt yourself, to hurt. Sticks and stones... These things can wound physically, but the words stay with the bullied for much longer.

I have been taking a Zen-like approach to the bully who has presented in my life. Deep breaths, letting the hurt and anger go. When this does not rid me of that feeling in the pit of my stomach, I try the Serenity Prayer to remind myself to let go of the things I cannot change.

How can I stop the bully? By speaking out! By not letting the words destroy me! Maybe, by dissociating myself from any activities the bully participates in. Ignoring the bully may have been easy for me, but when others begin to feel the effects than it's time to do something. I need to be a leader and take care of my peers (friends). How should I handle the bully in my life?

Addding /Omitting Historical Facts

2011-04-26T03:56:00.000-07:00

I am getting some great feedback from my second draft of Slayer/ John Dunham's Diary. I have some things that I need to add, change to make it a better novel. I can't wait for the final product. In fact, I am so excited that I am having concentrating.

This is frustrating, but I have time to look up some facts that I left out. (I simply did not want the reader to feel like they were getting a history lesson, but my brother says I should at least mention historical happenings. He had trouble reading the story simply because he was thinking about what I had left out.

So, I will go through and add some of the events taking place during this time period to make the diary more realistic. If you can get realistic when writing about a vampire slayer. I want the story to flow well for my readers and I want them to believe that Cain could really be walking the earth still.

I have to say out of all my stories, I love this one the most. I want my readers to feel the same.

Hippity Hoppity Easter

2011-04-24T07:05:00.000-07:00

In a season filled with bunnies and baby chicks, not to mention all that candy, let us remember the true meaning of Easter. Jesus died to save us from sin. After three days he arose from death and ascended into Heaven. All for us mere mortals.

What if this hadn't happened where would we be? This is a very good question and I am sure that others have debated it for years. After all, not everyone believes that Jesus was God's son.

In my mind's eye, I see us surrounded by all the beasts that I write about. Vampires... Werewolves... and other Creatures of the Night! This is where my writer's mind takes over. One would think that my faith would preclude me from writing about such things, and I would have to disagree.

I have been fascinated by these things, since I was a girl. I, also, have been fascinated by the whole God in three persons that I was taught. So, I have included bits and pieces in my writing, even when I write about these creatures. I can't profess to know much about the bible, but I know enough to include references in my work. What I don't know I can look up or ask others who know more than me. (This is quite often.)

Someone came up with the Easter bunny, maybe as a way to make money from this Holy Day. It entices children to it. So, in a time filled with commercial things, keep in mind the original meaning of the day. Even if you don't believe that Jesus was the son of God or if you don't believe in God, remember those who have died for their beliefs today as we Christians celebrate the rising of Jesus who has saved us from our sins.

Happy Easter!

Reading Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

2011-04-22T04:24:00.000-07:00

While perusing for information on Sara Gruen, I came across the tidbit that she wrote Water for Elephants during Nanowrimo. (National Novel Writing Month). This is certainly good news for many nanowrimoers... Not everything you write in a month is junk.

Of course, the article did not say how many re-writes she did on the novel before perceiving that it was ready for submissions.

I am in my 3rd re-write of John Dunham's Diary or Slayer... The title is something that I need to decide on before I submit it anywhere. I am leaning toward Slayer. Indeed, I will pitch the novel at the Cleveland Rocks Romance Conference to Tor in May. I have been working on my pitch with the help of Tiffany Colter's tapes on that very subject. In case, you don't know Tiffany Colter, she is The Writing Career Coach and a frequent speaker at the Y-City Writers Conferences. Tiffany has volunteered to come back for our October 8, 2011 conference as a speaker.

This was Sara Gruen's third novel, her previous two had been published by Avon. They turned down Water for Elephants. Again, a tasty tidbit, some novels are not for every publisher. So, keep submitting, until you find your fit. In the meantime, if you receive feedback from the publishers, use it to your benefit to improve your work.

I am liking what I have read so far and cannot wait to read more of this lovely tale!

Sorry for getting off track in this post, but this is truly how my mind works, which is how I get so many ideas... Of course, lately the only thing on my mind is Slayer... Which is good, since I believe it has great potential!

Love, Peace and Light! Rita

Bits and Pieces

2011-04-20T07:05:00.000-07:00

The "bits and pieces" hold a story together. This can be the hardest part of writing, at least for me. I usually know the beginning, the middle and the end, but the filling escapes me.

So, how do you know what to put in and what to leave out? Do you need to know while you are writing the story? I'll answer the second question first. No, if your story is flowing don't interrupt by trying to leave something out. It's better to have too much than too little. Remember, you can always remove it later.

Remember your story should have a series of ups and downs for your protagonist. As in real life nothing runs smoothly and let's be frank - Your reader doesn't want a smooth ride. It's the bumps that make the story interesting. Your reader wants to know (see) how your protagonist overcomes these trials.

How do you create these bumps (pitfalls)? For me it's easy, I just throw in some vampires. Voila! Built in bumps... Well, actually, this is the easy way out. I needed to create drama for my protagonist, so I gave him a villain to interact with throughout the story. The villain can be real or perceived... I think Snape is a good example of this. He is only a villain in Harry's mind and the readers via Harry Potter. He really isn't the bad guy he has been made out to be in the end. Maybe in the back of your mind Snape couldn't be bad, since Dumbledore trusts him, but you are unsure, until book 7 when all is revealed.

So, by throwing in Snape - J.K. Rowling created an extra layer to her stories. Though he really wasn't a bad guy, he, also, didn't like Harry that much either. Thus, creating friction for the protagonist.

Whatever road blocks you toss into your protagonist's way, he/she should be able to overcome them at some point. These smaller twist and turns prepare your protagonist for what is to come.

I hope this helps. For me reading other works has helped prepare me for writing. Though, it wasn't until this past November, when I wrote John Dunham's Diary, that I was able to accomplished this. There are still a few kinks to be worked out with the novel, but I know what I want to do. The important thing is that I finished it!

This accomplishment means more than all the previous starts that I have. It, also, allows me some insight on the problems that Twilight Dance has, so that I might be able to fix it. Beginning with the point of view. I write better from 1st person, because it allows me to get inside my protagonists mind.

Distracted

2011-04-18T04:24:00.000-07:00

I have been distracted from my writing! I read this weekend, went to a play and not to mention all the other things that have distracted me this weekend. The weather is probably the worst culprit. I can justify the reading and the play (Since these are writing related), but I broke my own rule and didn't write anything this weekend. So now, I have poetry to catch up on for the poem a day challenge. Yes, I realize that defeats the purpose of a Poem-A-Day! I have some re-writing to do. And a new story is floating in my mind! So what distracts you from writing?

Happy Endings

2011-04-16T04:12:00.000-07:00

Do your stories have happy endings? My flash fiction stories do not always have happy endings. Well, I guess that is debatable... Some people might like to be bitten by a vampire or a shapeshifter. In my flash stories, the characters don't have time to decide whether or not they like it, since often I just show the actual transformation. I know I prefer good to triumph over evil when I watch a movie or read a book. Otherwise it leaves me unable to sleep wondering if the bad guy is going to get me. And maybe that is the point, because I definitely remember those movies. Sometimes in these movies good temporarily prevails over evil at the end of the story, which leaves the audience begging for more. So, how do you know whether or not to give your story a happy ending? Opinions can differ on this point and sometimes it's up to the author to decide. For instance in Flowers for Algernon, what would you have thought if Algernon hadn't died and both he and Charlie survived. Would the story have worked as well? Publishers wanted Daniel Keyes to give the story a happy ending. The author stuck to his guns and the story did not get its happy ending. The book is now a classic and this happened in the authors life time. While you are deciding about your ending, perhaps you should let the story tell itself and see where the chips fall. (Many writers say that their story takes on a life of its own.) You may be pleasantly surprised or disturbed. Maybe that is just what your story needs, no matter what you as the author want or what other want.

Once Upon a Time

2011-04-13T05:27:00.000-07:00

How does your story begin? Does it begin with, "Once upon a time?" or in media res? How much back story should you put in, before cutting to the chase? Personally, I like beginning in the middle of the action. I think this draws the reader in. However, I have read novels that begin prior to the action and I like them just as well. I guess it all depends on you as a writer. What feels right to you? Even if you begin with the back story, you can always take it out later. The author needs to know where his/her characters have been as well as where they are now and eventually where they will end up. This does not always happen in this order. Oh, were it so that writing was so black and white. Often, at least for me, my characters hijack my story. I may have had a specific goal in mind when I began putting fingers to keyboard, but this changes rapidly depending on my characters and what they want. I feel I am channeling them, sometimes to my consternation. For instance, I once set out to write a ghost story about The Y Bridge for an anthology my writers group was putting together. I put down my characters name, Amelia and she had other ideas about the story. It turned out to be a wedding story, a piece of chick lit and so unlike what I normally write. So, where do you begin? And more importantly, how does this help where you end?

Business or Pleasure?

2011-04-11T04:33:00.000-07:00

Is your writing a business or hobby? Whichever you choose, your writing should always be a pleasure. If you don't enjoy writing (I am talking about fiction.) then chances are your writing will not grow. For me, it's all about improving my craft. Since I joined the Y-City Writers in February of 2008, my writing has improved. I have, finally, found my voice and it's a dark one... But it's my voice! My writing has improved, because I listen to feedback, whether it's good or bad. Sometimes, a writer can use a little negative feedback. I have been lucky, no one has chosen to use their words to try to destroy my work and me in the process. Though, sometimes, I have wished for a little more - criticism -with less praise. I enjoy the process of writing... I want others to enjoy it as well. Critique groups are not for everyone. If you are really insecure, then perhaps you should not have your work critiqued by others. Though if you want your work to be the best it can be, a critique may be the thing for you. The trick is to take what you want from the critique and use it to improve your work. If you only choose the positive stuff or only use the punctuation, you will not grow as a writer. So, decide if you want to improve your work and then find what works best for you. Remember, rejection is par for the course. Not everyone will like your work. I should know because I write supernatural stories. When I tell people that I write about vampires, shapeshifters and witches, I am often met with frowns or people flat out saying they don't read that trash. Yet, I enjoy it, and so do others. Make sure you enjoy your work, always! Oh, a young man gave me some advice on commas, yesterday. He said, "If you think it needs a comma, then use it." Do you think this will help my "No Comma Sense?"

Spring Blogfest and Give Aways

2011-04-09T03:46:00.000-07:00

I have been blogging every other day, since I am taking part in the spring blogfest. I will be guest blogging on Me vs. College on Thursday. You should check it out, since there have been give aways, three so far this month. So in fairness to my readers, I am offering a copy of More Flashes From My Mind. All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post and you will be entered into a drawing to win. You will get a second chance to win next Thursday when I offer another copy on Me vs. College. Today is is going to be a lovely day, so go out and enjoy it! Rita L. Smith http://ritalsmith.com

ENENMY MINE

2011-04-07T03:06:00.000-07:00

I promised you I'd write how to create realistic antagonists. Does your antagonist have to be a bad guy? No! However, your antagonist should create problems for your protagonist. Without this conflict your story may be a bit flat. Does your antagonist have to be a person? No, it can be a situation. I write about vampires, shapeshifters, witches and other things that go bump in the night... It seems that I have my ready made villains, right? Maybe, there are times that I use them as my antagonists, but often they are my protagonist. Creating your antagonist...

Must be believable. Yes, even in supernatural and horror you want your antagonist to be realistic. They have thoughts, emotions and a goal as well. This is the key. You must know this character as well as you know your protagonist.

Must have an opposing view from your protagonist.

Will create problems for your hero. For instance, your antagonist might be the student sticking out their foot whenever the protagonist walks by them. Or changing into a werewolf might cause your protagonist consternation about what he/she will do in that other form.

What motivates your antagonist? Is it a low self-esteem that makes them lash out at the protagonist? Or is it the call of the full moon? Whatever the motivation-you should be able to get this across to your reader. Not in so many words, but through their actions.

Remember, your antagonist will create conflict for your protagonist. They must be three dimensional, so it helps if you know them as well as you know your antagonist. The antagonist doesn't have to be your protagonists enemy, they may be friends or it may be the situation. Keep it real even if your antagonist is a werewolf.

I found these resources for you to take a look at. They cover some areas that I didn't see. Creating realistic villains or Slaqing at life.

FRIENDS and FOES

2011-04-05T03:12:00.000-07:00

How do you create believable characters? In particular your protagonist? Your protagonist should be likeable, although sometimes they can be unlikable... So what qualities do you need to make him likeable?

QUIRKS - A quirk is one way to make him/her real. For instance, John Dunham get nauseous whenever something evil is near him.

EMOTIONS - Your character must feel things. Again John hates vampires with good reason, since they ripped his family apart. He loves Annie. He cares about others. He laughs, cries and gets angry. He is, also, afraid!

Mannerisms - Imbue your character with realistic movements. You can borrow these from the world around you.

Vulnerability- Make your character vulnerable. We, the readers, want the suspense about whether your protagonist will survive.

Suite 101 has some valuable insights into creating a believable protagonist.

Next time, I'll write about how to create realistic villains. I met Lee Lofland at a writer's conference and he has some good tips on creating believable villains on his blog, The Graveyard Shift.

Good Writing!

Rita L. Smith

http://ritalsmith.com/

Busy as a Bee!

2011-04-03T04:47:00.001-07:00

Often, I feel as if I am flitting from one flower to the next. Why do I feel this way? Simple- writing is a full time job- that is if you want to improve and be recognized. I network at conferences, workshops, open mics and other writers gatherings. I sell my books and the Y-City Writers Forum's books at bookfairs and art festivals. In addition to these I help run the Y-City Writers Forum, write-ins and our open mics -to name but a few! Yesterday, I attended the Make Money Writing Seminar with Tiffany Colter, the Writing Career Coach. I met some new people, including a talented writer- June Harmon Betts and her fabulous daughter and granddaughters. Along with friends Summer Clark (who helped organize the event), Teresa Price, Cindy Sterling and Laura Moe. It was an enjoyable day. I think that whenever writers gather it makes for a fun filled time. In between writing and experimenting with writing styles, I keep myself busy with writing gatherings. This is the easy part. It's the marketing to potential readers that seems to be harder for me. That is why I blog, facebook, twitter, participate in readings, etc. Network and Marketing are the keywords... I am about to flit out to another writers gathering... Brunch with a few of my friends. Rita L. Smith http://ritalsmith.com/

National Poetry Month, Script Frenzy and April Fools

2011-04-01T04:22:00.000-07:00

So today is April Fool's Day, but it also kicks off National Poetry Month (A Poem a day) and Script Frenzy. I would like to do both of these challenges, as well as re-write my novel. Am I biting off more than I can chew? Probably, but the effort of writing in these different forms should be challenging. If at first you don't succeed... And all that... If I don't try, I'll never know if I can do it or not. I have already written my poem for today. Hop on over to Zanesville Writer to see today's attempt. Please keep in mind that I am not a poet and this is a first draft. Perhaps something will come to me to smooth it out at a later time or not. It is the attempt that counts here, for me at least. So, now I am off to Script Frenzy...

READY, SET, GET WRITING!

2011-03-29T03:35:00.000-07:00

Writing is something you can do almost anywhere. It's one of those great careers or hobbies that only requires a pen (pencil) and paper. You can always transfer it to your computer or type it up later if you are old school. Some of us even carry laptops with us wherever we go. I carry a pen and a tiny little note pad with me in my purse. That way I am always prepared. When that idea strikes I grab them and jot it down. It might be better to wait until you are at a stop light before doing this. I tried writing as I was driving once. I couldn't read it when I was done. Also, it's a little dangerous to do it while you are driving. One thing you can do is carry a recorder (Not a flute-a-phone. -this is what I called it when I was a kid) with you to allow you to get your ideas down a little safer and more plainly. It is terrible to have a great idea and not have anyway to remember it and then lose it when you are finally in front of your keyboard. I have a friend who jots down snippets of conversations, ideas, etc. If you say something she might want to use, she'll whip out her notebook. So the saying is true, "Careful or you'll end up in my novel." I have also seen this as play, script, story, song and poem. It's true that writers absorb the world around us. We may not always make a conscious decision to write you into our story, but we observe mannerisms, speech, dress, etc. that round out our fictional characters to make them more real, more believable. Writing your ideas down as you go about your day is perfect for those who are too busy to dedicate time to their writing! So, you too, can get your writing time in one stop light at a time, one checkout line at a time, when you sit down to eat or anywhere you happen to have a little down time. So get writing!

Something to Write About...

2011-03-22T06:54:00.000-07:00

I am often asked where do I come up with ideas for my stories. I know I have covered this topic before, but the question still comes up. So, here I sit with my fingers on the keyboard...

Many of my ideas for my stories, whether they are flash fiction or longer pieces come from prompts given me by the flashxrs yahoo group, Kim Stickrath (Y-City Writers Forum), Pen & Quill and the Write Away Writers. Yes, I do belong to all these groups.

How do I find time to write while attending all these groups? Simple, I tend to write in the mornings and these groups are held at night. I am lucky in that I only have to answer to myself and my husband. So, I have time to write in the daytime.

Back to the topic at hand... I find inspiration in snatches of conversations, songs, the weather, my pets, in the news and everywhere I look if I just open myself to the possibilities. Yes, I manage to make most of these ordinary things into supernatural situations.

Pictures, book titles, first lines are all good sources of inspiration. Sometimes the story that develops may have nothing to do with the original idea. They are just starting points, something to get the juices flowing. Remember in the end it's your story, so you can do with it what you will. Now if it was meant for a contest or an imprint, you will need to abide by their rules. In all else you can have free reign.

Sometimes, I dream story ideas. These are not always viable or take awhile to come to fruition, but they get me writing. Oh, and there are those niggling voices in my head, all clamoring to get out.

Yes, there I said it, I hear voices. Albeit my characters voices. I guess that's why I love writing stories under 1000 words... It enables me to let out some of the characters quickly.

Now do you have an understanding of how to find inspiration for your own stories? The next step is to put butt in chair, fingers on keyboard and begin typing. Even if you are busy you should be able to find time to write, 5 minutes here, 15 minutes there... 1 paragraph here, 1 page there... As long as you are writing!

Faith and Begorra

2011-03-17T05:15:00.000-07:00

That is a favorite saying of my friend, Cindy Sterling. It's something that I forgot to include in John Dunham's Diary when I was writing it back in November during Nano. Now that I am preparing to re-write it I will keep the phrase in my.

Also, to that end, I have a couple of books of Irish Fairy Tales and Sayings which I can utilize to make my Irish characters more authentic. It has also been suggestedt that I include more of the Bible into my work, since John has been relying on his faith to find the answers to the types of monsters that are plaguing him.

So, how much research does an author of fiction need to do? I can tell you that though I skipped some things during my fast paced writing schedule in November, I still did research. Research helped make the story more authentic. Though supernatural fiction people still expect some degree of reality when dealing with history. Perhaps not so necessary if I had been writing about the future, but if my reader should be schooled in 1889 Ireland then I should make an attempt to be accurate when writing about that time period.

I didn't deal with many Irish prases or sayings in the diary and fortunately my MC who is writing in his diary is American. Still I had to contend with keeping contractions out of his vocabulary and using words that I would never think to use. Somehow John Dunham's voice came through my fingers when I was typing the diary.

It always amazes me that God has given me this gift. It is a gift to channel stories and the voices of characters to bring them alive on paper. So faith and begorra to ye, my Irish and non-Irish friends alike!

Practice Makes Perfect

2011-03-09T03:26:00.000-08:00

I hear people say all the time things like... "I wish I could write, I have a lot to say!" or "If someone would write about my life, it would be a best seller." or "I want to write a book, but I don't have the time."

How does one respond to these people? I guess there are many ways to respond, but the simple answer is... "Start writing down your thoughts about your life or story idea." After all if they just talk about it, it won't get done."

So, maybe they won't have a best seller right away, but they are one step closer to it. Practice does indeed make perfect! Okay, maybe not perfect, but it's better than not practicing.

The next step is to share their writing in a group of other writers where they can get feedback on the piece. Listening to critiques from others and trying to implement some of the suggestions will only make the work stronger. (Notice I didn't suggest using all the feedback, some the writer will disregard. And this is okay!)

When you make these changes your work will improve... Soon you will incorporate some of the suggestions automatically in your new pieces.

So my suggestion is if you think you have a story in you then write it. (Even if you only write for a few minutes a day, at least you are writing.) Join a writing group and grow as a writer. Everyone starts off a beginner, most of us continue to learn to improve our writing and our goal is not to be an expert, but to be published. (And adored! ~just kidding!)

Under the Veil by Laura Moe

2011-02-25T05:54:00.000-08:00

Under the Veil is a delightful young adult novel written in prose and poetry. This story offers an inside look into a young Afghani girl's life during the Taliban occupation and her struggle to maintain her independence in a world where women are to not be seen or heard.

Laura Moe is a wonderful poet and writer. She has left this reader wanting more. Click here to purchase book.

Fellowship of Writers

2011-02-12T04:58:00.000-08:00

How important is it for writers to get together? I feel that the fellowship and the knowledge one gains from communing with like minded individuals is valuable.

Conferences can stir the creative juices and stimulate the mind. Not to mention the networking possibilities. You not only get to rub elbows with leaders in the industry (publishers, agents), but you get to meet other writers, some published and some not. Oh and what you can learn from these new contacts is invaluable.

Writing groups can also stir your senses. Sometimes exercises are introduced that may help you in an area you are having trouble with. Also, speakers offer invaluable insights into the publishing world and different types of writings. Plus you can read your work. It is important to read your work out loud, so you can see if the flow is good. Also, feedback from others will make your work better. Not all criticism is created equal... It is important to remember that you are trying to help the writer, not destroy them. Also, not every writer receives critique the same. When you get to know someone- you will discover who only wants to hear their work was great and those who really want to make their work better. If a group isn't working for you, why not figure out why and maybe start your own group.

Often writers will get together on their own in small groups. Writing is discussed, critiques are done and even sometimes writing is done during these informal meet-ups. Plus it is a great way to toss around ideas with people you want to be with.

Open Mic's and Public Readings are instrumental in getting your name and work out their. These also get you comfortable sharing your work with the world no matter how tiny the venue.

All in all I think that writers often seek each other out for encouragement.

Book Review: Parellel Lines by Laura Moe

2011-02-09T08:58:00.000-08:00

Parallel Lines by Laura Moe takes us on a journey as Nick grows from a punk kid with no future into a young adult with a more promising outlook on life. It is an emotionally charged look at teenagedom through a teens diary interspersed into the story. The story shows how one teacher can make a difference and how once Nick begins opening up to her (Mrs. C.) he opens himself up to others.

I enjoyed this YA novel immensely and recommend it to others especially teenagers. Although I left childhood behind many years ago I could identify with Nick as will any reader.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1456578723/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_alp_oKktnb1SRACM4

Book Review- Vampires, Zombies and Ghosts, Oh My! (and Other Creatures of the Night STORIES)

2011-02-02T10:36:00.001-08:00

What a surprising collection of stories... From the scary to the romantic, this book has it all. And as the title suggests there are many types of creatures to capture the readers imagination.

I particularly liked Eve Paludan's Pandora's Boxes - A timeless tale of true love which stirs the ghostly imagination. Eve is also the publisher for this anthology- So kudos to her for putting together this ecclectic collection of "monster" stories.

The real gem of the collection is Chris Hugh, who has two stories in the anthology. Death House Mansion Inc. and The Bride of Frankenstein Dances with Celebrity.

All the stories are well written, save for a few minor typos which this reader can overlook due to the quality of the stories.

I highly recommend VAMPIRES, Zombies and Ghosts, Oh My! (and Other Creatures of the Night STORIES) Anthology!

Zanesville Making Money Writing Seminar

2011-01-31T05:49:00.000-08:00

If you dream of making a living with your writing this workshop is for you. A friend and past speaker of the Y-City Writers Conference is coming to Zanesville. Tiffany Colter will put on an all day workshop for those interested in making money with their writing. Even if you don't wish to start a career in writing, I have found that Tiffany inspires me to get my creative juices flowing.

Zanesville Making Money Writing Seminar

www.regonline.com

When: Saturday, February 19, 2011 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM (Eastern Time). Where: Zanesville Art Institute, 620 Military Road Zanesville, Ohio 43701 United States. Phone: 734.474.5489, Email: Tiffany@WritingCareerCoach.com

Getting My Groove Back

2011-01-27T05:48:00.000-08:00

Okay, as most of you know I was on a roll until my dog ran away. Well, he's back and I am trying to get back...

I have been piddling away on editing my novels. I have even began re-writing Twilight Dance and if I take out the opening which was the original T.D. that I wrote 13 years ago, I think I can change the name.

These things aside- I haven't really written too much new stuff since before Danny left. So, I decided to re-join the Yahoo Group Flash Xrs in the hopes that if I get back to the basics I can get my creative juices flowing again.

So far, I think it's working though I now need to learn to skim down my flash pieces and veer away from story writing... Or vice versa when I am working on my novel. The question is can I do it? I think the answer is yes, I can. So with that in mind I am going to attempt to do both.

What kind of things do you do to get back into writing mode?

What Writers Want From a Critique

2011-01-17T05:28:00.001-08:00

Here are a few things that my fellow facebookers would like from a critique... (Names have been removed.)

Suggestions, encouragement, obvious corrections, always a critique, never a criticism
-We had someone early in the writers group give criticism and made the writer cry - the group basically verbally tore them apart, since then, we always said with a smile of remembrance - only say what you are willing to get back. I find most, just want the encouragement and pointing out of particulary good part - that 's fine
in fact that should always be a part of any critiqueand most writers i know do good critiques.
Rita, when I ask for input on the things I share, I tend to include a list of specific questions, things I want to know: "Do you care about my main characters? Do her actions make sense? Does that creepy magical scene seem to happen in the ...right place? Is the style too conversational?"

I'm a little thin-skinned, so I'm grateful when people start with the positive, also specifics. "I really like the way you described her by showing the way she walked into a room." or "That scene creeped me out so much I had to sleep with the lights on after I read it."

But I also really, really want honest feedback. If something doesn't work, I want to know it. If the way it's written makes a person secretly snort with laughter when it's not supposed to be funny, I want them to find a gentle way to tell me. If something sucks, I want to know. But gently, kindly.
I want to be told anything wrong or how it would be better this way or that. I would even enjoy hearing it is terrible if someone has a reason why it is terrible so I can make great or at least good enough.
I want to know about sentence structure, grammar, etc that's wrong, but I also want to know if things are going to fast plot wise, if the chara's make sense, if it's realistic. And I don't mind hearing about the good or bad things. I also like speculations, like in my last story, The MC male had a nickname in the prologue and a real name in the rest. When I had other people read it, I wanted to know if they thought that 'carson' and 'axel' were the same person or not.
Good advice I was told is to always start and end with something positive. Rita, check your email. I sent a couple things about it to you.
I like to know what people get out of my story, to know if the idea I'm trying to convey is coming across. I also want to know if some thing doesn't make sense, or if people have questions--if I'm being clear. It is also nice to hear some encouragement and a little praise once in a while.
I want people to get to the deep stuff. Don't just tell me you didn't like the way she said a sentence, tell me what you thought of the tone, the flow, the character arc, the building tension, and the release scenes. Get above the superficial and delve in to the story. Don't give me the answers you gave your 9th grade English teacher, dig deeper and speak to me as a professional writer.
I believe an understanding that not all writers write the same with the basics of writing being the main focus. if a person chooses to write about vampires and such, and the critiquer writes romances, a mindset acknowledging the differences in genres and keeping to the fundamentals of writing can insure a positive. When you critique somebody else's work, don't try to make it your own.
If anyone uses the words, "I think you should change this" they should be prepared to explain why, and offer suggestions. A set of rules, or questions to be asked should be considered by the group.

Critiquing

2011-01-11T10:48:00.000-08:00

I have been pondering what I want from a critique.

Start off with something positive...
Okay, first I want honesty, but I don't want to be so put off by the critique that I quit writing. If you don't like my story then I want to know why.
I want to know what worked and what didn't. For instance, I need to know if you liked my characters, the storyline, the resolution.
What can I do to make it better? Can I create better chapters, do I need scenery, more dialogue, character descriptions, whatever?
Do you think I need more build up to the climax or do I have too much build up.
Punctuation, grammar, word usage, etc. are secondary but I need to know if something really stands out to you as being wrong.
Tell me up front if you don't like my genre.

These are a few of the things that I want from a critique. I have found the following links that may help you to decide what you want from a critique.

Feel free to leave your comments or suggestions about what you want from a critique. This is a work in progress for me. I really want to make the next critique group I am part of work.

Back in the Game

2010-12-27T11:50:00.001-08:00

The writing game that is...

I have taken some time off from writing, not on purpose, but because I couldn't concentrate with my dog missing. Now that he is back and the holidays are almost behind us, I intend to get back in the writing habit.

I began today by putting out the Y-City Writers Forum December Newsletter and I am updating some of my blogs. I have 4 blogs + Y-City Writers Forum Blog. This is helping me focus on writing and writing things.

Tomorrow I will join some of my friends at Nichol's for a write-in. This will definitely get me back on track. I have an idea on what to do with John Dunham's Diary. I think I will select certain passages from the diary and use them as headings for the actual story. The more I think on it the better I like this idea. Hopefully, my fellow writers will have some feedback on the matter.

So there is always something you can do to get your mind back into a work mode. I may have to start going to my office. Actually, this is a friends house that is up for sale and I have permission to use it. Isn't that fabulous?

How do you get back in the writing habit after an absence? I really want to know so please leave a comment.

~Rita

Put One Foot in Front of the Other...

2010-12-20T04:29:00.001-08:00

That is what writing is like. At first we take tentative's steps while holding on to something or someone and then we venture off by ourselves. Though with writing we eventually realize that we have more fun when we walk arm in arm with others or share our work with others. Yes, this can be scary, but if we don't share then we are truly only writing for ourselves and where is the fun in that?

I know many writers say they write for themselves... This is true in many ways, but why then do we share our work? I think we need the feedback that helps make us better. We need the kudos from a good job done well. Most of all what is a story if it is never read or heard?

So, I say keep taking those baby steps. Then try joining a critique group or writing group so you can share your work with others going through the same process. Go to readings and share your stories. Finally, seek a wider audiance once you feel your work is tightened up ---> Seek to get published.

Soon you'll be walking out the door...

Lost

2010-12-12T05:09:00.000-08:00

Keeshond Male

Gray, Black and White (cream at times)

8 years old.

Lost in South Zanesville, Ohio area. If found please leave me a message at petsittersmith@gmail.com.

He's been gone since Thursday, December 9. We really miss him.

The Nano Blues

2010-12-03T07:13:00.001-08:00

The post nano hype can be a big let down. You can keep up your spirits and your momentum in many different ways.

Finish your story. Not everyone can finish their work in 50,000 words. Sometimes more are needed.
Edit your manuscript- 2 to 4 pages a day
Get together with other writers for write-ins. This will encourage you to continue to write. If you can't do this then set daily goals for yourself.
Join a critique group, writing group or some other writing organization. You can do this online too! If you don't have a group in your area, start one.

For me I am trying to write every day on my other WIP (work in progress). The Y-City Writers' Forum has been a big help to me. A friend and I have invited other writers to join us for write-ins once a week. I am thinking seriously about getting the critique group going.

Even if I am not working on my novel, I try to write something every day. Yesterday, I wrote out my emotions about a friend who passed away. Today I am blogging and I will probably work on Hitching a Ride a bit too!

So even with the post nano blues it is possible to turn this wonderful experience into a model that works for you!

Nano-ing

2010-11-12T03:40:00.000-08:00

I am trying to write a novel in a month. Well, a short novel at 50,000 words. It has been challenging.

Before November 1, so many story ideas were filling my head. I finally settled on my original idea... That is to write a follow-up or in this case a prequel to Twilight Dance, the novel I wrote last year.

It is going more smoothly than I thought it would. I am up to 20,000 words and the story is still flowing. I wish that I could say that I have a secret formula, but I don't. I think attending the write-ins have helped so much in that I have plenty of support from others trying to do the same thing.

The important thing to keep in mind whether you win or lose (don't achieve the 50,000 word goal) is that you are writing everyday. What a good habit to get into!

Y-City Writers' Forum: Holiday Book Fair

2010-10-25T04:42:00.000-07:00

Y-City Writers' Forum: Holiday Book Fair: "HOLIDAY BOOK FAIRSaturday, December 11, 2010 • 11 a.m. until 7..."

Beyond the Dark Edge of the Woods by Linda Regula

2010-10-20T06:15:00.000-07:00

Beyond the Dark Edge of the Woods is a captivating young adult novel. It literally brings the reader to the edge and leaves one wanting more. Author Linda Regula paints a story as beautifully as she paints a picture. This reader enjoyed the book and could not put it down. I eagerly await the sequel to the book.

About Beyond the Dark Edge of the Woods: Micah Grant discovers an amazing secret about herself when her mother inherits Mist House. Micah is The Keeper. It is her duty to protect the woods and people from Mind Catchers- beings who can take over the mind of humans.

Micah frees the souls who have been trapped by an evil wizard, except one who interrupted the ceremony to steal his lock of hair, so that he could remain immortal. Now the Grants assist the Knight family who have been imprisoned for 200 years assimilate into today's society.

As young love blooms between Micah and Seth Knight, Micah is troubled by her failure to save Seth's twin and the trees in her woods that are dying from a mysterious illness.

Here I am...

2010-10-14T05:39:00.000-07:00

So... I find myself playing farmville instead of writing.

What is it with this game that keeps me playing instead of doing things I must get done. It's not really an exciting, interactive game. It doesn't have a lot of action. Yet, I still play it almost everyday.

I have played other games in the past and I stopped by removing them from my facebook applications. I am going to have to do this again, but for some reason I feel like I'll miss out on something. Isn't that ridiculous?

If I want to interact with my friends I can chat with them on facebook, on the phone or in person. I need to make a plan to stop playing this game now. At least I have torn myself away long enough to update a couple of blogs and the Y-City Writers Website.

How have you overcome your addictions?

Some things I have learned...

2010-10-12T07:41:00.000-07:00

After the 2010 Y-City Writers Conference, I came home with all kinds of ideas. The main thing that we as writers need to realize that there are all kinds of things that keep us from achieving our goals. So how can we overcome these road blocks?

First of all what keeps you from writing? For me it's (the excuse is) I don't have enough time. So, how do I make enough time? First list what you do in one day.

I wake up.
2 turn on the computer.
Let two dogs out.
Feed the cats.
Take care of nature.
Feed the dogs
Let the other 2 dogs out.
Play Farmville for 2 hours while I wake up.

That's just from 6-8 AM. Which of these things can I change? The only one I can see that I can change is Farmville. If I stop playing farmville, I can free up 2 hours of my time. Voila- I just got rid of one excuse. So, I need to do something writing related with this extra time. If it's true that I am still sleep addled, perhaps I can do research on my next story or find a prompt or prompts to write about... Or I can simply began writing. Whatever I decide to do here is infinitely better than playing farmville.

By the end of today- Come up with one thing that you can change to free up your writing time.

(Tiffany Colter is the one who gave me this advice.)

~Rita L. Smith

Contest on the Carol-in Print-Blog

2010-08-20T08:04:00.000-07:00

Carolina Valdez Miller is having an international contest on her blog, Carol-in-Print. Just fill out the questionare and you are entered.
http://carol-in-print.blogspot.com

2010-07-25T09:29:00.000-07:00

Y-City Writers’ Conference

October 9, 20108:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Coburn United Methodist ChurchMaple Avenue
Zanesville, OH 43701

Our Speakers:Jane Friedman from Writer’s Digest Magazine will deliver a keynote address on “The Future of Publishing.”, John Thorndike will share his knowledge on “Writing and Marketing Your Memoirs.”, Bob Welsh is an author & inspirational speaker., Toni Leland will be conducting a workshop on “Cover Design”, Aaron Keirns will speak on: "Self-publishing: Straightforward advice From a Veteran Self-publisher", Joanne McGonagle will provide valuable information on “Marketing.”, Robert Loewendick will share his experience as an Outdoor/Travel Writer., Lisa Stein will speak on the “Adventure into Biography Writing”, Mary Lu Warstler will speak on: “Life’s Mysteries.”, Terry W. Ervin will present on the basics of dialogue, from proper punctuation and tags, to effectively employing it in works of fiction., James and Marilyn Kousoulas will speak about their children’s book, “The Case of the Missing Egg.”, Tiffany Colter will inspire writers with information on how she has more than tripled her business recently and how you too can capitalize in this economy., June Harman Betts will share her knowledge of turning life stories into historical fiction., Laura Moe will share her knowledge of poetry. Here is a sample of her work for your enjoyment.

Cost: $30.00 for all others ($15.00 /students) includes breakfast and lunch.

For registration go to www.ycitywriters.com or visit our blog at http://ycitywritersforum.blogspot.com/. (See right column)

Conference Contest
· Theme: Dead Silence· Genre: Any (Romance, Western, Historical, Young Adult, Paranormal, Sci-Fi, Fantasy,Horror, Mystery, etc.)
· Type: Fiction or non-fiction stories, Poetry

· Word Limit: 1250 words· Deadline: September 9, 2010· Submit to Rita at ycitywritersforum@gmail.com· Word doc attachments only (No snail mail)

· Free to conference attendees.

· $25.00 cash prize to the first place winners. Ribbons and all contestants will be able to purchase books at cost.

*Fiction/Non-fiction Stories, Poetry, Under 18 Fiction/Non-fiction Stories and Poetry

Free to conference attendees. $5.00 for all other entries.

By submitting an entry to the contest you are giving consent to be published in an anthology by The Y-City Writers due out next October.

Y-City Writers' Forum: 2010 Conference Contest

2010-07-08T09:48:00.000-07:00

Y-City Writers' Forum: 2010 Conference Contest

Did I mention...

2010-07-02T13:36:00.000-07:00

I entered the following poem in the Crooksville Art Council's Poetry Contest. It took second place. I think that's good, since I am not a poet...

Time Flies

Fluttering wings passing by
Just as time will fly
Slipping through my hand
Just like grains of sand.

Days turn into night
Whenever time takes flight
I do not regret the wrongs of my youth
Though aging brings a harsh truth.

What have I done with my life
Except to bring others strife
How can I make this right?
For me time has taken its final flight.

I pray that God has forgiven me
Another day I hope to see
Though as I draw my final breath
At last I find a peaceful death.

-by Rita L. Smith
3/23/2010

Writing with Themes

2010-06-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

It has recently come to my attention that many people don't like to write to themes or prompts. Personally, I find some prompts easier to write to than others.

Sparking an idea...

Sometimes I have to let a theme to soak in. Permeate the layers of my brain before I can write to it. When the germ of an idea takes hold than I have to play with it in my mind before the story unfolds.

Other times an idea will come to me as soon as I see the prompt. At these times all I have to do is put my butt in the chair and start to type. I like these times the best. Who wouldn't like easy?

The newest theme I am playing with is Dead Silence for the 2010 Y-City Writers Conference Contest. I have a flash story, which I just need to tweak a bit, a poem and another story that's in progress. Then I will have to decide which one to submit.

I'd like to hear how you feel about themes or prompts. Tell me how do you get your ideas when given a prompt?

Name my Character

2010-05-20T05:24:00.001-07:00

In Hitching a Ride my main character's name is Amy. Well, I am not happy with this name. Could you help name this fourteen year old? The person who comes up with the chosen name will be acknowledged on this blog and in my book.

Thank you, Rita

Newsletter and more...

2010-05-13T07:36:00.000-07:00

Sign up to get my newsletter and get one of my flash fiction stories. http://ritalsmith.com/Sign_Up_For_Free_Story.php

`Rita

Psycho Bitch from Hell- Dream vs. Reality

2010-04-22T04:49:00.000-07:00

Many of you know that most of my stories are inspired by dreams. My story, The Uninvited, came from a dream or is that nightmare? I knew it was a story, because of the content. At least, I never hope to come across an evil murdering faerie in real life.

Occasionally, though, a story idea can slip in that seems so real it can be confused with reality. Yes, this is why I write... TO STAY HEALTHY! Hopefully, when the dream world/story ideas slip into reality, I will have a friend to set me straight. Recently, this confusion of reality slipped in and unfortunately cost me a dear friend.

Now, that I know the truth, I will begin to put words to paper. Hopefully, this will get the story out of my brain and into the surrealistic world on paper.

One other time my dream world affected me in real life. I kept dreaming about my twins. Now, I don't and can't have children, but I dreamed about a pair of dark haired children nonetheless. The dream kept reoccurring and I became more despondent. One day I decided to put fingers to keyboard and put the story on the screen... It came out of my head, dreams and wish-fulfillment into the more healthy world of a poem.

Here is that poem (well my version of a poem)...

For You

I rejoiced the day you were born, the pain of child birth quickly forgotten.
For you my dark haired twins were there to take its place.

You my handsome son came wailing into the world.
My beautiful daughter wails out did her brother’s a moment later.
Visions of all your future competitions floated before my eyes.

I was so happy the day I brought you home.
That night we lay down to sleep.
I lay contentedly with your cribs on either side of my bed.

I wake to a cry.
I get up to comfort you my twins.
I realize you were only a dream.

Now it is my sobs I hear.
I wonder why I dream of you.
For you my twins who were never meant to be.

I can hardly wait for sleep to return so that I can be with you, my dark haired twins.

---Rita L. Smith
March 5, 2008

This is why I need to begin a dream journal so that my imaginary world doesn't sneak into my real life.

I don't know if other writers have this problem, but I do. I cannot complain, because it spurs some really fun story lines. Other things inspire me, such as situations, a word or phrase, prompts, nature, etc. Wherever you find your muse, listen to her and go with the flow. You never know where it may lead you, but it might help you keep your sanity. ~Rita

Off Topic- Endometriosis

2010-04-15T04:34:00.000-07:00

I would like to speak about a topic that will be uncomfortable for some and informational for others about Endometriosis.

In my early 2o's, I had this side pain which persisted throughout my college years and into my young adult life. The doctors at the school kept giving me urine tests and nothing else. It wasn't until I started seeing my current doctor in my late 20's that I was diagnosed with and treated for endometriosis. I had a laparoscopy and the growth was removed with a laser. The pain went away. Whoopee.

What is Endometriosis? Endometrial growths (implants) develop on the ovaries or fallopian tubes, the outer surface of the uterus, the bowels, or other abdominal organs. In rare cases, it can affect other organs and structures in the body.

There is some debate over whether or not it is an autoimmune disease. What I know for sure is that it can be a long-lasting (chronic) disease. It has varying degrees of severity... Some women have no symptoms or problems. Others develop mild to severe symptoms or infertility. There is no way to predict whether endometriosis will get worse, will improve, or will stay the same until menopause. ~From WebMD

I am now 46 years old and Endometriosis has reared it's ugly head once again. For me I noticed the pain in my lower left side. My menstruation cycles would last for a month or not come at all. Though the latter did not bother me, the long lasting cycle did. That brought me to my doctor, who once again referred me to an ob/gyn.

At least now I know why I was unable to have children. Well, other than the furry adopted ones. I had a biopsy to determine whether the growth was cancer. Fortunately, it was not. The doctor is starting me on birth control pills to try to regulate my menstrual cycles and to help shed some of the lining of the uterus. She wants to get me through to menopause after which it shouldn't cause me any more problems.

Now it's a waiting game for me. Right now the pain is minuscule and in the grand scheme of things that is good. Though I wouldn't wish this on anyone, I am writing it down because maybe- just maybe- it might help someone. ~Rita

Buddy Award

2010-03-25T04:20:00.000-07:00

My facebook friend, Jon from Me vs. College The Life and Times of Jon Morgan has graced me with a Buddy Award. What a nice gift to wake up to on my 46th Birthday. After a tough morning, chasing my dog, Danny, falling down and still looking forward to a medical appointment this A.M. before I can relax for Open Mic at Weaselboy's at 7 this evening. Thank you Jon for thinking I deserve an award.

This time around the award is the Blogger Buddy Award, and the only rule is you have to pass it on to ten of your blogging buddies. It was actually pretty tough for me to decide on my ten, as I love all of you guys and I think of you all as friends. Finally I just went down the list of followers and picked ten that I feel especially close to.

Summer from Summer Clark: A Writers Journey because I feel she deserves an award. She is also my friend.
Kim from The Knack of Flying and A Touch of Writer's Blog because she is a prolific blogger and my friend.
Frankie Furter from Frankly Speaking because he's the only dog I know with his own blog.
Teresa from Homespun Poetry because she is the best poet I know with the biggest heart.
Abby from Abby Tignor- I'm Not Write because she's a nice person.
Mike from Mike Schultz Media because he is another great poet whom I know.
Ron from Dirty Hippy Lawyer because I feel he deserves an award.
Traci from Appalachian Woman because I like her and her furries.
Kat from kat's random thoughts because she has welcomed me to Pen and Quill and let's me act in her plays.
Barb from Cozy Craft because I feel she deserves an award.

A great big thank you to Jon, the people who made up this award and my friends.

Sunshine Award

2010-03-17T06:43:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine, Jon, from Me vs. College blog has bestowed this award upon my blog. I would like to give Jon my whole hearted thanks. There are a few rules that goes along with the award, but nothing that can't be handled.

Rules:
Place the award on your blog or within your post
Pass the award on to twelve Sunny Bloggers -- those whose positivity and creativity inspire others!
Link to the nominees in your post
Tell the nominees they've received the award by commenting on their blogs
Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.

I would have included some others, but as they have not posted for awhile, my hands were tied. My nominees are:

Jon and Crew at The Wicker Library
Anna at Anna Poet
Kim at A Touch of Writer's Blog
Ron at Dirty Hippy Lawyer
Sherry at Under the Stars
Amanda at Time for Tea Love
Kim at The Knack of Flying
Traci at Appalachian Woman
Frankie at Frankly Speaking
Shalla at --Shalla
Barbara at Cozy Craft
Nothingman at A Story a Day

All of the recipients above are charged with passing this award on to some deserving blogger.
Again, I cannot thank Jon enough. The person who nominated Jon for the award,Magaly, added a few of her own requirements in honor of St. Patty's Day. Though Jon didn't make these mandatory, I am going to answer them anyway.

Magaly’s rules:

Share 1 lucky fact about yourself -I have the best husband in the world.
List 3 things you do when you need to brighten up your day. -I play with my pets, I write and I read.

Happy St. Patrick's Day. May the luck of the Irish be with you!

The Country House Courtship by Linore Rose Burkhard

2010-02-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

England, 1818: It has been five years since Ariana Forsythe married The Paragon, Mr. Phillip Mornay. Now, Ariana's sister, Miss Beatrice Forsythe, is seventeen and determined to marry advantageously as well. (Surely Ariana's society connexions all but guarantee Beatrice's success-especially if Mr. Mornay is created a baronet by the Prince Regent!

But the Mornay's have disappeared from high society as they raise a family at their country estate. Can Beatrice persuade them to chaperone her in London? And what about her business with the curate, Mr. O'Brien, whom Beatrice rashly promised to marry years earlier? She is too sophisticated now to settle for a mere clergyman-despite his agreeable countenance and gentle, understanding ways. When Mr. Tristan Barton becomes tenant of the Manor House, Beatrice's hopes seem to have found their object. But when Ariana falls gravely ill, secrets come to light, motives are revealed, and pretenses that are easy to keep up in the darkness begin to crumble. As hearts are bared and truths uncovered, a country house courtship like no other cannot be far behind! Fans of Linore's first books, Before the Season Ends, and The House on Grosvenor Square, will be delighted with final addition to the Regency Inspirational Series, as will all readers of historical romance.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Country House Courtship. It kept this reader immersed in the story. Though it’s a Regency Romance it had its share of suspense and action. Linore Rose Burkhard is a master of words, character development and the Regency era. Her work is reminiscent of Jane Austen, though this reader feels Ms. Burkhard’s work is much easier to read. Both Christian readers and Regency readers will be as delighted as I am with The Country House Courtship.

A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Linore Rose Burkhard when she spoke at The Y-City Writers’ Conference. She is as charming and sweet in person as she is online. She writes a newsletter which is chock full of facts about the Regency, as well as contests and prizes.

I look forward to reading Linore Rose Burkhard’s next novel.

Rita L. Smith

Published

2010-01-29T05:50:00.000-08:00

My flash fiction story, At First Glance has been published in an anthology by The Short Humour Site in People of Few Words, Volume 2. This is my only science fiction story to date, though I have an idea for another. -Rita
http://ritalsmith.com

Dreaming A Story

2010-01-22T05:39:00.001-08:00

Last week I had a dream which has been playing in my mind over and over. It's a new story, it took me a couple of days to realize this... It took me a couple more to decide to write it, since it's outside my genre. (i.e. not a supernatural feel to it at all.) It's a love story, which is all I am going to give away today.

Yesterday a friend reminded me of my own words... Just write. I am doing just that. Sometimes, when I begin writing the story takes on a life of its own, so who knows it may end up supernatural instead.

Today I started writing my first chapter, introducing two of my key characters. Up until I started typing, I had no idea what the characters names would be, but they just flowed onto the screen. You see when I dream I am usually the lead character or I see everything from her or his point of view.

So, now I have committed myself to the storyline and am writing. It's hard to think that this one may take precedent over my other starts-Hitching A Ride, Full Moon, Saving Beauty and a few others. All of these stories with the exception of Saving Beauty have come to me in dreams.

So you may want to take note of your own dreams. One never knows when you will find inspiration from sleeping. Daniel Keyes once told his creative writing class that he keeps a notepad and pen (anti-gravity pen) on his nightstand to record ideas as soon as he awakens.

Remember just write!

Rita
ritalsmith.com
Find me on facebook at Vampires, Shapeshifters and Witches... and on Twitter.com@VampiresFriends

Just Write

2010-01-18T05:59:00.001-08:00

How do I become a writer?

My advice is to simply write. You will never be a writer unless you write. Once you begin writing the next steps are simple...

Get your work critiqued. Be sure you try to incorporate some of your critique partners advice.
Get others opinions. Pass this around to impartial readers. Your family and friends may not give you their honest opinions. Listen to what they say.
Tighten up your work.
Do your homework on venues for your work. i.e. Know your genre and whether your write fiction or non-fiction, whether you have a novel, short story or flash fiction piece. Read guidelines of potential venues.
Submit your work to publishers, editors in the appropriate market for your work. Remember that not all editors will like your work or be able to use your piece at the current time. Listen to their advice if given and incorporate it.
Develop thick skin. Expect to be rejected.
Keep on writing. Don't wait for a piece to be excepted before beginning the next piece. I suggest writing something each day.

-Rita

ritalsmith.com

Building Online Presence

2010-01-03T04:28:00.000-08:00

In keeping with our post on self-marketing, I came across an article by the San Francisco Writers Conference (SFWC). I hope it helps.

-Rita
http://ritalsmith.com

More on Marketing

2010-01-02T05:41:00.000-08:00

Another strategy you can use is to start a mail lists. Mail lists are made up of people who chose to opt in to receive updates on your work, helpful hints, free stories, etc. Building this mail list will make it easier to promote your work when you are ready to sell it, especially since you are already marketing yourself.

The following are free services you can use to begin... Mail Chimp, IContact are two sources that I have found. Mail Chimp was recommended by Joanne McGonagle -The Tiniest Tiger. It is free, though they offer paid services as well. I Contact is not free, though it has a trial offer. I am going with Mail Chimp myself.

Make sure the people you send out mass mailings to have opted in to your mailing list. You do not want to be called a spammer.

~Rita
http://ritalsmith.com

Pre-Marketing

2009-12-30T03:17:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine, Joanne McGonagle, author of The Tiniest Tiger has been reiterating the power of marketing. She knows that it will be easier to get a publisher if you currently have a following. Author Linore Rose Burkhard was able to get a contract from a publishing house after she initially self-published Before the Season Ends due to some aggressive online marketing.

So how do you begin this marketing? Simple use your computer. It's low cost and most of the time it's free.

Make your presence known.

One of the easiest ways to do this is to blog. There are many free blog sites. I am particularly fond of this one.
Read others blogs and leave comments with your name and a way for others to find you. No more anonymous posts.
Facebook and Twitter offer a new way of getting your name and work out there. My facebook fan page is Vampires, Shapeshifters and Witches... My Twitter account is @VampiresFriends. See thetiniesttiger on facebook and twitter. Joanne has garnered some amazing followers of her cat, Gracey. They have been responsible for her setting up a fund for animals.
Leave book reviews on Amazon.com. Again make sure you leave a way for people to find you.
Your website may be your most important tool. This will allow others to find out about you and your work.
There are other helpful sites that will make your presence on the web known. Linked In, Mail Chimp, Google.

All of the above are things you can do before your book comes out. When Joanne finished The Tiniest Tiger she emailed Jack Hannah asking for an endorsement. After reading her ms (manuscript) he gave it. Sometimes all you have to do is ask. The worst thing that will happen is that you are told no. Let's face it, we're writers and we're used to people telling us no!

-Rita

http://ritalsmith.com/

Vampires, Shapeshifters and Witches... Facebook fan page

2009-12-28T05:09:00.000-08:00

Vampires, Shapeshifters and Witches... For the 25 person to become a fan, he/she and the person who recommends them will receive a free flash fiction story emailed to them.

FIND ME ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER

2009-12-27T05:23:00.000-08:00

Find me on facebook...

Rita Lynn Kelly Smith is a fan of

Vampires, Shapeshifters and Witches...

Create your Fan Badge

Find me on Twitter... http://twitter.com/VampiresFriends

Re-naming Twilight Dance

2009-12-18T17:06:00.000-08:00

I need to come up with a new title for my story. With the Twilight series, I think others will think that I am trying to capitalize on another's success, even though I named my story 10 years ago when I wrote the first chapter of the book.

We came up with Blood Magic in my critique group, but a google search turned up a book with that same title. So, it's back to the drawing board.

If anyone has any suggestions let me know.

Twilight Dance

2009-12-01T12:46:00.000-08:00

If you check back through my posts, I have been working on Twilight Dance for years now, though I never made it past the beginning and the revisions... I began to write it before I quit working in 2002.

Guess what? It's completed. It isn't novel length, but rather a novella or novelite. But it's done! And I am celebrating!!!

Tomorrow, I will read the story to see how it flows and make comments on things I will need to add or re-write. But it's done! It's done! It's done!!!

Our critique group meets Friday and we will see where we are going from there!

Rita
ritalsmith.com

Finally A Perfect Ending!

2009-12-01T12:33:00.000-08:00

Twilight Dance finally has an ending. Not only that it has a middle too. Some of what I wrote this month might go by the wayside in the re-writes. For now I am celebrating!!!

Tomorrow I will begin to read what I wrote to see if I left any holes, how the story flows, etc. Then it's time to be an editor. That means getting rid of passive verbs, correcting areas where I am telling the story instead of showing it. Oh, I know I'll have to fill in some scenery as well, since I have been writing flash fiction this past 2 years.

Friday, I meet with my partners in crime, I mean friends who have also completed their novels and we will start our critique group.

Rita
ritalsmith.com

Y-City Writers Meeting Tonight

2009-11-17T05:05:00.001-08:00

Today, Tuesday, November 17 at 6:30 PM, the Y-City Writers' Forum has it's bi-monthly meeting. We meet at Central Presbyterian, 40 N. 6th St. in downtown Zanesville. Come and join us. All genres and skill levels are welcome. Our meetings are free.

The prompts for this meeting:

1. Write a story of mostly dialogue.
2. Write a complete story in 150 words

Y-City Writers Meeting Tonight

2009-11-17T05:04:00.000-08:00

Open Mic

2009-11-10T09:30:00.000-08:00

Open Mic

Bring something of yours to read or just pull up a chair and listen. Bring some friends.

When: Thursday, November 12, 7:00-? P.M.
Where: Weaselboy Brewing Company
126 Muskingum Ave. Suite E
Located along the Muskingum River in downtown Zanesville, OH

Everyone is welcome.

Directions: From I-70 Eastbound (Columbus) Take exit 152 (US 40) towards Zanesville. Turn right on pine (just before the Y-bridge). Turn left on Muskingum Ave.

From I-70 Westbound (Cambridge) Take exit 155 for Underwood St/OH-60/OH-146. Turn left onto Underwood and follow OH-60/OH-146 about .6 mile. Turn right and follow US-40 Main St. Turn left on US-22 crossing the Muskingum River. Take an immediate right after crossing the river onto Muskingum Ave.

Open Mic

2009-11-10T09:28:00.000-08:00

Open Mic

Bring something of yours to read or just pull up a chair and listen. Bring some friends.

When: Thursday, November 12, 7:00-? P.M.
Where: Weaselboy Brewing Company
126 Muskingum Ave. Suite E
Located along the Muskingum River in downtown Zanesville, OH

Everyone is welcome.

Directions: From I-70 Eastbound (Columbus)Take exit 152 (US 40) towards Zanesville. Turn right on pine (just before the Y-bridge) Turn left on Muskingum Ave.

From I-70 Westbound (Cambridge) Take exit 155 for Underwood St/OH-60/OH-146. Turn left onto Underwood and follow OH-60/OH-146 about .6 mile. Turn right and follow US-40 Main St. Turn left on US-22 crossing the Muskingum River. Take an immediate right after crossing the river onto Muskingum Ave.

Nano Meet-ups

2009-11-08T04:56:00.000-08:00

A few of the Y-City Writers will be getting together on Friday's at 11 AM at The Barn on Linden in Zanesville. If you are attempting this feat please join us. We will discuss our novels and talk about any problems we may be encountering. I hope to see you there.

-Rita
http://ritalsmith.com

Nano Meet-Ups

2009-11-08T04:52:00.000-08:00

A few of the Y-City Writers will be getting together on Friday's at 11 AM at The Barn on Linden. If you are attempting this feat please join us. We will discuss our novels and talk about any problems we may be encountering. I hope to see you there.

-Rita
http://ritalsmith.com