Have Fun with Words

"Have Fun with Words" by Joan Y. Edwards

After listening to John Claude Bemis at a Carolina's SCBWI conference in September 2011, I ordered a book that has exercises similar to the ones he mentioned. It is called Writing Open the Mind by Andy Couturier http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Open-Mind-Tapping-Subconscious/dp/B004JZWVOU/

In this book, Couturier has exercises to experiment with your writing by using different words, settings, plots, and other writing topics. It was fun for me to use words from unusual, random places. It gave me many new words and ideas for my project for National Novel Writing Month. Perhaps it’ll help you with your writing, too.

Keep a section in your writing notebook for the words that intrigue you. Put them on note cards or sticky notes. Here are ten words I chose because of their sound, emotion, or meaning:

1. dude
2. spry
3. slowly
4. tantalize
5. persecute
6. amaze
7. abandoned
8. fabulous
9. comforting
10. scintillating

Write down:

• ten of your favorite settings, places you’d like to be;
• ten settings where you’d most hate being.
• ten names you like; ten names you hate.
• ten towns you like. ten towns you’d hate to be from (perhaps your antagonist can be from there)
• ten tragic things that could happen to the main character in your work in progress; ten ways your character can make them worse.
• ten jobs you’d love to have; ten jobs you’d hate to have
• ten most proud things that could happen to you or to your main character; ten most embarrassing things that could happen to you or to your main character
• ten of your favorite foods; ten of your most hated foods
• ten of your favorite sayings; ten of your most hated sayings

Choose words from newspapers, magazines, books, signs, websites, dictionaries, maps, television, movies, etc. Use words your family and friends say.  Write down words that pop out at you or magnetize you. I even used a crossword puzzle book and wrote down all the words that called out to me.

I chose ten words and put them at the bottom of the manuscript I was working on at the time. I did free writing or writing that came to mind that was in tune with the story. When I used the word, I deleted it from the list. You can also put your list of words next to the computer and cross them off when you use them. Choose a way that suits you.

Set a timer and write 3 minutes using one of the words. Spend the next three minutes disagreeing with everything you wrote the first three minutes. That’ll add tension to your story. You can save this as a draft. Use what you like and save the unused part for another time and/or another story.

Have fun using words you like in your writing. Thanks for reading this blog. Please leave one or more of your favorite words in the comment area.

Good luck with your writing.
Celebrate each word.
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards

4RV named 2012 Best of Edmond Book Publisher

          4RV Publishing was selected for the 2012 Best of Edmond Award in the Book Publishers category by the Edmond Award Program committee. The selection is a reflection of the hard work by all staff, authors, illustrators, and editors and of many people who supported the company and contributed to its subsequent success.

          According to the press release from the award program:

EDMOND October 21, 2012 -- 4RV Publishing LLC has been selected for the 2012 Best of Edmond Award in the Book Publishers category by the Edmond Award Program.

Each year, the Edmond Award Program identifies companies we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Edmond area a great place to live, work and play.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choos the winners in each category. The 2012 Edmond Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Edmond Award Program and data provided by third parties. 

            Although awards were decided in October, 4RV discovered it had been honored over two months later. We are indeed honored to be the recipient of this award.

4RV Publishing  

4RV Bookstore  

 

Slippery Slope of New Year's Resolutions

By Suzanne Y. Cordatos

www.suzannecordatos.blogspot.com

January is a slippery slope for those who set the new resolution bar too high. Writers are great dreamers who like to think, "My book will spawn the next super franchise" or "When my website gets off the ground, my Amazon ranking will zoom to the top." Pressuring yourself to accomplish the near-impossible within one calendar year is setting yourself up to fail. (The dreamer in me had to add "near," Never impossible.)

When my first pair of skis arrived under the tree in fourth grade I raced to the local ski center, which boasted a bunny slope, a lumpy black diamond and some intermediate runs. The chair lift whisked me thirty feet off the ground in seconds. On the way to the summit, I tapped my skis together to shake off snow when the boots sprang out of the brand new but poorly adjusted bindings. As this happened in the 1970's, both skis remained attached to the boots by "safety" straps. I struggled to shove the boots back onto the skis, but I couldn't fix them in mid-air. I waved wildly to the operator in the hut at the top as I approached with both skis dangling, but to no avail. I rolled off the high-speed chair praying my legs wouldn't break in the tangle and that the people coming off the next chair wouldn't ski over my face.

Big goals start with successful baby steps. Before tackling the black diamond in new skis, a test run on the bunny hill—with its two-feet-on-the-ground rope-tow—would have set me on a better course that day. Set achievable goals, and the summit will be in sight. 

What are your goals for 2013?

I plan to end sloppy habits and get my novel to a publisher. Baby steps will carry me closer to big goals. Here's how:

Big Goal: Be a prolific writer. 
BABY STEPS: Produce more, procrastinate less.

I CAN and PROMISE to use those ten minute gaps in my schedule to write more often.
A sentence at a time. A paragraph at a time. A page at a time.
I CAN and PROMISE to complete my works in progress, one at a time.
I CAN and PROMISE to power through the muddles in the middle. Set deadlines, or use contests as a goal. 

Big Goal: Get my writing off slush piles, onto bestseller lists.
BABY STEPS: Improve my chances by improving my craft. 

I CAN and PROMISE to seek out appropriate beta readers and critique partners.
I CAN and PROMISE to trust my instincts more. And READ more.
I CAN and PROMISE to devote one workshop to my own development per year.

I CAN and PROMISE to develop a business and marketing strategy.
I CAN and PROMISE to write tighter. Find and delete repeated words—here's a link for a great list of overused words: http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2010/06/25/echoes-repeat-offenders/

Big Goal: Get my work known by a great editor or agent.
BABY STEPS: Improve my chances by improving my network. 

I CAN and PROMISE to comment on other people's websites and blogs.
I CAN and PROMISE to keep in touch with new writing friends.
I CAN and PROMISE to submit work to editors who attend those conferences.

Striving to Be a Better Writer by Writing More

Striving to Be a Better Writer by Writing More

By Karen Cioffi

Do you write everyday? Do you make sure you get some writing time in each week, if not daily?

If you answered yes to these questions, you should have noticed an improvement in your writing, and possibly an improvement in the speed at which you are able to write. But, that’s not all. You will also find it easier to think of topics to write about.

This is especially true if you do article marketing or ghostwrite articles for other writers, blogs, or businesses. The more articles you write, the better you’ll get at it. The more writing of any type you do, the better you’ll get, just like the adage, ‘practice makes perfect.’

But, what does it mean to get better at writing?

Structure

One aspect of writing improvement is the ability to create a well structured article or story. It should begin with an interesting or hooking introduction. The beginning lets the reader know what the piece will be about. And, it should move smoothly into the middle. You might think of the beginning as the appetizer to a meal.

The middle is the content substance. You let the reader know what the story will be about in the beginning, the middle follows through and embellishes on the topic. The middle is the meat and potatoes of the story or article, and it should move smoothly into the ending, or conclusion.

The ending wraps things up. It should wrap up any loose ends and tie the piece up into a nice package. It needs to leave the reader satisfied. You can think of the ending as the dessert. 

The more you write, the easier it becomes to create content that is well structured and smooth.

Focus

Another aspect writers strive for in their writing is clarity. Along with a well structure piece, you need it to be clear, easily understood. It needs to have focus.

Think of your story as having a road map. You need to get from point A to point C (beginning, middle, and end) with as little deviation as possible. Your reader is following you down the road and you don’t want to lose him.

If you give your reader any reason to pause or divert his attention from the main point of your story, you’ll lose him. People have a short attention span today; they want the information as quickly as possible and with as little effort as possible.

If you write non-fiction and your topic is about health, don’t go off on a tangent about today’s political climate, unless it’s in regard to the stress it adds to your everyday life, and thus the harmful effects it has on your health.

The more you write, the easier it becomes to create content that is focused and lean.

The Writing Time Issue
There are a number of writers who give themselves daily writing quotas. Some may choose thirty minutes a day, others 500 to 1000 words per day. There are also those writers who feel too pressured having to fulfill a daily writing quota, so they choose to create weekly quotas, or just set time aside for writing.

One problem just about every writer faces is time. Even if you work from home, by the time you read and respond to your emails, keep up with your blogs, do your social networking, and keep up your family and household duties, the day can just slip away. That’s why it’s so important to have some kind of weekly writing plan or schedule in place and do your best to stick to it.

Bottom line, if you’re a writer it’s important to write regularly, if not every day, as often as you can. As with any craft, the more you practice or work at it, the better you’ll get.


~~~~~
Boost your writing and marketing efforts with Karen Cioffi. Visit The Writing World to find out why you should sign up for her FREE newsletter.

Preditors & Editors Poll -- promotion

          The image above is the award given to one of the 4RV novels which placed first in the 2009 Preditors & Editors Poll. The Poll is open once again, for 2012, and 4RV publishing has several nominations (more may be added).

        So far the following are nominated, with links to their different categories:

Children's Books :     First Flag of New Hampshire by Stephanie
                                         Burkhart (illustrated by Ginger Nielson)
                                                   Willow, an Elephant's Tale written and illustrated by
                                         Ginger Nielson

 Young Adult Books :   A Shadow in the Past by Melanie Robertson-King
                                                       Victoria and the Ghost by Janet K. Brown

All other Novels :         Journey of the Cheyenne Warrior by Kathleen Gibbs

Artwork page :             Aidana WillowRaven
                                        Willow, an Elephant's Tale by Ginger Nielson 

Book/e-book Cover Artwork page  :  
                                     A Shadow in the Past  cover art Aidana WillowRaven
                                         Journey of the Cheyenne Warrior   cover by Aidana

Authors page :               Vivian Zabel

Artists page  :               Aidana WillowRaven

Print/Electronic Book Publishers page :    4RV Publishing   

Bookstore page :           4RV Publishing   

          We would appreciate any and all votes for any and all of the above. Yes, this poll is a popularity contest, but winning or placing still feels good.

           IF you do vote, be sure and check the email used and click to affirm your vote. Your last vote or nomination in each category is the only one that counts.  Than you.

               

Do You Use Social Media

Do you use social media as part of your marketing and promotion?

First, what is social media?

Social Media is any online form of communicating which individuals employ; including blogs and microblogs like Twitter.  Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+ are social networking sites, of which there are many, and are a demarcation to  "industrial media," referring to radio, television, and film produced by professionals in these areas of media.

Since we now have a basic definition of what social and network media, do you employ these on a regular basis to let readers know about you, your writing, available books, and your work in progress? If you don’t, why not?

If you are writing for yourself, social and network media may not be as important to you; but if you want to get your writing into the hands of others, social and network media should be as important to you as writing the book itself.

As an author, you need to contact reviewers to write and post reviews on blogs,as well as mention the book rating on micro-blogs and networking sites. Give reviewers a picture of the book cover for their book review blog. 

These activities should be part of your promotion and marketing. You need to begin actively working on all forms of social and network media at the same time you begin writing your first draft.

Unless you have a secondary income other than your writing or are on a limited budget, it’s up to you to handle promotion on your own, rather than paying to have it done for you.

Social and network media is the new era of publishing for authors.

Robert Medak

Freelance Writer/Blogger/Editor/Proofreader/Reviewer/Marketer

http://xeeme.com/RobertMedak

A New Year - A New Beginning

by Vivian Zabel

          For many, 2012 brought pain, agony, and misery. For others, last year was a good year. For most of us, we had a mixture of good and bad. Now we begin a new year with new challenges, other chances, and a time to see what we can accomplish.

 

       We at 4RV Publishing hope you have a great 2013 and that you watch for our new releases.  Authors, illustrators, and the company will be appearing in different parts of the country, including the  OWFI 45! Revive! Strive! Thrive! conference May 2-4, in Norman, Oklahoma.

 

        Listed below are the dates I know about. Hopefully 4RV folks will add comments with their dates and activities.

 

January 26:     Edmond Author Festival, Historical Museum, Edmond, Oklahoma

 

February 16:    Launch Party for Journey of the Cheyenne Warrior (written by

                        Kathleen Gibbs), 2-4 PM, Fairfield Inn, Oklahoma City

 

May 2-4:          OWFI conference, exhibitor table with several 4RV people and

                         books.

 

         Have a truly wonderful and blessed 2013.