70 followers
293 daily readers
rank of 31
|
|
|
WritersNotes.Net: Helping Writers Follow Their Dreams Through Information, Inspiration, and Encouragement!
Join the Conversation!
If you love blogging, social media, and other Web-related activities—and enjoy writing about them—you won't want to miss this opportunity to get in on Age of Conversation 3! Drew McLellan and Gavin Heaton are gearing up for their third annual collaborative AOC book project, for which they plan to bring together 300 authors from a multitude of backgrounds, fields of expertise, and geographical locations.
Last year's AOC 2 cover
Choose Your Topic—Before it's Filled!
Like Age of Conversation 2, AOC 3 will be divided into "themes," of which there will be 10. If you hurry, you'll get your choice of any one of the 10; however, only 30 authors will be allowed into each category, so your promptness (or lack of it) will determine whether or not you get your top choice.
Busy? AOC Writing Is a Breeze!
All of us live incredibly busy lives, but one great thing about AOC 3 (and its predecessors) is that each author's contribution to the project is a single 400-word chapter on his/her chosen topic. So you can see that this isn't an extremely time-consuming project. In fact, I'm confident that if you decide to get involved, you'll actually enjoy this wonderful opportunity to wax eloquent on whatever aspect of Web relations ignites your passion and sparks your imagination. An AOC chapter is the equivalent of a medium-length blog post or a short essay; so most writers/bloggers should have no trouble at all fitting it into their schedules.
Hurry to Ensure Your AOC 3 Slot!
Slots are going fast (almost half had already been filled by previous AOC authors by the time the call for authors went public); so, if you think you might be interested in participating, don't wait!
For more information about the project, visit Drew's and Gavin's blogs and get the inside scoop:
Age of Conversation III -- call for authors, at Drew's Marketing Minute
Calling All Authors – It's the Age of Conversation 3, at Servant of Chaos
Let Your Words Count—for Posterity and Charity!
Like previous AOC projects, all proceeds from Age of Conversation 3 will go to charity. This year's recipient has yet to be determined; however, I understand that authors will have a say in choosing the organization that will benefit from AOC's profits this year. (Both previous AOC editions raised funds for Variety Children's Charity.)
Get on Board! The AOC 3 Train Is Ready to Leave the Station!
Why not become an AOC 3 author and use your writing talent, social media savvy, life experience, and/or business acumen to help make both the virtual world and the real one a better place!
See you in Age of Conversation 3!
Jeanne
What are your thoughts on participating in a collaborative book project such as this one, where all proceeds are donated to charity? Would the altruistic aspect be enough to inspire you to participate--or would your need for monetary compensation make you less likely to become involved? Would the wider exposure, the lure of having your work appear in print, and/or the great PR of donating your skills to a worthy cause play into your decision at all? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
My Sincere Apologies!
I'd like to share with my readers the reason for the dearth of posts here at Writer's Notes--and also to offer my sincerest apologies for the fact that I haven't updated in over a month.
My mother has been quite ill for the past month or so, and her condition continues to deteriorate (far, far faster than I'd ever expected it would). In fact, to be honest, her condition really caught me unawares (and unprepared). (It's almost like living in the Twilight Zone, experiencing how quickly things went downhill and just how much they've changed from day to day.) I'm finding that, as Mom's 24/7 caregiver, so many issues are accosting me from every side on a daily basis--aside from the rigors of her everyday care, which is, in itself, pretty strenuous--and this has made it difficult to even think about updating my blog, much less actually sitting down and doing it.
I hope you'll all bear with me as I do my best to get through this very intense period of my (and my mom's) life. If I'm able, I'll try to post a little something now and then; yet, it will be so comforting to me to know that you'll all understand if I should be unable to find the time, energy, or inspiration to post.
Thankfully, I've had a bit of a hiatus from my other freelancing obligations during the past month (April) but will be back to producing a certain minimal amount of freelance work starting this month (May). Thanks so much for understanding that, for now, that may be all I'll be able to handle. We'll just have to see how things work out. So much is based on how things go with Mom, and from day to day, I never really know what to expect. Hospice became involved in her care this Sunday, and I simply never know what tomorrow will bring.
If I'm able, perhaps I'll share a link or two with you now and then, possibly an editing tip, a quotation, or a few words of writing wisdom, or maybe I'll simply share a few of my thoughts about the things I'm experiencing during this truly difficult period of my life. We'll just have to see.
Thankfully, my faith, my family, my faith family, and many other wonderful people (and resources) are helping me get through this. I don't know what I'd do without them.
Thanks so much for reading--and caring!
Jeanne
The B2B Blogging Gig I Couldn't Refuse
Back in November, my good blogging friend, Brad Shorr, of Word Sell, Inc., offered me a gig I simply couldn't refuse. He invited me on board as co-author of The Whoa Factor, an SEO/SEM blog that Brad's been writing since 2006. It seemed his previous co-writer was leaving and he needed a replacement. Needless to say, I felt quite honored that Brad would want to share this fantastic gig with me and responded as any self-respecting blogger would: You bet I'd like to come on board as co-author of The Whoa Factor! When do I start? (or words to that effect).
Well, that day has come and gone and I've been happily blogging at TWF since early December, enjoying the challenge of spreading my wings in a somewhat different niche than I usually tackle, relishing the fascinating research, and loving the entire process of crafting the most helpful and informative posts about search engine marketing that I can.
The Whoa Factor: Company Blog of Award-Winning Whoast, Inc.
The Whoa Factor is owned by Whoast, Inc., an award-winning company which offers Professional SEO services and PPC management to many different types of businesses. Please take a moment to check out the above links to view the impressive awards won by Whoast and learn how this professional PPC management company can help you optimize your own website or blog and/or maximize the revenue earned on your pay-per-click advertising.
And, while you're at it, don't forget to check out The Whoa Factor if you're at all interested in search engine marketing strategies or would like to read about search engine optimization techniques that are presented with the non-technician in mind. Brad and I both do our best to provide the most dependable information and link to the most helpful SEO/SEM resources on the Internet.
Whoast's Prestigious PPC Competition Award from TOPSEOs.com
One thing I'd like to mention about Whoast's 2008 PPC Competition award from TOPSEOs.com, is that it resulted from a rigorous and highly competitive, year-long assessment, in which the company was judged on many factors, all of which are critical to PPC management.
Here's an excerpt from the press release which announced the company's win. It describes the rigorous process used to select the 10 winners:
To identify the winners of the PPC Competition, topseos.com carefully evaluates both the pay-per-click results generated and the tactics used by the top PPC management companies. Each qualified candidate in the competition is meticulously measured on several unique contest criteria throughout a twelve-month period. Along with overall customer satisfaction, candidates are also carefully evaluated on their depth of knowledge in PPC management and reporting methodology used.
Additionally, topseos.com also analyzes each candidate’s internal principles and discrete competitive advantages along with their core competences over four phases, with each phase equating to a quarter of a calendar year. Through this intense evaluation process, topseos.com is able to identify the premier PPC management companies that exemplify the most innovative marketing strategy, service and results.
Whoast's Baby: A Chip off the Old Block?
Now that you know a bit about Whoast, I'd like to share a recent accomplishment of its "baby," The Whoa Factor blog:
Recently, while busily working behind the scenes, quietly yet doggedly pursuing the best SEM and SEO info on the Web, I received a Google Alert informing me that, like Whoast (its parent company), The Whoa Factor had just been recognized as one of the "Best Blogs on the Net." I learned that TopRank CEO Lee Odden had included The Whoa Factor in his BIGLIST SEO Blog Reviews for February 2, 2009, thereby adding TWF to his BIGLIST of Search Marketing Blogs at TopRank Online Marketing. This was indeed an honor for both Brad and me, since Lee Odden has been sharing his considerable SEM/SEO expertise at TopRank since 2003.
My Second Honor at The Whoa Factor
Earlier today, I also learned from Brad that one of my Whoa Factor posts has received recognition from BtoB Magazine, a major Chicago-based publication (circulation 45,000) and business website focusing on marketing strategy. (Whoast is itself based in Chicago.) It seems that my post, Landing Pages: What Makes a Good One? has caught the eye of Tequia Burt, Senior Editor of BtoB, who has added it to the February 13th edition of the BtoB Blog Roundup,* making it one of its three Blog Posts of the Week. This is also quite an honor and actually a bit humbling, if the truth be told. As a relatively new SEM blogger, I must admit that I'm a trifle overwhelmed—but in a good way.
A Few Words of Thanks
I'd like to thank Brad for having enough faith in my ability to invite me on board at The Whoa Factor. I truly do consider it an honor to co-write this blog with a writer and business professional of Brad's caliber. And I'm equally honored to blog for a company with the fabulous reputation that Whoast has earned both through its fine work and its integrity. To the folks at Whoast I'd like to say Thanks for putting Brad in charge of The Whoa Factor—not because he's offered me this amazing gig (well, maybe partly), but (mainly) because he's the best individual for the job. (But, of course, you already knew that.) Thanks, too, for being a company I can be proud to blog for. And to Tequia Burt, Thanks for noticing my post and deeming it worthy of your BtoB Blog Roundup.
An Apology to My Writer's Notes Readers
Just thought I'd share my latest professional endeavor with all of you, along with my profuse apologies that my blogging here at Writer's Notes has decreased considerably of late. This hasn't been solely due to my blogging at The Whoa Factor but has been more the result of combining so many different writing, editing, and church-related administrative projects that there just aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish everything I'd like to do. So, please bear with me, as I attempt to better organize and balance my workload by choosing my gigs wisely and becoming more adept at working smarter, not harder.
Thanks so much for your patience!
Jeanne
*UPDATE (6/17/09): This is the permalink to my post's BtoB recognition page, which I just discovered today via Google search. The web page includes a short statement about my post, as well as links to the other two posts recognized that week
Did you enjoy this post? Have you ever taken on a pro blogging gig--or are you perhaps involved in one now? If so, we'd love to hear all about it. What niche was it in, what topic did it address, and how did things go for you with this particular gig (or how are they going)? If you've never had a paid blogging gig, would you like to try one? What do you think you'd like most about it--and what would you like least?
Please note: If the StumbleUpon and other social bookmarking buttons aren't visible, please click the "Add Comments" link beneath this post. Thanks!
Fifth Glass Woman Prize Reading Period Starts Today
The Glass Woman Prize website announced the winners of its Fourth Glass Woman Prize today, kicking off the reading period for the next contest, which carries a March 21, 2009 submission deadline. (Prize notification date for the Fifth Glass Woman competition will be June 21, 2009.) Beate Sigriddaughter, who hosts the contest, charges no reading fee and finances contest prizes herself, using 10% of her personal income.
Competition Prizes and Winner Selection Info
The top prize in the Fifth Glass Woman contest will be $700, with two runner-up awards of $100 each and an additional $50 prize. Non-obligatory online publication of the winning entry is also included with each monetary award. Though she uses a group of (female) readers to make initial selections (after all, she received 492 entries in the Fourth Glass Woman Prize competition), Beate reserves the right to be the final judge, selecting the winning entries herself.
Contest Guidelines and Type of Works Sought
The following info, quoted from the website, explains the kind of work Beate is seeking:
The Fifth Glass Woman Prize will be awarded for a work of short fiction or creative non-fiction (prose) written by a woman. Length: between 50 and 5,000 words.
One submission is allowed per entrant per reading period. Beate also says that "(p)reviously published work and simultaneous submissions are OK" and adds that "(c)opyright is retained by the author."
To read some of the winning entries and get a better idea of the type of work that impresses this judge, visit the website by following the link in the first paragraph of this post.
Purpose of the Contest
About her reasons for running the contest, Beate has this to say (again, taken from her website):
I want to help along the cause of women expressing themselves authentically and fearlessly and passionately. It has something to do with a contribution to justice and soul growing in the world.
One of my ex-husbands once said that women don't support each other. I want to either change that or prove it wrong. This is my small gesture of changing the world.
Beate states the following about her standards for judging contest entries, "My criterion is passion, excellence, and authenticity in the woman’s writing voice."
Why Not Go For It?
If the Glass Woman Prize sounds like something you'd be interested in winning--and particularly if you already have a short fiction story, creative non-fiction piece, or thought-provoking essay lying around which is "significant to women"--why not enter? You certainly have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Even if you haven't written anything yet, this contest could be just the inspiration you need to help you get creative!
Best of luck with your entry--and all your writing endeavors!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? What are your thoughts about this contest? How does it compare to other contests you know of? How likely will you be to enter the Glass Woman Prize contest? Do you have any other contest experiences you'd like to share with us--or any other ideas about writing competitions? What are your thoughts on writing contest entry fees, and do you ever enter contests that charge entry fees? Why or why not?
Please note: If the StumbleUpon and other social bookmarking buttons aren't visible, please click the "Add Comments" link beneath this post. Thanks!
I've Won--And So Have Seven Others!
Just wanted to let everyone know that I've won one of the eight prizes offered in the Win Up to $500 Writing About Cell Phone Users and Abusers! contest hosted by Brad Shorr at Word Sell, Inc. What a wonderful surprise it was to visit Word Sell a few days ago and see my name listed among the winners! (I was one of three people who won $100! There were also a $500 grand prize and four $50 prizes--a truly generous lineup of contest prizes!) To see a list of all eight winners and their respective prizes, see Brad's post, Announcing! Cell Phone Contest Prizes. (Be sure to visit Word Sell often for Brad's insightful advice on how you can use the written word to effectively market yourself, your ideas, products, or services.)
Contest Details and Links to Individual Entries
Winners were chosen by random drawing after penning posts about cell phone use and abuse, which they published to their own blogs, as their contest entries, sending links to Brad. In case you'd like to read the fascinating entries, Brad has also published a Cell Phone Users and Abusers Contest Roundup post containing links to all the entries. This group of blog posts represents a host of perspectives on a topic which is redefining modern life.
A Contest Highlighting Dr. Mike O'Malley's "Cell Hell" Book
The Cell Phone Users and Abusers contest was held to publicize Dr. Mike O'Malley's new book, Cell Hell: 55 Cell Phone Users You'd Like to Silence, which provides an entertaining look at the people who annoy, irritate, and sometimes even place us in mortal danger through their appalling cell phone habits. My own entry was The Cell Phone: Both a Blessing and a Curse.
If you have a cell phone story to tell, Dr. O'Malley is interested in receiving your stories of cell phone abuse. Visit his website to send him a message via his contact form.
Just had to share this wonderful news with all of you!
Thanks for reading!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Have any thoughts to share on this contest? How about other contests you've entered? How do the prizes offered in this contest compare to those of other contests in which you've participated? Do they seem especially generous, average, common, or rare, based on your past experience? Have you ever won a contest? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Please note: If the StumbleUpon and other social bookmarking buttons aren't visible, please click the "Add Comments" link beneath this post. Thanks!
Cell Phones: A Revolution in Communication
Writers understand the importance of communication perhaps more than many "ordinary" people do. Yet, writing is but one mode of communication. Despite the revolutionary advances that have created the worldwide network known as the Internet—which allows us to send the written word (and many other types of media) halfway across the world—still another interwoven web of networks has further expanded the reach of everyday people, simplifying and yet complicating our lives at the same time: the system of communication known as the cellular telephone network.
Convenience vs. Annoyance
Cell phones offer so much convenience to our busy, often-hectic lives that it would be difficult to imagine life without them. Yet, along with that convenience come certain annoyances (from tiny irritations to infuriating distractions)—and even serious potential dangers—that should certainly give us pause. At the very least, these unpleasant cell-phone realities should make us pause long enough—and in mid-conversation, I might add—to consider the consequences of thoughtless, irresponsible, and downright dangerous cell phone use.
Thoughtless Cell Phone Use
Most of us have been at least mildly irritated by the thoughtlessness of cell phone users who ignore everyone else around them while speaking loudly into that harmless looking little device they have glued to their ear. If we were totally honest, of course, many of us would have to admit to having actually been that thoughtless cell phone user at one time or another. Yet, it somehow seems so different when it's our conversation—which we all know is so much more important…necessary…excusable than the other guy's…
(You don't think that mindset we so innocently display could possibly be more widespread than we realize, do you? That it might actually contribute to the problem the other guy has being polite to others while in the vicinity of his cell phone? Hmmm…Certainly gets one thinking, doesn't it?)
Cell Phones: A Wonderful Invention
Cell phones are a wonderful invention—no question about it. They make it possible for stranded people to get help. They alert first responders when emergencies occur. They reassure us that our loved ones are safe while they're traveling far from home. They enable us to call ahead when traffic snags, preventing us from getting to an appointment on time. They even let us find each other at the mall or in the supermarket, or call one another with that indispensable dinner ingredient we've somehow forgotten to put on the shopping list. Yet, to one particular segment of society, they do much more than the above, improving the lives of this group in a far more fundamental way.
A Group for Whom Text Messaging Equals New Freedom
Modern cell phones allow the Deaf to communicate directly with one another and with the hearing with more freedom and portability than ever before possible, through text messaging while on the go instead of being limited to using a non-portable TTY device or having to resort to the long, drawn-out process of communicating through a relay operator via computer.
This new method of communicating via cell phone is, for the Deaf Community, a totally unprecedented capability made possible because mobile technology has advanced beyond mere voice communications. It opens brand new vistas for an entire cross-section of individuals who are every bit as talented, intelligent, and creative as their hearing counterparts, yet who just happen to be deaf. It empowers a segment of society which, as a result of modern cell phone technology, is now able to transact business in the field—including running their own businesses, managing employees, and coordinating and overseeing projects via the simple method of text messaging. (And you thought only your teens used text messaging to chat with their friends in class.)
When Cell Phones Pose a Hazard
For all their positive attributes, when used irresponsibly, cell phones can cause real danger. Using a cell phone while driving—particularly when fumbling with its keypad, Talk, or End buttons, flipping it open, or holding it while chatting and driving with only one hand—can pose a serious hazard to driver and passengers, other motorists, and the totally unprotected (and often unsuspecting) pedestrian in the crosswalk who actually expects the driver heading her way to see and obey the stop sign when he reaches the corner.
Unfortunately, due to the distraction of the cell phone, this too often doesn't happen—and this is one reason the State of California passed a "hands-free cell phone while driving" law, which went into effect July 1, 2008. Beginning on that day, all cell phone users were (and are) required to use a hands-free cell phone setup—and after my personal experience with one such distracted driver, that wasn't soon enough for me.
A Distracted Driver Is a Dangerous Driver
As I stepped off the curb one sunny California day, I noticed a car approaching the intersection at a moderate rate of speed. I looked through the vehicle's windshield, preparing to make eye contact with the driver, as has always been my custom. With a couple of thousand pounds of metal between the driver and me, I've always felt a nagging need to make sure the driver whose vehicle I'm about the step in front of has noticed me.
(To be honest, I've never understood the people who step out in front of all manner of moving vehicles without so much as a glance in the direction of the metallic monster relentlessly bearing down on them. It's obvious that they believe that having the legal right of way will somehow protect them from danger. But, I always figure that living to see another day is far better than having them put on my gravestone, "She had the right of way.")
As I prepared to step in front of the vehicle, I could tell right away that something was wrong. Not only was the driver not looking at me, but he had a cell phone glued to his ear—and he was not slowing down. As the alarm bells began going off in my head, I had just enough time to jump back out of the way and barely avoided being hit by the inattentive driver, who braked suddenly when he realized what was happening and sheepishly shrugged his apology at me through the closed window. With a rather less than genial expression, I motioned the driver to go first. I wasn't about to step in front of his vehicle again.
Like most other tools that have the potential to make our lives better, cell phones can be used or abused. They can help and improve or distract, annoy, and even destroy. The choice is ours.
Help fight cell phone abuse: Please phone responsibly.
Thanks!
Jeanne
This post is my entry into the Word Sell Win Up to $500 Blogging About Cell Phone Users and Abusers! Contest.
Did you enjoy this post? Have any cell phone horror stories of your own to share? Or maybe you've seen a cell phone save a life or do some good. We'd love to hear your story!
Please note: If the StumbleUpon and other social bookmarking buttons aren't visible, please click the "Add Comments" link beneath this post. Thanks!
We Have a Great Deal Planned Today!
Dream or Destiny: A prize worth winning
Sit down, relax, grab a cup of your favorite beverage, and join us for Lillie Ammann's second exciting stop at Writer's Notes, where you'll learn who won a copy of Dream or Destiny, read all about Lillie's road to publication, and ask this experienced author, who has published several books, all the pressing questions you've always wanted to ask about publishing your own work.
First Order of Business: Contest Winner
Drum roll, please! And, the lucky winner of an autographed copy of Dream or Destiny is...Mark Antony! Congratulations, Mark! I know you'll enjoy the book! Please e-mail me at writersnotes@gmail.com with your shipping info, which I'll pass on to Lillie so she can ship your book to you.
A big Thank You to all who participated in the drawing! I appreciate your comments and wish all of you could have won! Thanks, also, to those who commented without entering! It's always great to hear your thoughts!
____________________
Next on the Agenda: My Exciting Interview With Lillie Ammann!
Without further ado, I present to you my interview with Lillie--a fascinating exhange in which this experienced author offers a wealth of interesting, helpful, and encouraging information for aspiring and practicing writers! Plan to give it a thorough reading--and make sure you check out the valuable resource links Lillie provides for your benefit!
WN: What writing and/or life experiences sparked the idea for Dream or Destiny?
LA: I saw a television documentary about a woman who uses her psychic dreams to help the police solve crimes. Her dreams are after the fact and are generally about such things as the location of the body rather than about the crime itself. However, that sparked my imagination. I wondered, “What if someone dreamed about a murder before it happened?”
WN: How detailed was your plot line when you began writing Dream or Destiny, and how did your plot unfold?
LA: I knew little about the plot when I started writing. Characters come first for me. The characters bounce around in my head for awhile before I have any idea of the plot. I knew Marilee would dream about a murder, and that’s about all I knew at first. I got to know Marilee, then David appeared. I hadn’t consciously planned to write about domestic violence, but when I was getting acquainted with David, a long history of abuse came to light. It’s probably more accurate to say the characters told me the story than to say I wrote the story. I didn’t know what was going to happen until they told me. In fact, I didn’t even know who the murderer was until the very end!
WN: Dream or Destiny tackles a sensitive topic: domestic violence. What challenges did you face in weaving this issue into your story and still creating realistic character development?
LA: As I said earlier, the characters really told me their story. One of the best compliments I have received came from Bluestocking at The Bluestocking Guide. She asked me if I had personal experience with domestic violence and said when she read the book, she felt sure it was written by someone who had either experienced abuse personally or was close to a victim of domestic violence. Bluestocking is an attorney and domestic violence victims’ advocate, so I was pleased that she said the characters were true to life, unlike what she normally finds in fiction.
WN: What techniques have you found effective for strengthening motivation when working on a book-length project such as Dream or Destiny?
LA: While I was writing Dream or Destiny, I belonged to a critique group. Each member was expected to bring a chapter for critique to each weekly meeting. Having that accountability was a powerful motivator. I didn’t want to show up without my chapter, and I couldn’t just not show up—the meeting was at my house. The group no longer meets so when I start my next novel, I am going to give myself deadlines. If accounting to myself isn’t enough, I’ll partner with another writer to be accountable to each other.
WN: The tension between raw creativity and literary polish often plagues writers. How did you achieve (and how would you recommend that other aspiring writers achieve) the balance needed for creating an inspired yet polished piece of writing?
LA: I learned in an online writing class that first drafts are supposed to be “pure green dreck.” I separate the raw creativity/the inspiration from the literary polish. The purpose of the first draft is to get to know the characters and find out what happens. The only editing I permit myself at that stage is primarily getting back into the story after a break. I re-read the last few paragraphs from the work of the last writing session, whether that was the previous day or weeks ago. I allow myself to make minor revisions in those paragraphs, then it’s back to “pure green dreck.”
The only time I would consider making major revisions during the first draft would be if I found myself completely off-track. That’s never happened, though. After the “pure green dreck” is poured out onto the pages of the manuscript, I like to put it aside for days or weeks. Then I go back to edit … and edit … and edit … and edit again. One way to look at it is you can’t polish a gem unless you have a gem to polish. That “pure green dreck” is the diamond-in-the-rough that you will turn into a stunning jewel.
WN: Tell us a bit about your road to publishing Dream or Destiny.
LA: It was a long road with so many twists and turns I couldn’t see the end until I was almost there. My road to publishing this book should encourage any other writer who is discouraged that their manuscript hasn’t sold. As I wrote in How Things Change—Editing a Manuscript Ten Years Later, “The road to publication for Dream or Destiny was a long one—more than ten years, in fact. For much of that time, publication seemed like a dream that, unlike Marilee’s nightmare, didn’t come true. Representation by an agent for two years resulted in nothing more than a stack of rejections. I put the manuscript away and tried to forget it, but the characters wouldn’t let me forget. They seemed to call out to me, demanding publication, claiming it as their destiny.”
Several times I put the manuscript away to gather virtual dust on my computer, only to have the characters clamor out again. I signed a contract with one publisher, then before Dream or Destiny went into production, the company decided to focus on publishing erotica. They released me from the contract because my book would not be a good fit. After some more virtual-dust-gathering, I sold the book to GASLight. However, there were delays as a result of health issues and other circumstances. Finally Dream or Destiny has come to the end of that long road and is now a reality.
WN: I understand that much of your experience has been with small press and self-publishing. What have you found to be the main advantages of each? Are there any disadvantages to these publishing methods that other authors should be aware of?
LA: Both self-publishing and publishing with small press allow the author much more input into the publishing process than is possible with major traditional publishers. Self-publishing gives the author total control, but not all writers are comfortable with the responsibilities and risks of self-publishing.
Small presses assume the responsibilities and risks but don’t offer as much control as self-publishing. Neither self-published nor small press-published books have the distribution of the large publishers. Writers will generally sell fewer copies of small- or self-published books, although they will earn significantly more on each sale.
In general, I think self-publishing is more viable for nonfiction than for fiction because it’s easier to find customers through niche marketing to people interested in the subject of the nonfiction book. I’ve written about the pros and cons of various kinds of publishing in my free Self-Publishing Primer.
WN: What advice would you give writers whose manuscripts are sitting around gathering dust and who feel they have little hope of getting them published?
LA: Re-read the manuscript yourself. If it’s been sitting around for awhile, it will be fresher than it was when you were working on it constantly. Ask yourself honestly if you still believe in this story. Do you like what you read … or would you quit reading if the book had been written by someone else? If you still love your story, ask for input from other writers or readers that you trust.
This is something else I’ve discussed in other blog stops, especially Getting Published with a Little Help from my Friends. If the readers like the story, submit it again …and again … and again. If the readers make suggestions for improvements, evaluate their suggestions and decide which you agree with and which you don’t. Revise, then start submitting again.
WN: Where can we go to read an excerpt from Dream or Destiny?
LA: You can download a free excerpt from Dream or Destiny in a PDF file on my Web site.
WN: Where can we purchase Dream or Destiny, and what formats are available?
LA: You can buy the book in paperback and e-book formats from the publisher, GASLight Publishing. If you order the e-book, you will download a zip file with several different electronic formats so you can choose the one you prefer. You can also order the book in paperback or Kindle edition from Amazon.com.
WN: I believe Dream or Destiny is your second published book. Would you mind sharing a little about your first book and your inspiration for it?
LA: Dream or Destiny is my second published novel, but my fourth published book. My first book, Look beyond Tomorrow: The Carola Spencer Story, told of the courage, faith, hope, and love exhibited by my friend and her employees after a double-murder/suicide at their workplace. I wrote the story to raise money for Carola’s medical expenses, and we donated the rest of the books to a literacy organization. I also wrote a nonfiction book on network marketing. Both are out of print now.
As is the case with many first-time writers, my first novel, Stroke of Luck, is autobiographical. The heroine has a stroke like the one I had. During my recovery, my husband had to care for me. I wondered how someone who did not have that support system would cope with devastating illness. That wondering led to Stroke of Luck.
WN: Where can we read an excerpt from Stroke of Luck, where may we purchase it, and what format(s) are available?
LA: You can read a free excerpt from Stroke of Luck on the publisher’s Web site. The book is available only as an e-book (a zip file with four different electronic formats) from GASLight Publishing.
WN: Tell us a little about your blog and what it has to offer writers seeking publication of their own work.
LA: A Writer’s Words, An Editor’s Eye covers writing, editing, and publishing; freelancing; and books and authors, along with occasional patriotic and Christian topics. I write about working on clients’ books as well as my own, and I’m planning to host several authors on blog book tours in the coming weeks. Writers will learn and be inspired by other writers’ stories. I also give practical advice on writing and publishing as well as related topics, such as rejection.
WN: Share with us, if you would, a few blog posts or series you’ve written that writers might find especially helpful in preparing and publishing their own work.
LA: Readers can go to my Series and Related Posts page and look through the categories. The most helpful posts in preparing and publishing your own work will be in the following categories: Critique and Other Groups, E-Books and E-Publishing, Editing, Life Lessons/Inspiration, Rejection, Self-Publishing/Publishing, and Writing and Self-Editing.
WN: What plans do you have for your next book?
LA: Characters for two different books are struggling for dominance in my brain right now. I know my next two books will be about secondary characters in Dream or Destiny. However, I’m not sure which of the books I’ll write first: Tess, “the crazy lady,” or Bonita, who was involved with a married man.
WN: Thanks so much, Lillie, for sharing your experiences with us and giving away a free, autographed copy of Dream or Destiny here at Writer's Notes today!
LA: I’m delighted to be here, Jeanne, and look forward to answering readers’ questions.
____________________
Learn More at Lillie's Other Tour Stops
Be sure to visit the other stops on Lillie's tour and read her other fascinating interviews and guest posts. You'll find links to all of them on her Dream or Destiny tour schedule.
Have Your own Publishing Questions Answered Right Here: Leave a Comment for Lillie
Lillie is ready and willing to answer your questions about planning and writing your book, preparing your manuscript for publication, and doing exactly what it takes to get that book published and in print--with your byline on it! So, ask away! Bring your questions about all those small--or big--matters you've always been curious about and ask them with confidence of a writer who's been there. Leave a comment on this post, and Lillie will be happy to answer your questions.
Hope you've enjoyed this Writer's Notes interview with Lillie Ammann, author of Dream or Destiny. If reading Lillie's story has made you the least bit curious about her book, why not purchase a copy of Dream or Destiny at one of the above links. And be sure to invite everyone you know who enjoys a good mystery to visit this post, read my earlier review of Dream or Destiny, and get a copy of this entertaining book!
Enjoy!
Jeanne
____________________
About Lillie:
Lillie Ammann does freelance writing and editing for authors, publishers, and business and nonprofit organizations. She is also Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Your Information Center, a publisher of short, practical, free online guides on a variety of subjects.
As a freelancer, Lillie works with authors and publishers to prepare manuscripts for publication. She also writes and edits business documents and helps families and individuals compile family histories and memoirs. She especially enjoys helping self-publishing authors navigate the publishing maze and likes to think of herself as a book midwife. She can design the interior of the book, negotiate and contract with cover designers and printers, create and maintain the author’s website, and help with promotional activities, such as writing and distributing press releases. Lillie is as proud of the published book as the author is.
Source: Lillie's website
___________________
Did you enjoy this post? Have anything to add? Any questions for Lillie? Perhaps reading Lillie's story has inspired you to write and/or publish your own book. What do you need to do to make that happen? What do you need to know to make it happen? Would it help you to get a bit of encouragement from one who's "been there"? If so, ask away! Lillie is waiting to give you the advice and encouragement you need to go for it and make your dreams of publication come true. Perhaps you'll find, after learning from Lillie's quest to publish Dream or Destiny, that publication of your own book is both your dream and your destiny!
Please note: If the StumbleUpon and other social bookmarking buttons aren't visible, please click the "Add Comments" link beneath this post. Thanks!
My promised review of Lillie Ammann's novel, Dream or Destiny, follows. Be sure to leave a comment on this post sometime between now and midnight U.S. Pacific Standard Time on Thursday to enter our drawing for a free copy of the book! (The winner's copy will be shipped free-of-charge by Lillie.) Both U.S. and international readers are encouraged to enter.
Please feel free to leave a comment even if you don't want to be entered into the drawing (i.e., you already have the book or you're hosting one of the other stops on Lillie's tour). Simply mention that you prefer not to enter. We still value your comments--whether or not you enter the drawing!
A Dream of Murder Comes True
A terrifying nightmare. A gruesome murder. And an eerie resemblance between the two. So begins Marilee Anderson's battle to uncover the truth about a crime that happened just as she'd dreamed it, making her everyone's favorite suspect.
Dream or Destiny, Lillie Ammann's tale of murder, mystery, and intrigue, opens on a moonlit night when the icy hands of fear shake Marilee awake. In the novel's opening scene, Lillie skillfully sets the mood, drawing the reader irresistibly into the tale, as it gradually begins to unfold.
Marilee Anderson trembled, her nightgown drenched with cold sweat. Moving only her eyes, she studied her surroundings. Moonlight crept through the cracks between the curtains and created strange shadows that moved on the floor like a flow of dark blood….
The drapes moved…(W)as someone in the room with her?...Pure terror turned her spine to ice. What had woken her? Strange images superimposed themselves over the disturbing distortions of her bedroom. A figure in black, stealthily creeping down a hallway, bursts of flame from the muzzle of a gun held in a gloved hand, a river of blood, and the smell of death….
Somewhere in the back of her consciousness, Marilee slowly recalls all the unsettling details of her nightmare and finally convinces herself that there's no one in the room with her, after all. A relief, yet still—
How could she have dreamed such horror?
A Pair of Suspects Turn Investigators
As Marilee ponders the horror of that nightmare, she realizes that she recognized the victim but can recall the dream murderer only as a dark, shadowy figure whose face she can't make out. And when she learns that the real-life murder has happened exactly as the murder in her dream had, she doesn't know what to think.
Lillie Ammann has turned this fascinating premise into an intriguing tale in which a highly intuitive, professionally competent, yet personally somewhat less-than secure Marilee must team up with the victim's brother, David Nichols, to uncover the truth about his sister's death. As the cop on the case, Detective Garcia, becomes more and more convinced that one or both of them are responsible for the murder, and as David's impatience to find his sister's killer grows, the two decide to do a little investigating of their own.
A Colorful Cast of Characters
Lillie Ammann has created a fascinating cast of characters in Dream or Destiny—from Marilee and David, who must learn to trust one another, despite the very real deficiencies of their own past relationships, as they work together to catch a murderer; to Tess the "crazy" lady, who somehow seems to know far more than she should about her neighbors. From Jason Tremont, Marilee's ex-boyfriend, who was dating Barbara Nichols at the time of her death; to George Welty, Barbara's rich but abusive ex-husband; and Henry Nichols, David and Barbara's religious-fanatic father, who always believed child abuse to be his God-given right—Lillie gives her readers a variety of multi-dimensional characters to either care about or despise.
A Look at Several Pressing Social Problems
Through its myriad twists and turns—of plot and phrase—Dream or Destiny offers the reader insightful glimpses into such serious social issues as child abuse, domestic violence, religious fanaticism, and other eccentric behaviors. It explores the psychological effects of grief, guilt, and regret, as it weaves its magic, steadily advancing toward its exciting climax. Along with the above issues, the novel touches on the critical importance of learning to trust—and love—after those closest to you have let you down.
A Balanced Look at Positive and Negative Religion
Along with its intriguing journey toward solving the story's mystery, Dream or Destiny is a book that provides a balanced and realistic view of the paradox that is religion, with the vastly different mindsets it can yield, contrasting the sickness of religious fanaticism with the healthy effects of genuine faith, which bears good fruit in the lives of those it touches, rather than filling them with ugliness and decay.
A Hopeful Book
And while Dream or Destiny doesn't claim to answer the question of why some of us must suffer--and sometimes even die--at the hands of our abusers, it does hold out the hope of healing for those who have survived it.
A Multi-Faceted Book
If you enjoy a good mystery that offers lots of colorful suspects, insightful commentary on some of the most pressing social issues of our day, and a realistic portrayal of the effects of true and false religion, you'll want to read Dream or Destiny.
________________________
You may read an excerpt and/or purchase Dream or Destiny at GASLight Publishing.
Visit Lillie Ammann's blog, A Writer's Words, An Editor's Eye, to learn how you can write better and get your own work published.
There are still a few more stops on Lillie's virtual book tour. So be sure to check them out!
And don't forget to comment--between now and Thursday midnight U.S. PST--for your chance to win a copy of Dream or Destiny!
Please feel free to comment even if you choose not to enter the drawing. Simply mention that you prefer not to enter. We still value your comments--whether or not you enter the drawing!
Marilee Anderson dreams about a murder and wakes to find it really happened. She and David Nichols, the victim’s brother, become the prime suspects. Though they have their secrets and aren’t sure they can trust each other, Marilee and David team up to find the killer....Will Marilee and David find the killer? Or will they end up in jail—or dead?
Excerpt from back cover, Dream or Destiny, by Lillie Ammann
Mark Your Calendar! Two WN Stops on Dream or Destiny Book Tour Start Monday
One week from today--Monday, November 10th--Writer's Notes will host the first of Lillie Ammann's two WN stops on her blog book tour for her newly released mystery-romance novel, Dream or Destiny. Two of Lillie's last stops (during the final week of her tour) will be spent at Writer's Notes (the second will be Friday, November 14th, the tour's final day) where she will share details about her book, her experience with the publishing industry, and a free print copy of her book (which will go to one lucky Writer's Notes reader).
So, please stay tuned for Monday's post, and plan to leave a comment so you'll be entered into the drawing for the free book. (The winner will be announced in Friday's post.)
Monday, November 10th: My Dream or Destiny Book Review/Book Giveaway
Monday's post will contain my review of Dream or Destiny, and, as mentioned above, everyone who leaves a comment on that post between posting time Monday and midnight U.S. PST Thursday will be entered into the drawing for a free copy of the book. (Both U.S. and international readers are encouraged to enter.)
Friday, November 14th: Interview with Lillie/Open Question Forum/Book Contest Winner Announcement
In Friday's post, aside from announcing the lucky winner, I will interview Lillie about her book and her experiences with book publishing and will offer readers the opportunity to ask Lillie questions about the ins and outs of getting a book published. So, bring your questions about your own novel or other book and plan to ask Lillie everything you've always wanted to know about getting your book into print.
While Lillie doesn't claim to be an expert on every area of publishing, she does have considerable experience in certain areas of book publishing and she'd be more than happy to help with any questions she's able to answer to help you get that much closer to publishing your own book-length manuscript.
Last Chance to Win a Free Copy of Dream or Destiny
Don't miss these two stops at the end of Lillie's blog book tour--and don't pass up your opportunity to win a free copy of her suspenseful murder mystery, Dream or Destiny! Be sure to visit Writer's Notes between Monday, November 10th and Friday, November 14th to learn what Lillie's book is all about and enter the drawing, and on November 14th to read some fascinating info about Lillie, her book, and book publishing in general, to have your questions about publishing your own book answered, and to find out whether you will soon be reading your own complimentary copy of Dream or Destiny!
Hope to see you here!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Do you have a novel or other book-length manuscript of your own sitting around gathering dust? Have you all but given up on getting it published? Do you have questions about the publishing process? What fictional genres do you prefer to read--or write? Or do you prefer non-fiction? How would YOU like to win a copy of Dream or Destiny?
Please note: If the StumbleUpon and other social bookmarking buttons aren't visible, please click the "Add Comments" link beneath this post. Thanks!
September 28th 2008 23:50
Have You Checked Your Google PR Lately?
If you haven't checked your Google Page Rank lately, now would be a good time to do it, because I've just learned that a Google update is in progress. (You'll find a link to a Google PR Checker Tool in my sidebar under Spotlight Posts.) Hopefully, your site's PR has increased with this update.
Writer's Notes Loses PR
Unfortunately, Writer's Notes' PR has decreased from PR 3 to PR 2--which causes me to speculate about whether the decrease could be related to a few sponsored posts I've written lately (after I'd refrained from writing sponsored posts for quite a while). It's always difficult to determine what Google's precise motivation is for cutting a site's PR, and it may be totally unrelated to the mere two sponsored reviews I've posted recently. Quite likely, it has more to do with my blog's decreasing Technorati ranking and authority and its relatively low Alexa ranking. (Though my Alexa ranking is actually improving, it's not the best it's been since I began blogging in early 2007.)
What's Your New PR?
If you don't already have a PR widget on your blog to alert you to fluctuations in your site's PR, why not use the PR checker tool I've placed on my blog for your convenience--or any one of many others that are available online--and find out your blog's latest PR. You may just be pleasantly surprised!
Hope your PR has skyrocketed!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Were you aware that a Google PR Update is in progress before reading this post? Have any thoughts about the Google PR update process? Any great news to share about your new PR? I'd love to hear it!
Please note: If the StumbleUpon and other social bookmarking buttons aren't visible, please click the "Add Comments" link beneath this post. Thanks!
September 25th 2008 18:57
Have You Tested Your Literary Thrill-Generating Skills Lately?
Suspense Magazine is currently holding its first annual writing contest/sweepstakes for authors of short stories in the suspense/thriller/mystery genre. If you are a fiction writer and this is one of the areas where you shine, you have until December 31st to submit one or more stories, ranging in length from 1500 to 5,000 words. There's no entry fee, and up for grabs are the following prizes:
Grand Prize: 12 books (one from each of Suspense Magazine's 12 authors of the month for 2008). Some of the books are autographed.
Second Prize: $50 gift card from Amazon.com
Third Prize: $25 gift card from Amazon.com
Please be sure to follow all contest rules, so your story(ies) won't be disqualified.
Best of luck to you!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Have any thoughts to share about this writing contest or writing contests in general? Have you written a story that you might like to submit? Considering writing a new one--or several? Ever win a short story contest before? We'd love to hear your thoughts and/or experiences!
Please note: If the StumbleUpon and other social bookmarking buttons aren't visible, please click the "Add Comments" link beneath this post. Thanks!
September 21st 2008 01:26
The Lowdown Right from the Lizard's* Mouth!
Joel Ratner, Director of Zirdland.com, has graciously responded to several somewhat skeptical comments left on my recent post: "That First Line" Contest Offers $500 Prize for One Line! In his comment, Joel addresses a few issues raised by some Writer's Notes readers. I've decided to reproduce his fairly lengthy comment in this post to be certain that everyone who's read the earlier post and either entertained or expressed doubts about the Zirdland website and its writing contests will see his remarks and benefit from hearing the other side of the story.
The Inside Scoop from the Top Man at Zirdland
The following is what Joel had to say about his site:
Hi Jeanne -
Thanks for writing so many wonderful things about our web site. It's been a long development process. But we want to make sure we get this right. For too long, writers have been left in the dark wondering how to get published. Publishers are similarly in the dark about where the "truly" great works can be found. They rely on third-parties to evaluate and recommend. Seems to us (as writers) a tragic failed business model.
So, maybe we're crazy for trying to change things, but somebody needs to do something - the same old stuff keeps getting published - and I can tell you from what we've seen in both the first-line contest and the new novel competition, that there are some incredibly talented people with very meaningful works out there. Even more tragic are some of the tales of their querying experiences.
The Arc Angel is something we've worked on for 4 years now, and when deployed, we hope it can bridge the gap - helping writers structure their plots and characters for maximum reader satisfaction, and helping the publishers wade through their slush-piles in a more organized way. While it can't "read" like a human - or interpret the social significance of a work, it can accurately detect emotional development, dramatic ebb and flow and chart-out the arc structure for each character and for combinations of characters.
The actual user-interface you will eventually see on the site will be very intuitive, graphical, and integrated with a text editor so a writer can work in the desktop environment and have the Arc Angel analyze the edits on the fly.
Our writers focus groups have given us valuable feedback and even some of the die-hard skeptics remained well afterwards to get more hands-on with the Arc Angel - addicted, as we are.
The novel competition is our beta test - giving the Arc Angel and the processing engines a work-out with real submissions. While we've taken reasonable precautions to protect the entries, writers should always copyright their works. No rights are lost by entering - we only expect to test the system. Eventually, each entrant will receive the analysis output of their entry. And of course, one exceptional writer will also get $1,000.
No entry fee this time around. The first-line contest was an effort to raise money for our literacy partners (Firstbook and National Center for Family Literacy) while providing a fun opportunity for writers. We love competitions and feel it sparks creativity. I think Zirdland will always have some sort of contest running...at least we'll try.
Hope that helps. I'm excited to see so much discussion about our project and we'd welcome any suggestions or insights your readers may have.
Thanks again for great coverage of the adventure!
Joel Ratner, Director
Zirdland.com, LLC
Permission to Quote Graciously Granted
In response to my request for permission to turn his comment into a blog post, Joel later posted this friendly follow-up comment:
Hi Jeanne -
No problem at all in distributing my comments. Yes, I did see your later post. Again, thanks for sharing your thoughts and comments about Zirdland. I'm glad to get some opposing viewpoints from all the responses to your post - it helps us understand what areas we need to focus on as we develop this site.
It's been a lot of fun and we've received so many well-wishes.
Let me know if you or your readers have any additional questions, comments or concerns. I'll do my best to answer them.
Any Questions or Comments for Joel About His Site?
There you have it--right from the source. If you still have questions, concerns, thoughts, or opinions about Zirdland, its contests, or its Arc Angel Story Analysis Tool that you'd like to share, Joel would be more than happy to listen and respond to any issues you may have.
Thanks to All!
Thanks so much, Joel, for your willingness to entertain our comments, answer our questions, and assuage our concerns!
And thank-you, Writer's Notes readers for your thoughtful comments left in response to my earlier post! Thanks, too, for any feedback you may decide to give Joel in response to his gracious offer to clarify his site's plans, goals, philosophy, policies, and practices!
To your writing future!
Jeanne
* The Zirdland trademark/mascot is a bright green lizard, appropriately called a zird.
Did you enjoy this post? Have any questions for Joel about his site, his software, or his contests? Any suggestions for ways his site could better serve you as a writer? Any concerns that haven't been addressed either on the site or in his comments? Both he and I would love to hear your thoughts!
Please note: If the StumbleUpon and other social bookmarking buttons aren't visible, please click the "Add Comments" link beneath this post. Thanks!
The End of an Era
After three years of reviewing the most imaginative fictional first lines its contestants could dream up--and paying a hefty $500 prize for the one they liked best--the folks at Zirdland have decided to call it quits on their semi-annual ThatFirstLine competition. The latest contest deadline was September 1st, and the winning entry is slated to be announced on September 30th; so stay tuned for the results of the final edition of Zirdland's popular creative competition.
Zirdland's Novel Competition Still Active
There's still time to enter Zirdland's novel competition, though, which offers an even more-substantial $1,000 prize to the top contender. So, if you've got an unpublished or self-published novel lying around gathering dust, consider entering this contest. As Zirdland puts it, "On 10/10/08, you could be $1,000 richer!" There's no entry fee, and you can simply upload your novel to the website. (Your novel will not be visible to the public.) For further information, visit the Zirdland website, or see my first post about the site and its contests: "That First Line" Contest Offers $500 Prize for One Line.
Screenplay Competition and eQuery Service Also in the Works
Zirdland is also gearing up to host a screenplay competition, which will also offer a $1,000 prize. (See the Zirdland Event Schedule page for projected dates of this contest and other planned events.)
In addition, the website plans to begin offering an eQuery service in the near future, which it will provide free of charge and which will make it easier for writers to submit their work to various publishers, producers, agents, etc., by automating the submission process. Stay tuned for further information on these future Zirdland offerings.
Arc Angel Analysis Tool Soon to Be Offered Online
Check out the Zirdland website to find out more about all the fascinating offerings it has planned for writers in the very near future. You'll want to look into its Arc Angel Analysis Tool. Not only will Arc Angel be used to judge the novel competition, but the site also plans to make the tool available online as of November 1st for writers to use in evaluating and improving their own work. All Zirdland members will have access to the tool, and membership is free. (All entrants to the novel competition will automatically become members, and membership will also be offered to other writers soon.)
Some of the questions you may have about the site and its offerings are addressed on the Zirdland FAQ page.
To your success!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Are you planning to enter the Zirdland novel competition? Or perhaps you're more inclined to submit a screenplay to their next contest. Maybe both? Did you enter your creative masterpiece into their ThatFirstLine competition, which is being judged "as we speak"? What do you think of the unique and varied offerings this unusual website provides?
Please note: If the StumbleUpon and other social bookmarking buttons aren't visible, please click the "Add Comments" link beneath this post. Thanks!
Win $500 for Writing One Line!
Zirdland.com is offering a $500 prize to the entrant who writes the best opening line for its twice-yearly That First Line writing contest. Deadline for the Spring/Summer contest is September 1st, so get creative and submit your best opening line before that date. The winning line from the last contest has been posted on the contest's submission page to give you an idea of the kind of writing Zirdland judges appreciate most. In fact, a number of winning lines from past contests can be found on the ZirdNEWS page.
Novel Competition Also Features a Generous Prize
Zirdland is also hosting a Novel Competition, which features a $1,000 prize. There's no entry fee for uploading/submitting your unpublished or self-published novel (plain text only), and the deadline for submissions is October 10th. So, if you've got a completed (or nearly completed) novel languishing on your hard drive, now's the time to pull it up, do a bit of editing, and place yourself in the running for this generous prize. (Your novel will not be posted to the website; its contents will remain private.)
New Arc Angel Story Analysis Tool Will Judge Entries
Zirdland has recently unveiled its Arc Angel Story Analysis Tool, currently in Beta testing, which will be used to judge entries in the Novel Competition. This marvel of modern software technology, according to Zirdland, "analyzes the sub-text of a literary work," detecting both rhetorical and plot strengths and weaknesses. The program "combines average rhetorical intensity...with (a) drama rating, and other metrics, to provide an overall story satisfaction rating," which is used to rank stories for both the site's contests and its eQuery service. (While many question whether a software program can truly assess a story's literary quality as well as a human judge, it's a fascinating concept and one that will certainly be interesting to watch.)
Free eQuery Service and Job Listings Also Offered by Zirdland
Zirdland also offers a free eQuery service for submitting your work via its automated system to publishers, agents, producers, etc. Its software will apparently generate your proposals, as well. (Is there anything this software can't do?) You'll find further information on the website. The site also offers a list of writing gigs, though at this point at least, the number of opportunities appears to be extremely limited.
You'll definitely want to check out Zirdland.com--particularly if fiction is your forte. This is one fascinating website with many uniquely interesting offerings!
Enjoy your visit!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Have anything to add? What do you think of Zirdland's offerings? Do you believe a software program can really assess the literary merit of a written work? Why or why not?
Please note: If the StumbleUpon and other social bookmarking buttons aren't visible, please click the "Add Comments" link beneath this post. Thanks!
Do You Have a HandPrints On My Heart Story?
Are you (or do you know) a female author with a story to tell about a special individual whose influence has been life-changing? If so, Marlene Moore Gordon would like to see your story and consider it for possible inclusion in her upcoming book, HandPrints On My Heart.
Marlene is seeking "personal real-life short stories written to acknowledge someone who has made a significant difference in the writer’s life," and her hope is that the "universal emotions" expressed in these stories "will touch the hearts of people worldwide who read, hear and see (them)."
My Own HandPrints Submission and Experience
A short time back, I contacted Marlene about her project, after discovering her call for submissions at LifeWriter's Market Watch. (You'll find other writing markets on this site, as well. Be aware that, as new projects are added, older ones move toward the bottom of the webpage. So, you may need to scroll down quite a bit to locate the HandPrints announcement.) I submitted an inspirational story I'd written about my paternal grandmother but had never published. She accepted my piece and we then went through a few rounds of editing to improve the piece and make it more suitable to the tone she had in mind for the stories. (I found her very pleasant to work with and quite receptive to my editorial input, which is always a plus for a writer whose work is undergoing the editing process.)
The HandPrints On My Heart Website and Guidelines
You'll find more information about this fascinating project at the HandPrints On My Heart website. Marlene's Submission Guidelines will give you all the information you'll need to submit your own story.
A Few HandPrints Business Details
While Marlene is still seeking a publisher for HandPrints On My Heart, she already has a literary agent. Monetary compensation for the project is still undetermined and will be presented to all accepted authors in writing for their approval once a publisher has been signed. Marlene expects compensation to be comparable to that offered by other similar anthologies, such as A Cup of Comfort and Chicken Soup for the Soul. Rights purchased will be non-exclusive, one-time rights.
Will You Help Spread the Word?
Marlene is interested in spreading the word about the HandPrints On My Heart book project. So, if you're a blogger whose niche is writing and/or publishing, you might want to consider writing a post about her project. Check out the details at her website and/or drop her a line -- and maybe a submission, too, while you're at it -- at the following e-mail address: MMG@handprintsonmyheart.com. (Even if you aren't a blogger, you can still spread the word to other writers you know -- and send in your own submission, as well.)
Know Any Celebrities Who Can Endorse the Project?
And, if you happen to know any celebrities who might be willing to contribute a story, along with an endorsement of the book, by all means, let them know about the project (and let Marlene know about them.) It's simply a fact of life that more publishers will sit up and take notice of a manuscript that has a celebrity's name attached.
Hope to see your story in HandPrints!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Have anything to add? Thinking of writing a story for HandPrints? Have one already written? I'd love to hear about it!
Please note: If the StumbleUpon and other social bookmarking buttons aren't visible, please click the "Add Comments" link beneath this post. Thanks!
Google PR Surprise
Just noticed that Google has increased Writer's Notes' Page Rank from PR 2 to PR 3! That's good news! Ever since I first achieved PR 3 at the end of October, 2007 (see Google Page Rank--at Last!), only to lose it again about a month later, I've been waiting (rather impatiently) to gain it back.
Initial PR Loss
At the time, (i.e., during the notorious 2007 Google PR fiasco, er, update, during which the Big G stripped an unprecedented number of blogs of Page Rank and lowered the PR of many others), Writer's Notes' PR dropped to 0--a major disappointment! I didn't blog about my lost PR at the time; I guess it was too painful to talk about. Instead, I quietly removed my PR widget from my sidebar and left it at that. I had, however written a post related to this topic shortly before losing my own PR. Do Paid Posts Equal Link-Selling? The Latest PR Dilemma for Bloggers was my response to the PR other bloggers were losing. When my own hard-won PR unceremoniously dove to 0, I all but discounted Google as a viable blog ranking source, though I had little choice but to accept its proclamation. And there things sat, until early May.
My First PR Surprise
I suddenly noticed, one fine day in May, that I had Google PR once again--PR 2, in fact. Since many of you already know this story, I'll spare you the details and refer anyone who doesn't to my post, Has Your Google PR Changed Since the Last Update? Find Out! (You'll also be able to check your own PR by using the PR-checker tool found in this post--that is, if you don't already have a widget which automatically updates your PR whenever it changes.) The most interesting thing to me about this unexpected PR increase was that it occurred between Google updates--which, at the time, I wasn't aware could happen.*
Repeat Performance
Well, it's happened again: my PR has increased between Google updates.* I've finally regained the PR 3 I lost eight months ago (which had taken me nine months to achieve in the first place)--and interestingly enough, it's happened less than three months after the first increase (to PR 2). Now that I can live with! And hopefully the only way I can go from here is up!
What's Your Google PR?
If you haven't checked your blog's PR lately, now might be a good time to check it. The handy tool I've mentioned above will make that very easy to do. I've also placed a link to the Google Page Rank Checker Tool in my (left) sidebar under Spotlight Posts. That way, you'll be able to access it anytime you'd like to check your blog's PR.
Why not check it, now? Maybe you, too, will be in for a pleasant surprise!
To ever-increasing Page Rank!
Jeanne
*I now realize that I'm likely wrong about this, since, at least this time around I know that a number of other bloggers also received PR increases. That would seem to indicate that these were actually Google updates that I just didn't realize were happening--which makes a lot more sense than the idea that my blog's PR increased without an official update occurring.
Did you enjoy this post? Learn anything? Have anything to teach or share with us about Google PR? We'd love to hear from you!
Please note: If the StumbleUpon and other social bookmarking buttons aren't visible, please click the "Add Comments" link beneath this post. Thanks!
Two Fantastic Sites That Are Hosting My Work
Just wanted to share with my Writer's Notes readers that I have two guest posts appearing so far during the month of June: one at Writing the Cyber Highway and one at Writer's Resource Center.
Writing the Cyber Highway: A Favor Returned
One guest post is already up at Michele Tune's blog, Writing the Cyber Highway.
Here's the link:
Motivation to Write: Is There a Magic Formula?
I've really enjoyed writing this post on motivation for Michele, who so kindly came to my rescue a while back when I was ill, penning a wonderful guest post here at Writer's Notes without even being asked to do it. That's just the kind of blogger--and person--Michele is! That's why I'm so happy to reciprocate. (See Michele's guest post here: That's What Bloggers Are For.)
If you ever have trouble motivating yourself to write, you might just want to follow the above link and check out the lessons I've learned about this topic that's so critical to the success of every writer. Hope you'll enjoy reading this piece as much as I've enjoyed writing it. And hope you'll get lots of new ideas about how to discover--or generate--new motivation for all your writing projects!
Writer's Resource Center (aka PoeWar): An Opportunity to Help Out
My second guest post is scheduled to run tomorrow, June 4th, at John Hewitt's Writer's Resource Center.
Update: It's now June 4th and the post is up, so here's the link:
7 Secrets to a Striking Essay
This post presents seven helpful essay-writing techniques that are applicable to many other types of writing, as well. I hope you'll enjoy it--and even more so that you'll get something of value from reading it.
I wrote this post in response to a request by John for enough guest posts to run through the month of June to help him take a much needed month-long vacation. I was honored that, in addition to his general call for guest posts, John also sent me an e-mail inviting me personally to submit a post. (How could I refuse?) Seriously, though, I'd already planned to submit a post but really appreciated John's reminder. It's definitely an honor to have my work appearing at John Hewitt's Writer's Resource Center!
WRC Post Involves a Contest With an Impressive Grand Prize!
What makes this WRC "gig" even more special, though, is that John is offering a $250 prize to the writer whose guest post receives the most traffic during the first week it graces his site! That's definitely a prize worth pursuing--even if I would have submitted a guest post anyway! So, I'd like to ask my readers to stop by WRC to check out my post--even if you aren't that interested in essay writing--though I promise that you will take home some helpful tips for other types of writing, as well. (And don't forget to tell your friends! I need all the help I can get! In fact, a Stumble wouldn't hurt, either (wink, wink), if you really like my article--or if you just want to be nice. I would be forever grateful. Certainly hope you will like my post, though.)
WRC Consolation Prize Is Generous, As Well
John is also offering a $50 prize in a random drawing he'll hold to determine which lucky guest blogger among all those who have responded to his call for vacation relief will receive the "consolation" prize. The two monetary prizes John is offering are more than generous and have certainly provided a wonderful incentive for bloggers to participate. It will definitely be fascinating to see who wins them! Of course, it would be even more fascinating to be who wins (one of) them! Time alone will tell who the two lucky winners will be!
Stay Tuned for John Hewitt's Guest Post Here at Writer's Notes
John has also graciously offered to write a reciprocal guest post here at Writer's Notes as soon as he's able--so we've all got a treat in store after John's vacation ends. I know he's a busy man, however, and certainly don't want to put any undue pressure on him. Though it's difficult to wait, I'm sure we can all be patient until John gets back into the swing of things in July and manages to find a bit of extra time to write a guest post especially for us! I know it will be well worth the wait!
Hope you'll visit my guest posts!
Jeanne
P.S. I haven't forgotten my comment recognition post this month, but have simply been so busy that I haven't gotten to it yet. (Would have posted it today, but wanted to announce my guest post at Writer's Resource Center, since it's set to go live tomorrow, as well as my guest post that went live yesterday at Writing the Cyber Highway. Hope everyone will forgive me for being so late with my thanks! I'll do my best to get that post up tomorrow. I'll also resume my Guide to Polished Writing series soon after. Thanks for your understanding!)
Did you enjoy this post? Have anything to add? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Please note: If the StumbleUpon and other social bookmarking buttons aren't visible, please click the "Add Comments" link beneath this post. Thanks!
Pillar Posts Link Helps You Locate Content Quickly
I'm not sure whether most of my readers have noticed it yet or not, but I've created a list of Pillar Posts to help you more easily find Writer's Notes' most beneficial content. You'll find a link in my Spotlight Posts list to Writer's Notes' Pillar Posts. This link will take you to a post in which I've listed my most helpful content, broken down into various categories.
Rather than simply listing them in reverse chronological order by month, as they are in my archives, I've decided that it would be far more helpful to you if I were to categorize this content. This should help you quickly find the topics you're interested in exploring or the tools and resources you'd like to use, rather than having to wade through all the posts on the list. (This will prove even more beneficial, no doubt, as the list grows through the addition of future content.) Hope you'll find this feature useful! Let me know what you think and whether you have any further suggestions for making it even more useful.
Other Spotlight Posts Links Point to Blog Carnival Feed and More
My Spotlight Posts list is also where a link to my About page is located, as well as links to Writer's Notes' Awards (given to me by various other bloggers), and my Blog Carnival Feed. Blog carnivals can be a fantastic way to get recognition, readers, and links to your site. So, check this feed often, visit the Blog Carnival website via the button in the Stats & Other Widgets section in my top left sidebar, and seriously consider submitting your blog posts to one or more carnivals. There are many carnivals on myriad topics, and the best part is that you may have already written content that's suitable for one or more of them. So, don't overlook a great opportunity to get exposure for your blog.
Sites for Writers Link List Points to Helpful Sites
Last, but not least, I'd like to remind my readers to make use of my Sites for Writers list (previously called "Helpful Sites for Writers") near the bottom of my left sidebar. (The links are still just as helpful, but I needed to shorten the title.) This is a comprehensive list of links to various websites which can be helpful to writers in one way or another.
Most are straight writing sites or blogs, some are sites to or through which to sell your work, and others offer various additional features beneficial to the writer/blogger: blog design, inspiration, wisdom about issues that affect writers/writing, both business and general life lessons that can be helpful to you in the craft or business of writing, etc. Be sure to use this list of links often--and try visiting some of the sites that are as yet unfamiliar to you. You'll find many gems in this list, and you may just discover one or more that really target your interests or needs. (How will you ever know if you don't check them out?)
Hope these additions to Writer's Notes' help to make your writing life, fuller, simpler, and more productive. And may they help contribute to your success!
From one writer to another,
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Find it helpful? Have any suggestions for improvement or other features you'd like to see? Please let me know in comments. I'd love to hear from you!
Please note: If the StumbleUpon and other social bookmarking buttons aren't visible, please click the "Add Comments" link beneath this post. Thanks!
Writer's Notes' Design Issues Lead to One-Point Loss
Writers Notes was edged out of John Hewitt's March Writing Blog Madness blog tournament yesterday (U.S. time) by Content Maven by a slim 14-13 margin. (For an explanation of how the contest works, visit John's post, March Writing Blog Madness Explained. You'll also find the seedings, which determined the matchup of the blog pairs that would compete, in the March Writing Blog Madness Seedings post.)
Of a possible total of 18 points, Content Maven Meryl Evans--a veteran writer, editor, and blogger--managed to rack up one more point than Writer's Notes could eke out due to blog design problems (which many of you already know about).
Blogs were judged in six different categories, each with a three-point maximum score: Archives, Design, Usability and Navigation, Purpose, Personality, and Five Most Recent Posts. Here's John's post presenting his comparative assessment of both blogs, along with his rationale for the points he assigned to each blog in each area: Game 12: #2 Seed Content Maven Versus #7 Seed Writer’s Notes. (There's still a great deal more to come in this tournament--more rounds to be "fought" and more blogs to be judged--so be sure to check it out.)
Did a Poorly Timed Orble Formatting Experiment Contribute to Writer's Notes' Loss?
While it's difficult to say for certain, it could very well be that, had the timing of the Orble formatting experiment (in which Google ads were placed in unusual and esthetically unpleasing places on our blogs' webpages), not coincided with my blog's judging, the outcome of this match might have been different. But, of course, that's pure speculation. It's just as possible that John would have found other design problems anyway.
I'm also well aware of my own culpability in the matter, since one of my last five posts (the content of which was judged as part of the tournament) was basically a lamentation about this issue and didn't do a thing to help me pick up the extra point I needed to tie the score. However, in my own defense, I will say that I believe in keeping my readers informed about what's going on, because community is what a blog is all about. I could have ignored the issue and continued to write totally unrelated "pillar" content (which might have helped me win), but I'm not sure that would have been entirely fair to my readers. (I will admit, though, that I probably could have complained a bit less in that post; and for that I apologize.)
The Blog is Still the Same, the Blogger a Little Wiser!
Despite this setback, Writer's Notes is fine and will continue to provide the same "information, inspiration, encouragement, and resources" for which it's become known. John Hewitt was honest in his assessment and, along with his constructive criticism, also had some very nice things to say about Writer's Notes--and about me--in his review, which I appreciate.
I didn't choose to enter this tournament. (I never would have with a PR 0.) The decision was made for me by John himself. (In fact, I'm still amazed that I did get in with my lack of PR, since John chose the entrants based on a combination of Google PR and Alexa ranking. I've just learned, though, that he assigned a value of PR 1 to all the PR 0 blogs for calculation purposes.) Though the loss was tough, I'm glad I had the opportunity to be matched with a much more experienced blogger and find that I gave her a run for her money!
Despite my loss (or perhaps because of it), this has been an excellent learning experience. For one thing, it's made me realize that complacency isn't a good thing. I should have continuously sought ways to make my blog's design better. And while the untimely Orble formatting experiment likely played a significant role and there are limits to what I'm able to control from my end, there were undoubtedly a few things I could have done to mitigate the problem. Live and learn, as they say! I now know that I shouldn't allow myself to become too comfortable, but should always be experimenting and looking for little (and big!) ways to improve my blog.*
Thanks, John, for giving me that incentive!
And thanks to my loyal readers who stick by me despite my blog's design issues!
You're the best!
Jeanne
* In fact, I'm currently experimenting with making the banner ads that have now become part of my preferred template a little less obtrusive. I still don't like them, but I'm attempting to make the best of a bad situation, because I really don't like the other template I'd be forced to use instead (to get rid of the banner ads)--the one with both sidebars on the left. I prefer the more symmetrical look of one sidebar on each side. (I may just be forced to go back to other template, though, if I don't succeed in making the banner ads look acceptable.)
Eternal optimist that I am, I'm still hoping Orble will decide to give us the option of having only link ads across the top of our blogs in the default template. That would be ideal, as far as I'm concerned. (I'm so glad they decided to get rid of the unsightly floating ad tower that created a fourth column in most blog templates, unbalancing our entire blogs! Thanks, Orble, for that!)
Did you enjoy this post? Have any thoughts to share? I'd love to hear from you, because you are what this blog is all about!
Please note: If the StumbleUpon and other social bookmarking buttons aren't visible, please click the "Add Comments" link beneath this post. Thanks!
Age of Conversation: 100+ Authors Write to Raise Funds for Children's Charity
Today's the day to join the concerted effort of a dedicated group of people from all over the blogosphere (and all over the world) to drive last year's Age of Conversation collaborative book project to the top of the Amazon charts! Why? To raise awareness for the soon-to-be-published Age of Conversation 2008 sequel*--and simultaneously raise even more funds for Variety Children's Charity. (All monies raised through the books' sales and referrals go to Variety's Lifeline Children's Project.)
Two Bloggers Take On a Monumental Task
Spearheaded, organized, overseen, and edited by bloggers Drew McLellan and Gavin Heaton, the original Age of Conversation “brings together over 100 of the world’s leading marketers, writers, thinkers and creative innovators in a ground-breaking and unusual publication.” If you're interested in good writing, great wisdom on business and life, and helping sick children get well, please join this effort to bring the book the attention it deserves. As mentioned above, no one involved in this project will be making a profit from the book's production and sale: 100% of the proceeds will go to Variety Children's Charity (just as they will with the book's sequel).
Variety Children's Lifeline Program
Here's what Drew had to say about this charity in his Age of Conversation's Gift of Life post last year:
Lifeline's sole mission is providing medical assistance to children with treatable and survivable heart conditions in countries where the appropriate medical facilities, expertise or resources do not exist.
Today's Effort to Launch The Age of Conversation to the Top of the Charts Explained
Today's launch of the Age of Conversation Bum Rush is explained at Chris Wilson's Marketing Fresh Peel blog, in the following two posts: The Launch: The Age of Conversation Bum Rush and The Real Age of Conversation Bum Rush: March 29th. Please drop by and check out these posts. And if you feel this to be a worthy endeavor, consider joining these hard-working authors in helping to make a difference in the lives of sick children around the world by buying your copy of The Age of Conversation and encouraging others you know to do the same.
Please use the following link (or one of the specially designated links at other participating blogs) when purchasing The Age of Conversation. This will ensure that referral monies go to Variety Children's Charity, in addition to book sale proceeds.
Each purchase will only be counted once, regardless of how many books you purchase; so please buy each book separately (Super Saver shipping to the U.S. is free on this item)--and buy it TODAY--to help this charitable project gain greater recognition by rising to the top of the Amazon Best Seller List.
Hope you'll join us!
Jeanne
* While I wasn't among the authors of the original Age of Conversation, I will be on board for The Age of Conversation 2008--along with 274 other dedicated writers and bloggers. (What a wonderful way to use our writing talents--by helping others! I highly recommend it!)
INTERIM PROGRESS REPORT - 6 AM CST, MARCH 29TH: Between 2 pm CST, March 28th and 1:30 am CST, March 29th, the book's ranking rose from #102,282 to #16,879! Way to go, everyone! Further updates will be posted at Marketing Fresh Peel, in Chris's Launch post, and also on Twitter, throughout the day (info in the Launch post).
3:15 pm CST: AOC has jumped to #368! Keep up the good work, everyone!
AOC made it to #262 of all books sold at Amazon.com on March 29th. Not as high as we'd hoped, but not bad, at all! (At one point, it actually hit #33 in the Business/Investing category.) Great work, everyone!
Did you enjoy this post? Have anything to add? Which worthy causes have you loaned your writing talents to, and did you feel as if you'd made a difference?
Please note: If the StumbleUpon and other social bookmarking buttons aren't visible, please click the "Add Comments" link beneath this post. Thanks!
|
|
|
Comments (2)
Add Comments
