Mailed Assignment 6 and some stretchin'

I finished Assignment 6, "Rage of a Storm". I'm still thinking it could be better and am hoping my teacher can help me out, or my muse come up with something during the night. For those who don't remember, "Rage of a Storm" is about Hurricane Alex of 2010. He was the first storm of the season and frustrating from beginning to end. He did a lot of stuff normal for a typhoon (hurricanes in the Pacific Ocean), but not a hurricane. He brought great concern because, if you remember and I hope you do, 5,000 barrels of oil a day were spilling out into the Gulf. Although he didn't make it into the Gulf, thank God, he was able to disrupt clean-up efforts and capping efforts for a short period of time. Anyway, I personified Alex as he struggled to become the hurricane he was capable of becoming. His winds were always too low compared to the pressure. Most of this was due to his size and lack of ability to organize all the energy he had available.

I looked ahead to Assignment 7. It's a revision assignment and I think I'll continue to revise "The Power and The Glory." If you remember, that was written for Assignment 3 and is about Thom's and my trip to Thunder Hole, Acadia National Park, Maine. It compares the beautiful scene of ocean and granite to the dangers of ocean and granite. Both of which draw spectators to see the glory of nature and the power of such an alluring sight.

I signed up for a few articles and pitched one of my own. I'll work on more once my storage unit is empty. I'm spending too much time there right now. I'm really excited to be writing for FamilyShare.com and hope you all will follow me there and find some really good information from myself and fellow authors.

Time to get into bed.

Happy writing, revising and submitting (or in this case mailing off assignments)

I did it, I did it, I did it.....

If you remember, back in December I submitted an article to a website that was looking for freelance writers. They requested a writing sample between 600-1000 words about how to show love to your children. I submitted "10 Ways to Show Love to Your Children" on December 1st to, what is now called, FamilyShare.com. (they changed their name shortly after launching)

Yesterday I received a request to join their team and I said, "Yes." Today I received the information needed to get started. I'm still excited and wonder if I'll be able to sleep tonight. I'll keep you updated as I start my next writing, and learning, experience.

I finished the book: "Huck: The Remarkable True Story of How One Lost Puppy Taught a Family--and a Whole Town--About Hope and Happy Endings"

How many parents have heard the cry from their children? 'I want a dog. or I want a pet.' This wonderful story has you on an emotional roller coaster from beginning to end.

First we learn the many ways Michael, the son, attempts to cajole his parents into allowing him to grow up with a dog. His parents, steadfast in their belief there is no room for the responsibilities of a dog in their busy New York City lives.

Second we learn his mother, Janet, has breast cancer and decides a dog is just what he/they need to help their recovery from the strain of surgery and cancer treatments.

Finally, they decide to take a family trip to Florida and leave Huck, their now eight month old pup, with Janet's sister. Within twenty-four hours, Huck manages to escape the backyard and finds himself running around in unfamiliar territory surrounded by the cold of winter, heavily wooded areas, birds of prey, fox, bears and such.

This story will keep you on the edge of your seat as you cry, fear and worry through their attempts to find their beloved pet. I wanted to scream at Huck for not coming when called and at the family for forgetting Huck's favorite foods. I laughed and cried happy tears when they finally had him in their arms.

The best lesson learned by the family was the compassion and willingness of a small town to help total strangers connect with their lost puppy. A must read for all animal lovers and especially those adamant a dog/pet is not for them.

I'm now reading: "A Familiar Rain" by John Geddes. Will review it when I'm done. Give me time, because now I have the additional responsibility of writing for FamilyShare.com

Today is a cleaning/reading/reviewing day

I've finished the laundry, shopped for the fruits and vegetables for our Nutribullet and attacked our storage unit. I expect it to be empty by the end of the month.Will shop for our dinner food later this evening.

What did I read today? I've decided it's time to review the books I read. Maybe you'll find a new author to add to your library. I read current books, older books and classics. Never know what I might choose. Today I chose two books. One by an independent author and another published through Random House.

I finished "The Boy Who Flew with Eagles" by Ben Woodard. Here's my review:

This, short, easily read story is great for bedtime or a rainy/snowy day.  “The Boy Who Flies with Eagles” is a wonderful story that teaches the importance of the proper usage of our natural resources. Its well woven, traditional storytelling style is reminiscent of a great evening spent with family and friends.

Naa’ki learns an important lesson from the eagles and bears as he grows in size, strength and knowledge. In return, Naa’ki passes on their message to his people and saves a nation from their past mistakes.

The other book is a little longer and I will give you my review in another post.

Happy writing, revising, reading and reviewing.

Short post

It's late and going to be cold tonight. For some reason the dogs decided to use my bed instead of going outside. To keep warm, we pulled down the sleeping bags. I don't have duplicate warm blankets. The ones I have are now waiting for the wash.

I always start my stories on paper. When the story is ready to be transferred into the computer, I type it in and make changes as I go. I usually call that the first version. I'll let it set and do other things tomorrow while my brain concentrates on the story. I'll work on it a couple more times and then read it at The Lamplighters (our local author's group). It's the prompt for The First Line spring prompt. I titled it "Like Father, Like Son."

Came across this article "6 Ways to Promote Your Book on a Budget." It's full of links that will give you ideas and solutions to promoting your book. If you're at this stage now, take a look. If not, bookmark the page for when you are. Lots of great information in one place that will save some google time.

It's bedtime. Goodnight. Pleasant dreams that move your stories along.

Writing, writing, writing, reading

I finished my fourth draft of "Rage of a Storm" yesterday. I finished my first draft of a first line prompt from The First Line. Many of my first writings were from contests on FanStory that used first lines. You'll see them in my upcoming ebook.

Here's a great article I picked up from twitter to help with your decisions about smaller agenting and publishing companies. You might even consider following their blog.


Ever wonder where your thoughts come from? I have great difficulty communicating sometimes. I know it's word choices, but the choices work for me, not the recipient with whom I'm communicating. I have such a forgetful nature that many times I'll choose an uncommon word instead of one everyone knows. For instance, the other day, I asked for compensation for damaged good I received from poor packaging. The seller seemed to ignored my request. When I gave the seller negative feedback, the complaint was she didn't think I needed a response and hadn't ask for anything. After several emails, the seller agreed to a refund. I wanted to hit my head. Why didn't my brain come up with refund in the first place. There would not have been any confusion. The word compensation came to me, I wrote it and continued. I knew I wanted a full refund which included shipping. So why didn't those words come to me? And why didn't I catch that compensation might not be the best choice in words? That's why all my writing I send to agents and publishers is passed through my editor first. At least the editor can unscramble my thoughts and help me send out manuscripts that don't confuse.

Another thing about my thoughts is where did that story come from. If you remember, I submitted a prompt for the Long Ridge Writer's Group Newsletter. Based on the prompt, I intended to write a fluffy story about fall, hot chocolate, colorful falling leaves and piles to jump into. The story would include rosy cheeks and lots of smiles and laughing. Well...it ended up being a horror story. Where did that come from?

How about the story I wrote today? The first line included clear blue skies and flat seas. All in all, a beautiful spring morning. That makes me think about a story full of good. It ended up being a story about the sad life of a child raised with an alcoholic father and now he's alcoholic and having difficulty quitting. Where did that come from? I don't drink, my parents drank little and the same for my husband and his parents.

I could go on and on about the muse and what it demands the pen to write. I'll save you the read. Keep up with my blog and when the ebook of my first writings are published, you'll see what the prompt was for the story and you'll see how oddly wired my brain really is.

I'm sitting here writing my blog and monitoring twitter. I found an author the other day, John Geddes. I love the clarity of his pieces. He's a great example of every word having it's place and being important to the story. Anyway, he tweeted "you think so logically...like a hawk soaring - I feel so chaotically...like a kite without a tail plummeting to earth" I feel like I am the chaotic one "like a kite without a tail plummeting to earth"

Happy writing, revising, reading, discovering other greats and tweeting.

Busy, but wonderful day

I rescued a friends car from a parking garage and our daughter from a dead battery. Cooked a delicious meal and found an author I really like, a really cute picture book recently published and an agent looking for clients and writers.

1. An author I like--John Geddes Check him out. His writing is flawless and every word he uses is needed. Nothing extra. Perfect writing with a good story.
2. A really cute picture book--Chu's Day by award winning author Neil Gaiman
3. An agent looking for clients and writers--Margaret Bail of Andrea Hurst & Associates

Time for bed. I have to get up really early to make it to the Everglades in time for our hike, fake camping and all around fun with the young women. Of which I have two.

Happy reading, writing and just having fun with friends.

Submitting and Polishing

 I submitted Ten Little Gator Eggs to Writer's House to agent Brianne Johnson. I chose her because she likes fun picture books and I feel this is a fun book. I searched, without any luck, for other picture books she's had published. Ingram, amazon.com and the library didn't have any of the titles. A few are to be published later this year.

She does have a challenge for five point to Ravenclaw if she laughs out loud, but, like I said, this is not a funny book. Children have danced and sang along as I read this to them, but none have laughed out loud from a funny passage. They have asked for more readings. I hope this is a sign Ms. Johnson will also like this book.

She has a 4 week turn around time.

Please forward this and encourage friends and family to like the Ten Little Gator Eggs page so we can show the agents and publishers this book deserves publishing.

Polished Rage of a Storm and have set it aside to stew a bit more. Am getting ready to go tutoring and then reading more of The Scariest Place on Earth: Eye to Eye with Hurricanes by David E. Fisher.

 Happy submitting, polishing and reading.

"Rage of a Storm" coming along nicely

Worked on Rage of a Storm today and presented it at the author's group, 'The Lamplighters'. They loved the concept. Need to make a few more changes and then it'll be ready for my editor.

Didn't get to read very much, but trying to get off here so I can read a few more pages. Also getting near time to review the magazines I'd like to submit Rage of a Storm. Will let you know my choices when I've made my final decisions.

Need to think about my next manuscript and submissions for my children's books.

Happy reading, revising and submitting.

First Draft Assignment 6 Done

Finished the first draft of Assignment 6, Rage of a Storm Letting it simmer as I read.

Found a great book. I'm really enjoying this author's style and information. The Scariest Place on Earth: Eye to Eye with Hurricanes by David E. Fisher. I've learned a lot in the first 30 pages and expect to continue learning more. (for instance: There are roughly one hundred times more molecules of air inside a basketball, for example, than there are stars This is a "I don't want to put it down book." Going to be hard to work tomorrow. I know the book is going to be calling me.

Plan to read Rage of a Storm at the author's group tomorrow and get their feedback. Once I'm satisfied, I'll send it to my editor and then turn in the assignment for her recommendations. I also need to work on my query and pin down the magazines I plan to send it to.

Happy writing and reading.

Submission, Writing and a Recommended Editor

Submission
Submitted "Grandpa's Farm" to The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency. Don't forget to check out their resources tab.

I chose "Grandpa's Farm" because this story seems to fit The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agencies style. I chose this agency because they work with their authors and help with many types of publications including movies. I feel authors should consider paper, digita--ebooks, readers and interactive, audio and video publication. I submitted to Jennifer De Chiara because she's interested in picture books.

Writing
I have half of assignment 6, "Rage of a Storm", done. Want to have it finished for author's group by next Wednesday.

Recommended editor
I've used editinghelp twice for my picture books. I submitted "Ten Little Gator Eggs" to see if she really knows children's books. I figured since Rubin Pfeffer put his seal of approval on the manuscript there couldn't be too much that needed changing. I then submitted "Grandpa's Farm" as its not been edited and I want to continue submitting it. I'll continue to use her for my picture books. Her prices are standard, but great for very short pieces as most editors want a minimum and she isn't asking for one.

I'm working with another editor for article length pieces. I'll write up that recommendation after I submit another piece. So far I'm impressed.

Took a break and went to the Delray Beach Thursday, yesterday. I sat on the beach and read a book on article writing and watched the girls toss a football in the ocean. We later ate at a really good pizza restaurant. All in all it was a really nice break from the norm and a great way to relax.

Happy submitting, writing, reviewing and just plain having fun.