Friday, September 27, 2013
FREE Giveaway!
Starting today, thru Sunday you can get a free copy of my short story, The Obedient on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B006ZPQYNQ
This story gives you a peek at the protagonist in my novel Amazing Grace. Reviews and comments are always welcome. Thanks!
Jim
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Free giveaway
Get a FREE copy of my short story, The Obedient next weekend; the 28th-30th on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B006ZPQYNQ
You'll get a peek at some of the main characters in Amazing Grace. Review and comments are always welcome! :o) Thanks and enjoy!
Jim
You'll get a peek at some of the main characters in Amazing Grace. Review and comments are always welcome! :o) Thanks and enjoy!
Jim
Friday, September 6, 2013
Break the Barriers!
We've all had moments and events in our lives that on the surface appeared to be insurmountable barriers...road blocks if you will...we have sudden health issues, our finances nosedive, our personal relationships crumble. Sometimes these events are widely spaced and at others them seem to cascade all at once...no one is exempt.
The stress and struggles used to navigate these obstacles translates into three basic categories. Attitude...Experience...Demeanor. Simplistic you say? Maybe...but think about it. Our attitude is paramount and will determine the course and depth of the other two.
Our writing mirrors this. In our novels we place our creations into situations that we feverishly hope we never have to face and then we try to figure out a believable path to salvation! The key to successfully relating to our readers is to ensure that we weave those crucial elements into our story. How our characters (and WE) perceive the problem will determine several things. Attitude doesn't necessarily effect the mechanics of how an issue is dealt with...a character can use the exact same skill sets with a completely opposite attitude, what WILL and SHOULD change is the type of experience drawn and of course the demeanor of the individual at the conclusion of the catalyst. Mismatch one of the elements and your story will come across as trite and hollow. As in life our protagonist or antagonist must evolve and change with each trial...our experiences change us...sometimes profoundly but if we refuse to let our experiences altar our demeanor, if we remain curmudgeonly then our suffering and the surmounting of it becomes moot. Our creations become woefully predictable and half formed...as do we my friends. Life is meant to be meet head on...especially when it becomes difficult. For every great darkness there is light...and that light is always held by those that we hold most dear...loved ones and strangers alike. Infuse your writing with the complexities of the human heart and all the shades of grey that lie within and you're sure to relate to a broad base of readers...thrillers, paranormal, YA....the subject matter isn't relevant...what brings stories to life is the ability of your character to relate to your reader!
Use your lives experience....think about how it changed you or someone around you...NOW you're ready to shatter some barriers!
The stress and struggles used to navigate these obstacles translates into three basic categories. Attitude...Experience...Demeanor. Simplistic you say? Maybe...but think about it. Our attitude is paramount and will determine the course and depth of the other two.
Our writing mirrors this. In our novels we place our creations into situations that we feverishly hope we never have to face and then we try to figure out a believable path to salvation! The key to successfully relating to our readers is to ensure that we weave those crucial elements into our story. How our characters (and WE) perceive the problem will determine several things. Attitude doesn't necessarily effect the mechanics of how an issue is dealt with...a character can use the exact same skill sets with a completely opposite attitude, what WILL and SHOULD change is the type of experience drawn and of course the demeanor of the individual at the conclusion of the catalyst. Mismatch one of the elements and your story will come across as trite and hollow. As in life our protagonist or antagonist must evolve and change with each trial...our experiences change us...sometimes profoundly but if we refuse to let our experiences altar our demeanor, if we remain curmudgeonly then our suffering and the surmounting of it becomes moot. Our creations become woefully predictable and half formed...as do we my friends. Life is meant to be meet head on...especially when it becomes difficult. For every great darkness there is light...and that light is always held by those that we hold most dear...loved ones and strangers alike. Infuse your writing with the complexities of the human heart and all the shades of grey that lie within and you're sure to relate to a broad base of readers...thrillers, paranormal, YA....the subject matter isn't relevant...what brings stories to life is the ability of your character to relate to your reader!
Use your lives experience....think about how it changed you or someone around you...NOW you're ready to shatter some barriers!
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Interview with author Janna Yeshanova
Can you give me a top ten of movies you thought were the best thing since sliced bread? And the reason why.Forrest Gump - It’s my “coffee table” movie! :)Once Upon A Crime - Unexpected humor.When I saw it, I thought it was the one of the funniest movies of my life! :)Argo Real heroism portrayed in real life events. I tip my hat.The Proposal Smart, gorgeous, witty, diligent, my favorite Sandra Bullock! :)Meet The Parents My daughter deserves a prince! Is one of those existing at all?Marriage Italian Style Sophia Loren! She is so gorgeous! She is so expressive! She is so … Italian! Can’t forget this film!The Tourist I could not predict what happens next! The actors are fabulous!Erin Brockovich Based on a true story! Be bold! Look forward! Take a risk! You will win in the end!The Birdcage Touching! Funny! Sensitive! Love wins in a clash of values!Rain Man Again: Love wins EVERYTHING! The movie is so funny! So sad! So happy! So kind! So profound!
--------------------Thanks Janna! :o) I appreciate the time and the sharing....check her out folks!
Book Blast
I'm hosting a book blast for author Janna Yeshanova. Attached are the links for her book:
Love is never past tense
Please give her work a look! Following is a link to the particulars.....
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Fear not...
Life is full of occasions when we all feel...stressed. Whether it's a child's first steps, sky-diving or an unpleasant confrontation with a nemesis of epic proportion, fear is a natural and at times necessary response to our environment.
In the world of writing, the process itself is a collaboration of experiences. Frustration, elation, trepidation and yes...fear!
We toil over our keyboards, reworking and manipulating our characters and their worlds. We struggle to convey the proper balance of dialog, action and setting...breathing life into figments of our imagination with the ultimate goal of presenting them to the public. Our labor is a reflection of ourselves and as such a deeply personal and emotional attachment is developed.
Publishing is the ultimate goal of all writers. Period. Full stop. End of story. We want our works perused! No matter if you're a debut author or a veteran, there's always a certain amount of trepidation... even fear...of waiting for the feedback on your latest offering.
Human beings are eclectic. There's no way to please all of them at once! Such an impossibility is forgotten at times when the reviews start coming in. Inevitably there will those who simply don't like your work! They hate the style, the prose...too much backstory, not enough, to little character development or too much! Everyone's a critic...or are they? For every negative comment received, you'll likely receive positive feedback as well.
We tend to focus on the negative and we shouldn't...each type should be scrutinized carefully. Use both to improve your work. No piece ever sold is universally accepted. Even the best sellers typically see up to 20% negative feedback! The key is to learn to not take such comments personally.
Difficult...indeed!
They feel personal! After months or even years of laboring on a project it's hard to remain objective but we must if we're to learn from and grow in the process. A thick skin is a necessary trait in the publishing world...persistence and a dogged determination are also prerequisites! Writing is hard...professional writing is even more difficult!
Professionals use ever single tool and resource available to them...including those harsh reviews! Learn to take what is useful and pertinent and discard the rest. In the fast changing world of digital publishing the only constant is the one element that will never change. The reader!
Believe in your work and never stop improving your skill sets...fear not!
In the world of writing, the process itself is a collaboration of experiences. Frustration, elation, trepidation and yes...fear!
We toil over our keyboards, reworking and manipulating our characters and their worlds. We struggle to convey the proper balance of dialog, action and setting...breathing life into figments of our imagination with the ultimate goal of presenting them to the public. Our labor is a reflection of ourselves and as such a deeply personal and emotional attachment is developed.
Publishing is the ultimate goal of all writers. Period. Full stop. End of story. We want our works perused! No matter if you're a debut author or a veteran, there's always a certain amount of trepidation... even fear...of waiting for the feedback on your latest offering.
Human beings are eclectic. There's no way to please all of them at once! Such an impossibility is forgotten at times when the reviews start coming in. Inevitably there will those who simply don't like your work! They hate the style, the prose...too much backstory, not enough, to little character development or too much! Everyone's a critic...or are they? For every negative comment received, you'll likely receive positive feedback as well.
We tend to focus on the negative and we shouldn't...each type should be scrutinized carefully. Use both to improve your work. No piece ever sold is universally accepted. Even the best sellers typically see up to 20% negative feedback! The key is to learn to not take such comments personally.
Difficult...indeed!
They feel personal! After months or even years of laboring on a project it's hard to remain objective but we must if we're to learn from and grow in the process. A thick skin is a necessary trait in the publishing world...persistence and a dogged determination are also prerequisites! Writing is hard...professional writing is even more difficult!
Professionals use ever single tool and resource available to them...including those harsh reviews! Learn to take what is useful and pertinent and discard the rest. In the fast changing world of digital publishing the only constant is the one element that will never change. The reader!
Believe in your work and never stop improving your skill sets...fear not!
Monday, July 29, 2013
Walk the Line
I've often reflected that our writing life mirrors our day to day experiences. Truth? Yes and no...While the characters and worlds we create are pulled from our imagination, much if not all of the way they relate with each other and their environment is based on our own experiences and desires.
The uniqueness of our craft is that we can enable responses in the way that we wish we could in reality!
An overbearing boss? No problem! Smack 'em, tell them off, plot their down fall or even their demise AND stay on the right side of the law!
As writers we can (and DO) inject our beliefs, values and world viewpoints onto our characters. Its part of what makes our work definitively our own. Our passion should be infused into our stories...BUT we walk a fine line from relating to ranting! My personal opinion is that the job of a storyteller is to enchant and entertain when writing fiction. Want to save the whales? AWESOME...but regardless of how vehemently you (or your character) believe in that cause, repetitious expounding on the topic will soon detract from even the best prose and plot.
We need to thread the needle...a story without a cause is doomed to dullness. The cause must be the underlining motivator and not the platform of the story itself. Use the cause but write about the effect!
We are all driven by something...usually it's the humdrum of daily needs. Work, kids, grocery shopping...yawn...but on the occasions when life challenges us...rescuing a fallen comrade, rendering aid to a hurt child or intervening on behalf of another our focus becomes laser sharp. Intent merges with action usually without conscious effort and we marvel in the aftermath. How did I do that?
That my friends should be our ultimate goal...like the great Johnny Cash said....Walk the line!
The uniqueness of our craft is that we can enable responses in the way that we wish we could in reality!
An overbearing boss? No problem! Smack 'em, tell them off, plot their down fall or even their demise AND stay on the right side of the law!
As writers we can (and DO) inject our beliefs, values and world viewpoints onto our characters. Its part of what makes our work definitively our own. Our passion should be infused into our stories...BUT we walk a fine line from relating to ranting! My personal opinion is that the job of a storyteller is to enchant and entertain when writing fiction. Want to save the whales? AWESOME...but regardless of how vehemently you (or your character) believe in that cause, repetitious expounding on the topic will soon detract from even the best prose and plot.
We need to thread the needle...a story without a cause is doomed to dullness. The cause must be the underlining motivator and not the platform of the story itself. Use the cause but write about the effect!
We are all driven by something...usually it's the humdrum of daily needs. Work, kids, grocery shopping...yawn...but on the occasions when life challenges us...rescuing a fallen comrade, rendering aid to a hurt child or intervening on behalf of another our focus becomes laser sharp. Intent merges with action usually without conscious effort and we marvel in the aftermath. How did I do that?
That my friends should be our ultimate goal...like the great Johnny Cash said....Walk the line!
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