Tuesday, July 21, 2015

BLURBS AND TAGLINES....

Hi, All,

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Chicago is FINALLY experiencing some summer-like weather.... afternoon thunderstorms and all. But at least is is WARM!

Today a I'd like to touch upon something many writers have a hard time writing, and that is the tagline and blurb for you story.

I was honored earlier today by one of my favorite blogger friends, who is also client. Yolanda Renee is an exceptional writer, but has some difficulty narrowing down her novels to one sentence and a few paragraphs. Sound familiar?

If you missed her post yesterday she was kind enough to show the process of one of my services, blurb and tag editing, step by step.

One thing we must remember about blurbs and taglines, they have to GRAB our reader. A writer can create atmosphere and magic even in one or two sentences. When I write a blurb, I want to feel the essence of the story. What drives the story? Bring out the passion... concentrate on one scene that is pivotal to the story and focus on that....This way the reader is not bogged down with step one, two, three. Who wants to read a monotone tagline or blurb. WE want to read about the passion of the character. What they overcome. What is there challenge? Get us to want more. Weave that scene into the overall story. This is how I write an intriguing tagline and blurb.

Do any of you have a special way to attack that tagline or blurb? I'd love to hear about it... Perhaps it can help another writer.

If you are interested, please drop by Yolanda Renee's blog. Blurbs and taglines can actually be fun if you don't become overwhelmed by it. If you do, perhaps I can help you, too. I do enjoy writing blurbs and I do have a knack for them. I don't usually self promote, but I thought this was a nice way of reintroducing my services to all of you. I have other services as well, just click onto the badge and it will take you to my service page.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

A NEW MONTH... AN NEW BEGINNING...

Hi, Everyone,

Thanks for dropping by on Monday for the return of the WEP. If you haven't heard, WRITE...EDIT...PUBLISH is back. So for those of you who LOVE Flash Fiction drop down to my previous post.

Once again it is the first Wednesday of the month and thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh, we can post about our anxieties about life, writing, and our deepest darkest fears. As well as lending support and advice for those who need a lift. Such a great way to start the month. Don't you think?

So please pop over to Alex's "List" and visit those who need encouragement or to read about some wonderful advice from others.

Today I'd like to talk about timing and new beginnings. How often have we started over, changing our course or direction. Even the best laid out plans can crumble. I should know. Spending six months planning my move only to end up with frustration and back to to where I started. It happens to all of us. 

But you can learn from this. I have always believed in timing. If the timing is off, then this course or journey is not the right one. So we have to pull ourselves back up off the ground and continue. Mull things over and plan a new direction. It's the same for our writing. You can outline plots, characters, scenes, etc. and then begin to write. It may be smooth sailing at the beginning and everything seems to fall right into place...then...WHAM! You're knocked on your butt. 

What do you do? 

Giving up is NEVER an option. So, you pick yourself up and start over. Eventually it will run smoothly again. IF not, CHANGE your course completely. Maybe focus on a different character. Change the tense, or simply put the project away for a while. Take a walk. Clear your head. Have lunch with a friend. OR... reach out to you blogger pals. Shoot an email to a CP. It may help TWEAK the situation to your favor.

As for me. At this time, I am concentrating on other things. Leaving my "HOME" worries behind and delving back into our FINE community. Re-aquanting myself with my blogger buddies, and psyching myself up for the SCBWI conference at the end of this month. I have LOTS of revisions to do on my first novel, which is now the time to do it.

Keep your minds and hearts open and all will work out. Always believe that everything happens for a reason and how we REACT to it shows us how strong we really are and gives us character. Life's experiences strengthens us and not to mention we have some great stories to write about!

Have a wonderful day everyone! Celebrate Life and HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!