Liebster Award

Monday, October 24, 2011

Liebster Award

Liebster Award 
This is an award given by bloggers to bloggers. I received mine by Bridgette Booth(http://bridgettebooth.com/) who is a historical writer, teacher, reader, and a blogger to be looked at in awe with her regular blog posts.
 
I will be passing this honor in the Youth category to  Caroline, (http://crohnsandme-caroline.blogspot.com/) a ten year old girl who posts about her battle with Crohns in a Christian and positive way.
 
And into the Makes You Think category I will give this to Kent, ( http://mkenttravis.com/) a blogger who is a teacher, and a youth leader(Yes, I am showing favouritism, he is my youth leader. I still like his blog. )
 
I hope you check out both their blogs and like what you read.(You will)
 

Poll: I Want Jody to Donate to . . .

Poll: I Want Jody to Donate to . . .

This is a Chirstian author who wrote a Chirstian book and wants to donate it to one of these foundations, here are the causes:

Illumination Publishers International is a non-profit organization which sends Christian literature to missionaries and Christians in third world countries.

Judith’s Reading Room is an non-profit organization which creates mobile libraries for VA hospitals, war zone areas for active military, pediatric emergency rooms, and underserved communities.

Christian Library International is a non-profit organization that brings Christian literature to men and women in prisons.

Donation Town is an online directory for local charities that accept book donations for adult literacy programs, hospice reading to patients programs, and small struggling libraries.

Christian Resources International a non-profit organization which ships donated books to missionaries and pastors around the world.

Vote Vote Vote!!!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Adverbage

No, I do not know if that is a word. But it is a bad thing.

 "An elephant quickly ran towards me." Gag.  Do you feel scared? I don't.I feel amused. I think of an

elephant to fat to go fast so he kinda power waddles to me.

"An elephant charged to me in a furious gallop."  My knees are a little more wobbly now. Why? because

adverbs are fairly weak when it comes to Mad elephants or type of action really. Bad arguments, fist fights,

running away scenes.  When you read an adverb, you get the sense of being cheated out of the scene. I feel

like I am in one of those black and white movies, the really old ones where the words come after the actors

move their mouths, the lighting in virtually none-existent, and the quality is grainy. You can't get into the

scene, and you get bored easily. Compared that to sharp, clear words that are precise, true and descriptive.

It'll sharpen up your scene and make your reader more interested. Here are some commanly miss-

used/overly used adverbs you should avoid:



very - While “very” is intended to magnify a verb, adverb, or noun, it lacks precision. “Very” is

seldom essential. (Now, what’s wrong with “seldom” in the preceding sentence?) And very, very is

even worse. That's like saying infinite squared.

not - “Not” is an adverb meaning “in no manner” or “to no degree.” I discourage writers from using

“not” in short phrases. i.e. "It is not." Instead. "I disagree," "You're wrong." etc.

never / always - Absolutes either lock a writer into a position or give the reader the feel of

exaggeration, which typically makes them feel the word being described is not of great importance.

Use these words when the absolute is a command or instruction.
Always make sure the nuclear reactor chamber is sealed properly.
almost / nearly - Approximations should be used sparingly. Use “almost” or “nearly” when a precise

measurement is unrealistic in fiction or impossible. Plus, its boring. it reminds of
"Kids...We're almost there..."

anxiously / eagerly - “Anxiously” implies with anxiety and “eagerly” implies with anticipation. Both are weak adverbs that can be replaced by better describing a situation, as with all -ly words.

She waited anxiously.
She sat waiting, biting her lip and looking around the room.
only / merely - Condescending when used to describe a noun. Can be confusing.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Juciy

If you’ve read just read “Just Say Yes” then you know I support writing regularly. But what about? If you’re sick and tired of your book (and if you’ve been writing faithfully then you will be soon) then just write about life. About unloading the dishwasher. Turn that into a horror about being attacked by knives. A mystery as to who is stealing your silver. Or write about some idea you had/have that isn’t substantial enough to actually be written out in NIP form. Recall some random dialog you overheard in the supermarket and turn it into a scene. I’ve found that a great deal of times things like that end up in my manuscripts. (Except for the knives attacking me.) This is also great for people who really want to write but don’t have much to go on. It encourages you to write and gives you ideas, getting that creative juice flowing.
To get you started, write a scene with no more than 3 adverbs on this topic:
A young boy has tried repeatedly to fly a kite his whole life, but never succeeded. Then, one afternoon, his father who abandoned him comes back and tries to teach him how to fly a kite.


What are some things that you creative juices flowing? And what real life things have ended up in your manuscripts?

Saturday, October 1, 2011

NED...is it contagious??

NED. It is a seemingly an innocent name. Au contraire.  NED stands for three of the most horrible syndromes an author can have.
1.) N= No one syndrome.  The No one syndrome is when someone thinks no one at all can write except the already published and successful writers, and even they are pushing it. These people may have great talent, they just have no faith. If you think you have what it takes to write, then try it.  What’s the worst thing that can happen?
2.) E=Everyone  syndrome. It is the exact opposite of N. These people think that everyone who wants to be published can be. That’s not quite true. Writting is a hard business, and not all people have the time, talent, money and skills to do so. Frequently E’s are unable to write, but have unrealistically high expectations. So if you suffer from this, you will suffer in writting, but I assure you it will all be worth in the end.
3.) D=Delayers syndrome. They aren’t pessimistic. They don’t have ridiculously high hopes. So they start prepared...but don’t carry through.  They get to something they don’t like...outlining, tough scenes, difficult character, and suddenly their busy. Their manuscript left under other work...then in a drawer...then they’ve forgotten half of their ideas. Stick through it! Plow through! Make time for your manuscript. It’s your baby, you don’t want to leave your baby whenever you get busy!


Do you notice what is the cure for all NED’s? Writing.