Fiction writing

2006-09-11T00:05:00.000-04:00

Welcome!

Keeping to a writing schedule is become a daunting task for me the past couple of months. I'm not so sure I have the time now to research markets except for on weekends. The constant struggle and sacrifices a writer has to make can be too overwhelming sometimes. When you think about it publishing writing is similar to entering a career, it comes down to who you know. This is what drives me crazy! That's not how success is suppose to evolve. Why should people be handed opportunities that they don't deserve or haven't worked hard to obtain? I guess I'll never fathom this factor when it goes to landing a job.

The problem today in becoming a successful writer is that almost everyone wants to be one. Well, that's means it's a popular career option. On the other hand, the field is extremely competitive with only the strong surviving. Publishers have become too busy to look at everyone's manuscript and are annoyed by mass frequent mail. Hearing this could cause even a positive thinking person to quit sooner or later, but it is those who are bound and determined that prevail by eventually reaching a deal and becoming published. It's a long, trenchous road ahead and it's hard not to lose confidence.

If there is desire you still have a chance (sometimes you think it's so slim your effort in trying will be inconsequential). Seeing one rejection letter after another is too much to bare unless an aspiring writer uses it as a form of motivation to improve above expectation and are driven to succeed. Having a positive influence like a mentor who constantly provides encouragement and is uplifting can make a world of difference for young writers. I wish I'd had someone like this growing up. For self-help articles, market info. and links click on the following link:

www.firstwriter.com

If you feel like posting articles and expressing your opinions on world events here also is another good outlet: www.associatedcontent.com
I'll try to check back in within a few weeks with more insight and frustrations connected with the art of writing.

2006-08-26T22:59:00.000-04:00

Writing Contests

Updating this site weekly is longer possible. There will posts here every so often with news, thoughts, and links. If the writing bug hits you then put that new short story, novel, or article to good use. Enter a couple writing contests. Though, first be sure to research the organization who's sponsoring the contest. There are many on-going contests open still for the remainder of the summer and extending into the fall.

To save time and efforts it's best to enter contests that don't charge any entry fees. Usually those that do are not worth the hassle of entering. The following links give details of writing contests currently available (some of these you have to register first before submitting):

www.glimmertrainpress.com

www.fictionfanatic.com/contests/contests.php

www.fundsforwriters.com/contests.htm

2006-08-12T20:43:00.000-04:00

Travel Writing: Creating literary material from observation

Welcome to another installment on my writer's blog!

Finding good stories usually requires an inspiration or jump start to trigger one's imagination. You can meet and see intriguing, memorable people when going on a business trip or vacation. From them writers can recall physical traits, accents, mannerisms, personalities, and so much more. The best thing to do when fleshing out characters from these people is to jot down the most striking attributes that catch your attention. Seeing how they react in unfamiliar places or situations helps with creating a setting and plot for a story too.

Taking an everyday average human being, who has noble qualities and distinct features with a likeable/dislikeable appeal and thinking how they'd react in a given cirumstance or event that everyone can relate to leads to a basis for a story. Brainstorming will allow a writer to twink a character, to find out what works or is well suited for them. While traveling you can witness many strange sometimes enthralling events. You see how people cope with stress, heartache, being vulnerable, catastrophes, and other emotional states of mind.

Whether you meet up with a business acquaintance or have a conservation with a stranger through travel experiences a bit of knowledge about people can be learned. Simply walking into a person's office you can get insight by looking at pictures, computers, clothes, personal mementos, etc. The same applies to places. For example, when checking into hotels you can take notice to the environment (casual or business) and how people behave in such a setting. There are endless possibilities for developing a starting point for a storyline. The important part, for any story though is making sure it makes sense and will interest an audience.

2006-07-29T20:27:00.000-04:00

Writing for free, learning how to find legitimate contests

It's been a while since the last post. I don't expect to keep this page updated every week or often as I like. It's good just to make it to the weekend without anything too dramatic occurring. As writers we all have to learn from mistakes, avoiding pitfalls other writers fall into here and then. One way to do this is by knowing when to write for free and when not to because scammers and thieves within publishing jump at the chance to take advantage of writers.

There are so many schemes where unknown publishers invite new writers to submit literary material to them to be published as anthology or compilation of articles in exchange for cash. Usually writers never hear back from people about receiving payment for their work. It's sometimes stolen and later profited after being sold elsewhere on the market. Avoiding such a cheap ploy can be done by checking a publisher or individual's background, scanning for contact information while in the process of searching former client's feedback or records of business. If no exists this means they're new and probably aren't legit.

It used to seem safe to just enter any writing contests because of the fame and prestige you'd receive if deemed a top winner. Now you can't count on contests to be ran clean. Scam artists realize how eager young, new and inexperienced writers are to publish their first story, building credits and gaining acclaim for their work. That's why they entice people to enter these random contests no one has heard of before, sometimes using fake sponsors to draw more attention or interest. Those tactics you really have to watch out for, otherwise you fall victim to literary corruption and waste a lot of your time.

Finding out the pertinent information such as name of publisher, years in business, past relationships with clients, if they have any partner companies, and if they've been reported to BBB. Setting yourself up for disaster can happen if you don't know what you're doing. It's always good too to ask other reputable publishers or accredited writers if they've heard of these new literary groups.

There are several contests open for the summer and early fall. If interested be sure to check out the following site: www.fictionfanatic.com

2006-07-15T22:34:00.000-04:00

Film Review: Firewall

Catching blockbuster hits in the summer can be sporadic. Most are built up way too much and given so much promotion that they truly disappoint an audience when the movie is finally released. A few weeks back I got to watch a film I knew was going to entertaining with a twist of suspense. Firewall starring Harrison Ford is an action thriller that keeps an audience guessing, what will the main character do next and how will he get out this life-threatening predicament?

The film is about a bank security specialist who's family gets kidnapped by a group of bank robbers. They're actually held hostage in their home, with no contact from friends, neighbors, or relatives. The head robber, Bill Cox (Paul Bettany), a violent mysterious man forces Ford's character to break into rich clients' bank accounts through a security code while connected to a bank terminal and deposit money into his off shore accounts. Ford is hooked up to small microphone and video feeds on the outside on his sports jacket as he enters the bank the next day for work.

Bill Cox later enters the bank as a fake acquaintance of Jack (Ford's character) after finding out further information about access to money from other accounts. When Jack refuses to cooperate the bank robbers threaten to kill his family. They kidnap his family and hold them hostage at a disclosed location. Jack finally retaliates, attacking one of the robbers in his home with a coffee pot until he's unconscious and dead. From there he must track down his family to save them with the help of his secretary. It's filled with suspense, leaving an audience on the edge of their seats.

I enjoyed this movie because it was depicted from modern times. You got the idea of what goes through today's mastermind thieves who try calculated schemes to steal money. Harrison Ford again delivered in the leading role. Despite his age he still makes action scenes work and seem realistic, though doesn't perform all of his own stunts. I recommend this film to action/thriller/drama seekers. Out of 10 I give this film a 8 rating. Yeah, it was that good.

2006-07-01T20:42:00.000-04:00

Hello and welcome!

This week has flew by without much time to do or think about anything but work. I'm glad to make it to the weekend. Thank God next Tuesday is the 4th and I a day off work. My writing time is hampered during the week to the point where if I don't get up early in the morning and ulitize that time I don't get much if any writing done. As far as ideas, I've comtemplated a few possibilities for TV shows and screenplays. There is only one which I've written a short rough draft, fleshing out the most out of the main characters as I can create.

I've put trying to find a publisher for my short stories on hold. I'd like to go ahead and have them published, but it's just too time consuming for me right now. Being busy isn't always good. You miss out on other activities and projects that can be fulfilling. Searching for work as a writer is pretty much a full-time job. Even if you like to do it as a part-time gig or hobby it's a big committment.

You can check out market lists on writers sites, viewing what publishers are looking for fiction (humor, sci-fi, general, suspense, mystery, etc.) and non-fiction works. Finding the right market takes research and time. Writers have their work cut out for them.

The following are links to writers' market lists:

www.writerswrite.com

www.fictionfactor.com

Enjoy and have a good weekend!

2006-06-24T15:46:00.000-04:00

Welcome!

What makes a great comical character

Since I began writing and reading fiction I've always enjoyed true funny characters. Whether it's a lead or supporting character it doesn't matter to me. I like to entertain and be entertained. The traits of a well-developed comedic character in a story catch readers' immediate attention. They want to find out more about this character and what he or she will do next. Putting a comical character in a unfamiliar place or awkward situation heightens the hilarity.

For example in the movie the Ringer, Johnny Knoxville is convinced to rigg the Special Olympics by his shady uncle. There Knoxville's character, Jeffy (who he lies about from the get go) is completely out of place. He doesn't know how to act or what to say around all the real mentally challenged participants or the counselors. Everything he goes through to try to win the Special Olympics is amusing and funny. In end he lets another participant win the contest, admitting he is a fraud.

Key characteristics of a great comical character are: mannerisms, emotion, physcial movements (slaptick, etc.) mimicry, voice tone, facial expressions, wittiness, retrack of exposition (about their past), and natural abilities. The more known about a character the more memorable or enduring that character can be to an audience. Reading comedy sketches, scripts, or shorts can help in fleshing out inventive comedic characters. The important part is to be original and not duplicate another's writer unique character.

Quick note: Below is a link to a screenplay contest for feature length films:

http://www.filmmakers.com/contests/2006/

2006-06-17T23:55:00.000-04:00

Film Review: Glory Road

Usually I'm not one to indulge in breakdowns or analysis of movie, but after watching (finally got around to watching it on DVD) the forementioned movie it's well worth discussing. Glory Road is about the 1965 Texas Western college basketball team who won the NCAA championship. The coach, Don Haskins who's white, played by Josh Lucas started 5 black players in the final game of the season against the Kentucky Wildcats. Throughout the film Texas Western is viewed as a underdog who can't succeed and wins games on a fluke.

Going back to the '60s, several issues and conflicts are interwined with the true story: segregation, racism, and social values and customs. It gave the movie so much raw emotion and energy. The historical revisitation to a time where black people weren't accepted or liked in the South added to the stakes and heightened the tension. The confrontation between whites and blacks showed glimpses of the past, the edgy relationships between the two groups.

From a performance and talent standpoint white athletes were considered superior to all other minorities. At the end of the movie, Kentucky gets upset, expecting to win their 5th consecutive NCAA title. Finally Coach Haskins who college basketball thought was a joke leads his team to victory, overcoming all odds, obstacles, and pressures. From there Texas Western as well as black athletes in general started to receive the credit and recognition they deserved. I recommend watching Glory Road for anyone who enjoys a good drama or wants to relive the '60s. I give this movie 5 stars!

2006-06-11T23:45:00.000-04:00

Welcome!

Wow, I can't believe the weekend is almost over. I've had another hectic week with my work schedule and all. I'm getting too tired to work overtime, especially going on 4 straight weeks. Anyway, it was nice to have a break and make to the weekend. Due to lack of free time I've not be able to brush up on any of my writing projects besides keeping my blogs updated.

What I have been doing is checking my email regularly and been getting several notices about screenwriting contests and news in Hollywood. It seems like everyone has written a movie script these days and are anxiously trying to sell it. The ultimate goal for screenwriters is get their screenplay produced into a motion picture. Screenplay shorts have become popular too, not just in the U.S. The Britain film festival is actively seeking shorts for the summer. Comedies and dramas tend to garner the most interest there.

To learn more about screenwriting and what's in development in Hollywood you can get the latest insights at: www.creativescreenwriting.com

Here is another great source to get the scoop on film and entertainment:

www.hollywoodreporter.com

That's it for this week. I plan on having deeper analysis on writing next week. Until then...write those thoughts and ideas on paper when they hit you. You never know what they may lead to later.

2006-06-03T21:56:00.000-04:00

Writing for cash schemes

Becoming an accomplished writer with credits and a polished portfolio is becoming a more daunting challenge these days. There are so many frauds and scam artists roaming around in the literary world trying to deceive the innocent and gullible. The way these individuals practice business is not only unethical, but also corrupt. They advertise job opportunities that are fake and always have a catch. No one likes to do business with liars. The thing that gets me is these scammers think honest, everyday people will pay them an upfront fee to write for them.

Obviously, writers aren't providing literary material or content for them. They're just being robbed senselessly. Warning others about underminded practices from an unidentifiable or unknown business helps in avoiding them falling into the same traps. It will also work to put an end to such malpractice and shut down schemers. Before submitting any writing to an unfamiliar or new publisher it's a good idea to check postings on writing forums and sites.

All the latest news on publishing frauds and scandals can be found at the following link:

www.writerbeware.com

2006-05-28T22:36:00.000-04:00

Writing From Within

Keeping the writing juices flowing all the time remains a constant struggle between mind and matter. Examining life and the many experiences you've encountered alone or shared with others can spur great stories. Thinking about specific situations and how frustrated, tired, sad, depressed, happy, irritated, or uncomfortable you felt can help develop a basis for a main character. Taking the first step in creating an inspirational literature piece can be done through recollection of a past event or real life occurrence.

Many authors today are relying on their personal experiences in preparation for a novel. Sometimes they get ideas from previous jobs, family, community events, business acquaintances, local crimes, and daily routines such as frequenting a coffee shop or exercising at the gym. There are so many intriguing yet often disturbing people you meet or even know, who have traits and mannerisms so distinct that fictional characters can be fleshed out from them. Attitudes, tone of voice, body language, habits (good or bad), mood, personality, demeanor, and verbal and physical expression all contribute to the being of a character.

There is so much a writer can learn just through observation. Watching how a person behaves on a regular basis gives an indication of type of a person they are in life. When developing a story you can figure out whether this character you're basing from someone in real life is going to a hero or villian. Coming up with an original, fascinating story idea isn't as simple as merely looking out your bedroom window into your backyard. Occasionally waiting for a decisive factor to trigger a whole concept or plan works best for most writers. You never know, inspiration could right around the corner at any time too. Keep the writing spirit alive!

2006-05-20T23:25:00.000-04:00

Hey there,

Lately there has been a lot of buzz surrounding the release of The DaVinci Code by author Dan Brown. Everyone seems to be caught up with the religious background and revelations this story contains. The film, starring Tom Hanks is set to come out on DVD next week. I'm not big on mythical or religious flicks, but this one does sound intriguing. It appears to have a lot of suspense, so the book should be a good read as well.

The last book I've read was Roger Kahn's the Boys Of Summer, which is a candid recollection of the Brooklyn Dodgers from late 40s to 50s. It discusses the life and times of the Dodger players, including the chain of events before and after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier by becoming the first black player to enter the Major Leagues. This changed the formation of baseball forever. You don't necessarily have to be a baseball fan to enjoy this book. It deals with many circumstances outside the sport too.

I need to start finding time to read even with a hectic work schedule. Whenever I get the chance I'm going to sit down and delve into some plays. I particular enjoy comedies by playwrights like Neil Simon, Larry Shue, and Thorton Wilder. If I could only find such entertaining play scripts on websites to read, available free of charge for educational purposes. Writing a play is probably more of a challenge than writing a screenplay despite the similiarities. One day I'll get around to searching for some of the classic works of satire and farce. Until then I will have to make the most out of my limited free time.

2006-05-13T18:23:00.000-04:00

Welcome to all!

Wow! This week has flew by without question. I've been so busy with obligations and business to enjoy any free time to myself. The work week was hectic again, but I'm adjusting. Anyway, there is a time to write for every creative mind and the weekend is my time, for the most part. I try to sneak in some blurbs and comments on pages towards the middle of the week.

My information to share today is limited. So much focus today in Hollywood seems to be writing great, compelling scripts. The more original the better obviously, which is sometimes a daunting challenge. To write the next best TV and film scripts it's a good study aid to read other professional scripts, some of which that have been used while others haven't. This shows writers which methods or formulas work or how to avoid pitfalls and blandness.

The links below have a database of produced screenplays and TV show scripts. There are helpful resources and guides on the pages as well.

http://www.simplyscripts.com

http://www.scriptcrawler.com

http://www.script-o-rama.com

2006-05-06T21:35:00.000-04:00

Well, I survived another week to make it to the weekend again. I've been too pressed on time to get much writing done. Running here and there to do errands simply took up too much free time. I don't know how long I will stay at my new job. I'm in the wrong career field because there is nothing fulfilling or excting about going to work each week (working in a factory or distribution center gets boring fast). If only I can find a real job opportunity. Whether the duties involve writing or not I don't care just so it peeks my interest.

There hasn't been anything remotely feasible in the market lists I've scan over in the past week. I'm started to wonder if there is any publications that will accept some of my short stories. It just seems like a lost cause. Running in circles never gets a person anywhere. I've been too busy to find any listings for writing contests, publications seeking short stories, or postings for writers wanted. If you are looking, however, for free articles on the craft of writing check out Article Stop some time. Writers can find plenty of advice as well as tricks of the trade.

2006-04-29T22:37:00.000-04:00

Welcome!

What a long, draining week! I'm glad to make to the weekend. Working full-time sure does put a damper on other activities and commitments. I don't have enough time any more to write during the week. Even if I came up with a great idea or series of ideas for stories I wouldn't be able to develop until later. My job is a killer...standing up way too long and doing meangingless work. What can I do, I've got to make money.

I've been receiving updates lately about film festivals. These Hollywood types are determined about getting their message out about contests and film events. The problem for most writers is the entry fees. It's expensive just to register a script. This turns writers away and rightfully so. I know I don't have $50-$100 to hand out. The film festivals always list the big name agencies that will be in attendance, interested in new feature films and shorts.

News and info. about various film festivals can found at the following links:

www.moondancefilmfestival.com

www.donedealpro.com/members/listing.aspxontent_type=10

www.inktip.com/festivals.php

2006-04-22T23:52:00.000-04:00

The writing bug for short stories and scripts has departed from me momentarily. My concentration, more or less, is on my sports blogs. The web pages have took up most of my limited free time. Since starting a new job I've been able to stick to a writing schedule. This sucks! I'd like to read a few books too. The weekends are the only time for such a leisure activity. There are screenplays I'd like to read as well. I'm in the middle of finishing Death to Smoochy.

I wish coming up with great ideas for stories was always easy. The conflict is carrying out everything (plot, characters, stakes, conflict, resolution) so that it well structured yet entertaining. Sometimes you have to ask yourself, does the beginning or middle sounds dry and boring? Does the whole story make you want sleepy? If that's the case you've got work to do so get cracking. To get help with formulated and carrying out stories it's smart to join writing workshops. Plenty are circulating online, usually traceable through other writing sites through resource links. Below are links to writing workshops.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mikeswritingworkshop/

www.internetwritingworkshop.org/

www.critique.org/critters/

2006-04-15T19:53:00.000-04:00

Writing ad copy for online auctions

A few weeks ago I found out about this business opportunity to make money by writing ad copy for Ebay. This sounded like a writing gig I'd be interested in doing. Well, it turns out the Ebay seller only paid $3 per auction. Plus your had to do extensive research on each item then write a 3-5 paragraph description which included everything from the exact title to various background information such as year created, logos, models in existence, and series no.

Creating such web content for sales on auction sites do give writers exposure in another area and further experience. On the other hand, the endeavor should be worth your time and resources. The easy route in writing item descriptions is by looking at other listings for the same item. Then ad copy can be duplicated or altered enough to stand out from the rest of the pack. The idea is to convince potential customers to buy your product. It's all has to do with wording and how a great visual image is created in a reader's mind.

It can be fun to experiment in different areas of writing and step out of the write-what-you-know zone. This will only lead to growth as a writer and maybe a decent paying gig in the future. Garnering recognition and credits is key; the more the better so expand your horizon to get the most of out writing skills. Best wishes to all writers out there. Readers, thanks for visiting this page and feel free to return each week for a new post.

2006-04-06T12:52:00.000-04:00

Markets for publishing books

Welcome!

I'm still searching for a publisher for my baseball novel. I've had no luck so far. Research and time are valuable assets of any writer. That's why it's so important to scour the Internet for the latest book deals, market listings, and finding out about publishers' background. Corruption is always out there in business, but you can avoid falling into a scheme by discovering a small press or publisher's creditability. I've mentioned it in early posts that Writer Beware is an excellent source for knowing what companies are legit and those who are scammers.

There are tons of databases with listings for publishers seeking manuscripts. Again, it's smart to do your homework to find out about their practices and relations with authors. The following links provide listings for E-Publishers, Traditional House Publishers, and Publishers specializing in Print-on-Demand.

http://www.fictionaddiction.net/publishers.html

http://www.writergazette.com/linkspublishers.shtml

http://www.writerswrite.com/books/bookpubs/

If you're considering publishing a book or even a short story collection check these sites out. There are numerous resources with great links to other educational writing sites!

2006-03-31T20:30:00.000-05:00

Writing Headlines that catch readers by surprise

Hello again. All of a sudden the idea of headlines for writing services and articles popped up in my mind. Catchy, attention grabbing headlines aren't always easy to produce. I've noticed several though that caught my attention. One such headline was about learning how to write erotica, which read, "So you want to become a porn reader, do you? The one keyword here that lures people in is porn. This isn't to say that everyone is interested in this subject yet they're at least curious. After reading this headline on another writing site I thought it was funny because I'd never seen such a outrageous tag line before.

Humor can work well in a headline, but making blunders to describe a serious event or topic can instead sound inappropriate or silly. For example, an error in an headline could be like,"Man is saved by Lap Dance" instead of "Man is saved by Lap Dog." These mistakes are prominent and should be corrected in editing process. Making sure there are no spelling errors is important too.

Every now and then you'll spot a funny headline in the newspaper that are mistakes. Writing a strong opening for any purpose whether it's for a service, event, book, or article will draw readers' attention if it hits the target audience. Copywriters seem to make a good living from writing headlines and short content for publications. I'd like to gain the experience in this area and one day offer my expertise to potential clients. Reading tons of headlines will only makes a writer's skills better.

2006-03-23T21:26:00.000-05:00

Hello and welcome to my writing page. I'm still ediitng my baseball novel, which will take longer than I expected. Keeping a daily writing regimen is very challenging. Working your schedule around it requires sacrifice, which means giving up free time for other interests or endeavors. Right now, it would be nice to have my book published, but realistically this won't happen until the summer if not later. There is just too much work left for me to do.

In between my current main project I've been further exploring the blogging world. I didn't realize there were such an abundance on the Web until I visited Blog Explosion. Blogging has really taken off. There are blogs for almost every imaginable subject from writing to rock climbing. Most of the web hosts provide a free service to create blogs.

Here are some websites which offer services for this ever growing, popular trend:

www.link2blogs.com

www.bloghub.com

www.blogsubmission.com

www.blogcrowd.com

I'm going to try to surf some members blogs on these sites. I could always use link partners or those who just like to share similar interests. Receiving feedback from others gives ideas or hints for improvement.

2006-03-17T18:31:00.000-05:00

Completing My First Novel

Welcome!

Keeping this blog updated every week is a challenge for me. Since I have 3 other blogs (sports, humor) I keep active my writing here has been limited. Anyway I'm working on a second full edit of my baseball novel, Rookie Sensation. Currently stopped on page 55 which means I'm half way finished. While reading through chapters I've noticed the story needs to be restructured a little bit and still have some kinks worked out. Since I wish to have it published I need the scenes to flow together nicely, be in chronological order, and more importantly entertain readers.

I understood that there would much work involved in writing and producing a final draft for a book, but it's almost overwhelming. Information though I've gathered online has reassured me that they are numerous ways to promote a book and find the right outlets to market it. The tricky part is actually finding a publisher. The idea of self-publishing is okay, but it requires an inital investment which most writers can't afford. The option of print-on-demand interests me. Has anyone out there gone this route and found it to be successful for your book? I'm looking at testing the market first really. Since my novel caters primarily to young male adults and I'm a new author, releasing my book in a local or regional market could be a good way to experiment.

It will give me an idea of how the target market responds and what's appealing or not to them. Then if there was a rapid spur of interest or desire promotional efforts could be altered. Time is another factor in publishing too. A seasonal sport like baseball is best published in the early Spring before the start of the season or in mid-summer. That's why now I need to continue sending out query letters and notices about my novel to as many prospective publishers as possible. Weeding through all the unsuitable places and forwarded declines to read the manuscript may take a while. Despite that, I won't stop my pursuit to get published.

2006-03-09T18:03:00.000-05:00

Learning How To Sell Yourself

Becoming a published writer with a portfolio of credentials is a always a challenge. Struggling for years to find a bidder and place for manuscripts makes a career seem bleak. With a boost of confidence and a positive attitude things can change. That's why in the publishing world it's so important to market and promote yourself. Anyone who doesn't has a far less chance of being published.

Through the help of mass media and ever advancing technology writers can get the word out about themselves and their work. You don't have to be the most outspoken person or great public speaker to reach writing success. Too many writers are discouraged because they don't like the spotlight. It's smart though to at least know someone in public relations within the industry to get your name out there. Getting involved in book signings, workshops, book fairs, and online writers forums or groups can help tremendously.

Investing time is marketing is well worth the effort in order to gain much needed exposure. The committment will pay off in the long run. Seeing your name appear on the front of a book cover or any published work has to make a writer feel good inside. You also know that you've achieved a top goal which looked to be out of your reach.

2006-03-02T19:53:00.000-05:00

Greetings to all!

The past two weeks I've been working on an idea for a TV sitcom. Writing a script for television can be hit or miss as with a screenplay. I think there is more flexibility with a TV show script since you can create several different episodes for a starting point. That way you have choices to pick from in establishing a opening situation. All great stories or concepts need to hook an audiences.

Some writers prefer creating stories for TV since it takes less time than than a movie script. Plus usually a chain of writers work together, which maximizes the effort. My favorite TV show growing up was Married With Children. The writers had so many humorous ideas for family situations that drew viewers' common interests. Everyone could relate to the situations. I've also enjoyed the variety shows too like Saturday Night Live, In Living Color, and Mad TV.

To get started with an idea for a show it's smart to examine the following elements closely:

1. plot- should have a purpose, drive the characters to take actions or strive towards a goal.

2. characters- main characters need to have an ever lasting effect on audience, incite an emotion or interest, be memorable, and have an impact on the story.

3. setting- Environment must be realistic or fit well with main characters.

4. conflict- Something must happen to bring on a problem or issue. Otherwise the story is flat and becomes meaningless.

5. resolution- An effort to solve a problem is necessary. Characters have desires to reach accomplishments so their active involvement in handling or fixing a situation keeps the story moving, maintaining an audiences' interest.

The creative ideas for TV shows are endless. Not all are good at first, but with enough work and restructuring they can be profitable in the right market. Finding that market is the real challenge. I'll continue working on my ideas and try to make them evolve into valued material which maybe I can sell one day.

2006-02-25T21:15:00.000-05:00

Finding markets For joke fillers

Scouring the Internet and database market lists for publications seeking joke fillers takes patience. The resources are available to find these markets. I have a massive collection of jokes in my portfolio, though have a tough time locating the right publication for them. The type of humor I write ranges from observational to satricial, covering all types of topics. Some may say my humor is sophmoric.

I've submitted groups of jokes to a couple publications, but had no luck being published. Editors have weird tastes when it comes to humor. If they don't get it or find it amusing they believe no one else will. That's how the literary marketplace seems to work. Locating a core audience for specific types of comedy is the key. I've been meaning to submit a joke and article idea to the National Lampoon .

Here are links to publications seeking fillers and writing websites with listings and information on humor writing:

http://www.absolutemarkets.com

http://www.fundsforwriters.com

http://www.satevepost.org

http://www.newyorker.com

The best part about joke fillers is they're quick to write and don't require a query letter during the submission process. The short pieces and one-liners build decent credits on a portfolio or resume too. I recommend writers who enjoy humor to tap into his market to earn extra cash.

2006-02-21T21:54:00.000-05:00

The Daily Time Killer

Welcome!

Any writer with a great desire to published knows editing consumes time, especially after finishing a rough draft. I've always disliked having to recheck punctuation, spelling, word usuage, sentence structure, etc. It gets to be a pain in the butt! However, it's essential part of writing which requires careful attention and patience. I tend to slack off on editing because the joy for me is creating a story with compelling elements. This wreaks trouble when trying to publish a literary piece. I've learned from such lackluster efforts and realized how important it is to rework a story with several revisions if necessary.

Weeding out redundant words or phrases helps in the editing process. This way stories won't sound so dull. I've also learned to avoid using cliches too. They're considered to be a killer when submitting to an editor. Sticking to a writing routine or even joining a writing workshop will help with this problem. As a reference, writers can use books like the Chicago Manual of style or MLA Writing
Manual. The following link can be used as a resource for citing work and other facets of composition

http://www.press.uchicago.edu

It's a reliable source to browse when writing a research paper. It can save you time and frustration. Hopefully I can get more writing content online when I post some stories or articles on gather.com and maybe other growing writing communities out there. Until then, have fun and enjoy honing your craft!

2006-02-11T17:22:00.000-05:00

Hi, back again to write on a snowy day here in Virginia as well as in much of the Eastern and Southern part of the country. This is a day to stay indoors (especially if you're trapped there from a blizzard) sit by a heater or fire place, drink hot chocolate, and write. If your creativity is flowing you can get a lot accomplished. This weekend will be good for me to watch a few good movies, college games, and catch up on some reading.

Screenwriting resources

The last time I posted my attention was on screenwriting. It's incredible how many resources there are on the Web concerning this craft. I've surfed a couple enlightening sites. If you're a screenwriter or have an interest in this career field it's easy to educate yourself on the entertainment/film industry. Also, many screenwriting websites are sponsoring competitions for full-length movie scripts and screenplay shorts in various genres. Novice screenwriters are known to receive agency representation, win prestigious awards, and cash while making valuable contacts.

Here is a short list of sites which offer screenplay competitions.

http://www.moondancefilmfestvial.com

http://www.projectgreenlight.com

http://www.screenwritersutopia.com

http://www.donedealpro.com

You can't go wrong with the accurate, insightful information on these pages. I like to refer to them now and then to keep up with news in the 'biz. If you have an idea start churning out those pages. Before that it's always a good idea to write an outline to help the brainstorming process. Good luck to all those who inspire to do great things with their writing and if your area is blanketed with snow try to avoid frost bite!

2006-02-07T20:02:00.000-05:00

Hello and Welcome to all!

Over the past month or so I've be doing some soul-searching with my writing. Most people do this with their life, but I figured finding places for my individual creative works would be best at present. Plus I could use the publishing credits. Positioning specific types of writing is time-consuming business and requires essential knowledge as well as research on markets. Wasting precious hours of one's life by scanning through numerous markets to sell short stories, articles, novels, and poems without identifying a niche gets a writer no where. It's like running around in circles.

As I've becomed more educated about the writing world I've found it's smart to seek a moderate number of publications only for one form of fiction literature at a time. Otherwise your searches eat up too much time and drive you crazy, causing constant frustrations. Since last week I've been focused on finding outlets to publish some of my short stories until I received an email from a screenwriting site (visited now and then) which sends out newsletters each month or so.

This forum for screenwriters offered me a free full membership, including all services, to their site if I exchanged links with them. That sounded like an offer I couldn't refuse. I've already posted a link to their site on the right: http://www.indietalk.com

The guys who run this website provide a good service. They along with other screenwriters and industry professionals discuss the craft of screenwriting, how to market scripts, what material production companies/agencies are looking for, what films are in development, and much valuable insight into this expanding industry. The recent email got me thinking more deeply about my two short scripts. Both have been revised several times, but still feel incomplete. I know though they're sellable ideas that just need further development and a refined structure make-over. I hope to do some more research on screenwriting and resume marketing the screenplay shorts through an aggressive, persuasive strategy.

2006-01-31T20:21:00.000-05:00

Fibbing accounts in non-fiction works.

Hello to all! With the recent issue brooding about the author who lied in his book on Oprah and to the world writers are taught a lesson on ethics and morals. Usually I don't enter the realms of non-fiction here, but this is important. Twisting true stories or events around in a non-fiction published piece is a huge no-no. It could lead to lawsuits, bad publicity, and career suicide. The whole point of non-fiction is telling the truth. This is the main reason why I prefer to write fiction.

Misleading readers and betraying their trust by writing a book, journal, memoir, or whatever is not a smart route to take in becoming a successful writer. In the long run a writer will suffer grave consequences. They'll be opposed for their lack of good judgment and principles. I think to gain national or regional recognition and respect from a loyal readership you must be honest and upfront. Construing lies from personal accounts by others by putting your own "spin" on a true story can have a dramatic effect on how the characters are portrayed, giving people the wrong idea and misinformation. For instance, claiming an individual was murdered outside their home instead of stating the fact the person died of heart disease raises doubts of an author's intregity.

Fiction, on the other hand allows an author to explore creative concepts and their imagination to make up a incredible, entertaining story. If this is what a writer enjoys they should stay within this literature category. Besides, what overall good comes from deceiving readers when trying to sell a potential non-fiction masterpiece? Writers who do this not only hurt their appeal with the target audience, but book sales and their future. Hopefully the controversy with this recent author will open writers' eyes to reality and help them reflect on ethics.

2006-01-16T00:20:00.000-05:00

This week has been a drag on my writing. Not really creating and developing ideas/stories as I'd like to normally. It's a case of writers block, that happens. I'll bounce back though. What I did do besides submitting queries and short stories to online magazines is find a swell online writing community. It's widespread in writing areas and very populated with members. Here is a link to the site:

www.gather.com

The site has ongoing writing contests too. After registering as a member you can list your own articles and stories. There are sections for non-fiction, short stories, articles, poetry, humor pieces, and other types of experimental literary works. Take a look around and see for yourself. That's all the market information I've conjured up this week. Now my concentration is on getting my short stories published and revamped if necessary. Then I can work on more time consuming projects like getting my novel and screenplay shorts sold.

2006-01-07T20:49:00.000-05:00

Hi! This year new year I hadn't made any resolutions. As a writer though, I've found out some startling information that will save me time and trouble. The crime busters standing against literary fraud on the web have tracked down several scam artists. They've been pulling the wool over writers' eyes too long and now have been nailed. The most recent schemer even was claimed to have faked her own death, posing under another identity. Also insightful news is available on the shady practices of Publish America.

I feel good to know that these types of criminals are being stopped. Researching writing markets is important to find out exactly who you're dealing with online. Doing so will help writers and others avoid wasting lots of money and contending with legal battles. Be sure to visit the good folks at the literary crime notices/warnings site at: www.writerbeware.com.

They're doing a terrific job and a service for all writers. All the latest details of reports are there. Special thanks to this group. Their continous efforts and advice are appreciated.

2005-12-29T18:29:00.000-05:00

Welcome! The holidays are almost over and everyone is gearing up for New Years. I had a nice Christmas at home with the family. I hope everyone enjoyed the break as well. Gift wrapping is too much of a nuisance for me so I do very little anymore. The thought for gifts is what really matters. Anyway after Christmas I've received email newsletters for notices about film festivials and competitions. They appear to be abundant all year long, but sometimes in the right time of year a specific type of script gets more recognition and consideration.

Movie producers and filmmakers are looking for new, innovative scripts all the time. The challenge is working with a feasible budget and finding the right components to get a movie produced. These short scripts (screenplay shorts) are used primarily for film festivals and sometimes as work samples. I've written two screenplay shorts, but never entered any script contests. So much editing, formatting, adding/deleting was necessary to repair the scripts. Right now I'm working on an idea for a third script. This is for a feature-length movie.

There are also outlets for theater companies who seek plays. If you want to become a playwright it's essential to learn the craft though the process is quite similar to screenwriting. The following are some places to enter script contests, register scripts for sale, and submit plays:

www.indiefilms.com

www.hollywoodlitsales.com

www.filmmakers.com

www.millmountain.org

2005-12-24T22:48:00.000-05:00

Well, hello. This holiday season has been quite the interesting one from years past. From the carnage and crazed shoppers at the malls after Thanksgiving to the debate of the political correctness of specific holiday names has caused tension in the air to rise. I've never seen so many people argue over such stupid, insignificant things. Why can't these hypocritical groups be happy? They need to accept traditions and respect each ethnic group. This doesn't mean they have to celebrate other holidays which they're unaccustomed with.

See with all that's happened over the past year: Hurricane Katrina, war in Iraq, Bird Flu scare, shopping madness, and commercial holiday war Americans should be grateful to be alive and well. Also those who get to celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, or Kwanzaa with their families need to be thankful. So many others are alone, homeless, or stuck in the hospital with an illness. Another thing, people should feel free to say Merry Christmas or whatever and not worry about offending different ethnic groups. If they don't like it then too bad. That should be the least of anyone's problems during this time of year.

I'm trying to be optimistic for the new year. I seriously hope positive changes occur for the whole nation and other parts of the world. Receiving gifts isn't important to me. Rather than mindless spending for common gifts on impulse it would be nice to see more middle-class and rich people donate essentials(money, food, clothes) to the needy. I gave a donation to the Red Cross for the Hurricane victims. Families in Louisiana can use all the help they can get as they were left with nothing. Spreading the word about giving to right causes such as charities is good for the holiday season. Everyone let's not fight and bicker this year, try to understand the truth meaning of Christmas, and think of others rather than ourselves. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

2005-12-13T21:08:00.000-05:00

Hi, with Christmas around the corner authors with new books out only have one thing on their mind: sell, sell, sell! I would too if my book catered to specific holiday shoppers. So many gift items can be found in a book store, not solely for avid readers. Select groups of readers enjoy anthologies, new fiction novels, self-help books, humor, and sports. The most popular item this year will probably be the Harry Potter books. Fantasy genre is hotter than ever. Whether you're a fan or not of this genre you've got to admit sales are booming for the author.

With the holiday season fast approaching I've decided to touch on an issue Americans are passionate about. Of course I'm talking about holiday shopping. Geez, did people go overboard this year and cause chaos in malls this year. The day after Thanksgiving brought on a new meaning to Christmas spirit. Anxious shoppers could just smell the bargains while others faced their worst nightmare: getting mugged and attacked in public areas. The elderly suffered the worst end of this sales-driven frenzy. They got shoved and kicked on the ground while herds of impatient shoppers pushed their way through congested department stores. It was utter madness!

These are the type of real experiences that can make good story and article ideas. So take a closer look at the holiday season, an event or situation may trigger the next great short story, joke filler, or script you write.

2005-12-06T22:00:00.000-05:00

Greetings to all who find this page. The fiction market is growing more rapid than ever. Everyday new publications are created, looking for that creative, inspiring or entertaining short story or anthology. I've learned in my searches online that more low and medium paying markets are open to submissions from all fiction writers. They're welcoming new writers and encouraging them. That's a good sign. Editors are still picky, but are considerate and understanding.

Recently I've located two websites that publish short stories for members and readers to view. The web addresses are:

www.short-stories.net

www.short-stories.co.uk/

Check it out! Leave comments or post your own orginial stories for free. Join the forum community by signing up as a member. Also contests are listed. If anyone out there knows of any good humor websites for short stories let me know. That's what I enjoy writing and reading the most. Until next time, keep the writing flowing and good luck.

2005-11-27T20:30:00.000-05:00

The world of writing promotion is a strenuous task and strain on the brain. I've started to find this out frequently in my online ventures. While researching markets for short stories, I found a few useful links which allow writers to submit their work at:

www.associatedcontent.com

www.anthologiesonline.com

Online publishing is in rapid growth period. With the rise of e-zines and blogs there are better chances to break into print. You'll discover also that the numerous writing forums, discussion boards, ad postings available for sites grant permission to promote writing, list literary works for sale or services, add your own link, and post articles/short stories/screenplays while receiving feedback from interested site members or visitors. This also can mean a ton of traffic is looking at your writing.

For anyone who enjoys reading sampling short stories or critiquing such work, posted below is the first page of my short story,"Fitness Guru." It gives a interesting perspective on exercising.

Fitness Guru

By Pete Harvey

Geraldo Enriquez was dedicated to exercising. His daily routine consisted of 200 pushups, 300 sit-ups, and walking 3 miles. Every other day he worked out at the YMCA, where he also taught a fitness class. The terrific shape and condition he maintained was awe inspiring and made overweight people feel guilty. The low self-esteem of those whose bodies were unhealthy sometimes rattled the fitness instructor. These compulsive eaters and junk food-addicts had tried hard in the past to lose weight, but found themselves more absorbed with fatty foods than a daily exercise regimen. Geraldo hoped to change their perspective on eating and living healthy. The question was how? Presenting a good positive image to the obese and rotund individuals in the group, explaining ways to prevent compulsive eating would surely provide essential help. Changing people's minds wasn't going to be easy. He knew some folks were set in their ways and no matter how much coaching and encouragement they would always remain lazy couch potatoes.
For years Geraldo prided himself on regular fitness and sticking to a well balanced diet. Class members he’d try to reach out to before, refuse to listen to you or follow his workout plan for success. These people ate their way into an obliverarion. Several died from high cholesterol and blood pressure while others fed up with their out control eating habits, committed suicide. No one could help because they allowed their obsession for food to control their life. Treatment in health centers and hospitals were available, but it was up to the patient to the first step in starting a healthy lifestyle. Geraldo, saddened by the discouraging news of former fitness members and their continual declining health. This was tragic, especially for a middle-aged instructor who was dedicated to getting people in shape each year.
At 9 a.m. Monday morning the physical fitness and well being class is about to begin. Several of the staff members at the YMCA greet Geraldo and talk briefly before he goes into the gym. He is wearing his black, spandex work out clothes with a head band. He carries a bottle of water and a blue duffel bag. The fitness instructor is slim with muscular biceps and calves, displaying an angular body and is noticed by the prominence of his black, bushy eyebrows. Marty, a member in the fitness class slowly waddles inside, entering through the front doors. Dressed in all black clothing he breathes heavily as he proceeds to the gym. Geraldo turns around and notices the late arrival. He smiles and says, “Hello Marty, how are you today? Late again I see. You know better than to delay those muscles from getting a good workout. Don’t deny your body those extra energy cells. Come on, follow me."
"I had to go to the post office to mail some letters, you understand?" Marty tries to explain
"Sure, whatever you say. Remember though, denial is a ugly cousin to obesity."
The two opposite pairs walk into the gym as Geraldo is about to start off by getting his class to do warm-up drills and stretching. The blank faces all around show their dissatisfaction with the presence of their instructor. The thought of over exercising to most of the group is nauseating and uncomforting. They are in for a workout like no other.

2005-11-15T23:21:00.000-05:00

Hello, back again. As of late, I've been promoting my writing and blogs online. Found several unique, interesting sites which have 'add a link' sections. This is good for everyone. Not only does it help writers, but informs readers of their work, talents, and servies. Exchanging links are fun too. Gives exposure to both parties involved. I'm going to try to work more with partnering with other writing websites for this blog. I'd like to reach markets(audiences) for short stories more or less. That's the area I've done my most extensive work in fiction.

If still interested in writing contests be sure to check out: http://www.fundsforwriters.com.
There are many active and available to enter. I've entered a joke contest for Readers Digest. (http:www.rd.com) The winner receives a trip a paid trip to New York city to perform their joke live at one of premier comedy clubs. Your interests can lead you to many exciting opportunities. I'm hoping to find more outlets to promote my sports blog (http://www.sportspoints.blogspot.com) and find forums or online arenas to possibly start my own weekly column on large-scale, prominent site. Maybe that will open up doors to a few freelance jobs. Until next time, keep the writing spirit alive!

2005-11-08T23:12:00.000-05:00

Writing contests are abundunt online. Whether you're trying to get published or earn scholarship money for college this is a good opportunity. I'm looking for financial support to go back to college. So writing contests are one outlet for me. Most are open to U.S. citizens 18 and older. Finding other contests available to specific states or localities is a little tricky. It requires a hunt through search engines, writing sites, and links. Recently I've found a link to a contest(www.writersofthefuture.com) which awards up $1,000 for top prize winners. Sure the competition is fierce, but what isn't these days? It's worth a try. The key is to enter contests related to your specialty area such sci-fi, humor, history essays, sports, opinion/self-reflection pieces. The list goes on and on.

The following are excellent websites to visit for information on contests:

- www.fundsforwriters.com

- www.fictionfactor.com

- www.writerswrite.com

- www.writersnook.com

There are other writing links and resources on these pages as well. *Stay away from contests which don't provide contact information or a known, creditable sponsor. These are usually scams. There is plenty opportunities out there though, you just have look hard for them. In the meantime I've got some contests to enter and financial aid money to apply for. Good luck to all writers pursuing their goals!

2005-11-01T23:35:00.000-05:00

Finding just the right markets to submit work is tough. Putting the time into researching is essential though. I've noticed there a numerous markets for literary fiction in magazines and e-zines primarily. If you're a short story writer of various genres like myself locating publishers who need or specialize in only sci-fi, humor, mystery, sports, or horror is one strenous step to complete. Then having these publishers consider your work and actually response is a much longer process. Does anyone out there know easier routes to getting short fiction published, whether in a small, medium, or large market? I've been submitting several of my short stories to online magazines, but only hear back from a few within a month or so.

I understand how hard it is to write a compelling, brilliant story or idea that sells. After reading writing guides and books similar to my style of writing, I see why characterization plays a huge role in the development of a story. Making characters memorable which posess special qualiites(entertaining, sophiscated, egotistical, or manipulative) captivate readers. They are usually the central focus of the story. Making sure they carry out their purpose, reach a conflict, then have a resolution in a climax or later makes the plot hold up. My work on short stories continues. Making progress on refining or touching them up. A sample page of my short story, "Aging Scholar" is posted below.

P.S. I invite all writers to voice their experiences, frustrations, current writing projects, advice, list manuscripts/work for sale, etc. here. This can be an open writers forum to discuss anything related to fiction writing. Feel free to express yourself any time.

Aging Scholar

In a spacious, cluttered office an old, thick-bearded man sits behind a wide wooden desk. Along the wall across from him stands a tall shelf filled with an array of psychology, history, and religion books. Plastered on the right side of the room are posters of Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, and Mark Twain. The window that’s adjacent from the posters show the hint of spring as leaves blow in the wind while the sun’s ultra violet rays shine. The spring semester at Princeton was rearing around the corner. The year dragged on as if it were prolonged. The students that attended professor Bartholomew Hopkins class were frequently puzzled and disgusted with the lectures in class. Psychology was a way to explore the mind and body without really having to touch anyone. The utter audacity and absentmindedness of some pupils struck the professor as deplorable.
Bartholomew Hopkins, a.k.a. Mr. Mewly taught at colleges and high schools for over forty years. This far exceeded the career expectancy of the average teacher. His extensive knowledge of world issues, psychology, historical facts, travel experiences, and wilderness remedies among many other sources of information was extraordinary. His age was his only flaw at this point in his life. A year ago it really started to show too. One day he was discussing a survival story in the wilderness he experienced as a young man to his class and he kept repeating himself. Mr. Mewly as his students knew him, bored everyone with his rambling, irrelevant blurred story recollections. One time he told them how he had contacted a mild case of malaria, but miraculously discovered a remedy for the disease. Just as the old Professor was about to tell the class what the remedy was he fell asleep. It was normal to see a person do this when sitting down, but standing up made for an awkward moment. Slobber began to trickle down his grin as students remained in their seats silent for a few seconds, incredulous. Since Professor Mewly didn’t seem to be waking up any time soon all the students left the class room, some elated while others felt disturbed and flabbergasted.
The stories that the old yet wise scholar told contained a life-time of knowledge, but just as sure as the day was long were so dry it make people yawn and drift into sleep. The inappropriate details of his wild, explicit encounters with Rogue women disgusted everyone. Some students became so ill at the visual images created that they vomited, beyond their control in the restroom. His fascination of his own world travels he expressed so vividly and crudely definitely took their toll on the students who expected a lecture on psychological and mental disorders. After a short while in his class they began to wonder if Mr. Mewly was suffering from such a disorder. Maybe it was just Alzheimer’s, they all knew something wasn‘t right with him. After hearing about his obsession for dog meat while exploring in the ancient lands of Southeast Asia certain students had all they could take and evacuated the room. They decided it was more important to have an appetite for lunch rather than listen to such inappropriate conservation.
A week passed as several students had already dropped the course and signed up for another psychology class taught by a different professor to gain their college credits. This went unnoticed to Bartholomew who didn’t seem cognizant of the number of empty seats in the class room as well as his constant flagellant problem as he strolled around the room, speaking too loud. Whispers spread across the room concerning the foul air pollution as students struggled for fresh air. Those who remained in the class were sorry they did. Without a doubt, they would regret it. Professor Mewly wrote notes on the blackboard behind him in chicken scratch and didn’t bother to explain each point because he forgot. He had a surprise for his class on that day, one that would catch them off guard. As the world renown traveler and scholar was about to say something he felt he had a frog in his throat.

2005-10-23T21:47:00.000-04:00

Writing through a routine doesn't do justice all the time. I don't think it's necessary to write daily, though it helps to build further skills. Many veteran, published writers and acclaimed scholars of literature believe it's vital to a writer's overall development and future success. What good is a such a routine if more new writers get proper consideration and feedback of their work in the submission process? These writing know-it-alls out there rely too much on their instincts, THINKING they can help the young and inexperienced by merely spouting off insightful information. To keep a piece or work published it's up to the will of the writer in my view. All the resources in the world won't enable writers to get published without making publications and publishers know they exist. This needs to be done through intense marketing and promotion is required. I mean, a writer has to market the hell of a book, short story, script, or article to sell it or at the least make people aware of it.

Lack of response or none at all really dampens the spirit. Writers face this brick wall all the time. When will this ever change? Submitting manuscripts online is thought to be a simplified process, but not when you have to adhere to unusually long and drawn out guidelines then never receive a notice, rejection, or nothing 3-5 months later. At this point it's near impossible not to get discouraged as a writer. I think this is why more new writers are being self-publishers these days. They'd rather invest money into getting a book or anthology published on their own than put up with the frustration of dealing with picky, uncooperative high and mighty publishers in the market. I can't say I blame them. Electronic and self-publishing are expanding methods more writers are using to get published. Royalty potential and personalization in marketing are advantages over traditional big publishers, small and printing presses. Getting new voices and creative literature out to audiences is a growing challenge, but through strong, determined efforts and persistent it can happen.

2005-10-17T01:04:00.000-04:00

Finding your specialty as a writer evolves over time. That as well as style makes a writer distinctive. My passion is writing humor more than anything else. I strive to write original, creative material for jokes, scripts, ideas for TV sitcoms, and comedy sketches. Making people laugh with consistency is no easy task. Receiving constant feedback though helps tremendously. As a comedy writer you have to learn what hits and misses with your audience.

Relating to personal or everday situations by using satire or sarcasm invokes laughter and sometimes exaggeration in a certain tone works too. I learn to write humor a lot through observation. Sure I get material from popular topics and current events, but with observation you get to know about different types of people like how they talk, walk, act, look, work, and many other characteristics. Mannerisms are picked up such as how a person talks with their hands or has a habit of blinking their eye lids. People with accents are imitated, so are celebrities, family, friends, and neighbors. People serve as a source of inspiration to write comedy. That's where it develops. Making people bust out laughing is one the greatest feeling in the world.

2005-10-14T01:28:00.000-04:00

Writers block can be a pain in the butt. When you need a idea for a good story sometimes there is nothing useful forming inside the brain. I've experienced the problem on many occasions. This is a part of writing, dealing with such an obstacle is a challenge like everything else. Reading or watching television can help develop ideas, though it's important not copy story lines or characters. Originality is the key to successful writing.

Recently, I've posted links of this page and another blog of mine on some writing websites. Also placed free ads on these sites. I thought maybe this would draw more attention and interest in my work. There have been a few responses so far. The problem is the publishers interested don't seem to be legitimate or want to sell me their services. The whole point of doing this was to promote my work, ability, and make buyers awareness of my writing portfolio(short stories, articles, jokes, and screenplay shorts). Somehow I've got to market and promote my writing expertise, services better. Well, this contributes to the struggle as a young writer, who's trying to garner recognition and credentials. There are a couple markets for magazines I discovered. Time to grind through the whole submission process again. Until next time, best of luck with everyone's writing endeavors.

2005-10-07T01:18:00.000-04:00

Hello, welcome to all! Another week is almost over and I'm still searching for the right markets for my short stories. I did submit one fiction short story over 3,000 words to an e-zine. It's nice to see certain online publications have submissions forms on their website for writers. This is so convenient and saves time. Some publishers don't mind if you either paste or save your submission as an attachment. I like this method better than submitting through email or regular mail. During the week I've continued to promote my blogs online. This has been a challenge too. I need to make good contacts and network, but this is difficult when you're a young, unpublished writer. Most of the time, it seems like experienced professionals don't want to be bothered. Yes, they're busy, that's understandable though it's not too much to ask for a few minutes of their time. Being ignored or forgotten in an inquiry doesn't stop me from writing and expressing my true convictions or active imagination.

Ideas for stories come from weird and unexpected sources sometimes. In fiction, a lot of writers develop a central idea based around a main character, whom they've met or stumbled across in real life. They notice special characteristics about this person such as how they talk, behave, their mannerisms, appearance, personality, etc. Putting this character into a unique, awkward situation which an audience can relate to draws their attention. This is one reason why TV sitcoms and movies get produced. There are powerful, compelling elements that generates great interest. Further developing an idea requires sound thinking. A writer has to ask himself or herself questions like, "Where would be a good setting? What kind of environment surrounds the main character? Pleasant? Stressful? Hostile? Who are the supporting characters? Sorting out all these details ahead of time helps, but I don't think it's necessary to do all at once. If things start forming in your mind when you get in a flow of writing, go from there. Whatever works for the writer is good just so the story starts to make sense and a conflict is created then later resolved. You can flesh out an idea a long ways by thinking it through and experimenting with notions. Also, it helps to write what you're passionate about.

2005-10-03T02:35:00.000-04:00

The last couple of days the flow of writing hasn't come to me easy. Too many distractions and worries have flooded my mind off and on. This is such a hamper on working on stories and articles. I've been trying to submitt more of my short stories to magazines. It seems like a hopeless cause sometimes. Editors have become more picky than ever. Some of them want writers to go to great lengths to prepare a submission. You have to ask yourself, "Is my time and effort on this really worth it?" It all depends usually on the format, guidelines, and the pay. Gutting it out is what you have to do if you really want to get published. I've got more research to do on fiction markets as well as those for fillers.

My joke collection is building since I enjoy writing humor more than anything. Writing one-liners and gags are short. They're much less time consuming than anything else. Everyone likes to laugh(for the most part anyway). What I don't understand about this market though is how corny and sappy jokes get published in such magazines such as the Saturday Evening Post and Reader's Digest. Maybe this is because the material relates to an older audience. To me it's just seems like almost everyone who reads a publication should find it humorous. My style of jokes don't seem to fit into a particular publication. They're related to business, jobs, observations, celebrities, food, sports, etc. Ex. The most exercise some Americans get is reaching in and out of a bag of potato chips until it's empty. Singers like Michael Bolton really give the music industry something to be excited about when they announce their retirement. These are a mere few among the hundreds I've compiled. Still working to get the jokes and fillers out to a young, wide-range of readers. That's one goal on my agenda. More writing info. to be posted soon.

2005-09-30T00:15:00.000-04:00

Hello, again and welcome all newcomers. As of late I'm writing is moving at a snail's pace. More of my time is actually being spent on research and promotion. Trying to add my link on other writing sites and sports sites. Weaving through numerous websites that charge a membership fee to create an account gets to be old. I'm just looking for partner with publications and other writers who wouldn't mind exchanging links. This seems fair for both sides. I'm still concentrating on wrapping up my baseball novel.(I've posted the first chapter at the bottom of the page). Maybe I'm jumping ahead of myself in thinking about my marketing plans for the book too soon. I'm concerned about formulating the right message which strikes a chord with publishers. Reaching out to my direct audience is crucial too. I need to make these readers more aware of my work. Realizing that I needed to raise the stakes in my story I went back and added a new scene that impacts the rest of the events leading to the conclusion.

Marketing literature takes time to learn. Everybody who wishes to publish a book, anthology, memoir, etc. needs to have effective marketing. Working close with a reputable publisher is one route to go. As an author though you've got to do the necessary work and strategizing to find your place in the market. What you're selling needs to be compelling and thought provoking enough to maintain life for an extended period of time. Determining your target market is step 1. This is who your readers will be. It's important to ask yourself, "What will influence readers to buy my book? How can I appeal to their interests? "Where will this age group most likely look for or find my writing? These questions help a writer identify the possible ways to market their book, catering to their audience. It's tough work to YOU the author must know this and work to collaborate a plan. This is no one day task either. The more you find out about your readers the better your marketing strategy will when ready to be published. Spreading the news about your book on online forums, having a personal website with writing samples or a portfolio, writng a press release, or posting a listing for your book on writing or book websites is a big plus too. Marketing and promotion efforts will tie in together at times. That the extent of the information I have to share today. Check by for future resources. Good day to all those who strive!

P.S. Check out the first chapter of my novel, "Rookie Sensation" below.

Chapter 1

Spring Training

It was late March in the spring of 1999. Spring training was nearly over as major league teams wrapped up their final weeks of play. There was positive energy dispersed throughout the Seattle Mariners organization. Approaching the new season in the majors, the team had a crop of young prospects that were being managed by the General Manager and coach. There were a lot of bright, young talent entering the big leagues. Jason Harrison, an All-American in high school and collegiate player of the year at Michigan State University was drafted by the Seattle Mariners. He hoped to make an impact in his rookie year, contributing to his new team in any way possible. When the press and the Seattle fans got word of this new unexpected top tier player they began to have lofty expectations for the ball club and season. The Mariners had finished first in their division in the past 3 years, but fell short of winning a World Series championship. They lost to the Yankees in the ALCS a year ago, being knocked out of the playoffs for the fourth time since their expansion year. They looked to make a serious run this season and improve their team history.
Several newcomers from the minor leagues were playing great baseball. One of their top outfielders was hitting .376 and had driven in 38 runs. A couple of pitchers were thriving leading the team with strikeouts and low walks to runs ratio. The young guys were getting a feel for playing with some of veterans and older players on the team. The team roster was up to 55 players. This of course had to be cut down for the start of the season to meet major league rules. Unfortunately decisions had to be made for who would stay active and those who be shipped to the minors. There simply wouldn’t be enough room for all players to remain on the roster. Some rookies would be called up later in the season if they played exceptionally well in the minors. The moderately warm weather on the spring training site in Perora, Arizona was comforting. Players practiced techniques for bunting and stealing bases, experimenting with risky moves now and then. All and all this was a time for learning and adapting. Getting a first look at top caliber pitchers benefited the rookies and other players who would meet them later in season encounters.
The outlook for the 1999 campaign was refreshing. There was so much optimism within the organization. The team’s potential was immeasurable. Coming off a well rounded season claiming a 79-57 record the Mariners was moving in the right direction. The offense was not of question, but the pitching needed some restructure. The team had quality starters, but lacked effective, dependable middle relief. Despite reaching the post season, too many games were lost to poor relief pitching late in games. The team owner, George Calhoun ignored this problem at first, then recognized the need to go out and retrieve pitchers with a proven track record. Calhoun was a stubborn, cheap owner that milled over possible trade or free agent signings. He relied on the fans’ loyalty to boost the performance of the team. Building morale within the ball club was important in helping receive high production and cooperation from everyone. Keeping the players, coaches, and managers on the same page would result in another successful season.
As usual there were numerous trades and off season free agent acquisitions, spreading talent as well as top veteran players around the league. There was an upbeat atmosphere in baseball as everyone was in a positive mood. Even the Tampa Bay Devil Rays will feeling confident with their new, revamped starting pitching rotation. Finishing the ’98 season with a record well under .500 they looked to add depth to their starting lineup, work on their current weaknesses as a club, and hoped for some veteran leadership to shine forth. They were still predicted to finish last in the east. Other teams made some good deals over the winter as well that would generate better results than the previous year. The Mariners had made some off season deals to attain a crafty left handed starter from Texas that had won a career best 17 games last year. They signed a free agent utility infielder who swung a steady bat coming off the bench and was a good fielder. Key players were returning, maintaining their star presence. They all were looking forward to a great season.
With low annual ticket sales a problem last year some team owners thought about methods of promotions and marketing to fill more seats. The Seattle Mariners attendance remained steady, slightly increasing toward the close of the season. Owner, George Calhoun wanted to put the Mariners over the top, but didn’t know exactly how. He was bound at least on boosting ticket sales. Despite this factor, ticket prices stayed the same for the most part. Occasionally there would special family packages offered during the season for a lower price. The average person on the other hand, didn’t want to pay $30- $100 for decent seats near the field. Seats in the outfield were always cheap and were no big deal. Calhoun wanted to create a family and fan experience that was affordable for everyone. Working out a budget including player and coach salaries, promotions, advertising, ballpark employee wages, maintenance costs, and so on would provide an idea of what options were available. Enabling the most effective strategies would take further research and more time on the part of his marketing staff.
A new stadium for the team was built and nearly completed. The Kingdom in Seattle was going to be replaced with their larger and more sleek ballpark now known as Safeco Field. This cost the owner millions of dollars, cutting into the payroll. Nonetheless, it was to solve their problem of low attendance at home and a create a more fan friendly atmosphere. Out with the old and in with the new, dimensionally advanced baseball structure. The team owner believed this would give the Mariners a marketable appeal and be a new beginning. This wouldn’t erase their struggles or blunders in the club’s history, but Safeco Field could develop into a lucky confine for streaks to be formed. So much construction work and planning had gone into the new stadium. Fans were gracious to be welcomed into a different, captivating atmosphere to see their team play throughout the season.
The old stadium crumpled before the owner’s eyes. Tiles from the roof in the upper deck and along the sides of walls had fallen in the past couple of years, drawing a concern for safety. The risk was too great to allow future harm to those seated in sections of the outfield and upper deck box. Besides that, interest in the team had dropped substantially. Only making it to the playoffs and coming up empty didn’t satisfy Mariner fans’ cravings. The Kingdom had existed for over 20 years showcasing the likes of superstar Ken Griffey Jr. That era was over, now it was time to restructure the club to turn it into a powerhouse in the American League. Diligence, Patience, and the right planning could propel this team to the top. The GM and owner worked side by side in efforts of making drastic improvement, carrying a long term positive impact.
The investments into the redeveloped Mariner team seemed well worth. Retrieving proven success pitchers in the league to go along with a brand new ballpark embedded faith in the team. The club planned on writing the ship in the 1999 campaign. All the skeptics may have their say, but the Mariners were on a mission to soar to the next level. Since their expansion in the 70’s they had never been considered much of a contender in the American League. Competition became fierce since then. The team never was able to push themselves over the top. Taking a gander at the new, promising active players and rookies on the roster showed hints of good things to come. The specialized area of concern was the bullpen. The club waited to see how they reacted in intense situations in games. Their effectiveness was going to determine how many close games Seattle would win. For now, the coaching staff and general management were going to keep a close eye on the new, rising talent in the organization.
All the rookies placed on the team rosters got a chance to showcase their skills to the coaches, trying to impress the decision makers while drawing enough attention to stay on the team. They yearned for the opportunity to play in the Majors instead of being stuck in the minor league for an extended period of time. Either way they would continue to learn and grow as a baseball player, helping to further craft their skills. Hearing the crack of the bat when getting a hit or the snap of a well broken in glove made them feel good. There were several young, extraordinary talents on the field, but one stood out among the rest. It was a strong armed shortstop by the name of Jason Harrison. He dazzled scouts, coaches, and spectators with his flashy style on the field and his consistent contact at the plate. Everyone had their eye on him.
Starting pitching rotations were being set as opening day was rearing around the corner. Counting on the top pitcher to take the #1 spot in the rotation could change if that pitcher didn’t stay healthy or got injured early in the season. Managers always hoped for the best, but never could be sure what would happen with a pitcher’s mechanics. Seattle had 4 of the 5 starting pitchers returning as they maintained good strength in their pitching arm and didn’t appear to have any problem throwing. This was a good sign for the start of the season. A few new relievers had been added to bring up extra support during late inning decisions. Overall the team looked solid on paper, but needed to prove themselves to be viewed as a serious contender. They would have their share of chances to see if they could function well as a unit.
Throughout spring training players, managers, and coaches got to know one another, got comfortable working together, and learned the different personalities on the ball club. The team was instructed in late morning stretching and sprint drills on the field to get loose, preventing cramps and injuries. Players had fun while adjusting to the new environment, reviewing and further exploring fundamentals. Infielders and catchers practiced catching pop ups, groundballs while outfielders took turns catching fly balls. This was an essential part of the game that needed to be practiced on a repetitive basis. So many times teams would lose games due to errors. New comer, Jason Harrison worked on throwing and fielding, honing his already superb ability. He worked closely with the other infielders and coaches on base sequences along with fielding tactics. Much was covered up to the final day of spring training. It was a valuable, learning experience for everyone involved.
Jason Harrison practiced, trained, and worked out routinely in the weight room. He wanted to make a good impression on the coaches and his teammates as well as perform to the best of his ability. Little did he know, despite being his rookie year he would receive more attention than he could have ever imagined. Many of his new teammates were aware of his previous accomplishments and exceptional gift to play baseball. They all greeted him with a warm welcome. Harrison at 22 years of age was a natural at shortstop, his given position. However, coach and manager Stan Mathews thought the kid could play well at third base or in the outfield. This kid was a dream come true for an already lethal offense. In college Jason hit 44 homeruns and drove in 126 runs while obtaining a .315 batting average in his 3 year stay.
The club’s GM had high hopes for his revitalized team in the 1999 season. Due to past meltdowns in the playoffs and regular season he knew some changes were in order to balance youthful talent with experience. Making wise, valuable trades would enable the Mariners to be a more competitive force in the American League West. Everyone in the club’s organization were positive about the transactions and felt good about the decisions made. Finishing over .500 three years in a row was not cutting it. The fans were expecting more, waiting for their team’s rise to ultimate stardom and glory. Those who were die heat fans had been committed, buying tickets to come see the home games which brought in most of the revenue. Seattle had made good progress over the stretch of 5 years, but lacked a certain element that would make them a great ball club.
The new players placed on the roster gave the team the right fit with more exciting, outstanding talent. Adding the extra pitching to the staff and bullpen provided a strength of depth. Trading two relief pitchers that averaged high runs per innings and frequently lacked good control was a smart move. Their follies and presence in tight games had weigh in as a huge negative factor in recent years. Having the returning starting catcher was a plus. He could hit well in crucial situations and could trap and stop pitches in the dirt with the best of them. Given the right amount of exposure and games played this unit could be a destructive threat in the league. In effect attendance numbers should blossom. Bringing more interest and appeal to the ballpark took expert strategizing. The present overall performance in the regular could make people forget about the failures in the past. This as with anything would take time.
Poor pitching was to blame for the downfall in previous seasons. Too many terrible outings in middle relief caused the Ms to lose key games. The starting rotation did a decent job, but couldn’t get over the hump when it came to allowing homeruns. The starters had allowed 72 homeruns in the 1998 season. This was a staggering total which became a major flaw in mid to late innings of games. The category far exceeded the average of all other teams in the American League. The offense had been steady, though with a few more power hitters available the middle of the order would receive more support. The restructure of the club was done in attempts to become a competitive threat in the AL West, being able to go toe to toe with the best in baseball. Goals were set for the season, loftier than ever, wanting to make the team overachievers.
The team owner had already put some of his plans into action, but was reviewing other potential talent in the league which he may pursue before the trade deadline in July. There was no way to avoid being flawless, but insuring that his players served the right roles for his club was what such an investment was all about. Having a team salary cap that was limited to $24 million didn’t give the luxury of hand picking the best talent in baseball. This held true for most teams. Since the average every day starting player averaged a salary of $2.5 million teams only had, but so much revenue to work with in signing new star players. The process was set up for teams to have a fair or equal salary cap so no one would have too much of advantage with the exception of the Yankees. They reigned supreme in the buyers market. Putting together a good team could be done with the typical salary cap. The problem was players wanted more and more money each year.
The Cactus League standings showed that no team had been playing brilliant, with most having sub par records. None of the regular team star players got to play entire games, usually giving way for younger guys who’d replace them in the 5th or 6th inning. All the fun took place on the field and dugouts as players who knew one another joked around and tried to show off. The best record was owned by the Minnesota Twins. They had also scored the most runs. Several of the old time players still alive from the 50’s and 60’s were on hand to watch some of the spring training games. They were interviewed about the upcoming season and traces of their baseball career. Although the Tampa Bay Devil Rays looked like a much improved ball club everybody still thought they would stink up the league again. They had yet to go out and retrieve a big name player or two that could make them a more balanced group in the American League. Every other team had a shot in the regular season if they’d live up to their potential.
Seattle had to cut several of their prospects from the roster. Jason Harrison looked the be the real gem as far as rookies were concerned. He made an impact in Triple A, accomplishing new career highs in batting average and hits. The 22 year old finished the ’98 minor league season with 18 homeruns, 183 hits, and a .316 batting average. This kid was proving his self-worth from the organization’s management stand point. They only wondered how well he would fare in the majors for a full season. They understood he was green and needed the experience under his belt to be a superstar level player. This was evident for everyone who saw him make the rookie mistakes and errors in spring training. That was fine, it helped him learn and grow as a professional baseball player. After all the decisions were made about the roster, Jason and a young right-hander with a explosive fastball and nasty forkball were the only two rookies kept on the team. Based on their early performances they could return to the minors.
Fighting for collective positions on the team came down to the wire. The coaching staff and management reviewed and rated each individual player’s performances, selecting the ones they all felt were ready for the squad. It was necessary to gather up their best group of talent available to be mixed with the experience and savvy of the veterans who returned for another season. There was envy clearly visible from others who didn’t make the team or were placed back in the farm system until prior notice. The team kept only two catchers, but had to be weary of injury so they placed two other catchers in the Triple A just in case. The team wanted one of their star outfielders, Ray Jordan to keep a low profile on his off season arrest record. He was charged for assault and battery after pummeling a black man for abusing his girlfriend. It was ugly scene that occurred in the slums of Detroit he’d rather forget. It was old news that most people knew about already, though the media could try to drag it out in the open again if they wanted. Jordan was advised not to say a word about such events that took place in the past. He was ashamed that he was caught with possession of marijuana, but had put that incident behind him. Focusing on the new season was all that mattered.
Impressive attributes and talent was spread throughout the ball club. Having several position players returning like first basemen, Pete Tankersley, starting pitcher, Frank Davis, and catcher, Dave Meeks bode well for the Mariners. They needed to even out the team with veteran experience. The Mexican infielders were in their early 20’s, coming into the country illegally 5 years ago and had yet to obtain their U.S. citizenship or a green card. Their English was improving, but still unclear at some moments. Relievers, Lui Chan and Meo Hasagawa were Koreans who didn’t speak much of anything, being reserved for mainly private one-on-one conservations. The utility infielder, Tony Boscotelli was devout versatile player with a flair for the game that suffered from Tarets Syndrome. The Italian, former bouncer was known to swear at the drop of a hat. Adding a few other American players with Jason Harrison placed together a unique team. Their deficiencies didn’t seem to outweigh their overall strengths. The 58 year old coach was a disciplined man who strongly believed in total team effort to succeed as a major league team.
Coach Stan Mathews had took the blame in recent years for his team’s downfall in the postseason. Building the team into a contender since their evolution in the 70’s was no easy job. The front office gave him heat for his decisions during the regular season and demanded higher performance and better results. On the verge of being fired, Mathews used his baseball knowledge and choice of strategy to sway the owner and GM’s consideration. His extensive accomplishments in a long, admirable coaching career also measured his value to the team. He stayed in Seattle, moving into his eight year as coach. His physical attributes were deceiving as he fit for his age, showed slight wrinkles on his face with a healthy heart and toned arms, however was legally blind in his left eye. Most people didn’t know he had a glass eye due to an accident in the Vietnam War. It looked normal to people. His encouragement and understanding of his players made him a receptive person.
Major League baseball owners and the commissioner wanted to keep the big name star players happy by avoiding clashes with the players union concerning salary and stipulations in contracts. They didn’t want to have another baseball strike like back in 1995. A repeat of this magnitude reeks havoc on baseball. No one could bare to see this happen again. New contract deals were made, obligations would be fulfilled which included extra incentives such as bonuses that players truly didn’t deserve. Such pampering of certain prominent figures in the sport was outrageous. Satisfying the players were the jobs of the top execs who often did their share of butt kissing trying to make things right. They had been used to this kind of treatment by those staff members working under them. After all the necessary document and paper work was done for all teams baseball was set for another long 162 game season. Predictions were being cast through polls and sports magazines already for the teams who’d rank in first place in their divisions and the team that would win the World Series. Expecting a team with low market appeal to go all the way was a long shot and received a lot of raised eye brows.

Copyright, Peter Harvey 2005

2005-09-25T23:50:00.000-04:00

Editing sure can be a time consuming task. Working on a novel especially requires several additional reviews to check for clarity, spelling, punctuation, deleting unneccessary words or sentences, and making sure each scene is in the right spot. What you thought would take a couple of hours turns out to be two days. Keeping the plot on pace with a constant richness in characters is always a challenge too. I've learned to remember these aspects of a good story by reading other fiction books plus self-help writing books and articles. Each author has their own distinct voice. Finding a way to express it in the most compelling way takes practice and persistence. Most of my short stories are completed after final touches made. I've submitted a couple to magazines. Waiting to hear back from the editors. I had a hard time finding the right publications (and still do) to submitt my manuscripts to since my writing doesn't reflect a specific genre.

I'm also working on promoting my sports articles. Visited other sports related websites I dropped my blog link on a few. With the demand and desire for information, blogs for sports news as well as world news have spread out everywhere on the Web. My passion for sports leads me to express my convictions and thoughts on current incidents and controvery. While engorged with that endeavor I'm trying to make my sports blog more appealing. If anyone has any suggestions go right ahead and post them. I may need to do more research on my baseball novel still in the process of being completed. Even though it's fiction I want to get a more thorough background history on the major league team the story centers around. Then aftering the editing stages are done it will be time to query publishers in hope of sparking their interest enough to request samples chapters or the whole manuscript. Until then, good luck with everyone's writing journeys.

2005-09-20T23:18:00.000-04:00

Welcome back writers and readers. I've been updating and writing in my other blogs for the last week or so and seemed to have neglected this one. Some days the writing fever hits me and others it's gone. That's been a problem for me while working on my baseball novel. Editing and restructuring is a part of writing that I don't really enjoy, but it must be done. All writers learn to get better in that area. If anyone would like to post any writing samples of short stories, scripts, jokes, informative articles, or just comments about writing feel free to do so in the "comments" section. I can then paste such works on the blog in my next post. If you need writing resources go check out my links section.

Getting a book published is a strenuous, difficult task these days. Believe me I know since I'm in the process of doing so. Finding the right publisher takes a overwhelming amount of time. Finding someone you can trust and has a proven track record for success is easier said than done. Then you must have the type of manuscript a book publisher is looking for to pursue a deal. Actually submitting a query letter that wows or stimulates publishers' interest enough to request a manuscript is even tougher. There are several options to publishing:

1. traditional publishing- submitting proposal and/or story to large publisher or chain for consideration.
2. self-publishing- paying out of your own pocket to publish your book through professional services of a small or large print operation.
3. vanity press- submitting query letter or manuscript to a printing press. They charge your a upfront fee and pay little or no royalty on book sales. They don't cover a national market for selling books.
4. E-publishing- books that are accepted get published only online. These books appear on websites for customers to buy at a low cost. Also sample pages of these E-books are available for a small fee or free depending on publishers' costs so readers can find out if they really like a book before making a purchase. Royalty fees range from 15-40%. Author is responsible for almost all promotion.

It's good to know what your choices are as a writer. Learning the advantages and disadvantages can make all the difference in who you wish to do business with in embarking on a publishing venture. *Beware of frauds and scams. There are plenty out there. Look up companies in the Better Business Bureau or visit informative writing sites that post such information if uncertain. Hope this helps some hard-working writers who are determined to be published or those unaware of the process. Keep the writing spirit alive!

2005-09-11T22:52:00.000-04:00

Hey, back again for another installment. Writing short stories in fiction is a creative process that requires a vivid imagination. Reading works of fiction by new and well-known authors helps a writer to decipher a unique compelling plot he or she can create. Different angles are slways took on similar plots too. The principle of good morals is to refrain from copying the idea of another writer. The purpose of reading other stories to learn to improve your overall writing skills and avoid making the same bland choices or mistakes of some authors. Noticing style can help you develop your own. This may take some time to discover, but when you do the pages will be churned out faster than ever. However, content is not more important than quality.

Working with a plot of a short stories is best when outlined before actually writing a first draft. This allows time to think out what will happen and why? Who it will happen to and where? Making sure characters motives are clear and scenes tie together properly to lead up to the climax is vital in story development. At the beginning there is a built up which means there must be a resolution or payoff in the end. Stakes can be raised it needed to heighten suspense or action. Fleshing out hints that foreshadow things to occur later is a good tactic used to keep readers interested or anxious to find out the connection later on in the story. As a writer, asking yourself the necessary questions during the development stages in a short story helps sharpen the big idea, gradually putting all the pieces together so everything makes sense.

2005-09-08T22:11:00.000-04:00

Hello, writers. The week is almost over and I still feel like there was a lot more I could have accomplished. Working on revisions on my short stories, doing research on the web, and checking email has took up most of my time. I've also submitted a few short stories online to magazines. You'll find out that most publishers are looking for a distinct, unique type of fiction. If your style of writing doesn't fit the scope of their publication there is no need to submit any material. Finding a medium and high paying market that accepts the same genre fiction you write is a challenge too. This is just one part of being a writer.

I've added a few links to another writing site and one of my other blogs. There will be more writing links added later, but click on the ads also to find writing resources and information about publishers. I don't have any valuable wisdom to share today except to be dilgent and persistent as a writer. If you feel like quitting on a project remind yourself of the benefits and all the hard work that will go to waste. Do the necessary research by reading books or articles on writing, refer to grammar manuals(ex. Chicago Style, MLA), and stick to a weekly writing schedule. More exposure and practice helps writers learn how to correct mistakes as well as become more discliplined.

2005-09-06T23:04:00.000-04:00

Today wasn't a good day to get my creative juices flowing. I planned on working on some short story revisions, but had to tend to other obligations. In the meantime while working on the short stories and a baseball novel I've devoted more of my time to writing two active sports blogs. (www.sportspoints.blogspot.com and www.cubsforum.com) It doesn't seem like there is enough time some days to get a set number of pages completed or second and third drafts. That's one of the challenges of being a writer. Time managment goes along with this aspect. Sticking to a routine is good, but if other things come up you have to accept it. There is always tommorrow. Procastinating for months is a problem for some writers. I don't have that trouble due to commitment.

A lot of writers worry about how to protect their work. Well, there are several options here. Only allowing those you trust to read your work or getting them to sign their name on a agreement form to not share your literary work for someone's else gain(profit)is one route. If concerned about theft when submitting to magazines, small presses, or agents it's best to get your material copywrited. This can be done through the U.S. Copyright office or by visiting their website, www.copyright.gov and filing out a registration form for the selected type of writing. The cost is around $30 and lasts for the lifetime of the author. After completing a manuscript you can put your name, the word "copyright" or the c symbol, and the year at the bottom of the page. It serves as a notice for readers. That's the installment for today. Check back and continue writing.

Peter Harvey, Copyright 2005

2005-09-04T23:58:00.000-04:00

Weloome to my writing blog. After consideration I've finally decided to start a page dedicated to writing. Whether it's freelance writing, short story, script writing, poems, jokes, or any other area involving fiction it will be discussed here. This is the first day of operation so I'd like to start a writers forum here. I'm working on several literally projects right now and will try to post samples later. Writers: make yourselves at home, explore your creativity, and express your voice as an artist, and don't hesitate to post questions or comments. This is a place to also let out frustrations and problems experienced as a writer. No one ever said writing is always easy. It's more than difficult making a living as one too.

Characterization is the topic for this post. What would a story be without memorable, intriguing characters? Most likely flat and boring. Working to develop main and minor characters take time. Avoiding played out, typical characters with the exact same qualities is a good idea. Creating fresh, new protagonists, antagonists, and supporting characters is one goal as a writer. Finding these creations can be done by people you've known, seen, or come into contact with in everyday life. (Ex. family member, co-worker, coach, business owner, criminal, etc.) They'll give you a basic idea for personal traits, appearance, behavior, and actions of characters. What happens to them in a story is up to a writer's imagination. There is so many possibilites for plots and scenes for which they can be envisioned into. Description always helps to identify a character, giving readers a visual image they won't forget(Ex. The tall, fiery-eyed bodyguard in a black collared shirt stood silent with his muscular arms folded). Using too much description too often hurts a story though. Readers lose track of what's going on during the course of scenes. That's the take for this edition. *Remember to keep writing and don't quit on your dreams.