Writerly Wednesday ~~ Creating Vignettes

I dug this out of files & folders in my cyber Back 40 for friend Jink Willis when we got to yappin' about her blog post on the similarities between home staging and writing. This little article uses photographic concepts and pointers to (hopefully) help us hone the writing craft. Enjoy! 


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CREATING VIGNETTES 

Vignette: (n.) Any small, pleasing picture or view; a small, graceful literary sketch. (v.) Finishing a picture/photograph in the manner of a vignette.

Whether crafting a setting for a short story or novel, a scene in a play, or framework for poetry, writers who think in terms of vignettes create sharper, more concise, and more memorable work. (Think "snapshot" or "scene.")

Visualize your keyboard or pen as a photographer’s favorite camera. If you take the time to look carefully through the viewfinder before clicking, you’ll be happier with your finished product. Conversely, if you grab and snap in a rush, you’ll produce blurred, amateurish work. All art takes time and practice to perfect, but with persistence, we can hone our writing skills. To this end, following are a few “picturesque” tips on setting up good vignettes: 

Invest in good equipment: If you think you can produce high quality work with a throw-away camera, think again. The quickie writer submits the first thing off the top of his head without taking the time to edit with a critical eye. The professional (one who invests in classes, workshops, critique group membership, and other learning opportunities) knows by taking his time to learn the rules and techniques, his work will shine.

Get down (or up) on your subject’s level: Think and write from your characters’ perspective. See what they see, hear what they hear, etc. When this is done, the writing will come off as realistic vs. fabricated.

Move in close: The best photographs are those which get as close to the subject as possible. This is one reason macro shots have so much impact. Leave off extraneous descriptions, unneeded words. Crisp and sharp writing increases your publication odds.

Try different poses, angles, points of interest, and components of composition: Your vignette staging is important, so spend time thinking of the overall word picture you are composing. Would a change in Point of View work better? Have you given your characters enough depth through character sketching? What might be added or subtracted to create a clearer portrayal?

Frame your subject through the lens: Think of all aspects of your vignette and consider how it will be transmitted to your readers. Give your story plot or poetry balance on all sides. Is every single thing you are considering including in your vignette necessary? Beware of having trees sprout from subjects’ heads (fantastical plot lines). Savvy readers know when you’re overreaching. Make sure your thumb is out of the way also; remove all traces of yourself from your writing so the plot and characters can be heard and the author forgotten.

Research your subject: Always check your facts. A bit of research on products, eras, and other germane data adds unique, fresh details to your work. Editors and readers will appreciate the extra effort.

Now you’re locked, loaded, and ready to create better word photos. Your vignettes will be sharply focused, as will their tone, mood, and quality. Leaving readers with an unforgettable mental snapshot (of characters, plot, or evocative use of words in a poem) is a hallmark of good writing.

If you’re having trouble with a particular passage or stanza, why not post it here on the blog? I’ll gladly see what I can do with my editor's red grease pencil to help out. 

Writerly Wednesday ~~ Are Ears Smarter Than Fingers?

How y'all doing with your writing projects? I'm reading a friend's manuscript, then getting down to "bidness" on my own after I blow the dust off it! Sound off and let me know of your progress or lack thereof because I've been out of the loop. *grin*

What's today's title mean? It's a subject I've been pondering lately -- the difference between what our ears pick up vs. what we let flow from our brains through our fingertips to the keyboard or paper. Participating in several poetry readings and also listening to other poets read recently, I've tried to be aware of the subtleties and small differences between words/lines/sentences and meanings when I write them myself or listen to them.

     And there are great nuggets the ears pick up that the old fingers sometimes do not. Maybe this has to do with what type of learners we are -- aural, visual, verbal, etc. [More here on learning types, which I find fascinating.] Discovering the way(s) in which we learn can translate into better writing because our brains are being fed by the method(s) most pleasing to them. I'm a more visual/aural person. Manuals, schematics and maps make me crazy, but if someone shows or tells me how to do something, I'm off and running. Sorry...went off on a little tangent there. :)

Below are a few notes from agents and editors that my ears recently picked up at a writers conference. For a great post on the importance of reading our work ALOUD, check out Harvey Stanbrough's newest mini-lesson too. It's well worth the quick read. @@@

*Submissions that get read and noticed are the "high concept" ones in which the author describes clearly in just a few sentences what his/her book is about. Ex. Jane Austen meets James Bond.

*A short one-page synopsis is best.

*Personalize your queries to agents you've researched and targeted. Same applies to work going to journals, poetry zines, magazines, etc.

*Social networking really is important for author platform/branding. Be accessible online.

*Remove snippets of your manuscripts from the Web so you're not stepping on agents/publishers efforts to sell your book, and to keep your work safe.

More "gooder" stuff next week!

** Ear & fingers photos from Flickr

Change of Scenery

This is what I'm looking at right now. It's a scene that couldn't be more removed from my regular view of the world at home. There is perfect quiet except for the birds' morning chatter and the last few spurts of the coffee pot indicating a full container awaits my mug.

I don't get to escape here very often, but when I do, I feel a recharging of body, mind, soul and creativity. I've read a whole book and am halfway through Anne Rice's Called Out of Darkness. Now my manuscript is spread out on the table below this window view awaiting my full attention. (I've asked its forgiveness for the past many months' neglect.)

And you? Where do you go to flee your routine/rut? If you're a writer, how important do you think a change of scenery is to your writing? If there was a writer's retreat within an hour of your home and it offered short term sanctuary for little or no cost, would you avail yourself of it, and what would you want awaiting you there?

Please Take Out Your Notebooks, Class

Photo by Cellular Immunity

First, I've got Part 1 of the interview with Harvey Stanbrough posted at the Rose & Thorn's blog if you missed it featured here. (You ARE familiar with our wonderful little literary zine, right?) If you haven't had a chance to browse and/or follow the blog, consider yourself officially invited! We've been really busy renovating and redesigning for our Fall issue which will be out in mid-October. Kathryn Magendie of Tender Graces and I hope you will sign up to get the announcement newsletter too. {Follow the R&T link above and in the red sidebar on site, you'll find more links to the newsletter subscription, current issue, Twitter, etc.}

We're excited about the new crop of poems and prose we'll be showcasing. And, hey, maybe some of you will be inspired to submit your work in the future!

Second (and don't you hate people who start paragraphs like this?), please visit Harvey's blog for a wonderful tutorial on the importance of getting your novel synopsis/query parts and pieces done right! You'll thank yourself after you read it. Lots more good stuff are housed at his website.

Third and lastly (is that a word?), Kimmi Richardson is having an awesome giveaway to celebrate her second blogiversary at Writer in Waiting! If you wanna "Get Lucky in Kentucky," check out the contest details. Kimmi is giving away "...TWO two-night, three day stays at (her)100-year-old cottage, Summer Shade."

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Coming Soon: Interview with the author of Tell No Lies, Julie Compton. Now, you have a great rest-o'-the-week, ya hear?

A Marriage of Poetry & Prose

One of my Rockin' Blogs listed in the sidebar is Amy Sue Nathan's. She had a great post yesterday which the cyber gremlins tried to gum up, but Amy, being the smart writerly woman she is, figured out how to untangle the wonky coding. Go read her AN ASPIRING AUTHOR'S POEM. It's fun and funny, but also carries quite good advice for writers. (And tell her I sent ya!)

Here's a little taste:

I read a book I didn’t like,
gave it to a writer-friend,
She didn’t like it either,
neither made it to the end.
We both enjoyed the prologue,
then it fell apart...

Don't forget to enter Gumbo Writer's photo caption contest. [Details in yesterday's post.]

I'm excited about my stepdaughter and family coming to visit today! They're an Army family and have been stationed all over the place, so it's great to have them back in good ol' Louisiana again. Nana's gonna squeeze five sets of cheeks while they're here for the boys to attend an LSU football camp. Can you imagine how exciting that must be for young 'uns?

Now, you go and have yourself a great day and weekend.

Winning Writing + Edits = Learning Opps

*Y'all know by now the graphic above expresses the opposite of my way of thinking, but just wanted to mention in case you're new 'round here. And if so, welcome!

Good morning, boys and girls. Ms. Ledbetter hopes you are having a fine day away from "school," and that you are remembering to celebrate the important meaning of Memorial Day here in America. Whilst you gaze upon the smoke rising from your barbeque pits, please take a moment to think of/pray for our military men and women and their families. Thank you. :)

The last word on the Gumbo Writer Writing Contest is that I think it was a great experience for everyone, but I realize I may be a tad prejudiced in my thinking. I know I benefited by reading your awesome entries. Getting to see examples of good word-crafting reinforces the importance in my own writing. Looking over Nannette's edits of Barb's and Michelle's work reminded me too of the necessity of sharp eyes and editing pencils. It also made me feel good we made some of the same comments to the submissions. And I think everyone (submitters and readers alike) learned a bit about what sets great writing apart. Hopefully, we see that we must put our writing out into the world, even when it hurts. That's the only way we can grow and improve.

Sooooo, here are the winners' work again, with permission, and Nannette's line editing comments. Please enjoy. And remember...you are subject to a pop quiz at any time. *snirk*

Note: No need to click on the editing markers within the work itself. They are spelled out fully beneath each piece!

Let me know if you found this post helpful, so I can make plans for future contests!

Edit of Michelle's ~~~~~ [removed by request of author]


Edit of Barb's short story extract~~

This is a very nicely written excerpt of historical fiction. Writers of historical fiction need to walk a fine line, telling readers who may not be familiar with an era or incident what they need to know without sounding pedantic. You do this very well by pulling your readers right into the time period with small hints. “The guard” calls her name. The ship is a “a prison” they took with them. From what I read, I wasn’t totally sure of the situation. I guessed they might be traveling to Australia? But this is just an excerpt from the story, and I’m sure that becomes clear further on. In the meantime, you create tension and pique readers’ interest right from the beginning by telling us that the main character doesn’t want to be identified as a Clegg.

One thing you want to watch out for is overuse of the verb “to be.” “Is” and “was” can’t be eliminated entirely, but the standard structure of subject and verb “to be” feels draggy and bland if used too much. You can punch things up a bit by varying sentence structure and using stronger, more active verbs.

Overall, though, this is a worthy submission deserving of first place. You’ve made me very curious about the rest of the story.

Extract from a short story

I had never met the sea. I didn’t know that the land just stopped with nothing until the rocks and water below[NC1] . And the sound. It was like thunder at ground level rather than high above. I was afraid of it but I wouldn’t let it show.[NC2] Walked with my head up and my steps measured. Clean I was, when I entered that ship.[NC3]

Not that I knew a body[NC4] . When the guard called my name from his list, there was no one to recognise me. But it wasn’t loneliness that settled on me, it was relief. Now I could leave things. I didn’t have to be one of those Cleggs, said with a certain look[NC5] . I could keep clean and private[NC6] .

It was trouble for me at first. Being on this floating dungeon, a prison that we took with us. The sickness rolled through me, but vomiting at the railing made things worse[NC7] . Every time I looked down in the grey waters I realised there was nothing holding me.nothing held me. This ship was nothing to the sea. If the planks of wood were gone, I would be falling without end.Only planks of wood came between me and falling without end[NC8] .

The days had a deep rhythm[NC9] . I was woken by the growing heat below decks, the light not reaching down there. At first I walked the decks avoiding others. But then I heard more food was given to those who worked. When one of the guards came looking for a midwife I presented myself. I know it had only been lambs, but birthing is all the same[NC10] .

It was a different life with the free settlers. They had lanterns and sheets and meat without slime.[NC11] Some evenings I allowed myself to dream that it could be so for me. I started to wonder about a future and how it would be on the land. Maybe I could find myself a man. One who was weak and who could be driven. One who was foolish enough for my needs. A weak man, who could be driven. One foolish enough for my needs.

I birthed their babes. I cleaned them up and made them soup. All the time I was watching their men folk, looking for the links and discovering who belonged where. I gained a name as a healer and people were askingasked for me. What I didn’t know, I guessed. It was clearI learned that broth and sleep could help most things. I lost a few but that was expected. Wrapped in their cloaks we lowered them into the sea.

Sometimes a coin was pressed into my hand [NC12] and I sewed it into my hem. Feeling them brush my ankles as I walked, I wondered what it would cost to buy my way out. It was while dreaming on the deck like this, that I heard the end of it. ‘Why that’s Clegg. She knows the future. A true caulbearer.’ I could have sobbed at those words. The gig was up and I had to go back to being me.[NC13]

[NC1] Great introductory line and very evocative.

[NC2] This is what I referred to in my critique. Two sentences in a row start with a pronoun followed by “was.” Think about varying the structure and/or employing stronger verbs. E.g. Instead of “I was afraid” you could say, “I feared it” or “It caused fear in me.” Especially in the first paragraph, you want to establish a stronger voice with your readers.

[NC3] Maybe a comma here, to make it read better?

[NC4] Love the use of vernacular. A great way to tell us who this woman is.

[NC5] Terrific. I love the way you keep putting out a little more line before you reel us in.

[NC6] I like the use of the word “clean.” We can’t help but wonder what it means in this context.

[NC7] These are the kind of sentences you want. “The sickness rolled over me” is a great way to describe sea-sickness.

[NC8] A s noted in my introductory letter, I’m not saying these are the exact words you should use. These are just examples of how you could punch up these sentences to greater effect.

[NC9] Deep rhythm works with the image of the sea. Also the next sentence is one of those where the verb “to be” works. You don’t need to strike it from every single sentence. Too many strong verbs and convoluted sentences can be over-kill.

[NC10] This confused me a little . On first reading I thought she was being asked to birth lambs.

[NC11] This says it all.

[NC12]This is another sentence where it works.

[NC13] Now we know who he Cleggs are. This is good.

Writing Quiz

Okay, it's Monday, and that means it's time to ingest your java or favorite beverage, and fire up the brain cells for a little quiz.

Today's testing is all about what kind of writer you would make according to your answers to the five questions found here.

If you're a mom, I hope your day was as nice as mine yesterday. Thanks for all the well wishes on the Mother's Day post!

So...to what type of writing are you best suited?

Cuppa Call

In case any of you have stories waiting to be written, revised or tweaked to send in to A Cup of Comfort, here's their recent call for submissions:

Share Your Story in Cup of Comfort

The Submit deadlines are fast approaching for A Cup of Comfort for Mothers and for the Silver Lining story contest sponsored by CupofComfort.com and REDBOOK magazine.

If you have an uplifting or inspiring story to share about your mom or about your experience as a mom, submit your 1,000- to 2,000-word personal story for publication consideration in A Cup of Comfort for Mothers by May 15, 2009. For complete details, please check out the Call for Submits.

For a chance at the $1,000 grand prize and publication of your story in both REDBOOK and on the Cup of Comfort website, submit your 1,000- to 2,000-word personal Silver Lining story by May 15, 2009. For contest rules and guidelines, click here.

We are also seeking 1,000- to 2,000-word narrative essays (creative nonfiction stories) for three other Cup of Comfort anthologies:
A Cup of Comfort for a Better World/deadline: June 15, 2009
A Cup of Comfort for Couples/deadline: October 1, 2009
A Cup of Comfort for Golfers/deadline: December 15, 2009

We look forward to reading your stories!
Submit Your Story Now!



*To submit online, you'll have to register and log in.

Jackpots & Writing Resources

What do writing and gambling have in common? Go check out my post at The Rose & Thorn Literary ezine's blog and see for yourself.

And here are a few writer resources I thought you might like straight from my bookmarked favorites:

• Chicken Soup - What they want and how they want it
• Anthologies Online - Current list of anthology call outs
• Lotsa freelance and nonfiction info. and resources at Burry Man
• Like Inspirational topics? Give 2theHeart a look see.
• Southern humor with a twist? Visit Dead Mule. HeeeHaww! [Note: If you're planning on submitting here, you must fill out the application of Southern roots oath. LOL]
• Big fat listing of resources available for writers at Duotrope.
• Dictionary.com [which also has a Thesaurus, translator and other reference tools] and Biblegateway.com [search by Bible version, keyword or topic] are nice places to get the right info. quick.
• Everything you ever wanted to know about Literary Magazines but were afraid to ask. Gargantuan listing!
• Really really bad and distasteful e-cards here. [Warning: Addictive!]

Okay, writer people, if you're in the sharing mood, we'd all love a peek at a treasured resource or two, or if you just want to dump praises/thanks on my head, that's good too. ;o) Now, git to writin'!

A late-breaking PS: Linda over at 2nd Cup of Coffee was the Mardi Gras King Cake contest winner, and she's posting thoughts and photos about the experience today. Congrats again, Linda!

Goals: Close But No Cigar

Yeah, I know Mardi Gras is over and Lent has begun, but this picture, no doubt taken in New Orleans, reminds me that we all need to take time to kick our feet up and recharge our batteries, but also that it's good to have a few goals. My writing buddies at Melissa Marsh's Just Write Challenge have seen this post title and photo already, as I've lamented not accomplishing all the writing goals I'd set for February.

If you feel like you didn't make enough (or any) progress toward securing your own goals and dreams, writing or otherwise, never fear -- a new month begins today. March's clean slate invites us all to get busy, and its gentler weather encourages us to lift off winter's blanket and get outside more often.

So...what's in your wallet [said in that gorgeous Allstate Man's voice]...um, I mean, what's on your agenda and do you have plans for accomplishing those things?

Wanna Super-Size Your Writing?

...then check out Melissa's The Just Write Challenge. Several of us did the trial run this month, and the official date begins February 1st.

And speaking of food, y'all might all enjoy this humorous video called Food to Die For from CBS.

QOD (Question of the Day): If you eat junk food, what's your absolute fav?

January 1, 2009!

A happy and wonderful New Year's Day to all my blogging friends! May your every dream, goal, wish, prayer, resolution and desire come through for you in 2009.

Thanks to each of you who has shared yourself with me in this strange Bloggy-Land universe. I look forward to more good stuff flowing both ways!

Huggage,

Angie Ledbetter (Gumbo Writer)

{Image from Photobucket.com}

Paint Us A Picture

Now that the majority of the holiday crush is over and we've had a chance to breathe a little deeper, isn't it a strange mix of feelings fighting for supremacy? There's the relief over not having to do so much running around, shopping, doing, planning, cooking, etc. But there's also a postpartum kind of letdown that the big day has come and gone again until next year. Luckily, it's Saturday, so the weekend stretches out before us, and for most of us, that means time off from job demands. And there's still New Year's Eve fun to come.

So, blog buddies, what's the best thing you experienced this Christmas or Hanukkah season...and the worst? Was the company good, but the food only mediocre? The kidlets act like monkeys on crack, but the desserts were as yummy as always? Paint a quick word picture and show us worded snapshots of your 2008 holiday happenings so we'll learn a little more about your corner of the world.

{Photo from Photobucket.com}

Spotlight on...Writing Stuff

First, a heads up from ChristaCarol about an agent who is gifting writers with the chance to have their pitch critiqued. I submitted my paragraph in the growing number of comments, and am hoping I get chosen for a crit. Either way, it was fun, and reading others' descriptions of their mss was interesting too. Even if you aren't ready to start querying yet, it's a fun exercise that might help you get your book's plot down more concisely.

Since I'm in the mood for writing as the New Year and new opportunities loom, here are some tips from NYT best selling authors I heard speak at a conference about six months ago ~~

• Publisher's Lunch was recommended as a good site to join if you want to keep abreast of what's happening in the publishing world.
• Craft a "log line" or "tag line" for your novel. This is a short one-sentence blurb that gives agents/publishers a feel for your book immediately. [Example: "When Sally Met Harry meets the Hulk."]
• Especially if you're writing mystery or suspense, throw in a few red herrings, but don't forget to resolve them at some point. This adds depth and interest to your plot.
• Spoon feed your readers the back story slowly as you move forward instead of dumping too much right up front.
• If you're stuck in a scene, try brainstorming 10 things that could happen. This may reveal new paths to you.
• Having 3-5 scenes per chapter is a good rule of thumb.
• Never change the POV during a single scene.
• Make sure your characters aren't just talking heads. Move them from place to place and room to room.
• If possible, have an editor go over your ms before querying.
• Save the cliches for dialog.
• Not every line of dialog needs to have a tag ("he said," "she whispered," "Margo replied.")
• Always give your readers credit for being smart. You don't have to tell them the obvious.
• Your synopsis should be short and concise. Tell the story and get to the end. How do your characters survive and find resolution?
• Look at your writing business plan and make sure it provides for your future as a writer vs. a one book wonder.
• Even villains and bad girls need redeeming qualities.

Do you find these kind of random tips helpful? More good stuff later. Now, go have a great weekend!

{Image from photobucket.com}

What Inspires You?

A mother of several small kids struggles to see her way beyond the perpetual pile of dirty diapers and other mom chores she has to perform between waking and sleeping every day. Being the main and stay-at-home parent, most of the odious chores of keeping a decent house and rearing children born close together fill her days. It’s all she can manage most of the time, but she once had dreams of being a writer. Since the father of her children isn't a hands-on kind of guy, and her parents and family support are on the other side of the country, her dreams have been put on hold indefinitely. Many nights she sits in her rocker and cries from sheer exhaustion. Her salvation comes in the form of being transported by good fiction or visionary poetry. Wouldn't you love to be the one whose words make her tired eyes light up?

Who do you write for? Why do you write?

We all get inspiration for tooling our words into pleasing finished pieces from different sources. For me, it's imagining the eyes of someone reading a humorous story, a well-written poem, or a colorful splash of VizPo I’ve crafted. This vision in my head encourages me to keep at it.

When the self-doubts pile up or procrastination threatens to derail me, I picture a receptive set of peepers just waiting to read the words I've strung together. And sometimes that does the trick. But what good is my writing if it stays locked up in an electronic file? It can't serve others or me from that location.

I know I can't be alone in this puzzling dichotomy called the writer's life. Won't you drag out, clean up and send off some of your work today? C'mon...what's the worst that can happen? A little rejection? You're a big boy/girl; it'll just make you stronger and more determined if you receive a No Thanks instead of an acceptance. Maybe you’ll luck out. But you (we) won't know unless we submit.

See that man who just got downsized out of a job he's held for so long, he's almost ready for retirement? Do you know he may be waiting for one more nudge before he'll begin putting thought to paper in the form of wonderful personal essays?

What about that young student over there? She's had a rough year at the university, and could really use your experiences to encourage her to continue on her path.

Just so you know, I recently read a similar post somewhere in the Blogosphere. And, yes, it inspired me to pay it forward, take a chance, express my thoughts on the whys and how-comes of writing. I originally posted it at The Rose & Thorn's Literary ezine's blog under editor tips and tidbits last week. {It's a great place to dig around and find good writing info., so check it out if you get the chance.} And thanks to Ang for the blogging mentor award. 'Preciate you!

Now, who do you write for? Why do you write?

{Graphic from Photobucket.com}

With a Little Help from My Friends

Wow, boys and girls, it's been an exciting couple of days for me! I got the two nifty-fied blog awards from friends Barbara and author Kimmi, and now the unveiling of the video made especially for me by Colby! If you haven't seen it yet, you must. Colby did an excellent job and she just may have a future in film. Really, is there anything better than having great friends...especially ones who make you laugh and share their goodies with ya? And don't forget, get your Christmas tree pictures in for the contest by midnight tonight! I know you want that lovely ornament that's going to the winner.

Of the second type, Small Footprints, that super green lady who dispenses advice on how we can help keep the earth healthy, sent me writerly info. to share with y'all. Thanks, Small! ~~

My name is Bob Griffin. I have just started a small publishing company that will be publishing fantasy, science fiction and horror stories. Listed below is my company's first press release. If anybody in your organization is interested in submitting their works of fiction please visit us at www.absentwillowreview.com.

Thank you for your time,

Bob Griffin Rochester, NH

PRESS RELEASE OCTOBER 31, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New Hampshire Authors Launch Publishing Company. Rochester, NH - New Hampshire authors Rick DeCost and Bob Griffin are proud to announce the launch of their publishing company and its online presence. Absent Willow Publishing LLC is an independent book publisher that will provide its readers with high quality stories of horror, fantasy and science fiction. Its online efforts include The Absent Willow Review. The Absent Willow Review plans to publish fictional stories in the horror, fantasy, and science fiction genre while allowing its readers access to the magazine anywhere in the world. Additionally, the Absent Willow Review will publish paperback anthologies from their collected works. "We're huge fans of the genres we publish," remarked Griffin. "We started this company to find greats works of fiction and to locate the next generation of great writers." With its online magazine spotlighting new works and its print publications soon to be available through Amazon.com and other retailers, the Company is planning to renew interest in short works of fiction. "For new and established authors of short fiction in the horror or fantasy vein, the market is light," DeCost added. "We are hoping to change that." Absent Willow Publishing LLC is located in Rochester, NH USA MEDIA CONTACT: Rick Decost & Bob Griffin Absent Willow Publishing LLC PO Box 66Rochester, NH 03866

And there's also good friend and author of 5 awesome suspense novels, Deborah LeBlanc, who said I could share her newest contest details with ya. I've read all her books, and loved them. The newest, Water Witch, is ever-suspenseful and is set in the bayous of Louisiana. Here's da scoop:

The window of opportunity to win a free trip to New Orleans, La. is closing fast! To celebrate the launching of my new website, we're running a contest for not one, but TWO free weekend getaways to New Orleans, Louisiana at the luxurious Hotel Monteleone! http://hotelmonteleone-px.trvlclick.com/

Each getaway includes airfare for TWO, hotel accommodations for TWO, and a $100 gift certificate for dinner for TWO at the infamous Brennan's Restaurant, http://http//www.brennansneworleans.com/

The getaway dates are January 9-11, 2009 and May 22-24, 2009, and here's how the contest works: To register for the January 9-11, 2009 getaway, go to the books' page on my new website-- http://www.deborahleblanc.com/leblanc-books.htm ---and click on the cover of WATER WITCH. This will lead you directly to that book's individual page. Once there, scroll down a little and look on the bottom left of the page. There you will see order links to Indiebound, Amazon.com, Borders.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and Books-A-Million.com. Click on the link of your preference, order a copy of WATER WITCH (New, not a used copy), then send a confirmation of your order to contest@deborahleblanc.com. For every copy of WATER WITCH you order, your name goes into a drawing for the January 9-11, 2009 getaway! Order two copies, one for you, another for a friend, and your name goes into the drawing twice. Order five copies of WATER WITCH (would make a great Christmas stocking stuffer!), and your name is entered into the contest FIVE times! The only caveat we have to add is that as soon as the online bookseller notifies you that your order has been shipped that you forward the shipping confirmation notice to contest@deborahleblanc.com. (I know sending two notices is a pain in the rear, but, unfortunately, there are some folks who'll order ten copies so their name goes into the drawing ten times, then they'll cancel the order once their name is added to the contest list.)

The getaway on May 22-24, 2009 works basically the same way, but we wanted to give you an additional ordering option. Let's say you've already ordered copies of WATER WITCH to use as Christmas gifts, but still want a shot at a trip to New Orleans. Well, here's your shot! Just go to the books' page on --http://www.deborahleblanc.com/leblanc-books.htm -- then click on any other book title, like GRAVE INTENT, A HOUSE DIVIDED, MORBID CURIOSITY, and FAMILY INHERITANCE. Send your order and shipping confirmation notice (For new books, not used copies) to contest@deborahleblanc.com, and you're in! The same also applies to the number of entries. The more copies of the other book titles you order, the more times your name goes into the drawing for the May getaway to New Orleans! The winners will be announced and notified on December 23, 2008.

Whatcha doing hanging around here? Go write something! :)

Spotlight On...Christmas Meme for Writers

Love the photo? I took it at a little cafe in St. Francisville, Louisiana a lot of motorcycle riders frequent. "HOG-wild for Christmas," I think is a good caption.

Today's holiday meme treat comes from {and, hey, it's not even Wednesday and you're getting mo writerly nuggets} friend Barbara over at The Serenity Room. Of course I had to tweak it and break some rules (I'm just like dat sometimes), but it was fun to do. I'm not gonna tag folks, so feel free to borrow it for your own bloggy's devious purposes, twisting and turning it to form a new or traditional version of this acrostic game.

But before that, and since I loves me some trivia as you know, here's some background on the word acrostic since I had to do a little research at Wikipedia to make sure I was calling this meme the right thing: Acrostic: a poem, or other writing in an alphabetic script, in which the first letter, syllable or word of each line, paragraph or other recurring feature in the text spells out another message. An acrostic can be used as a mneumonic device to aid memory retrieval. A famous acrostic was made on the Greek for the acclamation Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior which in Greek is: Iesous CHristos, THeou Uios, Soter (ch and th being each one letter in Greek and u is also y). The initials spell ICHTHUS (same as ICHTHYS), Greek for fish; hence the frequent use of the fish by early Christians and up to now as a symbol for Jesus Christ.

Now, boysies and girlies, wasn't that a cool example to have found right here at Christmastime?! So, on with the Christmas Acrostic for Writers (or in Gumbo Writer language, the C.A.W.) *grin* ~~

C ~ Chapters/stories written and edited to perfection

H ~ Happy news on submissions and queries

R ~ Readers who help polish your work

I ~ Ink (pens and cartridges) which never run dry

S ~ Stockings filled with plenty of WIPs

T ~ Tons of toys of the writerly kind

M ~ Major editors begging for your work

A ~ Angels watching over your computer's hard drive

S ~ Successful writing endeavors in the New Year

Add one or a couple of your own Writer's Christmas ideas in a comment!

Taking the Fever Out of the Pitch

I usually make Family Life & Stuff posts on Thursdays, but thought I'd change it up a bit today. For you writers out there in Blog Land, here is an article I posted at The Rose & Thorn Literary e-zine's blog Roses & Thorns not too long ago. We've got all sorts of nifty tips from prose and poetry editors if you're looking for something new and relevant to browse: http://roseandthornreviews.blogspot.com/

Taking the Fever Out of the Pitch

After attending the Pen-to-Press Writer's Retreat in New Orleans recently, a few things came to mind to share with others who’d rather have an unmedicated root canal than pitch their novel to an agent or editor.

Speaking with a literary agent at a conference, party or anywhere can be a nerve-wracking thing. It doesn’t have to be that way if you prepare yourself and believe in your “product.”

• Polish and polish some more: Before you approach someone to take on your "baby," make sure she's in her Sunday best. This includes having your little darling free of typos and errors. It should be edited to within an inch of its word count, and had several non-family/friend readers give it a critique. If you don't have a topnotch writers or critique group, get one. Your manuscript will be better for each set of eyes that look it over.
• KISSS: Keep It Short and Sweet, Stoopid: The last thing you want when describing your work to someone is to see their eyes glaze over before you've even gotten to meat of your presentation. Know and practice your concise description and be able to explain your novel's plot in thirty seconds or less. What popular books, movies or characters help show its flavor? Familiarity breeds relaxation, and as trite as it sounds, practice really does make perfect. Know what you're going to say before you approach an agent/editor so you don't ramble and lose your train of thought and your audience's interest.
• It's okay to "cheat" sometimes: I studied my notes and rehearsed my pitch until I felt comfortable, but for extra insurance against a bad case of nerves or freak bout of laryngitis, I had a few note cards tucked away in a pocket in case I went blank. Unlike political speeches, it's perfectly okay to memorize talking points. However, it's never okay to say you have a 100,000-word polished manuscript when you really only have four sketchy chapters or an outline.
• Look for opportunities, but don't stalk: There are basically three categories of conference attendees you always see -- Chihuahuas (shy and skittish, they miss opportunities to pitch their work and mingle with other writers, wishing they were home instead); Boston Terriers (adventurous writers who zero in on ways to hobnob with others in a friendly way); and Doberman Pinschers (all-out territory encroachers who attach themselves to the legs of speakers/agents/editors at every moment including meals and bathroom breaks. "Down, boy," is not in their vocabulary, so they obnoxiously hound others).
• Relax yourself: Agents and others in the publishing industry are people too. The majority won't bite or come across as ogres, unless maybe you're a "Doberman." When pitching your work or speaking with them, try to remember they are as interested in finding the next great writer as you are in being one. Speak in a relaxed, self-assured manner that shows your confidence as if you are talking to a friend or good old college professor. They know writers/authors who pitch to them are doing so in anxiety-producing circumstances and won't fault them for it.
• Two simple words: Like Mom always said, don't forget to say "thank you." Many agents, publishers and editors spend a great deal of time traveling to conferences and events. It can't be easy (or always profitable) leaving home and family to live out of a suitcase. Let them know you appreciate their time, even if your pitch fell short or they aren't looking for work in your genre. A post-conference thank-you note is a nice idea too. On this point, I'd like to personally thank the literary agents I spoke with at Pen-to-Press: Laura Blake Peterson with Curtis Brown, you made my virgin pitch easy and comfortable; Melissa Flashman (Trident Media Group), thank you for the enjoyable conversation; Paige Wheeler (Folio Literary Management), I appreciate you listening and asking good questions; and Jaimee Garbacik (The Literary Group), thanks for the opportunity and quick reply. Cherry Adair and Natalie Collins, you were great Instructors and will always be my "peeps."

Most of these tips apply to querying an agent or industry professional as well as making a face-to-face pitch. Remember, agents, whether seasoned or new to the game, make their living signing on good authors. Everyone wants to be a winner, but if you strike out with your pitch, don't give up. Research, re-write and edit if suggested, and make a new game plan for the next opportunity.

~~~

Would love to hear your additions to the topic, personal experiences and comments...especially from you lurkers! Yeah...YOU! :) Until tomorrow, write on!

More Wednesday Writing Tips

I love reading what other writers and editors have to say about the writing life and improving your craft. I especially enjoy posts and articles which give me an inside look into the successful processes someone else uses.

Browsing the always-nifty posts at Amy Sue Nathan's blog yesterday, I found just such a juicy nugget, which I asked and got permission to borrow in order to share with you. If you get the opportunity, you'll find good writerly stuffs over at Amy's place. Here's an example:

Amy writes, "When you write a scene, you use building blocks of characters, dialog, time, place, emotion. You pick and choose and use them carefully (we hope). But does the scene hold up if you remove one element? Or does the whole thing fall apart?" More here titled Literary Jenga---> http://amysuenathan.com/?p=401

Do you find you constantly leave out the same important element from your work, or add extra components which make it wobbly or bulky? I get overly-wordy sometimes, but I blame that on my Italian heritage and the Cajun culture that surrounds me. When I find these "tic words" or whole paragraphs (or lines/stanzas in a poem) which can easily be deleted without negative impact to the bigger work, it makes me feel like this:

How 'bout you?

I've Been Tagged, and It's Not Even Hunting Season!

Alyssa Goodnight http://alyssagoodnight.blogspot.com/ tagged me to complete the quasi-book/writing-related challenge described below, so here goes:

Having calmed considerably, Olm pulled his truck over to the side of the road and stared out at the bayou that ran parallel to the road. Down those murky waters, through the sloughs and channels, across the flats, down into the darkest parts of the Atchafalaya, where the cypress trees grew so thick their branches seemed conjoined, sat his two aces -- in the hole. He considered the wild game, snakes, and alligators that populated the swamp. There was always the chance the children might wind up as a meal before the ceremony time. [From friend Deborah LeBlanc's just- released book, Water Witch, Dorchester Publishing.]

The rules are as follows: Grab the nearest book. Open the book to page 56. Find the fifth sentence. Post the text of the next two to five sentences in your journal/blog along with these instructions. Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the closest. Tag five other people to do the same.

Hmm, who am I gonna tag from randomly scrolling through my Rockin' Blog roll?

Travis

Joanne

Terri

Jim (Suldog)

Wendy

Now, wasn't that more fun than a barrel of monkeys? And what are YOU reading right now?