Writers Write – Right? A Promotional Post!

March 31, 2014April 2, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 9 Comments

That’s what we do! In whatever way we accomplish this – we write!

Promoting our written words can be much more difficult, so anything that helps to get the word out (ha,ha) is a good thing!

I was asked a little over a week ago to participate in a writer’s “blog hop”. If you have followed my blog for awhile you’re aware that it is with great infrequency that I engage in these activities. However, in an effort to further the writer’s cause, I’d like to thank Dee Strange for her invitation. This version of blog hop involves a 3-step process of participation.

Part A – answering questions, Part B – introducing the writer who invited you to blog hop, and Part C – passing it on.

Part A: Penny’s Q & A

What am I working on? With the patient support of my publisher I’ve been working (for over a year on an inspirational (achieving self determination) nonfiction book for women. In addition, I’ve been working on several fictional pieces.

How does my work differ from others of its genre? Well, the hope is that the inspirational book will actually make an impactful and positive difference, that it won’t become “just another reference book” to occasionally review, but something that makes an immediate difference from the first reading on.

Why do I write what I do? Because I love words and reading them. Because I like to create. Because I care.

How does my writing process work? I do my most creative writing early in the morning, or adversely late at night. Perhaps the stillness of those time periods has something to do with this. During the day as a thought or idea comes to me I will take a minute to jot it down, in a paper tablet or on my ipad. There are times when I can write for 3 or 4 hours and force myself to take a break before getting back to the written words. Other times my writing will be of short duration.

Part B – Introduce the person who brought you into the blog hop:

Allow me to introduce you to Delia, the writer.

Delia Strange was born in Aucklnd, New Zealand (north-west of Hobbiton aka Matamata) and lives in Brisbane, Australia. She wrote sci-fi stories in her teens, speculative horror short stories in her twenties (some were published), then put the writing aside for a little while and tried to act normal.

Normalcy didn’t work in her thirties so she resumed living in another world on the page instead of just in her head. Along the way she picked up her closest friend as a co-writer and together they mix all fantasy genres (science fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance). In 2014 she began an indie-publishing project for her science fantasy Femme, and is blogging about the process.

Blog: http://strangewriter.wordpress.com/ Twitter: @strangewriter42 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeliaStrangeAuthor Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13582300-delia-strange

Part C – Find 3 more writers to be the next blog hop participants and introduce them in your March 31 blog post. They will write their own entries a week after you (7 April) and then they will each find 3 people (for 14 April) and so it continues on from there. Promo your blog post as you see fit.

And here in Part C is where I, Penny, leave the script. When reviewing the fellow bloggers I’ve come to know in the last several years (online), I realized there were hundreds of them currently published or in the process of getting their first book “out there”. It was impossible to choose only 3 from among them.

What I would like to humbly suggest is – those of you who fit either of the above “published or about to be published” categories, are encouraged to participate in this blog hop. Follow the directions above and please reference Delia Strange as the writer who encouraged participation in this promotional and self help event.

Thanks for reading, hope your week has started out well for you,

~ Penny

Muse, Muse thy destiny is calling … where for art thou?

May 16, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 55 Comments

Sigh,

Oh what a tangle web we weave when first we practice to … write something that is publishable!

This is me after many hours of slaving over a hot personal computer, for days without end – okay a slight exaggeration, but my PC is telling me to give it a rest, so warm to the touch is he (yes my pc is a he, okay?) My eyes look a little glazed over, don’t you think!

And I, lost amidst the variable vowels and controversial consonants tempting to temper my volume of voluminous words into a most practical piece of literature (see … you can tell I’ve been writing a smidgen too much here!)

So I ponder on the whole “writing experience” Why do we write? Why do we blog, I mean really? Right now as it turns out creatively writing “posts” a few hundred words on different subjects is mind diverting and gives me the needed break from the book I’m working madly to complete (passed the deadlines already, twice!) Why you ask do I not just devote all my writing towards the book? Well simply because …

… my muse won’t let me. Won’t cooperate at all, going hither and thither, even yon … just won’t settle anywhere that I want it to. Actually I’m close to done, the tightening up on key elements is what’s straining my muse. To include or not to include seems to be the question.

And so it goes. Hopefully will finish up directly and off will go the requested submission for (shuddering here, but still anticipatious – yes I know that’s not a real word) review and editing!

Thanks for being there you guys, I really appreciate your support,

~ Penny

The Potential power of your written word …

April 12, 2013April 12, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 19 Comments

Huge!

We know the power of the spoken word is mighty. After all, that’s how politician’s get elected (well, sort of … lol). When they deliver a speech to their audience (almost always a pre-prepared, well written one, I might add), it can, sometimes make a significant difference in the outcome of an election.

The written word (read – not spoken) is equally powerful but usually in a more measured way. It entertains, suggests, cojoles, encourages, explains, excites, fascinates, and so on.

Finding just the right words for your written piece (document, story, article, book, poem) can be a challenge.

Locating potential possibilities of words is very easy today. Simply browse online using your favorite search engine and look for all the variations of the potential word(s) you may want to use. Just, please, don’t plagiarize (take the work of someone else and pass it off as your own).

As you write, think about what you’d like your written piece to achieve. Does it make your point? Is it clear and understandable? Does it flow? Is there a beginning, middle and end? Have you edited for grammatical errors and typos, we all make mistakes during the typing process. Did you enjoy the creative process?

If you believe you’ve accomplished these things (with your written piece) then publish – On your blog (web) site or in one of the numerous places (remember to research – search engine … hello?) online that are actively looking for fresh written material (some of you will be surprised how many websites are currently looking for new content “every day” to share with their viewers/readers).

Good Luck ~ may the written force be with you,

~ Penny