Printed Words and Musical Scores

Reading Margaret Atwood's Negotiating with the Dead, A Writer on Writing I've come across some amazing thoughts. She says the printed word and musical scores have many similarities. It's not the words on the page that make the tale remembered it's how the author played them...as a musician would play an instrument. They both find the song hidden in the notes or the story hidden in the words. So true.

Someone once said, and I paraphrase here,  it's not the musical notes played that make the tune, it's the spaces between those notes, the pauses, and my step father was quick to say it's not the printed word but what is written between the lines that we need to read.  The author crafts his tale the way he hears them in his head using words as his musical notes, his song in 3/4 time or 4/4 beat.

Elsewhere, Atwood, when speaking of duplicity as she claims all writers are - two different people, "Wanting to meet the author because you like his work is like wanting to meet a duck because you like pate." The person is not the author and vice versa. I tend to agree with that somewhat, my characters come from my mind but they are not necessarily about me personally. I didn't rob a bank to write about robbery, I didn't murder someone to write about murder...I didn't own an antique store as my current accidental sleuth does, or a cafe as the sleuth in another of my books does...I was never a rodeo clown or bronc rider, yet all of these are a part of the me on the page. Duplicity, a slippery eel, not even identical twins but more like Siamese twins I'm afraid. Joined together but not the same, nor do they necessarily think the same or look the same.

There is more to ponder on this, but I'm so enjoying Margaret Atwood, I wonder why I haven't found her before.

Negativity and The Butterfly

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

-- Eleanor Roosevelt

Positive Focus will create the life that you want to live!

Negative people are like human black holes. They drain your energy. They keep you from reaching your goals. They stop your life!
Brian Tracy...

And this is so true. It seems negativity spreads at the speed of light while happiness has to be sought out and captured on the run - well perhaps chasing happiness is wrong, maybe we need to stand still and allow it to come to us...like the butterfly.   Your thoughts?

What Characters Can do For Your Fiction

It is said that fiction is life dressed up for a party and the writer controls the guest list. You can invite anyone, any type character you need or want into your story.

That makes writing a lot like acting--well, you see you, the writer, gets to play all the parts. Isn't that grand being behind the steering wheel all the time.

We think we are anyway. Sometimes, characters will jump in and just take over the ship - If you try to force them to go your way several things could happen.
1. You could alienate your readers because the story might not ring true to what your character would do in this situation you created.
2. You could wind up telling the wrong story and find yourself left blocked and never finishing the tale at all or it will not be the tale you are destined to tell.
3. Why fight it, go along with your character, at least until you see where s/he is heading. It may be a direction you never planned, but it may well be a better direction, a better what if. Try it!

When you create each character in your head you manufacture just enough details, enough information so that your reader can form his character to people your story that fits his mind or idea of the character. You will both be right...and it involves your reader.

Someone once said, "If your characters are having more fun than you, your on the right track." So roll out the red carpet and let your characters have a ball.
Writing WideWriting Wide: Exercises in Creative Writing or Writing Wider, More Exercises in Creative Writing

See Steve Ostrow in action.

If you've enjoyed the book review, but want more --here is a video link for you to see and hear Steve in action. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sta7eAg-Ak. He turns his Printed Words into action.
Please be sure to check out his book it is a treasure trove of resources for every consumer and his style is a delight.
How To Sue A Telemarketer
When you are in the middle of writing that blockbuster novel or dynamite article you don't need to be interrupted by a telemarketer. Take action Steve can help. Click on the link above to buy his book. You'll be glad you did.

How To Sue A Telemarketer...

How to Sue A Telemarketer,
A Manual for Restoring Peace on Earth One Phone Call At a Time
ISBN978-0-615-33817-0
Stephen I. Ostrow, Esq. and Ozmo Kramer
Reviewed by Billie A Williams

"Getting upset over a telephone call seems nitpicky. One termite is not a problem; left unchecked, better all the exterminator."

Tongue in cheek and a bit irreverent at times, How To Sue a Telemarketer combines strong ideas, and at times, strong language, with a clear and decisive call to action required by the reader. Lead, pushed and challenged to hit the telemarketer between the eyes for the interrupted dinner hour this book provides you with all the tools necessary to reclaim the peaceful family time without the unwanted interruption of the telemarketer.

From do not call lists to what telemarketers can legally do Ostrow and Kramer cover it all. A telemarketing worksheet is provided for you to be certain to get what you need to get from the telemarketer. From how to get the process rolling—to what forms you need to have in place before you arrive in court, you have it all in this reader-friendly, compact book.

In the appendix Ostrow and Kramer provide a complete Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) so that you can see for yourself what is protected and what is allowed in this telemarketing drama. Several of the forms that you will need to proceed with your plan to sue the telemarketer are also included.

Ostrow and Kramer provide a list of things that the telemarketer can be sued for – it’s not a blanket ruling that if someone telemarkets to you they can automatically be sued – if you are on the no-call list some telemarketers can still legally call you, but there are things you can do to stop them.

It’s not often you will find lawyer and humor in the same sentence let alone in a how to book, but this book offers them both. Sound legal advice from a couple of lawyers as well as it being presented with enough humor to take the edge off even the angriest consumer march to court.

An enjoyable read – and sure to give you a leg up on how to proceed when once again you are pestered while attempting to enjoy a quiet family dinner.

Organic Printing - you've heard of Organic Gardening -- Well...

 How About Green Printing? Shel Horowitz is the master of green -- Comments welcome.

Seven Weeks to A Greener Business
Week 1: Green Printing
By Shel Horowitz

Permission to Publish: As long as the biographical slug is
included unedited (or edits cleared with the author), permission
is freely given to republish and repost, in whole or in part. The
slug must be included.

HADLEY, MA: Printing is one of the easiest places to go more
Green in your business, whether creating documents on your own
office printers and copiers or buying commercial printing
services.

In your own office:
•       Switch to duplexing printers, and train staff to print on
both sides of the page.
•       Buy only recycled printer/copier paper, with a high
percentage of post-consumer.
•       Use draft mode to consume less toner.
•       Consider, before printing, whether reading on screen is good
enough—do you really need a paper copy?
•       Rather than ordering (and then wasting) quantities of
letterhead, design electronic letterhead you can incorporate into
your document so it automatically prints each time you need it.

When buying printing services:
•       Specify recycled or FSC-certified paper.
•       Inquire about soy and vegetable inks.
•       Buy from a printer who is committed to eliminating or
reducing water pollution and paper waste.
•       Only print as much as you really need.

The primary author (with Jay Conrad Levinson) of the acclaimed
new book Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green,
www.guerrillamarketinggoesgreen.com, Shel Horowitz is a marketing
and environmental consultant/speaker who helps businesses not
only go Green but also effectively market their Green commitment.
Emphasizing affordable, eco-friendly, and ethical approaches, he
has served clients across North America, Europe, and Asia. He is
the founder of the International Association of Earth-Conscious
Marketers and the Business Ethics Pledge. For a directory of all
his websites, please visit www.shelhorowitz.com Reach him at
413-586-2388, shel@principledprofit.com, Twitter @ShelHorowitz


Accurate Writing & More, 16 Barstow Lane , Hadley, MA 01035, United States

Cardboard Characters?

If you are having trouble with your characters being flat and boring to your reader, you will certainly lose many that you could have called fans. "An attentive writer is midwife, nanny, uncle and undertaker to the story's characters." says Paul Raymond Martin in The Writer's Little Instruction Book. The title suggests there are 385 Secrets for Writing Well & Getting Published. and I certainly agree.

You must remember that your characters best side is reflected in their reaction/action from the detritus of personal experience.  Their deepest emotions are the stuff of reader enjoyment. If you can remember how it felt when you tripped on stage as you picked up your High School diploma, or caught your heel in your prom gown and nearly exposed your...well let the imagination fill in the blanks. Remembering your emotional reactions to certain situations are sure to give you methods and means to translate your characters emotions into real life for your reader. Don't squander that opportunity use it for all your worth. Create fallibly, memorable characters. Characters In Search of an Author could help you design that perfect mix of character and emotion.