Happy Tuesday to you all! I’m on schedule this week so I’m pretty sure I got the day right.
I’m still toying around with a title for my novel. What was once “A Long Walk Home” is now “Derailed.” We’ll have to see what it is next week. LOL
I also received word that my class at the Community Center has been approved. It will be called….are you ready….Artistry With Words….one night per week, four weeks in May….I’m very excited about teaching a class to creative writing enthusiasts.
Shall we begin?
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Don’t be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
I’m not picking on anyone in particular, and I’m sure not pointing the finger of blame. This is simply an observation for those of you interested in becoming better writers.
I read a lot of articles during the week, and quite a few people who I follow write the same way in every article. By that I mean there is no risk-taking going on. If they are craft writers, every craft article that they write sounds the same. If they writer recipes, every recipe “sounds” the same. If they write about the environment or real estate or whatever, the only thing that changes in each article are the keywords.
Growing as a writer requires taking risks. It requires experimenting with new styles and new tools.
I have an article coming out this week on how to write an effective analogy. Let me ask you this: when was the last time you wrote an analogy in one of your articles? How about a metaphor? A simile? If you shook your head at all three then I would hope you consider trying them in the near future.
These are effective grammatical tools that every writer should have in their tool shed, and if you don’t use those tools they will become rusty.
Wait, was that a metaphor? J
PROMPT OF THE DAY
Use it, don’t use it, just have fun looking at it. It’s free so do with it as you will.
TIP OF THE DAY
For the month of May I’ll be teaching a Creative Writing Course at the local Eastside Community Center. It’s a way for me to give to the community; it’s a way for me to build my platform as a local author; and it’s my way to make a little money.
How about you? Is there a local community center that might be in need of your talents as a writer? Just askin’!
WRITER OF THE DAY
Say hello to my friend breakfastpop from HubPages. I don’t know this young lady’s real name but that’s not terribly important for this posting. I don’t agree with her politics for the most part but I do enjoy her writing abilities, and this site is all about writing. You can find her here.
Update: I just talked to her on the phone. She called as part of my challenge that people start making more contact with each other. What a thrill to talk to her.
MORE ON THURSDAY
I should finish my final draft this week or next and then I’ll need some of my fine friends to read my manuscript and give me suggestions. If you are willing to do that for me then please mention it in the comments….be advised that it is about 140,000 words and I need it done fairly quickly….and in advance, thank you!
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Bill, I would totally call you if I could get a word in edgewise with my two little ladies here. But totally here reaching out and wishing you a wonderful Tuesday again!! 🙂
Give those two ladies a hug for me, Janine, and thank you as always.
Sometimes when writing an article on a specific site, it is easier to write using a template and just saying what you want to say than it is to actually write something new and different every time. In addition, some people try to get SEO into that first paragraph making the opening sound boring. Combining the idea of interesting hook and providing good SEO can often be a contradiction in process. You have to either go for the genuine connection or go for the search engine SEO.
With real connection like you get here, your friends keep coming back again and again not because they found you in a search engine, but because they really like you. Those friends keep coming back again and again because they know you and they want to know more about you personally. When your book comes out, because you have developed an author platform with real people connected to your blogs and hubs, your book will have an audience and you will do well.
I’d be glad to read over your manuscript, Bill, if you want.
Thank you Donna! When I first started out and thinking about a platform, I made the decision to become a real human being for those who read my work. I think that has been successful, and I love the friendships I have formed with people like you.
Thank you for offering to read the manuscript. I’ll be in touch.
I feel the same about reaching out and really touching those around us. Sitting at a laptop all day is lonely enough as it is. It helps knowing that other people have the same struggles that I face.
Very true, Donna! This is not an easy profession.
I like both titles, Bill, although they convey different meanings to me.
Congrats on your class. I would imagine you’ll feel as if you’ve gone home once you are teaching live bodies again. Not that we’re not live, we just can’t see your smiling face and give you a hug or a high-five! 🙂
Analogies, metaphors and similes. I need to work on those aspects in my own writing, I believe. Thanx for the reminder!
Sha, it will be nice to be teaching again. As for the titles, I like “Derailed” but I’m not sure it relates what I want it to….so the search continues. 🙂 Thanks hon!
Interesting point Bill…I think so often people stress finding a “niche” so lots of people I think feel they must stick with a topic? I don’t know, I’m all over the place! Lol
I love B-Pop! Not only is she a great writer but clever and funny too!
Kelly…B-Pop…great nickname and she is all of that and more. I just talked to her on the phone and that was very nice. Thanks for the visit my friend. I hope spring is there finally.
Bill I want so much to attend your class but it is impossible because of location. I would be willing to purchase your notes if you allowed that.
Also I am going to be in Charleston South Carolina April 6-12 but I am available any other time to read your manuscript.
My sister talks in analogies all the time!
I am at Barnes & Noble right now and I have some of your printed hubs with me. I will look up breakfast pop. God bless always. Sparklea/lea. 🙂
Lea, you are such a wonderful person. I mean that sincerely.
Your sister speaks in analogies? That could be confusing at times. LOL
Thank you for everything. I’ll let you know when the manuscript is ready.
blessings always
bill
Hi Bill. I’m sure your classes will be a brilliant success. I’d volunteer but as you know Fiction is not my forte. The short title strikes me as the best. Keep smilin’..
Graham.
Thanks for you input, Graham. Bev prefers short titles. I’m always looking to complicate things. LOL
bill
You hit the bullseye with this one, Pops.
Well thank you my Dunedin Wonder. 🙂 Seriously, Lizzy..thank you!
It is hard to stretch as a writer–risky once people like what you are doing especially–and yet, it can be boring to do things the same way all the time–bravo to you for addressing this!
Thank you Audry! Truth be known, I get bored doing the same thing over and over again. I have to constantly try new things or I’ll dry up.
Bill, How wonderful that you get to teach a subject that you adore. If I was in Washington, I’d drive across the state to be in your class. Your students are very lucky. Congratulations on writing a 140,000 word manuscript and on your new opportunity. Do you gave any portions of your book online? Is there anyway you could post a very paragraphs as a teaser?
Jen, thank you! I have actually included excerpts from the book in several articles I have written….let me find one and I’ll post the link here.
Hi, Bill – I will be honored to read your manuscript and comment on it if you wish. By the way, I like one-word, action-based titles. “Derailed” piques my curiosity a lot more than your original working title. Jaye
Thank you for the offer, Jaye, and for the title suggestion…Bev likes one-word titles as well. I’ll be in touch.
I wish i lived close enough to take your writing class. Good luck and congratulations.
Aww, thanks Ruby! You would be my star pupil for sure. 🙂
Wow, Bill! If I had a penny for every time you posted an article that is exactly what I was thinking that day, I’d be… well, I’d have a lot of pennies in my pocket. I didn’t do any writing this morning. I thought I needed a break. Nevertheless, I thought about writing and one of the things I was thinking about was how I come from a technical writing background and it is so difficult for me to be as creative as other writers like you. As I was cleaning out some files this morning, I found an old script that I had written and produced for a church event and realized that the reason I enjoy script writing is because it doesn’t require me to be so creative. A lot is left to the actors to make a script work. Script writing is safe. But, I’d like to stretch my limits a little bit. That’s why I enjoy your articles. They help me to try to reach to the other side. Thank you for today’s lesson, Bill.
Marlene, it is my pleasure. A lot of these messages are for me. Funny you mentioned scriptwriting…it is an area I am not comfortable in at all but that is no excuse. I would love to write a screenplay for my first novel…and the only thing holding me back, besides time, is the fact that I am not confident in it. Maybe one day we will both get over that obstacle, eh?
Great pointers about writing and taking risks. I only hope you were not referring to my repeated style of writing cause at times I find it monotonous too! 🙂
I like your new title but love your old title too 🙂
Wishing you the best 🙂
Thanks Ruchira. I was actually reminding myself to take risks. 🙂 As for the title, still working on it.
I think it is great you are teaching a class! I love teaching my business communications class to college students but it would be even more fun to teach creative writing. I also am trying to reach out more and meet people for coffee, etc. Maybe I’ll give you a call sometime. : ) Have a great evening.
Oh, and I love the new title. Much edgier.
Thanks Deb. I would love it if you called some day…it would be great to connect a voice to the writing. As for the title…still working on it. I think it will be changing again. 🙂
No risk – no gain? I couldn’t agree more, Bill-bro! (love the prompt today, by the way)
I’ve started my 2nd novel and the heroine is totally different from Missy. Like, totally, man! lol
All i know is that like you – i write to the best of my ability – every single day..
Btw, how perfect is the name of your new class?? Perfectly perfect! You must be terribly excited – i’m very excited for you!
You’ll be asked back, for sure!..
hugsxx
Sis, you make me smile. I love that you started your second novel. Look at you go, girl! Once you gained momentum there was no stopping you. Proud of you you know!
Hugs right back atcha!
bill
I think you were talking about me—were you talkin bout me?
LOL.
Great post my friend.
LOL..not intentionally, Greg!
Bill, Congrats on your new teaching gig. You are surly grabbing life by the err …scruff of the neck.:) Where do you find the time and the energy? Let me into your secret.
Your Bev is one clever lady! I also prefer “Derailed” for the title of your new book, assuming it goes well with the story, looking forward to reading it. I hope you’re having a terrific day, see you on the other side.
Jo, what a lovely surprise. Thank you my friend. I liked Derailed to but it turns out it won’t work for the story. I think I’m close to finally deciding on a title…Resurrecting Tobias! But that may change by tomorrow. LOL Thank you dear friend.
Oh my goodness, I’ve been out of it this week a bit, haven’t I?! Congratulations on the teaching post at the community centre. That’s awesome!!! I think you’re going to help so many people turn their dreams of becoming a writer into a reality. I like “Derailed” better, actually. I can’t wait to hear what the final title is. It’s long weekend here so I don’t know if I’ll be around tomorrow. Have a fantastic weekend, Bill!
Thanks, Mel, for your input on the title. As for the teaching gig, I’m excited…very excited. 🙂 Have a great long weekend and thank you.