STORY IDEA?

Hi everyone. This week I'm going to write a different kind of article. Let's call this article interactive.

I've recently picked up my crochet hook recently, noticed how almost everyone has gotten into it, and that got me to thinking. Would crocheting be a good story idea for children? I remembered the news reports on TV about children crocheting for others. I've also seen videos about it on Facebook. I've even found three kids crochet groups on Facebook! I also wondered why a hobby that used to be known as a grandmother's hobby has suddenly made a comeback. It has really made a comeback too, thanks to Gen Z! Here's a YouTube video explaining why.

Here are three crochet groups that accept both beginner crochet kids or adults:

           1 Crocheting with White Owl

                2 Crochet for Beginners

           3 Crochet Beginners 101

So, now you see how the crochet hobby is picking up and it's no longer a 'grandma thing'. So, what do you think? Would it make a good story idea? Please let me know in the comments.

 

PUBLICIZING YOUR WEBSITE

Okay, now you’ve built it. It was a job getting it just the way you want it, getting the right feel in it, along with letting it show the world that you’re a professional. Now what? It’s up, it’s published, but who’s going to see the videos, and read your brilliant words? How do you promote your website? I ran into this problem myself, and I’ve found a few ways to do this.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Visit Twitter (X), Facebook, Instagram, Tic Tok, or any other social media site you visit regularly. Create a post saying something like, “Hey, I’ve just built a website. Come check it out and tell me what you think!” Then add your URL or link.

I did this on Facebook. I put it on my wall, my announcement and link traveled down my newsfeed, and went out to all my friends. Who knows where it went from there. I also shared this announcement with any applicable Facebook groups I’m in. Make sure the group will accept announcements for blog posts or articles first.

I also did this on Twitter and added appropriate hashtags. The hashtags I put in my announcement were things like #Children’sWriting, #DebHockenberry, #Article, and #Links, and #Website. Don’t forget to include your link!

Pinterest is a great way to do this. You can create boards that link to your website. Each time you add new content, pin it and put it on the appropriate board. It will automatically link back to your website, and people will notice.

You can use all the other social networks in the same fashion.

 

YOUR EMAIL SIGNATURE

I’m supposing you have your email signature made out. If you don’t, it’s in the settings area of your email program. You’re allowed several lines to put your information. I’ll use myself as an example here. You can have something like this:

Deb Hockenberry, Children’s Author

Where Can We Have The Party? http://www.amazon.com/dp/1537077120 <-List your book here. If you have more than one you can list them one under the other.

KidzTales: http://authordebhockenberry.weebly.com  <-Here’s your website and it’s link.

Do you have a blog with a different address? Do the same as you did with your website.

Because of your email signature, everyone that you email will know about your books and website including where they’re at. Hey, I’ve had people visit this website from the email link!

YOUR OWN WEBSITE

That’s right. Your own website can help you get the word out that it’s there! You see all those social media icons on the left side of your monitor on KidzTales? Click them and fill in your information for that site. When someone reads or views your content and is impressed, they’ll click those buttons and information goes out. Believe me, this does happen. It’s happened to me more than once!

GUEST BLOGGING

When someone puts out the call for anyone to be a guest blogger on their blog, jump at it!

Ask to have your website link below where the blogger puts ‘by guest blogger, Your Name’. When the blog owner’s readers read your informative article, they’ll visit your website to see what other information you have to offer them. And all because you asked the blog owner to include your website link.

COMMENTING ON OTHER’S BLOGS

When commenting after reading another’s blog post, don’t just say things like, “nice post,” or “I can relate to everything you say.” Add something useful to the subject or expand on something the blogger touched on. At the end of your comment, add your link. Others will read your words of wisdom and wonder what else you have to say. They’ll see your link and visit. This does work!

SEARCH ENGINES

There are a few search engines that will let you list your site for free. You will want to have a few good keywords of exactly what you have on your site. People who want to find a (example) children’s writing website will put in the search bar “children’s website.” For your convenience, I’ve included a few of the most popular search engines and the pages where you can list you website. We’ll start with the most popular search engine.

Google- http://www.google.com/submityourcontent/website-owner/

Bing- http://www.bing.com/toolbox/webmaster/

Sign in with your Microsoft account. If you don’t have one, it’s free. Just go to http://www.hotmail.com.

Yahoo – That just took me to Bing, who I suppose, has control of Yahoo search.

If you decide to submit your search to other search engines, always read the privacy notices and the terms of services! Sometimes these are just called legal terms.

 

 

 

 

MAKE IT FLOW

 

What is flow and what does it have to do with writing? Flow is simple. It’s also known as cohesision. According to The Writing Center of Gustuvas College, https://gustavus.edu/writingcenter/handoutdocs/cohesion.php, it’s the seamlessness of one sentence flowing into another. There should be no changing of the subject in a paragraph. The sentences should flow or run together seamlessly into one another without jerking the reader around. The changing of a paragraph should be done the same way with a transition, so your flow doesn’t break up and jerk your readers around.

Start your transition to your next paragraph by making your last line in the earlier paragraph about what you want the next paragraph to be. For example, they last sentence in your first paragraph could be something like: “They had to climb the mountain to arrive at their destination.” The next paragraph would show them climbing the mountain, stepping over or around obstacles in their way. Maybe the obstacle is an attacking mountain lion? This would be a surprise for the reader. It would also be a plot twist since fighting your main character is fighting the mountain lion. That would hinder the climb over the mountain, but the flow or cohesion hasn’t broken since they’re still climbing that mountain.

Look at the picture of the river above. See how the river flows without breaking? It gently makes it way to the ocean flowing over rocks and other obstacles in its way. Now, imagine that you’re rowing a boat down that river. The river doesn’t jerk you around at all. In your rowboat, you gently and seamlessly flow down the river passed the woods on the riverbank. What happens when the river comes to a rock in the river does it stop its flow? No. It takes a detour by going around the rock or splashes over it. I like to think of this as putting a twist in the plot.

The same can be done with chapters with one small difference. The end of a chapter should be like the season finale of a TV show. You can’t wait for the next season to start to see what happens next. End your chapter the same way you do a paragraph but with something jaw dropping. So, your reader keeps turning those pages. That’s what you want them to do!

 

Here’s a video I found on the subject that I hope will help.

For more information see:

http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/flow/

 

Five Ways to Make your Writing Flow Better

http://waldenwritingcenter.blogspot.com/2013/12/five-ways-to-create-flow-in-your-writing.html

 

 

 

FREE EBOOK!

FREE EBOOK!

Here's the live link to the FREE ebook! 

https://www.amazon.com/Where-Can-We-Have-Party-ebook/dp/B0759ZTTTS

 

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU WRITE?

Some people say that you should write seven days a week until you get to a certain word count. They also claim that writers should use a flexible schedule. Then again, others say that you should only write when the muse inspires you. Do I do any of these? Yes. Should you or I? Yes.

I’ve found that I do best when I use the flexible schedule. I may or may not get some writing done on Saturdays depending on what my health allows. By doing a process of elimination and listening to my body, I’ve found it pays off for me to take Sunday off. After all, it is the day of rest. I do have to admit that there are Sundays when I’m on the computer writing away. That’s when I’m under a deadline.

It's been proven that like other muscles in your body, your brain needs a rest too. Science has found that you’ll be more creative and productive. The trick here is---again---to listen to your body. Your body will tell you when to give your brain a rest. Giving your brain a rest is taking time away from your writing and do anything that doesn’t concern writing. Don’t forget exercising and meditation. This helps immensely and even helps you with if you have writer’s block! But how do you know when to give you brain a rest?

Do you know the feeling you get when you’re so sleepy that you can hardly hold your eyes open?  You’re getting a message here from the brain to take a break. When you keep right on writing and get exhausted, tired, I-can’t-move-another-finger-on-the-keyboard feeling? Your body is screaming at you to stop! So, how do you rest your brain?

I know that the first thing that’s comes to mind is taking a nap. Believe it or not, that is a way! So are needlework, woodworking, going to the gym, watching movies, reading, or listening to an audiobook, cooking, or any other hobby. When the weather is nice, I like to take a walk and visit friends. The key here is to do what you like where it doesn’t involve your writing words. Don’t forget daily exercise and meditation.

Try the meditation video below called, Meditation for Writers: Meet Your Muse. Just sit in your desk chair, close your eyes, and focus on the music. I guarantee that you’ll feel 100% better!

You Tube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqXl9W-F1jM

In short, how many days a week should you write? That’s completely up to your body. Try the different types of schedules above and your body will tell you!

Elves For A Day               

Where Can We Have The Party?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BRING YOUR STORY TO LIFE!

What in the world? You’ve just finished your latest and (hopefully) your greatest story. You’ve let your friends read it and of course, they liked it. They’re your friends. You also read it to Rex, asleep in the corner of your office. He gave a yawn of approval too. So, you proofread your manuscript and proofread some more. Is the punctuation okay? Check. Does each word move the story along? Check. What’s wrong with it? Try reading it to Rex again and listen to your words. Forget about your friends and family since they’re just going to tell you what you want to hear. There. Hear that? Read that section again. There’s no life in your character nor is there good description in the narrative. You have write visually and bring your book to life.

 

What is writing visually? It’s something we’ve all heard before. Show, don’t tell. For those of you who haven’t heard those particular words here’s my definition: It’s when you reader is able to put himself/herself in your book. You should engage all five senses to do this. Have your characters talk naturally. Describing in a few words what they feel (emotionally), see, question, etc. Also, people aren’t robots in real life. When was the last time you saw someone talking and their expression never changed, they didn’t talk with their hands, or they didn’t fix their hair when the wind blew?

 For instance: Keira left school. “I’m going to the mall,” she said to Sasha. Here’s the same sentence brought to life. Keira raced down the hall stopping when she saw Sasha putting her books in the locker. “I’m going to the mall after school,” she puffed. “Wanna come?” “Sure! Wait a sec until I fix my hair. Maybe that new guy will be there.” Which description would you rather have in your manuscript? Which one shows more instead of tells?

Take a look at these sentences: The three young people climbed the hill. Okay. Now read this: As the three friends climbed, they swatted flies away from their faces. Bees buzzed around them while low-hanging tree branches smacked them in the face. Which sentence shows more thus giving it life?

The trick is to give your characters some character not only in the dialogue but in the narrative as well. In the narrative, your reader can see them struggling up that hill. In dialogue they can see, feel the emotions of the girls and relate to them.

Here’s a video by The Three Minute Writing Teacher that will help you along the way to bring your book to life!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d68vWb5rvso

 

I’ve also found some books, blogs, or websites that will help you with this.

 

BOOKS

Word Magic for Writers by Cindy Rogers  http://www.amazon.com/Word-Magic-Writers-Cindy-Rogers/dp/1889715247/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420086148&sr=1-1&keywords=word+magic+for+writers

You Can Write Children’s Books by Tracey E. Dils  http://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Write-Childrens-Books/dp/1582975736/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420086272&sr=1-1&keywords=you+can+write+children%27s+books

Picture Writing by Anastasia Suen http://www.amazon.com/Picture-Writing-Write-kids-library/dp/1582970726/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420086481&sr=1-1&keywords=picture+writing

 

Blog

How To Write Visually by Donald L. Vasicek http://www.donvasicek.com/writing/how-to-write-visually/

 

 

 

 

REVIEW OF BABY MUNCHKIN

 

TITLE: Baby Munchkin

AUTHOR: Stacy Salomone Whitfield

PUBLISHER: Birley & Baxter Publications

FORMATS AND PRICES: Hardcover-$24.00, Paperback-$12.95

ISBN: 9781961978256

“A new baby sister! YAY!” This is how Baby Munchkin by Stacy Whitcomb starts. This adorable picture book in rhyme is a must-have for any young family who is expecting another child.

The bulk of the book has to do with naming the baby. Mommy and Daddy have many, many baby name ideas and Big Sister adds her idea to the list. Does anyone listen to Big Sister’s idea? No.

Baby Munchkin is the perfect book to get your child when you’re expecting your next addition to the family. With it’s pastel-colored illustrations, the book shows that a new baby sister or brother is exciting!

If you'd like this adorable book for your big brother or big sister, you can purchase it at https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Munchkin-Stacy-Salomone-Whitcomb/dp/1961978253.