Guest Post
Sunday, October 1, 2023
Are you at the stage where you have a saggy middle?
Sunday, September 24, 2023
Welcome fall and other stuff
First page/first chapter turn-offs: The writing miscues that can cause an agent to stop reading your manuscript:
* The beginning is too slow. Too many details, too much description, too much backstory, or too many characters. The opening paragraphs lack action or a hook to entice the readers to continue to read.
* The story’s opening paragraphs fail to establish where the story is taking place, the time, and the setting.
* The writer didn’t establish a clear point of view.
* Mechanical errors can earn a speedy rejection. Mechanical errors are the typos, punctuation errors (including those involving dialogue), and unclear syntax that can destroy a good story.
Since I have “a ton” of old tech I’d like to recycle, I
searched the internet yesterday and found this:
“Staples has been offering free office electronics recycling to all retail customers in the U.S. since 2012. Customers can bring any brand of office technology in any condition, regardless of where they purchased it, to Staples® stores for free recycling by our recycler, ERI Direct. We have similar eWaste programs in Canada, with some variations and exclusions depending on the province.”
Perfect for the
upcoming holiday: HALLOWEEN PIECES
I have a short
paranormal story I’m kind of proud of, “Once in a Blue Moon,” included in
this fourth installment of the Mobile Writers Guild anthology PIECES series
Kindle is $1.99—paperback is out of print. I happen to have a very few paperback copies if you’ve a mind to hold that book in your hands. First come, first served and sale priced at $7.50 plus mailing. Just drop me a note: cjpetterson@gmail.com
My novels THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a smidgen of sweet romance. (Perfect diversions for your quick weekend getaway.)
The books are
available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and bookstore. Got a
library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.
Sunday, September 17, 2023
The reader’s imagination is a powerful tool for writers.
Writers can never predict how their words will be interpreted because their readers are coming from a multitude of backgrounds with different sets of life experiences.
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Andromeda Nebula |
Beyond that … I am so yearning for some moderating autumnal temperatures on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. The summer heat has been hellacious this year—a very long string of 100-plus-degree days with sauna-like humidity. In fact, Mobile set its own record this year for 11 days of >=100 degrees. I haven’t ventured into my yard for longer than an hour or so at a time since June, and boy, do I have the weeds and vines to prove it.
Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you.
cj
Now a note from my sponsors:
Perfect for the upcoming holiday: HALLOWEEN PIECES
I have a short paranormal story, “Once in a Blue Moon,” included in this fourth installment of the Mobile Writers Guild anthology PIECES series.
Little note: The Haunted Book Shop has a few signed copies of my books in stock. TO ORDER, contact: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us If she happens to be sold out, I have a small stash. Angela Trigg, the awesome owner and a RITA Award-winning author in her own right (writing as Angela Quarles) will be happy to ship you any book(s) by any author of your choice.
➜ Amazon: Amazon Central Author Page
➜ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor
➜ BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson
➜ Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Copyright infringement, et al.
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“In this fourth installment of the Mobile Writers Guild anthology series, our members celebrate the season of witches, jack-o-lanterns, black cats, spiders and ghosts that is Halloween. As always in our Pieces series, we have an eclectic selection of stories, poems, and one play that explores the chills, thrills, and giggles that fill the streets as well as our ghoulish little hearts every October.”
Sunday, September 3, 2023
Talking about Labor Day, and the all-important reader/author relationship
And Thank You to all who have to work today!
Did you know? Labor Day is a creation of the labor
movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American
workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers
have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
noun1. a connection, association, or involvement.2. connection between persons by blood or marriage.3. an emotional or other connection between people: the relationship between teachers and students.4. a sexual involvement; affair.
Sunday, August 27, 2023
A story that became a made-for-TV movie
USAToday best-selling author Barbara Hinske has such a story. And readers, this is for you, too: Here’s a blog-tour note from Barbara on how you can help make sure the movie gets the viewers it needs:
“My novel Guiding Emily has been adapted for the screen by Hallmark. It will air Sept 8, 9ET/8 CT on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. I was present for filming again and this will be a terrific movie. They stuck with the book this time. Hallmark has stepped out of their usual romance box for this movie. The principal cast and crew are set to work on a series based on the books. The movie has to do well enough or trend on twitter for Hallmark to pull this trigger on this. Needless to say, this is the Holy Grail for an author.
The actor's strike has prevented both Sarah Drew (Emily) and Eric McCormack (voice of Garth) from promoting the movie and I'm doing everything I can to get eyeballs on it.
So—please tune every set in your house (heck--on your street!) to watch on Sept 8.”
GUIDING EMILY is a tale of love, loss, and courage. Meet Emily and Garth in the GUIDING EMILY movie on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Friday, September 8th on @hallmarkmovie
#visuallyimpaired
#guidedogs #guidedogsfortheblind #guidedogpuppy #servicedogpuppy
#servicedogintraining #hallmarkmovie #guidingemily #hallmarkmoviesmysteries
§§
Here are some helpful grammar hints from my personal library:
The Christmas Grinch notwithstanding, here are proper usages for Stink, Stank, Stunk . . .
“Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere.”― Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on
keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you!
Sunday, August 20, 2023
When the marketing begins
“Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent.” —Stephen King
Sunday, August 13, 2023
Something to think about
I just watched an exciting video of author friend, Susan Y. Tanner doing some barrel racing and was reminded that she recently launched book one of her new Western series, A Dangerous Inheritance (The Bellamy Legacy).