THE ABC'S OF READING & 'RITING: LETTER C

  

When I thought about doing this alphabet series connecting readers and writers, I didn't have anything concrete set up for the letter C. Then I started chatting with a new friend I met through Facebook by the name of Chad Write. Chad is heading up a bold mission to connect teachers, parents, young readers, and the authors of the books they love.

This is how Chad describes what Chat With A Writer (www.chatwithawriter.com) is doing to bridge the reading gap in young readers:

"Chat With A Writer is a community based site dedicated to bridging the reading gap in students, grades k - 12. We are helping Teachers and Parents bring students k-12, reading levels up.The site will consist of Authors, Teachers, Parents, and Students. Registration is free to Teachers and Parents. Teachers will be able to create dashboards for each student in their classes. Teacher dashboards will allow teachers and parents access to student reports and point levels. Teachers can also communicate with the Author of any book by asking questions or requesting classroom and school visits."

Teachers and parents will have free access to the website while authors will pay a small monthly fee to give their target audience access to their books as well as additional resources like games, puzzles, and any back matter created for each story. Readers will also have the ability to ask their favorite authors questions and receive answers in a timely manner. There's even sections to list current contests and giveaways as well as authors being able to be added to the school visit database as a teacher resource center.

Now THAT is a REAL connection between readers and writers!

Blurb:

Addie comes from a long line of readers or "story catchers" as her family likes to call themselves. Every time Addie tries to catch a story on her own the wiggly words play tricks on her. She tries different ways to make those words sit still but it will take a little faith for Addie to become the next STORY CATCHER.

Buy Links:
Amazon Kindle ¦ Paperback ¦ B&N ¦ Smashwords



JOIN THE STORY CATCHER FAN CLUB!

Membership includes:

Membership Certificate
Bi-montly Newsletter full of mazes, puzzles, games, news, and other goodies
Reading Log for earning STORY CATCHER AWARD

 

SHOULD I GIVE UP OR SHOULD I GIVE IN?

Some say the English language is the most confusing one to learn. I sometimes wonder how I ever manage to speak at all or even make sense with my words. As a writer I carefully select each word for my stories. I know how powerful words can be...they can make or break a spirit, so I try to choose the best ones for my storytelling.

There are some words that many people may think mean the same thing, but as a writer they are worlds apart to me. Just like this tree trying to decide whether it's going to allow the sea to destroy it or will it fight back; every time I sit down to write, I mentally choose to give up or to give in...

GIVING UP...Seeds of Doubt

It doesn't matter whether you are new to the writing world or an award winning author of many books...there will occasionally be a moment when you allow nagging doubts to cloud your judgement. Is there another story in me? Did I really deserve to win that award? Do I tell the world I want to be a writer? It's not the seeds of doubt that kill a writing career but the giving up when you allow those doubts to become bigger than your dream.

GIVING UP...Writer's Block

If you're like most writers, some days the words flow like honey from your fingertips, burning a path across the screen as you try to catch up to the blazing thoughts racing through your mind. Other times you find yourself staring almost fearfully at that white canvas and wonder if you will ever write again. The "experts" are quick to list ways to deal with writer's block whenever it happens, but no one talks much about the emotional toll it can have on the writing spirit. Sometimes to a point that giving up almost seems easier than busting through the wall built between you and that next sentence.

GIVING UP...Rejection

Rejection comes in many forms. Loved ones who see your writing as a "quaint hobby".  The agent who just didn't connect with your story and told you so in a letter. Or even the book reviewer who gave you a one-star rating on Amazon before going on to say what they DIDN'T like about your story. It's easy to feel like giving up when the world is drowning you in negativity.

Versus...

GIVING IN...Passion's Plea

Even though I stopped writing at one point for over twenty years, my passion for writing never went away. It's so hard to describe to someone who is not a writer how it feels to get the words out of my head and onto paper. Writing for me is a living, breathing animal taking me on a wondrous ride every day. It is limitless in its pursuit of yet another story and demands only my best effort each time we get together. I give in to the passion and eagerly await to see where my writing will lead me.

GIVING IN...Magical Moments

 

I do not claim to be an expert at this writing thing. There are geniuses out there who can craft the most stunningly beautiful pieces of literary art with their words. And then there is me. A writer who is better today than she was yesterday and who always aspires to be a little bit better tomorrow. And if I'm lucky, there are moments in between when I give in to the possibility of creating a little magic with my words.

GIVING IN...Looking to the Future

I've read before that the future of picture books look grim. That technology like eReaders will be the downfall of the printed book. Or even that people are becoming less and less interested in reading at all. I'm not one to believe such rubbish. If I call myself a writer I must be willing  to give in to ALL the possibilities the future may hold for me. To welcome it with an open mind and to study carefully how I might adapt my own writing to become a part of such a future.

It is so easy to change one little word and give an entirely different meaning to something. As I continue on my writing journey I hope to always keep in mind it's the giving in that matters the most. And to never give up the writing.

How about you? Where does YOUR writing take you? Do you give up or do you give in?

THE 5 TYPES OF WRITERS: WHICH ONE ARE YOU?

I spent this weekend working very hard to upgrade a writing area in my living room. I posted pictures on Facebook last week of the initial working area, but realized this weekend what I had created really wasn't going to work for me. The office I put together was for a different kind of writer than who I wanted to be. And that got me wondering just how many types of writers are out there? After thinking about qualities I've noticed over the years from different people either saying they want to become a writer or in some way having achieved some level of success, I've come up with five different types of writers in the world today. Which one are you?

The "Gonna Write Me A Story Someday" Writer

I was talking to someone this weekend who was showing me this great micro recorder he carried around his neck to collect his thoughts. He told me he had always wanted to write a book and taping his ideas helped make sure that 'next great novel' didn't get away. The only problem is he never actually WROTE anything and I imagine when it comes time for him to retire, he will STILL be thinking about how he is 'gonna write me a story someday'.

The "I'm The Next J K Rowling" Writer

You know the kind. This writer has a very inflated ego and thinks just because they have strung 150,000 words together, they have somehow managed to create the next great teen series. Doesn't matter the storyline stinks, the characters are flat, and the writer has never heard of spell check. Surely that is what agents and editors are for...to clean things up to make their 'best seller' marketable while they sit back and wait for the royalty checks to roll in.

The "Marathon Researcher" Writer

This writer might have an original or even clever plot but they believe in going the extra mile to cover every angle of basic research needed for their story line. Before you know it that 'extra mile' turns into a marathon race to collect every conceivable tidbit of information connected to their story, whether they would ever be able to use it or not. These research hoarders just don't know when to put the note cards down and actually start writing the story.

The "Revising Until It's Perfect" Writer

Finishing a story isn't easy and most experienced writers know as soon as they type 'the end' on their story, the revision stage isn't too far away. But the 'revising until it's perfect' writer simply doesn't know when to stop. They have no understanding of when enough is enough and end up spending useless hours switching the same words around when they should simply step away from the computer and call it done.

The "Doing The Best I Can" Writer

The writer most of us would probably wish we were are the 'doing the best I can' writer. This type of writer stays focused on their goal of completing their story. Just the right amount of research is done to add authenticity to their manuscript and  revisions are done with the reality only so much spit shining can be done to one story before you've got to let it stand on it's own merit. The 'doing the best I can' writer takes the time to learn their craft, seeks the help of others in the writing community when needed, and constantly strives to become a stronger story teller each and every day.

I'm sure we have all run into some of those other writers along the way but when I think about all the wonderful writely friends I've made over the years, I'm so proud to know they are more of the last group than anything else and that makes for lovely company...

Ringing In A New Year

While I thought this year was an exciting one for me, January will roar in like a Lion with the official release of my debut picture book, THE STORY CATCHER on the 20th. In celebration of this exciting milestone in my writing career, I have planned an entire month of special writer's posts, along with the usual BOOK NOOK REVIEWS, and my new feature PICTURE PROMPTS where I will either shine the spotlight on an illustrator or provide a short Flash Fiction piece based on a random picture prompt.

And to help you prepare for a fun-filled month ahead, here is a list of the topics I will be covering throughout the month of January:

Jan 1^st…8 Things You Might Not Know About Me

Jan 2^nd…PICTURE PROMPTS/Flash Fiction or Illustrator

Jan 3^rd…5 Ways To Avoid The Slush Pile

Jan 4^th…7 Ways To Get Over The Rejection Blues

Jan 5^th…Why Book Blurbs Are So Important

Jan 6^th…3 Common Mistakes In Writing Children’s Fiction

Jan 7^th…BOOK NOOK REVIEWS

Jan 8^th…What Does My Office Look Like?

Jan 9^th…PICTURE PROMPTS/Flash Fiction or Illustrator

Jan 10^th…My Writing Journey

Jan 11^th…My 6 Tips For New Writers

Jan 12^th…Finding A Publisher That’s Right For You

Jan 13^th…5 Things To Remember When Editing Your Manuscript

Jan 14^th…BOOK NOOK REVIEWS

Jan 15^th…7 Ways To Find Inspiration For Your Creative Nonfiction Stories

Jan 16^th…PICTURE PROMPTS/Flash Fiction or Illustrator

Jan 17^th…My 5 Favorite Words

Jan 18^th…5 Marketing Ideas To Help Promote Your Book

Jan 19^th…THE STORY CATCHER COUNTDOWN

Jan 20^th…THE STORY CATCHER BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Jan 21^st…THE STORY CATCHER CONTEST

Jan 22^nd…THE STORY CATCHER FAN CLUB

Jan 23^rd…THE STORY CATCHER TEASERS

Jan 24^th…THE STORY CATCHER PAYING IT FORWARD

Jan 25^th…Do You REALLY Need An Agent?

Jan 26^th…A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Getting Published

Jan 27^th…3 Mistakes Writers Make When Querying Agents

Jan 28^th…BOOK NOOK REVIEWS

Jan 29^th…Why Writing Mentors Are Important

Jan 30^th…PICTURE PROMPTS/Flash Fiction or Illustrator

Jan 31^st…To Blog Or Not To Blog

I hope to see you in January as I do my happy dance all month long!



Working Blindfolded

There are moments in a writer's life they will never forget.  The first "ahhh" story.  The first rejection letter.  The first acceptance email of your first story the world will see from you.  Even the first call from an agent saying they'd like to represent you.  But when you take time to think about it, those aren't really the "firsts" after all...

My first "ahhh" story was "Oh No Moe".  A little picture book I envisioned and received favorable comments from established professionals in the writing industry.  But that wasn't my true "first".  How can I forget about all the many days, nights, even months spent at this computer pouring over yet another story?  Buffing, polishing, shining until the best of me comes through.  Those are the "firsts" I need to remember for without them, "Oh No Moe" would never have been born.

Before that story was a little gem I called Super Duper Dog.  I thought I had a hit.  I thought I had the magic formula to a great picture book story.  And so I sent it off with a kiss to a publishing house accepting submissions.  And never heard a thing.  I mean crickets were screaming in the silence surrounding my query, for God's sake.  I was working blindfolded and never even knew it.

How I managed to stumble into this amazing writing community I'll  never know.  Maybe it was my participating in Tara Lazar's PiBoIdMo.  Maybe it was being mentored and encouraged by great children's book authors like Suzanna Leonard Hill and others.  Maybe it was joining the writers hanging out with Julie Hedlund's 12 X 12 in 2012.  Or maybe it was the critiquing I received from Miranda Paul's Rate Your Story.  Whatever the trigger was, I felt a light bulb come on. Someone took the blindfold off and I could see my stories clearly.  All the bumps, bruises, and ugly scars I needed to deal with in order to become a better writer.

Was it scary?  Of course.  Did I doubt myself and the dreams I hold close to my heart?  You betcha.  But did I ultimately jump in with both feet and submerge myself in a sea of words...beautiful, tantalizing, mesmerizing, frustrating words that have the ability to drive me crazy at times?  Heck, yeah.  Because when it's all said and done, just what are we writers so worried about?

With billions of people living on this great blue marble, the chances that EVERYONE is going to like our stories is almost nil.  But what I DO know is that there will be someone out there who will one day open an email from me, or tear open a letter, or smile at me from across the table at a writer's conference and THEY will be mesmerized by my story.   And all those moments of working blindfold will have been worth it.

It's That Time Again...

It's been a while since I've given away anything and I think it's time for another BLOG CONTEST!

Almost nine months ago I started this blogging journey, not knowing where it would lead me, and I have been amazed by all the new experiences and new friends I have made along the way.  I have worked hard to make this blog a place people can come to ...not just writers... and maybe find something which will resonate within themselves and lift their spirits, even if just for a moment.

So, as my way of saying thank you for all the love and support of the past nine months (and to maybe help my goal of trying to obtain 300 followers by my one year anniversary), I have two giveaways for you.

Here is how my blog contest will work...

1.  If you are not following my blog yet, please consider joining the fun to  earn one entry to the contest.

2.  If you mention my blog (www.donasdays.blogspot.com) and my website (www.donnalmartin.com) and link back to this post in some type of post of your own (blog, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc),  you will earn two more entries to the contest.

3.  If one of your friends becomes one of my blog followers and posts a comment HERE while mentioning your name, then they AND you will both receive an entry to the contest.

That's up to four chances to win the prizes of this contest.  There will be two prize packs given away and the winners' names will be announced on Thursday, September 6th...the nine month anniversary of my blog!

Bet you're wondering what the prizes will be, aren't you?  Well, I will be giving away TWO prize packs.  One for the writers out there and one for the readers...

PRIZE PACK ONE includes:

1.  The Complete Idiot's Guide To Creative Writing

2.  The Complete Idiot's Guide To Writing A Novel

3.  Scholastic Guides: Writing Stories

4.  Writer's Digest Handbook Of Magazine Article Writing

5.  The Way To Write For Children

PRIZE PACK TWO includes:

1.  The Adventures Of Ook And Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen From The Future by Geeorge Beard and Harold Hutchins (creators of the Captain Underpants series)

2.  Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

3.  Trouble Twisters by Garth Nix and Sean Williams

4.   Flawed Dogs by Berkeley Breathed

There you have it...hopefully there is something in those prize packs to entice you to get the word out about this contest. Doesn't it just make you wonder what I will do in December for my next big milestone?

Are You A Floater Or A Sinker?

Come on everybody...sing it with me:

We all live in a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine...

That is, we all do if we call ourselves a writer.  But it's what we do while ON that boat that determines just what type of writer we can call ourselves...

We can be a Floater...

A Floater plays it safe.  Hanging near the surface, they chose simple plots with no depth and hope the surface ripples will trick readers into thinking there's more below the surface.  Writers who choose to float throughout their writing career will always keep land in sight because the fear of the unknown keeps them tethered to their safe place.

Or we can be a Sinker...

Sinkers don't let the safe current keep them stationary.  They take that chance, diving deeper into unknown waters and taking risks with their visions in the hopes they will come up with a treasure to share with the world.

In my heart, I'm a Sinker.  Though I fear the depths at times, life beneath the surface calls to me.  There is an energy there that I can build my stories upon.  A place where I can go to discover the other Sinker spirits around me.  Which are you?  Where will your yellow submarine take you today?

A to Z: Mahout

Just imagine that is you up there...a Mahout...and that beast is a story you are trying to tame.  Mahouts are people specially trained to be in charge of the elephants in India who do the hard labor necessary to keep the country running smoothly.  Writers are specially trained to create magic in order to draw readers into their stories.  If they are not careful, the stories will get the better of them and they will run around in circles without direction.  Be in control of your story's destination!  BE the Mahout!

Me And My Cat?
Written by: Satoshi Kitamura
Illustrated by: Satoshi Kitamura
Ages: 6-9
ISBN: 10 0374349061
Teaser: A young boy is a victim of a magical curse which causes him to switch bodies with his pet cat.  How will the cat survive having to go to school?  How will things get back to normal?

 

Time To Celebrate

Some writers want to celebrate once their story is accepted by a publisher.  Some writers want to celebrate when their query letters are received favorably by an agent.  And some writers want to celebrate at the very notion of having a story idea.  For myself,  I like to celebrate when I have completed the final revision of my latest draft.  Why wait?

I've studied hard, written every day, and gathered the tools of my trade around me.  I've recreated, revised, and revamped until my vision is the best I can make it.  Now is the time to celebrate.  I can only hold on to my "baby" for so long, and then I must set it free to venture out into the world without me.  I believe it can stand strong and wish it well on it's journey to a new home.  And so I celebrate.

And if I am blessed with a chance to see my story in print then it will be that much sweeter.  I will even do the Mexican Hat Dance in celebration...although this isn't exactly what I had in mind...

We All Be A Wee Bit Irish Today

On Saint Patrick's Day I think everyone has a little green flowing through their veins.  I have been told that I am Scots-Irish, among other things.  I used to think that meant it was kinda like the Hatfields and the McCoys where someone among the feuding clans somehow managed to find true love long ago and one of my ancestors was a product of that ill-timed love affair.

You either just bought that story I was trying to sell ya, or you figured out I must have kissed a Blarney Stone or two in my youth.  Here is a more famous "blarney" joke for your enjoyment:

O'Gorman jumped up from the card table white with rage

'Stop this game!' he shouted. 'Fitzgerald is cheating!'

'How do you know?' his partners asked with concern.

'He's not playing the hand I dealt him!'

The Irish are very proud of what they consider their national treasures and so should they be!  Here are a few little known facts about the history and culture of the lovely Irish people:

1)  The national emblem of the country is the Celtic Harp, not the shamrock as many believe. No other country in the world has a musical instrument for their national emblem.

2)  Bram Stoker , the author of Dracula was Irish.

3)  Saint Patrick's true name was Maewyn Succat

4)  There are no known snakes  living in Ireland.

5)  4 Irish authors have won the Nobel Prize of literature .

Ireland is also the home of many Irish Children's Book Authors.  Here are just a few:


Roddy Doyle...The Giggler's Treatment


Patricia Lynch...The Turf-Cutter's Donkey


C S Lewis...The Chronicles of Narnia


Eoin Colfer...Artemis Fowl series


Marita Conlon McKenna...Under The Hawthorne Tree


Padraic Colum...The King of Ireland's Son


Pat O'Shea...The Hounds of The Morrigan


Kate Thompson...The New Policeman


James Stephens...Irish Fairy Tales


Siobhan Dowd...The London Eye Mystery

Nowhere else in the world could you find such a beautifully rustic writer's retreat.  Can't you just visualize a highland romance or a wee fairy tale just waiting to be born there?  Or, if you are interested in writing on a grander scale...

Traveling The Information Highway

I've blogged before about writers being on the path to publication and how this is a wonderful writing community in which we all play a part.  But I don't think I've ever actually talked about the path itself.  As little as a year ago I would have called myself a "newbie" to the writing world, taking my first virgin steps along what I thought was a solitary path toward my goal of being a published author.  I expected to struggle to find out what  I would need to become a strong, polished writer and wondered if I would ever fully understand all that is involved with the commercial side of writing.

To my surprise, I did not find myself on that solitary dirt path for long.  I discovered there were many books on the subject of writing already out there and soon my dirt road became a cobblestone path leading to a brighter future.  I devoured the information at hand and began running toward that distant point where I knew publication awaited.

Then in December of last year, I took a running leap and joined the blogosphere where the wealth of information expanded tenfold.  My cobblestone path turned into a high tech highway and I found myself racing along with other writers heading in the same direction as myself.  I am astounded by the fabulous blogs out there dedicated to writing knowledge and the betterment of writers everywhere.  I could quite literally spend hours each day surfing the internet to cultivate an array of cyber warriors who can come to my aid at a moment's notice while I tackle any writer's demon who dares to raise it's head in my presence.

But with great knowledge comes great responsibility and I must never forget that.  While it's lovely to drink in the wisdom of those who have come before me, I must always remember that it is the light of integrity that shines within us...lifting us up to a higher, more noble version of ourselves...that is the true path we must remain on as we travel toward publication...otherwise, we might find ourselves horribly lost and with no way to get where we were headed in the first place...